Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) Evacuees fleeing from the rumbling Mayon volcano are getting sick, not because of ash emissions from Mayon volcano but due to difficult conditions. As residents continue to make do in cramped evacuation centers, health officials are concerned about people getting sick due to congestion. More than a thousand evacuees are suffering from coughs and cold all over Albay, while a number of children have been stricken with diarrhea. With more people seeking shelter in the evacuation centers, health officials say children, persons with disability, and senior citizens have become the most susceptible to illnesses. Cold ang floor [The floor is cold]. This will also trigger certain illnesses and considering the children and vulnerable population like PWD and senior citizens tapos [and the] weather, erratic and they keep on going back to classroom, going outside, Albay Provincial Health Officer Antonio Lodovice said. Around 76,000 people are currently packed in evacuation centers as of Friday morning. Health officials said schools designated as evacuation centers can comfortably fit up to 50 people per classroom, but in a facility CNN Philippines visited, numbers had doubled to 100 persons per room due to the rising number evacuees. Officials say there is enough potable drinking water for the evacuees. However, they are also trying to determine the cause of diarrhea among the children. "We're trying to determine kung cause ito sa water or pagkain [If the cause is water or food]...kasi kung sa water potable ang water natin [Because if it is water, our water is potable] so why are they going to have a water borne disease?" Lodovice added. Health officials also monitored cases of chickenpox. They said such cases are immediately isolated and brought to hospitals. CNN Philippines spoke to some evacuees who said they are eager to go back home to their daily routine. However, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) officials say Mayons activity could drag on for a month. They said volcanoes are unpredictable and only time will tell when it is safe to go back. 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. READ: Officials assure enough water supply in Albay as Mayon rumbles This Deserted Central Oregon Coast Spot is Full of Surreal, Ancient Wonders Published 01/26/2018 at 6:45 PM PDT - Updated 01/26/2018 at 7:15 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Yachats, Oregon) In an area of the Oregon coast that's already extremely unique that dizzyingly beautiful and deserted stretch between Yachats and Florence Strawberry Hill Wayside is a definite standout. A host of wild and weird finds abound here, although at first glance after you step onto the stairway it's a simple but comely little cove. There's something almost dreamlike about this place. Never a dull moment awaits you, if you bother to look. It all begins with a semi-circle driveway that acts as a parking lot, including some grassy spots for lounging around and picnicking, as well as restrooms facilities. From here, you find a nice walkway down to the basalt structures that typify this spot, allowing you tall views of this diverse beach. Tidepools are abundant at Strawberry Hill Wayside, but sometimes you have to work to find the best of them. It's easy and understandable to simply settle for hanging out at this hill, watching the waves crash and soaking in the scenery. It's well worth the extra effort it takes to hop down off the basalt ledges into that sandy cove. After all, it's down there where all the treasures and surprises lie. Keep walking further into the cove and the wild and weird presents itself at every turn. Those rocky blobs start to reveal some things you've never seen before. Like the curious rock formation that's sort of a towering bulb-like shape, apparently made from the sandstone cliffs just behind it. It looks a bit like those odd towers of rock in China, or perhaps something out of a Roger Dean album cover for the Prog rock band Yes. The geology of Strawberry becomes apparent. This sort-of-spire structure is obviously a part of the cliffs and has eroded away to become separate. It then begs more questions. Like what is that chunk of driftwood embedded in it? Stranger still, from the side facing the cliffs, you see a massive hole in the mushroom-shaped blob and what appears to be a log piercing the inside of the structure. Was it a storm that placed this here? Or is it hundreds of years old and once buried in the top soil here? Still more surreal sights abound. Further erosion has taken place here on the basalt and the cliffs, and some sections of the beach are becoming little sea caves. At the northern edge, rocky ledges show off tons of starfish. These ancient blobs begin to show their complexity the closer you get to them. They form a rocky labyrinth, where again sea life has planted itself in impressive colors. Hit Strawberry Hill at the right time and you'll catch the sky reflected off the wet sand. It is positively ethereal and otherworldly in those moments. Even crazier: the basalt here sometimes forms natural steps, as if some ancient race long before Man had carved their dwellings into the 40-million-year-old rock. See what these steps are. There's even more beneath the surface. While the Oregon coast has some of the largest amount of fossils that are 15 to 30 million years old in all of North America, this spot is blessed with even more than usual. Here, you may find more shells of that age than most places on this shoreline. It is illegal to cut them out of cliffs and rocks, however. Luckily, the low sand levels and heavy waves of winter can simply leave stuff lying around it's then legal to take off the beach. Safety Warning: do not enter this cove if the tide is wandering past the blobs of basalt you see huddled in the middle of it. Stay away in high tide events. Oregon Coast Lodgings for this - Where to eat - Maps and Virtual Tours More About Yachats Lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) President Rodrigo Duterte said he may soon visit areas affected by the erupting Mayon volcano. "I'll decide tomorrow," he said in an early Saturday morning speech in Davao City after arriving from New Delhi. "I'll probably take a rest for a day or two. I will go sa [to] Mayon." Vice President Leni Robredo visited some towns in Albay on Wednesday, saying her office will give funds for the evacuees. Mayon has been under Alert Level 4 signifying that a hazardous eruption is imminent, possibly within days since Monday. READ: PHIVOLCS raises alert level 4 over Mayon Volcano Duterte said finding a place to land may be difficult due to the ashfall, which is harmful to aircraft. "It's the wind current you have to worry about because it will bring the ashes to where you are," he said. "But if it's safe to go there, and even if it's not, you give me the space to land, if I'm cleared, I'll go there, in about one or two days." Duterte added the national government will fully support Albay. "I'd like to assure Governor Bichara, nahulog na 'yung pera [the money has been sent]," he said, referring to Albay Governor Al Bichara. "So the delay must be somewhere else, pero hindi kami [but not us]." The President's statement came after Bichara said on Thursday the provincial government was running out of funds to help the evacuees. READ: Albay gov't: Funds for evacuees of Mayon unrest running out More than 72,000 people are crammed in evacuation centers from the 10 affected towns in the province. Meanwhile, health officials reported on Friday more evacuees are getting sick not only because of the ash, but also because of the cramped evacuation centers. READ: Officials: More Mayon evacuees getting sick "Cold ang floor [The floor is cold]. This will also trigger certain illnesses and considering the children and vulnerable population like PWDs and senior citizens tapos [and the] weather, erratic and they keep on going back to classroom, going outside," Albay Provincial Health Officer Antonio Lodovice said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday he may reach out to China if foreign employers continue to abuse overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). This was after Duterte said on Wednesday he would ban OFWs in Kuwait if employers there do not treat Filipinos "with dignity." READ: Duterte to Kuwait: Treat Filipino workers with dignity "I will ask China to open its doors to us and I said to them that if you consider the Philippines, we would be glad to allow our workers to work here...All I ask is that, huwag ninyong abusuhin [don't abuse them]," he said during his arrival speech after his trip to India. Duterte reiterated foreign employers should treat OFWs decently, adding that the country is ready to suffer even if it meant a reduced income. Latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data show cash remittances from Kuwait from January to November 2017 amount to US$735 million (37.5 billion). "Do not destroy their dignity as a human being," he said. "Let them sleep long enough. (One) complaint is that they're fed with leftovers, kaya nagsu-suicide eh [that's why they commit suicide]. Hindi na matiis [They can't take it anymore], including rape." 7 deaths probed The Labor Department suspended on January 20 the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait as authorities investigate the death of seven OFWs in the Gulf state. READ: DOLE suspends OFW deployment to Kuwait According to state-run news agency KUNA, Kuwait Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah claimed the cases of the seven victims did not apply to the majority of OFWs. Sabah also told KUNA that Kuwait had a clean human rights record. The Kuwaiti government also summoned Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa on Tuesday to express regret with Duterte's decision. The West Asian country remains a top destination of migrant workers from the Philippines. CNN Philippines Digital Producer Chad de Guzman contributed to this report. Seychelles' national carrier has announced the cancellation of two international flights in April, including its Paris flight, which accounts for 30% of the airline's passenger revenue. Reducing workforce 2019 plans The scaling and pivot to the domestic market means an unspecified number of employees will lose their jobAs of 24 April 2018, Air Seychelles will suspend all flights to Paris, the French capital and Antananarivo, Madagascar.The national carrier faces more international competition. British Airways is expected to start operating to Seychelles in March. This will be followed by Air France's subsidiary - Joon - and Swiss Edelweiss Air in May and September respectively.The chief executive of Air Seychelles, Remco Althuis, said that these new operations, coupled with the nine other airlines already operating in the island nation, "will create an overcapacity of inbound seats to Seychelles, leading to reduced airfares and this will put a lot of pressure on our Paris operation.""This represents a major challenge to the company as Paris accounts for approximately 30% of our total passenger revenue at air Seychelles," said Althuis.The flight to Antananarivo will be discontinued due to its high dependence on the Paris feed. Additionally, Air Seychelles will stop leasing two Airbus A330 aircraft.With these cancellations, the airline will have to reduce its workforce in cabin crew and pilots. Expatriate pilots are expected to be affected first."This has been a difficult choice for us to make but it is necessary if Air Seychelles is to continue to serve the people and economy of Seychelles in a way that is both profitable and sustainable," said Althuis.The exact number of staff to be affected is yet to be announced. During the coming months, the airline management team will be working closely with the Supervisory Board, Etihad Airways and the Government of Seychelles to preserve as many jobs as possible and provide assistance to staff.Air Seychelles will concentrate on developing its domestic operations and regional flights to Mauritius, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai."Doing so will enable us to concentrate on more profitable areas of the business, while people in Seychelles will continue to have non-stop access to France and wider Europe through airlines that can operate at more efficient international scale than Air Seychelles," said Althuis.The airline will also focus on domestic services mainly the inter-island flights between Mahe and Praslin, scenic flight packages and island charters. Air Seychelles will also strengthen non-airline service areas and these include ground handling, cargo handling and engineering.In 2019, the airline will replace its regional fleet of two Airbus A320 with next-generation narrow-bodied aircrafts to enable Air Seychelles to operate more competitively.The Minister for Civil Aviation, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said that "it is important that we take these tough but necessary steps at this time to safeguard the future of Air Seychelles."He remains confident that "with the full support of its stakeholders, our flag carrier will adapt to the winds of change."Read the original article on Seychelles News Agency Suzuki South Africa once again walked away with the Brand of the Year title at the 2017/18 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards - powered by WesBank, which took place at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg on 25 January 2018. Suzuki defended its 2016/17 #CarsAwards Brand of the Year title and also repeated its victories in a pair of categories: Budget Car and Compact Family Car. Mazda tasted success for the first time in #CarsAwards history by winning two categories: Compact Hatch and Family Car. Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, which were recognised in the inaugural #CarsAwards but didnt win trophies in 2016/17, took the honours in three categories. The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine and BMW M2 M-DCT were the only finalists to defend their category victories from 2016/17, although the Suzuki Vitara and Volkswagen Golf won their categories with different derivatives. To underline that the winners in each of the categories were based equally on the judges scores and brands ratings in the Cars.co.za Consumer Satisfaction Survey, all the finalists totals were revealed during the awards ceremony. In no fewer than five out of the 13 categories the judges favourites did not win, due to the impact of the Consumer Satisfaction Survey (more detail to follow). Category winners Budget Car : Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL : Suzuki Ignis 1.2 GL Compact Hatch : Mazda2 1.5 Individual : Mazda2 1.5 Individual Premium Hatch : Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline R-Line DSG : Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline R-Line DSG Compact Family Car : Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX Auto : Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GLX Auto Family Car : Mazda CX-5 2.5 Individual : Mazda CX-5 2.5 Individual Business Class : BMW 420d Gran Coupe Sport Line Sports Auto : BMW 420d Gran Coupe Sport Line Sports Auto Executive Sedan : Mercedes-Benz E350d Avantgarde : Mercedes-Benz E350d Avantgarde Leisure Double-Cab Bakkie : Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI 4Motion Highline Plus : Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI 4Motion Highline Plus Adventure SUV : Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Auto : Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4x4 Auto Executive SUV : Mercedes-Benz GLC250d 4Matic AMG Line : Mercedes-Benz GLC250d 4Matic AMG Line Premium SUV : Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine R-Design : Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine R-Design Fun Car : Mini John Cooper Works Sports Auto : Mini John Cooper Works Sports Auto Performance Car: BMW M2 M-DCT Multifaceted judging process Combined judging panel Brand of the Year Suzuki 78.2% Mercedes-Benz 77.2% Mazda 74.7% Volkswagen 74% BMW/Mini 73.4% Kia 72.8% Audi 72% Toyota/Lexus 72% Nissan 71.4% Mahindra 71.4% Highlights of this (third) iteration of the programme were:A total of 20 car brands were represented in the 39 finalists that were in contention for category wins in 2017/18 The Volkswagen Group had 10 nominations (Audi and Volkswagen had five apiece), followed by the BMW Group (four), with Alfa Romeo, Kia, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Subaru making their first respective appearances in the final.The importance of after-sales service excellence was highlighted by the impact of the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey on the final scores.With 50% of a vehicles final score determined by a brands performance in the Consumer Satisfaction Survey, a car only really stands a very good chance of winning if it is a good product, in the eyes of the judges, and if the brand delivers solid after-sales service, says Hannes Oosthuizen, Cars.co.zas consumer experience manager.We think this is a crucial distinguishing feature of the #CarsAwards, because buying a car is ultimately about much more than just the product. Consumers buy into a brand and essentially enter into a relationship with that brand, he explains.This year the survey results impacted five categories in particular. The Toyota Fortuner (Adventure SUV), Suzuki Ignis (Budget Car), Mini JCW (Fun Car), Volkswagen Amarok (Leisure Double Cab) and BMW M2 (Performance Car) all emerged victorious because actual customers rated their brands higher than the competition.The winners arent chosen exclusively by motoring journalists, who report on (and review) the latest new vehicles in the market.Although the seven members of Cars.co.zas editorial team chose the finalists, the combined judging panel (including 11 respected guest judges from various backgrounds and fields of expertise) only compiled the finalists individual scores once theyd evaluated the cars back-to-back during a thorough two-day test at the Gerotek facility at the end of 2017.Anele Mdoda (947), Ashley Oldfield (Cars.co.za), Ciro de Siena (Cars.co.za), Claire Mawisa (Carte Blanche), David Taylor (Cars.co.za), Eddie Kalili (freelance editor/writer), Ernest Page (SA Car Fan), Francisco Nwamba (The Motorist), Gero Lilleike (Cars.co.za), Jacob Moshokoa (947/EWN), Juliet McGuire (WOW), Khutso Theledi (YFM), Kojo Baffoe (Afropolitan), Mike Fourie (Cars.co.za), Nafisa Akabor (tech journalist), Phuti Mpyane (The Petrosexual), Wendy Knowler (Consumer Specialist) and Wezile Bonani (Bay FM).All derivatives listed on the new vehicles price list on 1 September 2017 were eligible for selection and the public had just as much say in the outcome of 2017/18 #CarsAwards as the 18 judges did. Fifty percent of the final standings were based on rankings that the respective vehicle brands achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, conducted in partnership with data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporated feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their vehicles (less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets).The most prestigious title awarded by #CarsAwards Brand of the Year was based solely on the findings of the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey.Following its surprise win last year, Suzukis good reputation received another boost from this years #CarsAwards. The Japanese brand again emerged victorious in the Brand of the Year category, which is determined entirely by market and customer data, the latter from the aforementioned survey (sales and after-sales service in particular).Suzuki narrowly defeated Mercedes-Benz by 1%, with Mazda scoring the final podium position. Also, note the rise of Kia (6th) and Mahindra into the top 10 list.We think the Brand of the Year trophy is the ultimate accolade in the South African automotive industry, says Oosthuizen. It represents validation from the people that matter most actual car owners. Suzuki has managed to achieve impressive market share growth in the past 12 months and has maintained excellent service levels.Visit http://www.carsawards.co.za for more information about #CarsAwards, including the category criteria, and to view images of the award recipients taken at the event. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) President Rodrigo Duterte came to the defense of the policemen involved in a deadly Mandaluyong shooting incident in December. "A little bit reckless, I would say. But there was no intention of killing the people there," Duterte said early Saturday in Davao City, after arriving from his trip to India. Ten Mandaluyong City police officers and three barangay tanod are facing homicide charges after mistakenly opening fire at a van along Shaw Boulevard, which carried a shooting victim on December 28, 2017. The victim, Jonalyn Ambaan, and a van passenger died in the incident. Duterte added although the incident was unfortunate, the policemen merely acted based on information relayed to them, which turned out to be inaccurate. "I may reprimand them. I'm not ready to condemn them," the President said. In the incident, police responded to reports that a gunman in a prior shooting in nearby Brgy. Addition Hills escaped through the van. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa earlier defended his men, believing it was an honest mistake. According to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), the 10 officers posted bail raised by the PNP on January 19. However, they remain under NAPOLCOM custody, which has also filed administrative charges against them. CNN Philippines' Digital Producers Chad de Guzman and VJ Bacungan contributed to this report. BORDERLAND BEAT The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. General Mail Box: borderlandbeat@gmail.com Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send us an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) It's been over a year since Emily Soriano lost her 15-year-old son, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was at the house of a friend whose brother was rumored to be a drug pusher. The police ended up shooting everyone in the house -- including a pregnant woman. More than a year later, she still finds it hard to move on. She says that for families of Tokhang victims, letting go of the memory of their loved ones is no easy task. Marami nang batang nadadamay sa war on drugs na yan, sana baguhin na ni Presidente at ni Bato (Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa), she said. Yung sinasabi ni Bato na move on, move on hindi namin kaya magmove on kasi hindi kayo ang nawalan kami ang nawalan, Soriano added. [Translation: There are a lot of kids who have died from the war on drugs. I hope President Duterte and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa will change this. What Bato says-- move on, move on-- we cant do that. Its not you who lost a loved one.] This is why even with new police operational guidelines, parents like Emily and families of Tokhang victims are protesting the resumption of Oplan Tokhang, the polices highly controversial flagship campaign against drugs. The campaign has been controversial due to its allegedly high death toll. It was suspended after Duterte shifted leadership of the anti-drug campaign to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. However Dela Rosa announced in January, Tokhang would return with new rules. Under the new guidelines, anti-drug operations will be carried out only during daytime on weekdays-- a move police say will increase transparency. Families and advocates are unconvinced. They say this is not a guarantee against extrajudicial killings. Kahit sa araw kahit sa madaling araw may napapaslang so ibig sabihin hindi rin siya sagot, Rubilyn Litao of the organization Rise Up for Life and for Rights said. [Translation: Even in the morning people are killed, so that isnt the answer.] They say the trauma of losing a loved one is still there, and they feel even more afraid now that Tokhang is back. Government data says less than 4,000 drug suspects died during police anti-drug operations. However rights groups claim the death toll from the drug war could be around 13,000. As families of victims continue to seek justice, they call on the government to stop Tokhang and use a bloodless, peaceful anti-drug campaign. Rodrigo Baylon, whose nine-year-old son died from a stray bullet during a 2016 Tokhang operation is urging the police to follow due process and arrest criminals without having to kill. Panawagan ko huwag na ibalik yang Operation Tokhang. Mayroon nga pamamaraan na kaya nilang gawin na naayon sa batas at wala ng madadamay, he said. [Translation: I appeal to them not to resume Operation Tokhang. There are ways for them to do this within the law and without hurting other people.] He appeals to people who say its normal to have collateral damage in any war like what happened to his son, and counters -- what would they do if they were in his place. Kung ganitot ganito palagi ang katwiran ng ating pangulo, maging mamamayan, ang tanong ko paano kung sila ang madamay? Tanggap ba nila sa loob nila? he said. [Translation: If that's what our President and other people say all the time, my question is what if they're the ones affected by this. Will they accept it?] (CNN) There is a saying amongst chocolate-spread connoisseurs that although you can't buy happiness, you can buy a jar of Nutella. So when a French supermarket chain discounted the chocolatey goodness by 70%, shoppers were keen to get more than their fair share. Chaotic scenes were reported at branches of Intermarche as customers fought to take advantage of the offer. Videos posted online showed the lengths to which people were prepared to go in order to get their hands on the spread. "It was a real disaster, 200 people were outside waiting for the supermarket's opening," one employee at a store in Metz, northeast France," told CNN. "All of this mess for a Nutella jar." "People just rushed in, shoving everyone, breaking things. It was like an orgy," another employee in Forbach, northeast France, told AFP. "We were on the verge of calling the police." Staff at one store, in Otstricourt, were forced to call police after disturbances broke out. The regular price of Nutella at Intermarche is at 4.50 ($5.60). It was discounted to 1.41 ($1.75). Intermarche apologized to its customers, saying it had been "surprised" by the demand. It is not the first time that demand for Nutella has turned violent. In September 2015, a 78-year-old shopper in California said he was punched in the face after complaining that another customer took too many Nutella waffle samples. Related: Nutella fans are freaking out over recipe change The makers of Nutella, Ferrero Brands, said that the decision to discount the product was made unilaterally by Intermarche. Police in Otstricourt told CNN that when officers arrived, the crowd calmed down and no arrests were made. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Nutella discount sparks chaos in French supermarkets" Everyones fave Latin American eatery and bar, Panama House has relocated to a prime location directly across from Bondi Beach After five years on Bondi Road the Panama House crew have packed up their saucepans and relocated to an address with serious views: Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. Their sparkling new designer digs take full advantage of the prime water views with a stunning glass balcony perfect for sipping sundowners while watching the waves roll in. Open all day and covering all food and drink bases from coffee to-go to all day brunch to share-style dining when the sun goes down. Expect all the delicious flavours the original Panama House was beloved for with a fresh new twist in keeping with their hot new address. What's on the menu? To kick off the day they're serving heart-starting coffee with takeaway breakfast burritos or for the sweet-toothed breakfaster: Mexican chocolate cookies. The all day brunch menu features tasty Latin American dishes like gumbo omelette packed with prawns and chorizo served on habanero corn bread or corned beef hash brown with spinach, poached egg and roast tomato. And once the sun goes down the tunes go up, the margaritas come out and the menu turns share-style, think: chargrilled octopus; slow roasted marinated pork belly; Jamaican jerk spatchcock. Make sure you save some sipping space for their signature cocktail, the PH margarita. It takes the PH crew more than two weeks to make and incorporates all the flavours of Latin America in one salt-rimmed cocktail glass. Panama House is now open at The Pacific Bondi, 180 Campbell Parade, Bondi. Opening hours Monday to Saturday 8am - 11pm, Sunday 8am - 10pm. panamahouse.com.au The Banking Sector has seen its share of action which has happened over the last few years. First with the issue of NPAs, then demonetization and now finally with recapitalization of banks the sector has been in the eye of the storm so as to speak. Experts believe that the said issues are going to have a very substantial impact on the Budget 2018. It is expected that the FM will have a special focus on the Banking and the financial sector in the Budget 2018-19. The Government in October 2017 announced and then recently detailed the nature of the recapitalization plan of 2.11 Lakh crore for ... Budget 2018-19 will be presented in the Parliament in the next few days. The Budget session of the Parliament will start on 29th January and the Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 1st of February 2018. Prior to the Budget being presented, in the Budget while its being presented and even after the Budget has been presented one will hear some Budget Terminology which is mostly heard in and around the Budget period. Mentioned below are some lesser known Budgetary terms that you are going to come across in the next few days after the Budget 2018-19 is presented on ... Clashes erupted outside the Indian High Commission in London on Friday evening as Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan peer in the House of Lords attempted to hold a "black day" protest, which was vehemently countered by many Indian and British groups. The Pakistan-backed 'black day' campaign, which coincides with India's and took place outside the Indian High Commission in the heart of Central London, aimed at highlighting the "oppression in India". Hundreds of demonstrators led by Lord Nazir called for independence for Kashmir as well for Khalistan. They were met by an equal number of counter-protesters and soon scuffles broke out, leading to police intervention. The counter-protesters questioned Lord Nazir on how he was making a mockery of the British system by openly playing Pakistan's game. Lord Nazir is a highly controversial figure with a string of scandals, including a conviction for dangerous driving and being ousted from the Labour Party for his anti-Semitic views as well as his perceived sympathy towards radical Islamists. (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.) 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. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Central Board of Film Certification Chairperson Prasoon Joshi "will not be attending" the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, where he was scheduled to address a session on Sunday. The development comes in the wake of repeated threats to Joshi by the Sri Rajput Karni Sena, which, in gross defiance of the law, has gone on a rampage after the censor board cleared Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" for release. "Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy," Joshi said in a statement released by the JLF organisers on Saturday morning. Joshi was scheduled to participate in a session titled "Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself". The Sri Rajput Karni Sena had said it would not allow Joshi to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival. "The issue around the film "Padmaavat" -- I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. It's sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. It's important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues don't reach this far," Joshi added in the statement. A noted lyricist, screenwriter and poet, Joshi has received the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award three times, in 2007 and 2008 and again in 2014 ("Bhaag Milkha Bhaag"). He has also received the Film Award for Best Lyrics twice, for his work in "Taare Zameen Par"(2007), and "Chittagong" (2013). He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 2015, for his contribution in the field of Arts, Literature and Advertising. This is not the first time that a speaker has decided to stay away from the festival in view of threats by fringe groups. In 2012, acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie had not attended the festival in view of security threats against him as hundreds of Muslim activists appeared in Diggi Palace, stating that they would not let Rushdie appear nor allow a video footage to be played. The organisers as well as the Jaipur police had made appropriate arrangements for security and had earlier assured that nothing untoward would take place at the festival. Scores of diplomats including ambassadors of four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France and Britain attended one of the largest receptions outside India at the UN headquarters, besides events across the US as well. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, was the only P-5 country envoy not to attend the impressive reception hosted jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York. Haley, who was not in town, sent one of her top diplomats to the event, which was attended by several hundred Indian Americans, officials of the UN and envoys of scores of countries at the UN. Prominent among those were the President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, and the Deputy UN Secretary General Amina J Mohammed. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, surprised many by her presence at India's celebrations at the UN, which was marked by an impressive dance performance at the UN Delegates Dining Room. "We are grateful this evening that several distinguished officials as well as representatives have joined us. I am grateful to the President of the General Assembly who is here with us, also to the Lt Governor of New York, who is with us and the Deputy Secretary General, who is with us," Akbaruddin said as he was joined by other dignitaries in lighting the lamp. Earth of my birth. Though far from India's shores, the young sing about "the land that nourished and nurtured" as we celebrate India's #Republicday2018@IndiaUNNewYork pic.twitter.com/Bh07UPEvGs Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) January 26, 2018 For many UN observers, it was one of the largest gatherings of ambassadors at a public event at the UN. Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid floral tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Embassy in Washington before unfurling the flag, in the presence of embassy staff and members of the Indian American community. Akbaruddin unfurled the flag at the UN mission in New York, with India's other diplomatic missions in the US - in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta - also hosting events. Diego Gomez Pickering, the Consul General of Mexico in New York was the guest of honor at the Indian consulate celebrations in the city. Rajagopalan Vasudevan, the 73-year old professor from Madurai, is changing the way plastic wastes are treated in the country, using a method in which the no-biodegradable waste becomes useful rather than an environmental hazard. Known as the 'Plastic Man', Vasudevan has come out with a patented method to reuse plastic waste to construct roads and the technology has been provided to the Government of India for free. The method has been used to lay around 5,000 kilometers of the road across 11 states, which has now brought him Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour in ... At least 1,100 train passengers were stranded at New Haflong railway station in Assam's Dima Hasao district since Friday as protests continued on Saturday against police firing that killed two persons. The curfew continued in Maibong and some adjoining areas on Saturday. Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner, Deva Jyoti Hazarika said they have failed to send the stranded passengers to their destinations as the picketers have damaged the railway tracks. The agitating organisations have also called a 48-hour bandh since the police firing on Thursday morning. The protesters stopped the Guwahati-bound Silchar-Guwahati fast passenger train at New Haflong station on Friday. The passengers have been stranded since then. "There are close to 1,100 passengers who are stranded. The picketers have damaged the tracks at many places and removed the fish plates. It will take time to repair them and resume the movement of trains," Hazarika said. "We have requisitioned 25 buses from Guwahati to send the stranded passengers to their destinations by road. However, the picketers did not allow the buses to proceed to New Haflong," the Deputy Commissioner told IANS. He said the district administration has arranged food, drinking water, medicines and other basic amenities for the stranded passengers. "Security has been arranged for the safety of the stranded passengers at the railway stations," he said. "Curfew is continuing in Maibong. We have relaxed the curfew for two hours on Saturday -- from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. -- but will continue after 4 p.m.," Hazarika said. He added although there were no reports of any violence, some stray incidents of protests were reported from some places. Several social organisations in Dima Hasao district have been agitating for more than last one week after rumours spread that the Central government has agreed to set up satellite councils for the Nagas in the district as part of the talk process between NSCN-IM and the Central government. One such protest rally turned violent in Maibong on Thursday when the mob attacked the security forces and the railway station, forcing the security forces to open fire, leading to injury to nine protesters and some policemen. Two of the injured protesters died on Friday, which has further fuelled the protests. The Odisha government will shortly sign a land lease agreement with the developers of the Subarnarekha port. The pact is meant to hand over 693 acres of land for first phase development of the port at Subarnarekha river mouth in Balasore district. All formalities are completed now. Only the agreement needs to be signed and we expect it anytime soon the pact could be inked by the end of this month, said an Odisha government official. The agreement is to be signed between the Directorate of Ports & Inland Water Transport and Creative Port Development Pvt Ltd ... Corporate honchos, including Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Dilip Sanghvi and physician Naresh Trehan, will be part of over 4,800 delegates from across the world in first ever global investors summit in Assam. The summit 'Advantage Assam', being organised on February 3-4 at a total expenditure of Rs 32 crore, will also witness participation of business leaders and ministers from as many as 20 countries such as the ASEAN nations, the US, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, UAE and Israel. It "has a unique advantage of being at a strategic geographic location with a strong connectivity network, making it an ideal destination for business with the ASEAN countries. That is why, the objective of the summit is to position Assam as India's expressway to ASEAN," Assam Commerce and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conference. Advantage Assam will be the largest ever investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the state government and it will showcase the opportunities offered by the state in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to ASEAN and other countries, he added. "A total of 14 international and domestic roadshows were organised as a part of the pre-summit preparations. High powered delegation of the state government, many of which were led by the Chief Minister, engaged in more than 200 one-on-one meetings with corporate houses in these roadshows. We have seen over 4,800 delegate registrations," Patowary said. With these, the state government has been able to draw attention of industry leaders like Tata Group's Ratan Tata, Reliance's Mukesh Ambani, Dilip Shanghvi from Sun Pharmaceuticals, Dabur's Anand Burman and Harshavardhan Neotia from Ambuja Neotia Cements, who have confirmed their presence in the summit, he added. The minister also informed that Amar Abrol from Air Asia India, Welspun Group's Balakrishan Goenka, Subhash Chandra of Essel Group, Emami's Sushil Goenka, Rashesh Shah of Edelweiss and Sanjiv Puri from ITC have also registered for the event. "Besides, Naresh Trehan from Medanta - The Medicity - and filmmaker Subhash Ghai have confirmed to be a part of the summit deliberations, among others," he added. Patowary also informed that the government has identified 12 focus sectors for the summit, including agriculture and food processing, handloom-textile-handicrafts, logistics, river transport-port township, IT-ITeS, pharmaceutical-medical equipment, plastics-petrochemicals and power. Tourism-hospitality-wellness, civil aviation, petroleum - natural gas and startups-innovation are the other focus areas for the business tycoons, he added. Talking about incentives for investment, Patowary said the state government has come out with the Assam Industries (Tax Reimbursement for Eligible Units) Scheme, 2017, under which tax exemptions will be given up to 200 per cent on the fixed capital for the units set up till December 31, 2022. "Besides, to strengthen the investment scenario, the state has instituted some very attractive sectoral policies. We will also introduce an overall state industrial policy. The central government policy for industrial development of North East is also coming soon," he added. On the poor power scenario, Patowary accepted that Assam is an electricity-deficient state, but said it will source the same from the National Power Grid for upcoming industries. "During the last one year, we could bring investment to the tune of Rs 6,500 crore in various sectors. It is a big achievement. Besides, we also got sanction for developing nine port townships across Assam for an investment of Rs 1,100 crore," he added. These townships will come up at Bogibeel, Neematighat, Kamalabari, Silghat, Pandu, Silchar, Karimganj, Jogighopa and Dhubri, the minister informed. Besides, dredging work at Brahmaputra is going on with two dredgers, while more are on the way, to create an effective waterway through the river, he added. The Indian Railways has circulated a draft Cabinet note to various ministries seeking comments on making significant changes such as extending the lease period from 45 years to 99 years in its ambitious station redevelopment programme. The note has been sent for inter-ministerial comment as the state-run transporter has, apart from the change in the lease period, proposed other crucial changes, including in who can bid for the projects. In July 2015, the Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to redevelop 400 railway stations using a contract method called the "Swiss Challenge" with a 45-year lease period. The Swiss Challenge method is a process of giving contracts where any person with credentials can submit a development proposal to the government. That proposal is placed online and others can submit suggestions to improve and beat that proposal. An expert committee then accepts the best proposal and the original proposer gets a chance to accept it -- if it is an improvement on his proposal. In case the original proposer is not able to match the more attractive and competing counter-proposal, the project is awarded to the counter-proposal. However, the scheme did not elicit a good response for a variety of reasons. Besides, earlier only General Managers (GM) of zonal railways were authorised to undertake the exercise. The Railways has now proposed widening the scope by extending the lease period to 99 years and, instead of the Swiss Challenge method, it has allowed joint ventures with states, public sector participation, public-private partnership (PPP), and the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) models as well. In addition to GMs, now other agencies - such as the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Ltd (IRSDC) -- have been roped in to carry out the station redevelopment exercise. "With so many vital changes in the earlier proposal, it is necessary for the Railways to seek fresh Cabinet approval," a senior Railway Ministry official said. The comments from the Finance, Urban Development and Law Ministries are essential before making the final Cabinet note. "With the scope now being expanded, we expect positive response for the project," the official said. The redevelopment of station envisages opening of shopping plazas, office complex, hotels, multiplexes and parking lots, among others commercial activities, on rail land and making provisions for improved passenger amenities at stations. The government aims to use the redeveloped stations as catalysts of economic activity in the surrounding areas. While the Railways aims to earn about Rs 50,000 crore over next 10 years from commercialisation of rail land near stations, the ambitious project is expected to involve expenditure of over Rs 1 lakh crore -- Rs 80,000 crore in commercial exploitation and Rs 35,000 crore in station redevelopment. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday slammed the MCD Monitoring Committee over the sealing drive, saying it was behaving like a "dictator" and announced a 48-hour 'Delhi Trade Bandh' on February 2-3. The CAIT also demanded the central government bring in a Bill in Parliament to protect Delhi trade and traders from the sealing drive, being carried out by BJP-led MCD. "The bandh has been called by the CAIT. The traders have demanded the Union government bring a bill in the current session of Parliament to protect Delhi trade and traders from the onslaught of sealing," the traders' body said in a statement. "On February 2-3, traders will take out a protest march and will hold 'dharna' in their respective markets. Prior to this, the traders will 'gherao' Delhi MPs and MLAs and will submit their memorandum," it said. The statement said that a memoranda would also be given to prominent leaders of all political parties. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, CAIT said the shutdown decision was taken at a meeting of Delhi traders held at the Constitution Club in the national capital, which was attended by leaders of about 500 trade associations of the city. "The CAIT alleged that the Monitoring Committee (of the MCD) is behaving like a super administrative authority, least bothered about legality of any premises and more interested in sealing business establishments. Such an attitude of the Committee is not less than a dictator," informed Khandelwal. The traders' body has sought intervention from the central government in the matter of sealing of business establishments in the national capital. "This is a very sorry state of affairs and time has come for the central government to intervene in such affairs now. The CAIT delegation will meet the Home Minister, Minister of Urban Development and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in this regard besides taking the agitation further," the CAIT said. On Tuesday, more than seven lakh traders across Delhi observed a shutdown to protest the sealing drive in the city and demanded the government should bring out an amnesty ordinance to protect traders. The sealing drive, according to the traders' body, was in violation of statutory provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. India is committed to provide all support to Cambodian Agriculture: Vice President Interacts with Prime Minister of Cambodia The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India is committed to provide all support to the agricultural sector in Cambodia, which has a great potential. He was interacting with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, here today. Senior officials from Cambodia and India were present on the occasion. The Vice President conveyed his best wishes to the visiting Cambodian Prime Minister who is the longest serving Prime Minister in the world. He further complimented Cambodian Prime Ministers son Mr. Hun Money for being bestowed with the Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour, by the Indian Government. The Vice President recalled fond memories of his personal visit along with his family to the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia few years back, which is the largest religious monument in the world. He further said that India is committed to continue its assistance in capacity building, developmental and social projects as well as preservation of historical and cultural heritage of Cambodia and the restoration and conservation of Angkor Wat temple and the continued work by Archaeological Survey of India at Ta Prohm temple was an evidence for the same. India is proud to become the co-chair of International Coordinating Committee for Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Preah Vihear, he added. The Vice President appreciated Cambodian government for the remarkable economic growth of over 7% consistently year after year in the last two decades. He further said that the economic developments in our two countries present opportunities for greater commerce and investment. Hope Cambodia will provide easy access to the Indian professionals, businessmen and service providers, he added. The Vice President said that Indian Chair for Buddhist and Sanskrit studies at Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University further deepens the interactions and understanding between our scholars. He further said that a project development fund with a corpus of 75 million US Dollars for catalyzing Indian investment in CLMV countries is created. Our EXIM Bank teams are conducting feasibility studies in the region including Cambodia to identify potential sectors, he added. The Prime Minister of Cambodia has recalled the assistance provided by the Indian Government during its difficult times. He invited the Vice President to make a state visit to Cambodia at his convenience. The family members of the Vice President welcomed the visiting Cambodian Prime Minister with a traditional Pochampally Shawl. China is developing a new surveillance plane designed to be launched from its aircraft carrier and fitted with a radar system to spot enemy stealth jets. State media confirmed for the first time on Monday that China was building its first carrier-borne early-warning plane (AWCS) called the KJ-600, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported today. The announcement comes as the United States has deployed F-35 stealth jets to bases in Japan and other parts of the Asia-Pacific over the last year, challenging China's air defences in the region, the report said. Chinese military observers said the KJ-600 would be fitted with an advanced active electronically scanned array, or AESA, radar which could enable it to spot stealth aircraft such as America's F-22s and F-35s. Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said the new surveillance plane could also become a command centre in the air. "AESA can detect stealth fighters at a very long range," Li said. He said the aircraft would fill a critical weapons gap with the US and improve the combat effectiveness of Chinese carrier battle groups. Li said the KJ-600 would likely be used on China's third aircraft carrier under construction in Shanghai and be compatible with its advanced electromagnetic launch system (EMALS). EMALS can launch jets more quickly and effectively than the ski-jump ramps used on Chinas first two aircraft carriers. China currently has operationalised its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made vessel in 2012. It launched its second aircraft carrier in April 2017 which was expected to begin sea trials next month and it announced plans to build a third one in Shanghai. Earlier reports said China plans to have four aircraft carriers in by 2030 to operate from the disputed South China Sea as well as Indian Ocean. Death toll has risen to 95 in Saturday's suicide bombing in Kabul, confirmed Afghan's Ministry of Public Health. Spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health Wahid Majrooh confirmed the figures. He also said that at least 163 people were wounded. According to the Afghan Government, the Taliban-allied Haqqani network is behind the attack. India condemned the and extended solidarity with Afghanistan. It also conveyed its "heartfelt condolences to the next of kins of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured." According to Afghan's TOLO News, the explosion occurred when an explosive laden ambulance was detonated in a busy area, which is close to Kabul's infamous Chicken Street. The Emergency Hospital reporting by mid-afternoon that it was filled to capacity and could not take in any more patients. Patients were then transferred to other hospitals in the city. This bombing is the latest in a string of deadly attacks across Afghanistan in the past week. Earlier this week on Wednesday, 'Save The Children' organisation in Afghan's Jalalabad city, Nangarhar province attacked. Last Saturday, the Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul">Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. (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.) AMES, Iowa Iowa State (6-6, 1-3 Big 12) rallied late, winning the final three matches of the dual, but fell to Oklahoma (7-6, 2-1 Big 12), 21-16. The Cyclones and the Sooners split in total matches won, 5-5, but OU recorded two falls, which proved to be the difference in the contest. How It Happened At 141 pounds, Iowa State called up Ian Parker . He was pitted against Oklahoma's Mike Longo. After a scoreless first, Parker scored a takedown and an escape in the second and held a 3-0 advantage heading to the third. Mike Longo reversed Parker to begin the third, but Parker got to his feet and held on to win the match, 4-2. The match at 157 pounds was also scoreless after the first period. Chase Straw earned an escape in the second to lead 1-0 heading to the third period. In the third, Justin Thomas scored on an escape, but Straw took the lead 2-1 after Thomas was warned for the second time in the match. Thomas notched a takedown to take a 3-2 lead, but a late Straw reversal pushed him past the Sooner, 4-3. At the intermission, Iowa State trailed 12-6. Heading into the final three bouts, the Cyclones trailed 18-6. Iowa State went on to win at 184, 197 and 285, but it wasn't enough to mount the comeback necessary for the victory. Dane Pestano picked up his eighth dual victory of the year with an 11-3 major decision over Matthew Waddell. The redshirt senior tallied four takedowns in the Cyclones only bonus-point win on the evening. For the second straight dual, Sam Colbray's match at 197 pounds ended in sudden victory. Colbray topped Andrew Dixon for the second time this season as Dixon was knocked for stalling for backing out in the overtime period. Colbray was victorious by 2-1 decision. Marcus Harrington ended the night on a high note for the Cyclones despite the loss. He closed out the dual with a 7-4 win against OU's Connor Small. Harrington scored three takedowns to earn his eighth dual win of the year. Next Up Iowa State travels to Stillwater, Okla. on Sunday where they will take on No. 5 Oklahoma State. The Cyclones and Cowboys are set to scrap at 2 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The dual will be available via Flowrestling.org with a FloPro account. Over 800 migrants were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea after multiple agencies launched a joint operation on Saturday, local media reports said. The migrants were spotted sailing in overcrowded five boats, including two rubber dinghies. Seven children were also among the rescued and were taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital, located in Sfax, Tunisia. Two bodies were recovered too, according to officials. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been rescued at sea. They seek to reach Europe to escape armed conflicts in their respective countries and earn a livelihood. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Celebrating 25 years of the India-ASEAN relationship, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a historic agreement with Lao Air Traffic Management, Department of Civil Aviation, Lao PDR, for providing SkyRev360, a comprehensive e-data gathering, invoicing and collection system. SkyRev360 has been developed in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) under the Government of India's Make in India initiative. The agreement was signed on January 19 by S. Suresh, Board Member (Finance), AAI and Somchit Vinitkeophavanh, General Director, Lao Air Traffic Management in the presence of Bounchanch Sinthavong, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Laos, Mr. Vanhpheng Chanthaphone, Director General Civil Aviation, Laos, Ravi Shankar Aisola, Ambassador of India in Laos, Manfred Blondeel, Director (E&F), IATA and other senior officials from International Air Transport Association, Lao Air Traffic management, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Laos and Airports Authority of India. Speaking on the occasion, DGCA Laos said that Lao PDR is looking forward to working in close co-operation with the AAI in the near future. Ambassador Aisola termed the contract signing as a historic moment in the relationship between India and Laos. S Suresh emphasized that considering the 25 year-long India-ASEAN relationship, the signing of this agreement will usher in new era of friendship and co-operation between India and Laos. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tipu Sultan row that marred Karnataka in recent years seems to be spreading. It has now surfaced in the capital after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a portrait of the Mysore ruler at the Delhi Assembly. The Chief Minister, on the occasion of Republic Day, uncovered Tipu Sultan's portrait among 70 other personalities, including revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and heroes. The portraits of Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh, Birsa Munda and Subhash Chandra Bose were also unveiled. However, the inclusion of Tipu Sultan among other heroes did not go down well with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which said that the Delhi Assembly should not put up a portrait of a controversial personality. "Bhagat Singh was our nation's pride. But I believe that if we honour people like Tipu Sultan, then it would not be in the nation's interest. People's sentiments hurt if we put up a portrait of a controversial personality", BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma told ANI. This is not the first time when such statements have been made against the Mysore ruler. Earlier, the BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, had slammed Congress-led Karnataka government for celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday demanded action in Kasganj violence. Talking to the reporters in Kanpur, Yadav said it was very unfortunate that violence broke out on the Republic Day. "This (violence) happening on Republic Day is unfortunate. People of Kasganj respect each other. We want action against culprits but no injustice should be done," Yadav said. Meanwhile, RP Singh, Kasganj District Magistrate, informed that all internet services suspended from 5 p.m. on January 27 to 10 p.m. on January 28. One person died and two were injured after a clash broke out between two communities during 'Tiranga Yatra' in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj city on Friday. Both the groups reportedly pelted stones at each other and also fired bullets at each other. One Chandan Gupta died in the clash after suffering a bullet injury. Till now, 49 people have been arrested in connection with the conflict and section 144 is still imposed in the state. While nine accused have been arrested on charges of murder and rioting, 39 have been arrested for disruption of law and order situation, which include those who torched buses and shops. A Special Investigative Team (SIT) has been formed to arrest the others accused in the violence. "Till now, 49 people have been arrested in connection with Kasganj clash. Section 144 is still imposed in the state. While borders have been sealed too," said RP Singh, Kasganj District Magistrate. Despite imposition of a curfew, two buses were damaged and five shops belonging to a particular community were set ablaze, following the cremation of Chandan Gupta who died in firing during the clash between two groups. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of life and told the police to sternly deal with the culprits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday invited India to invest in his country. "I invite Indian investors to my country. [I am hopeful and expecting that the] Indian investors will go to Cambodia. Indian tourists and investors should come to Cambodia," the Cambodian PM said, while issuing a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in the national capital. Prime Minister Sen used the occasion to express his gratitude and appreciation to Prime Minister Modi. "I appreciate Prime Minister Modi for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and Republic Day." "I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his words for Cambodia. We have been connected to India since long," the Cambodian PM added as he stressed upon the bilateral relationship and cooperation. Prime Minister Hun Sen also underscored that Cambodia "has got benefited due to [India's] Act East Policy." Earlier in the day, the two countries exchanged four agreements. Both sides also held delegation-level talks. The Cambodian Prime Minister is scheduled to call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj called on Prime Minister Hun Sen this morning. The two leaders dwelled upon issues of mutual interest related to development partnership, trade and investment, Human Resource Development (HRD) and people-to-people contacts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested one juvenile for killing a post office security guard in Delhi's Rohini Sector 7. According to the police, "60-year-old Sushil Kumar was brutally assassinated. The police have also recovered a part of the broken bat, which was used as a weapon for murder. Two hard disks, one mobile and Rs. 20,000 were stolen from the site." Media reports say, Sushil Kumar's retirement was to be held in February. A case has been registered and further investigations are on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pitched for strengthening the ties with Cambodia stressing that development cooperation is the integral part of their relationship. Addressing media, he said, "We shared our views on strengthening our relations in every sector. India and Cambodia will build up on relations in every field, including economic, social development, capacity building, business, culture and tourism. We are ready to further strengthen our relations with Cambodia in the coming future." The Prime Minister further said India and Cambodia share common values and culture and will always support each other at all international forums. "Our language is also originated from Sanskrit and Pali. This is matter of happiness that the roots of our culture and historical relations are very deep. Therefore, there is great scope of promoting tourism," he added. Referring to the restoration of Angkor Wat temple, the Prime Minister said that it is part of their joint cultural heritage and an example of cooperation between both nations. Noting that Cambodia is developing rapidly, Prime Minister Modi called for promoting trade between both nations. "Cambodia is developing rapidly and India is also considered as one of fastest growing economy. Since we share common values and cultures, there could be a synergy to promote trade," he said. He further said that the liberal economy policies of Cambodia will give a great opportunity of investment to India. ""We can cooperate specially in the fields of health, medicine, information technology, farming, automobile and spare parts. I believe that there will be rise in our trade in the future," he added. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi met his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj also called on Hun Sen. The Cambodian Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet 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.) To mark India's 69th Republic Day, an exhibition has been inaugurated at the Indian Embassy in Brazil. The exhibition, titled 'Uma India, DoisOlhares (One India, Two Views)' by noted Brazilian photographers Armando Correa and Sinisia Coni from Salvador, was inaugurated by charge d'affaires Abhay Kumar. The exhibition will be on display at the Embassy and open to visitors from 10:00 to 12:30 hours and 14:00 to 17:00 hours from Monday to Friday. The rich collection of colourful and striking photographs from India presented a fascinating glimpse of Indian culture to guests from both India and Brazil who attended the inauguration, the statement from the embassy read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harvey Weinstein's former personal assistant Sandeep Rehal has recently filed a lawsuit against the disgraced movie mogul, alleging that she was required to facilitate his sexual encounters, including providing erectile dysfunction drugs and cleaning up semen from his couch. Rehal, who worked for Weinstein for two years before quitting in February 2015, alleged that she was forced to work in a 'pervasive and severe sexually hostile' environment. That lawsuit has been lodged in the New York Supreme Court and it accuses Weinstein of sexually harassing Rehal, groping her thighs and buttocks, and of referring to her routinely as a "c***" over the course of her employment. "Another 'task' Ms. Rehal was forced to do to aid Harvey Weinstein's sexual encounters was to clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein's office," the lawsuit alleges. "This happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York." The lawsuit also names Weinstein's brother Bob, former human resources director Frank Gil and The Weinstein Company as an entity as defendants. "She had no choice but to leave the job she needed to support herself," she added. Since October 2017, Weinstein has been accused by more than 80 women of sexual harassment, assault and rape. He is under investigation by the LAPD, NYPD, Beverly Hills police and the British police, but has denied all instances of non-consensual sex. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Cambodia on Saturday agreed that the global community needs to see terrorism as a curse on mankind and take firm steps to safeguard global peace, security and stability. Both Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Hun Sen "unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and underscored that there is no justification whatsoever for acts of terrorism and recognized that terrorism cannot be and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic groups," a joint statement issued after delegation-level talks said. "They called for joint and concerted global efforts to eliminate terrorism in accordance with the principles of international law. They called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combatting terrorism," the statement added. Both also reaffirmed their collaboration in combating all forms of human trafficking especially of women and children by signing a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for prevention, rescue, recovery, repartiation and re-integration of the victims of trafficking. Both sides affirmed that those responsible for committing, abetting, organizing and supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and be punished and hailed the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The two leaders also emphasized that it is the responsibility of all states to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist acts. "Terrorism cannot be used as an instrument of state policy for furthering narrow political objectives," both said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Seychelles signed a revised agreement on the Development, Management, Operation and Maintenance of Facilities, that will allow India to build military infrastructure on Assumption Island at Seychelles, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office here on Saturday. The agreement was signed by Foreign Secretary of India S. Jaishankar and Seychelles President Danny Faure. After a brief meeting with Jaishankar, Faure, said, "Today, we have signed a revised version of the agreement for the development of facilities on Assumption Island. This project is of utmost importance to Seychelles, and it attests to the kinship and affinity that exists between our two countries. We are proud to have India as a partner in realising our development aspirations." The original agreement was signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Seychelles President James Michel. But, it was not ratified by the Seychelles Parliament, leading to delays. In August last year, Faure stated that the agreement had some "issues" and it would have to be re-negotiated again. Foreign Secretary Jaishankar flew into Seychelles in October and started the re-negotiations over the original agreement. Some amendments were proposed and the Seychelles Parliament had ratified it ultimately, after Faure had consulted with the opposition parties and his cabinet on January 22. "The (Seychelles) cabinet agreed on the main purpose of the agreement which is to provide a framework for assistance to the Government of Seychelles, by the Government of India to enhance the military capabilities in control and maritime surveillance of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), protection of our EEZ and the outer islands and search and rescue in the region for the benefit of air and shipping traffic," a statement was issued by the Seychelles Parliament after the revised agreement was ratified. In 2015, Prime Minister Modi made a visit to the island nation after 34 years. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi earlier visited Seychelles back in 1981. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the creating a fuss over minorities circular matter. A circular was reportedly sent to heads of police in all districts from the, asking for their opinion on revoking cases against minority communities in incidents of communal clashes. The minister rebuffed the reports and said that it was not a circular but only a reminder. "The BJP doesn't understand English properly. It's not circular, just a reminder. Minority leaders represented that some false cases registered against minorities. IG sent letter to SPs, gave reminder that's all," Ramalinga Reddy told ANI. Reportedly, Karnataka Director General of Police Neelamani N Raju released the circular to withdraw cases against people, who belonged to minority community and were allegedly involved in the communal riots in the last five years. The move comes ahead of the assembly elections in the state that are due for April or May. Currently, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is at the helm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday evening at about 4 pm, local officials said here. The firing, which is still underway, has caused immense damage in some of the houses of the area. Meanwhile, one person has been injured in the firing. He has been admitted to Nowshera district hospital. "There has been an increase in the shelling since the last few days. Required measures have been taken up and if it (the shelling) continues to increase, people will be shifted to nearby shelter camps," said Nowshera Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abdul Sattar. Talking to reporters at Attari Wagah border, DG of Border Security Force (BSF) KK Sharma said, "Atmosphere was such that no exchange of sweets took place with Pakistan Rangers on the occasion of the Republic Day." He, however, hoped that "In the coming time old tradition of exchanging sweets will be revived soon". The BSF and Pakistan Rangers have been traditionally sharing sweets on the occasion of Republic Day, Independence Day, Diwali, Eid and other festivals. Sharma added that ceasefire violation was the main issue of discussion during flag meeting with Pakistan. "Both sides agreed that ceasefire violations should be reduced," said Sharma, adding that the BSF never initiates ceasefire violation. In the recent past, Pakistan has been continuously violating ceasefire at the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) The BSF has been on high alert at Punjab's barbed wire fenced 553-km IB with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to Palestine, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from February 9 to 12. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi's second visit to UAE and the first to Oman respectively. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events. Also, Prime Minister Modi would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit to be held in Dubai, at which India has been extended the 'Guest of Honour' status. He will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman respectively. (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 Saturday said 'School Chalo Abhiyan' has yielded good results in the state. Addressing a function here, Chouhan said till last year three lakh children were brought back to schools. "Madhya Pradesh's children were not able to set foot in school. We started 'School Chalo Abhiyan' to bring them to school. It makes me happy to say that till last year we were able to bring 3 Lakh children to school," Chouhan said. The purpose of Madhya Pradesh Sarva Shiksha Aabhiya (SSA) is Universal Elementary (UEE) with adequate facilities for 8 years of elementary schooling of satisfactory quality and provision of alternative schooling facilities in unserved habitations, effective pedagogical interventions to make school attractive, and provision of adequate and context specific initiatives to promote equity by specially targeting the most deprived children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) will go on a two-day strike in the capital from February 2 to protest the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's sealing drive. The trade body on Saturday announced that they have called for a 48-hour bandh. Earlier, the members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party's trade wing took part in a 'katora' (cup) march at the Karol Bagh market against the MCD's move. Traders, industrialists and transporters, who have suffered huge losses because of sealing and demonetisation, also participated in the protest march. The drive to seal commercial establishments flouting provisions of the 2021 Master Plan began on January 7 in Khan Market on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. According to the master plan, traders using properties for mixed purposes have to pay a one-time conversion charge at the rate notified by the Delhi Government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 11 payment banks and 10 small finance banks were granted license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start banking operations in India, in a move to help expand the outreach of Atal Pension Yojana (APY), the government's pension scheme. Payment banks and small finance banks are a new model of banking conceptualised by the RBI. Given the strength of the bank, expertise and its reach, these kinds of banks are expected to play a pivotal role in expanding the outreach of subscribers under the APY, the government said on Friday. Participation in the APY not only builds a pensioned society but also adds sustainable fee income to banks by way of attractive incentive for mobilising APY at Rs 120-150 for each account, an official notification from the Ministry of Finance said. In order to familiarise these small finance banks and payment banks in the APY, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) had conducted an orientation meeting on January 15 and discussed the implementation of schemes in these banks. Among the chosen entities, the small finance banks that are currently operational under the aforementioned initiative are Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Janalakshmi Small Finance Bank, Equitas Small Finance Bank, A U Small Finance Bank, Capital Small Finance Bank, ESAF Small Finance Bank, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank and Fincare Small Finance Bank. Meanwhile, Paytm Payment Bank, Airtel Payment Bank, India Post Payment Bank and Fino Payment Bank are currently operating under the scheme. On a related note, the APY is an old age pension scheme being implemented through all banks across the country as per the mandate received from the Ministry of Finance and monitored periodically at the Prime Minister's Office. This social security scheme was launched on May 9, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As on January 23, 2018, there are more than 84 lakh subscribers registered under the APY scheme, with an asset base of more than Rs 3,194 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Saturday called on Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen. The two leaders dwelled upon issues of mutual interest related to development partnership, trade and investment, Human Resource Development (HRD) and people-to-people contacts. "Building upon cultural and civilisational linkages, EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Sen and discussed issues of mutual interest related to development partnership, trade and investment, HRD and people-to-people contacts," EAM spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, lettered in a Twitter post. Earlier in the day, Hun Sen was given the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. After the meeting, Hun Sen will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cambodian Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with 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.) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin on Saturday demanded the resignation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami over his government's failure to roll back the hiked bus fares in the state. Speaking to media, Stalin asked the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Tamil Nadu Government to withdraw the hiked bus fares in the state. "This protest is not going to stop today. The bus fare price hike should be rolled back at once. If it is not possible, then the Chief Minister should resign and go home", he said. Earlier also, the DMK leader had raised an objection to the fare hike, saying, "horse-traded and 'commission agent' government should roll it back immediately". The Tamil Nadu government on January 19 hiked the fares of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses in Chennai from Rs 3 to Rs 5, and the maximum from Rs 14 to Rs 23. According to the state transport department's statement, in case of non-metros, tickets would range from Rs 3 to Rs 19. Reportedly, the state government increased the fare due to the hike in the prices of fuel, besides maintenance and increase in the wages of employees of the various debt-ridden state transport corporations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States Donald Trump has again been caught on the wrong foot, this time at the Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking in one of the gatherings on Friday, he described press as "nasty, mean and fake" for which he was promptly booed by the audience. Some laughed too. According to the Independent, he made this comment while drawing a comparison between the media coverage he received before and after becoming the U.S. president. "As a businessman, I was always treated really well by the press... and 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 a packed hall. "But overall, the bottom line... somebody said 'Well they couldn't have been that bad because here we are, we're President'. I think we're doing a really great job with my team," the Independent quoted Trump as saying. Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor's son Ishaan, who is a reporter for The Washington Post, even stated that some journalists also booed Trump for his comment. "Foreign journos sitting next to me booed Trump's attack on the press," he tweeted. Earlier, Mr Trump talked about his "America First" foreign policy and said "America is open for business". . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Held on 25 January 2018 Cosboard Industries at the board meeting held on 25 January 2018 has approved the conversion of Unsecured Loan of Promoter/Promoter Group into Equity Shares of Co. towards adjustment of their entitlement in the proposed Rights Issue, subject to approval Shareholders, Moreover with respect to the Rights Issue, the proposed Rights Issue was withdrawn by Lead Manager, Navigant Corporate Advisors Ltd from SEBI, Kolkata. The Co. has now appointed Mark Corporate Advisors Pvt Ltd as Lead Manager for the proposed Rights Issue. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 13 persons were killed and four others injured after a minibus fell into a river early on Saturday, an official from Kolhapur Control said. The accident occurred just after midnight when a private Tempo Traveller bus with around 16 passengers of three Pune-based families was proceeding from Ratnagiri to Kolhapur. The passengers were returning after a Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the famed Ganpatipule beach temple in Ratnagiri. Around 12.50 a.m. when it was speeding along the Shivaji Bridge on the Panchganga River, the driver apparently attempted to overtake a vehicle in front of him. Just then, another speeding vehicle suddenly came in from the opposite lane, causing him to lose control and the minibus rammed into the stone barriers before plunging into the river, around 100-feet below. Police and disaster teams were engaged in a massive operation to search and rescue the victims since morning with heavy duty cranes and dumpers deployed to hoist the bus from the stony bottom. Three injured persons were extricated from the bus wreck and rushed to hospitals. A few others were stuck inside the vehicles. Efforts were underway to retrieve the bodies. --IANS qn/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 17 people were killed and 110 others injured on Saturday in a suicide car bomb attack near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. The blast occurred roughly at 12.50 p.m. near the Jamhoriat Hospital. The spokesman for the Health ministry Ismail Kawosi told Efe that "up to seventeen persons had died and one hundred wounded", and had been taken to Kabul's nearby hospitals. Among those affected by the blast were women and children, the source added. The old building of the Afghan Interior Ministry is located at the area. Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. --IANS ahm/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 40 people were killed and 140 others injured on Saturday when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. The ambulance was detonated between two checkpoints outside the old Ministry of Interior building close to Sedarat Square. The blast occurred roughly at 12.50 p.m. near the Jamhoriat Hospital. Health official Wahid Majroh told Xinhua that the killed and injured had been taken to Kabul's nearby hospitals. Among those affected by the blast were women and children, the source added. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated on Twitter that "a martyr driving a car bomb succeeded in reaching the first Interior Ministry security checkpoint" adding that, at the time, there was a large number of police officers in the nearby area. The death toll is likely to rise. The bombing is the latest in a string of deadly attacks across Afghanistan in the past week, including the deadly 17-hour siege last Saturday on the Intercontinental Hotel and the attack on the Save The Children organization in Jalalabad, Nangarhar among others. --IANS ahm/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 65 new Sulabh toilets were inaugurated for the residents of a village here on Saturday in a move to end the practice of open defecation. The new toilets are part of a joint initiative by Rotary club of mid-West Delhi, Rotary Club of Denver, US, and Sulabh International. The toilets were handed over to the families in the Indri village of Sohna. "This initiative is under the effort of the Prime Minister for his flagship programme to ensure total sanitation coverage by 2019," said William Korstad, coordinator Rotary club of Denver, US. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, on the occasion said: "We are trying our best to make places open defecation free (ODF). And handing over toilets to villagers here is part of it." --IANS rup/nks/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When he directed "Dharmaputra", his first film, in 1961, little did Yash Chopra know what he was getting himself into. The film, about Hindu-Muslim relations, touched on the raw history pertaining to events that were just over a dozen years old. The re-construction in "Dharamputra" of the carnage during the post-Partition riots opened up raw wounds in the audience, and sparked off riot-like situations in theatres screening the film. Yash Chopra vowed never to touch the thorny communal issue again. "They threatened to burn down theatres, harm the actors... I was getting calls at any time of the day and night, warning me of dire consequences. I said, 'Never again'," Yashji told me when we met some years ago. Cut to "Padmaavat" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. What is that French "kahaavat": The more things change, the more they remain the same. As I write this column, vehicles are being torched, buses carrying school children are being stoned in Gurugram... because some fanatical elements don't like the look of "Padmaavat"? Or maybe because Bhansali forgot to cover up Deepika Padukone's tummy when she performed the ghoomar? Does that make sense to you? We as a nation are a touchy people. Some may even call us intolerant. And, admit it, we are intolerant people. Over the years, there have been other controversial films, mostly to do with communal issues. Govind Nihalani stepped into the territory bluntly and insouciantly. In "Dev" he recreated the Muslim genocide in Gujarat following the incident in Godhra where a two train bogies full of Hindu devotees was set on fire -- with chilling authenticity. As a fictional retaliation to Godhra he sees a communal Hindu cop (Om Puri) stand mute accomplice as Hindu rioters burn a whole building full of Muslims. It was a frightening topicality dwelling on issues that pierce the facade of normalcy which we like to uphold for the sake of a peaceful and "civilised" existence. Nihalani's "Dev", Deepa Mehta's "Fire", Gulzar's "Aandhi" and Anurag Kashyap's "Paanch" are some of the other prominent films that have courted controversy. But no film has been as vehemently opposed as "Padmaavat"; none has evoked such fierce temper-tantrums from a nation on the boil. Could it be that somewhere the protesters have decided "Padmaavat" is a "feel-bad" film -- as opposed to a "feel-good" film? Nihalani rightly says, "Feel-good films will always be there. They serve a very important function in our society. But one feel-bad film every five years, which reminds us of the mistakes that we make, isn't a bad idea." However, "Padmaavat" is not that feel-bad film which comes once every five years. Its depiction of Rajput valour and feminine derringdo is so broad and magnificent it just makes us happy that a filmmaker of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's vision takes history by its horns and raps a nation steeped in escapism on its collective knuckles. If you want to kill a film by scaring little school-going children, then surely that film deserves to be seen. (Subhash K. Jha can be reached at jhasubh@gmail.com) --IANS skj/sac/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Australian Labour Party (ALP) has called for a joint referendum on indigenous recognition in its constitution and the country becoming a republic. Anthony Albanese, former Deputy Prime Minister, on Friday suggested that the referendum should be held on Australia Day so as to create a "platform of unity." Under Australian law, any change to the constitution requires a national referendum to return a vote strongly in favour of doing so, Xinhua news agency reported. The date of Australia Day, currently January 26, has become increasingly contentious in recent years. Much of Australia's indigenous population consider it a "national day of mourning", saying it celebrates the day that the country was stolen from the original Australians. Albanese's speech came as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Australia's major cities, protesting the date. He said that holding the referendum on January 26 would mean that the date became synonymous with indigenous recognition rather than the arrival of the British First Fleet in Australia in 1788, making it a day "where we can truly say that we're together as one, as a nation". "Our nation needs to reconcile itself with the past as a precondition of creating a better future, one in which we embrace a common vision of what it means to be Australian in the 21st century. "It would mean Australia had a day which recognised our modern history of new arrivals, our continuous history of indigenous Australians dating back now some 80,000 years and a recognition of confidence of us in a modern state," he said. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, in his Australia Day speech, said that the overwhelming majority of Australians were celebrating the holiday which marks "a story of enormous achievement". Turnbull, who has strongly opposed any change to the date of Australia Day, said the day should include a focus on indigenous Australians. He said: "The impact of European settlement on Aboriginal Australians was tragic; of course it was. We understand that and there are many wrongs that were done in the past, which we seek to right today." (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Saturday released a list of 57 candidates, including Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, for the February 27 elections to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. The list, which also includes state Congress President Celestine Lyngdoh and Congress Lok Sabha member Vincent H. Pala, was released in New Delhi after the Congress' screening committee headed by Oscar Fernandes finalised the names. However, the screening committee couldn't finalise its candidates in three assembly constituencies - Pynthorumkhrah, South Shillong and Khliehriat. Pynthorumkhrah constituency was represented by Congress legislator Alexander Hek, who is expected to contest on a BJP ticket. "Since there are more applicants in these three assembly seats, we have decided to keep it pending and will finalise the candidates within a week's time," Pala told IANS. On the other hand, the Congress party denied a ticket to its sitting party legislator Bluebell R. Sangma in favour of newcomer Lazarus Sangma. Incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who has been winning for five consecutive terms from Ampatigiri constituency since 1993, will be contesting from two assembly seats - Ampatigiri and Songsak under Tura parliamentary constituency in Garo Hills region. Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who was president of the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) till his death, had successfully contested from two Assembly seats - the erstwhile Pariong (now Mawthadraishan) and Nongstoi in the 1988 elections. The list includes the names of: Home Minister Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh, Public Works Department Minister Martin M. Danggo, Excise Minister Zenith Sangma, Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, Information and Technology Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Education Minister Deborah Marak, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Clement Marak and Public Health Engineering Minister Celestine Lyngdoh. Five women candidates are on the list, including sitting Congress legislator Dikanchi D. Shira, who is also the wife of Chief Minister Sangma. Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal's name also figures in the Congress list. State Congress President Celestine Lyngdoh voiced confidence that the party will retain power in Meghalaya. "We are targeting to win 30 seats and we might just cross 31 on the result day," Lyngdoh told IANS. Earlier, in a blow to the Congress, seven legislators had resigned, of whom five - Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Coming One Ymbon, Ngaitlang Dhar and Sniawbhalang Dhar - had joined the National Peoples Party. Alexander Hek, who was Health and Family Welfare Minister in the Mukul Sangma Cabinet before being sacked last year, joined the BJP, while Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem joined the newly-floated People's Democratic Front. Veteran Congress legislators, including four-time Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Roytre Christopher Laloo and Health and Family Welfare Minister Roshan Warjri, have declared themselves "retired" from electoral --IANS rrk/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Saturday released its list of candidates for next month's elections to the 60-seat Tripura Assembly, and threw open the door for an alliance with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC). All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Central Election Committee Oscar Fernandes communicated the candidates' names to the leaders of Tripura unit of the party. "Central leaders headed by party president Rahul Gandhi approved candidates for 56 seats out of the total of 60 assembly seats. The names for the remaining four seats will be declared soon," Tripura Pradesh Congress general secretary Harekrishna Bhowmik told the media after announcing the names of the party nominees. He said: "We are ready to forge an electoral alliance with the TMC. However, in that case, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will have to talk to our President Rahul Gandhi to finalise the deal." Of the 56 candidates, three are women and 17 candidates are below the age of 50 years. State Congress chief and sitting MLA Birajit Sinha will contest from his old turf Kailashahar in northern Tripura, while Congress Legislature Party leader Gopal Roy will fight from his existing seat in Banamalipur in Agartala. Former Congress minister Laxmi Nag, one of three women candidates, would contest from western Tripura's Dhanpur constituency, from where Chief Minister and ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Manik Sarkar has been getting elected for the past five consecutive terms. Accompanied by state Congress vice-president Tapash Dey, Bhowmik said that no electoral alliance was so far done with any tribal-based party. Earlier, the Tripura Congress leaders desirous of forming an electoral alliance held a series of meetings with the three tribal-based parties -- Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and Rajeshwar Debbarma-led faction of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s in-charge of Tripura elections, said the BJP's central parliamentary board meeting would be held in New Delhi on Saturday evening and the parties' candidates for the three election-bound northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland -- would be finalised. "The names of the BJP nominees would be declared either on Saturday night or Sunday morning," said Sarma, a former Congress Minister who joined the BJP before the Assam assembly elections in 2016. The ruling CPI-M-dominated Left Front on Tuesday released its list of candidates for the 60-seats featuring both old and new faces, and seven of the nominees being women. --IANS sc/nir/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Saturday protested against the drastic hike in bus fares and demanded its rollback, with the DMK holding demonstrations against the State Transport Corporations. PMK founder S. Ramadoss demanded a rollback, saying the fare hike has resulted in people opting for alternate travel modes defeating the purpose of the hike - which was for increasing the revenue for the State Transport Corporations. DMK leader M.K. Stalin led the protest here and termed the bus fare hike as a "merciless act" of the government affecting the common man. He said the government, without consulting anyone, has jacked up the bus fares by 66 per cent to rake in additional revenue. Stalin's son and actor Udayanidhi Stalin participated in the party's protest at Tambaram near here. The alliance parties of DMK, including the Congress, IUML, MDMK and others, participated in the agitation denouncing the AIADMK government in the state. Ramadoss, in a statement, said the State Transport Corporations are losing around Rs 10 crore daily after the hike. He said, around 22,000 government buses used to carry around 2.10 crore passengers a day in the state, and following the fare hike around 25 lakh passengers have switched over to other modes of transport like railways, private buses, shared cabs and others, resulting in a loss of around Rs 10 crore per day for State Transport Corporations. Officials of government-owned transport corporations had earlier said around Rs 38 crore would be the fare collections per day following the hike, he said. But now the per day fare collections is around Rs 28 crore and hence the fare hike should be rolled back, Ramadoss added. --IANS vj/nks/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A massive explosion was triggered near Sidarat Square in central Kabul on Saturday, causing casualties and destruction, witnesses said. The blast occurred at roughly 12.50 p.m. in front of Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located, eyewitness Mohammad Mustafa told Xinhua. "We heard a huge blast in the area which is a few metres away from Sidarat Square. The whole place has now been sealed off," he said. Security forces have cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The capital city, with a population of nearly five million, has been hit by a series of terror attacks in the past years. On January 20, more than 20 people, including 14 foreigners, were killed and a dozen of others injured after the Taliban attacked a luxury hotel in Kabul. --IANS ahm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As investigation into Russian interference in the Presidential election progresses, the US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation team has reportedly interviewed Facebook staff associated with President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. "The interview was part of Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and what role, if any, the Trump campaign played in that interference," The WIRED reported late on Friday, citing a source familiar with the matter. Several social media platforms including Facebook have emerged as a key part of that investigation. "Mueller's team speaking with a Facebook employee does not necessarily implicate Facebook in any wrongdoing. It's natural that a company not only close to the campaign but also directly impacted by Russian active members would be on Mueller's radar," the report added. Mueller's team has been investigating any collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russia. During the election, Facebook had deployed its staff to embed with the Trump campaign to assist its digital operations. Facebook, Twitter and Google worked with Hillary Clinton's campaign team as well. However, they did not have their employees embedded with them. Twitter reportedly alerted 6,77,775 people that they have followed, retweeted or liked tweets by fake Russian accounts-tweets that collectively received roughly 288 million views. Meanwhile, Google has has also said that it found 18 YouTube channels that were likely associated with Internet Research Agency. "Accounts linked to the agency purchased $4,700 worth of ads. YouTube also included the Russian media outlet Russia Today, as part of its preferred lineup of YouTube channels, which are bundled and presented to advertisers as attractive outlets," the WIRED report said. The Internet Research Agency (IRA) is a Russian firm, based in St. Petersburg that engages in online influence operations on behalf of the Russian government. --IANS ksc/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Brazil international forward Warley was rushed to hospital after being stabbed during a robbery, local police said. Warley was attacked at around 4 am near his home in the northeastern Brazilian city of Joao Pessoa on Thursday, reports Xinhua. Thieves made off with his car and mobile phone, according to police. Warley's friend, Claudio Santos, told the Globo newspaper that the 39-year-old had undergone surgery but did not provide details of his condition. Capped four times for Brazil's national team, Warley played for Sao Paulo, Udinese and Palmeiras during a career that spanned from 1997 to 2016. --IANS sam/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) City police on Saturday detained Gurugram chief of Shri Rajput Karni Sena Thakur Kushalpal over the recent violent incidents, including attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus here, a senior police officer said. In protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat", violent incidents took place at various places across the country. The Karni Sena alleged that history had been tampered with in the period drama. In Gurugram, hundreds of violent protesters took to roads, torching vehicles and destroying public property and attacked a school bus with children onboard. To investigate the violence, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer has also been constituted, according to Ravinder Kumar, PRO of Gurugram police. "The SIT has ACPs, Inspectors and ASIs as its members and is headed by DCP-South Ashok Bakshi. This team will make all-out efforts to collect scientific evidence and identify the remaining hooligans," Kumar said. A day after arresting Karni Sena national secretary Surajpal Amu from his residence in the posh DLF area, the police on Saturday detained Kushalpal for questioning him about his role in the violent incidents in the district, the police said. "So far, 38 hooligans have been arrested and sent to judicial custody in connection with the violence. Twenty-four miscreants were arrested in eight criminal cases and 14 miscreants were detained for breaching peace and tranquility in Gurugram," Kumar added. Meanwhile, some angry villagers of Bhondsi threatened to call a "Mahapanchayat" on Sunday to take legal action against the Gurugram police crackdown and alleged framing of "innocent juvenile and youths". --IANS sp/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday asked the state officials working on deputation with the central government to play a pro-active role in speeding up projects and proposals related to the state. A meeting with the officials of the state cadre posted in central ministries was held here where Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda was also present. Nadda, who hails from the hill state, stressed upon coordination between officers working with the state and the central governments. The Chief Minister said the officials were the backbone of the government and could play a significant role in preparing policies and programmes. Thakur said it was a matter of pride for the state that so many officers were working in the government of India and representing the state. He asked them to take care of the interests of the state and play an effective role in its growth. Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhary said every effort would be made to implement the government policies and that welfare of the people would be the priority. --IANS vg/nir/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Acclaimed writer and a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Nayantara Sahgal, on Saturday reinforced her sustained attack on the "ideology of Hindutva," dubbing it an extension of Hitler's and Mussolini's philosophy, while also emphasising that the country's Dalit movement is the "strongest and most organised voice" against the current trials of time. Speaking at the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, where she had delivered the first keynote address, the Commonwealth Prize winner and lifelong advocate of freedom of expression, said that the "master race" that is now trying to be "produced in India" comes from "the ideology of Hitler and Mussolini. "When the atmosphere in the country is what it is today, there are only two options: One, to get drunk and the other to write a novel and that's what I have done," she said. Sahgal's last novel "When The Moon Shines By Day" is a satire on an age when there are acute restrictions on freedom of expressions as characters in the novel come face-to-face with subjugation by the state. "It seems to me that the Kshatriya mentality has taken over the country and is trying to decide what we do. I sense a very war-like situation in the country, not only with Pakistan but also with internal enemies," she said, before describing that the internal enemies are "others" -- those who disagree with the current dispensation. Responding to an interjection from an audience member, she contended that "Hindutva is a problem to me because I am a Hindu. I am not only a born Hindu and practising Hindu. We rejected a religious identity at Independence because we are a deeply religious society of many religions. Our founding fathers ensured that the practitioners of every religion have pride of place in the country". "Under that banner of Hinduism, attacks are carried out on freedom of expression. Scientists, artists, filmmakers and everybody who do not agree with them are attacked and killed," she added. Terming herself an "admirer of the ongoing Dalit movement," Sahgal also said that the voice of Dalits is the most organised and strongest voice today. She further stressed that the basic difference between Hindutva and Hinduism is that the former believes in violence. Sahgal has been a regular at almost every other literary event in the past six months and at each event, she has carried on with similar relentless attacks on Hindutva. --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A young newly-married woman died after she fell from the terrace of a five-storey building while apparently playing with her pet dog here but her parents suspect foul play, police said on Saturday. Ladlee Mudiraj, 24, an employee of Amazon, fell from the fifth floor of her apartment building in Kukatpally area in the early hours of Friday. Her husband Saiprasad Mudiraj and his sister Sudha Rani told police that Ladlee was playing with the pet around 3.30 a.m. They said when she sat on the railing and the dog sprang at her, she lost her balance and fell. A profusely bleeding Ladlee was rushed to a private hospital, where she succumbed. Ladlee's parents, however, blamed her husband for her death. They wondered why their daughter would go to the terrace at the odd hour and that too in the cold weather. Saiprasad and Ladlee had a love marriage in 2015, against the wishes of her parents. Police said they registered a case of death under suspicious circumstances and were investigating. --IANS ms/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chennai City were held to a goalless draw by Indian Arrows in an I-League clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday. Arrows showed composure and maintained their defensive shape as Prabhsukhan Gill put up a strong show under the bar throughout the match to earn a point. Following the draw, Arrows remained at the seventh spot with 11 points from 13 games, whereas Chennai were static at eighth position with 10 points from 12 matches. Chennai will next host Aizawl on February 3, whereas Arrows will be up against East Bengal a day later in Kolkata. --IANS pur/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In keeping with New Delhi's Act East Policy which has Southeast Asia as its central focus, India and Cambodia agreed to enhance maritime cooperation while deciding to combat the menace of terrorism together following delegation-level between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen here on Saturday. A joint statement issued following the talks said both sides expressed interest "in enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain, including sustainable marine development and protection and preservation of marine and coastal environment, anti-piracy cooperation, security of sea lanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region". "They also agreed that peace and maritime security is important for both countries," it stated. "To that end, they support complete freedom of navigation and overflight and pacific resolution of maritime issues based on international law, notably the 1982 Unclos (UN Convention for the Law of the Sea)." This assumes significance given China's aggressive stance in the South China Sea and India's keenness to play a more influential role in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the statement, both Modi and Hun Sen affirmed that those responsible for committing, abetting, organising and supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and be punished. "The two leaders further agreed that terrorism cannot be used as an instrument of state policy for furthering narrow political objectives," it stated in what is a veiled reference to Pakistan. In a joint address to the media with Hun Sen following the talks, Modi also reiterated India's commitment to development cooperation with Cambodia. "We have proposed several lines of credit according to the requirements of the Cambodian government., especially in the areas of health, connectivity and digital connectivity." Hun Sen, who arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Dialogue Partnership and was among the all 10 heads of government or state of Asean nations to be guests of honour in this year's Republic Day celebrations, raised the trip to that of a bilateral state visit on Saturday. Modi said that the number of quick impact projects (QIPs) that India does in Cambodia every year would be increased from five to 10. During the visit of then Vice President Hamid Ansari to Cambodia in 2015, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for implementing QIPs in that country under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative. Under the QIP scheme, India grants assistance of $50,000 each for implementing five projects every year. During the last two years, 10 QIPs have been implemented in the fields of agriculture, health, women empowerment, capacity building, sanitation and environment. "We have set up a Rs 500-crore project development fund," Modi said. "This fund can be utilised to expand India industry and business and make the supply chain cost effective." Stating that India will establish a centre of excellence in IT and IT-enabled services in Cambodia, Modi said over 1,400 Cambodians have benefitted from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. He said that India was not only ready but "committed to deepen economic, social welfare, capacity building, cultural, trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties with Cambodia". While pointing out that Cambodia is making fast economic progress with a growth rate of 7 per cent annually over the last two decades, the Indian Prime Minister said that India is also the fastest growing large economies. "Since there are similarities in our values and culture, there can be a natural synergy in increasing trade between our two countries," he said. "Cambodia's liberal economic policies and the establishment of the Asean Economic Community provides a good opportunity for Indian investment in Cambodia, especially in areas like health, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, automobiles, auto components and textiles." Bilateral trade between India and Cambodia stood at $153.13 million in 2016, according to figures provided by the Ministry of External Affairs. In terms of connectivity, the joint statement said that Modi and Hun Sen "noted with satisfaction the progress in regional connectivity efforts such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and agreed to explore the possibility of extending this Highway further to Cambodia and beyond". Cambodia also reiterated its support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. Following the talks, four agreements were signed between the two sides, including on a credit line for a water resource development in that southeast Asian nation and on prevention of human trafficking. --IANS ab/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Saturday strongly condemned the terror attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul that claimed over 100 lives. "India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today that targeted innocent civilians and the wounded under treatment," the External Affairs Mnistry said in a statement. Stating that this follows the cowardly terror attack on the children and civilians in Jalalabad on January 24, the statement said: "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice." Over 100 people were killed and over nearly 200 others injured when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. --IANS ab/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran is in the process of testing a state-of-art stealth fighter jet named Qaher (Conqueror), a top official said on Saturday. Former Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan pointed to the development process of Qaher by domestic experts, saying that the fighter jet has been designed to conduct close air support missions, Xinhua reported. Qaher is undergoing pre-flight tests, and among them is fast taxiing test. Taxiing is the movement of aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or push-back where the aircraft is moved by a tug. Dehqan also mentioned the development of another homegrown jet, dubbed Kowsar-88, saying that it is also performing fast taxi runs, preparing to take off. Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka is ready for talks with Goa on the Mahadayi river water sharing issue to meet the drinking needs of the state's four drought-prone districts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday. "We are ready for talks if Goa Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) convenes a meeting to amicably negotiate the sharing of river water," Siddarmaiah told reporters after an all-party meeting on the issue failed to reach a consensus here. The four districts are Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag in Karnataka's north-west region, 400-550 km from state capital Bengaluru. As the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disagreed with the ruling Congress and other parties that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervene to resolve the issue, the Chief Minister said he would convince his party's leaders in Goa to urge their state government to share water to meet the drinking needs of people in the region. "Barring the BJP, other parties, including the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), also sought Prime Minister's intervention in the inter-state river water dispute instead of waiting for a judicial verdict," Siddaramaiah said. A BJP leader, however, told IANS that Modi's intervention was "unwarranted", as Parrikar had offered to discuss the issue with Karnataka if the Congress leaders in Goa agreed to the sharing of river water. "As the inter-state issue is before the Supreme Court and the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal and hence sub judice, how can the Prime Minister intervene when it was the then Congress government in Goa which went to the apex court and got a tribunal set up to resolve the issue," asked the BJP leader. The 77-km-long Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district and flows into the neighbouring Goa and joins the Arabian Sea off the West Coast. Though the river flows for 29 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032 km in the southern state as against 1,580 km in Goa. Karnataka has been asking Goa since 2001 to release 7.6 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to meet drinking and irrigation needs of people in its drought-prone districts. Karnataka plans to build two canals across Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of the river in the state to divert and supply water to the four districts. The Tribunal, headed by J.N. Panchal, on July 28, 2016, rejected the state's petition for releasing the water, citing various grounds, including ecological damage the twin canal projects may cause. "Though I have written many letters to the Prime Minister and Parrikar for an out-of-court or outside-Tribunal settlement, there has been no response from either till date," Siddaramaiah rued. Appealing to the BJP for seeking Modi's intervention, the Chief Minister said he was ready to lead an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister in New Delhi and convince him to resolve the issue at the earliest. The Chief Minister also objected to Parrikar writing to BJP state unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa last month rather than him to discuss the issue. "Yeddyurappa is a former BJP Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is the BJP state unit President and a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga in Malnad (region). Parrikar's offer letter is personal and not official as not even a copy of it was marked or sent to my office," Siddaramaiah said. BJP's central Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda from the state, its opposition leaders in state Assembly Jagadish Shettar and Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa, former JD-S Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and JD-S lawmaker in the Council Basavaraj Horatti and farmer representatives from the affected region participated in the three-hour meeting at the state's Secretariat in the city centre. --IANS fb/tsb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The women's wing of the Delhi Congress on Saturday staged a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding government jobs for the kin of the Bawana fire victims and also to ensure that female workers in factories are not paid below the minimum wages. Hundreds of Delhi Congress women's wing workers, led by party's city women wing chief Sharmistha Mukherjee, gathered outside Kejriwal's residence here in the Civil Lines area of north Delhi and raised slogans against him. Speaking to IANS, Mukherjee said, "We are protesting here to demand justice for the victims of the Bawana fire tragedy and also a government job to their kin." Mukherjee's remarks came in the wake of a major fire at a Bawana plastics warehouse last week, which was also used to store firecrackers. At least 17 people, including 10 women, were burnt to death or asphyxiated and 30 others were injured in the fire. She said her party has demanded that the Delhi government ensure minimum wages along with a safe and good environment for the women factory workers. "After the fire tragedy when we visited and spoke to the women workers there, they told us that they were only paid about Rs 6,000 a month, whereas the minimum wage in Delhi is prescribed at over Rs 15,000," she said. She said the women workers told them that they were not given any benefit of government rules like maternity leave etc. "Thus we demand that Kejriwal's government must provide women with all the government facilities which are their right, including maternity leave," she said. The Delhi Congress women wing chief also said the government should ensure proper and safe environment for the women workers. "We are protesting to improve the working conditions of the women workers in the unorganised sector of the country," she added. --IANS aks/nks/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maoists went on rampage in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district early Saturday, killing one and injuring another former guerrilla member, whom they suspected of being police informers. The Maoists also set ablaze several vehicles in three separate incidents in the district bordering Chhattisgarh. The extremists of Communist Party of India (Maoist) struck after midnight. They shot dead P. Jogaiah, who died on the spot in the attack in Veerapuram village. Maoists also opened fire on another person at Suryanagar in Bhadrachalam town in the same district. M. Ramesh escaped with bullet injuries on his hand. Both Jogaiah and Ramesh were former Maoists. Police said they were attacked as Maoists suspected them to be acting as informers for police. The Maoists also burnt down four trucks, two JCBs and a tractor at Bhupatiraopet in the same district. They abducted two workers from one of the trucks but later released them. The attackers left behind a letter saying their action was in protest against the illegal sand mining in the area. About 40 to 50 Maoists, who had reportedly crossed over from Chhattisgarh, carried out the attacks after forming three teams. Following the attacks, police sounded an alert in the area and launched combing operations. Telangana was once the stronghold of Maoists but their activities have been brought under control by sustained police operations. Police claimed that in 2017, Maoist violence declined by 90 per cent. Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy said in December 2017, that the police were maintaining the vigil, especially in areas bordering Chhattisgarh to foil any attempt by Maoists to regroup. --IANS ms/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Addis Ababa, Jan 27 (IANS/MAP) Morocco has been elected to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Pan-African organisation here. Morocco, the unique candidate from the North-Africa region, was elected to the PSC for a renewable two-year term (2018-2020) by receiving 39 votes, while the minimum votes required was 36. The PSC is the standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. The 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) will take place from January 28-29 under the theme "Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation". The AU Assembly is preceded by meetings of the Permanent Representatives Committee as well as the meeting of the Executive Council. --IANS/MAP soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Denying again its involvement in the incidents of violence, the Shree Rajput Karni Sena on Saturday said it would intensify its agitation and continue it till the film "Padmaavat" is banned. Addressing a press conference here, Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said he had "evidence" to prove that none of their volunteers were part of the attack on a school bus in Gurugram and on cinema halls in Ahmedabad and other parts of the country. "Some of the incidents that happened are sad... None of the protesters, who set the cinema halls and 40-50 motor-cycles on fire in Ahmedabad, knew who I was. Neither do I know them. What does it indicate? But TV reports said Rajputs, Karni Sena volunteers did it," he said. "Eye-witnesses said two unknown persons on motorcycles attacked the school bus in Gurugram. On the other hand, our people took the bus to a safe place with the help of police," he claimed. Saying that "Rajputs would not resort to such heinous" acts, Kalvi said the Karni Sena was open to any kind of investigation. "We are open to probe by highest of authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Let there be a CBI probe to find out who was behind the attacks," Kalvi said. He, however, said the ongoing protest would be intensified and continued till Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" is banned. "Why did we fail in banning the movie? There is lack of political will," he said. "I would make an appeal to all social organisations to continue the protests using all their strength to ban the movie, in whichever way possible." Kalvi claimed that in north India, there are 4,318 halls but the film was shown in only 48 places. He said the Rajputs had the right to protest against the film. "We have as equal right of dissent as any citizen of this country," he said. On Thursday too, Kalvi had denied the Karni Sena had any role in the Gurugram bus attack, and had instead blamed Bhansali and his team for the act. --IANS spk/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 102 people were killed and nearly 200 injured on Saturday when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. "At least 102 people killed, 196 wounded. We fear the number of people killed may go up," health and interior ministry sources told the local media. The horrific explosion occurred at around 12.50 pm near the old building which still houses some ministry offices. Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid, confirmed to Efe that "a suicide bomber with a car laden with explosives tried to penetrate the complex (the ministry), but detonated the vehicle as he was being identified by police at the checkpoint". The Taliban claimed the attack in a message on social network Twitter, stating that "a martyr in a car bomb reached the first checkpoint near the Interior Ministry". Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that at the time of the explosion, a large contingent of police officers was in the area. Public hospital Jamhuriat, some NGO offices and busy local markets are also located in the area. The attack comes amid a recent surge in terrorist attacks on civilian targets by the Taliban and Islamic State. Last weekend over 20 people died at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul during an assault by six armed attackers who clashed with security forces for 12 hours. On Wednesday, the IS led an attack on Save the Children's headquarters in Jalalabad killing four NGO employees, a passerby and a security force member along with the five terrorists. Although in the first nine months of 2017 the civilian death toll dropped by 6 per cent - its first decline since 2012 - the toll of 2,640 dead and 5,379 wounded, remains too high, according to a UN report. Visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain have agreed to work together for peace in the war-shattered Afghanistan. Widodo, who arrived in Pakistan on a two-day state visit on Friday, held talks with Hussain and proposed a joint role of religious scholars of the three nations for peace in Afghanistan, the president office said. "Pakistan has always played an important role for peace in the neighbouring country. Pakistan and Indonesia can jointly promote moderation in the world," he said. Hussain said Pakistan will welcome Indonesia's peace role in Afghanistan, Xinhua quoted the president office as saying. Widodo's comments came amid reports that Indonesia wanted to play a role in Afghan peace. In November 2017, Chief of Afghanistan High Peace Council Karim Khalili visited Indonesia where he held discussions with high-ranking Indonesian officials, including Widodo on the peace process in Afghanistan. Afghan ambassador in Qatar, Faizullah Kakar, had stated in October 2017 that Indonesia wants to help in peace. Earlier addressing the joint session of parliament in Islamabad, the Widodo said economic activities would never take place if there was conflict or war. "Conflicts and wars benefit no one ...women and children become most impacted in such situations," he said. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two all-party meetings will be held on Sunday, ahead of the Session of Parliament which is due to start on Monday, sources said on Saturday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar has called for an all-party meeting at 4.00 p.m., and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will hold a meeting at 7.30 p.m, which will be followed by dinner, sources said. The Session will start on Monday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of the two Houses. This will be Kovind's first address to a joint sitting of Parliament since he took over as the President. The Union will be tabled on February 1. The session will go into a break on February 9. The second phase of the Budget Session will start on March 5 and conclude on April 6. The session is likely to see important bills, including one for the commission for backward classes and another on Triple Talaq. While The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was stuck in the Rajya Sabha after getting passed in the Lok Sabha, the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, which proposes constitutional status for the OBC Commission, could not be passed in the Lok Sabha. The had tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha with an amendment alternative to the amendment made by the Rajya Sabha. The first two cloned monkeys created by Chinese researchers have recently caught much spotlight on the international stage, as experts abroad praised the study as a technical advance with the potential of furthering human disease research. "It's a landmark work," said Jun Wu, assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, who had participated in the creation of the first human-pig chimera embryos and the altering of the genes of a human embryo in the US. "Monkeys are the primates closest to humans and the biggest contribution of this work is to produce non-human primate models for human disease," Xinhua quoted the professor as saying. Darren Griffin, professor of genetics at the University of Kent, called the study "very impressive technically". Griffin said cloning primates have proven "much harder" than cloning other species like dogs, cats, pigs, horses and so on. "So to achieve that in primates has been quite a technical advance," he said. The two genetically identical, long-tailed macaques, named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, were successfully created from somatic cells using the same technique behind Dolly the sheep, according to an article that Chinese researchers published in the scientific journal Cell. "Such cloning allows the production of genetically uniform monkeys as animal models for basic research in primate biology and for studying human disease mechanisms and therapeutic treatments," the article said. In this aspect, Griffin said that the production of such cloned animals could allow scientists to use "less animals" for their research. Robert Desimone, Director of McGovern Institute of Brain Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, labelled the study as "a significant advance" for disease research as the cloning methods may be "particularly useful for combining several disease-related mutations in the same animal". However, Griffin warned that the first cloning of a non-human primate would raise ethical concerns, with critics arguing that this could possibly be "one step closer to human cloning". "Careful consideration now needs to be given to the ethical framework under which such experiments can, and should, operate," he said. --IANS nks/soni/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Spanish government will appeal to the country's constitutional court in an attempt to stop the investiture of Carles Puigdement as the leader of the Catalan region, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sainz de Santamaria said on Friday. Puigdemont was sacked as leader of the Catalan regional assembly at the end of October 2017 in the wake of the Catalan independence referendum and unilateral declaration of independence, reports Xinhua. Puigdemont is currently in Belgium facing arrest on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of funds and disobedience if he returns to Spain. It is so far unsure whether his investiture would be by video link or in person. "We will use this prerogative (the constitutional court) to stop Puigdemont's candidacy progressing and producing irreparable damage," Sainz de Santamaria was quoted as saying. "We have the constitutional duty to do everything legally possible that is in our hands to stop legally being broken. We have to use all of the legal tools in our hands to stop that someone who has run away from justice be illegitimately sworn into power and placed at the head of the government of an autonomous region," she added. If the constitutional court accepts the government's appeal, it would temporarily suspend Tuesday's investiture session while it carries out its investigations prior to making a definitive decision. Spain's State Council on Thursday said no action had been carried out thus far to justify such a step, adding Puigdemont had been correctly elected as a member of the Catalan parliament and the charges against him are no impediment to him being a candidate for regional presidency. Pro-independence parties in Catalonia won 70 seats in the 135-seat parliament in elections on December 21. --IANS sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has rescued three minor Nepalese children from Bihar's Sitamarhi district and arrested a trafficker who was taking them to Mumbai to push them into child labour, an official said on Saturday. A team of 20th Battalion of the paramilitary force rescued the children on Thursday from Bairang Railway Station in Sitamarhi and also nabbed Md. Momin Aalam, a resident of Rautahat district in Nepal, for the offence. Aalam was later handed over to railway police. "All the rescued minor boys belong to Nepal. They were being taken to Mumbai for child labour in bag stitching factory. They have been handed over to NGO Childline in Sitamarhi," an SSB official said. The SSB, which is mandated to guard 1,751 km India-Nepal and 699 km India-Bhutan borders, this year so far has rescued 49 victims and apprehended 20 human traffickers in eight cases. It also rescued 628 victims and apprehended 169 human traffickers in 159 cases last year. --IANS rak/nks/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) England all-rounder Ben Stokes and Indian youngsters Manish Pandey and Lokesh Rahul emerged as the most valuable players at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction here on Saturday. Debut season winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) secured Stokes for an eye-popping Rs 12.5 crore (almost $2 million). Stokes was the most valuable player at last year's IPL auction as well, when he was bought by Rising Pune Supergiant. Pandey and Rahul were both sold for Rs 11 crore. Pandey was at the centre of an intense bidding war between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). He eventually went to Hyderabad at 11 times his base price as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) decided not to exercise the Right to Match (RTM) option. Rahul started at a low base price of Rs 50 lakh. But a bitter tussle between Punjab and Hyderabad greatly inflated his price before the former took him for a whopping Rs 11 crore. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan sprung one of the big surprises at the auction by commanding a price of Rs 9 crore. Kings XI Punjab won the bidding for the 19-year-old, but Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched his services at the last moment by exercising the RTM option. The Australian trio of Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and Chris Lynn were also sold for hefty prices along with young Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya, wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthick. Surprisingly, Krunal attracted the second highest price among Indians at the auction after going to Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs 8.8 crore. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the bid for Krunal before Mumbai decided to scoop him up with the RTM option. Samson was another surprise with Rajasthan deciding to fork out Rs 8 crore for his services. With a base price of Rs 1 crore, he was at the centre of considerable interest before the Royals beat off competition from several other teams. Jadhav got the fourth highest price among the Indians. He was sold to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 7.8 crore. He had started at a low base price, but his value quickly escalated as CSK, SRH and RR went for him. Dinesh Karthick also got a good price. Starting at a base price of Rs 2 crore, he was snapped up by KKR at Rs 7.4 crore. Earlier, Maxwell started at a base price of Rs 2 crore and sparked a bidding war between Hyderabad, Punjab, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before the Delhi Daredevils (DD) made a late bid to snap him up for Rs 9 crore. Starc was also at the centre of some hot competition between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Kolkata eventually snapped up the Australian pace spearhead for a whopping Rs 9.4 crore. Chris Lynn of Australia was sold to KKR for Rs 9.6 crore after they saw off challenges from Delhi and Bangalore. Robin Uthappa was taken by KKR for Rs 6.4 crore with a late bid after strong competition between Mumbai and Rajasthan. Young Indian wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan was bought by Mumbai for Rs 6.2 crore. KKR took Kuldeep Yadav for Rs 5.8 crore. They sat back as RCB won the bidding battle before deciding to implement the RTM option. Seasoned leg-spinner Karn Sharma went to CSK for Rs 5 crore. Young Indian fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who has been one of the stars of the ongoing U-19 World Cup, will make his IPL debut for KKR after being sold for Rs 3.2 crore from a base price of Rs 20 lakh. Punjab were among the front runners at the auction, bagging several high profile players. They had earlier taken Ashwin for Rs 7.6 crore. The star off-spinner, who had started with a base price of Rs 2 crore, was not retained by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the auction. Punjab beat off bidding from Chennai and Rajasthan before sealing the deal. They also took Australian opener Aaron Finch for Rs 6.2 crore after surviving strong challenges from Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. Punjab had also initially won the bidding war for Dwayne Bravo who had a base price of Rs 2 crore. The Mohali based franchise initially seemed to have taken the West Indies all-rounder at Rs 6.4 crore, but Chennai exercised their RTM option and snapped up the player at the same price. The talented Karun Nair started at a low base price of Rs 50 lakh but was sold to Punjab for Rs 5.6 crore after a heated contest. Punjab then exercised their RTM option on Australia's David Miller after Mumbai had made a bid for Rs 3 crore. Australian pacer Pat Cummins went to Mumbai for Rs 5.4 crore after starting from a base price of Rs 2 crore. Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav was sold to RCB for Rs 4.2 crore. Star South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was taken by Delhi via the RTM option. CSK had won the bidding tussle for the fast bowler at Rs 4.2 crore before the Daredevils whisked him away. Delhi also bought Indian pacer Mohammed Shami for Rs 3 crore. The Daredevils also bought veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra for Rs 4 crore. Bangalore meanwhile, bought Kiwi veteran Brendon McCullum for Rs 3.6 crore. McCullum's compatriot Kane Williamson started at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore and was bought back by Hyderabad for Rs 3 crore after a short tussle with Bangalore. Shikhar Dhawan, Kieron Pollard, Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis were meanwhile brought back by their respective teams using the RTM option. Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan went to Chennai for his base price of Rs 2 crore as there were no other takers. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan started at a base price of Rs 1 crore and went for double that amount to Hyderabad after a short tussle with Rajasthan and Kolkata. Gautam Gambhir went to Delhi for Rs 2.8 crore. The veteran opener had represented KKR for seven years, leading them twice to the title. But the Kolkata based franchise did not use the RTM option, letting the left-hander return to his hometown. Yuvraj Singh meanwhile, was taken by Punjab at his base price of Rs 2 crore as there were no other bidders. Among the all-rounders, Yusuf Pathan and Colin Monroe went to Hyderabad and Delhi respectively for identical prices of Rs 1.9 crore. England's Moeen Ali went to RCB for Rs 1.7 crore. Star Australian all-rounder Shane Watson started at a surprisingly low base prise of Rs 1 crore. He went for Rs 4 crore to Chennai who beat off competition from Rajasthan. Veteran South Africa star Hashim Amla, the England duo of Joe Root and Johhny Bairstow, the Kiwi trio of Martin Guptill, Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenagan, Australian all-rounder James Faulkner and his compatriot, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood were the biggest names to remain unsold. Not surprisingly, veteran Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga also did not find any takers. The leg-spin duo of Australian Adam Zampa and Samuel Badree of West Indies also went unsold. Among the Indians, Murali Vijay and Ishant Sharma were the biggest players to remain unsold at base prices of Rs 2 crore and Rs 75 lakh respectively. Wicket-keeper Naman Ojha was also unsold. --IANS ajb/vm (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.) At least 63 people were killed and over 150 others injured on Saturday when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. "At least 63 people were killed and a further 151 were wounded in today's (Saturday) attacks," said Barilai Helali, Director of the Afghan government's Information and Media center, at a press conference in Kabul. A Ministry spokesperson, Ismail Kawosi, told Efe that the hospitals in the area confirmed these figures after the attack near the former Interior Ministry building and a facility of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Sadarat Square, downtown Kabul. The explosion occurred at around 12.50 p.m. near the old building which still houses some ministry offices. Kabul police spokesperson, Basir Mujahid, confirmed to Efe that "a suicide bomber with a car laden with explosives tried to penetrate the complex (the ministry), but detonated the vehicle as he was being identified by police at the checkpoint". The Taliban claimed the attack in a message on the social network Telegram stating that "a martyr in a car bomb reached the first checkpoint near the Interior Ministry". Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that at the time of the explosion, a large contingent of police officers was in the area. Public hospital Jamhuriat, some NGO offices and busy local markets are also located in the area. The attack comes amid a recent surge in terrorist attacks on civilian targets by the Taliban and Islamic State. Last weekend over 20 people died at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul during an assault by six armed attackers who clashed with security forces for 12 hours. On Wednesday, the IS led an attack on Save the Children's headquarters in Jalalabad killing four NGO employees, a passerby and a security force member along with the five terrorists. Although in the first nine months of 2017 the civilian death toll dropped by 6 per cent - its first decline since 2012 - the toll of 2,640 dead and 5,379 wounded, remains too high, according to a UN report. --IANS ahm/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It grew over time by joining the dots and the outcome is "Different". Fifteen-year-old Neeha Gupta's debut book tells the story of Nicole Grace, the only surviving member of Bridgen -- a planet in the neighbouring galaxy of Andromeda -- after her father sent her to earth when her planet was on the verge of destruction. It's the journey of a "superkid" with a photographic memory from 4 to 14 as she struggles to adjust to earth and contribute to her school and to the planet. Nicole's friends Amanda, Sarah and Ayush help her to navigate unchartered territory and, in the process, they save their school from trouble and also give the world a whole new way of intergalactic travel. Quite a handful, would you say, for a 10th grader at Mumbai's Jamnabai Narsee International School who's pledged to donate the proceedings from the sale of the book to Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's Children's Foundation. Not really, because the point Gupta is making is that teenagers aren't as indifferent as they're made out to be. They pull up their socks and deliver when it really matters. Also, they love challenges and they care about right and wrong. "Initially it was about joining the dots on the plot -- so whenever I got an idea, I'd write it down. Later, I would develop those ideas whenever I had the time. But, during the later stages of the book, which are the most difficult parts to complete, I made sure to reach a word limit every day. Discipline actually helped me finish my book," Gupta told IANS in an interview. To backtrack a bit, how did the book come about? "I have always been an avid reader, and my love for reading translated into a desire to write. In my 7th grade, I began to blog. As I grew up, I realised I grew out of that story too! Then I thought to myself, that a book would actually just be a really large blog! So, in my 9th grade summer break, an idea came to me, that got me all excited -- about how an alien would adjust to high school. I made up my mind to complete the story and began writing," Gupta explained. The effort has won her praise from her school head, Jasmine Madhani. "The title is almost eponymous because 'Different' is a word one could use to describe the author. With a perfect 6.0 in her English checkpoint exam in the 8th grade, Neeha has always had a way with words. Adjectives like 'sincere', 'conscientious' and 'diligent' have been part of her report cards right from the time she entered our school as a child. With a keen proclivity for the sport of shooting, Neeha is not one to waste time," Madhani writes in the foreword. Is there another book on the cards? "Haven't really thought of another book yet. But when I met Mr. Shashi Tharoor, he told me that I must keep writing. So if the time and idea seem right, I will definitely take up the challenge! "As of now, I'm focusing on my upcoming 10th board examinations. Some day, I wish to win an Olympic medal for India in pistol shooting," she added rather modestly. Gupta had called on Satyarthi during a visit to the national capital earlier this month and found the experience "very humbling". "Meeting Satyarthi Sir was very humbling. I was speechless for most part -- and sir realised how quiet I was. He even mentioned that I must talk much more. Truth is that I'm extremely honoured to be the brand ambassador of Sir Kailash Satyarthi's Children's Foundation via the 100 million for 100 million campaign. I really look forward to contributing more and actively taking up my responsibility. Other than contributing proceeds from the sale of my book, I also look forward to mobilising more youngsters, wherever I go with my book," Gupta said. Not surprisingly, the Nobel Peace Prize winner himself as well as the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Fund have called Gupta a "Young change-maker" on the social media. (Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in ) --IANS vm/rn/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Humans may essentially be domesticated beings but even then travelling is an essential and inescapable part of their life, which is itself a journey across time and space. And given the wide variations of the human experience, travel can mean anything from renewal to changing beliefs to even an erotic sensation. Participating in "The Travel Session" at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 on Saturday, six international authors with experience of traversing across towering mountains, torrid deserts and the tantalising landscape of memory shared their unique expectations and sense of fulfillment from this activity, which festival co-director William Dalrymple termed "the oldest form of literature". Australian writer and translator Robert Dessaix, whose "Twilight of Love: Travels with Turgenev" is a self-exploratory travelogue cum biography of the notable Russian writer, felt travel was "about going home", being not about only wandering about or crossing deserts on a camel, but about a going home ritual. Citing his journey to Rohtang Pass where he felt "renewed and reformed", he also held travel was "at some level an erotic experience", while to travel well, "one must go beyond enemy lines, discover one's own self as extraordinary, and be left hungry for more". Palestinian lawyer, activist and writer Raja Shehadeh, who has written several evocative books about walking and travelling in his occupied-cum-severely-circumscribed homeland, which he termed "a land of travellers' imagination", equated his experiences with travel to changing beliefs and landscapes. In his book "Palestinian Walks", he describes seven long walks he took over a period of 27 years, which not only revealed changing regions and life, but also religious and political beliefs. However, he rued that there was now a situation where tension between the Palestinian administration and the Israeli government even robbed him of the simple pleasure of even being able to take a walk. Representing women travellers, writer and journalist Bee Rowlatt said that she mainly took to travel "to escape from domesticity and expectation" but it also held "moments of magic" for her. Her "In Search for Mary" is a travelogue tracing the steps of late 18th century English writer and "the mother of feminism" Mary Wollstonecraft, of "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), to try to ascertain what inspired her. For veteran traveller and travel writer Hugh Thomson, travel writing has a purpose loftier than mere self-exploration. And it sometimes can even lead to discovery of real reasons for government action, says Thomson, who in his "Nanda Devi: A Journey to the Last Sanctuary", detailing his expeditions to a usually inaccessible part of the Himalayas on the Indian-China border, also reveals why the Indian government kept the country's second-highest peak closed to travellers - a nuclear-powering sensing device to monitor Chinese military tests abandoned there since 1962 after attempts to place it at the peak failed. British essayist and novelist Pico Iyer, who has happened to visit some unexpected places like Paraguay and Iceland, decried some recent travel fads, such as bucket lists, which he termed "a folly". Iyer, whose works include "Falling off the Map: Some Lonely Places of the World", "Tropical Classical: Essays From Several Directions" and "The Global Soul: Jet Lag, Shopping Malls, and the Search for Home", said he could understand their appeal in giving a "clarifying sense of direction" but also "build expectations", which contradict the purpose of travelling. "Bucket lists prevent our sense of possibility from expanding and make us treat places and experiences as collectibles," he said. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) --IANS vd/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTCHOC) on Saturday appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to defer February 27 assembly elections in favour of early solution to the protracted Naga insurgency. "The opportunity for a peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue has never been this favourable as the political negotiations are in advance stage and we cannot effort to distract the focus on the process at any cost," the Core Committee said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat. Noting in the letter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very determined to resolve the Naga issue, the Committee said that the Indian government's interlocutor R.N. Ravi, along with the Naga negotiating teams, were also working hard and were committed to conclude the talks soon. In fact, the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Muivah (Issac-Muivah), which had signed the Framework Agreement to end Naga insurgency in August 2015 with the central government, had claimed that the decision to hold elections was bound to undermine the progress in the ongoing parleys. In 2017, the Centre also signed an agreement with a working committee comprising six Naga national political groups. Several tribal groups, including the combined ruling Naga People's Front-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, had submitted several memoranda and written appeals to the Election Commission seeking deferment of elections even before the poll dates were announced on January 18. "Holding of regular elections can only be stopped by means of a constitutional amendment and in consultation with the Election Commission, and it is recognised that interruptions of regular elections are acceptable only in extra-ordinary circumstances," they stated. The Core Committee also reminded the Election Commission that Nagaland Assembly had also adopted a resolution urging the Commission not to announce the elections until the Indian government arrived at an honourable and acceptable solution to the Naga issue. --IANS rrk/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy said on Saturday "sabotage" was being attempted on the newly laid broad-gauge Agartala-Udaipur railway line in the state and demanded an investigation. "Cases of sabotage of newly-laid rail track taking place in parts of Tripura. Removal of fish plates and an attempt at sawing through a rail have been reported. I am in touch with General Manager, N.F. Railway and the state government," Roy said in a tweet. Speaking to IANS, the Tripura Governor said: "I came to know about the incident in December end last year after finding the report published in a local newspaper." Demanding a proper investigation into the matter, Roy said it could have been carried out by anybody... insurgents or Rohingyas. On January 24, 2017, then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the 44.76 km new rail line beyond Agartala -- up to the temple city of Udaipur. The rail line section is part of the 114-km Agartala-Sabroom broad gauge line project. The anticipated cost of the Agartala-Sabroom project is Rs 3,351 crore and would be completed by March 2019. There are three crossing stations -- Bishalgarh, Bishramganj and Udaipur -- and one halt at Skerkote on the Agartala-Udaipur railway line. There are 58 road crossings and 87 major and minor bridges across the new line. Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Chahatey Ram, said: "Two incidents of the track tampering were found in early December." He said in one case, the railway team found the fish plates of the tracks were removed for over a distance of 15-20 metres. "While in another incident, which was reported a week later, there were marks of saw of the tracks which indicated that someone tried to cut the rail," he said. He also said that the matter was reported to police immediately and a case was lodged. --IANS aks/pgh/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tripura Government will hire an air ambulance to ferry officials and security personnel in emergency situations during the February 18 elections to the 60-seat Assembly, an official said here on Saturday. "We have invited bids from reputed companies from across the country operating air ambulance services," a Transport Department official said. An Election Department official said the Election Commission had directed authorities in election-bound Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland to keep ready air ambulances for emergencies during the Assembly polls. The five-year terms of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura Assemblies expire on March 6, 13, and 14, respectively. Single-phase Assembly polls will be held in Tripura on February 18, and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. Counting of votes for all three northeastern states with 60-member Assemblies each, will be done on March 3. In Tripura, over 30,000 civil officials would be engaged in conducting the Assembly elections. Besides, the poll panel, on the request of the state government, would deploy more than 30,000 additional central paramilitary forces before the elections. The central paramilitary forces, comprising the Border Security Force, the Central Industrial Security Force, and the Central Reserve Police Force have started arriving in the state in a phased manner. "The Election Commission has also directed all three states to tighten security along the inter-state and international borders," the official added. --IANS sc/tsb/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as the national tiger census-2018 continues, the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka has lost two of its tigers -- a sub-adult male and a female -- and an elephant, officials said on Saturday. While officials await lab reports, they suspect poisoning or contamination of water-pit near the carcasses to be the reason of their death. "The samples of animal and water have been sent to the lab in Coimbatore. We are suspecting poisoning but there are many other facts which rule that out. We are wait for reports," P. Sridahar, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife, Karnataka told IANS. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka has an estimated 107 to 134 tigers, which is second highest in India after Corbett Tiger Reserve (169 to 261) in Uttarakhand, according to the last 2014 tiger census. A 12-year-old female elephant was also found dead about 300 meters from the carcasses of the tigers. All three animals are suspected to have died between Thursday and Friday, January 25 and 26. The incident occurred in the famous Gopal Swami Betta range of the national park which is famous for its healthy pasture lands often used by the villagers on the periphery for grazing their cattle. While the national park officials are still unclear if the incident was sort of revenge killing by villagers after they were barred from grazing their cattle in the notified area, activists believe otherwise. According to Field Director of Bandipur National Park Ambady Madhav, the water-pit were, however, safe as other animals also drank from the same sources and did not show signs of poisoning through contamination. "There are two tanks, both natural, and one is very big. We are suspecting poisoning but investigation is still underway," the Bandipur Field Director told IANS. Meanwhile, activists are demanding that a case be registered against unknown people. According to Praveen Bhargava from Karnataka-based NGO Wildlife First, report of cattle killing by carnivore came a few days before the tigers were found dead. Advocating more clarity in the matter and stating that sometimes autopsy reports were fudged to avoid conflicts, Bhargava suspects retaliation by some villagers. "It is highly likely that it was a poisoning case mostly done as retaliation. This is an offence and calls for seven years' imprisonment irrespective of fact whrther carcasses were harvested or not," Bhargava said. He added that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) must increase its list of credible NGOs and people from civil societies as such matter could not be a closed-door affair. According to Sridhar, teams of volunteers are sent from time to time amid villagers for awareness and allay the anger, if any. At least four tigers have died since January 13, 2018. The other two died in Madhya Pradesh, of which one tigress was killed by poisoning in Seoni district, while the other died fighting another tiger. --IANS kd/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration has signed a contract with Boeing to replace two refrigerators aboard Air Force One, the President's plane, at a cost of nearly $24 million. The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $23.6 million contract in December to replace two of the five "cold chiller units" aboard the aircraft used by President Donald Trump, CNN reported. The coolers on the presidential aircraft need to have the capacity to store 3,000 meals onboard and two out of the five are in need of replacement, according to military specifications. The refrigerators have been on the plane since 1990 when Boeing first gave the Air Force the customised aircraft. Before taking office, Trump complained about the high costs of Air Force One, tweeting that the Air Force should "cancel order!" Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told CNN that some of the equipment on board was in need of replacement because of decreasing performance. The upgrades are expected to be completed by October 2019. "Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage," she said. "The engineering required to design, manufacture, conduct environmental testing and obtain Federal Aviation Administration certification are included in the cost," she added. A consultant told Defence One that the plane was expensive not because Boeing was gouging the government but because military requirements for the craft were expensive to fulfil. "It's not a contractor issue, it is a requirements issue," said Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of analysis at the Teal Group consulting firm. "It's not getting people rich." Former senior adviser to President Barack Obama Eric Schultz mocked the high price tag in a tweet on Friday, saying, "we would have been impeached" over it. US Senate Democrats have demanded that lawmakers act to protect special counsel Robert Mueller after revelations that President Donald Trump sought to oust him last year from overseeing the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Several Democrats and one Republican on Friday called for votes on Senate legislation that would prevent presidents from firing special counsels unless a panel of three judges agreed with the move, citing the revelations that Trump came close to pushing out Mueller last June, the Washington Post reported. The President backed off only after White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn threatened to quit, according to two people familiar with the episode. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the top Democrat in the Senate, said the report detailing an effort by Trump to fire Mueller in June demonstrated the urgency for Congress to act. "The most important thing Congress can do right now is to ensure that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation continues uninterrupted and unimpeded," Schumer said. "No one -- whether it be administration officials, Republicans or the President himself -- should get in the way and undermine the investigation." Democratic Senator Mark Warner said that Congress should now pass the legislation to protect the special counsel, urging his Republican and Democratic colleagues to work out any differences in approach to make it happen. Even as some Republicans have tried to discredit the Russia inquiry, a few senior members of the party said that they would not support the firing of Mueller. A spokesman for Speaker Paul Ryan said that Ryan's position had not changed since he said in June that Mueller should be left alone to do his job. And a spokesman for Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said that Cornyn still believed that it would be a "mistake" to fire the special counsel. Trump denied on Friday that he had ordered the firing and called reports of the episode "fake news". His comments came during a trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, a gathering of world leaders and global business executives. --IANS soni/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Punjab Police raided a house in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan late on Friday evening, Vicky Gounder, one of Punjab's most wanted gangsters, who was inside with two of his accomplices, realised that police had surrounded the house, and opened fire. In the ensuring shootout, police gunned down Gounder, and his two accomplices - gangsters Prem Lahoria and Sukhpreet Singh. On Saturday, a forensics team from Bikaner in Rajasthan arrived at the house, located near a 'dhani' (canal) in Hindumal Kot village, where the bodies of Gounder and Lahoria still lay. On Friday evening, a Punjab Police team from the Crime Control Unit along with a Rajasthan Police team raided the house located close to the Punjab-Rajasthan border. The gangsters had opened fire at the police team when they realized that they were surrounded. While Gounder was killed inside the house, Lahoria tried to escape by scaling a wall. However, he was shot dead. The third gangster, Sukhpreet Singh, who was injured in the shootout, died while being taken to the civil hospital in Abohar (in Punjab). The house where the shootout took place is owned by the family of gangster Lakhwinder Singh Lakha. He was arrested by the police following the encounter. The police recovered weapons and ammunition from the spot. Assistant Inspector General Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said the police raided the house following a tip-off. He added that two police personnel, including a sub-inspector and assistant sub-inspector, were injured in the shootout and have been admitted to hospital. Gounder was evading arrest since November 2016 when he made a sensational escape from the maximum-security Nabha Central Jail in Punjab along with five other prisoners, including two terrorists. While Punjab Police rearrested five escapees in a few months, Gounder remained on the run. He continued to taunt Punjab Police with regular Facebook updates while on the run. Gounder was suspected to be behind a fatal attack on another notorious gangster Sukha Kahlwan near Phagwara town, 135 km from here, in January 2015. Kahlwan was in police custody and on his way for a court hearing when gangsters attacked him. Gounder, whose real name was Harjinder Singh, and other gangsters were running their gangs and issuing threats and extorting money from people while lodged in Punjab jails. --IANS js/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ONGC will buy 51.1 per cent of the government's equity in HPCL for Rs 369.15 billion ($581 billion) to stem the fiscal deficit and boost disinvestment -- a year after the Modi government mooted a much-needed initiative to create an integrated supply chain in the oil sector. The government will exceed its 2017-18 disinvestment target by Rs 200 billion after the "strategic sale". Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) Chairman Shashi Shankar confirmed that it will use debt, cash reserves and proceeds from sales of its stake in IOC and GAIL to fund the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, India (HPCL) acquisition. It owns 13.77 percent stake in Indian Oil and 4.86 per cent in GAIL that is worth an estimated Rs 300 billion. This could be followed by the acquisition of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) by HPCL (HPCL currently holds 16.96 per cent equity of MRPL). Chairman Shankar said: "That is a logical step. We see an advantage in that but cannot give a time frame." The merger will help in creating the first of the two fully-integrated oil and gas producers that India needs to create, so as to improve supply chain efficiency. For a nation that still relies on imports for over 80 per cent of its oil and gas, India lacks a comprehensive energy strategy that costs it billions of dollars each year. Both the earlier United P{rogressive Alliance (UPA) and the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments have previously failed to realise that the 30 largest oil-consuming nations have invested significantly in the integrated supply chain to improve efficiency and reduce costs. India fails to do that math despite repeated prodding by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The talk of an integrated supply chain is not new. The proposal to integrate oil first came up in 2004 under the UPA. "It was then struck down by an expert committee, Sushil Chandra Tripathi, a former Petroleum Secretary, told this correspondent during a discussion on Lok Sabha TV last year. "In the Western world we have Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP and Total; in Russia we have Rosneft and Gasprom, in Saudi Arabia we have Aramco and in China we have Sinopec. They are all large, integrated oil majors very unlike Indian companies," Tripathi added. India has six separate entities, all very small by comparison: ONGC the oil producer, GAIL the gas producer, MRPL a refiner, and IndianOil Corporation Ltd (IOC), HPCL and BPCL that are refining and marketing Strangely, the integrated supply chain concept does not exist in the Indian subcontinent. After the ONGC-HPCL merger, the integrated supply chain created by ONGC as a producer could add both "supply planning", including crude buying, storage and refining, as well as "distribution planning" that would have networked pipelines, transport and marketing infrastructure, and sales outlets like petrol pumps for retailing all petroleum products. There are two major advantages of having integrated supply chains. Oil is an intensely volatile commodity. The production price of oil or gas is fairly high for Indian when compared to that of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Russia or the US. When crude prices are low, integrated oil companies import heavily. When international prices are high they raise their domestic production. This gives them better control over their profits -- which are high for the marketing arm when international prices drop and high for the producing unit when the prices surge. Besides, the size of the company matters, as oil is a capital intensive industry. While the IEA recommends 90 days oil storage to stem crude oil volatility, India has just around 15 days storage capacity, mostly developed by the marketing and refinery units. When ONGC, with a net worth of Rs 221,900 crore, takes over HPCL (net worth Rs 21,070 crore) it automatically gives the latter fiscal muscle to improve its storage and pipeline capacities. So, though the current acquisition is primarily to meet the government's disinvestment target, the process should be taken forward to ensure that India has two major integrated oil and gas majors -- the other one would be GAIL-IOC-BPCL -- that can compete on a global scale. Even as was waxing eloquent on India as a "humanising and harmonising force" in Davos, none of these laudable attributes was on display in the country as rabid outfits with ideological links with the Prime Minister's party were vandalising cinema halls and malls and attacking a school bus with children crying inside. The most virulent of these marauding groups currently is the Karni Sena, which claims to represent the Rajput community, and the reason for its violent onslaughts on convenient targets is its anger about the supposedly distorted portrayal of the 14th century Rajput queen, Padmini or Padmavati, who may well have been a mythical figure, in the Bollywood film "Padmaavat". Although another Rajput group as well as professional film critics have rejected this charge and one of the latter has even said that the valour of the Rajputs and the self-immolation of the queen have been excessively glorified, the vandals have not been assuaged. One reason why they have continued with their rampages is that the governments run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan, the traditional home of the Rajputs, and in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have been reluctant to act against the goons. The official and political unwillingness to rein in the marauders is explained by their ideological affinity to the BJP, which identifies them as representatives of the community which is a potential vote bank. There have been others of their kind who have also indulged in murder and mayhem with impunity because of their awareness that a BJP government will treat them with kid-gloves. The Karni Sena, therefore, is not the only monster reared by the right-wing Hindutva brigade. There are also those who assault and even kill anyone suspected of eating beef or transporting cattle and still escape punishment because of lack of evidence as in the case of the beating to death of Pehlu Khan in Rajasthan although he had a permit for taking cattle through the state in his truck. Over the period when the BJP has been in power at the Centre and in several states, the boldness of these thugs has grown because of their immunity from any legal action. Nothing showed this defiance of the constitutional order better than the refusal of the Rajput activists to accept the Supreme Court's clearance of the film, which had earlier been certified for release by the censor board. The decision of some of the BJP-ruled state governments to appeal to the Supreme Court against the screening of the film (which was summarily rejected) must have also emboldened the brigands for it showed that the rulers sympathised with them just as when the governments had banned the film even before its release. The vandals must have also been encouraged by the support which they have received from the saffron brotherhood's formidable army of online warriors who have blamed Muslims for the attack on the school bus. As is known, these Hindutva netizens have a remarkable talent for spreading disinformation. Despite the judicial negation of the ban, the prohibition is still virtually in force because the theatre owners are too scared to show the film lest their property is destroyed. Evidently, there is little faith in the ability or willingness of the BJP-led governments to maintain law and order. Given this inability or disinclination, it is not surprising that the Karni Sena has not been called to account by either the Centre or the states for the threats which the organisation has held out against the leading actress in the film, Deepika Padukone, and the director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, about beheading them and boasting that their graves have already been dug. Considering that these dire warnings have been issued with great gusto on television, there is obviously scope for legal action. When the government's opponents have been booked for sedition on charges which haven't passed muster in the courts, the Sena activists should also have been arrested. Yet, the number of arrests that has been made are few and far between and hasn't helped in dispelling fear. It is possible that even these arrests would not have been made but for the presence in India of the 10 ASEAN leaders for the Republic Day celebrations. What impression they will carry back about the arson and depredations being shown on television is not known. But foreign investors cannot but be perturbed about their prospects in India despite the promised cutting of red tape and the rolling out of the red carpet. What the rampant lawlessness in the BJP-ruled states have revealed is the divide between Modi's promise of development and the frightening ground reality where institutional authority, like that of the Central Board of Film Certification, is ignored and its chief is told by these anarchists not to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival in Rajasthan, and judicial orders are ignored. Yet, political considerations palpably hinder any serious attempt to bridge the gulf. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal) Police arrested three persons today for allegedly carrying a black flag with symbols resembling that on Pakistan's flag during a 'Tiranga Yatra' organised at Shujalpur, 65 km from here, on Republic Day. Three others were absconding, said Shujalpur police station in-charge D K Prajapati. 'Tiranga Yatra', a motorcycle rally to honour the national flag, had been organised in the town yesterday. Devkaran Parmar, a local resident, lodged a police complaint after a video of some men on motorbikes carrying a black flag when the procession was passing through Mandi Bus Stand area went viral. Symbols on the flag, as seen in the video, resembled that on Pakistan's national flag. An offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 was registered against six persons, Prajapati said, adding that three men, who were identified from the video, were arrested, and three others were absconding. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 38 people have been arrested or detained in connection with the violence by fringe Rajput groups against the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film 'Padmaavat' in Gurgaon, police said today. Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar told PTI that the department arrested 24 people for their alleged involvement in violent incidents, and another 14 as part of preventive measures under Section 107/151 of the CrPC, in eight cases. He dismissed social media reports that Muslim youths were detained or arrested, and urged people to not pay attention to rumours, but follow the district administration's guidelines. Kumar said the people arrested have been sent to judicial custody by a court. On Wednesday, a school bus carrying 20-25 students was targeted in Gurgaon and the Delhi-Jaipur national highway was blocked by supporters of Karni Sena, which is at the forefront of the opposition to the film, and other Rajput fringe groups. Another state-run bus was torched near Bhondsi village. The protesters allege that the movie based on the saga of the 13th-century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, distorts history and shows Rani Padmavati in "poor light", despite historians being divided on whether the queen actually existed. The filmmakers, too, have denied the allegations. The groups nonetheless had threatened the owners of more than 40 multiplexes and theatres operating in Gurgaon to not screen the film. Fearing trouble in the area, the police had on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders. But the protesters still rampaged through, forcing residents to initially avoid theatres. Today, the police said the situation was under control. "Best efforts are being made by police teams to identify other miscreants involved in previous violent incidents which occurred in different places in the district," Kumar said. He said a special investigation team, headed by a DCP- rank officer, has been formed to probe the incidents. The SIT will strive to collect scientific evidences and identify the remaining people involved in the violence, he added. "The situation in Gurgaon is peaceful. Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers at malls, multiplexes and sensitive locations to maintain law and order," Kumar said. The national secretary of Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu, was arrested yesterday on charges of breaching peace in the city. He has been sent into judicial custody until Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court has sentenced a man to five years in jail for pushing into a drain a 66-year-old person, who later died during medical treatment, saying the attacker did not have the intention but had the knowledge that his act may cause the victim's death. Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam handed down the jail term to 37-year-old Raman for the offence under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. "It can be safely held that in the case in hand, the accused has done the act with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death but without any intention to cause death and caused such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and as such, court is of the view that act committed by accused falls under part II of the Section 304 IPC," the judge said. The court, while holding him guilty of the offence, noted that on March 9, 2017 the victim was standing with his son outside a government school in east Delhi when the accused came to snatch a Rs 500 note from him. After an altercation, the accused hit the man with a brick and pushed him into a drain. The injuries suffered by the old man, who was already suffering from various ailments, were sufficient to cause his death, the court said while noting that he died in hospital during his treatment. "In the instant case, the convict caused injuries to deceased on account of which he died during medical treatment. The incident took place on the petty issue of Rs 500...The victim died on March 22, 2017 after succumbing to his injuries as a result of falling in the nallah," the judge said. During the trial, the accused denied the allegations claiming he was falsely implicated. The court, however, jailed him while observing that the courts have to take a balanced view in determining the sentence. "Proportion between crime and punishment is a goal respected in principle and in spite of errant notions, it remains a strong influence in the determination of sentences. "After giving due consideration to the facts and circumstances of each case, for deciding just and appropriate sentence to be awarded for an offence, the aggravating and mitigating factors and circumstances in which a crime has been committed are to be delicately balanced on the basis of really relevant circumstances in a dispassionate manner by the court," the judge observed in his order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An assistant commissioner of police posted in Navi Mumbai has been shunted out in connection with registration of a false case against a builder and an alleged attempt to extort money from him. ACP (Turbhe division) Kiran Patil has been transferred to police control room, said Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale in a statement today. The action was taken for Patil's "alleged poor supervision" regarding registration of a false case by junior police officers, the commissioner said. An administrative enquiry has been initiated against Patil, while Amol Zende has been posted as ACP Turbhe division, Nagrale added. On January 19, Navi Mumbai police had booked four persons including a police officer for threatening builder Suresh Jain and demanding money from him. ACP Nilesh Raut of Navi Mumbai crime branch, who is probing the case, said that in October last year, Turbhe MIDC police registered a case of cheating in a land transaction against builder Jain, owner of Metro Developers, and others. However, further probe revealed that Ketan Chugh (the original complainant), rival builders Sunil Bhanushali and Sunny Lahoria and police inspector Sanjay Yadav had cooked up a false case against Jain, and demanded Rs 5 crore from him to nix the probe. They also allegedly held Jain's son Hitesh Jain captive at the Turbhe MIDC police station, it was alleged. Based on Hitesh Jain's complaint, a case of extortion under section 384 of IPc was registered. Nobody has been arrested in the case yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of activists of the Congress's women wing today staged a protest against the AAP government over the Bawana fire tragedy, in which 17 people were killed. Delhi Mahila Congress president Sharmishtha Mukherjee, who led the protest near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, said the government should give jobs to the family members of the women workers who died in the fire at a cracker warehouse last week. Mukherjee also raised the issue of exploitation of women workers in Bawana area, saying they were made to work 12 hours a day and paid just one third of the minimum wages that is Rs 15,000. "The women labourers have also not been able to get the benefits of various welfare schemes run by the central and Delhi governments," she said. Mukherjee also attacked the chief minister and alleged that he was "misleading" the people of Delhi. "Kejriwal is doing the of making excuses. How long will he mislead the people," she said. Seventeen people, including 10 women, were killed in the fire that ripped through a "cold firecrackers" unit in Bawana in Northwest Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today exhorted officers of the state cadre on central deputation to play a pro-active role in speeding up the state's projects and proposals sent to their respective ministries for accelerating development. Interacting with the officers at a meeting convened by Union Health and Family Welfare minister J P Nadda at his residence in New Delhi, Thakur said officers are the backbone of any government and play significant role in preparing policies and programmes, a press release stated. The chief minister said it was a matter of pride for Himachal Pradesh that many officers of the state cadre were working at the Centre and asked them to play an effective role in the growth of the state. Nadda stressed on the need for proper coordination between officers in the state and at the Centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Business representatives from Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir held a three-day meeting that concluded today in Bangkok (Thailand) and signed an MoU to boost cross-border trade. Secretary General of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (J&K-JCCI) Muzaffar Majid Jan said the three-day meeting of representatives of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and prominent business leaders, Line of Control (LOC) traders as well as women entrepreneurs was convened by Conciliation Resources in Bangkok from 25-27th January. He said important issues concerning each region were discussed by the representatives, the key focus being on the improvement of connectivity across the regions. This was followed by a detailed discussion about the support required by the J&K-JCCI to become more strengthened in order to be able to work towards the facilitation of trade, Jan added. J&K-JCCI extended support to the LoC traders and assured them that the chamber will take their recommendations to respective governments for enhancing this confidence building measure, he said, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed in this regard. The new leadership of the J&K-JCCI assumed office for the new term of 2018, as per the prevailing traditions of this forum. Javid Ahmad Tenga took the position of president, while Rakesh Gupta and Ghulam Murtaza assumed office as joint presidents. The main ideas discussed to promote the LoC trade were inclusion of services in this context and advanced banking arrangements to facilitate a better and more effective trade process. "All the business leaders agreed to take these ideas forward by talking to the governments of India and Pakistan and building confidence in their respective communities as well as amongst the three Chambers of Commerce and Industries," Jan said. The attendees, including women leaders from the three regions Jammu, Kashmir and PoK, also proposed futuristic measures to boost trade and economic and cultural connectivity. The ex-presidents and presidents of the chambers apprised the participants of the previous efforts made to promote the cross-LoC trade. The efforts and leadership of the past presidents to get the Joint Chamber to this point were greatly admired by the participants and it was emphasised that their continued guidance and support for this institution would be highly valuable, Jan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Recommending Bharat Ratna for the late Biju Patnaik, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda today said the legendary Odisha leader had played a key role in making him the chief minister of Karnataka and also the prime minister of the country. Gowda made the suggestion after former President Pranab Mukherjee and other leaders unveiled a pictorial biography on the former Odisha chief minister titled "The Tall Man Biju Patnaik," here. "Keeping in view his all-round activities and achievements, I strongly feel that Biju Patnaik deserves the country's highest civilian award (Bharat Ratna)," Gowda said to a loud applause from the audience here. He said Biju Patnaik has already been conferred with the "Bhumi Putra" honour by Indonesian government. Deve Gowda, while lauding the life and actions of the legendary leader said: "Biju Patnaik played a major role in making me the chief minister of Karnataka as well as the prime minister of India." Recalling his personal experience, Gowda said there was nothing impossible for Biju Patnaik. Mukherjee, while calling himself the "shortest man", said: "It's a privilege for me to speak on the tallest man of the country. He was not only tall in height but also a large hearted person I have seen." Narrating his personal relationship with the legendary leader, Maukherjee said Biju Patnaik used to be invited to New Delhi from Bhubaneswar during national crisis. "Irrespective of party lines, Biju Patnaik used to give valuable suggestions to all for the sake of the country. As minister of state for finance in the Indira Gandhi council of ministers, I have consulted Biju Patnaik several times on different ocassions," Mukherjee recalled. Mukherjee also recalled how Biju Patnaik was instrumental in setting up National Aluminium Company (Nalco) in Odisha. Mukherjee said when he was deputy chairman of the then Planning Commission, he consulted Biju Patnaik before making any plan or policy. "Though we are from different political parties, Biju Patnaik's affection towards me and my family was immense," he said, describing Patnaik as the true legend. Former deputy prime minister L K Advani said he was overwehlmed when he received an invitation to participate in the book release function of Biju Patnaik. "He was a great politician. This book is a great honour to him," Advani said. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury recalled how as a young politician, he drew inspiration from Patnaik. He also descirbed Patnaik as a great politician having certain ideology and pro-poor policies. "Biju Babu was working for secularism and national integration. It will be great honour for him if we work in the path shown by him," Yechury said. Besides leaders of national repute, politicians from different parties including Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra of Congress, senior BJP leaders Bijoy Mohapatra, Biswabhusan Harichandan and former BJD vice president Prafulla Ghadei also attended the event. Hundreds of Biju Patnaiks followers also attended the unveiling ceremony of the book authored by eminent writer and researcher Sundar Ganesan. The pictorial biography encapsulates rare photographs of Patnaik's life. Senior journalist and columnist Prabhu Chawla reviewed the biography while the book release ceremony was presided over by Biju Patnaiks son Naveen. Before the launch of the pictorial biography, Naveen Patnaik also had lunch with the four leaders at his residence 'Naveen Niwas'. In a Twitter post, the chief minister wrote, "It was great pleasure to have enlightened company of Shri @CitiznMukherjee, Shri HD Deve Gowda, Shri L K Advani & Shri @SitaramYechury at Naveen Niwas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today released its first list of 44 candidates for Assembly elections in Tripura where the party looks to oust the Left Front government which has been in power for the last 25 years. The strength of the state assembly is 60 members. While releasing the list, senior BJP leader J P Nadda said the Central Election Committee headed by party chief Amit Shah finalised the list of 44 candidates. The party is going to contest on 51 seats and nine have been kept for its alliance partner, IPFT. The BJP refrained from announcing a chief ministerial candidate for the state elections. The list includes the name of BJP's state general secretary Pratima Bhowmik who will be contesting from Dhanpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The party has decided to field its state president Biplab Kumar Deb from Banamalipur. "We have considered all sections and walks of society while choosing our candidates. While there are are 10 seats reserved for SC candidates, we are going to field 11 SC candidates. One is contesting from a regular seat", he said. Nadda was speaking after the meeting of the Central Election Committee which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all its members. The list also includes seven sitting MLAs, four women, 10 professionals like doctors and engineers, and two candidates from the field of arts. The BJP did not win any seat in the last state assembly polls but emerged as the main challenger to the ruling CPI(M). Several leaders from parties such as the Congress and the TMC joined its ranks in the last couple of years. Tripura will go to the polls on 18 February and vote- counting will be held on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Separate outbreaks of violence attributed to a Boko Haram attack and clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers left at least six people dead in Nigeria, police and local authorities have said. At least three people were killed late Friday when Boko Haram attacked the Hyambula village in northeast Adamawa state, police and a community leader told AFP after the latest in a spate of jihadist raids targeting civilians. "There was an attack at Hyambula last night. Three people were killed and three others kidnapped," Adamawa state police spokesman Othman Abubakar said, blaming Boko Haram for the attack. The suspected jihadists had shot dead one man, before a suicide bomber blew himself up among residents gathered at the scene, killing two and leaving five injured. "They shot a resident who was resting under a tree outside his house," Community leader Maina Ularamu said. "When residents had gathered around him a suicide bomber hiding in the tree jumped off and detonated his explosives among the crowd." Adamawa was said to have been cleared of Boko Haram in late 2015. But attacks have continued in the north of the state, particularly around Madagali, which borders Borno state and the militants' Sambisa Forest stronghold. In separate clashes, at least three people were killed in central Plateau state when Fulani herders attacked Jebu-Bassa, a farming village of Irigwe tribesmen. "Three persons were killed and eight injured in renewed hostilities in Jebu-Bassa," Plateau state police spokesman Tyopev Terna said, saying herdsmen were suspected of the killings on Thursday night. A youth leader of the Muslim ethnic Hausa Rafin Bauna community said the attack may have been in reprisal for recent attacks on Fulani and Hausa communities by Irigwe militia which left one dead and several homes burnt. Inter-community violence has left an estimated 100 people dead in central Nigeria since the turn of the year, leaving the government of President Muhammadu Buhari under fire for not dealing with the spiralling unrest. A September report by the International Crisis Group estimated the death toll since 2016 at some 2,500. Plateau state lies in Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt that separates the predominantly Muslim north from the largely Christian south and has long been a hotbed of ethnic, sectarian and religious tensions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin family who colluded with a property agent to let out their four-bedroom house in north London to over 40 immigrants have been found guilty of overcrowding by a court here. Harsha Shah, 53, her daughter Chandni, 27, and her brother-in-law Sanjay, 54, worked with agent Jaydipkumar Valand, 42, to illegally undertake multiple tenancies at the 1920s property which they also let fall into a state of disrepair, a UK court was told this week. The house, described as a "slum", was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week, the Harrow Crown Court was told. The occupants had just two bathrooms to share between them and the fire exits were all blocked, causing a safety hazard. While the Shah family and Valand were convicted in May last year, they are now fighting against having to hand over nearly 360,000 pounds obtained as rent during the course of the tenancy at a confiscation hearing at the Court. Edmund Robb, appearing on behalf of the local Brent Borough Council, told Judge Stephen Rubin that besides claiming back any housing benefits paid out by the authority, the rent paid can also be seized under the UK's proceeds of crime act. "Receiving rent was in breach of a selective licence. If they had complied with the regulations the money would not have come into their hands. There was a minimum of 25 people living in the house and there could at any one time be up to 40 people living in the house," he said. However, the defence argued that taking the rent from the migrants was not an offence, and therefore, a confiscation order was not enforceable. "We say that receiving the rent is not a criminal offence and neither is continuing the tenancy. They are clearly in breach of the law, but the receiving of rent was not illegal," said lawyer Cameron Scott. Judge Rubin will reservehis judgement on whether a proceeds of crime order can be enforced. Meanwhile, following a trial at Willesden Magistrates Court last year, the Shah family were found guilty of failing to have the proper licence and will be sentenced at a later date. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Campaigning for the January 29 bypolls for the Lok Sabha seats of Alwar and Ajmer, and the Assembly seat of Mandalgarh ended today. Campaigning ended this evening and voting will take place on January 29. All the preparations have been made, Ajmer District Election Officer Gaurav Goyal said. The ruling BJP and opposition Congress held public meetings to woo voters in constituencies. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje conducted road shows in Beegod (Mandalgarh) and Ajmer, while Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot addressed a gathering in Pushkar. Pilot, accompanied by several party leaders, also conducted a road show in Ajmer city. Other leaders from both the parties addressed public meetings in Alwar also. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Casey Affleck has dropped out of the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck, who won the Best Actor Oscar last year for his film "Manchester By The Sea", will not present the Oscar for best actress at this year's ceremony. Sources close to the actor said he does want to become distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category given previous allegations against him for sexual harassment. A spokesperson of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also confirmed the "We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and the great work of this year," the spokesperson said in a statement. The 42-year-old actor was accused of sexual harassment by two female co-workers while making the 2010 mockumentary "Im Still Here", which he directed. In an interview with the Boston Globe last year, the actor had acknowledged the controversy that had dogged his awards-season run. "I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else," Affleck had said. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the Academy Awards will be held on March 4. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Students of the Central School in Willingdon Island here and residents of the area were today evacuated after ammonia gas allegedly leaked from a tanker lorry, police said. The leak occurred in a pipe connected to the lorry when ammonia was being transferred from a plant managed by Fertilisers And Chemicals Travancore (FACT), officials said. Police said it was not a major leak. The incident occurred at around 1.30 PM. The situation was now under control, they said. Some people who complained of breathing problems, nausea and irritation in the eyes after the leak were treated at a health facility of the Cochin Port Trust and all of them were now fine, they said. Police said the students were immediately evacuated after the wind started blowing in the direction of the school following the leakage. Steps were also taken to evacuate them through a lake, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 12-year-old girl was slapped 168 times over a period of six days by her classmates at a residential school on the instructions of their teacher, the child's father complained to school authorities and police. However, the school principal K Sagar termed it a "friendly" punishment. "They were not strong slaps but mild and friendly ones. We will also talk to the parents," Sagar said. The incident took place at the Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thandla town here and the girl's father, Shivpratap Singh, told police that she was slapped 168 times between January 11 -16 for not completing her homework. The girl is a student of Class VI at the school. He told police that the school's science teacher, Manoj Kumar Verma, on January 11, told the his daughter's classmates to slap her as a form of punishment and 14 girls slapped her two times every day for six days. Singh also stated in his complaint, filed a couple of days ago, that his child was unwell and therefore was unable to complete her homework. He alleged that the school was aware of his child's illness. He also told police that his daughter fell ill due to fear and distress and refused to go to school, following which she had to be admitted to a local hospital. Thandla police station in-charge S S Baghel confirmed that a complaint had been received but added that no injury was found during medical examination conducted on the girl. "We had received a complaint. No injury was found during the medical examination of the girl. Our team also visited the school and found that such an incident had occurred. We are investigating further. However, no formal case has been registered so far," he said. School Principal Sagar defended the action of the teacher and termed the disciplining method a "friendly" punishment. "We don't allow corporal punishment in the school. The girl is weak in studies and doesn't complete her assignments," he said, adding that the teacher chose this form punishment to improve her performance in school. District Collector Ashish Saxena said that the issue had come to his knowledge and he had ordered an investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A constable deployed for the security of a Chhattisgarh Congress leader was today injured in an attack by Naxals who also looted his AK-47 rifle in Dantewada district, police said. The Congress leader, Avdhesh Gautam, was not present at the time of the attack which took place at around noon, they said. The incident took place at the weekly market in Nakulnar village, around 20km from Dantewada town, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI. The injured has been identified as constable Divyakant Markam, who belongs to the District Force. He is part of the security detail of Gautam, a resident of Nakulnar, located around 340km from the state capital, he said. As per preliminary information, Markam, along with three other security guards, had gone to the market, held opposite their quarters, for procuring ration. They were carrying their weapons. Suddenly, two-three Naxals, dressed as civilians, attacked Markam with a sharp- edged weapon, injuring him close to his face, Sundarraj said. Before the other jawans could retaliate, the ultras escaped with Markam's service weapon, an AK-47 rifle, the DIG said. The armed jawans did not fire at the Naxals to avoid any possible civilian casualty at the market, where a large number of villagers were present, the IPS officer said. However, police have launched an operation in the area to trace the attackers, Sundarraj added. The injured constable was admitted to a local hospital where his condition was said to be stable, he said. In 2010, Maoists had attacked the house of Gautam, a Pradesh Congress Committee delegate, in Nakulnar, killing two persons, including his brother-in-law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul today, killing at least 63 people and wounding 151 others, officials said, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. "The latest toll has reached 63 dead and 151 wounded," Baryalai Hilali, the director of the government media centre, told reporters. He warned the death toll might rise as some of the wounded brought to hospitals were in a "critical condition". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Traders in Delhi will observe a 48-hour bandh on February 2-3 to protest against the ongoing sealing drive, said Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The traders are also demanding the Centre to bring a legislation in forthcoming session of Parliament to protect trade and traders of Delhi, the association said in a statement. Traders from across the country will also join them to demonstrate their solidarity with the Delhi traders, it added. "The manner in which sealing is being held without giving any notice or opportunity of hearing and in a dictatorial manner without assigning any reason and keeping aside the basic fundamental provisions of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957," said CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal. During the bandh, all wholesale and retail markets of Delhi will be closed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A drone strike early today killed seven suspected Al-Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, a security official said. The US military is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen. The official said the strike happened after midnight and targeted a car in Shabwa province. "All seven passengers, who were Al-Qaeda members, were killed," said the security source. The United States considers the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to be the radical group's most dangerous branch. A long-running drone war against AQAP has intensified since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017. AQAP has flourished in the chaos of the country's civil war, which pits the Saudi-backed government against Shiite Huthi rebels. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fed up with prawn farms encroaching waterbodies and forcing them to migrate, residents of a village in this district have urged the Tamil Nadu government to get them removed so that they can return. Those who had left Koraikootam village and the residents there took up the issue of the alleged encroachments with the Deputy Block Development officer Vasudevan at a meeting in the hamlet recently. They passed a resolution urging the government to free the village of shrimp farms, restore water sources and also neutralise the chemical impact on the groundwater level in the area. The residents alleged that such farming had caused widespread environmental pollution as very inefficient methods were used by the owners. Claiming that the water resources in the village had been polluted, Mohammed Sikkander, coordinator of the movement to save the village, said people had to buy potable water spending around Rs 1,500 a month. He also said chemicals and fish waste affected the ground water so badly that it could not be used for irrigation, which forced the people to also give up farming. Around 150 families had migrated to other places and they formed the "Koraikootam Village Retrieval" group to take up their cause with the authorities. The residents said they would intensify their stir if the officials did not take efforts to remove the shrimp farms and retrieve the water sources. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said fiction writings contribute to the idea of resistance in the society. Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, he compared the role of writers in the society to a a bird in a cage which is sent down to the bottom of a coal mine. "If the bird suffocates and is unable to breathe or comes up gasping for air then you know there is no enough oxygen down below and writers, particularly that of fiction, are like that bird," Tharoor said. "Writers go down to the depth of the society and their gasps and suffocation alert the society that there is certain oxygen missing," he said. Participating in the session 'India: The Power of Fiction Across Borders and of Translation', the Congress MP said that fiction contributes to the idea of resistance in the society. Writer Vivek Shanbhag said literature takes people to specific issues. "Literature takes you where you start looking at people and individuals--by which you can be more understanding and can connect with people. Literature draws you to specifics," he said. He said the Dalit literature in India was a great example of it. "Stories of Dalits were never heard and when they came to fore with those details in literature, they stunned the literary world and we felt that there is something that we were lacking in our understanding of the world," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and opened indiscriminate fire at forward Indian posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district today, a police official said. The Pakistani troops opened "unprovoked and indiscriminate" fire this afternoon after a few days of lull, prompting Indian forces to retaliate, the official said. He said there was no casualty or injury to anyone in the firing incidents. The firing in Krishna Ghati sector took place around 1655 hours and in Mankote sector around 1735 hours. The firing ended around 1820 hours at both places, the official said. Thirteen people, including seven civilians, have been killed and over 70 others injured in intense shelling by Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts, and the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22, leading to the displacement of thousands of border residents. Officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers yesterday held a flag meeting along the IB in Suchetgarh here during which India registered its strong protest on the recent spate of firing from Pakistan, asserting that such "provocative" acts would "not be tolerated". Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B B Vyas and Director General of Police S P Vaid today visited R S Pura, Joura Chakrohi and Sai Khurd along the IB here and met families of the people who were killed in firing from across the border. They also interacted with border migrants in camps and took stock of relief measures in a meeting with local officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government's Rs 6,000 crore package will boost apparel and made-ups sector and strengthen the entire textile industry, Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani said today. Speaking at an export awards function organised by the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) here, Irani said, "The textile sector has huge growth potential. However, the industry faces challenges in terms of production and technology because a lot of small scale players don't have fiscal support". She said the government was providing support so that the full potential of the sector will be achieved in the years to come. The country's synthetic and rayon textile exports was expected to touch USD 6 billion mark in FY 2018, up from USD 5.7 billion in the last fiscal, said SRTEPC chairman Narain Aggarwal. Aggarwal informed that India was the second largest producer of man-made fibres (MMF) in the world and was poised to drive the growth engine in the MMF textiles globally. Presently, India produces over 1,441 million kilograms of man-made fibre and over 3,000 million kg of man-made filament yarn. The global end use demand for textile fibre was forecast to expand by an average of 2.8 per cent per annum to 119.2 million tonnes by 2025, Aggarwal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The indefinite curfew and a 48-hour bandh, following the death of two persons in police firing on Thursday, threw life out of gear in Dima Hasao district today. Curfew was imposed in the district yesterday. "The curfew is still on. It is uncertain if it will be called off tomorrow as the situation is still tense, although no new untoward incident took place in the last 24 hours," a senior government official told PTI. Two persons died after police opened fire on people protesting against a reported Naga Peace Accord draft released by the RSS in Maibang on January 25. Following the violence at Maibang, a number of groups called a 48-hour Dima Hasao bandh since yesterday morning, demanding a written statement from the government on the proposed Nagalim issue. The protesters are also demanding immediate suspension of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, besides payment of Rs 5 lakh to each of the 10 injured in police firing. During the day, Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta and PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya visited Maibang and took stock of the situation before leaving for district headquarters in Haflong, the official said. Another group comprising ULFA pro-talk faction leader Anup Chetia also visited the troubled town of Maibang and expressed solidarity with the agitators in a public meeting. Meanwhile, stranded passengers in New Haflong Railway station vandalised properties alleging lack of facilities and no option to reach their destinations. In Guwahati, Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary claimed in a press conference that government has despatched 30 busses to ferry stranded people to their respective places. "We have sent an additional three companies of security personnel. Already, Assam Rifles and CRPF jawans are there. We will pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each person losing life. As said by the chief minister, we reiterate that not a single inch of Assam land will go to Nagalim," he added. Opposition Congress' state President Ripun Bora said the act of police firing on people protesting in a democratic manner has exposed the "fascist nature" of the BJP government. CPI(M) Central Committee Member Brinda Karat said: "What is happening in Dima Hasao? Will RSS draft peace accords in the country now? Why does the government make the draft public? Two indigenous people have lost their lives very unfortunately for no fault." The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, a farmers' outfit, has demanded an apology from Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for the police firing, Rs 20 lakh to the families of the deceased, making the Naga Framework Agreement public and immediate suspension of the DC and SP of Dima Hasao. On January 25, various organisations in the district had called a 12-hour district bandh in protest against inclusion of Dima Hasao in the proposed Greater Nagalim as per a reported draft released by RSS member Jagdamba Mall. The protesters had blocked trains at Maibang station, broke window panes of a train, damaged properties at the station and removed tracks, the NF Railway said. To disperse the mob, police initially lathicharged and fired in the air. Officials claimed that police had to resort to firing as the mob was unrelenting and continued their violence by damaging vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner's cavalcade. Later, the district administration clamped indefinite curfew in Maibang area. Rallies were taken out at various locations in the state, inclduing a candlelight march in Guwahati and a peace march at Silchar, protesting against the police action in Dima Hasaon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been sued by his former Indian-American personal assistant who has alleged that she was subjected to sexual exploitation and a "sexually hostile" work environment while working for him. Sandeep Rehal, who was Weinstein's personal assistant for two years from 2013 to 2015, has sought trial by jury in an 11-page lawsuit. For over two years Rehal was "forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile" work environment at Weinstein's company and "defined by endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss," alleges a lawsuit filed in the Southern District Court of New York on January 25. A day later, on Friday, the court issued summons to Weinstein and his company to respond to the charges within 21 days. The 65-year-old film producer has been facing a number of other sexual allegations, many of whom have been widely reported in the US media including in the New York Times. The lawsuit alleged that Rehal "had to pick up Harvey Weinstein's used Caverject shots, which he tossed on the floor in his office, hotel rooms and his apartment". She also had to "pick up his used condom, and clean up rooms" and semen off his couch, before housekeeping personnel would do their work, the lawsuit charges. "Rehal was required to be involved in and aware of the preparations for, and clean up after, Harvey Weinstein's extremely prolific sexual encounters," it alleged. "Throughout her employment with Defendants Ms Rehal was required, as a condition of her employment, to work with Harvey Weinstein when he was naked. On an almost weekly basis, she was required to take dictation of emails from him while he was naked," the lawsuit alleged. Weinstein subjected Rehal to "unwelcome touching", the lawsuit alleges. Almost every time she accompanied Weinstein in his chauffeured Lexus SUV, he made her sit in the back with him and touched her thigh. "After Ms Rehal started wearing pants instead of skirts, Harvey Weinstein would rub between her thighs. When Ms Rehal sat crosslegged in an attempt to prevent him from being able to touch her thigh, Harvey Weinstein would touch the back of her legs and butt," the lawsuit alleged. "Among Ms Rehal's responsibilities was to maintain Harvey Weinstein's list of contacts with a special asterisk that identified Harvey Weinstein's 'girls', his many sexual partners," the lawsuit said, adding that Weinstein also ordered Rehal to obtain and set up an apartment close to the office for him to "use with one of his sexual liaisons," and purchase lingerie for the woman in that apartment as well as gifts for other women. Weinstein, who is already facing similar investigations by police in New York and Los Angeles, has denied the latest allegations. Weinstein "categorically denies these claims," said his spokeswoman Holly Baird. She said Weinstein's lawyers "will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue". The lawsuit also names his brother Bob Weinstein and their human resources head, Frank Gill, along with their company. Rehal said she had no choice but to leave the job that she needed to support herself. "As a result of the hostile work environment caused by sexual harassment, Ms Rehal has suffered, and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem," the complaint said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Faridkot MP Jagmeet Singh Brar today quit as the Trinamool Congress' Punjab unit president. He handed over his resignation letter to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, who is also the West Bengal chief minister, at her residence in Kolkata. Brar had joined the party and was made its Punjab chief ahead of the Assembly elections in the state last year. "Despite repeated efforts to contact you, both from Delhi as well as Kolkata, I've been left completely disheartened along with my supporters, he said. "I've invested my energy and means in our common cause, but it shows that you've lost interest in Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign as president of the Punjab TMC with immediate effect," Brar said in his resignation letter to Banerjee. He had earlier quit the Congress due to his differences with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ahead of the last year state polls. "I will consult my friends and well wishers across Punjab to decide the future course of action," he said. Brar was the Punjab Congress' general secretary during chief minister Beant Singh's tenure, a time when terrorism in the state was at its peak. He was also the permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for 10 years and the general secretary of the AICC from 2010 to 2013. He lost the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2009 and claimed himself to be a "victim of a dirty gang of SAD and Congress MLAs". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gurgaon Police today detained Karni Sena chief Thakur Kushalpal in connection with the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus here during anti-'Padmaavat' protests earlier this week. At least 24 people have been arrested in the wake of the violence by fringe Rajput groups in the city, a police official said. A special investigation team set up by the police detained Kushalpal for questioning him for his suspected role in the violence, Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar told PTI. Kumar said the police arrested 24 people for their alleged involvement in the incidents after having registered eight cases. The police official dismissed social media reports that Muslim youths were detained or arrested, and urged people to not pay attention to rumours but follow the district administration guidelines. Kumar said the people arrested have been sent to judicial custody by a court. On Wednesday, a school bus carrying 20-25 students was targeted in Gurgaon and the Delhi-Jaipur national highway was blocked by supporters of the Karni Sena, which was at the forefront of the opposition to the controversial film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, along with other fringe groups. A state-run bus was torched near Bhondsi village on that day. The protesters alleged that the movie based on the saga of the 13th-century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, distorted history and showed Rani Padmavati in "poor light", despite historians being divided on whether the queen actually existed. The filmmakers have denied the allegations. The fringe groups had warned owners of more than 40 multiplexes and theatres operating in Gurgaon against screening the movie. The police today said the situation was under control. "Efforts are being made by police teams to identify other miscreants involved in the violent incidents," Kumar said. He said the SIT, headed by a DCP-rank officer, Ashok Bakshi, has been formed to probe the incidents. The SIT will collect scientific evidence and identify the remaining people involved in the violence, he added. "The situation in Gurgaon is peaceful. Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers at malls, multiplexes and sensitive locations to maintain law and order," he said. The national secretary of Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu, was arrested yesterday on charges of breaching peace in the city. His bail plea was dismissed by a Gurgaon court and he has sent to judicial custody till Monday. A group of angry villagers of Bhondsi has decided to call a 'mahapanchayat' tomorrow against the Gurgaon Police action against "innocent" people who had nothing to do with the violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Miscreants damaged at least three shops and torched a few other commercial establishments on the second day of violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj city today, police said, after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone-pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day. A bus, a car and a house were also set on fire in the latest flare-up in the western Uttar Pradesh city, where a curfew was imposed after the clashes yesterday. A government spokesperson said prohibitory orders still remain in effect, but did not say whether the curfew had been lifted. Fire brigade personnel were deployed to douse the fires. A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district, whose borders have been sealed to stop elements detrimental to peace from sneaking into the city. "In all, 49 accused persons have been arrested. Efforts are on to arrest the rest of the accused," the UP Police said. Elaborating on the genesis of the clashes, the police said in a statement that a few people were riding motorcycles carrying the tricolour and were chanting Vante Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai. As the procession reached minority community-dominated Baddunagar, "anti-social elements" pelted stones and opened fire. "In this (firing), Chandan was killed and Naushad was injured. Naushad was referred to Aligarh for treatment," it said. Another man, identified as Akram, received head injuries. The two were undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh. Naushad was out of danger and Akram was being operated upon, the hospital authorities said. The motorcycle rally was taken out by VHP and ABVP volunteers as part of celebrations on the 69th Republic Day. Meanwhile, the police today stopped firebrand leader Sadhvi Prachi in Aligarh and prevented her from visiting Kasganj. She, however, said: "If the district administration really wanted, then it would had not allowed the violence." Earlier today, Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said "anti-social elements today tried to set on fire a small shop on the city's outskirts... Some of them have been taken into custody, while others were chased away." "Our main job at this point is to ensure...that brotherhood among communities remain intact," Kumar told reporters. The police was trying to make people "understand communal bonhomie", he said adding that the situation was under control now. "Sufficient police personnel have been deployed." Superintendent of Police, Kasganj, Sunil Kumar Singh, said: "Anti-social elements had set two shoe shops on fire in Ghantaghar market, and fire brigade was pressed into action. "Apart from this, one utensil shop was set afire and a bus was also damaged by anti-social elements, who set it on fire. Fire brigade was called in to douse the fires." Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished. But Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh 'Sajan' demanded more than just assurance from the state government. "The UP government must act tough on the anti-social elements, so that this acts as a deterrent for others." UP Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan suggested the violence was connected to Lok Sabha polls, due next year. "The state government must show seriousness and control the situation at the earliest... Is there any possible link of this violence with 2019 Lok Sabha elections for polarisation?" The police said a complaint has been registered at the Kasganj police station and a special team has been formed to arrest others involved in the violence. Speaking to reporters in the evening, ADG Agra, Ajay Anand, said: "As many as 39 preventive arrests have been made for violating Section 144 of the CrPC and nine persons have been arrested under sections of IPC." The details of one more arrest was not immediately clear. "Our preventive action is still going on. We are arresting those who are violating Section 144 of CrPC," Anand added. Divisional commissioner of Aligarh, Subhash Chandra Sharma, said the violence erupted after the cremation of the boy, who died yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior CPI(M) leader and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today alleged that India was becoming a strategic partner of the U.S. in that country's effort to form a larger defence alliance against China, "which is as per interest of RSS." "China is emerging as a big power in the world... India is becoming a strategic partner of the U.S. in their effort to form a larger defence alliance against China," he said. "This is as per the interest of RSS. The aim of RSS is to build an axis of countries like US, India and Israel against China," Vijayan added. CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had triggered a row earlier this month after he remarked that an axis of countries like US, Japan, Australia and India has taken shape for attacking China from all sides. The BJP in Kerala had demanded registration of a case against Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for his remark. Vijayan said CPI(M) was not for any political alliance with Congress, which was in tune with the party's central comittee resolution in this regard at Kolkota. He said the party would move forward by strengthening Left forces in the country. 'The party will organise agitations against BJP's policies by joining hands with those with whom we can move together," he said. The Chief Minister alleged that the congress 'tie up' with communal forces several times in the past has resulted in the growth of BJP in the country. The saffron party, he alleged,has a record of corruption and was attempting to subvert democracy in the country. "BJP can be opposed only by a right alternative, he said and pointed out that Congressmen were joining BJP en masse. In Tripura, BJP virtually had swallowed Congress, he said and alleged that the saffron party was joining hands with divisive forces. "We must be able to unite all secular and democratic forces to take on the communal outfits. The party has to be strengthened, he said. Meanwhile activists of Hindu Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram in protest against his remark and also took out a march in that city. J R Anuraj, District president of the morcha, said they would observe a 'protest day' throughout Kerala tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Law is not the solution to social problems, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said, claiming that triple talaq bill was a ploy to send Muslim men to jail. "Will triple talaq stop after the law is brought?" a release from the AIMIM quoted Owaisi as saying at 'Tahafuzz e Shariayat' ('Save Sharia') public meeting here late last night. Dowry deaths and other crimes against women did not stop even when specific laws were made against these practises, he said. "Between 2005-2015, there were more than 80,000 dowry deaths in India. Twenty-two women die daily on account of dowry, and even after the Nirbhaya incident, there was a rapid increase in number of rape cases. Law is not the answer," he said. Further, triple talaq bill is a conspiracy against the minority community, Owaisi alleged. "It is a ploy to bring the women of the community on road and send the men to prison," he alleged. The BJP-led NDA government tried to push the bill through Parliament without consulting Muslim clerics, he alleged. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha, but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny. According to the draft law, instant triple talaq will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Literature closely follows the development of civilisation, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said today, the concluding day of Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet here. Literature is not only confined within stories, poems and articles, but it includes spirituality, religion, culture, science, and all subjects concerning human beings, Tripathi said in his address. "Literature is contemplative, investigative and imaginary. The history of literature follows closely the development of civilisation. It showcases ideas of past events," Tripathi said. He said a literary meet is required to propagate the importance of literature in every aspect of our lives and any history of literature is connected with changes in society. "The Vedas are regarded as one of the most ancient literatures in the world. The Vedas and Bhagavad Gita are also one of world's oldest literatures....," the Governor said. He said studying and analysing literature is important to learn our history and entire global surroundings, to know the past, the present and the future. The literary meet, which began on January 22, was attended by personalities such as authors Ruskin Bond, economist Prof Mohammed Yunus, journalists N Ram and Arun Shourie, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actors Shabana Azmi and Nawajuddin Siddiqui, and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. Vote View Results The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, has submitted a written complaint to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao alleging that Mumbai police was snooping on him. On Thursday, Vikhe Patil had taken strong objection to the presence of two policemen, in mufti, from Mumbai Police's Special Branch (SB) at a press conference he held at his residence. The senior Congress leader spotted them clicking photographs of journalists. In his letter to the Governor yesterday, Vikhe Patil demanded an inquiry against the Home department and appealed to the Governor to issue neccessary directives for a probe and subsequent action in the matter. "This incident, of plainclothes policemen entering the residence of the Leader of the Opposition during a press conference and clicking pictures of journalists, is serious and is a blot on democracy," his complaint stated. It added that the police's act was a breach of privilege of the contitutional post he held. He said he had telephoned Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar on Thursday and sought an explanation. "I asked the police commissioner how two officers could come to his (Vikhe Patil's) official bungalow without his (police commissioner's) permission. This is nothing but snooping on opposition leaders," he had said. Vikhe Patil informed that Padsalgikar told him that he would look into what was a serious matter. "No police officer will dare to commit such an act without the permission of the government. This just shows to what extent this government can stoop," Vikhe Patil had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Ghaziabad-based man was apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying two live bullets, an official said today. The man, A Yadav, was going through the security checks at the Indira Gandhi International airport at around 1 pm yesterday when a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detected few "bullet-like objects" in his wallet, said the official. "Two live bullet rounds were recovered after the man was throughly frisked. He was handed over to the police as he could not produce valid documents for carrying it," he added. Yadav was supposed to take a flight to Mumbai, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Narcotics Control Bureau here has arrested one person from Uttar Pradesh in connection with his alleged involvement in smuggling drugs. NCB Zonal Director Dilip Kumar Srivastava said its officials arrested Vinay from a Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh yesterday night in connection with the seizure of 2400 bottles of cough syrup used as intoxicant from Sealdah railway station in May last year. "The accused had booked that consignment from Varanasi railway station for Sealdah in a parcel van. The consignment was meant for Bangladesh. We have arrested the person and trying to find out who else are involved in it," Srivastava told PTI. The probe is on and two or three more persons are on the radar of the NCB in connection with this seizure, another officer of the NCB said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab Police today said it managed to trace gangster Vicky Gounder, wanted in 10 cases of murder and gang-war, after a year-long manhunt. The most-wanted 'A' category gangster, who was killed in an encounter yesterday, was being probed for his possible links with militant or radical elements as well as Pakistan's ISI, they said. DGP Suresh Arora and DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta, who coordinated along with IG Organised Crime Control Unit Nilabh Kishore, told reporters that Gounder was traced after an year-long manhunt through intelligence gathering coupled with ground operations. He was among the six prisoners who were freed by armed men from the high-security Nabha Jail in November 2016. Dinkar said Gounder, also known as Harjinder Singh, was a proclaimed offender wanted in 10 cases of murder and gangwar, and was using multiple Facebook accounts. He operated through associates in various countries, including the Gulf nations, Cyprus and Germany. He also used social media as a tool to create terror and issue threats to rival gangs and police officers. The Punjab Police yesterday gunned down Gounder, his associate Prema Lahoria, and an unidentified man in the encounter at Pakki village in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. The three were hiding in a Dhani, a small conglomeration of houses in fields, owned by another criminal Lakhwinder Singh Lakha who was arrested. The police said the area where the three were hiding was hardly 50 meters from Punjab's border. "We thought it was our area (where encounter took place). We called up the SHO (Station House Office) of Khuian Sawar police station (in Punjab's Fazilka district). Then we came to know that the area fell in Rajasthan," said Punjab Police Assistant Inspector General Gurmeet Singh Chauhan Chauhan, who led the encounter, said the Rajasthan Police was informed about the operation afterwards. The Rajasthan Police led by the Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police reached the spot and registered an FIR in connection with the gangsters' death. "Now, the investigation will be conducted by them," Punjab DGP Suresh Arora told reporters. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Arms Act was registered at Hindumalkot Police Station in Sri Ganganagar. AIG Chauhan said the gangsters chose the area as their hideout as it was near Punjab-Rajasthan border and also close to the International Border. He said acting on the information obtained from arrested criminals and technical inputs, police came to know about the movement of gangsters in five districts of Muktsar, Ferozepur, Abohar in Fazilka, Tarn Taran and Faridkot. On January 24, an advisory was issued reporting possible movement of the gangsters in these districts and additional forces were sent out. "They were not moving out much. When had information but who were staying (in Dhani) we were not sure about it," said Chauhan. A team of the Punjab Police comprising 22 members, including four NSG trained personnel, armed with AK 47 and pistols, conducted a search operation at 'Dhani', he said. "They (criminals) came out of their room when they heard the sound of police vehicles and started firing on the policemen," he said, adding that Lahoria and Gounder were killed when they were climbing the wall of Dhani. The third unidentified person, who was providing cover fire, later succumbed to bullet injures, police said. Over 50 shots were fired between police and gangsters. "Police fired 40 shots while the other side fired over a dozen shots," said Chauhan. Sub Inspector Baljinder Singh and ASI Kirpal Singh were injured in the operation. Two .32 bore pistols, a .30 bore pistol and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the gangsters, along with mobile phones and dongles. He recently got a delivery of an automatic assault rifle from Pakistan through his handler Ramanjit Singh alias Romi who is also wanted by the Punjab Police and against whom a Red Corner Notice has been issued. Replying to questions, DGP Arora justified the need for a stringent law like PCOCA to effectively deal with criminals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Michael Shannon has joined the cast of drama series "The Little Drummer Girl". The "Nocturnal Animals" actor joins Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgard in the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The six-part series is based on the spy novel by the same name from author John le Carre, and Pugh will play one of the lead characters. Pugh stars as young actress Charlie who finds herself involved with a stranger while holidaying in Greece in the 1970s. She ends up embroiled in a high-stakes plot with the man called Becker, who turns out to be an Israeli intelligence officer. The project will be developed by The Ink Factory, BBC One and AMC, which also developed "The Night Manager" series, based on Carre's another novel. Park Chan-Wook will direct the series with Amanda Coe penning the script. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted agricultural scientist Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, who was known for his role in bringing Green Revolution to Punjab, passed away here this afternoon after a brief illness. Kalkat (92) was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here, said an official release. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh condoled his death. The chief minister described Kalkat as a pioneer who brought several exemplary reforms in agriculture besides green revolution to the state. He said Kalkat's contribution had ensured overall development and a phenomenal growth in the agriculture sector. Singh recalled his services as the founder-chairman of the Punjab State Farmers Commission, former vice-chancellor of PAU, Ludhiana, and said that Kalkat worked tirelessly throughout his life for the welfare and prosperity of farmers. Kalkat was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his work. Born in Hoshiarpur's Sahora village on June 17, 1926, Kalkat obtained his BSc Agriculture degree from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now Pakistan) in 1947. As a Rockfeller Fellow, he joined the Ohio State University in January 1957 and completed his PhD in agricultural zoology-entomology in December 1958. He was later honored with the "Distinguished International Student Award" of the university. Kalkat also worked as a senior agriculturist with the World Bank. He was stationed at Washington DC from 1978-1989. During this period, he worked on agriculture and rural development programmes of Nigeria and Ghana and he was a pioneer in introducing shallow tubewells for irrigation and hand pumps for the purpose of drinking water in Nigeria. He also supervised the implementation of World Bank assisted programmes in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia. Kalkat also held the reins of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as its vice chancellor from 1998 to 2001. During his tenure, he identified the priority areas to find the problems of farmers and farming in consultation with agricultural economists and farm scientists, a PAU release said. During his tenure as the director agriculture, Punjab and agriculture commissioner/additional secretary, the country witnessed Green Revolution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has rescheduled his two-day visit to Nagpur in view of Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot being "busy with the preparations" for the office-of-profit case in the Delhi High Court on Monday. An official said that Gahlot was also to accompany the chief minister during his visit to see development projects initiated by BJP-ruled Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The day-to-day hearing will start in the Delhi High Court in the disqualification case of 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding office-of-profit as parliamentary secretaries from Monday, the official said. Gahlot is among the 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs who have been disqualified by the president on the recommendation of the Election Commission. The party has challenged the decision in the high court. "As the transport minister is busy with preparations of office-of-profit case, the chief minister's Nagpur visit has been rescheduled," the official. At the insistence of Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari, Kejriwal was to embark on a two-day Nagpur visit today. Official also said that the new dates of chief minister's visit to Nagpur, a home town of Gadkari, will be announced soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar today gave the Sindh police a three-day deadline to arrest a former police superintendent who has been on the run after being removed from his post for the extra-judicial killing of a budding model, according to a media report. Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar and another policeman were suspended after an uproar on the social media as friends and relatives of Naqeebullah Mehsud, 27, who hailed from North Waziristan, disputed the claims that he was a commander of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dawn reported. The committee found that Mehsud had a shop in Sohrab Goth area in North Waziristan and was looking for a career in modelling and acting. Mehsud and three militants were gunned down by a raiding party led by Anwar on January 13 on the outskirts of Karachi with the police claiming that they were all TTP members. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh A D Khawaja told the court that after the FIR was lodged against Anwar, the police had traced his location to Islamabad. However, the IG was unable to tell the chief justice the current whereabouts of the former SSP. Khawaja claimed that the police had "tried their best" to arrest Anwar but had so far been unable to do so. On being asked when the police would be able to arrest and produce Anwar in court, Khawaja remained silent. Mehsud's father, who had also appeared in court, expressed his lack of trust in Sindh police and asked the court to form a judicial commission to investigate his son's extra-judicial killing. However, the CJP assured him that the court trusted the Sindh police and urged him to allow the joint investigation team and the police to continue with their investigation. The three-member police committee, investigating the encounter under AIG Sanaullah Abbasi, submitted its report in the court today saying that the incident "appears to be a coordinated fake encounter". The report said that Mehsud was picked up from a tea hotel on Abul Hassan Isfahani Road along with two friends, Hazrat Ali and Qasim. The three friends were kept in illegal confinement and subjected to torture, and while Ali and Qasim were later released, Mehsud was killed in a staged encounter. The report said that no evidence of Mehsud being a terrorist or a criminal was found and the report presented by Rao Anwar on the deceased's activities was actually of a different person who goes by the same name. It note that though the former SSP Malir claimed to have conducted the tainted Mehsud 'encounter' on intelligence reports, no evidence was available to corroborate this claim. The report also said that while Rao claimed he was not present when the encounter happened, call records show he was at the site of the encounter when it happened. It confirmed that the former SSP tried to escape abroad and did not cooperate with the committee, which amounts to misconduct and obstructing the process of justice. The report revealed that 444 people were killed in encounters conducted under Rao Anwar, who was appointed in Malir four years ago. It also found that "there is extreme fear prevailing among witnesses who are fearful of their security" and as a result "afraid to cooperate during inquiries and investigations against police." Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority had also been summoned and were ordered by the CJP to submit a report in the next hearing on whether the former SSP had flown out of the country on a private plane. "The chief justice has told us that he has directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to take a certificate from all private (airline) operators that Anwar has not left the country. The interior ministry has also been told to confirm the same," Khawaja said. An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Saturday remanded six policemen into police custody for five days in connection with Mehsud case. Sub-inspector (SI) Yaseen, Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Supurd Hussain, ASI Allahyar and others were among those remanded in connection with the 'encounter'. SP (Investigation) Abid Qaimkhani said that the accused have "accepted" their crimes during an initial investigation. Mehsud's family negated Anwar's claims regarding his involvement with the TTP and said that the deceased was, in fact, a shop owner fond of modelling. Following protests from the deceased's family and friends, the Sindh police chief had ordered an inquiry into the matter and asked a committee to submit a report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paris was on alert today as the swollen Seine continued to creep higher, with forecasters expecting the flooding to peak at the end of the weekend. The river reached 5.7 metres at 9:00 am (local time) today, more than four metres above its normal height, causing headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks. Forecasters believe it will continue to rise, peaking on Sunday night or Monday, but will not reach the 2016 high of 6.1 metres, when the Louvre museum was forced to close its doors for four days. But the world's most visited museum was on high alert, along with the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie galleries, with the lower level of the Louvre's Islamic arts wing closed to visitors. Leaks had started to appear in some basements yesterday, while some residents on the city's outskirts were forced to travel by boat through waterlogged streets. A health centre in Paris's northwestern suburbs, where 86 patients were receiving care, was also evacuated yesterday. In total more than 650 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Paris region, according to police, while more than 1,400 were without electricity. The Vigicrues flooding agency scaled back its peak predictions for the river in the capital, saying it will top out at 5.9 to 6 metres tomorrow evening at the earliest, compared with 6.2 metres previously. "Due to the spread of flooding to different tributaries, the level of the Seine in Paris will continue rising again on the weekend," said Vigicrues, adding that highest level would last for about 10 hours before slowly going down. It's enough to worry Joao de Macedo, janitor at a residential building in Paris's upscale 16th Arrondissement. "There are six studios in the basement, and we've had to set up blocks outside to keep the windows from breaking and covering everything in water," he said. Inside the studios, tables and dressers have been lifted off the floor as water seeps through the walls. Outside, where the river was nearly lapping the tyres of parked vehicles, a young woman said it was "great to see ducks instead of cars". The December-January period is now the third-wettest on record since data collection began in 1900, according to France's meteorological service. All boat traffic on the Seine in Paris and upstream has been stopped, keeping tourists off the capital's famed sightseeing boats. However fears of flooding like that of 1910, which saw the Seine rise to 8.62 metres, shutting down much of Paris's basic infrastructure, looks unlikely. More favourable weather is expected for the week ahead, and Vigicrues has lowered its warning level from orange to yellow in several areas upstream of the capital. But even once the water levels start to recede, forecasters say it will be a slow process, since much of the ground in northern France is already waterlogged. A main commuter line, the RER C, has halted service at Paris stops through Wednesday, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed. In Paris the Seine flows through a deep channel, limiting the potential flooding damage to riverside structures. But several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, such as the southern suburb of Villeneuve-Saint- Georges, where some residents were getting around by boat and dozens have been evacuated from their homes. In the south of France, heavy rains caused a breach in the water supply pipe of a holding tank on an oil platform in La Mede, near Marseille, on Saturday, French giant Total said. Contaminated water, not concentrated crude oil, had leaked, Total said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Political parties in Nagaland, including the ruling NPF, today lent support to the demand of apex tribal body Naga Hoho that a solution to the Naga issue be found ahead of the Assembly elections in the state next month. The Naga People's Front (NPF), National People's Party (NPP) and Aam Admi Party (AAP) told the core committee of the Naga Hohos at a meeting that they had agreed to the demand of a "solution not election". The BJP, which has four MLAs in the state, did not participate in the meeting and the tribal leaders said that they would urge the saffron party to accept the views of the people. The tribal organisations have called for deferment of the February 27 elections in the state, saying a solution to the seven-decade-old Naga problem needed to be found first. The Congress, National Democratic Peoples' Party, Janata Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party and Nagaland Congress had consented to the demand of the tribal outfit not to participate in the election process during a similar meeting held on January 25. The parties, however, urged the Tribal Hohos to first convince the BJP to stay away from the polls to avoid a repeat of the 1998 state election. In 1998, the Naga Hoho had called for poll boycott, but the then ruling Congress members had filed nomination at the last moment and the party won 59 seats in the 60-member House. BJP leader and in-charge of Nagaland, Ram Madhav had said on January 22 in Dimapur that a new state government will bring the Naga solution closer and there are constitutional obligation to hold the polls first. NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu said, "We have always stood for a solution to the Naga political issue and will continue to listen to the voice of the people. But we do not want a repetition of the same incident." At the conclusion of the meeting, the convener of the Nagaland Tribal Hoho core committee, Theja Therie, said they would approach the BJP to accept the common voice of "solution not election". He said that another meeting of all political parties, tribal organisations and civil societies would be held on Monday to ink a written agreement not to participate and to defer the elections. NPP vice-president Katoho Sukhalu said, "NPP is with the Naga people in letter and spirit when it comes to a peaceful solution to the age-old Naga political issue." JD(U) Nagaland unit convener Senchumo NSN Lotha said the party shall not stand against the wishes and aspiration of the people of Nagaland. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day state visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE on February 9, during which he will hold talks with the leadership in the countries on "matters of mutual interest", the external affairs ministry announced here today. "This will be the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Modi's second visit to UAE and first to Oman. During the visit, the prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events," the ministry said in a release. During his Palestine visit, the prime minister will hold a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who had visited India last May during which Modi had reassured him of India's "unwavering" support towards the Palestinian cause. Significantly, Modi's visit to Palestine comes less than a month after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's India trip. The two leaders had discussed the Palestine issue. After the Modi-Netanyahu talks, Vijay Gokhale, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, had said, "What the two sides agreed, that our relationship was much larger than any single issue...that we need to look at it holistically and while we continue to talk to each other, our relationship is not determined by a single issue." He was asked whether the long-pending issue of Palestine figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. During his UAE visit, apart from holding talks with the leadership on key issues of defence, security and trade, the prime minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit. The summit is being held in Dubai and India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status, the ministry said. In Oman, Modi's focus would be on intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral trade and investment between India and Oman remain robust and buoyant. Bilateral trade, which saw a decline during 2014-15 and 2015-16, has resumed its upward trend with an increase of 3.6 per cent from USD 3.8 billion in 2015-16 to USD 4 billion in 2016-17, the ministry said. Modi will also meet the Indian community in the UAE and Oman, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term today after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. With ballots from almost 99 per cent of polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said President Milos Zeman had received 51.6 per cent of the vote during the two- day runoff election. His opponent, former Czech Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, had 48.4 per cent. Drahos conceded defeat and congratulated Zeman this afternoon. The career scientist and chemistry professor said he planned to stay in politics, but did not provide details. "It's not over," Drahos said. Zeman, 73, a veteran of Czech and former left- wing prime minister, won his first term in 2013 during the Czech Republic's first presidential election decided by voters, not lawmakers. Since then, he has divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance, support for closer ties with China, and strong anti- migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Zeman was one of the few European leaders to endorse Donald Trump's bid for the White House. He also has proposed a referendum on the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union like the one held in Britain. Drahos, 68, who led the Academy of Sciences from 2009 until last year, campaigned on maintaining the country's ties to the EU and NATO. He ran unaffiliated with a political party. One of the Czech president's key responsibilities is picking the prime minister after a general election, power that was on display in the days before the runoff election. The government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis since his party placed first in an October election resigned Wednesday after failing to win a confidence vote. Zeman immediately asked Babis, his ally, to try again. The president had said that even if he lost the election, he would swear Babis in again as prime minister before his term expired on March 8. The president also appoints members of the Central Bank board and selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament's upper house. Otherwise, the president has little direct executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister. Zeman is considered a leading pro-Russian voice in EU His views on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as Europe's migrant crisis, diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible. He has linked extremist attacks in Europe to the ongoing influx of newcomers, called the immigration wave an "organized invasion" and repeatedly said that Islam is not compatible with European culture. Zeman has exploited widespread fear of migration among Czechs and worked to portray Drahos as someone who would welcome migrants. A group of Zeman's supporters commissioned billboards and newspaper ads that called on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos," adding "This is our land! Vote Zeman!" Zeman is the Czech Republic's third president, after Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, since the country and Slovakia were created from Czechoslovakia in 1993. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman was re-elected Czech president today, narrowly outpacing his pro-European liberal rival Jiri Drahos in a knife-edge run-off that underscored deep divisions in the EU and NATO state. The populist ex-communist Zeman took 51.36 per cent of the vote against 48.63 per cent for Drahos, Czech Television reported quoting full official results. Political analyst Jiri Pehe told AFP the outcome reflected the "very deep polarisation" of Czech society which is "split down the middle" along rural-urban and populist- liberal lines, echoing divisions elsewhere in Europe and in the US. A former leftist prime minister, the 73-year-old Zeman represents poorer and rural voters with a lower level of education, while academic and political novice Drahos, 68, appeals to wealthier, well-educated urbanites. "It's not only between Prague and other big cities on one side and the rest of the country, but also a polarisation of world views, between people open to the outside world and modernisation, and those rooted in the past," Pehe told AFP. Zeman's victory comes amid a political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis -- dubbed the "Czech Trump" -- is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Speaking to a jubilant crowd at his Prague campaign headquarters, Zeman vowed to give political ally Babis plenty of time to cobble together a government. "I see no reason why I should squeeze Andrej Babis with too short a deadline for the nomination of his government," said a jovial Zeman. He also struck an overtly populist tone by insisting that the "intelligence of journalists...(and) some politicians is significantly lower than that of normal citizens." Congratulating Zeman on his narrow win, Drahos told backers in Prague that "we haven't won, but we haven't lost either," pledging he would not retreat from public life. In the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe, the anti-Muslim Zeman staunchly opposed EU quotas designed to distribute asylum seekers across the bloc. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has only received 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Zeman's stance on the European Union echoes other populist politicians in Poland and Hungary who are at odds with Brussels over the refugee quotas and various rules which they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organised invasion" of Europe, claiming Muslims were "impossible to integrate". Billboards across the Czech Republic sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: "Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!" According to Pehe, his position cast Zeman as "the defender of Czech national interests in the eyes of his supporters."The pro-European Drahos had also opposed the EU quota system but had insisted the Czech Republic was strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. Drahos underscored his concerns about possible Russian meddling in the campaign, saying that "for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's regime, NATO is the biggest enemy and we are part of NATO." Petr Vasicek, a Prague artist, told AFP that he chose the "educated and intelligent" Drahos over Zeman who is "pro- Russian and pro-Chinese, which I don't like at all." Zeman has repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Voter Daniel Hajek said he had chosen Zeman "because he's opening the door to economic cooperation with countries like Russia and China. "It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe but we can't go in just one direction," he said in Prague. Europe's fifth biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4 percent this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scores of diplomats including ambassadors of four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France and Britain attended one of the largest Republic Day receptions outside India at the UN headquarters, besides events across the US as well. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, was the only P-5 country envoy not to attend the impressive Republic Day reception hosted jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York. Haley, who was not in town, sent one of her top diplomats to the event, which was attended by several hundred Indian Americans, officials of the UN and envoys of scores of countries at the UN. Prominent among those were the President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, and the Deputy UN Secretary General Amina J Mohammed. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, surprised many by her presence at India's Republic Day celebrations at the UN, which was marked by an impressive dance performance at the UN Delegates Dining Room. "Though far from India's shores, the young sing about the 'land that nourished and nurtured' as we celebrate India's #Republicday2018@IndiaUNNewYork," Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, said in a tweet. "We are grateful this evening that several distinguished officials as well as representatives have joined us. I am grateful to the President of the General Assembly who is here with us, also to the Lt Governor of New York, who is with us and the Deputy Secretary General, who is with us," Akbaruddin said as he was joined by other dignitaries in lighting the lamp. For many UN observers, it was one of the largest gatherings of ambassadors at a public event at the UN. Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid floral tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Embassy in Washington before unfurling the national flag, in the presence of embassy staff and members of the Indian American community. Akbaruddin unfurled the national flag at the UN mission in New York, with India's other diplomatic missions in the US - in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta - also hosting events. Diego Gomez Pickering, the Consul General of Mexico in New York was the guest of honor at the Indian consulate celebrations in the city. "Honored to participate in the celebrations of the 69th #RepublicDay at @IndiainNewYork along with Consul General Chakravorty and the vibrant Indian community of #NYC. #Mexico and #India partners, friends and allies," he tweeted. Sanjeev Tripathi from Boston wrote a special poem in Hindi on the occasion. Illinois Lt Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and joined the Republic Day celebrations in Chicago along with a large number of Indian Americans. Officials of the Indian Consulate in Houston posted a special video on twitter "Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day". Congressman Pete Olson appeared in a traditional kurta at the Consulate and joined Indian Americans in the Republic day celebrations in the Indian Consulate in Houston. "Great to celebrate the 69th India Republic Day at the Consulate General of India this morning!" he said. "#OTD in 1950, the largest democracy on earth was born when the Indian constitution was adopted. I look forward to many more years of friendship between our two great countries!" Olson tweeted. A number of Republic Day celebrations have been scheduled by Indian Americans across the country over the weekend. The day was also marked in the South African city of Johannesburg. "2018 is a wonderful year for us because it commemorates various important occasions for India and South Africa," Consul General K J Srinivasa said. "It commemorates the 125th anniversary of the incident at Pietermaritzburg when Mahatma Gandhiji was evicted from the train that led to his involvement in the struggle against discrimination and which in turn led to the independence of India and many other nations. "2018 also marks the centenary of Madiba's (Nelson Mandela's) birth, the 25th year of resumption of formal diplomatic relations with South Africa, and the 20th year of a strategic relationship between South Africa and India," he said. Srinivasa said the Indian mission had many events lined up in this year to encourage the building of an even stronger relationship with South Africa. India's High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj reminded the audience of expatriates and South Africans, most of them from the local Indian community, that India was the world's largest democracy, the world's fastest growing major economy, and one of the most liberal economies in the world for foreign direct investment. "'India Means Business' was the clear message emanating from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Davos 2018," she said. "Importantly, as India journeys ahead, it is in our ethos to contribute to building a better composite and cohesive world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. "These are the principles which we bring to the international community and which we bring to South Africa, a country which is very close to our heart; with which we share very special ties and with which we have a shared future," Kamboj said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh met Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen here today and discussed the close ties the two countries share since the time of India's first premier Jawaharlal Nehru. The meeting lasted for over half-an-hour. "India and Cambodia share a special relationship which is rooted in history, India being the first country which recognised the Independence of Cambodia in 1953. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as the Indian Prime Minister, was the first world leader to congratulate Cambodia...that is something which is very fondly remembered and recalled by Prime Minister Hun Sen," Congress leader Anand Sharma, who was a part of the Congress delegation, said. Sharma said that the Cambodian PM also referred to the role of Indira Gandhi, after she returned to power in 1980, in recognising the regime change in Cambodia and to assist in the restoration of peace and in rehabilitation work. The Cambodian PM also reminisced about the close friendship he enjoyed with the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as well as former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Hun Sen is in the country to participate in the ASEAN- Indian Commemorative Summit and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 69th Republic Day was celebrated in South Africa with Indian Mission vowing to build a stronger relationship with the African country. Indian High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj addressing the audience said "South Africa is very close to our heart," and the two countries share a "very special" relationship. "It is in our ethos to contribute to building a better composite and cohesive world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. These are the principles which we bring to the international community and which we bring to South Africa," the Indian high commissioner to the country said. Consul General K J Srinivasa said 2018 marks a "wonderful year" for India and South Africa. "It commemorates the 125th anniversary of the incident at Pietermaritzburg when Mahatma Gandhi was evicted from the train that led to his involvement in the struggle against discrimination and which in turn led to the independence of India and many other nations," he said. Srinivasa said 2018 also marks the 25th year of the resumption of formal diplomatic relations between India and South Africa. "It also marks the 20th year of a strategic relationship between South Africa and India with the Red Fort Declaration signed between Nelson Mandela and our then prime minister Deve Gowda," he said. Srinivasa said the Indian Mission has many events lined up for the year to encourage the building of a stronger relationship with South Africa. "In April, we are trying to encourage bilateral trade and commerce by holding a mega event - the India-Africa Business Summit - at the Sandton Convention Centre (in Johannesburg). "We hope to get together small and big companies from both India and South Africa to discuss how we can grow business manifold," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Almost two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested to address persons with disabilities as 'divyang' (divine bodies), the Railways has decided to make changes in this regard in the concession certificates issued to such people. The transporter has changed the nomenclature from "viklang" to "divyang" in the concession forms offered by it to people with special needs. According to an order by the railway ministry, the word 'blind' be replaced with persons with visual impairment with total absence of sight, 'deaf and dumb' be replaced with persons with hearing and speech impairment, and 'physically- challenged' as persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The ministry has asked the departments concerned to make necessary changes in the proforma for concession certificates. The order will come into being from February 1. "These words were derogatory and needed change. Now the performa is being changed," an official said. The offers 53 concessions to passengers in various categories like divyang, senior citizens, students, defence personnel among others, amounting to Rs 1,600 crore annually. The hearing and speech impaired get 50 per cent concession in second, sleeper and first class, while the visually impaired get 75 per cent discount in second sleeper, first class, AC chair car & AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes. Others with disability get 75 per cent concession in second, sleeper, first, AC chair car and AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes. Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was released today after nearly three months in detention following a "settlement" with authorities, as a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting the kingdom's elite winds down. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since November 4, including business tycoons and ministers, who were held in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel. The prince was released following an undisclosed financial agreement with the government, similar to deals that authorities struck with most other detainees in exchange for their freedom. "The attorney general this morning approved the settlement with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal," paving the way for his release, a government source told AFP without disclosing figures. When asked whether the prince was still the head of his publicly listed Kingdom Holding Company, the source who asserted he was guilty of corruption replied: "For sure." A business associate also confirmed to AFP that the tycoon had been released. Neither the prince nor the Saudi information ministry was available for comment. The prolonged detention of Prince Al-Waleed, ranked among the richest men in the world, had sent shock waves across a host of companies that count him as a major investor. Kingdom Holding -- in which the prince has a 95 percent stake -- owns The Savoy in London, the Fairmont Plaza and the famed George V hotel in Paris. The prince, who Forbes estimates is worth $18.7 billion, has also invested in Lyft and Twitter. Prince Al-Waleed is the latest in a series of high- profile detainees to be freed from the hotel, as the campaign against elite corruption launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman draws to a close. Authorities on Friday released media mogul Waleed al- Ibrahim, owner of influential Arab satellite network MBC. Ibrahim held a family gathering at his residence after his release, three MBC employees told AFP on condition of anonymity. The staff also received an official email congratulating them on his freedom. The Financial Times reported earlier Friday that authorities had ordered Ibrahim to hand over his controlling stake in MBC to secure his release. Authorities have so far not commented on his case. Another high-profile detainee, former National Guard chief Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was released recently following his "settlement" with authorities which reportedly exceeded USD 1 billion. The government said most of those detained agreed monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom, which could earn state coffers about $100 billion. Most detainees agreed on financial settlements in "cash, real estate and other assets", Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported last week. The windfall will help the government finance a package announced by King Salman this month to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told Al Arabiya in Davos on Wednesday. Crown Prince Mohammed, the 32-year-old son of the king, has spearheaded the unprecedented crackdown on corruption among members of the government and royal family, as he consolidates his grip on power. Some critics have labelled the campaign a shakedown and a power grab, but authorities insist the purge targeted endemic corruption as the kingdom -- in the midst of historic social and economic change -- prepares for a post-oil era. "Whether politically motivated or not, the Ritz Carlton arrests show a hopeful commitment to reducing top-level corruption," said Mohammed Alyahya, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. "But the level of follow through will make or break Saudi Arabia's transformation," he wrote in a blog this week titled "After the Ritz-Carlton crackdown, what's next?" The Ritz-Carlton is set to reopen for business next month, sources at the hotel have said. Its website lists rooms as available from February 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stakeholders from across the Indian seafood industry were optimistic that marine products exprots would reach Rs 50,000 crore in the next few years given the current growth curve and strides made in aquaculture production. They were talking at the 21stedition of the three-day biennial India International Seafood Show (IISS) which opened in Margao today. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who inaugurated the event, said that while the east coast, especially Andhra Pradesh, was surging ahead in culture fisheries, the west coast could enhance their contribution to exports in coordination with organisations like the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). He added that the country should do more to make use of the fishing potential along the underutilized but large Andaman and Nicobar coastline. He said that sustainable deep sea fishing should be explored and issues like seawater pollution from chemical fertilizer wash-off, over exploitation of existing fishing zones and damage to breeding grounds should be tackled. "India has the potential to become a seafood superpower and the goal of 20 per cent growth or doubling of the export volumes will not be as difficult if we tap into this potential fully," he said. In 2016-17, India exported 11,34,948 million tonnes (MT) of seafood, principally frozen shrimp and frozen fish, worth 37,870.90 crore and provisional export figures for April-November 2017 have shown an increase of 18.72 per cent and 15.16 per cent respectively in quantity and value (in terms of US dollars) of seafood exports. The export earnings are expected to cross a high of US 6 billion dollars during the current fiscal, buoyed by aquaculture growth, enhanced processing capacity and favourable market conditions, MPEDA chairman A Jayathilak noted. "If we are able to sustain our efforts in production, India can become the second largest exporter of seafood after China within a few years surpassing countries like Norway, Vietnam, the US or Thailand," he added. Goas Minister for Agriculture, Vijai Sardesai, who presided over the function, pointed to over exploitation as a major concern and called for proactive measures to avoid situations like the "fish famine" affecting southeast Asian countries. "Goa is taking strict measures such as a ban on LED lights to curb damaging fishing practices, but bigger states also need to do their bit if we wish to have sustained exports," he said. Vinod Palyekar, the states Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources said they were planning to set up a Fisheries Corporation in Goa with the dual aim of increasing exports and ensuring that fish is available to domestic consumers at reasonable prices. Seafood Export Association of India president V Padmanabham highlighted the challenges faced by seafood producers and exporters and hoped that the deliberations at IISS 2018 will help address some of these issues. The event, which has come back to Goa after 15 years, is expected to draw over 3000 delegates, including exporters, suppliers and researchers, and 2000 visitors from India and countries like the US, the UK, Spain, Japan, Australia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and those in the Middle East, organisers said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saina Nehwal made a perfect start to the new season, reaching the women's singles final of the USD 350,000 Indonesia Masters with a thrilling straight-game win over world no 4 Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand here today. The former world no 1, who has won thrice in Indonesia, dished out a spirited performance to overcome a fighting Ratchanok 21-19 21-19 in the semifinal lasting 48 minutes. Saina, who had a 8-5 head-to-head record against the 2013 World Champion Ratchanok, displayed tremendous fighting spirit as she erased a 6-10 deficit in the opening game and held on to the fort despite a late charge by the Thai shuttler in the second game. Saina, who reached the final of an international competition after a year following her title triumph at Malaysia Masters last year, will play world no 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei or Chinese eighth seed He Bingjiao in the final tomorrow. In the opening game, Ratchanok opened up a 3-1 lead early on. Saina slowly tried to claw back and produced an excellent return from the back of the court which kissed the sideline to make it 5-5. However, she erred in her serve and then committed a couple of errors to allow Ratchanok lead 8-5. Saina won an exceptional rally next but Ratchanok produced a brilliant straight smash and a cross court drop to move to 10-7. A net dribble gone wrong gave another point to Saina but she went long next as Ratchanok entered the break with a three-point cushion. Saina committed another service error but rode on her drop and body line returns to keep within touching distance at 11-13. She soon drew parity after Ratchanok went wide and then grabbed a 14-13 lead when the Thai player went long. Ratchanok again turned the tables but Saina clawed back immediately with another body smash after sending a series of returns on her rivals backhand in a rally that had 32 shots. The Indonesian next won a video referral to move to 16- 15. Saina unleashed another down the line smash to again level scores but a half smash on Saina's backhand kept Ratchanok ahead. Saina's return went long but she managed to stay at 18-18 after Ratchanok faltered at the net. The Indian sent a cross court return wide but Ratchanok also hit the net. The Thai player however went wide again to hand over one game point opportunity to Saina. With another smash from Ratchanok going to the net meant Saina had grabbed the opening game. In the second game, Saina came out with all cylinders blazing as she zoomed to a 6-1 lead. Ratchanok won a point with a cross court drop but Saina produced a towering smash and a precise return to make it 9-2. Ratchanok then enjoyed a four-point burst to move to 6-10 but she hit the net next as eventually Saina entered the interval with a 11-8 lead after producing another down the line smash. Saina continued to dominate the proceedings even as a tired-looking Ratchanok committed too many errors to allow the Indian to lead 17-11 at one stage. Just when it looked all was over, Ratchanok changed gears and reeled off six points to draw parity at 17-17. The drift in the hall seemed to have changed and it bothered Sainas on-court decisions as she left two shots at the backline and found the net twice. However, Ratchanok again went out to allow Saina make it 18-17. A tight net play by Saina and a judgement error by Thai at the back court handed the Indian two match points. Ratchanok saved one but Saina won an exciting rally next after her opponent went wide again. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six women have been booked for allegedly assaulting a group of policemen at Pirani Pada in Bhiwandi when the latter had gone to arrest a man in a cheating case, an officer said today. The incident took place yesterday afternoon. "A team of police personnel from Bhiwandi Crime Unit and Oshiwara police station in Mumbai had gone to Pirani Pada in Bhiwandi to arrest a criminal when they were attacked by around six women," Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said. Police had got a tip-off that the accused Kamar Ali Jaffri, wanted in connection with a cheating and impersonation case registered with Oshiwara police station, was staying in Pirani Pada. Based on the information, a police team and Bhiwandi Crime Unit sleuths raided the locality around 2 pm and spotted him in a house, Narkar added. "When the police team was taking him into custody, a group of women attacked them. They manhandled the policemen and also tore the uniforms of some of them. The women also hurled stones at the police team in an attempt to rescue Jaffri," she added. An FIR was lodged against the women at Shanti Nagar police station and they have been booked under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty). Further investigation is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The main Syrian opposition group said it will announce today whether it will attend a "peace congress" in Russia on January 30 that is viewed with unease by Western countries. "On 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. "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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundred tenements in the housing complexes built by private builders in the district have been handed over to the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD), to be used a government quarters. The government has bought these tenements from the builders under a scheme. Yesterday, on the occasion of the Republic Day, Thane Guardian Minister Ekanth Shinde handed over the keys of these 100 tenements located in different housing complexes in Thane and Ulhasnagar region to Thane District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar to be given to the PWD. "This is happening in the state for the first time. Under a scheme, the government purchased these tenements-- 80 in Thane and 20 in Ulhasnagar region-- from private builders, to be used as quarters for officers," he said. In future, more such tenements will be made available in other projects too. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least three police officers were killed Saturday when alleged drug traffickers detonated a remote controlled bomb at a station in the northern city of Barranquilla, officials said. Fourteen other officers were wounded in the attack, police General Mariano Botero said. Botero, head of the Barranquilla police, said that one suspect was captured. The bomb was detonated as the officers gathered for morning formation. The blast initially wounded 17 police officers, but three died "due to the gravity of the wounds," Botero added. Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char blamed drug traffickers for the attack. "I do not have the slightest doubt that this is a retaliation" for successful police action against drug traffickers, he told reporters. President Juan Manuel Santos blasted the "cowardly attack" on Twitter. "We will not rest until we find those responsible, my solidarity with the families of the victims and the wounded," Santos wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today said he stands by his claim that Russia bears responsibility for recent chemical attacks in Syria, despite strong denials from Moscow. "These are just unacceptable deployments of chemicals in ways that violate all conventions which Russia itself has signed up for. It violates agreements that Russia undertook to be responsible for identifying and eliminating the chemical weapons inside of Syria," Tillerson said during a visit to Warsaw. "The chemical weapons are clearly there, they're being used against civilian populations -- and the most vulnerable are children -- inside of Syria," Tillerson told reporters, in a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. "So we are holding Russia responsible for addressing this. They are (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad's ally. They are members of those conventions and they made commitments. They need to deliver on those commitments." Tillerson first made the accusations on Tuesday, as diplomats from 29 countries met in Paris to push for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of the chemical attacks in Syria. Russia and China have blocked Western-backed efforts at the UN to impose sanctions on Damascus over their use. On Wednesday, Russia lashed out at Tillerson for having "hastily accused the Syrian -- as they call it -- 'regime' for the attack in Eastern Ghouta," adding "now they are trying to drag Russia into this as well." Damascus has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons, with the United Nations among those blaming government forces for an April 2017 sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead. There have been at least 130 separate chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2012, according to French estimates, with the Islamic State group also accused of using mustard gas in Syria and Iraq. Next week, Moscow will hold negotiations in the Russian city of Sochi aimed at ending Syria's civil war. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two dozen immigrants who came to the United States illegally will be in attendance 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 Monday, one that offers a pathway to citizenship for up to 1.8 million undocumented "Dreamers" who were 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 today by a congressional aide. Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo of Florida, a state with a substantial immigrant community, said he too will bring a Dreamer to the speech. House Democrat Scott Peters of California said he was "honored" to have Karen Bahena, who was brought by her parents across the border from Mexico 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. "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." 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. The "Me Too" movement will also be well-represented. 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. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's defence minister Gavin Williamson said a new radar off Scotland's Shetland Islands would help tackle the "severe and real" threat from Moscow. In a return to the Cold War days when Shetland had hosted an early warning radar, the new Royal Air Force facility is being built to track unidentified military or civilian aircraft. "We will always protect our skies from Russian aggression," Williamson said yesterday, describing the radar as vital to British defences. "Russia's actions are not limited to Europe's eastern borders -- the threat to British livelihoods is severe and real," he added. The 10 million pounds radar on Unst, Britain's most northerly inhabited island, is due to be fully operational soon, the Ministry of Defence said. Once launched it will feed into the country's quick reaction alert system, which in the past has been used to scramble RAF jets to intercept Russian aircraft. On January 15 two fighter jets were launched to monitor two Russian military aircraft, which the Ministry of Defence said did not respond to air traffic control authorities. A total of 69 such operations have been carried out in the past five years, the ministry said without detailing how many involved Russian aircraft. Williamson's praise for the radar comes as he and defence chiefs up their rhetoric against Russia. On Thursday the defence minister accused Moscow of spying on Britain's crucial infrastructure, as part of possible plans to create "total chaos" in the country, in comments published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. His intervention came after the head of the British army warned Russia poses the "most complex and capable" security challenge since the Cold War. Chief of the General Staff Nick Carter warned Monday that Britain struggled to match Russia's military capabilities, saying the ability to respond to threats would be eroded "if we don't match up to them now". The comments come as Williamson, in the post since November, is reportedly pressuring finance minister Philip Hammond for more money. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UN and the US today strongly condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul which claimed at least 95 lives and left 158 injured, saying those responsible for it must be brought to justice. Strongly condemning the Taliban-claimed assault - the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a statement said that indiscriminate attacks against civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and can never be justified. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns the deadly attack today in central Kabul, which was claimed by the Taliban...those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice," said a statement attributable to UN Secretary General's spokesperson. Condemning the attack, the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted: "We condemn today's cowardly bombing in Kabul and those who perpetrated it. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we stand with the brave people of #Afghanistan." US Ambassador to Afghanistan John R Bass, in a statement, also condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul and those who perpetrated it. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. My government and I stand with the brave people of Afghanistan. Their work to create a peaceful, prosperous future for all the citizens of this country is the best response to terrorists and others who know only violence," he said. Meanwhile, the White House said President Donald Trump is aware of the terrorist attack. The of one of the deadliest terrorist attack in Kabul was covered prominently by the US media, which described it as a "massacre". "It's a Massacre: Taliban Bomb in Ambulance Kills 95 in Kabul," said The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal also described it as a massacre. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Early this week, Trump had said that his administration was committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven for terrorists. "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 had said in his address to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said the state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme. He made the announcement while addressing the Start-Up Master Class programme held at IIT Kanpur. "The state government will link 60,000 villages of the state with the Start-up India programme and technology will reach the villages, so that the villagers can get employment from their home itself," Adityanath said. He said the villages will be technically-sound and the people will come to know about various public welfare schemes. He urged the IIT students to stay in the country, and contribute to the nation's development. On pollution in the Ganga river, he said, "Ganga passes from here before it reaches Prayagraj (Allahabad). Before the Kumbh fair starts, the river has to be made pollution-free. If the IIT students contribute, then Ganga can be made nirmal (clear)." At Harcourt Butler Technical University, the chief minister inaugurated and laid foundations of projects worth Rs 7876.17 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought decisive action against Taliban for carrying out a blast in Afghanistan using an explosives-packed ambulance that killed at least 95 people. The Taliban-claimed attack -- the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week -- also wounded 158 people, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. "All countries who support peace in Afghanistan have an obligation to take decisive action to stop the Taliban's campaign of violence. There can be no tolerance for those who support or offer sanctuary to terrorist groups," Tillerson said in a strongly worded statement. The US and Afghanistan have been accusing Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists. Early this month, the Trump administration suspended around USD 2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan for not taking action against the Taliban. Tillerson's strong statement though made no mention of Pakistan. The United States strongly condemns "today's horrific attack" in Kabul, he said. "Our thoughts are with the families of the victims who were injured and killed, and we mourn all those who lost their lives in this senseless attack," he added. "The Taliban's use of an ambulance as a weapon to target civilians represents inhumane disregard for the people of Afghanistan and all those working to bring peace to the country, and is a violation of the most basic international norms," Tillerson said. He commended all the emergency services personnel for their courageous actions in responding to this terrorist attack. Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan Army Gen John W Nicholson said that the attack once again demonstrates that the enemies of Afghanistan kill indiscriminately. "Unarmed civilians throughout Afghanistan regularly bear the brunt of this cruelty," he said. "As our thoughts turn to the family and friends of those killed and injured at this time, we will also go forward and do our best work in their memory -- defeating the insurgents and bringing peace to this region," Nicholson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Quote: intentionally Recall the Obama remarks April 2016, in whichexculpated Hillary. Talk about interfering in an investigation.And how did Obama know what classified info was on those emails in April 2016? Takes us right back to the OP.President Obama said Sunday that Hillary Clinton showed carelessness by using a private email server, but he also strongly defended his former secretary of state, saying she did not endanger national security, while also vowing that an ongoing FBI investigation into the matter will not be tainted by politics. [Me: He just tainted it in these remarks!]In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Mr. Obama seemed to prejudge the outcome of the ongoing inquiry into Mrs. Clintons email scandal, and he disputed the notion that any of the emails contained classified information of true importance.She would neverput America in any kind of jeopardy, he said. What I also know is that theres classified and then theres classified. Theres stuff that is really top secret top secret, and then theres stuff that is being presented to the president, the secretary of state, you may not want going out over the wire. #IndiaMeansBusiness has led the social media chart as the most discussed themes and hashtags coming out of the four-day World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, according to a US-based analytics company. The hashtag was mentioned maximum of 39,251 times, followed by women (35,837), America First (31,449), wealth (22,896), AI (19,018), globalism (16,513), climate change (15,477), fake (13,567) and Blockchain (12,918), said international social media analytics firm Talkwalker. However, US President Donald Trump with more than 273,000 mentions eclipsed every other individual in social media discussions around Davos. After Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was second most discussed person at Davos with 62,227 mentions. Modi was followed by France President Emmanuel Macron (40,975), British Premier Theresa May (27,791), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (25,809), German President Angela Merkel (23,897) and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (13,573). Talkwalker said Davos was mentioned more than 2.2 million times in the past week as against 795,000 mentions during last year's event. "Trump eclipsed every other individual in social media discussions around Davos. From his speech to allegations of an affair, he generated four times as much discussion as any other top topic or individual," it said. The most discussed topic was wealth inequality - Oxfam's figure that 82 per cent of wealth goes to one per cent of the population, with almost twice the number of mentions of the next most discussed topic, Talkwalker reported. It said Modi's address promoting India for business on the opening day of the forum scored highly alongside Macron's poking fun at Trump's refusal to believe in climate science. AI, globalism and climate change were also widely discussed themes, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DUBLIN (Reuters) - The head of Europe's Airbus pledged on Friday to push ahead at "full throttle" with plans for a new assembly line in Alabama for Bombardier's CSeries jet, following what he called a "hands down" legal win for Airbus's Canadian partner against Boeing.Speaking to Reuters from Montreal, where he celebrated the result with Bombardier Inc counterpart Alain Bellemare, Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders said the decision to block U.S. tariffs on the CSeries jet represented a victory for "sober business"."I never heard of a good strategy that was conducted aggressively against ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China's banking regulator said on Saturday that it had fined 12 Chinese lenders after uncovering illegal trading of 7.9 billion yuan ($1.25 billion) of bank bills.The fraud has "severally disrupted market order", and showed the lack of internal controls and poor compliance at the institutions involved, the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said in a statement on its website.A bank can issue a bill to a payee and promise to pay up by a certain date, with the agreement based on trust. Ahead of the due date, a bank may choose to sell it to another bank. In its ... By Greg Roumeliotis and Liana B. Baker(Reuters) - U.S. computer maker Dell Technologies Inc is exploring a range of options that could see the world's largest privately held technology company grow further through acquisitions or go public, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.Dell's board of directors will meet later this month to consider the biggest shakeup in the company's history since it acquired data storage provider EMC Corp for $67 billion in 2016,the sources said.The Round Rock, Texas-based company, headed by its founder Michael Dell, is under pressure to boost its ... STUTTGART (Reuters) - Overnight wage talks for industrial workers in the southwestern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg ended with no agreement on Saturday, the regional employers' association said, raising the prospect of nationwide walkouts.Powerful German union IG Metall had said on Friday it would hold off on its threat to call all-out strikes to hold last-ditch talks with employers over higher wages and the right to shorter working hours for industrial workers.Any deal in Baden-Wuerttemberg would typically be applied in other states as well. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach; Writing by ... By Allison Lampert and David ShepardsonMONTREAL, WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. trade commission on Friday handed an unexpected victory to Bombardier Inc against Boeing Co , in a ruling that allows the Canadian plane-and-train maker to sell its newest jets to U.S. airlines without heavy duties, sending the company's shares up 15 percent.The U.S. International Trade Commission's unanimous decision is the latest twist in U.S.-Canadian trade relations that have been complicated by disputes over tariffs on Canadian lumber and U.S. milk and U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to renegotiate or ... A US trade commission on Friday handed an unexpected victory to Bombardier Inc against Boeing Co , in a ruling that allows the Canadian company to sell its newest jets to U.S. airlines without heavy duties, sending Bombardier's shares up 15 percent. The US International Trade Commission's unanimous decision is the latest twist in U.S.-Canadian trade relations that have been complicated by disputes over tariffs on Canadian lumber and U.S. milk and President Donald Trump's desire to renegotiate or even abandon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump, who ... So....you want to talk about Hillary Clinton because GOD KNOWS we haven't discussed her ENOUGH, have we?? NOPE--we really NEED TO expound ONE MORE TIME about all the crap she did wrong. You knew exactly what you were doing when you posted something ridiculous about Clinton, who BTW, IS NOTHING. Let me repeat that: Hillary Clinton is NOTHING. Clinton is not the president or Secretary of State or Senator or any type of public servant. She is a private citizen. There is NO reason to discuss Hillary Clinton because Clinton has been excoriated for decades. Why?? Because everyone has a story to tell and an opinion--people who never met her--never worked with her--never spoke to her or read her books or bios. So here it is: YES!! Hillary Clinton has made GINORMOUS mistakes. Is that WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR?????? She has manipulated laws, governments, legislation, foreign policy, and HER HUSBAND. She is an extremely FLAWED woman. Maybe she belongs in prison. Maybe she should be subpeoned again. Maybe the DOJ should be investigating her for YEARS OF felonies....... or maybe she should be indicted for ..... something....anything....JUST TO SHUT YOU UP. BUT.....it's not happening. YOUR TURN.....let's talk about Donald Trump. Please, enlighten us about ALL HIS decency--his honorable life---his faithfulness---his kindness---his intelligence---his humility---his dedication to his WIFE (WIVES)---his self-control--his maturity---his integrity and ethics.....all his Christian qualities. Notice for the Postmedia Network This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Friday, January 26, 2018 at 9:32PM Looks like Samsung doesnt want to change things up too much with the upcoming version of its flagshipat least if we are to believe the renders that renowned leaker Evan Blass shared. At first glass the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus look rather similar to its predecessor. But this time there are more cameras and sensors above the screen. We wont be surprised if they improve the face unlock capability of the device. And if a portrait mode similar to the ones weve seen on the Pixel 2 and iPhone X appear, we wont be surprised either. As Engadget points out, the bezels do seem somewhat larger than those in the S8. But this is something we have to take a closer look at first. Thankfully, the wait isnt that long as Samsung is set to unveil the new flagships next month. news, latest-news Elegant all-white picnic Le Diner en Blanc is coming back to Canberra in 2018, with the event going ahead on Saturday February 17. Diner en Blanc, which was launched in Paris more than 20 years ago, is now held across five continents. It was introduced to Canberra in 2013 as part of the Enlighten festival, and ran in both 2013 and 2014. In 2014 it was rained out and forced to move indoors to the Canberra Centre. It didn't go ahead in 2015 after the ACT government pulled its funding. New organisers Antoine and Rachel Bessis, who have run the Sydney version of the event for six years, have reactivated the Canberra picnic for 2018. Held at a secret location (guests only find out about where they will be picnicking hours beforehand), guests have to BYO almost everything - tables, chairs, linen tablecloth, napkins, cutlery, crockery and table decorations. Then there's the food - guests are expected to bring a minimum three course meal to dine on. "We ask people not to bring takeaway food. It's about making an effort to display the gourmet food you've prepared and share it with friends," Mr Bessis said. The only thing you can't bring is alcohol - the venue is licensed for the event and you pre-order and pay for wine only via the website, which will be available to collect on the night. And everything has to be white - from your linen and tablewear, to your clothing and shoes, although, "there's a little bit of tolerance for silver and gold accessories." Tickets are $58 per person, which are available to purchase in pairs. which includes access to the event and transportation with buses leaving hubs in Russell, Gungahlin, Kingston, Macquarie, Manuka, Phillip, Bruce and the city. Register at canberra.dinerenblanc.com. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f371e89d-0a45-4cbd-b672-1f6909d8c09b/r0_120_1999_1249_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A Canberra primary school teacher is fighting for life in a Japanese hospital, after suffering a severe brain hemorrhage while on a family holiday. Jacob Burridge, a teacher at Giralang Primary School, was on a two-month holiday in Japan with his wife Waka and daughter Matia. Just hours before his flight to come back to Australia on Tuesday, he was complaining of headaches and nausea. Within five minutes he was unconscious. After being rushed to a hospital in Kochi, Mr Burridge was put into an induced coma, with brain hemorrhages discovered on both sides of his brain. The teacher was diagnosed with artery vascular malformation, a rare genetic condition affecting one in 3000 people with only a one per cent chance of rupturing. Speaking to Fairfax from Japan, his brother Thomas Clifton said doctors initially told the family to brace for bad news. "They told us to prepare for the worst and that he would be brain dead," he said. "Signs are positive now. He moved his arm when his daughter asked him and is fighting the ventilator and kicking his leg." While doctors have downgraded his condition from critical to critical-stable, Mr Burridge is still on life support, with the possibility of him being paralysed down his left side. Mr Clifton said the family had been shocked by the news. "My mum was hysterical. I was more in shock and knew I had to be the strong one and let the others do all the worrying and be frantic," he said. After three hours of surgery on Friday, Mr Burridge will be back in the operating room for up to 20 hours on Monday. "After that, if successful, they'll bring him our of the coma and start the rehab, and see how much damage was done," Mr Clifton said. Since receiving the news about his brother's condition earlier this week and flying to Japan to support the family, Mr Clifton has set up a gofundme page to help with the large medical bills. The page has already raised more than $59,000 in one day with many of the donations being made from members of the Giralang school community. Mr Clifton said he had been blown away by the support. "There's been a massive response, Waka is so grateful," he said. "Jacob had many friends, and [with him] working at schools, so many people know him." As well as being a teacher at Giralang, Mr Burridge also used to be a year 3 and Japanese teacher at Kaleen Primary School. The gofundme page has set a target of $100,000, with hospital bills expected to be $1600 a day. "We expect the bill will be over $200,000 before rehab," Mr Clifton said. "We are all prepared to sell our houses and pay to rent at house in Kochi near the hospital for my mum to stay on." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/83e409fd-9d49-4506-92cd-f346bfcd424f/r0_45_373_256_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Gun parts confiscation begins in Massachusetts By Jayson Veley. January 22nd, 2018 Massachusetts, like most other liberal states across the country, is not exactly a state that believes in or respects the Second Amendment rights of the people who live there. Rather, Massachusetts and the leftists who run it believe as the vast majority of liberal democrats in this country do: That the implementation of more gun laws and regulations is the best and most effective way to decrease gun-related crime. Massachusetts' most recent attack on the Second Amendment comes in the form of a letter that will soon be sent to all License to Carry (LTC) permit holders in the state from the Executive Office of Public Safety. The letter, which was originally uncovered by the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) based in Northborough, explains that "Retention of a prohibited item [bump stock or trigger crank] beyond the 90 day grace period will expose the owner to criminal prosecution." In other words, residents of Massachusetts are being forced to turn in their bump stocks without exception, even if they have no criminal history and obtained their firearm legally. ....... Last year on October 17th JPFO made its position clear on 'bump stocks'. This case shows how 'any excuse' (the Las Vegas massacre) can be the motivation to try and enforce yet another gun law, which will have no effect on gun crime but simply penalize the countless law abiding people. Basically, just more Second Amendment infringement. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." You just have to love freedom. 2018 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top news, latest-news ACT climate change minister Shane Rattenbury has ordered a review of Canberra's plastic bag ban, concerned it has led to "perverse" environmental outcomes, with people instead throwing out the post-ban thicker bags after only one use. Mr Rattenbury this week wrote to environment commissioner Professor Kate Auty, ordering a full review of the scheme, including a "triple bottom line" assessment and cost-benefit analysis of the ban to see how it could be improved. While the ban is enforced by Labor, through regulatory services minister Gordon Ramsay's portfolio, the Greens minister, who has previously called for it to be tightened, holds responsibility for the ban itself. The 2012 ban forced retailers to take light, single-use plastic bags off the market in the ACT, but allowed them to keep selling heavier, often branded, plastic bags as long as they were thicker than 35 microns, as well as fully biodegradable bags. Mr Rattenbury said while the ban had led to 'positive behaviour change", he wanted to ensure it was working as well as possible and improving environmental outcomes. "I'm worried about the extent to which retailers are using slightly thicker plastic bags, which is currently permitted," he said. "Plastic is an environmentally damaging waste that is produced from fossil fuels, does not break down quickly, and is hazardous for our wildlife and oceans. "We may be able to refine the scheme to ensure we further reduce the use of plastics, for example by only permitting single-use bags that are biodegradeable." A review of the scheme in 2014, which examined the total tonnage of plastic bags going to landfill in two six month periods found it cut plastic bag waste from 266 tonnes before the ban to 171 tonnes afterwards, or a reduction of about 36 per cent. A survey of about 600 Canberrans completed for the review found while 65 per cent of respondents supported the ban, some 34 per cent said they either did not support it because it was ineffective or because they objected to having to buy bin liners to replace the plastic bags they previously used for that purpose. In his letter to Prof Auty, Mr Rattenbury wrote that "plastic bag manufacturers were quick to ensure that they were able to offer bags that were just over the 35 micron minimum limit to retailers". "As a consequence I understand that many retailers and customers have not changed their behaviour around the use of plastic bags, and perversely may instead be using thicker plastic bags for single uses," the letter reads. Mr Rattenbury wrote that he had considered several options to extend the ban, including increasing the legislated thickness of bags sold by retailers, or changing the scheme so only fully biodegradable bags could be offered to customers. The review, he wrote, would also need to make recommendations as to "how and whether improvements could be made to improve overall environmental outcomes". Prof Auty is expected to report back her findings and recommendations by June this year. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7bafde6e-0ebb-4435-95eb-c3c0d0136306/r0_118_2000_1248_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news We're witnessing the birth of a new kind of activism: sleep activism. We all love sleep, right? It's the third pillar of health, after nutrition and exercise. But screens aren't helping. Smartphones beep into the night, they shine an unhelpful blue light into our eyes before we try to nod off and they (thanks, Youtube) autoplay video after video. Among the new wave of sleep activists is Perth school principal Dr Kate Hadwen. She has managed to persuade 600 students to surrender their phones before they go to bed. Her trick was to hand out alarm clocks to every student who pledged to put their phone away at bedtime. "The response from parents and students has been amazing, overwhelmingly positive," she told Fairfax Media. With a separate alarm clock, there's no excuse for a phone by their beds. Parents used the pledge as ammunition to argue the case at home. "We sold out K-Mart in Western Australia. We had to get them shipped in from other states." With students about to return to school, other high school principals should follow Hawden's lead. Sleep is especially important but harder to get in prolonged summers that are uncomfortably hot. Mobile technology is doing more than harming the kids, of course. Research shows that if children are exceeding screen time, then their parents and carers are as well. "Switched on" and tethered as we are for work, smartphones have offered greater mobility and freedom but also delivered greater fragmentation of home life and more mental stress. A recent survey found a third of us make errors at work as a result of fatigue. A third of full-time workers say they are completely exhausted on a regular basis. Teenagers who are on screens more than four hours a day are 3 times likelier to sleep fewer than five hours a night, which is scary. Another activist is Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, the founder of The Restful Company, based in Silicon Valley. "Rest is the time we spend recovering. Today, we are neither working well nor resting well," he says. "We think that in order to do more, we've got to put in more hours, work more nights and weekends. That's backwards. We get more done when we ease up." Drawing on neuroscience and psychology, Pang's research confirms that when we rest well, we are more creative and productive. And yet he says we live with a warped social norm that sees busyness as a status symbol. As well as advocating more sleep, Pang promotes "active rest" (exercise and walking) and "deep play" (immersing ourselves in hobbies) in order to transform the way we work, create and think. Sleep activism is attuned to the quality and pattern of sleep, not just the hours doing it. Sleep has four stages and good sleep requires all four: light sleep, stable sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (or REM) sleep. Deep sleep offers regeneration and emotional stability. REM is important for memory and dreaming and sometimes for problem-solving. In the mid-1800s, the inventor of the sewing machine, Elias Howe, had the idea for it, but couldn't figure out exactly how it would work. In his dream, cannibals were preparing to cook him and were dancing around the fire waving their spears. He noticed that at the head of each spear was a small hole, and that the spears were moving up and down. The idea of passing the thread through the needle close to the point, not at the other end, was the innovation that made his machine work. Rest and study or work are partners; they don't take away from each other but sustain and improve each other. We need both. Toni Hassan is a writer and an adjunct research fellow at Charles Sturt University's Australian centre for Christianity and culture in Canberra. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/990dcb36-f51c-49f4-8e00-ce9d3f20420a/r0_163_2000_1293_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg 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. The sensational discovery of modern humans in the Levant 177-194 thousand years ago should cause a rethink of the currently held Out-of-Africa orthodoxy.By Out-of-Africa, I mean here the origin of anatomically modern humans, as opposed to the earlier origin of the genusor the later origin of behaviorally fully modern humans.Two main pieces of evidence supported the conventional OOA theory:1. The observation that modern Eurasians possess a subset of the genetic variation of modern Africans.2. The greater antiquity of AMH humans in the African rather than the Eurasian palaeoanthropological record.Both these observations are in crisis.1a. The oldest African fossil AMH is in North Africa (Morocco, Jebel Irhoud); modern genetic variation does not single out this region as a potential source of modern humans. In short, modern genetic variation has nothing to say about where AMH originated.1b. Eurasians can no longer be seen as a subset of Africans, given that they possess genetic variation from Denisovans, a layer of ancestry earlier than all extant AMH. While it is still true that most Eurasian genetic material is a subset of that of modern Africans, it is also true that the deepest known lineage of humans is the Denisovan-Sima de los huesos, with no evidence for any deeper African lineage. Within humans as a whole, Africans possess a subset of Eurasian genetic variation.2a. African priority received a boost by 0.1My by the redating of Jebel Irhoud last year. And, non-African AMH received a boost of 0.05My by the Hershkovitz et al. paper yesterday. A very short time ago, Ethiopia boasted the oldest AMH by 0.07My and now it's tied with the Levant and beaten by Morocco. It's a bit silly to argue for temporal priority based on the spotty and ever-shifting palaeoanthropological record.2b. It is virtually untenable to consider the ~120,000 year old Shkul/Qafzeh hominins as a failed Out-of-Africa, since it now seems that they may have been descendants from the Mislya Cave population of >50,000 or even >100,000 years earlier.I had previously supported a "two deserts" theory of human origins in which AMH originated in North Africa (Sahara) and then left Africa >100kya as evidenced by the Shkul/Qafzeh hominins and/or the Nubian technocomplex in Arabia. While I am still convinced that AMH originated somewhere in North Africa or the Near East, I am less certain as to where.26 Jan 2018: Vol. 359, Issue 6374, pp. 456-459 DOI: 10.1126/science.aap8369Israel Hershkovitz et al.To date, the earliest modern human fossils found outside of Africa are dated to around 90,000 to 120,000 years ago at the Levantine sites of Skhul and Qafzeh. A maxilla and associated dentition recently discovered at Misliya Cave, Israel, was dated to 177,000 to 194,000 years ago, suggesting that members of the Homo sapiens clade left Africa earlier than previously thought. This finding changes our view on modern human dispersal and is consistent with recent genetic studies, which have posited the possibility of an earlier dispersal of Homo sapiens around 220,000 years ago. The Misliya maxilla is associated with full-fledged Levallois technology in the Levant, suggesting that the emergence of this technology is linked to the appearance of Homo sapiens in the region, as has been documented in Africa. It seems next summer will bring on a new wave of pot smokers. It will be perfectly legal and from the number of producers coming out of the woodwork it seems there will be pot everywhere. So, what happens to those millions of buts? I understand that it will be allowed to smoke weed anywhere smoking is allowed, so it is safe to assume that a large quantity will be disposed of on the sidewalks and roadways of every community. In Kelowna that means that those buts (THC) will make their way through the storm sewer and into Okanagan Lake. The THC will join the opioids and other chemicals dumped there from the sanitary sewer system. Is it any wonder our marine life is struggling? After doing damage in the lake, those chemicals come back in our drinking water and irrigate our crops, so we all get to share. If we keep poisoning our food and ourselves, we may not have to worry about climate change. Thanks Justin. On a side note, if it is ok to smoke pot on the street corner, why cant I have a beer or glass of wine? Liquor has been legal since prohibition and they are both intoxicating substances. Gord Marshall You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here is a recent crime that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown. CRIME: THEFT OF WOOD CHIPPER DATE: January 22, 2018 RCMP FILE: 2018-3885 A business located on the 2600 block of Kyle Road in West Kelowna reported a theft of a wood chipper on January 22, 2018 from a gated and locked area. The machine is an orange Husqvarna Model# 967334201 Wood Chipper with serial number 967334201010716N002410. The unit is worth approximately $2600.00. 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. Its difficult to comprehend what motivates city councillors to attempt to undermine the integrity of our Official Community Plan (OCP) only to create a few more square feet of commercial pace, when there already is plenty of empty spaces on both sides of us, like Summerland, Westbank and West Kelowna. Should there ever be a real need for more commercial space, there are a lot of properties along Beach avenue that are suitable for commercial development without going above the three storey limit. If the city had prospective businesses knocking on the door with proposals that would translate into a number of full time well paying long term jobs, it would warrant some consideration. The notion that local businesses supply the city with desperately needed tax revenues is also a misnomer. Tourism is not a sustainable business model, offering mostly part time employment, paying low wages during the summer season, leaving a lot of poor people unemployed during off season. That in turn translates into higher social costs for the city, that combined with discounted business taxes and development cost charges translates into even higher taxes for Peachland homeowners. If Mike Kent is correct about Council being able to change the OCP, against massive opposition by the people, then our OCP has been sterilized and the political process at our city hall is no longer a by the people, for the people, to serve the-people democratic process that it should be. If we let City Council sterilize our OCP, all future development is out of control and the doors are wide open for our current and future city councils to develop Peachland willy nilly. Combined with city councils decision to use that fight it if you dont like it alternative approval process to borrow almost indiscriminately, spending and taxation will also be out of control. If we want to stop this train wreck, it means we all have to go to the open house Jan 30th, and tell city council we do not want to change the OCP, and that we do not want any buildings on Beach Avenue that are more than 3 storeys high. Andy Thomsen Photo: West Kelowna RCMP A heartbroken mother finds joy again after she is reunited with some of her treasures. RCMP tell Castanet her treasures were stolen in Sept. including a 12-year-old handwritten letter from her son. On Dec. 12, the West Kelowna resident attended the RCMP detachment and met with investigators, to view the stolen property, which had been seized by police. Mounties returned the mothers lost treasure, along with various stolen antique and sentimental jewelry items. The woman was reunited over 50 items, which included jewelry that belonged to her grandmother. The most valuable item she recovered that day, ended up being a crumpled up piece of paper which read I love you mom. You are cool. My best friend is you. You are fun.." said RCMP Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey, Thank you for all that you do and especially for your kindness, the West Kelowna Mother wrote to RCMP. Her message continued on to say that the handwritten note was created by her son when he was 6 years of age, hes now 18. Photo: RCMP A wave of counterfeit bills in the Central Okanagan has prompted a warning from the RCMP. The 'funny money' has been passed to businesses in both Kelowna and West Kelowna. Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says several cases have been documented where both $50 and $100 Canadian notes have been circulated, and seized by police. The fake bills have been used for purchases in various retail stores, gas stations, pharmacies, coffee shops and gift stores. In most cases the customer has been provided with change, after making a small purchase using a counterfeit bill, said ODonaghey. In other cases, the customer purchases a more expensive item at one store with the phony money, then immediately returns that item for real cash at another store location of the same franchise. O'Donaghey says police in West Kelowna recently seized a $100 counterfeit bank note, which was described as not symmetrical, cut poorly so that it was narrow at one end and taped together using what appeared to be a hologram from a $10 bill. RCMP are releasing a surveillance image of a man they believe may be connected with at least one of the incidents. Photo: Lyonel Doherty, Oliver Chronicle A pig and a dog perished when a vehicle plunged into an oxbow north of Osoyoos on Friday afternoon. Crews responded to the accident on Road 22 at about 12:30 p.m., according to Oliver Fire Department spokesperson Rob Graham. The vehicle went over a concrete barrier into the oxbow. A male and a female escaped before emergency crews arrived on scene, Graham said. They were taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Two dogs and a pig were reportedly in the vehicle. One dog was rescued but a second canine and the pig passed away. The cause of the incident is not yet known. Graham said road conditions were normal at the time. Photo: Contributed Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran says its time to consider light rail service along the Okanagan Rail Trail. At his annual state of the city address today, Basran said a light rail service along the rail corridor would be an efficient way to move a lot of people affordably across the region. Basran said that, as the population in the region grows, it makes sense to consider alternative transportation option like rapid buses, autonomous cars, or even light rail on that corridor. Basran said eventually installing light rail along the corridor would make getting through the valley both more efficient, and less expensive. The mayors push to investigate light rail along the corridor was one part of a larger vision he laid out of what transportation in Kelowna might look like in the future. For more on why Basran said widening roads won't be enough to alleviate traffic congestion, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Christian Ouelette is pretty sure there will be a fourth annual Slopes for Hope event. The third annual ski fundraiser took place Saturday at SilverStar Mountain Resort and surpassed the goal of raising $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Ouelette, who organized the fundraiser, said he is thrilled with the results and plans to be back next year. The funds are going toward research and to those who are dealing with cancer right now, he said as a heavy snowfall blanketed the popular ski hill. Slopes for Hope is a ski-athon. It's a distance challenge for the participants so the are counting the number of runs they are doing during the day, and then at the end of the day we tally those up and the winners will be getting prizes for their achievements. But the main goal of Slopes for Hope is to raise money for cancer research and to have fun while doing it. They come out and raise funds for the cancer society and then they get to spend the day doing what they love to do, he said. 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... He is PSG's top scorer this term with three more goals than world-record signing Neymar, who returned to the team for the first time on Saturday since being booed after taking a penalty that could have given Cavani the record in an 8-0 thrashing of Dijon on January 17. Shradha and I look forward to inviting in an operating leader who has the experience and skills required for the future success of Outcome Health, Shah said in a statement. Were enthusiastic to move into this new chapter of growth with our customers and partners to transform the health care industry and fulfill our mission to activate the best health outcomes possible for every person in the world. The company offers no guarantees to young models. No assurances. Just the promise of hope and the allure of hype, which adorn every dream. Russell's visit to London may be the only trek there in her life. This is not what Russell wants to hear at this point, but it's a realistic possibility. Punctuation strikes you as handy, tidy and responsible. It's rash to sound off without the pause inspired by the comma or the deep breath mandated by the period. Punctuation saves lives when applied judiciously. You sigh over that panda turned criminal in "eats, shoots and leaves." 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 Thursday. 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 and actresses. 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, on the drama's 25th anniversary. Ben Vereen played Chicken George in the ensemble cast that also included LeVar Burton, Leslie Uggams, Cicely Tyson, Madge Sinclair and 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, told the Times. Cole, who was divorced from actor Richard Venture, is survived by cousins, according to Cooper. Its the tale of an outlaw gang led by Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels as youve never seen him) and his hunt for Roy Goode, a younger man who has abandoned the gang. When Roy winds up in the town of La Belle, which is run by women since most of its men died in the mine, Griffin vows vengeance on them all. That really is part of the challenge when we talk about what it would take to have the tools to have solutions for addressing the #MeToo issue, said Chitra Panjabi, president and CEO of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, a Washington-based organization that offers fact-based sexual education resources. This patchwork of laws and policies makes it really challenging to ensure that we have a consistent way of providing this education that young people need. The Kaegi campaign laid into Berrios over the lawsuit, saying: Its the height of hypocrisy for Joe Berrios to complain about campaign finance when he has drawn millions of dollars of contributions from the people directly benefiting from the corrupt assessment system over which he presides. Under Berrios, corrupt politicians and owners of billion-dollar downtown skyscrapers win, and Berrios rakes in the cash. The child had suffered life-threatening injuries in a battery, and he was taken to one hospital, then transferred to a trauma center because of the severity of his injuries, according to the release. The child was pronounced dead at 7:03 p.m. Wednesday at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, according to police. Next, two robberies were reported Jan. 21, first in the early morning in the 1800 block of North Sedgwick Street, also in the Old Town Triangle neighborhood, and next in the evening in the 2200 block of North Bissell Street in the Sheffield Neighbors neighborhood. The safety of our students is something we take very seriously, Thompson said. While we understand that there may be questions regarding this incident, the District is unable to share more information due to confidentiality and privacy laws that govern student and personnel matters. The meeting ended with Dr. Daiber pointing his finger at me and telling me that he could fire me, lay me off, reduce my hours, make me part-time. He said that he could reprimand me, and he advised me not to say a word to anybody about the meeting, to any of my coworkers, or that he would fire me immediately, she said, according to court transcripts. Munoz and outside ethics experts questioned whether Burke violated city ethics code by calling Finance. The code states that no official or employee shall make or participate in the making of any governmental decision with respect to any matter in which he has any financial interest, earned money from during the past year or expects to earn money from in the coming year. From calling for an illegal ban of Muslims during the first week of his presidency (and on Holocaust Remembrance Day) and refusing to condemn Nazis and White Supremacists in Charlottesville, to referring to Haiti and African nations as sh*tholes, President Trump has completely disrespected millions of patriotic Americans and the office of the presidency, the 10-term lawmaker said. The would-be mayoral candidate also would have to navigate his recent address change. Despite having a job in the city, Vallas had been living in the southwest suburbs. While other potential candidates might be able to lob carpetbagger accusations, it would be difficult for Emanuel, who faced his own residency questions when returning to Chicago from Washington in 2010 to run for mayor. Vallas also was born in Chicago and grew up in a cramped apartment above a grocery store in Roseland on the Far South Side, while Emanuel spent most of his childhood in Wilmette. Airwars, an independent monitoring group, has said that number is implausible given the intensity of the war, particularly in Islamic State's self-declared capitals of Mosul and Raqqa and that their research has shown that up to 9,210 non-combatants were killed by the end of last year. "This administration may choose to ignore reasonable requests for information about its work, but it cannot ignore a court order that mandates the production of records on matters that impact the voting rights of millions of Americans," said Kristen Clarke, president and director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "Through our lawsuit, we seek to expose the ways in which other federal agencies may be working to carry forth the commission's unlawful activities." "Clearly they are trying to get these things built more quickly. That can be done while maintaining the necessary environmental protections, because a lot of what holds this up is needless, duplicative review," said Nick Goldstein, vice president of regulatory and legal issues at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. "From now until at least 2020, there's going to be somebody there considering regulatory reform." The ward was predominantly Caucasian, but was turning African-American, and because he was such a universal person, he was elected, Black said. I was convinced that he would be a model in the City Council for bringing equality and justice, economically and socially, to all the people in Chicago, so I wanted him to be that kind of example that race does not necessarily affect a person who has a universal view of life like Bill Cousins. Jermaine Baker, 40, of the 1200 block of Cottonwood Drive, was wearing his then-wife's dress and a wig when he went into Anthony Townsend's duplex, crept up a flight of stairs to the bedroom and shot him, according to Townsend and Kane County prosecutors. Bullets from a 9mm semiautomatic handgun struck Townsend in the cheek, jaw and forehead, as well as his hands, prosecutors said. Following Max's death, in what she described as an effort to create some good out of the worst thing that had ever happened to her, Dobner threw herself into advocacy for stronger laws and education about synthetic drugs. Then one day, after about four years, her older son reminded her that while Max was gone, the rest of there family was still there. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Oh, and if you see me driving my red 2010 Mustang GT convertible, please wave. Hi, I am a retired newspaperman. I wrote 3 books on Trump and the media . I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 43 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Last fall, aldermen wanted to see more of a landscaping plan, as well as some changes to the locations of the outdoor storage pods to make the most of parking spaces available. Both Whiteside and the city have said there would be enough parking for the uses on the property. 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. Police recovered video from several surveillance cameras in the area, and on Dec. 27 found the vehicle believed to have been used in the parking lot of a Lansing motel and interviewed Protho's wife, to whom the vehicle is registered, according to the affidavit. The victim was shown a photo array that same day and she identified Protho as her alleged attacker, according to the document. "There was never anybody we were looking for that he couldn't find," Glasgow said of Stewart's skills in multiple investigations. "He would treat the bad guys with respect, and they respected him back. He would solve more cases because they would give him information they wouldn't give anyone else." The 10,800 square-foot building was built as the South Elgin Village Hall in 1952, with 2,400 square feet and room for one piece of firefighting equipment. The current administrative section was built in the late 1950s and was part of the village's police station, with an expansion in the 1960s adding 1,200 square feet, officials said. A: I miss the old days when it was basically a college town. That's no longer the atmosphere. Now it's big buildings that have been moving in within the last 10 years and the community has kind of lost its small town charm to a degree. The people we know are still old timers, and we still can relate to those days. It's definitely a changing community for people who are moving here. Maybe younger generations want to have all these high-rise buildings, but it seems to take away some of the flavor of the community. Levitt and Hudson clashed during hearings this week. On both days, Hudson refused to approach the bench to stand before the court as other defendants are typically required to do during their hearings. Hudson repeatedly said that he was not "entering any contracts" and did not wish to approach the bench. But after Levitt said he would not attempt to speak with Hudson from across the room, he eventually approached the bench for both hearings. "What we can say is that initial reports indicate adults, who are not students in our district, came onto school grounds and threatened harm to students, because of an intensifying dispute in the community between rival groups," Plascencia said. Assistant State's Attorney Jim Scaliatine said among the prosecution's evidence is a letter Amor wrote to his bride in 1995 that indicated he had a plan for "capital gains" that would allow them to move from the Miceli condo. There was also testimony that unit's smoke detector was not found inside the damaged home, Scaliatine said. There have been leads and tips from the public, some spurred by $50,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction, but none have resulted in the break the police need, police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said. Because the reward money can be awarded to anonymous tipsters, police have hope that someone who knows something will emerge. "It took a long time to get where we wanted to," Brown said. "There were a couple of revisions to the plan. We had asked for certain documents from their architect. At one point, there was a dispute in the interpretation of the building code or fire code, and we sent the plans out to a third party for review." Washington said he decided to run for the commissioner's seat instead of clerk so he can continue the work he has accomplished on the county council during his first term including the creation of a human resources department and the implementation of a minority business enterprise ordinance. Washington said he is not concerned the pending criminal charges may negatively impact the race. "IU Northwest has been greatly impacted by Mark's legacy. His commitment to students, to higher education and to the environment of Northwest Indiana was undeniable and he was widely respected for all he did throughout his lifetime for all these endeavors," said Jeri Pat Gabbert, vice chancellor for university advancement and external affairs. "In essence, what we're learning about is the way schools are providing great education and great training for every student," he said after the tour. "So whether that student is choosing to go to college or not, every student has a great career in front of him." School board members on Jan. 22 agreed that the facilities master plan that was used for the referendum should be presented along with changes to the plan that have been made since then. The board also plans to display the results of a community survey collected last summer, outline the districts latest enrollment report and try to acquire information on Vernon Hills High Schools enrollment situation. You are here: Business Montenegro saw a marked hike in its foreign trade in 2017 with China playing a significant role both as an export destination and import source, according to figures from the national statistics bureau Monstat Friday. Total trade volume was worth 2.67 billion euros (3.32 billion U.S. dollars), a 12-percent increase compared to the year before, with neighboring Serbia as its biggest trade partner. Montenegro exported goods worth 66 million euros to Serbia and imported commodities worth 495.5 million euros from the neighboring country. The other top export destinations were Bosnia and Herzegovina (47 million euros) and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (31.7 million euros), while the other top import source countries were China (221.4 million euros) and Germany (196 million euros). Exports increased by 13.9 percent, amounting to 337 million euros, with metals, especially iron and steel, forming the bulk of export commodities. Imports increased 11.7 percent to 2.3 billion euros. Machines and transport vehicles comprised the lion's share of imports, valued at 552 million euros. The Liangzhu relic site, Neolithic ruins in east China's Zhejiang Province, was officially recommended Friday by the National Commission of China for UNESCO as a candidate for World Heritage status in 2019, according to the weekend edition of China Daily. The site on the outskirts of Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, dates to 3300-2300 BC, roughly contemporaneous with the Old Kingdom period in ancient Egypt and the Summer civilization in Mesopotamia. It is a complex with various types of relics, including an ancient city, tombs and a dam. Archaeological work began in Liangzhu in the 1930s, and over the past eight decades understanding of the sites has grown from being merely a complex of tombs to a comprehensive large-scale heritage site, said Wang Ningyuan, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Research Institute for Cultural Relics and Archaeology. In the new edition of high school textbook on China released in September, Liangzhu is presented in detail as an important origin of Chinese civilization. In 2015, the discovery in Liangzhu of the ruins of a dam -- for flood control and irrigation -- was announced. It is the earliest known Chinese water conservancy project and was listed among China's top 10 archaeological discoveries of that year. Its contemporary counterparts overseas were built mainly in arid areas like ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, making this discovery in the humid area near the Yangtze River unusual. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage had put Liangzhu on a potential World Heritage site list several times before it officially applied for that status. Jiang Weidong, deputy director of the Liangzhu relic site's administration office, said much work has been done in preparation for its submission as a World Heritage candidate. Currently, its protection zone covers 42 square kilometers, and this is planned to expand to 111 square kilometers. U.S. President Donald Trump [Chinanews.com] Turkey, NATO's second largest force, is currently engaged in an invasion of Syrian territory, in a northern enclave occupied by Kurdish forces, which are backed by the United States. If this sounds confusing, it's because it is. Significantly, Turkey started what is its first foreign invasion following the failed coup against President Erdogan. In what is said to be an open-ended conflict, the Turkish foreign ministry stated that it will continue until there is a safe zone in Syria and 3.5 million Syrian refugees can return to their country. The U.S. and Russia both have forces in Syria, but Russia apparently moved its forces out of the Kurdish controlled city of Afrin in tacit consent to Turkey to begin bombing. A clash between U.S. backed forces and a U.S. ally is the cause of evident glee in Moscow. Both the U.S. and Russia have urged Turkey to show restraint to avoid escalation, and Turkey has said they have no intention of entering into a shooting match with either country. The battle is ongoing, and on its fourth day there are reports of casualties and losses by the Turkish army. Approximately 50 civilians have been killed so far in Turkish bombardment and shelling, according to Britain's Syrian observatory think tank. U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said that Turkish efforts were a distraction in the larger effort to vanquish Islamic militants. This is a curious situation that lays bare the folly of U.S. foreign policy in Syria. Syrian Kurds have been the strongest American allies in Syria against the Islamic State. With the U.S. focus single-mindedly on defeating Islamic State, the strong secular Kurdish forces were a natural ally. After the defeat of ISIS, the United States identified the Kurds as a long-term stability factor in Syria, which led to plans to form a 30,000-soldier strong border force, mostly of Kurds, along the Syria-Turkey border. Unfortunately, that's where the Turks and the Americans differed. Turkey considers a Kurdish armed forces corps of any size in Syria to be detrimental to Turkish interests. The Kurds in Syria have similar alignments with Kurdish rebels across transnational boundaries within Turkey, Iraq and Iran. They are also a competent fighting force, which makes them a potential threat as an enemy. The question now is whether Turkey and the U.S. will come to blows over this. What if the Kurds retaliate within Turkey? What if Kurdish forces from Iraq and Iran plan attacks in Turkey? Will the Turkish invasion then fall prey to mission creep, and will Turkey come into direct conflict with U.S. forces stationed in Iraq? Finally, the most important revelation in this situation is just how botched the U.S. policy in Syria has become. The United States, with questionable motives for being there in the first place, could have left matters to powers whose Middle East interests are far deeper. Instead, they betted on a wrong horse, and are not willing now to go all the way. Now two logical paths lie ahead: First, the U.S. leaves the Kurds to their fate, which would be another case of deserting allies, like Egypt's Mubarak, and would further damage the American reputation as an honest broker in the region. Second would be to support the Kurds and provide them with arms, thereby risking a clash with a NATO ally. The scenario also provides further evidence that the U.S. stands powerless to stop its allies from their wars. The Saudi intervention in Yemen, and now the Turkish invasion of Syria highlight the loss of American power and willingness to go to war in a region that does not appreciate political impotence. American-Turkish relations historically have been an alliance of benefits and a tactical alignment, but interests may now differ beyond repair. The Turks want to muscle American presence out of the Middle East, and the American response will be observed closely by all major powers across the world. Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will pay an official visit to China on Saturday and Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Friday. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with Kono during his stay in Beijing and exchange views on China-Japan ties as well as issues of common concern, Hua said. Kono's visit will be his first to China since becoming foreign minister in August. Wang and Kono previously had two face-to-face meetings in August and September on the sidelines of international conferences. The China-Japan relationship shows improving momentum, but it still faces challenges, and it is hoped that Tokyo will work with Beijing during Kono's visit to boost lasting improvement and development of the ties, Hua said. One of the most recent official visits made by a top Japanese diplomat to China was that of then-foreign minister Fumio Kishida in 2016. Leaders on both sides have voiced hope for the relations as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. In a recent written interview with Chinese media, Kono noted that China and Japan are respectively the second-and third-largest economies in the world and said the steady growth of their ties benefits both nations and the global community. Kono said he hopes to boost bilateral trust through the visit, and it is important for both countries to join hands in tackling global issues such as climate change and terrorism. Gao Hong, a senior researcher of Japan studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the China-Japan relationship has improved bit by bit in recent years as President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe six times since 2014. However, Gao said he is only prudently optimistic about the relations' prospects because deep-seated sensitive issues have yet to be resolved, and Japan should make more tangible efforts to work on them. In another development, Hua said on Friday that China is "strongly dissatisfied" about the Japanese government opening an exhibition in Tokyo on Thursday in which it claims the Diaoyu Islands as Japan's inherent territory. "The Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times. China's sovereignty over the islands has an ample historical and legal basis," the spokeswoman said. "What Japan does will not change one bit the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. China is firmly determined to safeguard its sovereignty over the islands," Hua said. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a closely-watched closing speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday afternoon, reiterating the "America First" policy but toning down his rhetoric. "As President of the United States, I will always put America First," Trump told global business elite in this Swiss ski resort. "America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world." The U.S. president also expressed his willingness to negotiate bilateral free trade deals with countries including those in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). "We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and reciprocal. Because in the end, unfair trade undermines us all," 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. The United States, he said, is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreements with all countries. This includes the countries in TPP 11. "We would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually, or perhaps as a group, if it is in all of our interests," added Trump. On Thursday, the U.S. president had signaled the reconsideration in an interview with CNBC in Davos, saying "I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal". Trump, who was the first incumbent U.S. president to attend the Davos WEF forum since Bill Clinton in 2000, also took the time to show off the achievements of the U.S. economy since his administration came into power one year ago. Saying "America is roaring back", the U.S. president said his administration has dramatically cut taxes to "make America competitive". According to Trump, the U.S. lowered its corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, and the tax cut bill is expected to raise the average American's household income by more than 4,000 U.S. dollars. Calling on business leaders to bring business, jobs and investments to the United States, Trump said "It is the perfect time". Over foreign policy, Trump repeated his hard-line stance on such issues as the Korean peninsula, Iran, fight against terrorism, and Islamic State. In the Q&A session following his speech, the U.S. president also took the chance to attack the "nasty, mean, vicious and very fake" media, which prompted boos from the audience. Flash The U.S. Treasury announced on Friday that it has added 21 individuals and nine entities related to Russia and Ukraine to its sanctions list. The designated persons included several Russian officials, and high-level officials in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People' s Republic, said the Treasury in a statement. Companies involving in building infrastructure in Crimea were among the ones targeted. This action underscores the U.S. government's opposition to Russia's occupation of Crimea and refusal to recognize its attempted "annexation" of the peninsula, said the Treasury. As a result of the Treasury's action, any property or interests of the designated persons in the United States will be blocked and transactions by Americans involving these persons are generally prohibited. The designation came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Davos, Switzerland on Friday. Crimea separated from Ukraine and rejoined Russia in March 2014 following a local referendum, with almost 97 percent of the residents voting for the reunification. However, Western countries insisted that the peninsula was illegally annexed and they have imposed several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia since 2014. In Russia, lawmakers responded defiantly. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign affairs committee for the lower house of parliament, was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that Moscow would take actions to retaliate. "This is a policy of maximum containment of a growing Russia. The Americans have declared a trade war against us," another member of the lower chamber, Vladimir Dzhabaraov, was quoted as saying. Wang Xiaohui, executive vice-minister of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has spoken warmly of growing relations between China and Kenya. He made the comments when he visited Kenya's parliament in Nairobi on Thursday. "The relationship has witnessed several achievements and this was witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation last year, where he and President Xi Jinping agreed to elevate the relationship to a comprehensive partnership of cooperation," Wang said. A Benedictine monk from Minnesota is enjoying his "dream job" of traveling to Timbuktu and teaming up with monasteries and libraries to save Christian artifacts from destruction at the hands of the Islamic State. Fr. Columba Stewart, who works for the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, travels to Timbuktu four months a year to ensure that Christian artifacts are not destroyed by ISIS, jihadists, and other modern threats. He explained that these militants consider cultural heritage as a threat to their views, so they target the manuscripts and destroy them, Fox 9 detailed. "This is kind of a dream job," said Fr. Stewart. "When I talk to you and tell you about it, I think this is really cool what I do." Fr. Stewart often travels to war-torn areas to photograph ancient handwritten books. The files are then placed in hard drives and brought to St. Johns Abbey in Collegeville before they are secured and published online. The monk explained that their work was similar to the Benedictines' old practice of copying manuscripts. However, theirs is the modern version of the task as they now use digital photographs because it is faster than manually copying them. In addition, Fr. Stewart said not all of the manuscripts they preserve are religious in nature. He said some are purely history and tell stories about political events, royal leaders, wars, and famines, CBS News reported. In one of their missions in northern Iraq, Fr. Stewart's team visited a centuries-old monastery that had been defaced by ISIS. The monks there were able to escape from the militants, but not before they were able to hide their manuscripts in barrels stashed behind a fake wall. Explaining the importance of their work, Fr. Stewart said buildings, crosses and other structures that ISIS destroyed could be rebuilt. However, he said the handwritten documents, scientific works, and ancient Bibles have to be saved because they can never be replaced. Christianity is growing in the Islamic Republic of Iran at a surprisingly fast rate, and the expansion of house churches in the country is reportedly being catalyzed by the power of Christian satellite TV broadcasts. Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Iran and the people's protests against government repression and economic woes, people tend to miss some of the positive happenings such as the fast growth of Christian churches in the Islamic nation. But Heart4Iran Ministries president Mike Ansari said the chaotic situation is opening up opportunities to spread the Gospel to the Iranian people, the Christian Broadcasting Network reported exclusively. "God is at work in Iran," said Ansari in an email. "Jesus is building His church, the {Holy} Spirit is transforming lives and the gospel is on the move." In addition, Ansari revealed that Christian satellite TV broadcasts in Iran have been largely instrumental in the expansion of underground churches as Muslims renounce their faith to embrace Christianity. Recently, programs by Heart4Iran media arm Mohabat TV have led 20 Iranians to accept Christ into their lives and submit to water baptism at an undisclosed location. Ansari also told CBN's George Thomas that the rapid growth of the church in Iran could be attributed to people's disillusionment with Islam and the absence of answers to their questions about life. He said a lot of people there are reportedly having visions and dreams about Jesus and are turning to the internet for answers, which later lead them to the Christian faith. Being a Christian in Iran is not easy as the country is included in Open Doors International's top 10 list of the worst persecutor of believers. Just last month, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Iran over the way it treated Christians. He criticized Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for having the audacity to wish his people a "happy and peaceful Christmas" while converts were arrested prior to the occasion, Times of Israel relayed. In light of the situation, Netanyahu appealed to the public to pray for the Christians who were undergoing difficulties under the Iranian regime. He also urged people to relay his message if they advocate for religious freedom. Christians attended a school board meeting in Elgin, Illinois, on Jan. 22 to speak out against an assignment given to sixth-graders last month that said Muslim, Jews and Christians follow the same God. On Monday, dozens of people who identified themselves as members of the Christian community showed up for an Elgin-area U46 school board meeting to protest a religion-themed assignment given last month. Some of them mentioned parts of the Bible and Quran to reiterate that Christians and Muslims do not believe in the same God, while others opposed including religion in education, the Elgin Courier News detailed. "To say that Allah of the Quran and the God of the Bible are the same is simply absurd," said Arlington Heights church pastor Art Ellingsen. Another commenter criticized U46 teachers and board members for including religious themes in their children's lessons. For Streamwood church pastor Mark Frusti, this act is tantamount to "playing with children's eternal lives." "It's not just something flying in the wind, it's not just a political issue, it is a faith issue, and faith issues are very important to a lot of people in this community," said Pastor Frusti. For board member Veronica Noland, the participants in the meeting should not have to listen to comments that were most likely driven by political issues and fall outside of their agenda. Still, the speakers were given time to air out their concerns at the end of the board meeting. Meanwhile in New Jersey, a parent filed a lawsuit on behalf of her child against social studies teacher Christine Jakowski and other members of the Chatham School District. The move stemmed from Jakowski's lessons which allegedly included a teaching that Islam is the "true faith," World Net Daily reported. According to the complainant, the lessons violate the First Amendment by forcing public school students to "endure the promotion of Islam." The case is seeking an injunction that will prevent the incident from happening in the future. Fulani militants have brutally slaughtered more than 80 Christians in Nigeria's Benue State since the beginning of January, and these killings occurred less than two months after an anti-open grazing bill was passed. The International Christian Concern has decried the brutal killings of more than 80 Christians in Benue State's Logo and Guma Counties at the hands of Fulani militant herdsmen. The state had just passed an anti-open grazing bill which prohibits the Fulani from moving their cattle throughout the country, but it appears to have failed to put a stop to the violence in the area. Usman Ngelzerma, the Secretary-General of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, told the Punch that the anti-open grazing bill was at the root of the spate of violent attacks and suggested revisiting the law and giving the herdsmen their rights. Even so, the Fulani attackers have also been targeting people not from the area who were just helping fleeing victims. Vershima, a resident of Makurdi, said armed herdsmen attacked them on Jan. 3 and killed three of the people from Guma who he was helping escape. He himself was thought to be dead. Meanwhile, a mass burial for 73 people killed by Fulani herdsmen was held in Makurdi on Jan. 11. Emotions ran high as thousands of mourners flooded the streets as the coffins were transported, and some of the people held banners calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to help them, Reuters reported. Buhari, who is also Fulani, has been accused by critics of failing to stop the deadly attacks of the herdsmen. Some have linked the rise in violence to political issues ahead of the February 2019 elections. When he was still campaigning in 2015, Buhari had promised to improve the country's security situation, and this helped propel him to the presidential office. However, he has not yet announced whether he will run again for the same position next year. President Buhari assured the people that his administration was prioritizing "security of life and property," in line with his promise during his presidential campaign. In response to the spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen, he also reinforced police presence in Benue and relocated the head of police to the state. A federal judge recently ordered the University of Iowa to reinstate a Christian student group which it banned after the latter was accused of discrimination for refusing to give a leadership position to an openly gay student. On Jan. 23, Judge Stephanie M. Rose told the University to Iowa to reinstate Business Leaders in Christ (BLinC) within 90 days after it ejected the organization from campus last year. She said the school did not implement its non-discrimination policy fairly and that the ban on the Christian student group was a form of "selective enforcement" of the said policy, The Washington Times detailed. The case stemmed from a complaint by an openly gay man who cried discrimination after being refused a leadership position with BLinC. The Christian group notably requires its leaders to make a vow upholding its faith statement which includes a stance against "sexual immorality." "In light of this selective enforcement, the Court finds BLinC has established the requisite fair chance of prevailing on the merits of its claims under the Free Speech Clause," Judge Rose said in her ruling. Renowned evangelist Franklin Graham previously expressed his support for BLinC in its religious discrimination lawsuit against the university. In a Facebook post, he said he was proud of the leaders of the group for adhering to their Biblical beliefs on homosexuality, World Net Daily relayed. BLinC, which was founded in 2015, holds weekly meetings and Bible studies where they discuss service projects. It also teaches students how to prioritize Christ amid their busy lives. However, it has not been able to hold its campus meetings since the university revoked its license to operate. Eric Baxter, a senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty which represented BLinC in the case, said public universities cannot dictate religious student organizations on their beliefs and choice for their leaders. The organization is now back on campus temporarily and even participated in a university recruiting fair on Thursday. The school was given 90 days to file an appeal. Massachusetts-based activist group the Satanic Temple has filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri alleging that its abortion laws violate the former's religious rights by promoting the Christian notion that life begins at conception. In Missouri, an ultrasound has to be given to women intending to get an abortion to allow them to hear the fetal heartbeat. They should also undergo a 72-hour waiting period and be provided with informed consent booklets that acknowledge the concept that life begins at conception. On Jan. 23, the state's Supreme Court heard the Satanic Temple's argument in its lawsuit that said these requirements violate the religious freedom of those who do not believe the Christian concept of when life starts, Newsweek detailed "We filed the lawsuit in defense of a member of the Satanic Temple who sought an abortion and was told she needed to wait three days for the procedure, during which time she was expected to consider the state's opinion upon fetal personhood," the Satanic Temple's spokesman, Lucien Greaves, told the publication. In addition, Greaves clarified that the state's view on the issue was "irrelevant" to them. He said the alleged "imposition of their religious opinion" clearly infringed on their member's free exercise. A day later, Solicitor General D. John Sauer confirmed that it was not necessary for women seeking an abortion in Missouri to have ultrasounds, the Satanic Temple said in a press briefing. The information came after the activist group's attorney argued that the the ultrasound was not really required, 9News relayed. The Satanic Temple shared in its press release that Justices had asked the State's representative if an ultrasound was not required prior to an abortion unless the woman wanted to hear the heartbeat of the fetus. Sauer affirmed that the patient only needs to be offered the chance to listen to the heartbeat and said it does not need to be done if the woman refuses to hear the audio. A cardinal from the Vatican has suggested in a new book that the Catholic Church could ordain older married men as priests in some cases, like in churches located in remote areas. In the book "Tutti gli Uomini di Francesco" ("All Francis' Men") that was made available on Jan. 22, Cardinal Beniamino Stella broached the possibility of ordaining older married men as priests in isolated Catholic churches. While he neither agreed nor disagreed with the idea, the Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy said the topic ought to be discussed by the Church, The Catholic Herald detailed. "It is not about being in favour of or against something, but about attentively evaluating various possibilities without being closed or rigid," said Cardinal Stella in the book. In addition, Cardinal Stella pointed to the Amazon and other remote Pacific islands suffering from clergy shortage. He said Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to seriously explore all their options for providing the faithful's need for the Eucharist. Stella said one possibility that the Catholic Church could look into is the ordination or older married men with proven virtue to allow them to serve as part-time priests and preside over the Eucharistic celebration in remote communities. However, he did not discount the need for "attentive study and a widespread ecclesial discernment" prior to making a decision on that issue, as such a change would entail a change in requirements for priests. Last year, Pope Francis spoke to German newspaper Die Zeit and said he was open to the idea of changing the rules of eligibility for priests to address the shortage of clergy in the Catholic Church. The pontiff added that in that case, they would need to look into the duties that married clergy could undertake, CNN reported. Moreover, Pope Francis clarified that the option he was talking about was allowing married men to be ordained as priests. However, single men already ordained as priests would not be permitted to get married. home World Cuban 'political police' invoke name of Fidel Castro as deity while arresting Christian activist Authorities in Cuba have reportedly invoked the name of Fidel Castro as their god while arresting a Christian man for being a member of a dissident group. Watchdog organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported on Wednesday that Misael DAaz Paseiro, a member of the Orlando Zapata Tamayo Civic Resistance Front, was arrested in November and charged with "pre-criminal social dangerousness." Prior to his arrest, state security agents raided his home on Oct. 22, 2017 and confiscated two Bibles, a number of crucifixes and five rosaries. On Nov. 4, 2017, the "political police" reportedly beat Paseiro, tore the rosary from his neck and told him: "Misael, in addition to being a counter-revolutionary, you are also a Christian. You should look at us, we are revolutionaries and we don't believe in your god. Our god is Fidel Castro." Paseiro is now serving a three and a half year prison sentence, but he has been denied visits from a priest and access to a Bible since his imprisonment on Nov. 22, 2017. His wife, Ariana LApez Roque, was also prevented from receiving pastoral visits after she went on a 19-day hunger strike in protest of the mistreatment of her husband. CSW reported that Roque has since ended her hunger strike after she was assured that her husband's rights will be respected in prison. Cuban pastor and rights activist Mario Barroso, who has been arrested many times by the Communist government, noted that it is not uncommon for people in Cuba to invoke Castro's name as a deity. He explained that invoking the name of the deceased dictator is the "strategy of some people in Cuba to cover crimes and corruption." "Invoking Fidel Castro in Cuba helps cover acts of corruption and even crimes. This proves that the followers of [Castro as a God] are not really so adept as Fidel himself but rather at the benefits that are covered by invoking him," he told The Christian Post. "Deep down they are imitating Fidel with this behavior since Fidel Castro was like that too: an opportunist, a blackmailer. So the believers in Fidel Castro act in the image and likeness of their god, Fidel. They are faithful followers of the evil example of their god," he added Barroso, who came to the U.S. with his family as refugees in 2016, estimated that five percent of those who invoke Castro's name really adore the dictator, while the other 95 percent are mere "opportunists who imitate Fidel's bad example." CSW reported that violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Cuba remains high in 2017. A new report released by the watchdog group indicated that there have been a total of 325 violations over the course of the year. The organization noted that the latest figure is significantly lower compared to the figures in 2015 and 2016, when 2,000 churches from one denomination were threatened with confiscation or demolition. However, it contended that the number remains high and is consistent with the general trend of a steady increase in FoRB violations since 2011. Church leaders have complained about consistent harassment and surveillance from officials while the government continued its efforts to restrict public religious events. On one occasion, the government interrupted and stopped an inter-denominational worship event in eastern Cuba even though it received advance permission from local authorities. Dozens of human rights and pro-democracy activists are temporarily detained each week to prevent them from attending Sunday morning Mass and other mid-week events, according to CSW. Antenna: An afternoon with Antoni Tapies In the latest of her regular columns, Meredith Etherington-Smith recalls a fascinating encounter with the artist in his studio, where she saw pieces from his personal collection that are now to be offered at Christies Thirty years or so ago, I found myself trudging up a very steep street in the hills above Barcelona, on my way to visit Antoni Tapies in his studio. I was there because I wanted to talk to him about his relationship with his Catalan colleague Salvador Dali, whose biography I was writing at the time. The studio, which had previously been a garage, was on the ground floor. Hanging at eye level on its exposed brick walls were pieces from his collection. The most eye-catching were the paintings by Miro which were, quite honestly, marvellous. Shelves held African masks and primitive carved wooden figures, and I also noticed Homme (Apollon), a tiny Giacometti sculpture inspired by African and Oceanic art. For me the work of art whatever it is has its own individuality, Tapies once said. The fact that it may hang on a wall is incidental; it is something complete unto itself. Some collectors never hang their paintings. I think this respect for the work is crucial, as are the withdrawal and concentration necessary for the contemplation of a single work. It is one of those curious coincidences that Tapies derives from the Catalan word tapia, meaning wall. Antoni Tapies (1923-2012) was the most important member of the Art Informel movement to come out of Spain in the latter part of the 20th century, and his personal collection offers a unique insight into the powerful bond that existed between this revolutionary artist and the paintings, sculptures and artefacts he acquired over the course of his lifetime. Within this wide-ranging collection which is being offered in Christies Art of the Surreal sale and Impressionist and Modern Evening Sale, both on 27 February is a core group of pieces by some of the most important figures of the 20th-century avant-garde, including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. Of particular importance was Miro, with whom Tapies enjoyed a close relationship dating to his first visit to his studio in 1948. They got on so well, in fact, that Miro adopted his younger compatriot as his protege. He showed me all the works he had in his studio, Tapies told me, and they were extraordinary. He took a great deal of time to explain the thinking and philosophy behind his art and I was very moved. We became close friends, discussing art and exchanging ideas over many years, and he was enormously encouraging. We often swapped paintings, which is why I have these marvellous examples on my walls here to look at and study every day. Tapies explained that he had started out as a virtually self-taught artist. He was influenced by the Surrealist and Dada movements, and helped to set up Dau al Set the seventh face of the die a Catalan artistic movement that was similarly inspired by dreams and the unconscious. He wasnt very complimentary about Dali, though I got the impression during our conversation that he thought him a lightweight as an artist and a man. So we left the subject of Dali (somewhat to my relief) and talked instead of Tapies visit to Picassos studio in the rue des Grand Augustins in the early 1950s, when Tapies was living in Paris on a French government grant. J.M.W. Turner: My business is to paint what I see As an exceptional Turner watercolour of Lake Lucerne comes to auction in New York on 30 January, art critic Alastair Sooke and Christies Harriet Drummond examine other sublime examples from a series made by Turner in Switzerland in the 1840s More than 150 years after his death, J.M.W. Turners reputation stands as Britains favourite artist. He shocked his contemporaries with loose brushstrokes and vibrant colours, says art critic Alastair Sooke as he walks through galleries at Tate Britain, an institution he describes as the storehouse of Turners artistic legacy. Surveying a group of paintings depicting views of Venice, the critic explains that, Wherever Turner went he was making sketches, and some of them would become the inspiration for later finished paintings. While there is no mistaking Venice in these works, Turner wasn't interested in creating an accurate representation of a Venetian scene. Instead, Sooke explains, he was trying to capture the spirit of the place. He once said, My business is to paint what I see, not what I know is there. Sooke is joined at Tate Britain by Christies Head of British Art on Paper, Harriet Drummond, to admire a selection of watercolour studies of Lake Lucerne from the Turner Bequest, which comprises around 30,000 works on paper, including watercolours and drawings, 300 oil paintings and nearly the same number of sketchbooks, compiled during his tours of Europe. Turner also had an extraordinary drive and hunger for everything that was new, says Drummond. He was particularly drawn to landscapes where land meets the water, because of the beautiful effects caused by light and weather. The pieces on view relate directly to The Lake of Lucerne from Brunnen, with a Steamer, a watercolour created by Turner in the 1840s and offered in our Old Master & British Drawings sale in New York on 30 January. Having first visited this part of Switzerland in 1802, Turner returned repeatedly between 1841 and 1844. These are considered the most sublime, most finished, and most evocative watercolours that resulted from Turners trips to Switzerland In The Lake of Lucerne from Brunnen, with a Steamer, Turner used an accretion of overlapping washes to create a vast perspective, plunging the viewer deep into the picture space, with some masses only defined as shadows. Having achieved this effect, he began to add small flecks of colour, or outlined details using a very fine brush. Drummond describes the series it is from as the artists most sublime, evocative and atmospheric watercolours that resulted from his trips to Switzerland. The work offered in our sale is also exceptional in being the only sample study for this series that is not part of the Turner Bequest. Of the Swiss views completed between 1842 and 1845, this is the only preliminary idea to have been passed down through private collections it was acquired by Thomas Griffith (1795-1868), who by the late 1830s was acting as Turners agent and dealer. In a hospital in Minnesota, Carrol Amrich's mother was dying. In Pueblo, Colo., a thousand miles away, Amrich was frantically trying to get there in time to say goodbye. Holding a United Airlines ticket purchased for her by her landlord, she probably would have. But minutes before departure, already buckled into her seat, she was ordered to leave the plane. The gate agent told her that her reservation had been canceled. Traveler Help Desk, the online agency that sold the ticket, had rescinded it because the landlord made a change directly through United - even though United had assured the landlord that it was not a problem to do so. Unable to fly, Amrich drove through the night, but she was too late. Her mother was dead. "I cried the whole way from Pueblo," Amrich said. Carolyn Gallant, customer service supervisor at Traveler Help Desk, confirmed that the agency had voided the ticket after it saw that a change had been made to the reservation. She said that the intention had been to protect Amrich against possible fraud and that a representative had tried "numerous times" to contact Amrich first. But Amrich and her landlord, Ines Prelas, said they had heard nothing from the agency before she was removed from the plane. The episode unfolded over a few hours Jan. 16, after Amrich learned that her mother, Dixie Hanson, had been hospitalized. She could not afford a plane ticket, so Prelas bought one for her, using Traveler Help Desk. At that point, there was no indication that Amrich's mother was dying, so she chose a flight for the next day. But soon after, Amrich learned that her mother was in heart failure and was not expected to survive the night. It was around 2:30 p.m., and Prelas called United and had Amrich switched onto a flight leaving Colorado Springs at 5:15 p.m. That flight would go to Denver, where Amrich would make a connection to Minneapolis. Amrich checked in: no problem. Her boarding pass was scanned at the gate: no problem. She buckled her seat belt. Minutes later, the gate agent came on board to remove her. When Amrich pleaded, saying her mother was dying, the agent responded that her ticket had been refunded and that "nobody flies for free." In the airport, Amrich called Prelas, sobbing. Prelas got on the phone with the gate agent and offered to pay for another ticket. "I said: 'Take my credit card. We'll straighten this out later, '" Prelas said. The agent, she said, responded that Amrich could not get back on the plane. Prelas said she was given no explanation at the time, but United told the Times that the plane had already left by the time Prelas made that offer. Gallant, the Traveler Help Desk supervisor, said that when Prelas contacted United to change Amrich's flight, all Traveler Help Desk saw was that the reservation had been modified. "We had no way of knowing this was a change by Ms. Amrich directly with the carrier," she said in an email. "We voided the ticket to protect Ms. Amrich." "I am just so sorry for Ms. Amrich's loss," Gallant wrote. 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 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 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 this month called for a 25-cent phased-in increase in the federal gasoline 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." 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. The Woodbranch City Council is concerned about a waiver of liability for flood damage construction done without inspections inside city limits and council members now are considering legal action. The waiver involves construction work on homes following damage caused by Hurricane Harvey that may not meet a number of ordinances or standards. The reluctance to sign the waiver came from the potential repercussions that may arise should the waiver be signed. "Somebody was telling us that if we do waive it that there was a possibility of not being able to get flood insurance out here again," Councilman Mike Kroll said. "We definitely don't want to do anything that's going to put everybody else in jeopardy." Woodbranch Mayor Vera Craig explained that the worst-case scenario is that the city will be put on suspension or probation should the waiver be signed. Councilman Scott Essmeier asked whether the council could make efforts to keep track of what was done for construction. "The work has already been done," he said. "It was done without permits. It was done without authorizations. We can't make them undo it. We can't waive liability. We can't do anything other than keep track of who did it the right way and who did it the wrong way; and if the question ever comes up, then we just say, 'Look, here's what we got.'" Essmeier echoed Kroll's concerns that signing the waiver may keep properties from being ineligible to sign up for flood insurance. Council members decided to table the item along with another item involving legal advice for recommended electrical work not being done on flood-damaged homes until the council brings in a FEMA representative to help them sort out the issues. In other business, Woodbranch Police Chief Rene Silva discussed methods of evidence disposal for the Woodbranch Police Department, which includes a number of firearms and knives. Any evidence disposed is done so after it is no longer needed for cases. Options for disposal include destroying it, selling it or forfeiture depending on the nature of the evidence. "Personally, I think we need to destroy them," Silva said. Silva explained that while selling the firearms creates financial benefits, it also puts the guns back out on the streets. A question was asked about whether Woodbranch officers could use the guns. Essmeier said the guns could be in various conditions that may not make them suitable for use. "I have concerns with whether or not anything is wrong with them," he said. Council members decided to table the item for the time being. In other news, the council approved allowing FEMA temporary housing based on time limit criteria in the FEMA applications. January marks the 21st anniversary of the premier of King of the Hill, the cartoon sitcom that followed a Texas family in the fictional city of Arlen for 13 seasons. Originally airing in 1997, the iconic show went on to live in the hearts of Texans long after its final episode in 2010. Luckily, it may not be the last we hear from the Hill family. In August, Fox spoke with creators Greg Daniels and Mike Judge about the possibility of reviving the show. IN PHOTOS: Baking a delicious boudin king cake "We have had preliminary conversations with Greg and Mike," Dana Walden, Chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group, told Variety at the time. "I would like to explore that. We had a very preliminary conversation about that. Given what's going on in the country, I think they had a point of view about how those characters would respond." As Texans, it's our responsibility to forever quote Hank and the Hill family, forever keeping them circling the cultural zeitgeist of the Lone Star State. Above: See 15 quotes from 'King of the Hell' that explain Texans perfectly. 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. The trustees of the Katy Independent School District at their Jan. 22 board meeting voted without comment to authorize the reappraisal of taxes on any property within their boundary damaged by Hurricane Harvey. If that sound's familiar, it's because they passed the same measure in late September. Under the law, owners must continue to pay taxes on the full value of the property - even if damaged or destroyed. Only a taxing entity such as the Katy ISD can request the reappraisal of property after the county has already completed its annual appraisal process. About 7,300-7,400 pieces of property within Katy ISD taxing boundary sustained some measure of damage from Hurricane Harvey. "We experienced the largest natural disaster - in terms of cost at least - in this country's history. Katy ISD has the most affected children in the state of Texas (and) the most affected employees in the state of Texas from that damage," Katy ISD general counsel Justin Graham said at the district's earlier work study session. Katy ISD said 15,000 students and 2,600 employees were impacted in some way by the devastating floods brought on by Hurricane Harvey. It was the first school district to authorize property tax reappraisal and since then, several other counties and school districts in Texas have followed their lead, school officials said. District officials reached out to Fort Bend County and Waller County discuss their plans with them. But, getting in touch with the tax assessor from Harris County was another thing altogether. "We couldn't get somebody to pick up the phone and have a conversation with us about how the reappraisal process was going to work," Graham told trustees. Not until after the Katy ISD trustees passed the earlier measure did the district finally hear from Harris County officials. "They had a problem with the way we drafted our resolution," Graham said. The original document had language in it mandating that any reappraisal must be done with the consent of the owner of the damaged property. "That was intended to at least provide the property owner and the home owner some say in the process," Graham said. Harris County officials asked Katy ISD trustees to reconsider the resolution without requiring the express consent of the property owner. Although Katy ISD officials had been in discussions with Fort Bend County all along, Graham said they also sought the rephrasing of the resolution. Unlike the other two counties that Katy ISD falls within, Waller County officials never expressed any problems with the earlier resolution. Graham said he was confident the earlier resolution would have passed legal muster. But acknowledged it is within the discretion of the tax collector-assessor of each county to determine how the reappraisal is going to work. "We need to go ahead and pass this," he said. "It still puts us in the same situation to offer the same benefit to our homeowners." 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 Shenandoah City Council member has called a months-old complaint against the city's interim city administrator filed by two former city officials "reprehensible" and "ridiculous." In November, 2017, former Shenandoah Mayor Garry Watts and former Council Member Gary Henson filed an official complaint with the city against Kathie Reyer, who is acting as the interim city administrator. The complaint alleges that Reyer failed to comply with city ordinances when she is alleged to have "ended the employment of senior management employee, Jennifer Calvert on Sept. 15, 2017." The complaint filed with the city was signed by both Henson and Watts. At the Shenandoah City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24, Council Member Ron Raymaker said he found the allegations "reprehensible." "This is absolutely a ridiculous attack on a person who has done nothing to deserve this, who has been a coworker of many of you," Raymaker said. "It's a shame." Raymaker was responding to a comment made by Henson at the Wednesday meeting. Henson spoke during the public comment portion of the Jan. 24 meeting, stating he had not heard from city officials regarding the complaint for a period of time totalling 82 days. "I'm here today because the Shenandoah prosecutor works for you guys-the mayor and council-and I would like to have an opportunity to have my day in court," Henson said, adding that he wanted the city council to ask the prosecutor to inquire about a possible trial date. After Henson's comments, Raymaker asked City Attorney William Ferebee whether he could expand on what Henson was describing. Ferebee said the complaint was turned over appropriately to the Shenandoah Police Department. "The police department-(police Chief) Raymond Shaw-sought out another independent department to do an investigation," Ferebee said. "It's my understanding that that investigation has been done and that's been turned over to the district attorney's office to make a decision based on that investigation." The city "cannot and should not" be in contact with the district attorney's office regarding this investigation, Ferebee added. "That would be viewed as the city interfering with an investigation," Ferebee said. "I understand that Mr. Henson may be unhappy with the speed of the investigation, but that is outside the (city) bounds and it would be inappropriate for the city to interfere in any way with that investigation." In phone call with the Villager on Thursday, Jan. 25, Ferebee clarified that he didn't actually know whether the investigation had been turned over to the district attorney's office and that his comment to the city council on Wednesday was simply speaking to the general protocol of an investigation. As far as he knew, Ferebee said the investigation was initially turned over to the Shenandoah Police Department, then turned over to the Texas Rangers. Ferebee noted that it would be unethical for a city to investigate itself. The Texas Rangers, according to Ferebee, referred the case to the office of Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable Ryan Gable. On both Thursday, Jan. 25, and again on Friday, Jan. 26, Ferebee said he does not know the status of the investigation. Requests for comment from the Texas Rangers were not returned by press time. Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office Chief Deputy Matthew Rodrigue verified to The Villager on Friday, Jan. 26, that his office has been asked to assist with the issue. "(Shenandoah) Has asked us to assist with this for transparency reasons," Rodrigue said. There is no other information available on the probe at this time, Rodrigue added. Calvert resigned from her position as finance director of the city of Shenandoah on Aug. 17, 2017, according to documents obtained by the Villager. "In an effort to minimize the burden on staff, I am providing seven weeks' notice to ensure adequate time for my team to transition and for the city to search for my replacement," Calvert wrote in her resignation letter. In an agreement between Calvert and the city executed on Sept. 15, 2017, the city agreed to pay Calvert her salary through Oct. 6, 2017 even though she left her role effective Sept. 15. The agreement was signed by Calvert, Ferebee and Reyer. At the council meeting on Wednesday, Raymaker asked Ferebee whether he believed there was any grounds to the complaint. Ferebee said there was not. "No. It's a decision for the district attorney to make," Ferebee explained on Wednesday. "I was not part of any investigation, but as a civil lawyer looking at this ordinance, there's no violation whatsoever." Henson, who was defeated by Raymaker in the 2016 city election, told the Villager in an email that the complaint, "Was not about Kathie, but about ordinances being disregarded." "Yes, she is responsible, but it is our belief that it all comes from the direction of city council," Henson said in the email. "We are just trying to address the destruction of our city by (council) taking it backwards by tearing down our ordinances to do what they want rather than minimally follow the ordinances in place." Reyer, who took on the role of interim city administrator after Greg Smith resigned last year, was unavailable for comment Thursday. A 21-year-old man has been found guilty in the 2010 slaying of a Pearland teen. A Brazoria County jury on Monday convicted Hermilo Moralez, who was charged with murder in the beating death of his missing classmate, Josh Wilkerson. The trial began after jury selection Jan. 16 in the 300th State District Court. The punishment, or sentencing, phase of Moralez' trial started Monday afternoon, officials with the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office said. Wilkerson's partially burned remains were discovered in a Fort Bend County field, where his body had been dumped with his hands and feet bound. The week before Thanksgiving 2010, Wilkerson disappeared after leaving the campus of PACE Center, Pearland school district's alternative high school. His parents notified police later that evening when they found his truck in a strip mall parking lot. After an extensive search by authorities and volunteers, the teen's body was found the next day across the county line. In November 2011, Moralez, a Belize national, was transferred to a state mental hospital after it was determined that he was not competent to stand trial. At a hearing last year, jurors heard from two psychiatrists who testified that Moralez was well enough to go through the judicial proceeding. Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne tried the case against Moralez. Authorities said Moralez, then 19, admitted beating Wilkerson to death with a wooden rod. At the time of his arrest, he did not have legal status in this country, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 3 1 of 3 Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Metro Video LLC / for the Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 One person died early Saturday after driving into a sign outside of a northwest Houston business, Houston Police said. Police arrived at 9634 N. Houston around 3 a.m. A fiery documentary that digs into a controversial 2015 arrest of an Austin teacher could win accolades at this year's Academy Awards. "Traffic Stop" is a short HBO documentary about the June 2015 encounter between Breaion King, a 26-year-old black woman, and two white Austin police officers that stemmed from a routine traffic stop. King was pulled over for driving 15 mph over the speed limit and was immediately ordered out of her car by APD Officer Bryan Richter. Damning dash-cam footage, obtained and released by the Austin-American Statesmen in 2016, shows Richter yelling at King as he body-slams her to the ground and subsequently arrests her. While driving King to jail, King and APD Officer Patrick Spradlin have a conversation recorded by a separate in-car camera about race relations with police officers. RICHTER FIRED: Reprimanded Austin officer fired in another violent arrest Spradlin could be heard asking King "Why are so many people afraid of black people?" King says that's something she's trying to find out herself. Spradlin then says, "I can give you a really good idea why it might be that way," he said. "Violent tendencies." He went on to say "I don't blame" white people for being afraid of black people. "Some (black people), because of their appearance and whatnot, some of them are very intimidating," he said. The release of the video, nearly a year after the arrest, was a catalyst of sorts for nationwide conversations about police and people of color. Art Acevedo, Houston's police chief who was then the top cop in Austin, condemned both officers' actions at the time. "For those that think life is perfect for people of color, I want you to listen to that conversation and tell me we don't have social issues in this nation," said Acevedo, who is Hispanic. "Issues of bias. Issues of racism. Issues of people being looked at different because of their color." King never filed a formal complaint, although Richter was reprimanded. However, Richter was fired from APD on Monday for a separate yet similar incident. "Traffic Stop" is nominated under the Documentary (Short Subject) category. It's up against "Edith+Eddie," "Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405," "Herion(e)" and "Knife Skills." The 90th Oscars starts at 7 p.m. CST March 4 on ABC. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. A toddler in North Texas died when he accidentally shot himself with a shotgun Wednesday. Fort Worth police and EMS were called out to a home in the 3900 block of Lawnwood Street in the east part of the city around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday and found a 3-year-old boy, later identified as Jonnie Colon, dead of an apparent gunshot wound. INFANT MORTALITY: Maps show where infants are dying the most in Houston The toddler's family said the boy got a hold of his cousin's shotgun and accidentally shot himself, although detectives are working to determine if the shooting was intentional or accidental. No one has been arrested as of Thursday, according to NBC DFW. "I think it's sad," neighbor Eugene Bundick told the station. "He had his whole life ahead of him." The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office told CBS DFW that the boy did not live at the home where the shooting occurred. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. Five days after the federal government shutdown ended, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made clear during a stop in Houston that Democrats are ready to dig in even deeper on key immigration reforms until they get what they want. "We Democrats have made a stand," the New Yorker and top ranking Democrat in the Senate told more than 100 people at a private fundraiser Saturday near Hobby Airport. "When Trump shut down the government, we said, 'No, we're going to stand up for the Dreamers.' And we are not backing off," he declared. Schumer said Democrats won't stop until people brought to the United States illegally as children by their parents are not deported to countries they've never know. Those people are often called "Dreamers" and more than 700,000 have been protected from deportation under executive orders put in place by former President Barack Obama. President Donald Trump rescinded those orders in 2017, putting hundreds of thousands in jeopardy of being deported unless Congress acts. Texas has more than 140,000 people who have been given protection under DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. "I will not rest -- all of us will not rest -- until the Dreamers are given the ability to stay and a path to citizenship," Schumer said to a loud round of applause. Schumer pointed to Houston, like New York, as an example of a diverse community where immigrants have come from all over the globe to contribute and build a strong city. He said most Americans don't like the anti-immigrant tide that President Donald Trump has been among those trying exploit politically. "This anti-immigration wave we are having here is vicious; it's nasty," Schumer said. Schumer, 67, has been the Senator Minority Leader since the start of 2017 when the New York Senator took over the position previously held by then-Sen. Harry Reid. Schumer has been in the U.S. Senate since 1998. In 2016 he was re-elected to his fourth 6-year term. Whose responsible for the government shutdown has been hotly contested in D.C. While Schumer has called it Trump's shutdown, Republicans have used a social media hashtag #SchumerShutdown. On the street out front of the Houston Marriott South, a few Republican activists holding signs blamed Schumer. "He has some nerve coming here after shutting down the government," Houston Republican Bob Hall said. Schumer did not speak to reporters at the event and used a back entrance at the hotel to get to and from the airport. Schumer was in Houston for a fundraiser for U.S. Senate Democrats. Besides Schumer, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, and Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, we also at the event. El Paso Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas, also was part of the fundraiser. The event was hosted by prolific Democratic donor Tahir Javed, who is also running for Congress in Houston. "It's even more important for us to get the Senate back," Javed said. Javed is one of seven Democrats running in the 29th Congressional District to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston. He said even though he is focused on his own congressional race, he wants to help Democrats take back the Senate. Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace. 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. AKRON, Ohio -- Akron police are searching for a man wanted in a robbery at PNC Bank. Deandre Garrett, 26, of Akron is charged with aggravated robbery in the incident that happened shortly before 3 p.m. on West Market Street near North Portage Path, according to a news release from Akron police. Garrett is not in police custody and a warrant was issued Saturday for his arrest. Bank employees reported a man walked into the bank and gave a teller a note, the release says. He threatened the teller with a gun, but employees did not see one, the release says. He ran from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and was last seen heading south on Marvin Avenue, the release says. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED; or Summit County Crime Stoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips will also be accepted through text at 274637. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- Fraud, West 224th Street: On Jan. 16 a resident reported that someone had put in a change of address for her. The forwarding address was found to be in Florida. Oftentimes this is done in conjunction with getting credit cards issued with the new address, but in this instance, that was not done. She caught it early enough that no identity theft activity had occurred. The Postal Inspectors were notified. Petty theft, Westgate: On Jan. 16 a man stole two sets of Beats headset from a Verizon store. While the sales associate was handling another customer, the man grabbed the headsets from the counter and left without paying for them. Some identity information had been obtained by the employee prior to the theft. A similar theft occurred earlier in the year in Westlake. It was found to be the same man. A warrant is out for his arrest. Possession, West 202nd Street: On Jan. 16 an officer stopped a car after noticing it has no visible license plate. After running checks of the occupants, he found that the front seat passenger had a felony warrant for his arrest. The officer ordered the man out of the car and when he exited, a baggie of marijuana was found near where he was sitting. The 21-year-old North Olmsted resident was arrested on the warrant and also cited for possession. Numerous baggies with marijuana residue in them were also found in the car. Fraud, West 224th Street: On Jan. 19 a resident reported her husband clicked on a link on their computer allowing someone to take control of the machine. The computer now will not function. No banking is done on the computer and no sensitive information is on the storage drives. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The ACLU of Ohio and the Juvenile Justice Coalition have asked officials to expedite reforms to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center and hire an outside expert to assess conditions at the facility. The groups also asked Cuyahoga County officials to scrap any consideration of sending more teenage inmates to the adult jail while they await trial. The demands were laid out Friday in a letter to Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Administrative Judge Kristin Sweeney, County Executive Armond Budish, Prosecutor Michael O'Malley and County Council President Dan Brady. The letter offers responses to a recent report that highlighted problems at the detention center, which was the site of a Jan. 8 riot involving six inmates who are accused of causing an estimated $200,000 in damages to the facility. The detention center is run by the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. The report found the detention center lacks a master computer system that tracks inmate history, does not keep records of inmates suspected of gang ties, and lacks a special response team to respond to emergencies. It also found the detention center lacked leadership, has no clear disciplinary structure for inmates and fails to enforce rules and policies. County officials told cleveland.com that they are committed to reforming the detention center. Officials floated the idea of asking state lawmakers to allow adult facilities, such as the Cuyahoga County Jail, to house a limited number of juvenile inmates who may pose a security theat. In response, Erin Davies, executive director of the Columbus-based Juvenile Justice Coalition, and Mike Brickner, director of policy at the ACLU, penned a letter demanding that the county: Ask an outside organization that specializes in juvenile detention centers to inspect the facility. The report released this week was compiled by a committee of employees of the adult Cuyahoga County Jail. Create a system to ensure the reforms are implemented. The letter claims that past reform efforts at the detention center languished and ultimately failed to improve the facility. Work to address the cause of youth violence by listening to viewpoints of several groups, including children themselves Increase diversion Give the court enough funding to implement the reforms "Adolescent development professionals need to examine the facility from top to bottom and recommend proactive changes. Then, to ensure the recommendations are implemented, there must be accountability measures in place, which have been seriously lacking at the detention center in years past," Brickner said in a news release. Davies called for the juvenile court to work with the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, a national organization that provides training and technical assistance to reform juvenile facilities across the country. "Rehabilitation should be at the center of all juvenile justice issues, and the current discussion of moving youth to the adult jails must end now," she said in the news release. To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A man has held Cleveland Heights police at bay for more than 12 hours during a Friday standoff -- and it's still underway. The man, whose name was not immediately given, barricaded himself inside a home at 9 a.m. on Belmar Road near Mayfield and Superior Roads, Cleveland Heights police said. As of 9:40 p.m. the standoff was ongoing. No one else is inside the home with the man, police said. Authorities did not know if the man had any weapons. No additional information was provided to reporters. This story is developing and cleveland.com will provide an update if information becomes available. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments section. OLMSTED TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- One man is dead after a fight at an Olmsted Township bar, reports say. The fight broke out just before 1 a.m. at Falls Lounge on Bagley Road near Stearns Road, News5 reports. When police arrived on scene they found one man dead outside, the TV station reports, and a woman was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identifies 28-year-old Franklin Castrucci as a man who died at Falls Lounge. Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations are trying to determine what happened, Fox 8 reports. A man called police and said a man with a mask on walked in and stabbed a bartender, according to a 911 call. He also said they were holding the person down. Another man called police and said there was a large fight at the bar as he drove by, according to a 911 call. He said at least eight people were involved. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comments section. Here's more evidence that public utilities, with the help of the General Assembly, call the shots at Ohio's Statehouse: The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered FirstEnergy Corp., the giant electric utility based in Akron, to give its customers a $43.4 million refund. Naturally, FirstEnergy (the Illuminating, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison companies) appealed. And the Ohio Supreme Court ruled this week that FirstEnergy can keep the money because, in so many words, Ohio law and earlier state Supreme Court decisions say it can. It's as if the Internal Revenue Service owes you an income tax refund, refuses to pay it, and federal courts and Congress say that's OK. "Ohio utility consumers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars for lack of refunds," Ohio Consumers' Counsel Bruce Weston told an Ohio House committee earlier this week. The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel represents 4.5 million residential utility customers. Writing the Supreme Court's lead opinion, Democratic Justice William O'Neill, who left the court Friday so he may continue running for governor, said he and the other justices who sided with FirstEnergy recognize "that the no-refund rule has been perceived as unfair and has even sometimes resulted in a windfall for a utility," as it was in a 2014 decision. In that 2014 case, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power (units of Columbus-based American Electric Power) didn't have to make a $368 million refund to customers. Reason? A 1957 Supreme Court decision that was anchored to an Ohio rate-making law that appears to still be in effect. The logic behind the no-refund law, if logic it is, seems to be that if utilities may charge only state-approved rates, it's unfair for the state to turn around and decide such rates are unfair and order them refunded. But that ignores two things: New data may come to light. And Ohio public utilities, like Ohio banks and Ohio insurance companies, always make sure they have "understanding" state regulators in Ohio. Law books aside, billion-dollar public utilities are in a far better position to weather economic and regulatory ups and downs than Ohio households, whose median income, the Census says, is $50,674. Then-Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, a Bucyrus Republican, denounced the 2014 Columbus Southern (AEP) windfall. Pfeifer wrote in a dissenting opinion that "allowing AEP to retain the $368 million that it collected based on charges that were not justified is unconscionable. Doing so because of a 50-year-old case that is not supported by the statute on which it is based is ridiculous. The ratepayers of Ohio deserve better." O'Neill cited the 2014 case this week as a reason why FirstEnergy is entitled to duck refunds. About the no-refund law, he said this: "It is a matter for the General Assembly to remedy, not this court." As it happens, a remedy is pending in the Ohio House's Public Utilities Committee, House Bill 247. It's sponsored by Rep. Mark Romanchuk, a Mansfield-area Republican. Overall, Romanchuk's bill, Weston testified this week, would reform electric utility ratemaking, "solving a lot of problems and doing a lot of good for Ohioans." Weston said part of Romanchuk's bill would also "enable refunds for consumers when the Ohio Supreme Court or the PUCO [Public Utilities Commission of Ohio] later find utility charges to be unlawful." This election year, voters should ask Ohio General Assembly candidates where they stand on Romanchuk's bill. Until it passes, and clears the way for utility refunds to consumers, Ohio should rewrite its motto. It's now, "With God, all things are possible." Given this week's Supreme Court ruling, it should be, "Heads, we win - tails you lose." Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-999-4689 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). Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. While the world is anticipating the launch of new Nokia smartphones that are debuting at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, it has now been reported that HMD Global is preparing a new model with a penta-lens camera. The new Nokia iPhone 6s Plus parts is likely to be quite similar to the Nokia OZO camera that was debuted with eight lenses back in July 2015. The Finnish company previously disrupted the mobile handset market by bringing the Nokia 808 PureView and Windows Phone-running Lumia 1020that both had featured a 1/1.2-inch, 41-megapixel camera sensor. As per a report by China's VTech, sources familiar with Foxconn's R&D developments have revealed the plans for the new penta-lens camera smartphone. The Nokia handset in question is said to be already prototyped by HMD and is expected to go on sale sometime by the end of this year. Its launch is so far depending upon the mass production capabilities at Foxconn as embedding five camera lenses doesn't sound as easy as adding dual camera setups that you can see on many existing Android offerings. The penta-lens camera system on the mysterious Nokia device is reported to come in a circular form with not five, but seven holes. Five of these holes will include camera lenses, while the remaining two are said to have two LED flashlights. It appears that this whole new camera setup may enable the new Nokia smartphone to capture splendid shots, irrespective of lighting and environmental conditions. Further, the rumoured handset is reported to have a fullscreen, thin-bezel display. Features supporting the penta-lens camera setup are yet to surface online. However, we've already seen the presence of the Nokia brand on models such as Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 with built-in Ozo spatial audio technology. HMD also last year tied up with German optics maker ZEISS to bring its Android smartphones with distinct imaging technologies. The Nokia 8 already brought a clear example of the partnership by offering an enhanced dual camera setup that features optical image stabilisation, monochrome sensor, wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens. Last week, HMD Global Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas teased a major showcasing plan for the MWC 2018. The executive didn't reveal any details, but some of the recent reports confirm that the company is expanding the Nokia family with the launch of the Nokia 1, Nokia 4, Nokia 7, Nokia 8 (2018), and Nokia 9. Among the new models, the Nokia 9 is expected to be the new flagship offering by the Finland-headquartered company. It is likely to have a dual selfie camera setup and a thin-bezel, 5.5-inch OLED display. The smartphone is also rumoured to come with 12-megapixel and 13-megapixel camera sensors on the back and a 3250mAh battery. The Nokia lineup at the forthcoming MWC is also likely to get the affordable, Nokia 1 that is so far rumoured to be one of the first Android Go smartphones. It is expected to come with an HD IPS display, 1GB RAM, and 8GB onboard storage. Also, the handset is reported to go on sale in Russia with a price tag of RUB 5,999 (roughly Rs. 6,750). HMD Global is hosting a press conference on February 25 to announce its new Nokia models before MWC. But there are no concrete details about the new penta-camera iPhone 6s Plus spare parts . We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Prime-time television traditionally hasn't been known as a haven for women, either in front of or behind the camera. An ongoing study by San Diego State University, which has been conducted over the past 20 years, most recently showed that: Most startlingly, the study released in September 2017 found that 97% of the programs considered had no women directors of photography, 85% had no women directors, 75% had no women editors, 74% had no women creators, 67% had no women writers, 23% had no women producers, and 20% had no women executive producers. On at least one network, this appears to be changing. The CW may be only marginally more women-oriented than its counterparts at ABC, CBS and NBC, but that margin is significant -- and growing. The CW was born in 2006, cobbled together from UPN and The WB networks by its co-owners, CBS and Warner Bros. The early years of the network were marked by a determined shift to snag viewers thought abandoned by the older networks: women under the age of 35, as evidenced by production of such fare as "Gossip Girl." Today, The CW has struck a more balanced lineup with the addition of male-appealing superhero fare from DC Comics, although those shows feature strong female characters and modern themes. But network president Mark Pedowitz has told reporters that he'd now like to see the pendulum swing back a bit toward a female-majority audience, in the "55/45 female-to-male" ratio. The CW now features at least a half-dozen series in which women play the lead role -- and a few more in which they are arguably on equal footing with male roles. This trend will only strengthen in the future, with four female-focused series in development for next fall and another set to debut this spring. One of the series in development, actress Drew Barrymore's "Black Rose Anthology," will be written and directed entirely by women. Another, "The She World," will be written and produced by two women and feature four female leads. It's hard to argue with this approach; actors Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin") and Rachel Bloom ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") have won Golden Globe Awards for their acting work on their series. For now, The CW seems to be leading the charge toward more female-oriented fare while also offering more women the chance to write, direct and produce. It may be a distant fourth among broadcast networks, but The CW may be onto something. Check the slideshow above for a look at current CW series and the women who drive them. 26 Ocak 2018 Cuma, 12:44 Ozan Cepni The abuse over the telephone that left-leaning students in Ankara have been suffering for some time has turned into threats of execution purporting to come from the police. In the latest incident, two days ago three young university students spent hours of horror due to threatening phone calls and people and cars with tinted windows waiting in front of their home. The young people, who were able to leave their home after their friends ran to the police station and came to their home accompanied by police officers and HDP Deputy Group Chair Ahmet Yldrm called Ankara Police Directorate and reported the incident, described their experiences to Cumhuriyet. We will also pick up your big sister and we will kill her. One of the young people who claim to have received death threats, T.G., said, People who described themselves as being police officers called my brother and said, We will also pick up your big sister and we will kill her. That evening one of our friends fathers called to say, Get out of that flat at once, at least you get out of that flat, son. Theyre going to execute the people in that flat. Theyre going to kill everyone. If you dont get out, theyll kill you, too. The caller, who also phoned his father, was supposedly someone named Mehmet who said he served at Ankara Counterterrorism Branch. He continued, When we looked outside after the phone call, we saw that a person was watching the flat. He did not go away despite noticing that we had seen him. Then a Sahin make car came. They spoke to the person hanging around at the door and then parked 50 metres further on. Another black car came. We couldnt see who was inside because it had tinted windows. One person also got of it. He spoke to the person watching the flat and moved on and waited like the other car. One person kept on threatening us by waving his finger. And we informed our friends and HDP MPs. T.G., indicating that the friends they had informed went to the police station, said, They tried to get police officers from the police station and come. Then an official police car came in front of our flat. They spoke to the person waiting in front of the door and one person got out of the car. Then the police car left after having spoken to them. And the people who were watching the flat got away by concealing themselves in the gap between blocks. We then saw the other cars disperse. Then an official police car came with our friends. There was no procedure they could conduct and no record was taken. The youths, leaving the flat accompanied by police officers and their lawyers, made a criminal complaint in which they also reported the numbers from which they had been phoned. HDP Deputy Group Chair Ahmet Yldrm, in turn, after having learnt of the incident, said, We may have prevented a disaster in which these young people would have been taken from their flat with the knowledge of provincial police officials and police officers at the police station. Penny Lancaster, 46, is a TV presenter and the wife of rocker Sir Rod Stewart, 73. They live in Essex with their sons Alastair, 12, and six-year-old Aiden. The boys have spent so much time in swimming pools over the years that were used to the occasional verruca. After school the other week, we visited our GP surgery, as Aidens latest one was persistent. Before we left, he was asked by the nurse if there was anything else wrong. He replied: Im worried that Mum has a verruca on her lip! Pictured: Penny Lancaster at the National Television Awards on January 23 in London I laughed and reassured Aiden that, in fact, it was a cold sore, probably brought on by a lingering cold. But a runny nose has been the least of my health worries recently. A pre-Christmas trip to Dubai made me all too aware that I have to get my eating habits under control. Believe it or not, I weigh more than Rod at the moment, and Im almost 3st heavier than before I had children. While wedged in the middle of a transparent rubber ring at a Dubai water park, I couldnt help but notice that I appeared to have grown my own rubber ring around my midriff. Afterwards I went to a gift store and bought a one-piece swimsuit, with a hidden tummy-tightening waistband. Pleased with myself, I said to Alastair: This works, doesnt it? With an arched eyebrow he replied: Going to the gym would work too, Mum. Ouch. But a runny nose has been the least of my health worries recently. A pre-Christmas trip to Dubai made me all too aware that I have to get my eating habits under control Believe it or not, I weigh more than Rod at the moment, and Im almost 3st heavier than before I had children Alastair is at that age where is he starting to test how far he can push us. At Christmas he asked if he could have a small glass of wine with dinner. After some discussion (Rod was worried that it might encourage him to drink heavily in the future perhaps he was speaking from experience!), we agreed that as it was a special occasion, wed allow him a sip or two. We poured a small amount of chardonnay into a port glass and explained the importance of sipping rather than gulping it, and how good wine should complement a meal. He listened, sipped and said: Um, thats nice. At this point Aiden asked to have a glass too. We said he was far too young but that he could dip his finger in our glass to try the taste. As soon as he licked his finger, his face contorted into a look of revulsion and he quickly asked for his water glass to be refilled. I think its safe to say hell stick to apple juice when he celebrates his birthday next month. :: Pennys column will appear monthly. The hysteria over the Presidents Club reflects a growing hatred of men and betrays feminism, common sense and the real victims of sexual abuse, says Sarah Vine (pictured) We're not even at the end of January and 2018 is beginning to grate. It's not the crisis in the NHS, or the flu epidemic, or even that Marks & Spencer have been selling cauliflower steaks at 2 a pop or Sainsbury's wrapping individual coconuts in plastic. It's that somewhere between the inauguration of Donald Trump and the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, the entire Western world seems to have lost the plot. We now live in a world where a convicted sexual predator taxi driver John Worboys, who police estimate may have drugged and raped up to 200 women gets parole after serving just nine years in jail while an organisation that has raised upwards of 20million for charity is forced to close down because a few of its members got drunk at a party and misbehaved. I speak, of course, of The Presidents Club, the latest #MeToo-inspired scandal to rock the so-called patriarchal elite. You know the story. A group of young women agree (for a 150 fee) to be hostesses for the night at a male-only bash at The Dorchester hotel in London attended by the very wealthy. There, some of the women who included prostitutes were groped, fondled and propositioned. This was exposed by an outraged female undercover reporter for the Financial Times, triggering widespread condemnation in the media and Parliament, with high-profile resignations of some who attended and the Attorney General suggesting there could be criminal prosecutions. Let's get one thing out of the way: dirty old men who sexually abuse young women are contemptible. And clearly some of these women were upset and shamefully treated. But as far as we know no one was seriously attacked or even hurt. 'When the job description includes sexy knickers, see-through dresses and high heels, it's safe to assume you're not being hired to hand out fondant fancies at a vicar's tea party' The dinner does seem to have been unpleasantly louche. But I would argue that as is so common nowadays the reaction has been disproportionate. And leaving aside the rights and wrongs of male-only clubs personally I'm always delighted to be excluded, since the last thing I want to spend my evenings doing is listening to blokes comparing their bonus packages what mystifies me is why the women concerned didn't get the measure of what was on the cards. Put it this way: when the job description includes sexy knickers, see-through dresses and high heels, it's safe to assume you're not being hired to hand out fondant fancies at a vicar's tea party. And when someone offers to pay you cash to entertain 360 middle-aged men on a boozy night off from their wives and families, you would either have to be very naive or very stupid not to expect a certain amount of boorish behaviour. What happened between some guests and these young women at The Dorchester is not acceptable. But then nor is the behaviour of women with male strippers at hen nights very edifying, yet it provokes guffaws rather than outrage. The point is neither men nor women behaving in this way constitutes the crime of the century. And unless an actual crime is reported, it is not a matter for the police or a parliamentary emergency, despite Labour's Jess Phillips's melodramatic tabling of an urgent question in the Commons. Nor is it a reason to review the laws on men-only clubs and organisations by re-visiting the Equality Act, as the chair of the Commons equality committee Maria Miller and former Labour minister Yvette Cooper have suggested. Men have been trying it on with women and vice versa since the beginning of time and I doubt you'll ever devise a satisfactory law to prevent it. But wait. Can't you? Because this is what it's starting to feel like, all this #MeToo hysteria and smelling-salts feminism. It feels less like legitimate concern on behalf of the strong for the weak, and more like a vendetta against men in general. Less a positive affirmation of the rights of women and more an attempt to eradicate one sex completely. I may be the last of a dying breed, but I like men. Every bit as much as I like women, in some cases more. And it saddens me to think of the stupendously moustachioed actor William H. Macy saying on Sunday night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Hollywood: 'It's hard to be a man these days. I think a lot of us feel like we're under attack and that we need to apologise, and perhaps we do.' 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) No, Mr Macy, you don't. There is nothing inherently wrong with being male, just as there is nothing inherently wrong with being female. And yet his words resonate. Not only because we live in a social media-dominated world where what a person says matters so very much more than what they do, and where it only takes a minor infraction in the eyes of the political-correctness police to precipitate a fall from grace. But also because so few of those who ought to be making the case for sanity politicians, commentators, influencers seem to possess a scintilla of the courage and common sense required to push back against this snowballing madness. The madness of a system which seems to care more about the Prime Minister criticising The Presidents Club than the early release of John Worboys. And where Great Ormond Street Hospital one of the beneficiaries of the 20million the club has raised in three decades would rather return 530,000 of donations than risk being hung, drawn and quartered on Twitter. Whoever the governors of GOSH are, do they think that depriving children in desperate need of medical help of additional funding and therefore making them suffer is more important than offending the commissars of political correctness? Can someone please explain: how did it come to pass that virtue-signalling parading one's PC credentials has become more important than life-saving? Were I a parent whose child was being treated at GOSH I would be incandescent at the thought my child's treatment might be undermined because someone's liberal sensitivities were more important than saving lives. But the biggest tragedy in all this is what has happened to the founder of The Presidents Club, the businessman philanthropist David Meller, who resigned on Monday from his seat on the board of the Department of Education. I have met Meller and can say with certainty that few people have done more, via the chain of academies he helped set up and his work in education, to transform the life chances of disadvantaged children. And yet he has had to suffer the ignominy and agony of seeing his reputation besmirched by people who, quite frankly, could not achieve one tenth of the good he has done in his long career. Of course, in the eyes of the so-called feminists driving this latest moral outrage, none of this counts. The facts are not as important as their dogma. And anyway, what does it matter? After all, the condemned are only men. And in today's culture of dystopian moral panic, as with the Red Queen in Alice In Wonderland, anyone who disagrees with the sentence passed should expect to lose their head too. Which of course is why the #MeToo way of thinking is gaining such traction: it's a very brave (or foolish) person who can stand up to the screeching. Take Catherine Deneuve: a few weeks ago she lent her name to a letter to the French newspaper Le Monde, criticising what she and other female artists called the puritanism sparked by the Weinstein allegations, and asserting the right of men to pursue the opposite sex. 'Rape is a crime,' said the letter, 'but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or clumsily, is not and nor is men being gentlemanly a chauvinist attack.' It added: 'As women we do not recognise ourselves in this feminism, which beyond denouncing the abuse of power, takes on a hatred of men and of sexuality.' Such was the backlash that just a few days later Deneuve felt obliged to qualify her statement, expressing regret for any victims of sexual harassment who might have been upset by what she said. But even if Deneuve cannot, I stand by her original statement. I do not recognise myself in this twisted form of man-hating feminism. The only difference between me and her (apart from the obvious) is that I am lucky enough to work for an organisation that allows me to express myself freely and believes steadfastly in free speech. If someone like Deneuve, the grande dame of French cinema, succumbs to the pressure, imagine how hard it is for lesser beings. One by one feminism's wise figureheads academic Germaine Greer, the brilliant novelist Margaret Atwood and even the Daily Mail's own great foreign correspondent Dame Ann Leslie have felt the wrath of this new ultra-feminist puritanism because they questioned its path. And what's really depressing is that the rabble that form today's feminists owe their power and freedom to those trailblazers. They are strong women who have lived and battled genuine sexual prejudice (as opposed to half-imagined slights) and who now find themselves being torn down by those they helped liberate. All that work for what? For thousands of years there have been men in positions of power who have exhibited prejudice and held women back. Challenging these sexists and chauvinists was critical to obtaining full equality for women and the heroes and heroines of that struggle such as Greer deserve nothing but praise. But there is a huge difference between arguing on the one hand against prejudice and advocating equality as proper feminists have always done; and on the other trying to shut down, stigmatise and shun any expression of masculinity or male identity. That is not feminism; it is a sexist jihad. Believe me, as the mother of a vulnerable teenage girl I am all too painfully aware of how young men, desensitised by wall-to-wall pornography on the internet, objectify girls. Everything from that online pornography to the advertising industry via fashion and music presents an image of women as little more than defenceless sex toys. But the way to deal with this is not to whinge and moan and point the finger of blame at evil men and say poor little me; it is to take control. That is why I have tried to teach my daughter to stand her own ground, to learn to fight and above all be strong. To command respect rather than obtain it through special pleading. And above all to be honest with herself about what she wants and how she intends to get it. The unspoken truth behind this hysterical condemnation of men which with every ridiculous accusation only belittles genuine victims of abuse is that too many women today refuse to admit their own questionable behaviour towards men, either in terms of sexual gratification or social and career advancement. Yes, Harvey Weinstein was a sleazeball and a sexual predator. But how many of those now flaunting their #MeToo badges were perfectly happy to tip him the wink in the full knowledge of his appetites to get a part in another of his films? Likewise, how many women now crying foul in the House of Commons where ministers such as Damian Green and Michael Fallon have had their careers destroyed for the sake of a passing caress and a few misread signals have happily flirted with powerful men in the bars of Westminster for their own advancement? The night was hosted by David Walliams, who is not the subject of any allegations Meanwhile, far more perniciously, on university campuses we have those tragic cases of young men whose lives have been ruined after being accused of rape by women who feel guilty after consensual sex. Too many women are refusing to take responsibility for their own behaviour, painting what happened to them as abuse in order to expunge their own guilt. But women taking the easy way out by blaming men is not feminism. It is not empowerment. It is moral cowardice. And we are better than that. None of this would matter were it not for the divisive and deeply debilitating effect this puritanical outcry is having on society and our institutions. In the Army, our soldiers are now apparently being trained to take on the might of the Russian Army with hugs and multicultural awareness seminars. In the BBC, concerns about excessive pay have become a battle over the pay gap between men and women. Girl Guides are accepting boys, and unisex toilets are being placed in our schools. And in universities such as Oxford, exam times are being lengthened to boost women's chances. The tragic irony of all this is that there are vitally important and worthwhile battles still to be had in the real war against inequality and the abuse of women. Compare the hysteria and air-time prompted by The Presidents Club to other all-too-real sexual scandals such as the nightmare of the girls in grooming and gang rape cases such as Rotherham as they struggle to obtain justice. Or the plight of the countless women subjected to forced marriage. If today's self-indulgent feminists could devote even half their energy to these genuine outrages, I would be the first to champion them. Instead they pass by with scarcely any comment while admittedly offensive but ultimately fairly harmless behaviour generates national, nay international, apoplexy. No, the future for women should not be to waste our hard-won influence and freedom on trivial acts of revenge. Feminism is not joining with the mob and chasing down hollow justice. It is not a badge or a pink hat or a black dress or, for that matter, a handy hashtag. It is working to build a world where a person's gender is neither here nor there and proving that, as women, we are not defined by the actions of weak, boorish and misguided men but instead united in creating a fairer future for everyone. The horrific scale of the Commons expenses scandal exposed, in a deeply depressing way, the extent of decay of integrity in public life. In the ten years since this cheating was unearthed by a free Press, one would have hoped that MPs would have cleaned up their behaviour. For it was a truly shocking episode, with four MPs (all Labour) jailed although I believe the number should have been considerably higher. The horrific scale of the Commons expenses scandal exposed, in a deeply depressing way, the extent of decay of integrity in public life. This became clear this week when the Commons voted to block the distinguished public servant Sir Ian Kennedy (pictured) from being appointed to the board of the Electoral Commission However, it seems that many still think they did nothing wrong and, worse, harbour a bitter grudge against those who exposed them. This became clear this week when the Commons voted to block the distinguished public servant Sir Ian Kennedy from being appointed to the board of the Electoral Commission, the body charged with ensuring fair elections. The snub looks like a cynical and sordid act of revenge. For Sir Ian bravely played a key role in the wake of the expenses scandal as chairman of a new watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which was set up to control MPs' pay and expenses. He proved to be a tough but fair adjudicator, as MPs were disciplined and fundamental reforms implemented, including new rules to guarantee transparency and honesty. Needless to say, Sir Ian made many enemies. And, sadly, this week's Commons vote against him seems to be the inevitable, if pathetic, proof. Some MPs did not even try to hide the fact that they were taking the opportunity to punish him. Former Labour minister John Spellar accused him of taking a 'vindictive' attitude that 'made life difficult for Members of Parliament'. This was the same Mr Spellar who claimed 600 of taxpayers' money for a tree surgeon, 47p for a pair of rubber gloves from Tesco and 1.99 for a washing up brush. (Although, in doing so, he did not break any rules.) Of course, one didn't expect the West Midlands MP to praise Sir Ian for his painstaking work to end the sleazy culture of greed and excess which brought parliamentary democracy into contempt. Former Labour minister John Spellar accused Sir Ian of taking a 'vindictive' attitude that 'made life difficult for Members of Parliament' But, with breath-taking audacity, he made a personal attack, calling him an 'arch-quangocrat'. This insult was a disgraceful abuse of parliamentary privilege. The list of MPs who voted to obstruct Sir Ian included others who did abuse the expenses system. Sir Ian is a man of integrity with a proud record of taking on vested interests in other areas of life apart from Parliament. To give one recent example, this former member of the General Medical Council produced a report into the case of a rogue surgeon, who, over many years, ruined the lives of hundreds of women by operating on them for breast cancer when they didn't need it. Previously, he led a major public inquiry into a scandal at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Collecting 900,000 pieces of evidence concerning operations spanning a decade, he found that, through negligence, the hospital had caused the unnecessary deaths of 170 babies. David Cameron was unwittingly filmed telling a billionaire tycoon in Davos that his alarmist pre-referendum warnings about economic Armageddon for Britain were wrong. Surely, he is duty-bound to explain his epiphany to the British people not just privately to foreign-born plutocrats? Advertisement How dare a nonentity MP such as John Spellar bad-mouth a public servant with a formidable record of speaking truth to power! For his part, Sir Ian was understandably upset and stated publicly that he felt some MPs still bear a grudge. He told Commons Speaker John Bercow that some were 'pursuing a tawdry and squalid vendetta'. MPs' veto of the outspoken QC's appointment to the board of the Electoral Commission exposes a shameful double standard. On the one hand, Parliament is happy to force statutory regulation on many other organisations including the Press while refusing to allow independent regulators to guard the integrity of their own activities and our political process. This is an utter disgrace and I believe British democracy will pay a heavy price. Incidentally, it is not the only recent example of Parliament's nasty habit of seemingly to wreak revenge on those who have exposed their wrongdoings. Earlier this month, more than 200 unelected members of the Lords voted to introduce draconian laws that would make it harder for journalists to investigate corruption and other scandals. David Cameron (pictured) was unwittingly filmed telling a billionaire tycoon in Davos that his alarmist pre-referendum warnings about economic Armageddon for Britain were wrong That, too, appeared like revenge for more than a third of them had been involved in major scandals that were originally exposed by the media they are now seeking to muzzle. They included two convicted criminals, 52 who were caught cynically exploiting the expenses system, 18 named in lobbying scandals, and 14 more who have been accused of sexual or financial sleaze. With regard his own shabby rejection by MPs this week, Sir Ian says the regulatory system put in place after the expenses scandal 'reflected the interest of the taxpayer'. He added: 'There remains a rump of MPs who simply want their old system back. An unaccountable and somewhat disreputable system.' Significantly, he went on to say that the MPs' tactics were 'not what one expected of elected representatives'. Such trenchant and independent-minded views show that Sir Ian would be perfect as a board member of the Electoral Commission. Over recent years, it has become a lumbering and toothless body that has not done enough to stop fraudulent voting in local and national elections. There have been issues, for example, about people voting more than once (particularly in constituencies with a high proportion of students). The postal vote system is being flagrantly abused. There have been several scams involving the registration of fake voters, not forgetting some notorious cases of candidates accused of exceeding spending limits. It needs a man such as Sir Ian Kennedy to help put matters right. More importantly, if parliamentary democracy is to flourish, which it must, we need honest men and women to guard public life. Sadly, though, it seems the vengeful malice of MPs who are putting personal greed above the national interest means this will be an uphill struggle. Action man risks being yesterday's man Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been in his job for less than three months, but a day doesn't seem to pass without him grabbing the headlines. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson's first three months in cabinet have been eventful Posing for photos with military personnel, making threatening noises to the Chancellor about cuts, revealing that an office romance once almost destroyed his marriage and warning, yesterday, that Moscow could cause 'thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths' in Britain with an attack that would cripple our energy supply. For all this Action Man activity, I worry that Mr Williamson, 41, is the latest in a long line of politicians whose heads have been turned after being talked up as a future prime minister but then, just as swiftly, see their careers crash and burn. The list is endless: David Owen in the late Seventies, Thatcherite 'golden boy' John Moore in the Eighties, Alan Milburn in the New Labour years . . . I fear Mr Williamson's career will nosedive unless he conceals his rampant ambition and behaves with more gravitas. Yes, Russia could destroy Britain with a nuclear attack tomorrow. But we deserve a defence secretary who has a measured response to threats, not one who insults our intelligence with inflammatory, apocalyptic talk. Tories on a suicide mission Westminster is agog with frenzied chatter about the possibility of Tory MPs planning a leadership challenge to Theresa May. They may be stupid but, I hope, not that stupid. The consequence of deposing Mrs May would be an internal Tory war that would most likely end with Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. Little-known backbencher Nick Boles (who accused Mrs May of 'timidity and lack of ambition'), Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames (who called her 'dull, dull, dull'), Boris Johnson (who destabilised the Cabinet by calling for an extra 5 billion a year to be spent on the NHS) and Chancellor Philip Hammond (who made a disloyal speech about Brexit) should all beware the potential result of their meddling. At the heart of all this is a ferocious battle over the shape of post-Brexit Britain. But the truth is that Theresa May holds one crucial card. She is far more popular and respected by voters than any of her disloyal Cabinet ministers. A philanthropist revealed how her own painful experience of losing a baby in childbirth has led her in her mission to improve infant and maternal health. Toyin Saraki, 52, was 25 and six months pregnant when she returned home to Nigeria in 1992 for her wedding to Bukola Saraki, now President of the Nigerian senate. A dual Anglo-Nigerian national, Mrs Saraki had been planning to visit the country for the ceremony before flying back to London in time for the birth. But the day before her wedding, at 28 weeks pregnant, the mother-to-be was rushed to the local maternity hospital. The first baby was delivered safely but the second was on its side and Mrs Saraki required an emergency Caesarian section. She was eventually taken but the delay proved fatal and the baby died. Global leader: Toyin Saraki, 52, founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, at a 2017 event. Mrs Saraki works to improve maternal, newborn, and child health across Africa Personal tragedy: Mrs Saraki was led to set up the foundation after losing a baby in childbirth For Mrs Saraki, who went on to have three more children, the tragedy was compounded by the knowledge that situations like hers were frighteningly common in Nigeria and in other developing nations. This led her to establish the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), which works to improve maternal, newborn, and child health across the continent. The philanthropist, who this week attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, has been instrumental in improving maternal and child healthcare across Nigeria. One of WBFA's hallmark programmes is its 'Mamacare' clinics, which provide vital care to expectant mothers and essential training to midwives. Held in hospitals, the monthly sessions provide women the information they need to recognise if their births are being managed correctly, empowering them to take control of the situation if something goes awry. Pioneer: Mrs Saraki has been instrumental in shaping the conversation around maternal health It also provides further training to midwives who are already qualified, allowing them to improve the quality of their care. Subjects such as nutrition, domestic violence and savings are discussed too, in line with Mrs Saraki's hollistic approach to improving healthcare. Such programmes are essential in a nation which has the second highest rate of maternal mortality globally. In 2015, around 303,000 women globally died giving birth. As community focal points for health, midwives can educate communities about the importance of banning the act. Midwives can also be trusted confidantes for adolescent girls and women at risk of FGM Toyin Saraki Data collected over the 22 months Mamacare has been in operation reveal the undisputed benefits of such a programme. Not one of the more than 200,000 mothers who have enrolled in the programme has died, and each mother has achieved the WHO benchmark recommendation of at least eight antenatal visits. The programme has also had a positive impact on infant mortality rates, as mothers and midwives are equipped to recognise and respond to emergency situations. Mrs Saraki also believes midwives have an important role to play in the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). A 2017 report by the UN Population Fund estimates that one in four women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 have undergone FGM in Nigeria. Mrs Saraki said: 'As community focal points for health, midwives can educate communities about the importance of banning the act. Midwives can also be trusted confidantes for adolescent girls and women at risk of FGM & help communities self-report. 'I believe we must empower young girls to fundamentally transform community perceptions on girls education, on womens health, on FGM, and on womens rights.' A flight attendant who got rid of 90 per cent of her wardrobe to live in a 150-square-foot 'tiny house' couldn't be happier with her decision to ditch her clutter to make room for the things she loves in her dream home. Lissette Arroyo, 30, moved into a converted trailer in Orlando, Florida, a little over a year ago, tossing '600 to 700' pieces of clothing to keep her potential clutter at bay after downsizing to a tiny home. 'Now, my closet consists only of the things that I like. Not just-in-case items, not I-might-wear-this-one-day things,' she told Cosmopolitan.com. 'I'm still getting rid of stuff, but I've made progress.' Tiny home: Lissette Arroyo, 30, moved into a 150-square-foot converted trailer in Orlando, Florida, in December 2016 Dream house: Lissette's loft bedroom features bright green walls and just enough room for a large bed Out and about: Lissette works as a flight attendant and spends a lot of time traveling away from her home for work As a flight attendant, she spends a great deal of her time away from home, and she went from having hundreds of pieces of clothing to having a strategic set of options to mix and match. She is now living with ten pairs of shoes, ten tops, nine dresses, four pairs of pants, seven skirts, and three jackets, as well as some handbags and accessories. Lissette has one slim closet for things that need to be hung up, and she stores the rest in drawers she had built in her home. She pointed out that she even has empty spaces and drawers that she isn't using, explaining that she wants to save space for things she enjoys, like snowboarding. Small but cozy: Lissette's kitchen area is located below her bedroom Made for one: When designing her kitchen, she included some counter space, a small stove, and a full-size refrigerator Storage: Lissette has one small shelf for her plates and glasses (left) and she stores her shoes in a thin shelving unit near the bathroom (right) Happy haven: Her bedroom leaves her just enough room to practice yoga on her bed Lissette's home features two loft bedrooms one on each side of the trailer a full kitchen area, a small living room, a bathroom, and even a washer to do laundry. Although she was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Connecticut, she is no stranger to living in small spaces. Before she moved into her tiny home, she spent seven months living in a small apartment in New York City that was less than 600-square-feet. Like most people, she wasn't thrilled with the high cost of living and the astronomical rent, but she realized didn't necessarily mind living in a small space. Added touches: The exterior of Lissette's home is painted gray and has a cheerful yellow door Room for everything: When you walk inside her home, her bathroom is located to the right Be her guest: Lissette also has a second bed located above her bathroom, but she admitted on Instagram that climbing the ladder scares people sometimes Evolution: The flight attendant may find herself using her second loft for something different if she doesn't have as many guests as she anticipated Clever: Lissette added a chalkboard near her bathroom to write notes Everything she needs: Lissette's tiny home even has a small bathroom complete with a toilet When she moved to Orlando, she started wondering what it would be like to have her own tiny home and researched her options. Lissette worked with Tiny Heirloom, the builders featured on the HGTV&DIY series Tiny Luxury, and documented the process of finding her home on the show. She moved into her tiny home at the end of December 2016 and spent three months decluttering the space to her liking. One of the best things about Lissette's home is that she can move anywhere, and she admitted she'd like to head to Nashville or Denver or possibly go west. When she's not traveling for work, Lissette likes to document what it's like to live tiny home in videos she shares on her YouTube channel Lissette Living Tiny. She also shares plenty of photos of her digs on Instagram, sharing plenty of tips on how to live comfortably in a small space. Two best friends who started a meat delivery service from their kitchen with just one cow now make 2.8 million a year and receive orders from Buckingham Palace. James Flower, 31, from Bristol, and James Mansfield, 34, from Bath, met at agricultural college back in 2006 and decided to set up a business related to their passion for farming, which they called field&flower in a nod to their own surnames. Flower, a fifth-generation farmer, bought a premium Hereford grass-fed cow from his parents' farm, and together with Mansfield started delivering the meat it yielded to friends straight from Flower's mother's kitchen in 2010, using a one-page website to process orders. Within a year, it had become such a hit - already turning over 30,000 - that the two friends knew they were onto a winner. They now rake in 93 times that sum each year with their online delivery business. Entrepreneurs James Mansfield (left) and James Flower (right) met on the first day of agricultural college and set up their business, field&flower, after they left One of the proudest moments in the men's careers came when they received an order for a meat subscription box containing different cuts of high quality raw meat from Buckingham Palace. It's not known who inside the palace ordered the delivery, but it may well have been someone on behalf of the Queen, as it is her official London residence. Mansfield, who lives with Ted the cat and Arthur the dog, told FEMAIL Food&Drink: 'The truth is it was all very secretive, and we still dont know who received the meat. 'James [Flower] delivered the box in our van and got pulled over by the police at Buckingham Palace for driving down a private road. 'The biggest shock was when the order came in and the address on the email confirmation said Buckingham Palace. We thought it was a friend messing about!' The men have served a steak baguette to Richard Branson, catered at Glastonbury and have even delivered their meat boxes to Buckingham Palace Field&flower is an online meat delivery service, which delivered meat to people's homes. You don't have to be in when the boxes arrive as they are chilled Mansfield and Flower, who lives with his nine-year-old dog Molly, met in 2006 on their first day at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. They both had ambitions of setting up a business, and decided to unite when they left college in 2009. They wanted to find a way of delivering better quality meat to the public directly from farms to support Britain's farming industry, and came up with Field&Flower, an online delivery service. Initially, the men ran an events business as well, cooking and catering at events including Glastonbury. They even dished up steak baguettes to Richard Branson at V Festival's Louder Lounge. The men started out using a cow bought from James Flowers' parents' farm but now they use a number of different suppliers. All their meat is sourced directly from British farmers The business sources high quality meat directly from the source: British farms The meat is butchered and then Field&Flower package it up and send it out to customers But struggling to manage both the events and online side of things, they shut down the catering business to focus on delivering meat directly to customers. They now turn over 2.8 million a year. Mansfield said: 'Lots of people said at the beginning that delivering meat to the home is a concept that wouldnt catch on, but you have to have self-belief. 'Were very lucky to have the team we have, and a very loyal set of customers and family that have stood by us from day one.' Field&flower sells all different kinds of meat, and also quality fish too Although Field&Flower started out just selling beef, the business now sells all kinds of meat and deli items Field&flower now offers customers meat boxes, individual cuts and joints of meat ranging from beef to chicken, processed meats, and deli items such as cured meats, pies and condiments. The business has just finished crowdfunding, raising 880,000 to expand and improve their service for its 4,500 regular customers. The business is now valued at 9.75 million. 'Weve also made the upgrade from instant coffee to a coffee machine for the office, bought in the January sales!' Mansfield added. Without you lot, I wouldn't be a doctor. It's thanks to you, the great British taxpayer, that I received my medical education. You paid for me to train to be a doctor, and I am eternally grateful. It was an amazing gift and has meant that I've had a wonderful, fulfilling and stimulating career. And I like to think I've repaid the debt by working hard, full time, on the frontline of the NHS. Increasingly medical students are graduating but not practising as doctors; or doctors at all stages of their career are leaving the NHS for private work or quitting the profession While many others have done the same, too often this isn't the case, with doctors leaving the NHS before the debt can be considered to have been paid back. This is a loss we can ill afford. There's no doubt that every medical student and every doctor who has trained in this country is a resource, an investment. Isn't it right, therefore, that the taxpayer gets some kind of guarantee for this investment? Increasingly, though, medical students are graduating but not practising as doctors; or doctors at all stages of their career are leaving the NHS for private work or even quitting the profession. There is a terrifying shortage of doctors, and in some areas fewer than half of posts are filled. Something has to be done to address this brain drain of doctors from the Health Service. This week, Niall Dickson, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS managers, suggested the answer might be to force doctors who leave to pay back part of the cost of their training. This echoes what Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, has said in the past. I've often wondered if, despite most jobs being stressful, work somehow keeps people on their toes. This was borne out by new research showing that retiring results in a rapid decline in brain function. The British study found that short-term memory declines nearly 40 per cent faster once you stop work. So while for some retirement is an opportunity to do new things, for others the loss of structure means one day drifts into another and it's this group who seems to suffer. By all means retire, but do make sure you keep busy. Advertisement The idea is that doctors should be required to work for at least five years in the NHS or pay back a proportion of the 220,000 cost of their training. In principle, I think it perfectly reasonable that doctors who have benefited from the generosity of the taxpayer should be value for money. The same happens in the Armed Forces, where people are required to work for a minimum period in return for their training. But having said that, is the best way to tackle the retention crisis effectively to hold the junior medical workforce as resistant hostages who'll want to get out the day their five years are up? We want to retain doctors for years decades even. After all, we want experienced doctors. Surely, a better way of tackling this is to address why doctors are leaving in the first place? When I was at medical school, it was almost unheard of for a student to graduate and then not work as a doctor but this has now become commonplace. One medical school told me that 10 per cent of students decided not to practise medicine after graduation. Without you lot, I wouldn't be a doctor. It's thanks to you, the great British taxpayer, that I received my medical education Something has clearly gone wrong, and I think a large part of this has been an unintended consequence of the introduction of tuition fees. When I went to medical school there were no fees, and because my family were poor, I got a full living grant of about 5,000 a year. Without this, there is no way I would have been able to do it. But the introduction of fees has turned a medical degree from a vocation into a commodity. Regardless of the fact that the taxpayer still subsidises the actual cost, students now think that as they've got about 80,000 of debt, it's up to them what they do with their training so why shouldn't they take lucrative offers, just as people with other degrees do? During my junior doctor training, there was free hospital accommodation for your first year, a doctors' mess with tea and coffee, and rooms to sleep in when you were on call. There was even a budget for training courses. This helped forge a strong sense of vocation the job we were doing was important and valued. We felt indebted to society and the NHS because it was clear that they'd invested heavily in us. Something has clearly gone wrong, and I think a large part of this has been an unintended consequence of the introduction of tuition fees Yet over the past few years, all of this has been gradually taken away, contributing to a malignant feeling of disenchantment among junior doctors, made all the worse by the new contract imposed last year. More than anything, though, there is a sense in the medical profession generally of profound disappointment in the way that the NHS is being run into the ground. Many colleagues despair they're unable to give their patients the kind of care they need. They have to discharge patients before they're ready, and tell others that they must wait unacceptable lengths of time for surgery. With resources stretched gossamer-thin, it's an unimaginably dispiriting environment to work in. Just before Christmas, a colleague who's spent several years working in mental health, resigned. Exhausted and frustrated at being unable to do the best for her patients, she has retrained as an aesthetic doctor giving Botox and fillers privately. Yes, we could make her pay back the money it cost to train her. But for all our sakes, isn't it better that we address the reason she feels she can't keep working in the NHS? Mother's unwanted legacy Post-natal depression is a worryingly common condition, affecting one in nine women. While the risks to the women themselves are well-known (the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths reports that suicide was the number one cause of death in new mothers), research published this week revealed it can have a serious impact on the baby, too. The researchers found that not only did the babies have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol but that they showed signs of stress at a cellular level, with damage to the ends of the chromosomes suggesting serious cellular wear and tear. It is further confirmation that though we tend to treat mental and physical health differently, the two are deeply intertwined. For the babies, it's not all bad news however. The researchers point out that while infancy is a sensitive time to be exposed to negative events, the flip side is that love and nurturing at this stage can have a profoundly positive effect on them and their long-term health. That is why we owe it to the next generation to ensure that all mothers receive the best mental health care possible. Faith burials that raise questions An extraordinary and deeply worrying story has been unfolding in a small corner of the capital, with the Board of Deputies of British Jews calling for Mary Hassell, senior coroner for Inner North London, to be sacked. Under Jewish and Islamic law, bodies must be buried as soon after death as possible. But Ms Hassell has refused to treat their bodies differently by releasing them ahead of others. These communities have objected, claiming that Ms Hassell is 'failing to respect [their] rights' and seeking an expedited system for all. As the row has become more and more heated, it is said that the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has backed the complaints.In turn, Ms Hassell has said that 'no death will be prioritised in any way over any other because of the religion of the deceased or their family'. Quite right. It would be grossly unfair to do so, and Ms Hassell is entirely justified in her position to treat all cases on an equal basis, regardless of religion. But perhaps most worrying is that one of those calling for her to be fired for upholding the concept of equality is a Mr Abdul Hai, a Labour councillor in Camden with wait for it responsibility for community cohesion and equality. I wrote to Mr Hai this week expressing my disappointment that he should be calling for the sacking of a dedicated public servant trying to uphold a principle of equality. Surely calling for preferential treatment for one group risks damaging the cohesion he's charged with fostering? In his reply, he made a deeply sinister statement: 'Fairness does not mean treating everyone the same, it means understanding the needs of the community and providing the public service to meet this need'. Actually, that's not what fairness means. It's this kind of Orwellian twisting that's fuelling a culture of grievance and underpins the divisive, self-serving identity politics infecting so much of modern life. My concern is that while this drama is being played out in a small part of North London, it's only a matter of time before the idea that certain groups who shout loudly can get special treatment infiltrates the NHS. As Mr Hai demonstrates, albeit unwittingly, it threatens to redefine our very understanding of those founding principles of the NHS: equality and fairness. Breakthrough drugs hailed as a cure for skin cancer can also shrink killer kidney tumours and even make some disappear completely, say cancer specialists. The newly discovered combination can help if chemotherapy fails, extending patients lives by at least a year. In almost half of kidney cancer patients, by the time the disease is diagnosed it has already spread to other areas of the body due to a lack of symptoms, slashing life expectancy from five years to two. New hope: Trial patient Gary Norman with his wife Lee While chemotherapy, which kills both cancer and healthy cells, is used to treat most other advanced cancers, the treatment does not work for most kidney cancers. The established treatment for the condition is either radiotherapy which shrinks tumours or tyrosine-kinase inhibitor drugs, including one called sunitinib, which interrupt the blood supply to cancer. However, these only pause the growth of tumours for four or five months. New research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2017 shows that a combination of two drugs can achieve startling results, making tumours vanish in ten per cent of patients. The drugs, ipilimumab and nivolumab, are already used with remarkable success in the treatment of deadly melanoma skin cancer. Nivolumab is also used to treat advanced lung tumours. The new trial found that the combination achieved significant kidney tumour shrinkage in 42 per cent of the 425 patients in a trial and reduced the risk of death within two years by 37 per cent. Ipilimumab and nivolumab are immunotherapy drugs that work by enhancing the ability of the bodys immune system cells to attack and destroy cancer. Rather than just putting the cancer into remission for a period, like standard treatments, they appear to carry on working even after treatment has stopped, says Dr Paul Nathan, consultant oncologist at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Middlesex and a lead researcher on the trial. The newly discovered combination can help if chemotherapy fails, extending patients lives by at least a year During the trial, 840 kidney cancer patients were given either sunitinib or the combination immunotherapy. Those on the combination had four infusions of the two drugs at three-weekly intervals. One-fifth of patients experienced severe side effects such as inflammation of the bowel or liver, and had to stop early. The median overall survival rate [the time at which 50 per cent of patients have died after treatment] for sunitinib was 26 months, but for the combination immunotherapy arm, it has still not been reached 36 months on. More than half the patients are still alive, says Dr Nathan. One such trial patient is Gary Norman, 62, from Luton in Bedfordshire, whose tumour has disappeared. The retired aerospace engineer was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2013, and enrolled on the trial after his cancer spread to his lungs. I was told I had just over a year to live, he says. I hoped my cancer wouldnt get worse, but never expected to receive a wonder drug. My latest scans show no detectable cancer and evidence that the drug is still active in my body. Garys results were achieved despite receiving only three out of the four drug infusions. I was pulled out because the side effects were devastating vomiting and diarrhoea, dreadful fatigue and diabetes, he says. The therapy was approved for NHS melanoma patients in 2016 after drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence negotiated a discounted price with the manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb, of less than 30,000 per patient per year. It is already licensed and approved for use in melanoma, so the NHS should also find it cost-effective for use in kidney cancer, said Dr Nathan. Enough has been said about the sexism at that revolting grope-fest, the Presidents Club dinner at the Dorchester, so Ill spare you any more anger on that point. The tawdry event shines a light on another area of City life equally riddled with hypocrisy and self-deception: charity. Contrary to popular views, a great deal of generosity takes place within the Square Mile. Im a Freeman of the City of London myself and the historic trade guilds and companies including mine, the Stationers, do fantastic work for good causes. Ruth Sunderland says the Presidents Club dinner at the Dorchester shines a light on another area of City life equally riddled with hypocrisy and self-deception: charity Ive met some City people who are plainly and gloriously sincere. Fund manager Jonathan Ruffer, for instance, who prays every morning between 5am and 6.30am before his porridge, and who has poured 30 million of his own cash into staging a son et lumiere spectacle in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in the hope of reviving the local economy. He bought a set of paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Zurbaran to stop the Church of England selling them to a Ukrainian oligarch with a plan to set up a world-class centre of Spanish art in his native North East. Eccentric, maybe marvellous, definitely. But there is an undercurrent with certain business people, who give the impression they are trying to use their charitable donations as a magic shield to deflect criticism from other, more questionable behaviour. Of course, this is futile. Giving to good causes does not excuse or cancel out other poor conduct: groping at a charity event is still groping. And often, the very same individuals who flaunt their munificence can be strangely reluctant to, lets say, pay tax in the UK or to make contributions into the company pension fund to ensure their own employees dont become charity cases in their old age. Ruth says charity auctions like the one at the Presidents Club can raise a lot of money, but they are treated by some as opportunities for egotistical display - a chance to boast about the size of their wallets Perhaps there was a certain perverse honesty about Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburns refusal to say whether he is giving any of his potential 100 million plus bonus to charity. After all, it would not alter the fact that governance failed so miserably at the housebuilder. And Fairburn cannot be accused of showing off. Charity auctions like the one at the Presidents Club can raise a lot of money, but they are treated by some as opportunities for egotistical display a chance to boast about the size of their wallets. Some of the biggest villains in the business world have been flamboyant donors. The late tycoon Robert Maxwell gave very generously recipients of his bounty included Mother Teresa but that did not stop him being a repellent and larcenous man. Going further back, Andrew Carnegies exploits as one of Americas robber-baron capitalists have been obscured by the mists of time, and he is best remembered in this country for his legacy of public libraries. In the UK there is not such a culture of high-profile business philanthropy as in the US, but some companies have embraced social responsibility as part of their PR. I wish they wouldnt. Behaving properly towards people and the environment should be taken for granted as a minimum expectation, not something to boast about. The ill-fated Co-op Bank is a case in point it endlessly semaphored its credentials as an ethical lender that did not advance money to bad businesses like arms dealers and cigarette sellers. None of which stopped it from such dire boardroom standards that it drowned in its own debt and is now in the hands of hedge funds. Carillion is another one with a list of environmental and social accolades as long as your arm, and much good that did. Charity is great, and so is corporate social responsibility. But it is not an alternative to, or a substitute for, integrity in the running of the business itself. That includes treating women with respect, whether they are boardroom colleagues or female staff at a dinner. Charity is optional being a decent corporate citizen is not. The 'mugshot chair' was designed for use in prisons so the head of the inmate would be in line with the brace at the back of it It certainly looks rather uncomfortable if you'd have moved, with its low stature and large ridges in the seat - and that happens to be precisely the point. For this is a 'mugshot chair' used in Victorian prisons that would have seen inmates want their photograph taken as fast as possible or left in plenty of pain. Prisoners would have had to sit up straight with their legs together and ensured they did not move so their picture could be taken quickly in the jail. The chair was designed so the head of the inmate would be in line with the brace at the back of it and in the same place whether they were small or tall. It was intended to be quick and hassle-free and helped jails comply with the 1871 Prevention of Crimes Act that said prisoners had to be photographically recorded. The idea was that a photographer could set their camera up for the day with the correct height and focus, and then only have to touch it to take the picture. To ensure they could get two angles of the prisoner - face-on and in profile they would have set up an angled mirror to produce both pictures in one shot. Prisoners would also be asked to show their hands when the photos were taken, to ensure any identifying marks or tattoos could be noted at the same time. A photographer takes an inmate's picture using the chair at Newgate Prison in London in the 19th century. The chair helped jails comply with the 1871 Prevention of Crimes Act Geoff Belknapp, curator of photography at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, told MailOnline that the chair was first made in Germany around 1880. He said: 'The chair is small and narrow - just 25cm (10in) in width and approximately 90cm (35in) high, with a pointed ridge running front-to-back down the centre. 'Despite its appearance the design isn't intended to specifically make it uncomfortable for the sitter. 'The reason there is a ridge down the centre of the seat and a metal rod at the back is so all sitters are positioned for their photographs in the same way sat up straight and facing forward. 'I imagine it would have been uncomfortable had anyone tried to move from this position. Mugshots taken of prisoners in the late 19th century, showing a mirror placed on the inmate's right shoulder to capture their profile. These portraits are unusual compared with the standard of prison photography at the time, by combine the profiling and frontal portrait in one picture The use of photography to record known criminals had been in evidence as early as the 1840s, three decades before it became UK law. Pictured: More mugshots using the mirror technique 'The intention was for the photographs to display a standard pose and posture for each sitter. The chair ensures the sitter sits as straight and upright as possible, and the brace is to keep the head looking forward.' He added that the concept of the two-angle photograph was apparently pushed forward by Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer born in Paris. The use of photography to record known criminals had been in evidence as early as the 1840s, three decades before it became law in the UK. Mr Belknapp continued: 'Bertillon helped to standardise the process when, in 1888, he devised the modern "mug shot" featuring full face and profile views, as well as standardising the lighting and angles. 'His method was soon adopted in many places throughout Europe. However, as you can see from the other sets of mug shots there were other methods employed to get the two-angle shots, such as holding a mirror up to the suspect's face.' Advertisement He is the most notorious prisoner in Britain and has spent most of his life behind bars. Charles Salvador, the artist formerly known as Charles Bronson, is 65 but has been locked up for 41 years, 37 of those in solitary confinement for a range of offences including attacking guards and taking hostages. Once an armed robber, he is now a painter and one month after marrying his soap star wife Paula Williamson behind the bars of Wakefield Prison he has released a collection of his pieces. This exclusive look at his new book, Art Attack, reveals a wide variety of weird and wonderful pictures, including a tribute to the Kray twins, Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs and even the Manchester Arena bomb victims. In the foreword to his book, Bronson says: 'Let my art speak for me. Let the world digest my creations. Let the world be my judge. 'Do they want more? Is my art worthy of my freedom and will the art world accept me? 'Love me or hate me I need to know all this. Am I wasting my time? Am I kidding myself? Can I ever be accepted by the outside world? Am I worthy of the title "Artist"? 'I hope this book you have in your hands can at least show I am trying to express who and what I am.' To buy the book, visit: www.mojorisinpublishing.com Charles Bronson's new book contains a tribute to the 22 innocent people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing. The youngest victim, eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, is pictured surrounded by flowers. Bronson has written a message saying: 'A senseless destruction of humanity. Beautiful happy people. WHY?' This bizarre illustration shows a man with two faces balancing on a unicycle. His mouths are open and the tongues seem to be spraying saliva everywhere. Around the man on the unicycle, several statements are written. One says, 'Freaks. Are. Fantastical' while another says, 'Insanity gone mad'. The final one reads: 'Circus of Madness' Bronson married soap actress Paula Williamson in November. The ceremony was held at HMP Wakefield where Bronson is currently serving time. He was not allowed to the wedding reception afterwards and his bride flew off on her honeymoon without him. In this poem, Bronson describes her as, 'smart, Classy, sophisticated' In another strange piece, Bronson drew a topless man on a crucifix being watched by a CCTV camera. In the background, two birds sit on what appears to be a giant key and spiders dangle from string of web off the cross. The man has a face coming out the top of his head and writing on the cross says, 'Broadmoor Asylum'. Bronson has spent time in Broadmoor Hospital This picture, mainly in black and white, shows a house set behind a wall and surrounded by treeless leaves. A figure resembling Bronson leans over the wall in front of a painting and in a speech bubble is written: 'I made it. It's wonderful'. A sign on the wall reads 'Rainbow Cottage' and another says 'No security. No dogs. Only me. Enter at your own choice' In another bizarre sketch Bronson makes a reference to Bedlam, the notorious mental hospital in London. A copy of the bible is seen flying through the air and there are strange images scattered throughout the picture. In the bottom corner there is a picture of what appears to be Bronson himself, along with the words, 'I'm a celebrity, get me out of here - and fast' Bronson, 65, has spent 41 years of his life in prison, 37 of those in solitary confinement. He has drawn himself here locked up in a straight jacket in a cell. A sign above his head reads 'asylum' and a bird with a syringe for a beak stands on a CCTV camera. A flower appears to be bleeding and the book he is standing on says 'life's a joke'. Britain's most infamous prisoner befriended a number of other high-profile inmates during his decades behind bars. This drawing references several of them, including gangster Freddie Foreman and the infamous Ronnie Kray. The central images appears to show a Bronson-like figure breaking out of an egg. A message above reads: 'The birth of a madman' Bronson, now going by the name of Charles Salvador, is currently serving time in HMP Wakefield. This artwork shows him drawn as a winged angel and bursting through a pile of books referencing Broadmoor, the high-security psychiatric hospital where he spent several years The prisoner married soap star Paula Williamson in November this year. On this card, in an untidy scrawl Bronson has scribbled, 'Paula, be happy' along with his signature. It is dated Christmas 2016. The main image is of a bird-like creature with winged insects fluttering in the air around it. Bronson has written across the bottom: 'It's a wonderful world' Infamously, during one of his many prison protests Bronson climbed onto the roof of Broadmoor hospital. The incident is depicted in this drawing, which also contains Bronson's birth name - Micky Peterson. The criminal is shown on the roof of the hospital holding a sign reading, 'Hi mum' Harry Roberts instigated the Shepherd's Bush murders in which three police officers were shot dead. Roberts spent nearly 48 years in prison before being released in 2014. This picture shows Charles Bronson and Roberts sharing adjoining cells. The two lifers talk to each other while a strange egg with legs stands outside Bronson has spent most of his life in solitary confinement. Here he has drawn his 'special cage' along with a sign with his name on and the numbers 1314 - his prisoner number. A message beneath the cell door reads: 'That's my home. It may look like a zoo. But it's not so bad'. The picture is dated 2015 Another of the book's pictures focuses on Bronson's long spells in solitary confinement. His arm pokes out from a hole in the bottom of the door and a balloon is tied to his thumb by a string. The balloon has a message on reading: 'Ronnie Kray is free', a reference to the notorious London gangster Charles Bronson was born Michael Peterson in 1952 before changing his name in 1988. Then in 2014 he changed it again to Charles Salvador, in honour of the artist Salvador Dali. This picture pays tribute to his former name of Bronson and shows a grave with the name on it alongside the words, 'free at last' Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom and Bronson used his art to pay tribute to her. He drew her grave, containing both her birth name of Hornby and the name she later took, Ellis. She was sentenced to death for shooting dead her lover in 1955 and Bronson calls it a 'crime of passion' Throughout his life Bronson befriended some of his fellow notorious criminals, including Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. He pays tribute to him here, labelling him a 'legend' and saying, 'Ronnie loved a train'. Biggs lived as a fugitive for 36 years following the Great Train Robbery in 1963 but returned to the UK in 2001. He died in 2013 after several years in prison This bizarre doodle shows a figure resembling Bronson strung up from the ceiling while in a green sleeping bag. He is surrounded by birds with syringes for beaks and faces that are not attached to any bodies. Speech coming from Bronson's mouth reads: 'If your (sic) not mad when you arrive, you are when you leave' The heart-warming moment an orphaned baby elephant is welcomed into a herd by intertwining trunks has been captured on video. Loisaba is an eight-month old male calf and arrived at the Retiti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya after being found malnourished and abandoned. He is named in honour of the Loisaba Conservancy, the nature conservation project where he was found by one of its conservation officers. Loisaba, right, sees his new friend Nadasoit, from the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary for the first time Nadasoit then heads down the hill to take a closer look at the newcomer who is walking towards him The pair then begin to check each other out as they meet for the first time In the video, he is seen being fed by a staff member at the sanctuary before being introduced to Nadasoit, who came running down the hill to meet his new friend. They then begin to intertwine trunks, like little children holding hands, as they get to know each other. The sanctuary said Loisaba quickly integrated into the Reteti herd and the other elephants were excited to see him and eager to get to know him. They followed Loisaba everywhere for the rest of the afternoon. Loisaba is now a part of the family. We are glad to be able to provide him a home and look forward to seeing him grown big and strong with the Reteti herd, and one day return to the land where he came from. The pair begin to lock trunks as they bond in what the sanctuary called a 'beautiful moment' Loisaba is now part of the herd and the other elephants are also excited to get to know him According to Retiti Elephant Sanctuary, Loisaba was spotted trying to join a nearby herd, but it was repeatedly rejected by the matriarch. While they dont know exactly what happened, they say mothers are not willingly separated from their calves so are assuming she was killed by poachers, as a result of human elephant conflict or due to drought. When Loisaba was found, he was in bad shape and needed help. The dedicated staff at Loisaba Conservancy reached out to us at Reteti. We chartered a plane, arriving with staff from the North Kenya Veterinary service. The calf was quickly and successfully sedated by dart, loaded onto a plane and brought back to the sanctuary for safe keeping. At first, because he wasnt ready to join the herd, he would go out walking with his keeper, Lemarash, every day, all the while getting to know his surroundings. Then said the sanctuary we decided it was time for Loisaba to get to know the other elephants. It is always a beautiful moment to witness, and this introduction did not disappoint. The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary was officially opened in August 2016, to rescue and release orphaned and abandoned elephant calves. A Holocaust survivor has revealed how he escaped the Auschwitz gas chambers by outwitting Dr Josef Mengele, known as the Angel of Death. Leslie Kleinman, 88, whose concentration camp number is still tattooed on his forearm, has told MailOnline for the first time about the heart-stopping encounter with one of Nazi Germanys most notorious sadists in 1944. A picture taken shortly before the war shows a happy family. By the end of the War, Mr Kleinman was the only survivor and he managed it by fooling Mengele into the belief that he was older than he actually was. Holocaust survivor Leslie Kleinman, 88, holds a picture of his family, all of whom perished Josef Mengele, the 'Angel of Death', a Nazi doctor based at Auschwitz who carried out sadistic human experiments, including injecting dye into children's eyes and sewing twins together Leslie Kleinman, bottom left, with his parents and seven siblings Gittel, Chaim, Tavi, Frimet, Shaindel, Avrom, Moshe Yisroel and Chaye Sorah. He was the only one to survive Mr Kleinman shows the tattoo that he received upon arrival at the Auschwitz camp in Poland After more than 70 years, the numbers on the tattoo, 8230, are still visible Mengele was the man who carried out human experiments, including operating on twins without anaesthetic, he said. I heard them screaming many times when I was in Auschwitz. When we arrived, we had to line up in front of Mengele to be examined. He needed workers. If he thought we were strong enough to work, we would live. If not, we were sent to the gas chambers. Most of the women and the children were killed. While he was waiting in the queue, another inmate told him to pretend that he was 17 rather than 14. It was a difficult decision but Mr Kleinman made up his mind to lie to the Angel of Death. It was the first time in my life that I told a proper lie Leslie Kleinman It was the first time in my life that I told a proper lie, as Id been brought up to be honest, he said. My father always told me to tell the truth if you want people to believe you. But I decided that a small lie to save your life was worth it. Some things you have to do. When the Nazi sadist asked his age, he duly told him that he was 17. Mengele listened, then waved him to the line of people who had been selected to live. I was 5ft 10in, a strong guy. I grew up in a poor family in the Carpathian Mountains and we were used to hard work, he said. God was with me and Mengele believed that I was 17. That was the moment I could have lost my life. His mother, four sisters and three brothers were all sent to the other line and were gassed. His father had been taken to Auschwitz three weeks before where he also perished. In total, 68 members of Mr Kleinmans family were killed. They were among the many thousands of Jews and Roma that Mengele the resident medic at Auschwitz from May 1943 until he fled the advancing Red Army in 1945 sent to their deaths at the camp, where 1.1million people lost their lives. Mengele was in charge of administering Zyklon B, the gas used by the Nazis for mass-murder. During the course of his experiments, the doctor injected chemicals into prisoners eyes to try to change their iris colour, pulled out healthy teeth, and sewed children together to create artificially conjoined twins. Josef Mengele, left, stands with Rudolf Hoss, the Commandant of Auschwitz, and Josef Kramer, the Commendant of Belsen concentration camp A photograph believed to show Josef Mengele in later life after he went on the run Leslie Kleinman holds documentation he was given on entry to Britain in 1947 Leslie Kleinman as a child, left, and at the age of 23 in the United Kingdom, right Mr Kleinman has dedicated his life to telling his story to raise awareness of the Holocaust In an effort to find scientific proof for Nazi claims of Aryan superiority, Mengele unnecessarily amputated limbs and infected children with typhus. On one occasion, he killed 14 twins in a single night by injecting chloroform into their hearts. He even managed to escape justice. At the end of the war, the killer went on the run and found refuge in South America. He died in a swimming pool in Brazil in 1979. Mr Kleinman, who survived by fooling Mengele, did not speak about his experiences for 60 years but now dedicates his life to telling his story. Last year he took groups to Auschwitz seven times with the charity JRoots, and over the years has covered 24,000miles telling his story around the world. A picture taken in 1936 shows Mr Kleinman at the age of seven, posing with his parents and five brothers and sisters in their hometown of Abud in western Romania. Four years later, Romania was annexed by Hungary and occupied by the German army. It got worse and worse, Mr Kleinman recalls. they closed our shops and force us to wear a yellow band with a star. In 1944, they finally arrested us and took us to Auschwitz in cattle trucks. It was a 300mile journey and we had only one bucket for a toilet between 110 people. When we arrived, the stench was unbelievable. We werent human any more. Among the many horrors he experienced in the camp was the time the man labouring with a pickaxe next to him was shot dead simply because he straightened his back. Mr Kleinman was taken on a notorious Nazi death march in January 1945 when Soviet troops closed in on the camp. In temperatures of -20C, he and thousands of prisoners were forced to walk 500miles to Sachsenhausen in Germany and from there another 500miles to Dachau, wearing nothing but striped pyjamas, a blanket and wooden clogs. Some resorted to eating human flesh while Mr Kleinman kept himself alive by consuming grass. Any prisoner who failed to keep up was executed. Of the 5,000 prisoners that started the march, fewer than 200 of us survived, Mr Kleinman recalls. I was three-and-a-half stone when the Americans found me. The moment of freedom come on 23 April 1945. We were marching along and suddenly everybody disappeared and I was left alone, he said. I hid in a foxhole and a tank approached. Leslie Kleinman and his first wife Evelyn Holz, left, and her again, right, a non-Jewish German A picture of Leslie Kleinman taken from the documentation he received on entering Britain The driver got out and found me. He asked me in Yiddish if I was a Jew and I admitted it. Then he told me he too was Jewish an American Jew from Brooklyn. He got an SS officer and forced him to give me his boots and take my clogs instead. Mr Kleinman was taken to hospital, where a short time later he was given an extraordinary opportunity for revenge. An American soldier gave me a service revolver and told me I could keep it for four days and shoot any Nazi I recognised, he said. I took the gun but I couldnt do it. I wasnt brought up with hate and killing people. We were brought up with kindness. We were very poor in my house, but there was a lot of love. I just couldnt do it. It wasnt gong to gain anything. I couldnt get my family back, so what was the vengeance for? The revolver proved to be useful, however, when a few days later Mr Kleinman was taking shelter in a beer factory and was accused by some Russian soldiers of stealing alcohol. I dont even drink, he said. I managed to get away by pointing the pistol at them. I was very lucky as I didnt even know how to fire it. Mr Kleinman came to the United Kingdom in 1947, and now lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. In another extraordinary twist, in 1956 married a non-Jewish German woman, Evelyn Holz, whom he had met at a dance in Kilburn, north London. They had two children together and after a long and happy marriage, Evelyn passed away in 2004. Mr Kleinman remarried in 2011, at the age of 82. His new wife, Miriam, is 10 years younger than him. But the memories of his past continue to haunt him. He still mourns his father Martin, a rabbi who was killed at the age of 35; mother Rachel, also 35; his four sisters, Gitta, 15, Olga, nine, Shandi, seven, and Sarah, five; and his three brothers, Herman, 12, Abraham, four, and Moses, two. The charity JRoots works to educate young people about the Holocaust. Visit jroots.org A two-year-old girl continues to her fight for life three days after being found lying face down and unconscious in a pool at her family's home in Brisbane. Aliyana Caplin's mother, Amber, 33, made the horrifying discovery on Wednesday afternoon and rushed her lifeless body to Lady Cilento Children's hospital. The toddler remained in the intensive care unit on life support three days later, with her family saying her fate was 'still very much up in the air'. Her father, Christopher Caplin, told Daily Mail Australia the pool gate had been open at the time Aliyana was noticed missing amid a chaotic afternoon. Two-year-old Aliyana Caplin is fighting for her life today after her mother found her face down and unconscious in the family's swimming pool in Ipswich Left to right: Mia, 11, Alex, 9, Seth, 8, and Aliyana, 2, being held by her mother, Amber, 33 The 30-year-old said their three older children had just arrived home and one of the familys' dogs had opened the back door, allowing Aliyana to 'slip out unnoticed'. 'A few minutes later her mum noticed her missing and went looking for her and found her face down in the pool,' Mr Caplin said. 'Not really knowing how to do CPR she tried her best and the policeman across the road came over after hearing her scream and helped until the ambulance got there. Aliyana with her father Christopher Caplin: 'She still has a very long way to go and her fate is very much up in the air' 'The doctors have said not to get our hopes up as Ali was without oxygen for quite some time.' Mr Caplin explained the pool gate was open to allow their dogs to cool off during the warm weather. Aliyana, who has tuberous sclerosis, has already been through three brain surgeries to prevent the seizures it causes. Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs. Aliyana has tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs 'She is in a stable condition but they have her sedated and cooled to try and minimize any brain damage.' Her blood pressure has gotten a little better again and while the machines are still breathing for her, she has been making some effort to initiate her breathing. 'It has been a very difficult time for us over the past two days and there's still a lot to go.' Aliyana's parents and siblings, Mia, 11, Alex, 9, and Seth, 8, say they are grateful to the Lady Cilento Children's hospital staff and Ronald McDonald house for 'allowing us to stay close to our little girl through this'. 'Today will just be another day of waiting', says Mr Caplin. 'She still has a very long way to go and her fate is very much up in the air.' The son of a slain Alabama police officer said Friday that his father should not be forgotten as the US Supreme Court and media focus on legal wrangling over whether his father's killer is competent to be executed. Justices on Thursday halted the lethal injection of Alabama inmate Vernon Madison, 67, as they decide whether to review claims that executing him would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Attorneys for Madison said stroke-induced dementia has rendered him unable to remember shooting Mobile police officer Julius Schulte in the head in 1985. Michael Schulte, the slain officer's son, said Friday that last-minute execution stays - the second Madison has received within two years - have been difficult for his family and mean 'this tragedy isn't finished.' The US 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 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 'It's like everywhere you turn, there it is. There's this guy's face. It brings everything back to mind that this guy is still alive and my dad, who never hurt anybody, isn't here anymore,' Michael Schulte said. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Friday that he was disappointed in the US Supreme Court's decision to delay Madison's execution, saying 'justice is again delayed' for the officer's family. Madison's attorneys said the state is trying to execute a man who 'no longer has a memory of the commission of the crime for which he is to be executed.' They said Madison has suffered several strokes and is frequently confused. 'We are thrilled that the court stopped this execution tonight. Killing a fragile man suffering from dementia is unnecessary and cruel,' attorney Bryan Stevenson, of the Equal Justice Initiative, said Thursday evening after the stay was granted. The Supreme Court has ruled that condemned inmates must have a 'rational understanding' that they are about to be executed and why. Courts have been divided over Madison's case. A state court ruled in 2016 that Madison was competent. Madison's lawyers say he has an IQ of 72 and does not understand why he is being executed In 2016, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals halted Madison's execution seven hours before he was scheduled for a lethal injection and the panel ruled him incompetent. 'According to his perception of reality he never committed murder,' the judges ruled. The US Supreme Court later opened the way for the execution to proceed. The court, in an unsigned 2017 opinion, said that testimony showed Madison 'recognizes that he will be put to death as punishment for the murder he was found to have committed. Justices noted then that their review was limited unless Madison showed the court acted unreasonably. In 1985, Schulte had responded to a call about a missing child made by Madison's then-girlfriend. Prosecutors have said Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car filling out paperwork. Michael Schulte said his father loved police work and had a knack for talking to people and diffusing volatile situations. He said his mother received hundreds of letters after her husband's death, including many from people who said Schulte helped them turn their lives around. The last remaining resident in the iconic Sirius building overlooking Sydney Harbour has been honoured with a farewell party. Myra Demetriou, 91, who is legally blind, has lived on the top floor of the high-rise public housing block in The Rocks since 2008, but is now being forced to leave. About 200 people attended the 'Farewell Myra' event on Saturday morning to say goodbye to Mrs Demetriou, who has lived in the Millers Point area for 50 years. After a lengthy battle to stay in her harbourfront apartment, elderly resident Myra Demetriou (pictured) was the guest-of-honour at a farewell party Around 200 people attended the 'Farewell Myra' event at Sirius housing block in Sydney's The Rocks Mrs Demetriou, 91, who is legally blind, has lived on the top floor of the iconic high rise public housing block (pictured) in the Rocks since 2008 Mrs Demetriou fought to stay in her home since the New South Wales government revealed plans to sell the building to developers several years ago. Opened in 1980, the 79 unit block was put on the market for about $100 million in December. The great-grandmother will move out on February 1, to a new apartment in the suburb of Pyrmont. 'There's no use feeling sad about it, you've got to look to the future,' Mrs Demetriou told Daily Mail Australia. Federal opposition deputy leader Tanya Plibersek (pictured), Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and state Sydney MP Alex Greenwich were among the attendees at the send-off Tanya Pilbersek kisses Sirius Public Housing Block resident Myra Demetriou during the farewell event Mrs Demetriou is seen here admiring the view on her last day at the public housing block 'I won't know how I feel about moving out until the day. I have boxes for everywhere. I've only done one room so far, which is the bedroom. 'I'm still yet to do the lounge room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry. I am stressed about the move but I don't see it as the end of an era, it's the beginning of a new one.' Federal opposition deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and state Sydney MP Alex Greenwich were among the attendees at the send-off. 'There's no use feeling sad about it, you've got to look to the future,' Mrs Demetriou (pictured) said Opened in 1980, the 79 unit block (pictured) was put on the market for about $100 million in December A special lamington cake (pictured) made in the shape of the Sirius building was made for the event They made an appearance at the Cumberland Street site to pay tribute to Myra and make some special announcements. The morning tea included a special giant card for Myra, along with lamington cake in the shape of the famous building. 'It's very nice that so many people want to have a farewell for me,' Mrs Demetriou said. The morning tea included a special giant card for Myra, along with lamington cake in the shape of the famous building (pictured) Pictured are the last remaining resident's possessions ready to be moved into her new unit The Saturday morning send-off included speeches (pictured ) by Sydney mayor Clover Moore Myra Demetriou's top floor apartment in the public housing block overlooked Sydney Harbour Myra Demetriou (pictured) has lived in the Millers Point area for more than 50 years, and in the Sirius building since 2008 'The thing I'm going to miss the most is the friendships.' Although she would have preferred to stay put, Mrs Demetrious said she is satisfied with her new home in Pyrmont. 'It's a decent place,' Mrs Demetriou said. 'It's better than a lot of the other ones they showed me. Some of them were awful. I've met the pharmacist and been to the community centre around there. 'The rooms are smaller so I'll have to get rid of some things. But I'll do that at the new place as I'll make mistakes if I do it here.' The Department of Family and Community Services will use the proceeds from the sale of the building towards new homes for people on the waiting list for public housing. Myra is the last tenant standing in the iconic Sirius public housing block on Cumberland Street Mrs Demetriou had one final plea for the NSW government. 'Keep public housing,' she said (pictured is a sign outside the building) 'Myra has been the face of our campaign,' Save Our Sirius foundation chairman Shaun Carter said. 'Why would any government force a 91-year-old lady from her home? It's inhumane. We hope the government will learn from this.' Mrs Demetriou had one final plea for the NSW government. 'Keep public housing,' she said. 'We're going to end up the only city in the world without social housing. Even London and New York have it. We're not a poor country.' Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has been campaigning on the issue since 2011 and is delighted with the NHS England ruling Ambulance-chasing lawyers will be banned from working or advertising in NHS hospitals, under rules coming in next week. The Daily Mail revealed 12 months ago that no-win no-fee personal injury firms were being allowed to target patients inside hospitals across the country. Some NHS trusts were even allowing legal companies to set up offices in their public concourses. And other hospitals were being paid to allow medical negligence firms to advertise on NHS-branded information leaflets displayed in A&E units. Now, in response to the Mails revelations, NHS England has changed its standard contract with hospital trusts and inserted a clause banning the practice. Last night Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who has been campaigning on the issue since 2011, said: Im delighted we are finally taking action against these parasites the NHS is no longer going to be feeding the monster that is devouring it. This is a victory for the NHS, for patients and for decency. The altered contract, which comes into force on Thursday, says trusts must not enter into, extend or renew any contractual arrangement with any company which might lead to a legal claim against any part of the NHS. Britains booming compensation culture meant the NHS spent 1.7billion on clinical negligence claims in 2016/17, with legal costs accounting for 36 per cent of the total bill. Since 2012 hospitals have been warned in official guidance not to allow the advertising of personal injury lawyers. But because the guidance was not mandatory, it was largely ignored by NHS trusts. Seven out of 17 NHS hospitals visited by the Mail in December 2016 had contracts either to advertise or to host personal injury law firms. Some were paid thousands of pounds to display adverts for compensation firms on official patient information leaflets in A&E units. The NHS-branded leaflets, which give basic advice for problems such as head injuries and nose bleeds, give patients phone numbers for no-win no-fee companies who can sue in the case of a medical blunder. The Daily Mail's investigation discovered that Southampton General Hospital were allowing legal firms to rent out office space in their public concourses The deals prevent law firms from suing the hospitals they are contracted with. But they were not stopped from taking action against other hospitals, ambulance trusts or GP services. The new contract closes this loophole, making it clear activity is banned that might lead to the pursuit of a claim against any other provider or any commissioner of NHS services. The Mails investigation also discovered that two hospitals Addenbrookes in Cambridge and Southampton General Hospital were allowing legal firms to rent out office space in their public concourses. That will no longer be allowed under the new contract. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said last night that Barr Ellison solicitors, which runs a branch on the Addenbrookes site, no longer accepts claims against any part of the NHS, and instead provides advice around making a will or buying property. Previously Barr Ellison had been barred from suing Addenbrookes. Southampton General Hospital had displayed posters in the A&E waiting room directing patients to local law firm Kiteleys Solicitors. The posters said: We can help you claim compensation. Come and see us at our office in the hospital. No win, no fee! Last night University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Southampton General, said: We have a commercial arrangement with Kiteleys Solicitors, who provide a range of legal services which focus mainly on property and private client work. They do not accept any claims against the trust. For all President Trumps swagger about the soaring US economy yesterday afternoon, I fear the time has come for the rest of us to stockpile the tinned food and bottled water. Cash in your ISAs, sell your shares fast and park your cash under the mattress. Because the most elitist of all global elites is predicting boom times around the corner. And it is a golden rule that whatever the World Economic Forum says here at its annual festival of delusional self-importance in Davos, it is always gloriously wrong. The 2018 event has been a vintage week of astronomically expensive partying and preachy virtue-signalling inside the ring of snipers and roadblocks surrounding this elderly Swiss ski resort. Elton John was pictured in Davos at the World Economic Forum alongside a host of stars (from left to right - head of the IMF Christine Lagarde, Elton John, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and Australian actress Cate Blanchett After many days and nights of hob-nobbing with a tearful Cate Blanchett, Sir Elton John, Tony Blair, the Kings of Spain and Jordan, rapper Will.i.am and Microsoft gazillionaire Bill Gates, the grandees of Davos have announced that the world economy is about to go from strength to strength. Oh dear. When this lot forecast sunshine, reach for your umbrella. For this is the outfit which spent its 2008 conference banging on about climate change and exciting new creative capitalism whereupon the world economy fell off a cliff. These are the same masters of the universe who told us that the really big issue in 2016 was going to be mastering the fourth industrial revolution. Brexit? Donald Trump? Dont be stupid. Itll never happen. Most of this lot loathe Donald Trump. He might be a billionaire wedded to capitalism as much as they are, but he is not of their consensual, liberal, globalist, superior ilk. Having scoffed that he would never be elected, they then dismissed him as a populist moron when he arrived in the White House. Yet the same crowd were like schoolgirls at a Justin Bieber concert when the US President arrived this week, falling over themselves to grab a snap of the man they purport to despise. US President Donald Trump (pictured) was at the forum with Robert Hardman saying people were 'falling over themselves' to get a photo of him His last-minute addition to the running order wreaked havoc with yesterdays schedule. A Remoaner-led seminar on the business of Brexit was cancelled because it would overlap with Mr Trump. Who would want to listen to wailing Europhiles while the leader of the free world was on the main stage? The World Economic Forum is a gathering of 2,000 chief executives, oligarchs, hedge funders, bankers and celebrities plus a smattering of politicians and planeloads of ex-politicians, all of them convinced that they know what is best for the rest of us. The big theme this year without a scintilla of irony has been a shared future in a fractured world. This at a gathering with 433 guest speakers whose average net worth is 296 million-a-head. Local shops and public buildings even the church have been stripped out and redesigned as louche corporate hospitality lounges for everyone from Google to the Indian government to accountants KPMG. Anticipate Tomorrow. Deliver Today boasts the sign on the door of the KPMG pavilion. I cant recall them doing much of either when they were auditing those Carillion accounts. Davos is the only place on earth where you can overtake a VVIP motorcade on foot. There are so many blacked-out convoys competing for so little roadspace that, for much of the day, the traffic simply grinds to a halt. This is a town where the authorities refuse to salt the roads (on environmental grounds). This is also a country where it is illegal to leave a car engine running. And yet the whole valley has spent the week in a fug of fumes because a few billionaires and financiers cannot be bothered to walk 300 yards to hear the former US Vice-President Al Gore deliver yet another lecture on global warming. This year's World Economic forum in Davos, Switzerland attracted a number of celebrities including Cate Blanchett (pictured) who gave a tearful speech Moscow has sponsored the local buses, all of them covered with ads promoting investment in Russia. Perish the thought that anyone might actually use public transport. Status is jealously guarded here. There was no disguising that jealousy as Mr Trump flew in to Davos this week. It was pure Hollywood as his fleet of monster helicopters swooped in over the lake to hook up with a motorcade of two dozen jet-black off-road people carriers, plus a jet black ambulance. Everyone elses motorcade had to move aside for the POTUS. Yesterday, he gave them all a lesson in brevity, too. Whereas some speakers come here and drone on for hours (not mentioning any names, Monsieur Macron), Mr Trump packed his America first but not alone message into a quarter of an hour. I almost but not quite felt sorry for the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, yesterday. Jeremy Corbyns neo-Marxist financial spokesman had noisily announced that he was coming to Davos with a warning for the global elite. Perhaps he thought he would be addressing Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and the kings of Wall Street. Instead, he was parked in a small meeting room for a panel discussion alongside a banker, a priest and a press officer with a few hacks by way of an audience. Davos is actually two events which run in parallel. There is the forum, which modestly declares that it is committed to improving the state of the world. Then there is the party circuit, where the real business is done away from the cameras. So, by day, the creme de la corporate creme sit through earnest seminars on Democracy in a post-truth era and Vision 2030, interspersed with the odd speech from a world leader. This year, there has been much self-satisfied talk of the leadership imperative, as if the Davos herd have some pre-ordained duty to govern. By night, it is a very different story. Over champagne and fondue, it is time to gossip and network. After recent events at The Dorchester in London, this might be described as the genuine Presidents Club minus the groping. It is also the bit which the organisers do not want in the media. As one senior executive of a City bank explained to me this week, Davos is a place where two rival billionaires can have a drink together without sparking movement on the stock market. Some of the meetings going on here would be huge news in London, but its just no problem in Davos and thats why we come, he said. Over his 12-year-old malt whisky, a London-based chairman of a big investment fund admitted: Ive been coming for years and Ive never sat through a single speech. What a ghastly thought! I am here because if I wanted to meet most of these people any other time, Id have to get on a plane. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (pictured) said: 'All signs point to a further strengthening both this year and next. This is very welcome news' The networking is relentless at receptions, cosy dinners, corporate banquets and after-parties. While Mr Trump was treating the heads of Siemens, HSBC and 13 other mega-corporations to grilled beef tenderloin and green pea puree at the Intercontinental, I poked my head inside the reception given by Americas biggest bank, JP Morgan, in a local museum. Among those enjoying the mini-burgers, champagne and white wine (no red too messy), were the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, plus Mr Blair, Mr Gore, Lord Mandelson and Princess Beatrice (in town as part of the forums youth wing). Theresa May evidently does not enjoy Davos much and, frankly, who can blame her? It was illuminating to watch the different welcomes accorded to the various world leaders this week. The Davos gang made it abundantly clear which way their sympathies and prejudices lie. So when Frances Mr Macron came on stage, the audience were ecstatic. The forums founder, Klaus Schwab, could have been introducing the Messiah as he thanked Mr Macron for being the symbol we so badly need in these fractured times. We are waiting [for you] to guide us in this new world, he gushed. At the end, the former investment banker received a standing ovation from his chums. Mrs May, on the other hand, was received with polite indifference. Mr Schwab gave her a matter-of-fact introduction, noting that she was interested in social reform. At the end, there was no ovation and the applause had stopped before the PM was even off the stage. And then we had that towering genius Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Ms Lagarde is a quintessential Davos specimen. She was the French finance minister championing the euro as it crashed in 2008, and then sailed on to the top job at the International Monetary Fund. On being convicted of negligence involving 340million of public funds in December 2016, she was spared a jail sentence and immediately given another five-year term by the IMF. The British public may vaguely recall her dark pre-referendum warnings that a Brexit vote would usher in economic disaster, a plague of locusts, ravens fleeing the Tower etc. This week in Switzerland, the silver-bobbed sage of the Davos class duly delivered her verdict on the world economy: All signs point to a further strengthening both this year and next. This is very welcome news. As I say, lets have an orderly queue for the canned food and water. Oh, and dont forget a few batteries for your torches, too. Movers have been spotted hauling boxes and rugs out of Annette and Matt Lauer's home in the Hamptons after sources revealed this week that the couple had 'begun divorce proceedings'. Annette looked somber as she was seen taking a walk with a friend on Thursday, while a crew of movers were seen carrying a huge carpet out of their home, while another team carried big boxes out the front door. Her estranged husband Matt, 60, was nowhere to be seen after Annette reportedly kicked him out of their $36 million Hamptons compound last week, in the wake of his sexual misconduct scandal. Annette looked somber as she was seen taking a walk with a friend on Thursday A crew of movers were seen carrying a huge carpet out of Annette's home in the Hamptons Another team, wearing show protectors inside the multi-million dollar home, carried big boxes out the front door But another source told DailyMail.com that even though the couple have been technically 'married' for almost 20 years, they haven't been together or lived under the same roof for many years. Annette Roque, who Lauer has been married to for 19 years, is reportedly now divorcing the fired TV host. 'They've started the divorce process,' a source told Us Weekly. 'He thinks he can start fresh, in both his personal and professional life.' It was reported last month that Annette had been seen entering the law firm Latham & Watkins in Manhattan. It is expected that Annette will be looking to get more money if she files for divorce from Lauer, something she previously did in 2006 before withdrawing her complaint. 'The post-nup will likely specify how much Annette would get if they divorce, but she is expected to challenge it given Matts earnings since 2006, and given how he has humiliated her,' a source told Page Six. 'There are also issues over all the property and land they own, both in the Hamptons and abroad.' The disgraced former Today host had been seen wearing his wedding ring immediately after he was fired from NBC News in November. But just a few weeks later he was seen out and about in Sag Harbor, New York, without the wedding band. While Annette went for a walk, her estranged husband Matt, 60, was nowhere to be seen Annette Roque, who Lauer has been married to for 19 years, is reportedly now divorcing the fired TV host (pictured together in 2015) Lauer is now staying at the family's $18million, 25-acre, compound in Sag Harbor while Annette is with their two youngest children at their $36 million North Haven estate. It is not clear whether she is moving out of the property, or whether it was Lauer's belongings being removed from their home. The couple's oldest son is away at boarding school. A source close to the family said Lauer is staying at a home nearby so he can be close to the two kids who still live at home. His oldest son attends a boarding prep school. Lauer had been seen entering and exiting the North have compound as well, but that was when his wife was in Europe as the NBC scandal broke. He has been spotted with Annette though a handful times at the horse facility, where their daughter Romy rides and trains the family's horses on a near-daily basis. Lauer revealed in a 2013 interview with Parenting that he wished he could spent more time with his children - Jack, 16, Romy, 14 and Thijs, 11. 'We made a decision a couple of years ago to move out of the city. Way out. So my home is in the Hamptons and thats where our kids go to school. As a result, Im in the city three or four nights a week, and Im home on weekends,' explained Lauer. 'I go for school events--I do get out there for those. Because of this decision we made - and wanted to make for them - my time is consolidated into three intense days. The time is more precious and the time you spend is more significant.' 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. This all changed when he was fired from Today, after multiple women came forward to accuse the disgraced anchor of inappropriate sexual behavior. 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. Annette Roque, who Lauer has been married to for 19 years, reportedly forced him out of the estate where they live with their three children over the weekend, according to Page Six. He has been living in their Sag Harbor home (pictured) Lauer was fired from his $25million-a-year gig at Today in late November after he was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct in the workplace. Shortly after he released a statement saying he was 'truly sorry'. He 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. Martin Ehrke, 49, was charged with two counts of murder on Thursday in California A rural almond orchard in northern California has become the scene of a shocking double murder, with one body found in a freezer and another in a pond. Martin Christian Ehrke, 49, was charged with two counts of murder on Thursday, after deputies discovered the two women's bodies on the orchard in Arbuckle, a farming community of 3,500 about 50 miles northwest of Sacramento. The murder victims were identified as Kimberly Lynn Taylor, 39, and Jessica Lynn Mazak, 25, who both lived on the property with others, police said. Lt. Mark Contreras told PEOPLE the women had no relationship had no relationship to the property owner - Ehrke's mother. He also said the victims were known to be staying at the residence 'on and off'. Police responded to a call of suspicious activity from one of the victim's roommates at the almond grove at around 3.55am on Thursday and found a gruesome scene. Blood splatter appeared to cover the walls of a residence on the property. The murder victims were identified as Kimberly Lynn Taylor, 39, (left) and Jessica Lynn Mazak, 25, (right) who both lived on the property Ehrke studied agriculture and is self-employed. His Facebook posts from the past year show a fascination with Native American culture and UFO conspiracy theories An aerial view of the almond orchard shows several buildings and a large pond Inside the bedroom of an attached residence, investigators found a chest freezer. Opening it, they discovered the body of 39-year-old Taylor stuffed inside. A witness told police that a second woman was missing from the property, and police secured a search warrant and called in dive teams. Divers with the Colusa County Sheriffs Office searched a large pond on the property. Submerged beneath the water they found the body of 25-year-old Mazak. Both Taylor and Mazak were known to reside on the property, but had no relationship to the property owner. Their causes of death are still pending a coroner's investigation, but police believe they both died within 24 hours of their bodies being found. In the course of searching the almond orchard, investigators also said they found an illegal marijuana grow and narcotics. Ehrke wasn't on the property at the time of the search, and acting on a tip police tried to track him down. Ehrke checked into a local hospital with blood on his clothes on Wednesday night The entrance to the almond orchard where the bodies were found is seen above Ehrke is pictured during an appearance at Colusa County Superior Court on Friday for his arraignment Investigators discovered that he'd left the orchard late on Wednesday night, and had checked into the Colusa Medical Center for an unknown reason. Local reports indicate a friend dropped off Ehrke at the hospital covered in blood, but he was released from the hospital by the time deputies arrived. Investigators tracked Ehrke to a residence in Colusa County, where he was detained for questioning. Ehrke was then charged with two counts of homicide and booked into the Colusa County Jail. No motive in the murders had been announced. Ehrke studied agriculture and is self-employed, according to his Facebook profile. His posts from the past year show a fascination with Native American culture and UFO conspiracy theories. One of his final posts from early Wednesday morning read: 'THE SKY IS FASLLING ! THE SKY IS FALLING ! DID ANYONE SEE HOW CLOSE VTHE MOON IS ?' Students at an Oxford college have approved gender neutral toilets in a U-turn vote despite fears the move could lead to an increase in harassment. Somerville College passed the motion after rejecting a similar proposal last term. Toilet signs in the college that say male and female will be removed, to be replaced with ones which will read gender neutral toilets with cubicles or gender neutral toilets with urinals. Eilidh Wilson, Somervilles Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Officer, who put forward the proposal, declared: This is about so much more than signage, it is about recognising the detriment of gender binary spaces and the need for change. Toilet signs in the college that say male and female will be removed, to be replaced with ones which will read gender neutral toilets with cubicles or gender neutral toilets with urinals (file photo) This is a victory for the LGBTQ community of Somerville and I hope that it will help pave the way for similar changes in other colleges. Almost 80 per cent of those polled voted in favour of the motion in a secret ballot. The move is a complete reversal of a vote in November which rejected the unisex lavatories. However, some female students at the college, which was women-only until the 1990s, expressed concern, saying they feared it could cause more harassment by male students. Others suggested that both male and female students at the college, which has around 400 undergraduates, would feel uncomfortable and embarrassed having to share a toilet with the opposite sex. As the colleges dining hall hosts celebrations, some students were also worried about the risk of harassment in gender neutral toilets as a result of excessive drinking. One female JCR member told Cherwell, Oxfords student newspaper: I think especially in bops [college parties] and in Terrace [the college bar], I wouldnt feel comfortable being in a toilet with a cis man. Cisgender, often shortened to cis, is a term meaning a persons gender identity matches the sex that they were assigned at birth. Hailing her victory, Miss Wilson, a second year philosophy, politics and economics student, said: It is Somervilles duty to put adequate provisions on place for the trans community to fulfil this basic need without fear or concern. Students at Somerville College (pictured) have approved gender neutral toilets in a U-turn vote following the motion that was passed last November It is encouraging, though not that surprising, that the members of the Somerville JCR [college body] showed overwhelming support for this motion. I brought this issue back to the JCR so soon because I was confident that many of the concerns brought forward in the last meeting stemmed from unawareness of the experiences and needs of trans people. The newly-passed motion is supported by senior college officials, including Somerville principal Baroness Janet Royall. Oxford University LGBTQ Societys president, Katt Walton, said she was over the moon. She added: There is no evidence to suggest that the adoption of gender neutral toilets increases the risk of harassment or assault on cisgendered women. Somerville is the 12th Oxford college to introduce gender neutral toilets. Others include Wadham, Balliol, St Hughs, and St Johns. Advertisement The California house of horrors family left their home in Texas just days after one of the 13 tortured siblings escaped in a failed bid for help, a former neighbor claimed. David and Louise Turpin lived in a home in Fort Worth, Texas from around 1999 to 2010 before leaving it suddenly and moving to Murrieta, California, Nellie Baldwin, a former neighbor who later bought the home told The Mercury News. The couple apparently lived in that home for a few years - but trashed it so badly, leaving feces on the walls, a rotting bathroom floor, knocked in doors and trash strewn everywhere, that they had to move into a trailer home on the 36-acre property. And in 2010, the end of roughly six or seven years they lived in the trailer, one of the children allegedly tried to escape and find help. She said one of the daughters 'went walking down the road' but didn't get too far when a neighbor spotted her and took her home. 'All of a sudden they just disappeared,' the 78-year-old said. 'No one ever saw them again.' Scroll down for video Parents David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, were arrested and charged with torture and child endangerment David and Louise Turpin had lived in a home in Fort Worth, Texas from around 1999 to 2010 before leaving it suddenly and moving to Murrieta, California, Nellie Baldwin, a former neighbor who later bought the home told The Mercury News The couple apparently lived in that home for a few years - but trashed it so badly, leaving feces on the walls, a rotting bathroom floor, knocked in doors and trash strewn everywhere, that they had to move into a trailer home on the 36-acre property And in 2010, the end of roughly six or seven years they lived in the trailer, one of the children allegedly tried to escape and find help. She said one of the daughters 'went walking down the road' but didn't get too far when a neighbor spotted her and took her home. Pictured is the bathroom at the Rio Vista home after it had been partially cleaned out Baldwin's son, Billy Baldwin, and his mother brought the property in 2011, about seven months after the mortgage company foreclosed on the abandoned property. Pictured is the state of the bathroom when they bought it in 2011 When they were in the process of purchasing it he said neighbors told them a young girl had escaped the trailer and asked the neighbor who picked her up a lot of questions. Neighbors said they think the Turpnis left because they thought authorities would come to check up on the home, Billy told Mercury News The Baldwins said they found strange scratch marks on doors, and that the ground was covered in filth. Pictured is the ceiling where Nellie said she thinks some of the children may have been imprisoned at one time Before moving into the mobile home on the middle of the property, the Turpins lived in a 2,300-square-foot home on the property. And the Baldwins claim the home was left in complete squalor The Baldwins, who now rent the house, also said after moving in they found Polaroid pictures someone had left behind, that showed kitchen counters and floors covered with trash and a garbage-filled room that had desks lined up, like in a classroom. And in one photo, rope can be seen tied to a bed's metal railing. The Turpins are thought to have tied children to beds with rope initially, before eventually upgrading to chains with padlocks, according to prosecutors She said that before taking her home, the daughter told the neighbor to take her to a telephone. Baldwin said she isn't sure where the neighbor took her, but thinks the girl called 9-1-1. 'It wasn't until about a few days later that they left,' she told Mercury News. 'They just disappeared. He didn't make any more payments on that place or anything.' The Turpins are currently facing 75 felony charges, including torture, imprisonment, and cruelty towards their children in Riverside County, California after their 17-year-old daughter escaped through a window and called 911 on Sunday, January 14. Riverside County sheriff's deputies then rescued her siblings and arrested the parents, who have pleaded not guilty to charges of mistreating their children, aged 2 to 29. Baldwin's son, Billy Baldwin, and his mother brought the property in 2011, about seven months after the mortgage company foreclosed on the abandoned property. When they were in the process of purchasing it he said neighbors told them a young girl had escaped the trailer and asked the neighbor who picked her up a lot of questions. Neighbors said they think the Turpnis left because they thought authorities would come to check up on the home, Billy told Mercury News. Though they lived nearby for the 10 or 11 years the Turpins lived on the property, Baldwin said she never met the couple. 'Nobody around there had anything to do with them, because they were loners,' she said. Billy said neighbors told them the prior owners were 'strange' when they bought the house. He said people told them 'They homeschool their kids and don't let them out.' While the Turpins were at the Hill County Road property, deputies were called to the house twice. They were first called in 2001 when a four-year-old child was bitten in the face by a dog and needed stitches. That dog didn't have a rabies vaccination and had to be put down, Chief Deputy Rick White said. Two years later police were called again because the family's pigs got out and ate 55 pounds of dog food at a neighboring property, White said. Riverside County District Attorney said the neglect and abuse of the 13 children began while the family was living in the Fort Worth area. At one point the parents even lived in a different home than most of their children, dropping off food for them on occasion. Before moving into the double-wide mobile home on the middle of the property, the Turpins lived in a 2,300-square-foot home on the property. And the Baldwins claim the home was left in complete squalor. Baldwin described finding two strange vents in the closet that are now closed up. She believes they may indicate the children were held there Baldwin said she found two vents in the bedroom closet that were covered up. She believes the couple's children may have been locked in there Baldwin who now lives in the Rio Vista home she found unusual vents in the master bedroom closet when she moved in after the Turpins left in 2010 They say they found scratch marks on the back of doors and that the carpet was covered in disgusting dirt stains and filth, and think closets may have been used as rooms to lock up the children. Nellie Baldwin said the mortgage company or realtors brought two dumpsters to haul trash from the mobile home, and then took the trailer from the property. She also said a neighbor said he saw a dead cat on the trailer's stove. Baldwin said she and her son poured gallons of bleach on the floor of the house to kill the 'nasty' smell, and said she scrubbed the kitchen cabinets countless times. Billy Baldwin said squatters never lived in the house after it was abandoned. The Baldwins, who now rent the house, also said after moving in they found Polaroid pictures someone had left behind, that showed kitchen counters and floors covered with trash and a garbage-filled room that had desks lined up, like in a classroom. And in one photo, rope can be seen tied to a bed's metal railing. The Turpins are thought to have tied children to beds with rope initially, before eventually upgrading to chains with padlocks, according to prosecutors. Baldwin also told WFAA that she found unusual vents in the master bedroom closet when she moved in after the Turpins left in 2010. 'There are two vents in the closet and they are covered up now,' she said. She believes the couple's children may have been locked in there. Neighbors have also revealed the children were not allowed to tell people their names and described the home in Rio Vista as a 'religious compound'. Before the Turpin family moved to the 36-acre property in Rio Vista, they lived in another home from around 1992-1999 in Fort Worth, which was left in a similar squalor. The owners of that home, who didn't want to be identified, say they found scratch marks on the back of doors and that the carpet was covered in disgusting dirt stains and filth. In 2010 the Turpins moved to California. Louise gave birth to at least one child, who is now aged two, after the move. The Turpins lived in this home in Fort Worth from around 1992 to 1999 before they lost it in a foreclosure. It is pictured above boarded up after they left The people who moved into David and Louise Turpin's home in Fort Worth, Texas in 1999 took photos of the filthy carpets caked in dirt The new owners took photos of the dirty walls and carpet inside the Fort Worth home prior to them moving in David and Louise Turpin, seen renewing their vows at an Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas in 2015, have been arrested after 13 of their children were found shackled to beds inside their home in Perris, California on Sunday Police found the siblings inside their family home (above) after the 17-year-old girl managed to escape through a window and call 911 with a cell phone she had found in the house Police said the 17-year-old girl bravely managed to escape through a window of the home and notify authorities. She told police she was scared her parents would kill her if they caught her escaping, according to the Mirror 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. 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. On the Great British Bake Off, her right-hand man was the silver-haired Paul Hollywood. But for her new cooking show Mary Berry has traded her fellow judge, 51, for not one, but two younger models. The 81-year-old will be joined by award-winning chef Dan Doherty, 33, and presenter and greengrocer Chris Bavin, 37, as she hunts for our finest home cooks in Britains Best Cook. And our exclusive picture of Miss Berry with the duo and the shows presenter, Claudia Winkleman, suggests she is more than happy with her young co-judges who she has nicknamed the boys. Exclusive picture: Mary Berry with her new co-presenters award-winning chef Dan Doherty, 33, and presenter and greengrocer Chris Bavin, 37 Its an absolute joy to be judging truly passionate home cooks with Dan and Chris, she said. We each have different backgrounds and ways of looking at food. I have to admit the boys have already taught me a thing or two! Britains Best Cook, due to air later this year, will see ten amateur foodies battle it out over eight weeks to impress the judges. Bavin is already a familiar face on the BBC as the presenter of Eat Well For Less? and Food: Truth or Scare. Meanwhile tattooed Doherty is the award-winning chef director of top London restaurant Duck and Waffle. Theresa May has postponed plans for a major speech on Brexit amid continued infighting among her Cabinet. The PM was urged to 'impose her authority' yesterday as the Chancellor stepped up his call to pursue a 'middle way' on leaving the EU. Last night, sources confirmed that a planned speech next month setting out the Government's vision on Brexit had been postponed and could be scrapped altogether. The decision will add to concern that the Government risks becoming paralysed by divisions over Brexit. A planned speech by Theresa May (pictured at the World Economic Forum) next month setting out the Governments vision on Brexit has been postponed and could be scrapped altogether Philip Hammond was slapped down by Downing Street on Thursday after he infuriated pro-Brexit MPs by claiming that leaving the EU would produce only 'very modest' changes. But the Chancellor brushed aside the reprimand yesterday to speak out again on the issue, saying the Government would not be swayed by either Brexiteers in his own party or Remainers. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Hammond said: 'The smaller the changes that happen to our access to markets and the frictions at the borders the better.' He added: 'We have got to stick to the middle way.' His decision to speak out again infuriated Eurosceptic MPs, and led to fresh concerns about the PM's inability to impose discipline on her warring Cabinet. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith suggested it was time for Mr Hammond to 'shut up'. He said: 'We don't need cabinet ministers, Chancellor or otherwise, to give their own views and opinions, and nuance the message. It's very simple, if you've got nothing to say that is absolutely on-message, the answer is shut up, don't say it.' Former Tory Cabinet member Lord Forsyth urged the PM to 'get a grip' on senior ministers. And Tory grandee Bernard Jenkin said MPs wanted her to 'impose her authority' and force Mr Hammond back into line. 'If there are big ideological divisions between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, that is usually not very good news for the stability of a government,' he added. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'There is no middle way on Brexit we are either staying or leaving.' Privately, some Tory MPs are urging Mrs May to sack her Chancellor a move she has toyed with in the past. Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel said Mr Hammond's comments were 'completely inconsistent' with the PM's stated position on Brexit. She added: 'The ideas he is setting out are not Government policy and not what the British people voted for.' Philip Hammond (pictured) claimed that leaving the EU would produce only 'very modest' changes The Chancellor yesterday insisted he fully backed the PM. He urged MPs not to rock the boat, amid claims that dozens have written letters of no confidence in her to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee. Reports claim up to 40 MPs have now added their names close to the 48 needed to trigger a leadership contest. Sources dismiss the claims, however. Mark Pritchard, a Eurosceptic loyalist MP said there was 'no major revolt' but later claimed on Twitter there was 'growing frustration' at No10. Downing Street insiders are privately furious with Mr Hammond for reopening Tory tensions on Europe at a critical moment, and one source described him as a 'nightmare' to deal with. A senior Eurosceptic said Mrs May had to resolve the Cabinet's splits on Brexit, adding: 'It is essentially a battle between the Chancellor and Boris. No one knows what the PM thinks, or even if she has a view. It is a really dangerous time.' Sources in Brussels said the 'concrete is setting' around the shape of the future trade talks without a clear input from the United Kingdom. Free movement 'until 2021' The free movement of EU citizens in Britain will continue in all but name until at least 2021, David Davis said yesterday as he set out details of a two-year Brexit transition. Downing Street has repeatedly insisted free movement will end when Britain leaves the EU in March next year, saying European citizens arriving after that date will have to register. David Davis (pictured) said a proposed registration scheme would have 'no bearing on people's ability to work or visit' But Mr Davis said yesterday the registration scheme would have 'no bearing on people's ability to work or visit' and that it would simply 'allow us to better plan for our future public services and prepare for our future immigration system'. His comments will fuel concern that the transition deal will simply extend the UK's membership of the EU in all but name. The Brexit Secretary also confirmed that the UK will have to continue implementing new EU laws during the transition period, even though it will no longer have a say in drawing them up. An Australian family of four have been left stranded in Bali for over 24 hours, claiming Jetstar won't let their two-year-old board on an infant ticket. Xavier Edwards, from Melbourne, was holidaying in Bali with his partner and their two children when they decided to extend their trip for daughter Zyanna's second birthday on January 24. The 49-year-old father went online to extend the return date from January 23 to 25, but claims Jetstar's system would not allow him to buy a ticket for Zyanna. Xavier Edwards, from Melbourne, was holidaying in Bali with his partner and their two children (pictured) when they decided to extend their trip for daughter Zyanna's second birthday on January 24 In a post online, Mr Edwards said ground staff at Bali airport denied his two-year-old daughter to board the flight on her infant ticket on Thursday. 'They would not seat her and would not go out the 'good faith' purchased ticket when she was still one year old,' he wrote. 'They demanded we buy another child ticket then tried to extort $900 AUD for new ticket.' 'The original tickets were bought in good faith and correct in all aspects,' he told The Advertiser reports. The airline child policy states: 'If your infant is less than two years old on your outbound flight, they won't need an allocated seat on the return flight, even if they turn two during your trip. However, Jetstar warns: 'This won't apply if your infant was booked on separate bookings for the outbound and return flight.' Mr Edwards' daughter, Zyanna, turned two just 24 hours before their return flight to Australia, but Jetstar won't let her board on an infant ticket (stock image) Mr Edwards confirmed he and his partner knew their daughter would be over the age of two by the time of the departure. 'To note when we booked the tickets we new (sic) the child would be over two at the time of departure. Their computer website would not allow us to buy child ticket cause she was not already two, instead had to purchase infant seat,' he wrote. 'They are predatory and horrible company whom do this to honest Australian Customers. They need to be exposed. 'We were taken advantage of Jet star and we couldn't afford the $900 and we couldn't leave her at the Bali Airport.' Mr Edwards said staff 'demanded' he pay $900 for an adult ticket to fly Zyanna from Bali to Adelaide, where the family intended to continue their holiday A spokesperson for Jetstar Australia told Daily Mail Australia Mr Edwards had entered the wrong date of birth for his daughter in the original booking, and therefore was required to purchase a new ticket. 'It's an international requirement for airlines that children over the age of two need a ticket to travel,' the spokesperson said. 'Our booking records show that Mr Edwards had entered the wrong birth date for his two-year old, which made it look like his child was under two. 'Our staff at Denpasar Airport checked the child's passport and saw she was two and required a separate ticket. 'As a gesture of goodwill we have offered to waive the costs to change their ticket for the flights they missed but they will need to purchase a ticket for their two year old like any other parent.' The distraught widow of slain solicitor Ho Ledinh has posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband, just hours after visiting the cafe where he was gunned down. Huong Thu Ngo returned to Sydney from Vietnam on Thursday morning with their three children, and visited the Happy Cup Cafe in Bankstown on Friday night. Mr Ledinh, 65, was killed execution while sitting at the cafe, which he used to own, just before 4pm on Tuesday in front of hundreds of horrified shoppers. The distraught widow of slain solicitor Ho Ledinh (pictured) has posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband, just hours after visiting the cafe where he was gunned down Huong Thu Ngo (pictured) returned to Sydney from Vietnam on Thursday morning with their three children, and visited the Happy Cup Cafe in Bankstown on Friday night Mr Ledinh, 65, was killed execution while sitting at the cafe (pictured), which he used to own, just before 4pm on Tuesday in front of hundreds of horrified shoppers Ms Ngo wrote a moving caption next to a photo of the well-known criminal lawyer she posted on Facebook. 'You let me see you every minute, see this smile and optimistic eyes to try to live well. Please escape and then go home with your mother,' the tribute read. 'This life I love you and never ever wanted to leave you .. a must remember!!' Mr Ho's widow visited the Happy Cup Cafe for the first time since the slaying last night, according to family friend Vivian Vo. Mr Ho's widow visited the Happy Cup Cafe for the first time since the slaying last night, according to family friend Vivian Vo (pictured) Mr Ho's widow visited the Happy Cup Cafe (pictured) for the first time since the slaying last night, according to family friend Vivian Vo 'She needed to go there for her own peace, to see where it happened,' Ms Vo said. 'She cried a little bit, but she is still in shock, she does not believe her husband has gone.' Ms Vo said Mr Ho's three children, aged five, four, and 15-months, do not understand their father is dead. 'The baby only knows one word, "Daddy". She just keeps saying "Daddy, Daddy", she said. 'Even when the phone rings, she says "Daddy". It is heartbreaking.' The shooter (pictured in green) was caught on CCTV immediately before shooting the Vietnamese-born lawyer up to four times at point-blank range The gunman (pictured) was wearing a dark-coloured cap, dark sunglasses, a high-visibility vest, dark-coloured pants and shoes, grey gloves and a raincoat that was either dark green or black A funeral is planned for next week, but Ms Vo said they are waiting for Mr Ho's body to be released. New South Wales Police formed Strike Force Eugene as they launched a manhunt for the gunman. The shooter was caught on CCTV immediately before shooting the Vietnamese-born lawyer up to four times at point-blank range. He was wearing a dark-coloured cap, dark sunglasses, a high-visibility vest, dark-coloured pants and shoes, grey gloves and a raincoat that was either dark green or black. The gunman was described as having an olive complexion, possibly of Pacific Islander appearance, and of medium build. 'You let me see you every minute, see this smile and optimistic eyes to try to live well. Please escape and then go home with your mother,' the tribute read (pictured, left and right, are Mr Ledinh and Ms Ngo) Ms Vo said Mr Ho's three children, aged five, four, and 15-months, do not understand their father is dead (pictured are Mr Ledinh, Ms Ngo and two of their children) He was last seen running from the busy cafe down Stewart Lane in Bankstown and remains on the run. Police said they intend to investigate clients of Mr Ledinh's, some of whom had links to organised crime. Mr Ledinh was the principal of Ledinh Lawyers which has its offices in Bankstown's Old Town Centre Plaza and was admitted as a solicitor in 1999. Well-known in his local area, Mr Ledinh wrote columns on legal issues for the anti-communist Saigon Times news website in Sydney. Huu Nguyen, who gave his friend CPR after the shooting, suggested his links to the criminal underworld or Vietnamese communist enemies could be responsible. Some of the biggest names in the world of tech fled the wind-chilled hills of San Francisco this past weekend for the tropical beaches of Miami. It was a cross-country migration that was all in the name of the love, with over 200 people gathering in South Beach for the wedding of former Uber business chief Emil Michael, 45, and his bride Julie Anne Herrin. The pair were wed six years after they first met at Hyde nightclub back in 2012 while they were both in Las Vegas. Herrin, 37, soon started to move in the same circles as her now husband when she landed a job at IfOnly, a service that offers up one-in-a-lifetime trips and experiences to benefit charities. Michael was an early investor in the company. This the first marriage for Michael and the second for Herrin, Among the high-profile guests in attendance at the event were ousted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and one of the individuals who called for him to step down from the company he founded last year, board member Arianna Huffington. Kalanick also brought along his girlfriend of a little over a year Angie You, marking the first time the two have been spotted together in public. Scroll down for video They do: Former Uber business chief Emil Michael, 45, and his bride Julie Anne Herrin, 36, were married in Miami over the weekend (couple above at the ceremony) Relaxed: Ousted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick (above with guest Lee-Ann Roberts) attended, having always been incredibly close with Michael in their years together at Uber before both stepped down in June Showdown: Arianna Huffington (above with a guest) was also in attendance at the wedding What happens in Vegas: The two met at Hyde nightclub in 2012, with Herrin having previously been married and divorced (couple above) Onlooker: Arianna Huffington (circled in red) watches the ceremony on Saturday The festivities kicked off on Friday night at 10pm with a cocktail party at Wynwood Walls in Miami's art district. That party raged until 1am on Saturday, and a little over 12 hours later Michael and Herrin said 'I do' at the Faena Forum on Miami Beach. The famed hotel and condo complex has become a tourist hotspot ever since it was unveiled, thanks in large part to the fact that Damien Hirst's 2014 work Gone but not Forgotten is housed on the property outside the building. That work, a gold-coated skeleton of a woolly mammoth housed in a glass box, is frequently posted to social media by visitors. The couple had a strict color code for both the welcome reception, which urged guests to wear bright colors, and the ceremony, where the dress code was 'neutral and metallic cocktail chic.' To further help there were links to Pinterest boards on the wedding website and actual color examples posted online. The farewell brunch was a free-for-all however, with guests left entirely up to heir own devices when it came time to dress themselves for the day. Rare sighting: Kalanick and his girlfriend Angie You (above) Kalanick and Huffington were not the only two of famous faces saying 'benvenuto a Miami' for Michael and Herrin's big day. Social-media starters, STEM-smarties, self-promoters and multiple sex-scandal plagued executives were also soaking up some rays in the Sunshine State. Photos posted by guess show attendees like Steve Jurvetson smiling from ear-to-ear as they pose with friends. Jurvetson's giant grin comes after a 2017 that saw his step down from the boards of Tesla and SpaceX as well as his partner position at venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. His 2018 did not kick off much better, with Axios reporting that he had hosted a sex party at his home in Half Moon Bay last summer, information they obtained from Emily Chang's upcoming book Brotopia. Jurvetson, who divorced his wife Karla in 2015, was joined by girlfriend Genevieve Wolff Lydstone. She is the co-founder of Scout, which uses AI and actual humans to provide quicker and more efficient staffing to companies. 'A golden glow for Julie and Emil's wedding in South Beach this weekend, with our dear friends from Dubai,' wrote Juvetson in the caption of one photo. 'Gen Gen looks like a Golden Globe award :).' Another photo, in which he and Lydstone were seen passionately kissing one another, was captioned: 'Love was in the air.' Party people: Steve Jurvetson, who stepped down from the boards of Tesla and SpaceX as well as his partner position at venture capital firm DFJ over sex harassment, was there (Juvertson and girlfriend Genevieve Wolff Lydstone center with guests) Go for it: Another photo, in which Jurvetson and Lydstone (above) were seen passionately kissing one another, was captioned: 'Love was in the air' Strict rules: There was a cocktail party to welcome guests on Friday where guests were asked to wear 'colorful cocktail attire' (above from wedding website) Subdued: The dress code was 'neutral and metallic cocktail chic' for the wedding (above from wedding website) Colors on point: Guest Lee-Ann Roberts in her Friday night cocktail look (above) And toning it down: Guests in their neutral color ahead of the wedding ceremony on Saturday The wedding hashtag for the couple was '#dealofalifetime,' and their ceremony and reception was an exquisite and perfectly styled affair. It began at the Faena Forum and ended at the Faena Theater, with the affair run by a large team that all did immaculate work. Event designer Guerdy Abraira described her inspiration in a stunning series of photos she took from inside the venue. '[S]o many cool details for this wedding Im not really sure where to start!!! For this particular couple who are world-travelers, Morocco was their sweet spot and so we decided to bring it to life in the most modern and artsy way to give justice to the phenomenal @faena where that already-beautiful and architectural space helped to bring this vision to life!'wrote Abraira on Instagram. 'Opening to the aisle featured this moroccan Laser cut pattern along with petal waves anchored by ... luminaries.' She next took a look at the site of the actual ceremony. 'I named this theme Modern Morocco and wanted to make sure that in every shot or angle there was an element of #modernism along with the softness of #Moroccan motifs - as the beautiful couple stood on this circled stage, I created a very avant-garde ceiling design with a massive 24ft x 24ft overhead geometric cube structure while honoring the theme with a beautiful custom floor,' she wrote of the elevated stage on which the couple said their vows. 'As a final touch I surrounded this altar island by a sea of white rose petals to ensure I kept this overall look Wedding-friendly. This was a dream and now its reality!' Michael stepped down just before his best bud and boss Kalanick in June after multiple women came forward to share stories of how sexual misconduct allegations were handled by Uber. That resignation came three years after he championed the creation of a $1 million fund to stalk and dig into the lives of journalists who attack the company. The one woman he cited at the time was writing a story on the very real mishandling of assault and harassment allegations that were brought to HR by female employees. Prior to that, both Michaels and Kalanick were widely criticized for their decision to take employees to an escort-karaoke bar in a poorly planned outing that was later highlighted in former Attorney General Eric Holder's investigation into the company. It was alleged the men had been calling out the numbers of women in a line-up for their enjoyment that evening. However both deny this. Kalanick has remained at the company since stepping down and being replaced by Dara Khosrowshahi, who was formerly the CEO of Expedia. Khosrowshahi has done a good job navigating a position where he is forced to deal with a board member who used to hold his job at the company. A board member who used to hold his job and founded the company. Kalanick also remains a towering presence because of his stake in Uber, which at 10 percent is worth approximately $7 billion. He is now preparing to sell of about 29 percent of his stock in the company, which should net him a profit of $1.6 billion. Kalanick's resignation in June was not by choice, with five of the company's biggest investors demanding his resignation. In the aftermath of that shocking revolt by the company's primary shareholders, it was revealed that while Kalanick was out as CEO he would remain a member of the Uber board. 'I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight,' said Kalanick. Meanwhile, one of the investors who demanded Kalanick step down, Bill Gurley of Benchmark, stepped down from his post on the company's board of directors at that time. Gurley had been pushing for change ever since February, when former Uber employee Susan Fowler wrote about her year working at the company. Fowler alleged that she and other women at the company were subject to constant harassment by men, and that when she did take complaints to human resources they were always dismissed and nothing was done to change the toxic environment. She even claimed that at one point an employee with the HR department stated that shew might be the problem, and not the men. It was not just that either, and Fowler also detailed some members of the staff as doing everything they could to rise up in the ranks while sabotaging not only other workers but also the productivity of the company. Gurley was replaced by Matt Cohler, his co-worker at the venture firm and a close friend of Sandberg. It is unclear if he waited to take the position until after Sandberg made it clear that she would not take the job to avoid any possible conflicts of interest, as Gurley seemed to have already planned his exit early in the week. Uber, which was founded in 2009, has raised more than $14 billion ove rthe past eight years. In the letter to Kalanick, the investors also demanded that an experienced CFO be hired and that the founder and former CEO help the board in their search for his replacement. Salim Mulla is accused of being part of a hate campaign that targeted primary school headmistress Neena Lall (pictured) A former mayor is being investigated over claims he called a headmistress who banned the hijab an evil racist. Salim Mulla is accused of being part of a hate campaign that targeted primary school headmistress Neena Lall. As part of attempts to help children integrate into British society, she banned the Islamic headscarf and fasting for pupils under eight at St Stephens Primary in Newham, East London. But the school is said to have been bullied into reversing the move after it received ridiculous oppression and intimidation in emails and online comments from around the country. Mr Mulla, a serving Labour councillor in Blackburn some 240 miles away is accused of being part of a campaign that led to Miss Lall caving in and her chairman of governors resigning. In one Facebook post, he wrote: Work needs to be done to get this evil woman out of school. She must go. She is racist bigot. Blackburn councils leader Mohammed Khan said Mr Mullas behaviour was not acceptable and the authority would deal with him. He confirmed the former mayor whose Facebook profile picture shows him in civic regalia shaking hands with the Queen would not run in this years local election. Mr Mulla, who was mayor four years ago, was suspended by the Labour Party in 2016 over alleged anti-Semitic posts online. He was reinstated last year after being cleared by an investigation. It follows revelations that Labour councillors who campaigned against the school ban have ties to the hardline Islamic group Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), which claimed credit for the U-turn. MEND says its aim is to encourage Muslims to become more active in public life, but has been linked with speakers who have promoted jihad and homophobia. Mr Mulla yesterday stood by his comments about Miss Lall, who is a Sikh. He said: I think she was racist; she doesnt understand the religion because she is not part of that religion. I spoke as an individual, I did not make the comment as a councillor or former mayor. Mr Mulla, a serving Labour councillor in Blackburn some 240 miles away is accused of being part of a campaign that led to Miss Lall caving in He added: I stand by the comment about the racist element, but I probably would retract that [calling Miss Lall evil]. More than 20,000 people had signed an online petition against the move. St Stephens, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted, reversed the ban last week. Miss Lall, 50, apologised to parents on Tuesday and chairman of governors Arif Qawi resigned. He has now accused the Government of leaving staff exposed to bullying from extremists over the hijab ban. Mr Qawi, 54, wrote to Education Secretary Damian Hinds: I am flabbergasted why you and the Department for Education have stayed silent on this subject, rather than firmly enforcing the heads decision. This lack of support, and weak attitude, will be very detrimental to the nations children. He added that staff felt badly let down and agreed to resign against every fibre in my body... if that would lay the matter to rest. A school insider said the ban was brought in because the hijab was alienating young girls. But one mother said parents were angry because only one faith was targeted. The Labour Party refused to comment. The DfE said it had contacted the school over staff intimidation. Olivia Parslow (pictured) was 12-years-old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a disease normally found in women over 50 When 12-year-old Olivia Parslow rapidly put on so much weight that her school uniform would no longer fit, her mother Beki knew she had to see a doctor. But nothing could prepare the mother-of-two for the diagnosis that was to follow her daughter was told she had ovarian cancer making her one of the youngest in the world to suffer from the disease normally found in women over 50. Olivia needed to have her left ovary removed but she is now in remission and doctors are hopeful she could one day have children. Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among British women, with more than 7,400 new cases each year. Just 0.2 per cent of sufferers are 14 or under. Olivia was yet to start her periods when she first began to develop symptoms in October 2016 putting on nearly three stone in just three weeks. I began to notice Olivias stomach was extremely bloated, recalled Mrs Parslow. As a family, we started cracking jokes about her watching what she eats But we were trying not to make too big a deal of it. When she realised Olivias tummy was growing despite not eating much, Mrs Parslow of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, took her to see the family GP who immediately sent the youngster to St Richards Hospital in Chichester. Initial tests were inconclusive but and MRI revealed something on her Olivias left ovary. Mrs Parslow said: We were sent by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital, where they prepared us for the worst. Olivia lives with her family in Bognor Regis, West Sussex and she lost a third of her body weight during the treatment They didnt know what they were going to find when they opened her up and we wondered if she was riddled with cancer, Mrs Parslow, a reiki healer, added. Olivia had to have her left ovary removed and had several litres of fluid drained from her body. Olivia had a swollen stomach (pictured) and had to have 15 litres of water drained This reduced her body weight by a third taking her down from the 12-and-half stone she had become to eight-and-a-half stone. After a biopsy was performed on the tumour two weeks later in December 2016, Olivia returned to Southampton hospital for a diagnosis. The diagnosis was stage 1C juvenile granulosa cell tumour, extremely rare and something they hadnt seen before, said Mrs Parslow. Thankfully they found no evidence of cancer anywhere else, said Mrs Parslow. The week before Christmas, Olivia started treatment. She had four rounds of chemotherapy and lost her hair, which was tough, her mother said. It made her extremely ill but, in April 2017, we were told she was in remission. Amazingly between her first and second rounds of chemotherapy and despite having only one ovary Olivia started her first period in January 2017. This means she is likely to be able to have children in the future, although she has been warned to try to conceive before she reaches 30, as her fertility could, potentially, have been affected. The family, which also includes Olivias father project manager Russell, 49, and her student sister, Charlotte, 19, praised the Ovarian Action Trust for supporting the schoolgirl. Olivia, now 13, pictured with her older sister Charlotte, 19, and her mother Beki at their home in Bognor Regis, West Sussex Mrs Parslow said: Its certainly been a tough year, but shes come through it and so have we, added Mrs Parslow. A spokesman for the Ovarian Action Trust said: The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as a woman gets older. Although it is not common, 1,000 women under the age of 50 develop ovarian cancer every year, which is why it is important that all women should be aware of it. This is especially important if women have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer. The youngest case of ovarian cancer is believed to be that of Olivia-Grace Steele from Oxford who first showed symptoms at ten days old. A hard-left plot to drag the professional body for junior doctors into party politics for the first time in its 185-year history can be exposed today. Labour activists with links to Jeremy Corbyns Momentum group have taken up key roles on the British Medical Associations junior doctors committee. Leaked emails, obtained by the Daily Mail, reveal how they are attempting to ditch the committees apolitical stance. The messages show how the Left-wingers are using their positions in a bid to mobilise thousands of junior doctors to join anti-Tory NHS protests. The BMA, which represents 160,000 doctors and medical students, has prided itself on being non-partisan since it was founded in 1832. Left-wingers at heart of 'apolitcial' BMA Dr Sarah Hallett, the junior doctors committee deputy chairman for education and training, is a paediatric doctor working in south London. She identified herself as a Labour Party member when she signed a letter organised by Momentums NHS group in March 2016 calling for privatisation in the NHS to be reversed. Last February Dr Hallett pictured at a rally with Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell Last February Dr Hallett pictured at a rally with Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was a signatory to a letter in The Guardian urging people to join the #OurNHS national demonstration, which was addressed by Mr Corbyn and supported by Momentum. The letter branded Theresa Mays relationship with Donald Trump as transatlantic appeasement spectacle. Advertisement Last night, it tried to distance itself from what it said were the personal views of members. But a Left-wing clique has taken control of several top jobs on its junior doctors committee including the three deputy chairmanships, which are filled by Labour supporters with links to Momentum or Mr Corbyn. Committee members called for it to back a Labour NHS rally held last week and an NHS demonstration being organised next month by two anti-Tory groups, one of which has claimed the Government are killers with blood on their hands. In emails seen by the Mail, committee member Dr Bala Karunakaran called on the junior doctors group to think about engaging with the Labour rally, which was addressed by Mr Corbyn on Thursday. He wrote: I believe as an organisation [we] need to think carefully [about] how we engage with this. I dont think our traditional line of [the] BMA is apolitical alone will be sufficient. 'Tories have blood on their hands' The emails from Dr Pete Campbell, deputy chairman of the junior doctors committee, that reveal how it is considering ditching the BMAs apolitical stance: I think we need to be positive in our support for the Labour front bench Public support now would likely reap rewards in terms of greater influence when the Labour Party takes over government after the next election. We were once accused of being in the grip of advanced Corbynitis, if only that was the case! Our members and society as a whole would be much better off. It would be really good if the BMA could formally show its support for the demonstration [by anti-Tory groups, about the NHS] and promote it. ...and the Facebook post by one of the organisers of the protest, the Peoples Assembly: Tories have blood on their hands. No doubt, no room for argument, no debate, civilised or not, the Tories are killers. Lets get them out. Urged people not to vote Tory Dr Bala Karunakaran, a junior doctors committee member, is a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology. In emails seen by the Mail, he called on the committee to consider engaging with a Labour rally on the NHS, writing: I dont think our traditional line of [the] BMA is apolitical alone will be sufficient. On Facebook he urged people not to vote Tory. Advertisement Dr Karunakaran, a registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology in Birmingham, has previously shared his support for Labour on his Facebook page. Dr Pete Campbell, a deputy chairman of the committee, endorsed Dr Karunakarans proposal. The Momentum supporter, who backed Mr Corbyns Labour leadership campaigns, said: I think we need to be positive in our support for the Labour frontbench raising these issues and campaigning Public support now would likely reap rewards in terms of greater influence when the Labour Party takes over government after the next election. He called on the committee to support next Saturdays NHS demonstration, organised by anti-Tory groups the Peoples Assembly and Health Campaigns Together. Party member who voted Corbyn Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, the committees deputy chairman for professional issues, is a Labour member who tweeted in September 2015 about how she had voted for Jeremy Corbyn during the partys leadership contest. Dr Hannah Barham-Brown She took degrees in English, theology and Arabic, and paediatric nursing, before her training. She works as a foundation doctor in south London. Advertisement Dr Campbell added: It would be great to see a strong BMA presence and support for members attending being shared on social media We were once accused of being in the grip of advanced Corbynitis, if only that was the case! Our members and society as a whole would be much better off. In a second email, Dr Campbell said he had attended in a personal capacity a meeting at the union Unites offices to organise next Saturdays NHS Fix It Now Emergency Demonstration. He wrote: The organisers of the demonstration are really keen to get as many junior doctors along as possible. It would be really good if the BMA could formally show its support for the demonstration and promote it. On the point about sharing stages with political parties, in my view that is a form of lobbying, and one that we should not be scared of using. During the general election, the two groups behind the march made a joint online campaign video called Vote NHS. It warned: If you care about the NHS, vote for anyone but the Conservatives. Three weeks after the election, Mr Corbyn spoke at a Peoples Assembly rally, called Tories Out. The organisation was founded in 2013 with a joint letter to The Guardian signed by Left-wing figures including Mr Corbyn. Posts by the group on its Facebook page in the past month have included: Tories have blood on their hands. No doubt, no room for argument, no debate, civilised or not, the Tories are killers. Lets get them out; The Tories have blood on their hands all of them must go now; and The whole gang need kicking out now #ToriesOut. Capitalism kills, said Corbynista Dr Pete Campbell, deputy chairman for terms and conditions of service and negotiations, is a Momentum supporter and Labour member. Dr Pete Campbell is a Momentum supporter and Labour member He belongs to seven Momentum Facebook pages, and organised a letter for NHS workers backing Jeremy Corbyn during the 2015 leadership contest and signed a similar letter in 2016. He used his Facebook page to promote talks on the subject of how capitalism is killing you. Advertisement Last week shadow education secretary Angela Rayner recorded a Facebook video for the Peoples Assembly to promote the demonstration on February 3, saying: I urge all of you to come down to London and show this Government our NHS is not for privatisation and we will protect it together. Health Campaigns Together has close ties to Labour and Momentum. Some Constituency Labour Parties are affiliated with it, and it lists Momentums NHS group as a national supporting organisation. The junior doctors committee was at the heart of strikes in 2016, the first by the profession in 40 years, over a new contract that cut weekend pay but raised basic pay. The BMA said it would not have a formal presence at either demonstration and members would attend only in a personal capacity. A spokesman said it was non-partisan and has called on politicians of all parties to work together to address the current crisis in the NHS. The personal views of individual members expressed over email are just that, he added. Dr Karunakaran and Dr Campbell did not respond to a request for comment. New details have emerged in the desperate search for a four-year-old boy who wandered away from his North Carolina home barefoot. Raul Gonzalez Johnson was last seen as he was being watched by his grandfather at his mobile home on Village Drive in Laurinburg when he walked next door to visit one of his neighbors. In a press conference held on Friday afternoon, Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said they are looking at all possibilities - including abduction, reported WGHP. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has now taken lead of the search that was the cause of a statewide Amber Alert. Authorities have not ruled out abduction in the disappearance of four-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson (left and right) who wandered away from his Laurinburg, North Carolina, home barefoot on Wednesday Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has now taken lead of the search that was the cause of a statewide Amber Alert (Pictured, Raul) Raul was last seen as he was being watched by his grandfather at his mobile home on Village Drive (pictured) around 11am when he walked next door to visit one of his neighbors The FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, a group of highly-trained experts in the field of missing children, is assisting in the effort Authorities said Raul's grandfather, Tim Johnson, was watching him at about 11am on Wednesday when he lost track of the boy. When the grandfather couldn't find Raul after about 20 minutes, he contacted police, and an Amber Alert was issued. The Scotland County Sheriff's Office said that a pond just 800 yards from Raul's home will be drained, despite a dive team coming up with nothing on Thursday. The pond has been a top area of interest since three separate K9 units individually 'took the same course' from Raul's home to the pond, Sheriff Kersey said. If Raul isn't found on Friday, authorities say the search will become a recovery mission. At the time of his disappearance, 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 half-Native American and half-Hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes, standing about three feet tall and weighing 38 pounds. Authorities said that this isn't the first time that Raul had walked away from his home. He reportedly went missing for about 25 minutes on Tuesday. At the time of Raul's disappearance, he (pictured) is said to have been wearing a white and orange striped shirt with tigers on it, along with white pants printed with rocket ships Authorities have said that if Raul (pictured) is not found on Friday, the search-and-rescue mission will turn into a recovery mission The Scotland County Sheriff's Office said that a pond (pictured) just 800 yards from Raul's home will be drained, despite a dive team coming up with nothing on Thursday Raul's mother, Annie Johnson (pictured), told WRAL that she is currently trying to keep it together for the sake of her other children Sheriff Kersey said that about 200 people have been searching for Raul both on the ground and in the air, while the dive team had been dispatched to the pond, WBTV reported on Thursday. Additionally, the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, a group of highly-trained experts in the field of missing children, is assisting in the effort. According to ABC11, Kersey said the hope is to uncover new information about what happened to the child, because 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.' Raul's sister, Cheyenne Johnson (left) and his aunt, Kasey Locklear, hold posters of him 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 on Friday, the Scotland County Sheriff's Department, FBI and SBI will transition from a search-and-rescue effort into an 'investigative approach' Beginning on 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 WRAL that she is currently trying to keep it together for the sake of her other children. 'I don't know. I'm just trying to hold it in,' she said. 'I'm trying to stay positive that he's still out there somewhere safe.' 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 Sheriff's Office at (910) 276-3385 or call 911. Advertisement Who needs the Amazon rainforest when you can bring the rainforest to Amazon. The e-commerce giant is set to unveil its Three Spheres structure on its urban campus in downtown Seattle on Monday that features an innovative mix of office space and exotic plant life. The company's hard-working employees will be able to take a break from the daily grind by walking along stone pathways, observing mini-waterfalls, and enjoying the plant life from exotic locales in South America. The massive project includes three office buildings in the shape of spheres the tallest of which is 90 feet tall and 130 feet in diameter, Bloomberg News reported. The structures were designed by NBBJ, the global architecture firm that also designed Amazon's HQ1, which is also in Seattle. The three giant steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes at Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street in Seattle will house over 800 employees. Vehicles pass in front of the Amazon.com Inc. Spheres in Seattle on Tuesday. The online retailer is scheduled to unveil the spheres Monday morning following seven years of planning and construction The image above shows a 50ft-tall wall adorned with exotic plants inside the the Three Spheres in downtown Seattle The top of a 55-foot-tall tree nicknamed Rubi (short for Ficus rubiginosa), center, stands inside the Amazon.com Inc. Spheres in Seattle The massive project includes three office buildings in the shape of spheres the tallest of which is 90 feet tall and 130 feet in diameter The three giant steel-framed, glass-enclosed domes at Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street in Seattle will house over 800 employees The staff members who will work there will have the luxury of admiring more than 40,000 plants from 400 different species from the company's Woodinville greenhouse The staff members who will work there will have the luxury of admiring more than 40,000 plants from 400 different species from the company's Woodinville greenhouse. After seven years of planning and construction, Amazon will cut the ribbon on the spheres, which are designed to not only give employees an opportunity to relax (briefly) on the job but also reinforce the company's image as an innovative, think-outside-the-box corporation. Amazon even brought in a large, 55-foot-tall Ficus tree that was first planted in California in 1969. Today it weighs almost 36,000 pounds, requiring the company to hoist it by crane and drop it through a hole in the roof. There is also a meeting place for employees known as 'the bird's nest,' which looks more like a wooden treehouse suspended 30 feet in the air For the employees working inside, the company built a suspension bridge allowing them a view of the large tree Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building. The company even called on a horticulturalist to oversee the installation of plant life Ventilation ducts pump in fresh air for the benefit of a five-story wall of plants, like those seen in the above picture The planners had to dismantle part of the sphere in order to make room for the tree and then put the sphere back together again. For the employees working inside, the company built a suspension bridge allowing them a view of the tree. The inside of the spheres will even feel like a rainforest. The climate will be controlled. The air temperature will be held at a constant 72 degrees while the humidity will be 60 percent. In some locations, the climate will vary, with temperatures that either rise or drop by as much as five degrees. There is even a ventilation system that simulates an outdoor breeze. At the highest point of the spheres, workers and visitors can lounge in a hangout spot (as seen in the photo above) Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building Water mists from a wall of plants inside the spheres. The unveiling of its downtown Seattle campus comes in the midst of speculation as to which city Amazon will choose as the home of its planned $5billion second headquarters project 'This structure is about thinking big and thinking long term,' said John Schoettler, the head of Amazon's global real estate division A visitor stands on the suspension bridge inside the facility Ron Gagliardo, senior manager of horticultural services at Amazon (right), and John Schoettler, vice president of global real estate and facilities for Amazon, point out various species of plants inside the campus Ventilation ducts pump in fresh air for the benefit of a five-story wall of plants. At the highest point of the spheres, workers and visitors can lounge in a hangout spot. There is also a meeting place for employees known as 'the bird's nest,' which looks more like a wooden treehouse suspended 30 feet in the air. 'From the moment we started construction, people would stand on the street corners taking photographs,' said John Schoettler. Schoettler runs Amazon's global real estate division. 'This structure is about thinking big and thinking long term.' Amazon's construction of the spheres generated 600 full-time jobs, ranging from design to actual building. The company even called on a horticulturalist to oversee the installation of plant life. The unveiling of its downtown Seattle campus comes in the midst of speculation as to which city Amazon will choose as the home of its planned $5billion second headquarters project. The company has made a list of 20 finalists who are vying to host the HQ2 facility, which is expected to generate 50,000 new jobs. Amazon will announce a winner later this year. The former Afghanistan hostage who was freed along with his wife and three children in October used ropes and a broomstick in a series of physical and sexual assaults, a court heard Friday. Joshua Boyle was charged with 19 counts of assault, sexual assault, threatening to cause death and administering a noxious substance, according to CBC.CA. The 34-year-old was arrested January 1 and initially charged with 15 counts of assault against two victims between October 14, the day he returned to Canada from imprisonment and December 30. And when the new charges were read Friday, it was also revealed Boyle will be ordered to undergo a 60-day psychological assessment in Brockville, Ontario, before his next court appearance. Joshua Boyle was charged with 19 counts of assault, sexual assault, threatening to cause death and administering a noxious substance, according to CBC.CA. He is pictured on October 13 after being released from captivity in Afghanistan and returned to Canada And when the new charges were read Friday, it was also revealed Boyle will be ordered to undergo a 60-day psychological assessment in Brockville, Ontario, before his next court appearance. Boyle is pictured with his wife, Caitlan, his three children and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Boyle's attorney Lawrence Greenspon said Friday that the former hostage was found fit to stand trial, but that a doctor thought he would benefit from a more 'comprehensive' assessment.' He is expected to be transferred to the Brockville Mental Health Centre's secure forensic treatment unit in the coming days, according to CBC. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 26 via video link. Boyle was initially arrested on January 1, and 15 charges of assault and sexual assault were filed against him. But the initial charges were withdrawn on Friday when Boyle appeared in court via video from a detention center in Ottawa. They were replaced with 19 new charges related to just one victim. Those charges include one count of sexual assault with ropes, nine counts of assault, and one count of assault with a broomstick. He was also charged with uttering a threat to cause death, three counts of unlawful confinement, administering a noxious substance, public mischief and criminal harassment. Further details of the alleged assaults are not yet clear. Boyle's attorney Lawrence Greenspon said Friday that the former hostage was found fit to stand trial, but that a doctor thought he would benefit from a more 'comprehensive' assessment.' He is pictured with his father in October, after being rescued Boyle, his American wife Caitlan and their three children were freed in October in Pakistan - five years after the couple was abducted by a Taliban-linked group during a backpacking trip in Afghanistan. The children - two boys aged two and four and a baby girl - were born in captivity. The purported acts allegedly occurred after Boyle returned to Canada between October 14 and December 30. In a statement to the Toronto Star after his arrest, Boyle's wife wrote: 'I can't speak about the specific charges, but I can say that ultimately it is the strain and trauma he was forced to endure for so many years and the effects that that had on his mental state that is most culpable for this.' 'Obviously, he is responsible for his own actions but it is with compassion and forgiveness that I say I hope help and healing can be found for him. As to the rest of us, myself and the children, we are healthy and holding up as well as we can.' Boyle and his wife were abducted in 2012 by a Taliban-linked militant group while on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan His three children, two boys aged two and four and a baby girl, were born in captivity. Boyle is pictured with one of his sons When the family returned to Canada in October, they briefly stayed with Boyle's parents in Smith's Falls, Ontario, but have since moved to an apartment in Ottowa. Boyle told the Associated Press in October that his wife had been hospitalized in Ottawa, but did not specify why she was taken there. He took a picture of her in her hospital bed at the time. During their captivity, the couple claimed that their guards forced Caitlan to undergo an abortion and even raped her. The group has denied the accusation of sexual assault and the forced abortion, saying instead that Caitlan suffered a miscarriage. Pakistani troops rescued the family in an operation October 11 aimed at their captors, the Taliban-linked Haqqani group. The Pakistanis caught the Haqqani fighters at some point after they had moved with their captives across the border from Afghanistan. Caitlan said that they were being moved in a car when they came under fire and were rescued by the Pakistani forces. Boyle said he was hit by shrapnel in the incident and that the last thing he heard his captors say was 'kill the hostages'. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the operation was based on a tip from US intelligence. Boyle was once briefly married to Zaynab Khadr, the older sister of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr and the daughter of a senior al-Qaida financier who had contacts with Osama bin Laden. One of the world's oldest gorillas has died at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The park announced on Twitter that Vila, who turned 60 in October, died on Thursday surrounded by members of her family troop. Authorities say she was the matriarch of five generations of gorillas and during her life served as a surrogate mother for several western lowland gorillas. Vila was believed to be the second oldest gorilla in the world, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. One of the world's oldest gorillas has died at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Vila (pictured in an undated photo), who turned 60 in October, died on Thursday surrounded by members of her family troop, the park said Authorities say Vila (pictured, in an undated photo) was the matriarch of five generations of gorillas and during her life served as a surrogate mother for several western lowland gorillas Over the past 15 years, there has been a sharp decline in gorilla numbers, according to the San Diego Zoo, with almost half of the entire eastern gorilla species population believed to have been wiped out 'Vila touched many people throughout her lifetime,' Randy Rieches, curator of mammals at Safari Park, said in a statement. 'She will be missed by Zoo members, guests, volunteers and staff.' Several Twitter users reacted with sadness to the news of the western lowland gorilla's passing. 'My wife and I saw her last weekend. So sad that she's gone now,' tweeted one user. 'Oh. I am so sad. I will miss her. [S]he was such a grand dame...' wrote another. One user wrote: 'I'm so heartbroken to hear this news! But I'm so glad she had the life that she did. She reached the heart of so many who will carry on the fight against the extinction of these amazing creatures.' Several Twitter users reacted with sadness to the news of the western lowland gorilla's passing Vila had arthritis and other health conditions related to her age and had been under veterinary care. Last year, she had undergone a medical treatment for fluid retention in her face and limbs but eventually recovered, reported The Union-Tribune. The procedure included a full diagnostic exam to determine the cause of the fluid accumulation, which officials at the time said could have led to a life-threatening condition. Doctors also were concerned about the effects of anesthesia on the aging animal but said at the time that the procedure went well. Vila (pictured on her 54th birthday, November 2011) was believed to be the second oldest gorilla in the world, with gorillas typically living between 35 and 40 years old Vila (pictured, on her 57th birthday, November 2014) was believed to have been born in the Congo in October 1957. She was hand-raised at the San Diego Zoo after arriving in 1959 and later moved to the Safari Park in 1975 Vila (pictured, on her 59th birthday, October 2016) had arthritis and other health conditions related to her age and had been under veterinary care Vila was believed to have been born in the Congo in October 1957. She was hand-raised at the San Diego Zoo after arriving in 1959 and later moved to the Safari Park in 1975. Before coming to the United States, Vila had been housed at the Brazzaville Zoo in the Congo where the San Diego Zoo's then-assistant managing director, Charles Shaw, discovered the infant during an around-the-world scouting trip for animals. Gorillas typically live to be between 35 and 40 years old. They are listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of disease, hunting, war and habitat loss due to logging and mining. Over the past 15 years, there has been a sharp decline in gorilla numbers, according to the San Diego Zoo, with almost half of the entire eastern gorilla species population believed to have been wiped out. Last year, Vila (pictured, in an undated photo) had undergone a medical treatment for fluid retention in her face and limbs but eventually recovered At the age of 60, billionaire David Thomson might be content to settle down to a gentle seventh decade while enjoying his magnificent art collection and keeping a watchful eye on the familys global media empire, Thomson Reuters, of which he has been chairman since 2008. But the twice-divorced Thomson known formally as Lord Thomson of Fleet betrays no signs of slowing down and is, I can disclose, about to become a father for a sixth time. The mother-to-be is Sothebys art expert Severine Nackers, who heads the London auction houses Prints department, from where she takes leave of absence next week. Shes about to go on maternity leave, confirms a colleague. The baby will be Cambridge-educated Thomsons second child with the glamorous, Belgian-born Nackers, by whom he fathered a girl, Ottilie, two-and-a-half years ago. Thomsons private life has been described as very busy by one ex-lover, Picassos granddaughter Diana Widmaier-Picasso. And how. Billionaire David Thomson (left), whose family own global media empire Thomson Reuters, is expecting his sixth child with Sothebys art expert Severine Nackers (right) His latest reproductive achievement will mean that he has half a dozen children by four different women. Thomson, whose family is worth 20 billion, has two daughters by his first marriage to Mary Lou La Prairie whom he married in 1988, and a son, Benjamin, by his second wife, Laurie Ludwick. Another daughter was born in 2008 to Canadian actress Kelly Rowan, Thomsons lover following his bitter split from Ludwick; and Ottilie, born the year after he struck up a rapport with Severine. Although usually based in Canada at his Toronto mansion, Thomson is, Im told, making huge efforts to keep Severine happy. He spends much more time than usual in London, where he has a house in the grandeur of Holland Park. Nevertheless, Severine, who is in her early 40s, does not as yet live with him, but in a modest flat in Marylebone. It would seem that Thomson could upgrade her further. In 2002, he paid 49.5 million for Rubenss The Massacre Of The Innocents, as a present for his father. Bag a royal on Balmoral 120 safari! Visitors at Balmoral will now be able to take part in Land Rover 'treks' at the estate, costing 120 for three hours The Prince of Wales favours Aston Martins, while the Duke of Edinburgh derived pleasure from his London taxi which he reluctantly surrendered only last year. But the Queen has a soft spot for Land Rovers, especially over Balmorals 50,000 acres. Now her subjects can experience the same off-road stimulation, courtesy of the introduction in April of Land Rover treks at the estate. Costing 120, the three-hour treks will allow four stopping points for photographs. Those hoping to snap HM will need to keep their wits about them, according to former SNP leader Alex Salmond. He recalled being driven through Balmoral at a very substantial speed in a Land Rover by Her Majesty. This did not, added Salmond, preclude her from conversation. She turned to me and said: First Minister, you have the worst writing of any of my ministers. King? No, Elvis was a plonker, says Macca He may have been the King of Rock n Roll but Sir Paul McCartney says Elvis Presley became a plonker in later life He may have been the King of Rock n Roll but Sir Paul McCartney says Elvis Presley became a plonker in later life. Macca and his fellow Beatles idolised the star in their aspiring musician teenage years in the Fifties and later met him at the height of the Fab Fours fame in 1965. But they were no fans of his later image. Sir Paul, 75, recalls: Elvis was the guy. He ended up a complete plonker, unfortunately he turned in the end, wanted to become a Federal drug marshal. I did love him in the early days, and yes, when we met him, thats the period that I remember. BBC media editor Amol Rajan was first on the airwaves with news that Radio 2s Jeremy Vine had agreed to cut his 750,000 salary. Rajan eagerly stepped into Vines shoes when the host took a break. The ubiquitous Rajan also deputised for Andrew Marr another said to be negotiating a cut. It wont just be the women eyeing up juicy new roles if the dinosaurs walk the plank, says an insider. Whats in a name? Rachel Weisz, 47, wife of Daniel Craig, says people always have trouble with her surname which should be pronounced vice . They say Weiss, Wise, Wooz, Waz. I would still love to change the w to a v, so people say it right. Im childish about it. Mrs Craig might be simpler. Families of sick children last night condemned the decision by Great Ormond Street Hospital to return 530,000 raised for it at the controversial men-only galas. The sum was donated by the club between 2009 and 2016, but mothers of children whose lives the hospital saved say it is desperately needed by patients. It could pay for 15 ventilators to help young patients unable to breathe on their own, or fund a months accommodation for 13 families to stay with their children. Angela Formosa, whose five-year-old twins Ruby and Rosie were born conjoined before being separated in an operation at Great Ormond Street in London, said: The hospital does rely so heavily on charitable donations and this is a lot of money which could pay for a lot of things and save lives. Angela Formosa (left), whose five-year-old twins Ruby and Rosie were born conjoined before being separated at Great Ormond Street, said the hospital could have used the money Mrs Formosa, from Bexleyheath, south-east London, whose children are still cared for by the hospital, added: As a woman I do not agree with what happened at the gala, but the hospital needs the money and I think they should have kept the money. Lots of people work hard to raise money for Great Ormond Street, and it is giving 500,000 back. Carly Hicks baby Lily almost died of meningitis at the age of six months after doctors misdiagnosed her symptoms as chickenpox. She spent five days in intensive care at the hospital. Lily has made a full recovery, after being given only a 20 per cent chance of survival, and was discharged finally from the hospitals care last year. A spokesman for Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity said day-to-day care at the hospital was paid for by the NHS and that medical treatment would not be affected Mrs Hicks, 31, said she was saddened by the decision, adding: Everything costs so much money, all their equipment, the amount of staff that are there and their teaching programmes. The veterinary nurse from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who has raised 25,000 for the hospital and other charities, added: I can understand where they are coming from. They dont want to be seen to have anything to do with that charity. But I do not like the thought of them giving that money back, if I am honest. Carly Hicks (right), whose baby Lily almost died of meningitis at the age of six months, said she was saddened by the decision If it had nothing to do with the event, and was donated before that, I dont see why they should. Theresa May has condemned the appalling sexist behaviour at the gala, where it was claimed prostitutes were in attendance, while billionaires bid up to 400,000 for lots including a night at a strip club. A spokesman for Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity, which is separate to its NHS Trust, said: The expert medical treatment that children receive at the hospital will not be affected by the return of these donations. The day-to-day care and running of Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust is entirely paid for by the NHS. GOSH charity has not taken the decision to repay this money lightly. The decision was made by the senior management team at the charity and the board of trustees, supported by the hospital. A teenage girl has watched on in horror as her mother was run down and killed by her own car in their Perth driveway on Thursday afternoon. Members of the Perth Eritrean community paid their respects and offered support to Mhret's daughter on Friday. Single mum Mhret Teklehaimanot, 41, and her daughter, 17, had returned to their Dianella home after university interviews. It's understood she got out of car to open the garage door but failed to put the handbrake on. Freinds have paid tribute to single mum Mhret Teklehaimanot She was unable to stop the car from rolling down the driveway and was then dragged under as the car hit a wall and became trapped. Scroll down for video. Ms Teklehaimanot was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where she died a short time later at Perth Royal Hospital. Police remained at the Dianella home on Friday She and her daughter had arrived in Australia as refugees from Eritrea in East Africa five years ago. This accident unfolded just before (Mhrets) daughter, family friend Tafere Berhanes told Perth Today. Police at the tragic scene in Dianella, Perth on Thursday She couldnt believe it and we are all shocked by this really. All the community will do everything we can to support (the teen). Mr Berhane said Ms Teklehaimanot had been working day and night to try and give her family a good life. Friend Genaet Wolto described the accident as a terrible tragedy. She told the ABC the woman had moved to Perth from Eritrea with her teenage daughter five years ago for a better quality of life. On Friday, dozens of members of the Perth Eritrean community paid their respects and offered support to Mhret's daughter. Major crash investigators urged anyone who saw the crash on Grand Promenade or the hatchback prior to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. More food chains were dragged into the meat scare yesterday as it emerged inspectors are probing use by dates. As customers deserted crisis-hit supplier Russell Hume, pub chain Yates joined a growing list of leading brands caught up in the hygiene scandal. Wetherspoon announced yesterday it has cancelled its contract with the Derby-based meat firm, which used to hold a Royal Warrant and supplies pubs and restaurants across Britain. Meanwhile, it also emerged managers have been advising some of its workers to look for new jobs. Yesterday, the Food Standards Agency was forced to deny a cover-up after being accused of keeping the public in the dark. It waited 12 days before raising the alert over serious non-compliance with hygiene regulations it found at Russell Humes six factories. 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 Last night the FSA confirmed the issue concerns use-by dates on meats. A spokesman said: Issues of serious non-compliance were uncovered. These related to concerns about procedures and processes around use-by dates. But industry and Whitehall sources claimed it relates to the date on meat labels, with inspectors finding poultry and red meat that may have been packaged with inaccurate use-by labels. It is feared millions of chicken, pork, lamb and steak meals served to diners at well-known chains such as Wetherspoon, Greene King pubs, Jamie Olivers restaurants and Hilton hotels may have been tainted. Yesterday the FSAs chief executive Jason Feeney denied keeping the public in the dark. He told Radio 4s World at One: The FSA have taken proportionate action. Asked why the watchdog had delayed four days between halting all production at Russell Hume factories and starting a product recall, he blamed the company, saying: Clearly if the company doesnt decide to voluntarily recall, then we can take steps. Mr Feeney said the inspectors had discovered systemic and widespread concerns at the factories. In a statement he added: We dont take decisions to stop production, instigate product recalls or withdrawals lightly. 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 Last night the Unison union, which represents food plant inspectors, suggested mislabelled or unfit meat may have been going to restaurants, schools and care homes for months. Spokesman Heather Wakefield said: This appalling discovery was made on an unannounced visit. The previous inspection had been almost a year before that. The amount of unfit meat released into the human food chain during this time doesnt bear thinking about. The alert began on January 12 when the FSA made an unannounced inspection of Russell Humes Birmingham factory. The inquiry spread to its other production sites and food stores in Liverpool, Boroughbridge in Yorkshire, London, Exeter and Inverkeithing, Scotland. Yesterday a worker at one of the sites told the Mail: I was advised just in case to start looking for a job. My manager said just to be safe, it was better to have a job to go to, than none. Russell Hume has not explained the issues to the public. Its website has been taken down and its phones go unanswered. In its only statement, the firm has said the FSAs actions came as a serious shock. Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt (pictured) as found dead on the streets of Lincoln on January 2 - he served alongside Prince Harry On New Years Day, while the rest of Britain was welcoming in 2018, Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, 39, ended his life. A member of the Royal Engineers, he had been awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his courage in Helmand dismantling improvised explosive devices while on secret missions to ambush the Taliban. The heartfelt letter written to his family by Prince Harry, who served alongside him, was no doubt welcome but would have been small consolation to his grieving parents Derek and Maria. Despite his bravery in battle, the father of one could not face the wars raging in his own mind as he suffered from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. An inquest this week heard that the lad who joined up before his 16th birthday had felt abandoned by the Army and that his treatment for PTSD was useless. He was expected to be with his family for a New Year meal but never arrived. He had hanged himself in his Lincoln home. Derek, who himself served in the Army for 22 years, hopes his sons death will help end the stigma of PTSD for frontline soldiers. He saved hundreds of lives during his career in the Army and if his death can do the same then that would be a fitting tribute, he said. One soldier, one lost life, is bad enough, but tragically Warrant Officer Hunt is not alone. The shocking reality is that more than 210 serving troops have committed suicide since we went into Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, according to defence ministry statistics. A truly sobering figure when compared to the total of 541 killed in action and it does not even include the veterans who have left the Forces, many of whom have suffered PTSD and killed themselves. Nathan Hunt was Prince Harry's wartime friend and they served together in the same unit - the Warrant Officer hanged himself In 2012, according to an analysis by BBC Panorama, there were more suicides among serving soldiers and veterans than deaths from enemy fire. In that year alone, at least 29 veterans took their lives. Charity Combat Stress said that in 2015, six new veterans a day asked it for help, its busiest period in a 96-year history, and more than double the number seen the year before. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme shows the annual number of mental disorder payouts increased by 379 per cent from 2010 to 2016. Behind these statistics is the stark truth that soldiers we sent to fight an impossible and unpopular war have not been given the support they need. Not when serving in the conflict zone, not when returning home. A review into spending on the Forces has been ordered. Its vital that, as well as putting an end to swingeing cuts, it insists on proper funding to help heroes like Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt before its too late. Try Holden back on the cleavage, Louise Louise Redknapp (pictured) on stage and performing at a concert in London's Scala nightclub Fresh from her quickie divorce from Jamie, Louise Redknapp former member of girl band Eternal has returned to her pop career. Its been a dream come true . . . to get on stage and sing again, she gushed after her gig at Londons Scala nightclub where she wowed a crowd of . . . just 800. One question. Has the mother-of-two, 43, taken wardrobe tips from chest-baring Amanda Holden? A survey says celebrities like Davina McCall have inspired a fitspirational generation of women who want to be slim and muscular like her. Women might want to look like that, but I bet their men dont want them to. They want a six-pack in the fridge. Not in bed. Westminster wars... Newly appointed loneliness minister Tracey Crouch has refused to be interviewed by presenter John Humphrys on Radio 4s Today programme because he joked about the campaign for equal pay for BBC women. Crouchs new role was inspired by murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, who set up the Loneliness Commission. The core ethos of Jos campaign continued by her widower Brendan is that we have to meet, listen to and engage with people with whom we might disagree, not write them off as deplorables. Tracey Crouchs ridiculous grandstanding shames the memory of Jo Cox. + Recanting on his predictions of a Brexit catastrophe, a porky David Cameron said it was a mistake, but not a disaster. Many MPs who lived to regret backing him for the Tory leadership consider his comment a fitting epitaph for Dave himself. + Lib Dem leader Vince Cable reminds Donald Trump that the President will never be welcomed by his party so mighty with its 12 MPs on a state visit to the UK. The American President must be shaking in his boots. The hit TV series Big Little Lies has won another best actress award for Nicole Kidman, this time a Golden Globe. Her co-producer and co-star on the show, Reese Witherspoon, won nothing. Thats because in this crazy new celebrity world of man-hating, Nicole plays an abused wife who helps murder her husband, while Reese is a housewife who fights to keep her marriage alive. Listening to the non-stop rantings of aggrieved women on the radio after the Presidents Club exposure, you would think we are a nation of sexually assaulted and brutally suppressed women. One caller even claimed men were guilty of subliminal sexism where they dont say or do anything wrong she just knew that underneath their calm exterior lay a seething misogynist. The #MeToo brigade will probably want her as Justice Secretary. I feel for Ant's wife While Ant McPartlin was holding back the tears accepting his and Decs 17th consecutive National Television Awards gong for Best Presenter after a tough 12 months, his estranged wife Lisa was nowhere to be seen. After months in rehab for drink and drug addictions, Ant thanked his family and friends. No mention of Lisa, who stood by him only to be told their marriage was over. Im with her friend who wrote to Lisa on social media: Just wanted to say youve had a tough year as well and I hope youre okay. Idris Elba, once a front runner to play James Bond, now says that a woman should replace Daniel Craig Big change for Bond Idris Elba was once a hot tip to take over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond. Now he says it should be a woman. Could be a white woman, could be a black woman, he says, but everyone would like to see something different. Why not a man who transitions during the course of the movie from James to Jane Bond and call the film You Really Can Live Twice? All our hopes were dashed after Kyle Edmund, the would-be Andy Murray, crashed out in straight sets in the Australian Open semi-finals. We should not give up on him. Kyle not only has the burgeoning talent of a young Andy, but given his monosyllabic post-match interview, the grey personality as well. Walliams in a Stink! The latest casualty of Gropegate is the achingly PC comedian David Walliams, who compered the Presidents Club charity event where rich men were accused of pawing girls waiting on them. Walliams claims he saw nothing untoward and was absolutely appalled, but his protestations have fallen on deaf ears as the feminazis are demanding his books be withdrawn from shops. How ironic that the author of Mr Stink now finds himself at the centre of one. The number of rough sleepers has risen 15 per cent in one year, with calls to do more to help them. And rightly so. More than a quarter of these homeless people are from Eastern Europe, like my local rough sleeper. He turns out, in fact, to be three different, well-fed, young Romanian men doing a four-hour shift each, occupying in turn a spot opposite the railway station and next to the cash machine. They arrive at 9 am, and leave as darkness falls. Homeless? I dont think so. An Indiana father has revealed how he was hit with abuse after sharing a photo of his four daughters and their pet pig online. James Breakwell, known for the comical @XplodingUnicorn account on Twitter, had uploaded a picture of the kids bundled up in winter coat's in their van on the way to their grandmother's house on December 30. 'Right after this picture, the pig pooped three times. Cuteness never lasts,' the caption read. The photo received almost 3,000 reactions. But some social media users on Facebook were quick to dub the photo 'controversial' and said Breakwell was exhibiting bad parenting skills. Indiana father James Breakwell has revealed how he was hit with abuse after sharing a photo of his four daughters and their pet pig on Facebook in December (pictured) Some social media users on Facebook were quick to dub the photo 'controversial' and said Breakwell (left) was exhibiting bad parenting skills Users noted that the children shouldn't have been wearing coats in the car seat and that the seat belts were too loose. They also noted that the two-year-old should have been facing backwards and that the pig shouldn't have been in the van Users first noted that the children shouldn't have been wearing coats in the car seat and that the seat belts were too loose. They also pointed out that the two-year-old should have been facing backwards and that the pig shouldn't have been in the van. Breakwell wrote about the experience in an op-ed in the IndyStar, surprised at the backlash that he received. 'It wasn't the first time I've been warned by strangers that my children were about to die,' he wrote: According to random people on the Internet, my fatal mistakes include: Feeding my kids grapes, which are a choking hazard. Feeding my kids corn dogs, which are poison. Owning a pet pig, which will grow to be 600 pounds and destroy my house and eat my children. Posting pictures of my kids on the Internet, which will get them kidnapped and murdered. Having too many kids in the first place, which will overtax the earths limited resources and doom mankind. 'My bad,' he concluded. Breakwell (pictured) wrote about the experience in an op-ed in the IndyStar , surprised at the backlash that he received However several people came to Breakwell's defense saying that the keyboard warriors were overreacting (above) Social media users criticized Breakwell over the car, the way that the kids were positioned and the pig. 'He's driving a sissy-wagon. The thing can hardly go 20[mph]...' wrote one user. Another commented: 'Friendly safety announcement: its not safe to put kids in a 5-point harness wearing fluffy/bulky clothing. In the event of an accident, the fabric can compress and the seat will not protect the child as intended.' One critiqued: 'The pig was frightened by your reckless driving. Hence, the poop.' However, several people came to Breakwell's defense saying that the keyboard warriors were overreacting. 'You do realize that he and his wife are adults? Quite capable of raising their children all by themselves,' said one. 'I wasn't in a car sear until age 7 and miraculously I survived my childhood. Y'all clearly DO NOT understand how cold it is in the Midwest in December. They need those coats.,' offered another. One person wrote: ' So you criticize how he dresses his kids but don't offer a safer alternative?' Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC has slammed police and prosecutors for their 'basic' errors in a number of recent collapsed rape trials, after the CPS announced a review of every case The Attorney General has slammed police and prosecutors for their 'basic' errors in a number of recent collapsed rape trials, after the CPS announced a review of every case. Jeremy Wright QC blamed underfunded services for a lack of resources, suggesting they are a 'factor' in recent trials where defendants had charges against them dropped when critical evidence emerged at the 11th hour. But, crucially, those cases were primarily the result of police and prosecutor failures he said, in a damning indictment of criminal justice system competence. A lack of resources is a 'factor' in disclosure failings that have led to collapsed rape trials, but police and prosecutors not acting as expected is the root cause, he said. His words come after the Crown Prosecution Service announced it was reviewing all live rape and sexual offence cases. The move follows a string of defendants facing rape allegations having the charges against them dropped at the last minute when new evidence came to light. The cases have rocked confidence in the criminal justice system and Mr Wright said there was a 'substantial problem' with how the disclosure regime was being followed. Mr Wright QC said he had encouraged the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, to look at similar cases to ensure no more mistakes are being made In the lead-up to trials, police and prosecutors are required to hand over relevant material that either undermines the prosecution case or assists the defence case. Mr Wright said disclosure was 'basic stuff', but that he did not believe there was evidence of 'widespread malpractice or dishonesty'. He said he had encouraged the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, to look at similar cases to ensure no more mistakes are being made. But asked by John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if a lack of police and CPS resources was behind the failings, Mr Wright said: 'That's not true. Let me simply say this to you - in relation to the Crown Prosecution Service, the number of specialist prosecutors who deal with rape and sexual offences have increased by 40% since 2015. 'What we are talking about here is those people doing the job they are expected to do and following the disclosure regime properly - that's what we should all expect them to do.' He said he recognised the justice system was in a 'new world' as a result of the often 'large volume' of digital evidence, such as social media messages, and he had initiated a review into the wider disclosure regime. But pressed again on whether cuts to the criminal justice system, such as to legal aid, were a factor, Mr Wright said: 'I think it would be wrong to reduce this to an argument about resources - I think it's much more fundamental than that. 'Of course it's a factor and you have got make sure they are people who are doing the work, but once you've got them they need to know what they are doing and they need to do it properly. 'The failings in these cases have not been because there wasn't a police officer and there wasn't a prosecutor, it's because they didn't appear to be applying the regime they are expected to apply in conducting disclosure properly.' Asked whether Ms Saunders should consider her position, Mr Wright said it was a 'joint effort' the responsibility of both the CPS and the police to get disclosure right. Liam Allan, 22, was on bail for almost two years and spent three days at Croydon Crown Court in the dock before his trial was stopped yesterday - prosecutor Jerry Hayes said 'incompetent' police didn't share the evidence that proved his evidence On Friday, Ms Saunders said of the rape cases review: 'Inevitably, bringing forward these case reviews means it is likely that there may be a number of cases which we will be stopping at around the same time.' The CPS, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and College of Policing also published a disclosure 'improvement plan'. The document commits to reviewing whether there 'should be a requirement for officers to hold a Licence to Practise in respect of disclosure' by January 2019. The review into cases was announced as police and prosecutors desperately try to salvage public trust in the justice system. Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, said that a number of cases are likely to be dropped as a result of the inquiry. It comes eight days after Oxford student Oliver Mears, 19, was cleared of rape after spending two years on bail. The CPS and Surrey Police, who handed over evidence just days before the trial, were heavily criticised for adding 'completely unnecessary' delays in the case. The review comes after the collapse of the case against Liam Allan, 22, who was accused of rape - yet police were found to be withholding vital messages which proved the criminology student's innocence. Speaking of the review, Ms Saunders said: 'All cases are subject to regular and ongoing scrutiny but senior prosecutors in England and Wales are currently assessing all live rape ans serious sexual assault cases to check they are satisfied that disclosure obligations have been met.' CPS boss 'inflated rape conviction figures and doesn't understand how a trial works' Britain's top prosecutor Alison Saunders was recently accused of inflating rape conviction figures and having little idea of how rape trials work. Ms Saunders has repeatedly come under fire over the CPS handling of sex allegations because innocent men have had their lives destroyed on the basis of spurious claims later rejected in court. In August this year she said that men accused of rape will have more of their relationship history put under the microscope during trials in a bid to increase convictions rates. Britain's top prosecutor told lawyers to focus on a man's behaviour in the run up to the alleged sex attack rather than just the immediate moments before. But in October she was blasted by a watchdog for claiming the number of rape convictions is more than double the real figure. She was warned that the hugely inflated figures in a report on violence against women were 'misleading'. And was told in a letter from the UK Statistics Authority that the true number of people convicted of rape last year was under 1,400. This is less than half the 3,000 she alleged in the report by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) earlier that month. The huge gap is because the CPS includes crimes that were originally investigated as rapes but later downgraded to less serious offences. Advertisement She added: 'Inevitably, bringing forward these case reviews means it is likely that there may be a number of cases which we will be stopping at around the same time.' Mr Mears (pictured), from Horley, Surrey, appeared at Guildford crown court in August last year where he enter pleas of not guilty Last year there were 3,671 people in England and Wales who were charged with rape, according to official figures. It is unknown how many people were charged with other serious sexual offences. The CPS refused to say how many cases were being reviewed or how many cases may not be tried as a result of the review. Surrey Police and the Metropolitan Police have begun their own review of all rape cases under their jurisdiction. Former lord chief justice Lord Judge said last week that rapists would get away with their crimes due to the fact the justice system had been severely damaged in the eyes of the public due to the failings. CPS chiefs admitted the move to review rape cases is to help heal public confidence in the judicial system. A CPS spokesman said: 'Disclosure issues are systematic and deep-rooted. In recent years the challenge of discharging out statutory duties has been made more difficult than ever before by the widespread use of mobile phones and other communication devices.' Gavin Williamson is positioning himself to run for the Tory leadership as Theresa May comes under renewed pressure, according to claims from senior party figures. The Defence Secretary has taken steps to raise his profile in previous months, including by giving the latest of a series of interviews in which he warned about the threat of Russian aggression. Mr Williamson also revealed a short-lived office affair in what was seen as an attempt to dodge lasting damage from the episode - although his account of what happened is now coming under renewed scrutiny. Tory MPs predict Theresa May (pic in Davos on January 25) could face a challenge to her leadership if the party takes a drubbing in the May local elections One senior MP told the i newspaper: 'Gavin wants to be leader - that's clear.' A former minister added: 'Gavin is an ambitious person. But there is nothing wrong with that if he doesn't do anything to destabilise the government.' Tory MPs predict Mrs May could face a challenge to her leadership if the party takes a drubbing in the May local elections. The Prime Minister has also faced criticism over the varying signals coming from her Cabinet over Brexit - particularly Chancellor Philip Hammond's controversial call for 'very modest' changes to the EU's trading rules with the UK. Mr Williamson now has key allies at key positions in the Conservative Party, and is thought to be lining up a group of like-minded MPs elected in 2010 as a possible campaign team. But in recent days the MP for South Staffordshire has faced questions over his account of an office romance that he says put his marriage under threat. In his account to party bosses after his election, repeated in an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Williamson said he left his job at a fireplace company on 'amicable terms' after kissing a colleague on 'a couple of occasions'. Mr Williamson said he had decided to quit his job as he had not wanted a constant reminder of his infidelity. Gavin Williamson, with his wife Joanne Williamson, at Codsall Community High School in Staffordshire But two former colleagues at Elgin & Hall told The Telegraph Mr Williamson left the firm after his relationship with the woman was discussed with managers. The newspaper also quoted a source who said the relationship had deteriorated and the woman eventually provided information to her employer about the situation, after which he left. 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. '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. 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 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. 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. 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 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 harassment 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. 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. 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 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. The Air Force is preparing to launch a massive combat training exercise, and indications have emerged that GPS jamming could affect large swathes of the western US during the maneuvers. Red Flag 18-1, as the exercise is officially designated, began on Friday and runs through February 16 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where up to 160 planes will take off daily. Participation in the secretive air-to-air combat exercise will be limited to the country's closest allies, with the Royal Australian Air Force and the UK's Royal Air Force scheduled to take part. A warning to private aircraft to expect GPS disruptions offered indications that the Air Force is planning to test pilots' responses to GPS-jamming technology developed by potential adversaries. An A-10 Thunderbolt II is seen taxing onto the flightline of Nellis Air Force Base earlier this month. The base is set to host a massive three-week training exercise known as Red Flag 18-1 The location of Nellis Air Force Base is shown. Red Flag 18-1 maneuvers are predicted to impact California, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana and New Mexico 'Beginning tomorrow, January 26, and running through February 18, GPS-equipped aircraft operating in the Western United States should be prepared for possible satellite signal disruptions at various altitudes,' Flying.com wrote in a bulletin. 'Training maneuvers will impact vast portions of the Western US including California, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana and New Mexico.' Though little is known about the GPS jamming technology used in the exercise, it is believed to operate at a much higher range in the air than the ground, according to The Warzone, meaning impacts to cars and surface GPS could be minimal. Russia is believed to have developed advanced GPS jamming and spoofing abilities. In 2016, scores of Pokemon Go players near the Kremlin were perplexed when their phones kept reading their location as Vnukovo Airport - a suspected defense against drones, many of which are programmed not to enter airport airspace. Last year, ships in the Baltic Sea reported that their GPS showed them traveling over land, a hint that Russia was testing navigation disruption technology. Red Flag training exercises, which the Air Force has conducted since 1975, pit 'Blue forces' against 'Red forces', which attempt to replicate the tactics and techniques of potential military adversaries. Airmen gather around an A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon after the quarterly load crew competition at Nellis Air Force Base earlier this month Lt. Col. Ben Rudolphi stands in an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Nellis earlier this month. Red Flag 18-1 is set to be the biggest Red Flag exercise ever 'We're trying a few new and different things with Red Flag 18-1,' said Colonel Michael Mathes, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander, in a statement. 'It's the largest Red Flag ever with the largest number of participants, highlighting the balance of training efficiency with mission effectiveness,' Mathes said. Red Flag 18-1 will involve a variety of attack, fighter and bomber aircraft, as well as participants from the US Air Force, US Navy, US Army, Marine Corps, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force. Exercises will take place over the Nevada Test and Training Range, a military training area with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9million acres of land More than 80 aircraft are scheduled to depart Nellis twice a day and may remain in the air for up to five hours during Red Flag 18-1, the Air Force said in an advisory. There may be night launches as well to allow air crews to train for nighttime combat operations. A woman who tragically drowned at an Australia Day party in North Queensland has been remembered as a 'beautiful' and 'sweet young lady'. The bodies of a woman, 24 and 15-year-old boy, were pulled from a dam at a property in Julatten, about 85 kilometres north-west of Cairns, on Friday. The woman is understood to be Kirsty Cini, from Queenlsland's southeast. Kirsty Cini has been remembered by loved ones after she drowned at an Australia Day Party The ABC is reporting the boy to be a Julattan teenager. Family and friends have posted tributes online, describing Ms Cini as a 'beautiful young lady'. 'Today is the worst day of my life, to find out that I will never see my beautiful baby sister again,' her devastated brother Adam Cini posted on Instagram. 'I have experienced so much pain in my life but nothing knocks me down like this, I am so lost now. RIP Kirsty Cini. I'll love you always.' Ms Cini's stepfather Bruce Baker described Ms Cini as 'outgoing and very active and very happy 99 per cent of the time'. 'I will never see my beautiful baby sister again,' her brother Adam Cini posted on Instagram '[We are] just coming to terms with it. I hope we get there,' he told the ABC. Mr Baker said Ms Cini's mother was too shattered to publicly speak. 'She's her only daughter.' Ms Cini took to social media a day before to wish her mother a happy birthday the day prior to her death. Police were called to the property just after 4pm on Friday and were told the boy was deceased when he was pulled from the water. A 23-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy have drowned after swimming in a dam in far north Queensland on Australia Day The victims were swimming at a property in Julatten, about 85 kilometres north-west of Cairns, on Friday The body of the woman was found in the water soon after by an attending officer. Despite the efforts of emergency service workers, both were unable to be revived. A waterslide is believed to have been set up by the water's edge, and the woman was attempting to rescue the teenager. The pair are not related and police are now investigating whether alcohol was involved in the deaths. Ms Cini took to social media a day before to wish her mother a happy birthday the day prior to her death. 'It's a typical Australia Day event where everyone is enjoying themselves,' Queensland Police Service spokesman Duane Amos told Sunrise. 'Unfortunately, there is alcohol that's mixed with water and we have the tragic deaths of a 23-year-old and 15-year-old.' Despite the efforts of emergency service workers, both were unable to be revived The fight over Charles Manson's remains is threatening to spiral out of control, with four people claiming their rights to his body and belongings in two California courts The fight over Charles Manson's remains is threatening to spiral out of control, with four people claiming their rights to his body and belongings in two California courts. The claimants and their seven lawyers argued their cases to a Los Angeles judge in a hearing Friday, and disputed each others claims in front of a gaggle of news cameras outside the court. Fighting over the remains of the notorious serial killer are two of his alleged children, a grandson, and a prison pen pal and murder memorabilia collector. Accountant and part-time actress Rebecca Evans was revealed today by DailyMail.com as one of the latest claimants, a potential daughter of Manson. Evans was rescued as a baby in 1969 from Spahn Ranch, the location of Manson's hippy commune in Chatsworth, California, and is seeking a DNA test to prove Manson is her father. She joins her alleged half brother, Matthew Roberts - real name Matthew Robert Lentz - who has already filed a will in California courts with Manson's signature, claiming he is Manson's son. Accountant and part-time actress Rebecca Evans was revealed today by DailyMail.com as one of the latest claimants, a potential daughter of Manson. She is seen arriving at the Los Angeles courthouse for the hearing She joined her alleged half brother, Matthew Roberts - real name Matthew Robert Lentz - who has already filed a will in California courts with Manson's signature, claiming he is Manson's son Charles Manson's grandson, Jason Freeman talks to the media outside Stanley Most courthouse in Los Angeles He claims that Manson never wrote a will, and says that he has the right to take control of the murderer's body and belongings Speaking outside the courtroom, Freeman hit out at his rivals, claiming that Channels 'always used my grandfather for a paycheck', and that Lentz has a 'made up, fraudulent will' A second rival will has also been filed by murder memorabilia collector and Manson pen pal Michael Channels, which entitles him to all of Manson's personal belongings, including cash, image rights and clothing. But Manson's grandson, Jason Freeman, is disputing both documents. He claims that Manson never wrote a will, and says that he has the right to take control of the murderer's body and belongings. Speaking outside the courtroom, Freeman hit out at his rivals, claiming that Channels 'always used my grandfather for a paycheck', and that Lentz has a 'made up, fraudulent will'. I love my grandfather, Freeman told DailyMail.com. Everybody makes mistakes, Im not passing judgement. He did his time. 'I want to claim my grandfather's body, have him cremated and spread his ashes If there's any money at the end of this I'm going to give it away. I want to support local ministries across the US. Freeman stands outside court with a friend reading through what appear to be his legal papers Michael Channels, former pen pal of cult leader Charles Manson is seen walking away from the court at the end of the hearing Manson walks with public defender Fred Schaefer (in suit) as they attend preliminary hearings, making their way past photographers, Independence, California, December 1969 Freeman said he will give the money from Manson's estate to J3-16 Ministries, a church in his hometown of Bradenton, Florida. Freeman pleaded with Judge David Cowan to reach a speedy resolution. 'We could be looking months down the road. While my Grandfather has been on ice for over 60 days,' he said. Judge Cowan today decided to split the Manson court case. The LA courts will rule on who gets Manson's estate, because he lived in LA county before he was imprisoned. But what happens to Manson's remains will be decided by the courts in Bakersfield, California, where Manson languished before his death last November. Both courts will now have to decide separately which of the wills if any are valid. One of Freemans three lawyers, Alan Davis, said Freeman may have problems staking his claim, now that the case has been split between two counties. Jason doesnt have a will, but hes more than likely related to Manson and as a relative he has a claim. But his claim might be lower though than somebody who has a will. Thats going to be interesting to see how the judge in Kern County looks at that. Theres one will that I know of, thats the Channels will. Theres a section in there that says what to do about the remains, said Davis. That would have priority if the judge up in Kern Country decides that its valid. Davis said the will that Channels filed is questionable, as Mansons signature doesnt have its usual swastika, and there werent enough witness who signed it. Freeman said: Its hard to understand the court system while my grandfather is still on ice. If my mother died we would come together as a family and take care of everything. Im standing here now to take care of everything for my grandfather. I just want to see a proper burial, and family comes first. Freeman said he had a relationship with his grandfather for eight years. He added that it was by no means an easy, smooth relationship, but said that he couldnt judge him. A woman has been found dead on a sidewalk with her pants pulled down and her blouse pulled up in a suspected drug overdose case. Taina Lacend, 23, was found dead on the scene with her clothes in disarray in a quiet residential section of Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood at around 6.30am on Thursday. She had blood coming out of her mouth and nose and may have died of an overdose, police sources told the New York Daily News. The body was discovered outside the garage of a home by residents who immediately called 911. Taina Lacend, 23, was found dead on the scene with her clothes in disarray in a quiet residential section of Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood at around 6.30am on Thursday Neighbors said they didn't hear any commotion, and suspected the body had been dumped there. Surveillance video from nearby homes shows a van stopping briefly at the place where the woman's body was found shortly before it was discovered, according to PIX11. Although the area is not known as a criminal hotspot, there is a tree-lined stretch of street a half-block away were people often park to engage in criminal activities, residents said. Residents found Lacend on the sidewalk in front of this garage on the residential street Lacend lives in the Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx, 24 miles from where she was found dead. She spent most of her teen years in and out of foster care, her foster mother Regina Mackins told the Daily News. Mackins said she wouldn't be surprised if an overdose had killed Lacend. 'Taina was really bubbly. She never disrespected me, she was the sweetest thing to me,' said the foster mother. 'But she liked the street. She liked to hang out with trouble.' Gerald Harris, the attorney for Big Horn County, Montana has called for an immediate crackdown on expecting mothers who abuse drugs or alcohol A Montana prosecutor wants to put pregnant women who drink or use drugs in jail in order to protect the fetus, it was reported on Friday. Gerald Harris, the attorney for Big Horn County, has called for an immediate crackdown on expecting mothers who abuse drugs or alcohol. Last Thursday, he wrote that the state will seek an order of protection restraining a pregnant female from any non-medically prescribed use of these substances. The proposal was first reported by Big Horn County News. Harris is particularly concerned about pregnant women who use methamphetamine and opioids. According to Montana state law, a fetus is defined as an organism of the species of Homo sapiens from eight weeks of development until complete expulsion or extraction from a womans body. Harris said that mothers would not be given immunity from the rule, even if their pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. In the event an expecting mother chooses to abort an unborn child instead of refraining from drug or alcohol use and litigation extends beyond our local courts, we trust Attorney General Fox will make the right decision on behalf of all Montanans and continue this fight to the extent necessary to ensure justice is afforded to the most vulnerable of our society, Harris said. Prosecutors in the Montana Department of Justice could not definitively say if Harris proposal was legal. I dont think this has ever been done before, a spokesperson for the state DOJ said. I dont think the legality of this has been settled. According to Harris, the new directive is in line with the Montana state constitution, which says that all people have certain inalienable rights including enjoying and defending their lives and liberties and seeking their safety, health and happiness in all lawful ways. This policy rests upon a legal concept known as the Natural Law, which provides that all human beings are afforded inherent legal rights by virtue of their humanity, according to Harris. He said he wants to deter mothers who put their unborn children at risk of a potential lifetime of disability and hardship. Last Thursday, he wrote that the state will seek an order of protection restraining a pregnant female from any non-medically prescribed use of these substances. The above stock image shows a pregnant woman with a glass of wine in hand Harris believes that removing a child from his parents custody after the mother gives birth is not timely and has not proven to be a sufficient deterrent. This is something that should have been done yesterday, it should have been done years ago, Harris said. I am somewhat regretful that it [wasnt implemented sooner]. While health advocates agree Harris proposal was made with good intentions, they say experience shows it to be ineffective. Punishing drug users by sending them to jail has not worked because addiction should be viewed as an illness and not a crime, advocates say. Substance abuse is a medical condition to be treated, not punished, said Ashley Quanbeck of the Bighorn Valley Health Center. A 2011 study by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that putting an expecting mother in jail with an intent to produce healthy birth has proved to be ineffective. Mandated drug testing has also backfired since it deters moms-to-be from seeing their doctor, according to Quanbeck. Studies - pretty well across the board - show [incarceration] does not protect the babies from substances and it is detrimental, because it keeps women from coming in for prenatal care, Quanbeck said. Women who are using substances, and are afraid they will be thrown in jail or lose their other childrenwill simply not come for care. They know its not good for them and they know its not good for their babies, but they have an addiction an illness that is preventing them from making different decisions. What Mr. Harris is trying to get at is well intended: He wants to get people clean, so their babies are safe. But the way in which hes doing it is probably not the most informed and if theres a way as a medical community we can come to a better outcome, thats what wed like to do. Hillary Clinton gave a bizarre video shout-out to 'activist b***hes supporting b***hes' Friday night Hillary Clinton gave a bizarre video shout-out to 'activist b***hes supporting b***hes' Friday night, just hours after responding to accusations that she protected a campaign adviser's job after he was accused of sexual harassment. The former Secretary of State made the comments in a video posted to Twitter Friday by Huffington Post commentator Alex Mohajer. 'Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thanks,' she says in the video, which is zoomed in on her face. 'Thank you for your feminism, for your activism, and all I can hope if you keep up the really important good work.' Then off screen someone can be heard saying 'activist b***hes supporting b***hes,' to as Hillary gives a hearty laugh. She then repeats it, chuckling and saying: 'And let me just say, this is directed to the activist b***hes supporting b***hes, so let's go.' Scroll down for video The unusual video was posted just hours after The New York Times reported that Clinton kept top adviser Burns Strider from being fired after he was accused of sexually harassing a 30-year-old subordinate during the 2008 election Clinton tweeted Friday evening that she was 'dismayed' when the allegations came to light in 2008, and that the woman was 'heard' and 'had her concerns taken seriously' Burns Strider, then 42 and married, was accused of sexually harassing his subordinate who was also on the Clinton campaign, it was revealed. Strider was Clinton's 'Director of Faith-Based Outreach' and frequently appeared on religious-themed broadcasts to promote her candidacy A message "to all the activist bitches supporting bitches" by the inimitable @HillaryClinton. pic.twitter.com/fnUfsJnUN4 Alex Mohajer (@AlexMohajer) January 27, 2018 It's not clear exactly when or where the video was taken - but it appears to have been shot just before or after Friday night's MusiCares Person of the Year Awards at Radio City Music Hall, which honored Fleetwood Mac. Their 1977 song 'Don't Stop' helped power Bill Clinton into the White House in 1992 - so on Friday he presented the band with statuettes as the 2018 MusicCares honorees, making them the first band to win the annual award given to a musician for creative achievements and charitable work. The unusual video was posted just hours after The New York Times reported that Clinton kept top adviser Burns Strider from being fired after he was accused of sexually harassing a 30-year-old subordinate during the 2008 election. Hillary responded to these claims Friday night, tweeting that she was 'dismayed' at the time of the allegations, and that the woman was 'heard' and 'had her concerns taken seriously.' 'A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard, and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed,' Hillary wrote. In a follow-up tweet she added: 'I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.' She didn't directly address how the victim 'was heard,' and didn't explain why she reassigned the woman and protected the adviser. It's not clear exactly when or where the video was taken - but it appears to have been shot just before or after Friday night's MusiCares Person of the Year Awards at Radio City Music Hall, which honored Fleetwood Mac. Clinton is pictured at the award show Friday Their 1977 song 'Don't Stop' helped power Bill Clinton into the White House in 1992 - so on Friday he presented the band with statuettes as the 2018 MusicCares honorees, making them the first band to win the annual award given to a musician for creative achievements and charitable work In 2008, Strider, then 42 and married, was Clinton's 'Director of Faith-Based Outreach' and frequently appeared on religious-themed broadcasts to promote her candidacy. And after the allegations came forward, his accuser was moved to a new position while Clinton allegedly ignored her then-campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle's advice to fire him. Instead Strider was ordered to undergo counseling and docked 'several weeks of pay,' according to the Times, but kept his job. 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. 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 (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 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.' 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, 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. 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 woman charged with murdering her partner allegedly made multiple internet searches on concealing crime just days before his death. Police allege Natahsa Beth Darcy searched 'murder by injection', 'the science of getting away with murder', '99 undetectable poisons' as well as various methods of 'suicide' in the days before the death of her partner, Walcha farmer Mathew Dunbar. Mr Dunbar died on August 2, but Ms Darcy, who was once known as Natasha Darcy Crossman, was arrested three months later. She has been behind bars ever since. Natasha Beth Darcy (right) has been charged with the murder of her partner Mathew Dunbar In Tamworth Local Court this week, solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions Cameron Reynolds said investigators had served a 'voluminous brief'. As part of their case, police allege that in the nine days prior to Mr Dunbar's death, Ms Darcy searched various terms relating to murder as well as methods of suicide. Police also alleged that many of these searches related to methods of causing death that are undetectable, and were allegedly deleted from her phone, but were recovered by police. 'It's in the order of 7,000 pages,' he said, asking for further time to obtain more specialist material,' the Northern Leader reported. 'A pathologists report ... some expert reports in relation to toxicology.' Magistrate Julie Soars refused bail and granted the application for an adjournment ordering the case back to court in March. The couple celebrating Christmas in happier times Police claim Ms Darcy continued to live at her deceased partner's property until her arrest The court was told that police will allege Darcy placed drugs and animal sedatives into his food and drink to sedate him before allegedly placing a plastic bag over his head and turning a tank of helium on, attached to the bag via a hose. At least five prescribed drugs in Mathew Dunbar's system, according to toxicology reports Mr Dunbar had at least five prescribed drugs in his system, according to toxicology reports, police claim, and that Ms Darcy's DNA, as well as that of Mr Dunbar's was allegedly found on the bag around his neck. Ms Darcy allegedly told friends she found her partner dead after he had taken his own life, and had remained living at the property until her arrest. She will face court again in March. Four revellers continue to fight for life in hospital after nine people overdosed on an illicit drug at a dance party in Melbourne overnight. Emergency crews rushed to the I am Hardstyle event at Festival Hall on Friday night after reports a group of young partygoers had stopped breathing. State health commander Paul Holman said the quick response from medical teams and first responders saved lives. Ambulance Victoria said all the patients were critical and thought to be aged in their 20s 'They had St John Ambulance there providing first aid, they had a doctor there who was providing intervention,' Mr Holman said. 'If they hadn't been there, certainly some of these young people might not even have got to the hospital. 'These people were hyperthermic so extremely hot. They can't regulate their temperatures [and] they were extremely unconscious. 'They were unrousable, they needed to be intubated and they needed to be ventilated. So they were non-breathing patients.' Nine people are fighting for their lives in hospital after suspected drugs overdoses at festival The exact form of drugs taken has not been confirmed, though they are believed to be a mix of poisons similar to MDMA. Police are now said to be testing the drugs to find the exact strain of substance taken by the revellers. 'We are extremely concerned about this particular batch circulating around the community,' Mr Holman added. 'These are not drugs, they are poison, And this is what they have done to these young people they have poisoned them, and they may kill them. 'So the message is don't take these substance. They are going to hurt you and they are going to kill you.' Four people have since been discharged from hospital with the youngest of the casualties aged 17, The Age reported. The casualties were all taken to hospital across Melbourne after initial treatment was given by St John Ambulance Emergency services were called to Festival Hall in west Melbourne at around 11.20pm to reports several people had collapsed. The event, supposed to be for over 18s, was already five hours in when emergency services were called with partygoers reporting the event was cut short. A Victoria Police spokesman said: 'Police attended an event in West Melbourne last night following reports that a number of people were allegedly drug affected and required medical attention. The event was already five hours in when emergency services were called to the scene at 11pm 'Emergency services were called to the Dudley Street venue about 11.20pm. Nine people were conveyed to hospital in a serious condition.' A spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said earlier; 'Emergency services were called to the dance party at 11pm. Paramedics treated eight people in a St John Ambulance first aid area at the venue. 'A ninth person collapsed nearby and was treated. All nine were taken to hospitals including Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, The Alfred and Western Hospital Footscray in a serious condition.' The IAmHardstyle event was making its debut in Australia at the Festival Hall in west Melbourne Partygoers reported the festival was cut short by the events which police are investigating The Festival Hall, which recently announced it is due to close, is capable of holding around 5,000 people. The venue was packed for the event, which kicked off at 6pm and featured six world-famous DJs and international artists with tickets costing up to $120. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au the police added The Festival Hall has been approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia. Air Force One is getting new refrigerators at a cost to taxpayers of $23,657,671. Boeing won the contract with the Air Force last month, with the cost covering design and installation of the custom chilling units on the two Boeing VC-25As that make up the presidential fleet. Experts told Defense One that the price is actually reasonable for the job, which is bigger than it sounds. Air Force One fridges must be able to store 3,000 meals to feed staffers and crew for up to 10 days, in the event the presidential plane is kept aloft as a flying command post in a national emergency. Air Force One is seen in Zurich on Thursday. Boeing has a $24million contract to install new customized refrigeration units on the two planes that serve as Air Force One Five 'chillers' on each plane cool a total of 26 climate-controlled compartments, according to the Air Force. AIR FORCE ONE SPECS Specification for the two VC-25As that serve as Air Force One: Crew: 26 (passenger+crew capacity: 102) Engines: General Electric CF6-80C2B1 Thrust: rating 56,700 pounds/engine Long-range mission takeoff gross weight: 833,000 pounds Maximum landing weight: 630,000 pounds Fuel capacity: 53,611 gallons Range: 7,800 statute miles Wing span: 195 feet, 8 inches Length: 231 feet, 10 inches Height: 63 feet, 5 inches Service ceiling: 45,100 feet Source: Boeing Advertisement Boeing's contract is to replace two of the chillers, which cool eight of the compartments. The current refrigeration units in Air Force One were installed in the 1990s, when the planes went into service. Work on the replacements will be performed in Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by October 30, 2019. 'Air Force One' is a colloquial designation that refers to any plane carrying the president. There are currently two planes in the presidential fleet, which are 747-200s that have been heavily altered, and are known by the military classification VC-25A. Both are set to get refrigeration upgrades under the contract. A former advisor to President Barack Obama mocked news of the $24million upgrade. 'We would have been impeached,' Eric Schultz, a former White House deputy press secretary, wrote on Twitter. The current aircraft in the presidential fleet are due to be replaced with a pair of Boeing 747-8s. In December of 2016, then President-elect Donald Trump blasted the estimated $4billion replacement cost as 'out of control', adding 'Cancel order!' President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One in Switzerland on Friday. He has previously decried the $4billion cost estimate of replacing the presidential fleet The replacement plans have continued, however. In an effort to save costs, the Air Force in August acquired two commercial 747-8s that had been ordered by a Russian airline, but were never delivered after the airline went bankrupt. In September, Boeing was awarded a $599,999,999 contract to conduct preliminary design work for upgrades to the two 747-8s, which are currently being stored at the Southern California Logistics Airport in the Mojave Desert. The design round is set to be complete by the end of 2018, and then upgrade work will begin. When complete, the resulting upgrades will include 'a mission communications system, electrical power upgrades, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities', the Air Force said. The father of an Australian family stranded at an airport in Bali for two days says his children just want to go home. Xavier Edwards, his partner and two young daughters have been stuck at the airport since Thursday, after Mr Edwards claims Jetstar wouldn't let his two-year-old daughter on the flight because she had an infant ticket. The family, from Melbourne, were on holidays on the island and extended their trip to celebrate Zyanna's second birthday on Wednesday. But when they tried to check-in to fly back to Adelaide, ground staff at Bali airport refused to let the little girl board as she was too old to fly on an infant ticket. Xavier Edwards, his partner and two daughters have been stranded in Bali since Thursday, after Mr Edwards claims Jetstar denied his two-year-old daughter on the flight because she had an infant ticket The family, from Melbourne, were on holidays on the resort island and extended their trip to celebrate Zyanna's (pictured) second birthday on Wednesday Ground staff at Bali airport refused to let the little girl board as she was older than required to be able to fly on a infant ticket Mr Edwards, 49, who bought the ticket when his daughter was still a one-year-old, said the fare was 'was bought in good faith and was correct in all aspects'. 'They would not seat her and would not go out the "good faith" purchased ticket when she was still one year old,' he wrote online. 'They demanded we buy another child ticket then tried to extort $900 AUD for the new ticket.' Mr Edwards told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that his young children were struggling after spending two nights sleeping on the floor in the airport. 'They just want to go home,' Mr Edwards said. 'We are trying to make the most of being in Balibut we are all tired and stressed.' 'They would not seat her and would not go out the "good faith" purchased ticket when she was still one year old,' Mr Edwards said Mr Edwards told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that his young children were struggling after spending two nights sleeping on the floor in the airport He said they made a desperate dash to find infant lactose-free baby formula for one of the children. 'It was very expensive here in Bali, but what do we do, she needs to have it,' he said. Mr Edwards confirmed he and his partner knew their daughter would be over the age of two by the time of the departure. 'To note when we booked the tickets we new (sic) the child would be over two at the time of departure. Their computer website would not allow us to buy child ticket cause she was not already two, instead had to purchase infant seat,' he wrote. Jetstar's child policy states: 'If your infant is less than two years old on your outbound flight, they won't need an allocated seat on the return flight, even if they turn two during your trip. However, the airline warns: 'This won't apply if your infant was booked on separate bookings for the outbound and return flight.' Mr Edwards confirmed he and his partner knew their daughter would be over the age of two by the time of the departure A spokesperson for Jetstar said: 'Our booking records show that Mr Edwards had entered the wrong birth date for his two-year old, which made it look like his child was under two' Mr Edwards slammed the airline as 'predatory' and a 'horrible company' who 'need to be exposed'. A spokesperson for Jetstar Australia told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Edwards had entered the wrong date of birth for his daughter in the original booking, and therefore was required to purchase a new ticket. 'It's an international requirement for airlines that children over the age of two need a ticket to travel,' the spokesperson said. 'Our booking records show that Mr Edwards had entered the wrong birth date for his two-year old, which made it look like his child was under two. 'Our staff at Denpasar Airport checked the child's passport and saw she was two and required a separate ticket. 'As a gesture of goodwill we have offered to waive the costs to change their ticket for the flights they missed but they will need to purchase a ticket for their two year old like any other parent.' The owner of one of Australia's biggest department stores has revealed why he will never replace his cashiers with self-serve checkouts. Rod Orrock, chief executive of budget chain store Best&Less, admits the technology behind self-checkout machines drives him 'insane' and refuses to follow in the footsteps of rivals Kmart and Big W. Speaking with news.com.au, Mr Orrock said he believes his customers should never be forced to 'do the retailers work' by scanning their own products and paying a machine. Rod Orrock, chief executive of budget chain store Best&Less, (pictured) admits the technology behind self-checkout machines (pictured) drives him 'insane' and refuses to follow in the footsteps of rivals Kmart and Big W Speaking with news.com.au , Mr Orrock said he believes his customers should never be forced to 'do the retailers work' by scanning their own products and paying a machine (Self-serve checkout at Coles pictured) 'Personally, it drives me insane when I turn up to the checkout with a full basket and I have to do the retailer's work for them,' he said. 'Check-outs are a key touch point between customers and the company, they can come with their questions and talk to our staff and I think that's really important.' He added that the majority of Best&Less customers are mums and families who are more suited to face-to-face interactions with cashiers. It is a belief shared by the brains behind German-based supermarket chain Aldi. Alongside operating some of the most efficient check-out lanes in the world, the grocery giant found the overwhelming majority of its customers actually want to be served by a real person. WHAT PEOPLE HATE ABOUT SELF-SERVE CHECKOUTS 'Item removed from bagging area' warning Having to sift through the fruit and vegetables options to select correct one Not being able to find the right product because it is under a different name Scanning all items to find out the machine is either 'card only' or 'cash only' Not being able to cross off an item without having to flag a server down Waiting in line because the person in front of you can't use the self checkout The barcode won't scan properly no matter how many angles you try When you have too many items and you run out of bagging area Advertisement Retail giants Big W, Kmart, Woolworths and Coles have all slowly implemented self-serve checkouts at all stores across Australia - but the robotic cashiers haven't always been welcomed with open arms. Market research performed at the cusp of the 'self-serve' revolution found most shoppers were intimidated or frustrated by the finicky technology. The biggest problems customers have with the machines was found to be the infuriating 'removed from bagging area' warning, having to sift through the fruit and vegetables options to select correct one and not being able to find the right product because it is under a different name. While Best&Less refuses to follow the latest trends in point-of-sale technology, it is leading the charge in budget clothing. As Australian children gear up to head back to school for another year on Monday, the department store is wooing parents with ultra-cheap uniform packages. Retail giants Big W, Kmart, Woolworths and Coles have all slowly implemented self-serve checkouts at all stores across Australia - but the robotic cashiers haven't always been welcomed with open arms (Stock image) Market research performed at the cusp of the 'self-serve' revolution found most shoppers were intimidated or frustrated by the finicky technology (Stock image) The brains behind German-based supermarket giant Aldi (pictured) also refuse to install self-serve checkouts The store is selling complete school uniforms for under $10 - a pair of shorts for $6, a pair of socks for $1 and tshirtsfor $2.75. Speaking about the outrageous pricing of uniform shops, Best&Less boss Mr Orrock slammed schools for overcharging or directing parents to expensive retailers. 'Why should I pay $25 to my school for a polo just because it has a printed emblem? That shouldn't make it 10 times more expensive. For people on lower incomes they may choose another school if they can't afford the uniform costs,' he told the publication. German supermarket giant Aldi is advertising management positions for a whopping six-figure salary - and applicants don't even need retail experience. The grocery chain store is on the lookout for 50 business-savvy area managers who will earn an impressive pay packet of between $101,000 and $155,000. Surprisingly, the successful applicants won't need to have had a career in retail management; Aldi is hiring people from all sectors including scientists, engineers, teachers, IT experts and psychologists, according to news.com.au. German supermarket giant Aldi is advertising positions for a whopping six-figure salary - and applicants don't even need retail experience (Stock image) The grocery chain store is on the lookout for 50 business -savvy area managers who will earn an impressive pay packet of between $101,000 and $155,000 (stock image) 'It's a great role, with amazing opportunities, so we receive a lot of applications about 9,000 per year,' James Buonopane, corporate finance and administration director at Aldi Academy, told the publication. Job seekers hoping to land an area manager role at Aldi need to have at least a Bachelor's or Master's degree in any discipline. They must also have a minimum of three years experience in business and proven leadership skills. The lucrative position involves overseeing the staff at three to five Aldi stores, recruitment, training and profit-and-loss management. Area managers complete a comprehensive 12-month training course before starting the position and receive an all-expenses-paid car and iPhone. But it is not all fun and games - Aldi area managers work long hours and are responsible for the ongoing success of several of the busy supermarkets. 'It's fast-paced and demanding with long hours, high expectations, and tough goals to achieve. You can't be afraid of getting your hands dirty and with 40-60 team members across a number of stores, you must possess outstanding interpersonal and time management skills,' the job description reads. Area managers complete a comprehensive 12-month training course before assuming the position and are equipped with an all-expenses-paid car and iPhone (Stock image) Job seekers hoping to land an area manager role at Aldi need to have at least a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in any discipline (Stock image) Area manager Kelly Wells is living proof that Aldi's unconventional hiring strategy works. The former Brisbane lawyer quit her corporate job to work at the retail giant and has never looked back, describing it as: 'one of the best things I have ever done'. 'Law is a career that teaches you to understand business, interpretation and problem solving. I have brought all that with me,' she told news.com.au last year. Mr Buonopane said Aldi prefers to hire people outside of the retail sector because they value attitude over industry experience. 'That's why we're less focused on background and more focused on finding people with the right 'Aldi' attitude,' he said. New laws in Poland make it a criminal offence to suggest the country had anything to do with crimes committed by Nazi Germany. Polish lawmakers approved the bill on Friday, making it punishable by up to three years in jail to use suggestive statements like 'Polish death camps'. Poles have fought for years against the use of phrases which suggest Poland was at least partly responsible for the camps where millions of people, mostly Jews, were killed by Nazi Germany. A new law passed in Poland on Friday make it a criminal offence to suggest the country had anything to do with crimes committed by Nazi Germany The camps were built and operated by the Nazis after they invaded Poland in 1939. 'This amendment equips Poland with the most important tools that have long been at the disposal of other countries' Deputy Justice Minister Patryk Jaki told state news agency PAP. Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has invoked Poles' suffering under Nazi occupation - including a death penalty for those who helped Jews - to respond to historical accounts that some Poles also committed crimes against the Jews during the war. PiS is currently battling accusations from the opposition that the party's nationalist-minded, eurosceptic focus was helping to reinvigorate the far right. The bill will also make it illegal to deny the murder of about 100,000 Poles by units in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War II. Poles have fought for years against the use the phrase 'Polish death camps' which suggest Poland was at least partly responsible for the camps where millions people, mostly Jews, were killed by Nazis The move could increase tensions with neighbouring Ukraine, although artistic and scientific activity will be exempt. The head of the Ukrainian national remembrance institute said on social media on Thursday that passing of the bill was likely to halt cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish historians. In November, Ukraine summoned the Polish ambassador in an escalation of a diplomatic spat over the two neighbours' troubled past. Police are seeking this woman over a robbery A manhunt is underway after a Woodridge service station employee was robbed at knifepoint on Australia Day. Footage released by the Queensland Police service shows the woman approaching the Compton Road business at around 6.40pm on Friday dressed in a white cat, shirt and shorts. She allegedly threatened a male staff member with a blade and demanded money. The staff member complied and handed over a sum of cash. A woman has entered a Woodridge service station and pulled a knife on the male employee The woman then left the store with the blade still held in front of her body. The male staff member was not physically injured during the incident. The robber is described as a Caucasian, slim build, about 170cm tall with brown hair. Police believe that she is in her 20s. Anyone who recognises the woman or has further information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444. A pair of young children got the fright of their lives when two killer whales stalked them during a summer swim. Terrifying footage shows the youngsters desperately trying to swim away from the curious orcas off Waiheke Island in New Zealand earlier this week. The whales were seen getting close to the youngsters off Waiheke Island, New Zealand. As they approached, the children can be heard screaming in fear before clinging to each other for dear life. Terrifying footage shows two children (left) desperately trying to swim away from the curious orcas earlier this week (right) Onlookers can be heard telling the children to 'stay still' and let the huge whales pass. 'That's a lifetime experience for you,' one onlooker could be heard saying as the two orcas swam past the children and back out to sea. New Zealand orca expert Poppy Halliday told WA Today the behaviour of the whales was fairly typical. Ms Halliday said the orcas would have detected the children from up to 80m away, coming past for a closer look. 'There's never been an attack by orca on humans in the wild that anyone's aware of,' she said. The giant mammals were seen getting close to the youngsters off Waiheke Island, New Zealand Britain's Brexit transition could stretch to as long as three years, it has been reported. Officials are said to be in talks with their Brussels counterparts about the possibility of extending the official Government transition target of 'around two years' by 12 months. It has been reported senior Whitehall officials are privately apprehensive about the possibility of a two-year time limit, especially given the challenges presented by a potential 'hard Brexit'. Britain's Brexit transition could stretch to as long as three years, it has been reported And now, as the Cabinet continues to fracture over the terms of our leaving the EU, senior British officials have raised the possibility of extending the transition period, according to the Daily Telegraph. The possibility of an extended transition will likely further anger the pro-Brexit wing of the Tory party, and Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Telegraph Britain is heading for 'Brino' - Brexit in name only. Theresa May has already faced a series of challenges on the issue and yesterday furious Tories are demanded she sack 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. Officials are said to be in talks with their Brussels counterparts about the possibility of extending the official Government transition target of 'around two years' by 12 months It comes as a poll revealed more Britons favour a second referendum on European Union membership than oppose another vote. 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. 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. And yesterday Brexit Secretary David Davis said the free movement of EU citizens in Britain will continue in all but name until at least 2021. A Government spokesman said: 'This is a categoric lie. The time limited period should be determined by the length of time it takes to put in place new arrangements and we believe that should be around two years.' Dear BBC Audience, My name is Carrie Gracie and I have been a BBC journalist for three decades. With great regret, I have left my post as China Editor to speak out publicly on a crisis of trust at the BBC. The BBC belongs to you, the licence fee payer. I believe you have a right to know that it is breaking equality law and resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure. In thirty years at the BBC, I have never sought to make myself the story and never publicly criticised the organisation I love. I am not asking for more money. I believe I am very well paid already especially as someone working for a publicly funded organisation. I simply want the BBC to abide by the law and value men and women equally. On pay, the BBC is not living up to its stated values of trust, honesty and accountability. Salary disclosures the BBC was forced to make six months ago revealed not only unacceptably high pay for top presenters and managers but also an indefensible pay gap between men and women doing equal work. These revelations damaged the trust of BBC staff. For the first time, women saw hard evidence of what they'd long suspected, that they are not being valued equally. Many have since sought pay equality through internal negotiation but managers still deny there is a problem. This bunker mentality is likely to end in a disastrous legal defeat for the BBC and an exodus of female talent at every level. Mine is just one story of inequality among many, but I hope it will help you understand why I feel obliged to speak out. I am a China specialist, fluent in Mandarin and with nearly three decades of reporting the story. Four years ago, the BBC urged me to take the newly created post of China Editor. I knew the job would demand sacrifices and resilience. I would have to work 5000 miles from my teenage children, and in a heavily censored one-party state I would face surveillance, police harassment and official intimidation. I accepted the challenges while stressing to my bosses that I must be paid equally with my male peers. Like many other BBC women, I had long suspected that I was routinely paid less, and at this point in my career, I was determined not to let it happen again. Believing that I had secured pay parity with men in equivalent roles, I set off for Beijing. In the past four years, the BBC has had four international editors - two men and two women. The Equality Act 2010 states that men and women doing equal work must receive equal pay. But last July I learned that in the previous financial year, the two men earned at least 50% more than the two women. Despite the BBC's public insistence that my appointment demonstrated its commitment to gender equality, and despite my own insistence that equality was a condition of taking up the post, my managers had yet again judged that women's work was worth much less than men's. My bewilderment turned to dismay when I heard the BBC complain of being forced to make these pay disclosures. Without them, I and many other BBC women would never have learned the truth. I told my bosses the only acceptable resolution would be for all the international editors to be paid the same amount. The right amount would be for them to decide, and I made clear I wasn't seeking a pay rise, just equal pay. Instead the BBC offered me a big pay rise which remained far short of equality. It said there were differences between roles which justified the pay gap, but it has refused to explain these differences. Since turning down an unequal pay rise, I have been subjected to a dismayingly incompetent and undermining grievance process which still has no outcome. Enough is enough. The rise of China is one of the biggest stories of our time and one of the hardest to tell. I cannot do it justice while battling my bosses and a byzantine complaints process. Last week I left my role as China Editor and will now return to my former post in the TV newsroom where I expect to be paid equally. For BBC women this is not just a matter of one year's salary or two. Taking into account disadvantageous contracts and pension entitlements, it is a gulf that will last a lifetime. Many of the women affected are not highly paid 'stars' but hard-working producers on modest salaries. Often women from ethnic minorities suffer wider pay gaps than the rest. This is not the gender pay gap that the BBC admits to. It is not men earning more because they do more of the jobs which pay better. It is men earning more in the same jobs or jobs of equal value. It is pay discrimination and it is illegal. On learning the shocking scale of inequality last July, BBC women began to come together to tackle the culture of secrecy that helps perpetuate it. We shared our pay details and asked male colleagues to do the same. Meanwhile the BBC conducted various reviews. The outgoing Director of News said last month, 'We did a full equal pay audit which showed there is equal pay across the BBC.' But this was not a full audit. It excluded the women with the biggest pay gaps. The BBC has now begun a 'talent review' but the women affected have no confidence in it. Up to two hundred BBC women have made pay complaints only to be told repeatedly there is no pay discrimination at the BBC. Can we all be wrong? I no longer trust our management to give an honest answer. In fact, the only BBC women who can be sure they do not suffer pay discrimination are senior managers whose salaries are published. For example, we have a new, female, Director of News who did not have to fight to earn the same as her male predecessor because his 340 000 salary was published and so was hers. Elsewhere, pay secrecy makes BBC women as vulnerable as they are in many other workplaces. How to put things right? The BBC must admit the problem, apologise and set in place an equal, fair and transparent pay structure. To avoid wasting your licence fee on an unwinnable court fight against female staff, the BBC should immediately agree to independent arbitration to settle individual cases. Patience and good will are running out. In the six months since July's revelations, the BBC has attempted a botched solution based on divide and rule. It has offered some women pay 'revisions' which do not guarantee equality, while locking down other women in a protracted complaints process. We have felt trapped. Speaking out carries the risk of disciplinary measures or even dismissal; litigation can destroy careers and be financially ruinous. What's more the BBC often settles cases out of court and demands non-disclosure agreements, a habit unworthy of an organisation committed to truth, and one which does nothing to resolve the systemic problem. None of this is an indictment of individual managers. I am grateful for their personal support and for their editorial integrity in the face of censorship pressure in China. But for far too long, a secretive and illegal BBC pay culture has inflicted dishonourable choices on those who enforce it. This must change. Meanwhile we are by no means the only workplace with hidden pay discrimination and the pressure for transparency is only growing. I hope rival news organisations will not use this letter as a stick with which to beat the BBC, but instead reflect on their own equality issues. It is painful to leave my China post abruptly and to say goodbye to the team in the BBC's Beijing bureau. But most of them are brilliant young women. I don't want their generation to have to fight this battle in the future because my generation failed to win it now. To women of any age in any workplace who are confronting pay discrimination, I wish you the solidarity of a strong sisterhood and the support of male colleagues. It is a century since women first won the right to vote in Britain. Let us honour that brave generation by making this the year we win equal pay. Advertisement A suicide bomber using an ambulance has killed 95 people and wounded at least 158 more in the Afghan capital Kabul. The attack has been claimed by the Taliban and occurred near foreign embassies and government buildings, a week after a deadly assault on the Intercontinental Hotel. 'The suicide bomber used an ambulance to pass through the checkpoint,' said interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. 'He passed through the first checkpoint saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital and at the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew his explosive-laden car. The explosion happened in a crowded part of the city where embassies are located and Kabul police have their headquarters Security forces at the scene of the explosion, which ripped through the busy centre of Kabul Smoke continued to billow from the scene of the car bomb. Also nearby are the offices of the High Peace Council, which is negotiating with the Taliban People try to remove debris from the scene of a suicide bomb attack, which has been blamed on the pro-Taliban Haqqani network One of the at least 158 wounded is taken to hospital. The High Peace Council said its checkpoint was targetted A suicide bomber used an ambulance laden with explosives to carry out the atrocity. The force of the blast blew part of a building down the street The bomber managed to get through one checkpoint but when he was recognised at a second, detonated the device A boy injured in the blast sits in an ambulance. He is among the scores of people wounded in the car bomb Bloodied survivors of the explosion being taken to hospital in an ambulance after the attack, which happened on what is a working day in Afghanistan A man who was injured in a bomb explosion is rushed to a hospital. The Taliban have now claimed responsibility for the attack An interior ministry spokesman blamed the Haqqani network, a militant group affiliated with the Taliban which Afghan and Western officials consider to be behind many of the biggest attacks on urban targets in Afghanistan. The blast tore through a crowded street in a busy part of the city at lunchtime on what is a working day in Afghanistan, leaving torn bodies strewn on the street nearby amid rubble and debris. The force of the blast shook windows of buildings more than a mile away and shattered windows within hundreds of yards of the site. People helped walking-wounded away as ambulances with sirens wailing inched their way through the traffic-clogged streets of the city centre. A man told local media he was passing the area when the explosion happened. 'I heard a big bang and I fainted,' he said, outside the Emergency hospital. 'There were dozens of people who were killed and wounded. There were pools of blood.' At least 95 people have been killed and 151 wounded in the attack. By-standers did what they could to get the wounded to hospital A wounded man is assisted at the site of an explosion in downtown Kabul, near to the embassies district Some of the scores of people wounded in the bomb attack being taken to hospital. The sound of ambulance sirens filled the air of central Kabul Afghan volunteers carry the body at the scene of a the explosion, near the old Ministry of the Interior building The explosion happened in a busy part of the city where the High Peace Council, which is charged with negotiating with the Taliban, has offices. 'It targeted our checkpoint. It was really huge - all our windows are broken,' said Hassina Safi, a member of High Peace Council. 'So far we don't have any reports if any of our members are wounded or killed.' The Swedish and Dutch embassies as well as the European Union representation and an Indian consular office are also nearby. 'It is a massacre,' said Dejan Panic coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a nearby trauma hospital. The group said more than 50 wounded had been brought in to that hospital alone. Mirwais Yasini, a member of parliament who was nearby when the explosion occurred, said the ambulance approached the checkpoint, close to an office of the High Peace Council and a number of foreign embassies, and blew up. The sound of ambulance sirens pierced the air as wounded survivors were taken to hospital for treatment Kabul's hospitals soon began to fill up with scores of people wounded in the suicide bomb attack The force of the blast shook windows of buildings more than a mile away and shattered panes within hundreds of yards of the site The suicide bomb comes a week after the Taliban attacked the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, killing 22 Kabul police headquarters is also in the vicinity of the blast. Yasini said a number of people were lying on the ground. A loud explosion rattled windows and photos posted online purportedly of the blast showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the sky. 'I can confirm an explosion happened near the old interior ministry building in Kabul,' interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP. The explosion comes exactly a week after Taliban militants stormed the luxury hotel killing at least 22 people, the majority foreigners. The latest attack will add pressure on President Ashraf Ghani and his U.S. allies, who have expressed growing confidence that a new more aggressive military strategy has succeeded in driving Taliban insurgents back from major provincial centres. The United States has stepped up its assistance to Afghan security forces and increased its air strikes against the Taliban and other militant groups, aiming to break a stalemate and force the insurgents to the negotiating table. However, the Taliban have dismissed suggestions that they have been weakened by the new strategy and the latest attacks have demonstrated that their capacity to mount deadly, high- profile attacks remains undiminished. This is the terrifying moment a wild elephant ferociously headbutts a safari vehicle full of tourists so hard its tusk rips off. Footage shows the majestic creature emerging from the wilderness and chasing the jeep down a sandy dirt track. It then headbutts the moving vehicle several times, shoving tourists forward in their seats, at the Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. Nail-biting footage shows the elephant making a deafening trumpeting sound as it hurtles towards the group. It rams into the back of the Jeep with such force that one of its tusks can be heard ripping off. The enraged creature then slows its pace and lets the vehicle drive away. This is the terrifying moment a wild elephant ferociously headbutts a safari vehicle full of tourists at the Chobe National Park in northern Botswana Footage shows the majestic creature emerging from the wilderness and chasing the jeep down a sandy dirt track It then headbutts the moving vehicle several times, shoving tourists forward in their seats and ramming it with such force that one of its tusks can be heard ripping off Seconds earlier, the herd could be seen crossing a dirt track as the tourists passed by in the open-door vehicle. One elephant scurried off into the wilderness with her baby. But the angry member of the herd behind made a beeline for the spectators, who can be heard shrieking and laughing during the commotion. The astonishing footage was captured last week by one of the tourists sitting inside the Jeep. Seconds earlier, the herd could be seen crossing a dirt track as the tourists passed by in the open-door vehicle. One elephant scurried off into the wilderness with her baby (pictured) Chobe National Park is among Botswana's most diverse wildlife areas. Herds of elephants, buffaloes and zebras are just some of the incredible creatures which roam the picturesque park. It is one of the country's most popular safari holiday locations. A man has been charged after a gun and gas bottles were found in a car near an Adelaide beach on Australia Day, but authorities say it's not related to terrorism. The man was arrested on Friday after a member of the public spotted a rifle and other suspicious items in a car at Adelaide's Aldinga Beach. Police on Saturday charged the 43-year-old Whites Valley man with possessing an object to threaten or with intent to cause serious harm, and unlawful possession of a firearm. A man will face Christies Beach Magistrates Court (pictured) charged with possessing an object to threaten or with intent to cause serious harm and unlawful possession of a firearm Police say the incident is not terrorism related after the bomb unit examined the car and a gun and two empty gas bottles were seized. 'Although the items found in the car were used in connection with the making of explosive devices, the incident is not terror related,' South Australia Police said in statement. The 43-year-old man has been refused police bail and will appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday. Aldinga Beach Rd was closed while police and emergency services were on the scene, but is now open as normal. Anyone with further information that may assist the investigation is asked to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online. A Victorian woman is among thousands of Australians with an overseas cosmetic disaster story to share after her lip tattoo turned green in Tahiti. Karine Barry travelled to the South Pacific island to get a permanent tattoo on her lips because she believed Polynesians were the 'best tattooists in the world'. But the 50-year-old said the procedure went horribly wrong and made her look 'like a clown'. Karine Barry travelled to Tahiti to get a permanent tattoo on her lips because they were the 'best tattooists in the world' but it turned out green (pictured), leaving her looking 'like a clown' The tattooist mixed blue, green and pink, promising Ms Barry the ink would turn burgundy. 'I don't know how these things work, so I trusted him. When [the tattoo] came up completely green, I panicked,' she told news.com.au. Three months later, the 50-year-old, who has been getting semi permanent tattoos for decades, still had a thin green line around her lips. 'It was very bright, so even with makeup and lipstick on top it was very bright. No matter what I was doing, it was there,' Ms Barry said. Three months later, the 50-year-old, who has been getting semi permanent tattoos for decades, still had a thin green line around her lips so went to a laser tattoo removal clinic Fed up with her green lips, the Victorian woman went to a laser tattoo removal clinic where the colour faded in the first session. 'The first session was spectacular. The bottom was practically gone. I wanted to give them a hug I was so relieved,' she said. Around $1,600 and four laser sessions later, just a few small needle marks from the tattoo gun is all that's noticeable. Laser Dermatology Dr Philip Bekhor said he constantly had clients who were unhappy with their cosmetic tattoos and advised people to do their research before getting a procedure. BBC North America editor Jon Sopel has not agreed to have his pay cut, despite the BBC reporting he had BBC North America editor Jon Sopel had not agreed to have his pay cut when the broadcaster published reports saying he was one of six prominent men in the organisation to have his salary reduced. It follows outcries over gender pay disparity at the organisation following China editor Carrie Gracie's resignation. Mr Sopel had only heard about the prospect of pay reduction 24 hours earlier. The veteran broadcaster, who is currently reporting from the Davos summit, did not know his name would appear in news reports. He is willing to negotiate his salary, but does not understand how his name had been released following only one 'private conservation' on the matter, the Times reported. Others prominent men named taking pay cuts were Nick Robinson, John Humphrys, Jeremy Vine, Huw Edwards and Nicky Campbell. The BBC is also targeting Andrew Marr and Eddie Mair to take hefty salary reductions. It is not known how BBC online journalists obtained Mr Sopel's name - but it was not announced by management and the accuracy of the BBC's reporting were raised at the broadcaster's morning news meeting. There could be further embarrassment for the corporation as leaking private salary discussions may be a breach of employment law. The Times today reports that the BBC online story was rewritten to remove the names and said the corporation was still 'in discussions' with Mr Sopel, however the BBC website this morning still named the North America editor as one of the men that was taking a paycut. Speaking to the MailOnline, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Like with any story, the BBC news website is updated as the story moves on such as individuals making public statements about their pay.' This morning, a BBC spokesperson added the corporation was 'in conversation' with it's highly paid male presenters and that they still 'understand Sopel's pay will be reduced'. They added a lot will be happening next week regarding a pay review and that they are not commenting on the Times report or when the Sopel agreed to the pay cut. A spokesperson said: 'We are very grateful to Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson, and Jeremy Vine, who have agreed that their pay will now be reduced. 'These are great journalists and presenters, who have a real connection with the audience. We are proud to have them working at the BBC. 'The final details of some of these changes are still being discussed, and there are further conversations that the BBC will have with others in due course.' Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys, Huw Edwards and Nicky Campbell have all agreed - either formally or in principle - to reduce their salaries, the corporation reported. Radio 4 Today presenter Nick Robinson has also agreed cuts, while the BBC is targeting Andrew Marr and Eddie Mair to take hefty salary reductions as well. Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine (left) is one of the highest paid stars, earning up to 750,000 a year. John Humphrys (right), on up to 650,000, has offered to take a third voluntary pay cut Mr Marr and Mr Mair are currently two of the biggest earners in the BBC News department, taking home the best part of 1million between them. According to insiders, bosses are planning to cut salaries amid concerns that they are dramatically out of kilter with the rest of the corporation - but there is no suggestion anyone has been forced to take a pay decrease. Mr Marr, 58, is paid between 400,000 and 450,000 for hosting two shows a week Start the Week on Radio 4 and his political discussion programme, The Andrew Marr Show, on BBC1 on Sundays. His contract is up for renewal later this year, meaning that BBC would be able to impose a cut on Mr Marr with or without his blessing. A senior insider said: 'It marks negotiation point'. Meanwhile Mr Mair, 52, receives between 300,000 and 350,000 a year as the host of Radio 4's daily show, PM. The BBC has also asked News at Ten anchor Huw Edwards (left) to take a sizeable reduction to his pay packet of between 550,000 and 600,000 a year. Radio Five Live presenter Nicky Campbell (right), who earns up to 450,000 a year, told his listeners he had taken a pay cut It is not clear whether the BBC will be able to force him to accept a pay cut, or whether he is a permanent member of staff in which case the broadcaster would need to win his agreement. The BBC would not comment on the negotiations although a source confirmed that it is in discussions with a 'range of news presenters' about their pay. BBC presenter Andrew Marr is paid up to 450,000 for hosting two shows a week 'The news market is very different than ten years ago. The reality is that some of the deals we have done in the past have not stood the test of time,' the source added. Today, BBC Radio Five Live presenter Mr Campbell, who was revealed last year to earn between 400,000-450,000 a year, told his listeners that he had taken a pay cut. After a news story about male presenters was read out, the Scottish broadcaster confirmed he was also on the list, telling his co-presenter 'you're not going to interview me are you?' He added: 'It's all very civilised and collegiate.' If Mr Marr and Mr Mair accept the new deals, they will be in good company. The Mail revealed on Thursday that Mr Humphrys has offered to take a third voluntary pay cut amid the ongoing gender pay row. The veteran broadcaster was paid between 600,000 and 650,000 last year, according to the BBC's pay disclosures. He has already agreed to give up 120,000 of that sum, and could surrender another 80,000 in the current round of discussions. Mr Humphrys said today: 'I've been at the BBC for an awfully long time and I've been paid very well and I'm not exactly on the breadline.' Asked if the cut would make a difference to his day-to-day life, he said: 'I don't think I'll be selling matches in the street or whatever.... I'm being facetious. I've been very well paid for a very long time.' Eddie Mair, 52, receives up to 350,000 a year as the host of BBC Radio 4's daily show, PM Meanwhile, the BBC has also asked News at Ten anchor Mr Edwards to take a sizable reduction to his pay packet of between 550,000 and 600,000 a year. The cuts for male stars come as the BBC braces itself for the next public shaming in its gender pay row. Director general Lord Hall will be hauled back in front of MPs next week to answer claims by Ms Gracie that the BBC has a 'secretive and illegal' pay structure. The BBC is also poised to publish its long-awaited review of pay for on-screen staff. The BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel received 200,000-250,000 last year The PWC report will examine pay at all levels of the corporation, and not just amongst the 96 stars whose pay details were disclosed last summer. However, a phalanx of BBC presenters has already warned Lord Hall that they are likely to publicly reject the findings. Mr Mair's spokesman could not be reached for comment. Mr Marr said yesterday that he 'understands' the need for pay cuts but has not been informed of the plan. 'I've had no communication of any kind whatsoever. Even the BBC, if they had decided something like that, would have told me,' he said. Last year, the broadcaster published a list of its top earners, setting out the pay for staff on more than 150,000, revealing a shocking gap in the earnings of its most well-known male and female presenters and actors. Radio 2's Chris Evans topped the list on more than 2 million while the highest paid woman was Claudia Winkleman on between 450,000 and 499,999. Mr Humphrys said at the time: 'I have taken a couple of sizeable, very large, very sizeable pay cuts just recently. How much? I don't know... Would I chop my salary in half? Maybe I would, I don't know.' The BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her role in protest at unequal pay, and called for men and women at the corporation to be paid the same Radio 2 host Mr Vine was one of the highest paid stars, earning 700,000-750,000, while Mr Sopel received 200,000-250,000. Ms Gracie revealed she had been earning 135,000 before the BBC offered her a 45,000 rise, which she rejected. Downing Street said today that while pay policy was a matter for the BBC any move to address the gender gap would be welcome. Which male BBC hosts have cut their pay or are being targeted? Agreed either formally or in principle to reduce their salaries: Jeremy Vine (current annual salary of up to 750,000) John Humphrys (650,000) Huw Edwards (600,000) Nicky Campell (450,000) Nick Robinson (300,000) Jon Sopel (250,000) Still being targeted by the BBC to take a salary cut (but have not agreed one): Andrew Marr (450,000) Eddie Mair (350,000) Advertisement A Number 10 spokesman said: 'What the Prime Minister has said is she wants there to be equality of pay. 'Any moves from the BBC to continue to take that seriously would be welcomed.' A BBC spokesman told MailOnline today: 'We are very grateful to Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson, and Jeremy Vine, who have agreed that their pay will now be reduced. 'These are great journalists and presenters, who have a real connection with the audience. We are proud to have them working at the BBC. 'The final details of some of these changes are still being discussed, and there are further conversations that the BBC will have with others in due course' Earlier this month, controversial off-air comments made by Mr Humphrys about the equal pay row were heard in a leaked recording. The broadcasting veteran was heard to say he could hand over more than the entire salary of his colleague Mr Sopel, and still be 'left with more than anybody else'. Mr Humphrys told ITV News he backed equal pay, stating: 'We are in habit, Jon and I, of winding each other up and the purpose of this jokey - I emphasise jokey - exchange was a bit of mutual mickey-taking, and that is all it was.' The BBC said at the time it was 'committed to getting its pay structures right' and that it was conducting a 'comprehensive analysis' of presenter pay. A Manus Island asylum seeker who went on hunger strike for more than 20 days has been tied to a hospital bed and intravenously fed. The 42-year-old Iranian man was tubed in a Papua New Guinea hospital after refusing to eat in protest of 'poor medical treatment' on the island. Hospital staff held such grave fears for his survival they sought court permission to force nutrients into his body, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. The 42-year-old Iranian man (pictured) was reportedly tubed in a Papua New Guinea hospital after refusing to eat in protest of 'poor medical treatment' A nurse said if the man wasn't transferred to Australia for medical treatment soon, he would likely die in Port Moresby, the island's capital city. 'We are concerned for his life,' the nurse said on Friday. 'What's next? How can we keep someone who's not eating?' Amnesty International said force-feeding the man without consent was a violation of his right to be protected from 'cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment'. Fellow asylum seeker and journalist, Behrouz Boochani, shared the confronting photo to social media on Friday. Manus Island's new accommodation arranged for 600 asylum seekers formerly detained on Manus Island (pictured is the East Lorengau Transit Refugee Centre) The Lorengau accommodation is a stark contrast to the Manus Island facility (pictured) 'A refugee in Port Moresby hospital has been on hunger strike for 20 days. He has high blood pressure and diabetes and the doctors have forced him to eat by getting authority from the court,' his post read. In the photo, the man lays bound to a hospital bed by large white bandaging in three sections, while several tubes poke out from his left arm. A staff member confirmed he had been intravenously administered food after refusing sustenance, but was only tied down while being fed. He has been receiving treatment at Pacific International Hospital for more than a month, with staff saying describing him as a 'lovely' patient before the hunger strike. Nurses noted a sudden 'mood change' in the man after a few weeks, after which he began removing tubes and refusing to eat. Fellow asylum seeker and journalist, Behrouz Boochani, shared the confronting photo to social media on Friday Trashed rooms, rubbish strewn everywhere and crumbling infrastructure can be seen in old photographs taken at the Manus Island detention centre (pictured) Mr Boochani said the asylum seeker had extensive medical problems, including a leg injury, since arriving on Christmas Island in July 2013. The journalist was on the same boat as the man and was sent on the same plane to the Manus Island detention centre in August that year. He said his friend was protesting out of frustration at the system and the lack of adequate medical treatment he had received. Having been well liked among the community, Mr Boochani said his dire emotional state had been exacerbated given he was also being held in isolation. A staff member at the hospital revealed on Saturday afternoon the asylum seeker had started eating again. Australia will miss out on economic opportunities in Africa at this rate, he said Mr Marles recommended that Dutton and the federal government 'butt out' He said Dutton was 'playing with fire' when he 'politicised' African gang violence Richard Marles has slammed Peter Dutton for attacking African-Australian communities A Victorian Labor leader has warned the Turnbull Government that 'politicising' African gang violence is risky and ill-advised. Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles has slammed Peter Dutton for attacking African communities and recommended that he 'butt out' of the issue, the Herald Sun reported. 'As a Victorian I do not feel threatened by this issue,' the Corio MP siad. 'I have complete confidence in the way the Victorian government is handling it.' 'Having the federal government weigh in they way they did...They are playing with fire.' Scroll down for video Peter Dutton has previously claimed people in Melbourne are scared to go out because of African gang violence. A group of youths are seen gesturing at police during a confrontation in the city's west earlier this year He pointed out that the African community in Australia could be 'fundamental' to realising overseas economic opportunities as Africa 'continues to rapidly emerge economically'. Dutton's aggressive approach to Australian-Africans is an 'epic fail', and likely to 'squander a very important relationship with Africa', he said. Peter Dutton's remarks about the African community have escalated recently, with Home Affairs minister claiming that Melburnians were frightened of dining out at night because of 'gang crime'. Ambulance was called at around 1.50pm after reports she had a medical episode A man has been charged over the murder of a 22-month-old girl who died of 'unexplained injuries'. Michael Wild, 28, is due to appear at Salford Magistrates' Court today after Ella-Rose Clover died on Sunday. Ella was rushed by ambulance from Wythenshawe,Manchester, to hospital at around 1.50pm after reports she was having a medical episode. Michael Wild, 28, is due to appear at Salford Magistrates' Court today after Ella-Rose Clover died on Sunday Tributes to toddler Ella Rose Clover have been made across social media following her death caused by 'unexplained injuries' Medics could not save her life after her arrival and she was pronounced dead on arrival. A postmortem revealed she had unexplained injuries and detectives launched an investigation. The baby girl's mother Pagan Clover said: 'Mine, my family and friend's world has been torn apart by the loss of our beautiful Ella-Rose. 'Ella was the funniest, cheekiest and most lovable little girl and none of our lives will ever be the same again. 'We are broken beyond words and would ask that our privacy is respected at this most difficult time and we are allowed to grieve in peace.' A 34-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail pending further inquiries. Ella Rose has been described by her family as the 'funniest, cheekiest and most lovable little girl' - they say none of their lives will ever be the same again Police were called to the Wythenshawe area on Sunday afternoon following reports that a 22-month-old girl was having a 'medical episode' A 34-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail pending further inquiries A GoFundMe site has been set up for Ella Rose's 'final goodbye' by her mother's best friend Jessica Booth. The appeal stated: 'Ella Rose was such an amazing little girl [who] no matter what was always smiling, she could walk into a room and light it up, sadly on 21.01.18 Ella-rose grew her angel wings, this is a sad and devastating time for everyone who has had the pleasure to be part of Ella's life, we've set this page up for any family and friends to make donations towards Ella's final goodbye. Everyone loves you princess, sleep tight Bells xx' The fund had reached 1,335 by Thursday, exceeding its target. Ella Rose's auntie Olivia paid tribute to the toddler on Sunday night. She wrote: 'So tonight we lost this beautiful little angel so proud to be your auntie you was such a strong little girl that did us all proud but your in a better and safer place now gorgeous! I hope you have lots of fun up there Ella Auntie Liv loves you so much.' Olivia - who was sitting in the back seat with her seatbelt on - suffered fatal back injuries in the impact The wife of a doctor jailed for killing his daughter in a crash while 'driving like a lunatic' has spoken of her husband's 'mental torture' after watching him being sent down by a judge. Dr Chizoro Edohasim was jailed for four years after being found guilty of causing the death by dangerous driving of Olivia, nine, and a second count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving of another daughter Eva, 11. He had been at the wheel of his Toyota Auris in May 2016 when it raced through a red light at speeds of up to 59mph in Altrincham, Manchester, and crashed into a brick wall. Olivia died at the scene while Eva spent a month in hospital with serious abdominal injuries. Dr Edohasim, who has another daughter aged eight, also sustained injuries. After Judge Stuart Driver QC sentenced Dr Edohasim at Minshull Street Crown Court, the medical researcher had to be dragged from the dock to start his custodial term. The wife of Chizoro Edohasim, 47, who was jailed for causing the death of their nine-year-old daughter, has slammed the judge and said, 'this is not justice'. Pictured: Mr Edohasim His wife Bethel wailed: 'This is not justice - we have lost our daughter.' She later spoke about the impact the trial - and her husband's sentence - has had on the family. 'The way this case has been handled is appalling,' she said. 'What happened was an accident and we lost our daughter Olivia. Nobody seems to care about the children or us as a family. We have not been given the chance to grieve or come to terms with what happened to us. 'What do I tell the girls when I get home? They are very close to their dad, he is involved in every part of their lives. 'On that Saturday he was taking them for a maths lesson. He wants them to achieve their full potential. 'What has he done wrong? Don't accidents happen any more? In whose interest is this? It is not in my children's interest, it is not in the public's interest. 'We are the ones suffering here. My daughters have lost a sister and now they are losing their dad.' The black Toyota Auris (pictured) was almost completely destroyed following the horror crash Mrs Edohasim, 42, a part-time teacher, revealed the agony of having to break the news to Eva that her sister had died. 'I couldn't tell her straight away,' she said. 'She was in intensive care for two weeks, so I didn't want to tell her much. 'We broke the news to her when she was back on the ward. She was devastated and crying. It was heartbreaking.' The injuries he suffered in the incident left him in a wheelchair Mrs Edohasim also gave a moving tribute to Olivia, saying: 'She was the kind of child everyone would wish for - honest, bright, smart, got on with everyone. 'If there was a child in the playground who had no-one to play with she would go over and give them a hug and play with them. She was that kind of girl.' Mrs Edohasim said she and her daughters had sent a series of letters to the judge. 'I have heard that in cases like this the victim's views are sought,' she said. 'We are the victims, but they have not asked me or the children for our views. 'With this kind of sentence, somehow we don't seem to matter.' 'The fact that he was driving the car when his daughter died is mental torture for him. 'I used to hold the British justice system in high esteem but from the word go this has been managed in the wrong manner. We are law-abiding citizens, we have paid our taxes and we have never been in trouble with the law. It doesn't make sense.' German police are suing a female American academic after she called them 'Nazis' in a row over liquids in her carry-on bag at Frankfurt International Airport. Professor of Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University, C Christine Fairs, is alleged to have hurled abuse at the officers after being refused boarding. Police say the 49-year-old woman became 'unreasonable and irritated' when they told her she had too many liquids in her carry-on during a screening for explosives. Professor of Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University, C Christine Fairs, is alleged to have hurled abuse at the officers after being refused boarding at Frankfurt International. Police say the 49-year-old woman became 'unreasonable and irritated' before her Nazi slur It was at this point, police say, that she called them 'f****** b*******' and 'f******* German Nazi police' - claims denied by Fairs. She instead claims the Nazi comments were indirectly about a young, fellow traveller sporting a 'Hitler Youth' haircut who seemed to have avoided the attention of airport staff. In a 4,000 word description of the events published in the Huffington Post, Fairs wrote: 'I was literally framed, arrested and, for all intents and purposes, robbed by the Frankfurt airport and German state police.' Adding about the fellow traveller: '[Police] were too busy ... to notice the fellow conspicuously sporting the preferred coiffure of the Hitlers Youth.' She described the events further in her Huffington Post blog: 'As I put my tampons, cruddy travel panties and long-worn travel bras back into my suitcase, I muttered to myself while shaking my head The crack German police have seized my deodorantbut they dont seem to care about that Nazi-looking dude over there! 'And, as I was still shaking my head in disbelief, I was actually arrested.' The altercation has led to preliminary criminal proceedings being brought against her on suspicion of slander, plus a 181-fine (207) for any subsequent legal expenses. Fair claims the Nazi comments were indirectly about a young, fellow traveller sporting a 'Hitler Youth' haircut who seemed to have avoided the attention of airport staff. She published a 4,000 word description of the events published in the Huffington Post Fair previously made headlines following a vitriolic disagreement with a Muslim ex-colleague. The academic was incensed after Asra Q Nomani, 'lifelong liberal', wrote an article about voting for Donald Trump as a Muslim immigrant. In a Washington Post article, Nomani said she was motivated by a distaste for Obama's edging around using the phrase 'Islamic extremism', the cost of Obamacare and what she saw as Obama's failure to help poor and rural Americans. Two days after that, on December 6, Nomani says, Fair wrote a foul-mouthed Facebook rant titled 'An open letter to Asra Nomani and her Trump-supporting ilk.' Fair previously made headlines following a vitriolic disagreement with a Muslim ex-colleague. The academic was incensed after Asra Q Nomani, 'lifelong liberal', wrote an article about voting for Donald Trump as a Muslim immigrant In a screenshot of the alleged letter - which is no longer visible to non-friends on Fair's account - Fair admits to privately telling Nomani to 'go to Hell' and 'f**k off' after a 'disingenuous' call for dialogue from the Muslim woman. The post notes that 'my critical tweets did not violate Twitter rules' and complaints about Nomani going to the Georgetown supervisors. 'My social media does not mention my employer,' the post says. 'It is not their business to whom I tell to "F**k off" or "go to hell". 'Would this poltroon call her neighbor's boss if she had an argument that escalated to her neighbor telling her "F**k you"? Probably not.' The post derides Nomani as 'neither a journalist nor an educationalist' but 'a sensationalist trafficking in controversial positions for no obvious intellectual reasons'. It concludes: 'So again, Ms Nomani "F**K YOU, GO TO HELL."' Nomani says that Fair sent another tweet, calling her a 'crybully', on December 22 - one month on from the initial barrage. A teenage boy and a 24-year-old cheerleader were celebrating Australia Day on a Queensland property with 50 other revellers when they mysteriously drowned. Kirsty Cini, 24, vanished after she was seen going down a water slide on the edge of a dam in rural Julatten, about 85km north-west of Cairns. During a desperate search for the woman, the body of a second victim, 15-year-old Zack Jenkins, was found. The teen, from Mossman in Queensland, was last seen 20 minutes prior to the disappearance of Ms Cini. The body of the Brisbane woman was discovered soon after. Zack's body was found during the desperate search for Kirsty (pictured) who disappeared after going down a water slide A police investigation into the double drowning has been launched, with detectives looking at whether the water slide or alcohol played a role in the deaths. Friends and family took to social media to express their grief following the tragedy on Friday afternoon. Oscar, a friend of Zack's, wrote: 'Today mate, you have changed my life. At such a young age, you did not deserve to die.' Ms Cini's brother, Adam, dedicated a heartfelt tribute to his sister: 'Today is the worst day of my life, to find out that I will never see my beautiful sister again.' 'I have experienced so much pain in my life but nothing knocks me down like this, I am so lost now. RIP Kirsty Cini. I'll love you always.' Police were called to the property shortly after 4pm but tragically both victims died at the scene A friend of Zack (pictured) wrote, 'Today mate, you have changed my life. At such a young age, you did not deserve to die' Stepfather Bruce Baker described Kirsty (pictured) as 'outgoing and very active and very happy 99 per cent of the time' Ms Cini's stepfather Bruce Baker described Ms Cini as 'outgoing and very active and very happy 99 per cent of the time'. '[We are] just coming to terms with it. I hope we get there,' he told the ABC. Mr Baker said Ms Cini's mother was too shattered to publicly speak, revealing: 'She's her only daughter.' The director of Cobra All Starz Cheerleading told the Brisbane Times she had known Ms Cini since she was child. Mr Baker said Kirsty's mother was too shattered to publicly speak, revealing: 'She's her only daughter' The director of Cobra All Starz Cheerleading told the Brisbane Times she had known Kirsty (pictured in uniform) since she was child Kirsty took to social media the day before she died to wish her mother a happy birthday '(Kirsty) was very kind and generous. Her personality just bubbled and she loved cheerleading so much,' Ms McCarthy said. 'She was the most lovely, caring person I've ever met. Ms Cini took to social media the day before she died to wish her mother a happy birthday. Police and rescue crews were called to the property just after 4pm and were told that Zack was deceased when he was pulled from the water Kirsty (pictured left) took to social media a day before to wish her mother a happy birthday Police officers were called to the property just after 4pm and were told that Zack was deceased when he was pulled from the water. Despite the efforts of emergency service workers, both Zack and Ms Cini were unable to be revived. 'It's a typical Australia Day event where everyone is enjoying themselves,' Queensland Police Service spokesman Duane Amos told Sunrise . 'Unfortunately, there is alcohol that's mixed with water and we have the tragic deaths of a 23-year-old and 15-year-old.' The double tragedy shocked partygoers and left the small tight-knit community in grief Rescue teams have worked for hours to free a horse named Moose after he became stuck in a muddy hole. The former trotter was buried up to the neck in mud at a property in Riverstone in Sydney's north-west, and it took more than three hours and twelve volunteers to rescue him. 'The horse was buried very deeply within the mud [and] there was a lot of suction within the mud,' Inspector Kernin Lambert told 9NEWS. Emergency crews work to free the horse named Moose Moose got bogged in a dried-out dam and was trapped in sticky mud up to his neck Firefighters and SES crews called an equine vet to sedate Moose, before he was blindfolded and wrapped in straps and rope to help rescuers get a grip on the animal. Three hours later, the horse was pulled free and stumbled onto dry land - much to the relief of his owner. 'They've done a fantastic job,' Moose's owner's Lisa Carrol said. 'It was like a miracle. The horse was really stuck, and it looked really bad.' Agnes Banks Equine Clinic worker Jenny Watts said the horse didn't suffer any lacerations or excessive trauma. 'I think he'll probably make a full recovery,' Ms Watts said. It took twelve volunteers, a fire crew and a equine vet three hours to pull Moose to freedom Leo Varadkar has said he will campaign for 'yes' in Ireland's upcoming abortion referendum The prime minister of Ireland said today he will campaign for a liberalisation of the country's strict abortion laws in an upcoming referendum on the divisive issue. Leo Varadkar said he hopes the referendum will be held this summer. The date of the referendum and its wording have not been worked out yet, but it has been speculated to be May or June. Varadkar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he will call for an 'easing of the extremely strict laws' against abortion in Ireland, which bans the procedure even in cases of rape and cases where the fetus is suffering potentially fatal abnormalities. The Taoiseach says his views have 'evolved' since he described himself as 'pro-life' in 2014. 'I believe Ireland's abortion laws are too restrictive and need to be liberalised,' he said. 'We'll have that referendum hopefully this summer, and we should be in a position to be making a decision on that in government next week. 'I'll be campaigning for them to be changed and to be liberalised, yes.' Discussing his own views, he said: 'I think in that period I think it's fair to say that my own views on this matter have evolved. 'But I think sometimes that term pro-life and pro-choice can be misunderstood. 'I think even people who are in favour of abortion in certain circumstances are pro-life, I still believe in life, but I understand that there circumstances under which pregnancies can't continue.' The government should be finalising details about the referendum in the coming week. It is expected to involve the possible repeal of a 1983 constitutional amendment greatly restricting access to abortions. Recent opinion surveys suggest there is huge public support for moderating the laws so that women could have abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In response to an Irish Times/MRBI poll asking 'Will you vote to change the constitution so that the government can legislate for abortion up to 12 weeks, or will you vote to not change the constitution?' 56 per cent voted in favour, 29 per cent said they would vote against and 15 per cent did not know or offered no opinion. When asked if their opinion had changed in the last year, 19 per cent said they were now more open to the idea. Varadkar, Ireland's youngest and first only game prime minister pictured marching with Canadian prime minster Justin Trudeau at Montreal Gay Pride in August Varadkar visited Theresa May in June, pictured attending a joint press conference following a meeting 10 Downing Street Last December, a report by a specially convened Oireachtas committee found that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, known as the Eighth Amendment and passed in 1983, was not fit for purpose and should be repealed. The 1983 amendment commits authorities to defend equally the right to life of the mother and unborn child, giving largely Roman Catholic Ireland the strictest abortion ban in Europe. Abortion is legal only in rare cases where the mother's life is in danger. It recommended abortion be available up to 12 weeks of pregnancy without a woman having to explain her decision, and that the procedure should be allowed if the life or health of the woman was at risk. It also called for expectant mothers to be allowed an abortion at any stage of the pregnancy if doctors diagnosed a foetal abnormality that was likely to result in death before or shortly after birth. Varadkar has previously announced plans for referendums on issues including Ireland's blasphemy law and its restrictive divorce laws. Micheal Martin, the leader of the Fianna Fail, the main opposition party in Ireland, shocked people last week by saying he would vote to change the laws. During a Dail debate on the recommendation to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which gives the mother and unborn child equal right to life, Martin said he wanted to see it removed. 'I believe the case for change is justified by the full range of evidence available to us and I will vote for this change,' he said. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has called for removal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution which gives the mother and unborn child equal right to life (Brian Lawless/PA) In September, thousands of people are marched through Dublin demanding change to Ireland's strict abortion laws. The March for Choice is the first major demonstration since the Government set an indicative timescale of early summer 2018 for a referendum on the section of the state's constitution that ensures tight legal restrictions on terminations. A pro-choice rally was also staged outside the Irish Embassy in London, with campaigners highlighting the numbers of Irish women who have travelled to Britain for an abortion in the last three decades. Health Minister Simon Harris previously estimated that 170,000 Irish women have travelled to the UK for an abortion since 1980. Earlier this week he said: 'These are not faceless women, it might be convenient for us sometimes to think that they are, they're not,' he said. 'They are our neighbours, our sisters, our cousins, our mothers, our aunts, our lives. 'This time around let's be honest about this. This is not a decision or a procedure that anyone takes lightly. Women agonise about it.' NBC News is under a lot of stress following Megyn Kelly's calculated rebuke of Jane Fonda as execs try to de-escalate the bad attention the host has brought the network. NBC News Chairman Andy Lack was allegedly perturbed that second in demand, Noah Oppenheim, was away in North Korea when Kelly went live with her tirade, Fox News reported. Kelly blasted the Hollywood star during a segment of her 'Today' show on Monday for continuously bringing up the September interview where Kelly, 47, inquired about the 80-year-old's experience with plastic surgery while the star was on for 'Our Souls at Night.' When asked about the work she's had done. Fonda asked: 'We really want to talk about that now? Scroll down for videos NBC News Chairman Andy Lack was perturbed that deputy, Noah Oppenheim, was away in North Korea when Megyn Kelly went live with her tirade against Jane Fonda Kelly blasted Jane Fonda for continuously bringing up their awkward September interview where the Today host asked the actress about her plastic surgery Execs were privy to Kelly's plans for the segment, according to multiple sources, but were not able to review the script. Kelly was said to have written the script herself over the weekend, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Oppenheim was away in North Korea, working with Lester Holt of 'Nightly News,' and was unable to look over the struggling show's script for that day. North Korean media outlets reported that he arrived on Saturday. 'There was no meaningful executive review of Megyn's script,' an NBC insider explained to Fox. 'She went rogue.' NBC has denied the report. When contacted by Fox, an NBC spokesperson said: 'Not a single story you've written about the internal workings of NBC News has been accurate, and neither is this one.' Oppenheim was away in North Korea, working with Lester Holt of 'Nightly News,' and was unable to look over the struggling show's script for that day When Fonda appeared on the Today show on January 16 with Lily Tomlin, the two shared a witty exchange where Tomlin shared that they had been friends before the star's 'first face-lift.' Fonda responded: 'We don't need to hear that. Who are you, Megyn Kelly?' And while Kelly's planned attack on Fonda included producers airing photos of Fonda in Vietnam and of her discussing her plastic surgery, Andy Lack was still not aware of he extent at which she would rant (pictured together) In an interview with Variety, Fonda also said Kelly was 'not that good an interviewer.' In her monologue, Kelly called Fonda 'a woman whose name is synonymous with outrage' highlighting her infamous Vietnam War nickname 'Hanoi Jane' from when Fonda was photographed on an anti-aircraft gun used against Americans in 1972. Fonda has long since apologized for the incident but that didn't stop Kelly from dusting off the cobwebs to bring up old news. What followed were a slue of critiques from multiple celebrities and journalists who felt that Kelly was letting her embarrassment and personal feelings interfere with her professionalism. Many within NBC were said to be 'stunned' by the way in which Kelly handled the Fonda debacle. And while Kelly's planned attack on Fonda included producers airing photos of Fonda in Vietnam and of her discussing her plastic surgery, Andy Lack was still not aware of he extent at which she would rant. Lack was unaware of the extent at which Kelly would rant and was also bothered by Lester Holt's Korea coverage, calling Oppenheim back early to New York, it is claimed NBC sources told Fox News that he was not amused with the tirade and that he was also displeased with Holt's North Korea coverage. He even recalled Oppenheim and his team back to New York, cutting short their Korean stint, it is claimed 'NBC has apparently not found a way to manage this high-priced personality,' media analyst and DePauw University professor Jeff McCall said to Fox News. 'NBC brass needs to better figure out how to utilize Kelly, and then insist she get with the system.' Lake Michigan's color has transformed from a brownish green to a Caribbean clear blue - all in the last 20 years. The change, reports the Chicago Tribune, has been prompted by the arrival of invasive species of mussels such as the zebra and quagga. The invasion has killed off a significant population of phytoplankton, a form of green algae. Algae and nutrients within the lake gave it a distinctive brown-green color through the late 1990s. Since then, Lake Michigan has become significantly more clear and more blue. Scroll down for video The phytoplankton are 'the basic building block' of the lake's food chain; therefore, the reduction in the phytoplankton population has contributed to the reduction in larger fish such as salmon (file photo from July 2017) The change has been prompted by the arrival of invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which feed on phytoplankton, a form of green algae (pictured: Rosewood Beach on Lake Michigan in 2016) Lake Michigan had a greenish brown hue in the 1990s but today has a crystal clear blue hue (pictured: Chicago with the lake in the background in 2016) 'You'll hear from people that the water is so blue it compares to something in tropical areas,' researcher Michael Sayers told the Chicago Tribune. The ecological transformation has also affected the fishing industry of the Great Lakes, which brings $7billion to the U.S. economy. One researcher speaking to the Chicago Tribune described phytoplankton as 'the basic building block' of the lake's food chain. So the reduction in phytoplankton prompts, in turn, the reduction in populations of larger fish such as salmon and herring species. Salmon fishing harvests, for example, have declined by around 70 per cent since the 1980s, from 10 million pounds per year to three million pounds. A man holds a cluster of zebra mussels, one of the invaders that has prompted the change in Lake Michigan's color (file photo) The Great Lakes region (Lake Michigan is at bottom left) is pictured in a 1999 aerial shot There are signs that the mussel invasion is ending; the population fell by 40 per cent from 2010 to 2015 (file photo of Lake Michigan underwater in August 2017) But, scientists speaking with the Chicago Tribune said, there are signs that the mussel invasion already peaked. The number of mussels in Lake Michigan fell by 40 per cent from 2010 to 2015. Scientists say this change may be due to the lack of plankton for the mussels to feed on. The last time the Great Lakes was hit with a similar sort of invasion was the 1940s, when the sea lamprey swam into the Great Lakes via the Erie and Welland canals and killed fish such as trout and whitefish. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes along with Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, is located on the lakefront. Salmon fishing harvests fell from 10 million pounds per year in the 1980s to three million pounds per year recently (file photo from February 2017) A prisoner who was arrested in Cambodia for what police describe as 'pornographic dancing' with young women tourists say they are innocent and insist they do not know why they have been arrested. Police in Siem Reap, the popular town close to the famous ancient temples of Angkor Wat in the north west of the country, said the tourists would be appearing in court at a time to be announced. A group of five British men are alleged to have been arrested in Cambodia for what police describe as 'pornographic dancing'. Police released these pictures of the tourists Police said the group aged from between 19 to 35, and includes five British men, were being questioned so that a case could be submitted against them in the provincial court. An expatriate website in Cambodia released the scant details put out by police. The website, cambodiaexpatsonline.com, published a number of photos released by the police showing the men and women lying on the floor of a premises together, the men shirtless, while other young people, believed to be tourists, look on. However one of the prisoners claimed none of those arrested were in the photographs. The prisoner said they at a villa party barbeque on Thursday at 4pm local time when police started to pluck people out of the crowd. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said: 'We're innocent. We don't know why we've been arrested - we're getting different stories from different people.' They said: 'Honestly, it was really confusing. Everyone was confused. They raided, rounded us up - there was about 80 to 100 people at this party, some of them were tourists. There were about 30 of them [police officers.]' The prisoner said from their makeshift cell on Saturday that their families were 'worried sick'. 'Our parents are doing what they can. It's really just trying to keep a good vibe until we know the outcome.' One of the prisoners said they saw one men taken by police vomit in shock. These are the tourists alleged to have been arrested on indecency charges in Cambodia. The group is said to include five British men, though it is unclear who each person is The group arrested confirmed their identities, including the five British men; Vincent Harley Robert Hook, 35, Daniel Richard Leeming Jones, 30, Thomas Alexander Jeffries, 22, Billy Stevens, 21, and Paul Francis Harris, 32. Also in the arrested group of 10 tourists is Job Robertus van der Wel, from The Netherlands, 22, Canadians Jessica Drolet, of Ottawa, 25, and Eden Koazoleas, 19, of Alberta, were also arrested, along with David Nikolaus Aleksandr Ballovarre, of Oslo, Norway, 22, and Paul Martin Brasch, 32, of New Zealand. Two of the men said to have been arrested in Cambodia. Their identities are unknown The alleged offences took place near to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, in the north west of Cambodia The local authority added: 'The competent authorities are preparing a case to submit to the provincial court.' If the group is found guilty, they could face a year in prison and could even be detained for six months before the case even goes to trial. They said they have been sleeping on the floor of an office at a police station in Siem Reap for three days, and emphasised they had been treated well by their captors - saying officers were friendly and had brought them pizza. Whether actual sex took place has not been alleged. The Foreign Office said it was assisting the five British men and were providing assistance to their families. The photos released by police are understood to have been obtained from a witness at the scene. Following the group's detention and questioning at a Siem Reap police station, the eight men and two women were lined up at the entrance for a formal photo. Samuel Woodward (pictured), 20, of California, has been charged with the murder of Blaze Bernstein, 19 The man accused of murdering University of Pennsylvania sophomore Blaze Bernstein, 19, in California an active member of a neo-Nazi group, ProPublica reported. Samuel Woodward, 20, has been charged with the murder of Bernstein, who was stabbed to death earlier this month while visiting his parents in Southern California over winter break. Social media posts made by Woodward depicting neo-Nazi ideas surfaced after Bernstein's death. But ProPublica has now received confirmation from three people close to Woodward that he was active in a neo-Nazi organization called Atomwaffen Division. The name translates to 'Nuclear Weapons Division'. Bernstein, who prosecutors say was stabbed more than 20 times by Woodward and then buried in a shallow grave, was Jewish and openly gay. Woodward told police that Bernstein tried to kiss him in Borrego park, where Bernstein was later found dead, the night of the murder. The two went to high school together. Woodward is reportedly a member of a neo-Nazi organization called Atomwaffen Division. Pictured is an image found on the group's website Prosecutors are investigating whether Bernstein's murder was a hate crime. Bernstein (pictured) was openly gay and Jewish, and his mother told the Los Angeles Times that she always feared for her late son's safety The victim's mother, Jeanne Pepper Bernstein, told the Los Angeles Times last week that she was 'concerned for [her son's] safety always'. She said: 'I'm concerned about the fact that he is Jewish. I'm concerned with the fact that he is gay or the fact that he is small.' Prosecutors are looking into the possibility that the murder was a hate crime. Two of the sources who revealed Woodward's background to ProPublic were his friends and one used to be a member of Atomwaffen Division. The neo-Nazi group that Woodward was allegedly a member of has filmed itself burning the American flag and the constitution. The above advertisement for a sniper was found on Atomwaffen Division's website Woodward (pictured) has not yet entered a plea. He is set to appear in court February 2 Borrego Park in Foothill Ranch, California (pictured), is where prosecutors say Woodward stabbed Blaze more than 20 times before burying him. Bernstein's body surfaced in the park on January 10 after rain unearthed it Blaze's parents, pictured during the search for him before his body was discovered, said they were devastated by the news of his death The group's website describes the Atomwaffen Division as 'a Revolutionary National Socialist organization centered around political activism and the practice of an autonomous Fascist lifestyle'. The website's 'Who we are' section reads: 'As an ideological band of comrades, we perform both activism and militant training (hand to hand, arms training, and etc.). 'We spread awareness in the real world through unconventional means (and it has worked). 'We often go hunting, adventuring, and a group favorite is urban exploring. We have various specialists in the group ranging from many occupations... Joining us means serious dedication not only to the Atomwaffen Division and its members, but to the goal of ultimate uncompromising victory. 'As it must be emphasized: no keyboard warriorism... if you don't want to meet up and get things done: don't bother.' One source described Woodward as 'as anti-Semitic as you can get'. Woodward reportedly joined Atomwaffen Division in 2016, attended group meetings in Texas and there completed a three-day training camp. The training camp armed members of the group with hand-to-hand combat, camping, survival and firearm use skills, the former Atomwaffen Division member told ProPublica. The website said it had also obtained pictures of Woodward at one of the group's meetings. In one, Woodward can reportedly be seen doing a Nazi salute. Woodward is trained to use assault rifles and handguns and has organized Atomwaffen Division members in California, it is claimed. The Atomwaffen Division has also been connected to murders in Florida and Virginia. It was founded in 2015 and consists of about 80 members. The former member who spoke with ProPublica said the group has grown since the explosive 'Unite the Right' protest - which left one protester dead - in Virginia last summer. Joanna Mendelson, a researcher at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism told ProPublica: 'Their rhetoric is some of the most extreme we have seen.' Woodward is set to appear in court on February 2. He has not entered a plea. Advertisement Researchers believe that Liu Chongguo was the eldest son of the Haihun Marquis Liu He (pictured) At the cemetery of the 'Marquis of Haihun' in east China's Jiangxi Province, the identity of a tomb owner has been confirmed to be the eldest son of the controversial Chinese emperor Liu He. Grandson of Emperor Wu - who was known as one of the greatest rulers of the Han Dynasty - Liu He was given the title 'Marquis of Haihun' after he was unseated as emperor, having only lasted 27 days. He was dethroned by the royal faction for his lack of morals and talent. Archaeologists said that a metal seal reading 'Liu Chongguo' was unearthed from the fifth tomb at the Marquis of Haihun site. Researchers believe that Liu Chongguo was the eldest son of the Haihun Marquis Liu He, report Xinhua. Li Cunxin, a researcher with the Chinese Society of Social Sciences, said the seal was discovered along with jade, crystal and agate in the tomb. However, no remains of bones or teeth have been discovered as of yet. Yang Jun, head of the archaeological team, said only a few items have been found in the nearby No. 4 tomb, and the No. 6 tomb has not yet been excavated, since work started in 2011. The Marquis of Haihun cemetery covers roughly 40,000 square metres and contains eight tombs and a chariot burial site. After a five-year study of the tombs, experts have declared them the best-preserved royal tombs of the Western Han Dynasty ever discovered in China. The Han dynasty (206 B.C.- 25 A.D.) was founded by Liu Pang, a commoner who became known as Emperor Kao Tsu. It is said to be one of the most prosperous periods in China's history. Remarkable photos show the luxurious valuables unearthed in the tomb so far. At the cemetery of the 'Marquis of Haihun' in east China's Jiangxi Province, the identity of a tomb owner has been confirmed to be the eldest son of the controversial Chinese emperor Liu He Various relics were unearthed in the number five tomb of the Marquis of Haihun site in Nanchang, China. It remains one of the few tombs of its kind that have not been looted The artifacts were all found in China's most complete Western Han Dynasty cemetery. The Han Dynasty ruled China after the fall of the first imperial dynasty Archaeologists (pictured) said that a metal seal reading 'Liu Chongguo' was unearthed from the fifth tomb at the Marquis of Haihun site, China's most complete Western Han Dynasty cemetery Li Cunxin, a researcher with the Chinese Society of Social Sciences, said the seal was discovered along with jade, crystal and agate in the tomb After a five-year study of the tombs, experts have declared them the best-preserved royal tombs of the Western Han Dynasty ever discovered in China Yang Jun, head of the archaeological team, said only a few items have been found in the nearby No. 4 tomb, and the No. 6 tomb has not yet been excavated. The excavation of the tomb of Marquis of Haihun began in 2011 Ornaments like this give an insight into the life and hobbies of those in the royal factions during the Western Han Dynasty in China After a five-year study of the site, experts have declared it the best-preserved set of royal tombs of the Western Han Dynasty ever discovered in China as they continue to find treasures (as pictured) Burying valuable objects with the dead has been a practice in China for several thousand of years. In addition to gold, silver and other luxuries, burial objects include daily necessities This is the excavation site of the No. 5 tomb where many luxurious items were found. However, no remains of bones or teeth have been discovered as of yet The Han dynasty was founded by Liu Pang, a commoner who became known as Emperor Kao-tsu. And it lasted from 206 B.C.- 25 A.D. This remarkable image shows the metal seal reading 'Liu Chongguo' unearthed from the No. 5 tomb. After studying historical records, researchers believe that Liu Chongguo was the eldest son of the Haihun marquis Liu He A transgender prisoner has gone on hunger strike because the Government does not recognise her gender, and has told friends she does not 'want to be alive anymore'. Marie Dean, who has gender dysphoria, has been imprisoned at HMP Preston, a male prison in Lancashire. The 50-year-old transgender woman wrote to her friends and told them of her plan to go on a hunger strike. 'I don't want to be alive anymore': 50-year-old Marie Dean wrote a letter to friends which states she is going on hunger strike because the Government do not accept her gender. Ms Dean is currently imprisoned in HMP Preston, a male prison in Lancashire (pictured: HMP Preston) She said in the letter: 'I decided yesterday that I don't want to be alive anymore. I stopped eating and drinking and should die in about three, maybe four weeks. 'I remember Bobby Sands years ago, not eating and drinking until he died. His belief drove him to succeed,' reports The Observer. Ms Dean also says she is not given makeup, hair straighteners or an epilator. She is serving a sentence of indeterminate length at the all male prison, for public protection (IPP) after being convicted of over 30 offences, which included repeated burglary and voyeurism. Ms Dean has previously broken into properties and recorded herself putting on underwear that was owned by teenage girls. A petition has been started in order to have Ms Dean moved to an all female prison and to be given her clothes and makeup. The petition said: 'The truth is it appears that the Ministry of Justice are unwilling to give up judging for themselves what gender a person is regardless as to how long the person has lived in their chosen gender. 'In Marie Dean's case her harrowing ordeal has been both long and traumatising, she has now given up and wants to die and it's not surprising. 'She had served many years behind bars as a transgender woman, forced to reside in the male estate, exposed to physical and mental abuse whilst serving a sentence with no end date.' However, MailOnline understand that Marie Dean was given allowances for her transgender status - for example she was able to wear female clothing. An MoJ spokesperson said: 'The welfare of those in our custody is a top priority. There are stringent procedures in place to ensure transgender prisoners are managed safely and in accordance with the law. 'We have robust safeguards in place to ensure that the system is not abused.' The care of transgender prisoners was reviewed last year and arrangements were implemented in January 2017. A Gender Recognition Certificate is proof of legal gender, but the absence of it does not automatically prevent a prisoner being located in the part of the estate consistent with the gender they identify with. Where a transgender offender expresses a view of prison location that is not consistent with their legally recognised gender, the offender must provide evidence of living in the gender with which they identify. This evidence is then considered by a Transgender Case Board together with all known risk factors before a decision is made. Whilst that process takes place, transgender prisoners are able to live in the gender they identify. Still a favourite: Kenneth Grahame's tails of Mole, Toad and Ratty have engrossed children for generations Harry Mount for the Daily Mail Hidden in a quiet corner of Oxford, in the shadow of medieval St Cross Church, stands a moving pair of gravestones. In one of them lies one of the most beloved names in English literature, Kenneth Grahame, writer of The Wind In The Willows, the soothing tale of Mole, Ratty and Toad of Toad Hall. In the other lies his son, Alastair, always nicknamed Mouse. What could be more comforting father and son resting together by an ancient church nestling beside the River Thames, the setting for Grahames gentle masterpiece. And yet, look closer at those graves, and a tragic tale begins to emerge. Kenneth Grahame died in 1932, a broken-hearted man of 73, who hadnt written anything of note since The Wind In The Willows was published in 1908. The reason for his heartbreak lies next to him Mouse committed suicide 12 years before his fathers death, aged only 19. Despite a glittering education at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, Mouse, a frail child, blind in one eye, was of a fragile, nervous disposition. His fathers immense fame and unrealistic expectations of his son didnt make things any easier. And so, one evening in May 1920, after dining in Christ Churchs 16th century hall, Mouse strolled down to the Thames home of Ratty, Toad and Mole. And there he lay down on the railway track running across Port Meadow and awaited the train that would end his misery. For all his fame and fortune, Grahame remained a tortured soul untilhis death. Several weeks after his funeral, his coffin was moved to theOxford cemetery from its grave in Pangbourne, Berks. Grahame was born in 1859 in Edinburgh to an aristocratic, failedlawyer, whose love for poetry was defeated by his love for vintageclaret. The drinking only intensified when Grahames mother, Bessie,died soon after the birth of his brother, Roland. Grahame was only five his place in the world grew even moreinsecure when, weeks after the death, his father moved the family toCookham Dene in Berkshire on the banks of the Thames. Grahame clung tothe river for the rest of his life. The young Grahame excelled atschool and was set for high academic honours when another hammer blowstruck. The family finances had dwindled so much that he was forcedstraight into work at the Bank of England. For the next 30years, he toiled away at the Bank, retiring as its Secretary in 1908,the year of The Wind In The Willows. Throughout his career, he hadpublished childrens books and a memoir of childhood sales were good,and Grahame was well-known before his worldwide smash hit waspublished. Still a favourite: Kenneth Grahame's tails of Mole, Toad and Ratty have engrossed children for generations Despite his eligibility as a literary banker, Grahame remained awkward in the company of the opposite sex. It wasnt until he was 40 that he married Elspeth Thomson. For all her devotion to him, he remained a distant figure, incapable of demonstrating love. The same emotional constipation condemned his relationship with poor Mouse, born in 1900. A little premature, Mouse was blind in his right eye; the other had a severe squint. As an only child, Mouse was subjected to extreme, uncritical affection from his mother, and absurdly high academic expectations from his father. It didnt help that Elspeth was growing increasingly miserable taking to her bed for much of the day. By the time he was three and a half, in a haunting prophecy of his death, Mouse amused himself playing a game of lying in front of speeding cars to bring them screeching to a halt. When he was given his presents on his fourth birthday, rather than enjoying them, he set about repacking them in complete silence. All the while, though, this sad, pressured little boy was inadvertently helping the creation of one of the great childrens books, a book which is full of a brand of carefree happiness that always dodged Mouse himself. Grahame was inspired to write The Wind In The Willows by the bedtime stories he read his son. One evening, when Mouse was four, his parents were due to go out for dinner. Waiting for her husband in the hall, Elspeth sent the maid for him. He had no friends and joined no social clubs. Mouse trudged off towards the railway track. His decapitated body was found the next day Hes with Master Mouse, madam, said Louise, the maid, Hes telling him some ditty about a toad. Grahametook to transcribing verbatim accounts of the stories, written in thesame baby-talk that he had told them. The Mole saved up al is moneyand went and bought a motor car... Mr Mole has been goin the pace sincehe first went [on] his simple boatin spedishin wif the Water Rat. The publication of The Wind In The Willows, though, did nothing to stop the boys awful downward trajectory. Bullied at Rugby School, Mouse was transferred to Eton. There, too, he suffered because of his disastrously superior attitude. He left the school to be privately tutored in Surrey. His eyesight worsening, and his nerves still tattered, it was a broken, miserable Mouse, then, that turned up at Christ Church in 1918. He failed his scripture, Greek and Latin exams three times over the next year. In 1919, his tutor wrote the words Pass or go next to his name in the college records; if he failed the exam again, he would have to leave. He had made no friends and joined no social clubs. It had all got too much for him. At that last dinner in Christ Church Hall, he downed a glass of port. An undergraduate sitting next to him said later, I had not known him do [this] before. Mouse then trudged off across Port Meadow towards the railway track. When his decapitated body was found the next day, his pockets were crammed with religious books for his dreaded scripture exam. His death did at least bring one consolation; in recognition of his suffering, Oxford University, for the first time, made special provision for disabled students. On May 12, 1920, Mouses 20th birthday, he was buried in Holywell Cemetery next to St Cross Church. His father scattered lilies of the valley over the coffin. And 12 years later, the shattered genius who wrote The Wind In The Willows was buried beside the doomed little boy who had inspired him. Pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman was re-elected Czech president on Saturday, narrowly beating his pro-European liberal rival Jiri Drahos in a tight run-off. The populist ex-communist Zeman took 51.55 percent of the vote against 48.44 percent for Drahos, with 99.32 percent of ballots counted, Czech Television reported quoting official results. His victory comes amid a political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Zeman (pictured) took 51.55 percent of the vote against 48.44 percent for Drahos, with 99.32 percent of ballots counted Zeman, a veteran of Czech politics and former left-wing prime minister, won his first term in 2013 Appearing before supporters Saturday, Zeman, 73, called his win 'my last political victory' and said 'no political loss will follow.' Drahos, 68, conceded defeat and congratulated Zeman on Saturday afternoon. The career scientist and chemistry professor said he planned to stay in politics, but did not provide details. Zeman, a veteran of Czech politics and former left-wing prime minister, won his first term in 2013 during the Czech Republic's first presidential election decided by voters, not lawmakers. Since then, Zeman a diabetic, who walks with a cane and is known to be a heavy drinker and smoker, divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance, support for closer ties with China, and strong anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Mr Zeman has sparked controversy with his pro-Russian stance. He called the 2015 migrant crisis 'an organised invasion' of Europe, claiming Muslims were 'impossible to integrate'. Zeman was one of the few European leaders to endorse Donald Trump's bid for the White House. He also has proposed a referendum on the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union like the one held in Britain. A former leftist prime minister, Zeman represents poorer and rural voters, while academic and political novice Drahos appealed to wealthier, well-educated urban dwellers. Political analyst Jiri Pehe said the results reflected the 'very deep polarisation' of Czech society which is 'split down the middle' along rural-urban and populist-liberal lines, echoing divisions elsewhere in Europe and in the US. 'It's not only between Prague and other big cities on one side and the rest of the country, but also a polarisation of world views, between people open to the outside world and modernisation, and those rooted in the past,' Pehe said. Presidential candidate Jiri Drahos speaking after being defeated in the presidential election in Prague, Czech 'We see that half of society is afraid of the outside world, globalisation and its challenges.' In the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe, the vehemently anti-Muslim Zeman staunchly opposed EU quotas designed to distribute asylum seekers across the bloc. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has only received 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Zeman's stance on the European Union echoes other populist politicians in Poland and Hungary who are at odds with Brussels over mandatory refugee quotas and various rules which they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He once called the 2015 migrant crisis 'an organised invasion' of Europe, claiming Muslims were 'impossible to integrate'. Billboards across the Czech Republic sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: 'Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!' The pro-European Drahos had also opposed the EU quota system but had insisted the Czech Republic was strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. Zeman's wins comes amid a political crisis as Prime Minister Andrej Babis (pictured) fights police charges of EU subsidy fraud In the final days of campaigning Drahos underscored his concerns about possible Russian meddling in the campaign, saying that 'for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's regime, NATO is the biggest enemy and we are part of NATO.' Zeman has repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Petr Vasicek, a Prague artist, said he chose the 'educated and intelligent' Drahos over Zeman who is 'pro-Russian and pro-Chinese, which I don't like at all.' Meanehile, Daniel Hajek said he had chosen Zeman 'because he's opening the door to economic cooperation with countries like Russia and China. 'It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe but we can't go in just one direction,' he said in Prague. Drahos fought off allegations of paedophilia and having been a communist police agent, suggesting the accusations were a smear campaign by Russian intelligence with links to Zeman. Although largely ceremonial, the president's role is influential. He can appoint the prime minister and government, central bank board members, judges and university professors, and sign bills passed by parliament into laws. Czech TV put turnout for round two at 66.55 percent, against 59 percent for the last presidential ballot in 2013. A mass shooting at a nightclub in Brazil has left 18 people dead and 12 injured, many of them innocent bystanders, police said. Heavily armed bandits stormed a party venue packed with young people in the early hours of Saturday morning in Cajazeiras, a neighbourhood in Fortaleza, north-east Brazil. According to police, the slaughter was the violent result of a deadly dispute between two criminal gangs, the Guardians of the State (GDE) who confronted rival members of the Red Command (CV) outside the Forro Gago nightclub which was packed with innocent party-goers. Some reports quoted local authorities as saying their disagreement was related to a drug dispute. Scroll down for video The majority of those who died were shot inside the nightclub precincts Burnt-out cars could be seen outside the nightclub on Saturday morning The shootings took place at the club in the Cajazeira neighbourhood, an impoverished region of Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara in north-east Brazil The streets were deserted outside the Forro Gago nightclub in Cajazeiras in the aftermath of the massacre Most of the dead were innocent young women who were caught up in the violence while enjoying a night out Local authorities declared the cause of the shootout allegedly was a disagreement among drug dealers Police said 16 people were gunned down at the scene including 37-year-old Marisa Mara who was selling hotdogs outside the venue with her 12-year-old son who is among the wounded. Uber driver and married father-of-one, Natanael da Silva, 25, died when his car was riddled with bullets as he dropped off a customer. The majority of the victims were said to be young women aged between 16 and 24 in what is being described as the largest ever massacre to have taken place in the city. Police images show the horrific carnage with corpses scattered across the floor inside the club, lying where they fell, and bodies on the sidewalk and road outside the venue. A military police officer who asked not to be identified said to O Povo News: 'An armed group arrived in three cars, invaded the nightclub and just started shooting at the victims. 'We've been told there were at least 15 gunmen firing semi-automatics randomly. People didn't have a chance to defend themselves, as they were caught completely off guard. A task force is now investigating the horrific crime Detectives said a taskforce has been set up to investigate the horrific crime Local authorities declared the cause of the shootout allegedly was a reckoning among drugdealers Police investigating the massacre say that an armed group arrived in three cars, invaded the nightclub and started shooting at the victims 'There are bullet holes in the walls inside and outside the club and in cars parked nearby. 'We believe, the order was to kill members of the Red Command. However, according to eyewitnesses many of the people who was hit had no involvement in organised crime and were innocent bystanders.' People who living nearby the location said the shootings begun around midnight and the bombardment lasted for about 30 minutes. A survivor, who declined to be identified, reported that at least four of her friends had died in the mayhem. According to her, none had any links with criminal activity. She said: 'It was horrible, too horrible so many my friends were just shot down where they stood. Those of us who were lucky to get away ran into houses nearby and some climbed onto the rooftops and ran for their lives.' Detectives said a taskforce has been set up to investigate the horrific crime. The identity of the suspects have not been released and the names of all those killed will be revealed once family members have been informed, police said. The Profumo Affair could come to mean something different as the great-nephew of one of Britain's most scandalous politicians prepares to fight with Kurdish forces against the Turkish army in Syria. Jamie Janson, John Profumo's great-nephew, is just one of the many Britons who left for Syria to fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) when the terrorist organisation claimed Raqqa as its capital in 2014. But volunteer fighters like Mr Janson, who took up arms with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) about seven months ago, are now finding themselves pitted against Turkish troops in Afrin, a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. Turkey has launched a military offensive on Afrin in recent weeks to drive Kurdish fighters, who they view as terrorists, out of the area. Scroll down for video Pictured, Jamie Janson, John Profumo's great-nephew, is just one of the many Britons who left for Syria to fight against ISIS who are now finding themselves pitted against Turkish forces The move means that Mr Janson, 42, and other British volunteers are now fighting against a NATO ally after helping the Kurds expel ISIS from much of northern and eastern Syria. The United States on Saturday pledged to stop supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters after having supported them in their efforts to combat ISIS. France, Russia and the US have all urged Turkey to exercise restraint in its offensive on Afrin, where the United Nations says an estimated 5,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. British foreign secretary Boris Johnson has handled the situation with caution, praising the Kurds fight against ISIS but saying that Turkey has 'a legitimate interest in protecting its own border,' in a meeting last week with the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson. Speaking over Skype to the BBC's Emma Vardy, Mr Janson said he was prepared to fight against the Turkish military. He said: 'We all think a lot about what the consequences will be of our lives going forward.' Pictured, John Profumo, the Tory minister forced to quit after a notorious 1960s sex scandal, who also had a long-running relationship with a glamorous Nazi spy Britons have yet to be convicted for fighting against ISIS overseas but existing legislation that makes it illegal for a citizen to enlist with a foreign army has proven to be a bit of a grey area for legislators, particularly when the UK is at peace with the nation they are fighting against. Mr Janson, who had initially been working with an aid organisation near Mosul in northern Iraq, has no regrets with remaining with the Kurds Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: 'It has been a difficult decision to go to Afrin. Fighting ISIS is obviously a different ballgame to taking on Britain's NATO ally. 'I'm well aware that I could face prosecution if and when I return home.' Mr Janson's grandparents are Harold Balfour, a flying ace of the First World War, and Mary Profumo, sister of John Profumo, the Tory minister forced to quit after a notorious 1960s sex scandal with 19-year-old Catherine Keeler. 'My grandfather told me about his time in the war when I was growing up,' Mr Janson told The Telegraph. 'His experience wasn't a direct inspiration for becoming a fighter as such, but it has been playing on my mind while I've been here, what he went through and the sacrifices he made for his country.' The UN said most of the displaced are still inside Afrin because Kurdish forces are preventing civilians from leaving and Syrian government forces are keeping them out of adjacent areas. At least 27 civilians, including eight children and four women, have been killed in the fighting in Afrin, mainly in Turkish airstrikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors the civil war. Disney star Adam Hicks, who was this week arrested on suspicion of armed robbery in California, allegedly has a history of violence and was arrested twice in 2107. Police say Hicks, 25, shot himself in the leg in July by accident while he was with friends, and that he became 'very uncooperative' when cops pressed him on the incident. He was arrested but the case was closed due to insufficient evidence, according to TMZ. In September, the Zeke and Luther star was arrested again after his girlfriend, Danni Tamburo, 23, told police he grabbed her arms, pulled her hair, pinned her against a car, pushed her to the ground and then continued to attack her. Police say Disney star Adam Hicks brutalized his girlfriend Danni Tamburo in an attack in September. The couple was arrested on Wednesday for armed robbery Tamburo and Hicks are accused of holding up four people at gun point in the early morning hours of Wednesday Surveillance video shows a man, reported to be Hicks (circled) approaching a SUV with a gun While a neighbor originally told police they witnessed the alleged assault, they became uncooperative. His girlfriend also refused to cooperate and that case was not prosecuted. Cops say Hicks, who is currently starring on Hulu's Freakish, and Tamburo, who is also an actress, robbed four people in the early morning hours of Wednesday. In surveillance video, a man who is believed to be Hicks, approaches a man walking on the street. The suspect has a gun tucked under his arm. The two have an exchange and the victim then begins handing valuables over. Police say they robbed at least four people Wednesday. One victim was a 52-year-old man who was walking in the Burbank area around 5.15am. Police say that victim was approached by the Disney star, who was holding a gun, and demanded his wallet. 'Fearing for his life, the victim ran away and was able to escape to safety,' Burbank police said. Three additional robberies took place within minutes of each other. Witnesses described the suspected robber's vehicle as a dark-colored Kia with at least two people inside. Police located the Kia and arrested Tamburo. Disney star Adam Hicks in 2012 (left) and 2016 (right) was arrested Wednesday for holding up four people at gun point A SWAT team went to the home where Hicks was staying and arrested him for armed robbery Hicks often tweets messages of inspiration like this one about being kind and righteous Police say they also found property inside the vehicle that belonged to one of the victims. Tamburo allegedly acted as the getaway driver for Hicks. Later in the day a SWAT team went to the property where Hicks was staying and arrested him for armed robbery. Cops say additional stolen property was found inside the residence when a search warrant was served. Hicks often tweets messages about being 'blessed' and the importance of being 'kind, humble and righteous.' He has starred in Disney's 'Zeke and Luther,' 'Pair of Kings' and 'Lemonade Mouth.' Bail was set at $350,000 for both Tamburo and Hicks. She made bail Friday and is scheduled to appear in court in February. It is unclear if Hicks still remains behind bars. The Italian coast guard has rescued 800 migrants and recovered at least two bodies from sinking dinghies off the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. The migrants were spotted in five boats, including two rubber dinghies, as they tried to cross the treacherous stretch of sea. Seven children with water in their lungs were taken by helicopter to a hospital in the coastal city of Sfax, Tunisia. The coast guard also confirmed that two bodies were recovered. As many as 800 migrants were rescued today off the coast of Tunisia by the Italian coast guard Last year, as many as 3,100 migrants drowned as they attempted to cross to Italy, the International Organization for Migration said. And so far this year 180 migrants have died while trying to travel to Italy by sea. This month alone there were 345 migrant fatalities worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have been rescued at sea in recent years and taken to ports in southern Italy. Some are seeking refuge from armed conflicts, while many others, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, are economic migrants likely to be found ineligible for asylum in Europe. They were spotted in five boats, some similar to that pictured above, and appeared to have launched from Libya So far this year 180 migrants have died while trying to travel to Italy by sea Human traffickers launch overcrowded, unseaworthy boats from Libya and other countries with Mediterranean coastlines. Often, if these boats flounder, migrants fleeing Syria are taken to Tunisia for treatment. But hundreds of thousands of migrants have also been rescued and taken to southern Italian ports in the last few years, including nearly 119,000 last year. This was a decrease of one third on the previous year, according to Italy's interior ministry. There was however a sharp drop in arrivals in Italy during in the second half of 2017 following efforts by Rome to discourage migrants from attempting the crossing. Human traffickers pack overcrowded, unseaworthy boats with migrants desperate to reach Europe Earlier this month Royal Navy sailors revealed they have rescued more than 18,000 migrants from the Mediterranean and dropped them off in Europe The first six days of 2018 saw 400 people rescued and taken to Italy, compared to 729 over the same period in 2017, it said. Earlier this month Royal Navy sailors revealed they have rescued more than 18,000 migrants from the Mediterranean and dropped them off in Europe. Marines armed with SA-80 assault rifles also smashed up and burned 162 smuggling gang boats during their two and a half year migrant mission. In the last year alone, the Navy has rescued about 3,000 migrants and taken them to Italy. Sailors also helped a further 1,400 who were transferred to a Navy ship from other vessels. Advertisement Elderly Holocaust survivors wore striped scarves to symbolise the uniforms they wore as prisoners of Nazi Germany while completing their annual pilgrimage to Auschwitz on Saturday. The survivors marked the pilgrimage exactly 73 years after the Soviet army liberated the death camp in occupied Poland. The date is now commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and leaders marked it by warning that the Nazi genocide must never cease serving as a reminder of the evil of which humans are capable. Elderly holocaust survivors wore striped scarves on their annual pilgrimage to Auschwitz as they marked 73 years since their liberation from the Nazi death camp In Warsaw, Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attended a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died fighting the German forces in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaw's Jewish community read a prayer, and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. They marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with former Auschwitz prisoners remembering those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall A part of the former Nazi-German concentration and death camp KL Auschwitz-Birkenau during the ceremonies marking the 73rd anniversary 'On this occasion, it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil,' Tillerson said. 'The Western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to ensuring the security of all that this would never happen again,' he said. 'As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again.' His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultranationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. Survivors and guests walk past the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' gate at Auschwitz as they marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is part of the coalition running the Austrian government. Both parties have members who have made anti-Semitic remarks. As the survivors visited the death camp, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attended a solemn ceremony in Warsaw, Poland at a memorial to the Jews who died fighting the German forces in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 Barbed wire fences at Auschwitz as Holocaust survivors urged people to never forget the deaths and experience of Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany during the Second World War Ultranationalists who espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem emboldened elsewhere as well. 'Neo-Nazis and white supremacy groups are among the main purveyors of extreme hatred,' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. 'And too often, vile views are moving from the margins to the mainstream of societies and politics. We must stand together against the normalization of hate.' In Europe, the outspoken white nationalism is seen as partially a backlash to a large influx of mostly Muslim migrants that peaked in 2015. Exhibits are displayed during the opening of the 'Letters... Collection of Wladyslaw Rath' exhibition which showcases photos and letters from Auschwitz The letters at the exhibition were written by Jews living in the territory of Nazi Germany and in the areas under its influence during the war Some of those migrants have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism - both from native far-right groups and from newcomers from Arab countries. Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been targets of German far-right attacks or threats. The solemn exhibition was held at Auschwitz and was visited by survivors of the death camp and the Holocaust, together with their family and guests Pictures are Auschwitz survivors as they remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp Among the letters and cards that were put in the exhibition were passports and identity papers of some of the people who were imprisoned in Auschwitz Hanni Levy, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor from Berlin, criticized anti-migrant hatred during a speech Saturday at a Greens party convention in Hannover. 'In the past, the Jews were found guilty of everything. Today it's the refugees,' Levy said. 'One should never forget how difficult it is to leave behind everything just to survive.' German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day in her weekly podcast by addressing the reemergence of anti-Semitism. Hanni Levy, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor from Berlin, criticized anti-migrant hatred during a speech Saturday at a Greens party convention in Hannover, as she drew parallels between anti-migrant sentiment and the beginnings of the Holocaust Recently, antisemitism has been on the rise in Europe with German Chancellor Angela Merkel marking International Holocaust Remembrance day in her weekly podcast by addressing the reemergence of anti-Semitism She called it 'incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security -whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue.' This year, the official commemorations at Auschwitz took place after the Jewish Sabbath ended at sundown. The United Nations recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. As part of the commemoration of the Holocaust, survivors and guests walked inside the barbed wire fences of Auschwitz This year, the official commemorations at Auschwitz took place after the Jewish Sabbath ended at sundown - the United Nations recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005 In related news, the lower house of the Polish parliament approved a bill on Friday that threatens prison time for defaming the Polish nation if you use phrases such as 'Polish death camps' to refer to places like Auschwitz. The bill is a response to cases in recent years of foreign media using 'Polish death camps' to describe Auschwitz and other Nazi-run camps. Many major news organizations are sensitive to the issue and ban the language, but it nonetheless crops up in foreign media and statements by public officials. Former U.S. President Barack Obama used it in 2012, prompting outrage in Poland. In related news, the lower house of the Polish parliament approved a bill on Friday that threatened prison time for defaming the Polish nation if people use phrases such as 'Polish death camps' Many Poles fear such phrasing makes some people to incorrectly believe that Poles had a role in running camps like Auschwitz Many Poles fear such phrasing makes some people, especially younger generations, incorrectly conclude that Poles had a role in running the camps. The legislation calls for prison sentences of up to three years. It still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. Critics say enforcing such a law would be impossible outside Poland and that within the country it would have a chilling effect on debating history, harming freedom of expression. Critics say enforcing such a law would be impossible outside Poland and that within the country it would have a chilling effect on debating history and on the freedom of speech Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his ambassador to meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to express opposition to the bill While the law contains a provision excluding scholarly or academic works, opponents still see a danger. They especially worry it could be used to stifle research and debate on topics that are anathema to Poland's nationalistic authorities, particularly the painful issue of Poles who blackmailed Jews or denounced them to the Nazis during the war. Dorota Glowacka, a legal adviser with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Warsaw, said the broad scope of the bill opens up the potential for abuse. Israel's Foreign Ministry also expressed their opposition and said in a statement it is requesting that the Polish government change the proposal Reacting to the decision, Israel called on Poland to amend the bill. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his ambassador to meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to express opposition to the bill. 'The law is baseless, I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied,' Netanyahu said. Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it is requesting that the Polish government change the proposal, and a spokesman added: 'We will engage the Polish authorities on the issue with this very clear message.' A slew of senior Israeli officials released similar statements condemning the Polish bill, including the country's finance minister, who said: 'There is one historical truth, strong and proven, and in it are the horrors of the Nazi oppressors and those who helped them, including Poland.' Dutch spies secretly broke into computers used by a powerful Russian hacking group and are thought to have found evidence of US election interference. American officials were reportedly so pleased with the findings that they sent cake and flowers in return. Reports suggest that hackers working for the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service penetrated computers used by the Cozy Bear group in mid-2014. They watched the Russians for at least a year, even managing to catch the hackers on camera. Reports suggest that hackers working for the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service penetrated computers used by the Cozy Bear group in mid-2014. The Kremlin in Moscow's Red Square is pictured (stock photo) A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured, said he had yet to see any official comment from the Dutch intelligence services on the matter Dutch Interior Minister Kajsa Ollongren declined to comment, saying only that she was 'very happy that we have good security services in the Netherlands that do their work well'. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had yet to see any official comment from the Dutch intelligence services on the matter. He added: 'If the Dutch media want to fuel anti-Russian hysteria in the U.S., it's an activity that can't be called honorable.' It is thought that the Dutch spies used their access to help oust Cozy Bear from U.S. State Department computers in late 2014. American officials were reportedly so pleased with the findings of the Dutch spies that they sent cake and flowers in return. Capitol Hill in the US is pictured (stock photo) The news drew has rocked Washington, where the hacking group has been identified as one of two Russian government-linked organisations that interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Unmasking the Cozy Bear hackers would provide key evidence for investigators trying to unravel the data breach of the Democratic National Committee, but it may not dispel the mystery surrounding the leaks that followed. A recent investigation found that all but one of the two dozen or so officials whose emails were published in the run-up to the 2016 election were targeted by another group nicknamed Fancy Bear, which cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said operated independently from Cozy Bear. The Kremlin has denied meddling in the US presidential vote. Talk about a long and torturous road to walk! A Virginia man has filmed himself attempting a Guinness World Record by walking barefoot over 120 feet of loose Lego - all while raising awareness of and donations for a charity that delivers the building block sets to children in hospitals. Russell Cassevah, of Chesapeake, Virginia, live-streamed the moment he broke the record for the world's longest barefoot brick walk on January 21. Virginia man Russell Cassevah broke the Guinness World Record for barefoot brick walking on January 21, after walking on 200 pounds of Lego spread over a distance of 120 feet Cassevah made the recording-breaking attempt at his daughter's elementary school, to help raise awareness of and funds for British Fairy Bricks, which delivers Lego to children in hospitals To break the current record of 85 feet, Cassevah laid out a 120 foot path of loose plastic Lego at his daughter's Chesapeake Montessori School, adhering to all official procedures and protocols outlined by Guinness, including filming the attempt from multiple angles, professionally measuring the path's distance and receiving doctor's exams before and after the painful walk. Throughout the almost hour-long live stream leading up to and including the walk itself, Cassevah can be seen interviewing the various people involved in making sure his brick walk conforms to protocols and doing giveaways for viewers. He can also be seen doing a test walk to help get his feet used to the pain. During the test, Cassevah notes that he will have to walk the path at a steady pace, without stopping, and that his feet must be in contact with Lego with every step. He laments the fact that they hadn't thought to do a better job of mixing up the 200 pounds of small and large Lego pieces because the small ones are substantially more painful to tread over. Cassevah, the mastermind of the BrainyBricks YouTube channel, also explains that the reason he's attempting to break the Guinness World Record for brick walking is so that he can help raise donations for Fairy Bricks, a British charity that donates Lego sets to hospitalized children. Last November, Cassevah says, the organization had 2,000 Lego sets stolen from their delivery truck, which was en route to deliver the sets to children throughout the UK. To break the record, Cassevah needed to travel more than 85 feet, at a steady pace, without stopping, all while walking on painful, loose Lego bricks During his long walk, Cassevah grunted with pain and could be seen wobbling at times, as the sharp Lego dug into his feet. He kept his steady pace up, though, high-fiving his cheerleaders Shortly before he makes the Guinness World Record attempt, Cassevah submits to an exam from a foot doctor, who checks to make sure that there are no numbing agents or Vaseline on his feet and they have full sensation. Cassevah asks the doctor what sort of concerns he might have regarding the lengthy brick walk, to which the doctor jokingly replies, 'First of all, I'd wonder if you need to see a psychiatrist.' On a serious note, the doctor then says that cuts on Cassevah's feet and potential injuries sustained should he slip and fall, would be among the concerns. An exam using a small wheel with needle-like prongs shows that all is normal with the sensation in Cassevah's feet and the doctor confirms that there are no artificial substances coating his feet. Cassevah is the mastermind of BrainyBricks, a YouTube channel that promotes Lego love Cassevah's daughter, Lego fanatic 'CutieBricks,' is a frequent fixture on his YouTube channel, helping him review new Lego sets and conduct product giveaways As he's standing at the start line, preparing to begin the challenge, Cassevah admits to having second thoughts about doing the brick walk, but pulls it together, revealing that there is 'no spot where I cannot step on Lego... every single one of these Legos is loose.' Cassevah is cool and collected as he steps onto the brick path and begins the World Record attempt, narrating as he goes, occasionally questioning the decision to go 120 feet when he could've just walked 86 feet to succeed in his quest. It's not until about halfway down the path that the pain of thousands of sharp plastic corners digging into his bare feet really starts to affect him and he begins grunting at the pain. 'I'm just not going to talk, guys,' Cassevah says, as he concentrates on keeping his pace steady and staying on the path. Every few steps, though, he can't help himself from issuing commentary about what is happening. 'My feet are literally shaking,' he says, later noting that pieces of brick are stuck to his foot. Halfway through the challenge, his voice starts to waver and he begins to wobble as he walks, but keeps it together enough that he's able to high-five the children cheering him on as he passes by. Cheers erupt when he surpasses the current 85 foot World Record, spurring him on the last 35 feet to the finish line. When Cassevah finishes, he jumps off the path. 'My feet hurt so bad right now guys,' he says into the camera. 'My heart is just pounding right now. That hurt so bad.' When he sits down again, preparing for his post-walk doctor's examination, he notes that his 'nose is running like crazy.' The doctor then performs the second sensation test on Cassevah and gives the all clear,. Cassevah notes that he believes his barefoot brick walk efforts and the video and photo documentary conform with Guinness World Records' mandates, meaning that he's successfully qualified to hold the record. With their glossy waist-length hair, pristine make-up and vertiginous heels, the glamorous sisters looked like they were dressed for the catwalk rather than a hot, dusty and fly-blown courtroom. Even the legal files Helen and Alexandra Veevers carried alongside their designer handbags as they sashayed into court were hot pink. But behind their polished smiles lay a steely determination. The sisters, from Rochdale, returned to Mombasa, Kenya, last week for the latest chapter in an extraordinary legal battle to clear their name over the death of their father, millionaire property developer Harry Veevers. The case has been compared with the 1987 film White Mischief. With their glossy waist-length hair, pristine make-up and vertiginous heels, the Helen (right) and Alexandra (left) Veevers looked like they were dressed for the catwalk rather than a hot, dusty courtroom Sensationally accused by their half-brothers Richard and Philip Veevers of poisoning their father to get their hands on his 7 million fortune amid claims of lies, corruption and fraud, the two-day hearing was the hottest show in town. Kenyan scientists claimed to have found traces of the insecticide cyhalothrin after exhuming Mr Veevers's body, at the brothers' instigation, 11 months after his death. But on Wednesday, a British toxicologist told the inquest that a re-analysis of soil and soft-tissue samples, using a highly sensitive technique, had found no such trace of the toxic compound. Dr Alexander Allan, who worked for the Home Office for 20 years, said via video-link that he felt there were 'issues' with the Kenyan analysis and was forced to look on bemused as a brief but noisy spat ensued between the sisters and Richard Veevers in court. An earlier hearing had to be halted when the sisters shouted at a witness. Alexandra Veevers gestures during her testimony during the inquest into how her father Harry Veevers died back in 2013, at the Mombasa Law Courts, Kenya Helen Veevers (pictured) was also sensationally accused by her half-brothers Richard and Philip Veevers of poisoning their father to get their hands on his 7 million fortune Kenyan scientists claimed to have found traces of the insecticide cyhalothrin after exhuming the body of Mr Veevers (pictured) Tempers in the case, it seems, are running as high as the stakes. Present at the inquest is senior assistant director of public prosecutions, Alexander Muteti. If the presiding magistrate in the case concludes that Mr Veevers died unlawfully, Mr Muteti could begin a murder investigation against Helen and Alexandra. But if it is found that Harry died of natural causes, he will to decide whether the brothers should be investigated for fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Outside court, a weary Mr Muteti said: 'Many accusations are flying around the courtroom. I've never seen anything like it.' Mr Veevers made his fortune building properties in Rochdale and Mombasa, where he lived in retirement until his death from a heart attack in February 2013, aged 64. Richard and Philip, his sons from his first marriage, had his body exhumed 11 months later, claiming foul play. A Kenyan government scientist working for the Veevers brothers said he found traces of poison. Richard Veevers with his father Harry Veevers on Richards wedding day. Richard is now in a bitter court battle with his half sisters over the death of Harry and inheritance Alexandra, 28, has told the court she saw Richard and Philip in the mortuary with their father's body, wearing Latex gloves and 'holding some sort of instrument' Helen, 30, added that, although her father did not leave a will, it was known 'throughout the family' that there was a letter in a safety deposit box at Barclays Bank in Mombasa to be opened in the event of his death But Alexandra, 28, has told the court she saw Richard and Philip in the mortuary with their father's body, wearing Latex gloves and 'holding some sort of instrument'. She has insisted that her father was 'the love of my life'. Meanwhile, Helen described the moment she called Richard to break the news of their father's death. 'I could tell the news made him happy,' she said. 'He said he'd been waiting for this day. He said we could start by sharing the contents of my father's UK bank account, which had 500,000 in it. He was excited.' It prompted a heated exchange one of many between the assembled lawyers. Helen, 30, added that, although her father did not leave a will, it was known 'throughout the family' that there was a letter in a safety deposit box at Barclays Bank in Mombasa to be opened in the event of his death. Harry's brother Chris, who had been granted access, found the box empty. Harry's brother Chris, who had been granted access, found the box empty Helen told the court she believed the letter might have disinherited Richard, but that Richard had 'done a deal' with a bank employee to get rid of the letter Helen told the court she believed the letter might have disinherited Richard, but that Richard had 'done a deal' with a bank employee to get rid of the letter. The employee will give evidence later. 'My uncle Chris told me all about it,' Helen told the court. 'They took the safety deposit box from the bank and found nothing in it. He agreed with me that my father was very shrewd with money and would never have paid for a bank box that was empty.' She added: 'My uncle warned me that Richard was trying to set us up, accusing us of poisoning my father to get his money. He said, 'You girls need to be careful.' ' As Helen was cross-examined by Richard's lawyer, things became heated as she demanded he 'stop twisting my words'. Standing with her hand on her hip, Helen shouted: 'Shut up!' No amount of gentle coaxing by her own lawyer could encourage her to calm down. The siblings are currently staying with their mother Azra Parvin Din, 70 in adjacent six-bedroom homes in a luxury gated development built by their father. Outside court, Helen told The Mail on Sunday: 'The whole neighbourhood can hear Richard shouting at us whenever our paths cross, and calling us murderers. 'It's horrible for us and our mum, but we are going to see this through. We want to have our dad reburied with dignity. My father would have hated all this. But he would have wanted us to go on fighting.' The inquest resumes this week. The decapitated and dismembered remains of Sara Zghoul were found in two suitcases in a BMW in Aloha, Oregon on Thursday A man has been jailed after the decapitated and dismembered body of an Oregon woman was found, local media is reporting. Body parts of Sara Zghoul, 28, were found inside two suitcases in a black BMW parked on a residential street in Aloha, Oregon on Thursday night, Oregon Live reports. The man, who has not been identified, was arrested later that evening. Both the man and Zghoul were from Aloha, near Portland. Sources told Oregon Live that the man tried to kill himself by slashing his throat and wrists before he was arrested. Authorities found him in a ravine near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard. Michael Larsen told FOX 12 that he and his wife were sitting on their balcony when they saw the suspected killer. He called 911 after seeing and hearing the man yell for help in the woods. 'It was really cold and rainy, and he's just sitting out there leaning against a tree,' Larsen told FOX 12. 'The tone of his voice when he was yelling, it was very desperate.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO The BMW (pictured) was found on a residential street. A man was arrested in connection with her death later in the evening. Sources told Oregon Live that he tried to kill himself before his arrest Courtesy of KOIN Zghoul had worked as an actress, a model and a voice-over-artist and is survived by a son. 'Sara was funny, kind and a great mother,' a family friend said. 'She was the kind of person to give you the shirt off her back.' 'Her son, I mean, I don't know if he comprehends that she's never going to come back,' another friend told KPTV. 'It takes an evil, evil person to do something like that.' You never would expect that to happen to someone that you know,' Zghoul's childhood friend Gregory McKelvey told KOIN 6 News. 'She was a very funny person, everybody knew her and her whole family.' The family has declined to comment to local media as of yet. Police received a call on Thursday night about a homicide with a body left inside a car in an Aloha neighborhood. Authorities scouted the neighborhood and located a BMW with Zghoul's body inside the trunk. Detectives also gathered evidence Friday at a home near the corner of Southwest 166th Avenue and Hargis Road on Friday, three blocks from where the car was found, reported KATU. Police said in a statement they would release the suspect's identity 'at a later date'. Anyone with information about Zghoul's death is asked to call 1-503-846-2700. Zghoul had worked as an actress and model and is survived by her son. 'Sara was funny, kind and a great mother,' a family friend said Courtesy of KATU Advertisement Fireworks exploded above the St Petersburg skyline today, reflecting in the swiftly flowing Neva River as the city celebrated the 74th anniversary of the battle that ended the Siege of Leningrad. Named at the time after the communist revolutionary, the city was blockaded by German Nazi and Finnish troops for four desperate years during WW2. By the time the siege ended on January 27, 1944, 872 days later, an estimated 630,000 people had died. St Petersburg celebrated the 74th anniversary of the battle that ended the four-year-long Siege of Leningrad Some historians say this is a conservative number, and suggest the real death toll to be closer to 800,000. The siege began on September 8, 1941, when Nazi forces fully encircled the city, three months after launching Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union. Like the Holocaust, the truth of what occurred took time to trickle outwards, across Europe to France and Britain. Few people realised the real horror of the siege. For years afterwards Stalin kept it dark. World War II guns fired a salute during the celebrations which took place today across the city Fireworks exploded above the austere St Petersburg skyline, reflecting in the swiftly flowing Neva River A new 3D panorama museum opened in Kirovsk, about 20 miles east of St Petersburg, to mark the occasion After the Khrushchev thaw, a new legend was propagated. The citizens of Leningrad were heroic in their staunch resistance against hunger and German bombs. They were willing - and quiet - martyrs for the Revolutionary cause. But with the collapse of communism, archives opened, as did police records and siege diaries. The city of almost 3 million, including about 400,000 children, had endured increasingly bleak hardship. Known at the time as Leningrad, the city was blockaded by German Nazi and Finnish troops for nearly four years during WW2 German and Finnish forces encircled the city, blocking food, ammunition and medical supplies from reaching civilians Historians suggest the real death toll of the assault to be as high as 800,000 - one in three of the city's population During the first months of 1942 about 100,000 people were dying every four weeks It is estimated that more than half of the city's population died during the siege's first year - an extremely cold winter stretching from 1941 to 1942. Rations fell to just 125 grams of bread per person of which 50 to 60 per cent consisted of sawdust and other inedible bulking agents. All municipal heating was switched off and the city's people were forced to endure temperatures of as low as -30 degrees celsius. The death toll peaked in the first two months of 1942 at 100,000 every four weeks. People died on the streets, and citizens soon became accustomed to the sight of bodies lying sprawled across the pavement. Nazi shelling was continuous but civilians also had to contend with hunger and temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius USSR officers from the Red Army defended the city using what limited ammunition had been stored there before the war Rations fell to just 125 grams of bread per person per day, and heating in all municipal buildings was switched off People became accustomed to the sight of dead bodies in the streets People were forced to eat pets, dirt and glue. Some, driven to utter desperation, even resorted to cannibalism. For those willing to break one of humanity's greatest taboos, the streets held an abundance of food. But as families starved and froze to death inside the city, the German troops outside fared little better. They had stretched themselves thin and, unlike the Russians, were not used to the bitter cold. On January 12 of 1944 determined Russian forces broke through the German ranks encircling the city, ending the siege. Collapsed construction giant Carillion ran up huge debts and sold assets so it could keep paying out millions of pounds of dividends to shareholders. It paid out 376m between 2012 and 2016 despite making just 159m of cash from its operations. A parliamentary paper on Carillion's collapse revealed: 'When dividends are paid on the basis of expected profits, the company is effectively borrowing money to pay its shareholders.' The firm's liquidation left in its wake a 900 million debt pile, a 590 million pension deficit and hundreds of millions of pounds in unfinished public contracts. Meanwhile, it emerged Carillion won eight public sector contacts worth nearly 2bn even as their shares tumbled and questions over its future were raised. Carillion paid out 376m between 2012 and 2016 despite making just 159m of cash from its operations (stock photo) Just a week after Carillion issued its first profit warning last July it was handed a 1.4bn project to help build HS2 in July last year. While the same week the Ministry of Defence also gave the now-failed construction giant two contracts for leisure and catering services worth 158million. State-owned Network Rail gave Carillion a contract worth around 320m to upgrade track on the London to Corby line in November last year. Leeds City Council handed Carillion a 14m 'advanced works' deal for the first stage of the East Leeds Orbital Road to improve the existing highway a week ago. Critics accused the Government of presiding over a 'shambles' and said ministers should 'hang their heads in shame' over the collapse. Under the MoD contracts, Carillion was to provide catering, retail and leisure services at more than 230 military sites across the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Carillion saw its shares price plunge more than 70 per cent in the past six months after making a string of profit warnings and breaching its financial covenants. It also has a pension deficit of around 600m. Carillion saw its shares price plunge more than 70 per cent in the past six months after making a string of profit warnings and breaching its financial covenants A string of top bosses at the construction giant are to be grilled by MPs next month as the political fallout from the debacle rages on. Parliament's Pensions and Business Committees launched a joint inquiry into the group's demise, which has cast doubt over the future of thousands of workers on jobs ranging from hospital construction to school meals and cleaning. The committees confirmed that they will call several Carillon bosses as witnesses to evidence sessions on February 6. They include former chief executive Richard Howson, chairman Phillip Green, interim boss Keith Cochrane and ex-finance chiefs Richard Adam, Zafar Khan and Emma Mercer. It comes after anger over Mr Howson's bumper pay packet during and after his tenure, as well as that of Mr Khan and Mr Cochrane. Mr Howson, who headed the company from 2012 until July 2017, pocketed 1.5 million in 2016, which included a 122,612 cash bonus and 231,000 in pension contributions. Richard Howson, who headed the company from 2012 until July 2017, pocketed 1.5 million in 2016, which included a 122,612 cash bonus. The bumper pay packet amount sparked outrage As part of his departure deal, Carillion had agreed to continue paying him a 660,000 salary and 28,000 in benefits until October 2018. A similar deal was struck for Mr Khan, who left Carillion in September but was set to receive 425,000 in base salary for the following 12 months. Interim chief executive Mr Cochrane was in line to be paid his 750,000 salary until July. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, chairwoman of the Business Committee, said: 'In the wake of the BHS scandal, Carillion has the hallmarks of another corporate governance failure, with directors asleep at the wheel while the business went off a cliff, in this case leaving jobs, pensions and public services under threat and a host of suppliers out of pocket. 'As a committee, we will also want to explore the executive pay arrangements at Carillion, the potential cost to the taxpayer of the insolvency, and the role of both directors and non-executive directors in the company's collapse.' Carillion introduced the 'clawback' provision as part of its pay policy in 2014 which would allow the company to demand executives return cash and share bonuses for up to two years after payment - a move it said brought the business in line with the updated UK Corporate Governance Code. However, those terms were relaxed by 2016 when Carillion's remuneration committee added stipulations that the clawback provision could only be triggered if the firm's results were mis-stated or the executive was 'guilty of gross misconduct'. The committees will also probe the role of Carillion's auditor, KPMG, which signed off the group's 2016 accounts. The Insolvency Service, which last week ceased payments to Carillion executives, and the Financial Reporting Council will also be called at an earlier hearing next week as questions remain over the strength of corporate governance at the company. Robin Ellison, chairman of trustees of Carillion's pension scheme, will also be grilled. Pensions Committee chairman Frank Field said: 'Another day, another company goes bust hot on the heels of a clean bill of health from a Big Four financial services firm. 'The particularly nasty twist in this now grimly familiar tale is the mountain of debt and giant pension deficit this public services contractor leaves in the wreckage of its collapse- with an accompanying massive hit to the public purse. 'It must also be time now for the auditors who cosily signed off this disaster-in-the-making as a 'going concern' less than a year ago to begin to account for themselves.' Embattled Theresa May suffered a fresh blow last night after Donald Trump criticised her handling of the Brexit negotiations. And the US President sparked a diplomatic row by claiming the Prime Minister had invited him to make two trips to the UK this year including a State visit in October, with all the pomp that entails. In an interview with Piers Morgan, to be broadcast on ITV tonight, the President said he would have taken a much tougher stance than Mrs May towards Brussels. Trump told Piers Morgan he was not surprised when Brexit won the EU referendum and cited trade and immigration as major drivers Donald Trump claims there are a lot of Brits who respect him and like what he stands for His intervention could undermine the moves he made earlier to repair the transatlantic special relationship by singing the praises of Britain and saying how much he supported and respected Mrs May. However, his comments to Mr Morgan were more critical. When asked if he thought the Prime Minister was in a good position regarding Brexit talks, Mr Trump replied: Would it be the way I negotiate? No, I wouldnt negotiate it the way its [being] negotiated I would have had a different attitude. Pressed on how his approach would have differed from that of Mrs May, he said: I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what its supposed to be. I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out. The president, pictured with the prime minister in Davos, said the EU isn't all it's cracked up to be in the ITV interview Trump was asked whether Mrs May was in a good position in the Brexit talks and said she should have been stronger in her approach In his first international television interview, the president told Piers Morgan that May's negotiations should have been tougher The comments will boost those calling for a hard Brexit, led by Boris Johnson. Mr Trump claimed he was not surprised by the result of the EU referendum: I said [that] because of trade, but mostly immigration, Brexit is going to be a big upset. And I was right. He added: I know the British people and understand them. They dont want people coming from all over the world into Britain, they dont know anything about these people. However, Mrs May can draw comfort from the Presidents promise of a great trade deal between Britain and America after the UK has left the EU: You have a two-year restriction because of Brexit, but when that is up were going to be your great trading partner. Before the cameras started rolling, Mr Morgan asked Mr Trump if he was coming to the UK. He replied: Yeah, Ill be there. She [Mrs May] just invited me. Twice. Donald Trump says he would have taken a tougher stance during EU negotiations in an interview with Piers Morgan After checking with an aide, Mr Trump said he expected one non-State visit probably in July after a Nato summit in Brussels followed by a State visit in October. A White House aide said later the date had not yet been confirmed. Mr Trumps comments about a State visit took Downing Street and Buckingham Palace by surprise. A Whitehall source added: As far as we know, nothing has been agreed about the President meeting the Queen. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Mrs Mays invitation for a State visit made shortly after Mr Trump entered the White House a year ago had been put on ice as a result of widescale public opposition. In the president's first international TV interview he claimed he would have taken a tougher stance than Theresa May when negotiating with the EU Mr Trump also cancelled a planned trip to open the new US Embassy in London next month. However, the President told Mr Morgan: A lot of people in your country like what I stand for, they respect what I stand for. Mr Trump made it clear that he was thrilled at the way Emmanuel Macron had rolled out the red carpet for him on a State visit to France. Emmanuel is a great guy. His wife is fantastic. I like them a lot. We had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower and everything was closed. Mr Trump had reportedly refused a State visit to the UK after Mrs May criticised him for retweeting videos from British far-Right extremists. Asked about a State visit during a joint appearance with Mrs May at the Davos economic summit on Friday, Mr Trump said: Well talk about it. Mrs May nodded in approval. No 10 said last night details of any State visit would be set out in due course. If a young man wanted to dance with a woman who had caught his eye, it used to be the case that all he had to do was ask. But in this politically correct age, it seems that matters have become more complicated. Its not enough for sensitive members of todays snowflake generation that someone has agreed to a dance in the first place. Instead they must repeatedly check that their partner is still into this after the music has started, and offer to stop otherwise. Undergraduates at the Ivy League college Princeton were provided with detailed dancefloor instructions before their Orange and Black Ball (OBB) at the end of last term. Undergraduates at the Ivy League college Princeton were provided with detailed dancefloor instructions before their Orange and Black Ball (OBB) at the end of last term The advice came from a university body called the Sexual Harassment/Assault, Advising Resources & Education watchdog, known as SHARE. It said on its Facebook page: Going to OBB this Friday? Planning to have a great time tearing up the dancefloor with your friends? Great! Check out some tips about what consent on the dancefloor looks like! In an accompanying poster, under the question: What does consent on the dancefloor look like? is a silhouette of a dancing couple. Alongside are suggestions for how the conversation should unfold, with the question Do you wanna dance? followed by possible responses such as Absolutely! and Yeah! Lets do it! Students were told they must repeatedly check that their partner is still into this after the music has started, and offer to stop otherwise The lines Hey, are you still into this? We can stop if you arent! illustrate how students can keep checking for consent even after the dance has begun, and are accompanied by warnings to frequently check in with a partner and to wait for an answer. But one British student at Princeton was sceptical about the guidance. Jens Clausen, 20, from Chelsea, West London, said: It doesnt have to be so blunt. There are ways of communicating the message without being so robotic. I think that most people can tell if the other person is enjoying themselves or not. However, Katie Massie, 19, said she liked the poster. If you ask then you have an official decision about consent. I think it is important to ask and to double-check. Some people think it kills the sexiness. I think it makes you more comfortable. Ellen Scott-Young, 21, who organised the OBB, explained that the poster was created as part of an initiative at the university in New Jersey called UMatter, saying: It is designed to promote responsible interpersonal behaviour on campus. We want our parties to be fun, safe events. A Princeton spokesman said: This is not specific campus policy. It was created by a student to help foster a respectful campus environment. The extraordinary story of Theresa May's secret first love at Oxford was revealed for the first time last night. He is a Philip May 'lookalike' who went on to marry a woman with the same first and second names as the Prime Minister Theresa Mary. Even more remarkably, he is closer to sovereign power than his former girlfriend Mrs May. The Mail on Sunday can disclose that the PM's first Oxford boyfriend Alistair Harrison is Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps and the Queen's senior adviser on foreign affairs. Scroll down for video Alistair Harrison (above), the PM's ex: He is a super-bright, slim six-footer who is a high-flying diplomat, holder of several prestigious gongs and the Queen's senior adviser on foreign affairs Mrs May at Oxford University 'only went out with men she could relate to socially and intellectually' and Mr Harrison ticked all those boxes Theresa May married investment banker Philip May (pictured) in September 1980 - he too was at Oxford University with her Philip and Theresa may enjoy a close marriage - even wearing matching watches while attending their local church in Maidenhead in July 2017 Mr Harrison, 63, like Philip May, a super-bright, slim six-footer, dated Mrs May in her early days at Oxford, where they all studied in the 1970s. It is thought her relationship with Mr Harrison ended shortly before she fell in love with Philip, 60. Four decades later, Mrs May, 61, can almost wave to Mr Harrison from her Downing Street flat. He has an even grander grace and favour apartment at St James's Palace half a mile away. High-flying diplomat Mr Harrison has two of the most prestigious gongs. He's a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, awarded for personal Commonwealth service to the Monarch. He is also a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). The Order's registrar is ex-MI6 boss Sir David Manning, and fictional spy James Bond was decorated with a CMG by author Ian Fleming, fuelling rumours of its espionage connections. In the TV comedy, Yes Minister fictitious mandarin Bernard Woolley tells his MP boss Jim Hacker, CMG stands for 'Call Me God'. The Prime Minister's close friend at Oxford, Pat Frankland told The Mail on Sunday: 'Theresa went out with Alistair a few times. He was her type tall, highly intelligent and with small 'c' conservative views. She only went out with men she could relate to socially and intellectually.' She jokingly added: 'They had to be intelligent or they wouldn't be able to stand up to her.' Mr Harrison's Foreign Office career included postings in Eastern Europe, the UN and Africa. After launching an anti-corruption drive while Governor of Anguilla in the Caribbean, he was given an armed guard to protect his family from protesters. Four years after leaving Oxford, Mr Harrison married Theresa Mary Morrison. They divorced after ten years. He married writer and marketing consultant Sarah Wood in 1996. The couple have three teenage children. Modest and self-effacing Philip May is one of the PM's closest confidants The level of support provided by Philip May to his wife was clearly on show after her speech at the Conservative Party conference in 2016. Theresa May and husband Philip in 1980. He was once chairman of the Wimbledon Conservatives and still takes an active ground roots role Philip May is usually dressed soberly and is renowned for his trademark designer spectacles as he smiles warmly while next to his wife His appointment to the Royal Household in 2014 prompted speculation that it was linked to the gradual handover of more duties from the Queen to Prince Charles. The post of Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps was created by James I in 1603. The Marshal and the Queen's Equerry are the last two Royal courtiers expected to walk backwards discreetly when leaving the presence of the Monarch. Mr Harrison has defended the custom saying: 'It makes sense. You don't turn on your heel after introducing one person to another. It's simply polite.' His official uniform includes a feathered cocked hat and pendant with a sword on one side and an olive branch on the other. By tradition, when he receives ambassadors from countries considered 'unfriendly' to Britain, the Marshal holds the sword side facing up. He quipped he 'hoped to see more of the olive branch' while he had the job. Like Mrs May, Mr Harrison was an active member of Oxford University's Oxford Union debating society. Told that this newspaper had been informed of his student relationship with Mrs May, Mr Harrison said yesterday: 'Oh, really.' He said he knew the Mays and still saw them 'from time to time'. Pressed further about his dates with the future Prime Minister, he declined to comment further and joked that in his Oxford days he was '40 years younger and much more handsome'. Mrs May declined to comment. Theresa May has been warned by an influential Tory MP to set a date for her resignation or risk being toppled by her backbenchers. Former Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps says that unless the Prime Minister announces a timetable for the end of her uninspiring leadership, she could soon face a vote of no confidence. His powerful intervention comes as the party is convulsed by plots, feuds and increasingly outspoken criticism of Mrs May by Tory MPs dismayed by her botched reshuffle. The febrile atmosphere has been intensified by the need for the Government to set out its vision of an end state for Brexit to EU negotiators within the next month triggering open Cabinet battles between soft Brexiteers such as Chancellor Philip Hammond and the hard Brexit camp led by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Former Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps says that unless the Prime Minister announces a timetable for the end of her uninspiring leadership, she could soon face a vote of no confidence Last night, an ambitious Tory MP tipped as a future leader added his voice to the chorus of disapproval warning unless improvements were made Jeremy Corbyn would win the next Election. Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer told The Mail on Sunday: We need to be doing better, or we will pay the price. Mr Shapps reveals that several Tory MPs are this weekend sending letters to Sir Graham Brady, the Chairman of the partys 1922 Committee, calling for a leadership contest. If Sir Graham receives a total of 48 letters, he is obliged under party rules to spark that contest with a confidence vote. Sir Graham has not revealed how many letters he has received, but senior sources believe that it was already nudging 40 before the latest batch went in this weekend. At least three new MPs are thought to be writing to Sir Graham this weekend. So who's first in line to step in and take over? Our very rough guide... Boris Johnson (left) and Jeremy Hunt (right) Amber Rudd (left) and Michael Gove (right) Jacob Rees-Mogg (left) and David Davis (right) Sajid Javid (left) and Dominic Raab (right) Priti Patel (left) and Gavin Williamson (right) Andrea Leadsom (left) and Tom Tugendhat (right) Penny Mordaunt (left), Justine Greening (centre) and Nicky Morgan (right) Advertisement Mr Shapps has not yet sent a letter himself, because he says he feared that a leadership contest would destabilise the Government. But friends say that after Mrs Mays reshuffle earlier this month notable for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunts refusal to move jobs Mr Shapps stance is shifting.Writing in this newspaper, he says that Mrs Mays loss of authority was making it excruciatingly difficult for her to demand obedience from her own Cabinet. The Welwyn Hatfield MP said that it was becoming increasingly clear day by day that we cannot continue to muddle along like this and Mrs May should name a date and do so before it is too late. Mr Shapps dismisses the argument used by many May loyalists that she should not go before Brexit in March 2019 pointing out that Neville Chamberlain was replaced by Winston Churchill when we were at war with Germany in 1940.Downing Street outed Mr Shapps last October for collecting a list of the names of Tory MPs who were privately saying that Mrs May should stand down but had not necessarily written to Sir Graham. Mr Shapps says he was trying to control the process so that any bid to start a leadership contest could be timed to the maximum advantage of the party. It is understood that Mr Shapps made clear to Downing Street that he would not send his own no-confidence letter if No 10 worked with him to gauge the mood in the party but the offer was rebuffed. Captain Mercer, a former Army captain who entered the Commons in 2015, warned that unless the Governments performance improved the party could face electoral wipeout. The Afghanistan veteran said: We need to be doing better, or we will pay the price with the electorate. We have to face down some of the very clear challenges on the NHS, housing and defence. Asked about Mrs Mays performance, he stopped short of calling for Mrs May to step down, saying: Im not going to comment on the Prime Minister. The botched reshuffle and lack of clarity over Brexit have stirred resentments on the backbenches among even normally loyal MPs. Captain Mercer, a former Army captain who entered the Commons in 2015, warned that unless the Governments performance improved the party could face electoral wipeout Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin in Shropshire who once called for rebellious colleagues to be sacked said this weekend: There is a growing frustration that No 10 is not plugged in to 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. Mrs Mays most senior Cabinet Ministers are becoming increasingly entrenched in their positions on Brexit. Mr Johnson was rebuked by fellow soft Brexit Cabinet Ministers last week led by Mr Hammond when he pre-briefed a Cabinet call for a Brexit dividend for the NHS. He is also planning to set out his personal vision for a clean EU withdrawal next month. Mr Hammond then caused fury among the Brexiteers when he claimed last week that Brexit would involve very modest changes to the status quo. Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused the Government of a timid and cowering approach to the Brexit talks. He warned: The leader is important but the party is more important. Brexit is more important than anyone other than the Queen. It is the online grocery beloved of middle Britain but Ocado was facing a backlash last night after its boss admitted attending the scandal-hit Presidents Club charity gala. Some customers vented their anger at chief executive Tim Steiner and vowed to shop elsewhere as nationwide indignation grew over the sleazy event, which saw hostesses routinely groped and sexually harassed. Even host David Walliams came under fire, despite condemning the behaviour of the male guests. Three independent bookstores announced they were pulling comedian and author Walliamss bestselling childrens books from their shelves in protest at his involvement in the men-only event. Scroll down for video Ocado boss Tim Steiner, pictured with his lingerie model girlfriend Patrycja Pyka, was thought to be one of the business worlds most enduring evangelists Pictured, a customer vents their anger at Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner over Twitter after learning he attended the Presidents Club charity gala Not so funny: Some shops are banning children's books by comedian David Williams, pictured, over his attendance of the scandal-hit Presidents Club charity gala Natasha Radford, owner of the Chicken & Frog Bookshop in Brentwood, Essex, said: We are shooting ourselves in the foot because we do get a lot of parents coming in asking for Walliamss books. But sometimes we have to stand up for what we believe in. However, many on social media argued that the furious response was an overreaction. President's men were given free 'Weinstein style' robes Guests at the Presidents Club ball were given Harvey Weinstein-style white bathrobes as gifts, it was revealed last night. The robes, with the clubs logo in gold braid, were presented to selected guests by high-heeled waitresses as they left the event at The Dorchester hotel. The 100 designer garments, believed to have been bought at Selfridges, are similar to the one worn by the disgraced film producer when he allegedly sexually harassed actresses. One guest who was given a bathrobe said: I have never been to a dinner where you were given a robe in the freebie bag. It is usually a box of Ferrero Rocher. It felt sleazy and when I later discovered the distasteful behaviour that had been going on, I got shot of it before my wife found it. It was more Harvey Weinstein than Hugh Hefner. Advertisement The backlash came as The Mail on Sunday obtained a copy of the application form that hostesses were asked to complete for a previous club dinner in 2013. It warned of high-end male businessmen whose egos need to be stroked! The gala earlier this month at the Dorchester Hotel in Londons Mayfair appears to have provoked a resurgence of political correctness across Britain. In one extreme example, a theatre in Hull banned a stage version of the classic sitcom Are You Being Served? after it was deemed demeaning to women. But it was Ocado, the quintessentially middle-class grocer that, perhaps surprisingly, bore much of the opprobrium after the high-flying men who attended the gala, that is. Typifying the febrile mood, one woman tweeted that she would not indirectly fund Mr Steiners involvement with the charity event. We dont march for this, she said. Harini Iyengar, of the Womens Equality Party, said: I and many other loyal Ocado customers have been dismayed by its silence on the Presidents Club story. 'Instead of addressing peoples concerns and denouncing the appalling treatment of women at the event, they have ducked questions about Tim Steiners attendance. Party in 2013 where 'egos must be stroked' The hostesses role at the men- only gala was outlined in an extraordinary application form, obtained by The Mail on Sunday. Potential recruits were asked to complete a form for the 2013 party and include bust, waist and hip measurements. They were promised a 115 fee, sandwiches and drinks. Hostess duties are to look after the guests and tables of the extremely affluent high-end male businessmen that attend this dinner, it says. Egos need to be stroked! Hostesses must be utterly friendly and confident enjoy male company and know their limits! A hostess called Hannah, who attended the 2013 gala, said: It was almost barbaric. We were made to parade across the stage like cattle. But it wasnt just the men behaving badly. She added: I saw girls on the mens laps but it seemed to be the girl initiating it. There was an after-party for girls willing to go further. It was word of mouth among everyone that it was girls willing to be escorts that stayed. Advertisement After seven years as a customer, I have cancelled my subscription. She also offered to host a training session for the company on equality and diversity. Isabelle Roughol, a managing editor at social media platform LinkedIn, has also cancelled her Ocado subscription. Its 2018, gentlemen, catch up. Now to find a decent grocery service, she said. Other customers demanded an explanation from Ocado. When it finally came that Mr Steiner was simply attending the event in a personal capacity it failed to silence the chorus of disapproval. PR director Natalie Kelley tweeted: Until Steiner parts ways with the company, I will not be shopping with you. To say he was there in a personal capacity is not an excuse and, in many ways, is even worse. Ocado did not respond to requests to comment last night. Hostesses working at the Presidents Club event were groped, had hands shoved up their skirts, their bottoms fondled and were repeatedly asked to join guests in the hotels bedrooms, it is claimed. It is also alleged that Presidents Club co-trustee Bruce Ritchie demanded 140 tall, thin beauties with smoky, sexy eyes and bright red lips for the gala. They were hired by the Artista agency, run by Caroline Dandridge. According to the companys website, she has worked for major corporate clients including Breitling, Moet Hennessy and Bentley. Among the testimonials on its website is one from Mr Ritchies property company Residential Land. It says: Artista clearly understands the diverse requirements of a corporate client however obscure and demanding they may be. A Texas family's chicken received a huge honor when it was given its own obituary in a local newspaper. The tribute bid farewell to Big Mama, a six-year-old Rhode Island Red, in The Eagle newspaper based in Byron, Texas. Not every chicken deserves an obituary, but Big Mama was special, owner Stephanie Sword told the paper. Scroll down for video A Texas family paid tribute to their six-year-old chicken - a Rhode Island Red named Big Mama (pictured) - who died on Sunday in an obituary in the local paper The Swords - Stephanie, her husband Gregory, and their two sons - adopted Big Mama (pictured) in September 2013 after a family that had raised her in a Houston apartment decided to have her euthanized The Swords - Stephanie, her husband Gregory, and their two sons - adopted Big Mama in September 2013 after a family that had raised her in a Houston apartment decided to have her euthanized. However, a veterinarian convinced the family to give her up for adoption instead, and the Swords, who live in College Station, heard about her through an email distributed to the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. 'We were hooked instantly' after seeing a grainy photo of a skinny chicken looking at herself in the mirror,' Stephanie wrote in the obituary for the bird. Because the chicken was raised in an apartment, it took her a while to get used to outdoor life and being surrounded by other chickens and it caused her to develop some strange habits. 'She refused to go in the chicken coop at times, and she would try to come into the house,' said Stephanie, a graduate student. In bad weather, she'd stay at the back door and sleep on the patio furniture. However, Big Mama soon 'discovered how beautiful life could be walking in the grass, being a member of a flock, and having 24-7 love', the obituary reads. The chicken died in her sleep on Sunday at her favorite spot in the chicken coop, the Swords told local media. Because Big Mama (pictured) was raised in an apartment, it took her a while to get used to outdoor life and being surrounded by other chickens, but she soon adjusted The obituary, published in The Eagle (pictured), reported that Big Mama died in her sleep on Sunday at her favorite spot in the chicken coop The Swords (pictured, Stephanie on left, and Gregory on right) decided a paid obituary would be a way to spread the message that every life is worth saving The family decided a paid obituary would be a way to spread the message that every life is worth saving. 'Big Mama was very close to being euthanized, but through the kindness of friends and vet techs and veterinarians that saved her, she made her way to us and had this beautiful life as part of our family,' Stephanie said. 'We really felt if any chicken deserves an obituary, it was Big Mama.' Stephanie told KBTX-TV that her family never expected the obit to get so much attention. 'We're just hoping that the story of Big Mama will remind others that every life, even that of a chicken, is valuable and worth saving,' she said. The Justice Department has handed over copies of just 15 percent of the text messages exchanged between two FBI officials involved in a romantic affair who expressed negative views about President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to the Washington Examiner, DOJ officials are still trying to recover an unknown number of missing text messages that were sent between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page during a five-month stretch of the Russia investigation. So far, DOJ has identified 50,000 text messages, but those are separate from the missing texts that were exchanged between December 2016 and May 2017. Of the 50,000 that were already unearthed, DOJ has given Congress between 4,000 and 7,000 of those text messages. The Justice Department (the headquarters of which is seen above in Washington, DC) is withholding thousands of texts exchanged by two FBI officials last year which show a bias against President Donald Trump DOJ officials said that there were occasions in the communications between the two agents when they switched to iMessage, the texting service which is exclusive to users of Apple's iPhone. There is suspicion among Republicans that the two FBI officials discussed DOJ business on their personal devices. DOJ has already informed Capitol Hill investigators that it has no intention of allowing them to see text messages that were exchanged on the agents' personal cell phones. 'The department is not providing text messages that were purely personal in nature,' Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote in a letter to Congressional investigators this past January. According to the Washington Examiner , DOJ officials are still trying to recover an unknown number of missing text messages that were sent between Peter Strzok (left) and Lisa Page (right) during a five-month stretch of the Russia investigation Strzok and Page exchanged some 50,000 text messages, some of them quite scathing of Trump. The text in which they discuss the possibility that Hillary Clinton wins the presidency is seen above in the fourth line from the bottom 'Furthermore, the department has redacted from some work-related text messages portions that were purely personal. 'The department's aim in withholding purely personal text messages and redacting personal portions of work-related text messages was primarily to facilitate the committee's access to potentially relevant text messages without having to cull through large quantities of material unrelated to either the investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server or the investigation into Russian efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.' This will surely raise questions in the minds of investigators as to how many of the tens of thousands of text messages that have yet to be revealed were personal in nature. Strzok, an FBI agent, and Page, a lawyer for the bureau, exchanged text messages that showed a bias against Trump. It was revealed earlier this week that they were apparently concerned about being too tough on Hillary Clinton during the investigation into her email server. Messages that were found earlier this week show that they were worried over what might happen if Clinton became president. 'One more thing: she might be our next president,' Page texted Strzok in February of 2016, right in the thick of the campaign. '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]?' 'Agreed,' Strzok replied. They apparently were concerned about being too tough on Hillary Clinton (seen above last December) during the investigation into her email server Strzok and Page both worked on the FBI's investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, and they also each briefly worked on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing probe into whether the 2016 Trump campaign colluded with Russia. The US Justice Department's internal watchdog said Thursday it recovered five months of missing text messages between the two officials whom Republicans have accused of bias against Trump. In a letter to several key Republican lawmakers, Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he would not object if the Justice Department shares with congressional committees the messages between Strzok and Page that were recovered using forensic tools. In texts that were previously released to Congress, Strzok and Page referred to Trump as an 'idiot' and a 'loathsome human.' Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered officials in the Department of Justice to 'leave no stone unturned' in their search for the 50,000 missing texts between the FBI agent and his lawyer lover President Donald Trump put the spotlight back on the FBI agents he'd previously accused of 'treason' in an early-morning tweet After news reports about the messages, lawmakers demanded to see them amid Republican concerns that agency officials were biased against Trump. Their cellphones are just two of 'thousands' whose texts were not backed up and stored on the FBI's systems between December 14, 2016 and May 17, 2017, according to a Justice Department official. The FBI has blamed the snafu on 'misconfiguration issues' that occurred while the bureau was rolling out new software updates for Samsung 5 devices. But Republicans have claimed the timing is suspect, especially because May 17 marks the date that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel. Strzok and Pages' text messages have become a focal point of congressional Republicans' investigation into whether the FBI is biased against Trump and gave Clinton more favorable treatment in its investigation of her private email use. Horowitz, whose office is conducting its own review into the FBI's handling of the Clinton matter, discovered the texts over the summer and informed Mueller. Strzok was then reassigned. Page, meanwhile, left the team in July after her 45-day detail ended. While Republicans have accused the two of bias against Trump, some of the texts suggest he was just one of many people targeted in their routine political banter. At times, for instance, they were also critical of Clinton. In addition, another Strzok text also appears to contradict the notion that the FBI is out to get Trump, after he told Page he was hesitant to join Mueller's team because of his 'gut sense and concern there's no big there there.' It had taken more than a year in the fixing, but finally my moment had come. I was face to face with a man Ive known for ten years since I won his Celebrity Apprentice show in America. Now, in a small conference room at the Davos World Economic Forum, it was my turn to put him on the spot; to question his success in the greatest office of all: the presidency of the United States. In the course of the following half-hour, Donald Trump would lay bare the true extent of the special relationship with Theresa May. He would drop a mighty bombshell on the European Union over trade, and deliver a dramatic rebuke to the British Government about its handling of Brexit. He would explain his true feelings about feminism, and the women who brand him a misogynist. Oh, and for good measure he would open the door for a rethink on his approach to climate change. President Donald Trump is pictured during his first international TV interview, with Piers Morgan, in which he said he would come to the UK for a state visit later this year First, though, the charge sheet: Depending on who you talk to, I said, youre either delivering on all of your promises, and beginning to make America great, as you vowed, or youre a raging, tweeting, wrecking-ball whos destroying the country and terrifying the entire planet. How do you plead? I plead not guilty! replied the President. To all of it? Well, no, I think I shook things up. The country had to be shaken up. He then rattled off a string of impressive statistics about the state of Americas surging economy, from record stock market highs to 17-year unemployment lows. Love him or loathe him, there is no doubt that Trumps first year as President has seen increasingly strong economic successes. It has also seen some of the worlds biggest protests. Last weekend, several million people around the world joined the Womens March on the first anniversary of his inauguration, many clutching Trump-bashing banners. Ever since the emergence of the infamous tape of him boasting about being able to grab women by the p****, Trump has understandably been public enemy No 1 for feminists. So how does he feel about women who think he is the worst kind of sexist, misogynist pig? What message could he give to persuade them that he is for them, and not a part of the problem. Well, I am for them, he replied, and I think a lot of them understand that. Hmmm. Id say the number of women on those marches who understand that could be written on the back of a postage stamp. In the course of the half-hour interview, Donald Trump laid bare the true extent of the special relationship with Theresa May and dropped a bombshell on the European Union over trade You know, he replied, I won many categories of women and the women vote in the election, and people were shocked to see it. I was running against a woman and Im winning all of these categories. And I think I would do even better right now. Women have the best unemployment numbers that theyve had in 17 years. And theyre doing tremendously in business, theyre doing tremendously in so many ways. And people are starting to see that. But what about gender equality and a womans right to feel safe in the workplace. Does he sign up to that? In classic Trump deflection style, he initially said, I do, and then redefined my question, saying: I also think they want to feel safe at the border. I think they want to see our military get much stronger. Women want to see a strong law enforcement. Im very much a law-and-order person. Theres nobody better than me on the military. I think women really like that. I think they want to be safe at home, in many different respects. You know theres I interrupted him: A lot of women Ive spoke to about this interview said it would be great to hear the President, given some of the more disrespectful things that have been out there and the way youve spoken about women, to acknowledge that you had said things that perhaps you wouldnt say now. That you have also listened, as many men are listening right now; that youve changed, youve evolved as a man. Well, I think we have to evolve, he admitted. If we dont evolve, theres something missing. President Trump explained his true feelings about feminism, and the women who brand him a misogynist, saying he had 'tremendous respect for women' But I have tremendous respect for women. You see all of the women I have working around me and working with me. Tremendous respect for women. It was time to ask the President a question I suspect hes never been asked. Do you identify as a feminist? He looked startled, then half-smiled as if the mere notion was ridiculous. No, I wouldnt say Im a feminist. I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. Im for women, Im for men, Im for everyone. I think people have to go out, they have to go out and really do it, and they have to win. And women are doing great, and Im happy about that. We moved on to Britain. Since Trump became President, there have been numerous protests and calls for him to be banned from the UK altogether, never mind be afforded the full State visit that Theresa May personally promised him a year ago. I think Im very popular in your country, he declared. I tried not to laugh and pointed out: There are a lot of opposition politicians like Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who want you banned. They dont want you coming on any kind of visit. Thats their problem, he said. I mean, if they dont, I could very nicely stay home. I think a lot of people in your country like what I stand for, they respect what I stand for. President Trump clearly feels the full State visit, first offered to him by Prime Minister Theresa May a year ago, is still very much on the cards for the autumn And to those who dont? I dont care. I dont care. Its just one of those things. I dont say anything. You know why? Because I dont care. What he did seem to care about was his relationship with Mrs May. Trump held a bilateral meeting with our beleaguered PM in Davos a few hours before we met and was effusive in his praise. I've not been invited to Harry's wedding... On the subject of special relationships, I asked President Trump if he had received an invitation to the Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May. 'Not that I know of,' he replied. 'Would you like to go?' 'I want them to be happy. I really want them to be happy. They look like a lovely couple.' I pointed out that Meghan had once said he was a divisive misogynist, expecting one of the President's savage retorts. But Trump bit his tongue and said through gritted teeth: 'Well, I still hope they're happy.' Donald Trump, the consummate diplomat - who'd have thought it? ...but I am still coming for a state visit, he claims It was announced just before our meeting that President Trump WILL be coming to Britain later this year, initially for a non-State visit around the time of a Nato meeting in Brussels in mid-July. But Trump clearly feels the full State visit, first offered to him by Prime Minister Theresa May a year ago, is still very much on the cards for the autumn. 'So you're coming to Britain?' I asked before the interview started. 'Yeah. I'll be there. She [Theresa May] just invited me. Twice. State and working. One is a State, October.' 'That date is still to be confirmed,' said an aide. ...and as for my hair, it's still hanging on! As we prepared to start filming, Trump was distracted by his own image appearing on a camera monitor. 'Can you bring that down a bit?' he asked. 'I like it on my hair.' The camera was lowered to centre on the world's most famous blond bouffant. 'People find it hard to believe that it IS my hair,' said the President as he checked it out. 'But it is. You know that right, Piers?' I do indeed, because he once let me pull it to test his claim. 'It's hanging in,' he chuckled. 'Barely...' Advertisement I think shes been doing a very good job, he told me. We actually have a very good relationship, although a lot of people think we dont. I support a lot of what she does and a lot of what she says. And I support you, militarily, very much. I mean, we will come to your defence if anything should happen, which, hopefully, it will never happen. I am a tremendous supporter of the UK. This was gratifying to hear. As were his views on trade. So we are going to make a deal with UK thatll be great, he said. As you know, youre somewhat restricted because of Brexit. You have a two-year restriction. And when that restriction is up, were going to be your great trading partner. Its a tough restriction to have. You know, for a couple of years, you have a very strong lack of being able to do things. So far, so reassuring. But in a rebuke of major significance, Trump said he felt the Government was going wrong over the way it is negotiating Brexit, urging them to go much harder on the EU and even suggesting hes about to unleash a US trade war on the EU. Well, would it be the way I negotiate? he said of our Brexit deal-making. No. I wouldnt negotiate it the way its [being] negotiated. I think I would have negotiated it differently. I would have had a different attitude. What would you have done? I think I would have said that the European Union is not cracked up to what its supposed to be. And I would have taken a tougher stand in getting out. You know, I have a lot of problems with the European Union. Im representing the United States, its a very unfair situation. We cannot get our product in. Its very, very tough. And yet they send their product to us no taxes, very little taxes. Its very unfair. Ive had a lot of problems with European Union, and it may morph into something very big from that standpoint, from a trade standpoint. The European Union has treated the United States very unfairly when it comes to trade. Theyre not the only one, by the way. I could name many countries and places that do. But the European Union has been very, very unfair to the United States. And I think it will turn out to be very much to their detriment. That stark warning might take the smug grin off the EU leaders faces. America is by far the EUs biggest trading partner, with 484 billion of business going between the two in 2016 alone. His first year in office may have been dogged by drama and controversy, but if my meeting with the President has convinced me of one thing, its that his determination to fight hard and fight to win remains entirely undimmed. President Trump: The Piers Morgan Interview, airs on ITV at 10pm tonight. January 12: The Wall Street Journal publish a report stating that Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid off porn star Stormy Daniels. The story broke just hours before Melania and Donald flew to Mar-a-Lago together. The press pool reports they didn't see the first lady for the rest of that weekend. January 15: Melania was next seen when she and her husband boarded Air Force One to return to Washington. News outlets were quick to point out that Donald Trump, who was holding an umbrella against the elements, did not offer it to his wife. January 15: East Wing communications director Stephanie Grisham confirms the first lady would be joining her husband in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. January 17: In Touch Weekly published excerpts of a 2011 interview with Daniels where she alleged she had a year long extramarital affair with Trump in 2006. January 18: Mother Jones publishes email sent to Andrea Dube, a Democratic political consultant based in New Orleans in 2009, in which an operative working with Daniels states that she'd told them he'd asked her to spank him with a Forbes magazine. January 20: Melania marked the anniversary of Donald's inauguration with a tweet that completely omitted any mention of her husband. Instead, it featured a smiling photo of herself, arm in arm with a young serviceman, with a caption about how much she'd enjoyed the past year. January 22: Melania and Donald's 13th wedding anniversary passes without any public acknowledgment or any mention from either the President or First Lady. The White House refused to comment on whether the couple celebrated in private. January 22: Grisham backtracks on earlier comments saying Melania Trump's trip to Davos was now off, citing 'scheduling and logistical issues.' January 24: Donald Trump flies to Davos solo. January 25: Melania makes an unscheduled trip to the Holocaust museum in Washington before flying down to Mar-a-Largo for a private trip. Aides confirmed she had no public events planned. January 26: Despite rumors Melania would stay in Mar-a-Lago to attend a charity event that evening, she flies back to Washington DC. Donald Trump also returns to the White House after his 'very successful' trip to Davos. 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?'. She may not have been amused by many things, but Queen Victoria might have been tickled pink to watch Victoria & Abdul, Stephen Frears's recent film about her infatuation with an Indian servant. The movie is a colourful tale: Abdul Karim was brought to England from India in 1887 and soon found a place in Victoria's affections. She fell for his exotic charm and named him her munshi, or teacher. She went on to appoint him her Indian Secretary to the intense irritation of courtiers. Royal favourite: Blair Castle, first visited by Queen Victoria in 1844, is a must for history buffs The film's opening titles warn that the narrative is 'based on a true story mostly', allowing Frears to have some mischievous fun with the facts. But in one respect the film is absolutely correct: Queen Victoria was indeed head over heels in love not with Abdul Karim, but with the Scottish Highlands, where key scenes in the movie were shot. She first visited the Highlands in 1842 and was struck by the spartan beauty of this mountain wilderness. Here was a place to escape from the cares of the world an empire of glacial valleys and empty heathland. Her second visit came two years later: thereafter, she spent most of her summers in this remote corner of her realm, buying Balmoral Castle in the Cairngorms and remodelling it as a Royal Family home. She spoke so fondly of her Scottish holidays that others flocked there in her wake, placing the Highlands firmly on the tourist circuit. With the tourists came the railways: even today, one the most enjoyable ways to visit is by train. The Highland landscape that so inspired the Queen is virtually unchanged. As I drive from Inverness towards the Glen Affric Nature Reserve, a pristine landscape begins to unfold one of ancient Caledonian pine woods and dollop-shaped mountains. Glen Affric was the setting for the film's picnic scene, with the Queen (Judi Dench) taking wicked delight in forcing her courtiers to eat outside during a Scottish rainstorm. As she munches her sandwiches under the protection of an umbrella, they all get soaked. Hollywood backdrop: The picnic scene in Victoria & Abdul was filmed at the picturesque Glen Affric I swing off the main road at Cannich and head into the wilds of Glen Affric, driving through a U-shaped valley that holds the turgid waters of a near-frozen Loch Affric. The winter sun never reaches the depths of the glen and the place looks as if it's been given an Arctic makeover. Trees are blasted with hoar frost and waterfalls are frozen into spear-sized crystal icicles. They hang from the rock face that flanks the single-track road. On the surrounding moorland, snow is more than a foot deep. This is a land of pine forests and fairytale castles, many of which have been transformed into elegant country hotels. I spend the night at Achnagairn Castle, a Scottish-Georgian extravaganza that was falling into ruin before being rescued and restored by Gillian and Michael Lacey-Solymar. TRAVEL FACTS Achnagairn Castle (perfect-manors.com) offers rooms from 100 a night. For information about Blair Castle, visit blair-castle.co.uk. For more information about the Scottish Highlands, go to visitscotland.com. Victoria & Abdul is available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download. Advertisement The highlight is the Edwardian ballroom now the dining room built in 1912. It's pure Harry Potter: a vast, wood-panelled room lit entirely by candles. After a few tots of whisky, you'll never want to leave. But there are other sights to see, and the highlight of any visit to the Cairngorms is Blair Castle, ancestral seat of the dukes of Atholl and now open to the public. It was to Blair that Queen Victoria first travelled in 1844. Castle archives reveal that she loved strolling in the grounds and accompanying Prince Albert while staking deer. He was a hopeless shot, which perhaps accounts for the massive 100 gift she gave to the beaters. Blair Castle is so postcard perfect that it might have been conjured by Hollywood. There's a martial gallery of arms and armour, hunting trophies galore, and antique furniture, some of it acquired for the Queen's visit. To top it all, the castle still has Queen Victoria's bed. Little surprise that it has been the setting for many films and TV series, including ITV's Victoria. Breathtaking: Queen Victoria was a well-known fan of the Scottish Highlands. Pictured: Glen Affric More beguilingly, the castle has an archive of private letters written by Victoria many of them unopened and unread since they were first sent here in the 1840s. Some will be included in a new exhibition that opens in March: I am lucky enough to witness the opening of one of these letters. As castle archivist Keren Guthrie gingerly lifts the black wax seal, the flap springs open and out pops a tress of perfectly golden hair. The accompanying note reveals that Victoria snipped the lock from the head of her beloved Prince Albert and sent it to Lord and Lady Glenlyon a memento to thank them for their hospitality. The Queen's enthusiasm for Scotland transformed the Highlands from a little-visited backwater to the destination of choice for wealthy Victorians. More than a century and a half later, Victoria is still doing much to promote this stunningly unspoilt wilderness. The Big Apple may be one of the most thrilling places in the world to visit but the thrills don't come cheap. However, there are ways to keep expenditure down, and many of the best things in New York cost little or are free. Where to stay: Hotel rates are at their lowest in January and February. The prices mentioned below are room-only in late February, including taxes. Majestic: New York City is one of the most thrilling cities in the world, but the thrills don't come cheap I would skip hostels and go up one level in terms of comfort with a 'microhotel'. My favourite is the historic Jane (thejanenyc.com) in trendy West Village. It has funky bars and tiny but cleverly designed cabin-like rooms, which cost from 87 for a private bunk-bed room and a shared bathroom. Another money-saving tactic is to stay in Brooklyn instead of Manhattan. Rates at the Aloft New York Brooklyn (alofthotels.com/brooklyn), which has a buzzy, industrial-chic lobby lounge, start at 107 a night. Wall Street is only three stops away on the subway. If you'd like a conventional hotel in midtown Manhattan, the art-filled Roger Smith (rogersmith.com) is good value, with rooms from 103 a night. Airbnb (airbnb.co.uk) has thousands of options in New York, with the average nightly price for a private room for two 72 in Manhattan and 53 in Brooklyn. Getting around: Walking in traffic-snarled Manhattan can often be quicker than taking a taxi. Alternatively, use the subway. With a MetroCard, the pay-per-ride fare is $2.75 (1.93). At $32 (22.50), the 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard will work out better value if you're in town for three or more days. MetroCards can also be used on buses. Free attractions: Take the 25-minute ride on the Staten Island Ferry for superlative views of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. When departing Manhattan, grab a spot by the deck rail on the right-hand side. Iconic: Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry for unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty For more iconic views, take the A or C train to Brooklyn's High Street stop, then walk back to Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge. You should also stroll along the High Line, an elevated park converted from a disused railway line and enlivened with sculptures. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a 'suggested' admission fee of $25 (17.50) but for now you can choose to pay as little as a cent. However, from March 1 the fee becomes mandatory for tourists. At other top museums and galleries you can pay what you wish or enter for free at certain times. Sightseeing passes: The CityPASS (citypass.com/new-york), covering six major attractions for 95, will save you money if used to the full. Equally importantly, it lets you avoid the often-lengthy queues at the Empire State Building, Top Of The Rock and 9/11 Memorial Museum. Where to eat: Snack at the food carts: the going rate for a hot dog is 2.25 and a large pretzel is 1.50. Budget eats: Snacking at food carts is an easy way to save money while exploring Manhattan For breakfast, buy bagels from a deli such as Ess-a-Bagel (ess-a-bagel.com) in Midtown East: they cost 1.10 for plain or 2.50 with cream cheese. For lunch, tuck into a cheeseburger (4.50) from Shake Shack in Madison Square Park (shakeshack.com). For dinner, head to Grimaldi's (grimaldis-pizza.com), a pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge. The delicious thin-crust pizzas cost from 13 for a large one for two. They found love after appearing on the same season of The Bachelor - both vying for Perth-based ropes technician Richie Strahan's heart. But after calling it quits last year Tiffany Scanlon and Megan Marx appear to have even less in common than once thought - particularly on their views of Australia Day. Tiffany, who is currently in Indonesia, was first to post on Instagram this Friday about the public holiday and was firmly of the opinion it's a time to celebrate the land Down Under. That's awkward! Ex-Bachelor lovers Tiffany Scanlon and Megan Marx butt heads over whether Australia Day should be celebrated or not (Pictured: Tiffany) 'Happy Australia Day everyone! I brought the Aussie finger and @jacobhestonvibes brought the Aussie sausage,' she cheekily captioned a pool snap. 'Now I know it's all very political at the moment but as today is still Aus day I choose to celebrate the greatness of my home country on this day (even though I'm in Bali!) Party on everyone.' While her sentiment was well received online it was in complete opposition to a post her ex-girlfriend Megan Marx wrote just two hours later. Cause for a party! Tiffany, who is currently in Indonesia, was first to post on Instagram about the public holiday and was firmly of the opinion it's a time to celebrate the land Down Under Surfs up: While her sentiment was well received online it was in complete opposition to a post her ex-girlfriend Megan Marx wrote just two hours later. 'It's Australia Day today and I don't want to ruin the barbecue/ beers, but I'm not celebrating,' the 28-year-old wrote alongside a picture of herself posing in a swimsuit while holding a surfboard. 'Today signifies the dispossession, cultural destruction and death that colonisation brought to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. 'I'm proud to be Australian, and I want it to be an inclusive and fair place with a National holiday we can all enjoy. Change the date,' she said. Not on the same wavelength... 'It's Australia Day today and I don't want to ruin the barbecue/ beers, but I'm not celebrating,' the 28-year-old wrote alongside a picture of her holding a surfboard Back in the day! Just a fortnight ago Tiffany opened up to Daily Mail Australia about Megan's rumoured romance with Bachelorette reject Jake Ellis Just a fortnight ago Tiffany opened up to Daily Mail Australia about Megan's rumoured romance with Bachelorette reject Jake Ellis. 'I wish them luck' said Tiffany, adding that both her and Megan have 'moved on with their lives'. Megan and Tiffany met while competing on the 2016 season of The Bachelor. After both being eliminated they began a shot-lived romance with the couple splitting February last year after moving to Bali to start a business together. And while Tiffany is still single, it would seem as though a stint on Bachelor In Paradise has brought Megan and Jake together. Catherine Zeta-Jones underwent a dramatic makeover for her role as Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in new movie, Cocaine Godmother. Yet scenes from the flick, which aired on Lifetime on Saturday, showed the 48-year-old actress bore a striking resemblance to Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall. Sporting a golden wig that was expertly coiffed, natural brunette Catherine looked worlds away from her typical glamour as she embodied a more regal, elegant look. Scroll down for video Double duchess: Catherine Zeta-Jones (L) underwent a dramatic makeover for her role as Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in new movie, Cocaine Godmother, which left her resembling Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall The similarities between Catherine and Camilla in the film stopped there, however, as the Hollywood actress plays a feared bisexual drug lord and mother of four kids. Cocaine Godmother is based on the real life exploits of ruthless Colombia drug lord Griselda Blanco. Born in Colombia in 1943, Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who according to Maxim committed her first murder when she was only 11 - and her victim was 10. In the 1970s she made her bones as a brutally vengeful, groundbreaking player in the Colombia-to-Miami drug trade that flowered during that decade and the one after it. Shocking tale: Cocaine Godmother is based on the real life exploits of ruthless Colombia drug lord Griselda Blanco (pictured in 1997) Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who committed her first murder when she was only 11 - and her victim was 10 Marrying multiple times, Griselda wound up producing four children, the youngest of whom she named - in a flourish of black humor - Michael Corleone Blanco. The mid-1980s saw Griselda flung in jail for three murders, two of which were of drug dealers and one of which was of a two-year-old boy. In 2004, La Madrina was set loose and deported to Colombia, and in 2012, a motorcyclist shot her dead outside a Medellin butcher shop, per the Miami Herald. Happy lady: Catherine is rejoicing in the success of her new movie Cocaine Godmother, which debuted Saturday evening on Lifetime Upping the ante: And on Saturday the actress told E! online that it was a pleasure to play the drug lord who was a feared drug lord and mother of four kids Her take: The wife of Michael Douglas said she had to play the Colombian murdered because she got under her skin.' The Oscar winner also said that she had the 'best time' with the project Catherine recently revealed that she had to play the Colombian murderer because she 'got under her skin.' The Oscar winner also said that she had the 'best time' with the project. Speaking to E! News, the wife of Michael Douglas explained: 'When you say we know the story, we don't really. For me, three and a half years ago, I saw a documentary called Cocaine Cowboys and there were many stop-starts, connotations, different projects with me playing Griselda. 'And this woman got under my skin. Got under my skin because I knew she would be so fantastic to play. I mean, morally, everything this woman did and stood for is so the polar opposite of what I believe in and who I am. And of course, this wouldn't necessarily have my name written all over it...and that's what made it so amazing.' Little to imagination: 'When you say we know the story, we don't really. For me, three and a half years ago, I saw a documentary called Cocaine Cowboys and there were many stop-starts, connotations, different projects with me playing Griselda,' she said The Welsh wonder also said: 'This woman was the kingpin. She was revered and feared by very dangerous men in a very, dangerous time in Miami in the '70s at the height of the drug trading...One would think...she would be on the tips of everyone's lips, like, Oh, remember that woman? And the fact that she was a woman makes it even more fascinating. 'So I couldn't let it go until I played her and I had the best time doing it. 'Of all the people, you'd think I'd want to let this one go now. I feel kind of sad that it's coming to the end and coming out now. It's like my baby. "Off you go, Griselda. See you never, I guess." Memorable: The Welsh wonder also said: 'This woman was the kingpin. She was revered and feared by very dangerous men in a very, dangerous time in Miami in the '70s at the height of the drug trading...One would think...she would be on the tips of everyone's lips, like, Oh, remember that woman? 'Anyway, it was the four weeks of shooting that reminded me that I love acting and this is why I wanted to be an actor.' She also said she's happy Lifetime agreed to it. 'What I do applaud them for is taking a woman like Griselda, who is not like you said, the quintessential what people who don't watch Lifetime have a preconception of, but making her as a woman, warts and all. 'She's a woman. You many not like her. You may not agree with what she did or what she does or how she approached things, but for sure, she's one hell of a woman. If anything, the one thing that I do admire in Griselda is that she kicked ass in a man's world. She really did. Love: Despite her being married, she fell in love with Carolina and the the couple continued their affair for several years, with Carolina even living with the family, until she died of a drugs overdose 'Not everyone has to go out there and do drive-by shootings. Let's not take her as the classic role model, I would not suggest that. But you have to applaud the drive and determination. You have to.' Setting pulses-racing in the biopic, the actress got hot and heavy several times with Blanco's female lover Carolina - who is played by Norwegian Jenny Pellicer - while clad in next to nothing. In explosive stills from the flick Catherine can be seen passionately locking lips with her co-star while clad in a silk chemise as they lay in bed. Victory: She also said she's happy Lifetime agreed to it. 'What I do applaud them for is taking a woman like Griselda, who is not like you said, the quintessential what people who don't watch Lifetime have a preconception of, but making her as a woman, warts and all'; seen on Thursday Later in life: As a drug kingpin who beat up her first husband and killed the two others The steamy sex scene continued to up the ante as Catherine's love interest finds herself completely naked with a little fabric covering her modesty. The film follows Griselda and Carolina's love affair which began after they met in a club while the drug boss was married and a mother of four young sons. Despite her being married, she fell in love with Carolina and the the couple continued their affair for several years, with Carolina even living with the family, until she died of a drugs overdose. In another scene, Catherine's character is seen dousing a white substance over her cleavage as she seduces her first husband Alberto Bravo - played by Juan Pablo Espinosa. Like never before: She has sex with a drug dealer after they agreed to work together Speaking about the role, Catherine told Deadline: 'I gained weight, I was hunched over. If I had balls, Id have grabbed them from time to time. I wanted to let it all hang out. The Oscar winner added: 'She thought she was beautiful. She was the movie star starring in her own movie. She didnt give a s***.' And the Chicago actress said she was happy to play someone who was so tough. Life story: Following her life, the biopic also showed how Blanco earned the nickname Cocaine Godmother as she shipped drugs from Medellin to the US through Miami She said: 'As women we get knocked down for being ambitious. I often wish we could take a little bit of that true ambition and be proud of it. I wouldnt be talking to you today if I didnt have an inherent ambition.' She added: 'You make your own luck. Yes, there are people who help along the way, but weird enough, the harder I work, the luckier I get Take credit for yourself. The humble crap is good, but it gets boring.' Catherine did not want to 'homogenize her or find a sympathetic quality' for the criminal. He is one of the most legendary actors to ever grace the silver screen. And it looks like Robert De Niro is in fine form once again for his latest role. The 74-year-old actor looked dapper while filming The Irishman in the Red Hook, Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City on Friday. Legend: Robert De Niro looked dapper while filming The Irishman in the Red Hook, Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City on Friday Robert was all business as he sported a brown suit over a crisp white dress shirt and black tie. He had his hair slicked back and sported black dress shoes on set of Martin Scorsese's latest project. Not only was he dressed to the nines but he also arrived in style as he drove a burgundy Sixties-era Lincoln Continental. Making moves: The 74-year-old was all business as he sported a brown suit over a crisp white dress shirt and black tie In the flick the talented star portrays a mob hitman who played a part in the death of Jimmy Hoffa named Frank Sheeran also known as The Irishman. No doubt this day on film was more toward the end of Sheeran's life as De Niro has previously been seen looking much younger while filming the project. The period piece is based on based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses. It's the latest creation from De Niro and Scorsese, who've worked together on timeless film such as Goodfellas, The King of Comedy, Cape Fear and Raging Bull - which garnered the actor his second Academy Award in 1981. Big role: He had his hair slicked back and sported black dress shoes on set of Martin Scorsese's latest project As with many of Scorsese's films, the cast is an ensemble of the acting elite, also including Oscar-winners Al Pachino, who plays American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa, Joe Pesci, who plays mobster Russell Bufalino, and Paquin, who plays the daughter of De Niro's character, Peggy Sheeran. Veteran screen tough guy Harvey Keitel, plays mafia figure Angelo Bruno, while funnyman Ray Romano plays Hoffa attorney Bill Bufalino in a dramatic turn. The film is slated to wrap filming this month, after an extended string of events that's cast plenty of uncertainty over various aspects of production and distribution. Paramount and Mexican producer Fabrica de Cine were initially tied to the film, but both dropped out amid its soaring budget. Netflix eventually purchased the rights to the motion picture for $105 million and and covered budget costs, which have risen to $125 million. Cruising: Not only was he dressed to the nines but he also arrived in style as he drove a burgundy Sixties-era Lincoln Continental Some questions have arisen about the medium in which the film will be distributed as last month, Netflix's head of film publicity Julie Fontaine told Variety that 'it's premature to say anything at this point' in regards to its release. Netflix film division chief Scott Stuber promised Scorsese it will be released theatrically for at least two weeks, which would in turn, make it eligible for an Academy Award, sources told the trade publication. The project sees DeNiro resume his working schedule for the end of 2017, after pulling out of an Amazon series with Julianne Moore in October, due to the recent sexual harrassment scandal in Hollywood. The crime drama was set to be directed by David O'Russell and produced by The Weinstein Company, but was dropped following his numerous allegations of sexual abuse and harassment from actresses, models and producers in the industry. Supporting Amazon's decision to pull the show, the two lead stars said in a joint statement: 'We support Amazon's decision. 'In light of recent news and out of respect for all those affected we have decided together that it is best to not move forward with this show.' He graciously hosted his girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough's 34th birthday party at his mansion on Friday night. And Karl Stefanovic greeted two policemen to his front door during the couple's celebrations, who were called to the property due to a neighbour's noise complaint. Karl, who earlier caused a morning traffic jam due to his $200,000 Mercedes Benz running out of petrol, was seen smiling as the officers arrived at his Mosman home. Scroll down for video Party poopers: Karl Stefanovic's girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough appears to have not escaped his misfortune, with her 34th birthday party at his house on Friday shut down by police The Today show co-host grinned as he peered from behind his front door to chat with the two officers. NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they were called to the Mosman address at 11.25pm on Friday for a complaint about loud music. The outside of Karl's house was sparsely decorated with one oversize pink balloon, however the large backyard featured a party atmosphere for the birthday girl. Low-key: The outside of Karl's house was sparsely decorated with one oversize pink balloon, however the large backyard featured a party atmosphere for the birthday girl Business as usual: A conversation then ensued before the police headed back to their patrol car, which was parked on the street in front of the property The birthday party was attended by celebrity pals including NRL player Sam Burgess and his wife Phoebe, who shared a snap to her Instagram with a group of girlfriends. Jasmine's sister Jade also took to social media to give her followers a sneak peek into the celebrations, affectionately calling her sibling by her nickname 'Fizzel'. She also took a photo with friend Kate Bond, who works with Karl on the Today show, and dubbed her 'my fish' with an emoji. Lovebirds! Karl donned his best safari suit to celebrate his girlfriend's 34th birthday Party time: The birthday party was attended by celebrity pals including NRL player Sam Burgess and his wife Phoebe, who shared a snap to her Instagram with a group of girlfriends Good times: Jade, Jasmine and their girlfriends were all smiles in a snap posted to Instagram Sibling love: Jasmine's sister Jade also took to social media to give her followers a sneak peek into the celebrations, affectionately calling her sibling by her nickname 'Fizzel' Pals: She also took a photo with friend Kate Bond, who works with Karl on the Today show, and dubbed her 'my fish' with an emoji The party may have also been a double celebration, as earlier in the week Karl was forced to play down speculation he had become engaged to Jasmine. After initially claiming the pair have told their friends the news via text, Fairfax Media alleged a 'media deal' is the reason for the couple's public silence. In his PS column on Saturday, Andrew Hornery suggested 'the couple have struck a media deal and intend to make a "big splash" with the news in the very near future'. News to tell? The party may have also been a double celebration, as earlier in the week Karl was forced to play down speculation he had become engaged to Jasmine Before his girlfriend's party, Karl was spotted earlier in the day blocking public holiday traffic for over an hour in his brand new $200,000 Mercedes Benz Coupe. He later claimed in an interview with 2GB's Ray Hadley Morning Show he had simply run out of petrol, causing fans online to roast him mercilessly. 'Fair dinkum mate, you should have bought a Monaro!' someone joked, highlighting the price difference of Holden's budget Coupe compared to his flashy wheels. She took some time off in Australia over the holiday season, spending days whiling away with her two sons on the beaches of Byron Bay. And while Naomi Watts has since returned to the frosty cold air of New York City in winter, she doesn't seem at all bothered by the chilly climate-change. On Friday, the 49-year-old Ophelia star stepped out with a huge grin on her face as she wandered down an empty street in Manhattan, lime green headphones firmly embedded into her ear. Spring in her step! Naomi Watts, 49, flashed a huge smile and rugged up in a thick jacket during a casual day out in New York on Friday She kept her look comfortable, wearing a fleecy black-and-grey jacket and a large grey scarf. She also donned a grey beanie that hid her blonde locks from the breeze and a large pair of black sunglasses to shield her face. Accessorising with a pair of ankle boots and denim jeans, Naomi looked like a girl on a mission as she made her way down the garbage-laden pavement. Standing tall! She kept her look comfortable, wearing a fleecy black-and-grey jacket and a large grey scarf Earlier this month Naomi was spotted walking along the same street with her ex-partner Liev Schreiber and their dog - proving exes really can be good friends. Naomi and the American actor announced their split via a joint statement in September, 2016. They are parents to two sons: Alexander 'Sasha' Pete, 10, and nine-year-old Samuel Kai. 'Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple,' a statement read. Back in the day! Earlier this month Naomi was spotted walking along the same street with her ex-partner Liev Schreiber and their dog - proving exes really can be good friends 'It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship.' They added: 'While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy.' The Gypsy star previously said she feels content after separating from Liev and that her focus is on their two children. 'I feel I'm in a good place in my life and I want to make sure my kids are healthy, my kids are happy and things are going to go well. Those are my hopes for me and for all of us,' she told News Corp. After meeting at the Met Gala in New York in 2005, the couple had their first child, Alexander, in 2007 before welcoming Samuel a year later. She's the bubbly reality TV star who decided to celebrate Australia Day in the idyllic ocean waters of Noosa. But brunette beauty Krissy Marsh wasn't alone in her little seaside jaunt, sharing a cheeky kiss in the water with her architect husband Johnny Marsh. The 47-year-old looked ravishing as she ran Baywatch-style along the sand in a bright red bikini set and pair of aviator sunglasses. Red hot! Real Housewives Of Sydney star Krissy Marsh, 47, puts on an amorous display with husband Johnny Marsh during Australia Day holiday in Noosa Sporting a light tan, the former model was dripping in expensive jewellery for the outing - including a large watch, earrings and her wedding rings. Revealing her ageless complexion, the celebrity went totally makeup free. Johnny, who lives in Shanghai, joined his wife in the water for a tender cuddle, lifting her up in the shallow end. Strutting their stuff: Sporting a light tan, the former model was dripping in expensive jewellery for the outing - including a large watch, earrings and her wedding rings Very much in love! The couple were seen laughing and joking as they walked out of the surf Bringing the heat! Australia may be in the midst of a heatwave but Krissy was setting hearts on fire as she left the waves behind He was wearing a pair of blue board shorts which looked to have an image of Bondi printed on them. Their holiday comes as the casting for Real Housewives in Sydney remains up in the air. After the series failed to be picked up by expected international TV networks, Foxtel said it would be examining its cast for season two. Love at first hold? Johnny, who lives in Shanghai, joined his wife in the water for a tender cuddle, lifting her up in the shallow end Keeping her hair up! Other than her bling the celebrity went totally makeup free - her complexion shining in the sunlight I've got your back: Their holiday comes as the casting for Real Housewives in Sydney remains up in the air Will she be back? After the series failed to be picked up by expected international TV networks, Foxtel said it would be examining its cast for season two Tender touch! Last month, Krissy's season one castmate Melissa Tkautz confessed the women were being kept in the dark about if they were coming back She's a fan favourite: 'They're auditioning new people and two to three [of us] are out,' Melissa told NW Magazine Last month, Krissy's season one castmate Melissa Tkautz confessed the women were being kept in the dark about if they were coming back. 'They're auditioning new people and two to three [of us] are out,' Melissa told NW. 'I don't even know if I'll be back yet. None of us know who's in or out,' she continued, adding that filming will being in February. Krissy lives with their three children Billy, Nicco and Milana in Sydney's pricey Double Bay region. David Copperfield has been accused of 'sexual assault' for a second time, after a British beauty queen has alleged the magician 'groped her on stage' during a performance in the mid-90s. The then-student claims that the star, 61, had 'groped her backside' with his behaviour 'progressing' as they performed a trick on stage. Her claims come after David found himself being accused of 'drugging and assaulting' a model, when she was 17 years of age, 30 years ago - but he has vehemently denied the claims. Scroll down for video Accused: David Copperfield has been accused of 'sexual assault' for a second time, after a British beauty queen has alleged the magician 'groped her on stage' during a performance in the mid-90s According to new reports by The Sun, the accuser claims David, real name David Seth Kotkin, had been dating model Claudia Schiffer at the time, but made an advance towards her, asking her to 'find him backstage'. She is believed to have given a statement to police in London and the claims are now being passed over to Canadian officials. The alleged assault is said to have taken place in Hamilton, Ontario during Copperfield's Dreams & Nightmares show. The woman has said in reference to the incident: 'The thing about magic is the deception and that's what he did with the audience when he assaulted me.' She claims: 'I didn't know what to do, I was in shock, I just froze.' MailOnline have contacted a representative for Copperfield for comment. Drama: According to new reports by The Sun , the accuser claims David, real name David Seth Kotkin, had been dating model Claudia Schiffer at the time, and had made an advance towards her, asking her to 'find him backstage' The latest allegations against him come after he was forced to respond to accusations he had 'sexually assaulted' a model 30 years ago. David had implored the public 'not to rush to judgement' in light of the allegations made against him. While he stressed he is full supporting the #MeToo campaign currently sweeping Hollywood, in light of the allegations made against disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, Copperfield claimed people should not immediately accept claims made as definitive proof. that he's behind the tide emerging to wipe out sexual harassment and abuse, people should not immediately accept claims made as definitive proof. The model, named Brittney Lewis, told The Wrap that the magician, who was 32 at the time, 'spiked her drink with drugs, then sexually assaulted her' in 1988 when she was just 17 years of age. Re-surfacing: The alleged assault made by the beauty queen is said to have taken place in Hamilton, Ontario during Copperfield's Dreams & Nightmares show Lewis first met Copperfield when he was a judge for a modeling competition she was participating in, held by Elite Model Management that September in Japan, she told the outlet. Copperfield subsequently invited Lewis, a native of Utah, to accompany him to a show in California scheduled for later that year, getting permission from her grandmother Patricia Burton due to her age, she told the outlet. Burton told the publication that the magician vowed to 'take care of' the young model - noting they would have separate rooms - and said she took the 'charming' magician at his word. Lewis told the outlet that she was not 100 percent sure on which city it was, but believed it to be San Diego. (The outlet referenced old newspapers in confirming Copperfield had played a pair of shows there that December.) Lewis said that the trip started fine, although she rebuffed his attempt at holding her hand, reminding him they were only friends. She said that after the show they went to a bar, where she saw him putting something into her drink. Lewis recalled of the incident: 'I asked, "What are you doing?" And he said, "Oh, Im just sharing."' Denial: Her claims come after David found himself being accused of 'drugging and assaulting' a model, when she was 17 years of age, 30 years ago - but he has vehemently denied the claims on Twitter Hitting the town: The illusionist was snapped last September in NYC with his partner, designer Chloe Gosselin Lewis told the outlet that she had lost consciousness after a couple of swigs of her beverage, later recalling him stripping her down and sexually assaulting her in a hotel room. 'I remember my clothes being taken off' she told The Wrap. 'He was kissing my face and then I remember him starting to go down my body with his face, and then, as soon as he started going down, I just completely blacked out.' According to Lewis, Copperfield told her the following day that 'nothing happened' between them, as he was wary of her age. 'He wanted to me know that nothing happened because I was underage,' Lewis told the outlet. 'He said: "I didnt enter you,"' she recalled, adding that, 'there was no fluid but he could have had a condom.' She said he implored her to write a letter stating she was fine following the incident, adding: 'My therapist later told me that he made me write a contract to keep me quiet.' Way back when: Copperfield was seen in this shot taken in 1989, less than a year after the alleged encounter took place Plea: Copperfield said that while people should 'always listen and consider everything carefully,' they should not 'rush to judgment' over allegations, in light of the claims made against him She told the publication that she's not looking for any money as a result of the incident, which she informed the FBI about 11 years ago, when he was facing sex assault allegations by a woman named Lacey L. Carroll. The outlet spoke with four people linked to Lewis - her husband, ex-husband, grandmother and a friend - who all confirmed Lewis telling them about the alleged incident more than 20 years back. The 61-year-old took to Twitter on Wednesday, meanwhile, to deny the allegations made against him. He said that while he's behind the tide emerging to wipe out sexual harassment and abuse, people should not immediately accept claims made as definitive proof. Support: The New Jersey-born illusionist said that the ongoing '#MeToo 'movement targeting sexual abuse in Hollywood is crucial and long overdue' and 'important' for progress to occur in society The New Jersey-born illusionist said that the ongoing '#MeToo movement is crucial and long overdue' and 'important' for progress to occur in society: 'We all want people who feel theyve been victims of sexual misconduct to be empowered, and as a rule we should listen, so more will feel comfortable coming forward.' Copperfield said: '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' - referring to Carroll's 2010 guilty plea to obstructing a police officer. He continued, 'Knowing that false accusers can negatively impact the believability of others and are a true disservice to those who have been victims of sexual misconduct, I didnt draw attention to it.' Copperfield said: 'But imagine what its like, believing in the movement, and having also been falsely accused publicly in the past' - referencing his past allegations made against him in 2007 by Carroll, in a case that was subsequently dropped. 'So while I weather another storm, I want the movement to continue to flourish,' he said. 'Always listen and consider everything carefully, but please for everyone's sake don't rush to judgment.' He has enjoyed a productive summer of work and play in Australia. And Will Smith was at his hilarious best on Saturday, when the Hollywood star shared an Instagram video to decry the local description for 'regular coffee'. The 49-year-old complained it was 'hard' for him to order a 'long black' at a Melbourne cafe and insisted it should be known by his famous nickname, 'Big Willie'. Big Willie style! Will Smith was at his hilarious best on Saturday, when the Hollywood star shared an Instagram video to decry the Australian description for 'regular coffee' 'I'm in Australia. I just wanted some coffee, and the way I take my coffee, it's just regular coffee,' he began his fun-spirited diatribe at the popular Cumulus Restaurant. 'But in Australia, they have a special name for regular coffee. It's hard for me to order what I like!' he continued. After being told by a waitress the coffee was known as a 'long black', the Hollywood star repeated the words slowly and offered his suggestion for a remixed name. 'In Australia, they have a special name for regular coffee. It's hard for me to order what I like!' he continued, making reference to 'long black' coffee 'Rather than just a long black, you could call it a Big Willie,' he offered to rounds of laughter from other guests at the table. He then turned the camera to a man seated next to him, who sheepishly told him his coffee was called a 'short white', as another said his was titled a 'flat white'. Another patron then listed the endless names for coffee in Australia, to which Will turned the lens back to himself and told his followers: 'It's just easier in America!' 'Rather than just a long black, you could call it a Big Willie,' he offered to rounds of laughter from other guests at the table Fan favourite: The father of three appeared to enjoy his Australian trip immensely, posting frequent updates to social media during his whirlwind stay in Sydney and Melbourne The father of three appeared to enjoy his Australian trip immensely, posting frequent updates to social media during his whirlwind stay in Sydney and Melbourne. His off-duty activities included meeting with Aboriginal elders, attending the Australian Open and visiting wildlife parks. He was spotted jetting out of Melbourne Airport on Monday, swarmed by fans as he entered the terminal to board his flight back to Los Angeles. She is an international jet setter. And Gigi Hadid stepped out in a fashionable ensemble while arriving to the Tokyo airport in Japan on Friday, as she headed back to the states. The 22-year-old supermodel oozed retro vibes while sporting round lens sunglasses and patterned bell-bottom pants. Rocking retro: Gigi Hadid stepped out in a fashionable ensemble while arriving to the Tokyo airport in Japan on Friday, as she headed back to the states Gigi teamed her beige plaid pants with an oversized Teddy Bomber House of Fluff jacket. The older sister of Bella Hadid also stepped out in glossy black combat boots. Gigi kept her fresh face radiant without any makeup and wore her golden tresses tied back in a bun. The new face of Reebok kept her accessories to a minimum with one diamond ring. All smiles: The 22-year-old supermodel oozed retro vibes while sporting round lens sunglasses and patterned bell-bottom pants Sleek style: Gigi teamed her beige plaid pants with an oversize black hoodie and a fur bomber jacket Natural beauty: Gigi kept her fresh face radiant without any makeup and wore her golden tresses tied back in a bun Meanwhile, Gigi's boyfriend Zayn Malik was spotted in New York city on a solo outing while his girlfriend was on her way back home. Gigi has been dating former the One Directioner for two years after meeting at an after party. Nearly two weeks ago, the beauty shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend of two years, Zayn Malilk, in honor of his 25th birthday. Gigi shared a slideshow of images with her boyfriend, adding the caption: 'Love this man more than I could ever put into words, & am inspired by his drive to be and do better everyday.' Adding: 'Cheers to YOUR YEAR my @zayn - happiest happiest birthday & 25th year of life !! I'm proud to be by your side x.' Lone wolf: Meanwhile, Gigi's boyfriend Zayn Malik was spotted in New York city on a solo outing while his girlfriend was on her way back home He kicked off his week on a high welcoming Georgie Gardner to the Today show as co-host. But his gracious reception of Lisa Wilkinson's replacement was the beginning of several trying days for Karl Stefanovic. From bad ratings, making a baby cry on live TV and his $200,000 Mercedes-Benz breaking down en route to his girlfriend's birthday party, Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at Karl Stefanovic's week from hell. Scroll down for video Cute or cringeworthy? Karl wore a floral two piece outfit to celebrate younger girlfriend Jasmine's birthday on Friday The weekend before returning to the breakfast show, the 43-year-old shared a bizarre selfie on Instagram of him wearing a pair of translucent brown sunglasses from his Fiji with girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough. 'The sun's rays can be damaging. But with these on I have all the protection I need without compromising style,' the Channel Nine star wrote in the caption. His fans were quick to him a good old-fashioned ribbing, including one who wrote: 'Don't forget that the sun's rays can be damaging to your scalp... Those remaining 17 strands of hair you've got don't provide adequate protection.' Questionable look: Before returning to the helm of the Today show, Karl Stefanovic dropped a bizarre selfie on Instagram sporting a pair of translucent brown sunglasses. His fans gave him an old-fashioned ribbing: 'Don't forget that the sun's rays can be damaging to your scalp Red faced! On Tuesday, the father-of-three's baby-handling skills were left to shame after making the one-year-old daughter of Married At First Sight couple Zoe Hendrix and Alex Garner cry On Tuesday, the father-of-three's baby-handling skills were put to shame following his awkward interaction with the one-year-old daughter of Married At First Sight couple Zoe Hendrix and Alex Garner. During the cringeworthy interview, Karl offered to babysit Harper before scooping her from mother Zoe's arms, but the little girl started screaming and crying for mum. Pulling a cheesy thumbs up, he turned to the camera and added: 'And if you want me to look after your kids, you can contact me on...' Zoe wasted no time jumping up from her seat to pacify screeching Harper. The following day saw him offend locals from the Sydney suburb of Caringbah after butchering its pronunciation during a live breaking story about a house fire in the area at 5.30am. In the report, Karl - who currently lives in the blue ribbon Sydney suburb of Mosman, a 15 minute drive from Channel Nine's Artarmon studios - can be heard saying 'Ca-ring-bah' as opposed to the correct 'Caring-bah'. Community Facebook group Sutherland Shire - Latest News & Alerts shared the Today show clip to alert members in the area to what had happened overnight. 'Clearly (you've) never been to the Shire!' The following day he offended locals from the Sydney suburb of Caringbah after butchering its pronunciation during a live breaking news about a house fire in the area While many of them tagged their family and friends asking if they were safe, some locals couldn't resist making fun of he Brisbane-raised journalist's mispronunciation. One Facebook user wrote: 'Karl - pronounce the suburb correctly, clearly (you've) never been to the Shire.' To top off the more than eventful week, ratings showed Today's direct competitor Sunrise coming out on top with an average of 30-40,000 more viewers every morning this past week, according to The Daily Telegraph. All smiles on Seven: To top off a more than eventful week, the ratings for breakfast TV were released with Today's direct competitor Sunrise coming out on top with an average of 30-40,000 more viewers every morning this past week, according to The Daily Telegraph 'Love her, can't stand him': Many viewers commented on her professionalism after the show, but urged the network to rethink of Karl's position. 'Love Georgie, can't stand Karl,' wrote one viewer, while another wrote: 'Don't like Karl, get him off' Meanwhile online Today viewers praised Georgie's professionalism but urged the network to rethink of Karl's position. 'Love Georgie, can't stand Karl,' wrote one viewer, while another wrote: 'Don't like Karl, get him off.' Australia Day should have been a welcome relief for the Channel Nine talent, but it was soon short lived after his $200k Mercedes broke down in Mosman while en route to his girlfriend's 34th birthday bash. So much for luxury: Australia Day seemed be a welcome relief for the Channel Nine talent but that was soon short lived after his $200k Mercedes broke down in Mosman while en route to his girlfriend's 34th birthday bash With traffic backed up for more than hour behind him, Karl looked stressed as he made arrangements to tow the luxury coupe. While waiting for assistance, the journalist decided to make a call into The Ray Hadley Show and do a live traffic report. He made light of his car problems and subsequent traffic issues, blaming the problem on not having enough petrol in his car. Soon after help arrived for the frustrated reporter, however it is unclear as to why a tow truck was called when he clearly cited lack of fuel as his issue. Eventually Karl made it to Jasmine's 34th birthday shindig where things seemed to get out of hand after the police were called to the Mosman property. Live traffic reporting : Karl looked stressed as he made arrangements to tow the luxury coupe. While waiting for assistance, the journalist decided to make a call into The Ray Hadley Show and do a live traffic report. He blamed not having enough petrol in his car Thank god you're here: Soon after help arrived for the frustrated reporter, however it is unclear as to why a tow truck was called when he clearly cited lack of fuel as his issue Partying too hard? Neighbours called the authorities on the party. NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they were called to the Mosman address at 11.25pm on Friday for a complaint about loud music NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they were called to the Mosman address at 11.25pm on Friday for a complaint about loud music. The outside of Karl's house was sparsely decorated with one oversize pink balloon, however the large backyard featured a party atmosphere for the birthday girl. On Saturday, the couple marked the special occasion with a cheesy photo of them in front of a sign with her three letter nickname. Friends who attended the shoe designer's party shared Instagram story videos and snaps. He's the high-fashion bad boy who courts controversy with every step. And Friday was no exception for Australian model Jordan Barrett, with the 21-year-old cheekily flipping the bird while stepping out with pal Alana OHerlihy in New York City. Cutting a decidedly eclectic figure, the blond glamazon exited a New York City hotel, making the too-rude gesture as he poked out his tongue while walking past the doorman. That's rude! Fashion bad boy Jordan Barrett, 21, cheekily flipped the bird while stepping out to with pal Alana OHerlihy New York City on Friday The model braved the icy climes in a black hoodie with a green checkered pattern, black T-shirt and crushed brown velvet trousers. The model completing the off-beat look with a pair of military-style black boots, a black bumbag worn over his shoulder and a black canvas bag. The Byron Bay born model wearing his long blonde hair pushed to one side. Meanwhile, his ash-blonde female pal opted for an oversize man's suit in grey, with what appeared to be a red thermal top. More shabby than chic: The high-fashion model opted for an off beat look while braving the cold New York City weather, pairing a black hoodie with brown velvet trousers The woman completing her outlandish look with square sunglasses and her blonde curls worn out, with the two appearing to separate after they were spotted together. It comes after Jordan posted a string of risque photographs over the Christmas and New Year period. In one particularly shocking Instagram story, Jordan shared an X-rated shot of a couple getting intimate, while blurring the couple's private parts in an effort main their modesty. Off beat! The Byron Bay born model opted for military style boots and a black bumbag slung over his shoulder Jordan tagged his yet-to-be released eyewear line Heavily Sedated in the social media snap. However, speaking to Daily Mail Australia in August, Jordan defended the racy pictures, arguing they were artistic. 'Those photos are all art. It's an art account. It's all art, every image on there,' he said. Jordan maintains the 'art' account separately to his main, personal Instagram account, which also features racy imagery. He said: 'What everyone else thinks is raunchy... Some people don't, it's everyone's opinion.' Raising eyebrows: It comes after Jordan posted a string of risque photographs over the Christmas and New Year period Why? In one particularly shocking Instagram story, Jordan shared an X-rated shot of a couple getting intimate, while blurring the couple's private parts in an effort main their modesty 'Those photos are all art': Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in August, Jordan defended the racy pictures, arguing they were 'artistic' He's been traveling around the world doing press for his latest critically acclaimed film Call Me By Your Name. And on Friday Armie Hammer finally got to spend some time with his wife Elizabeth Chambers, as they both attended a premiere for the lauded film in Paris, France. The 31-year-old The Man from U.N.C.L.E. actor looked quite relaxed in his double breasted coat with checkerboard pattern. Scroll down for video Perfect pair! On Friday Armie Hammer finally got to spend some time with his wife Elizabeth Chambers, as they both attended a premiere for the lauded film in Paris, France He layered a slate grey t-shirt underneath, and also donned some dark trousers. Classic wingtips completed the handsome lead's ensemble for the evening. His gorgeous wife Elizabeth, 35, also looked quite well put together in a black dress with a multicolored, abstract bodice. Some black pointed toe heels and a small leather clutch completed her elegant look. Dapper: The 31-year-old The Man from U.N.C.L.E. actor looked quite relaxed in his double breasted coat with checkerboard pattern Sophistocated! His gorgeous wife Elizabeth, 35, also looked quite well put together in a black dress with a multicolored, abstract bodice All smiles! Some black pointed toe heels and a small leather clutch completed her elegant look Oh well: The California native was a strong contender to make the nominee list for Best Supporting Actor for his role opposite Timothee Chalamet but unfortunately missed out While the couple seemed to be having a fine time together, Armie was probably still somewhat disappointed by his lack of an Oscar nomination. The California native was a strong contender to make the nominee list for Best Supporting Actor for his role opposite Timothee Chalamet but unfortunately missed out despite a Golden Globe nod in the same category. The film's director Luca Guadagnino was also snubbed. Dashing! Timothee Chalamet, 22, who played the lead in the movie, looked quite cool in a tan leather jacket, white t-shirt and grey iridescent trouser combination Of course other stars were on hand for the premiere as well. Timothee Chalamet, 22, who played the lead in the movie, looked quite cool in a tan leather jacket, white t-shirt and grey iridescent trouser combination. Esther Garrel, 26, who took on the roll of Marzia, kept things simple with a mustard yellow blouse with bead detailing and a pair of black slacks. She's a two-time Academy Award nominee often lauded for her powerhouse performances in Hollywood films. But it was the style stakes that Naomi Watts upped on Friday, when the 49-year-old was honoured by the American Australian Association in New York on Friday. Braving the two degree weather, the actress opted for a tailored black oversized jacket with decorative frilled sleeves for the awards, which saw her honoured alongside US InStyle editor, Laura Brown. Fashion forward! Acting powerhouse Naomi Watts, 49, was honoured at the Australia Day awards in New York on Friday, with the film star donning a structured black oversize jacket with feature frills Looking chic, the Mulholland Drive star chose to accessorise the fashion forward black coat with a beaded black clutch and black nail polish. The film star opted to wear her blonde hair slightly curled and pushed to one side. However, the surprising look didn't stop there with the actress then going on to reveal a fitted, layered short-sleeve dress with metallic colouring, which showed off her lithe frame and slender arms. High fashion: It didn't stop there for the film star, who then showed off an ornate black and metallic gown with feature layers and an embroidered collar Meanwhile, fashion editor Laura opted for a black and white polka dot dress which sat loosely on her figure, choosing to accessorise with a statement gold chain. Off-setting their high-glamour looks, both women chose nude palettes for their make-up. The award comes after Naomi paid tribute to late Brokeback Mountain actor Health Ledger on the 10th anniversary of his death on January 22. Honourees! The film star was honoured alongside the editor of US InStyle, Laura Brown, the pair donning Australia themed corsages The Australian actor died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in New York at just 28. Naomi, who once dated Heath, shared a snap of the late star on Instagram, saying she would 'never forget his gentle spirit'. In the caption, Naomi wrote: 'Thinking about this beautiful soul today. 10 years ago he left this world. Accolade: The two time Academy Award nominated actress was honoured at an Australia Day awards ceremony in New York on Friday for her stellar career in the US 'He was a true original. Heart always on his sleeve, with the most powerful charisma, strength, humour and talent. 'I will never forget his gentle spirit.' Naomi, 49, who moved from the UK to Australia as a teenager, dated Perth-born Heath for nearly two years. Their relationship ended in 2004 and he died four years later. Former flames: The actress paid tribute to late Brokeback Mountain actor Heath Ledger on the 10th anniversary of his death earlier this month. Pictured in March 2003 in Melbourne Tribute: Naomi, who once dated Heath, wrote that she would 'never forget his gentle spirit' He is one of the world's biggest country music stars. And Keith Urban joined a diverse range of artists paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Friday in New York City, for the annual MusiCares Person Of The Year event. The 50-year-old covered the iconic band's hits alongside Lorde, HAIM, John Legend, OneRepublic, Harry Styles and more during the Radio City Music Hall show. Scroll down for video Electric: Keith Urban joined a diverse range of artists paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Friday in New York City, for the annual MusiCares Person Of The Year event Dressed in a charcoal grey sweater baring a hint of his chest tattoo, light blue jeans and dusty work boots, Keith dazzled the audience with the hit 'Second Hand News'. He showed off his moves with an electric performance that included kicking his legs in the air and vibrantly shuffling across the stage as the band joined in behind him. In an earlier statement, Keith said Fleetwood Mac 'were big influences' on his career in country music, their 1977 album Rumours in particular. Rock star: Dressed in a charcoal grey sweater baring a hint of his chest tattoo, light denim jeans and dusty work boots, Keith dazzled the audience with his omnipresent guitar Dynamic: He showed off his moves with an electric performance that included kicking his legs in the air and vibrantly shuffling across the stage as the band joined in behind him '[Rumours] had a big impact on me and Lindsey Buckinghams guitar playing had a big influence on me, too,' he described. 'I was obsessed with whoever was playing on this record and got to listen to a lot of Lindsey over the years, so its a big honor to now be part of MusiCares,' he added. In addition to Keith, a wide variety of tribute artists including his fellow New Zealand-born star Lorde, Juanes, Miley Cyrus and Imagine Dragons took part in the medley. '[Rumours] had a big impact on me and Lindsey Buckinghams guitar playing had a big influence on me, too,' he described of his affection for Fleetwood Mac After his performance, Nashville-based Keith watched while Fleetwood Mac were honoured at the charity foundation gala. The band was heralded for their 'significant creative accomplishments and their longtime support of a number of charitable causes,' according to a statement. '[This is] including MusiCares, the premier safety net of critical resources for the music industry,' it continued. Her latest film opposite Louis CK was scrapped just days before its release. But Chloe Grace Moretz did not want to talk about it on Friday. The actress was questioned at the Sundance Film Festival about her experiences filming 'I Love You, Daddy' alongside the comic, who has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct. 'It's not helpful to single in on my experience': Chloe Grace Moretz sidestepped questions about working with Louis C.K. on Friday It's not helpful... I could single-in and talk about my experience, but I think its more important to talk about the entire movement as a whole,' she told Variety. She went on to hint that she too had been a victim of sexual misconduct in the past. 'Im one of hundreds of thousands of women in so many different industries that has a story,' she said. You could ask anyone in this room and all of us could give you ten stories, Im sure. Grim: The comedian has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct 'I think its just nice, the communication, and the fact that you asked this question at Sundance in a video suite, this never would have happened two years ago. So the fact that its a conversation and its a question is monumental, and I think that shouldnt be looked past or looked over,' she added. 'Weve all been through a lot of stuff, but at least were communicating and people are going to be held accountable.' In I Love You Daddy, Louis CK plays a successful television writer-producer, who tries to prevent his 17-year-old daughter (Moretz) from falling for a lecherous 68-year-old filmmaker, played by John Malkovich. Video suite: Chloe was speaking at the Variety Studio at the Sundance Film Festival, promoting her film The Miseducation of Cameron Post Daddy issues: In I Love You Daddy, Louis CK plays a successful television writer-producer, who tries to prevent his 17-year-old daughter (Moretz) from falling for a lecherous 68-year-old filmmaker, played by John Malkovich After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, it was scheduled for release on November 17; but one week beforehand Sony pulled it due to 'unexpected circumstances.' That same day the New York Times published a story accusing C.K. of sexual misconduct against five women. After confirming allegations from Dana Min Goodman, Julia Wolov, Abby Schachner, and Rebecca Corry - the FX Network dropped him as producer of Baskets, Better Things, The Cops, and One Mississippi. Coronation Street producer Kate Oates has hit back at claims she is fighting for her job, after reports stated the cast were left unhappy by her new dark storylines. ITV Studios Director John Whiston told MailOnline that during her two-year tenure as producer Kate had 'transformed' Coronation Street. This comes after reports stated that Kate's job was hanging by a thread, after actors were left furious by the show's lack of awards success. Scroll down for video No danger: Coronation Street producer Kate Oates has slammed reports that she is fighting for her job, after reports stated cast were left unhappy by a slew of dark storylines John said: 'In the last two years Kate Oates has transformed Coronation Street in the same way as she transformed Emmerdale when she was there. 'The show is now chock full of gripping, talked about storylines, is tackling ground breaking social issues. 'And most importantly for a commercial channel such as ITV is delivering strong ratings, Coronation Street's audience share is up year on year, an impressive feat for a 57 year old soap on our screens six times a week.' Reports stated that Kate had left Corrie stars furious as the show's slew of dark storylines failed to generate awards success, with ITV rival Emmerdale scooping the top prize at the British Soap Awards and the National Television Awards. At risk? ITV Studios Creative Director John Whiston told MailOnline that Kate had 'transformed' the soap in her two-year tenure as producers Viewers have been left outraged by some of Corrie's darker storylines in recent weeks, as teenage Bethany Platt began working in a lap dancing club after her horrific grooming ordeal. The seeds have also been sown for the David Platt male rape storyline set to begin in the coming weeks, as mysterious newcomer Josh arrived on the street. In recent weeks under Kate's tenure, stars Catherine Tyldesley, 34, Shayne Ward, 33 and Debbie Rush, 51, have all quit the soap. Dramatic: Viewers have been left shell-shocked by a slew of dark storylines, with David Platt's male rape just one set to air in the coming weeks Departures: Under Kate's tenure, stars Debbie Rush (above), Catherine Tyldesley and Shayne Ward have all departed the soap Newer stars Lucy Fallon, 22, and Conor Mcintyre, 57, have been the talking points of the show over the past few months, with Bethany Platt's grooming storyline and Pat Phelan's murderous rampage. Fans have also been left outraged as Bethany began working in a lap dancing club in scenes that aired this week. Such dramatic plots have also infuriated die-hard fans, including talk show legend Michael Parkinson, 82, who told The Radio Times in November that Phelan's violent kidnapping and torture of Andy Carver would be 'more suited to a horror channel.' They appeared in the High Court for the latest stage of their 5.5 billion divorce on Friday. And just hours later, Petra Ecclestone, 29, risked being faced with her estranged husband James Stunt, 36, once more as she enjoyed a night out with her sister Tamara, brother-in-law Jay Rutland and rumoured new flame Sam Palmer. The heiresses were reportedly due to head to C London restaurant yet they are said to have rearranged their trip after discovering James was set to be there - after which he was seen partying with a bevy of beauties. Scroll down for video Troubles ahead: Petra Ecclestone, 29, risked being faced with her estranged husband James Stunt, 36, once more as she enjoyed a night out with her sister Tamara, brother-in-law Jay Rutland and rumoured new flame Sam Palmer Petra's rumoured new flame is a luxury used car salesman who was first photographed with Petra in November weeks after her acrimonious 5.5bn divorce from bullion dealer James. Sam, 34, from Harlow, in Essex, is thought to have been introduced to the mother-of-three by his close friend Jay. He has grown close to Petra in recent months and late last year he enjoyed a sunshine break to Dubai with Petra, Tamara and Jay. The handsome suitor, an electrician turned car dealer, who also worked as a recruitment consultant in Australia, features extensively on Jay's Instagram. He was cutting a dashing figure as he joined Petra and his good pal on the night on the town where they were undoubtedly happy to dodge James. A representative for Petra declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. No drama here! The heiresses were reportedly due to head to C London restaurant yet they are said to have rearranged their trip after discovering James was set to be there - after which he was seen partying with a bevy of beauties Support: Petra was joined on the night out by her sister Tamara and her brother-in-law Revealed: The Formula One heiress' ex-husband, 36, was seen clutching a bizarre walkie-talkie device when he headed outside for a cigarette On Friday, James was seen clutching a bizarre walkie-talkie device when he headed outside for a cigarette during his night at the plush eatery. Petra's former flame put the divorce battle out of mind on his night out as he was in high spirits for the night out. Billionaire James kept the chill at bay in a cream knitted jumper when he braved the freezing temperatures in the evening in the British capital. Dressed for the occasion, the businessman stepped out in a smart blazer teamed with straight-legged trousers. Earlier on Friday, James joined his ex-wife Petra at a High Court hearing in Holborn, London for the latest stage of their divorce. Bernie Ecclestone's daughter and the billionaire are locked in a legal fight over their joint 5.5 billion fortune. James filed for divorce from Petra following a bitter court battle in October but the pair are yet to agree on a settlement over their joint fortune. Beaming: Petra's ex-husband put the divorce battle out of mind on his night out as he was in high spirits on his night out Keeping warm: Billionaire James kept the chill at bay in a cream knitted jumper when he braved the freezing temperatures in the evening in the British capital The heiress forced her ex to leave their lavish 68 million Grade II-listed mansion in Chelsea when she took out a court injunction. Former flames James and Petra were married in a romantic ceremony in happier times back in 2011. The ex-couple share three children: four-year-old Lavinia as well as two-year-old James and Andrew. Looking smart: Dressed for the occasion, the businessman stepped out in a sleek blazer teamed with straight-legged trousers Baroness Fiona Shackleton, who previously acted on behalf of Sir Paul McCartney during his divorce with Heather Mills, is representing Petra. This comes amid her billionaire ex-husband James reacting angrily to cynical claims that a 90 million burglary at his home was a con. He had previously claimed that he was the victim of Britain's biggest ever burglary with 90million of cash and valuables. Pulling out all the stops: James slicked back his hair when he headed out onto the bustling London night scene Gorgeous girls: The brunette showcased her slender legs in a thigh-skimming black minidress which she teamed with stunning lace-up sandals The plush items were said to have been stolen from his house in Belgravia, which he moved into after the pair split. On Monday, James slammed critics who have accused the burglary of being a fake. He said: 'I've nothing to hide. I'm a victim with no upside to this embarrassment of having no insurance. Nights out: 'It's disgusting how people are commenting that I'm a criminal. It's not true or fair. I just want whoever did this arrested and my things back' 'It's disgusting how people are commenting that I'm a criminal. It's not true or fair. I just want whoever did this arrested and my things back. James told police that thieves had emptied the safe in the basement of his Georgian townhouse in Belgravia in December as he slept upstairs. Cash, gold and diamond jewellery worth up to 90million was stolen in the raid, according to The Sun on Sunday. Fight: Bernie Ecclestone's daughter and the billionaire are locked in a legal fight over their joint 5.5 billion fortune The missing items are said to include Audemars Piguet watches worth up to 500,000 each, including the one that belonged to his late brother, Lee. Other items taken include pink, yellow, white and blue diamond rings, as well as cash, gold bars and his passport. Asked what the latest update was on the investigation, James said: 'You will have to talk to the Flying Squad. I have no insurance. I'm a victim.' Tziporah Malkah has made shocking allegations of mistreatment at the hands of South Australia Police. In an Instagram post shared with her 7600 followers on Saturday evening, the ex-fiancee of billionaire James Packer, who was previously known as Kate Fischer, posted a photo that showed bruises on both her arms. The 44-year-old accompanied the picture with explosive claims, revealing that she had been arrested for assault after biting her on-off boyfriend, Guy Vasey. Shock allegations: On Saturday evening, Tziporah Malkah took to Instagram revealing bruises on her arms that she claims were caused by police following her on Friday evening for biting boyfriend Guy Vasey 'About 48 hours ago I bit my partner Guy Vasey. 24 hours later, as I was quietly on screen in my room, he called the police and had them come over, arrest me for assault, handcuff me and throw me into the paddy wagon,' Tziporah began her post. She continued: 'I was finally taken to the ... cop shop where amongst other things I was dragged along the floor, pushed and shoved and made to lie in my own urine in a cold room with no blanket. They would not allow me to take my medication or see a Dr.' South Australia police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that a '44-year-old woman from Port Elliot was arrested and charged with aggravated assault following a domestic incident at a Port Elliot home last night (26 January).' Volatile relationship: Tziporah pictured with on-off boyfriend Guy last month They stated that: 'She was also issued with a Police Interim Intervention Order and was bailed to appear in Victor Harbor Magistrates Court on 5 February.' Police made no further comment in relation to Tziporah's accusations of mistreatment and are 'not aware of any official complaint having been made'. In her post, Tziporah also added that she will leave South Australia, where she has been living in part since she began her relationship with Guy last year. Moving on: Tziporah claims she will be leaving South Australia and hopes to relocate to Sydney (pictured last year on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!) 'Once I have organised moving vans and a police escort, Ill be packing my stuff & leaving Port Elliot. Ill most likely relocate to Sydney. Edgecliff, Double Bay hopefully,' the former model claimed. 'As for Guy Vasey, I wish him all the best', she concluded. Tziporah first dated Guy when they were teenagers, resuming their romance partway through last year. Their relationship has been filled with fiery confrontations, with Tziporah acknowledging to New Idea last month that they are 'like a pair of lovers in a Latino soap opera' and 'we fight hard, we love hard!' Last month they became embroiled in a public war of words on Facebook. Turbulent story: One of Australia's most prominent models of the 1990s, Tziporah suffered a dramatic fall from grace following the end of her five-year relationship to James Packer in 1998 Return to the spotlight: n 2017 Tziporah re-emerged in the spotlight, appearing on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Where she shed 19 kilograms One of Australia's most prominent models of the 1990s, Tziporah suffered a dramatic fall from grace following the end of her five-year relationship with James Packer in 1998. After relocating to Los Angeles, the star was swindled out of $2 million dollars she gave to a lover, later finding out that he had a wife and family in another country. In 2011 she returned to Australia and was briefly homeless, living in a womens shelter. Accused of driving while intoxicated: Last December she faced court for a driving offence after her second-hand Holden Commodore was pulled over by police in Melbourne Revelations: Court documents revealed the beauty was getting by on payments on just $200 a fortnight In 2017 Tziporah re-emerged in the spotlight, appearing on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Where she shed 19 kilograms. Saturday's shock arrest isn't the first time Tziporah has had a brush with the law. Last December she faced court in Melbourne for driving while intoxicated after her second-hand Holden Commodore was pulled over by police. Court documents revealed the beauty was getting by on payments on just $200 a fortnight. She was spotted walking around a construction site with mum Kris and best friend Jordyn on Wednesday. But Kylie Jenner, 20, wasn't using the rubble-filled site as a good place to stretch her legs - instead she was reportedly overseeing her new property being built in the Hidden Hills of Los Angeles, a gated community where she already owns a home. According to TMZ, the expectant mum is set to house her first child in a decadent mansion, with building permits suggesting the value of the job to be over $2.37m (1.91m). Scroll down for video New home? Pregnant Kylie Jenner is reportedly 'building a mega mansion' in Los Angeles as she prepares the birth of her first child The site obtained the building permits to the impeding property issued in December, which reportedly boasts a 9,187 sq. ft. first floor and 5,304 sq. ft. second floor, with two massive garages attached. The permits also suggest there will be a 1,836 sq. ft. of covered porches as well as a cabana for the pool. Older permits for a retaining wall and foundation were also cited, with adjustments to the building likely to cause the $2.37m cost to rise. Kylie previously owned a $1.7m (1.20m) decadent mansion in the exclusive Californian area, which other stars, such as Miley Cyrus and Drake call home. Beautiful building: According to TMZ , the expectant mum - who owned this property at the exclusive Hidden Hills gated community - is set to house her first child in a decadent mansion, with building permits suggesting the value of the job to be over $2.37m (1.91m) Impending birth? Earlier in the week it was reported Kylie 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 MailOnline have contacted Kylie's representatives for comment. Meanwhile, the fashionista - who is expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott in February - is putting her birthing plans into action as she prepares for the impending arrival - taking on a discreet Lamaze class online. TMZ reported that the elusive reality starlet has taken to the web to help with the soothing birthing techniques, with best friend Jordyn Woods as her partner. 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. 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 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. Kylie and BFF Jordyn made a rare appearance as she took a stroll at the construction site near her Hidden Hills, California home on Wednesday. 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 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 has established a racy trademark image with her sizzling social media posts, courting the attention of 3,500,000 Instagram followers. And Chantel Jeffries kept up her sexy look when she partied at West Hollywood's Delilah on Friday where she rubbed shoulders with the stylish Karrueche Tran The 24-year-old DJ flaunted her very flat stomach in a skintight skimpy crop top, which she wore with an elegant furry jacket to keep off the frosty bite to the air. Scroll down for video Abs-olutely sexy! Chantel Jeffries flaunted her toned tummy in a tiny crop top worn with elegant fur jacket as she joined trendy Karrueche Tran at Delilah, in West Hollywood on Friday Following the trends of the hottest catwalk looks, it is no surprise the style maven was on trend as ever when she toted a Gucci belt bag to keep her night out essentials. The fashionista accessorised with a golden pendant necklace which drew further attention to her ample cleavage in the scooped neckline of her crop top. Polishing off her look, Chantel wore her raven tresses to frame her make-up enhanced features and she donned a pair of plaid trousers. Gucci guru: Following the trends of the catwalk, it is no surprise the style maven was on trend as ever when she toted a Gucci belt bag to keep her night out essentials The model is currently advertising her own range of clothing which is soon to drop and her fans have been showing their love for it on her Twitter page. Among the range is thought to be a hoodie which includes Chantel's mugshot emblazoned across the front. She wore the item of clothing in recent weeks, as she headed out in Los Angeles, seven years after posing for her police portrait. Celebrity hotspot: Karrueche Tran hit the party scene at Delilah in West Hollywood on Friday, joining a whole host of Hollywood's elite Then and now: Chantel, from Jacksonville, N.C., was arrested in 2011 at the tender age of 17 for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon although the charges were later dropped Chantel, from Jacksonville, N.C., was arrested in 2011 at the tender age of 17 for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon although the charges were later dropped. The gorgeous model has put the drama behind her as she has gone onto carve a successful career in modelling. She maintains a strong presence on social media with 3,500,000 Instagram followers and she treats fans to body makeovers and her tidbits on her home on her YouTube channel. Only For One Night! The glamorous actress showed off her toned tummy thanks to her knitted crop top and distressed blue jeans by Daniel Patrick Trendy Tran! Picking up a few style ideas from the hottest catwalk trends, the star stepped out in perspex pumps and a baker boy hat to accessorise her look Fashionable foot forward: Christina Milian ensured she didn't miss the stylish evening at the celebrity hotspot Delilah on Friday Beaming beauty: The songstress brought a glamour to her casual attire with sandals, fastened to her ankles with stylish velvet ribbon straps She is getting ready to storm the most envy-inducing runways for New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Week in upcoming weeks. So of course Winnie Harlow, 23, looked like she was hot off the catwalk when she enjoyed some down time in the Meat Packing District, New York City on Friday. Famed for courting attention at the most prestigious fashion events, the catwalk queen flaunted her model-honed figure in fitted floral Co-ords. Scroll down for video Fur-ever ready for Fashion Week! Winnie Harlow flaunted her model figure in funky floral Co-ords and a furry jacket on New York City night out on Friday The two-piece set caught the eye with its bold yet intricate floral pattern in a monochrome hue and the shirt was edged with sparkling stud embellishments. With every inch of her catwalk confidence, Winnie strutted her stuff on her night out with her elegant fur jacket draped over her shoulders. Recognised for her voluminous corkscrew curls, the stunner tamed her raven locks in a sleek poker straight fashion for her night out. Winnie added to her already statuesque height of 5' 9'' in Roger Vivier stilettos which were adorned with petal shaped jewels on the back of the heels. Catwalk queen: With every inch of her catwalk confidence, Winnie strutted her stuff on her night out with her elegant fur jacket draped over her shoulders No doubt the runway beauty was enjoying some well-deserved me-time with pals ahead of her busy fashion schedule in February. Women's New York Fashion Week kicks off on February 8 and the designer shows run until February 16. Hot on the heels of the Big Apple, London opens its show on February 16 and it wraps up the fashionable event on February 20. Hot off the catwalk: The two-piece set caught the eye with its bold yet intricate floral pattern in a monochrome hue and the shirt was edged with sparkling stud embellishments The fashion capital of the world Milan hosts its own designer parade from February 21 until February 27. For a show-stopping finish to the catwalks, Fashion Week takes on the city of love in Paris from February 27 until March 6. Winnie has made waves since she made her catwalk debut in September 2014 during London's Fashion Week. She's got style: Recognised for her voluminous corkscrew curls, the stunner tamed her raven locks in a sleek poker straight fashion for her night out The America's Next Top Model wows her 2,800,000 Instagram followers with her striking beauty. Winnie is very open about her skin condition Vitiligo, which is when pale white patches form on the skin. She told Cosmopolitan magazine: '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.' Standing tall: Winnie added to her already statuesque height of 5' 9'' in Roger Vivier stilettos which were adorned with petal shaped jewels like butterfly wings on the back of the heels Swedish Actress Alicia Vikiander has spoken out about gender inequality within the film industry as she picked up the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award at the opening ceremony of the Gothemburg Film Fesitval in Sweden on Friday. The Academy Award winner wasn't shy about her feelings towards the lack of strong female roles across the film industry. Sparking the crucial debate while on stage, the Tomb Raider actress - who originally hails from Gothenburg - provided her own personal commentary on the issue, saying she'd only been in 'three and a half' films with strong women at the helm - despite having starred in 22 big screen ventures over all. Scroll down for video Taking a stand: Swedish Actress Alicia Vikiander, posing with screenwriter Lisa Langseth, has spoken out about gender inequality within the film industry as she picked up the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award the Gothemburg Film Fesitval in Sweden on Friday Taking to the stage in a stunning ruffled lace gown with her chocolate locks flowing in soft curls, Alicia spoke in her native Swedish tongue as she addressed the room. The Danish Girl star retorted that out of all the films she's made, only 'three-and-a-half' of those had strong women directors, writers, producers and actresses in leading roles. She continued: 'It made me realise that strong women are alone, as women, on the big screen. The roles we play are against strong men. I've played four leading roles in a row, and didn't have a single scene with another woman.' Family support: The Academy Award winner had her family with her at the ceremony, and wasn't shy about her feelings towards the lack of strong female roles across the film industry Screen queen: Taking to the stage in a stunning ruffled lace gown with her chocolate locks flowing in soft curls, Alicia spoke in her native Swedish tongue as she addressed the room Passionate: The Danish Girl star retorted that out of all the films she's made, only 'three-and-a-half' of those had strong women directors, writers, producers and actresses in leading roles Standpoint: 'It made me realize that strong women are alone, as women, on the big screen. The roles we play are against strong men. I've played four leading roles in a row, and didn't have a single scene with another woman' she continued Having been a strong advocate for gender equality within the industry, Alicia turned her frustration in to 'focus' so that she could be 'a part of a change' alongside campaigns, such as MeToo, TimesUp and Sweden's Tystnadtagning ShoutOut. Alicia added: 'It is not all about men versus women, it is also about us, women to women. We have been separated and made to compete.' Alicia didn't focus on just the inequality battle between men and women, but rather how gender inequality played a part in stifling productivity for all female creatives Award winning: Alicia turned her frustration in to 'focus' so that she could be 'a part of a change' alongside campaigns, such as MeToo, TimesUp and Sweden's Tystnadtagning ShoutOut Well deserved: Alicia didn't focus on just the inequality battle between men and women, but rather how gender inequality played a part in stifling productivity for all female creatives Creative friends: Alicia attended the star-studded event with screenwriter Lisa Langseth, who directed Alicia's next project Euphoria Concluding her powerful speech, she said: 'We have suddenly realised there is not room for only ONE girl; we are sisters, not competitors, and with sisterhood comes play and creativity. 'During the last few months, I have made more friends in the business than I have managed to rattle together from all the films I have worked on before.' It's not the first time the Ex Machina star has lent her voice to the feminist cause, as she recalled to The Guardian that her work on Tulip Fever, released in 2017, 'felt like something new' and she realised that: 'I'd just made five films in a row, and this was the first one where I had a scene with another woman.' 'We are sisters, not competitors': Concluding her powerful speech, she said: 'We have suddenly realised there is not room for only ONE girl' It's not the first time the Ex Machina star has lent her voice to the feminist cause, as she recalled to The Guardian that during filming of Tulip Fever, released in 2017, she realised: 'I'd just made five films in a row, and this was the first one where I had a scene with a woman' Alicia took time out to praise the Gothenberg festival for being 'where it all started for me' when it came to discovering her artistic tastes, discovering directors such as Wes Anderson, Sophia Coppola, Michael Haneke and Andrea Arnold. The screen queen will next star in the highly anticipated Tomb Raider reboot, stepping into the mountain boots of explorer Lara Croft as she battles through tomb and tundra to find her father's last known destination. It will be released in UK cinemas in March 16. Where it started: Alicia took time out to praise the Gothenberg festival for being 'where it all started for me' when it came to discovering her artistic tastes Stu Laundy ended his six-month relationship with Sophie Monk because he couldn't get her to kick one persistent habit, a friend of the publican has claimed. According to News Corp's source, Sophie, 37, wasn't being genuine during pre-show promotion, when she said her ideal date was a night in with 'trackies, TV and wine.' 'Sophie loves to party... and in the end it became a bit much for Stu', who allegedly couldn't convince her to spend 'the odd night on the couch', the unnamed friend claimed. 'He tried to get her to slow down': Stu Laundy ended his six-month relationship with Sophie Monk because he couldn't get her to kick one persistent habit, a friend of the publican has claimed The actress has copped harsh criticism since The Bachelorette saw her returning to the celebrity A-list, but a 'party girl' habit wasn't among the complaints. In fact, it was millionaire father-of-four Stu who was often labelled an 'arrogant party boy' who takes to the road in an Aston Martin and the seas in one of his two yachts. In stark contrast, his mate has now argued: 'Sophie loves to party loves to have a drink and a cigarette and has made no secret of that.' 'Sophie loves to party': According to Stu's friend, Sophie, 37, wasn't being genuine during pre-show promotion for The Bachelorette, when she said her ideal date was a night in with 'trackies, TV and wine' 'And in the end it became a bit much for Stu.' In an attempt to get turn the failing relationship around, the pub heir's friend said: 'He tried to get her to slow down just a little bit. Have the odd night on the couch. 'But Sophie wasnt interested.' Party girl? In stark contrast, Stu's mate has now argued: 'Sophie loves to party loves to have a drink and a cigarette and has made no secret of that' When speaking to the publication, Sophie's manager Titus Day reportedly balked at the claims, citing the actress' comments regarding her ideal date. 'There is no one Ive met who parties less than Sophie,' Titus said, 'That is common knowledge.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Sophie and Stu for comment. 'Wasn't interested': The pub heir's friend said: 'he tried to get her to slow down just a little bit. Have the odd night on the couch, but she just wasn't interested.' On Thursday, hours after Daily Mail Australia first reported the pair's split, Sophie took to Instagram with a lengthy explanation. At odds with Stu's mate's claims, the personality re-iterated: 'I went into this experience looking to settle down and start a family... my intentions were everything I said I was looking for, but unfortunately it just didn't work out. 'As much as I respect him we are just very different people.' Denied: Sophie's manager Titus Day has reportedly balked at the claims, saying: 'There is no one Ive met who parties less than Sophie' 'Playboy': In fact, it was millionaire father-of-four Stu who has often been labelled an 'arrogant party boy' who takes to the road in an Aston Martin and the seas in one of his two yachts Stu won The Bachelorette in October, and even before the pre-taped finale had aired, rumours swirled the pair had either split, or were 'faking' their romance. When confirming the split to Daily Mail Australia, a source claimed: 'They gave it a good six months but sadly, it's naturally run its course.' 'They're really good friends. But it's not going to go any further,' they added, citing 'travel and distance' as the main reason for the split. Split: When confirming the split to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday a source claimed: 'They gave it a good six months but sadly, it's naturally run its course' Notoriously private Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) has detailed her plans to start a family with her Sydney Swans star husband Buddy. Posing for the March cover of Marie Claire Australia, the 26-year-old model said they were not actively 'trying' for a baby, but insists they're also not trying to avoid parenthood either. The model proceeded to talk openly about how amazing Buddy is going to be as a parent, News Corp reported. 'He'll be a beautiful father': Jesinta Campbell gushes over husband Buddy Franklin as model reveals baby news Jesinta told the publication she was certain her husband will make a 'beautiful' father, implying parenthood is simply in his nature. Clearly in the mood for sharing, she also revealed the pair had re-assessed their long-held desire to keep their professional lives separate from her modelling career. 'Some re-shuffling in their careers,' convinced them to appear in their first-ever magazine shoot as a couple. Letting fate decide: In a rare candid interview, the 26-year-old model said they were not actively 'trying' for a baby, but insists they're not trying to avoid parenthood either He's a natural! Struggling to contain her excitement, the model proceeded to talk openly about how amazing Buddy is going to be as a parent Since making the decision, Jesinta and Buddy have already collaborated with Christian Dior on a Valentine's Day Campaign, and shot a cover for Marie Claire. The magazine's March edition will feature the lovers cuddling-up at the beach, with the model to be pictured perching on Buddy's knee. The 30-year-old was also in the mood for sharing, the Swans star opening-up on the moment he knew Jesinta was the one. 'I knew as soon as I met her that I wanted to marry her,' he said, 'It was love at first sight.' Change of heart! She also revealed the pair had re-assessed their long-held desire to keep their professional lives separate from her modelling career (pictured shooting their first couples campaign, for Christian Dior) That was news to his wife, who upon hearing the confession, jokingly chastised him for not letting her know these things earlier in their relationship. 'You couldve saved me going through hell thinking you just werent attracted to me! You couldve save me so much money buying sexy lingerie when nothing was happening!' she said. Jesinta and Buddy got married in November 2016. He is best known to fans as the iconic Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, playing the role for ten years. But Rupert Grint was worlds away from the lovable young wizard on Saturday, as he filmed scenes for his heist drama Snatch. The 29-year-old was seen puffing on a cigarette and sipping a coffee as he took a break on set for the show, donning a suave grey linen suit and an ensemble-making white Panama hat for filming in Malaga, Spain. Scroll down for video Suave: Rupert Grint, 29, was worlds away from Ron Weasley on Saturday as he donned a smart grey suit to film scenes for his crime series Snatch Rupert was every inch in character as the suave sophisticated rich man, rocking a white fedora and brown shoes with his smart ensemble. The former Harry Potter star donned a matching grey pinstripe suit and pink shirt with the look, with sunglasses protecting his eyes from the blazing sun. In the scene, Rupert's character looked to be meeting someone on the balcony for a private discussion, with the stunning Spanish countryside in full view. Rupert was filming scenes for the second series of Crackle series Snatch, which is based on the 2000 Guy Ritchie film of the same name, in which the actor stars and acts as an executive producer. New look: He is best known to fans as the iconic Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, playing the role for ten years (pictured in 2005) Caffeine boost: Rupert was seen sipping from a coffee as he took a break between scenes, as filming for the second series finally got underway in Malaga, Spain Sophistication: Rupert returns to his role as the rich boy who turns his back on his silver spoon famiy Stunning: In the scene, Rupert's character Charlie Cavendish-Scott was seen to be meeting someone on the balcony in a hotel, with the stunning countryside behind Thirsty work: The actor sipped a drink as he relaxed between takes on the set of his show Nice view: The rugged landscape surrounding his Spanish resort served as an idyllic backdrop Rupert plays Charlie Cavendish-Scott, the right hand man of lead character Albert, played by Our Girl star Luke Pasqualino, who becomes embroiled in the world of organised crime after finding a truck of stolen gold buillion. He decides to turn his back on the silver spoon lifestyle provided by his rich family, leading him and a group of others to end up on the run after their crime exploits go wrong. In the second series, the show's stars are on the run, and decide a holiday to Spain is just what is needed, according to Metro. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan as it quickly becomes a face-off with a local kingpin and another thrill-a-minute fight to save their fortune, and ultimately their lives. Leading man: Rupert plays the right hand man of the main character in the series, based on the 2000 Guy Ritchie film of the same name Tense: In the second series, the Snatch team find themselves on the run, and a trip to Spain goes horribly wrong when they find themselves at the mercy of a local kingpin Smart: Rupert also donned a white fedora and for the scenes, after shooting for the second series finally got underway on Friday Filming for Snatch series 2 was forced to be delayed late last year, after shooting location Puerto Rico was devastated by two hurricanes. Speaking at the UK premiere of the first series in September during a Q&A, Luke said: 'We were set to go out there, but then two hurricanes in a week left Puerto Rico devastated, so we've had to delay it a while. We're leaving Manchester this time, so we're in the process of finding out where we're going.' Luckily filming has finally begun, with several stars of the series posting their first snaps from the set on Instagram on Friday. She hinted at a new romance with Ex On The Beach's Joshua Ritchie but it seemingly has come to nothing in recent weeks. But Charlotte Crosby was pictured crying in the streets of Sydney, in Australia with insiders telling the newspaper she is still heartbroken over ex Stephen Bear, 28. In pictures obtained by The Sun, the 27-year-old Geordie Shore star can be seen sobbing with her head in her hands. Scroll down for video 'No one knew how to console her': Sobbing Charlotte Crosby broke down on Australia getaway as she tried to 'move on' from Stephen Bear split The reality star was reportedly unable to be consoled when she was said to be shedding tears over her former flame. A source told the publication: 'Charlotte was really upset and no one knew how to console her. 'She's working really hard at the moment and trying to move on with her life but Bear is really holding her back. 'He was hassling her non stop so she changed her number but he's finding ways of getting to her.' MailOnline has approached Charlotte Crosby's representatives for comment. Heartache: Charlotte (pictured with Stephen Bear in London, August 2017) cried in the streets of Sydney, in Australia with insiders claiming she is still heartbroken over ex Stephen The brunette beauty has been making the most of her glorious getaway to Australia as she partied up a storm with pals and sizzled in the sweltering sunshine. Charlotte had brushed off her former flame's desperate attempt to ensnare her heart once again as she ignored his public declaration of love on Instagram. The hunk penned on social media: 'Dear Charlotte, I really messed up, if I can rewind the clock back maybe I wouldnt of done the things I did and say. Lifes about making mistakes. Ive just been really sad recently and I need to get it off my chest. Having a great time! The brunette beauty has been partying up a storm with her pals Down Under as she continues to mend her heartache from the split 'I no being with me isnt easy and I will probably send you insane in the end and I really do care and still love you. It might be too late but all I can do is try. The New Years coming up and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. 'Ive done my best and put it out there. I dont show my feeling often so it will be a very long time before you see me open up again.' The couple's 11-month romance came to a dramatic end in October, plagued by 'cheating' claims and Charlotte even feuding with Bear's family on Twitter. Despite briefly rekindling their fiery romance, she vowed they had gone their separate ways for good when she appeared on television in early January. Feeling hot, hot, hot: The bikini-clad beauty was making the most of her glorious getaway to Australia as she posed in the sizzling sunshine The brunette bombshell claimed she has been spurred on to 'look her best' to 'get him back' with an envy-inducing revenge body following their split. Speaking on This Morning, she said: 'So we have broken up, unfortunately. Things weren't really working out. 'But I wish him the best of luck. I'm on the path of 2018 and who knows where that's gonna take us. 'I think you've got to turn it on its head to look the best that you can to get them back! Then they can look at you and say, "How could I let her go?".' Leggy lady: The Geordie Shore star claimed she has been spurred on to 'look her best' to 'get him back' with an envy-inducing revenge body following their split In recent weeks, Charlotte hinted at a new romance with Ex On The Beach's Joshua as they have been spotted smooching on a string of nights out. They were first romantically linked back in December when they locked lips at the MMA fight where they supported their mutual friend Aaron Chalmers. Josh joined Aaron on the sixth series of Ex On The Beach, where viewers saw him vying for the affections of his former flame and TOWIE star Nicole Bass. Meanwhile, Charlotte had starred alongside the hunk on Geordie Shore, before she quit the show before the summer of 2016 following her bitter break-up from on/off beau and Aaron's BFF Gary Beadle. Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow triumphantly addressed the sold-out audience at her second annual Wellness Summit at Manhattan's South Street Seaport on Saturday. The 45-year-old Oscar winner couldn't stop smiling in her beige sweater, colorful-patterned and pleated midi-skirt, and brown leather boots selected by stylist Elizabeth Saltzman. The cameras were rolling as the preppy Brentwood blonde - who launched her lifestyle brand in 2008 - was treated by a 'crystal' acupuncturist. Scroll down for video Proud: Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow triumphantly addressed the sold-out audience at her second annual Wellness Summit at Manhattan's South Street Seaport on Saturday Gwyneth - whose website touts vaginal steaming and aura reading - beamed as she got a tiny crystal bindi fastened between her eyebrows. Perhaps part of Paltrow's effervescent mood had to do with her announcing her engagement to American Crime Story producer Brad Falchuk on January 8. The 'beautiful' Bryce Dallas Howard was the first celebrity panelist to arrive for duty at the Goop Wellness Summit. The 36-year-old Golden Globe nominee - who doesn't have a stylist - dressed her curvaceous 5ft7in figure in in a black celestial pussy-bow blouse, matching skinny jeans, and loafers. Couldn't stop smiling: The 45-year-old Oscar winner wore a beige sweater, colorful-patterned and pleated midi-skirt, and brown leather boots selected by stylist Elizabeth Saltzman Action! The cameras were rolling as the preppy Brentwood blonde - who launched her lifestyle brand in 2008 - was treated by a 'crystal' acupuncturist Enlightened? Gwyneth - whose website touts vaginal steaming and aura reading - beamed as she got a tiny crystal bindi fastened between her eyebrows Chatting with family therapist Terry Real (L): Perhaps part of Paltrow's effervescent mood had to do with her announcing her engagement to Brad Falchuk on January 8 'Moderating for us today!' The 'beautiful' Bryce Dallas Howard (R) was the first celebrity panelist to arrive for duty at the Goop Wellness Summit Squad: The girls all crammed in for a group selfie As usual, the Black Mirror beauty's alabaster skin was luminous with a just a hint of cat eye-liner and her auburn locks in a ponytail with fringe. The nepotistically-privileged daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard moderated a panel examining 'the hard problem of consciousness' with Eben Alexander M.D., Jay Lombard D.O., and Laura Lynne Jackson. On January 19, Bryce and her husband of over a decade, Genius star Seth Gabel, celebrated their daughter Beatrice's sixth birthday at Disneyland and their son Theodore will turn 11 next month. Howard will next reprise her role as Jurassic World Operations Manager Claire Dearing opposite Chris Pratt in the sequel Fallen Kingdom, which hits UK theaters June 6 and US theaters June 22. Redhead: The 36-year-old Golden Globe nominee dressed her curvaceous 5ft7in figure in in a black celestial pussy-bow blouse, matching skinny jeans, and platform loafers In the hot seat: As usual, the Black Mirror beauty's alabaster skin was luminous with a just a hint of cat eye-liner and her auburn locks in a ponytail with fringe Q&A: The daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard moderated a panel examining 'the hard problem of consciousness' with (from L-R) Eben Alexander M.D., Jay Lombard D.O., and Laura Lynne Jackson On the mic: The Gold actress was hard at work holding her cards of questions Princess: On January 19, Bryce and her husband of over a decade, Genius star Seth Gabel (R), celebrated their daughter Beatrice's (L) sixth birthday at Disneyland and their son Theodore will turn 11 next month Dino-mite: Howard will next reprise her role as Jurassic World Operations Manager Claire Dearing opposite Chris Pratt in the sequel Fallen Kingdom, which hits UK theaters June 6 and US theaters June 2 Also serving Goop panelist duties was Flower Beauty CEO Drew Barrymore wearing a 'Dear Drew' striped top beneath a brown blazer, black pants, and matching heels selected by stylist Lee Harris. Hairstylist Lona Vigi coiffed the ombre blonde tresses on the Golden Globe winner - turning 43 next month - and make-up artist Debra Ferullo made sure she was camera ready for the trendy convention. Other celebrity panelists included former Netflix talk show host Chelsea Handler, Ozark actress Laura Linney, and author Gillian Flynn. Prices for the event went up significantly this year with $2,000 for a 'Ginger' level ticket and $650 for a 'Tumeric' level ticket - according to the Goop website. Goop panelist: Also there was Drew Barrymore wearing a 'Dear Drew' striped top beneath a brown blazer, black pants, and matching heels selected by stylist Lee Harris Turning 43 next month! Hairstylist Lona Vigi coiffed the ombre blonde tresses on the Golden Globe winner and make-up artist Debra Ferullo made sure she was camera ready Ladies: Other celebrity panelists included (from L-R) former Netflix talk show host Chelsea Handler, Ozark actress Laura Linney, and author Gillian Flynn Hey girl! Drew posed with the 53-year-old three-time Oscar nominee, whom she's never acted with before onscreen Wow: Prices for the event went up significantly this year with $2,000 for a 'Ginger' level ticket and $650 for a 'Tumeric' level ticket For instance, Gingers receive gift bags packed with $3K worth of Goop gear while Tumerics only get $1K worth of wellness swag in their gift bags. All attendees receive massages, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic remedies, supercharged wellness shots, and classes on sound meditation and breathwork. But Gingers get a morning workout class, early registration, the best panel seating, as well as cocktails and Chef Camille Becerra-catered lunch with the woman of the hour herself, Miss Paltrow and company. Two tiers: For instance, Gingers receive gift bags packed with $3K worth of Goop gear while Tumerics only get $1K worth of wellness swag in their gift bags Masked women: Attendees receive restorative self-care treatments such as light facials Manicure? All attendees receive massages, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic remedies, supercharged wellness shots, and classes on sound meditation and breathwork Bicoastal: The Los Angeles summit - which will surely feature even more celebs - takes place June 8-9 She turned heads at the NTAs earlier this week, showing off her incredible postpartum figure in a silky pink gown, just two months after giving birth. And Ferne McCann flaunted her trim physique once again in a emerald green crop top and matching trousers as she starred in a Poundland advert. The 27-year-old reality star took her own spin on Vogue's 73 Questions series as she opened up about her preferences in life in the cheeky parody. Scroll down for video Ferne McCann flaunted her trim physique once again in an emerald green crop top and matching trousers as she starred in a Poundland advert Imitating the fashion publication's interview, which has seen the likes of Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Reese Witherspoon open up about their life, Ferne sauntered around an empty apartment while answering quick-fire questions. Flashing her washboard abs, the former TOWIE star looked effortlessly glamorous as she greeted the camera. Styling her hair in a high ponytail, the beauty guru enhanced her golden tan with ample amounts of highlighter, false eyelashes and a glossy pink lip. The 27-year-old reality star took her own spin on Vogue's 73 Questions series as she opened up about her preferences in life in the cheeky parody Strutting around in the amusing segment, Ferne told fans the first thing she does in the morning is kiss her daughter Sunday on the cheek, adding the best thing about being a mum is having 'a new best friend for life'. The former I'm A Celebrity contestant also revealed she would pick herbal tea over coffee and that her favourite chocolate bar was Poundland's own Twin Peaks . Spraying her own perfume, the star admitted Ariana Grande was her girl crush and that she would chose baked beans over spaghetti hoops. Amusing: Strutting around in the amusing segment, Ferne told fans the first thing she does in the morning is kiss her daughter Sunday on the cheek, adding the best thing about being a mum is having 'a new best friend for life' The advert comes after the new mum admitted that her evening at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night was difficult for her - seeing as it was the first time she's properly left her two-month-old. 'It was a big deal!' she told MailOnline exclusively. 'The NTAs were such a good evening but I was home by 10:30PM. 'Being a mum is just all consuming. I was checking my phone all the time! 'But Sunday was safe with my mum. She came up with me to London, my mum is such a great support.' New start: After what has been a trying time, it seems that Ferne is out on top, showcasing a svelte post-baby figure and going blonde for the new year Ferne has received a slew of messages from fans following the announcement of her pregnancy and the birth of Sunday. And she admits that the support has been touching - especially in a time that saw her ex, Sunday's father Arthur Collins, arrested and sent to jail for his part in an acid attack last year. 'It's been humbling to receive so many kind words from social media and other fans.' After what has been a trying time, it seems that Ferne is out on top, showcasing a svelte post-baby figure and going blonde for the new year. 'I wanted to go blonde because it's just fun to have a change,' she said. 'Is it a New Year, New Me thing? It always makes me laugh when people say that.' And Ferne puts physique down to one particular element of new-motherhood. 'Breast feeding works wonders,' she stated. Stevie Nicks got emotional remembering her 'best friend' Tom Petty during her speech at the pre-Grammys MusiCares event in Manhattan Friday night. The 69-year-old rock queen thought the Heartbreakers frontman - who passed October 2 at age 66 - should have canceled his 40th Anniversary Tour and gone to the hospital. 'He was not well. And he fought his way through that tour,' the eight-time Grammy nominee said onstage Radio City Music Hall - according to People. Scroll down for video RIP: Stevie Nicks got emotional remembering her 'best friend' Tom Petty during her speech at the pre-Grammys MusiCares event in Manhattan Friday night 'He was gonna go down that river. And so, God bless him, he finished his tour at the Hollywood Bowl. Three shows. And one week later he died - but he got down the river. So Tom, I know youre standing next to me cause you always have been for so many years.' Stevie (born Stephanie) added: 'The loss of Tom Petty has just about broken my heart. He was not only a good man to go down the river with, as Johnny Cash said, he was a great father and he was a great friend. He was one of my best friends. My heart will never get over this.' The three-time Grammy winner collaborated on Nicks' 1981 single Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, and the Heartbreakers served as the backing band on several of her other solo tracks. Passed October 2 at age 66: The 69-year-old rock queen thought the Heartbreakers frontman (R) should have canceled his 40th Anniversary Tour and gone to the hospital (pictured February 10) The eight-time Grammy nominee said: 'He was not well. And he fought his way through that tour. He was gonna go down that river. And so, God bless him, he finished his tour at the Hollywood Bowl. Three shows. And one week later he died - but he got down the river. So Tom, I know youre standing next to me cause you always have been for so many years' 'My heart will never get over this': The three-time Grammy winner collaborated on Nicks' 1981 single Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, and the Heartbreakers served as the backing band on several of her other solo tracks (pictured in 1981) 'He went painlessly': On January 19, the LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner announced that Tom died of an 'accidental overdose of drugs' prescribed to treat his emphysema, knee difficulties, and hip fracture' On January 19, the LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner announced that Tom died of an 'accidental overdose of drugs' prescribed to treat his emphysema, knee difficulties, and hip fracture. Petty's family said in a statement: 'We now know for certain he went painlessly and beautifully exhausted after doing what he loved the most, for one last time, performing live with his unmatchable rock band for his loyal fans on the biggest tour of his 40 plus year career. He was extremely proud of that achievement in the days before he passed.' The Florida-born musician is survived by his two daughters - Adria, 43; and AnnaKim, 35 - with ex-wife Jane Benyo, as well as second wife Dana York and her son Dylan from a prior marriage. Congrats! Former POTUS Bill Clinton (L) presented Stevie and her Fleetwood Mac bandmates with MusiCares Person of the Year trophies honoring their five-decade hitmaking career 'Top 3 favorite song of all time!' Artists like Lorde, Harry Styles, and Miley Cyrus (L) performed covers of the two-time Grammy winners' classic chestnuts such as their 1975 song Landslide Former President Bill Clinton was on hand to present Stevie and her Fleetwood Mac bandmates with MusiCares Person of the Year trophies honoring their five-decade hitmaking career. Artists like Lorde, Harry Styles, and Miley Cyrus performed covers of the two-time Grammy winners' classic chestnuts such as their 1975 song Landslide. Fans of Fleetwood Mac will be happy to hear that SiriusXM is officially launching an exclusive, limited-run channel dedicated to the British-American band on February 1. Lisa Armstrong has 'liked' a post claiming her estranged husband Ant McPartlin is 'hiding someone' - amid speculation of a romance between him and Scarlett Moffatt. The make-up artist, 42, favourited a cryptic tweet from a fan on Friday who claimed: 'I think Ant is hiding something or someone, so sorry honey'. It comes as Ant - who announced his split from Lisa after 11 years of marriage two weeks ago - was seen looking close with Gogglebox star Scarlett at the National Television Awards, sparking rumours of a budding relationship. Scroll down for video Interesting: Lisa Armstrong has 'liked' a post suggesting her estranged husband Ant McPartlin is 'hiding someone' - amid fan speculation of a new romance between him and Scarlett Moffatt On Friday morning, a fan tweeted Lisa saying: 'after 2 years coming off prescribed pain meds my hubby took the back lash, the moaning, the mood swings, the full crap but 18yrs of marriage,loyalty and LOVE& were still together, I think Ant is hiding something or someone so sorry huni '. Lisa 'liked' the tweet, which no doubt struck a chord with her due to Ant's previous struggles with painkiller addiction - for which he was treated last summer in rehab. The Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist then 'liked' another post from a fan, who praised her for being 'loyal' to Ant. The user wrote: 'Hi Lisa, sending you love and sincere good wishes. We fell out when I criticised Ant. Love on the cards? It comes as Ant - who announced his split from Lisa after 11 years of marriage two weeks ago - was seen looking close with Gogglebox star Scarlett (pictured) at the National Television Awards, sparking rumours of a budding relationship Hmm: The make-up artist, 42, favourited a cryptic tweet from a fan on Friday who claimed: 'I think Ant is hiding something or someone, so sorry honey' Supportive: The Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist then 'liked' another post from a fan, who praised her for being 'loyal' to Ant 'But got to say I was probably right but you was loyal. Be strong darling. Me and my girls are wishing you well. Lisa's got our 100% backing.xxxxxxxx'. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ant and Lisa for comment. It comes after she favourited a tweet from a fan that read: 'Your unconditional love & support made A who he is' - shortly before re-posting a fiery message stating: 'Get up and get your s**t together'. Suggesting that Ant will have regrets over their split, the tweet continued: 'Easy to think you don't want UNTIL you don't have.. Never Be Another You'. Hint? She previously shared a motivational quote describing people as either 'puddles' or 'oceans' and explained she would 'get her s**t together' The tweet accompanied a picture of a quote that read: 'I'm not like other girls. That's where you made your first mistake.' It comes after fans took to Twitter to speculate on Ant's friendship with Scarlettas the pair sat together with Declan Donnelly during the NTA's. While he celebrated his three gong win, viewers couldn't help but predict a blossoming romance between the 42-year-old TV presenter and the Gogglebox star. Sharing their hopes that Ant and Scarlett could become more than friends on social media, fans wrote during the NTAs that the two would be a 'cute couple'. Love predictions: It comes after fans took to Twitter to reveal they want Ant McPartlin, 42, to strike up a romance with Scarlett Moffatt, 27, as the pair sat together with Declan Donnelly (middle) during the National Television Awards on Tuesday Close friends: The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award went to the duo for their work on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which Scarlett Moffatt works on regularly, so the Gogglebox beauty went up to the stage with the duo to collect the award Hopes for love: Fans linked the Saturday Night Takeaway presenter with the former jungle queen after they sat together at the NTAs One penned: 'Don't know why but I'm getting #scarlettmoffatt #antmcpartlin vibes @ScarlettMoffatt @antanddec both lovely people so why not...! Just saying is all...!' While another added: 'Here's a suggestion. Ant Mcpartlin and Scarlett Moffat should get together. What a beautiful couple.' Another fan wrote: 'Ant and Scarlett McPartlin. Let's not rule it out. #NTAs' MailOnline had contacted Scarlett's representative for comment at the time. Ant's spokesperson denied the claims. Over: Ant and Lisa announced their plans to divorce after 11 years of marriage on January 13, with Ant's spokesman confirming the news to MailOnline The embattled TV presenter has been through a difficult 12 months after being rehabilitated for drug addiction following a painful knee injury and later splitting from his wife Lisa Armstrong which he announced earlier this month. He spoke to The Sun at the NTAs after growing emotional on-stage when he and his best friend Ant dominated the annual awards ceremony, after sweeping the board with three gongs, including Best Presenter for the 17th year running. Speaking to the publication, Ant, who has remained relatively silent on his woes, confessed to his struggles just days after his divorce announcement. Earlier in the evening, on receiving the award, Ant broke down in tears as he made his way to the stage and insisted that the prize had 'meant a lot' following a 'tough year'. On-stage he said: 'I'm emotional, very emotional. Because of the last 12 months what I've been through, winning this award is particularly emotional for me.' He was recently released from jail after breaching his community service order to get a hair and beard transplant in Turkey. And Jeremy McConnell raised eyebrows after being spotted without his electronic tag on Saturday while arriving at a train station in Manchester. The 27-year-old former Celebrity Big Brother star also showed off his large head tattoo for the first time, which covered his entire scalp with an angel, skull, locket and key. Scroll down for video Interesting: Jeremy McConnell raised eyebrows after being spotted without his electronic tag while arriving at a train station in Manchester on Saturday The ex of Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Davis wrapped up for the outing in a cream fleece jacket over a khaki T-shirt. Opting for a casual vibe for his long train journey, he completed the look with skintight blue jeans and white Nike trainers. Strolling along with his headphones in, the former Celebrity Big Brother star seemed to be in relaxed spirits as he left the station with his suitcase in tow. Getting ahead: The 27-year-old former Celebrity Big Brother also showed off his large head tattoo for the first time, which covered his entire scalp with an angel, skull, locket and key Keeping it casual: The ex of Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Davis wrapped up for the outing in a cream fleece jacket over a khaki T-shirt Loving life: Strolling along with his headphones in, the former Celebrity Big Brother star seemed to be in relaxed spirits as he left the station with his suitcase in tow Keeping it cool: Opting for a casual vibe for his long train journey, he completed the look with skintight blue jeans and white Nike trainers Jeremy's outing comes after he spent 12 hours under the needle having a tattoo covering one side of his head, MailOnline revealed. The former model went to a tattooist friend with the design for an angel on one side of his scalp, a locket and a key on the other side and a skull on the back, which has a secret meaning known only to him. His next bid is to transform his whole body into a living artwork over the next couple of months, following his release from prison. Heavily-inked: Jeremy was filmed having his head entirely covered with new inkings this week during a 12-hour session The design: He had the design of a locket and key drawn on before it went ahead Tattooist Jon Birch, of Jinked Tattoos in Porthcawl, in South Wales, told MailOnline: 'Now his head is completely covered in tattoos there's no missing him. But he always turns heads wherever he goes anyway. 'He came to me with the designs that he wanted me to fit onto his head. He's chosen them for personal reasons. He's the perfect client who doesn't mind being tattooed so he's no trouble. We just chat and have a laugh together. 'Our mission over the next couple of months is to turn his whole head and body into a living artwork completely covered in tattoos. That's another 50 hours or so of inking he'll need for that. We're planning it all now. Just having a browse: The reality star seemed to be having a good time as he bought some snacks in a shop Mystery: Jeremy didn't seem to be wearing his tag - despite being seen with it before and being given a curfew. He was released in December after battering Stephanie Davis last year In the past: He was originally sentenced to 200 hours community service and a 20 week suspended sentence last August over the attack on his ex Before things turned sour: Jeremy and Stephanie (seen in February 2016) met on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2016 and split several months later. They share an 11-month-old son Caben-Albi Irish Jeremy was released after battering his ex and the mother of his child, former Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis. He has been seen wearing a tag in the past and has a curfew. He was originally sentenced to 200 hours community service and a 20 week suspended sentence last August over the attack on his ex. But he was dragged back before Cardiff magistrates and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for missing eight community service sessions while jetting off to Turkey for a hair and beard transplant. Jeremy who launched his TV career aged 23 on MTV's Beauty School Cop Outs - served just a month behind bars at HMP Cardiff before he was freed on December 27. Back you go: Jeremy was dragged back before Cardiff magistrates and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for missing eight community service sessions while jetting off to Turkey for a hair and beard transplant Hmm: He served just a month behind bars at HMP Cardiff before he was freed on December 27 Liu He(L), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, meets with Canadian Minister of Finance Bill Morneau during the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan) DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China and Canada pledged to further boost the economic and trade relations at a meeting between their senior officials on Thursday during the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, met with Canadian Minister of Finance Bill Morneau. Liu is leading the Chinese delegation to the annual World Economic Forum held from Jan. 23 to 26 in the eastern Swiss town of Davos. In recent years, Sino-Canadian relations have made great strides. During Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China last year, the leaders of the two countries reached many important consensuses that provided strategic guidelines for the development of bilateral relations, he said. Liu emphasized that China holds a positive attitude toward promoting cooperation in various fields between the two countries, and that both sides also share broad common interests in boosting their own economic development, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding the multilateral trade system. Both sides should make every effort to implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries and push forward the new development of the strategic partnership between China and Canada, he concluded. Morneau said that Canada is willing to further expand and deepen its friendly relations with China, and hopes to take more steps with China in all fields to carry out more cooperation. Canada supports free trade policies, and is willing to continue the strategic dialogue with China on economic and financial development and promote the continuous development of bilateral trade cooperation. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] She's the former Biggest Loser host who recently embarked on a romantic holiday to New Zealand with her girlfriend, Lara Creber. And Fiona Falkiner showed off her stunning curves in a bikini snap shared to Instagram on Sunday. The 35-year-old looked relaxed in the makeup-free snap as she posed in a picturesque lake wearing a colourful floral two-piece. Life's a beach! Fiona Falkiner showed off her stunning curves in a bikini snap shared to Instagram on Sunday Obviously enjoying herself, the former reality star captioned the photograph: 'Water so fresh I never want to leave,' before adding the hashtags #queenstown, #tourismnz and #travel. The romantic getaway comes after the former reality star revealed to the Australian Women's Weekly this month that she's been on a journey to love her body. The former reality star telling the publication: 'From the beginning I didn't believe that I deserved love.' 'I didn't believe that I deserved love': Fiona previously revealed that learning to love her body was an important part of her journey to happiness Fiona, who famously dropped 30kg on TBL, explained that she has learned to embrace her 'wobbly bits' in recent years. She added: 'Just getting to a place of not caring what anyone else thought and being happy within myself allowed me to - yeah, fall.' The plus-size model confirmed her romance with personal trainer Lara in October, after the couple met while travelling in South America. In love! The ex-Biggest Loser contestant debuted her relationship with personal trainer Lara Creber last year 'If someone had said seven months ago that you'd have a girlfriend and she'd have moved in and you'd be happy and in love... I would have laughed,' she said. Fiona previously told Cosmopolitan that it was her first same-sex romance. 'This is the first female relationship I've had and I didn't think there would be interest in it because it's just normal life,' she told the magazine. Personal journey: Fiona, who famously dropped 30kg on TBL, explained that she has learned to embrace her 'wobbly bits' in recent years. Pictured on The Biggest Loser in 2016 'I'm at a place in my life where I'm just focusing on what makes me happy and not caring what other people think and focusing inwardly. And Lara was part of that journey. 'I was opening myself up to good people, to good experiences. You know, finding what makes me happy and I think it helped being away from Australia as I guess I could just be myself.' Before her relationship with Lara, Fiona spoke of meeting a 'lovely restaurateur' on the dating website eHarmony. She was earlier presented with the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award at the opening ceremony of the Gothemburg Film Festival. So it was no surprise Alicia Vikander looked in great spirits as she attended the Nordic premiere of her film Euphoria at the Swedish event on Saturday. Ensuring all eyes would be on her for the outing, the 29-year-old actress dazzled in a floral gown as she took to the stage in her native country for the premiere. Scroll down for video Blooming lovely! Alicia Vikander looked in great spirits as she attended the Nordic premiere of her film Euphoria at the Swedish event on Saturday The ethereal dress skimmed over her sensational figure, whilst a plunging neckline showcased her cleavage and tanned complexion. The billowing midi dress also featured a glamorous thigh high split, offering a look at her lean legs, which were elongated by a pair of suede court heels. Alicia was a vision of beauty on the outing as she swept her brunette tresses into a half up style that highlighted her natural good looks. Glamorous: Ensuring all eyes would be on her for the outing, the 29-year-old actress dazzled in a floral gown as she took to the stage in her native country for the premiere The Oscar-winning actress eagerly took to the stage for the Euphoria premiere, which tells the tale of two sparring sisters: Ines (Vikander) and Emilie (Eva Green), as they travel through Europe towards a mystery destination. The day before, Alicia spoke out about gender inequality within the film industry as she picked up the Nordic Honorary Dragon Award at the Gothemburg Festival opening ceremony. Alicia - who is married to Micheal Fassbender - wasn't shy about her feelings towards the lack of strong female roles across the film industry. Glamorous: Ensuring all eyes would be on her for the outing, the 29-year-old actress dazzled in a floral gown as she took to the stage in her native country for the premiere Chest a glimpse: The ethereal dress skimmed over her sensational figure, whilst a plunging neckline showcased her cleavage and tanned complexion One to watch: The Oscar-winning actress eagerly took to the stage for the Euphoria premiere, which tells the tale of two sparring sisters as they travel through Europe Sparking the crucial debate while on stage, the Tomb Raider actress - who originally hails from Gothenburg - provided her own personal commentary on the issue, saying she'd only been in 'three and a half' films with strong women at the helm - despite having starred in 22 big screen ventures over all. Taking to the stage in a stunning ruffled lace gown with her chocolate locks flowing in soft curls, Alicia spoke in her native Swedish tongue as she addressed the room. The Danish Girl star retorted that out of all the films she's made, only 'three-and-a-half' of those had strong women directors, writers, producers and actresses in leading roles. Stunning: Alicia was a vision of beauty on the outing as she swept her brunette tresses into a half up style that highlighted her natural good looks She continued: 'It made me realise that strong women are alone, as women, on the big screen. The roles we play are against strong men. I've played four leading roles in a row, and didn't have a single scene with another woman.' Having been a strong advocate for gender equality within the industry, Alicia turned her frustration in to 'focus' so that she could be 'a part of a change' alongside campaigns, such as MeToo, TimesUp and Sweden's Tystnadtagning ShoutOut. Alicia added: 'It is not all about men versus women, it is also about us, women to women. We have been separated and made to compete.' A man who allegedly robbed a woman with a knife during a home invasion in Far North Queensland has been charged. The 36-year-old first threatened two women and tried to steal a vehicle from a home in Kuranda on Friday but when it would not start he ran to the neighbours and caused a disturbance before fleeing on foot, police said. About fifteen minutes later he entered another home in a nearby street and confronted a woman in her kitchen while brandishing a knife. "The man stole a handbag before attempting to steal her vehicle," police allege. Again he was unsuccessful and ran into bush, where he was caught shortly after. No one was hurt during the incident and the man, who is due at Mareeba Magistrates Court on Saturday, was later charged with robbery, burglary, trespass and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He looked like the Tiger Woods of old. Wild tee shots sprayed onto opposite holes, bold recovery shots from thick rough, scrambling around the greens for crucial par saves, and all in front of enormous crowds. But after two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines near San Diego, Woods made his first cut on the US PGA Tour since August 2015. Since then, the chronically injured 42-year-old has played just one official US Tour event and last year spent 10 months on the sidelines recovering from spinal fusion surgery. On Friday, the 14-time major winner backed up his opening 72 with a one-under-par 71 on Torrey Pines' North course, scraping inside the 36-hole cut on the number. "It was a grind; I fought hard," said Woods. "It was typical, you know; just me going out there and fighting for whatever I can get," said the man, whose eight wins at Torrey Pines include the 2008 US Open. Woods sits 10 shots back of leader Ryan Palmer, who shot a 67 to climb to 11 under. Palmer now takes a one-shot lead into Saturday's third round over world No.2 Jon Rahm (66) - the tournament's defending champion. A horrible display from the tee saw Woods hit just three of 14 fairways and he spent most of the day hacking the ball out of Torrey Pines' notoriously thick rough. Woods hit nine of 18 greens but after making the turn at two over, Woods rallied with four birdies and a bogey to advance to the weekend rounds in a tie for 65th. It is a miracle Woods is under par. But the California native says it's a sign his ability to score is returning having not played a full-field tournament worldwide since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic last February. "I just fought hard, that's something that I've done my entire career and this is no different" said Woods. "It was tough out there; the greens are firm and some of these pin locations, they're a little tough to get at." Victorians are sweltering through a hot and humid Australia Day long weekend as authorities urge people to stay hydrated and look out for each other amid soaring temperatures. Residents in Victoria's Mallee and north central region have been advised to prepare for extreme heat from Saturday right up until Monday. The temperature in the north central region is expected to reach a maximum of 38C on Saturday, while Mildura and Swan Hill are expected to reach temperatures in the low 40s. Authorities are urging people to take preventative action in the heat and stay cool. People should also check on friends and family who are most at risk of being affected by a heat-related illness, such as people over 65, babies and those with pre-existing medical conditions. "Important this weekend; keep cool, stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun," Emergency Management Commissioner of Victoria Craig Lapsley tweeted on Saturday. The weather is expected to remain hot, humid and hazy across Victoria all weekend as a result of a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea that is directing a warm northeasterly airstream across the state. A cold front further south is not expected to reach Victoria until Sunday night, before it moves across other parts of the state on Monday. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the key to getting US President Donald Trump to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership could be changing the massive trade deal's name. Mr Trump turned "TPP" into a rallying cry as he successfully campaigned for the US presidency, with large crowds at events booing each time he mentioned the proposed trade pact's acronym, championed by predecessor Barack Obama between the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and eight other Pacific Rim nations. On Mr Trump's third day in the White House he pulled the US out of the agreement, but at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday he surprisingly flagged the possibility of re-joining "if it is in the interests of all". Ms Bishop, during a question and answer session in Los Angeles, was asked how could it be made to look "like a win-win" for Trump to come back to the TPP. "By re-naming it," Ms Bishop deadpanned. Australia and the other remaining 10 nations agreed this week to push ahead with the TPP without the US. Ms Bishop said Australia would encourage the US to rejoin. The TPP was designed to allow new countries to become members and noted the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Thailand have shown interest and "this is the kind of trade agreement the United States should be championing". "There's always the prospect China might make a very smart strategic move and apply," she said. Mr Trump's shadow hung over the foreign minister's appearance at the RAND Corp headquarters in Santa Monica and at one point when she described TPP she mistakenly began to call it the "Trump" Pacific-Partnership. "How far the 11 will be prepared to go to admit the United States in a way that would enable President Trump to claim triumph?" Ms Bishop asked the audience. "I don't know. "But the point we are making to the United States is others are seeing the TPP as an enormous economic and strategic advantage." A police officer has been spat on and punched while arresting a man at an RBT in Sydney's south. The 36-year-old was stopped about 5am in Kyeemagh and allegedly started abusing officers before spitting on a male senior constable. Police say as he was being arrested he punched the senior constable in the face before also spitting on another officer. The Harrington Park man allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.121 and damaged a phone while making a call at Kogarah Police Station. He was charged with multiple assault and driving offences and is due to appear in Sutherland Local Court on February 20. When it comes to beer, 'hazy' is no longer just a word you might use to describe the way you feel after drinking a few pints. It's also how craft beer connoisseurs refer to a style of Indian Pale Ale growing in popularity among Aussies, according to an annual poll. Seven beers in the 'hazy' or New England IPA style - which began on the east coast of the US and is often likened to a cloudy fruit juice - are among 24 new drinks in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers for 2017. One of them, Hop Nation's 'Jedi Juice' New England IPA, has even made the top 10, settling in eighth place. The number one spot, however, has gone to the 'XPA' American Pale Ale from Balter, a Gold Coast-based brewery part owned by surfing stars Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbridge. Co-founder of the GABS Hottest 100 Steve Jeffares says Balter's ownership has helped build support for the brand, which has operated for just under two years. However he believes its XPA, an unofficial style suggesting the beer has a bigger profile than a typical pale ale, is undoubtedly a "very worthy winner". "There's a lot of fruitiness in the beer, it's a very easy drinking beer," Mr Jeffares told AAP. "A lot of critics would put it in their top three beers in Australia at the moment as well." The 'Pacific Ale' Australian Pale Ale from Byron Bay-based Stone & Wood has come second place in the poll, which drew tens of thousands of votes. The drink has topped the ranking three times since the GABS Hottest 100 began in 2008, as an ode to the more famous Triple J music poll, and consistently made the top three. Mr Jeffares said it also seems apparent this year that Australian beer loves take notice when independently-owned breweries are purchased by big players. Some major acquisitions in the past year have included NSW's 4 Pines and SA's Pirate Life being sold to the world's largest brewery AB InBev, while WA's Feral Brewing was purchased by Coca-Cola Amatil. "I think there might be a couple of exceptions but most of them saw their beers drop from where they were in the poll last year," Mr Jeffares said. In total, 71 per cent of the beers that made the list were produced by independent breweries. THE TOP 10 1. 'XPA' American Pale Ale (Balter, QLD) 2. 'Pacific Ale' Australian Pale Ale (Stone & Wood, NSW) 3. 'Crankshaft' American IPA (BentSpoke, ACT) 4. 'Newtowner' Australian Pale Ale (Young Henrys, NSW) 5. 'Single Fin' International Pale Ale (Gage Roads, WA) 6. 'Mosaic' American IPA (Pirate Life, SA) 7. 'IPA' American IPA (Balter, QLD) 8. 'Jedi Juice' New England IPA (Hop Nation, VIC) 9. 'Beechworth Pale Ale' American Pale Ale (Bridge Road, VIC) 10. 'KRUSH!' American Pale Ale (KAIJU!, VIC) Source: GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers Kendrick Lamar has claimed an historic win by topping Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown with his single Humble. Lamar, 30, is the first person of colour to win the countdown and only the second rapper after Macklemore in 2012. This year's countdown was the first time since the 2004 Hottest 100 was not held on Australia Day after a groundswell of support to move the date. Humble edged out Let Me Down Easy by Sydney band Gang of Youths and Chateau by Australian folk duo Angus & Julia Stone after a record 2.38 million votes were tallied. Gang of Youths finished with three songs in the top 10, all from their ARIA-award winning album Go Farther In Lightness. Humble is the lead single from Lamar's fourth album Damn, which was a huge commercial and critical success. He had another three songs feature in the countdown. Australian artists claimed 65 spots in the list. TOP 10 SONGS IN 2017 HOTTEST 100 1. HUMBLE by Kendrick Lamar 2. Let Me Down Easy by Gang Of Youths 3. Chateau by Angus & Julia Stone 4. Ubu by Methyl Ethel 5. The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows by Gang Of Youths 6. Green Light by Lorde 7. Go Bang by PNAU 8. Sally by Thundamentals featuring Mataya 9. Lay It On Me by Vance Joy 10. What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? by Gang Of Youths The women of Australian country music have dominated the Golden Guitars with The McClymonts, Kasey Chambers and local Tamworth girl Aleyce Simmonds all winning big at the annual awards. The McClymonts, the three sisters from Grafton in NSW, won Country Music Album of the Year for their fifth record Endless, along with Group of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year. "We stand here as three dreamers, three women, three mothers," Brooke McClymont said in Tamworth on Saturday night. "We turned this dream into a spark 11 years ago and I never thought we'd be here winning Country Album of the Year," . "When we started having children we weren't sure could we do this any more but we can be mum during the week and on the weekends we can get out there and rock and roll," Sam McClymont said. The awards also recognised three different album categories for the first time, splitting contemporary, traditional and alternative country albums of the year along with the overall Country Music Album of the Year award. "We listen to all genres of country music because the common thread to country is that it's honest and tells real stories," Sam McClymont said. "We found our voice in contemporary country." Chambers, who is no stranger to the Golden Guitars with more than 20 to her name, added to her haul with the award for Alt-Country Album of the Year for her powerful record Dragonfly. She also followed in the footsteps of Aussie greats including Slim Dusty, John Williamson and Troy Cassar-Daley to become the 51st person honoured with the industry's most prestigious Award - The Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown. "I've always been very proud to be a country music artist and I've never shied away from that term," Chambers told the audience in an emotional speech. "The key to having a longstanding career is to be authentically you and surround yourself by people who encourage that in you." For Simmonds, the night could not have been sweeter. After seven nominations, she finally walked away with her first Golden Guitar for Female Artist of the Year. But the real surprise was that she managed to release her third album last year, More Than Meets The Eye. "I have to admit I was in a pretty dark place and I didn't think I'd write music again," she revealed. Former Female Artist of the Year winner, Amber Lawrence won Vocal Collaboration of the Year, APRA AMCOS Song of the Year and Single of the Year alongside musical partner Travis Collins for Our Backyard. The pair also opened the show with a performance of their winning song. Tamworth girl, Ashleigh Dallas, took out the final Album of the Year award in the Traditional Country category for her record Lighthouse. Male Artist of the Year went to Shane Nicholson, his 10th Golden Guitar but his first in that category. Performers included The McClymonts with Don't Wish It All Away, Fanny Lumsden and Simmonds with her empowering Only On My Terms. The night closed with Waltzing Matilda by The Bushwackers & John Williamson and The Bush Choir. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is deeply concerned about the adoption by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of a bill on amendments to the Law on the Institute of National Memory - Commission on the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish People and Some Other Laws." "We expect that the Senate of the Republic of Poland, which will soon consider this bill, will demonstrate wisdom of policy on issues that could affect the development of bilateral relations. Recognizing the sensitivity of problems of historic memory in the life of Ukrainians and Poles, we urge the Polish side to be open and constructive in further development of Ukrainian-Polish relations," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on Friday night. The Foreign Ministry also expressed regret that the Ukrainian topic is once again used in domestic politics in Poland, and the tragic pages of the joint historical past continue to be politicized. "We unalterably do not perceive another attempt to impose a one-sided interpretation of historic events, including the incorrect use of the name of a part of the territory of modern Ukraine in the official document of the Republic of Poland," the statement says. The Foreign Ministry also reminded the authors of the draft of this legislative act that the Ukrainians, like the Poles, extremely suffered from totalitarian regimes during the Second World War, and also selflessly struggled for the freedom of their country. In this context, of particular concern is the intention to portray the Ukrainians exclusively as "criminal nationalists" and "collaborators of the Third Reich." According to the Polish media, on Friday, January 26, a package of bills passed its third reading at the Polish Sejm, which provides for changes to the law on the National Memory Institute. There was a bill banning the so-called "Bandera Ideology" in Poland among them. The majority of parliamentarians voted for the bills: 279 out of 414. All the deputies of PiS, Kukiz'15 and PSL voted for the draft. The document was supported by several opposition members of the Polish parliament. The adopted piece of legislation concerns the definition of crimes of Ukrainian nationalists and Ukrainian organizations cooperating with the Third Reich, as well as the possibility of launching, in accordance with Article 55 of the Law on the Institute of National Remembrance, criminal proceedings against persons who deny these crimes. There is a fine or imprisonment for up to three years for the denial of "Bandera supporters' crimes." Australia's first electronic school exams will highlight the 2018 academic year for thousands of South Australian students. About 170,000 public school children return to classes on Monday with 13,500 attending for the first time. As part of the SACE Board's $10.6 million revamp of Year 11 and 12 subjects, English literary studies will involve an electronic exam at the end of the year. "This will be the first time in Australia where Year 12 students will sit an end-of-year electronic exam," a SACE spokesman said. The subject replaces the English studies unit that about 2000 students sat as a written exam last year. Fifteen revamped or new subjects will also to be offered in 2018, including agricultural production and digital technologies which will teach students how to interpret data sets. "We are ensuring we are equipping SACE graduates with the skills to live and work successfully in an ever-changing 21st-century world," the spokesman said. At Catholic schools, a decision to move all year seven students to high school campuses in 2019 and 2020 will result in Gleeson College, in Adelaide's northeast, being the first to make the change this year. "The experience of students and parents in Catholic reception to year 12 schools who already offer Year seven in a secondary context is overwhelmingly positive," director of Catholic education Neil McGoran said. Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has called for mandatory online publishing of fuel prices, saying costs for motorists around Brisbane are out of control. Displaying fuel costs has worked in NSW and a similar scheme is needed particularly around Brisbane where prices are about 18 cents per litre higher than in Kingaroy, to the city's north, Ms Frecklington said on Saturday. "If people know what fuel prices are it will drive competition and that will drive prices down," she said. Earlier in the week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there were no plans to roll out a real-time fuel pricing app or website and urged the national consumer watchdog to take the lead on the issue. However in a statement on Monday the ACCC insisted it does not have a role in regulating fuel prices. Hot and sticky conditions are forecast to continue throughout Victoria over the Australia Day long weekend as authorities urge people to act sensibly. Melbourne and Geelong are forecast to reach 39C on Sunday, with the temperature in the city not expected to fall below 27C on Sunday night. Elsewhere across the state, Echuca and Bendigo are likely to hit 40C and Mildura 44C. Conditions will remain unseasonally humid until late Monday, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Stewart says. "It's unusual that you'll have high temperatures combined with the very high humidity," he told AAP on Saturday night. "It doesn't often get this humid when you've got temperatures around 40C." Humidity interferes with the body's ability to cool itself and intensifies the effects of heat stress. People have been urged to drink plenty of water, stay inside and look out for vulnerable family and friends, particularly the very young and elderly. "The weekend is getting hotter and the heat will extend into Monday for all Victoria," Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley tweeted on Saturday afternoon. "Look after each other, overnight temperatures are very high for Saturday and Sunday nights." People will get a reprieve from the hot and sticky conditions with a cool change expected to hit Melbourne on mid-Monday afternoon, BoM says. The drowning deaths of a woman and a teenage boy at an Australia Day party in Far North Queensland are being investigated. Kirsty Cini and the boy, 15, drowned at a Julatten Dam on Friday afternoon, where about 50 people were celebrating what Queensland police spokesman Duane Amos described as a "typical Australia Day event." "Everyone's enjoying themselves, unfortunately there's alcohol that's mixed with water and we have the tragic (deaths)," he told the Seven Network. Paramedics tried to revive both victims but they were pronounced dead at the scene. Ms Cini went limp as she entered the water from a 40m slide and police are looking at whether the boy had been on it too, acting police Inspector Rob Campbell said. The 24-year-old's brother Adam Cini said learning of his sister's death made for the worst day of his life. "I will never see my beautiful baby sister again," he posted on Instagram on Saturday. "I have experienced so much pain in my life but nothing knocks me down like this, I am so lost now." Extreme weather conditions mean the men's Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is likely to be even more unpredictable than usual. The temperature is forecast to reach 39 on Sunday, meaning a blistering case of deja vu for the riders who coped with a searing heat wave earlier this month at Adelaide's Tour Down Under. Blustery winds are also set to reach 40km/h, guaranteeing splits in the peloton. The three editions of the men's Cadel Evans race have all thrown up surprise winners - first Belgian Gianni Meersman, then British rider Peter Kennaugh and last year Germany's Nikias Arndt. And on Saturday, Australian Chloe Hosking showed a sprinter who prepares properly can stick with the leaders over the tough climbs near the finish. The race played into Hosking's hands perfectly and she comfortably took out a small bunch sprint in Geelong for the win. But the men will have tougher conditions than the women in their 164km race, which starts at 11.10am. While it was hot on Saturday, there was no wind and this made it tougher for the strong teams to break up the race. The women only had one lap of the finishing circuit, which features two tough climbs - the men face it four times. "It's such a cool race ... if the guys have the wind, you can see (the race) splintering," Hosking said. "Then obviously on the circuit, with the climbs, that suits another type of rider. "So many different types of riders can win - it's really making its mark.". This will be Australian star Richie Porte's last race before he leaves for Europe, although compatriot Simon Gerrans is the main rider for their BMC team. Australian team Mitchelton-Scott will be led by South African Daryl Impey, who stunned the Tour Down Under with his overall win. It will be the first race of the year for Mitchelton-Scott's Colombian star Esteban Chaves, while Arndt and Kennaugh are also in the field. Former NRL bad boy Corey Norman has vowed to finally step up as a leader at Parramatta with Queensland jerseys up for grabs this year. Ahead of his ninth NRL season, Norman - 27 next week - admitted it was time to take ownership of the Eels and stake a Maroons halves claim. Norman is in the mix to fill the void left by the representative retirement of Queensland halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk after being included in the Emerging Maroons squad on the Gold Coast this weekend. The Parramatta playmaker said the penny finally dropped that it was time to become a leader after being named in his first Emerging Maroons squad. "I think so. I have been working on that (becoming more dominant) the last couple of years," Norman said. "(But) there are opportunities there now. "There are a lot of boys who are going to be putting their hand up for those jerseys - I am looking forward to a big year." There have been plenty of potential wake-up calls for Norman. He copped an eight week NRL ban in 2016 over a range of indiscretions including two drug convictions - later overturned - and a police warning for consorting with criminals. Asked if there had been a lightbulb moment when he realised he had to step up, Norman said: "That's a hard one - I know what you were trying to get at (2016 ban). "But nah. I have always wanted to do this and play at this (Origin) level, it's just that I have now got the opportunity." Newly-appointed Maroons assistant Josh Hannay looked forward to seeing Norman push his case. "He's at an age where he is ready to be that leader, the main man at his club Parramatta, and I think it will be exciting this year to see how he handles that," he said. "He has got the talent. But with a bit of maturity he could really jump out of the pack and have a great start to the year." Three people have had a lucky escape after they fell off a pleasure boat as they were returning from WA's Rottnest island. The skipper raised the alarm on Saturday night when the three - two women aged 24 and a man, 30 - who were at the rear of the boat fell overboard for nautical miles west of Swanbourne. None of the three were wearing life vests. A search involving three aircraft and nine vessels, comprising the police air wing, police boats and volunteers, located the trio after two and a half hours. They were plucked from the sea by the pilot vessel Berkeley and taken to hospital in Fremantle where they are being treated for exhaustion. NSW police say they have dismantled a syndicate involved in credit card skimming with the arrest of two men. One of the men, 31, was stopped by police in Canterbury on Friday and a search of his car uncovered cash, cloned cards and a credit card skimming device. Following his arrest, a search warrant was executed at a unit in Marrickville, where cash, mobile phones, drugs and other electronic equipment were allegedly located and seized. A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene. Police will allege in court the syndicate would use skimming machines to clone bank and credit cards, before using the cloned cards to withdraw cash from ATMs within the Sydney region. The 31-year-old was charged with 81 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. He was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday. The 29-year-old, who is in the country illegally, was charged with a slew of offences. He was refused bail and is due to appear at Central Local Court on February 1. Jason Day has rocketed into a share of the lead midway through the third round of the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines. Day, the 2015 winner, is having no trouble with the difficult South course with his front nine including three birdies. The former world No.1 has jumped to 10-under par through 10 holes and is tied atop the leaderboard with five others, including the big-hitting Tony Finau. A shot back at nine under and nearing the turn on moving day is defending champion and world No.2 Jon Rahm. Next best of the Australians is Marc Leishman, who has picked up three shots on his round to move to seven under after 16 holes. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods continues to defy the odds to pick up a shot and move to two under, despite another wildly inconsistent series of tee shots. The 14-time major winner has hit just two of nine fairways and five of 11 greens but a razor-sharp short game has saved his first weekend play on the PGA Tour in more than two years from being ugly. Tasmanians will go to the polls on March 3, with Premier Will Hodgman to call the state election on Sunday morning. Mr Hodgman will visit Governor Kate Warner and make an official announcement at 9am. Tasmanians have already been subjected to campaign-style ads as the major parties jockey for position, with the pace and intensity to pick up in the five weeks to the polls. Mr Hodgman's Liberal Party is in the driver's seat, with majority of 15 seats in parliament, but Labor under Rebecca White is expected to put up a stiff fight. Many analysts are tipping a hung parliament scenario that could see the balance of power fall in the hands of the Greens or the Jacqui Lambie Network. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have discussed bilateral economic cooperation. A meeting between Poroshenko and Tillerson took one hour, the parties had an opportunity to discuss all issues of bilateral and international cooperation, the Ukrainian presidential press service said on Friday. "A one-hour conversation is unusual format for meetings in Davos, but we deliberately planned it this way in order to have more time to discuss all issues. And I am really grateful to our U.S. partners for their very strong support shown to Ukraine today as well. We have discussed all fields of cooperation," Poroshenko said at a briefing following a meeting with Tillerson in Davos. The Ukrainian president said he and Tillerson discussed economic cooperation and noted a rapid growth of investments by U.S. companies. During the meeting, the parties also discussed cooperation with General Electric, which is planning to supply diesel locomotives to Ukrainian Railways, and other U.S. investors as well, the press service said. USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun says that in order to remain a governing body, USA Gymnastics must have its entire board resign by the end of the month or face "immediate termination proceedings" The entire USA Gymnastics board of directors will resign in the wake of a sex abuse scandal, as part of the organization's decision Friday to comply with US Olympic Committee requirements to avoid decertification. After former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar was jailed for up to 175 years for sexual abuse of girls and young women under the guise of treatment, USA Gymnastics promised to meet six requirements outlined by the USOC to remain the sport's national governing body. "USA Gymnastics will comply with the USOC requirements," read the organization's statement. Nassar's victims included Olympic champions Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney. More than 150 women spoke out over a sentencing hearing in Michigan that lasted more than a week. A trio of USA Gymnastics board of directors top executives -- chairman Paul Parilla, vice chairman Jay Binder and treasurer Bitsy Kelley -- already stepped down Monday following stinging criticism by victims of the organization's handling of the Nassar case. USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun outlined Thursday what USA Gymnastics must do to remain a governing body, the first of those mandates being for the entire board to resign by the end of the month or face "immediate termination proceedings." An interim board including athlete representatives, and not including any ousted directors, would be appointed in its place, with a permanent board elected within 12 months. USA Gymnastics must invite a USOC liaison to attend every board meeting. The USOC is already conducting an independent inquiry into the scandal, although some of the victims have criticized the USOC as well for inaction that allowed Nassar to abuse girls and women unabated for so long. "Every athlete connected in any way with USAG must feel safe, supported and encouraged to speak freely about threats to their safety," Blackmun wrote. "USAG's culture must foster this in all ways." Other steps included full cooperation with the independent investigation into the Nassar scandal. All staff and board members of USA Gymnastics would also need to complete training courses at the US Center for Safe Sport. Within six months, staff and board members would also need to complete a course in ethics training. "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." A joint memorial altar for the 37 victims was set up in a gymnasium, attracting a stream of mourning relatives and city residents paying their respects Distraught relatives of those killed in a deadly South Korean hospital fire voiced anger Saturday at what they perceived as another man-made disaster in Asia's fourth largest economy, just as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics. The huge blaze that erupted at the hospital in the southeastern city of Miryang Friday killed at least 37 people including 34 patients -- mostly elderly women -- and three medical staff in the country's worst fire disaster in a decade. The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in Jecheon, a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access for emergency vehicles. Scenes of despair and anger unfurled at a city gymnasium where a joint memorial altar was set up Saturday for the 37 victims, with anguished relatives sobbing uncontrollably and screaming at government officials who came to pay their respects. "My mother! Bring my mother back to life!" a young woman cried in front of the altar bearing a row of portraits of the victims and their name plaques surrounded by hundreds of white chrysanthemums. South Korea hospital blaze "My poor mother can never come back no matter what you say!" she shouted at visiting officials before collapsing on the floor. President Moon Jae-In visited the altar to console grieving relatives and promised to improve safety regulations after inspecting the gutted hospital. "I feel so devastated that a disaster like this keeps happening although the government has promised repeatedly to build a safe country," Moon said. - No fire sprinklers - The cause of the fire is still under investigation. But the hospital did not have any fire sprinkler or smoke-control-systems as it was not large enough to be required to install them under local safety rules. "I would have never sent my mother to this hospital had I known there was no fire sprinkler or smoke-control systems," said a relative of one of the victims, who only gave his family name, Kim. President Moon Jae-In (C) consoled relatives and promised to improve safety regulations after inspecting the gutted hospital "Of all the places in the world, can you imagine a hospital without fire sprinklers?" One relative even shouted at a group of conservative lawmakers who came to the altar, "Did you guys not oppose reforming the fire code rules? Then why are you here?" A middle-aged woman blamed herself for her mother's death. "Her whole body was covered with soot and her face was burned ... it's all my fault. I took her there for a medical check-up." Miryang resident Kang Eun-Soo said his 88-year-old sister was killed in the fire and her two children, who were visiting her, were seriously injured making a dramatic escape from the burning building. "My niece jumped off the window from the third floor, seriously injuring her back ... and the nephew inhaled too much smoke," he told AFP, adding they were in critical condition in hospital. "My sister spent her whole life to raise her seven children ... we can't let her go like this, not like this," he said, wiping away tears. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but the hospital did not have any sprinkler or smoke-control-systems as it was not large enough to be required to install them under local safety rules The tragedy has rattled residents of the sleepy city of Miryang. Black banners with a message of mourning were hung along the main streets. A shortage of space at funeral homes after the disaster forced many relatives to take the bodies of their loved ones to nearby cities. "I don't even know where to take my mother's body for a funeral," one relative said tearfully. A stream of mourners visited the altar, from teenagers and uniformed troops to monks and parents who brought their children. "This is a close-knit community where practically everybody knows everybody else, and everybody is like brothers and sisters," local businessman Woo Moon-Hwan said after paying his respects at the altar. The "heartbreaking" tragedy had deeply rattled him, the 59-year-old said. "Who knows? Something like this could happen to me one day," he told AFP. Son Do-Soo, a 71-year-old military veteran, described the disaster as a byproduct of "national mindset" that neglects safety in the pursuit of rapid economic growth. "The decades-long social customs that ignore safety really should change," Son told AFP after visiting the altar. US President Donald Trump (L), shown with World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab on January 26, 2018 in Davos, Switzerland, gave a hint of a possible change of heart on trade President Donald Trump may have realized his "America First" policy risks leaving the US alone on trade, but analysts are skeptical his latest offer to rejoin a multilateral trade pact will bear fruit. Trump went to the free-trade bastion World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and offered the possibility that the US would rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That came a year after one of his first official acts as president was to withdraw from the deal, and only days after the 11 remaining TPP countries agreed to proceed with the accord in the absence of the United States. That decision to go ahead without the US "really got under his skin," said Monica de Bolle of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. But Trump also plays to the crowd, which makes some wonder if he will follow through. In his speech Friday to a packed audience in Davos, Trump said the US would consider negotiating with its onetime TPP partners "either individually, or perhaps as a group, but only "if it is in the interests of all." - A 180 on trade? - In Davos the signal, although vague, was well received by the free-market loving audience, which included the who's who of the world's economic and political elite. The TPP was initially a US-led project that, while deliberately excluding Washington's rival China, would have accounted for 40 percent of global gross domestic product, one of the most important economic indicators. Trump dumped the deal in the belief it would punish US workers by allowing companies to hire cheaper labor abroad. His first year in office has been marked by a huge increase in trade complaints against various countries, especially China. "With President Trump and trade policy, the world has learned to have to 'wait and see.' There can sometimes be a large gulf between his words one day and his policy actions the next," Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute told AFP. Gregory Daco of Oxford Economics said he is not confident Trump is set to do "a 180 on trade." Just before going to Davos he "took a much more protectionist stance," imposing import tariffs on washing machines from South Korea and solar panels from China, and there are a host of decisions looming on steel and aluminum from China, he noted. The hint of a possible change of heart could be the result of urging from the business community which benefits from free trade deals. Edward Alden, of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP that "the biggest story here is he is under pressure from business not to embrace" a radically protectionist trade policy agenda. "Trump clearly received this message," Alden said. The business community certainly has ramped up its efforts to convince the administration to preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump also threatened to tear up. US, Canadian and Mexican officials will continue the latest round of talks to salvage the accord this weekend in Montreal. "I think there is a realization that you can't just be America First, and America alone, you have to be America with others," Daco said. But he cautioned, "I'm not that confident honestly" that Trump will follow through on the TPP offer. Daco said that Trump, now returned to Washington, will have other major issues looming including reaching a budget agreement to prevent another government shutdown, raising the federal debt limit, and the investigation into possible election campaign collusion with Russia. "At home you tend to forget what you said," Daco noted. The rally in Mandalay was the first student protest under Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian administration Fourteen students have been expelled from a Myanmar university after staging a campus protest calling for more education funding, an activist said Sunday, sparking concern over eroding freedoms in the fledgling democracy. The four-day rally at Yadanabon University in Mandalay drew some 100 students before it was broken up by police on January 25. It was the first student protest under Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian administration, which took power in early 2016. Students were key drivers of political activism under the former military regime, which violently cracked down on dissent during its 50-year reign. Many had hoped Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and former political prisoner, would usher in a new era of freedom. But a rash of defamation cases and arrests of journalists, plus lingering censorship in the arts, have dampened optimism and triggered alarm that freedoms are backsliding. The latest case to draw rebuke was the expulsion of 14 students in Mandalay, who participated in the rally calling for more national spending on education. "We... were given a letter saying that we were expelled for breaking regulations," Kyaw Thiha Ye Kyaw, a 22-year-old law student at Yadanabon, told AFP. "Our demands are not for us... but for all students and all educational staff around Myanmar," he added. Mandalay's chief minister Zaw Myint Maung refused to answer reporters' questions about the case, saying only: "We are just acting according to the law." Other officials could not be reached for comment. Yan Myo Thein, an Myanmar analyst and former political prisoner, slammed the "harsh decision" by a government that was "lifted on the shoulders of generations of students." "This decision neglects the many sacrifies made for Myanmar's democracy," he said, adding that the government should consider the students' demands. Myanmar's education system deteriorated dramatically after a bloody junta crackdown on a student-led uprising in 1988, which left up to 3,000 dead and saw the rise of Suu Kyi's opposition. Many students were killed or expelled from school, while universities were shuttered for several years. Shortly after taking office, Suu Kyi delivered on a pledge to free dozens of students jailed in 2015 for leading protests calling for education reforms. US President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" against the Taliban after the group claimed an ambulance bomb in Kabul which killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others, officials said, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. US President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" against the Taliban after the militant group claimed the assault -- the second it has carried out in the Afghan capital in a week. The attack triggered chaotic scenes as terrified survivors fled the area scattered with body parts, blood and debris, and hospitals were overwhelmed by the large number of wounded. It came as both the insurgents and the Islamic State group have escalated their attacks on Kabul, one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians. Map of Afghanistan locating capital Kabul, where an explosives-packed ambulance blew up Saturday An AFP reporter saw "lots of dead and wounded" civilians in the Jamuriate hospital, which is metres away from the blast and where medical staff struggled to treat the bloodied men, women and children lying on the floor in corridors. Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told AFP that the toll "now stands at 95 dead, 158 wounded", shortly after the interior ministry warned that an earlier death toll of 63 could rise. The blast happened in an area where several high-profile organisations, including the European Union, have offices. Members of the EU delegation in Kabul were in their "safe room" and there were no casualties, an official told AFP. The force of the explosion shook windows of buildings at least two kilometres (more than a mile) away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse. - 'Unjustifiable' - The suicide bomber passed through at least one checkpoint in the ambulance, saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital, an interior ministry spokesman told AFP. Volunteers help injured men at the scene where an ambulance exploded in front of the old Ministry of Interior building in Kabul "At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew his explosive-laden car," Nasrat Rahimi said. Rahimi told a news conference that most of the victims were civilians. He said the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network was responsible and four suspects had been arrested. Twenty minutes before the blast an AFP reporter saw police checking ambulances several hundred metres from the scene of the explosion, as the drivers and patients stood on the street. Ambulances are rarely checked in the city. The International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan condemned the use of an ambulance in the bombing, saying on Twitter it was "unacceptable and unjustifiable". President Trump also condemned the "despicable" attack, vowing that "the Taliban's cruelty will not prevail." "This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners," he said in a statement. A man carries a wounded child at Jamhuriat Hospital in Kabul on January 27, 2018 after an ambulance packed with explosives blew up near the old Interior Ministry building "Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them." The Taliban used social media to claim responsibility for the attack, which comes exactly a week after its insurgents stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel, killing at least 25 people, the majority foreigners. - 'Massacre' - Photos shared on social media purportedly of the blast -- the deadliest in Kabul since a truck bomb ripped through the city's diplomatic quarter on May 31, killing 150 people and wounding hundreds -- showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the sky. Near the blast site civilians walked through debris-covered streets carrying wounded on their backs as others loaded several bodies at a time into ambulances and private cars to take them to medical facilities around the city. The Italian NGO Emergency said 131 wounded had been taken to its hospital, with its coordinator Dejan Panic tweeting that it had been a "massacre". A photo posted on Emergency's Twitter account showed hospital staff treating injured people in an outdoor walkway next to a garden. A man told Ariana TV he had taken his wounded brother to Jamuriate and Emergency hospitals but had been turned away. "They are asking people with non-life threatening wounds to go to other hospitals," he said. Aminullah, whose stationery shop is just metres from where the explosion happened, said the force of the explosion shook the foundations of his building. "All our windows broke. The people are in shock in our market," he told AFP. - 'Pools of blood' - A man told Tolo News he was passing the area when the explosion happened. "I heard a big bang and I fainted," he said, outside the Emergency hospital. "There were dozens of people who were killed and wounded. There were pools of blood." The attack was condemned by the presidential palace as a "crime against humanity". There was international outcry too, with NATO, the US embassy in Kabul and British foreign minister Boris Johnson among those expressing horror at the latest attack. The offices of the High Peace Council, charged with negotiating with the Taliban which has been waging a more than 16-year insurgency in the war-torn country, are also near the blast site. It was unclear whether any council members were caught up in the attack. A security alert issued on Saturday morning had warned that the Islamic State group was planning "to conduct aggressive attacks" on supermarkets, shops and hotels frequented by foreigners. A picture taken on July 9, 2017 shows smoke billowing above Iraq's Mosul following an air strike by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group Eight Iraqis were killed on Saturday, most of them security personnel, in a US air strike that apparently targeted them by mistake, a provincial official said. "Eight people -- a senior intelligence official, five policemen and a woman -- were killed by a US strike on the centre of Al-Baghdadi," a town in western Iraq, the official said, asking not to be identified. "It seems the strike was a mistake," the official said of the incident in the Euphrates Valley town, adjacent to the Ain al-Asad airbase 250 kilometres (160 miles) west of the capital. The dead were travelling in a convoy which had been deployed to support an operation against suspected Islamic State group militants in the area. The strike destroyed most of the vehicles in the convoy and also wounded 20 people, including the town's police chief, who was in a serious condition, the provincial official said. Iraq's Joint Operations Command, which coordinates the campaign against IS, said it had ordered a special forces raid in the town after receiving intelligence of a "meeting to be attended by terrorist commander Karim al-Samarmad". It said it had requested "air support from the international coalition". "Once the terrorist was arrested and while troops were carrying out searches, a grenade was thrown from an adjacent building." As the special forces troops returned to base, they ran into a convoy of police and paramilitaries of the Hashed al-Shaabi auxiliary force that had been sent to support them. The convoy was composed of pick-up trucks and the returning forces mistook them for jihadists and called in a coalition air strike, the JOC said. "An inquiry has been opened." Kurdish protesters hold placards branding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a "terrorist" over Ankara's offensive in northern Syria Hundreds of Kurds took to the streets of Cologne on Saturday in protest over Turkey's offensive in northern Syria, as German officials warned against tensions between the country's huge Kurdish and Turkish communities. The protest, which organisers expect will see up to 20,000 participants, came a week after Turkish special forces and allied Syrian rebels launched an assault targeting Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. "Freedom for Kurdistan" and "Shame on you, Europe!" read some of the protesters' placards in the western German city. As the protest got under way, police put the number of demonstrators at 1,000, while an AFP journalist put the figure at several thousand. Germany is home to some one million Kurds and three million people of Turkish origin. Scuffles have erupted between members of the two communities since Turkey launched its "Olive Branch" campaign, with several Turkish mosques in Germany hit by acts of vandalism. According to Cologne police chief Uwe Jacob, the "risks of conflict (at the protest) are considerable". "Turkey has launched a war of aggression that breaches international law," Kurdish community co-leader Mehmet Tanriverdi told regional newspaper Heilbronner Stimme Saturday. The protest was organised by NAV-DEM, a Kurdish association deemed close to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies as a terror group. A family takes shelter in a Kurdish town to the west of Afrin The US has reiterated a pledge to Turkey to stop arming a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara is fighting, the Turkish presidency said Saturday, after the allies' ties were strained by Turkey's offensive in Syria. The Turkish presidency said US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster "confirmed" to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in a phone call late Friday that Washington would "not give weapons to the YPG" militia. Turkey launched its operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes. Relations between NATO allies Ankara and Washington have been further strained by the offensive, with Washington urging restraint and fearing an impact on the fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. One of the issues marring relations between the two countries was the US supplying the YPG -- which has spearheaded the anti-jihadist fight -- with arms since last year in battles against IS. During Friday's call, the officials cited Turkey's "legitimate security concerns" and agreed to coordinate closely in order to prevent misunderstandings, the presidency said in a statement. The call came just days after Washington and Ankara bitterly contested each other's accounts of a telephone conversation between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. A White House statement said Trump urged Turkey to "limit its military actions", but a Turkish official said this was not an accurate reflection of the leaders' call. In addition, Turkish officials said in November that Trump had promised to stop supplying arms to the YPG. Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is proscribed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. The PKK has waged an over three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state, which has resulted in about 40,000 people being killed since the 1980s. But the YPG has been working closely with Washington against IS in Syria as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). With the support of the US-led coalition's air power and special forces, the SDF led the battle last year against IS during which the jihadists lost their de facto capital of Raqa. A picture taken on July 9, 2017 shows smoke billowing above Iraq's Mosul following an air strike by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group An air strike by the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group hit Iraqi security personnel on Saturday, officials said, in an apparent mistake that killed eight people. The friendly fire incident drew swift criticism of the US military presence in Iraq from pro-Iranian figures in Baghdad. "Eight people -- a senior intelligence official, five policemen and a woman -- were killed by a US strike on the centre of Al-Baghdadi," a town in western Iraq, a provincial official said, asking not to be identified. "It seems the strike was a mistake," the official said of the incident in the Euphrates Valley town, adjacent to the Ain al-Asad airbase 250 kilometres (160 miles) west of the capital. Those killed were travelling in a convoy which had been deployed to support a dawn raid on suspected IS militants in the area. Despite the government's declaration of victory over IS last month, the jihadists remain active underground in several regions of Iraq, particularly along the Euphrates Valley and in the vast desert to its west. The US-led strike destroyed most of the vehicles in the convoy and also wounded 20 people, including the town's police chief, who was in a serious condition, the provincial official said. Iraq's Joint Operations Command, which coordinates the country's campaign against IS, said it had ordered a special forces raid in the town after receiving intelligence of a "meeting to be attended by terrorist commander Karim al-Samarmad". It said it had requested "air support from the international coalition". "Once the terrorist was arrested and while troops were carrying out searches, a grenade was thrown from an adjacent building." - Investigations opened - As the special forces troops withdrew to base, they ran into a convoy of police and paramilitaries of the Hashed al-Shaabi auxiliary force that had been sent to support them. The convoy was composed of pick-up trucks and the returning forces mistook them for jihadists and called in a coalition air strike, the JOC said, lamenting the lack of coordination. "An inquiry has been opened," it added. Coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon said the strike had been carried out at the request of Iraqi forces, who would take the lead in investigating any failings. "Anything we do in Iraq is in support of the Iraqi security forces. We were asked for support and we provided it," Dillon told AFP. "Iraqi forces have announced an investigation, they are on the lead for the investigation. "For any allegation, especially of civilian losses, we conduct an investigation." But leaders of the pro-Iran militias that form the backbone of the Hashed auxiliary force, which played a major role in the campaign against IS independently of the coalition, were unswayed by the explanation. Populist Shiite militia leader Moqtada Sadr, who led repeated uprisings against coalition troops during the US-led occupation that followed the 2003 invasion, demanded immediate action against those responsible for the strike. "Once again the American occupation forces have shown their tyranny and arrogance by flagrantly violating the independence and sovereignty of the Iraqi government," he said on Twitter. Senior Hashed commander Qais al-Khazali, who heads the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, said the strike "raises serious and dangerous questions". Those questions concern "the American military presence in Iraq, the role it intends to play and the justification for its presence after the military defeat of IS," he said on Twitter. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused Russia of violating agreements that it undertook to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday said he stands by his claim that Russia bears responsibility for recent chemical attacks in Syria, despite strong denials from Moscow. "These are just unacceptable deployments of chemicals in ways that violate all conventions which Russia itself has signed up for. It violates agreements that Russia undertook to be responsible for identifying and eliminating the chemical weapons inside of Syria," Tillerson said during a visit to Warsaw. "The chemical weapons are clearly there, they're being used against civilian populations -- and the most vulnerable are children -- inside of Syria," Tillerson told reporters, in a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. "So we are holding Russia responsible for addressing this. They are (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad's ally. They are members of those conventions and they made commitments. They need to deliver on those commitments." Tillerson first made the accusations on Tuesday, as diplomats from 29 countries met in Paris to push for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of the chemical attacks in Syria. Russia and China have blocked Western-backed efforts at the UN to impose sanctions on Damascus over their use. On Wednesday, Russia lashed out at Tillerson for having "hastily accused the Syrian -- as they call it -- 'regime' for the attack in Eastern Ghouta," adding "now they are trying to drag Russia into this as well." Damascus has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons, with the United Nations among those blaming government forces for an April 2017 sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead. There have been at least 130 separate chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2012, according to French estimates, with the Islamic State group also accused of using mustard gas in Syria and Iraq. Next week, Moscow will hold negotiations in the Russian city of Sochi aimed at ending Syria's civil war. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday the parties agreed to coordinate actions in the field of defense and security. "We agreed with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to coordinate actions in the defense and security sphere. I am grateful for the full support of the United States in the UN Security Council and the continuation of the policy of sanctions against the Russian Federation," Poroshenko said on his official Twitter account. Cooperation between Kyiv and Washington is not limited to the provision of lethal weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he said later during a press conference following his visit to Davos. "We are talking not only about the supply for grants, at the expense of our U.S. partners, not only about providing us licenses and permits for purchase, but also about joint production, training and other spheres ... which I cannot elaborate on," he said a press conference after his visit to Davos. Speaking about the timing of the lethal weapons delivery to Ukraine by the U.S., Poroshenko said that he knew the dates, but he would not disclose them for obvious reasons. "As soon as it became known that Ukraine received the latest weapons, the behavior of the Russian troops and militants considerably changed ... they are more cautious when approaching the contact line," he said, adding that it is also progress. The ambulance bomb was the latest in a series of deadly attacks on the Afghan capital Taliban militants detonated a bomb hidden inside an ambulance in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 63 people and wounding 151 others, officials said. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their attacks in Kabul since 2016, turning the city of some five million people into the one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians. Here are some of the key moments in the security of the Afghan capital over the last two years. - First Islamic State attack - After carrying out multiple attacks across Afghanistan, IS claimed its first assault in Kabul in July 2016 as twin explosions ripped through crowds of Shiite ethnic Hazaras, killing at least 85 people and wounding more than 400. Since then IS has escalated its presence in the city, claiming nearly 20 attacks across Kabul in the past 18 months, and establishing cells including students, professors and shopkeepers evading Afghan and US security forces. The group's attack on Hazaras was the deadliest in Kabul in 2016, which brought new levels of carnage even to a city already grimly accustomed to atrocities. Other attacks included a truck bomb and ensuing firefight that killed at least 64 people and wounded some 350 others on April 19, a week after the start of the Taliban's "spring offensive". And Taliban militants launched an assault on the Kabul offices of CARE International, part of a wave of bombings in the city on September 5 that left at least 41 people dead and dozens wounded. - The truck bomb - A massive truck bomb on May 31, 2017 killed more than 150 people and wounded hundreds in the city's fortified diplomatic quarter, the deadliest attack in Kabul since the US invasion began in late 2001. The bomb, which no group has claimed responsibility for, prompted authorities to develop a new plan to expand their ring of steel around the city and impose tight restrictions on large vehicles. But the time consuming checks result in hundreds of trucks waiting hours before they can proceed, and officials are forced to acknowledge that with more than a hundred ways in to Kabul it is impossible to control all the entrances. Their point is proven just months later, when a suicide bomber on foot evades checkpoints to reach the "Green Zone" and blow himself up, killing at least five people and wounding dozens. Saturday's attack was another chilling demonstration of the militants' ability to evade security and penetrate the heart of the city. - Bloody end to 2017 - The truck bomb was not the only notable Kabul attack of 2017. Among many smaller assaults which killed dozens of people were an attack on Afghanistan's largest military hospital in March which officially left at least 50 people dead, though security sources and survivors say the toll exceeded 100. Minority Shiites increasingly became targets as Sunni IS stepped up their assaults, with dozens killed in multiple attacks. The deadliest -- in which some 40 people were killed and dozens wounded -- was one of three assaults claimed by the Middle Eastern jihadist group in December alone. The parliament, the Supreme Court, and security installations as well as foreign forces in Kabul also came under attack in 2017, with civilians paying a disproportionate price. US President Donald Trump also announced his new strategy for Afghanistan in 2017, vowing in August that troops would stay there indefinitely. The Taliban responded with a wave of attacks across the country. - No end in sight - Just four days into 2018 another suicide blast rocked Kabul, in an Islamic State-claimed attack which killed at least 13 people. Then the Taliban stormed the landmark Intercontinental Hotel in a complex assault in which witnesses told AFP the gunmen went from room to room targeting foreigners for nearly 12 hours before being killed by Afghan security forces. Despite heightened threats in Kabul, visitors to the hotel described lax security ahead of the attack, which began late on January 20. It was the start of another bloody week across the country, with an IS attack on a Save the Children compound in eastern Jalalabad city killing at least five people and forcing the charity to suspend operations. More security alerts were issued in Kabul early Saturday, warning of attacks targeting places frequented by foreigners. Twenty minutes before Saturday's blast an AFP reporter saw police checking ambulances several hundred metres from the scene of the explosion. Ambulances -- ubiquitous at the site of the dozens of attacks that rock Kabul each year -- are rarely checked in the city. Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in its western enclave of Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes Turkey on Saturday urged the United States to withdraw personnel from a Kurdish-held town in northern Syria after Washington told Ankara it would stop arming a Syrian Kurdish militia that Turkey is fighting. As Turkey's offensive in Syria entered its second week with new air strikes and artillery, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it was "necessary for them (US) to immediately withdraw from Manbij", where Washington has a military presence. Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" on January 20 against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in its western enclave of Afrin, supporting Syrian opposition fighters with ground troops and air strikes. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to expand the offensive against the YPG to Manbij, east of Afrin. Relations between NATO allies Ankara and Washington have worsened since Turkey launched an operation, with the United States urging restraint and fearing an impact on the fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. One of the issues marring relations was the US supplying the YPG militia -- which has spearheaded the anti-jihadist fight -- with arms since last year in battles against IS. - 'Like a steamroller' - Manbij itself was retaken from IS by the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in 2016 as part of a push that would later recapture the city of Raqa from the jihadists. The Turkish presidency said US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster "confirmed" to Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in a phone call late Friday that Washington would no longer "give weapons to the YPG". Northern Syria Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which is proscribed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. "God willing we will crush them (terror groups) like a steamroller," Erdogan said Saturday during a speech in Istanbul. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim hit out at critics, explaining the "operation was not an option but a necessity". - 'Cut ties with YPG' - Earlier this month, the US-led coalition fighting IS said it was working to create a 30,000-strong border security force in northern Syria. "The US must cut its ties with a terror organisation. It must take back the weapons it has given," Cavusoglu said, adding Turkey "now wanted to see concrete steps taken". Turkey has targeted the Syrian town of Afrin in recent days but Ankara has suggested it may spread its offensive eastwards towards the strategic town of Manbij During their call, McMaster and Kalin agreed to coordinate closely in order to prevent misunderstandings. The contact came just days after Washington and Ankara bitterly contested each other's accounts of a telephone conversation between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. A White House statement said Trump urged Turkey to "limit its military actions", but a Turkish official said this was not an accurate reflection of the leaders' call. There have also been expressions of concern over the offensive from other Western allies including the European Union. German police on Saturday ordered the dispersal of a protest against the offensive attended by over 15,000 in Cologne because of the presence of PKK symbols, banned in Germany. - Syrian rebels 'take village' - A monitor says 38 civilians have been killed so far in Turkey's operation, though AFP was unable to verify the figure The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group told AFP the fighting was concentrated in the northwest part of the Afrin region. Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels had taken a village and were making progress, albeit "slowly because of bad weather", Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. An AFP correspondent in the Syrian town of Azaz held by pro-Ankara fighters, east of Afrin, could hear sporadic artillery fire. The Turkish military said "at least 394 terrorist organisation members were neutralised" in the operation while two if its own soldiers had been killed on Saturday, bringing the total to five, with 40 more injured. The Observatory said 111 Ankara-backed rebels and Kurdish fighters have been killed since last Saturday. It said 38 civilians have also been killed, mainly as a result of Turkish shelling, but Ankara strongly rejects such claims. Health workers in Afrin told AFP they feared the offensive would lead to a humanitarian "tragedy". "Medication and humanitarian aid necessary to help civilians will soon run out," said Khalil Sabri Ahmed, head of the main hospital in Afrin. The UN children's agency UNICEF said at least 11 children have been killed since the operation began. Turkey's AFAD emergencies agency head Mehmet Gulluoglu said they were making plans for a camp to be established in Azaz "in the face of a possible refugee influx from Afrin". Several Kurdish parties in Syria, including the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the political branch of the YPG, on Saturday called on the international community and Syrian forces to "apply pressure by all available means" to stop Turkey's offensive. burx-gkg/pvh/aph Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain Pakistan launched a search Saturday for two alpinists who went missing while attempting to climb the country's second-highest peak Nanga Parbat, nicknamed "killer mountain" for its treacherous terrain. It comes a day after Elisabeth Revol, from France, and Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz were spotted through binoculars by fellow climbers at the base camp. "We have dropped down four individuals who have seen (Revol)," an official from Pakistan's military, which is conducting the operation, told AFP. "They hopefully will recover the lady tonight," he said, adding that saving Mackiewicz will be "quite difficult" because he is believed to "be present on a very high point". "But it is possible," he said. A spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan said that four mountaineers were lifted from the base camp of the country's highest mountain K-2 to rescue the missing climbers. "The rescue operation was started in the afternoon and army helicopters dropped volunteers in the area where the mountaineers are believed to be missing," Karar Haideri told AFP. "The operation was delayed in the morning because of bad weather," he added. According to the tour managers who arranged the pair's expedition, Revol has sent messages from the mountain expressing concern over Mackiewicz's fate. "For Tomek, I don't think we can have any more hope. This is a tragedy. I'm deeply affected," the tour operators quoted her most recent message as saying. They said she has also reported bad weather on the mountain, writing: "There is fog, and I couldn't see or hear any sound of helicopters, and I want to believe it again." Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet). It earned the nickname "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. The United Nations has described the latest peace push as a 'last chance' to end South Sudan's four year civil war African nations mediating South Sudan's peace efforts must not "squander" the opportunity of a renewed push to end the country's war, the head of an international ceasefire monitoring team said Saturday. Festus Mogae, a former president of Botswana who leads the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), urged members of the eight-nation IGAD trade bloc to work together. Mogae said Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda must "maintain a unified approach, demonstrate one voice (and) challenge those who peddle self-interest" in the implementation of a peace agreement. A first round of talks to revitalise a 2015 peace agreement resulted in a ceasefire in December which lasted just hours before warring parties accused each other of breaking the truce. The United Nations has described the latest peace push as a "last chance" to end South Sudan's four year civil war. A second round of talks is expected on February 5. Mogae, speaking at an African Union summit in Ethiopia, said the process was a "watershed and offers an opportunity that should not be wasted or squandered," according to a JMEC statement. Analysts say the regional interests of the IGAD members are often wildly different. South Sudan descended into war in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. A peace deal was signed two years later but collapsed in July 2016 when fresh fighting in the capital Juba forced Machar into exile. The renewed violence spread across the country, with new armed opposition groups forming. Last week Mogae called for "consequences" for those who refuse to turn away from the battlefield. "We cannot stand by as South Sudanese leaders sign an agreement one day and authorize or allow its violation with impunity the next," Mogae told the Security Council by video-conference from Juba. The United States called for an international arms embargo. UN ambassador Nikki Haley urged African leaders gathered for the summit to "consider seriously the accountability measures it pledged for those who refuse to pursue peace." Haley singled out leaders in Uganda and Kenya to put pressure on Kiir, saying "they are key players in the success of a true peace process." Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the summit to discuss the South Sudan conflict, according to a statement from the presidency. The statement said Guterres had urged Kenya to return to the forefront of mediation after months spent occupied with domestic affairs due to a heated and drawn-out election. West Bromwich Albion's striker Jay Rodriguez celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English FA Cup fourth round football match against West Bromwich Albion January 27, 2018 Jay Rodriguez scored twice as West Bromwich Albion stunned Liverpool with a 3-2 FA Cup fourth-round win at Anfield on Saturday in a tie overshadowed by the Video Assistant Referee, after Harry Kane spared Tottenham a shock defeat by lowly Newport. A remarkable first half on Merseyside saw the Baggies, second-bottom in the top flight, race into a 2-1 lead inside 11 minutes against a Liverpool team pushing for a place in the Champions League. Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead in the fifth minute after a mix-up, only for Rodriguez to hit back with two well-taken goals. VAR, being trialled in English cup competitions this season, then took centre stage. Referee Craig Pawson denied West Brom a third goal after ruling out Craig Dawson's effort by using VAR to determine that Gareth Barry was offside. Pawson then become the first English referee to consult a touchline monitor himself before awarding Liverpool a penalty for a foul on Mohamed Salah by Jake Livermore. Tottenham Hotspur's striker Harry Kane runs with the ball during the English FA Cup fourth round football match against Newport County January 27, 2018 That prompted furious protests by the visitors, with Barry booked for dissent, only for Firmino's spot-kick to hit the crossbar. There was yet another VAR review prior to the break, before a Joel Matip own goal that put West Brom 3-1 up was allowed. - 'Mockery' - Egypt striker Salah gave seven-time FA Cup winners Liverpool hope in the 78th minute with his 25th goal in just 32 appearances for the Reds, but Alan Pardew's Premier League strugglers still booked their place in the last 16. West Ham United's defender Arthur Masuaku walks down the tunnel after being shown is shown a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh during the English FA Cup fourth round football match against Wigan Athletic January 27, 2018 "I thought we deserved what we got today," West Brom manager Alan Pardew told BT Sport. Pardew, reflecting on the VAR stoppages, said: "I don't know, it was just weird. We waited so long for the decisions, the stadium was flat and every goal was becoming a sort of mockery with the delayed decision." Meanwhile beaten Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted: "West Brom deserved it, they scored three goals, us only two, and we have to blame ourselves." Earlier, fourth-tier Newport eyed one of the all-time great upsets against eight-time FA Cup winners Tottenham thanks to Padraig Amond's first-half goal. But eight minutes from time, England striker Kane equalised when he tapped in from close range following Son Heung-Min's flick-on for his 30th goal this season. And 1-1 was how it finished as League Two Newport survived four minutes of injury-time to hold out for a lucrative replay at Wembley, Spurs' temporary home. Wigan Athletic's striker Will Grigg celebrates after scoring their second goal from the penalty spot during the English FA Cup fourth round football match against West Ham United January 27, 2018 Welsh side Newport, a massive 72 places behind a Spurs side who are fifth in the Premier League, sparked delirious scenes at Rodney Parade when Amond headed them into a 38th-minute lead. - 'Spurs need to fight'- "I'm gutted... We were nearly there," Newport manager Mike Flynn told the BBC. Meanwhile frustrated Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino questioned his side's desire to lift trophies. "I hope we have learned today that we have to fight to win things," he said. West Ham manager David Moyes labelled Arthur Masuaku "despicable" after the midfielder was sent off for spitting in a 2-0 defeat by 2013 FA Cup winners Wigan. Leicester's Malian midfielder Fousseni Diabate (R) scores his side's fourth goal during the FA Cup fourth round match against Peterborough United in Peterborough, eastern England, on January 27, 2018 Premier League West Ham, already 1-0 down to the first of two goals from Will Grigg, were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Masuaku saw red for spitting at third-tier Wigan's Nick Powell. "It was despicable," said Moyes. "If you do that, then you're going to get the punishment in any walk of life." Southampton beat fellow Premier League strugglers Watford 1-0 as Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with a goal to ensure Javi Gracia's reign as Hornets manager started with a defeat. Nottingham Forest's FA Cup run ended just one round after they knocked out holders Arsenal courtesy of a 2-1 defeat by Championship rivals Hull. Chelsea face Newcastle in another all top-flight clash on Sunday when league leaders Manchester City continue their bid for an unprecedented 'quadruple' away to second-tier Cardiff. Manchester United eased into the fourth round on Friday, with new signing Alexis Sanchez impressing on debut in a 4-0 win at lowly Yeovil. UN Syria peace negotiator Staffan de Mistura will be going to an upcoming peace conference in Russia, despite the Syrian opposition's boycott of the meeting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Syria peace negotiator to a conference in Russia next week, a spokesman said Saturday, despite the Syrian opposition's boycott of the meeting. Guterres "is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution" to reviving the peace talks held under UN auspices in Geneva, a UN spokesman said in a statement. Russia had long sought UN participation in the conference opening Monday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to lend credibility to its diplomatic efforts to end the six-year war. Hours earlier, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura ended a ninth round of UN-sponsored talks in Vienna, with no sign of progress toward a peace deal. "I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date," De Mistura said. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric indicated that Guterres had received assurances that the Sochi conference would not seek to sideline the UN talks. Guterres was briefed by De Mistura on the outcome of the Vienna talks, and has taken into account a statement from Russia that the result of the Sochi conference "would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations," the spokesman said in a statement. The UN chief has "decided to accept the invitation of the Russian Federation to send a representative to attend the Sochi Congress" and has asked De Mistura to go, he added. Russia has invited more than 1,500 delegates to the two-day conference that the West views with suspicion. In Vienna, the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) announced it would not be attending the Sochi conference. - Assad's fate - The main opposition coalition fears that Russia will push a peace deal that will keep President Bashar al-Assad's authority intact after six years of bloodshed. The Russian foreign ministry welcomed Guterres' decision, and said the Vienna talks had "focused in particular on the problems of constitutional reform" - a process that could determine whether or how Assad remains in power. "On these issues, a mutual agreement was reached between the Russian side and the UN representatives, on the sidelines of the Vienna meeting," said a foreign ministry statement issued in Moscow. On the ground, Syrian forces have pressed on with an offensive in rebel-held Idlib launched in late December, with Russian backing. Assad's forces were on the defensive in the first few years of the war, but since Russia militarily intervened in 2015 they have regained the upper hand. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain and France have put forward a proposal that would involve strengthening the role of Syria's prime minister -- at the expense of Assad's authority, according to a leaked document circulated online. Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told reporters in Vienna it was "tantamount to a black comedy" that these countries were seeking to shape Syria's political future. "All of them have participated in the bloodshed of the Syrian people," he said of the five nations, blasting the United States as the country "that created ISIS," and adding that Saudi Arabia was anything but a "beacon of freedom in the east." Two weeks ago, Turkey launched air strikes and shelling against Kurdish militias in northern Syria, marking a dangerous new escalation in the conflict. That development has raised tensions between Turkey - which along with Iran backs the Russian conference in Sochi - and the United States, which has supported the Kurdish militias in the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group. More than 340,000 people have died in the war, millions have fled their homes and the fighting has left the country in ruins. Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was blocked to from travelling to the African Union summit in Ethiopia Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday that efforts to block him from seeking re-election were only making him stronger, in a video address at the African Union summit. Lula lashed out at authorities who blocked him from travelling to the summit in Ethiopia where he was due to attend a meeting organised by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, a day after his graft conviction was upheld. The corruption ruling strikes a blow to 72-year-old Lula's hopes of running in this year's presidential election, in which he is regarded as a frontrunner. However analysts say he still has a shot at running and can file further appeals in higher courts. "They dont want me to be a candidate because the more they accuse me, the more they persecute me, the more I grow in public opinion polls," Lula told the meeting in Addis Ababa via a conference call. "They know if I am a candidate -- against the media in my country, against the Brazilian elites -- they know that my chances of winning the election in the first round are absolute." Lula, a former union boss who rose to make Brazil the poster child of emerging economies and lifted millions out of poverty, told the meeting that his country had shown it was possible to stop people from going hungry. "Each country's budget has to be designed placing the poor at its very core to be able to guarantee to them -- as something sacred, something biblical -- that to have breakfast, lunch and dinner is the most basic right that every human being on Earth must have," he said. He vowed that if re-elected his relationship with Africa would be a priority. Lula's once-glowing legacy was tarnished by the fall of his hand-picked successor Dilma Rousseff who was impeached in 2016, and a corruption scandal that engulfed their Workers' Party. Lula accuses Brazilian elites and the media of being behind a plot to "destroy" him and his legacy. Three judges agreed Wednesday that Lula was guilty of corruption by being bribed with a posh seaside condo, even though Lula insists he never got the keys to the place. The judges extended Lula's original prison sentence of nine and a half years, handed down in July, to 12 years and one month. Jordanians buy bread from a bakery in the capital Amman on January 27, 2018 as prices increase by up to 100 percent Jordan on Saturday increased the price of bread by up to 100 percent after lifting subsidies on the staple in a bid to redress its debt-riddled economy. The move is expected to affect low income Jordanians, for whom flat pitta-like bread is an essential part of meals. Past price hikes have sparked riots in the cash-strapped country which has few natural resources. The price of a kilo of white bread was raised by 100 percent from 16 piastres to 32 piasters ($0.45), while the price of smaller flat bread rose by more than 67 percent. Flat bread known as "taboon", a staple on the dinner tables of low-income Jordanians, rose 90 percent. The price of other breads remained unchanged. The official Petra news agency, quoting the trade and industry ministry, said the new prices will remain in effect until December 31. Bakery workers in Amman on January 27, 2018 "This decision will undoubtedly affect Jordanians," said shopper Ahmad Ramadan as he queued at an Amman bakery. "Someone paid 300 dinars ($423) a month who spends a dinar a day on bread will end up having to allocate 30 dinars a month for bread alone," he said. "Everything will increase, even the price of sandwiches. God help everyone," he said. Abdullah al-Hamawi, head of the union that represents around 1,700 bakeries across the country, said Jordanians consume some "eight million loaves of bread a day and 16 million in winter". Jordan has a population of 9.5 million, 6.6 million of whom are Jordanians. The others include refugees from the wars in Syria and Iraq and Palestinians. The country has a public debt of some $35 billion, equivalent to 90 percent of its gross domestic product. Jordanians eat around 16 million loaves of bread daily in winter, according to the bakers' union The government decided earlier this month to raise the prices of bread and fuel and increase value added tax on goods including cigarettes, fizzy drinks and jewellery. It hopes to increase tax revenues by $761 million, and has pledged a "financial aid" package to struggling families affected by the price hikes. On Tuesday, the finance ministry began compensating low-income families, allocating each member 27 dinars ($38) for the year. Last year, price rises affecting an array of goods and services sparked protests during which there were calls for the cabinet to resign. In 2016, Jordan secured a $723-million three-year credit line from the International Monetary Fund to support economic and financial reforms. "The law is baseless. I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of a Polish bill outlawing any reference to the Nazi death camps in the country as being Polish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland on Saturday of denying history with a bill outlawing any reference to the Nazi death camps in the country as being Polish. "The law is baseless. I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," the premier said in a statement. As a diplomatic row brewed on the day the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Poland's charge d'affaires to Israel has been summoned to the foreign ministry on Sunday, the ministry said. A foreign ministry official told AFP the Polish bill was "an attempt to rewrite and falsify history, something that the Jewish people and Israel will never accept". Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responded via Twitter late Saturday saying: " Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase" in reference to the words posted on the Nazi camp's infamous wrought-iron gate that mean "Work makes you free" in German. "Auschwitz is the most bitter lesson on how evil ideologies can lead to hell on earth. Jews, Poles, and all victims should be guardians of the memory of all who were murdered by German Nazis." Earlier on Saturday he marked the 73 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on site at the former Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, southern Poland. Poland's rightwing-dominated parliament on Friday adopted legislation that sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish. - Six million citizens - The measure is intended to apply to both Polish citizens and foreigners. It is expected to easily pass in the Senate before being signed by the president. Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II, losing six million of its citizens, including three million Jews in the Holocaust. Polish officials routinely request corrections when global media or politicians describe as "Polish" the former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland. The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem said it "opposes the new legislation passed by the Polish parliament, which is liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust". But it added: "There is no doubt that the term 'Polish death camps' is a historical misrepresentation." On a sterner tone, Israel's Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett instructed schools to dedicate two hours this week to study about the involvement of European nations in the Holocaust. "This is a shameful disregard of the truth. It is a historic fact that many Poles aided in the murder of Jews, handed them in, abused them, and even killed Jews during and after the Holocaust," he said. "It is also a historic fact that the Germans initiated, planned and built the work and death camps in Poland. That is the truth, and no law will rewrite it. These facts must be taught to the next generation." US casino owner Steve Wynn, shown here with his wife Andrea, has resigned from his post as Republican National Committee finance chairman after claims of sexual misconduct against him Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn stepped down Saturday as Republican National Committee finance chairman, following allegations of decades of sexual misconduct. The 76-year-old former business rival turned political ally of President Donald Trump had assumed the RNC position after Trump took office in January 2017. Wynn has denied the allegations, first published in The Wall Street Journal on Friday, and accused his ex-wife Elaine of instigating the accusations as part of a "terrible and nasty lawsuit" seeking a revised divorce settlement. "Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair," RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement to AFP on Saturday. Politico said McDaniel had discussed Wynn's case with Trump early Saturday. The president returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, late Friday. A towering figure in the gambling world, Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor whose empire includes casinos in Macau. Allegations against Wynn include a married manicurist who said the casino billionaire forced her to have sex not long after he opened his flagship Wynn Las Vegas hotel, shown here The allegations include a married manicurist who said Wynn forced her to have sex shortly after he opened his flagship Wynn Las Vegas in 2005, and whom he later paid a $7.5 million settlement, the Journal reported. "The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous," Wynn said in a statement. "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." Former employees said their awareness of Wynn's power, combined with the knowledge that they had some of the best-paying jobs in Las Vegas added up to a feeling of dependence and intimidation when he made requests, the Journal reported. One former massage therapist said he instructed her to manually stimulate his genitalia during sessions, and that she felt she had to agree because he was her boss. Another former worker said Wynn rubbed his genitals and commented about what he would like to do with her sexually, and once grabbed her waist and told her to kiss him. Wynn Resorts, which employs 23,000 people around the world, also lashed out at Elaine Wynn and said not one complaint had been made about Wynn on a company hotline. The Journal contacted more than 150 people who work or had worked for Wynn in its reporting. It was the first time that the US sexual harassment watershed has centered on the CEO and founder of a major publicly held company -- whose shares tumbled 7.8 percent following the report's publication. As part of the UNIFIER training mission, 50 Canadian soldiers arrived in Ukraine, the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported with reference to Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Vashchuk. "We are strengthening our Canadian presence - 50 additional military servicemen arrived in the UNIFIER mission. We support the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in its efforts to maintain Ukraine's sovereignty, security and stability," the press service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces quoted diplomat as saying on its Twitter account. According to Head of the Canadian military training mission in Ukraine, Lieutenant-Colonel Kristopher Reeves, upon the arrival of military instructors, the mission became the largest since its start in Ukraine. As reported, Canada in March 2017 decided to extend the UNIFIER training mission of the Ukrainian military for two years until March 2019. The mission involves about 200 military instructors from Canada. Operation UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) mission to support Ukrainian armed forces in Ukraine. The operation's focus is to assist them with military training. This will help them improve and build their military capacity. The CAF's primary focus in Ukraine is on tactical soldier training. This is also known as small team training. It consists of individual weapons training; marksmanship; movement in areas of potential conflict; explosive threat recognition; communication in troop movement and command and control; survival in combat; ethics. Other training includes, among other things, explosive device disposal training and military police training. LONDON (AP) - Britain's top Brexit official said Friday that the U.K. would be able to strike new trade deals outside the European Union as soon as it leaves the bloc next year - even though it will remain bound to EU customs and market rules for some two years after 2019. Brexit Secretary David Davis said that during a post-2019 transition period Britain would be free to negotiate "new trade deals with old friends and new allies around the world." He said, though, that "they would not enter into force" until the transition period is over, likely by early 2021. That plan may face resistance from the EU, which says Britain can't sign new trade deals until it fully leaves the bloc. Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis delivers a speech on the Brexit implementation period during a visit to PD Ports at Teesport in Middlesbrough, England, Friday, Jan, 26, 2018. Davis says the U.K. will be able to strike new trade deals outside the European Union as soon as it leaves the bloc next year - even though it will remain bound to EU customs and market rules for some two years after 2019. (Ian Forsyth/PA via AP) Davis is trying to placate pro-Brexit lawmakers in Britain who accuse the government of being too timid in negotiations with the EU. Conservative legislator Jacob Rees-Mogg said Thursday that British negotiators had been "cowed" by the bloc. British euroskeptics are angry that the U.K. will continue to abide by EU rules during the transition period, which is designed to give government and businesses time to prepare for life outside the bloc. Speaking at a container port in northeast England, Davis said that the transition would preserve "the existing structure of rules and regulations - including, crucially, on continued access to each other's markets on current terms." Officials from Britain and the EU have begun preliminary talks aimed at agreeing details of the transition period by the end of March. The two sides hope to strike a deal on future relations by the fall, before Britain's departure in March 2019. MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexican immigration authorities say they've found 109 Central American migrants crammed into the back of a trailer truck. They include 39 children or youths. Mexico's National Immigration Institute said Friday some of the migrants were suffering from dehydration and asphyxia due to the crowded conditions and the time they had spent in the truck. The truck was pulled over at an inspection checkpoint Thursday near Ciudad Victoria in the northern border state of Tamaulipas. The migrants said they started their trip in Chiapas state, on the border with Guatemala, and were heading to the United States. They included 83 Guatemalans, 17 Hondurans and nine people from El Salvador. The children were turned over to child welfare authorities. Adult migrants from Central America are usually bused back to their home countries. Infant rattles with parts that can break off and pose a choking hazard are being recalled this week. Other recalled consumer products include mobiles with faulty clamps. Here's a more detailed look: INFANT RATTLES DETAILS: Vtech Shake and Sing Elephant rattle with model number 80-184800. VTech is stamped on the elephant. The rattle is about 7 inches long and the number 1848 is printed on the back of the rattle adjacent to the battery door. The rattle sings when a button is switched on. They were sold at Walmart, Kmart, Meijer, Mills Fleet Farm, Seventh Avenue, and at Amazon.com and zulily.com from November 2015 through November 2017. WHY: The ears on the elephant rattles can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. INCIDENTS: Five reports of the ears breaking off of the rattle. No injuries have been reported. HOW MANY: About 280,000. FOR MORE: Call VTech at 800-521-2010 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit www.vtechkids.com and click on "Support" and "Recall Information" or at https://www.vtechkids.com/support/support_form . LIGHTS AND MOBILES DETAILS: VTech Lights & Lullabies Travel mobiles. The recalled mobiles were sold in blue and pink. The model numbers are 80-503000 (blue) and 80-503050 (pink). The pink mobile was sold exclusively at Amazon.com. The mobile has a white and pink or white and blue plastic arm that clamps onto the side of a crib. It has three star attachments that hang from the top. The mobile has a music button that plays music, nature sounds and nursery rhymes. The mobile measures 5 inches wide by 15.8 inches tall. The model numbers are printed on the battery compartment door. They were sold at Kmart, Walmart and online at Amazon.com and zulily.com from February 2017 through November 2017. WHY: The clamp attaching the mobile to the crib rail can break causing the mobile to fall, posing an injury hazard to an infant in the crib. INCIDENTS: Six reports of the clamp cracking. No injuries have been reported. HOW MANY: About 37,000 in the U.S. and 4,800 in Canada. FOR MORE: Call VTech at 800-521-2010 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit www.vtechkids.com and click on "Support" and "Recall Information" or at https://www.vtechkids.com/support/support_form . FIDGET SPINNER KEYCHAINS DETAILS: Pokemon fidget spinner keychains. The keychains have a silver metal key ring with a metal bar attached to it with a Pokemon-themed fidget spinner on the end of the metal bar. They were sold at Bonita Marie Int., Gamestop, Wonderland stores and others nationwide and at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2017 through November 2017. WHY: The center post on the fidget spinner can become loose or fall out, posing a choking hazard. INCIDENTS: None reported. HOW MANY: About 20,000. FOR MORE: Call Fashion Accessory Bazaar at 888-320-3299 any time, send email to supportdesk@fabny.com or visit www.fabny.com and click on "Recall Information" at the bottom of the page. MURPHY BED KITS DETAILS: All I-Semble vertical and horizontal Murphy Bed hardware kits. The kits are used to assemble fold-down beds and were sold in three sizes: twin, full and queen. The model numbers for the I-Semble vertical-mount Murphy bed hardware kit with mattress platform are: twin size, model #54877; full size, model #55991; and queen size, model #54386. The I-Semble horizontal-mount Murphy bed hardware kit with mattress platform twin size, model #50479; full size, model #53155; and queen size, model #58262. They include a metal bed frame with wood slats for the mattress platform, a metal leg to support the foot of the mattress platform, mounting brackets to attach the metal bed frame to the wooden enclosure built by consumers, wall brackets to secure the wood enclosure to wall studs, and associated screws and bolts. They were sold at Rockler stores nationwide, Rockler catalog and at Rockler.com from January 2017 through October 2017. WHY: The hardware kits used to secure the wooden wall enclosures to the wall studs do not provide sufficient bracing support, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children. INCIDENTS: Five reports of the wooden wall enclosure falling from the wall, including one report of injury. The injury involved muscle strain and soreness to an adult. HOW MANY: About 2,300. FOR MORE: Call Rockler at 800-260-9663 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit www.Rockler.com and click on the recall notice at the top of the page. WATER COOLERS DETAILS: Some Elkay and Halsey Taylor water coolers and bottle-filling stations. They are mainly installed in public facilities such as schools/universities, office buildings and airports. The brand Elkay or Halsey Taylor is identified on the front of the units with a nameplate or embossing and the affected serial numbers begin with the numbers 1704, 1705 or 1706. For more information on where to identify the model numbers and serial numbers on the units, visit www.checkmycooler.com . They were sold by Elkay distributors from May 2017 through June 2017. WHY: Internal screws that secure the grounding wire can break and allow the grounding wire to become loose, posing a shock hazard. INCIDENTS: 362 reports of broken screws being found in units prior to installation. No injuries have been reported. HOW MANY: About 31,600. FOR MORE: Call Elkay at 866-243-3070 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., send email to Recall17@elkay.com or visit www.elkay.com and click on "Product Recall" at the bottom of the page. Consumers can also go to www.checkmycooler.com and enter a unit's full serial number to see if it is included in the recall. MEXICO CITY (AP) - Two major U.S. and Mexican labor federations said they have filed a complaint under the North American Free Trade Agreement against Mexican laws that allow companies to sign contracts with employer-friendly unions before they even open a plant in the country. The complaint by the AFL-CIO and Mexico's UNT was filed Thursday with the U.S. National Administrative Office of the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, known as NAALC. The office was created under the NAFTA sidebar agreements, but has been criticized as having little power. "The heart of the problem is the 'protection contract'... signed between an employer and an employer-dominated union without the involvement or even the knowledge of the workers," according to the complaint. "In some cases, contracts are signed even before a company hires its first worker." Mexican autoworkers have protested against contracts signed by automakers like BMW and Audi years before they opened plants here, which allow the companies to pay workers as little as $1.40 per hour. In the case of Audi, the company apparently hired around 20 people, including pro-company union leaders, who signed a contract in 2014 specifying low wages. When the plant opened in 2016, the over 5,000 workers eventually hired had no say on the contract or their leaders. The complaint says the pro-company contracts were the reason that "the enormous wage disparity between Mexico and the United States has not changed during the 24 years since NAFTA was ratified." While Mexico has in theory passed a reform law requiring secret-ballot votes in union elections, the ruling party has proposed secondary legislation that would basically erase that requirement, and allow pro-company, pro-government unions undue power in certifying union representation. NEW YORK (AP) - A New Jersey father of five whose T-shirt saying "In Need of Kidney" went viral has received a life-saving transplant from a stranger. Robert Leibowitz said he had the surgery last week at a New York hospital and is now "walking on clouds." "Everything had to fall into place," he said on Friday. "The stars had to be aligned." Leibowitz, 60, said his background in advertising and the roughly decadelong waiting list for a new kidney led him to make the T-shirt and wear it every day during a vacation to Disney World last summer. When a picture of the shirt took off on social media, he said, his phone started buzzing with calls, voicemails and messages from random people wanting to help. "I got my doubts sometimes about humanity, but the fact that I got so many calls, it brought tears to my eyes," he said. Medical tests narrowed the donor pool until a man from Indiana, Richie Sully, was found to be a perfect match. "As bad as my memory is, I will never forget what I told him: 'Hi, my name is Richie. I saw your post on Facebook, I'm O-positive, I have an extra kidney, you're welcome to it. I'm not crazy, but I'm from Indiana,'" said Sully, who made multiple trips to New York to prep for the procedure. The two men quickly became friends. Leibowitz said he took Sully, 39, to New York City landmarks such as Central Park and Grand Central Terminal. "We had so much in common, no awkwardness," Leibowitz said. "It was a match made in heaven." Leibowitz said his kidneys have been an issue since age 12 and he put himself on a donor list about four years ago. For Sully, the decision to give his kidney to a man he'd never met was a "no-brainer." "I just saw a father that wanted to spend more time with his kids," he said. SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Agents from the equivalent of the FBI in Chile were rebuffed Friday in an attempt to carry out a raid on a national police barracks as part of an investigation into the arrest of members of the country's largest indigenous group, officials said. Prosecutors accuse some members of the national carabineros police of altering evidence by creating incriminatory chats on WhatsApp, which were allegedly introduced into the phones after they were seized from eight Mapuche activists who were arrested in September and later released. The detained Mapuches had been accused of coordinating attacks on churches and trucks as part of the so-called "Hurricane Case," which was closed by Chile's public prosecutor's office Thursday for lack of evidence. Officers of Chile's FBI-like investigations police tried to raid the carabineros' barracks in the southern city of Temuco on Friday but failed because the officers inside argued they needed an advance warning. Mapuche means "people of the land" in their native Mapudungun tongue. Chile's largest indigenous group resisted the Spanish conquest for 300 years, until military defeats in the late 19th century forced them into Araucania, south of the Bio Bio river, about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of the capital. The government then encouraged European immigrants to colonize the area. Most of the indigenous there now live in poverty on the fringes of timber companies or ranches owned by the Europeans' descendants. A radical faction of the Mapuche has occupied and burned churches, forest plantations and lumber trucks to demand the return of ancestral lands. But police have also been accused of violent abuses. Marta Herrera, a spokeswoman for the national prosecutor's office, said Friday the investigations police will attempt to carry out the raid on the carabineros barrack in Temuco, the capital of Araucania, as soon as possible. Chile's national prosecutor Jorge Abbott told reporters Thursday that "the records handed out by the carabineros to launch the investigation against the eight accused suffer from serious irregularities." Abbott also said the regional prosecutor in the Araucania region has opened an investigation into obstruction of justice. Interior deputy secretary Mahmud Aleuy called on Chileans to hold off on any rushed judgments before the end of the investigation, while the head of the carabineros defended the force and criticized prosecutors. "The situation described by the public ministry only shelters those people who have devoted themselves to causing fear and harm to a region in the country's south," Gonzalo Blu told reporters. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A judge in Puerto Rico has found there is not enough evidence to charge a former U.S. Olympic volleyball player from Louisiana in the 2016 death of her young daughter. Police had accused Kim Willoughby of murder and child abuse in the case. It was not immediately clear if Willoughby had an attorney. Police had said in 2016 that Willoughby told them her 3-year-old daughter slipped in the shower and died after hitting her head. On Friday, police presented charges but a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to charge her. Willoughby had played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a silver medal. She later played with a team in Puerto Rico. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A ferry with an estimated 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, rescue authorities said Saturday. New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said it had sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search of an area of ocean approximately the size of Britain. The search is being led by Fiji. Authorities said the ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on Jan. 18. The journey of 240 kilometers (149 miles) was expected to take two days. Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to them late Friday. He said the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems. Ashby said people on islands and vessels along the planned route are being contacted to ask if they have seen the vessel. Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people. NEW YORK (AP) - Rock 'n' roll's dysfunctional family, Fleetwood Mac, joined with artists paying tribute to their work to raise $7 million for down-on-their luck musicians at a benefit in Radio City Music Hall on Friday. The annual MusiCares fundraiser, held each year just before the Grammys, like the awards show was in New York for the first time in 15 years. Fleetwood Mac, made whole again recently when Christine McVie rejoined after a 15-year hiatus, have mellowed and grown more appreciative of their career since their drug-taking, partner-swapping heyday. "Not very far below the level of dysfunction is what really exists and what we're feeling now more than ever in our career, which is love," said member Lindsey Buckingham. Honorees Christine McVie, left, and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac stand with their awards onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) The band capped the benefit with a five-song mini-set, including the sprawling, experimental "Tusk" and Buckingham's classic kiss-off, "Go Your Own Way." Before that, they listened to artists like Lorde, HAIM, OneRepublic and Miley Cyrus perform their songs. Former President Bill Clinton was on hand, joined by wife Hillary in the audience, to honor the band whose song "Don't Stop" was the theme for Clinton's 1992 campaign. He said the song was played for him more than "Hail to the Chief." "I owe them more than any of you do, and I wouldn't miss this for the world," he said. Clinton and Fleetwood Mac have something else in common: They've both won two Grammys in their careers; Clinton's was for spoken-word recordings. Stevie Nicks barely held back tears in recalling the 2017 MusiCares honoree, Tom Petty, who died last fall. Petty's daughter Adria was Fleetwood Mac's guest on Friday. Nicks said she knew Petty was ill last year and should have cancelled the concert tour that ended a week before his death. "My heart will never get over this," she said. Nicks said she was turning 70 in a few months and marveled that Fleetwood Mac now has several generations of fans. "We have 90-year-old fans," she said. "They're still out there. They just can't make it to our shows." As the voluble Nicks went on, McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood danced a waltz behind her. "I should have been a teacher, don't you think?" Nicks said. She said the band took particular pleasure in hearing younger artists interpret their work, since it brought her back to the time she wrote the words. It was special, too, she noted, since Fleetwood Mac's songs haven't been covered that much. Lorde was a show-stopper, stalking the stage and tossing her jacket aside as she sang Nicks' "Silver Spring." Other women - the three sisters in HAIM ("Gypsy") and a sparkly-suited Cyrus ("Landslide") also tackled Nicks' compositions. The Latin artist Juanes stuck with English for his cover of "Hold Me." Alison Krauss, joined by Jerry Douglas on dobro, did a slow and affecting take on McVie's "Songbird." Keith Urban had an energetic take on Buckingham's "Second Hand News." Jared Leto, dressed all in white and backed by a choir, sang "Never Going Back Again" and remarked how his mother would constantly play the classic Mac album "Rumours" as he was growing up. "I just want to say thank you to Fleetwood Mac for the inspiration, for the music, for changing my life and changing the lives of so many people here," Leto said. ___ For full coverage of awards season, visit: https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeason. Honorees Mick Fleetwood, back, and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Stevie Nicks performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honorees John McVie, from left, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, left, performs with Harry Styles onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honorees John McVie, from left, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honorees John McVie, from left, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Mick Fleetwood performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree John McVie of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Stevie Nicks performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honorees John McVie, from left, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honorees John McVie, from left, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, left, performs with Harry Styles onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, left, performs with Harry Styles onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Harry Styles performs with Fleetwood Mac onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Former President Bill Clinton, left, and Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow, right, pose with honorees, Stevie Nicks, from second left, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Former President Bill Clinton, left, and Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow, right, pose with honorees, Stevie Nicks, from second left, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Harry Styles performs with Fleetwood Mac onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac speaks onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac speaks onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Honoree Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac speaks onstage at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) HONG KONG (AP) - The Hong Kong government barred a young pro-democracy activist on Saturday from an upcoming election over her party's political platform that it said violates electoral laws, in the latest move by the semiautonomous Chinese city to squelch dissent. An official statement said the nomination of a female candidate, who was not identified, was ruled invalid. Agnes Chow, a 21-year-old member of democracy activist Joshua Wong's Demosisto party, confirmed it was her. Agnes Chow, 21 years old, a member of democracy activist Joshua Wong's Demosisto party, shouts slogan during a press conference in Hong Kong, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The Hong Kong government says it has barred a young pro-democracy 1activist from an upcoming election because her party's political platform violates electoral laws, in the latest move by the semiautonomous Chinese city to squelch dissent. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Chow is the latest to fall victim to the Beijing-backed government's tightening restrictions on opposition candidates, including a new wave of young activists who emerged from huge 2014 "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations against China's plans to restrict elections for Hong Kong's top leader. She was planning to stand in a March by-election, but the government said the returning officer decided she couldn't be a candidate because of Demosisto's platform, which advocates "self-determination" or independence for Hong Kong in violation of the city's Basic Law constitution. Chow intended to replace fellow Demosisto member Nathan Law, who was among six opposition lawmakers removed from office after the government won a legal battle over their swearing-in ceremonies. Wong was prevented from running because he was given a prison sentence in a case related to the 2014 protests, in which all three played prominent roles as student leaders. "If a person advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means, he or she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfil his or her duties as a legislator," the government said. Chow told reporters the disqualification was "political screening." "Hong Kong is not even ruled by rule of law, it's just ruled by the Beijing government," Chow said. "The decision to disqualify my candidacy is no less than a declaration to the city that our political rights are handicapped." Law on "Bandera ideology" dangerous not for Ukraine, but for Poland itself Viatrovych The bill on banning the propaganda of "Bandera ideology", supported by Polish MPs, is dangerous not for Ukraine, but for Poland itself, Head of the Ukrainian National Remembrance Institute Volodymyr Viatrovych has said. "This is a serious step towards the curtailment of freedom of speech and the introduction of party censorship. Not only Ukrainian authors, but also Polish writers, who wrote about Ukrainian Insurgent Army (OUN-UPA), except its activities are criminal, will fall under the law. The works of Tozhetsky, Kuron, Giedraitis will be censored," he wrote on Facebook on Friday night. In view of this Viatrovych noted that democracy is impossible without freedom of speech. "The experience of our eastern neighbor proved this. I do not want to repeat this lesson," added the head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. According to Polish media, on Friday, January 26, the third reading of the package of bills passed by the Polish Sejm, which provides for changes to the law on the National Memory Institute, took place. There was a bill banning "Bandera ideology" in Poland among them. The majority of parliamentarians voted in affirmative - 279 out of 414. All the deputies of PiS, Kukiz'15 i PSL voted for the draft. The document was supported by several opposition members of parliament. The adopted law concerns the definition of crimes of Ukrainian nationalists and Ukrainian organizations cooperating with the Third Reich, as well as the possibility of launching, in accordance with Article 55 of the Law on the Institute of National Remembrance, criminal proceedings against persons who deny these crimes. There is a fine or imprisonment for up to three years for the denial of "Bandera supporters' crimes." ISLAMABAD (AP) - A Pakistani official says rescuers are set to airlift two European mountain climbers stuck on a Himalayan peak but rough weather is hampering their efforts. Karrar Haidri, a top official of the Pakistan Alpine Federation, says if the weather allows Saturday, four volunteers from a Polish expedition will be airlifted to the base camp of Pakistan's Nanga Parbat mountain. He says the volunteers will then climb to 7,000 meters (22,965 feet) above sea level to rescue Tomasz Mackiewicz of Poland and Elisabeth Revol of France. Mackiewicz reportedly is suffering from snow blindness and altitude sickness. Haidri says weather at present is bad, with the temperature at minus 60 degrees Celsius at the height where the climbers are stuck. The 8,126-meter- (26,660-foot) Nanga Parbat is ninth-highest in the world. NEW DELHI (AP) - Philippine president said he pities Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for being the focus of international criticism over her country's handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis. President Rodrigo Duterte said he told Suu Kyi to ignore human right activists, describing them as a "noisy bunch." Suu Kyi and Duterte met in New Delhi this week at a summit of Southeast Asian leaders on the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for the media ahead of their meeting in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan.24, 2018. The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are gathering in New Delhi to celebrate 25 years of the group's ties with India. (AP Photo) Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state for Bangladesh since the beginning of August, after Myanmar security forces began "clearance operations" in their villages in the wake of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. The U.N. has described the campaign as ethnic cleansing. Though Suu Kyi has been the de facto head of Myanmar's civilian government since her party swept elections in 2015, she is constitutionally limited in her control of the country and the military is in charge of the operations in Rakhine. Still, Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defense of the Rohingya, especially given her history as a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an advisory panel on the crisis this week, calling it a "whitewash and a cheerleading operation" for Suu Kyi. "I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this," Duterte said Friday at a meeting of the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi. "We are talking about our country, the interest of our country, our own country, and I said, 'Do not mind human rights (activists). They're just a noisy bunch,'" Duterte said. Duterte is a regular target of criticism for his deadly war on drugs, which has left thousands dead over the past 18 months amid allegations of extrajudicial killings by police and other rights abuses. PRAGUE (AP) - The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term Saturday after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. President Milos Zeman's victory confirmed the political direction set during the country's parliamentary election, the result of which was seen as part of an anti-establishment wave sweeping Western democracies. Zeman is a close ally of populist billionaire Andrej Babis, whose ANO (YES) movement scored a landslide victory in the October election. With the two men in charge, the Czech Republic is likely to become more critical of European Union policies on issues such as immigration. The pro-Russian Incumbent Milos Zeman greets spectators while claiming victory in the Czech presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term Saturday after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. With ballots from almost 99 percent of polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said President Milos Zeman had received 51.6 percent of the vote during the two-day runoff election. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) "We can expect the government to be less pro-Western than the previous government," Josef Mlejnek, a scholar of democracy and Central Europe at Prague's Charles University said. With all the votes counted, the Czech Statistics Office said Zeman received 51.4 percent of the vote during the two-day runoff election. His opponent, former Czech Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, whose views are closer to the European mainstream, garnered 48.6 percent. The Czech Constitution limits presidents to two terms. Appearing before supporters Saturday, Zeman, 73, called his win "my last political victory" and said "no political loss will follow." He pledged "to work as I have worked so far." Drahos conceded defeat and congratulated Zeman on Saturday afternoon. The career scientist and chemistry professor said he planned to stay in politics, but did not provide details. "It's not over," Drahos said. Zeman, a veteran of Czech politics and former left-wing prime minister, won his first term in 2013 during the Czech Republic's first presidential election decided by voters, not lawmakers. Since then, he has divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance, support for closer ties with China, and strong anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Zeman was one of the few European leaders to endorse Donald Trump's bid for the White House. He also has proposed a referendum on the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union like the one held in Britain. Drahos, 68, who led the Academy of Sciences from 2009 until last year, campaigned on maintaining the country's ties to the EU and NATO. He ran unaffiliated with a political party. One of the Czech president's key responsibilities is picking the prime minister after a general election, power that was on display in the days before the runoff election. The government led by Babis resigned Wednesday after failing to win a confidence vote. Zeman immediately asked Babis to try again. The two men both have criticized EU sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea. The president also appoints members of the Central Bank board and selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament's upper house. Otherwise, the president has little direct executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister. Zeman is considered a leading pro-Russian voice in EU politics. His views on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as Europe's migrant crisis, diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible. "This policy of Zeman is unlikely to change," Charles University's Mlejnek said. The Czech president also has linked extremist attacks in Europe to the ongoing influx of newcomers, called the immigration wave an "organized invasion" and repeatedly said that Islam is incompatible with European culture. Those views won him Babis' support, as well as backing from the most anti-Muslim, anti-EU party in the Czech Republic - Freedom and Direct Democracy - and the far-left Communist Party. "It's an excellent result," Freedom and Direct Democracy chairman Tomio Okamura said of Zeman's re-election. Zeman has exploited widespread fear of migration among Czechs and worked to portray Drahos as someone who would welcome migrants. A group of Zeman's supporters commissioned billboards and newspaper ads that called on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos," adding "This is our land! Vote Zeman!" Some pro-Russian websites spread fake news about Drahos during the campaign, according to the Prague Security Studies Institute, a respected think tank. The false information alleged that he cooperated with the Communist-era secret police and was willing to accept an EU plan to redistribute asylum-seekers among member countries, the institute said. Zeman is the Czech Republic's third president, after Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, since the country and Slovakia were created from Czechoslovakia in 1993. The pro-Russian Incumbent Milos Zeman kisses his wife Ivana while claiming victory in the Czech presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term Saturday after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. With ballots from almost 99 percent of polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said President Milos Zeman had received 51.6 percent of the vote during the two-day runoff election. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The pro-Russian Incumbent Milos Zeman claims victory in the Czech presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term Saturday after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. With ballots from almost 99 percent of polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said President Milos Zeman had received 51.6 percent of the vote during the two-day runoff election. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Czech Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, right is accompanied by his wife Eva as he acknowledges defeat in the Czech presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. With almost all votes counted, the pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman defeated Jiri Drahos. Unsuccessful presidential candidate from the first round Michal Horacek is visible in background. (AP Photo/Pavel Sojka) BEIRUT (AP) - Syria's main opposition negotiating body said Saturday it will boycott a peace conference in Russia next week, saying it would not lead to a genuine peace track that could end the country's seven-year war. The High Negotiations Committee announced the boycott of the Russia-backed conference in Sochi in a tweet Sunday night after a vote held in Vienna, Austria, where a U.N.-led conference was being held. The two-day conference ended, as in many previous rounds, with accusations hurled back and forth between the two sides in comments to the press. Turkish army tanks cross Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) "The (Syrian) regime doesn't believe in a political solution and it will not believe in the future ... it only believes in the military option," Syrian opposition leader Naser al-Hariri said from Vienna on Saturday. Russia has been steering a separate negotiating track in Astana, and now in the Black Sea resort of Sochi where the conference is scheduled to be held on Monday with the participation of some 1,600 representatives of the Syrian government and opposition. Opposition figures have said Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, is trying to undermine the U.N.-led talks. However the spokesman for the U.N. secretary general on Saturday said he is confident that the conference in Sochi will be an important contribution to a "revived intra-Syrian talks under the auspices of the U.N. in Geneva," and added that the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura would take part in the conference. The opposition boycott comes amid the backdrop of escalating violence, particularly in northern Syria, where Turkey has been attacking a Kurdish-controlled enclave for days. Turkish authorities have also threatened the Turkish forces' push into Afrin would stretch further east, to the Syrian Kurdish town of Manbij and until the border with Iraq. The Turkish offensive has further strained ties between Ankara and Washington, which has supported the Kurdish forces under attack. On Saturday, Turkey's foreign minister said his country wants to see "concrete" steps from the United States to re-establish trust between the two NATO allies. These steps, Mevlut Cavusoglu said, include severing U.S. ties with the Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, stopping their armament and taking back weapons it has supplied them with, as well as pressing for their withdrawal from Manbij. The U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster confirmed that they will no longer arm the Syrian Kurdish fighters, the minister said, in a phone call with the Turkish president's spokesman late Friday. But Cavusoglu criticized the U.S. for sending conflicting messages and said: "The President says something, the Pentagon says something else. There are people, U.S. soldiers, who are interweaved with them ... (YPG) in the field and they say something else." Meanwhile, a cease-fire deal to halt the fighting over the rebel-held besieged eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus appeared to have crumbled before it even began. The agreement was reached in Vienna between the Syrian opposition and Russia. Rebels gave the government 24 hours to comply, but opposition sources on Saturday said the government shelling had not ceased. The eastern Ghouta area has seen more than two months of violent fighting since rebels tried to ease a choking government blockade that has depleted food and medical supplies. The U.N. reported in November that child malnutrition in eastern Ghouta was at the worst ever recorded throughout the seven years of Syria's civil war. It estimates that there are around 400,000 people trapped under the government's siege. Conditions have deteriorated precipitously after pro-government forces choked off the last smuggling tunnels leading to the opposition-held suburbs in May. Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border, trucks carried tanks and other armored vehicles into Syria. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) A Turkish police officer speaks with Free Syrian Army fighters as Turkish army tanks cross Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Holocaust survivors wearing striped scarves that recalled their uniforms as prisoners of Nazi Germany placed candles on the train tracks carried people to their deaths at Auschwitz on Saturday, exactly 73 years after the Soviet army liberated the death camp in occupied Poland. On the date now commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, political leaders and Jewish officials warned that the Nazi genocide must always be a reminder of the evil of which humans are capable. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attended a solemn ceremony at a memorial in Poland to the Jews who died fighting the German forces in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Survivors of Auschwitz arrive at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp KL Auschwitz II-Birkenau on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a dark, hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaw's Jewish community read a prayer, and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. "On this occasion, it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil," Tillerson said. "The Western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to ensuring the security of all that this would never happen again," he said. "As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again." His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultranationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is part of the coalition running the Austrian government. Both parties have members who have made anti-Semitic remarks. Ultranationalists who espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem emboldened elsewhere as well. "Neo-Nazis and white supremacy groups are among the main purveyors of extreme hatred," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. "And too often, vile views are moving from the margins to the mainstream of societies and politics. We must stand together against the normalization of hate." In Europe, the outspoken white nationalism is seen as partially a backlash to a large influx of mostly Muslim migrants. Some of those migrants have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism - both from native far-right groups and from newcomers from Arab countries. Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been targets of German far-right attacks or threats. Hanni Levy, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor from Berlin, criticized anti-migrant hatred during a speech Saturday at a Greens party convention in Hannover. "In the past, the Jews were found guilty of everything. Today it's the refugees," Levy said. "One should never forget how difficult it is to leave behind everything just to survive." German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day in her weekly podcast by addressing the reemergence of anti-Semitism. She called it "incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security - whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue." This year, the official commemorations at Auschwitz took place after the Jewish Sabbath ended at sundown. The United Nations recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. ___ Lee reported from Warsaw; Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed. Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland Wojciech Kolarski,left, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, right, place candles at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, during on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors and guests walk past the "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate at the former Nazi German concentration camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Saturday is the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Representatives of various religious congregations prior to the prayer and tribute service at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors attend a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Barbed wire fences are pictured at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Auschwitz survivors remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Former Auschwitz prisoners remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Auschwitz survivors remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Auschwitz survivors remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Auschwitz survivors remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall of the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Representatives of various religious congregations gather prior to the prayer and tribute service at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors remember those killed by Nazi Germany at the execution wall at the former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial, marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors attend a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Survivors attend a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks at a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, former Auschwitz death camp on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland Wojciech Kolarski,left, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, right, walk to place candles at the Monument to the Victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, during on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) BAGHDAD (AP) - Two senior Iraqi army officers say a U.S. military plane has mistakenly fired at a gathering of tribal fighters and civilians west of Anbar, killing seven and wounding 11 others. The officers said Saturday the U.S. forces had thought the victims in the al-Baghdadi area were militants. An investigation is underway. The incident came after U.S.-backed Iraqi forces earlier Saturday arrested an Islamic State group operative at his home, the officers said. At the time of the raid, a man in a nearby house tossed a grenade at the troops who returned fire, injuring him and his wife. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. JOHANNESBURG (AP) - India clinched a pride-saving win in the third test against South Africa on Saturday, a victory on a poor and unpredictable pitch that nearly caused the game to be called off, but ultimately gave Virat Kohli's top-ranked team something to take from a tour of discontent. It was India's pace bowlers leaving a trail of destruction behind them late on the fourth day at the Wanderers as South Africa's batsmen were subdued quickly after showing signs of resistance, most notably with Dean Elgar's body-on-the-line innings of 86 not out. Chasing a target of 241 - a tough challenge on a cracked surface that left batsmen often guessing, and bruised, and in pain in Elgar's case - South Africa was bowled out for 177. India's bowler Ishant Sharma, left, with captain Virat Kohli reacts after bowling South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis' for 2 runs on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mohammed Shami was the fast bowler to deliver the final blows, collecting 5-28 as the South Africans went from 124-1 and in with a chance to all out and finished just 53 runs and 21 overs later. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma took two wickets each for India in support of Shami's match-ending spell. India's win by 63 runs, in conditions at the extreme opposite of what they prefer, avoided an embarrassing 3-0 series whitewash for the No. 1 team in the world. India still lost the series 2-1, but Kohli welcomed the Wanderers win as a sign of hope for a team that has for years struggled on tour on green, fast-bowler friendly pitches. This one was greener and faster than most. "We saw banners (in the crowd) of whitewash, 3-0 and all that," Kohli said. "So it's really, really sweet to win this game. Massive. This could be a massive milestone for us." India's troubles with performing outside of subcontinent conditions means it has never won a series in South Africa, and still hasn't, but it's also still never been whitewashed in the country. That second record appeared under threat when Elgar and Hashim Amla put together a 119-run stand for the second wicket in Johannesburg. They guided the Proteas, first, through a nasty final period on day three when Elgar was hit in the grill of his helmet with a bouncer, causing umpires to take players off for a potentially dangerous pitch. That moment, less than 20 minutes before the close of play on Friday, threatened to undermine the test, and maybe the series, if the game was abandoned. But the game resumed on Saturday, as did Elgar after he passed two concussion tests because of the blow on the helmet. He then made 86 not out, taking more hits on the body on the fourth day as he carried his bat through the South African innings in the most trying of circumstances. "Personally it's a nice achievement but it's very bittersweet," Elgar said. "We lost the test match and I play for wins." While Elgar was unbowed after being hit on the hip, helmet, and a multitude of times on the fingers during his near six-hour stay, India found a way around his stubbornness by ripping through the batsmen at the other end. Amla's fall for 52 was crucial, out to a diving catch at short mid-wicket by Hardik Pandya off Sharma. That opened a door for India, and Shami, Sharma and Bumrah charged through it. AB de Villiers edged to the slips for 6, captain Faf du Plessis was bowled with a big in-swinger for 2, and Quinton de Kock was lbw for a first-ball duck. With the specialist batsmen done for, Shami speared in fast yorkers to bowl Vernon Philander, Andile Phehlukwayo and Morne Morkel. Substitute wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik held the catch, confirmed in a DRS review, that sealed India's win. "We're the No. 1 side in the world and we played like that in this game," Kohli said. That was likely true but India still failed to win a big series away from home. The South Africa tour also exposed problems that maybe weren't obvious when India was surging to No. 1 in the world off the back of nine straight series wins, eight of them in the subcontinent. India's team was criticized for turning down the chance to play a warm-up game before the first test in South Africa and curtail its preparations. Questions were constantly raised over strange team selections, including Ajinkya Rahane, one of India's best batsmen in pacey conditions, being left out for the first two tests of the series. He returned to top score in India's second innings at the Wanderers and set up victory. "It doesn't matter what people say about us," Kohli said. "Whether they want to say good or bad things about us, it's completely up to them ... when we are playing inside the rope there is no one else. There is no influence from the outside." South Africa's batsman Morne Morkel is bowled by India's bowler Mohammed Shami for a duck on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Lungi Ngidi, left, survives a run out by India's bowler Hardik Pandya, on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. India beat South Africa by won 63 runs. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis, center, holds the poses trophy after winning the series during the match presentation on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. India beat South Africa by won 63 runs. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's captain Virat Kohli looks on during the match presentation on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. India beat South Africa by won 63 runs. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India captain Virat Kohli looks on during the match presentation on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. India beat South Africa by won 63 runs. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Andile Phehlukwayo is bowled by India's bowler Mohammed Shami, for a duck on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Vernon Philander' right, is bowled as India's players celebrate his dismissal on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after dismissing South Africa's batsman Quinton de Kock' for a duck on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's captain Virat Kohli on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's bowler Ishant Sharma, center facing camera, celebrates with teammates after dismissing South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla, for 52 runs on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman AB de Villiers, back, leaves the field as India's captain Virat Kohli, celebrates his dismissal on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman AB de Villiers, left, leaves the field as India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah, middle, and captain Virat Kohli, react to his dismissal on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman AB de Villiers, second from left, leaves the field as India's players celebrates his dismissal on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman AB de Villiers leaves the field after his dismissal on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Dean Elgar watches his shot on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah bowls as South Africa's batsman Dean Elgar looks on during the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah, left, and captain Virat Kohli react after his delivery on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) India's bowler Hardik Pandya catches the ball as he prepares to bowl on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla avoids a bouncer from India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah, on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Dean Elgar in action on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Dean Elgar takes evasive action against a bouncer from India's bowler Jasprit Bumrah, on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla plays a shot on the fourth day of the third cricket test match between South Africa and India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) LONDON (AP) - Northern Ireland police have arrested a suspect after an explosion in east Belfast. Police said Saturday a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. Police say no one was injured in the explosion in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast on Friday night. Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said the explosion was reported to police at 8:15 p.m. local time. The suspect has not been charged or identified. Police are investigating the explosion. Details about the device that was used have not been released. BERLIN (AP) - German police broke up a protest rally of more than 20,000 Kurdish immigrants after participants refused to take down flags and symbols of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, German news agency dpa reported Saturday. The demonstrators had come to the western city of Cologne from all over Germany to protest Turkey's recent military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. "The protest march has been stopped in order to remove all forbidden banners," police of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia tweeted Saturday afternoon. Kurdish immigrants and supporters gather for a rally to protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany.Banner in background reads: Resistance. (Rainer Jensen/dpa via AP) Despite repeated demands from police, many people at the march continued waving flags bearing an image of Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is imprisoned in Turkey. Two people who distributed flags were detained, dpa reported. The Kurdistan Workers' Party, also known by its Kurdish acronym PKK, is regarded as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. The group has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state for three decades. Hostilities between Turkey and Kurdish militants resumed in 2015 after a fragile cease-fire collapsed. German authorities had feared clashes between Kurdish and Turkish immigrants who back the Syrian military operation ordered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish troops and allied Syrian fighters started operations last week against the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin, approaching from three sides and meeting stiff resistance from the U.S.-allied Kurdish militia that controls the enclave. Police secures the area where Kurdish immigrants and supporters gather for a rally to protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters gather for a rally to protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters waving flags as they gather for a rally to protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria, in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Rainer Jensen/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria, in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Rainer Jensen/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany.Banner in background reads: Resistance. (Rainer Jensen/dpa via AP) Kurdish immigrants and supporters gather for a rally to protest against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, which is one of the centers of the Kurdish community in Germany. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP) NEW DELHI (AP) - The leaders of India and Cambodia on Saturday agreed to work toward a bilateral investment treaty that could see tens of millions of dollars pour into the Southeast Asian nation. The meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw Cambodia invite Indian investment in information technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and horticulture, infrastructure and small and medium enterprises. A broader treaty will take time but India agreed to provide lines of credit, including nearly $37 million to finance a Cambodian water project. India also offered lines of credit for setting up specialty hospitals, expanding road, rail and digital connectivity and construction of a high-powered electric line. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during the ceremonial reception at the Indian presidential palace in New Delhi, India, Satruday, Jan. 27, 2018. (AP Photo) A joint statement said Modi also offered to train Cambodian youth in information technology. The leaders held talks in New Delhi at the end of a summit attended by 10 Southeast Asian leaders commemorating the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. India is seeking to deepen bonds with Southeast Asia amid wariness over China's growing influence in the region. Modi also reaffirmed India's commitment to undertake restoration and conservation work at the ancient temple of Lord Shiva at Preah Vihear in Cambodia. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the ongoing restoration work at Ta Prohm temple being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Cambodian prime minister will conclude his visit to India on Sunday. Russia's hybrid military forces have attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas one time in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), the press centre of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) has reported. "The second half of the last day, starting at 13:00 Kyiv time, saw no ceasefire violations. However, yesterday afternoon, militants of Russian-occupation forces conducted one shelling of the Ukrainian army positions," the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters said on Facebook on Saturday morning. In the Donetsk sector, the militants fired small arms on ATO positions near the town of Avdiyivka. As a result of the shooting one of Ukraine's defenders was wounded. He was rushed to a military hospital and provided with the necessary medical assistance. Military doctors describe his condition as satisfactory. No ceasefire violations have been recorded in other sectors of the Ukrainian defense lines. CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's former top auditor on Saturday suffered serious injuries to his face and leg during an apparent kidnapping attempt that turned into a brawl outside his suburban Cairo home, his defense lawyers told The Associated Press. Lawyers Ali Taha and Tareq el-Awady said three men armed with knives jumped out of two cars that blocked the path of Hesham Genena's car. They pulled him out of his car and tried to force him into one of their cars when passers-by and members of his family rushed to his rescue and a brawl ensued, they said. The passers-by apprehended the three attackers, but the drivers of the two cars were able to get away before police arrived at the scene. FILE - In this April 16, 2014 file photo, Hisham Genena, then head of Egypt's oversight body, talks at his office in Cairo, Egypt. Security officials say Genena has been injured in a brawl with unidentified men outside his suburban Cairo home, few weeks after he was named top aide to would-be presidential candidate Sami Annan, a former military chief of staff. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) The lawyers said Genena's injuries were "serious but not life-threatening." He remains under observation in hospital where he is guarded by police since one of the three attackers filed a counter-complaint accusing him of assault. Genena could not be immediately questioned because of his condition, they said. Both lawyers said they suspected the attackers to be repeat criminals retained by the police as thugs, something that rights activists in Egypt claim to be a common practice. Security officials earlier said that the brawl followed a car collision involving Genena. The two accounts could not be immediately reconciled. The 63-year-old Genena was earlier this month named as one of two top aides to would-be presidential candidate Sami Annan, a former military chief of staff. Annan was arrested Tuesday by the military, which accused him of forgery and inciting against the military. He has not been seen publicly since his arrest. Images circulating on social media purportedly show Genena's left eye swollen shut and his left leg wrapped in blood-soaked bandages around the knee. "The knee is a real problem and the eye is still bleeding," said el-Awady. Genena, also a former judge and police officer, was on his way to a court hearing for his appeal against his 2016 removal by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi from his job as head of the state's Central Auditing Organization. In 2015, Genena said corruption was costing the country billions of dollars. A pro-government daily quoted him as saying that Egypt wasted 600 billion pounds or ($67.6 billion) in corruption in 2015 alone. He later said he was misquoted and that his remarks referred to the last four-year period. El-Sissi dismissed Genena in March 2016, following an investigation that hurriedly concluded the auditor had misled the public on the issue of corruption. The removal capped a series of measures critics say were aimed at sacking the chief auditor after speaking up against corruption. Pro-government media has consistently linked Genena to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that was outlawed and declared a terrorist organization shortly after el-Sissi led the military's 2013 ouster of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader whose one-year ruled proved divisive. Morsi, a Brotherhood stalwart, named Genena to his post in September 2012. Annan's would-be candidacy in the March 26-28 was widely expected to attract the support of Brotherhood supporters, a prospect that critics of the ex-army general pointed to as evidence of his links to the group. Under el-Sissi's rule even suspected links to the Brotherhood can be grounds for prosecution. Annan was one of a string of would-be candidates who have been arrested, forced out or simply quit the race. They included a former prime minister, a former lawmaker and a prominent rights lawyer. SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Indian soldiers opened fire on protesters in the disputed region of Kashmir on Saturday, killing two young men and wounding several others, police said. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers as their convoy was passing through a village in southern Shopian, prompting them to open fire, police said. Police said several people were wounded, one critically, and taken to hospitals. Villagers put the number of wounded at nine. As the news of the killings spread, hundreds hit the streets chanting anti-India slogans and demanding an end to Indian rule. Rebel groups demand that Kashmir be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country, a view that is widespread even among civilians in the region. Tension in Shopian was already running high after government forces killed two local rebels and a teenage boy during a gun battle Wednesday. One of the slain rebels was from the village where Saturday's shooting took place. India's military said in a statement that the soldiers came under "intense stone pelting" and the crowd caused "extensive damage and tried to set ablaze" four vehicles in the convoy. It said seven soldiers were injured and said protesters also tried to lynch an officer. "The army was constrained to open fire in self-defense," the statement said. A police officer in the area, Shriram Ambarkar, said they have registered a murder case against the army and begun an investigation into the incident. Separately, the Kashmir government also ordered a magisterial probe to be completed within 15 days. Rights groups say such investigations rarely yield any concrete results and are generally aimed at calming public anger. Separatist leaders who challenge India's sovereignty over Kashmir and fight New Delhi's rule politically called for a general strike Sunday in response to the killings. In recent years, Kashmiris, mainly youths, have displayed open solidarity with anti-India rebels and sought to protect them by engaging troops in street clashes during military operations against the militants. The anti-India protests and clashes have persisted despite the Indian army chief warning recently that "tough action" would be taken against stone throwers during counterinsurgency operations. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, which Pakistan denies. Since 1989, nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 8 p.m. The Turkish military has said that two Turkish soldiers and two allied Syrian opposition fighters were killed in a military offensive against a Kurdish-held enclave in northern Syria. Turkish army tanks cross Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) The military statement published late Saturday said the men were killed in clashes with Syrian Kurdish YPG and the Islamic State group. Eleven soldiers and four Syrian fighters were injured. Turkey has been battling the YPG, which it deems a terror organization, to clear Afrin in northern Syria of the group. There is no IS presence there. According to the statement, 447 "terrorists" were "neutralized" since the beginning of the week-long operation codenamed Olive Branch. The figure cannot independently be verified because of access restrictions to the battleground. In total, five Turkish soldiers have been killed since Jan. 20. ___ 6:50 p.m. Several thousand people have rallied in Paris to support Turkey's Kurds and protest a Turkish military incursion into a Kurdish-controlled enclave in Syria. Left-wing activists joined Kurdish opposition groups in Saturday's demonstration at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris. Some waved banners denouncing Turkey's government and backing the U.S.-supported Kurdish militia, the YPG. The demonstrators urged French and other Western authorities to take a tougher stand against the Turkish campaign. France's government has urged restraint but the protesters say that's not enough. Violence has escalated in northern Syria in recent days as Turkish forces have targeted the city of Afrin and threatened to push further east toward the border with Iraq. Turkey says it is fighting extremists threatening regional stability. ___ 4:15 p.m. Turkey's official news agency says a rocket fired from northern Syria has hit a house in the border province of Kilis, injuring two people. The Anadolu news agency said the rocket was launched from the Afrin region Saturday afternoon and targeted the city center. The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, control the enclave in northern Syria. The private Dogan news agency said the rocket did not explode. Turkey began a military operation on Jan. 20 against the YPG, which it deems a terror group. Since then, multiple rocket attacks have killed three people - two of them Syrian refugees - and wounded more than 20 others. The Turkish military's chief of staff and a deputy prime minister visited the scene of the most recent rocket attack. ___ 11:30 a.m. Syria's main opposition negotiating body said Saturday it will boycott a peace conference in Russia next week, saying it would not lead to a genuine peace track that could end the country's seven-year war. The High Negotiations Committee announced the boycott of the Russia-backed conference in Sochi in a tweet Sunday night after a vote held in Vienna, Austria, where a U.N.-led conference was being held. The two-day conference ended, as in many previous rounds, with accusations hurled back and forth between the two sides in comments to the press. "The (Syrian) regime doesn't believe in a political solution and it will not believe in the future ... it only believes in the military option," Syrian opposition leader Naser al-Hariri said from Vienna on Saturday. Russia has been steering a separate negotiating track in Astana, and now in the Black Sea resort of Sochi where the conference is scheduled to be held on Monday with the participation of some 1,600 representatives of the Syrian government and opposition. Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border, trucks carried tanks and other armored vehicles into Syria. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) A Turkish police officer speaks with Free Syrian Army fighters as Turkish army tanks cross Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) Turkish army tanks cross the Oncupinar border gate to enter Syria, in Kilis, Turkey, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Turkey continued to reinforce its military presence in Syria Saturday, a day after the country's president vowed to expand Ankara's operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria eastward toward the Iraqi border. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian media say a fire that broke out at a paper mill has injured 31 workers in southern Iran. Saturday's state TV report says 11 workers were taken to local hospitals and 20 received on-site treatment as their injuries were not severe. The report said firefighters are still trying to put out the fire in the town of Khorambid, some 700 kilometers (435 miles) south of the capital Tehran. It did not elaborate on the cause of the fire. Iran's aging plants, hard hit by years of Western sanctions, suffer occasional accidents, including fires. Many incidents have also been blamed on disregard of safety measures. On Wednesday a fire at a bitumen storage facility in southern Iran killed three workers and injured two others. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Gov. John Kasich should consider his fight against the state's deadly opioid epidemic when deciding whether to spare a condemned killer whose life spiraled out of control after becoming addicted to painkillers, say attorneys trying to stop the killer's execution less than three weeks from now. Death row inmate Raymond Tibbetts was doing fine until he was inappropriately prescribed painkillers for a work injury in the mid-1990s, according to documents provided Kasich by federal public defender Erin Barnhart. "We know now just how devastating and deadly opioid addiction can be, and our government officials are rightly working to combat this epidemic on several fronts," Barnhart wrote Kasich last year. FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows death row inmate Raymond Tibbetts, convicted of fatally stabbing Fred Hicks in 1997 in Cincinnati. Tibbetts is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, and attorneys trying to stop his execution say Ohio Gov. John Kasich should consider the state's opioid epidemic when deciding whether to spare Tibbetts, arguing the condemned killer's life spiraled out of control after becoming addicted to painkillers inappropriately prescribed for a work injury in the mid-1990s. (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction via AP, File) Tibbetts deserves mercy because of "his addiction and unanswered requests for help with his struggle," Barnhart wrote. The Ohio Parole Board voted 11-1 last year against clemency for Tibbetts. Kasich, who has the final say, is expected to announce his decision soon. Drug overdoses killed a record 4,050 Ohioans in 2016. Kasich has pushed several initiatives to slow painkiller prescribing by doctors. Tibbetts, 60, was sentenced to die for stabbing Fred Hicks to death at Hicks' Cincinnati home in 1997. Tibbetts also received life imprisonment for fatally beating and stabbing his wife, 42-year-old Judith Crawford, during an argument that same day over Tibbetts' crack cocaine habit. The 67-year-old Hicks had hired Crawford as a caretaker and allowed the couple to stay with him. Tibbetts is not deserving of clemency in part because Hicks' killing was "particularly senseless and gratuitous," the parole board said in its decision last year. One board member believed that life without parole was warranted because Tibbetts' circumstances from the day he was born presented a "recipe for a disaster," according to the report. The board member also noted that Tibbetts' requests for help with mental health and substance abuse issues were routinely met with inadequate responses from social service agencies and other professionals. Tibbetts' lawyers have long argued his traumatic and chaotic childhood played a role in his criminal behavior. In the new arguments presented to the governor, psychologists who examined Tibbetts say the opioid prescriptions he received in the 1990s furthered his problems. "Tibbetts' is a sad case of someone who was strongly biologically predisposed to drug and alcohol problems," Bob Stinson, a Columbus psychologist and chemical dependency counselor, told Kasich in an Aug. 13 letter. "His significant trauma history almost guaranteed problems would materialize in his own life." Hamilton County prosecutors have argued that Tibbetts' background doesn't outweigh his crimes. That included stabbing Crawford after he'd already beaten her to death, then repeatedly stabbing Hicks, a "sick, defenseless, hearing-impaired man in whose home Tibbetts lived," they told the parole board. "In nearly every case this board reviews, inmates assert that their poor childhoods, drugs, or some other reason mitigate their actions," Ron Springman, an assistant Hamilton County prosecutor, told the board in a 2017 filing. "The mitigation in this case does not overcome the brutality of these murders." ___ Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus. Twitter has confirmed Sean Hannity's Twitter account was hacked before disappearing for a few hours on Saturday morning. After Hannity's verified Twitter account posted a message late Friday that simply and cryptically said 'Form Submission 1649,' visitors said they were getting a 'Sorry, that page doesn't exist' error message. By the time Hannity's account was back up later in the morning on Saturday, speculation was rampant about the mysterious disappearance. Fox News referred questions to Twitter, which confirmed the account had been compromised. 'While we normally do not discuss individual accounts, for privacy and security reasons, we have permission from the account owner to confirm that account was briefly compromised,' Twitter said by email, without elaborating. Fox News host Sean Hannity's Twitter account was compromised and was unavailable for a few hours on Saturday This tweet, which has since been deleted, appeared late on Friday, shortly before Hannity's Twitter account was deactivated for several hours Hannity was locked out of his account for several hours before returning to post this tweet Hannity resumed control of the account, tweeting on Saturday evening: 'Im baaaccckk... a lot to say- Thanks for the support all you deplorable, irredeemables. 'Cant get rid of me that easy. Too much work to do exposing #deepstategate---Mondays a big daytick tock.' Hannity, who hosts a weeknight talk show, is a staunch conservative who regularly defends President Donald Trump and rails against liberals. Some Hannity followers blamed the hacking on shadowy 'deep state' government figures looking to take down Hannity. 'The Deep State is in panic!' tweeted Alex Jones, a far-right radio show host. 'Hannity disappears from Twitter after eerie tweet.' Hannity, who hosts a weeknight talk show, is a staunch conservative who regularly defends President Donald Trump and rails against liberals WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange took to Twitter to observe how Hannity had his account 'mysteriously disappear.' Other users proposed the theory that a rogue Twitter employee was behind the deactivation. That was Twitter's explanation for an 11-minute outage that took down the Republican president's twitter account in November. At the time, Twitter blamed a customer support worker on his or her last day on the job and said it was implementing safeguards to prevent the situation from happening again. Bahtiyar Duysak, a German national of Turkish origin who was employed in Twitters San Francisco headquarters on a temporary work visa, later came forward as the man who briefly silenced the president. WARSAW, Poland (AP) - As President Donald Trump declared that "America First does not mean America alone" at a global economic forum in Switzerland, his top diplomat was on a European trip of his own, trying to convince skeptical allies that the oft-repeated phrase is more than just lip service. Yet a year into Trump's presidency, his administration has demonstrated that "America First" may, indeed, mean "America alone," though it remains unclear if that has helped Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's bargaining position on crucial national security and foreign policy matters. Amid crises in multiple hotspots and before joining Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Tillerson visited London and Paris with a full agenda aimed at defusing not only the issues at hand but also tensions with Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump talks to journalists as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and WEF founder Klaus Schwab walk past during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) His mission was primarily to secure British and French support for tough new measures against Iran that might prevent the U.S. from withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear accord. Along the way, he also accused Russia of responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and chastised Turkey for attacking U.S.-backed Kurd forces there. "As the old saying goes, it's always darkest before the dawn," Tillerson said while wrapping up his European tour in Warsaw on Saturday. "I don't want to say we're at the darkest moment of any of those three areas ... but I think it's why we have given it so much attention and are working hard with partners and allies to put mechanisms in place to begin the very, very hard work of addressing the concerns in all three." Tillerson left London for Paris on Monday cautiously optimistic that progress could be made with the British and the French on crafting a supplemental agreement to the Iran deal that would address what Trump has said are serious flaws. Trump has vowed to pull out if those issues aren't addressed by spring. In London, Tillerson announced the formation of working groups that began meeting this week to look at specific points of concern including Iran's ballistic missile program, sunset provisions that gradually allow Iran to resume some advanced atomic work, Iranian support for Syria's government, Yemen's Houthi rebels and LebaRunon's Hezbollah movement. While Iran will be excluded from those discussions, he said, the working groups would explore "how we might engage the Iranians on discussions to address these issues." On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian questioned why the U.S. was focused on securing the side deal only with the three European nations that are individual participants in the nuclear accord - Britain, France and Germany - and not the other parties, China and Russia, or the European Union as a bloc. It was in Paris, at the inauguration of a new group dedicated to bringing those who use banned chemical weapons to justice, that Tillerson launched his accusations at Russia. In unusually harsh terms, he accused Moscow of violating the 2013 accord brokered with the U.S. to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stocks and the international treaty that bans such arms. He also said Moscow was ultimately responsible for every chemical weapons attack in Syria since it became militarily involved in the conflict in 2015. Russian officials responded furiously, insisting that the U.S. was inventing new chemical weapons strikes for the purpose of maligning Russia. Still, when Tillerson spoke the next day with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the spat was not mentioned in readouts by either side. On Saturday, Tillerson stood his ground, saying new evidence of recent chemical weapons attacks outside Damascus had emerged since his initial remarks. He also referenced Trump's decision last year to respond to a chemical weapons attack with cruise missile strikes in Syria. "Russia has again failed in their commitment because the chemical weapons are clearly there. They are being used against civilian populations and the most vulnerable - children - inside Syria," he said. "And I think President Trump was pretty clear the last time he saw this happen inside of Syria." In Paris, Tillerson also encountered Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolu, whose government has highly criticized U.S. support for Kurdish forces in Syria that Ankara considers terrorists. A Turkish military operation against those forces in the northern city of Afrin entered its second week Saturday despite U.S. calls for restraint, and NATO ally Turkey appeared poised to expand its offense to other Kurd-held sites. As other U.S. officials have done, Tillerson recognized that Turkey has legitimate security concerns along its border with Syria. But he also renewed the appeal for restraint. "What we hope is that Turkey is able to satisfy that it has addressed its security concerns on its border, and it can limit the amount of fighting that goes on because clearly there are civilian casualties every time this happened, and we're already seeing those casualties," he said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Rex Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of State, meets with Polish President Andrzej Duda, during a visit to Warsaw, Poland, Friday Jan. 26, 2018. Tillerson's two-day visit to Poland was to include discussions of security and other issues and a visit to a memorial site to martyrs of the Warsaw ghetto uprising on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) CINCINNATI (AP) - An Ohio judge expects to rule next month in a legal battle over what kind of therapy a transgender boy should receive. The 17-year-old youth's grandparents want full custody and support his pursuit of hormonal therapy. His parents deny that he is transgender and want Christian-based therapy to "get to the underlying causes" of why he thinks he is. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports visiting Judge Sylvia Herndon will make her decision before Feb. 16. She heard closing arguments Friday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court. A prosecutor representing a social services agency says the grandparents accept him for who he is. The attorney for his parents says the teen is too unstable to decide. Hamilton County Job and Family Services intervened last year after the teen emailed a crisis hotline. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in for a new term in the Honduran capital Saturday, while across town tear gas drifted across flaming barricades in clashes between police and protesters angry over an election the say was marred by fraud. The head of Congress put the blue-and-white sash of office on Hernandez in the morning ceremony in Tegucigalpa, and the president promised in an address "to begin a process of reconciliation to unite the Honduran family." The inauguration came after soldiers and riot police fired tear gas to block thousands of demonstrators from marching to the National Stadium to protest. Masked protesters shot rocks from slingshots and kicked canisters back toward security forces as barricades burned and gas billowed on the streets. Soldiers and police launch tear gas at demonstrators marching to the National Stadium to protest the presidential inauguration of Juan Orlando Hernandez, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Hernandez was sworn in for a second term amid protests against the November election that was marred by irregularities and allegations of fraud. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) "This is how the dictator oppresses his people," said opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, who says the election was stolen and he was the true winner of the vote. "We remain in the struggle to rescue the country from dictatorship and without recognizing Hernandez as president," Nasralla told The Associated Press. Hernandez, a 49-year-old lawyer, is Honduras' first president to be re-elected - a key point in the protests against him. The 1982 constitution bars presidents from seeking a new term and conservative politicians deposed a leftist president in 2009 for allegedly even considering re-election. But Hernandez won a Supreme Court ruling in 2015 to get around that prohibition. Early, pre-dawn returns the morning after the Nov. 26 election showed Nasralla with a significant lead with 57 percent of the votes counted. Then election authorities all but stopped giving public updates on the count. Following days of delays and computer problems, the trend reversed itself, and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal reported that Hernandez had an edge of about 1.5 percent in the final count. The ensuing political crisis has wracked the Central American nation, with at least 31 people killed in the unrest, according to the National Human Rights Commission. Opposition leaders put the toll at 41. "We must sit down for dialogue openly and without barriers. ... If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand," Hernandez said in his address. Walking along the stadium's track with first lady Ana Garcia, he smiled and flashed a thumbs-up to supporters in the stands who waved blue flags with white stars. More than 20 countries have recognized Hernandez as president, but there were none of the usual foreign heads of state present at the inauguration. "That is not worth anything because the people do not recognize him" as president, said former President Manuel Zelaya, who was removed in the 2009 coup and now leads the Opposition Alliance Against Dictatorship, which ran Nasralla as its candidate. Details of the inaugural ceremony were kept under wraps until Hernandez arrived at the stadium, and authorities had circulated rumors beforehand that it would take place in an auditorium at the Central Bank and be transmitted on large video screens in the arena. Honduras' Security Department reported that protesters blocked a highway in the northern province of Colon and attacked police with rocks and sticks. One agent was injured, and four protesters were arrested. The government said in a statement that unknown persons have toppled electrical towers in the western part of the country, knocking out power there for 48 hours. In Tegucigalpa, police said protesters stoned the windows of at least six fast-food restaurants. And in Cofradia, north of the capital, police arrested a presumed Nasralla supporter suspected of trying to burn a police station and carrying homemade explosives. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez gives a thumbs up to supporters as he arrives to be sworn in for a second term, at the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) An opposition supporter stands next to a burning barricade as demonstrators protest near the National Stadium during the swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez kisses his wife Ana Garcia during the presidential inaugural ceremony where he was sworn in for a second term, at the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Military and police officers launched tear gas at thousands of opponents who tried to reach the National Stadium to protest against the inauguration. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) CORRECTS IDENTITY OF PERSON - A masked protester aims a homemade launcher at riot police during clashes with protesters trying to march to the National Stadium where President Juan Orlando Hernandez was being sworn in for a second term, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Riot police uses tear gas to disperse opposition supporters trying to approach the National Stadium during swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) An opposition supporter raises his fist next to a burning barricade as demonstrators march near the National Stadium during the swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) A demonstrator kicks a tear gas canister as riot police prevents opposition supporters from approaching the National Stadium during swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Riot police uses tear gas to disperse opposition supporters marching against the on going swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) A demonstrator uses a sling shot against riot police as opposition supporters try to approach the National Stadium during the swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, right, and former President Manuel Zelaya gather with supporters as they march against the on going swearing-in ceremony of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez gives a thumbs up to supporters as he arrives with his wife Ana Garcia to be sworn in for a second term, at the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio) Protesters take refuge from the tear gas launched by military and riot police at thousands who tried to march to the National Stadium to protest against the presidential inauguration, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize the victory of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) CORRECTS IDENTITY OF PERSON - A masked protester aims a homemade launcher at riot police during clashes with protesters trying to march to the National Stadium where President Juan Orlando Hernandez was being sworn in for a second term, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory following disputed poll results, and has been protesting ahead of his Jan. 27 swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli leaders angrily criticized pending legislation in Poland that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust, with some accusing the Polish government of outright denial Saturday as the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposed law "baseless" and ordered his country's ambassador to Poland to meet with Polish leaders to express his strong opposition. "One cannot change history, and the Holocaust cannot be denied," he said. FILE - A Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 file photo showing Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, gesturing during a conversation as part of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Israeli leaders are angrily criticizing legislation in Poland that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust. Calling the proposed law "baseless," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his country's ambassador to Poland on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 to meet with Polish leaders to express his strong disapproval of the bill. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) The lower house of the Polish parliament on Friday passed the bill, which prescribes prison time for using phrases such as "Polish death camps" to refer to the killing sites Nazi Germany operated in occupied Poland during World War II. Many Poles fear such phrasing makes some people incorrectly conclude that Poles had a role in running the camps. But critics say the legislation could have a chilling effect on debating history, harming freedom of expression and opening a window to Holocaust denial. The bill still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. However, it marks a dramatic step by the country's current nationalist government to target anyone who tries to undermine its official stance that Poles only were heroes during the war, not Nazi collaborators who committed heinous crimes. Netanyahu's government generally has had good relations with Poland, which has been recently voting with Israel in international organizations. At Auschwitz on Saturday evening, Israel's ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, abandoned a prepared speech to criticize the bill, saying that "everyone in Israel was revolted at this news." In Israel, which was established three years after the Holocaust and is home to the world's largest community of survivors, the legislation provoked outrage. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, noting that exactly 73 years had passed since the Auschwitz death camp on Polish soil was liberated, cited the words of a former Polish president about how history could not be faked and the truth could not be hidden. "The Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the entire world must ensure that the Holocaust is recognized for its horrors and atrocities," Rivlin said. "Also among the Polish people, there were those who aided the Nazis in their crimes. Every crime, every offense, must be condemned. They must be examined and revealed." Today's Poles have been raised on stories of their people's wartime suffering and heroism. Many react viscerally when confronted with the growing body of scholarship about Polish involvement in the killing of Jews. In a sign of the sensitivities on both sides, Yair Lapid, head of Israel's centrist Yesh Atid party and the son of a survivor, got into a heated Twitter spat Saturday with the Polish Embassy in Israel. "I utterly condemn the new Polish law which tries to deny Polish complicity in the Holocaust. It was conceived in Germany but hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German soldier. There were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that," Lapid wrote. That sparked the Embassy to respond: "Your unsupportable claims show how badly Holocaust education is needed, even here in Israel." "My grandmother was murdered in Poland by Germans and Poles," Lapid responded. "I don't need Holocaust education from you. We live with the consequences every day in our collective memory. Your embassy should offer an immediate apology." To which the embassy retorted: "Shameless." Israel's foreign ministry said the deputy Polish ambassador to Israel had been summoned for a clarification. For decades, Polish society avoided discussing the killing of Jews by civilians or denied that anti-Semitism motivated the slayings, blaming all atrocities on the Germans. A turning point was the publication in 2000 of a book, "Neighbors," by Polish-American sociologist Jan Tomasz Gross, which explored the murder of Jews by their Polish neighbors in the village of Jedwabne. The book resulted in widespread soul-searching and official state apologies. But since the conservative and nationalistic Law and Justice party consolidated power in 2015, it has sought to stamp out discussions and research on the topic. It demonized Gross and investigated whether he had slandered Poland by asserting that Poles killed more Jews than they killed Germans during the war. Holocaust researchers have collected ample evidence of Polish villagers who murdered Jews fleeing the Nazis. According to one scholar at Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, of the 160,000-250,000 Jews who escaped and sought help from fellow Poles, about 10 percent to 20 percent survived. The rest were rejected, informed upon or killed by rural Poles, according to the Tel Aviv University scholar, Havi Dreifuss. At Auschwitz, however, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed the Poles who helped Jews risking their own lives, noting that some 7,000 had been recognized by Yad Vashem but suggesting that the Polish sacrifices have not been acknowledged adequately. "Jews, Poles, and all victims should be guardians of the memory of all who were murdered by German Nazis. Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase," Morawiecki said later on Twitter. Yad Vashem issued a statement Saturday night opposing the Polish legislation and trying to put into historical context the "complex truth" regarding the Polish population's attitude toward its Jews. "There is no doubt that the term 'Polish death camps' is a historical misrepresentation," the Yad Vashem memorial said. "However, restrictions on statements by scholars and others regarding the Polish people's direct or indirect complicity with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust are a serious distortion." ___ Vanessa Gera contributed from Warsaw. ____ Follow Heller at www.twitter.com/aronhellerap Survivors attend a commemoration event in the so-called "Sauna" building at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Oswiecim, Poland, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Saturday is also the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet army. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Leader of the New Forces Movement party, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced plans to hold a new "Impeachment March" for February 4, which was last held in Kyiv on December 17 last year. "On February 4 we will meet in Kyiv at 12:00. And we will probably go from Shevchenko Park, and then there will be a big meeting on Maidan. We will show strength, show that there are people, and we will allow rob the country anymore," he said on the air of the News One TV channel on Friday. Saakashvili intends to efficiently use the time when staying under house arrest from 22:00 every day. "Now I'm finishing my film about Ukraine's future, its new state system, development of tourism, economy, crisis recovery," he said. The politician is thinking about organizing a "something like a television studio" in an apartment that he rents in Kyiv. Saakashvili also stressed that he loves Kyiv, and now he will have the opportunity to hold meetings with people in different parts of the city. As reported, on January 26, Kyiv's Appeals Court partially granted a Prosecutor General's Office request by ordering that former Georgian President and leader of the Movement of New Forces Mikheil Saakashvili be placed under house arrest at between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Spain's top court said Saturday that Catalonia's fugitive ex-president must return to the country and be present in the regional parliament to receive the authority to form a new government. The Constitutional Court ruled that a session of Catalonia's parliament scheduled for Tuesday would be suspended if former leader Carles Puigdemont tries to be re-elected without being physically present in the chamber. The court also said that Puigdemont must seek judicial authorization to attend the session. Catalonia's separatist lawmakers have been considering voting Puigdemont back in as regional chief without him returning from Belgium, weighing options that included another parliament member standing in for him or him addressing the lawmakers via video. The separatist leader fled Spain after the regional parliament made an unsuccessful declaration of independence on Oct. 27 in violation of Spain's Constitution. He is wanted in Spain on possible rebellion and sedition charges and is likely to be arrested if he returns. The court, in a unanimous decision of the 11 magistrates present, said that the investiture of Puigdemont would be suspended without the previous authorization of a judge, "even if he is physically in the chamber." That specification comes amid speculation that Puigdemont could try to slip back into Spain and sneak past police into the Barcelona-based parliament to be re-elected. Spain's Interior Minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, said this week that police were increasing surveillance to ensure that doesn't happen. The court also ruled that neither Puigdemont nor the four other former members of his Cabinet who also fled to Belgium to avoid a judicial summons three months ago could delegate their vote for Tuesday's session in another candidate. The court included a warning to the speaker of the Catalan parliament and the other members of his board that they would be breaking the law if they disobey the rulings. Saturday's decisions by the court came in response to a request filed by the central government led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to suspend the investiture session as long as Puigdemont was the candidate. The court said it would need more time to study whether there were grounds to suspend the session. It said it would give central authorities and Puigdemont's party 10 days to present their arguments. "As democrats we all have the obligation to respect the decisions of the courts," Rajoy wrote on Twitter. "Spain's government will continue to carry out its duty to defend the Law and the rights of Catalans and all Spaniards." It is still unclear whether the separatist majority in Catalonia's parliament will heed the court's ban on voting Puigdemont back into power unless he is there. Nor is it a sure bet that Puigdemont won't try to avoid police and return to the parliament come Tuesday, even if it would likely lead to his arrest either before or after the debate. Puigdemont has insisted that his goal is to "restore" his government, and even a short-lived return to power by him would be a huge embarrassment for Rajoy. The independence declaration in October brought to a head Spain's worst political crisis in decades. Spain responded by invoking special powers allowing it to fire the regional government, dissolve Catalonia's parliament and call fresh regional elections in December. Contrary to the Spanish government's wishes, separatist parties regained a slim majority, keeping the conflict alive and rallying secessionists around the call to bring back Puigdemont. Polls consistently show that most Catalans want the right to decide the region's future, but are evenly divided over splitting from Spain. 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 decision to release John Worboys provoked fury (Metropolitan Police/PA) The Parole Board provoked fury this month when it directed Worboyss 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. Despite being convicted of 19 offences against 12 women, it is feared Worboys may have more than 100 victims. Ms Wistrich said the papers were lodged on Thursday because of the urgency of the situation in trying to stop someones pending release from prison. They were dealt with on Friday by Mr Justice Supperstone. A half-day hearing is set to be fixed between February 6-8 in which Worboys can have a lawyer make representations on his behalf, according to Ms Wistrich. After the development, she said: Obviously it is a first stage. You can not read too much into it but it is obviously good that we have got through the first hurdle. Given that somebodys liberty is at stake I think that the court would have to proceed quickly. We are arguing that he should be in prison after the Parole Board has said that he should be released. She said Worboys could potentially have a claim for damages if the victims fail in their legal battle. Earlier this week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched his own legal battle at the High Court to try to resist the controversial release, saying he would fight to put the safety of Londoners and the needs of victims first. Mr Khans decision to begin a legal challenge came after Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor David Gauke ruled out a judicial review. The mayor said he had lodged with the court an application for judicial review of the Parole Boards decision to release Worboys. He said: It was an astonishing and deeply concerning decision that simply cannot go unchallenged. For victims, and all Londoners, it must be properly scrutinised in the courts. The chair of the Parole Board has welcomed this scrutiny. I will always put the safety of Londoners and the needs of victims first which is why I instructed leading counsel to begin this process last week. Londoners need to know that those in authority are doing everything they can to keep them safe, and that means keeping dangerous individuals off our streets. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: The Justice Secretary supported the request for a stay on Worboys release while the Judicial Review is heard and welcomes the decision. It is right that victims can be reassured that Worboys will not be released until the court has had a chance to consider their views. Worboys became known as the black cab rapist after attacking victims in his Hackney Carriage. The notorious predator has already been moved to a London jail ahead of his release, prompting outrage among his victims based in the capital. The 60-year-old was transferred from HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire to HMP Belmarsh, south-east London, at the weekend, it is understood. On Tuesday, police said they were investigating a fresh allegation of historical sexual assault which is understood to have been made against Worboys. The incident was alleged to have taken place in 1997 and was reported to police this month. Worboys has not been arrested. The Scot who gave her life to protect Jewish schoolgirls during the Second World War is being celebrated in a new heritage centre officially opening this weekend. Jane Hainings story of heroism, bravery and personal sacrifice which resulted in her dying at Auschwitz in 1944 at the age of 47 is being remembered at Dunscore Church in Dumfries and Galloway. The Church of Scotland said a room near the front of the A-listed building has been extended to feature photographs, letters, documents and other personal items relating to the Kirk missionary, who was born near the village in 1897. A memorial cairn for Miss Haining stands near Dunscore Church (Cameron Brooks / Church of Scotland / PA) The centre is being opened on Saturday Holocaust Memorial Day by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Fiona Armstrong. The annual event is dedicated to the memory of people who suffered during genocides in mainland Europe, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Ms Armstrong said: Here in Dumfriesshire, we are very proud to honour the memory of such a brave and selfless woman. This new heritage centre will help to keep Jane Hainings memory alive and it is a tribute to those in Dunscore who have made it possible. Jane Haining with some of her pupils (Church of Scotland/PA) Miss Haining worked at the Scottish Mission School in Budapest, Hungary, during the 1930s and 1940s. She repeatedly refused to return home after war broke out, despite advice from church officials, saying the children needed her in the days of darkness. She was arrested by two Gestapo officers in 1944 and later died at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious Nazi death camp. Miss Haining is the only Scot to be officially honoured at the Yad Vashem memorial in Israel for giving her life to help protect Jews in the Holocaust. Miss Hainings family is being represented at the event by her niece, Deirdre McDowell, of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Ms McDowell, who is to unveil a plaque in memory of the missionary, said: It is a fitting tribute to Janes memory that a heritage centre has been opened in the village where she was born. The people of Dunscore have been wonderful in getting this centre up and running so there is a comprehensive, lasting memorial to her life. On #HolocaustMemorialDay we commemorate the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. pic.twitter.com/BbKALDLxZX Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (@HMD_UK) January 26, 2018 Rev Iain Cunningham, convener of the Church of Scotlands World Mission Council, said: This years theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is the power of words words that can make a difference both for good and evil. So it is fitting that at this time we remember the poignant words of Jane Haining. When instructed by the Church to return home for her own safety, she wrote back if these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness? Janes words live on like a light shining in the dark places of todays world. The heritage centre was created as part of renovation work to the building, which was part-funded by a 106,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland. It is open in Sundays between 2pm-4pm. A third man has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old model Harry Uzoka. Merse Dikanda, 23, of no fixed abode, is due before magistrates on Saturday in connection with the death. He is also charged with possession of a bladed or pointed article. Mr Uzoka was found injured in Old Oak Road, Shepherds Bush, west London, shortly before 4pm on January 11. Scotland Yard believe he was attacked outside Ollgar House, a block of flats in Ollgar Close, before staggering to the nearby street. Officers and Londons Air Ambulance attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 5pm. Harry Uzoka was found injured (Harry Uzoka/Instagram/PA) Two other men charged with murder George Koh, 24, of York Way, Camden, and Jonathan Okigbo, 23, of Trevithick House, Kentish Town have already appeared in court. They were both remanded in custody, with the date of their next court appearance yet to be confirmed. Dikanda will appear in custody at Willisden Magistrates Court on Saturday. Tributes were paid to the model following his death, with clothing retailer Everlane tweeting: Were deeply saddened to hear about Harry Uzokas passing. He was a wonderful model but even more so a good person and a pleasure to work with. Were deeply saddened to hear about Harry Uzokas passing. He was a wonderful model but even more so a good person and a pleasure to work with. Theres so much more behind the person youve seen in our campaigns. Thank you, Harry, for being such a great person. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/PpbwhbgYXr Everlane (@Everlane) January 12, 2018 Theres so much more behind the person youve seen in our campaigns. Thank you, Harry, for being such a great person. Rest in peace. Model Jourdan Dunn posted a photo of Mr Uzoka on Twitter, with the caption: Rest in Paradise Young King. A man has been arrested after an explosion in east Belfast was reported to police. The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. The force said there were no injuries and officers remain in the Fraser Pass area. (Peter Byrne/PA) Train users should note that the Ballymacarrett underpass is not accessible by foot this morning due to an ongoing incident in the area. Police East Belfast (@PSNIBelfastE) January 27, 2018 Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said: Police are attending an ongoing incident in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast, following the report of an explosion by a member of the public just after 8.15pm last night, Friday January 26. No-one was injured and police enquiries are ongoing. A 32-year-old man was arrested early this morning on suspicion of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. He is currently in custody. A man has been charged with murder after a 22-month-old girl died from unexplained injuries. Michael Wild, 28, of Somerton Avenue, Wythenshawe, is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police said. Michael Wild (20/03/89) of Somerton Avenue, Wythenshawe has been charged with murder after a 22-month-old girl died. https://t.co/IaJc45iZ8O pic.twitter.com/pjb6YFGFhW Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 27, 2018 Ella-Rose Clover was rushed by ambulance on Sunday afternoon from Somerton Avenue, in Wythenshawe, to hospital after reports she was having a medical episode. Man charged with murder after death of toddler Medics could not save her life after her arrival and she was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed the child had unexplained injuries. Police said a 34-year-old woman who was arrested has been released on bail pending further enquiries. The Business Secretary has sought to calm Tory tensions over Brexit by insisting Britain is absolutely, unambiguously leaving the European Union. Greg Clark intervened after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg warned Theresa May if she delivers Brexit in name only, with a status quo transition period, the Conservatives will lose the next election. Mr Rees-Mogg, chairman of the influential European Research Group of backbench Tory Eurosceptics, also told the Prime Minister the leader is important, the party is more important. He appeared to put himself on collision course with the Government by warning a status quo transition, with the UK subject to European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings, having to accept new laws, and paying into the EU budget, would be a failure of negotiations and a sign of weakness. Countdown to Brexit: key events. (PA Graphics) But Mr Clark denied that nothing would change during the transition of around two years after exit day in 2019, because Britain would exercise our sovereign right to register EU migrants, although they will remain free to live and work in the country. The Business Secretarys claim came despite the fact that the UK Governments own website acknowledges that EU nationals moving to Belgium, a member state, must register with the authorities within eight days of arriving. He said a transition period was necessary to allow businesses time to adjust to new rules after Brexit. Mr Clark told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think its very important that as we leave the EU, which is absolutely, unambiguously the case that we are, that businesses have been very clear all across the country, large businesses and small businesses as well, that we need to take the time to be able to adjust to the new regime. I talk to businesses day in, day out, and they are unanimous in wanting to have that period. His intervention came after David Davis was forced to play down Cabinet rifts over Brexit and amid rising disquiet among Tory backbenchers over Mrs Mays leadership. Brexit Secretary David Davis sought to play down Cabinet rifts over Brexit in a speech to PD Ports at Teesport in Middlesbrough. (Ian Forsyth/PA) The Brexit Secretary on Friday insisted there was no difference between himself, Chancellor Philip Hammond and the PM on the outcome they were seeking. But Mr Hammonds remark on Thursday that the UKs trade relations with the EU would change only very modestly after Brexit sparked anger among Tory Eurosceptics and earned him a rebuke from Downing Street. The Chancellor then risked stoking Tory divisions further by saying the UK should seek a middle way in negotiations in order to maximise access to EU markets. In an apparent attempt to show unity on Friday evening, Mr Davis, Mr Hammond and Mr Clark wrote an open letter to reassure business leaders the UK would maintain continuity with EU rules during transition. Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned against "Brino" - Brexit in name only. (Yui Mok/PA) But Mr Rees-Mogg warned the Government against delivering Brino Brexit in name only. He told the Telegraph: The less of Brexit you get, the more likely you are to get Jeremy Corbyn. If you get a good, clean Brexit and get the advantages from it then the chances of getting Jeremy Corbyn are much diminished. If everything is delayed for two years and then theres high alignment, you will find that by 2022 no-one will have noticed any difference from having left. Then what will be the point of voting for the party thats implemented it. Im against Brino (Brexit in name only). Mr Rees-Mogg insisted the PM has his full support and said Mr Hammond appeared to be obstructing Brexit. But he added: If the Conservative Party doesnt deliver the Brexit that the British people voted for, the Conservatives will not win the next election. The leader is important, but the party is more important. Brexit is more important than anyone other than the Queen. Discontent among Tories has led to reports that the number of MPs who have written to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, calling for a leadership contest is close to the trigger point needed to force a battle aimed at toppling Mrs May. Meanwhile, Irish premier Leo Varadkar warned Britain it would have to pay for access to the single market beyond the transition. It is the norm that countries that have access to the single market contribute to the budget in some way and Norway does that, he told Today. Fans of comedian Dave Chappelle said they were inconsolable after tickets to his intimate London shows sold out in minutes. The Chappelles Show star, who recently returned to Netflix with two stand-up specials, will perform work-in-progress material at three venues in the capital next weekend. He will take to the stage at Proud Camden on February 2, the Leicester Square Theatre on February 3 and comedy club Up The Creek on February 4. Dave Chappelle (Lester Cohen/Netflix) Within minutes of going on sale at 10am on January 27, tickets were already sold out. Harry Potter star Sean Biggerstaff, who played Oliver Wood in the film series, wrote on Twitter: Spent 10 minutes in that queue really thinking I was gonna get Dave Chappelle tickets. I am inconsolable. Spent ten minutes in that queue really thinking I was gonna get Dave Chappelle tickets. I am inconsolable. Sean Biggerstaff (@Seanchuckle) January 27, 2018 Another fan wrote: Dave Chappelle tickets were definitely a myth. Sold out within seconds of release. Dave Chappelle tickets were definitely a myth. Sold out within seconds of release. Jacobs Basil The Third (III) (@bjacobs14) January 27, 2018 Another hopeful wrote: Gutted, couldnt get a Dave Chappelle ticket. In the queue from 10 and sold out instantly. Another said: I am absolutely gutted about not getting Dave Chappelle tickets. I am absolutely gutted about not getting Dave Chappelle tickets Simone (@SimDougie) January 27, 2018 One more said: I blinked and Dave Chappelle tickets now sold out. I blinked and Dave Chappelle tickets now sold out Michael Akadiri (@MichaelAkadiri) January 27, 2018 Chappelle will also play a show in Berlin on February 1. Humanity must remember a time before recklessness set in if it is to secure a future for the next generation, Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz has said. The Django Unchained star is currently appearing in Downsizing, a film about people who shrink themselves to five inches tall as a solution to over-population. Leisureland is just a small step away. See #Downsizing in cinemas January 24. pic.twitter.com/uupjhJqYXh ParamountUK (@ParamountUK) January 10, 2018 Waltz stars opposite Matt Damon, who plays a physical therapist who goes to live in a community of tiny people named Leisureland, where money goes infinitely further, allowing inhabitants to live like millionaires. Christoph Waltz (Ian West/PA) The Austrian actor plays his entrepreneurial neighbour Dusan, who imports cigars and booze from Serbia wholesale and makes massive profits on the tiny retail portions, while actress Hong Chau plays a Vietnamese refugee who highlights the shanty towns of exploited and impoverished miniature people who do the cleaning and labour. Recklessness I think is a really interesting point, Waltz told the Press Association. Welcome to the big land of opportunity. We've been waiting for you. #Downsizing pic.twitter.com/k11elQoNPq ParamountUK (@ParamountUK) January 27, 2018 The original intention might have been benign but at one point turns and tips into recklessness and I think that has something to do with quantity. Our world, on account of not least digitalisation and profit making, has shifted towards the quantification of everything and commodification of everything and to reduce this, and at least try to remember the point before the recklessness set in, that might be the downsizing that should help to at least secure a future. We all assume that its us, it begins and ends with us, but there are people who are coming after us, long after we are gone. "It's a big land of opportunity!" Christoph Waltz puts it all into perspective in this behind-the-scenes look at #Downsizing, in theatres now. Get tickets: https://t.co/ImkoCgvBSg pic.twitter.com/EQ381tTQs0 Downsizing (@downsizingfilm) December 26, 2017 Waltz defends the actions of his character, pointing out they are never to the detriment of anybody else, never to anybody elses disadvantage, but adds: Downsizing refers to more than just quantity. It refers to a mental process that seems to be more than urgent to remember, in the way our world is going in an acceleration and to an extent that is not acceptable anymore. Chau, who was nominated for a Golden Globe and an SAG award for her performance, said the film is director Alexander Paynes opus. She added: Alexander and Jim Taylor wrote this script 10 years ago so these things were not quite in the news as much as they are now, so I do feel that this movie, even though its timely, I think its timeless in its humanistic story. She added: With any sort of technology you can use it for good and you can use it for bad, and we have discussions about that now. Is the internet good? Are cell phones good for us? Thats an on-going discussion. Of course there are good and bad things about anything, any sort of technological development, and its really about human nature and about how we value those things and how we go about implementing them into our lives. Downsizing is in UK cinemas now. Two major search operations have been launched for three hillwalkers missing overnight in challenging conditions. A 65-year-old man was reported missing at 7.30pm on Friday after failing to return from a walk on Lochnagar, a mountain near Braemar in Aberdeenshire. Braemar and Aberdeen Mountain Rescue teams were called out alongside the Coastguard Rescue 951 helicopter, but faced what were described as challenging conditions up high. A rescue helicopter was called out overnight (PA) CALLOUT update. Rescue helicopter beaten back by blizzards and cloud. Team members continuing to deploy on foot. @AberdeenMRT now deploying too. pic.twitter.com/XRWOdN9vOP BraemarMRT (@BraemarMRT) January 26, 2018 The helicopter was hampered by blizzards and cloud, but a search on foot was mounted overnight and reconvened at first light on Saturday. A search is also under way for two male hikers aged 42 and 47 after they failed to return from a walk in the Glen Tilt area, near Blair Atholl, Perthshire. The pair were reported missing at 8.50pm on Friday with mountain rescue and police teams continuing to search on Saturday. Citizens of Ukraine were not injured as a result of the explosion in Kabul (Afghanistan) on Saturday morning, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa has said. "According to preliminary information, citizens of Ukraine were not injured as a result of the bloody terrorist attack in Kabul on January 27," Betsa wrote on Twitter on Saturday. Earlier on this day in the Afghan capital, a powerful explosion happened, which killed more than 60 people and injured more than 150 people. The explosion took place in the area where there are many government offices and foreign embassies. According to the BBC, the Taliban took responsibility for the attack. At least 95 people have been killed and another 158 were injured after a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul. The attacker used an ambulance to get through a security checkpoint in central Kabul, telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the interior ministry. Once the driver reached a second checkpoint, he detonated the explosives. The Taliban have claimed the attack. Four men carry the coffin of a man who died in the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban (AP) Mr Rahimi said: The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well. He added that four suspects have been arrested and are being questioned. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the organisation was behind the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from the site near the governments former interior ministry building. The European Union and Indian consulates are also nearby. The powerful explosion was felt throughout the capital and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. At the scene, dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were also destroyed. An injured man receives treatment at a hospital (AP) The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the attack in a tweet, saying: The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing. This could amount to perfidy under IHL. Unacceptable and unjustifiable. It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on high security targets in the city. Last Saturday, six Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the subsequent gun battle and fire by using bedsheets to climb down from the upper floors. The US state department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. Rory McIlroy will go into the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic one shot off the lead after shooting a third-round 68 on Saturday. The Northern Irishman trails Chinas Li Haotong, who carded a 64 to reach 20 under par. Alexander Levy who enjoyed a hole-in-one at the fourth and Haydn Porteous finished the day at 17 under, with Andy Sullivan a shot further back and David Horsey on 15 under. Tyrrell Hatton was among a group of eight players on 14 under. Out in 36, back in 32...@McIlroyRory is one shot back heading into the final day of the #ODDC18. pic.twitter.com/Y2ksMX0zhR The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 27, 2018 McIlroy began another day of low scoring by completing his fog-delayed second round with three successive birdies. That gave him a two-shot lead at the halfway point but he was unable to maintain that momentum at the start of his third round. Two bogeys on the front nine took him to the turn in 36 but an eagle and three birdies coming home kept him firmly in contention. The back nine was good, the front nine not so much, said McIlroy, a two-time winner of the tournament, on Sky Sports. I made a couple of sloppy mistakes on the front. Third round leaderboard I feel like if I play my game Ill be able to shoot something a bit lower tomorrow, and I think Ill need to shoot something lower to be able to win. Li played really well out there and if he continues to play like that Ill need to shoot something similar to what he shot today. Li, who began his third round three shots behind McIlroy, made a confident start with four birdies in his first eight holes. Three more followed in the space of four holes from the turn and he finished with another at the last. When I won (before), it was always (coming) from really (far) behind to win events, Li said. Ive never been in this position but Im happy to see my game in this shape. Hopefully I will make some birdies tomorrow and shoot some low scores. Levy, buoyed by his early ace, battled with Li for top spot on the leaderboard amid a run of five successive birdies but bogeys on the 15th and 16th saw him drop back. Despite that, the Frenchman still signed for a 65 after a birdie on the 18th. Porteous recorded birdies on the last three holes to match his score. Sullivans 63 was the lowest third-round score but it was a difficult day for early leader Jamie Donaldson. The Welshman, two off the lead at halfway, carded a three-over-par 75 to slip to 10 under. Japanese authorities have informed Sri Lanka that some of the Ceylon tea exports to that country are not up to the required standards because of the presence of a chemical component, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said. He said the issue was discussed at the highest level and that the Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman was also scheduled to leave for Japan at the end of this month. They have not issued any warnings but they have said that some of our teas that are coming to Japan are not meeting the standards. There is a particular chemical component (MCPA) in tea and that is over and above the standards they have set. Our tea exports are up to the standards set by the European market. Now the Japanese standard is much higher than the European standard. The chemical level found in some exports is higher than accepted by the Japanese, the minister said. He said Sri Lanka had asked Japan for some time' to resolve this issue. What we are requesting them is to give us some time, about six months. We can adapt our procedures and introduce a new chemical that they can accept within the given timeframe so that this problem will be resolved, the minister said. He said the chemical levels in tea have increased with the use of weedicides introduced as an alternative for Glyphosate. We have told the companies not to use this alternative. We have to have a better weedicide. If Glyposate was not banned, we wouldnt be having this issue, he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla) The Ministry of Health of Ukraine signed a memorandum with the American Society for Clinical Pathology, which stipulates the provision of support to Ukrainian specialists in laboratory diagnostics, the press service of the ministry has reported. "I want to remind you that one of the tasks of our healthcare reform is the prevention or detection of diseases in the early stages, so timely and accurate laboratory diagnostics is critical, since it reduces the overall costs for treatment," Minister of Health Dr. Ulana Suprun said. She also noted that world experience proves that optimization of laboratory departments and implementation of the quality management system will allow improve the quality of work by 20%. In addition, Suprun stressed the introduction of a quality system based on international standards, and the accreditation of laboratories, which will reduce the operational costs of the laboratory and the number of false results, improve the management of laboratories and the quality of the provision of medical services to the patient. "Now, according to the results of numerous international assessments in 2015-2017, the system of national laboratories meets the requirements of international standards only by 50-60%," the Ministry of Health said in a statement. According to the ministry, there are now more than 5,000 medical laboratories in Ukraine - public and private. Only three laboratories of them - one private and two state ones - are accredited in accordance with ISO 15189. The process of accreditation of seven more laboratories has been started. "The American Society for Clinical Pathology is ready to help Ukrainian specialists in laboratory diagnostics to improve their knowledge and improve their quality management skills in laboratories," the ministry said. The Chu Se Kampong Thom plant, located in Kampong Thom province, is one of the biggest rubber latex processing plants in Southeast Asia. The event was attended by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly, the local authorities, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh, as well as several VRG executives, among others. Addressing the ceremony, VRG CEO Tran Ngoc Thuan said that the inauguration of the plant forms part of the activities to implement the joint agreement between the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia on developing 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia, creating huge economic benefits and jobs for local people. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly lauded the socio-economic values of VRGs projects in Cambodia. Over the past ten years, the group has planted nearly 90,000 hectares of rubber trees in eight provinces of Cambodia, worth nearly US$700 million. The Chu Se Kampong Thom plant is VRGs third plant in the country, with an annual designed capacity of 21,500 tonnes. The figure is expected to be increased to 45,000 tonnes by 2022. He made the statement in an interview recently granted to the media on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs visit to India to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India from January 24-26. Deputy FM Dung said the most important outcome of the Summit is the adoption of the Delhi Declaration that outlines the vision, orientations and measures to lift ASEAN-India strategic partnership to a new height, adding that both sides will further enhance their comprehensive cooperation across politics-security, socio-economy-culture, connectivity and development gap narrowing. He expressed his belief that the growing ASEAN-India ties will make practical contributions to the ASEAN Community building. According to the deputy minister, since Vietnam took over the role of coordinator for ASEAN-India ties in August 2015, bilateral political ties have unceasingly been strengthened through dialogue and cooperative mechanisms at all levels. The implementation of the ASEAN-India action plan for 2016-2020 made good progress, with 67 out of 130 lines of action carried out. At Vietnams proposal, the two sides worked out of a list of 26 priorities for 2016-2018, helping define focus for the action plan, hence greater effectiveness. ASEAN-India cooperation has also expanded to new fields, especially the sea-based economy. Vietnam has helped accelerate the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the ASEAN-India Centre in New Delhi, thereby laying a legal foundation for the centres operations and raising public awareness of ASEAN and promoting bilateral exchanges. About Vietnams specific contributions to the success of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, Deputy FM Dung said the delegation proposed a list of commemorative events and co-chaired the drafting of the Delhi Declaration. Speaking at the summit, PM Phuc said ASEAN and India need to see trade and investment as a key driving force of their strategic partnership, accelerate negotiations for the early signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and increase connectivity to ensure inter-regional sustainability. He called for efforts to build trustworthy collaboration in the spirit of compliance with international law, equality, mutual respect for the sake of peace and stability; promote trade liberalisation, and expand comprehensive cooperation and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, Deputy FM Dung said. The Deputy FM commented that achievements during Vietnams tenure as coordinator will create momentum for bilateral ties in the coming years. Both sides spoke highly of the positive developments in the Vietnam-Portugal partnership and cooperation in the fields of politics, foreign affairs and economy, with two-way trade reaching US$391 million in 2017, an increase of 15% compared to the previous year. They agreed to enhance their bilateral relations via strengthening high-level meetings and the exchange of all-level delegations, in addition to furthering their cooperation across the spheres of sea-based economy, navigation, renewable energy and tourism. Deputy PM Hue asked Portugal to promote its role as a member of the European Union (EU) in enhancing the trade cooperation and connectivity between ASEAN and the EU, as well as facilitating the EUs official signing of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). For his part, President of the Portuguese parliament, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, recalled his special sentiments for Vietnam, stressing that Portugals younger generation is showing an increasing interest in Vietnam at present, regarding it as a vibrantly developing country and an attractive tourist destination. He highly appreciated Vietnams role, as well as the coordination between the two countries, at international forums, whilst affirming his support for multilateral trade and the signing of the EVFTA. On the occasion, Deputy PM Hue informed the host on the outcomes and Vietnams contributions at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) that took place in Hanoi recently. Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (left) meets with the Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, Jose Antonio Vieira Da Silva. (Photo: VOV) Meeting with the Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, Jose Antonio Vieira Da Silva, Deputy PM Hue congratulated Portugal on its success in boosting economic growth, improving the peoples standard of living, reforming the labour market and reducing the unemployment rate. The two sides shared the common view that ensuring social security is an important factor to promote stable and harmonious socio-economic development, whilst agreeing that the Portuguese ministry would cooperate and support the Vietnamese ministries and sectors concerned in researching and reforming social insurance and wage policies. During a working session with the university on January 27, Secretary Nhan, who is also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, said that Ho Chi Minh City will offer 10 scholarships to the universitys lecturers each year in order to pursue master and doctorate degrees in the city. The RUPP reopened in 1986, after merging with several universities, and has six subordinate universities with nearly 1,000 lecturers and 20,000 students. It has links with eight Vietnamese universities and receives around 150 Vietnamese students each year. During a working session with the leaders of Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital, the Politburo member asked them to propose measures with which to tackle any difficulties, while continuing to be a vivid symbol of neighbourliness between the two countries, and providing health care services for people in Cambodia and Phnom Penh in particular. Earlier, in a meeting with Cambodias Acting Prime Minister Sar Kheng, on January 26, Politbuor member Nhan said that Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh will continue to strengthen their cooperative ties, focusing on education, tourism, agriculture and promoting the efficiency of Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital. Acting PM Sar Kheng said he was delighted at the results of the cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in general and between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh in particular, which he said has helped to nurture the bilateral friendship. In a reception hosted by President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum, Politburo member Nhan affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City always treasures and does its utmost to foster the Vietnam Cambodia ties, as well as relations between the city and Cambodian localities. He wished that the Cambodian government would offer support in terms of mechanisms and policies to facilitate the immigration of medical staff and materials imported for use in the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital. The same day, the Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City municipal Party Committee paid courtesy calls to the Secretary of the Phnom Penh Party Committee Pa Socheatvong and Governor of Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng. On the afternoon of January 27, the Vietnamese delegation concluded its two-day visit to Cambodia. 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: Participation in the APY not only builds a pensioned society but also adds sustainable fee income to banks. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: A total of 11 payment banks and 10 small finance banks were granted license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start banking operations in India, in a move to help expand the outreach of Atal Pension Yojana (APY), the government's pension scheme. Payment banks and small finance banks are a new model of banking conceptualised by the RBI. Given the strength of the bank, expertise and its reach, these kinds of banks are expected to play a pivotal role in expanding the outreach of subscribers under the APY, the government said on Friday. Participation in the APY not only builds a pensioned society but also adds sustainable fee income to banks by way of attractive incentive for mobilising APY at Rs 120-150 for each account, an official notification from the Ministry of Finance said. In order to familiarise these small finance banks and payment banks in the APY, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) had conducted an orientation meeting on January 15 and discussed the implementation of schemes in these banks. Among the chosen entities, the small finance banks that are currently operational under the aforementioned initiative are Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Janalakshmi Small Finance Bank, Equitas Small Finance Bank, A U Small Finance Bank, Capital Small Finance Bank, ESAF Small Finance Bank, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank and Fincare Small Finance Bank. Meanwhile, Paytm Payment Bank, Airtel Payment Bank, India Post Payment Bank and Fino Payment Bank are currently operating under the scheme. On a related note, the APY is an old age pension scheme being implemented through all banks across the country as per the mandate received from the Ministry of Finance and monitored periodically at the Prime Minister's Office. This social security scheme was launched on May 9, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As on January 23, 2018, there are more than 84 lakh subscribers registered under the APY scheme, with an asset base of more than Rs 3,194 crore. VIR INDIA aims to enhance and enrich the lives of Armed Forces Personnel and their families from inception of service to post retirement in each aspect of their personal and professional lifestyle. VIR India, a Bangalore-based company, formed to provide numerous benefits to the Armed Forces, launched its product portal. The companys co-founders presented the concept behind the initiative, and the value-proposition created so far. Present was an august gathering of military officers and the Companys business partners. The event was marked by two creative performances, one by the internationally renowned artist AV Ilango, who painted live, an oil canvas in a tribute to the armed forces. While he painted, Deepa Chakravarthy, a well-known Chennai-based danseuse gave a Mohiniyattam dance-recital on the theme of veeram (bravery). VIR India is a social impact initiative, created exclusively for the Armed Forces. As Indias first private digital platform for the Armed and Paramilitary Forces, VIR India aims to enhance and enrich the lives of military personnel and their families, from inception of service to post-retirement, touching military lives in every possible way. In order to show the citizens respect to the military community and pay them back for their service and sacrifice, the Company proposes to enter into signed agreements with various business houses to extend benefits, discounts and value-additions of every kind to military personnel. The Company has already signed agreements with a number of business partners from the hospitality and F&B industry, retail houses - both online and offline, and a few others. The initiative has been started by Manoj Rammohan MC, a Chennai-based industrialist. The co-founders believe that a citizen initiative of this kind expresses solidarity with the armed forces and demonstrates the citizenrys support towards the men and women who sacrifice so much for the countrys security. This kind of support for the military community creates a social impact that not just provides a huge boost to morale of this important set of people, but also strengthens a nation's society, transcending the material gains that VIR Indias business model proposes. VIR India company was formed in 2015, and today has a core-team of four members. The concept is to provide Armed Forces personnel with a VIR India membership that enables them to avail exclusive privileges and offers. These privileges are secured through partnerships with business entities, both offline entities and those retailing or transacting online. Through these partnerships, discounts and/or special offers are offered to the VIR community, using both online and offline processes. The nature of the privilege extended is entirely as per the Partner's choosing. Thus, VIR India also creates a simple platform for patriotic and like-minded business entities to funnel their benefits. As a matter of policy, VIR India does not take a share of any discount or privilege extended by their business partners, and any benefit agreed upon is fully passed on to the military community. This facility is available for both serving and retired personnel, and of course, their immediate family members. Eventually, VIR India hopes to expand their operations pan-India, with the intent to reach out to the entire 80-90 lakh strong community, including families. This outreach will of course require some investor interest, and that is what we are currently on the lookout for, says Manoj MC, the founder, in an exclusive to this paper. Our business plan is ready, and we have analysed the numbers quite exhaustively. We hope to secure the funding by the end of this quarter. Fingers-crossed. Mumbai: After much controversies, delays, violent protests and heated debates, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis period drama 'Padmaavat' finally released on Thursday morning, but to cancelled shows in some places. A few theatres cancelled the morning shows on Thursday. A signboard at a theatre in Gurgaon read: Dear guests, the screening of the movie Padmaavat has been cancelled. Eager movie buffs who had braved the early morning Delhi winter chill to catch the first day first show expressed their disappointment in Facebook posts. In a closed group, someone named Sai Prasad Narendran complained, Stood for an hour outside PVR Anupam from 7 am to 8 am. They finally announced the cancellation of the show. Its bloody cold and I am bloody disappointed. While commenting on his post, another person named Sundar Padmanabhan said, The same thing happened to todays 8:40 am show at Inox Janak place! Both PVR and Inox officials refused to comment on any development related to Padmaavat. Our sources, however, confirmed that the shows were running despite what the signboards suggested. Those who watched the film in the afternoon shows came back impressed with the beefed up police security. It was a much ado about nothing situation since the movie pretty much glorifies the valour and bravery of Rajputs, instead of denigrating them. I was a little worried about attending one of the earliest shows, as I expected violence. Thankfully, there was heavy police arrangement in and around the theatre. They wouldnt let people carry even pens! In fact, there were five cops in the movie hall I was in, to ensure peaceful proceedings. As far as the movie itself went, I felt it lacked the depth of the usual Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie. Ranveer Singh and Jim Sarbh stole the show, while the other characters were pretty one-dimensional. Of course, given it was a Bhansali movie, the sets were opulent and the cinematography striking. However, I came back underwhelmed with the experience, says Vandana Gandhi, a banker. Fear of trouble and disturbance is making many movie buffs wary, and they feel it would be safer to wait and watch for a few days before booking their tickets. I would rather wait for two-three weeks as I want to play safe. This controversy is long drawn, and might escalate. So I will definitely wait, says Manoj Virmani, a resident of Gurgaon. This is the first time that I am scared to get entertained. I never imagined watching a movie would be embroiled in so much controversy, says Sarthak Tokas, a 26-year-old hotelier in Delhi. Im not going to risk watching it in the first week, and I have urged my family members and friends to avoid it too, says Anju Talwar, a homemaker from Gurgaon. But actress Raveena Tandon feels the controversies and resultant wariness should not deter movie lovers from watching the film. She says, People should definitely go. There is enough police to handle the situation and we should not be cowed down by these publicity-hungry loony political fanatics. VZ Durai returns after a gap with a bold film that is said to be about an advocates live-in relationship titled Yemaali. The film features newcomer hero Sam Jones and Samudhrakani in lead roles. While Athulya plays opposite Sam, Bengaluru-based Roshini acts as Kani's pair. The filmmaker, who has worked with the likes of Ajith, Vikram and Simbu, tells DC that it is an experimental film and much more. "I can call it a new effort and first-ever attempt in Tamil cinema. It's a four-layered script, unfolding one after the other. Kani and Sam appear in all the layers and both characters have many dimensions to them. Samudhrakani is portrayed in a never-seen avatar." On the title, he quips, "It is not about someone who gets cheated. Yemaali has yet other meaning in Tamil, which is a sweet surprise in the film." Reacting to a query about showing Athulya as a chronic smoker, he says, "She plays an ultra modern girl and her character has been designed like that. So, it is not forced in the scenes." Durai, who shares a good rapport with ace Jayamohan through his earlier Shaam starrer 6 Candles, has once again brought him on board for the bold and daring dialogues in Yemaali. Birthdays are usually the most exciting day of the year, but for many, the charm surrounding the special day wanes away as one grows older. Not so with Shruti Haasan, who turns 32 on Sunday. I am still as excited about birthdays as I was when I was a kid. It has always been that special day that gives me a chance to spend time with people I care about, she says, as she chats with us from the US ahead of her birthday. For someone who never started off with the dream of becoming an actor despite being the daughter of acclaimed and successful actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, Shruti has sure come a long way. In fact, she completes a decade as an actor soon, and is still regarded the toast of the town. Did she expect shed sustain? Who knows what will happen tomorrow? At that point, I knew that whatever I do, I have to do it well and enjoy it. I never thought about the future and gave it a go and here I am today, she states matter-of-factly. Remarkably, Shruti rose from the shadows of being a star daughter to a star in her own right. I am proud of my family, but was clear from a young age that I am my own person. I made no conscious effort to come out of the shadows but kept doing what I liked and led life the way I wanted to, it worked just fine, she explains. Her approach to work seems to have changed over time, though. Instead of doing everything and anything or working more because others are doing it, I decided to do what feels right. My career didnt start off with a bang. My debut film Luck didnt fare the way I imagined and thats when I realised that I should just go with the flow and stop expecting, asserts Shruti, who says she hasnt slowed down in terms of work but has just stepped back. There have been some films wherein I realised it wasnt what I had signed up for. I dont want to be in that position anymore and want to enjoy every moment of the process, she adds. Point out to her how she has broken norms by being a sought-after name in the industry despite being on the wrong side of thirty, and she rebuffs, albeit graciously, Theres a reason I refuse to answer that. Because it shouldnt be asked anymore! No male actor is asked why he plays a college student at 40. Apart from work, Shruti has been in the news for her relationship with London-based actor Michael Corsale. Prod her, and she says with a laugh, I dont like to talk about relationships because Ive never really had a private life. Since the time I was born, I have belonged to everyone. So I am very possessive about my personal life. I am not hiding anything as such but I am not screaming from the rooftops either as I dont want all that attention on it. But yes, I am in a happy space by the grace of God, she reveals. And are the rumours of an impending wedding true? Its really funny that people have everything planned from the venue to my attire! I am apparently getting married next month. I have just learnt to ignore all this, she says, signing off. 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: He made this comment while drawing a comparison between the media coverage he received before and after becoming the US president. (Photo: AP) Davos [Switzerland]: United States President Donald Trump has again been caught on the wrong foot, this time at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking in one of the gatherings on Friday, he described press as "nasty, mean and fake" for which he was promptly booed by the audience. Some laughed too. According to the Independent, he made this comment while drawing a comparison between the media coverage he received before and after becoming the U.S. president. "As a businessman, I was always treated really well by the press... and 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 a packed hall. "But overall, the bottom line... somebody said Well they couldnt have been that bad because here we are, we're President'. I think were doing a really great job with my team," the Independent quoted Trump as saying. Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoors son Ishaan, who is a reporter for The Washington Post, even stated that some journalists also booed Trump for his comment. "Foreign journos sitting next to me booed Trump's attack on the press," he tweeted. Earlier, Mr Trump talked about his "America First" foreign policy and said "America is open for business". The arrests came as it emerged that as many as six children were killed in fighting near the central Afghan city of Ghazni on Friday. (Photo: Pixabay) Four men and a woman were arrested trying to carry out a bomb attack in the city of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan. What is more shocking is that the Taliban fighters used a four-month-old baby to hide a bomb which they intended to use in a sick terror attack. Terrorists tried to conceal explosive material within the tiny child's clothing as they were making their way to Kunduz to carry out an atrocity. But they were stopped by police as they entered the city and five people, including one woman, were arrested. According to a story published in The Kabul Times, the bomb was carefully hidden on the body of the infant. Sowita Abulrahizai the deputy chief of the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan slammed the militants and said that using kids to carry out such attacks is forbidden in Islam. According to a story published The Sun, Abulrahizai said that using children in armed conflicts is the most brutal and vicious act in the society, because such acts are categorically banned by the Islamic Shari'a and enforced laws of the country. The arrests came as it emerged that as many as six children were killed in fighting near the central Afghan city of Ghazni on Friday. Furthermore, last week, the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul was stormed by militants who killed 18 during a 12 hour siege. According to a police source, the police got the wind of a gang transporting fake currencies from West Bengal to Chennai, recently. CHENNAI: In a movie stunt like chase in Chennai, police had nabbed 2 members of a fake currency gang and confiscated counterfeit notes worth `4 lakh, on Friday. According to a police source, the police got the wind of a gang transporting fake currencies from West Bengal to Chennai, recently. Following the tip-off, city police had formed a special team under Vepery inspector T. Veerakumar and the team had been scouring trains coming from West Bengal for more than three days, the source added. On Monday morning, the police team under Veerakumar boarded a train coming from West Bengal to Chennai at Gummidipundi station. While they were searching for the potential transporters of fake money, the team noticed two persons alighting train in a suspicous manner at Tiruvottiyur railway station, after seeing the police in their compartment, the police source explained. When we asked them to stop, the duo did not heed and started running. However, we chased them and arrested them at gunpoint, the police said. The duo has been identified as Pradeep (26) of Perambur and Kamal (2) of Thirumangalam. When the special team searched their belongings, they were left shocked as the package contained 5 country-made pistols and some bullets. In addition to the guns, the police also had confiscated counterfeit notes worth `4 lakh from them. The intelligence we got earlier was regarding smuggling of fake notes. But with the pistols and bullets seized, we suspect the gang, in which Pradeep and Kamal belongs, is also involving in illegal arms trade, the source added. The police and Q branch police initiated a further enquiry to find out who sent the pistols and to whom. Although Singh had already fired a bullet on Babu, it, luckily, missed the target and hit elsewhere. (Representational Image | AP) Hyderabad: Telangana Police apprehended a man on Friday, moments before he was allegedly about to commit a murder in Secunderabad. The accused, identified as Gajaraj Singh, has been arrested and a firearm has been seized from his possession. According to police, Singh was about to shoot one D Tulasi Babu at city's EC Nagar area over a petty issue when the cops reached the spot just in time after receiving information. Although Singh had already fired a bullet on Babu, it, luckily, missed the target and hit elsewhere. Hyderabad: The Rachakonda police in a joint operation with the Ranga Reddy district health department busted a sex determination racket, located at an illegal private clinic at Yacharam, and arrested seven doctors, including a woman. The doctors, hailing from the surrounding villages, lured the pregnant women in the villages to undergo sex determination tests at the clinic. The arrested persons were identified as Dr N. Kumara Swamy, 37, an RMP and a resident of Nalgonda, his wife N. Saritha, 35, Dr K. Mallesh, 28, Dr T. Venkatesham, 40, Dr G. Srinivas, 40 and Dr A. Ravi alias Ramesh, 40. Two others who had supplied the scanning equipment are absconding. M. Venkateshwar Rao, DCP LB Nagar, said that after the district medical and health office got information about the centre, a probe was started and it was found that the centre was operating without a licence, which expired in August 2017. The doctor duo Dr Swamy and Dr Saritha to earn quick money started conducting the tests on pregnant women with the help of Dr J. Raghav Reddy, a recognised sonologist. As he had the permission to purchase the scanning equipment, the doctor couple approached him and apprised him of their plan to start a scanning centre in Maal village. With his help, they purchased the equipment and started Venkateswara Clinic. Dr Swamy, who is a practising doctor for the past 17 years, had good contacts with the RMPs in the neighbouring villages, which he used for expanding his sex determination racket. Using his network, he trapped clients and conducted the gender determination test. He offered a cut to his doctor friends for referring clients to him. As the process was illegal, he charged huge money, the DCP said. Amit Shahs rally as part of the 'Parivarthana Yatra' by the state BJP came amid the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits seeking PM Modis intervention on the Mahadayi water sharing issue. (Photo: Twitter/@AmitShah) 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 states row with Goa on sharing Mahadayi river water. Shahs rally as part of the Parivarthana Yatra by the state BJP came amid the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention on the Mahadayi water sharing issue. Pro-Kannada outfits have also called a Bengaluru Bandh on February 4, when Modi will be here 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 Modijis 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 Modis 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 Shahs 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 Modis rally on February 4, but I have confidence in the people of this great Karnataka, he said. The number of people who will attend Modis rally on February 4 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. 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 dont want to take their names, but Siddarmaiah government and Rahul Gandhis 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 H D 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 B S 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. At least 13 people were killed after a mini-bus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: At least 13 persons were killed as a minibus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, police said on Saturday. The incident took place at around 11:45 pm on Friday when the vehicle carrying three families was returning from Ganpatipule, a picnic destination of coastal Konkan, an official said. The deceased include three men, three women and seven children, including a nine month baby, he said. The speeding minibus was on the Shivaji Bridge of Panchganga river when its driver lost control of the vehicle. The bus later fell into the river, the official said. Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot as an onlooker alerted the Kolhapur police about the incident. Rescue and search operations were launched immediately, he said. The rescue teams managed to trace 16 passengers of the ill-fated bus, wherein 13 had died. Three persons are admitted to a hospital for treatment, the official said. All the passengers hailed from Balewadi in Pune, police said, adding the rescue operation is underway. They also abused the officer and at one stage threatened him with dire consequences if he did not obey OPS sons order. KRISHNAGIRI: In a shocking case, two persons who tried to cheat the personal secretary of the Krishnagiri district collector to get a government job by using the name of Deputy Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam's son, were arrested and sent to jail. This incident came to light on Friday, a day after the duo tried to dupe the government officer here on Thursday, claiming they were sent by Mr Ravindaranath, son of Mr O. Pannerselvam. According to police, 46-year-old Kumaresan, personal secretary to the Krishnagiri district collector attended a phone call that came to the collector Mr. C.Kathiravan's mobile phone. The caller gave his name as Ravindaranath, son of Deputy Chief Minister, and asked Kumaresan to give a government job to a woman, the sister of his friend in Krishnagiri. Then, two persons, 32-year-old Arumugam and 23-year-old Tamil Thendral met the government officer, asking for an appointment order for the latter's sister as told by the caller. They also abused the officer and at one stage threatened him with dire consequences if he did not obey OPS son's order. Suspecting foul play, Kumaresan informed Mr. C.Kathiravan who questioned the duo and found them to be cheats. Krishnagiri taluk police arrested Arumugam and Tamil Thendral, both belonging to Onthiyam Puthur village in Uthangarai taluk. They were sent to judicial remand after being produced in a local magistrate's court here. At a rally in Mysuru BJP national president Amit Shah said in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah and corruption are synonyms. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: The blame game, verbal attacks as well as taunts have made its way to Karnataka which will go to polls this year. Day after BJP national president Amit Shah criticised the Karnataka Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday hit back at the BJP's top strategist calling him a "brainless man" and an "ex-jail bird". Speaking to media, Siddaramaiah said, Amit Shah has no brain it seems, he is a brainless man. Intensifying his attack against Shah and BJP's presumptive chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah took to Twitter and called them an "ex-jailbird". He also demanded that they come up with proof to back up their charge. Says an ex-jail bird who chose another former jail bird to be his partys CM candidate for our Karnataka election. Can he present facts about the so called corruption charges against me or my Govt? Just telling lies wont help. People will not believe his #jumlas https://t.co/R1OW6FiipB Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 26, 2018 The chief ministers counter-attack comes a day after the BJP president said, "Siddaramaiah means corruption and corruption means Siddaramaiah". Read Also: Amit Shah dubs K'taka govt as 'corrupt', asks people to 'root it out' in bypolls However, Siddaramaiah's comeback to the BJP president, accusing him of corruption, triggered a storm of attacks from BJP leaders who kept the punches coming till late on Friday. Addressing a rally at Mysuru on Thursday, Amit Shah questioned the Karnataka chief ministers personal integrity. "The Siddaramaiah government has crossed all limits of corruption. In Karnataka, Siddaramaiah and corruption are synonyms. Siddaramaiah means corruption and corruption means Siddaramaiah," the BJP chief said at his rally. Amit Shah had spent three months in jail in 2010 on charges of conspiring to kill Sohrabuddin Sheikh in the 2005 fake encounter case. In December 2014, a court, however, said the CBI had not produced enough evidence to prosecute him and closed the case. Yeddyurappa, on the other hand, had to quit as the chief minister after an anti-corruption panel indicted him for a mining scandal. He had later spent three weeks in jail, as an undertrial, but was later cleared in the case. Yeddyurappa took to Twitter and reminded Siddaramaiah that "we are acquitted of all the false cases filed against us". He said, So says a CM who destroyed Lokayukta, misused ACB (Anti-corruption department) and CID (Criminal Investigation Department) and gave himself a clean chit in dozens of corruption charge and complaints against him." The BJP leader added: "Lest you forget in National Herald case Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi - who are on bail now - will be 'Jail Birds' soon." Union Minister Sadanand Gowda also reminded Siddaramaiah that Indira Gandhi who had formed the Congress (I) in 1969 too had been arrested, in 1977. Gowda added, Indira Gandhi's son would have served a jail term in the Bofors scam, if not for his assassination. "Need more list sir?" Gowda said. Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that it was not a circular but only a reminder. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the creating a fuss over minorities circular matter. A circular was reportedly sent to heads of police in all districts from the, asking for their opinion on revoking cases against minority communities in incidents of communal clashes. The minister rebuffed the reports and said that it was not a circular but only a reminder. "The BJP doesn't understand English properly. It's not circular, just a reminder. Minority leaders represented that some false cases registered against minorities. IG sent letter to SPs, gave reminder that's all," Ramalinga Reddy said. Reportedly, Karnataka Director General of Police Neelamani N Raju released the circular to withdraw cases against people, who belonged to minority community and were allegedly involved in the communal riots in the last five years. The move comes ahead of the assembly elections in the state that are due for April or May. Currently, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is at the helm. 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. Short link: Cab driver R. Manikandan, who attempted to commit suicide by immolating self near Thiruvanmiyur condemning police excess. CHENNAI: Cab driver R. Manikandan, who attempted to commit suicide by immolating self near Thiruvanmiyur condemning police excess, succumbed to his injuries at the city government hospital, on Friday, two days after the incident. The 23-year-old R. Manikandan, who resided in Tambaram, had a tiff with the traffic police on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, when the police stopped him for not fastening his seat belt, on Wednesday. Although Manikandan paid the fine imposed on him, he reportedly filmed police excess on other motorists. Despite utmost care given to Manikandan in hospital, he had suffered sudden fever and breathing ailments on Friday morning and died at 11.20 am, a police source said. According to onlookers, the police had assaulted Manikandan and used derogatory words on women in his household. Humiliated by the police assault in full public view, Manikandan set himself ablaze at the spot, where he was insulted. However, police and onlookers rescued him and had sent him to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, he had suffered 59 per cent burns in his torso. According to the doctors, 40 per cent burns injury itself is fatal, but Manikandan had 59 per cent and struggled for life for 2 days before breathing his last. With the only breadwinner lost, Tirunelveli based family had sought severe action against the police personnel involved in the incident and they submitted a petition to the city police commissioner reiterating the same. Amid cab driver Manikandans death creating an uproar in the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, the IV Metropolitan Magistrate (Egmore) B.C. Gopinath initiated a magisterial inquiry into the death. Meanwhile, city police commissioner A.K. Viswanathan on Friday morning suspended sub-inspector Thamaraiselvan for allegedly assaulting Manikandan. Departmental action has been initiated against other, and action will be taken, a police source said. However, criminal cases have not been registered against the police personnel until Friday night. Knowing about the death of Manikandan, other cab drivers in the city gathered at the Kilpauk government hospital and staged a protest inside and outside of the hospital thus blocking EVR Periyar Road. Meanwhile, IV Metropolitan Magistrate B.C. Gopinath began a magisterial inquiry at the hospital. According to a police source, Gopinath first questioned the doctors who unsuccessfully treated Manikandan. When Gopinath asked Manikandans mother Vasantha and other members of the family to co-operate and answer a few questions, they first opposed and subsequently heeded. Vasantha in tears told the mediapersons that police should arrest all the four traffic police involved in the incident and depose them from their job. Government should provide employment to one of the family members, she demanded. Due to the tension prevailing on the hospital premises, the autopsy had not been conducted until evening. Even after the post-mortem, relatives and cab drivers refused to accept the body. The situation further worsened when heated arguments arose between cadres of Puthiya Tamilagam party and cab drivers as the former reportedly implored relatives to accept his body, which the cab drives opposed to. However, after a daylong tension and uproar, Manikandans relatives accepted his body and took it to Tirunelveli to perform last rites. Congress president Rahul Gandhi attended the 69th Republic Day parade on Friday and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from the Opposition. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The BJP on Friday hit back at the Congress over the issue of sitting position of Rahul Gandhi during the Republic Day parade, saying in the past its chiefs were not even given seats in the VIP enclosure. Congress President Gandhi on Friday attended the annual event and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from the Opposition party which accused the ruling BJP government of setting aside tradition and indulging in "cheap politics". Read Also: Not 4, Rahul watches Republic Day parade from row 6; Cong fumes at BJP "Where did Rajnath Singhji and Nitin Gadkariji sit as BJP chiefs at Republic Day events during the Congress-led UPA government," BJP National Spokesperson Anil Baluni said. He said that BJP leaders were not given seats in the VIP area during the Congress-era. "But unlike the Congress, the BJP does not stoop so low and believes in a healthy democracy," Baluni said. Gandhi was seated in the sixth row, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. Read Also: Issue more about manners than protocols: Cong on 6th row seat for Rahul In 2017, the former Congress president 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. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government's "cheap politics" was at display when it broke tradition and denied Gandhi a front-row seat. Read Also: Rahul Gandhi gets 4th row seat at R-Day parade; Cong calls it 'cheap politics' Government sources said that as per the protocol, the Leader of Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row. Vijayawada: The state government is examining the mode of MGNREGA payments and also investigating the reasons behind the delay of payments to the workers. It is observed by the chief secretary that five districts have paid more towards material components. The state government is worried about these developments, as the YSRC has already procured the details of the MGNREGA implementation across the state. Earlier AP used to be in Number One position when it came to disbursing the payments, now APs position has come down to 8th place. In a tele-conference conducted recently, the chief secretary Mr Dinesh Kumar has stated that the material component is high and the wage component is low, in five districts Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari, West Godavari and Chittoor. Also, the chief secretary has directed the Collectors of those five districts, to be more effective in implementing the MGNREGA scheme, as the position of AP, has dropped to 8th place from 1st place. It is also learnt that the chief secretary told the collectors and officers concerned that the Union government has been observing the implementation of the scheme carefully and hence asked them to be very careful even in minute details. As per the CMs dashboard, the average wage achieved across the state is 86.18 per cent, and average days achieved is 62.92 per cent. The total pending payments amount to Rs 363.9 crore, in which the wage component is Rs 36.79 crore and material component is Rs 327.14 crore, as per the statistics available in the CMs dashboard. It may be noted that in the areas abutting Puttaparthi and Kadiri, and also parts of Kurnool district, the migrations are still going on, following the non-availability of MGNREGA works, and the YSRC has elicited the complete details of those families. It will shortly be bringing out the details in book format, according to a YSRC leader. On Saturday afternoon, an Army convoy came under attack by a stone-pelting mob in Shopians Ganowpora village. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Srinagar: Two people were killed and nine others wounded when the Army opened fire at a stone-pelting crowd in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district on Saturday afternoon. The condition of one of the injured civilians is stated to be critical. The Army said its men opened fire in self-defence and that only after a 250-strong mob tried to lynch a Junior Commissioned Office (JCO) and snatch his service weapon. It also said that seven soldiers were injured and eleven vehicles suffered damage in the mob attack. Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, enraged over the incident, telephoned Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, to say that such incidents only cause setback to the efforts made at political level to bring about peace and normalcy in the State. A official statement issued in winter capital Jammu said that the Chief Minister while expressing anguish over the loss of lives in the shooting incident said that every civilian killing, notwithstanding how erroneously made, impairs the political process in the State which has been put on track after hard work by all political parties. The statement said that the Defence Minister assured the Chief Minister that she would seek a detailed report on the incident and would impress upon the field formations that mechanisms put in place are strictly adhered to so that such incidents do not recur in future. Shopian and some neighbouring areas have been tense since Wednesday when two militants were killed during a fire fight with the security forces. A local teenager was also killed and two girls including the sister of one of the slain militants were critically injured when the security forces fired live ammunition to disperse protesters near the encounter site. Reports said that on Saturday afternoon an Army convoy came under attack by a stone-pelting mob in Shopians Ganowpora village. The soldiers on board responded by opening fire, injuring eleven persons. Two of them succumbed on way to or at hospital, the officials said. The J&K police has registered a case and taken up investigations. Weve registered an FIR and taken up investigations into the shooting incident, said Shopians SSP Shriram Ambarkar. Kashmirs Divisional Commissioner, Baseer Ahmad Khan, said that he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the shooting incident and asked Shopians Deputy Commissioner to ensure the inquiry in completed within three weeks time. The slain youth have been identified as Javed Ahmed Bhat, 20, and Suhail Javed Lone, 24. The doctors at the district hospital in neighbouring Pulwama said that Bhat was brought there with a critical head injury and succumbed soon thereafter. Lone injured in the firing incident was declared brought dead at a government-run health facility in the town of Rajpura. The Army in a statement issued here in the evening said that its men had to open fire in self-defence to prevent the lynching of a JCO by the mob. The statement said that an Army administrative convoy was passing through Ganowpora chowk (square) when it came under unprovoked and intense stone pelting by a group of 100-120 stone-pelters at around 3 pm. It further said, Within no time, their numbers swelled to 200-250 persons. The crowd surrounded an isolated portion of the convoy consisting of four vehicles. They caused extensive damage to these vehicles and tried to set them on fire. A JCO accompanying the convoy got hit on the head and fell unconscious suffering serious injury. The mob tried to lynch the individual and snatch his weapon. The violent crowd further closed in towards the vehicles and attempted to set them on fire. The statement further said, Considering the extreme gravity of the situation the Army was constrained to open fire in self defence to prevent lynching of the JCO and burning of Government vehicle by the mob. The Army said that seven jawans were injured whereas eleven vehicles suffered damage in the mob attack. It also released photographs of two damaged vehicles. The locals said that soldiers from the Armys 14 Rashtriya Rifles had come to the village on Saturday morning to tore down the posters which carried tribute to a local Hizb-ul-Mujahedin militant Firdous Ahmed Lone who was among those killed in Wednesdays encounter in neighbouring Chaigund village. They said that around 3 pm a convoy of the Army 12 Sector Rashtriya Rifles stationed at nearby Balpora village passed through the Ganowpora and some local youth hurled stones at it following which the Armymen on board opened fire at them. The J&K police in a separate statement said the convoy of Armys 10 Garhwal was on its way from 12 Sector Headquarters at Balpora to Maspora in Shopian when it came under heavy stone pelting at Ganowpora. Due to this stone pelting some Army personnel were reportedly injured. The Army personnel retaliated by firing, in which three persons were injured. Two of them later succumbed whereas the third person has been operated upon in Srinagars Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, the police said. Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), an alliance of key separatist leaders, while accusing the Army of indulging in genocide of Kashmiri Muslims has called for a protest shutdown in the Valley on Sunday. Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is one of the three leaders on JRL said, It is shame that the Indian rights activists, humanists and civil society members have turned deaf, dumb and blind to the butchering of young Kashmiris while as the world human rights watchdogs callously watch on and do nothing. The authorities have decided to impose security restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Srinagar areas and also in Shopian and Pulwama as a precautionary measure from Sunday morning. Kakinada: Tomato farmers are suffering huge losses as the prices of tomatoes have drastically fallen. This has made the future of the farmers bleak. Tomatoes which demanded Rs 50 per kilo 45 days back, now sells for Rs 2-Rs 3 per kilo. In the open market like Rythu Bazaars, the price is Rs 10 per kilo. Farmers grew more tomato crops this season as farmers expected tomatoes to fetch a good price. Horticulture and agriculture officials also encouraged the crop as an alternative crop. According to the horticulture department officials, tomato used to be cultivated in 200 hectares every year. But, this season, the crop is being cultivated in more than 500 acres. The farmers of Gollaprolu and Pithapuram are at a higher loss as these regions grew more tomato crops then expected. We cultivated tomato as an alternative to cotton, as cotton attracted pests. The agriculture and horticulture officials also suggested that we grow tomato for getting good returns as the market prices of the crop were quite high then. But now, the prices have drastically crashed. We are not even able to meet harvesting charges, said N. Appa Rao, a farmer harvesting tomato this season. He said that though traders purchased tomatoes at `2 to `3 per kilo from farmers, the prices in open market is `10. He requested officials to take steps for getting the market prices. He said that the government should purchase the product from the farmers and sell it to the consumers. That way it will be profitable for both farmers and consumers as the government will not face any loss or financial burden. Horticulture officials say that farmers are cultivating tomatoes on the fields and it leads to low yields. If they cultivate the crop through pandals, they get more yields and can get profits. The government should also give subsidy for the pandals crops. Saseendran, had in March last year, resigned from the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry hours after the channel aired an audio clip allegedly involving his lewd talk with a woman. (Photo: PTI/File) Thiruvananthapuram: The chief judicial magistrate court here on Saturday acquitted former Kerala transport minister AK Saseendran in the Mangalam TV honey trap case that led to his resignation from the Cabinet. With the chief judicial magistrate's court in Thiruvananthapuram acquitting him, the way has been cleared for Saseendran's re-induction into the CPI(M)-led government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. A woman journalist of the channel had filed a petition before the chief judicial magistrate court after Mangalam TV telecast the sleaze talk. She alleged that Saseendran made sexual advances towards her when she called him for official purpose. However, she later submitted a petition stating that she had filed the case on the basis of a misunderstanding and that the matter had been resolved out of court. Saseendran, had in March last year, resigned from the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry hours after the channel aired an audio clip allegedly involving his lewd talk with a woman. The minister announced his decision to step down at a press conference, but denied the charge that he talked inappropriately with a woman over phone and claimed he resigned on moral grounds. The Kerala High Court in April last year denied bail to the CEO of Mangalam TV channel and its senior reporter, arrested for allegedly airing the purported sleaze talks of AK Saseendran, making him quit the Cabinet. The court, however, granted bail to three other accused, including a news reader in the case. The FIR filed against the staffers concerned had said they had entered into a 'criminal conspiracy' to malign Saseendran. The accused had aired an audio tape of sleaze talks on the channel and published it on its Facebook page as well, said the FIR. The channel later tendered an apology for airing the contents and admitted it was a "sting operation" involving one of its women journalists and not a housewife, as it had claimed earlier. Gounder, a resident of Sarawan Bodla village of Muktsar, belonged to a gang formed by another history-sheeter Jaipal Singh. (Photo: Facebook) Chandigarh: Most-wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and 2016 Nabha jail break mastermind Prema Lahoria were on Friday gunned down by the Punjab Police 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 on Friday 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 Punjab Police. 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 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. 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. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 26, 2018 Gupta said about 20-25 policemen were involved in Friday'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 2017, 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. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan is being welcomed by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at Parade Ground on the occasion of Republic Day on Friday. Hyderabad: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Friday said Telangana state had become a role model, marching ahead in all sectors for the past three-and-a-half years, living up to the expectations of the people and fulfilling their desires. He said the new state was not only performing well but better than several other states and winning accolades, awards and rewards both at national and international levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself showered praise on Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya which are aimed at providing drinking water and water for irrigation purposes, he said. With lot of confidence and faith, I declare that the strong foundation laid by the state government in the past three and half years would immensely help it reach the destination of Bangaru Telangana, the Governor said in his address on the 69th Republic Day at Parade Ground, Secunderabad. He said TS had surpassed national growth rate at 18 per cent and the government was making efforts to provide 2 lakh jobs in the government and private sectors this year. It was also spending over Rs 40,000 crore on welfare schemes and this year the focus would be on irrigation projects, agriculture and farmers. He said TS became a reality because of the peoples movement that took place within the framework of Const-itutional provisions. Exactly three years ago, I delivered the first Republic Day address from the very same dais, and I still remember that occasion when I expres-sed a fond desire that the TS government should overcome the many imp-ediments and challenges it would face, he said. He praised the government for implementing several programmes and schemes for the welfare of poor, development of agriculture sector, strengthening the rural economy, infrastructure and industries. The people are happy receiving the fruits of these programmes and schemes. The people are also contented and confident of a comfortable future, he said. Siddaramaiah said that he expected state BJP's participation and cooperation in this regard. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he was still open for discussions with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to find an amicable solution to the inter-state Mahadayi river water sharing row. Stating this at an all-party meeting chaired by him to discuss the row,he said he would also try to convince Congress leaders in Goa of the need to release water to Karnataka. "If the Goa Chief Minister responds to my recent letter and calls for a meeting on the issue, I will also make honest efforts to convince Congress leaders there" (to release water to Karnataka), Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. He said except BJP, those at the meeting decided that if there was no response to his letter in a day or two, an all-party delegation, led by him would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention on the issue by calling a meeting of Chief Ministers of riparian states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. Siddaramaiah said that he expected state BJP's participation and cooperation in this regard. After mediation by BJP national president Amit Shah, Parrikar, in a letter to Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa last month had said that in principle, Goa would not oppose the "reasonable" and "justified" quantum of water meant to be utilised for drinking while pointing out that the matter is pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. However, Parrikar has still not responded to Karnataka government which had expressed its readiness for talks at "any place and date" to work out an amicable settlement. Meanwhile, state BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of playing politics on the issue by seeking for Prime Minister's intervention, instead of trying to convince Congress leaders in Goa who are opposed to sharing of water. Reiterating that BJP will take the responsibility of convincing Goa and Maharashtra Chief Ministers regarding water sharing, and state Congress should convince their party colleagues who are in opposition there, Yeddyurappa questioned Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi?s silence on the issue. "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should have rebuked Goa Congress Chief's statement about not releasing even a drop of water to Karnataka," he told reporters and added that the issue was pending for the last 30 years and Congress was responsible for the matter gong to the tribunal. Karnataka, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on sharing Mahadayi River water, is seeking release of 7.56 tmc ft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi River, to divert 7.56 tmc ft water to Malaprabha which meets drinking water needs of the region. Attempts have been made by Karnataka to amicably solve the issue that is also pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. Lucknow: Curfew has been imposed in Kasganj after fresh violence broke out on Saturday in which half a dozen shops and a bus were torched by the mob. A religious structure was also attacked by the mob. The police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowds that turned violent after the cremation of Chandan Gupta, 22, who was killed in Fridays firing when clashes took places between two communities. The police used the public address system to tell the people to remain indoors throughout Saturday. ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar said that IG D.K. Thakur had been sent to Kasganj on Saturday and 49 persons had been taken into custody in connection with Fridays violence. A complaint has been filed at the Kasganj Police Station and nine involved persons have been arrested so far. A special team has also been constituted and we are trying to arrest others involved as well, said the official spokesman. The borders of the district have been sealed and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed in the communally sensitive areas. Five companies of PAC have also been deployed in the troubled town. Hindu leader Sadhvi Prachi was prevented from travelling towards Kasganj on Saturday. She and her supporters sat on dharna on the Bareilly- Mathura highway. District magistrate R.P. Singh and SP Sunil Singh patrolled the troubled areas while IG Agra and IG Aligarh were also asked to move to Kasganj. It may be recalled that violence broke out in Kasganj on Friday when a motorcycle rally was being taken out by VHP and ABVP activists and some members of the other community passed inflammatory slogans. Both groups hurled stones at each other before shots were fired in which Chandan Gupta was killed. Another person injured in the clashes, Naushad, is admitted to hospital. According to reports, both had bullet injuries even though the police kept denying that firing had taken place during the violence. The higher commission of the liberal Wafd Party voted on Saturday not to nominate party chairman El-Sayed El-Badawi as a candidate to run in Egypt's presidential elections, which are set to take place in March. The party's 45-member higher commission reached the decision via a secret ballot in a closed session this afternoon. In a press conference held at the party's headquarters in Giza on Saturday evening, the higher committee announced their continued support for Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for a second term. "President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi managed to maintain the stability of the nation, and no one can face the challenges in Egypt except him, therefore our decision comes out of a popular desire and a desire by Wafd not to participate in the upcoming presidential elections," Hani Sarieddin, a member of the Wafd's higher commission, said at the press conference. El-Badawi's assistant Yasser El-Hodeiby told Al-Ahram Arabic news website on Saturday that his party's chairman is committed to the higher commission's decision, and will not run for president as an independent. El-Hodeiby added thatthe higher commissionrejects all forms of external interference in the internal affairs of Egypt, and calls on Egyptians to participate in the elections. Last week, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi submitted his candidacy documents as well as his endorsement forms to the National Elections Authority (NEA). On Saturday, Zamalek club chairman, lawyer and MP Mortada Mansour announced that he longer intends to run for president. Last week, rights lawyer Khaled Ali withdrew as a potential candidate for president, citing what he claimed to be an "unfair competition." However, the NEA later issued a statement saying Ali's allegations were unfounded and could not be substantiated. Also last week, the NEA removed former military chief-of-staff Sami Anan from the voter database after it determined that he had violated the law, which prohibits military officers from participating in the election process. The deadline for submitting candidacy requests to the NEA is Monday 29 January. If no one runs against El-Sisi, Article 26 of the law regulating the presidential elections says that the sole candidate can be elected with a 'yes' vote from 5 percent of eligible voters. The upcoming presidential elections are Egypt's third since the 25 January 2011 revolution. Search Keywords: Short link: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen during a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Continuing the diplomatic offensive to strengthen engagement with ASEAN countries, India on Saturday agreed to further strengthen defence, economic and cultural ties with Cambodia. Four pacts were inked after delegation-level talks in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen including a Line of Credit from India to finance the Stung Sva Hab Water Resource Development Project in Cambodia for $36.92 million. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the current state of bilateral defence ties, including ship visits and training programmes and also agreed to further enhance defence ties, including through exchanges of senior level defence personnel and capacity building projects, the MEA said. Interestingly, Cambodia has strong ties with China. India already has extremely strong defence ties with Vietnam and is also ramping up defence ties with Laos. In a significant comment, PM Modi hailed the restoration of the 12th century Angkor Vat temples symbol of Indo-Cambodian cultural cooperation and also reaffirmed Indias commitment to undertake restoration and conservation work at the ancient temple of Lord Shiva at Preah Vihear in Cambodia. Both countries also supported the freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific and also jointly took a strong stand against terror as seen in a joint statement issued. PM Modi meanwhile announced that a Project development fund of `500 crore has been founded for assistance to Cambodia. India will also double quick impact projects--for which it provides assistance to Cambodia--from the annual 5 to 10 in that country. A Centre of Excellence in IT and IT-enabled service is also to be set up by India in Cambodia. Jamitha Teacher, 34, the general secretary of Quran Sunnath Society, led the religious congregation attended by some 50 devotees including men. Malappuram: On the occasion of the Republic Day, a Muslim woman here created history by leading the Jumah (Friday prayer) at Cherukode near Wandoor. Jamitha Teacher, 34, the general secretary of Quran Sunnath Society, led the religious congregation attended by some 50 devotees including men. She claimed that she was the first woman Imam in India to lead a Friday prayer which is usually done by men. The event was held at the headquarters of the group founded by the slain reformist scholar Chekannur Moulavi. I attempted to challenge the patriarchal worship system in the community," she told DC. "The usual religious practices are highly patriarchal and imposed by the clergy. But Islam proposes equal rights to women in all walks of life. The Quran Sunnath Society would continue to conduct women-led Jumah across the state. Though the Teachers daring act has drawn massive criticism on social media, no Muslim organisation has reacted so far. I have not received any threat for leading the prayer. I came to know that it has triggered a harsh reaction on the social media, she said. Many on Facebook lauded her attempt as revolutionary while, as usual, another section questioned it. This is not at all an issue that concerns Muslims," a Sunni leader who doesn't want to be identified told DC. The laying of main pipeline network had been completed 90 per cent, but intra-village pipeline network was lagging at just 60 per cent. (Representational image) Hyderabad: Majority of districts in Telangana state had started experiencing drinking water crisis much before summer setting in. Less than a month after 24x7 free power was launched on January 1, about 223 villages and 27 mandals passed unanimous resolutions requesting the government to restrict the scheme to nine hours or even less till summer ended. This is because, the government relies on borewells and agriculture wells for summer contingency plan to supply drinking water to affected villages and habitations and if agriculture motors run round- the-clock now, the availability of ground water in peak summer will be nil, they added. The government had set a March 31 deadline for contractors to complete Mission Bhagiratha. But, going by the current pace, the works were expected to be complete only by June-end. The laying of main pipeline network had been completed 90 per cent, but intra-village pipeline network was lagging at just 60 per cent. Without this water would not reach villages and households. This left the government to rely solely on borewells and agriculture wells to ensure water. Following protests in Karimanagar, Jagtial, Sircilla, Nalgonda and Sangareddy, officials had started imposing restrictions on free power. They were asking farmers not to use motors beyond four hours and threatening to disconnect power if they ran them round the clock because free power was available. 350 leopards have died in the state since 2013 according to data. Bhopal: An adult tiger was on Saturday found dead in the core area of Bandhavgarh National Park under Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh. Carcass of the big cat was spotted in Devahra village under Jaisinghnagar police limits inside the park by the local villagers, who latter tipped off the incident to the forest officials. This was fifth killing of tiger in the national park in last three months, according to the officials. CHENNAI: Mental Health First Aid India has launched its training programmes for psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists and social workers in Chennai. The programme focuses on providing mental health first aid strategies to the public through training and research. Mental Health First Aid India has brought in allied mental health professionals to voluntarily join a work group to contribute their knowledge, skills, and expertise to the process of adaptation of the standard Mental Health First Aid programme for India and particularly, for Tamil Nadu. First developed in Australia in 2001, mental health first aid training has evolved into a global movement with licensed programs across 22 countries over the years and has started in Chennai last year. In a disaster-prone city like Chennai, medicos emphasise a community-based approach to provide mental health first aid to recognize mental health issues, understand the symptoms and to extend appropriate initial help and support. As the disasters like cyclone, floods, drought hit the city, they can have a traumatic effect on people. Reports and research suggest that mental distress can lead to risk factors among people, following disasters. Mental Health first aid is more of a supportive response to people who are suffering and may need social support, said Dr Gloria Claessen, senior consultant, Mental Health First Aid India. A survivor of a disaster may undergo depression, fear, shock, anxiety, suicidal tendency and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, the mental health workforce in India per one lakh population includes 0.3 per cent psychiatrists, 0.12 per cent nurses, 0.07 per cent psychologists and 0.07 per cent social workers as per WHO estimates. Therefore, mental health first aid needs to be emphasized. Tamil Nadu has grown as a medical capital and we have new advancements for all illnesses, but there is a lot yet to be done in case of mental health. A mental health strategy with an individualistic approach at a family level and at community-level to fight the mental trauma they undergo post-disaster is needed in the city, said Dr Erinda Shah, mental health expert. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the heads of state/governments of Asean countries at the Republic Day parade at the Rajpath in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) India has done well to host the 25th commemorative India-Asean summit in New Delhi to indicate to the 10 Asean countries, and the bloc as a whole, how much it values its relationships with them across sectors and encompassing a wide range of political concerns. The most important of these were flagged as the fight against extremism on which subject New Delhi is to host a global conference and on maritime security. The latter in recent years has come to trouble the Asean nations as well as Japan, the East Asian economic powerhouse, as well as the United States. The reason is maritime muscle-flexing by China in order to claim practically 90 per cent of the South China Sea on account of the mineral wealth and fishing grounds these waters contain, and islands in the East China Sea it has belligerently disputed with Japan. In addition, China has converted reefs in these waters as naval and Air Force facilities, creating anxieties among the small Asean states which cant hope to match Chinas militaristic approach and also concern in the US. But it is far from clear how far India is prepared to go in sharing burdens for maritime security in these sea lanes. Does it have the will? Does it have the resources? Much would also depend on how far the Asean nations are ready to give the impression to China that they are keen to gang up on it in the company of India and possibly the US. After all, China, to them, is a much closer neighbour in geographical terms. It will certainly be hard to prepare a blueprint for maritime security at this stage. Remember, India, politically, is not even ready so far to participate in joint naval patrols along with the US in the South China Sea, as it informed the Americans not long ago. In these circumstances, it appears to have been inadvisable for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to write an Oped article, which appeared in newspapers in all the languages of all the 10 Asean nations. The language and content taunted China when it was suggested in the piece that Indias relationship with Asean was free of contests and claims. Was such an observation called for under the signature of the PM? Aside from the commemorative summit itself held a day before Republic Day, New Delhi might have left many wondering as to the prudence in treating all the visiting 10 heads of government or State as R-Day chief guests. The idea is a contradiction in terms and devalues all. It leaves the impression of crowd diplomacy of uncertain purpose, and converting a high occasion into an event management exercise. Traditionally, for 68 years, India has invited as chief guest the leader of a country with which it conspicuously wishes to flag its relationship. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan inspects the Kaleswaram project works at Laxmipur village in Ramadugu mandal in Karimnagar district on Saturday. He was accompanied by his wife Vimala Narasimhan, minister Harish Rao and officials. (Photo: DC) Warangal/KARIMNAGAR: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan visited the Kaleswaram Project in Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district on Saturday. Irrigation minister Harish Rao accompanied him to all the sites of the projects and explained him the progress of the works being taken up. They also conducted an aerial survey of Medigadda and Annaram barrages. Earlier in the day, the Governor along with lady Governor Vimala Narasimhan arrived in Kaleshwaram at 8.30 am and conducted special prayers at the Kaleswara Mukteshwaraswamy temple. Speaker Sirikonda Madhusudhana Chary, MLA P. Madhu, in charge collector R.V. Karnan, SP Bhaskaran, JC Amoy Kumar and other officials accompanied him. Later, the Governor inspected the sixth package works at Dharmaram Medaram in Peddapalli and Laxmipur tunnel works in Ramadugu mandal in Karimnagar district. Mr Narasimhan was in all praise for Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and said KCR should now on be called as Kaleswaram Chandrasekhar Rao for turning the dream of constructing a gigantic irrigation project Kaleswaram into a reality. He said the wonderful and rare project should be dedicated to the people of Telangana. He also inspected the pump house works at Goliwada and Yellampalli project by aerial survey. He expressed satisfaction over the pump house works at Annaram and Sundilla barrage. Speaking to mediapersons at Laxmipur village in Ramadugu mandal, the Governor said that he was overwhelmed with the ongoing works of Kaleswaram project in various places, including underground and tunnel works and expressed his happiness over the speed with which the works were progressing. The Governor hoped that the first phase of project works may be completed by June or July with the blessing of Kaleswara Mukteshwara Swamy. He said that irrigation minister T. Harish Rao has become Kaleswar Rao by working and thinking about the project day and night. The Governor revealed that two years ago, Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao had met him with a power point presentation on the Kaleswaram project and its salient features citing how it would help the people and farmers of North Telangana. He said that then he thought that it was KCRs dream and now he feels that KCR would turn his dream into a reality. The Governor added that workers from Bihar and Jharkhand were working in three shifts and even they were being given food at the project sites. He spoke to the contractors about the steps being taken for the well-being of the workers. Mr Narasimhan appreciated the irrigation minister for his commitment to the project and also special chief secretary S.K. Joshi and his team for the wonderful work they were doing as far as the project is concerned. Vijayawada: Support for Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy continued to pour in from the diaspora of Andhra Pradesh in Gulf countries. As a mark of commemorating the completion of the 1,000-km of the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, NRIs of AP held the Walk with Jagan Anna procession in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar on Friday. Attending the walk in Sharjah National Park, UAE, a group of NRIs said that despite coming from humble backgrounds, they could pursue quality higher education through the fee reimbursement scheme initiated by Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy during his regime and were working in big MNCs now. They also pledged their support for Mr Jagan in the upcoming election. The NRIs in Kuwait also turned out in large number to attend the walk in Maliya city. Jaswanth Naidu, who works in an investment banking firm, said We believe Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will implement a special policy for NRIs to encourage them to return to India. NRIs also urged Mr Jagan to come up with a zero red-tape investment policy for NRIs to invest in Andhra Pradesh. It would help in generating employment and reducing migration to a great extent, they said. There was a rising trend of active NRI participation in the state election. So far, more than 200 NRIs from different countries had taken part in Jagans yatra at different points of time. In the wake of Central governments attempt to allow proxy voting for NRIs where they would be allowed to vote from the country they were residing in, the role of NRIs in Indian politics was likely to go up. At the walk organised in Doha, Qatar, Suryanaryana from Anantapur said he was worried about the poor infrastructure in rural Andhra under the present government. He mentioned about the absence of a higher secondary school or a health centre in his native village. NRIs were now looking for an alternative government in Andhra Pradesh in the next election, he added. Started from Pulivendula in Kadapa, the 3,000-km walkathon of Mr Jagan to Ichhapuram would be completing 1,000 km in Saidapuram, Venka-tagiri constituency of Nellore, on January 29. The walk event was being planned in the US, the UK, Singapore, Australia, China and Malaysia on January 28. Vijayawada: The Telugu Desam party had roped in Dr P. Narayana, Sujana Chowdary and C.M. Ramesh for the designing and executing of election strategies. The YSRC is now replicating the election strategies of the Telugu Desam, for battle-2019. On similar lines, the YSRC has engaged Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, and V. Vijay Aai Reddy for the carrying out of election strategies. Mistakes committed by the YSRC in 2014 were thoroughly discussed, and this arrangement was a product of those meetings by the YSRC. The party is also assessing the popularity of its leaders who are anticipating tickets in 2019, based on a three-layer strategy. For the designing, planning and implementation of election strategies, the party has engaged Mekapati Gauam Reddy, MLA, Atmakuru for Kurnool district, Peddireddy Mithun Reddy, Rajampet MP for Anantapur, V. Vijay Sai Reddy for Chittoor and Visakhapatnam districts, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy for Nellore and Prakasham districts, Botsa Satyanarayana for Guntur district, Peddireddy Rama-chandra Reddy for Krishna, Y.V Subba Reddy for East and West Godavari districts, Bhumana Karunakar Reddy for Sreekakulam and Vizianagaram districts, and Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy for Kadapa district. Generally, regional parties have 360 degree information about their leaders, the party position in all segments, strengths and weaknesses of the candidates in competing parties, especially the ruling party, feedback about the expected candidates, suggestions from party well-wishers, and intelligence reports, said a YSRC leader. He added that the party president, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, will go by the consolidated reports and that the selection of candidates will be based on that factor alone. The ruling Telugu Desam party, thats also a regional party, has three-and-a-half decades of experience in several political techniques like poll management, organised structure of cadres and leaders, and the strategic formation of pressure groups. In fact, they are ahead of the YSRC in around 90 Assembly segments, according to a senior YSRC leader, who adds that the YSRC is now getting acquainted with all these political techniques. Leaders who are assigned responsibilities in the districts, will be likely to be confined to the back-office work of the party, he concludes. Hyderabad: MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday appealed to Muslims to socially boycott those who take the instant triple talaq route for divorce. Addressing a public meeting, Tahafuzz-e- Shariayat (Save Sharia) at Secunderabad late on Friday night, he reiterated that the triple talaq Bill was unjust to women; if it becomes law it would lead to the exploitation of women. He said that the Bill was a conspiracy against the Muslim community and it is a strategy to bring out the women of the community on roads and send the men to prison. Asking whether the legislation would stop the practice of instant triple talaq, he said between 2005-2015 there were more than 80,000 dowry deaths in India and 22 women die daily due to dowry. Stating that after the Delhi rape case, there was a rapid increase in rape cases and every two hours a woman was being raped in India. He said evils in society cannot be eradicated through legislation. He alleged that the BJP government at the Centre had tried to push the triple talaq Bill without consulting Muslims scholars or even Muslim members of the Union Cabinet. Yet the Prime Minister took several measures to safeguard the sentiments of Rajputs. Zamalek club chairman, lawyer and MP Mortada Mansour announced on Saturday that he longer intends to run in Egypt's upcoming presidential elections, which are set for March. In a press conference at his home, Mansour offered his gratitude to fellow parliamentarians and citizens who had signed endorsements required to put him on the ballot. "I will announce the full details later," Mansour said, adding that he will also reveal at a later date which candidate he will be supporting in the elections. Mansour had announced his intention to run for president earlier this month. Saturday's announcement comes as Egypt awaits a final decision by the liberal Wafd Party's higher commission on fielding party chairman El-Sayed El-Badawi in the race. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi submitted his candidacy documents as well as his endorsement forms to the National Election Authority (NEA). Last week, rights lawyer Khaled Ali withdrew as a potential candidate for president, citing what he claimed to be an "unfair competition." However, the NEA later issued a statement saying Ali's allegations were unfounded and could not be substantiated. Also last week, the NEA removed the name of another potential candidate, the former military chief of staff Sami Anan, from the voters' database, the former military chief of staff Sami Anan, after it determined that he had violated the law which bans military officers from participating in the election process. The deadline for submitting candidacy requests to the NEA in Monday 29 January. Short link: The banking sector is expected to be stronger in the New Year with the news of stressed loans dipping from record highs for the first time and the government proposing to recapitalise banks by infusing Rs 88,000 crore this fiscal. The banking sector is expected to be stronger in the New Year with the news of stressed loans dipping from record highs for the first time and the government proposing to recapitalise banks by infusing Rs 88,000 crore this fiscal. The total recapitalisation planned is Rs 2,10,000 crore. This will not only enable banks to clean up their balance sheets but also increase their lending capacity, meet the Basel III regulatory capital norms and improve their financial risk profile. They will also have to put aside less funds to meet the stiff provisioning requirements for NPAs. The governments seriousness in tackling the menace of NPAs is welcome and is underscored by its move to set up specialised monitoring agencies for loans above Rs 250 crore and for tackling NPAs through sale of non-core assets. However, the government would do well to provide funds predicated on the performance of the banks so that good money does not chase bad money. It is encouraging that under the Narendra Modi government the rampant practise of politicians directing banks to lend to their favourite businessmen has been curbed to a significant extent if not eradicated completely. Going forward, banks also need to hone their skills in assessing borrowers and in this they can take the assistance of institutions like the IDBI Bank. There have been various mechanisms like sharing information about borrowers by banks as many of them borrow simultaneously from several banks; and having a risk profile of various borrowers to help banks in making decisions whilst dispensing loans. This skill is particularly needed when lending to corporates who borrow simultaneously from several banks. It is an irony that it is the bigger corporates that account for major loan defaults. The irony of the Don of protectionism pleading for free, fair and open trade might not have been lost on his critics. But US President Donald Trump did make a fair impression at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he spent a couple of days making a pitch for the US as an investment and business destination to several hundred plutocrats of the global business world. Reading an impressive line from the teleprompter on how America First did not mean America alone, Mr Trump was very much the real estate salesman hardselling his country to global traders and head honchos of industries. In his sweet-talking avatar before a packed gathering, Mr Trump even went to the extent of promising to go back to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he had abrogated in one of his first acts on assuming office a year ago. Free trade in the increasingly interconnected global scenario would appear to be something all countries would actively seek nowadays. Last year, Xi Jinping of China was the one who was pleading for open trade, which went down well because the Davos gatherings have always focused on trade, even if the leaders of nations there would like to use it as a forum for broader action. Mr Trump pointed out how a new, lower corporate tax structure, economy that grew at 2.6 per cent in the last quarter and job creation made todays US the place to be in. The sceptics may still knock Mr Trump for not using the opportunity to deliver even a hint of commitment to go along with the world on battling climate change. But the Trump we saw in Davos was his business avatar. He may have been soundly booed when he slipped in his fake media phobia comment, but the world would like to believe Mr Trump was being sincere in inviting the globalists to the US to do business. British Prime Minister Theresa May has asked lawyers to make sure the legal gags dont work and there is no obstruction to the women exposing the sleaze-bags. In the beginning was the word Such a one as no one ever heard It has never appeared in any dictionary Atheists claim its fictionary Some claim it was a single syllable Echoing from the welkins dome A sound that was the womb of the universe Transformed by the human ear as OM.... From Aas Pass by Bachchoo Do ends justify means? The Ormond Street childrens hospital, a pioneering London charity, has returned a donation of several million pounds to an organisation called The Presidents Club. The money was donated by this all-male institution of the very rich hedge-fundwallas, city slickers, tax-dodge persons and some great and good. The Presidents Club has been going for 30 years and has collected over 20 million which it donates to charity. The club holds an annual dinner and auction through which it gathers donations which, of course, can be legally deducted from the tax the donors owe the Inland Revenue. This years dinner has caused the largest national scandal, so far, of 2018. Not being a stockbroker, a Member of Parliament or hedge-fund walla and certainly neither great nor good, I have never been invited. A female journalist from the Financial Times enlisted undercover at an agency which recruited hostesses for the event. The only woman at the Dorchester hotel event were these paid hostesses students, secretaries and those deemed to be young and attractive looking for the nights wage of 170 and some seasoned and professional hostesses. The reporter said she was asked to wear a black dress as were other young women. There were other women dressed in red which signalled a willingness to accompany clients to their rooms upstairs. The auction this year featured such prizes as a course of plastic surgery for your wife. The auctioneer paraded a presumably sexy hostess saying your wife could look like this and invited bids. A lunch with the foreign secretary Boris Johnson was also auctioned though after the scandal Boris said he didnt agree to it. The food, drink and fundraising auction were not the central inducement to the ball. There was the assumption that groping the women, seating them on your lap and putting your hand up their skirts was a part of the licensed and licentious fun of the ball. The undercover reporter said she witnessed a man pulling his penis out and showing it to the hostesses he summoned. She heard a guest demanding that a hostess drains her champagne, rip her knickers off and dance on their table. Several club members had booked rooms for the night to which they could carry the red-dressed women at negotiable prices. The hostesses had their phones taken away, their trips to the cloakrooms were monitored and they were made to sign non-disclosure agreements. Very many of the novice hostesses didnt know what they were in for and have registered complaints about sexual harassment. The minister for women and children, Nadhim Zahawi, was a guest on the occasion and now protests that he left the party (not the Tory Party or the one at the Dorchester) before any groping began. David Meller, the businessman who organised the event, was on the board of the ministry of education and was forced to resign. The celebrity actor David Walliams was hosting the function, acting as the master of ceremonies and he too claims he left early and didnt witness any of the sleaze. The matter was raised in Parliament by women MPs from both sides of the House. Why, decades after the feminist movement had won several victories, were women still being used as sexual bait for casually predatory, rich men? Presumably, some of the women, new to the job of being a hostess didnt know what to expect and were certainly not offering their bodies in any way to all the Presidents men. Others may have known precisely what hosting in a black or red dress entailed. As I said, I wasnt invited to this or indeed to any other occasion where hostesses, pole-dancers or the like were present. I did once, a few decades ago, share a flat in London with a young Indian friend who claimed he worked at a travel agency. He was very often out late into the night and sometimes didnt return to the flat for days. It was after a few months of sharing the flat with him that I unwittingly opened the wardrobe in his room and found it packed with dinner jackets and expensive suits. This was in the days before the Internet was available to dish out information and I recall on a few occasions he would ask me to summarise the story of a play by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams or of one or other opera in brief. I thought his urgent quest for literary knowledge a bit odd but didnt question it. It was only after a particular crisis that I discovered that he may have been employed at the travel agency but his real money came from being a male escort to lonely, mostly visiting American women of a certain age. He would accompany them to the theatre, to restaurants and their hotel rooms and even on brief trips to Paris or Edinburgh. The story ended well for him. Years later, I was told that an American widow, one of his clients, had left him a substantial sum of money in her will. The Presidents Club has now been liquidated. Several of the men at the Dorchester sex-fest are attempting to legally gag the women who they fear might expose their shameful activity. Theresa May has asked lawyers to make sure the legal gags dont work and there is no obstruction to the women exposing the sleaze-bags. Women MPs are seeking ways to ban such institutions and events through law. They should succeed though I dont suppose there will be parallel laws banning male escorts from accompanying lonely rich ladies to Hamlet or Rigoletto. The conference of director generals and inspector generals of police is an annual affair which is addressed by the Prime Minister. Prior to the advent of the Modi government, it was held in Delhi but since 2014 following a directive of Mr Modi, the home ministry has been organising the conference outside the national capital. The last three conferences were held in Guwahati, Rann of Kutch and Hyderabad. During the last meeting in Hyderabad, issues such as cross-border terrorism and radicalisation were discussed in detail. This year, it was held at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh and the Prime Minister had a day-long interaction with senior police officers and delivered the keynote speech. Sources say that the focus of Mr Modis address was the importance of social media in the context of cyber security. Cyber security issues should be dealt with immediately and should receive highest priority. In that context, he mentioned the importance of social media, adding the messaging should rely on local languages for greater effectiveness. He also talked about breaking of silos and better information-sharing among the states. Security matters Two days and two instances of rejection. Eyebrows were raised in the capitals babu circles when the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in a recent meeting declined proposals of the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for extension of deputation tenure of two IPS officers serving in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The ACC has declined the MHAs proposal of extending the deputation tenure of 1991 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Piyush Anand, serving as Inspector General (IG) in CRPF. His deputation tenure ended on January 2, 2018. The committee also declined to extend the deputation tenure of V.S. Yadav, a 1987 batch Tripura cadre IPS and Inspector General of Police in CRPF, for a period of one year beyond November 14, 2017. However, the committee approved the proposal of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) for temporary upgradation of two vacant posts of DIGs to joint director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for two years. Sources say that this has been done to enable supervision of the Vyapam and Ponzi chit fund scam cases. Cadre power Jharkhand chief secretary Rajbala Verma is under a cloud with the state government issuing her a show cause notice over the fodder scam. Apparently, the babu has not responded to more than 30 notices from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since 2003. Ms Verma was asked to explain why she did not take action to highlight the multi-crore scam in the 1990s in her capacity as the then deputy commissioner of West Singbhum district. The Opposition parties too have been raising a ruckus demanding Ms Vermas removal and an independent probe into her role in the scam. Political heat aside, Ms Verma is due for superannuation next month and lobbying is underway for the coveted post. Sources say the government is considering IAS officers from 1983 to 1985 batches. It is also rumoured that the government may not include IAS officers on central deputation for consideration. As such, Ms Smita Chugh, member secretary, Tariff Commission; Mr Rajiv Gauba, union home secretary; Mr B.K. Tripathi, member secretary, NCR Planning Board and Mr Udai Pratap Singh, vice-chairman of DDA are out of reckoning. Unperturbed after his draft political-tactical line was defeated at the recently held Central Committee meeting of the party, CPI(M) secretary general Sitaram Yechury says the party congress would decide the final line to follow. In a detailed interview to Sreeparna Chakrabarty, Mr Yechury maintained that the differences in the party were not personal but related to tactics political in nature and asserted that though the majority view prevails, the minority has a right to be heard and go up to the highest forum. He also expressed confidence that the party congress would pragmatically decide how to achieve the objective of containing ascendancy of the RSS-BJP combine. What is the difference all about? Do you think this it is personal? I continue to maintain that these are differences over tactics. Since they are political differences, there are methods of resolving them, which we have employed. Majority view prevails in the party but minority can have the right to go up to the highest forum that is the party congress but whatever is decided by the majority becomes the party line to follow. Unlike other political parties, we have a very vibrant inner-party democracy in our party. Differences get reduced to personal ego clashes or personal preferences in other political parties, but that is not the case with us; there is a clear difference of how to approach to achieve the main objective of defeating this BJP government. But you offered to quit. You wanted your draft to be put to vote. This is serious, how does one take it from here? It was not that I insisted that there be a vote but when there is a difference of opinion, there is no other way to resolve it except through a vote. When the draft I had presented was not accepted by the central committee, I offered to resign. I felt it was untenable for me to continue. I relented when the Politburo unanimously said that my resignation would send across a wrong message. I accepted the majority opinion and conveyed it to the central committee which unanimously endorsed it. These are the facts which I narrated in the press conference after the central committee meeting also. What then is the difference between the two drafts? Both the drafts state the same thing. In the document I presented to the central committee, I have mentioned that the main task before the party is to defeat the communal offensive led by the RSS-backed BJP government. On that there is no dispute in the party. How do you go about doing this? We will require the independent strength of our party and its political interventional capacities to grow stronger. This means we have to work with greater cooperation with the Left parties and strengthen Left unity. Then we will expand our base to include other democratic forces which need not be only political parties but also peoples movements and bring them all together in order to forge a Left and democratic alliance or a front which will pose a policy alternative to the present government. Also, the offensive which is being carried out for political polarisation and the Hindutva nationalism aimed at transforming our secular democratic republic into the RSS vision of a Hindu rashtra would be combated through campaigns along with all the secular forces. Further, as elections approach, we will work out appropriate tactics to achieve this objective of ousting this BJP government while not entering into any electoral alliance or a front with ruling class parties. The point of difference is on what tactics we will employ to achieve this; whether there should be an understanding with the Congress Party or not. An electoral alliance or front is ruled out by both. In practical terms, in various states where we are weak, our attempt will be to defeat the BJP by joining hands with regional parties which may or may not have an alliance with the Congress Party. If your party does not align with anybody, does it have enough strength to go it alone? No. We are under no illusion that we can defeat the communal forces alone. We have prepared a majority draft which will be discussed at the party congress and an appropriate electoral tactic will be worked out which will depend on the ground reality during the time of elections. What about the alliance with regional parties? We will have a talk with the regional parties. If a particular regional party is having an alliance with the Congress Party, then it is their business. We dont have anything to do with the Congress. Many state committees which do not have numerical strength are with your minority draft. What happens now? We have constitutionally mandated that the central committee releases the draft political resolution two months before the party congress convenes and this will be released to the entire rank and file of the party. Each party member has the right to move an amendment that will be sent to our central leadership as well as the state committees. These are the constitutional rights no one can change. Can the minority view, if raised, be accommodated? This is the first time such a situation has arisen. Only the party congress can decide on how it can be accommodated. It has happened before but not on issues which are for the future. It has happened on issues that have already passed like Jyoti Basus prime ministership and the question of withdrawing support from the Morarji Desai government. These issues had gone to the party congress. In view of the global and Indian situation, do you believe your line is more pragmatic? Globally, there is a shift towards right. This can be seen from the ascendancy of US president Donald Trump, the Brexit vote and the situation in France and Germany. The political right, extreme right is asserting itself. This is not unnatural. In periods of very intense capitalist crisis, such things happen. In our country also, there is a right word shift. To resist this political right and to stall their further advance, we have to work out tactics. The priority is to ensure that the RSS-backed polity does not control state power in our country. This is a force that needs to be defeated if you want to at least maintain India as we all know, as a country with tremendous diversity. Admirers and critics alike have obscured Jinnahs stellar role in the Bhagat Singh case. One is glad of the determined efforts of Pakistans Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation to raise a statue at the site in Lahore where Singh and his colleagues, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, were hanged on March 23, 1931. It also asks that Bhagat Singh should be conferred posthumously with the Nishan-i-Haider, his case be reopened by the Lahore High Court, and the death sentence set aside. Bhagat Singh was born in the village Banga in Lyallpur on Sept 27, 1907. The tribunal that awarded the sentence was illegally constituted, the evidence was weak, the defendants were virtually unrepresented, a mass of prejudice was created by the British, the judges were managed and so was the Privy Council. A book that reproduces the whole record from archives would be a service to truth. Singh wanted to kill British police superintendent James Scott, who he believed ordered the baton charge on a procession in Lahore on October 30, 1928, that resulted in the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. On Dec 17, 1928, Singh, 23, shot and killed police officer John Saunders, believing him to be Scott. Successfully evading capture, he might have escaped the gallows were it not for the fact that he and Batukeshwar Dutt detonated improvised bombs in the Central Assembly on April 8, 1929. They were sentenced to transportation for life on June 12, 1929. A month later, the Lahore conspiracy trial began before a tribunal set up by an ordinance of six months duration. Itself under a sentence of death, it passed a death sentence on Bhagat Singh. The Lahore High Court Bar Association set up a committee to examine the ordinance. Its report of June 19, 1930, was signed by Sir Moti Sagar, Gokal Chand Narang, Malik Barkat Ali and Allama Iqbal. Singh wrote to the IGP for jails demanding an end to torture, supply of necessities and literature of all kinds (history, economics, political science, science, poetry, drama or fiction, newspapers). The accused went on hunger strike, causing the death of Jatindra Nath Das. The government came under fierce attack in the Central Assembly, led by Jinnah. The Tribune, generally hostile to him, reported on September 14, 1929: Mr Jinnah created a profound impression by the excellent form in which he argued the case. The government was sacrificing the fundamental principles of jurisprudence and wanted the House to change the law of the land to create a farce. As regards the Lahore accused, they were creatures of the present system. Mr Jinnah was proceeding in this strain winning applause after applause from the spell-bound House.... Jinnah had done considerable research. The issue was whether a criminal trial can proceed if the accused has voluntarily rendered himself incapable of remaining before the court by a hunger strike. He said, May I ask, with whom are you at war? What are the resources of these few young men who, according to you, have committed certain offences? ... Surely this is not a matter on which there should be this struggle that you should not at once yield to their demands for bare necessities of life. Jinnah said, You know perfectly well that these men are determined to die. It is not a joke. I ask the honble law member to realise that it is not everybody who can go on starving himself to death. ... The man who goes on hunger-strike has a soul. He is moved by that soul and he believes in the justice of his cause; he is not an ordinary criminal who is guilty of cold-blooded, sordid, wicked crime. Mind you, sir, I do not approve the action of Bhagat Singh, and I say this on the floor of this House. I regret that, rightly or wrongly, youth today in India is stirred up, and you cannot, when you have three hundred and odd millions of people, prevent such crimes being committed, however much you deplore them and however much you may say that they are misguided. It is the system, this damnable system of government, which is resented by the people. During the trial, the government removed justice Agha Hyder from the tribunal because he did not follow their line. He said, I am a judge, not a butcher. Six of the seven eye-witnesses testimonies collapsed. The survivor, Abdullah, was a chance witness who contradicted himself. Unlike Zia, the British did not wish to hang a man on a divided verdict. Singhs last letter to his brother ended with Wajid Ali Shahs famous line: Khush raho ahle-watan hum to safar karte hain (Farewell my countrymen, I embark on a journey). By arrangement with Dawn Davos: Declaring that America is open for business under his leadership, Donald Trump told a wary gathering of political and business elites on Friday that the economic growth taking place in the US under to his America first agenda also benefits the rest of the world. Mr Trump told the WEF 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 interests within his nations borders. As president of the US, I will always put America first just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first, said Mr 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 US grows, so does the world, Mr Trump said. American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the US has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives. 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 and hisses when Mr Trump took a swipe at how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be. Houston: The Indian-American foster parents of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert in Dallas, on Saturday relinquished custody and parental rights to their biological child. In a custody hearing, Wesley and Sini Mathews stood in shackles before a judge and agreed to relinquish their parental rights - an irrevocable decision, Dallas News 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, 37, has been charged with capital murder in Sherin's death. Sini, 35, 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. Read Also: Sherin Mathews' father indicted on murder charge, may face death penalty 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. In December last year, 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, who was adopted by the Indian American couple, from an orphanage in Bihar. Read Also: Sherins father dumped her body with bag of trash, went shopping 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. Read Also: Foster father hid Sherin's body with trash, disposed corpse in tunnel 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. Read Also: Sherin Mathews had broken bones, injuries in various stages 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 was arrested in October on a felony injury to a child charge after the girl's body was found. He originally told police that he put her outside on October 7 at 3 am because she would not drink her milk. He later changed that story to say that the child choked on her milk. Read Also: Sherin Mathews showed signs of abuse, broken bones: Doctor 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. In chaotic scenes at the Jamuriate hospital, which is the nearest medical facility to the blast, overwhelmed doctors and nurses rushed to treat dozens of wounded lying in the corridors. (Photo: AFP) Kabul: The casualty toll from Saturday's ambulance bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul reached at least 95 dead and 158 wounded, a health ministry official said. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast, a week after it claimed an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul in which more than 20 people were killed. The bomb was hidden in an ambulance and went off at a police checkpoint in an area near foreign embassies and government buildings, officials said. Saturday is a working day in Afghanistan and the streets were busy at the time. (Photo: AFP) "It is a massacre," said Dejan Panic coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a nearby trauma hospital. In a message on Twitter, the group said more than 50 wounded had been brought in to that hospital alone. The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday condemned the terrorist attacks in Kabul and conveyed India's heartfelt condolences to next of kin of the victims. India strongly condemns barbaric terrorist attacks in Kabul targeting innocent civilians. This follows the cowardly attack on children & civilians in Jalalabad on 24 Jan. There can be no justification for it. The perpetrators & their supporters should be brought to justice.: MEA ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 India stands in solidarity with Govt & people of Afghanistan at this difficult time of mindless violence & terror imposed on them. We convey our heartfelt condolences to next of kins of victims of these terror attacks & pray for speedy recovery to those injured: MEA #KabulAttack ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 Mirwais Yasini, a member of parliament who was nearby when the explosion occurred, said the ambulance approached the checkpoint, close to an office of the High Peace Council and several foreign embassies, and blew up. He said a number of people were lying on the ground. People helped walking wounded away as ambulances with sirens wailing inched their way through the traffic-clogged streets of the city centre. A plume of grey smoke rose from the blast area in the city centre and buildings hundreds of metres away were shaken by the force of the explosion. The explosion comes exactly a week after Taliban militants stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, the majority foreigners. (Photo: ANI) Kabul: At least 40 people were killed and more than 140 wounded in a suicide car bombing in the capital Kabul claimed by the Taliban, the Afghan Public Health Ministry told the news agency Associated Press (AP). Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said, "The attacker used an ambulance to get through one security checkpoint by telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital. He detonated his explosives at a second check point, Rahimi said. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack, which sent thick, dark smoke into the sky from from the site of the explosion near the government's former Interior Ministry building. The explosion comes exactly a week after Taliban militants stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, the majority foreigners. A security alert issued to foreigners on Saturday morning warned that the Islamic State group, which has terrorised the city in recent months, was planning "to conduct aggressive attacks" on supermarkets, shops and hotels frequented by foreigners. The head of Egypt's National Press Authority (NPA) Karam Gabr talked to Al-Ahram Daily in an interview, to be published in its Sunday edition, about objectivity and transparency in covering Egypt's upcoming presidential elections, which will take in March. Gabr said that the NPA has prepared guidelines for media outlets to follow when covering the elections in order to ensure impartiality and transparency. Gabr said that news media should not rely on anonymous sources, whose information can be difficult to verify. "These are open elections that hold no secrets," Gabr said. Gabr also underscored the necessity of maintaining objectivity, saying that the media should give all candidates equal opportunity to present their programme. On covering President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's candidacy, Gabr said that this should be handled with adherence to two main points. The first is highlighting El-Sisi's accomplishments during his tenure as president, "which do not belong to President El-Sisi alone, but to the Egyptian state and the Egyptian people." "These accomplishments should be given their due in promotion before the public," Gabr said. The second point is that El-Sisi's candidacy should be covered with the same respect shown to all other candidates. Gabr also said that the NPA governs in adherence to the law and the National Elections Authority (NEA), and that media outlets should not rush to announce the results of the elections. "The NEA is the only body with the authority to announce the results," Gabr said. Gabr also said that every journalist has the right to obtain information and be present at polling stations. He added that journalists also have duties to which they must adhere, the foremost of which is maintaining impartiality. On the role of state news outlets in covering the elections, Gabr said that state outlets represent the "conscience of the press." Gabr said that these outlets mainly comprise of seven online news portals, including Al-Ahram's English-language portal and a soon-to-be-launched French-language portal. When asked how the NPA will ensure that the media maintains objectivity, Gabr said that dialogue is the most important assurance of commitment from media outlets within criteria that adheres to the Egyptian constitution as well as the United Nations' programmes for running elections. On how the NPA would handle non-adherence to the aforementioned guidelines, Gabr said that the NPA has the legal authority to communicate with outlets that fail to adhere, and that there is a committee to monitor published material. "We want to present a model [for coverage] through state outlets, which play an important role, given that they represent the state and Egypt overall," Gabr said, stressing that the NPA in no way interferes in the editorial policies of news outlets. Gabr also said that it is important not to report news obtained from social media without confirming its veracity. "[Social media] is an open space with a strong presence of terrorist groups that wage wars of defamation in an effort to disrupt the [Egyptian] experience from its outset," Gabr said. "I am not of the school that calls for responsible freedom, neither am I a proponent of the idea that 'he who is with me is a patriot, and he who is against me is a traitor'," Gabr said, stressing that what is needed is "freedom that adheres to the law." When asked how state newspapers are to return to a prominent position, Gabr said that they must "return to their true owners" and to readers of all political orientations, especially considering that Egyptian society is witnessing major economic, political and social changes. "A large part of journalism operates as if it is still in the sphere of the socialist union [of the 1960s], with the same headlines and the same leanings; believing that they are still in the era of mobilisation; this cannot continue," Gabr said. "The world has changed; there is diversity in political opinion, with younger generation influenced by new worldwide political thoughts." Short link: 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. (File Photo/Representational) London: An Indian-origin jeweller has been found dead in the UK after being reported missing, prompting police to launch a murder investigation. Ramniklal Jogiya went 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 on Saturday 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. Jogiya's 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. Paris: Men will face fines of up to 80 if they comment on a womans body or appearance in public. The new proposals put forward to the French government are aimed at combatting the levels of harassment rife on the streets of the countrys cities, Mail Online reported. An 80 fine will be issued to anyone who behaves in a manner which infringes the freedom of movement of women in public spaces and undermines self-esteem and the right to security. Politicians have been putting their heads together for a report on how to tackle the issue and define what constitutes sexual outrage, according to The Local. This has been the foundation of the plans drawn up to eradicate what is described as everyday sexism in France. The house, described as a 'slum', was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay) London: An Indian-origin family who colluded with a property agent to let out their four-bedroom house in north London to more than 40 immigrants have been found guilty of overcrowding by a court in London. Harsha Shah, 53, her daughter Chandni, 27, and her brother-in-law Sanjay, 54, worked with agent Jaydipkumar Valand, 42, to illegally undertake multiple tenancies at the 1920s property which they also let fall into a state of disrepair, a UK court was told this week. The house, described as a slum, was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week, the Harrow Crown Court was told. The occupants had just two bathrooms to share between them and the fire exits were all blocked, causing a safety hazard. While the Shah family and Valand were convicted in May last year, they are now fighting against having to hand over nearly 360,000 pounds obtained as rent during the course of the tenancy at a confiscation hearing at the Court. Edmund Robb, appearing on behalf of the local Brent Borough Council, told Judge Stephen Rubin that besides claiming back any housing benefits paid out by the authority, the rent paid can also be seized under the UKs proceeds of crime act. Receiving rent was in breach of a selective licence. If they had complied with the regulations the money would not have come into their hands. There was a minimum of 25 people living in the house and there could at any one time be up to 40 people living in the house, he said. However, the defence argued that taking the rent from the migrants was not an offence, and therefore, a confiscation order was not enforceable. We say that receiving the rent is not a criminal offence and neither is continuing the tenancy. They are clearly in breach of the law, but the receiving of rent was not illegal, said lawyer Cameron Scott. Judge Rubin will reserve his judgment on whether a proceeds of crime order can be enforced. Meanwhile, following a trial at Willesden Magistrates Court last year, the Shah family were found guilty of failing to have the proper licence and will be sentenced at a later date. Riyadh: Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal the billionaire who was released after nearly three months in detention on Saturday has been dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia for his vast business interests. He (Prince Al-Waleed) is out, the associate said, The terms of his release were not clear. The Saudi information ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Authorities have previously said most of those detained struck monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom, which could earn state coffers about $100 billion. No stranger to controversy and headlines, Prince Al-Waleed was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since November 4 under a sweeping anti-graft campaign and held at Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He is the latest in a series of detainees to be freed from the hotel, as the campaign launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman draws to a close. Ranked among the richest men in the world, the 62-year-old investor is the grandson of two of the Arab worlds most prominent figures: King Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and Riad al-Solh, Lebanons first premier. Prince Al-Waleed first burst into the business-meets-politics scene in the late 1980s, when he began building what was to become a global empire of banks, luxury hotels and media holdings. In 2015, he slammed US President Donald Trump on Twitter for his rhetoric during the US presidential campaign, calling him a disgrace to America and urging him to drop out. In response, Trump ridiculed him on Twitter as a dopey prince. Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabias future king, has since become a close ally of Trump. On the surface, the cousins appear to share the same views, both supporting increased rights for women in the kingdom. But reports of intense rivalry between the two have also long featured in royal circles. The Kingdom Holding Company in which the prince has a 95 per cent stake owns The Savoy in London, the Fairmont Plaza and the famed George V hotel in Paris. The prince, known for having a taste for luxury, has also invested in Lyft and Twitter. He is also an active philanthropist who donates, by his own account, millions of dollars each year to charities. An arch defender of women's rights in a country where women face a raft of restrictions, and an outspoken proponent of political reform, the prince has never made a secret of his views. It is natural that Washington, D.C, with its many museums and monuments, should offer visitors a comprehensive immersion into American history and culture. But it's not just the American way of life visitors can discover. For instance, within the city's Smithsonian museums, entries to which are always free, also lies an impressive, not-to-be-missed collection of Indian art. This diverse group of paintings, sculptures and photographs gives insight into ancient Indian dynasties and contemporary Indian life. The Indian art collection lives in the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian's two museums of Asian art that neighbour each other along the National Mall. The galleries have now re-opened after extensive renovations. Freer|Sackler, as the galleries are commonly known, categorises its collection by region. Indian art is part of the South Asian and Himalayan Art collection, which includes more than 1,200 objects from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, ranging from the 1st century BC to the present. "In our galleries, we seek to present artworks that came out of both religious and secular arenas. Our new galleries at the Freer will look at the ways different communities understood the body and how that manifested in artworks. On view will be Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sculptures, courtly paintings and luxury objects," says Debra Diamond, curator of South and Southeast Asian art at Freer|Sackler. A few highlights of Indian art in this selection: Chola bronzes From the 9th to the 13th centuries, the Chola dynasty was the dominant cultural, artistic, religious and political force in South India. Chola rulers commissioned elegant sculptures and majestic temples of Hindu deities, to proclaim the power and wealth of their dynasty. A"small but superb" collection of Chola bronze sculptures at the Freer gallery includes Shiva Nataraja, Nandi and the portrait sculpture of Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi as Goddess Uma or Parvati. The queen, known as a patron of the arts, focused on temple commissions. Her statue, "extraordinary in its grace," offers "a rare glimpse of a powerful historical woman," says Diamond. Mughal & Rajput paintings The works in this collection rotate, "but we've always got a few masterpieces on view," says Diamond. The artists who worked for the Rajput courts "made conscious decisions about styles and subjects, and their works helped to shape culture in western India," she says. The Mughals "were globally connected. So, these works are always very interesting as springboards for thinking about the present," adds Diamond. Until February 2018, the Freer Gallery will put on view what Diamond says is "one of the only extant allegorical portraits" of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor. The subject of the painting is his "dream projection of dominance over Persia during a period when he's vying with Shah Abbas for control of Qandahar," which is part of present Afghanistan. Meteoric iron knife The Freer Gallery also keeps on permanent display a knife made partially of meteoric iron for Mughal emperor Jahangir. "It's the only surviving blade, of four, that he had forged from a meteor that fell outside of Jalandhar in 1621," informs Diamond. Siddhapratima Yantra This "very rare shrine of a Jain siddha (is) one of the most extraordinary objects in the museum," says Diamond. It's meant to show "a being that had transcended samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth). So, the artist depicted the being as negative space, which is very conceptual, very profound," she adds. Indian photography Diamond calls the more-than-200 photographs by Indian photographer Raghubir Singh (1942-99) "the jewel of our collection." It's the "largest museum collection of works by this pioneering modern master of colour," she says. To see these and the other Indian and South Asian artworks, Diamond recommends visitors allocate at least 45 minutes to the Freer gallery and another 45 to the Sackler gallery. She also suggests visitors check with the galleries in advance regarding any special exhibitions on South Asia. For instance, till June 24, 2018, Freer|Sackler is featuring a large installation called 'Terminal', by Subodh Gupta, a contemporary multimedia artist based in New Delhi. Diamond suggests a viewing strategy as well. Upon entering the Freer gallery, she suggests one should take a quick peek into the doorways of all the galleries of Japanese, Islamic, Chinese and American art, so that, "when you enter the Indian galleries, you are struck immediately by how very distinctive the South Asian attitudes are toward the body. Indian artists told stories with the body, and they extolled its spiritual and physical beauty. It's sensuous and transcendent at the same time, completely unique." Atleast thirteen persons were killed and three others were injured when a tempo traveller fell into the Panchganga river from the Shivaji bridge in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra on Friday night. According to reports, the bus was coming from Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri district via the Kolhapur district and was headed towards Pune. The victims are said to be from three families - Warkhede, Nangre and Kedari from Pune. "We have recovered bodies. Three injured are admitted in hospital," Superintendent of Police, Kolhapur, Sanjeev Mohite said. According to initial reports. the bus was carrying 16 passengers. Apparently, the driver lost control over the bus and it fell into the river. The district administration and police swung into action and cranes were mounted to pull the bus out. The deceased were identified as Santosh Babanrao Warkhade (45), Gauri Santosh Warkhade (16), Gnyaneshwari Santosh Warkhade (14), Sachin Bharat Kedari (34), Neelam Sachin Kedari (28), Sanskriti Sachin Kedari (8), Sanidhya Sachin Kedari (9 months), Sahil Dilip Kedari (14), Bhavna Dilip Kedari (34), Shravani Dilip Kedari (11), Chaya Dinesh Nangre (41) and the driver, who is yet to be identified. The injured were identified as Prajakta Dinesh Kangre (18), Manisha Santosh Warkhade (38) and Manda Bharat Kedare (54). The Indian-American 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, Wesley and Sini Mathews stood in shackles before a judge and agreed to relinquish their parental rights - an irrevocable decision, Dallas News 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, 37, has been charged with capital murder in Sherin's death. Sini, 35, 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, who was adopted by the Indian American couple, from an orphanage in Bihar. 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 was arrested in October on a felony injury to a child charge after the girl's body was found. He originally told police that he put her outside on October 7 at 3 AM 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. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked party leaders from poll-bound Karnataka to prepare "people's manifesto" and undertake mass outreach programmes, taking a cue from similar exercise during the party's recent electoral outing in Gujarat. Karnataka goes to polls this year. "The exercise has already been undertaken by a team headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily and it is expected to come out with an 'all-encompassing manifesto' much ahead of polling in the state," a senior party leader said. "The party president has asked leaders to come out with a manifesto that truly reflects the expectations of the people of Karnataka. The Congress will seek feedback from all stakeholders," AICC secretary in-charge for Karnataka, Madhu Goud Yaskhi, told PTI. In a similar exercise, telecom entrepreneur Sam Pitroda had interacted with residents of five cities of Gujarat, namely Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surat, ahead of the two-phased assembly elections there last year. The manifesto prepared thus focused on education, health, small and medium enterprises, employment generation and environmental protection. "That 'good' practice helped us know what people wanted. It is better than leaders sitting in their offices and drafting manifestoes," another party leader said. He said in Karnataka, the party unit will focus on socio-economic aspects relating to development. The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has performed well and listed its pro-people schemes like Ksheer Bhagya, Anna Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Indira Vastra Bhagya, Indira Canteen and others, the Congress leader said. While the schedule for the 224-member state assembly poll is yet to be announced, campaign for the high voltage election has already begun with leaders of both the Congress and BJP exchanging barbs at each other. The southern state is expected to witness a triangular contest with the H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) being the third dominant player. A Delhi court has sentenced a man to five years in jail for pushing into a drain a 66-year-old person, who later died during medical treatment, saying the attacker did not have the intention but had the knowledge that his actions may cause the victim's death. Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam handed down the jail term to 37-year-old Raman for the offence under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. "It can be safely held that in the case in hand, the accused has done the act with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death but without any intention to cause death and caused such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and as such, court is of the view that act committed by accused falls under part II of the Section 304 IPC," the judge said. The court, while holding him guilty of the offence, noted that on March 9, 2017, the victim was standing with his son outside a government school in east Delhi when the accused came to snatch a Rs 500 note from him. After an altercation, the accused hit the man with a brick and pushed him into a drain. The injuries suffered by the old man, who was already suffering from various ailments, were sufficient to cause his death, the court said while noting that he died in hospital during his treatment. "In the instant case, the convict caused injuries to deceased on account of which he died during medical treatment. The incident took place on the petty issue of Rs 500...The victim died on March 22, 2017, after succumbing to his injuries as a result of falling in the nallah," the judge said. During the trial, the accused denied the allegations claiming he was falsely implicated. The court, however, jailed him while observing that the courts have to take a balanced view in determining the sentence. "Proportion between crime and punishment is a goal respected in principle and in spite of errant notions, it remains a strong influence in the determination of sentences. "After giving due consideration to the facts and circumstances of each case, for deciding just and appropriate sentence to be awarded for an offence, the aggravating and mitigating factors and circumstances in which a crime has been committed are to be delicately balanced on the basis of really relevant circumstances in a dispassionate manner by the court," the judge observed in his order. In the wake of threats given by Shree Rajput Karni Sena, noted lyricist and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prashoon Joshi, has pulled out from Jaipur Literature Festival at the eleventh hour. In a letter to the organisers of JLF, Joshi has mentioned that he has backed out from the festival for its dignity to ensure that his fellow attendees and writers are not harmed. "I will not be attending JLF this year and will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees". Joshi has further mentioned that he wanted literature lovers to focus on creativity and not controversy, which is why he decided not to attend the festival. Unhappy with CBFC's review report of Padmaavat, Rajput outfit Karni Sena had said that Prasoon Joshi will be treated the same way Sanjay Leela Bhansali was treated by Karni Sena if he enters Jaipur or participates in the JLF.In January 2017, Rajput Karni Sena had created ruckus at the sets of 'Padmavati' and roughed up Bhansali and his crew members at Jaipur's Jaigarh. Prasoon Joshi, who is a regular at JLF was scheduled to take part in the session 'Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself' on January 28. In a letter to the Festival organisers Prasoon has made his stand clear on reviewing part of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film Padmaavat. " I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. Certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. It's sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue," Prasoon said. He also urged to keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues don't reach this far. Reacting to Joshi's letter to festival organisers Karni Sena has said they will not disrupt any of the sessions at JLF. "We are glad that Prasoon Joshi is not coming to JLF. Now we (Karni sena) will not visit the venue. We will not disrupt any of the sessions". Egypt's National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Saturday that so far 48 NGOs have received approval to monitor the upcoming presidential elections in March, NEA spokesman Mahmoud El-Sherif said in a statement. The organisations that have received approval comprise 44 local and four international NGOs, in addition to the National Council for Human Rights and the National Council for Women. The NEA will continue reviewing requests by NGOs to monitor the elections, with approval codes to be issued for the delegates of the approved NGOs before the start of February. 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. The NEA also announced on Saturday that the endorsements for potential candidates have reached almost 1.1 million. 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 Saturday, the liberal Wafd Party voted not to nominate its chairman El-Sayed El-Badawi to run for president. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has been the only candidate so far to submit the required endorsement forms and has undergone the medical exam required for candidacy. 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. Short link: Continuing to crack the whip, top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami today sacked more than 140 party functionaries belonging to Tuticorin district for bringing 'disrepute' to the organisation. In a joint statement, the two leaders announced expelling 144 office-bearers belonging to AIADMK's different organisational units in that district. The said persons were being axed from AIADMK as they went against party principles and "brought disrepute" to it, Panneerselvam, AIADMK coordinator, and Palaniswami, its co-coordinator, said in the statement. They asked their party workers not to have any truck with the expelled persons. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, who merged the factions led by them in August 2017, had last month warned of action against those who go against the party, following its loss in the December 21 RK Nagar assembly bypoll, won by sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran. They had earlier too expelled a number of functionaries while stripping the party posts of some of the key aides of Dhinakaran. Yesterday, they had expelled 53 persons belonging to the party's Kancheepuram Central unit and five others from AIADMK's trade union wing, Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai (ATP). #IndiaMeansBusiness has led the social media chart as the most discussed themes and hashtags coming out of the four-day World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, according to a US-based analytics company. The hashtag was mentioned maximum of 39,251 times, followed by women (35,837), America First (31,449), wealth (22,896), AI (19,018), globalism (16,513), climate change (15,477), fake news (13,567) and Blockchain (12,918), said international social media analytics firm Talkwalker. However, US President Donald Trump with more than 273,000 mentions eclipsed every other individual in social media discussions around Davos. After Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was second most discussed person at Davos with 62,227 mentions. Modi was followed by France President Emmanuel Macron (40,975), British Premier Theresa May (27,791), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (25,809), German President Angela Merkel (23,897) and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (13,573). Talkwalker said Davos was mentioned more than 2.2 million times in the past week as against 795,000 mentions during last year's event. "Trump eclipsed every other individual in social media discussions around Davos. From his speech to allegations of an affair, he generated four times as much discussion as any other top topic or individual," it said. The most discussed topic was wealth inequality - Oxfam's figure that 82 per cent of wealth goes to one per cent of the population, with almost twice the number of mentions of the next most discussed topic, Talkwalker reported. It said Modi's address promoting India for business on the opening day of the forum scored highly alongside Macron's poking fun at Trump's refusal to believe in climate science. AI, globalism and climate change were also widely discussed themes, it added. In a setback for Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) faction, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has rejected a petition demanding disqualification of JD(U) Rajya Sabha leader R C P Singh. Naidu said a close reading of the petition by former Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar "clearly reveal that the petition is not possessed of any merits" and that no such inference can be drawn against Singh "by applying any deeming fiction to the effect, in the backdrop of the material produced that he voluntarily gave up the membership of the political party to which he belonged". Yadav and Anwar, who revolted against Nitish Kumar for walking out of the grand alliance with Congress and RJD in July last year to join hands with BJP, were disqualified on 5 December, 2017 on a petition by Singh, who was elected JD(U) Parliamentary party leader in place of Yadav. Yadav and his supporters are now planning to form a new party and have approached Election Commission for registering it. They have suggested a couple of names for the party, including Samajwadi Janata Dal, Apana Janata Dal and Lok Tantrik Janata Dal, to the EC. In his petition, Anwar had claimed that Singh has allied with Kumar for "sheer personal gain and political opportunism". He also alleged that the "autocratic and undemocratic manner" of functioning Kumar faction has reduced them to a minority splinter group. Singh responded that the petition was "misconceived and deserves no consideration" and that it was only a "lecture on standards of morality and ethics". Naidu, in his order on January 23, found no merit in Anwar's petition and said, "the only anti-party activity alleged...is his steadfast support of Nitish Kumar and his decisions of withdrawing from the Mahagathbandhan and aligning with the BJP." "As such, leaving or joining of any political alliance by political parties is not the same thing as joining or leaving a political party. Therefore, joining or leaving a political alliance or a 'gathbadhan' (alliance) or for that matter a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) would not fall within the purview of the anti-defection law," he said. Naidu also said the contention that the petitioner and others were the real JD(U) and that Kumar and his supporters had abandoned the party by breaching the party constitution and principles is also "not tenable", as the Election Commission recognised the group led by Kumar as JD(U). Violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh's communally sensitive Kasganj town again on Saturday as rioters torched several buses and shops and indulged in heavy stone pelting. One person was killed and around a dozen others, including cops, were injured in communal clashes in the town during a motorbike rally by ABVP and VHP members on the Republic Day. According to the police sources here, violence flared up after a mob of people, while returning after cremating the dead, clashed with members of the other community. Sources said that several buses and shops were torched and shots were also fired during the clashes. Police have so far arrested around 30 people in connection with the violence. Curfew was imposed in the town after the violence and all educational institutions had been closed. The borders of the district had been sealed and security personnel in strength had been deployed to maintain law and order, sources said. Police sources said that firebrand saffron leader Sadhvi Prachi was detained while she was on way to Kasganj with her supporters. BJP Lok Sabha member Rajveer Singh, who visited Kasganj on Saturday, alleged that the violence was ''pre-planned''. The trouble had sparked off during a motorbike rally by the members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the occasion of Republic Day. An ABVP worker was allegedly hit by a bullet and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Around a dozen people, including cops, were injured in the violence. At least one of the injured was stated to be in a critical condition. The all party meeting convened by the state government to discuss the Mahadayi issue failed to take any major decision with the BJP being disagreeable to any of the suggestions aired. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired the three-hour long meeting, later told the media that despite BJP's disagreement, he had decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an audience. He said that if Modi was agreeable, then he would lead yet another all-party delegation to New Delhi. The chief minister also said that he was still willing to hold talks with Goa, provided that his counterpart Manohar Parrikar convened a meeting. "If the Goa chief minister invites me for talks, then I'm more than willing to accept the invitation, no matter the time and place. I'm still hoping to hear from him. I will not stand on prestige even though there is a protocol violation. I will do it in the interest of the farmers and the state. If Goa fails to respond to Karnataka's overtures, then I will write to the prime minister about taking an all-party delegation to him. I conveyed this during the meeting, but the BJP leaders were not agreeable to either of these suggestions," added Siddaramaiah. The BJP was represented by Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar, Basavaraj Bommai and K S Eshwarappa. The leaders demanded that Congress president Rahul Gandhi convince the opposition Congress in Goa and Maharashtra about Karnataka's requirement for Mahadayi water for drinking purposes. How craze for social media likes could land one in serious trouble, a management guru and writer of several books from Karnataka faced charges of forging letters of appreciation from President and Prime Minister and posting those on Facebook account. The Supreme Court has dismissed his plea for anticipatory bail in view of misdemeanour alleged on his part. "Why you do have to do all this? Why you forged letters of Prime Minister and President," a bench of Justices N V Ramana and S Abdul Nazeer told advocate Sanjay M Nuli, appearing for Prof Hari Krishna. The court declined to accede to the counsel's plea that the academician was ready to surrender before the Delhi police authorities, if he was granted protection from arrest. His entreaties that if he is not enlarged on bail, his hard-earned reputation and image would be tarnished also fell on deaf ears. Though he claimed a false case has been foisted on him and there was no likelihood of his fleeing in view of deep roots in society, the top court remained unbudged. He also submitted that he was ready to furnish whatever documents were required by the investigating agency. He also pleaded that he did not make any commercial gain out of the alleged offence. The top court, however, showed no leniency to him. Hari Krishna challenged a Delhi High Court order of November 15, 2017, declining him any relief. The trial court has also rejected his similar plea for anticipatory bail on August 9, 2017. An FIR was registered by the Delhi police's Economic Offence Wing on May 18, last year on a complaint sent by the President's secretariat. The President's office has received an email from one Shekhar Bhattarcharjee, contending that Dr Hari Krishna has been flaunting a forged appreciation letter from President on his Facebook account to promote his book on digital marketing. It later transpired that a similar forged letter of commendation by the Prime Minister was too posted on Facebook account by the petitioner. 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: Law is not the solution to social problems, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said, claiming that triple talaq bill was a ploy to send Muslim men to jail. "Will triple talaq stop after the law is brought?" a release from the AIMIM quoted Owaisi as saying at `Tahafuzz e Shariayat' (`Save Sharia') public meeting here late last night. Dowry deaths and other crimes against women did not stop even when specific laws were made against these practises, he said. "Between 2005-2015, there were more than 80,000 dowry deaths in India. Twenty-two women die daily on account of dowry, and even after the Nirbhaya incident, there was a rapid increase in number of rape cases. Law is not the answer," he said. Further, triple talaq bill is a conspiracy against the minority community, Owaisi alleged. "It is a ploy to bring the women of the community on road and send the men to prison," he alleged. The BJP-led NDA government tried to push the bill through Parliament without consulting Muslim clerics, he alleged. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha, but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny. According to the draft law, instant triple talaq will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. A 12-year-old girl was slapped 168 times over a period of six days by her classmates at a residential school on the instructions of their teacher, the child's father complained to school authorities and police. However, the school principal K Sagar termed it a "friendly" punishment. "They were not strong slaps but mild and friendly ones. We will also talk to the parents," Sagar said. The incident took place at the Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thandla town here and the girl's father, Shivpratap Singh, told police that she was slapped 168 times between January 11 -16 for not completing her homework. The girl is a student of Class VI at the school. He told police that the school's science teacher, Manoj Kumar Verma, on January 11, told the his daughter's classmates to slap her as a form of punishment and 14 girls slapped her two times every day for six days. Singh also stated in his complaint, filed a couple of days ago, that his child was unwell and therefore was unable to complete her homework. He alleged that the school was aware of his child's illness. He also told police that his daughter fell ill due to fear and distress and refused to go to school, following which she had to be admitted to a local hospital. Thandla police station in-charge S S Baghel confirmed that a complaint had been received but added that no injury was found during medical examination conducted on the girl. "We had received a complaint. No injury was found during the medical examination of the girl. Our team also visited the school and found that such an incident had occurred. We are investigating further. However, no formal case has been registered so far," he said. School Principal Sagar defended the action of the teacher and termed the disciplining method a "friendly" punishment. "We don't allow corporal punishment in the school. The girl is weak in studies and doesn't complete her assignments," he said, adding that the teacher chose this form punishment to improve her performance in school. District Collector Ashish Saxena said that the issue had come to his knowledge and he had ordered an investigation. India on Saturday strongly condemned the latest terrorist attack in Kabul and offered to help to make arrangements for treatment of the injured. At least 95 people were killed and 158 others were injured when a bomb in an ambulance exploded in the Afghan capital on Saturday. "India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today that targeted innocent civilians and the wounded under treatment. This follows the cowardly terror attack on the children and civilians in Jalalabad on January 24," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement issued in New Delhi. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the latest terror attack in Kabul. "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the MEA. "India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Afghanistan at this difficult times of mindless violence and terror imposed on them," said Kumar. "We convey our heartfelt condolences to the next of kins of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured," he added. The Congress did not want to be seen clamouring over Rahul Gandhi's seating arrangements at the Republic Day parade after its initial protest, given that the Congress president himself has spoken out against VIP culture. But the BJP's response to the Congress' first reaction stoked further controversy, forcing the Opposition party to respond and keep the row going. Responding to the Congress' objections over Rahul being allotted a seat only in the sixth row, the BJP said the Congress chief was allotted his position according to protocols. "BJP leaders were treated similarly during the Congress rule but we had never made it an issue. The idea of democracy is nowhere to be seen in its (Congress) mentality, which boasts of being called the oldest political party in India," BJP leader G V L Narsimha Rao said at a press conference. "The Congress is under the delusion that this country will run in the name of a particular family, despite having been rejected by the people's mandate," he said. In response, Congress general secretary B K Hariprasad said, "It is the arrogance of the prime minister that is brushing upon the leaders of the BJP. When the prime minister doesn't use parliamentary language, what do you expect of spokespersons? We never insulted the Opposition leaders when we were in power," he said. The Congress also said senior BJP leaders such as Sushma Swaraj and L K Advani were seated in the front row when it was in power and has never stooped so low in politics. Rao was responding to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala's remarks a day earlier that "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." Responding to the controversy, Rahul told a reporter that he was "not bothered" what seat he has been allocated. At a reception hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul had exchanged greetings. Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail resumed on Saturday his duties as the country's PM at his office in Cairo after a two-month medical leave. Ismail is set to hold meetings today with the ministers of justice, petroleum and transportation. During his leave, the PM underwent gastrointestinal tract surgery in Germany. Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouly was assigned by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as acting prime minister during Ismail's absence. Ismail, 62, has been serving as prime minister since September 2015. Short link: Cambodia, the closest ally of China in South-East Asia, on Saturday joined India to seek complete freedom of navigation in the seas and oceans in the region. A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from Cambodia, Hun Sen, saw Phnom Penh joining New Delhi in seeking "pacific resolution of maritime issues based on international law, notably the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)." Modi and Hun Sen witnessed exchange of four pacts after their meeting at the Hyderabad House on Saturday. The pacts included one for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The two countries also inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking. Hun Sen, who has been holding the office of the Prime Minister since 1985, arrived in New Delhi last Wednesday. He participated in the ASEAN-India commemorative summit on Thursday. On Friday he joined the other leaders of the 10-nation bloc to witness the Republic Day parade by the armed forces on the Rajpath in New Delhi. He also met President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday. Keen on ties A joint statement issued after Modi's meeting with Hun Sen stated that both sides had expressed a keen interest in enhancing cooperation in maritime domain, including sustainable marine development and protection and preservation of marine and coastal environment, anti-piracy cooperation, security of sea lanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in the Indo-Pacific Region. Cambodia, a staunch ally of China, joining India to call for freedom of navigation and adherence to the UNCLOS for resolution of maritime disputes is significant. China has been accused of undermining freedom of navigation in South-China Sea and the rules-based political and security architecture in Indo-Pacific. Beijing had in July 2016 rejected the ruling of an international arbitration tribunal set up in The Hague in accordance with the provisions of the UNCLOS to settle China's maritime dispute with its neighbours like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei over South China Sea. The tribunal based in The Hague had ruled that Beijing had no legal basis for its historic claims in the South China Sea. A few weeks later, Cambodia blocked a consensus within the ASEAN to call upon China to adhere to the ruling by the tribunal. Hun Sen made other ASEAN leaders drop any reference to the ruling of the tribunal from the statement issued after a summit of the bloc at Vientiane in Lao PDR. Bilateral defence Hun Sen and Modi on Saturday also agreed to step up bilateral defence cooperation. Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the current state of bilateral defence ties, including ship visits and training programmes. They agreed to exchange senior level defence personnel and capacity building projects. Modi offered Hun Sen several lines of credit, which would be implemented "according to the requirements of the Cambodian government, especially in the areas of health, connectivity and digital connectivity". Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Palestine, the United Arab Emirates and Oman from February 9 to 12, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Saturday. Modi is going to be the first prime minister of India to visit Palestine. He will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Modi's visit to Palestine comes less than a month after he hosted his counterpart from Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was on his maiden tour to India from January 14 to 19. India last month voted at the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a resolution asking the United States to withdraw President Donald Trump's recent decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. New Delhi, itself, however, stopped seeking East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine after December 2016. Modi's visit to Israel in July was the first by a prime minister of India to the Jewish state and it de-linked New Delhi's relations with Israel and Palestine. Indian dignitaries visiting Israel in the past had always made it a point to visit Palestine, too. India was the first non-Arab country to recognise Palestine way back in 1988. But New Delhi's growing ties with Israel after the BJP's ascent to power in May 2014 fuelled speculation about India reviewing its position on Palestine. The Modi government, however, made it clear that while India would continue to support the cause of Palestine, it would also seek to build stronger ties with Israel. Modi's upcoming visit to the UAE is his second. He will address the Sixth World Government Summit in Dubai at which India has been extended the "guest of honour" status. The prime minister's visit to Oman is his first. "During the visit, the prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events. Modi will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman," said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the MEA. A birthday joyride turned tragic for a 23-year-old youth and his cousin who died after crashing their bike on a median in Chikka Banaswadi near Ramamurthy Nagar on Saturday afternoon. The KR Puram traffic police have filed a case of negligence against the rider and blamed rash and reckless driving as the cause of the accident. The deceased Alwyn (23) was a bank employee and his cousin Edwin (21) was a PU student at a private college. They were residents of Vijinapura in Kasturi Nagar, the police said. According to the police, the accident occurred around 1.45 pm on the Ring Road near the ASR convention hall. Edwin had taken birthday boy Alwyn to a nearby hotel for lunch and they were returning home. Riding a KTM Duke recklessly, Edwin lost control of the bike while trying to overtake a vehicle, and crashed into the median. The impact was such that they were flung on to the footpath. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but were declared brought dead due to grievous injuries. While the bodies were taken to Bowring Hospital for postmortem, the police pointed out that they were riding without helmets. According to the police, Edwin had borrowed the bike from one of their relatives. Alwyn had just joined a private bank a week ago, they said. The state government on Saturday formed a committee to provide housing to the homeless. Following a meeting with freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed Additional Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar and Development Commissioner D V Prasad to lead the committee. Officials of housing, forest, and rural development and panchayat raj departments will be part of the committee. Reformed Naxalite and activist, Sirimane Nagaraj, urged the chief minister to instruct the officials not to evict farmers from forest land. "We have been protesting over the matter for the past 18 days near Gandhi Bhavan. This could delight many animal lovers in the city. The Bannerghatta Biological Park, just 20 km from Bengaluru, will open the country's first dedicated leopard safari. Park authorities have begun laying the trail and fences for the safari, for which the idea was mooted in 2014. It is coming up near the sloth bear and carnivore safaris. The BBP has planned a Rs 20-crore budget for the trail to come up over 20 acres. Bannerghatta is home to 30 leopards, including cats bred in captivity, those rescued and relocated to the park. Till now, four wild cats are kept in the zoo area for public viewing. Since the zoo and forest management rules say that wild leopards rescued and relocated should not be displayed in the viewing area, the safari will only contain 20 cats. Roof chained Visitors will be taken on the safari by buses and jeeps to view the leopards, the same as how they have been viewing lions and tigers in the park. The only difference about this safari would be the chaining of the roof, which, according to the the park administration, is necessary as leopards can jump out of their fences, like a cat rescued from the Vibgyor School in Whitefield did in 2016. So far, the BBP has earmarked Rs 7.06 crore worth of construction work to build a 1,100-m perimeter wall, a 200-m chain-linked fence, internal blacktop pathways, drainage and two animal enclosure units, for which they obtained initial approval from the public works department and zoo authority of Karnataka. "We're hoping to finish the construction by March 2019," BBP executive director R Gokul said, adding that fresh tenders for the next set of construction will be floated and finalised soon. Anxious that the Assembly elections could delay the tender process, the park administration is moving the files quickly to the PWD to make sure work orders for the pending construction is issued before March. The administration is also concerned about the logistics. "Since it is an elephant corridor, workers should be moved out of the forest before sunset," Gokul said. "We'll also have to deploy guards for their safety," he added. BoX On the cat trail * Safari coming up near the sloth bear, carnivore safaris * Rs 20-crore budget for the trail to come up over 20 acres * 20 leopards to be displayed in the safari The state government aims to immunise 65 lakh children against polio this year. The immunisation programme will be conducted in two rounds: on January 28 and March 11. The government has set up 32,437 polio vaccination booths. There are 1,03,944 vaccinators, 51,972 teams in charge of vaccination, 6,546 supervisors, 941 mobile teams and 1,749 transit teams, the Department of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement. ASHA workers, anganwadi staff and other health volunteers will be conducting a house-to-house visit for vaccination, said Dr Nagalakshmi, the deputy director of immunisation in the department. The target (65 lakh children) was arrived at following a head count, she added. Every child aged under five will be given two drops of oral polio vaccine during the drive. "In some parts of Karnataka like Yadgir, migrant communities are resisting the vaccination," Dr Nagalakshmi said. While there has not been a single case of polio in India in the past seven years, the prevalence of poliovirus in Pakistan and Afghanistan make the country prone to the disease, according to the department. The police will neither confiscate helmets without the ISI mark nor fine riders wearing them. A drive to penalise motorists using helmets without the ISI mark was to begin on February 1. The Bureau of Indian Standards provides the ISI mark to helmets that conform to its safety specifications. R Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, recently wrote to the bureau, seeking a clarification on how to make out whether a helmet conforms to safety standards. In its reply, the bureau said the safety of helmets could not be ascertained with mere visual examination. "Our men cannot decide on the standard of helmets by merely looking at them," Hithendra told DH. "It would be unfair to penalise riders when we can't distinguish between standard and substandard." Legal procedures call for examining helmets if they are confiscated. "This means the helmets have to be sent to the manufacturer," he said. Manufacturers get ISI certification only if they follow a stringent testing and inspection process. Conformity to ISI standards cannot be determined by visual examination, the letter said. BoX But be safe The police recommend good-quality helmets that can save riders from injury and death. From February 1, they were planning a campaign against half-helmets (those that only cover part of the head) and helmets made from light material that provide no crash protection. Many imported brands carry no ISI stamp, and the police had decided they would allow only those with the certification. BoX What bureau said It is not possible to judge the quality of a helmet just by looking at it, the Bureau of Indian Standards has told the Bengaluru police. The bureau stamps helmets with the ISI mark if they conform to its safety specifications. An all-party meeting convened by the state government to discuss the Mahadayi river water dispute on Saturday failed to take any major decision as the BJP did not agree to any of the suggestions aired. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired the three-hour-long meeting, later told the media that despite BJP's disagreement, he has decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an audience. He said that if Modi agrees, he will lead another all-party delegation to New Delhi and urge him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to resolve the water dispute. Siddaramaiah said that he is still willing to hold talks with Goa, provided his counterpart Manohar Parrikar convenes a meeting. He said that he will even hold talks with the Goa Congress, if the meeting becomes a reality. "Till date, the Goa chief minister has not responded to my letter. But if he invites me for talks, then I'm more than willing to accept the invitation. I will not stand on prestige, though it will be a protocol violation. I will do it in the interest of the farmers and the state," he said. Siddaramaiah said that if Goa fails to respond to Karnataka's overtures, then he will write to the prime minister about taking an all-party delegation to him. "I conveyed this during the meeting, but the BJP leaders did not agree to either of these suggestions. They want me to hold talks with the Goa Congress. I will do it if Parrikar convenes the meeting," he added. BJP leaders D V Sadananda Gowda, Pralhad Joshi, Jagadish Shettar among others, who had heated arguments with Water Resources Minister M B Patil, insisted that AICC president Rahul Gandhi intervene and convince the protesting opposition Congress in Goa about Karnataka's requirement. The meeting, however, is said to have resolved to demand the removal of Atmaram Nadkarni, who is representing Goa in the courts, as the additional solicitor general. Karnataka has sought 7.56 tmcft water from Goa to meet the drinking water requirement. As the matter is scheduled to come up for hearing before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal from February 6, the government is continuing to explore the possibilities of an out-of-court settlement, as demanded by the protesting farmers. "We have been protesting for the last 927 days, but no consensus was arrived at even during this meeting. The political parties should keep their prestige aside. What is the harm in an out-of-court settlement? It's about time the prime minister intervened." Raitha Sene president Veeresh Sorabadmath. "The JD(S) has been demanding the prime minister's intervention. But the BJP is not agreeable to this. The prime minister is in Karnataka on February 4. Efforts should be made to impress upon him the gravity of the matter." JD(S) MLA from Navalgund, Kona Raddi "Amit Shah held talks with the Goa chief minister, but the state government failed to take the talks forward. They ruined it. They could have asked their party national president Rahul Gandhi to write to the Goa Congress leaders." BJP MLA Basavaraj Bommai The state government on Saturday reversed its earlier decision to drop cases against minorities involved in communal riots. The government on January 22 had issued a circular to drop cases against "innocent minorities'' involved communal clashes. The government was under fire from the Opposition BJP for issuing such an order. Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told reporters on Saturday that the government has withdrawn the earlier order. "The words, 'all innocent minorities', were added by oversight. It should have been innocent people,'' the Minister said. The minister said the order to drop cases against minorities was issued based on the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee report on social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India. Reddy said that a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Minister Ramesh Kumar is studying the recommendations of the Justice Sachar committee.Once the report is submitted and approved by the Cabinet, cases against innocent people will be withdrawn, he said. On charges by the BJP that the government was wooing minorities ahead of Assembly elections, Reddy said that there are several instances where cases were dropped by various governments in the past. "Even if any BJP member or anyone from other religions implicated in false cases make a submission to the government, we will consider them too,'' he said, pointing out how even the BJP government had dropped such cases, including those against minorities. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Ethiopia's Addis Ababa on Saturday to participate in the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, which is taking place from 22 to 29 January. Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement that El-Sisi is set to meet with Angola's new President Joao Lourenco to discuss boosting bilateral ties as well as the latest developments in Africa and the region. El-Sisi will also chair today a meeting by the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU body in charge of maintaining continental peace and security, which Egypt is heading throughout January. The statement said that the meeting would involve discussions of the "comprehensive approach on combating the threat of terrorism in Africa," as terrorism represents a threat that requires strengthened joint African efforts to combat. El-Sisi will also participate in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Summit in the AU. NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme adopted by the AU since 2001 with the aim of addressing the challenges of poverty, development and Africas marginalisation internationally. The 30th Ordinary Session is being held under the theme Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation. 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 Ghana, Mali, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Malawi. Short link: With an aim to make more tourists and pilgrims register for its Puneeth Yatra scheme, the state government is mulling to extend a 25% discount for packages on offer. Out of the 21 packages launched by the state Tourism Department and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) in September, most bookings were made only for 12, while the number of tourists opting for the Yatra was only 10,000 in the last three months. Tourists specifically preferred south India temple tour, north Karnataka temple tour, Tirupati and Shiradi pilgrimages. The department had also extended its service from Kalaburgi, which again did not lure many. "This could be due to lack of publicity," reasoned a Tourism Department official, who also pointed to the tourists feedback that the packages were priced high though they travelled in luxury buses and stayed in Yatri Niwases. "That's why we're thinking of extending the 25% discount for the coming financial year, but the final decision rests with the government," he said, hoping that the packages would see more takers during the holiday season beginning in March, since south Indian religious tour is the most sought-after. The Department hopes 1.32 lakh tourists would register for the tour packages. The 25% concession is ending on March 31. Owing to poor response, the Department has also decided to drop short haul Golden Chariot trips for this season. KSTDC Managing Director Kumar Pushkar told DH that seven trips had been made this year with 50% occupancy, while three trips had been cancelled. Also, 11 week-long trips were made last year. "Response has been awfully poor for the short haul trips," Pushkar said explaining the cancellation this season. A massive, unprecedented public uproar had forced the government to shelve the controversial Ballari Road steel flyover project. If Bengalureans hoped for a course correction and a mobility policy change, here's a huge dampener: Another monster steel flyover of exactly the same nature is about to take shape on J C Road. Billed as the perfect recipe for a quick transit from South to Central Bengaluru, the 2.91-km bidirectional structure is designed to connect Minerva Circle with Hudson Circle. Work is scheduled to begin within a month, but the usual questions remain unanswered: Was the public and all other stakeholders consulted? Does the traffic volumes justify the project? When flyovers across the City have failed to decongest, how will this be any different? Work order soon The project has already been approved by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the recent Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (BMPC) meeting. The work order is expected to be issued once the state cabinet gives its go-ahead. Actual work could begin in a month's time, as the BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad put it. But urban mobility experts wonder how flyovers will benefit public transport. BMTC buses are ruled out on these structures since it would be pointless to have bus stops overground. The only beneficiaries would be private, personal vehicle-owners. Is promoting this then the priority when the city roads are already trapped in chaos triggered by 65 lakh vehicles? Corruption cloud Palike insiders say the haste in getting the project off the ground is linked to the cancellation of the Ballari Road steel bridge project. Big money had exchanged hands. To make up for the loss and redistribute the amount, three more projects were quickly worked out. This included the Sivananda Circle and J C Road (Minerva to Hudson Circle) flyovers, reveals a well-informed source. Invariably, all these flyover projects have come under the shadow of corruption. But even from a sustainability point of view, the proposed flyover has been questioned. Prof Ashish Verma, associate professor of transportation engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Department of Civil Engineering calls it a very short-term solution to a complex traffic issue. No containment policy Flyovers, he explains, can work as a decongestion solution only if the government can formulate policies to reduce the population and limit the vehicular numbers. But this seems impossible. "Given the current trend of explosive vehicular growth, the additional road capacity created by the flyover will get filled up in a very short time," he says. To decongest roads, mobility experts say, the solution is to build strategic, usable underpasses at crowded junctions. Flyovers that extend over a kilometer or more only end up shifting congestion from one junction to another. Almost every existing flyover is proof that the planners and designers have failed to consider the evacuation capability at the endpoint. By design, vehicles ascending the flyover at high speed from Minerva Circle will have to descend at Hudson Circle. Do the traffic management and evacuation capacity of Hudson Circle match the incoming traffic from the steel flyover? Skipping junctions BBMP contends that the flyover will skip seven traffic signals: Minerva Junction, Bharat Talkies Junction, Town Hall Junction, LIC Office Junction, Halasuru Gate police station junction and Hudson Circle Junction. Verma has a counter to this: The access-controlled, high-speed Airport Road too skips and flies over a lot more junctions en route to the Hebbal flyover. The entire traffic comes to a virtual standstill at the Hebbal bottleneck. "The vehicles on that road pay a heavy toll, move very fast and get stuck in that congestion." The JC Road flyover too will meet the same fate, Verma warns. "Every time the government proposes a flyover, does it come out with a policy to contain the travel density? If there is no such plan, the whole purpose will be lost. How do you then justify the investment?" Threat to heritage Urban architects and heritage specialists draw attention to the structure's potential to destroy the aesthetics of the entire stretch. The design shows the steel bridge towering over the iconic Town Hall and other heritage structures, including the LIC building and Kempegowda statue. They cite the Revised Master Plan (RMP-2031) to stress on retaining the visual sanctity of the zone. The Palike claims that the existing traffic volumes on the stretch justify a flyover. It cites the Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines to contend that flyovers are recommended on roads with over 10,000 passenger car units per hour. But a critical question remains unanswered: What if the passenger car units exceed 20,000 per hour, a very real possibility considering the explosive vehicular growth? The more the road space, the more the cars. The hyper-congested existing flyovers across the city should be proof enough of a mobility solution gone horribly wrong. By Elizabeth Shogren 26 January 2018 (High Country News) The Trump administrations environmental rollbacks have sparked a lot of outrage. But one recent action by the Interior Department drew unprecedented protest from a bipartisan group of top officials who go all the way back to the Nixon administration: a new legal opinion that attempts to legalize the unintentional killing of most migratory birds.Under the new interpretation, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act forbids only intentional killing such as hunting or killing birds to get their feathers without a permit. The administration will no longer apply the act to industries that inadvertently kill a lot of birds through oil drilling, wind power, and communications towers. Critics fear that these industries might now end the bird-friendly practices that save large numbers of birds.A letter sent by 17 former wildlife officials on Jan. 10 urges Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to suspend the ill-conceived opinion, saying it makes it nearly impossible to enforce a 100-year-old law protecting migratory birds. The former officials message is clear: The Trump teams assault on environmental regulations is not just the normal pendulum swing between Democratic and Republican administrations. Rather, Trumps rollbacks are attacking fundamental principles of conservation supported by both Republican and Democratic administrations for many decades.The 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to kill birds without permission, though hunters can obtain permits. For decades, the threat of prosecution gave industries that unintentionally kill a lot of birds an incentive to collaborate with the federal government on minimizing bird deaths. For instance, hundreds of thousands of birds die each year from getting poisoned or trapped in the toxic muck of drilling companies wastewater pits. To remedy this, oil and gas companies can store the waste in closed tanks or put nets over their pits to limit the number of deaths. []Under the Trump administrations new interpretation, however, companies would no longer be prosecuted for failing to protect birds. The new opinion was written by Interiors principal deputy solicitor, Daniel Jorjani, a Trump appointee who came to Interior from Freedom Partners, a political organization largely funded by the Koch brothers, fossil-fuel billionaires with an anti-regulatory agenda who are major players in elections around the country. Freedom Partners board of directors is made up of Koch executives. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday that terrorist organisations take advantage of armed civil conflicts to recruit fighters, calling for adopting an effective strategy to fight terrorism. The president made the comments at the Peace and Security Council session as part of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, which is taking place from 28 to 29 January in Addis Ababa. The session saw a discussion of the "comprehensive approach on combating the threat of terrorism in Africa." El-Sisi is also participating in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Summit in the AU. The NEPAD initiative includes the vision of the African Union for Economic and Social Development for the African continent. The NEPAD session is set to discuss consolidating cooperation among African countries, especially in cross-border projects, and will also highlight the importance of supporting internal partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as combating corruption. NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme adopted by the AU since 2001 with the aim of addressing the challenges of poverty, development and Africas marginalisation internationally. The 30th Ordinary Session is being held under the theme Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation. 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 Ghana, Mali, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Malawi. Short link: Chaos erupted in supermarkets across France on Thursday and Friday as shoppers brawled trying to get their hands on discounted Nutella. Fights and even riots were reported in multiple parts of the country after the Intermarche chain began a promotion for France's favourite chocolate and hazelnut spread Thursday. More than a million 950-gram pots were slashed in price by 70 per cent from 4.50 to 1.41 ($5.85 to $1.75). France has seen nothing like it: supermarket aisles of brawling customers throwing punches, pulling hair and shoving the elderly out of the way. Police were reportedly called as fights broke out among swarming customers grabbing 950g jars of Nutella reduced prices. In one store, a member of staff was punched in the eye while trying to separate warring customers. In another, shoppers cleared shelves in 15 minutes. ''They are like animals. One woman had her hair pulled. An elderly lady took a box on her head. Another had a bloody hand,'' one customer said. Police had to intervene in a brawl in the northern town of Ostricourt, Le Parisien newspaper reported. An employee at one store in Forbach, near the border with Germany, likened the scenes to an orgy, telling Le Monde newspaper that shoppers had broken items in their rush for the treat. Video footage of the chaos shows shoppers stuffing jars of Nutella into bags. Queues had formed outside many Intermarche supermarkets on Thursday, and customers were limited to three pots each. "Some customers came the night before the promotion to stash the Nutella pots in other places, so to prevent others from taking them," Jean-Marie Daragon, the manager of the Intermarche store in Montbrison, central France, told Le Progres, the local paper in the Loire Valley. In one Intermarche in the Moselle in eastern France, a member of staff reported: ''People were piling in, they knocked everything over and broke stuff. It was an orgy we were on the point of calling the police.'' In another store, staff said they had sold in one go the number of Nutella jars normally sold in three months. ''They were fighting over it at the tills there was only Nutella,'' one told Le Progres. A worker at another store in L'Horme told Le Progres that all the jars were gone in 15 minutes, and one customer was given a black eye. Ferrero, the company that produces Nutella, distanced itself from the chaos, saying it had nothing to do with the promotion. ''We want to clarify that the decision for the special offer was taken unilaterally by Intermarche,'' the firm said in a statement. ''We regret the consequences of this operation, which created confusion and disappointment in the consumers' minds.'' Nutella was created by the Ferrero family in Italy in the 1940s. About 365 million kg of the hazelnut chocolate spread are consumed in 160 countries around the world every year. In a statement, the supermarket chain said it was surprised the offer had caused battle scenes in its stores and was sorry for the ''disagreeable events customers suffered'' 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 Short link: 2019-08-13 This is my first time to try fencing. Ive always wanted to do it because of Richard Gomez, Zorro and the Three Musketeers! Haha! Anyway ,Fencing is known as a very elite sports in the Philippines because of the expensive equipment, but now you can try it out without havingContinue Reading 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: What else do you think #ReleasetheMemo is about? The New York Times scoop that Donald Trump ordered special counsel Robert Mueller fired in June of last year is interesting for obvious reasons. It was confirmed by contemporaneous reporting and suggests that Trump was told by the White House counsel that firing Mueller would at least be seen as another attempt to obstruct justice. And the story suggests Trump hasnt stopped considering his own Saturday Night Massacre, but probably during the week because weekends are for collecting bribes at his businesses. But theres something even more important about this scoop. Whats interesting is why someone is talking about this at this point, and why is it emerging now? John Q. Barrett, a former associate special counsel in the Iran-Contra affair, said to The Atlantics Adam Serwer. At the risk of sounding like a Blue Detective, Im going to posit that the answer for why this is coming out now is pretty simple: Someone is trying to warn us. For weeks now, conservatives, with the apparent help of Russian trolls, have been demanding that a shocking memo written Devin Nunes, the once recused chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and member of the Trump transition team, be released. Trump could declassify it and release it any time. But the point isnt to spread the bogus and trumped up smears in the document but to rally the right around the case that it will prove that the FBI is biased against Trump and the Mueller investigation is thus fruit of a poison tree. Back before he was turned by Trumps willingness to bomb civilians and tempt nuclear wars, Senator Lindsey Graham said, Any effort to go after Mueller could be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency unless Mueller did something wrong. The president can fire anyone, as long as hes not doing so to break the law. Theres no evidence Mueller has done anything wrong in this investigation to merit dismissal, even The Intercept agrees. So Nunes decided to invent something by creating a new genre of anti-fan fiction Once the memo is public and its facts hold equal weight to what the Mueller investigation has found, at least to Fox News viewers, Trump can act shocked and fire Mueller with the support of the 34 percent of America who would give up anything for him and the hope that hell be able to distract his way out the mess he created, the way he has his whole life. Someone, probably the guy who refused to fire Mueller last year, is trying to let us know that this isnt just a possibility but an inevitability. Unless Thursdays scoop, which Trump half-heartedly denied, changed history. Regardless, we should be ready for the inevitable. Latest News Two MBA programmes from IIM Bangalore make it to QS Rankings for 2022 IIMBs one-year MBA moves up four places in QS Global MBA Rankings while its two-year MBA moves from 35th AP ECET 2021 Hall Tickets Released Those who have registered for AP ECET 2021 can download their admit cards from the official website Mumbai to have Cambridge-affiliated municipal school The school will provide free education to its residents On 14 January, the US-led coalition in Syria announced it was working with allied Syrian factions to form a 30,000-strong military force, more than half of which will be made up of Kurds from militias such as the Democratic Syrian Forces, to deploy along the borders with Turkey in the north and with Iraq in the southeast near the Euphrates River. Three days later, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made statements articulating the US strategy in Syria and the region. He mentioned issues that the US has not taken a clear position on in the past, changing expectations for Syria and the Middle East as a whole. Tillerson said US forces would remain in Syria to fight the Islamic State (IS) group, the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and Iran. It would not make the mistakes of 2011 in Iraq when the US withdrew and left the country open to Iranian hegemony and the expansion of Al-Qaeda, he said. This was the first time that Washington has declared its interests in Syria and said it is prepared to defend them. Tillerson added that 2,000 US military consultants would remain in Syria east of the Euphrates until the Syrian people had chosen a credible new government. He said complete withdrawal from Syria at this moment will help Al-Assad continue torturing his people. Discussing US policy on Syria during a speech at Stanford University in California, Tillerson said Al-Assads departure as part of a UN peace process would create the conditions for permanent peace in Syria. Although he did not state that the US would remove Al-Assad from power, he stressed that free-and-fair elections with the participation of all those who had fled the Syrian conflict would automatically lead to Al-Assads departure. He accused Al-Assad of transforming Syria into a lackey of Iran and stressed that Iran will not be allowed to accomplish its greater goal of taking control of the region. Tillersons statements are a result of pressure by the US Congress on the Trump administration to clarify US strategy on Syria, and the speech is the first official document on the issue. Five principles have been enunciated and three messages sent. The US will remain in Syria to eliminate IS and other radical groups; it rejects the Iranian presence in Syria; it intends to achieve a real political transition in Syria without Al-Assad; it wants to see Syria clear of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs); and there must be the safe return of the displaced and the refugees. The messages are to Russia, Iran and the international community. The US wants Russia to understand that it is not in control of Syria despite its heavy military presence on the ground. It wants Iran to understand that it is on notice and that Washington will not allow it to take control of Syria. It wants the world to understand that reconstruction cannot begin until comprehensive change in the country has been accomplished, including of the regime. The new US strategy requires complex steps to pave the way for achieving these strategic goals. There is also a need for clarification on how Washington intends to oblige the Al-Assad regime to accept a political transition including free-and-fair elections. Tillersons statements have thus raised more questions than answers, reflecting the ambiguous and hesitant policy followed by the US in Syria over the past seven years, without changing the balance of power or allowing for a political solution. They reflect the US desire not to become militarily involved in Syria, but to continue to embroil other parties there. They rely on managing the regional and international balance without tipping the scale by direct pressure. These statements show US impulsiveness at a critical moment, when Moscow is preparing to host the Sochi Conference so [Russian President Vladimir] Putin can declare victory in Syria, commented Syrian opposition figure Mishaal Al-Adawi. This new US position will naturally be followed by international and regional actors looking to their positions, as these had lost faith that the US would play any role in finding a solution or ending the catastrophe in Syria over the past seven years. I believe this is a good opportunity for the Syrian political and military opposition to engage with the new efforts because they could restore political balance on the Syrian stage after a long US retreat, Al-Adawi said. Saeed Moqbel, also a member of the Syrian opposition, disagrees. Six years ago the US said Al-Assad could not remain in power and that Iran was a source of terrorism in the region. However, it has not taken a single serious step against the Syrian regime to facilitate its downfall, he said. The US has remained silent on Russian actions supporting the regime, and it did not bat an eyelid when the Syrian people were being slaughtered in their thousands every month. It has refused to arm the opposition, and sometimes it has even punished it. What has changed so that the Syrians would believe it this time? The new strategy was not welcomed by Turkey, since Ankara believes the US intends to establish a terrorist army on the border between Turkey and Syria that could irreparably damage Turkish-US relations. The core of this army will come from the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Syrian arm of the Kurdish PKK Party that Turkey categorises as a terrorist organisation. Washington has moved to quell Ankaras concerns by allowing Turkish forces to destroy the Syrian city of Afrin, the largest stronghold of the Kurdish militias, despite US support for them. The Pentagon says Washington is training local security forces in Syria to bolster the security and safety of the refugees and to prevent IS from returning. Tillersons statements imply that Al-Assads days are numbered, seeing his regime as a destabilising factor in the region and an entry point for Iran. They also link the US presence in Syria with US domestic security, the policy of former US president George W Bush who declared he would fight terrorism outside the US before it reached its shores. This resulted in the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and of Iraq in 2003. However, the US withdrawal from Iraq then resulted in bolstering the power of Iran and facilitating the building of a Shiite Crescent through Syria and Lebanon to the Mediterranean. Tillerson did not say that Al-Assad must step down as a precondition for talks on Syria in his presentation, only saying that the transitional phase cannot be successful without Al-Assads departure. For many Syrians, these words are vague, and Tillersons calling on the opposition to be patient on the issue of gradual constitutional reform implies that Washington is not in any hurry to end the slaughter in Syria. However, the new US policy includes ways of negotiating with Russia and the possibility of avoiding the kind of fake peace in Syria that the Russians are supporting. It also potentially launches a real political process, as well as making Syria the frontline for confronting Irans influence in the region. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the kingdom's top international businessmen, was released from detention on Saturday, more than two months after he was taken into custody in a sweeping crackdown on corruption. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an interview at Riyadh's opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be freed within days. A senior Saudi official said Prince Alwaleed was freed after he reached a financial settlement with the attorney general. "The attorney general has approved this morning the settlement that was reached with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and the prince returned home at 1100 a.m. (0800 GMT)," the official told Reuters, without giving details of the terms. The decision to free him, and the release of several other well-known tycoons on Friday, suggested the main part of the corruption probe was winding down after it sent shockwaves through Saudi Arabia's business and political establishment. A Gulf banker who deals with Saudi Arabia said the authorities appeared keen to conclude the probe partly because foreign investors were concerned their assets or local business partners could be targeted in the wide-ranging crackdown. Prince Alwaleed's detention was particularly worrying for foreigners because of his international prominence as an investor in top Western companies such as Twitter and Citigroup, and in top hotels including the George V in Paris and the Plaza in New York, the banker said. "The government is signalling that it wants to move to a new phase now, away from the crackdown and into other economic reforms," the banker said. Outside Prince Alwaleed's Riyadh palace, dozens of cars lined the entrances as a huge Saudi flag flapped above. Guards cracked jokes and drank coffee. His office said the prince was out visiting family, but declined to give any details. Prince Alwaleed had been confined at the Ritz-Carlton since early November, along with dozens of other senior officials and businessmen, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to reform oil superpower Saudi Arabia and consolidate his position. The attorney general said earlier this week that 90 detainees had been released after their were charges dropped, while others traded cash, real estate and other assets for their freedom. The authorities were still holding 95 people, he said. Some are expected to be put on trial. An official Saudi source said on Friday that several prominent businessmen had reached financial settlements with the authorities, including Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of regional television network MBC, who was released. Terms of his settlement were not revealed. Saudi authorities have said they expect to raise some $100 billion for the government through such settlements - a huge windfall for the state, which has seen its finances squeezed by low oil prices. Some private analysts think that target will be hard to hit, given how many suspects have seen charges dropped. MAINTAINING INNOCENCE Allegations against Prince Alwaleed, who is in his early 60s, included money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters in November. The prince's net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion. In his first interview since he was taken into custody, conducted hours before his release, Prince Alwaleed told Reuters that he had maintained his innocence of any corruption in talks with the authorities. He said he expected to keep full control of his global investment firm Kingdom Holding Co without being required to hand over assets to the government. Asked if the attorney general was convinced of Prince Alwaleed's innocence, the senior Saudi official said: "I will not negate or confirm what he says. Generally this falls back to those who concluded the settlement, and for sure there is no settlement unless there are violations, and they are not concluded without the accused admitting it in writing and promising not to repeat it." The source declined to give further details, but confirmed that Prince Alwaleed would remain head of Kingdom Holding. The prince described his confinement as a misunderstanding and said he supported reform efforts by the crown prince. "There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government," he said. The prince appeared greyer and thinner than in his last public appearance, a television interview in October, and had grown a beard while in detention. "I have nothing to hide at all. I'm so comfortable, I'm so relaxed. I shave here, like at home. My barber comes here. I'm like at home, frankly speaking," he said. He granted the 30-minute interview, including a tour of his suite, partly to disprove rumours about mistreatment and that he had been moved from the hotel to a prison. The prince said he was able to communicate with family members and executives at his business during his detention. Prince Alwaleed showed off the comforts of his gold-accented private office, dining room and kitchen, which was fully stocked with his preferred vegetarian meals. In the corner of his office sat tennis shoes, which he said he used regularly for exercise. A television played business news programmes, and a mug with an image of his own face on it was perched on the desk. After being released, Prince Alwaleed said, he would stay in Saudi Arabia and would return to the challenge of juggling his global business interests. "I will not leave Saudi Arabia, for sure. This is my country." Search Keywords: Short link: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to send his envoy Staffan de Mistura to a peace conference in Russia next week, a UN spokesman said Saturday, despite an opposition boycott. Russia had long sought UN participation in the Sochi conference aimed at advancing toward an end to the six-year war in Syria. Guterres "is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution" to reviving the peace talks held under UN auspices in Geneva, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The decision came just hours after Syria's main opposition group announced it was boycotting the talks opening in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday. Russia has invited more than 1,500 delegates to the two-day conference that the West views as a competing peace track to the UN-led effort with the aim of carving out a settlement that will be favorable to Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad. The boycott by the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) followed two days of UN talks in Vienna that failed to yield progress. The UN spokesman indicated that Guterres had received assurances that the Sochi conference would not seek to sideline the UN talks. Guterres was briefed by De Mistura on the outcome of the Vienna talks and has taken into account a statement from Russia that the result of the Sochi conference "would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations," the spokesman said in a statement. The UN chief has "decided to accept the invitation of the Russian Federation to send a representative to attend the Sochi Congress" and has asked De Mistura to go, he added. More than 340,000 people have died in the carnage, millions have fled their homes and the fighting has left the country in ruins. Short link: The mosque attacks in Germany are unacceptable: Erdogan President Erdogan criticized German police forces passive attitude on the mosques attacks committed by PKK supporters. President Erdogan evaluated the ongoing Operation Olive Branch and mosque attacks in Germany during a speech at the opening ceremony of the Kasmpasa Tunnel in Istanbul on Saturday. Supporters of the PYD/PKK had attacked five mosques run by Turkish-Muslim associations since last Friday when Turkey began a military operation in northwestern Syria's Afrin. "WHAT IS GERMANY WAITING FOR?" PKK supporters had attacked mosques by stones and bottles filled with paint, also wrote pro-PKK slogans and threatened to carry out further violence. The same things that are happening in Germany are also happening in Belgium. When we touch on these issues, they become uncomfortable. If a church here was harmed and our police watched, what would the world say? The mosque attacks in Germany are unacceptable. Erdogan said. Trump was booed at Davos Donald Trump was booed during session at Davos after he called media Vicious and Fake. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, US President Donald Trump told that America is open for business but he was booed for attacking the media. 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. America is open for business, and we are competitive once again. he added. Trump was booed At Davos WATCH "VICIOUS AND FAKE MEDIA" After the Q&A began, forum chairman Klaus Schwab asked Trump how his background as a businessman influenced his approach to governing. Trump said he always had a good relationship with the press as a businessman but that changed when he became president, and he didnt realize how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the media are. Trumps statement had several reactions from the reporters. Screenwriter-director Martin McDonagh's crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has been receiving tons of acclaim during the 2018 awards season. A Complicated Tale At the heart of McDonagh's story is its protagonist Mildred Hayes (McDormand). Hayes's life has been turned upside down since the death of her only daughter, Angela Hayes (Kathryn Newton). Hayes blames the Ebbing Police Department for failing their jobs and rents three billboards outside of town. Hayes pays the town's local advertiser, Red Welby (Caleb Landry Jones), to create three red and black signs that state: "RAPED WHILE DYING," "AND STILL NO ARRESTS?" and "HOW COME, CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?" Hayes's actions greatly disturb the town's civic leaders including Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), who is dying of cancer, and Willoughby's right-hand man, Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell). The Power Duo Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri's power players are McDormand and Rockwell. McDormand perfectly commands the screen as the formidable Mildred Hayes. Despite nearly the entire town of Ebbing, Missouri against her and her fraying relationship with her son, Robbie Hayes (Lucas Hedges), Hayes continues her mission and turns into one of the dominant female characters that made their debuts this decade. McDormand has earned a Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Critics' Choice Award for her superb performance. Rockwell, who spent most of his career as a character actor in Hollywood, can be considered leading man material through his performance as Officer Jason Dixon. Dixon is a homophobic and a racist and through his actions throughout the film, many moviegoers might consider the character should be nominated for the next American Film Institute's Top 50 Greatest Film Villains of All-Time. Rockwell also received a Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Critics' Choice Award. Three Billboards' Screenplay On Tuesday, Jan. 23, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri earned seven Oscar nominations. One particular award that rose controversy was the Best Original Screenplay. Several critics and moviegoers thought the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were surprised by the nomination as it dealt with controversial issues. Is McDonagh's screenplay perfect? Moviegoers might find several faults such as ow McDonagh dealt with homophobia and racism. Also, McDonagh does not paint an accurate picture of Midwestern U.S. residents. From Hayes's dentist and church leader blackmailing her to take down the controversial billboards to Officer Dixon's racist intendancies, McDonagh paints Ebbing, Missouri residents as hicks, which could be a slap in the face to the Midwest audience. Despite Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri's controversial screenplay, both McDormand and Rockwell's performances made this film one of the more memorable crime dramas of the decade. After a series of rape allegations and a $5 million lawsuit on her ex-husband Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons has finally addressed the sexual misconduct accusations against him. As previously reported, Simmons has been accused of sexual assault and rape by 11 women, including model Keri Claussen Khaligi, fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone, and writer Jenny Lumet. Many of the "alleged" incidents took place in the 1990s before Russell and Kimora got married. On Thursday, the rap mogul was slapped with a $5 million lawsuit from Jennifer Jarosik. The documentary filmmaker accused Simmons of raping her in 2016. "He's Innocent" Well, on Thursday night, Kimora took to her Instagram to respond to the allegations. "Now that I put my baby down..." Kimora captioned the post. In the post, the former model states that she has known Russell for over 25 years and the two have managed to remain close friends through it all. "These allegations against him are nothing like the person I have known in all that time. I have known him to be a caring and supporting father and someone who has worked tirelessly to uplift disenfranchised communities," Kimora wrote. The former couple were married for 11 years and have two children together -- Aoki Lee and Ming Lee Simmons. The pair met in 1992 during New York City's Fashion Week and were married six years later by Russell's brother and Run-DMC member Joey "Reverend Run" Simmons. #NotMe Gets Removed After the Jarosik allegation, Simmons released a statement through his representative, Eric Rose, denying the claim that he asked Jarosik to have sex with him at his house in Los Angeles in 2016. "I look forward to having my day in court -- where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known," Simmons said. In November 2017, the music mogul decided to step down from all of his companies after being accused of sexual misconduct. According to Page Six, police are currently investigating two sexual assault allegations against the Def Jam co-founder. Simmons also launched a #NotMe hashtag campaign in response to the claims that were made against him and to the #MeToo movement. However, he decided to discontinue the hashtag after recent reports were filed against him. Jennifer Lawrence might be one of the busiest women in Hollywood, but she still finds time to focus on her other passions. One of them being politics! On Thursday morning, the actress surprised a group of high school juniors and seniors at Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio. The three-time Golden Globe winner joined Represent.US, an anticorruption organization to speak about the country's politics and fixing democracy to students that are currently studying U.S. government. This is Your Time Lawrence joins a roster of actors and entertainers such as Elizabeth Banks, Sia, Kerry Washington and Orlando Bloom, who have also helped to spread awareness about corruption. Londyn Crenshaw, a senior at Cleveland Heights High School stated he was so amazed at how informed Lawrence was about politics. "It makes a big difference when people who are just 10 years older than us come to talk about political issues," Crenshaw stated. Crenshaw further explained that the actress really left an impression on him. "When she said, 'This is your time,' that really made me think. I have been involved with my community and will continue to be involved in grassroots activism because it's important," Crenshaw continued. Lawrence Takes A Stand The Academy Award winner has always been open about politics and social justice. Recently, the Red Sparrow star, delved into the dramatic way she had envisioned confronting President Donald Trump in a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey for The Hollywood Reporter in December. Winfrey even asked Lawrence if she would be prepared if the conversation were to really take place. "Oh, I would definitely. Oh, my God, I've been waiting for this moment. I'll give you a hint - it's not nice. You wouldn't want me to say it to you," Lawrence said. Lawrence revealed that politics has become something she has been fixated on recently. The 27-year-old, explained that her passion for politics has turned into an obsession. She referred to it as never being settled with your home and your personal life, so you think of new ways to fix things. In an interview with Vogue, Lawrence also revealed that she was disappointed to hear that Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and spoke out about Hollywood's pay gap. In honor of her dedication Lawrence joined the Women's March in Los Angeles. She posed with a handmade sign along with Adele and Cameron Diaz that read, "A Woman's Place is in the Revolution." Sofia Richie appears to be morphing into Kourtney Kardashian, the former girlfriend of her boyfriend, Scott Disick. Months into the couple's relationship, Richie seems to be channeling Kardashian's style, even recently dying her hair brown, and a new report claims she's doing so because it is a turn-on for Disick. Sofia is purposely transforming herself into a Kourtney Kardashian clone because she knows its a huge turn on for Scott, a source close to the 19-year-old model told Hollywood Life on Jan. 26. He has a type and Sofia is morphing into that for him, and it just so happens to be a lot like Kourtney. The source also revealed that Disick, 34, was playing a major role in his much younger girlfriend's transformation and is known to be controlling of how she dresses and how she styles her hair. As for how Kardashian feels, another Hollywood Life source said she was majorly creeped out at the idea of Disick turning Richie into her mini-me. Kourtney is well aware that Scott has been influencing Sofia in all of her styling choices and it is creeping her out big time," the insider said. "Kourtney is disturbed by Sofia who she thinks is too young for Scott and who Kourt feels is slowing morphing into a mini, younger version of Kourtney." The source went on to reveal that because Kardashian, 38, believes Disick was such a failure during their nine years together, she thinks he is attempting to replace her with someone more innocent and much younger. As some may know, Richie is just half of Kardashian's age. The insider continued on, revealing that Disick has made it no secret that he has strong views on Richie's appearance, and when it comes to his advice, Richie is said to be eager to please her older boyfriend. Meanwhile, whenever Kardashian sees that Disick's girlfriend has begun sporting a new hairstyle or outfit that is similar to hers, she is immediately grossed out by the imitation. In other news, Kardashian has been dating model Younes Bendjima, 24, since last summer. Ironically, Bendjima and Richie are friends and were seen hanging out with each other a number of times in 2017. Thus far, neither Richie nor Bendjima has been seen alongside their partners on episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. That said, fans could see them in the future. Hi all Does a doctor have to report you if you tell them you had sex outside of marriage? I need to visit the doctor as a result of a personal issue (not an STI) and realise I may have to discuss this. Please could someone clarify for me as many people have told me I definitely should not admit to having no sex outside of marriage but I cant really not given the nature of the medical problem! Please help The UK is still the most popular country for European jobseekers with a third still wanting to work in the country, but fewer are searching for jobs, probably due to uncertainty over Brexit.No one wants to start a brilliant new job and then find that after Brexit at the end of March 2019 the conditions in which they can stay in the UK have changed.Even so a survey of job seekers from 15 European Union countries found that London is the top destination for a new job, but Germany, Luxembourg and Ireland are increasingly popular.The survey from job site Indeed which looked at the online search patterns of millions of jobseekers found that the share of all cross border job searches is down 14.7% since 2015.Despite the fall, the UK remains the most popular choice for Europeans searching for a job abroad, attracting 31.8% all interest in the first nine months of 2017, with Germany in second place with searches up 19.3%, Ireland up 33.6% and Luxembourg up by 56%.Britains dynamic labour market has made it a poster boy for ambitious Europeans keen to progress their career. The Brexit vote hasnt stopped that attractiveness in its tracks but it is clearly giving many European jobseekers pause for thought, said Mariano Mamertino, economist for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, at jobs company Indeed which carried out the survey.So while the UK is still the most popular destination among Europeans looking to work abroad, its lead is shrinking fast. Britains loss could be its rivals gain and Germany, Luxembourg and Ireland are all attracting a greater share of the interest from upwardly mobile EU citizens, he added.The research also shows that there has also been a shift in the pattern of British people hunting for jobs abroad. Traditionally, they have tended to look towards English speaking countries such as the United States, Australia or Canada, but since 2015 there has been a 15.4% increase in those searching for work in the EU.One more surprising aspect of the Brexit effect is the apparent outbreak of itchy feet among British jobseekers. Britain remains a net importer of talent from the EU, but the surge of interest in European roles among UK based job seekers suggests the cross Channel traffic is no longer just a one way street, Mamertino pointed out. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday that working groups on fixing what the U.S. sees as flaws in the Iranian nuclear deal have already begun to meet, trying to determine the scope of what is needed and how much Iran needs to be engaged in it. Tillerson, ending a week-long European trip in Warsaw, said that he had secured support from Britain, France and Germany - all parties to the 2015 agreement - to work on the deal that President Donald Trump has warned he will walk away from unless changes are made. "It's always darkest before the dawn," Tillerson told journalists. "The working groups have already begun to meet on efforts to agree principles, what is the scope of what we attempt to address and also how much we engage Iran on discussions to address these issues," he said. The nuclear deal gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic program. Trump vowed to stop waiving U.S. sanctions unless the Europeans agreed to strengthen the deal's terms by consenting to a side agreement that would effectively eliminate provisions that allow Iran to gradually resume some advanced atomic work. Trump also wants tighter restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program. Iran has rejected any renegotiation. Tillerson said the nuclear deal was only a "small" part of U.S. policy in the Middle East and Washington was more immediately concerned about other issues including Iran's support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen and its supplying weapons to militias in the region. "Our work group also is intending to identify areas of greater cooperation (with) Europe to push back on Iran's malign behaviour," he said. RUSSIA BLAMED Despite statements from Russia earlier this week that Washington's accusations against Moscow that it and the Syrian army were behind a chemical attack in eastern Ghouta were "unfounded", Tillerson reiterated that ultimately Russia bore responsibility. "I stand by my comments," he said. "The chemical weapons ... are being used to hit the civilian population, the most vulnerable - children inside of Syria ... We are holding Russia responsible for addressing this. They are (Bashar al-) Assad's ally." Russia is providing direct military support in Syria against various rebel groups trying to oust Assad, and giving diplomatic cover in the U.N. Security Council. Short link: The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce on Monday joined 24 other metropolitan chambers of commerce in a declaration urging continuation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The sixth round of what have been contentious talks over NAFTA 2.0 starts today and close Monday with a meeting of Chrystia Freeland, Canadas minister of foreign affairs; Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexicos secretary of economy; and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Progress so far has been strained, thanks to disagreement on issues that include rules of origin for automobile parts, logging and dairy tariffs, dispute settlement mechanisms, and a U.S.-proposed sunset clause that could force the countries back to the table every five years. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been putting out pro-NAFTA statistics since Donald Trump began campaigning against the free trade deals, saying it encouraged companies to take U.S. jobs to Mexico. Among those statistics: Trade between the three nations has quadrupled since the 1994 pact took effect, and some 19 million jobs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico are now dependent on trade between the three countries. Richard Perez, CEO of the San Antonio chamber, was in Montreal to meet with counterparts and sign the declaration. I am proud to have spoken on behalf of San Antonios business community, Perez said. During the meeting, I discussed issues affecting locally based industries and the benefits of NAFTA for the San Antonio community. The event was the initiative of the Canadian Global Cities Council, a coalition of Canadas eight largest metropolitan chambers of commerce. Besides the eight Canadian chambers, there were representatives of 10 U.S. and seven Mexican chambers. lbrezosky@express-news.net WASHINGTON A long-stalled disaster relief bill now pending in Congress not only would help Texans rebound from the misery that Hurricane Harvey poured on Houston and the Gulf Coast last summer, but also could be a windfall for cotton growers on the High Plains of West Texas. Much of the disaster debate has focused on delays and entanglements over broader budget and immigration issues. But out of the headlines, farm country lawmakers backed by Gov. Greg Abbott have been spearheading a drive to add a safety net program to protect cotton producers from market fluctuations. Tucked into a House-passed $81 billion disaster relief package, now before the Senate, is a key change in farm policy that would put cotton back into a price support program called the Price Loss Coverage, a status it lost in 2014 after a challenge before the World Trade Organization. Cotton is big business in Texas: Its the states biggest cash crop, generating about $2.2 billion in crop value in 2016. Theres bipartisan support for what insiders call the cotton fix in the House. But it appears to have hit a snag in the Senate, where it has been questioned by lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. Its a much bigger part of the delay than people realize, said Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Although Peterson supports the change, he said it has absolutely become a harder sell in the Senate, particularly among some powerful Northern Democrats. The provision has been blistered by critics on the left and right who see it as an opportunistic end run around the 2014 Farm Bill, which excluded cotton from the program. But it has the backing of Abbott and a slew of powerful Texas lawmakers, including the states two U.S. senators, who see it as a remedy for the estimated $100 million in losses that Texas farmers suffered from Hurricane Harvey. While the change could help farmers in Southeast Texas who were hit by the storms floodwaters, the main impetus has come from South Plains cotton growers championed by freshman U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Republican from Lubbock, more than 500 miles from the storm-ravaged coast. You cant overstate the importance of cotton to West Texas, Arrington said, and restoring its safety net status would save billions of dollars to our local economy and is the single biggest factor for ensuring a prosperous future for families living on the South Plains. Most of the states nation-leading cotton production is centered in the West Texas cotton fields surrounding Lubbock, where rock n roll legend Buddy Holly got his start in 1955 playing at local venues such as the Cotton Club. Critics note that long before Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast in August, the industry had been battling to get back into the farm bills price and income support program, a move that could have significant implications for international trade agreements. This is a major policy change that shouldnt be buried in some disaster bill, said Daren Bakst, a research fellow in agricultural policy at the free-market Heritage Foundation. It has nothing to do with a disaster at all. This is why people become skeptical about these disaster bills. Protecting farmers Backers of the cotton fix note that the Congressional Budget Office, which calculates the costs of legislative changes, rated it as budget neutral, meaning it would not add to the governments budget deficit. In part, thats because growers would be expected to pivot from a special crop insurance subsidy that Congress created for cotton farmers when they were dropped from the commodity support program linked to crop prices. But in any future down markets, opponents say, taxpayer costs could rise. They also argue that the change could invite a trade war with cotton-producing countries such as Brazil, which challenged the subsidies in the WTO a decade ago, winning a $300 million settlement in 2014 after retaliating against an array of U.S. imports. Backers of the new cotton proposal say it has been rewritten to comply with U.S. treaty obligations, just like other major farm commodity programs. But its linkage to a bill intended to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires has caused political problems. In a blog on the eve of the 251-169 House vote for the disaster aid package last month, Scott Faber, vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, warned that Congress was once again attempting to provide more subsidies to cotton farmers under the guise of providing relief from the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Cotton already is one of the most heavily subsidized farm commodities in the U.S. agricultural system, which has sought to protect farmers from the vagaries of weather and markets since the Great Depression. Cotton farmers ranked third in commodity payments per acre in a 2017 study by the Congressional Research Service, behind producers of rice and peanuts. But to Texas growers and the states representatives in Congress, the cotton fix has been long overdue. Arrington said the decision by Congress to take cotton out of the price support program in 2014 has had a devastating effect on producers throughout the 17-state Cotton Belt, putting some West Texas farmers in danger of losing their farms. The overall economic effect from cotton and the many products it creates has been estimated to be as high as $24 billion annually, according to Southwest FarmPress, an industry publication. Texas produces about 5 million acres of cotton each year. Among those lobbying for the cotton fix is Richard Gaona, president of Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, who put out a statement through Arringtons office saying the change would provide the necessary risk management tools farmers need to succeed throughout the region. Critics argue that the cotton subsidy provision should be negotiated as part of the upcoming farm bill. But Steve Verett, executive vice president of Plains Cotton Growers, said farmers are making planting decision for the coming year now. Timing is of the essence, and by including this fix in legislation prior to the 2018 farm bill, our growers will have more certainty going into the new year, said Verett, who has spent time in Washington meeting with congressional leaders. Window of opportunity Abbott also has become involved, writing to Washington lawmakers this month, urging their support for a narrow window of opportunity to help cotton farmers in the House-passed aid package. Abbotts letter cited setbacks in the cotton industry and in U.S. farm income generally, calling it the steepest decline since the Great Depression. But it did not mention Harvey or any other natural disaster. Stephen Worley, a spokesman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said that while the senator supports the cotton fix, he stopped short of committing his support for including it in the disaster relief package, saying only that talks are ongoing. The media office for Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the committee, did not respond to a request for comment. But in agriculture, the fault lines are often regional, rather than partisan. An attempt last year to restore the cotton subsidies got tangled in a dispute between Southern commodity producers and Northern dairy interests, represented by Leahy and Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. But the player with the most leverage in the end may be Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, a Republican from Midland whose district produces more cotton than any other in the nation. Minnesotas Peterson said resolving the cotton fix now would make the upcoming farm bill, a perennially complicated piece of legislation that affects every facet of U.S. agriculture, 90 percent easier to do. To Peterson, thats a powerful incentive for Congress to resolve the cotton subsidies, whether theyre in the disaster bill or not. Theres not going to be a farm bill, he said, unless cotton is fixed. San Antonio whistleblower Jamie McBride battled the Veterans Affairs Department bureaucracy for six years over the way it handled organ transplants, arguing that its rules were needlessly causing patients to die. On Friday, federal investigators agreed with many of his allegations. The Office of Special Counsel said the departments response to his charges had numerous shortcomings and unanswered questions and that many of the identified problems apply throughout the VAs nationwide transplant program. Mr. McBride deserves praise for bringing forward the numerous barriers to lifesaving organ transplants for veterans, special counsel Henry Kerner said in a prepared statement. With his disclosures, and continued persistence from him, from veterans and their advocates, attention from Congress and diligence from those within the VA who are willing to acknowledge and fix the problems, I hope the agency will make sure good transplant care is available to veterans who need it. He also released a six-page letter to President Donald Trump outlining the problems. McBride, manager of the Solid Organ Transplant Program for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, contended that the structure and procedures for referring patients to a limited number of VA transplant facilities restricted their access to lifesaving care. In an interview Friday, he said he had documented around a dozen cases in San Antonio in which candidates for transplants had died, but he added that thousands have likely lost their lives over the years because the system failed them. The problem boils down to VA rules that restrict where veterans can receive heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants, McBride said. Those patients are required to travel to VA transplant centers, among them the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston and the Nashville VA Transplant Center in Tennessee, to receive new organs. The majority of transplants in Nashville are done at the nearby Vanderbilt Medical Center, he said. Similar arrangements exist elsewhere, including the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, which hands off transplants to the University of Washington Medical Center, and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. It sends patients to the University of Wisconsin Transplant Center in Madison. That means transplant patients in San Antonio must travel long distances for lifesaving operations, even though University Hospital and Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital performed a total of 1,256 liver and kidney transplants from July 2014 to December 2016. The Alamo City hospitals performed far more transplants than the DeBakey VA center in Houston, with similar or better survival rates, McBride said. Theyve already proven that they have the ability to transplant in the community because they have multiple contracts in place in non-VA facilities, said McBride, a registered nurse. Its just that they choose where they have to go. They refuse to let anybody else have contracts. Thats been my argument from day one. More Information Point-counterpoint The VA responded Friday to a report from the Office of Special Counsel that substantiated a San Antonio whistleblower's claims concerning the VA's organ transplant program. Here are excerpts of the VA's summary of the allegations and its responses. OSC allegation: Mr. McBride disclosed that the structure and procedures for referring VA patients for organ transplants to a limited number of VA transplant facilities restrict patients' access to lifesaving treatment. VA response: All patients undergoing transplants must be thoroughly evaluated prior to transplantation to ensure that they are appropriate candidates for the planned surgical procedure and required peri- and post-operative management. OSC allegation: The structure also causes financial and other hardships to veterans and their families by requiring them to relocate for months to receive treatment. VA response: This is a national issue and is not unique to VHA. Transplant programs are not located in every state. There are numerous advantages for veterans in having access to a robust VA Transplant Program for lifelong complex care, which includes an integrated health care system, travel/lodging benefits, telehealth and secure messaging. OSC allegation: The transplant centers apply inconsistent and overly restrictive eligibility criteria for liver and kidney transplants; the medical centers lack the level of specialty care required to care for post-transplant patients; and the VA's unwillingness to perform living-donor kidney transplants denies patients timely, life-prolonging treatment options. VA response: VA transplant Centers follow standards of care consistent with OPTN policy; VA's integrated health care system provides 24/7 access to VA Transplant Centers and subject matter experts as needed for advice and consultation regardless of where the veteran is located; and the VA Transplant Program actively performs living-donor transplant procedures utilizing both veteran and nonveteran living donors. VA policy supports living-donor costs for donor-related testing and care as well as travel. OSC Allegation: VA did not address the conflicting information regarding the availability of transplant care in the community and the coverage of organ harvesting and donor care through the Choice Program, which Congress created to allow veterans to seek care outside the VA system when needed. VA response: When VA provides transplant care in the community, VA typically uses the authority in 38 U.S.C. 8153 to obtain surgical and related services. When purchasing the donor's associated care under a sharing agreement, all the associated clinical donor-related costs can be identified and purchased at a negotiated, mutually agreed-upon rate. While VA is authorized to use the Choice Program to provide transplant care (including for the donor), the law generally caps the payment at Medicare rates which community providers have been less willing to accept. OSC allegation: VA did not address the full scope of the allegations, such as the cause of the VA's low rate of living-donor transplants and communication problems among multiple VA facilities. VA response: We stand ready to address any of OSC's remaining concerns. OSC allegation: For some findings, VA did not acknowledge the consequences and potential harm to veterans, such as the delay veterans experienced while appealing and seeking second opinions in cases where a VA transplant center applied overly restrictive criteria, and for post-transplant patients who receive care from physicians who do not believe they are capable of providing proper care. VA response: This allegation disregards the facts and outcomes of the cases in question. For the period of Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017, the VA Transplant Program received 2,602 referrals, performed 1,660 evaluations, placed 834 veterans on the transplant waiting list, and performed 631 solid organ and bone marrow transplants. VA's National Surgery Office monitors survival statistics for all VA Transplant Centers on a quarterly basis. See More Collapse The OSC agreed with McBrides contention that the VA transplant program caused financial and other hardships to veterans and their families by requiring them to relocate for months to receive treatment. McBride said communication woes between VA medical and transplant centers resulted in delays in care and that the facilities applied inconsistent and overly restrictive eligibility criteria for liver and kidney transplants. The OSC statement went on to say that VA medical centers across the country one of them Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio generally lacked the level of specialty care required for post-transplant patients and that the departments unwillingness to perform living-donor kidney transplants denied patients timely, life-prolonging treatment options. Patients receiving organs from living persons tend to survive longer than those who get organs from those whove died. The VA issued a lengthy rebuttal to Kerners report and letter to Trump. It supports living-donor transplants, it said. Responding to its allegation that veterans and their families were required to relocate for treatment, VA spokesman Curt Cashour called it a national issue but not unique to the Veterans Health Administration. He noted that transplant programs are not in every state, and he added that there are numerous advantages for veterans in having access to a robust VA Transplant Program for lifelong complex care, which includes an integrated health care system, travel/lodging benefits, telehealth and secure messaging. Veterans can go to outside providers for a variety of health care needs under the Veterans Choice program established during the Obama administration, but not for transplant surgeries. Veterans are required to have their transplants done at a few select VA hospitals specializing in that procedure. The OSC said the VA identified a single transplant outside one of its facilities that was covered under the Choice program and a small number through other contracting arrangements yet offered no recommendations to improving such access. Cashour countered that the Choice program for transplants is governed by federal statute and said that if Congress or anyone else is interested in expanding access to transplants through the Choice program, we recommend they look into changing the law. There have been some attempts to do that. The House in November amended the Choice Act to allow veterans access to transplant care at non-VA facilities. Rep. John R. Carter, R-Round Rock, introduced the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, which requires the VA to provide organ transplants to veterans from a live-donor regardless of whether the donor is a veteran. A second House measure, the Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2017, is awaiting action in the Senate. The VICTOR Act states that veterans living more than 100 miles from a VA transplant center must be given access to non-VA transplant facilities under the Choice Act. It also would cover costs for procuring organs from living or dead nonveterans. Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Mark Kirk of Illinois, in 2016 introduced the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, which would require the VA to provide coverage for live-donor transplant operations if the veteran qualifies for the VA Choice program. Another Senate bill, sponsored by Bill Cassidy, R-La., would mandate that veterans be given access to non-VA transplant centers anywhere in the country. That is the strongest bill, said McBride, 44, of San Antonio. I support that one 100 percent. Throughout the investigative process, McBride said, he was treated well by his supervisors and did his job, which involves preparing patients for transplants, without interference. McBride initially filed a whistleblower complaint in late 2013 with the VAs Office of Inspector General. It found in his favor three years ago. After McBride filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, which reports directly to the president and Congress, the VA submitted two reports to the agency. Kerner, in his letter to Trump, said both VA reports met the requirements of the law but that the findings do not appear reasonable. He said the VA conceded to having challenges in covering transplants under the Choice program, one of them payment rates under the law. The VA said those rates were based on Medicare fees but found that non-VA providers didnt accept Medicare rates for donor care. McBride refuted that assertion, providing documents to OSC to back up his claim. The documents showed that the VA has declined to cover organ harvesting and donor care for transplants at non-VA hospitals because the VA considers this to be a nonveteran expense item and nonveteran care, Kerner wrote Trump. (McBride) asserted that non-VA hospitals do, in fact, accept the Medicare rates, noting that more than 50 percent of transplants in the community are performed at those rates. The letter said the VA failed to address discrepancies in evidence and findings from its first report and conflicting information about the availability of transplant care at non-VA facilities. Kerner also said VA officials didnt acknowledge the full scope of the allegations or potential harm to veterans in some circumstances. McBride said the OSC proved him right after six years of challenging the VAs program. Im not crazy after all, he said. Its nice to feel vindicated. sigc@express-news.net John Kessel vacated the Schertz city managers post Friday, as sought by the City Council majority, ousted for unspecified reasons that Kessel backers cast as petty politics. Whats so wrong with telling us what your issue is with a person that we think is doing an outstanding job? resident Glen Outlaw asked at the Jan. 19 special meeting where a motion to seek Kessels resignation was approved without discussion on a 4-3 vote. Outlaw, the citys former fire marshal, hailed Kessel as the best of five city managers with whom he has worked. He echoed other speakers in decrying the lack of transparency surrounding Kessels ouster after nearly seven years as city manager. We have a right to understand what the situation is, said resident Brent Bolter, one of 10 Kessel backers who spoke at the council meeting. If that mans no longer going to be city manager, I want to know why and I think the rest of the citizens in Schertz want to know. But little explanation has been provided by those seeking Kessels departure, a decision which officials say could cost the city up to $237,000 in severance pay. Councilman Cedric Edwards, who requested the special meeting, expressed regret at not being free to articulate why he joined council members Bert Crawford, Angela Riser and Mark Davis in seeking Kessels resignation. It was a culmination of things for me. It wasnt one thing, Edwards said Thursday. Kessel, for his part, issued a statement expressing gratitude to the citizens and officials in Schertz, where he was initially hired in March 2011 as director of the Schertz Economic Development Corp., then elevated to city manager two months later. I am proud of how much we accomplished together as a team during this time and I leave confident that all the pieces are in place for a positive transition, said Kessel, whose base pay was $174,500 under a 2016 contract that was to expire in 2019. Brian James, the citys executive director, said Friday that he will assume city manager duties on an interim basis until Kessels successor is chosen. Mayor Michael Carpenter, who only votes to break ties, favored retaining Kessel, who survived similar scrutiny by a prior council in executive session last July. That council voted 4-2 to retain him at least through his upcoming annual performance review in June. I think hes one of the strongest city managers weve ever had, Carpenter said Friday, noting the citys bond rating was boosted during Kessels tenure, its reserve fund was restored to healthy levels and the city recruited major corporations to town. The only other issue acted upon on Jan. 19 involved changes to the citys ethics policy, which was amended at Carpenters urging to use terminology consistent with state code and to lessen restraints on the council concerning discussion of matters discussed in executive session. He said the policy phrase Council members shall keep all matters discussed in executive session confidential, was changed by unanimous vote to Council members should keep all matters discussed in closed session confidential. Most residents hes heard from favored keeping Kessel, he said, noting, There was no individual item nor any items presented in the aggregate that warranted the citys manager departure or dismissal, in my mind. Despite the ethics code changes, which took effect immediately, Edwards and Crawford were reluctant to comment on the three-hour executive session on Kessels fate. Those things may never be made public. Im sorry, said Edwards. Crawford said, I choose not to speak because I dont know what could happen to me on the legal front. Councilman Scott Larson, who favored retaining Kessel, said he remains uncertain why Kessel was ousted despite participating in the closed-door deliberations. There was a lot of ambiguous complaints, he said Friday. There were certainly some specific complaints, but none that rose to the level of a reprimand, much less termination. Councilman Ralph Gutierrez echoed those remarks, saying, Everything they brought to our attention was petty, and didnt warrant such action. Thats the reason were all baffled with their decision. Roy Richard, a former city prosecutor of 25 years, was among residents who warned Jan. 19 that running off Kessel could have long-term negative implications for the city. This councils legacy will be decided in this room this evening, said Richard, whose father was a former mayor. Are you going to put this behind us and move forward, or are you going to drive this city into a ditch that could take years and even decades to get out of? zeke@express-news.net WASHINGTON - Gina Ortiz Jones, a Democrat running for Congress in San Antonio, said she intends to notify the District of Columbia that she no longer lives in a Washington condominium and therefore doesnt qualify for a property tax break she is receiving. That was an oversight on my part and were going to fix it quickly, Jones said when asked by the Express-News about records suggesting that she lives in Washington. Texas law requires congressional candidates to reside in Texas. Jones said she has been living since June in the 23d Congressional District, where she is one of four Democrats seeking their partys nomination to challenge second-term Republican Will Hurd. As of Friday, she was receiving a homestead exemption for a condominium situated along the Potomac River in southwest Washington, a tax break available to owners who live on their properties and consider them their principle residences. She has benefited from the exemption since 2013 and continues to do so, said David Umansky, spokesman for the District of Columbia chief financial officer. For fiscal 2018, which began in October, the homestead exemption would enable her to reduce her propertys assessed value by $73,350, lowering her taxable assessment to $230,000 and yielding a savings of about $600, according to the District of Columbias Office of Tax and Revenue. Jones, 36, is a former Air Force intelligence officer who joined the Obama administration. She later worked in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she oversaw review of foreign investments to determine if they posed national security risks. She has gathered several endorsements, among them from VoteVets and Serve America PAC, an entity set up by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., to assist veterans running for Congress. This week, she won the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, an alliance of 77 liberal House members and Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. Questions about the D.C. homestead exemption occasionally turn up in campaigns and embarrass members of Congress who purchase homes in Washington. Last election, Michigan Republicans referred to a Democratic congressional hopeful receiving the property tax break as a a carpet-bagging DC insider. The Democrat, who had been working at the Pentagon before returning to Michigan, lost. In 2014, a Democrat who had been working at the Pentagon and ran for Congress in Florida had to answer why hed received homestead exemptions for properties in both Washington and Maryland. The Democrat later dropped out to seek another office. Like most tax systems, its based on the presumption of honesty by the taxpayer, Umansky said. Violations can lead to back taxes with interest and penalties. Every case is handled individually. If it turns out that a person is ineligible, there are meetings and correspondence and it gets worked out, Umansky said. Jones is renting out the condo now, according to a financial disclosure report she filed in November. She said she intends to resolve her situation quickly, and believes the District of Columbia and voters will understand the error. I think they can understand that people make mistakes. A record of public service shows that I am committed to my community and my country. But like other people, I make mistakes, and we are correcting it in short order, she said. blambrecht@express-news.net In a report filed with the Texas attorney generals office this week, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office acknowledged that a 30-year-old woman killed by deputies in Schertz last month did not have or display a gun. An investigator with the Sheriffs Office submitted the report to the attorney generals office Monday, one month after four deputies opened fire on Amanda Lene Jones, a suspected car thief with a felony record, and accidentally killed a 6-year-old boy. In the report, the investigator selected a box that says Jones did not carry, exhibit or use a deadly weapon. Several times in the report, he stated that she was carrying an unknown object that deputies feared was a handgun. In a statement, the Sheriffs Office confirmed that it does not believe that the suspect had a deadly weapon at the time of the shooting but that investigators have not ruled out that she may have been in possession of and threatening deputies with a gun at some point prior to that. The Sheriffs Office makes that same insinuation in the report, saying that the investigation is ongoing. The incident began around 10:45 a.m. Dec. 21 after a man reported that his car had been stolen and that he knew where to find the suspect. Deputies found Jones hiding in a closet at a house, at which point she showed a gun and threatened to shoot a deputy, Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time. A nearly two-hour manhunt followed, at one point crossing Cibolo Creek. Jones ran to a mobile home park and broke into the childs home. Deputies closed in on her as she stood on the porch. Jones verbally stated to these deputies that she had a gun and that she was going to shoot them, the report states. All four deputies saw an object in Jones hand as she pointed it at them. All four deputies then fired at Jones, causing ballistic injuries that resulted in her death at the scene. The report, which the attorney generals office requires after an officer-involved injury or death, reveals that 6-year-old Kameron Prescott was standing in the front hallway when the shooting occurred and that he was hit by fragments of a stray bullet. Kameron was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. This month, Salazar said his investigators were still actively looking for a gun and that they had recently sent a diving team into Cibolo Creek to see if Jones could have dropped it there. On Friday, the Sheriffs Office said a gun was not found in the creek. A spokesman did not respond to a question asking if investigators are still actively searching elsewhere. Salazar has maintained that deputies saw a gun at other times during the chase, but in the report, it is referred to several times as an object that deputies feared was a firearm. After the shooting, District Attorney Nico LaHood announced that his office would conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting. It is ongoing, along with a separate internal investigation by the Sheriffs Office. The four deputies involved in the shooting, who have between two and 27 years of experience, remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of the district attorneys investigation. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton Interflour Group chief strategy officer Avi Fintz (pictured) will replace Greg Harvey as the company's managing director and chief executive from March 9, 2018. AFTER 13 years at the helm of the Interflour Group, Greg Harvey has resigned from his post as the companys managing director and chief executive. Interflours chief strategy officer Avi Fintz will take the reins from Mr Harvey from March 9, as Mr Harvey returns to Perth to be closer to his family. Interflour is a joint venture between the CBH Group and Indonesias Salim Group, established in 2005 with the acquisition of six flour mills in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Group has since doubled its facilities including acquisitions in Turkey and the Philippines and has also diversified into malt production. Mr Fintz joined the Interflour Group in May 2013 and has since been responsible for spearheading the groups strategic and business development functions. Prior to joining Interflour Group, Mr Fintz was head of strategic investments at Ronly and executive director of Special Situations Group at Goldman Sachs where he originated, negotiated and structured investments in excess of $2 billion across a variety of capital structures within several industries including retail, real estate and commodities. Since joining the team he has successfully led the consolidation of the Interflour Group of companies, joint venture partnership in the Philippines and acquisition of a flour milling company in Indonesia. Mr Harvey said he was confident Interflours new leadership team would be left in a strong position under Mr Fintz. It makes it a whole lot easier knowing that Interflour is in very capable hands with a leadership team across the region with strong experience and outstanding dedication to our customers and business partners, Mr Harvey said. Avi and I will work together, as we have done for many years, to ensure a smooth transition. He (Mr Fintz) has developed a deep understanding of the business and connection with our customers and business partners. As the head of strategy and business development for almost five years, Avi has a strong appreciation for the complexity of our business I have every confidence in his ability to carry this business forward from strength to strength. Interflour Group chairman Imre Mencshelyi said the board had been working with Mr Harvey for a signficiant period of time to enact the companys leadership succession plan and ensure a smooth transition. On behalf of the board, I thank Greg for his service over the past 13 years under his leadership Interflour has transformed to become a globally recognised company and one of the leading grain processors in Southeast Asia, Mr Mencshelyi said. Not only has Greg led and inspired from within the Interflour Group, he has made significant contributions to global nutrition efforts through his leadership of the Food Fortification Initiative, focused on alleviating new-born neural tube defects through implementing flour fortification programs. He is a highly respected leader within the group and industry and will be missed, we wish Greg all the very best for the future. The board will be working closely with Avi and Greg over the next six weeks to ensure a smooth transition. Related Two Guinness world record holders to visit Egypt in January The tallest man in the world, Sultan Kosen from Turkey, at 251 centimetres, and the shortest woman in the world, Jyoti Amge from India, at 62.8 centimetres, are touring Egypt in their first visit to the country. On the first day of the visit, Kosen and Amge, the Guinness world record holders, visited the pyramids of Giza and the Cairo Tower. The duo were invited to visit Egypt by the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority. Kosen said that this is his first visit to Egypt and "a dream come true." "Looking at photos of the pyramids differs from being in front of their greatness, representing the miraculous ancient Egyptian civilisation," he commented. He also expressed his admiration for the Cairo Tower. Amge joined Kosen in delight, adding that visiting Egypt is the wish of every Indian person. "The Egyptian and the Indian civilisations are similar to a large extent, thriving for thousands of years. With the pyramids we step closer to the enchanting mystery," she said. Ahmed Makled, the chief executive manager of B Premium, which is the Guinness World Records' Egyptian partner, said that Kosen and Amge are two of the most followed records holders and their visit helps boost Egyptian tourism. A press conference for Kosen and Amge will be held Saturday, 27 January, at Fairmont Nile City Hotel. The event is organized by G and Ministry of Tourism representatives. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: ADVANCES in the performance of future lupin varieties are set to take a significant leap forward, with the development of two new molecular maps to aid plant breeding. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has updated the ultra-high density consensus genetic map, in addition to developing a physical map for narrow-leafed lupins. DPIRDs research and collaborations, with the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, have established Australia as a world leader in lupin molecular genetics. DPIRD senior research officer Huaan Yang said the two maps would provide plant breeders with greater confidence in the accuracy of the data used to produce new high-performance lupins, tailored to the environment. The dense, high quality data in the genetic and physical lupin maps provides the fundamental building blocks from which to develop new higher yielding varieties with greater resistance to pests and diseases, Dr Yang said. This new genetic data will boost future lupin breeding technology, delivering a resource to integrate genomic selection into lupin breeding that is on-par with breeding approaches in other mainstream international food crops. The latest developments build on an initial draft lupin genome sequence published in 2013 and the comparative genomes of another 18 lupin lines that were re-sequenced in 2015. The updated ultra-high density consensus genetic map incorporated DPIRDs previous work, as well as research by The University of WA, the CSIRO and from Poland. Dr Yang said the ultra-high density genetic map was far more detailed than previous versions, providing plant breeders with greatly enhanced tools to work with genes of breeding interest. We have discovered 19,000 new molecular markers across the lupin genome, which, when integrated with data from previous maps, has enabled us to establish a more dense and complex genetic map for lupins, comprising more than 34,500 markers, Dr Yang said. The quality of this map is particularly high, as the DNA sequence for each of those markers has been located on the genome sequence assembly physically within the chromosomes. DPIRD researchers, working with scientists at Murdoch University and the Beijing Genome Institute, used the ultra-high genetic map to update the physical map of lupins. While the genetic map provides signposts to the molecular markers and the approximate distances between genetic traits, the physical map goes to the next level to provide the actual distance along the DNA sequence for each chromosome, Dr Yang said. The new maps will enable plant breeders to use molecular marker technology to pinpoint the genes that determine key traits with greater applicability and precision enhancing the potential development of new varieties. p More information:visit agric.wa.gov.au and search for lupin. Sir Ian McKellen has celebrated the 30th anniversary since he came out as gay. Sir Ian McKellen The 78-year-old actor openly spoke about his sexuality during an interview on BBC Radio in 1988 at the age of 48, and to mark three decades since "life began to make sense", the star has taken to Twitter to post a moving tweet. He wrote: "I've never met a gay person who regretted coming out - including myself. Life at last begins to make sense, when you are open and honest. Today is the 30th anniversary of the BBC radio discussion when I publically said I was gay. So I'm celebrating! (sic)" Fans were quick to support the 'Lord of the Rings' actor, who has long been an activist for the LGBT community, with some even drawing inspiration from his rallying words. One fan told him: "Ian I am coming out to my family tomorrow. I hope my life will make sense as you say. I hope I could be as brave as you." Whilst another claimed the star gave them the "courage" to speak to their loved ones about their sexuality. They wrote: "When I was 16, I watched an interview with you and Sir Patrick Stewart where you talked about coming out. A few days later, I came out to my friends and family and I've never regretted it for a second. Thank you for inspiring me and giving me courage." Despite being one of Britain's most celebrated actors, McKellen claims he is still occasionally subjected to homophobic abuse but insisted he doesn't let it bother him, as he knows he's a macho man because he prefers the company of other guys. He said previously: "I think gay men are more masculine than straight men. Because, guess what? They love other men! So when bully boys say, 'Faggot!' you say, 'That's right, I'm with the boys.'" I was born in Germany but I was lucky to grow up in Syria, with the sounds of church bells, calls to prayer from the minarets, folk songs, oud improvisations and chants of ancient melodies, but I was also listening to live concerts and recordings of the masters of Western classical music Born in 1972, Malek Jandali studied piano at the Arab Institute of Music in Damascus. His unique talent brought him the first prize at the Syrian National Young Artists Competition (1988) and a scholarship to continue his education at the North Carolina School of the Arts (1995). His career as a pianist took him to international concert halls, but as a composer Jandali is strongly linked with his homeland and his Arab roots. This creative marriage is apparent in, among other compositions, Jandalis Syrian Symphony (2014) album, which features Phoenix in Exile recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, alongside EPs and singles such as Syria Anthem of the Free (2013), Ya Allah (O God, 2013), or a more recent Piano Quartet, Aleppo, commissioned by the Apollo Chamber Players. Jandalis name is not only connected with his worldwide musical achievements, but also with activism calling for peace and freedom of expression. The latter efforts became particularly obvious during the 2011 Arab Spring as it reached the shores of Syria and tragically affected his family in a direct way. A few days after Jandali had participated in a pro-democracy rally for Syria in front of the White House in Washington during which he performed the Syrian national anthem and premiered Watani Ana (My Country), with hundreds of attendees singing along in solidarity with the Syrian people his elderly parents were beaten by the Syrian forces. The same year, the artist received the 2011 Freedom of Expression Award from CAIR Los Angeles. This was followed by several other awards such as the GUSI International Peace Prize (2013), the Global Music Humanitarian Award (Los Angeles, 2014), the award of the Great Immigrant Pride of America Honoree from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (2015), to name but a few. To Jandali, music is not only a great art through which he expresses himself but also an important form of soft power he utilises to make the world a better place. Art both reflects and shapes the human condition, and my hope is not only to preserve the rich history and beauty of Syrian culture with my compositions, but to engender peace and humanity through the soft power of music, he says. In 2015, Jandali coupled his belief in music as soft power with his need to give back by founding Pianos for Peace, a non-profit organisation that aims to build peace through music and education. For two weeks every fall, we bring beautifully painted pianos to public parks and streets throughout the city for everyone and anyone to enjoy. As one of the largest public art display projects in the city, Pianos for Peace featured 50 pianos and impacted an estimated one million people this year, Jandali explains, adding that after the two-week outdoor festival, all Pianos for Peace are donated to local schools, nursing homes, healthcare facilities and community centres where volunteer artists participate in programmes making art accessible to all. We serve underserved communities through three major year-round programmes: Public Arts, Music Therapy and Arts Education through strategic partnerships with local and international organisations that share both our vision and mission. I am very proud of this initiative, which makes a positive social impact and makes the arts accessible to all. While growing in size and impact on the music scene, Pianos for Peace has developed numerous partnerships with local and international organisations as well as academic institutions around the world. It contributes to the discovery and support of pianistic talent. One such project is the Malek Jandali International Youth Piano Competition that was launched in 2014 and which this year was sponsored by Pianos for Peace. The competition entries are completed online, making it easily accessible to young pianists up to age 18 from all over the world and all walks of life. The contestants have to perform one piece by a composer from their country of origin and one of Jandalis original piano works, then post their video recordings online. Last year, the selected work was Eid and in 2018 it will be Andalus. The submissions are then reviewed by a panel of professional judges made up of professors and musicians who evaluate each entry and select the winners. Jandali explains that the winners then receive a monetary prize with trophies, a complete set of his albums and piano music books as well as their debut at Carnegie Hall. The goal is to change the narrative about the piano repertoire and let the next generation of pianists search for the beauty and truth of their cultural identity and cherish it, Jandali adds proudly. I felt the need to embrace the young talents and guide them on their musical journey to launch their career by inviting the winners to New York City to perform at my annual Carnegie Hall concert. Its my way to give back to the community. We are building organic cultural bridges for these young talents away from traditional methods and institutions by utilising technology and social media outlets along with our partners around the globe. In 2017, we received over 50 submissions from all over the world. Their love for music is evident and their talent is undeniable. It has been amazing to hear music from Tunisia, India, Egypt, Korea, not to mention Poland and Chopins one minute waltz by pianist Antoni Kleczek, the grand prize winner this year. With many concerts, commissions and projects on his agenda, Jandalis schedule is full to the brim. He has just completed a successful tour in Australia where he debuted his Syrian Symphony for Peace at the Sydney Opera House, and held academic workshops and master classes. At the same time, he has been commissioned by Maestra Marin Alsop of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to compose a new symphonic work. Titled The Silent Ocean, the composition tells the story of a little Syrian girl who drowned in the sea after she escaped the ravages of war. Jandalis upcoming album, The Jasmine Tree, will be released on 3 February, 2018 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This album is very special to me on many levels. It features original chamber music for piano, oud and cello inspired by works of great poets from around the world such as Rumi, Sarojini Naidu and Pulitzer Prize-winner Natasha Trethewey, integrating the authentic sounds of Arabic maqamat and the ancient music of Syria and the Levant. It is a rich, loving and nostalgic ode to my homeland, and I hope it transports the listeners to the beautiful, ancient cobbled streets of Syria, with the scent of the Jasmine tree wafting through the air. While he continues to perform, create and promote peace, Jandali is already working on other commissions, including a number of chambers works, a saxophone quartet, a string quartet, a viola concerto, a violin concerto and other symphonic works for major orchestras and recording projects in the US and Europe. As his passion for music and life takes him on the most exciting creative journeys, he hopes to set an example to all younger and aspiring musicians. Art is about searching for beauty and truth. To be a true artist, you must be free to speak the truth. My advice is simple. Love what you do and do what you love. Be authentic. This article was first published in Al Ahram Weekly For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/26/18 -- Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN) (the "REIT"), announced today that, in connection with its previously announced agreement to acquire seven properties located in the Greater Toronto Area and Atlantic Canada (the "Acquisition Properties"), it is proceeding with a special meeting of unitholders of the REIT (the "Unitholders") to be held on March 8, 2018 (the "Unitholder Meeting"), for purposes of considering the Acquisition. The Acquisition Properties are part of a portfolio of real estate assets to be sold by Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust ("Cominar") and which are the subject of a sale contract among Slate Acquisitions Inc. (on behalf of Slate Canadian Real Estate Opportunity Fund I L.P. ("SCREO")) and Cominar. The REIT will acquire the Acquisition Properties for $191.4 million (the "Acquisition") representing $192 per square foot. The purchase price will be partially satisfied from the proceeds of the sale of 12,778,800 subscription receipts of the REIT (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $8.10 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of approximately $103.5 million (which includes proceeds from the full exercise of an over-allotment option to purchase additional Subscription Receipts), which was completed earlier today. The Acquisition was unanimously recommended by a special committee of the board of trustees of the REIT (the "Board") composed entirely of independent trustees consisting of Pamela Spackman (Chair), Monty Baker, Nora Duke, Thomas Farley and John O'Bryan (the "Special Committee"). The Special Committee retained Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc. ("Blair Franklin") to prepare and deliver a valuation (the "Formal Valuation") in respect of the Acquisition Properties in accordance with the requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), and a written opinion (the "Fairness Opinion") as to the fairness to the REIT, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be paid by the REIT for the Acquisition Properties. The Formal Valuation and the Fairness Opinion indicate that, as of January 17, 2018 and based on and subject to the assumptions, factors considered and limitations described therein, the fair market value range of the Acquisition Properties is $185 million to $205 million, and the consideration of $191.4 million to be paid by the REIT for the Acquisition Properties pursuant to the definitive agreement, is fair, from a financial point of view, to the REIT. Following its review of the Formal Valuation and the Fairness Opinion and after careful deliberation, the Special Committee confirmed its prior determination that the Acquisition is in the best interests of the REIT and unanimously recommended to the Board that the Board recommend to the Unitholders that they vote in favour of the Acquisition at the Unitholder Meeting. In arriving at its unanimous recommendation in favour of the Acquisition, the Special Committee considered several additional factors, which will be outlined in public filings to be made in connection therewith. Following receipt of the unanimous recommendation by the Special Committee, the Board (with interested trustees abstaining) has unanimously approved the Acquisition and unanimously resolved to recommend to Unitholders that they vote in favour of the Acquisition at the Unitholder Meeting. Pursuant to MI 61-101, the Acquisition could be considered a "related party transaction" for the REIT by virtue of the relationship between the REIT and SCREO, and as such, the REIT will seek to obtain minority Unitholder approval of the Acquisition at the Unitholder Meeting. If minority approval is obtained at the Unitholder Meeting, the Acquisitions are expected to close by the end of March 2018. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information herein constitutes "forward-looking information" as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management's expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "scheduled", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "projects", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "occur", "be achieved", or "continue" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Some of the specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the following: the intention of the REIT and the vendor to complete the Acquisitions on the terms and conditions described herein; the expected use of proceeds of the sale of the Subscription Receipts; the date on which the Unitholder Meeting is expected to occur; and the date on which the closings of the Acquisitions is expected to occur. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations, including that the transactions contemplated herein are completed. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators, including the REIT's annual information form dated March 6, 2017. About Slate Office REIT (TSX: SOT.UN) Slate Office REIT is an open-ended real estate investment trust. The REIT's portfolio currently comprises 38 strategic and well-located real estate assets located primarily across Canada's major population centres. The REIT is focused on maximizing value through internal organic rental and occupancy growth and strategic acquisitions. Visit slateofficereit.com to learn more. About Slate Asset Management L.P. Slate Asset Management L.P. is a leading real estate investment platform with over $4.5 billion in assets under management. Slate is a value-oriented manager and a significant sponsor of all of its private and publicly-traded investment vehicles, which are tailored to the unique goals and objectives of its investors. The firm's careful and selective investment approach creates long-term value with an emphasis on capital preservation and outsized returns. Slate is supported by exceptional people, flexible capital and a proven ability to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more. Contacts: Investor Relations Slate Office REIT +1 416 644 4264 ir@slateam.com Slate Office REIT's proxy solicitation agent: Laurel Hill Advisory Group North America Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184 Collect Calls Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211 Email: assistance@laurelhill.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2018) - East Asia Minerals Corporation (TSXV: EAS) ("East Asia Minerals" or the "Company") provides background on the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting and the deficient disclosure of the dissidents, Vishal Gupta and Patrick Cronin (the "Dissidents"). As previously announced, the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") has been adjourned by an order of the BC Supreme Court to Thursday, February 1, 2018 to allow shareholders more time to address the additional disclosures provided by the Dissidents. These additional disclosures arise as a result of concerns and questions raised by the Company in respect of the Dissident's prior public disclosures. Shareholders are encouraged to read the Company's letter to the Dissidents requesting answers in regard of the following, among other things: The failure to disclose, as required by law, the identity and arrangements with the "other shareholders" whom the Company had been told comprised the Dissident group, including several parties with histories of serious regulatory sanctions; The failure to disclose, as required by law, the number of shares owned and controlled by the above group; The failure to disclose, as required by law, who is bearing the costs of the Dissident campaign (which the Dissidents expect to seek reimbursement from the Company); Misleading biographical histories of the Dissident nominees, including the omission of material details such as the serious regulatory sanctions against Mr. Cronin. Deficiencies in the Dissident blue proxy including the use of that proxy by the Dissidents without specific instructions from the appointing shareholders; Possible unlawful solicitation by the Dissidents prior to their filing required disclosures with the securities regulators; and The failure to comply with other applicable securities disclosure requirements and filings; The Company's letter to the Dissidents can be found on the Company's website at https://eastasiaminerals.com/about/vote-2018-shareholder-meeting/. Although Dissidents disputed that their disclosure was deficient, the Dissidents nonetheless prepared and filed a supplemental information circular and new form of proxythe night before the proxy cut-off. The Company is continuing its review of these materials in light of of its earlier concerns to communicate with the securities regulatory authorities. How to Vote If you have already voted management's WHITE proxy in support of the current Board, no further action is required as your proxy will remain in effect. Discard any proxies received from the Dissidents. If you have not voted or want to change your vote and support the recently renewed Board who is currently in place, you may vote online or by telephone by following the instructions found in the management's WHITE proxy card. The later dated proxy card will count. Vote using management's WHITE proxy prior to the new deadline on Tuesday, January 30th at 10 a.m. (Vancouver Time). Further Information or Voting Assistance For more information or if you require assistance with voting, please contact the Company's proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group at: Laurel Hill Advisory Group North America Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184 Collect Calls Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211 Email: assiatance@laurelhill.com or Mark Sommer East Asia Minerals Corporation Telephone: 1-604-684-2183 Email: info@eastasiaminerals.com ISTANBUL, January 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Merko Gida San ve Tic AS has signed a funding facility for TRY61.5 million under a Share Subscription Facility ("SSF") and Warrant agreement, (the "Agreement") with GEM Global Yield Fund, the private alternative investment group. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/634177/Merko_Logo.jpg ) This TRY61.5 million will be raised from a combination of instruments, TRY45 million in capital from the SSF and TRY16.5 million from the Company issuing 11 million warrants that can be exercised within three years by GEM Global Yield Fund, at the price which represents TRY1.5 Per Share. This new agreement will be used to provide strength to the working capital of the company. About Merko Merko is a processor of tomatoes into raw material for the food industry world-wide. One of largest processor-exporters in Turkey, Merko was established in 1982 and is proud to have served its customers and suppliers for 35 years. In 1994 Merko went public with an IPO and today the major shareholders are managing the company, with the balance of shares quoted on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Located in the Bursa region, Merko processes over 3,000 metric tons a day of tomatoes into tomato paste and diced tomatoes for industrial applications worldwide. With a large percentage of its customers based in export regions, Merko is a globally recognized supplier. The company is at the forefront of introducing HACCP and Total Quality to every product line, and in-house training programs are run on a regular basis in partnership with Universities. Units in the group have successfully completed audits from BRC from the UK and ISO accreditation are kept up to date.The company is also at the forefront of GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) initiatives, especially in partnership blue-chip companies. About GEM: Global Emerging Markets (http://www.gemny.com) was founded in 1991. GEM is a USD 3.4 billion investment group having completed 375 transactions in 68 countries. The firm is an alternative investment group that manages a diverse set of investment vehicles across the world. GEM's funds include: CITIC-GEM Fund, Kinderhook, GEM Global Yield Fund, GEM India and VC Bank/GEM Mena Fund*. (*GEM exited both its LP and GP stakes in Q1 2010.) For more information, please contact: Merko Gida San ve Tic AS http://www.merko.com.tr GEM : Aude Planche Partner 28 Cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris Tel: +33-1-53-53-20-10 Email: aplanche@gemgroup.ch BeliMobilGue, an Indonesian company that allows consumers to sell their cars, raised $3.7M in pre-Series A funding. The round was led by Intudo Ventures with participation from Michaelangelo Moran. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operationd and business reach into the country. wants to car owners in Southeast Asias country sell their vehicle with more security and reliability. Initiated by Frontier Car Group, Intudo Ventures, and Rolf Monteiro, CEO, BeliMobilGue is a platform that helps consumers to sell their car quickly and without complications acting as a middleman between car dealers and consumers. The company, which is currently focused on the Greater Jakarta area with plans to expand to other parts of the country later this year, has 17 locations, used for inspection. FinSMEs 27/01/2018 The agriculture sector will not just watch how much money is set aside in Union Budget 2018-19, but also how it is used as BJP tries to woo disaffected farmers before upcoming polls By Shreehari Paliath Indian farms produced record harvests in 2017, and the governments agricultural budget rose 111 percent over four years to 2017-18. Yet, prices crashed, 8,007 farmers committed suicide in 2015, unpaid agricultural loans rose 20 percent between 2016 and 2017, and 600 million Indians who depend on agriculture are struggling to get by. This is the situation that faces the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government as the 16th Lok Sabha heads into its last full budget before the general elections in 2019, at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a doubling of farm incomes by 2022. The agriculture sector will not just watch how much money is set aside in the 2018-19 budget but also how it is used, as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also tries to woo disaffected farmers before upcoming Assembly elections in eight states Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Agriculture is the governments top priority, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on 15 January, 2018, 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 improving Indias agricultural crisis. Fewer Indians farm, record harvests, but falling income India has seen a decline in the proportion of cultivators as the census calls farmers who own or rent land from 50 percent in 1951 to 24 percent in 2011, as IndiaSpend reported on 8 August, 2014. Yet, nearly half of Indias population, or about 600 million people, still depend on agriculture. 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 percent 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 a record, nearly 300 million tonnes, or 4.8 percent more than 2015-16, with potatoesnow experiencing a glut, leading to unrest among potato farmers in Uttar Pradeshrecording an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Over a decade ending 2014-15, Indias agriculture sector grew at 4 percent per annum compared to 2.6 percent per annum the previous decade, according to the 2017 Dalwai Committee report that explored how farm incomes could be doubled, as Prime Minister Modi promised in 2016 and IndiaSpend reported on 30 March, 2016, as being unlikely. We are working towards doubling farmer incomes by 2022. For this, optimum utilisation of land resources, ensuring minimum wastage and understanding the needs of the market assume importance: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 17, 2018 An indicator of growing problems in Indias 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 percent in 2017-18 from 4.9 percent the previous year, according to the first advance estimates of national income 2017-18. The slowdown could be witnessed in Indias 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, Down To Earth reported on 11 January, 2018. An agricultural slowdown has evident political implications: 49 percent of landowning farmers voted for BJP in 2014, Mint reported on 20 December, 2017. A reminder came in December 2017 from Gujarat, where BJP won by the narrowest margin in 22 years, winning fewer rural seats (43) than Congress (62). Further evidence of farm distress is evident in rising agricultural loan defaults, loan waivers by state governments and farm suicides. Defaults, distress, and suicides Alongside record foodgrain and horticultural output in 2016-17, many Indian states were swept by farm agitations demanding higher prices for their produce from government and farm-loans 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) the price at which the government purchases crops from farmers leading to unrest and stress in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat, IndiaSpend reported on 8 June, 2017. A similar glut in potatoes crashed prices in Uttar Pradesh (UP), prompting farmers to dump produce on roads statewide, the Hindu reported on 13 January, 2018. Such situations spur agrarian unrest. India witnessed an almost eight-fold increase in agrarian riots between 2014 and 2016, Mint reported on 20 December, 2017. In July 2017, five farmers were killed in police firing during a protest seeking farm-loan waivers and higher produce prices, the Hindustan Times reported on 17 July, 2017. As distress grew, so did farmer suicides, which increased 42 percent in 2015 over the previous year, IndiaSpend reported on 2 January, 2017. Indebtedness was a major reason for farmer suicides. Nearly four in ten of 8,007 Indian farmers who committed suicide in 2015 were in debt, compared to two in ten in 2014; more rural households went into debt over 11 years; and the average rural household had borrowed Rs 1.03 lakh, according to a January 2018 IndiaSpend analysis of government data. The fault lines of the farm crisis are sending tremors far beyond the immediate community itself. Potters, leather workers, carpenters & numerous other non-farm groups are hit by the crisis of agriculture that is driving the farmers' suicides in the state. https://t.co/ak61Oaz7BO The People's Archive (@PARInetwork) January 24, 2018 Nearly 70 percent of Indias 90 million agricultural households spend more than they earn on average each month, IndiaSpend reported on 21 June, 2017. In 2017, with farmers in eight states demanding loan waivers, Indias potential cumulative loan waiver was Rs 3.1 lakh crore ($49.1 billion), or 2.6 percent of Indias gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016-17, almost equal to Indias defence budget of Rs 3.6 lakh crore ($53.5 billion) for 2017-18. The loan write-offs caused non-performing assets (NPA) or bad debts 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 percent of Indias farms depend on increasingly erratic monsoon rains. Despite normal monsoon, eight states drought-affected Although 2017 was classified as a normal monsoon, eight states were declared drought-affected, the Economic Times reported on 6 April, 2017, revealing the vulnerability of Indias 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 2017over 67 years, no more than 48 percent 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 Ministers 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, Down to Earth reported on 19 January, 2018. As production rises, so will the demand for water for irrigation, estimated to grow from 910 billion cubic metre in 2015 to 1,072 billion cubic metre in 2050. Irrigation requires more water than drinking water, industry and energy needs. Over a decade to 2011, water available per capita fell 15 percent, IndiaSpend reported on 2 August, 2017. Without a long-term budgetary plan, planning for sustainable groundwater management and what is called conjunctive use using ground and surface water India will face a water shortage. As the water crisis grows, programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Prime Ministers Crop Insurance Programme started in 2016 to insure farmers and provide financial support after natural calamities, pest or disease outbreaks, could be redundant. As excessive extraction of groundwater makes water scarce for agriculture, it may be outside the ambit of schemes like PMFBY to provide farmers insurance against crop failure. There is a need to ensure that farm production is linked to various markets for farmers to recover the full value of the quantity produced. This will incentivise the farmer to adopt improved farm technology and management practices for higher productivity, according to the Dalwai Committee report. This requires better storage and warehousing facilities. Better storage will reduce foodgrain wastage About 60,000 tonnes of foodgrain was wasted between 2011-16 in warehouses run by the state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI). This means the grain either rots or is eaten by rodents and other animals. FCI stocks classified as damaged dropped from 18,847 tonnes to 8,776 tonnes over two years to 2016-17, according to this 8 August, 2017, government response to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. That is still 731 truckloads using a 12-tonne truck of wasted foodgrain every year. Indias cold-storage capacity for fruits and vegetables increased by 8 percent to 346 lakh metric tonnes over three years to 2017. This should allow farmers to reduce time to market and ensure better quality. This is part two of IndiaSpend's state of the nation reports ahead of Budget 2018. You can read Part I here and Part III here. For full coverage of budget click here. IndiaSpend is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit/FactChecker.in is fact-checking initiative, scrutinising for veracity and context statements made by individuals and organisations in public life Less than a quarter of central funds for four major national programmes for Indias urban renewal have been used. By Alison Saldanha With Indias urban population rising by 11 million annually the equivalent of adding a Bengaluru every year and urban voters forming a major vote base for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), making money and management available for cities would appear to be a priority. But promises of smart cities and managing growth to provide jobs and housing for the coming urban population jump from 377 million in 2011 to 600 million in 2031 with 20 percent of this growth expected to come from rural distress and migration are, currently, displaying little progress. Less than a quarter of central funds for four major national programmes for Indias urban renewal have been used, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of government data. Since urban development is a state subject, state governments implement these national schemes with central assistance playing a key role. State and urban bodies are also expected to finance a portion of the program on their own by raising funds from other sources. A further disaggregation of central funds data from the ministry of housing and urban affairs reveals: Upto February 2017 the last release of data no more than 3 percent of smart-city projects were completed and 12 percent of central funds were released; With two years to deadline, the Centre as of July 2017, the last release of data was still to release 87 percent of funds for urban infrastructure in 500 cities and towns; Upto July 2017, 95.4 percent of central funds sanctioned for upgrading 12 heritage cities were unused, as the programmes November 2018 deadline approaches; Work on 93 percent of sanctioned houses meant to meet 16 percent of Indias urban housing shortage was incomplete as of January 2018. The target of housing for all: 2022; Little is known of how state governments are raising funds and implementing these programmes. This is the situation facing the 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 100 smart cities and housing for all by 2022. The urban sector will not just watch how much money is set aside in the 2018-19 budget but also how it is used, as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tries to deliver on its promises of urban development and rejuvenation ahead of upcoming assembly elections in eight states and the 2019 general elections. Next generation urban infrastructure for #NewIndia : Modi government approves over Rs. 4.13 lakh crore for urban development. pic.twitter.com/SUUDik5ylf BJP (@BJP4India) June 17, 2017 Indian cities and towns will become hubs of growth over the next two decades, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on 2 December, 2016, acknowledging a lack of ideas on how to prepare India for its coming urban explosion. Besides ideas, implementation of what exists is stuttering, as the much-publicised Smart Cities Mission reveals. Smart Cities Mission: 3 percent of projects complete No more than 3 percenrt, or 23, projects of 642 identified by the Smart Cities Mission were completed by February 2017, valued at Rs 305 crore (of Rs 38,021 crore available), the government told the Lok Sabha that month. Work on another 65 or 10 percent of projects valued at Rs 2,737 crore had just begun. Of the remaining, 554 (86%) projects were at various stages of implementation, the government said. The Smart Cities Mission is supposed to transform 100 cities into smart cities by 2022, through the application of information and communications technology to manage basic services, such as water supply, sanitation, housing, waste management and mobility. With a budget of Rs 48,000 crore, the Centre was to invest Rs 500 crore per city, with a matching contribution from the state government, through private investments in projects. The mission could be implemented either as a pan-city programme that infuses public infrastructure with information technology (IT) or as an area-based development that builds IT infrastructure in a smaller area. In 2015, the first year of the Mission, 20 smart cities were chosen based on applications made by state governments, rising to 99 by January 2018. AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission & Housing for All (Urban) mark a watershed moment in our quest to create better & futuristic cities. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2015 During the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17, Rs 5,962 crore or 12 percent of the Missions total outlay for five years, had been released to the chosen smart cities, according to this February 2017 response to the Lok Sabha, Parliaments lower house. For 2017-18, the Centres budget for the Mission was Rs 4,000 crore. Up to March 2017, 80 percent or 32 of 40 smart cities that had received central assistance had not received matching funds from their respective state governments, according to the latest available government data. These 32 cities are from 18 states: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. Urban rejuvenation: 3 years on, 87 percent of funds to states not released While the urban affairs ministry has not yet made public the progress of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), 13 percent of the Rs 50,000 crore budgeted had been released up to July 2017. To meet the Missions target, states and UTs must complete their projects by 2020. Launched in 2015-16, AMRUT is centrally sponsored with a budget of Rs 50,000 crore for five years ending 2019-20. Like its predecessor, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the AMRUT programme aims to develop basic urban infrastructure, with a focus on water supply, sewerage, septage management and stormwater drains. The mission also considers funding urban transport, green spaces and parks, with specific provisions for senior citizens and differently abled-friendly persons. It sets aside 10 percent of its budget for incentives to states for achieving milestones in urban reforms. AMRUT is being implemented in 500 cities and towns nationwide, including state capitals, 12 heritage cities and a few urban centres along main rivers and tourist destinations. Under AMRUT, the Centre funds state plans that it clears; plans of 18 states and union territories (UTs) have been cleared up to 2019-20, the missions end date, as the government told the Lok Sabha in this July 2017 response. To monitor AMRUTs progress, the ministry said it undertakes various review meetings and video-conferencing at national/regional and state level with concerned state government officials. Heritage cities: Deadline 9 months away, 4.6 percent funds used In July 2017, with 16 months to its deadline, no more than 5.6 percent of Rs 417 crore sanctioned had been used for the national Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) programme, according to government data submitted to the Lok Sabha. Launched in January 2015 with a Rs-500 crore budget and November 2018 deadline, the programme hopes to develop 12 selected heritage cities across India: Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal. The scheme aims to preserve and revitalise soul of the heritage city to reflect the citys unique character by encouraging aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative & secured environment, the programme statement said. HRIDAY planned to give a fillip to the cities core infrastructure, especially around heritage assets, as recognised by the ministry of culture and state governments. It's our duty to protect & preserve India's rich wealth of heritage. #HRIDAY under @Moud_India is a step in this direction #WorldHeritageDay M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) April 18, 2017 In nearly half or five of 12 citiesBadami, Dwarka and Bet Dwarka, Gaya, Mathura and Puri none of the funds sanctioned had been used. Most funds or Rs 5.8 crore had been used in Varanasi, the Prime Ministers constituency, and Amritsar. Although Varanasi claims to have completed 43 percent of its projects, the city has used no more than 6.4 percent of the funds released. Similarly Amritsar, despite claiming 37 percent of work completed, has spent a fifth of the funds released (19.6 percent), or 9 percent of the funds sanctioned. Central Assistance Approved, Released & Utilised Under HRIDAY City Funds Sanctioned(Rs Crore) Funds released (Rs Crore) Funds Utilised (Rs Crore) Progress made(In %) Expected Finish date Amritsar 61.82 29.52 5.8 37 Feb 2018 Ajmer 36.06 21.51 4.54 19 Mar 2018 Amaravati 18.98 11.19 2.46 46 Dec 2017 Badami 19.18 4.04 0 0 Nov 2018 Dwarka & Bet Dwarka 35.67 6.06 0 7 June 2018 Gaya 35.27 13.09 0 0 Nov 2018 Kancheepuram 18.04 13.49 2.66 15 Nov 2017 Mathura 33.89 11.55 0 6 Nov 2018 Puri 20.68 7.48 0 2 Nov 2018 Varanasi 90.66 50.57 5.83 43 Dec 2017 Velankanni 11.63 5.01 0.17 9 Dec 2017 Warangal 35.27 18.24 2.14 13 Nov 2018 Total 417.15 191.75 23.6 Source: Lok Sabha; Data up to July 2017 Urban Housing: 93 percent of houses under construction With four years left to its target date, 16 percent of 3.2 million houses for the urban poor were cleared for construction and no more than 6.5 percent had been built, and foundations had not been laid for 55 percent, according to this Lok Sabha response from 2 January, 2018. #HousingForAll scheme speeding up - Rs. 11,412 crore released for 24 lakh affordable houses under PMAY (Urban) during 2014-2016. pic.twitter.com/rDvOppaiuJ BJP (@BJP4India) August 1, 2017 Like its predecessor, the Rajiv Awas Yojana, the NDAs PMAY, or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) the Prime Ministers Housing Programme (Urban) hopes to ensure all eligible urban poor own a pucca or solid house by 2022. The programme includes: Providing in situ slum redevelopment (or slum redevelopment at the same location) through private developers; extending credit-linked subsidies (or a subsidised credit line) for the poor so they can afford low-cost homes; creating affordable housing stock through partnerships with the private developers; and offering subsidies to those who build or improve their own houses. The slow progress is symptomatic of the slow trickle of funds from the Centre to states and UTs over three years to 2018. Since its launch in 2015, the ministry has so far released Rs 12,045 crore, or a quarter of the Rs 49,562 budgeted, to states and UTs for 3.2 million houses. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh showed the most progress in completion of housing projects, and received most funding; Goa and Chandigarh received among the least assistance, and has few completed units, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of this data from the housing and urban affairs ministry. This is part two of IndiaSpend's state of the nation reports ahead of Budget 2018. You can read Part I here and Part II here. For full coverage of budget click here. (Saldanha is an assistant editor with IndiaSpend.) Arvind Kejriwal has rescheduled his visit to Nagpur in view of Kailash Gahlot being 'busy with the preparations' for the office-of-profit case in the Delhi High Court on Monday. New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has rescheduled his two-day visit to Nagpur in view of Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot being "busy with the preparations" for the "office of profit" case in the Delhi High Court on Monday. An official said that Gahlot was also to accompany the chief minister during his visit to see development projects initiated by BJP-ruled Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The day-to-day hearing will start in the Delhi High Court in the disqualification case of 20 AAP MLAs for allegedly holding office-of-profit as parliamentary secretaries from Monday, the official said. Gahlot is among the 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs who have been disqualified by the president on the recommendation of the Election Commission. The party has challenged the decision in the high court. "As the transport minister is busy with preparations of 'office of profit' case, the chief minister's Nagpur visit has been rescheduled," the official. At the insistence of Union surface transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, Kejriwal was to embark on a two-day Nagpur visit on Saturday. Official also said that the new dates of chief minister's visit to Nagpur, a home town of Gadkari, will be announced soon. Law is not the solution to social problems, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said, claiming that triple talaq bill was a ploy to send Muslim men to jail. Hyderabad: Law is not the solution to social problems, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said, claiming that triple talaq bill was a ploy to send Muslim men to jail. "Will triple talaq stop after the law is brought?" a release from the AIMIM quoted Owaisi as saying at `Tahafuzz e Shariayat' (`Save Sharia') public meeting in Hyderabad late Friday night. Dowry deaths and other crimes against women did not stop even when specific laws were made against these practises, he said. "Between 2005-2015, there were more than 80,000 dowry deaths in India. Twenty-two women die daily on account of dowry, and even after the Nirbhaya incident, there was a rapid increase in number of rape cases. Law is not the answer," he said. Further, triple talaq bill is a conspiracy against the minority community, Owaisi alleged. "It is a ploy to bring the women of the community on road and send the men to prison," he alleged. The BJP-led NDA government tried to push the bill through Parliament without consulting Muslim clerics, he alleged. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha, but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny. According to the draft law, instant triple talaq will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. Business representatives from Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir held a three-day meeting and signed an MoU to boost cross-border trade Jammu: Business representatives from Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir held a three-day meeting that concluded on Saturday in Bangkok (Thailand) and signed an MoU to boost cross-border trade. Secretary General of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (J&K-JCCI) Muzaffar Majid Jan said the three-day meeting of representatives of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and prominent business leaders, Line of Control (LOC) traders as well as women entrepreneurs was convened by Conciliation Resources in Bangkok from 25-27th January. He said important issues concerning each region were discussed by the representatives, the key focus being on the improvement of connectivity across the regions. This was followed by a detailed discussion about the support required by the J&K-JCCI to become more strengthened in order to be able to work towards the facilitation of trade, Jan added. J&K-JCCI extended support to the LoC traders and assured them that the chamber will take their recommendations to respective governments for enhancing this confidence building measure, he said, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed in this regard. The new leadership of the J&K-JCCI assumed office for the new term of 2018, as per the prevailing traditions of this forum. Javid Ahmad Tenga took the position of president, while Rakesh Gupta and Ghulam Murtaza assumed office as joint presidents. The main ideas discussed to promote the LoC trade were inclusion of services in this context and advanced banking arrangements to facilitate a better and more effective trade process. "All the business leaders agreed to take these ideas forward by talking to the governments of India and Pakistan and building confidence in their respective communities as well as amongst the three Chambers of Commerce and Industries," Jan said. The attendees, including women leaders from the three regions Jammu, Kashmir and PoK, also proposed futuristic measures to boost trade and economic and cultural connectivity. The ex-presidents and presidents of the chambers apprised the participants of the previous efforts made to promote the cross-LoC trade. The efforts and leadership of the past presidents to get the Joint Chamber to this point were greatly admired by the participants and it was emphasised that their continued guidance and support for this institution would be highly valuable, Jan said. Two naxals, including a woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district Raipur: Two Naxals, including a woman, were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in a dense forest area in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district on Saturday morning, police said. The skirmish took place in the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli villages under Chintalnar police station limits, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI. "A joint team of CoBRA (commando battalion for resolute action) 201st battalion - a CRPF specialised unit, and local police had launched the counter-insurgency operation in the jungles of Chintalnar, around 500 kms away from Raipur," he said. While the security forces were cordoning off the forests between Tadmetla and Morpalli, they came under fire from a group of armed Naxals that led to an exchange of fire, he said. After the guns fell silent, the security forces searched the area and recovered the body of two Maoists including a woman, along with two weapons, he said. Further details are awaited as the operation was still underway in the region, he added. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening and tweaking environment laws to favour industries Kolkata: Former Union environment minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening and tweaking environment laws to favour industries. "All the environmental laws are being weakened and diluted. Ministry of environment has become a rubber stamp body. In the name of ease of doing business, it is being tweaked to favour industry," he said here on the sidelines of a session at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet. Recalling Indira Gandhi's passion for environment and ecology, he said she was the country's first and last prime minister to make environment protection part of her day to day governance agenda. "She walked and talked (environment). Other prime ministers including the present prime minister talk," he said. Asked about his comment that prime minister Narendra Modi "is more of talk" Ramesh said, "He speaks one thing and the reality is something else." The AAP-led Delhi government has kicked off the budget-making exercise for the fiscal year 2018-19 by calling a three-day discussion. New Delhi: The AAP-led Delhi government has kicked off the budget-making exercise for the fiscal year 2018-19 by calling a three-day discussion on the matter from next month. The government has also asked all heads of departments to furnish the achievements of third quarter of existing 'Outcome Budget 2017-18', a move aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in expenditure. The three-day department-wise discussion on preparation of Outcome Budget 2018-19 will start from February 7, an official said. Like the previous years, the focus of the budget will be on health, education and transport, he said. "The focus of discussion will be rationalisation of existing output and outcome indicators and introduction of new programmes in Outcome Budget 2018-19. "As per the schedule, discussion on the proposal and expenditure of departments of women and child welfare, SC/ST, social welfare, education, art, culture and languages, labour and Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) will be held on February 7," the official said. On February 8, the focus will be on health, home, tourism, development and environment departments, while on February 9, discussion will be held on Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Urban Development (UD), revenue among others. Last year, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had presented the Outcome Budget 2017-18 and said the Delhi government was the first in the country to adopt such a practice. According to the city government, the outcome budget, besides ensuring transparency and accountability of expenditure, will help in assessing performance of officials which is included in their annual confidential report (ACR). The Confederation Of All India Traders (CAIT) said that the traders will 'gherao' Delhi MPs and MLAs and will submit their memorandum during the 48-hour bandh All shops in Delhi are likely to remain shut on 2 and 3 February in protest against a sealing drive conducted by the municipal corporations in the national capital. The Confederation Of All India Traders (CAIT), an industry body comprising of the trader associations, announced their decision to call a 48-hour bandh on Saturday, ANI reported. Confederation Of All India Traders(CAIT) announces 48 hour bandh in Delhi on February 2-3 in protest against MCD sealing drive ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 According to PTI, the industry body will take out a protest march on 2-3 February and hold 'dharna' in their respective markets. "Prior to this, the traders will 'gherao' Delhi MPs and MLAs and will submit their memorandum," it said. The statement said that memoranda would also be given to prominent leaders of all political parties. This move comes a few days after the industry body observed a day-long 'Delhi trade bandh' on 23 January against the ongoing sealing of business establishments in the national capital. The shutdown decision was taken at a meeting of Delhi traders held at the Constitution Club in the national capital, which was attended by leaders of about 500 trade associations of the city. According to Times of India, the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations in Delhi North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) recently launched sealing drives for misuse and unauthorised construction as per the directions of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. However, traders are claiming that some of the shops have been sealed despite paying the conversion and parking charges. CAIT believes that the sealing is being conducted by "sidelining fundamental provisions" of MCD Act, 1957 "under the guise of an order of the Supreme Court". They demand an investigation as to "why the traders are being deprived of such provisions". According to News Nation, over seven lakh traders will participate in the bandh and close their shops. The report adds that the protesters will gherao the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs and MLAs and submit a memorandum to the Monitoring Committee on Monday. CAIT alleged that the monitoring committee of the MCD was behaving like a "super administrative authority" that was least bothered about the legality of any premises and more interested in sealing business establishments. "Such an attitude of the Committee is not less than a dictator," Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, CAIT, said. "This is a very sorry state of affairs and time has come for the central government to intervene in such affairs now. The CAIT delegation will meet the home minister, minister of urban development and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in this regard besides taking the agitation further," the CAIT said. During the 23 January protests, AAP leader Gopal Rai told the media: "If the BJP and MCDs try to find a way out, it can be done but they want to destroy the businesses." On the other hand, Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari condemned the AAP for trying to "mislead" the traders on the matter. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said, "In the fight between the BJP and the AAP, the traders of Delhi are suffering. Not only the traders but also their workers and the labourers are on the verge of poverty." CAIT Secretary General Parveen Khandelwal said that the protesting traders are demanding the immediate intervention of the government since the sealing was being conducted in a "dictatorial" manner under the guise of the Supreme Court order. He added that although mushrooming growth of commercial shops was a matter of common knowledge, no action was taken by the MCD to check commercial activity. The CAIT also demanded the central government bring in a bill in the Parliament to protect Delhi trade and traders from the sealing drive, being carried out by BJP-led MCD. With inputs from agencies A 12-year-old girl was slapped 168 times over a period of six days by her classmates at a residential school on the instructions of their teacher, the child's father complained to school authorities and police Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh): A 12-year-old girl was slapped 168 times over a period of six days by her classmates at a residential school on the instructions of their teacher, the child's father complained to school authorities and police. However, the school principal K Sagar termed it a "friendly" punishment. "They were not strong slaps but mild and friendly ones. We will also talk to the parents," Sagar said. The incident took place at the Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thandla town in Jhabua and the girl's father, Shivpratap Singh, told police that she was slapped 168 times between 11 -16 January for not completing her homework. The girl is a student of Class VI at the school. He told police that the school's science teacher, Manoj Kumar Verma, on 11 January, told his daughter's classmates to slap her as a form of punishment and 14 girls slapped her two times every day for six days. Singh also stated in his complaint, filed a couple of days ago, that his child was unwell and therefore was unable to complete her homework. He alleged that the school was aware of his child's illness. He also told police that his daughter fell ill due to fear and distress and refused to go to school, following which she had to be admitted to a local hospital. Thandla police station in-charge SS Baghel confirmed that a complaint had been received but added that no injury was found during a medical examination conducted on the girl. "We had received a complaint. No injury was found during the medical examination of the girl. Our team also visited the school and found that such an incident had occurred. We are investigating further. However, no formal case has been registered so far," he said. School Principal Sagar defended the action of the teacher and termed the disciplining method a "friendly" punishment. "We don't allow corporal punishment in the school. The girl is weak in studies and doesn't complete her assignments," he said, adding that the teacher chose this form punishment to improve her performance in school. District Collector Ashish Saxena said that the issue had come to his knowledge and he had ordered an investigation. Supporting US President Donald Trump's tough stance against Pakistan on dealing with terrorism, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai on Saturday voiced hope that he will follow his words with action Jaipur: Supporting US President Donald Trump's tough stance against Pakistan on dealing with terrorism, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai on Friday voiced hope that he will follow his words with action. Speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, 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 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. "I have read Kalidas, Rabindranath Tagore and bought books on Mirza Ghalib's work during my visit to Khan Market in Delhi." Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought sanction for an NDRF battalion. New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister on Saturday called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought sanction for a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalion in the disaster-prone hill state. "In case of natural calamities, response teams take time to reach the spot and a NDRF battalion would help in sending prompt relief to people," Thakur told Rajnath Singh here. He also sought liberal financial assistance for modernisation of the police force and that allowances for Special Protection Officers posted in border areas of the state be on par with those posted in Jammu and Kashmir. At present, Special Protection Officers are getting an allowance of Rs 3,000 per month, which is less than what their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts get, he added. He also urged Rajnath Singh to provide heli-taxi services on subsidised rates on the pattern of the northeastern states. India and ASEAN have relations 'free from contests and claims' and believe in sovereign equality of all nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Singapore: 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. 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. 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 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 percent 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. A radicalised Pune-based woman was detained by Jammu and Kashmir Police following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned Islamic State Srinagar: A 'radicalised'' Pune-based woman was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned Islamic State terror group, police said on Friday. 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 Islamic State, the police had 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 23 January, read. On Friday, 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 allegedly coming in contact with Islamic State 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 Jammu and Kashmir. 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. Siddaramaiah-led Congress administration in Karnataka is likely to announce a 24-30 percent pay hike for its 6.2 lakh government employees and pensioners Siddaramaiah-led Congress administration in Karnataka is likely to announce a 24-30 percent pay hike for its 6.2 lakh government employees and pensioners in the state budget, to be presented in February, said media reports. According to The Times of India report, the government is also planning to introduce holidays on alternate Saturdays in government offices. Elections in Karnataka are likely to be held between last week of April and first week of May and the pay hike is seen as a pre-poll bonanza. The state government employees on 1 January had requested the Sixth Pay Commission to grant them a five-day working, Bangalore Mirror had reported. As of now, work load has increased on the present employees as about 2.80 lakh posts are lying vacant in various departments of the government. The memorandum has been submitted to the commission two months ago," Karnataka State Government Employees Association president BP Manjegowda was quoted as saying by Bangalore Mirror. In October last year, the association had urged the government to announce a 30 percent percent hike in salaries, The Hindu had reported. A Group D employee of the State government gets 44 percent less than his counterpart with the Union government. Similarly, a Group A employee gets as much as 114 percent less. The government should put an end to the disparity, Manjegowda was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday hailed those who countered a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London in support of Kashmir freedom on the country's 69th Republic Day New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday hailed those who countered a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London in support of Kashmir freedom on the country's 69th Republic Day. The Minister also said that fringe elements can't damage the Indian spirit. "Salute to the Indian patriots in London. The minuscule fringe elements can't dent the spirit of India. We are all one from Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland to Rann of Kutch, and Kanyakumari to Punjab," Rijiju said in a tweet. Rijiju said, "I was very impressed with our zealously patriotic Indian diaspora and enjoyed a warm interaction with them, which was organised by the High Commission of India in London". I was very impressed with our zealously patriotic Indian diaspora and enjoyed a warm interaction with them which was organised by @HCI_London https://t.co/G1TTo2s1Xx Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 27, 2018 Clashes erupted outside the Indian High Commission in Central London on Friday evening as British Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan peer in the House of Lords, organised a black-day protest to demand freedom for Kashmir and Khalistan. The protest turned violent after Ahmed's supporters were countered by many Indian and British groups. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of House leaders of all political parties on Sunday, on the eve of Parliament's Budget Session New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of House leaders of all political parties on Sunday, on the eve of Parliament's Budget Session during which the government and the opposition are likely to clash over a host of issues, including the triple talaq bill. A similar meeting has been convened by the government tomorrow during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top opposition leaders are expected to express their mind on pertinent issues, which they would like to be taken up in the session. The first leg of the session will be between 29 January and 9 February during which the government will present the economic survey on 29 January followed by the Union Budget on 1 February. The session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In his first such address to Parliament, Kovind is expected to outline the government's thrust on development and empowerment of people, especially those from backward and weaker sections, official sources said. With the BJP-led NDA government presenting its last full budget before the next Lok Sabha polls scheduled for 2019, there is expectation that it will have a strong political overtone. Following a recess after 9 February, Parliament will meet again from 5 March to 6 April. The government is expected to give a fresh push for passage of the triple talaq legislation and a bill seeking constitutional status for the OBC commission during the session. Both bills carry political significance for the BJP which is strong votary of the abolition of instant triple talaq among Muslims, a practice declared void by the Supreme Court last year. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill seeking imprisonment for Muslim men convicted of practising instant triple talaq, but a united opposition had stalled it in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority. The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by according constitutional status to the OBC commission, which will make it it more powerful. The Madras High Court has lamented the over 30-year delay in granting freedom fighter pension to two people, including one who died during the pendency of his plea. Chennai: The Madras High Court has lamented the over 30-year delay in granting freedom fighter pension to two people, including one who died during the pendency of his plea, and directed the Tamil Nadu and central governments to pay it. In separate judgements on the petitions one seeking pension from the state and another from the Centre, two judges highlighted the role played by freedom fighters, saying their service to the nation was immeasurable, and pension was not a charity or bounty, but conferment of an honour. The petitions were filed by 89-year-old K Gandhi, and the wife of K Muthaiah, seeking the state and central government pensions respectively, requests for which were pending for more than 30 years. While Gandhi himself will get the pension, in the case of Muthaiah, it will be his five legal heirs who will benefit as the man and his wife have both passed away. Both Gandhi and Muthaiah were imprisoned in 1945 in different locations. Allowing the petition by Gandhi, an Indian National Army member, Justice K Ravichandrababu expressed regret to the octogenarian who had to struggle for four decades to get the pension due to "bureaucratic dogmatism", and ordered the Tamil Nadu government to grant it in two weeks. Justice R Suresh Kumar passing orders on the petition by Muthaiah's wife, said grant of pension to those who rendered valuable service to this great nation cannot be lightly dealt with by anyone in this country. He directed the Centre to sanction pension from September 1972, when Muthaiah applied for it, till his death in June 2002 and to his wife from June 2002 to September 2006, when she passed away. He directed that the arrears be calculated and the same be paid to the five legal heirs of Muthaiah. Justice Ravichandrababu, in his order, noted that Gandhi had applied for pension in 1980 and moved the court after waiting for 37 years. He 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 affairs 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 Netaji 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 the INA and took part in the freedom struggle. Pulling up authorities for not considering the plea on the sole ground of a discrepancy in Gandhi'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. 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. "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 order shall be served to Gandhi "at his doorstep" within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the court verdict, he said, adding the arrears shall be calculated and disbursed within four weeks thereafter. In the second case, Justice Suresh Kumar said, "The freedom fighters' service to the nation is immeasurable. Had they not fought for freedom, we the 1.2 billion Indians cannot live in with liberty, rights, dignity and with economical sufficiency." "If any small amount is paid to them, by way of freedom fighters pension either by the state government or central government, it is not a bonus or bounty to such great soul, as it shall be considered only a token of recognition for the valuable services the great personalities rendered to the nation," he said. The judge, who was allowing a petition by Muthaiah's wife and the legal heirs, said applications for the freedom fighter's pension should be accorded top priority by authorities. The Tamil Nadu government had sanctioned Muthaiah freedom fighter pension in 1969. He later applied for the central government pension in 1972 along with necessary certificates. He died on 24 June, 2002. As there was no response, his wife filed the present petition. During its pendency, she also died on 19 September, 2006. Thereafter, his legal heirs were impleaded as petitioners. The judge said the participation of Muthiah in the freedom struggle cannot be put into dispute any more since the state pension had been sanctioned in 1969 itself. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he was still open for discussions with Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar to find an amicable solution to the inter-state Mahadayi river water sharing row. Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he was still open for discussions with Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar to find an amicable solution to the inter-state Mahadayi river water sharing row. Stating this at an all-party meeting chaired by him to discuss the row, he said he would also try to convince Congress leaders in Goa of the need to release water to Karnataka. "If the Goa chief minister responds to my recent letter and calls for a meeting on the issue, I will also make honest efforts to convince Congress leaders there" (to release water to Karnataka), Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. He said except BJP, those at the meeting decided that if there was no response to his letter in a day or two, an all-party delegation, led by him would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention on the issue by calling a meeting of chief ministers of riparian states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. Siddaramaiah said that he expected state BJPs participation and cooperation in this regard. After mediation by BJP national president Amit Shah, Parrikar, in a letter to Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa in December, 2017 had said that in principle, Goa would not oppose the "reasonable" and "justified" quantum of water meant to be utilised for drinking while pointing out that the matter is pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. However, Parrikar has still not responded to Karnataka government which had expressed its readiness for talks at "any place and date" to work out an amicable settlement. Meanwhile, state BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of playing politics on the issue by seeking for prime ministers intervention, instead of trying to convince Congress leaders in Goa who are opposed to sharing of water. Reiterating that BJP will take the responsibility of convincing Goa and Maharashtra chief ministers regarding water sharing, and state Congress should convince their party colleagues who are in Opposition there, Yeddyurappa questioned Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhis silence on the issue. "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should have rebuked Goa Congress chiefs statement about not releasing even a drop of water to Karnataka," he told reporters and added that the issue was pending for the last 30 years and Congress was responsible for the matter gong to the tribunal. Karnataka, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on sharing Mahadayi River water, is seeking release of 7.56 thousand million cubic feet water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi River, to divert 7.56 thousand million cubic feet water to Malaprabha which meets drinking water needs of the region. Attempts have been made by Karnataka to amicably solve the issue that is also pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. The incident occurred when the private bus with at least 16 passengers was heading from Ratnagiri to Kolhapur in Maharashtra. At least 13 persons were killed and six injured after a minibus fell into a river early on Saturday, an official said, according to ANI. The incident occurred when the private bus with at least 16 passengers was heading from Ratnagiri to Kolhapur. Around 12.45 am, when the vehicle was speeding along the Shivaji Bridge on the Panchganga River, the driver apparently lost control. The bus rammed into the stone barriers before it plunged some 80-feet below into the waters. Police and disaster teams were engaged in a massive search and rescue operation. With inputs from IANS Maoists went on rampage in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district early Saturday, killing one and injuring another former guerrilla member Hyderabad: Maoists went on rampage in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district early Saturday, killing one and injuring another former Maoist member, whom they suspected of being police informers. The Maoists also set ablaze several vehicles in three separate incidents in the district bordering Chhattisgarh. Telangana : 1 dead, 1 injured in a maoist attack in Bhadradri Kothagudem district yesterday. Five vehicles were also set ablaze. (Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/GxVREHtV79 ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 The extremists of Communist Party of India (Maoist) struck after midnight. They shot dead P Jogaiah, who died on the spot in the attack in Veerapuram village. Maoists also opened fire on another person at Suryanagar in Bhadrachalam town in the same district. M Ramesh escaped with bullet injuries on his hand. Both Jogaiah and Ramesh were former Maoists. Police said they were attacked as Maoists suspected them to be acting as informers for police. The Maoists also burnt down four trucks, two JCBs and a tractor at Bhupatiraopet in the same district. They abducted two workers from one of the trucks but later released them. The attackers left behind a letter saying their action was in protest against the illegal sand mining in the area. About 40 to 50 Maoists, who had reportedly crossed over from Chhattisgarh, carried out the attacks after forming three teams. Following the attacks, police sounded an alert in the area and launched combing operations. Telangana was once the stronghold of Maoists but their activities have been brought under control by sustained police operations. Police claimed that in 2017, Maoist violence declined by 90 percent. Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy said in December 2017, that the police were maintaining the vigil, especially in areas bordering Chhattisgarh to foil any attempt by Maoists to regroup. Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Saturday protested against the drastic hike in bus fares and demanded its rollback, with the DMK holding demonstrations against the State Transport Corporations. Chennai: Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Saturday protested against the drastic hike in bus fares and demanded its rollback, with the DMK holding demonstrations against the State Transport Corporations. PMK founder S Ramadoss demanded a rollback, saying the fare hike has resulted in people opting for alternate travel modes defeating the purpose of the hike - which was for increasing the revenue for the State Transport Corporations. DMK leader MK Stalin led the protest and termed the bus fare hike as a "merciless act" of the government affecting the common man. He said the government, without consulting anyone, has jacked up the bus fares by 66 percent to rake in additional revenue. Stalin's son and actor Udayanidhi Stalin participated in the party's protest at Tambaram. The alliance parties of DMK, including the Congress, IUML, MDMK and others, participated in the agitation denouncing the AIADMK government in the state. Ramadoss, in a statement, said the State Transport Corporations are losing around Rs 10 crore daily after the hike. He said, around 22,000 government buses used to carry around 2.10 crore passengers a day in the state, and following the fare hike around 25 lakh passengers have switched over to other modes of transport like railways, private buses, shared cabs and others, resulting in a loss of around Rs 10 crore per day for State Transport Corporations. Officials of government-owned transport corporations had earlier said around Rs 38 crore would be the fare collections per day following the hike, he said. But now the per day fare collections is around Rs 28 crore and hence the fare hike should be rolled back, Ramadoss added. The Modi government is making a big push to promote alternative fuels. Showing that it means business, it has prepared a detailed blueprint to spur investments. The Modi government is making a big push to promote alternative fuels. Showing that it means business, it has prepared a detailed blueprint to spur investments in the use of bio-ethanol produced from a ligno-cellulosic biomass and not the conventional molasses-based ethanol production. This new technology aims at achieving 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2030. The oil ministry in a draft paper has stated that, The target of generating cumulative 2G (second generation) ethanol production capacity of 1 billion litres per annum will be achieved within a budget of Rs 5,000 crore. Minister of Roadways and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari also said recently that bio-ethanol production will require the setting up of 1,500 industrial units in villages that will provide jobs for 2.5 million villagers. India has already introduced blending of fuel with ethanol but the quantities remain small. State-owned refiners are also in the process of setting up ethanol plants. The other alternative fuel technology being explored is methanol production from coal and bio-mass. China is successfully blending 15-20 per cent of its fuel with methane. One million gallons of it is being blended with gasoline in the United States every year. Taking a step in that direction, Coal India is shortly expected to set up a coal-based methanol plant in West Bengal. Methanol has all the qualities of ethanol, but without the limitation of supply that ethanol faces since the latter is produced from food crops. Methane is a clean burning, high flame speed fuel that was the prescribed fuel in all major automobile races in the world from 1965 till 2008. One of the biggest advantages, which the oil ministry mandarins realise only too well, is that methanol can be produced from any biomass, including municipal solid waste, of which India produces enormous quantities. Methane is one of the best tools to fight vehicular pollution since it contains 35 percent oxygen that helps to complete the combustion of fuel and more important, it reduces harmful particulate emissions which have emerged as a major health hazard in India. Not only are the alternative fuels less costly to produce than those obtained by refining crude oil, but switching to them requires no change either in the design of automobile engines or the energy infrastructure of a country. NITI Aayog member and chairperson of the Methanol committee VK Saraswat believes methanol will go a long way in helping mitigate Indias dependence on petroleum imports and at the same counter problems associated with global warming.. Saraswat also feels that since people in rural areas continue to use cow dung, they can be given a methane stove while Gadkari has also proposed the use of methanol fuels for boats in inland waterways. The alternative fuel industry could be worth over Rs one trillion according to Gadkari, especially since India is the third largest energy user after the US and China. The Modi government is committed to switch all automobile sales in India to Electric Vehicles(EV) by 2030. This is a point that Gadkari has also reiterated when he emphasises the need to move over to more green-friendly alternatives. The Norwegian Ambassador to India Nils Ragnar Kamsvag believes this is completely doable. He cites the example of how every third car being sold in Norway today is an EV and how his country is using the worlds first battery driven passenger electric ferry by the name of MS Ampere to cross a Norwegian fjord. Kamsvag has described the cost of crossing this six kilometre stretch at around Rs 400 and yet, the ferry is transporting 360 passengers and 120 cars at one go. The way forward for EVs, according to the Norwegian model, was to give them tax exemptions while increasing the taxes on combustion engine cars. The other thrust area was to build 8,755 charging stations, which works out to one per 21 electric or hybrid cars. Automobile expert Murad Ali Baig makes exactly the same point. "At present, EVs are not very practical because the storage capacity of even the best batteries remains low. The government is imposing high taxes on both imported EVs and on their batteries. If the government is serious about bringing over this changeover, it has to ensure no GST on EVs. And no custom duty either," Baig added. He further said, "In London, EVs are allowed to move around in the central city without having to pay congestion tax. They have to be encouraged. Baig cites the example of e-rickshaws which presently ply on Delhi streets. "They work on a standardised battery, but most e-rickshaw drivers are known to steal power with the cops looking the other way." The other problems with EVs, says Baig, is that their batteries are extremely expensive. "In the west, when you buy a car, the battery is given on a long lease. This is the case even in California." Indian Space Research Organisation has come out with a demo vehicle using hydrogen itself as a fuel. G Madhavan Nair, former chairman of the space agency, says hydrogen-based systems would be the right choice in the long run given their potential to become the fuel of the next generation. In hydrogen vehicles, hydrogen is stored in compressed form, which combines with oxygen in the air to generate electricity, which is used to charge fuel cells to power the motor. Several automobile manufacturers believe hydrogen is the fuel of the future. Baig agrees, saying, "Hydrogen is a very powerful and efficient fuel. But this is also a very expensive technology and in order to introduce it, we need to build up a very large infrastructure." Author and environmentalist Prem Shankar Jha has, however, expressed several reservations about EVs which he feels the government needs to address. For one, EV batteries are extremely heavy. The lithium-ion battery in Tesla weighs 540 kg and contains close to 10 kilograms of lithium. Jha points out that the demand for lithium far outpaces its availability. The US Geological Survey has warned that there is only 13.1 million tonnes of lithium available on the earths crust whereas the rising demand for lithium works out to half a million tonnes annually. Jha, therefore, recommends the conversion of urban solid waste into methanol. The technology for converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen obtained from biomass to transport fuel via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been known for a hundred years and was first used to convert urban solid water into methanol commercially in the US way back in 1922. The other alternative is to source renewable energy (REs) to run EVS. The US-based Lawerence Berkeley National Laboratory has calculated that REs, both solar and wind energy, can help an EV owner save Rs 40,000 annually in fuel savings. Adapting the Berkeley study to Indian conditions, managing partner of Equitorials Jai Sharda pointed out that while the Berkeley lab study assumes no increase in the cost of international crude oil, it considers the base case for India as one with only 39 GW of installed Solar capacity and 58 GW of installed wind capacity by 2030. However, India has already installed 16.6 GW of solar capacity and 32.7 GW wind capacity in 2017, which shows India's rapid progress in RE. Sharda, along with his partners, has calculated, "If India is able to install the targeted 180 GW solar and 110 GW wind power by 2030, the output from these two sources would be around 18% of the total electricity generation. This is significant because while the average cost of electricity generated by solar PV and wind are expected to fall to Rs 1.71 and Rs 1.57 respectively, the cost of electricity from non-RE sources is expected to rise to Rs 4.57 by 2030, even by conservative assumptions. Keeping this in mind, the average cost of electricity produced in India would be around Rs 5/kWh." With these costs, an EV owner would be able to save over Rs 36,700 a year in fuel costs over an ICE vehicle. With the difference in the capital costs of both these vehicles expected to be in the range of Rs 1.08 lakhs, an EV owner would be able to recover the incremental cost of an EV within just 3 years. In case the entire electricity consumption for EV vehicles were to be sourced from RE sources, fuel cost savings for EVs could increase by another eight per cent which works out to another Rs 39,636. Jai Sharda pointed out, "At a national level also, there will be a significant financial impact of this transition to EVs. Moving to EVs would help India reduce its crude oil consumption by 360 million barrels per annum. Assuming that international crude oil prices continue to grow at their historical rate of 2.7 percent and reach around US$ 96 per barrel by 2030, the move to EVs would help India save $ 7.8 billion annually by 2030. Given both, the national balance of trade, as well as the national energy security, this would be a massive step to achieving self-reliance in the energy sector. The NITI Aayog is exploring all these alternative fuel sources. According to the Indian Oil Corporation chairman B Ashok, there is scope for every kind of fuel to be used in the country given that the prime minister has set a target of reducing import dependence on hydrocarbons by ten percentage points to 67 per cent by 2022. So far, experts believe that ethanol is one of the most environmentally friendly fuels. Mixed with gasoline, it has been called `gasohol. The question is how soon India can introduce both methanol and ethanol in increased capacities to come up with more environmentally friendly fuels. In keeping with New Delhi's Act East Policy which has Southeast Asia as its central focus, India and Cambodia agreed to enhance maritime cooperation while deciding to combat the menace of terrorism together. New Delhi: In keeping with New Delhi's Act East Policy which has Southeast Asia as its central focus, India and Cambodia agreed to enhance maritime cooperation while deciding to combat the menace of terrorism together following delegation-level between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen on Saturday. A joint statement issued following the talks said both sides expressed interest "in enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain, including sustainable marine development and protection and preservation of marine and coastal environment, anti-piracy cooperation, security of sea lanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region". "They also agreed that peace and maritime security is important for both countries," it stated. "To that end, they support complete freedom of navigation and overflight and pacific resolution of maritime issues based on international law, notably the 1982 UNCLOS (UN Convention for the Law of the Sea)." This assumes significance given China's aggressive stance in the South China Sea and India's keenness to play a more influential role in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the statement, both Modi and Hun Sen affirmed that those responsible for committing, abetting, organising and supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and be punished. "The two leaders further agreed that terrorism cannot be used as an instrument of state policy for furthering narrow political objectives," it stated in what is a veiled reference to Pakistan. In a joint address to the media with Hun Sen following the talks, Modi also reiterated India's commitment to development cooperation with Cambodia. "We have proposed several lines of credit according to the requirements of the Cambodian government, especially in the areas of health, connectivity and digital connectivity." Hun Sen, who arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Dialogue Partnership and was among the all 10 heads of government or state of ASEAN nations to be guests of honour in this year's Republic Day celebrations, raised the trip to that of a bilateral state visit on Saturday. Modi said that the number of quick impact projects (QIPs) that India does in Cambodia every year would be increased from five to 10. During the visit of then Vice-President Hamid Ansari to Cambodia in 2015, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for implementing QIPs in that country under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative. Under the QIP scheme, India grants assistance of $50,000 each for implementing five projects every year. During the last two years, 10 QIPs have been implemented in the fields of agriculture, health, women empowerment, capacity building, sanitation and environment. "We have set up a Rs 500-crore project development fund," Modi said. "This fund can be utilised to expand India industry and business and make the supply chain cost effective." Stating that India will establish a centre of excellence in IT and IT-enabled services in Cambodia, Modi said over 1,400 Cambodians have benefitted from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. He said that India was not only ready but "committed to deepen economic, social welfare, capacity building, cultural, trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties with Cambodia". While pointing out that Cambodia is making fast economic progress with a growth rate of 7 percent annually over the last two decades, the Indian prime minister said that India is also the fastest growing large economies. "Since there are similarities in our values and culture, there can be a natural synergy in increasing trade between our two countries," he said. "Cambodia's liberal economic policies and the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community provides a good opportunity for Indian investment in Cambodia, especially in areas like health, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, automobiles, auto components and textiles." Bilateral trade between India and Cambodia stood at $153.13 million in 2016, according to figures provided by the Ministry of External Affairs. In terms of connectivity, the joint statement said that Modi and Hun Sen "noted with satisfaction the progress in regional connectivity efforts such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and agreed to explore the possibility of extending this Highway further to Cambodia and beyond". Cambodia also reiterated its support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. Following the talks, four agreements were signed between the two sides, including on a credit line for a water resource development in that southeast Asian nation and on prevention of human trafficking. For all of Modi's ambition and optimism regarding bilateral ties with ASEAN, there still exists a mismatch between India and ASEAN's expectations from each other and capabilities in meeting those expectations Narendra Modi pulled off nothing short of a diplomatic coup in arranging for heads of 10 ASEAN States to attend the 69th Republic Day parade as chief guests. It went as far as grand gestures go, providing for a compelling spectacle that indicated a rise in India's strategic profile and its willingness to engage with the South East, a region with which it enjoys historical and civilisational ties. It was preceded by the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit to mark the 25th year of bilateral engagement, coinciding with 15 years of dialogue mechanism and fifth year of strategic ties. The occasion wasn't lacking in symbolism, and the prime minister stressed on the retreat's theme of 'Shared Values, Common Destiny' to drive home the point that India and ASEAN's rise is irrevocably linked. The Delhi Declaration made all the right noises on keeping the vital maritime routes of trade in Indo-Pacific open and free from coercion. China, the elephant in the room, wasn't mentioned but there was little scope for doubt. The Declaration stressed on freedom of navigation and overflight and peaceful resolution of disputes through "universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)". It also called for "full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and... early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC)". For a country that is perceived to be perennially punching below its weight in being assertive about its sphere of influence, India's desire to build a broad-based strategic partnership with the ASEAN nations and increase its profile in South East Asia was evident. Also evident was Modi's penchant for stressing on the personal over the formal in achieving his goals. All 10 heads of States from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei were treated to personalised hospitality. Media reports indicate there were customised upholstery for the leaders during their hotel stay and their room keys depicted respective flags. The logistical efficiency and attention to detail that went behind the gesture shouldn't be underestimated. India's foreign policy is being subjected to personal dynamism, and Modi has no intention in underplaying his hand. And it seems to be working. As Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior fellow at the Institute of Security and International Studies, Thailand, writes in The Straits Times, "Modi and ASEAN chair Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have the right chemistry and feel at ease with one another. Otherwise, the ASEAN leaders would not have accepted the invitation to join the Republic Day parade together, a first in its history." The author suggested that though India cannot hope to match China "in terms of project proposals and financial commitments", it has "Modi, who has already established close personal ties with the ASEAN leaders". Yet, questions remain. Can personal bonds manage complex geopolitical challenges and conflicts? Can a leader infuse greater depth and bring more urgency in bilateral ties through personal enterprise? This question assumes increasing significance as India goes about trying to balance China's rise. Coping with China's assertive ascent requires, among other things, a certain nimble-footedness in foreign policy. Modi has doubtless introduced a dash of spontaneity and a "can-do" attitude to policy making, but his efforts must confront the recurrent themes of bureaucratic inertia, limited resources and sluggish execution of connectivity projects that continue to plague India's geopolitical outreach. The flux in global order especially in South East Asia arising out of Donald Trump's 'America First' policy, China's revanchist posture and India's own (if hesitant) rise presents a challenge and an opportunity. Whether or not India is able to harness the flux depends on its ability to accept its limitations and optimise current relationships. Nowhere is this tension between India's intent and achievement more evident than in its 'Act East' policy. For all of Modi's ambition and optimism regarding bilateral ties with ASEAN, there still exists a mismatch between India and ASEAN's expectations from each other and capabilities in meeting those expectations. India's hesitation in committing to a truer free-trade regimen (such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC) at the risk of exposing its agricultural sector and the complex dynamism between India, ASEAN nations and China present other enduring challenges. There remains also the small matter of unity between ASEAN nations. The Chinese influence has bent the regional geopolitical context to such an extent that for India to take ASEAN as a strategic bloc and accordingly operationalise its security posture remains problematic. For all their fulminations about Beijing's revanchist posture on South China Sea, the ASEAN nations have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement. We saw this, for instance, in 2012 when for the first time in its 45-year history, the 10 nations failed to issue a joint statement over disagreement on South China Sea. The Philippines and Vietnam blamed Cambodia, which in turn blamed others. Five years later, in 2017, during another ASEAN Summit, Philippines had revised its posture with President Rodrigo Duterte declaring that "any discussion about the fortification of reclaimed islands in the South China Sea by China was useless, and that he did not seek any 'trouble' with China". This makes policymaking hazardous for India, not the least because it has its own limitations in posing as the region's security guarantor. As professor Harsh V Pant of King's College, London, writes in The Diplomat, "India's capacity to provide development assistance, market access, and security guarantees remains limited, and ASEAN's inclination to harness New Delhi's offerings for regional stability remains circumscribed by its sensitivities to other powers. The interests and expectations of the two sides remain far from aligned, preventing them from having candid conversations and realistic assessments." The temptation to mask the absence of an operational roadmap in ties with grand gestures remains constant. India must not fall into that trap. The focus must be on acknowledging ground realities and working on those. For instance, there are 30 different platforms for cooperation between the two sides with seven ministerial dialogues and annual leaders summit. To put it in perspective, China has 48 sectoral mechanisms to cover every aspect of bilateral ties. India enjoys a miserable reputation in completing connectivity projects. These have emerged as the biggest geoeconomic tools to increase influence. The Delhi Declaration called for "early completion" of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, that is expected to also include Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam within its ambit. This project has seen several delays and bottlenecks. Executive director Suthiphand Chirathivat and PhD researcher Anupama Devendrakumar of Chulalongkorn University tell Devirupa Mitra in The Wire that India's failure in completing these projects in time creates a wrong impression about its intent: "These projects open up channels to reinvigorate historical connections and further socio-cultural engagements and build trust. From an economic perspective, connectivity reduces trade costs. Mere tariff reduction through free trade agreements is not enough for trade to grow." Bilateral trade between ASEAN and India has gone up from $2.9 billion in 1993 to $58.4 billion in 2016 but this is still only 2.6 percent of ASEAN's external trade in 2016, as the Singapore prime minister recently said. The uptick has been constrained by India's refusal to open up its economy in the way the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) would demand. The completion of that agreement is still on the agenda. India and ASEAN are natural partners with a 2,000-year-old history and a proximate geography that favours close alignment. A focus between the partners has upgraded from economic to socio-cultural and strategic. Yet deficit remains in areas of expectations, trust and delivery. These will require more than symbolic gestures. Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the attack on school bus by 'Padmaavat' protesters senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee on Saturday said the freedom of speech is under threat under the BJP rule. Kolkata: Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the attack on school bus by 'Padmaavat' protesters, senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee on Saturday said the freedom of speech is under threat under the BJP rule. Protesters allegedly belonging to fringe Rajput group Karni Sena pelted stones at a school bus carrying children shattering its windows. However, no injury was reported on the 24 January incident at Gurugram. "If something happens outside India, the prime minister is very fast in tweeting about it. But he is silent when divisive elements are creating a ruckus all over the country," he said. "We condemn the way the Centre is trying to interfere in our freedom of speech and expression. The freedom of speech is under threat in the BJP rule," Chatterjee told reporters. Most-wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and 2016 Nabha jail break mastermind Prema Lahoria were on Friday gunned down by the Punjab Police in an encounter Chandigarh: Most-wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and 2016 Nabha jail break mastermind Prema Lahoria were on Friday gunned down by the Punjab Police 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 on Friday 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 Punjab Police. 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 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. 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. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 26, 2018 Gupta said about 20-25 policemen were involved in Friday'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 2017, 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. Vicky Gounder was among the six prisoners, including Harminder Singh Mintoo and Kashmir Singh, Aman Dhothian, Gurpreet Sekhon and Neeta Deol, who escaped from Nabha Jail in 2016 More than a year after six prisoners escaped from Patiala's Nabha high-security jail in Punjab on 27 November, 2016, the state police gunned down one of the escapees Punjab's most wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and the mastermind behind the jailbreak, Prema Lahoria, on Friday in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district. Gounder was among the six prisoners, including Harminder Singh Mintoo and Kashmir Singh, both terrorists, and gangsters Aman Dhothian, Gurpreet Sekhon and Neeta Deol, who were freed when 10 armed men stormed the high-security Nabha Jail in November 2016. 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 Director General of Police (Intelligence), Punjab Police, Dinkar Gupta, said in Chandigarh. "Police had even conducted raids at his possible hideouts but he remained successful in dodging them," he said, adding that Gounder had been moving in and out of Punjab all the while. In April 2017, 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. Here's a look at the other five prisoners who escaped along with Gounder in the daring jailbreak that rocked the nation: Harminder Singh Mantoo Mantoo is the chief of the banned Sikh militant group Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and was earlier a member of the Babbar Khalsa International, according to News18. He used to operate from Thailand before his arrest from the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi in 2014, on his way back from Thailand. The KLF chief was involved in 10 terror-related cases, including the 2008 attack on Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and the recovery of explosives at Halwara Air Force station near Ludhiana in 2010. He is also believed to have the backing of Pakistan's ISI as well. Following his escape from Nabha Jail in 2016, he was arrested 24 hours later in New Delhi's Nizamuddin Railway station, as per NDTV. He had trimmed his beard and moustache to appear significantly different. He was reportedly dropped off 90 kilometres away in Haryana, before taking a bus to New Delhi. According to the police, he wanted to escape to Goa. As per latest reports, he is currently lodged at the Central Jail, in Patiala, Punjab. In January this year, Mantoo deposed before a Ludhiana court through videoconferencing, reported Hindustan Times. He claimed that jail officials tried to bribe him to shift him from the "dark cell". Prison authorities refuted the claims with jail superintendent Rajan Kapur saying, "These are false allegations. Moreover, we have not kept Mintoo in a dark cell. He has been kept in a separate cell as part of the security measures. Kashmir Singh Kashmir Singh is also a Khalistani militant who escaped along with Mantoo. Apart from Gounder, he was the only escapee still on the run. According to a chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police, Singh trained himself to stay hungry following his escape and hid in jungles and narrow caves, reported The Indian Express. Investigators believe he could be hiding in Delhi or any of the neighbouring states. A native of Galwadi village near Khanna in Ludhiana, Singh is accused of gunning down a Shiv Sena leader in Gurdaspur in 2015. Singh, along with Mantoo, had trimmed his beard and moustache and decided to meet the latter in Goa, before Mantoo was arrested in Delhi. As per the police, Singh had been rehearsing the jailbreak in prison for months, with practising living in isolation and not eating for weeks in the jail. Aman Dhothian Amandeep Singh alias Aman Dhothian hails from Dhotian village in Tarn Taran district and is one of the most-wanted gangsters in Punjab, according to Hindustan Times. Apart from being an accused in the Nabha jailbreak, Dhothian also has 26 criminal cases, including murder and attempt to murder, registered against him. After his escape, he was arrested from Jalandhar in April 2017 following a tip-off from a police party near the PAP Complex, according to The Times of India. The police claimed they recovered a .32 bore pistol, a magazine and seven live cartridges along with four SIM cards and Rs 5,000 in cash from Singh. Dhothian was carrying a cash reward of Rs five lakh on his head and was reportedly planning to execute a kidnapping. Gurpreet Sekhon Twenty-seven year old Gurpreet Singh Sekhon is booked in over 13 FIRs, including murder and attempt to murder, and is prime accused in the rival Sukha Kahlwan murder case, according to this Indian Express report. Kahlwan, was killed near Phagwara by a rival gang on 21 January, 2015, while being taken to Nabha Jail from Jalandhar after a court hearing in a murder case. A trained flight attendant, Sekhon was first booked under the Arms Act in 2007 and arrested in the Kahlwan murder case in March 2016. Sekhon hails from a wealthy family owning brick kilns and large portions of agricultural land. He is believed to be the mastermind who hatched the plan of escaping from Nabha Jail in 2016. According to a Hindustan Times report, Sekhon befriended Mantoo at Nabha Jail and expressed his desire to do something unique which no militant had ever done before. To this end, Mantoo floated the idea of the jailbreak. His cousin Manvir Sekhon, one of the 10 people who broke into the jail to help free the six escapees, was also arrested along with Sekhon from Dhudike village in Moga district in February 2017. Neeta Deol Kulpreet Singh alias Neeta Deol is a Dubai-based NRI and is also a prime accused in the Sukha Kahlwan murder case, according to The Tribune. He was arrested in April 2015 who reportedly escaped to Dubai a day after Kahlwan's murder. Deol, a businessman and sharpshooter, was associated with the Shera Khubban gang, as per this Indian Express report. His Moga-based family runs a transport business. He has six cases, including that of murder, dacoity, loot and attempted murder, registered against him across various police stations in Punjab, reported Hindustan Times. Following the 2016 jailbreak, he was re-arrested from Indore in Madhya Pradesh in January 2017. The police recovered eight mobiles, a laptop and Rs 2,000 in cash from him. With inputs from PTI Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh called on visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and discussed issues of bilateral interest New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called on visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and discussed issues of bilateral interest. They were accompanied by Anand Sharma, a former Union Minister for Commerce and Industry. "It was a very good meeting as India and Cambodia share a special relation which is rooted in history," Sharma told the media after the meeting. He said India was the first country to recognise Cambodia's independence in 1953 and independent India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first international leader to visit that country in 1954. "That is one thing which is fondly remembered and recalled, which PM Hun Sen referred to do even today during his meeting with Gandhi and Singh," Sharma said. Hun Sen arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Dialogue Partnership and was among all 10 Heads of State or government of ASEAN nations who were guests of honour at this year's India's Republic Day celebrations. Hun Sen extended his visit to that of a State visit on Saturday. "He (Hun Sen) also specifically referred to the role of (then Indian prime minister) Indira Gandhi when she returned to power in 1980 to recognise the regime change in Cambodia and to assist in the restoration of peace and rehabilitation there," Sharma said. The Congress leader said that Hun Sen particularly spoke to the Congress president about his very close friendship with his father (then prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi. "... and also the family friendship he and his wife had with Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi," he said. "It was a free and frank exchange of views where the need to reinforce party linkages was stressed," he added. RSS leader Krishna Gopal said that 'jauhar', an ancient practice of mass self-immolation by Rajput women to avoid being captured by foreign invaders, was a form of resistance and not a 'discriminatory' practice against women New Delhi: Senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal said on Saturday that 'jauhar', an ancient practice of mass self-immolation by Rajput women to avoid being captured by foreign invaders, was a form of resistance and not a "discriminatory" practice against women. At a seminar on 'stree-shakti, or women empowerment, at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi, Gopal said the practice was "a part of the tradition of jauhar-shakha in which women offered the supreme sacrifice than be conquered by victorious armies to be a part of their large harems". He said jauhar was a "form of resistance and not a discriminatory practice". The remarks came as fringe Rajput groups violently protested the release of the controversial film 'Padmaavat', based on the saga of the 13th-century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. The groups allege that the film shows Rani Padmavati in "poor light". The queen is said to have committed 'jauhar' in 1303, preferring to die than be captured by Sultan Khilji. Historians, however, are divided whether she actually existed, and the filmmakers have denied the allegations. But Gopal said scholars, who speak about equality between men and women, should consider the fact that the Indian thought was not geared towards dichotomies, but is rather a unifying thought. He said the Indian society must introspect why almost 40 percent women in the country were bereft of educational opportunities and suffer from debilitating diseases such as anaemia. The RSS leader also talked on the declining sex-ratio during the seminar and insisted that women empowerment cannot happen without improving the conditions of women in society. Gopal has previously spoken about untouchability. In September last year, he had claimed that the practice of untouchability didn't exist in ancient India and it reached the country from outside over the past a thousand years. "This (practice of) discrimination came in the last thousand years. There was no such thing as untouchability in this country (before that). "Our Vedic rishis never mentioned this. Where did it come from? It came from outside," Gopal had told Sangh volunteers during an address in Hyderabad on Vijayadashmi Utsav. Jauhar was a Hindu custom of mass self-immolation by women to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by foreign invaders when facing a certain defeat in a war. Two civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident. Srinagar: Two civilians were on Saturday killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident. The crowd hurled stones on a security force convoy passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian district following which the Army men fired a few rounds to chase it away, police officials said, adding several people were injured in the firing. A defence spokesman, however, said the troops opened fire when a mob tried to lynch a junior commissioned officer and snatch his service weapon. Two of the injured, identified as Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Suhail Javid Lone, died, the police officials said. Another youth was rushed to a hospital here in a critical condition for specialised treatment, they said. The situation in Ganovpora and adjoining areas is tense following the killings of the youths, the officials said. A state government spokesman said the chief minister expressed deep anguish and sorrow over the death of the two civilians and ordered an inquiry into the incident. He said Mehbooba spoke to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who assured the chief minister that she would impress upon the field formations that mechanisms put in place were strictly adhered to prevent such incidents. Sitharaman told the chief minister that she would seek a detailed report in connection with the incident, he added. The defence spokesman said, "An Army administration convoy was passing through Ganovpora when it came under unprovoked and intense stone-pelting by a group of 100-120 stone-pelters. Within no time, their number swelled to 200-250 persons." "The crowd surrounded an isolated portion of the convoy consisting of four vehicles," he said, noting that the stone-pelters caused extensive damage to these vehicles and tried to set them on fire. "A junior commissioned officer accompanying the convoy got hit on the head and fell unconscious. He was seriously injured. The mob tried to lynch the individual and snatch his weapon." He said, "The violent crowd further closed in towards the vehicles and attempted to set them on fire." The spokesman said considering the extreme gravity of the situation, the Army was constrained to open fire in self defence to prevent lynching of the JCO and burning of government vehicle by the mob. "A total of seven Army men suffered injuries while extensive damage was caused to eleven vehicles. In the process, two civilians succumbed to the bullet injuries," he said. The police have registered a case against the Army unit concerned in connection with the incident. The state government spokesperson said the chief minister has directed the district administration to conduct a probe into the incident and come up with findings at the earliest. He said Mehbooba has conveyed her sympathies to the families of the dead and the injured. Meanwhile, the mainstream and separatists condemned the killings with the latter giving a call for a shutdown on Sunday in the Valley to register their protest. Former chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Twitter: The violence in Kabul is tragic. Its even more unfortunate when you can find words here & have none for the civilians killed in Shopian today @MehboobaMufti. You need to sort out the people managing your account. https://t.co/R9l1QWaK4e Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 27, 2018 The Jammu and Kashmir Congress also condemned the killings, saying the firing on the youths was very unfortunate. "The loss of precious lives cannot by replaced by anything," a party spokesman said. You could tell from the moment you took the slim lane leading up to the Diggi Palace Hotel, host to the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival this year, that the venues crowd capacities were set to be tested in a few hours | #FirstCulture You could tell from the moment you took the slim lane leading up to the Diggi Palace Hotel, host to the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival this year, that the venues crowd capacities were set to be tested in a few hours. With Friday being a national holiday (Indias Republic Day), the crowds began to fill in fast and early. By early afternoon, things would start to get a bit uncomfortable but more on that in a bit. Running late to the venue, day two of the festival began with the final glimpse of a session where Homi K Bhabha, answering a question from the audience, was trying to explain how economic and social growth of country do not go hand in hand, that more often than not, the economic growth often binds many of the social responsibilities in a society. Meanwhile, Sreenivasan Jain, who was moderating the event, explained in no uncertain terms that the audience should only ask short direct questions and not make any observations or comments. The immediate next person to be handed the mic began with, I don't have a question, but. I quickly scanned the grounds for that perfect seat aisle, with at least an exit in direct sight and sunlight filtering through a tree from behind and found one for the first and the last time that day. First up for the day was The Empire Writes Back a conversation between Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Charmaine Craig, Jeet Thayil, Linda Spalding and Pico Iyer. The panel discussed some rather intriguing notions of postcolonial writings (especially in the English language), identity politics, embracing cultures one wasnt born or raised in, writing from someone elses perspective, cultural appropriation, among others things. Craig talked about the long and complicated process of writing Miss Burma, and addressing the misconceptions many have about the countrys past. The author also discussed the idea of the book being accepted as a Burmese novel upon its release in the country, the demand that writers write about cultures and not individuals and her hope to break out of that shell and fuse cultures. Ibrahim talked about facing the question of if an African author should write in English with Season of Crimson Blossoms. The Nigerian author expressed that although he wanted to write about his country, he wanted to do it in English for the rest of the world. He also shared Craigs idea of telling the stories of individuals, which often get lost in the bigger picture. Thayil brought the Indian side of the argument on the table, talking about how, for decades, Indian poets were often criticised for not being authentic enough if they chose to write in the English language. He also talked about a writers or musicians right to cultural appropriation, writing from others perspective and getting inspired by other cultures. Spalding talked about growing up in Kansas but being fascinated by Japanese and Mexican cultures and finally moving to Canada with Michael Ondaatje, and how it all shaped her writing. She also discussed working on the Brick magazine and how she help it break out of its Canadian bubble; and writing about slavery in her last two books, The Purchase and A Reckoning. Up next, on the stage was Vishal Bhardwaj, singing to a gaping audience. Not a bad voice at all, but I was there for what was to follow one of my more anticipated sessions of the festival, The Frontline Club. The session though turned out to be a prime example of how bad moderation can absolutely destroy a potentially great exchange. The line-up included Adrian Levy, Carlo Pizzati, Jeffrey Gettleman, Peter Bergen and Suki Kim, in conversation with Suhasini Haidar. But the conversation could hardly get anywhere with the moderator injecting her own insights, opinions and experiences every few minutes, and cutting or speaking over people with similar ease. I can't remember if Pizzati was even asked a question or brought into the conversation. The man had to finally propel himself into the goings-on. Kim talked her book, Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea's Elite, and the controversy it generated regarding journalistic ethics. According to the author, if traditional reporting does not work in a situation (like reporting about North Korea), one has to adopt novel ways to get the story out. She also stressed the importance of embedding oneself into a culture to truly understand what is really going on behind the scenes or how people actually think beyond what a state propaganda would have us believe. Talking of embedding, the group also discussed the importance of the same at frontlines and the issues with the same. The topic of the role of the media in an age when terrorist groups are well established with their own media the social networking websites, was also bought up. Gettleman discussed his piece on the atrocities against the Rohingya people for The New York Times, and how it was the most emotionally difficult interview had done in his life. He talked about how the role of a journalist to just take a story and walk away from a difficult situation can be tough at times. In the final moments of the session, the discussion got mildly heated as ownership of newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian were being discussed. Finally it boiled down to a rich corporate ownership which can pump money into a publication can be of great help as monetary resources are essential to good journalism, especially the stories which take a long time to investigate; on the other hand, a publication loses on reporting any wrongdoings or embarrassing facts about its owners. By the time the session was finished, the size of the crowd inside the venue had multiplied so much so it was hard to move between the stages or squeeze through the various entrances. And outside the venue, the real magnitude of the problem was on full display. The registration and check-in lines had hundreds upon hundreds of people, all squeezed in together into the narrow street. The sight outside was just stunning. I was looking for a friend although I now regretted coming out of the venue, and as I stood around scanning the lines to find him, a man, probably in his early 60s approached me, looked at the press pass hanging around my neck, and asked to convey something to the organisers. Since I agreed with what he had to say, here it is The venue is not safe. Far from it. The place cannot handle crowds like this no matter how many safety videos are played between the sessions. Claiming that he was a former Air Force officer and had some experience in crowd management, he said if even a small firecracker goes off here, the resulting panic, or worse, a stampede would hurt people in unimaginable ways. He also said that he had talked to a police officer, but apparently, nothing has been done. Another police officer, standing nearby and listening in closely, completely agreed with everything that was being said. Also read At the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018, whispers of Karni Sena, an absent CM, and Rupi Kaur hysteria This is not the first time this conversation is coming up. It has, regularly, for the past few years. Shifting one of the stages outside and replacing it with a Festival Bazaar has done zilch in easing crowd pressure from the grounds. The place can turn really dangerous in a matter of seconds and one wonders if it will take a mishap for the organisers to rethink their options and change the situation? Back inside, Markus Dohle, Maya Jasanoff and Vivek Shanbhag joined Nikhil Kumar for a conversation on writing about places, book translations and the publishing industry. Jasanoff, author of The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World, talked about Heart of Darkness, how Conrad wrote about places and how it was perceived and received around the world (like Chinua Achebe's criticism of it). Shanbhag, a Kannada writer himself, talked at length on the experience of translating a work of literature from one language to the other, and how important it is that the intent behind the text is translated with perfection, rather than each word and sentence individually. Dohle, the chief executive officer of Penguin Random House at Pearson, went into the nitty-gritties of publication. He explained how the process works, what motivates the various decisions taken by a publisher, the money involved in the process and the changing landscape of the publishing industry in general. The panel also talked about digital publishing, how young or up-and-coming writers can find space for their works and what needs to be done to improve the current scenario of book publishing. Last up for the day was a session on the arts and the arms of Rajasthan, with BN Goswamy, Naman P Ahuja, Rima Hooja, Robert Elgood and Yashaswini Chandra with William Dalrymple. The panel discussed the diverse origins of the Rajasthan arts and the complicated history of the states geography. They also talked at length about the various classifications of the Rajputs, the arms and armours from the state while occasionally sharing anecdotes. Although the audio wasnt great for the session and it was difficult to understand all that was said, when things did register on the mic system, the sheer depth of the knowledge on the subject was quite evident among the panel. And once again, the crowds poured out of the venue and another day came to an end just like that. In a conversation with Firstpost, Rupi Kaur talks about poetry, finding a voice, and the immigrant experience | #FirstCulture Its day one of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival in the colourful and sunny city which gives the event its name. In front of me walks a group of girls; they can barely contain their excitement. Theyre an interesting bunch to see at a literary festival anywhere between 14-18 years old, probably at an age where theyre just learning about the workings of the heart in school. They werent part of the school group tours that one sees at the JLF. I follow them into the tent they were headed to, giggling with anticipation, to discover theyre waiting to hear the global sensation (and as the person seated next to me points out, a New York Times bestselling writer) Rupi Kaur. The energy in the tent is quite something, and I notice most of the crowd here comprises young women. I tell someone I am not entirely familiar with Rupis poems, being exposed to them only through fleeting encounters on Instagram a medium I didnt quite associate with poetry before. The young woman next me hears this and looks disappointed; she asksif I do anything remotely connected to literature. I tell her I teach literature at a university and she looks at me askance: You teach literature and you havent read Rupi Kaur, the poet? Instantly, I feel guilty about not being up to speed with this fast-changing modern world of poetry, where it comes to us through all kinds of new mediums, like Instagram/Facebook or Twitter. The session has the audience enthralled, and I decide I must read more of Rupis work and promptly rush to the bookstore. On the way, I meet the beautiful young mother who has come all the way to JLF because her 14-year-old daughter, studying at the American Embassy School, is a fan of Rupi Kaur. The young poet clearly has a massive audience and I wonder what shed be like to converse with. The very next day, I get a chance to interview Rupi, at the press terrace of the Diggi Palace (where JLF is held every year). There is rush of people waiting to meet and her and we go inside one of the dim rooms, making for a change from the otherwise bright day. Rupi is young, cheerful and warm; she understands what she represents, and the need for people like her to express themselves. This is how the chat goes. * Rupi, you have captured the attention of audiences, made poetry accessible and got young people interested in poetry. Tell us how it all started. I have no idea how I got into it. But Ill tell you that there was a moment in high school when I was tired of feeling that I did not have a voice I grew up as a deeply empathetic child. I could see somebody elses sadness and suddenly I would be in tears. One day I saw a poster of an open mic (event) that has happening within my community. I decided to go. At that moment, I had no idea what I was going to do. The only performing I had done till then was with a classic Indian musical instrument, the form of a kirtan. So I called my friend and we thought maybe we would go write a poem and just say it out loud. And thats what we did. We wrote this poem. It was terrible by the way at that moment I did not realise it! Anyway we went and performed and it was so exhilarating. For the first time, I felt that I had a voice. It was a room as small as this [indicating where the interview was being conducted]. And most of the audience was guys who were 10 years older than me, and I was so nervous because I was such a shy child. But that feeling of those eyes looking at you was so exhilarating and from then on I was hooked on to the stage. This was before you used the online space to create your identity as a poet? How did that come about? I continued to perform and perform for many years. The reason I started to translate my work into an online space was because after a few years of performing, I was mostly doing pieces about female infanticide, farmers suicide issues that were really affecting my family back here in India. My friends of course would say to me that more and more people need to hear this, because I was mainly performing in a small community in Malton, Canada, but the things I was performing affected diaspora everywhere. So my friends showed up at my house with a video camera and one of them was making me a Facebook page, a Tumblr page and another was recording a video of my spoken word... Thats when I got comfortable with sharing my work online and eventually I travelled to Instagram. And it was very responsive, it was instant, people interact with your words immediately. And this was before your first book, Milk and Honey Thats how I ended up getting published too. I had no plans of publishing a book at that time. But as my audience kept building, I would receive emails asking me where they could purchase my book. And I would say, What are you talking about, I dont have a book! But I thought maybe it is important to take the opportunity when it comes, and wondered if it was time to write a book. Except that was really hard Even my Creative Writing professor told me that poetry does not get published, there is no market for it. And even though she didnt say it, I also realised that she meant that it was hard for my kind of poetry to get published. That was true I started looking at literary magazines and anthologies being published and not one of them carried my kind of work. So when I was getting all the rejection letters, it made sense. Mine was a different world. Thats when I knew I had to publish my own work. I wanted to represent my poetry fully and really well. I decided to design every single aspect of my book and put it out in the world, and here we are. You come from a specific context. Does that essentially define your work and your will to be a poet? I was 16 or 17 when I first performed. The place where I lived was called Malton and it was mainly south Asian immigrants and thats why what I write is so focused on the immigrant experience. Mostly everyone was immigrants and children of immigrants, like me. Did you imagine at that moment the way your poetry and performance would enthrall young audiences? Never. I never imagined it. But I was always determined. I never stopped. Even after Milk and Honey was published I was trying to be a lawyer. I was in University finishing up tot degree. People would say, Oh you are an author! And I would say, No I am not. Thats just my hobby. I was trying to be something else. Though I loved writing so much and I guess when you love something so much eventually it snowballs into something. Do you also think the feeling that you had of being voiceless was something people could relate to on an everyday basis? Yes, absolutely. The western world does not understand us. We South Asian immigrant children had that feeling in common. At the same time, your Indian household has no idea what you are going through. My parents would say, How is your life difficult? We had to walk to school. We got one pair of shoes every five years. We came to Canada with 10 dollars. And you are feel, How will I ever get any sympathy from you? You realise nobody gets you and your struggle with identity. The literature you study, the things you watch on TV none of it reflects you. You are hungry to understand things, you experience self-hate. Then you find a group of brown people, who are like you Thats what happened to me. I found a group of people, and they were first ones to tell me to love myself. That we are so beautiful, our brown Asian skin, our bodies. And that was very important to me, because before that, I hated being brown. It was never easy being a girl that too a brown girl. Id feel that life would be so much easier if I was a white person. That group of people changed my life. They supported me, they put me on stage. You also write and draw? Is a particular medium/art that is closer to you? Well I have been drawing since I was very little. I was five or something. And even with writing I used to write poems on friends birthdays as gifts, because I didnt have enough money (to buy them anything). But my medium is not drawing or writing my parents did not even know I was publishing a book till it arrived home! My art is expression. Sometimes I use writing, sometimes photography to express. What happened after you published the book? When did you get a sense of its popularity? Since my book is self-published, I didnt really know how to gauge success in the literary world. Only later did I get an email from a publisher who wanted to publish my book again. We worked out a deal and they gave me full creative control, they even let me choose the design. I was travelling at that time of its publication and because of the distribution, it sold (well). After a while, I was supposed to perform in San Francisco, and I wondered who would come for the performance. We pull up near the venue and realise there is a queue to the end of the road! It was block after block. The security took me up front and people were clapping and I was just taken by surprise. The interesting thing was that with my book, most of the sales were from bookstores and not online. It was almost as if people would pick up the book and there was an emotional connection. Thats it. Something just worked. * At this point, we have exhausted our time. On my way out, the publisher informs me that Rupi is supposed to perform in Delhi soon. I promise to look out for her. Then, shoulders squared, I make my way to the next session, one on translation, trying not to be jostled by the massive crowds that have gathered to see Nawazuddin Sidduqi on stage for a panel discussion on Manto. The women's wing of the Delhi Congress staged a protest outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding government jobs for the kin of the Bawana fire victims and also to ensure that female workers in factories are not paid below the minimum wages New Delhi: The women's wing of the Delhi Congress on Saturday staged a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence demanding government jobs for the kin of the Bawana fire victims and also to ensure that female workers in factories are not paid below the minimum wages. Hundreds of Delhi Congress women's wing workers, led by party's city women wing chief Sharmistha Mukherjee, gathered outside Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi in the Civil Lines area of north Delhi and raised slogans against him. Speaking to IANS, Mukherjee said, "We are protesting here to demand justice for the victims of the Bawana fire tragedy and also a government job to their kin." Mukherjee's remarks came in the wake of a major fire at a Bawana plastics warehouse last week, which was also used to store firecrackers. At least 17 people, including 10 women, were burnt to death or asphyxiated and 30 others were injured in the fire. She said her party has demanded that the Delhi government ensure minimum wages along with a safe and good environment for the women factory workers. "After the fire tragedy when we visited and spoke to the women workers there, they told us that they were only paid about Rs 6,000 a month, whereas the minimum wage in Delhi is prescribed at over Rs 15,000," she said. She said the women workers told them that they were not given any benefit of government rules like maternity leave etc. "Thus we demand that Kejriwal's government must provide women with all the government facilities which are their right, including maternity leave," she said. The Delhi Congresswomen wing chief also said the government should ensure a proper and safe environment for the women workers. "We are protesting to improve the working conditions of the women workers in the unorganised sector of the country," she added. The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 44 candidates for Assembly elections in Tripura where the party looks to oust the Left Front government. New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 44 candidates for Assembly elections in Tripura where the party looks to oust the Left Front government which has been in power for the last 25 years. The strength of the state Assembly is 60 members. While releasing the list, senior BJP leader JP Nadda said the Central Election Committee headed by party chief Amit Shah finalised the list of 44 candidates. The party is going to contest on 51 seats and nine have been kept for its alliance partner, IPFT. The BJP refrained from announcing a chief ministerial candidate for the state elections. The list includes the name of BJP's state general secretary Pratima Bhowmik who will be contesting from Dhanpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The party has decided to field its state president Biplab Kumar Deb from Banamalipur. "We have considered all sections and walks of society while choosing our candidates. While there are are 10 seats reserved for SC candidates, we are going to field 11 SC candidates. One is contesting from a regular seat", he said. Nadda was speaking after the meeting of the Central Election Committee which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all its members. The list also includes seven sitting MLAs, four women, 10 professionals like doctors and engineers, and two candidates from the field of arts. The BJP did not win any seat in the last state assembly polls but emerged as the main challenger to the ruling CPI(M). Several leaders from parties such as the Congress and the TMC joined its ranks in the last couple of years. Tripura will go to the polls on 18 February and vote-counting will be held on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya. The BJP has rebuffed the Congress' objections to its president Rahul Gandhi being given a sixth row seat at the Republic Day function, saying he considered himself a 'super VVIP who should be put ahead of everyone else' New Delhi: The BJP has rebuffed the Congress' objections to its president Rahul Gandhi being given a sixth row seat at the Republic Day function, saying he considered himself a "super VVIP who should be put ahead of everyone else". The ruling party wondered what was the fuss about when Rahul had been allotted a seat as per "protocol", adding that BJP leaders were treated similarly during the Congress rule but it had never made it an issue. Congress president Rahul Gandhi took the designated seat in the sixth row on Friday, during the Republic Day parade, prompting an angry reaction from his party that accused the government of setting aside tradition and indulging in "cheap politics". BJP national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao rejected the Congress' criticism, saying it did not behove the party, which "claims to have a 133-year-old illustrious history". The same treatment was meted out to the BJP national presidents and leaders like Rajnath Singh when the Congress was in power, he said. "We never made it an issue. We function with a spirit of democracy, whereas you claim to have 133-year-old illustrious history. If this is your democratic spirit or understanding of democracy, it is a shame on the Congress party," he said. Rao said there is "no Congress rule" in the country but Gandhi thinks he is a "super VVIP". "People of new India do not expect their political leaders to wear their VVIP cards on their shoulders. Rahul is trying to tell he is a super VVIP and should be put ahead of everyone else even if he doesn't have any position or does not fall in the protocol list," Rao said. The BJP followed democracy in its true spirit and complied with all rules and laws, he asserted. "Our party believes in a value system. We not only follow laws, rules and traditions, but also ensure respect for leaders and opposition leaders," he added. The Congress on Saturday released the names of its candidates for the Meghalaya and Tripura Assembly elections to be held next month. New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday released the names of its candidates for the Meghalaya and Tripura Assembly elections to be held next month, with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma contesting from two seats. The party released a list of 57 candidates in Meghalaya and 56 in Tripura. The strength of the two assemblies is 60 members each. The Congress is seeking to come back to power in Meghalaya and ousting the CPM in Tripura where the Left front has been in power for the last 25 years. According to the list, the Meghalaya chief minister will be contesting from Songsak and Ampathi constituencies. Tripura will go to polls on 18 February, followed by Nagaland and Meghalaya on 27 February. The counting of votes will take place in three states on 3 March. Continuing to crack the whip, top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami have sacked more than 140 party functionaries belonging to Tuticorin district for bringing 'disrepute' to the organisation Chennai: Continuing to crack the whip, top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami have sacked more than 140 party functionaries belonging to Tuticorin district for bringing "disrepute" to the organisation. In a joint statement, the two leaders announced expelling 144 office-bearers belonging to AIADMK's different organisational units in that district. The said persons were being axed from AIADMK as they went against party principles and "brought disrepute" to it, Panneerselvam, AIADMK coordinator, and Palaniswami, its co-coordinator, said in the statement. They asked their party workers not to have any truck with the expelled persons. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, who merged the factions led by them in August 2017, had warned of action against those who go against the party last month, following its loss in the 21 December RK Nagar Assembly bypoll, won by sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran. The duo had earlier too expelled a number of functionaries, while stripping the party posts of some of the key aides of Dhinakaran. They had also expelled 53 persons belonging to the party's Kancheepuram Central unit and five others from AIADMK's trade union wing, Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai (ATP) on Friday. Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Saturday wrote to Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, saying he shouldn't allow the BJP government in the state to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries Ahemdabad: Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Saturday wrote to Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, saying he shouldn't allow the BJP government in the state to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries. Gohil claimed that Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was planning to appoint parliamentary secretaries to appease some disgruntled BJP MLAs who could not find place in the ministry. The governor must not give his assent for these appointments as the post is unconstitutional and it will amount to a contempt of court, the Congress leader said. The Supreme Court, in its 26 July, 2017 order, had held that a state government has no right to appoint a parliamentary secretary, Gohil said. "To contain dissatisfaction in his party, the chief minister, despite being aware of the Supreme Court's order, is talking about appointing a number of parliamentary secretaries which is against Constitution and will amount to a contempt of court," the Congress leader said. Past BJP governments in Gujarat appointed parliamentary secretaries to favour party MLAs, he said. "It is learnt that the BJP is going to appoint parliamentary secretaries to manage growing dissent in the party," Gohil claimed. The issue of legal status of parliamentary secretaries came to the fore recently when President Ram Nath Kovind approved disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs in Delhi upon the recommendation by the Election Commission. The EC said the post of parliamentary secretary which they held was an 'office of profit'. While the govt would not want to give in to threats from militants, it would be possible to explain a postponement of Jammu and Kashmir Gram Panchayat polls without referring to the threats The government would do well to defer the Gram Panchayat elections that are scheduled to take place in Jammu and Kashmir from 15 February. There are several indications that the elected panches (members of Gram Panchayats) will become targets of militant violence, even if the election process itself goes off without major mishap. According to one well-informed journalist, militant groups have been instructed to focus on targeting the newly-elected panches over the next several months. Those in the know say that the police have also expressed deep reservations over holding these elections and about the security situation they will have to face thereafter. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo, even announced in an angry video a few days ago that he would pour acid into the eyes of those who contest the elections so that they would remain a burden on their families for the rest of their lives, as he graphically put it. Such threats come against the background of an increase in the number of local boys joining militancy. The number of fresh recruits is larger than the numbers killed in recent months. The threats also gain potency in the light of the violence that had occurred at polling booths during the bye-election for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on 9 April 2017. Eight people had died in the violence in Budgam and other parts of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The situation could have been worse in south Kashmir had the bye-election for the Anantnag seat, which was slated for 12 April, not been postponed. It was easy to ensure security for Farooq Abdullah, the one MP who was elected in April, also since as a former chief minister, he already had top-level security. But providing security to tens of thousands of panches would be well-nigh impossible. Republic Day threats Over the past week, there have also been threats against school principals, teachers, and others preparing for programmes on Republic Day. A video recording on social media showed a school principal acknowledging that girls were being prepared for a dance. Apparently facing militants around the camera that recorded him, the school principal was coerced to say that he regretted it. He also said that he would not repeat the mistake and that he did not care about losing his job. The school principal was told to name the school in the video and was then instructed to name the teacher who was training the schoolgirls to dance for the Republic Day programme. Narrow-vision ideologues detest cultures they see as liberal and alien. Similarly, the more radical of the militant groups view electoral democracy as representing the work of the devil. Not only would the success of Panchayati Raj strengthen political processes at the ground level, the success of these elections could be projected as another signal of 'normalcy' and stability. No wonder then that several former panches and sarpanches have been brutally tortured and killed over the past year or two, particularly in militant strongholds in Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Compulsions of state People have become keenly conscious of the risks of this process, and the turnout, therefore, may be low. There may nonetheless be enough candidates, since there are many who seek the power, influence, and control over public expenditure that being a panchayat member brings with it. However, many of those who contest may not adequately consider the dangers while others may seek to make covert deals, including monetary ones, with local militants. The previous Panchayats' term ended in July 2016, when there was massive unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. But, although the elections are long overdue, just getting through the formalities of democratic processes is inadequate. The aim must be representation and responsiveness, not the likelihood of further bloodshed. A top policymaker acknowledged this risk but spoke of the 'pros and cons' in the situation. While the state would not want to give in to threats, it would be possible to explain a postponement without referring to the threats. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked party leaders from poll-bound Karnataka to prepare 'people's manifesto' and undertake mass outreach programmes. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked party leaders from poll-bound Karnataka to prepare "people's manifesto" and undertake mass outreach programmes, taking a cue from similar exercise during the party's recent electoral outing in Gujarat. Karnataka goes to polls this year. "The exercise has already been undertaken by a team headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily and it is expected to come out with an 'all-encompassing manifesto' much ahead of polling in the state," a senior party leader said. "The party president has asked leaders to come out with a manifesto that truly reflects the expectations of the people of Karnataka. The Congress will seek feedback from all stakeholders," AICC secretary in-charge for Karnataka, Madhu Goud Yaskhi, told PTI. In a similar exercise, telecom entrepreneur Sam Pitroda had interacted with residents of five cities of Gujarat, namely Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surat, ahead of the two-phased Assembly election last year. The manifesto prepared thus focused on education, health, small and medium enterprises, employment generation and environment protection. "That 'good' practice helped us know what people wanted. It is better than leaders sitting in their offices and drafting manifestoes," another party leader said. He said in Karnataka, the party unit will focus on socio-economic aspects relating to development. The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has performed well and listed its pro-people schemes like Ksheer Bhagya, Anna Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Indira Vastra Bhagya, Indira Canteen and others, the Congress leader said. While the schedule for the 224-member state Assembly poll is yet to be announced, campaign for the high voltage election has already begun with leaders of both the Congress and BJP exchanging barbs at each other. The southern state is expected to witness a triangular contest with the HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) being the third dominant player. The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) and the BJP have agreed to work out modalities for seat sharing for the upcoming Nagaland Assembly election Kohima: The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) and the BJP have agreed to work out modalities for seat sharing for the upcoming Nagaland Assembly election, chief minister TR Zeliang said on Friday. "We agreed to select the teams from the respective party to work out the modalities for seat sharing," he said after his meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday evening. "We agreed to continue the NPF-BJP alliance for growth and development," added Zeliang who is heading the combined NPF-BJP government. Elections to the 60-member Nagaland Assembly will be held on 27 February and the counting of votes will be on 3 March. Describing the meeting with Shah as a healthy deliberation, the NPF leader said: "Our bond and relationship will grow stronger and better in the coming days. This will result in a progressive and much developed Nagaland state." "The alliance of NPF-BJP, along with the other DAN partners, will sweep the upcoming polls," Zeliang said. On Tuesday, the Central Executive Council (CEC) of the NPF reviewed its earlier decision and decided to resume its ties with the BJP and also go to the assembly polls with TR Zeliang as its Chief Ministerial candidate. Nagaland's lone Lok Sabha member and three-time chief minister Neiphiu Rio resigned from the primary membership of the NPF after it decided to sever ties with the BJP ahead of the assembly elections. Rio joined the newly-floated Nagaland Democratic People's Party. "We will again form the next government, a very stable government, and the instability which rocked the 12th NLA will be a thing of the past. Development and progress of the state and solution to the Naga Political Issue (insurgency) will be our top priority," Zeliang said. Campaigning for the 29 January bypolls for the Lok Sabha seats of Alwar and Ajmer, and the Assembly seat of Mandalgarh ended on Saturday Jaipur: Campaigning for the 29 January bypolls for the Lok Sabha seats of Alwar and Ajmer, and the Assembly seat of Mandalgarh ended on Saturday. Campaigning ended on Saturday evening and voting will take place on 29 January. All the preparations have been made, Ajmer District Election Officer Gaurav Goyal said. The ruling BJP and Opposition Congress held public meetings to woo voters in constituencies. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje conducted road shows in Beegod (Mandalgarh) and Ajmer, while Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot addressed a gathering in Pushkar. Pilot, accompanied by several party leaders, also conducted a road show in Ajmer city. Other leaders from both the parties addressed public meetings in Alwar also. The BJP has now hit back to Siddaramaiah's 'jailbird' remark by calling Sonia and Rahul Gandhi soon-to-be 'jailbirds' With the Karnataka Assembly election drawing near, the war of words between state chief minister Siddaramaiah and his predecessor BS Yeddyurappa has escalated. A day after Siddaramaiah referred to Amit Shah as a 'jailbird,' Yeddyurappa has hit back, that it is Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi who 'will be jail birds soon.' While the former was referring to Amit Shah's arrest in Sohrabuddin Shaikh 'fake encounter' case, the latter was referring to the Congress leaders' alleged involvement in the National Herald case. Yeddyurappa is now the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the poll-bound state. Lest you forget in National Herald case Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi - who are on bail now - will be 'Jail Birds' soon. @siddaramaiah B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) January 26, 2018 It all started with the BJP president Amit Shah calling the Siddaramaiah government, 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 on Thursday, the BJP president said, "The Siddaramaiah government has crossed all limits of corruption. In Karnataka, Siddaramaiah and corruption are synonyms. Siddaramaiah means corruption and corruption means Siddaramaiah". The Karnataka chief minister replied by calling Amit Shah an 'ex-jail bird' who has chosen 'former jail bird' (referring to BS Yeddyurappa) as BJP's chief ministerial candidate. Says an ex-jail bird who chose another former jail bird to be his partys CM candidate for our Karnataka election. Can he present facts about the so called corruption charges against me or my Govt? Just telling lies wont help. People will not believe his #jumlas https://t.co/R1OW6FiipB Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 26, 2018 The chief minister was also quoted by ANI as saying that, "Amit Shah has no brain it seems, he is a brainless man." Reacting to the remark, Yeddyurappa reminded that he and Shah have been acquitted of all the 'false' cases filed against them. Amit Shah was jailed in 2010 for three months in charges of conspiring to kill Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter case. Yeddyurappa was lodged in Bengalurus Parappana Agrahara Central Prison after he surrendered to the Lokayukta Court in an illegal mining case. He has however received relief in many of the cases filed against him, according to The News Minute. So says a CM who destroyed Lokayukta, misused ACB & CID and give himself a clean chit in dozens of corruption charge & complaints against him. Let me remind you CM @siddaramaiah, we are acquitted of all the false cases filed against us. https://t.co/1b2L208mb7 B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) January 26, 2018 Subsequently, former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader Sadananda Gowda too jumped into the fray, and tweeted that the current form of Congress party was formed by a leader who has spent time in jail (referring to Indira Gandhi). And that leader's son (referring to Rajiv Gandhi), said Gowda, would also have been in jail but for the fact that he was assassinated. Amid strains in the ties with the BJP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said his TDP is ready to chart its own course if the former is not keen to continue with the alliance Amaravati: Amid strains in the ties with the BJP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said his TDP is ready to chart its own course if the former is not keen to continue with the alliance. Reacting for the first time to mounting criticism of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) by state leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said it was for the BJP's central leadership to control them. Talking to reporters, the TDP chief said he was adhering to coalition "dharma" by reining in his party leaders from reacting to their statements. "Because of coalition dharma, we are keeping quiet," said Naidu. "If they don't want us, we will do the 'namaskaram' and chart our own course," remarked Naidu. The TDP is a coalition partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, and the BJP is sharing power with the TDP in the state. The state leaders of the BJP have been criticising the TDP on various issues. Some of them have even indicated that they were ready to work with the opposition YSR Congress Party. Naidu's remarks also come close on the heels of YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy's statement that he would support the BJP if Andhra Pradesh was given special status. tech2 News Staff Coolpad Group Limited has sued Xiaomi for allegedly infringing on three of its patents. The company claims that Xiaomi produced, promised to sell and sold products that infringed on these patents. According to GizmoChina and ITHome (Chinese), Coolpads patents relate to app icon management, notifications and system UI. The company is demanding that Xiaomi immediately be ordered to cease production and sale of products that infringe on these patents. The company also demands that Xiaomi pay for the economic loss due to the infringement as well as legal and all reasonable and related fees to the cases in question. Coolpads CEO had claimed earlier that his company held over 10,000 patents that have allegedly been stolen. He now intends to recover the losses from said infringement by suing infringing companies. According to ITHome, the cases have been accepted, but are yet to be heard in a court. tech2 News Staff HMD Global's Nokia 9 is expected to be the next flagship smartphone after the Nokia 8, which launched in 2017. The smartphone is expected to be launched during the annual Mobile World Congress 2018 event. New leaks suggest that the smartphone will come with a dual camera setup. The company last launched was the Nokia 2, which arrived in November 2017. Images from a smartphone case manufacturer show that the Nokia 9 features a dual camera which lies aligned vertically on the rear side of the smartphone. The images of the Nokia 9, spotted by AndroidHeadlines, shows the fingerprint sensor placed below the dual-camera on the rear side of the smartphone. An LED flash sits beside the camera on the smartphone. Another cut-out for a sensor placed beside the camera might be a heart rate monitor or some other sensor. The Nokia 9 images show a 18:9 aspect ratio display with curved edges. The report mentions that the smartphone is expected to come with a display similar to the Samsung's Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 with slightly bigger bezels at the bottom and top of the display. Previous reports suggest that Nokia will launch a smartphone with a penta-lens camera. The company's Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas recently tweeted an apology for the company's 'radio silence' and also mentioned that we can expect MCW 2018 to be awesome. MCW 2018 will start from 26 February in Barcelona, Spain. The Nokia 9 was also spotted on the FCC website and it's expected to be launched with a 5.5-inch OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and at least 4 GB of RAM. According to the listing, the Nokia 9 will come with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and 128 GB of high-speed UFS 2.1-compliant storage. The dual-camera setup on the smartphone is expected to include a 12 MP and 13 MP sensor. The front is expected to be a 5 MP sensor. It is expected to be powered by a 3,250 mAh battery and comes with a fast-charging option. tech2 News Staff Chinese consumer electronic company Meizu is planning to celebrate 15 years in the industry by launching an anniversary flagship phone. The expected flagship smartphone is the Meizu M15 Plus and its renders have been leaked online. According to a report on GizmoChina the Meizu M15 Plus has received design inputs from the company's president Jeffery Wang. The images, shared by a Chinese tipster going by the name of Ubuntu Team on Weibo, show the smartphone with a round fingerprint at the bottom centre of the device. The Meizu M15 Plus comes with curved edges on both the front and rear part of the device. It has a vertically placed dual camera on the rear side with a round flash just below the dual camera setup on the device. The front part of the device has a camera placed on the top centre of the device. This brings up a doubt about the aspect ratio of the as the camera is placed at the top centre of the display. A taller 18:9 display may not fit. The power button is on the right side of the smartphone and the volume rockers are on the left. The final design of the smartphone might change as the leaked images are renders of the smartphone. Other specification of the smartphone are also not known yet. A huge blast rocked Kabul on Saturday in the latest apparent attack in the Afghan capital Kabul: A huge blast rocked a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, leaving at least 18 people wounded, an official said, in the latest apparent attack in the Afghan capital. "So far 18 wounded civilians have been brought to Kabul hospitals," health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told AFP. AFP reporters heard a loud explosion that shook the windows of their compound, and photos shared on social media purportedly of the blast showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the sky. The explosion happened in a crowded part of the city where the interior ministry, the European Union and the High Peace Council have offices. Kabul police headquarters is also in the vicinity of the blast. "I can confirm an explosion happened near the old interior ministry building in Kabul," interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP. The explosion comes exactly a week after Taliban militants stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, the majority foreigners. A security alert issued to foreigners on Saturday morning warned that the Islamic State group, which has terrorised the city in recent months, was planning "to conduct aggressive attacks" on supermarkets, shops and hotels frequented by foreigners. The foster parents of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert in Dallas, on Friday relinquished custody and parental rights to their biological child. Houston: The foster parents of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert in Dallas, on Friday relinquished custody and parental rights to their biological child. In a custody hearing on Friday morning, Wesley and Sini Mathews stood in shackles before a judge and agreed to relinquish their parental rights an irrevocable decision, Dallas News reported. Sherin went missing on 7 October and her body was found on 22 October 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 7 October 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. US president Donald Trump said on Saturday that US-backed coalition forces had won back almost 100 percent of territory occupied by the Islamic State. Davos: US president Donald Trump said on Saturday 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 Islamic State 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 Islamic State, had assisted in target observation prior to the strike. Kurdish ground forces have played a critical role in defeating Islamic State. On Wednesday, Islamic State 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. Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for harsher European sanctions against Venezuela and urged the South American country's trading partners to follow suit Paris: French president Emmanuel Macron on Friday 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 on Friday 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 30 April 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. The BBC reported on Friday that six of its highest-paid male broadcasters have agreed to take pay cuts after revelations of a gender divide in salaries. London: The BBC reported on Friday that six of its highest-paid male broadcasters have agreed to take pay cuts after revelations of a gender divide in salaries. The BBC said in a statement that the public service broadcaster was "very grateful" to Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson, and Jeremy Vine for agreeing to reduce their salaries. "These are great journalists and presenters, who have a real connection with the audience. We are proud to have them working at the BBC," the broadcaster said. Details of the voluntary salary cuts were not announced. The BBC was embarrassed last year when a list of top earners showed that two-thirds of the best-paid workers were men. Many men also were also found to be receiving much larger salaries than women in comparable jobs. The BBC's China editor, Carrie Gracie, quit this month to protest what she called a failure to address the pay gap. Gracie did not appear on the list of BBC staff members earning at least 150,000 pounds ($2,14,000) a year. Humphrys, 74, a popular host of the influential Radio 4 morning news program, said the wage cut was his idea. "I've been at the BBC for an awfully long time and I've been paid very well and I'm not exactly on the breadline," he said. Harvey Weinstein has been sued by his former Indian-American personal assistant who has alleged that she was subjected to sexual exploitation Washington: Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been sued by his former Indian-American personal assistant who has alleged that she was subjected to sexual exploitation and a "sexually hostile" work environment while working for him. Sandeep Rehal, who was Weinstein's personal assistant for two years from 2013 to 2015, has sought trial by jury in an 11-page lawsuit. For over two years Rehal was "forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile" work environment at Weinstein's company and "defined by endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss," alleges a lawsuit filed in the Southern District Court of New York on 25 January. A day later, on Friday, the court issued summons to Weinstein and his company to respond to the charges within 21 days. The 65-year-old film producer has been facing a number of other sexual allegations, many of whom have been widely reported in the US media including in the New York Times. The lawsuit alleged that Rehal "had to pick up Harvey Weinstein's used Caverject shots, which he tossed on the floor in his office, hotel rooms and his apartment". She also had to "pick up his used condom, and clean up rooms" and semen off his couch, before housekeeping personnel would do their work, the lawsuit charges. "Rehal was required to be involved in and aware of the preparations for, and clean up after, Harvey Weinstein's extremely prolific sexual encounters," it alleged. "Throughout her employment with Defendants Rehal was required, as a condition of her employment, to work with Harvey Weinstein when he was naked. On an almost weekly basis, she was required to take dictation of emails from him while he was naked," the lawsuit alleged. Weinstein subjected Rehal to "unwelcome touching", the lawsuit alleges. Almost every time she accompanied Weinstein in his chauffeured Lexus SUV, he made her sit in the back with him and touched her thigh. "After Rehal started wearing pants instead of skirts, Harvey Weinstein would rub between her thighs. When Rehal sat cross-legged in an attempt to prevent him from being able to touch her thigh, Harvey Weinstein would touch the back of her legs and butt," the lawsuit alleged. "Among Rehal's responsibilities was to maintain Harvey Weinstein's list of contacts with a special asterisk that identified Harvey Weinstein's 'girls', his many sexual partners," the lawsuit said, adding that Weinstein also ordered Rehal to obtain and set up an apartment close to the office for him to "use with one of his sexual liaisons," and purchase lingerie for the woman in that apartment as well as gifts for other women. Weinstein, who is already facing similar investigations by police in New York and Los Angeles, has denied the latest allegations. Weinstein "categorically denies these claims," said his spokeswoman Holly Baird. She said Weinstein's lawyers "will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue". The lawsuit also names his brother Bob Weinstein and their human resources head, Frank Gill, along with their company. Rehal said she had no choice but to leave the job that she needed to support herself. "As a result of the hostile work environment caused by sexual harassment, Rehal has suffered, and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem," the complaint said. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their attacks in Kabul since 2016, turning the city of some five million people into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians Kabul: Taliban militants detonated a bomb hidden inside an ambulance in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others, officials said. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their attacks in Kabul since 2016, turning the city of some five million people into one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians. Here are some of the key moments in the security of the Afghan capital over the last two years. First Islamic State attack After carrying out multiple attacks across Afghanistan, IS claimed its first assault in Kabul in July 2016 as twin explosions ripped through crowds of Shiite ethnic Hazaras, killing at least 85 people and wounding more than 400. Since then IS has escalated its presence in the city, claiming nearly 20 attacks across Kabul in the past 18 months, and establishing cells including students, professors and shopkeepers evading Afghan and US security forces. The group's attack on Hazaras was the deadliest in Kabul in 2016, which brought new levels of carnage even to a city already grimly accustomed to atrocities. Other attacks included a truck bomb and ensuing firefight that killed at least 64 people and wounded some 350 others on 19 April, a week after the start of the Taliban's "spring offensive". And Taliban militants launched an assault on the Kabul offices of CARE International, part of a wave of bombings in the city on 5 September that left at least 41 people dead and dozens wounded. The truck bomb A massive truck bomb on 31 May, 2017 killed more than 150 people and wounded hundreds in the city's fortified diplomatic quarter, the deadliest attack in Kabul since the US invasion began in late 2001. The bomb, which no group has claimed responsibility for, prompted authorities to develop a new plan to expand their ring of steel around the city and impose tight restrictions on large vehicles. But the time-consuming checks result in hundreds of trucks waiting hours before they can proceed, and officials are forced to acknowledge that with more than a hundred ways into Kabul it is impossible to control all the entrances. Their point is proven just months later, when a suicide bomber on foot evades checkpoints to reach the "Green Zone" and blow himself up, killing at least five people and wounding dozens. Saturday's attack was another chilling demonstration of the militants' ability to evade security and penetrate the heart of the city. Bloody end to 2017 The truck bomb was not the only notable Kabul attack of 2017. Among many smaller assaults which killed dozens of people were an attack on Afghanistan's largest military hospital in March which officially left at least 50 people dead, though security sources and survivors say the toll exceeded 100. Minority Shiites increasingly became targets as Sunni IS stepped up their assaults, with dozens killed in multiple attacks. The deadliest in which some 40 people were killed and dozens wounded was one of three assaults claimed by the West Asian jihadist group in December alone. The parliament, the Supreme Court, and security installations, as well as foreign forces in Kabul, also came under attack in 2017, with civilians paying a disproportionate price. US President Donald Trump also announced his new strategy for Afghanistan in 2017, vowing in August that troops would stay there indefinitely. The Taliban responded with a wave of attacks across the country. No end in sight Just four days into 2018 another suicide blast rocked Kabul, in an Islamic State-claimed attack which killed at least 13 people. Then the Taliban stormed the landmark Intercontinental Hotel in a complex assault in which witnesses told AFP the gunmen went from room to room targeting foreigners for nearly 12 hours before being killed by Afghan security forces. Despite heightened threats in Kabul, visitors to the hotel described lax security ahead of the attack, which began late on 20 January. It was the start of another bloody week across the country, with an IS attack on a Save the Children compound in eastern Jalalabad city killing at least five people and forcing the charity to suspend operations. More security alerts were issued in Kabul early Saturday, warning of attacks targeting places frequented by foreigners. Twenty minutes before Saturday's blast an AFP reporter saw police checking ambulances several hundred metres from the scene of the explosion. Ambulances ubiquitous at the site of the dozens of attacks that rock Kabul each year are rarely checked in the city. Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday gave the Sindh police a three-day deadline to arrest a former police superintendent who has been on the run. Islamabad: Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday gave the Sindh police a three-day deadline to arrest a former police superintendent who has been on the run after being removed from his post for the extra-judicial killing of a budding model, according to a media report. Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar and another policeman were suspended after an uproar on the social media as friends and relatives of Naqeebullah Mehsud, 27, who hailed from North Waziristan, disputed the claims that he was a commander of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dawn reported. The committee found that Mehsud had a shop in Sohrab Goth area in North Waziristan and was looking for a career in modelling and acting. Mehsud and three militants were gunned down by a raiding party led by Anwar on 13 January on the outskirts of Karachi with the police claiming that they were all TTP members. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh AD Khawaja told the court that after the FIR was lodged against Anwar, the police had traced his location to Islamabad. However, the IG was unable to tell the Chief Justice the current whereabouts of the former SSP. Khawaja claimed that the police had "tried their best" to arrest Anwar but had so far been unable to do so. On being asked when the police would be able to arrest and produce Anwar in court, Khawaja remained silent. Mehsud's father, who had also appeared in court, expressed his lack of trust in Sindh police and asked the court to form a judicial commission to investigate his son's extra-judicial killing. However, the CJP assured him that the court trusted the Sindh police and urged him to allow the joint investigation team and the police to continue with their investigation. The three-member police committee, investigating the encounter under AIG Sanaullah Abbasi, submitted its report in the court on Saturday saying that the incident "appears to be a coordinated fake encounter". The report said that Mehsud was picked up from a tea hotel on Abul Hassan Isfahani Road along with two friends, Hazrat Ali and Qasim. The three friends were kept in illegal confinement and subjected to torture, and while Ali and Qasim were later released, Mehsud was killed in a staged encounter. The report said that no evidence of Mehsud being a terrorist or a criminal was found and the report presented by Rao Anwar on the deceased's activities was actually of a different person who goes by the same name. It noted that though the former SSP Malir claimed to have conducted the tainted Mehsud 'encounter' on intelligence reports, no evidence was available to corroborate this claim. The report also said that while Rao claimed he was not present when the encounter happened, call records show he was at the site of the encounter when it happened. It confirmed that the former SSP tried to escape abroad and did not cooperate with the committee, which amounts to misconduct and obstructing the process of justice. The report revealed that 444 people were killed in encounters conducted under Rao Anwar, who was appointed in Malir four years ago. It also found that "there is extreme fear prevailing among witnesses who are fearful of their security" and as a result "afraid to cooperate during inquiries and investigations against police." Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority had also been summoned and were ordered by the CJP to submit a report in the next hearing on whether the former SSP had flown out of the country on a private plane. "The chief justice has told us that he has directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to take a certificate from all private (airline) operators that Anwar has not left the country. The interior ministry has also been told to confirm the same," Khawaja said. An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Saturday remanded six policemen into police custody for five days in connection with Mehsud case. Sub-inspector (SI) Yaseen, Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Supurd Hussain, ASI Allahyar and others were among those remanded in connection with the 'encounter'. SP (Investigation) Abid Qaimkhani said that the accused have "accepted" their crimes during an initial investigation. Mehsud's family negated Anwar's claims regarding his involvement with the TTP and said that the deceased was, in fact, a shop owner fond of modelling. Following protests from the deceased's family and friends, the Sindh police chief had ordered an inquiry into the matter and asked a committee to submit a report Czechs were set to pick their new president on Saturday, in a face-off between pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman and liberal pro-European rival Jiri Drahos in a vote that promises to go down to the wire Czechs were set to pick their new president on Saturday, in a face-off between pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman and liberal pro-European rival Jiri Drahos on the last day of a vote that promises to go down to the wire. Bookmakers have given veteran populist Zeman the edge, but recent polls have shown the two candidates neck and neck. About 10 percent of voters in the EU and NATO member state remained undecided. "This is a showdown between two completely different candidates representing two parts of a rather split society," political analyst Tomas Lebeda told AFP, pointing to deep division on immigration and Czech foreign policy. Voting in Prague, Zeman slammed political novice Drahos, dubbing him a rival "who hasn't dealt with politics yet", while the latter hailed the social "energy" generated by the elections and vowed it would "not be wasted, whatever the outcome". Known for his pro-Chinese and anti-Muslim stance, Zeman took pole position in a field of nine candidates in the first round on 12 and 13 January, garnering 38.56 percent of the vote against 26.60 percent for Drahos. Voting at a Prague school, Blanka Kotenova told AFP the election was all about decency, freedom, "being in the EU, and if possible, working in the EU, not just complaining". Another Prague voter Lubos Horcic told AFP he was backing Drahos because "he will work to reconcile society and not divide it like Comrade Zeman", adding that Drahos was "moving towards Europe and the West and not towards the East". But fellow voter Daniel Hajek said he would choose the experienced Milos Zeman because "he's opening the door to economic cooperation" with countries like Russia and China. "It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe we can't go in just one direction," he told AFP in Prague. Europe's fifth biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the Eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4 percent this year. The run-off vote comes amid a wider political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis is fighting police charges of European Union subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has only received 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Zeman once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organised invasion" of Europe, claiming Muslims were "impossible to integrate". Billboards across the Czech Republic sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: "Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!" Zeman has also repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Running under the slogan 'Decency is a strength', Drahos, a 68-year-old former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences and a professor of chemical engineering, could not be more different. A mild-mannered centrist whom critics have branded "wishy-washy", Drahos wants Prague to play a "more active role" in the EU and backs joining the Eurozone. He is also a critic of the refugee quota system, but insists the Czech Republic is strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. This earned him scorn in pro-Zeman media and on social networks. Drahos has denied allegations of paedophilia and having been a communist police agent, suggesting the accusations were a smear campaign by Russian intelligence with links to Zeman. The Constitution allows the president to name the prime minister and government, central bank board members, judges and university professors, and to sign bills passed by parliament into laws. Voter turnout stood at 50 percent at the close of voting on Friday, according to Czech TV. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said he pities Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for being in the storm of international criticism over her handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said he pities Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for being in the storm of international criticism over her handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis. Duterte said he told Suu Kyi to ignore the human right activists, describing them as a "noisy bunch". The two met in New Delhi this week at a summit of Southeast Asian leaders on the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. Duterte was speaking at a meeting of the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled persecution by Myanmar's military and attacks by Buddhist mobs into Bangladesh. US and UN officials have described Myanmar's actions as "ethnic cleansing", while Suu Kyi, once regarded as a democracy icon, has been assailed as ineffective. Stung by international criticism and accusations of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, Suu Kyi had said in November last year that Rohingya who can prove they were residents of Myanmar would be accepted back. It came after a United Nations General Assembly committee called on Myanmar to end military operations that have "led to the systematic violation and abuse of human rights" of Rohingya. The move revived a UN resolution that was dropped last year due to Myanmar's progress on human rights. With inputs from agencies 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 Colombo: 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 on Friday. 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. The Trump administration on Friday said it will punish 21 people and nine companies with sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. Washington: The Trump administration on Friday said it will punish 21 people and nine companies with sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. Eleven of the individuals are Ukrainian pro-Russian separatists, the Treasury Department said. They hold titles such as minister of finance, trade, justice and security in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine. The United States is also targeting several Russian officials, including Andrey Cherezov, a deputy energy minister in Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. Cherezov is already under EU sanctions for his role in transferring turbines to Crimea. The turbines were sold to Russia by German electricity giant Siemens for use on Russian territory. Several companies involved in building infrastructure in Crimea are also being targeted by the latest sanctions. Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 is not recognized by the United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has insisted that US sanctions on Russia related to Crimea will remain in place indefinitely as long as Moscow refuses to withdraw from the territory. "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," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, referring to a 2015 peace agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus, that has never been fully implemented. Russia's government reacted to the sanctions by calling them "senseless" and arguing that previous sanctions have failed to produce results for Washington. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the US actions would lead to financial losses for American businesses and that the United States was demonstrating "to the whole world their own helplessness." "If US authorities prefer to break economic and other ties with it is their right just as we reserve the right to respond," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The new US sanctions came as Tillerson met Friday with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko in Davos, Switzerland. Google Files Go that was launched back in December last year has now received a significant update bringing features like open files in other apps, SD card support and more. Files Go app basically lets you free up storage on your phone that is occupied by junk files. The first addition with the new update is support for SD cards. Google says that since many users use SD cards to back up necessary files and data, with one tap, you can now see and filter the files stored on your SD card. Another addition to the Google Files Go is the inclusion of tablet support allowing you to manage storage or transfer files between your small and big screen Android devices without using any data. Google further added open files in other apps feature which lets you customize which apps open your data with the new Open with flow. This will allow wider controls on different file formats including PDF files. This will further let you filter the files to save the space. The update has just started rolling out, so might be a while before it reaches everyone. You can download the Google Files Go app from PlayStore here. Source At first glance, 2017 was a mediocre year for initial public offerings (IPOs). While it's true the number of public offerings with market capitalizations greater than $50 million increased 52% from the prior year (160), that was mostly due to a particularly poor 2016. Excluding the prior year, 2012 is the last year with fewer IPOs. And as my colleague Rich Duprey noted, four of the five biggest IPOs last year bombed once they hit the public markets. Most notably, Snap Inc., the highest-profile offering in 2017, has continued to struggle amid slowing user growth. Still, there were reasons for investors to consider last year's IPO market a success: The Renaissance U.S. IPO Index rose 36% during the year, higher than the S&P 500's return of 22% as smaller offerings stepped in to make up for their large counterpart's stumbles. In 2017, a little-known retail company stole the show, with the stock up about 150% from its IPO price to its closing price at the end of the year. Can it continue? Who would have thought coats would be so profitable? Canada Goose (NYSE: GOOS) has had an amazing post-IPO run. Shares of the luxury coat maker have been on a tear since their March IPO. The company filed a dual listing on the NYSE and Toronto Stock Exchange, which was priced at $12.78 ($17 Canadian). Since its IPO, shares of Canada Goose have advanced about 150%, trading hands at the time of this writing at $32 per share. Through the first six months of fiscal year 2018 (the months of April-September 2017), Canada Goose expanded its top line by 40% over the prior-year period. Because Canada Goose's product, coats, are heavily affected by seasonality, the second and third quarters of its fiscal year are particularly important as they comprise nearly 80% of the company's annual revenue haul. In the recently reported second quarter, the company grew revenue by 35% (including currency effects) and EPS by 75% over the prior-year period. Direct-to-consumer is a strong driver of returns Canada Goose has room for growth. When it filed for its IPO, the company disclosed its brand awareness was only 16% in the United States, as compared to 76% in Canada, which portends more sales as American consumers become more familiar with the company. Although brand recognition is increasing, it's likely to still have further room for growth as Canada Goose relies more on word-of-mouth advertising than on splashy, nationwide campaigns. The second driver for Canada Goose is the company's push to increase sales from its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel. In fact, a major reason for the IPO was to secure cash to grow the direct-to-consumer channel, most notably building out the company's single-brand "flagship" stores. Canada Goose appeared to be working on both brand recognition and DTC growth by building a store in Boston and a store in Chicago, to complement its existing New York location. On one front, Canada Goose is succeeding: Revenue attributable to DTC increased by 322% year-over-year through the first two quarters of fiscal year 2018. During this time the company expanded gross margins by 4 percentage points, to 50.4%, as higher-margin direct-to-consumer revenue is growing faster than wholesale. Watch the U.S. closely One small concern for Canada Goose is the relative underperformance in the United States. Although the company is spending significant money to build new flagships (currently, three of its seven stores are in the U.S) and increase brand awareness in the country, year-over-year sales only increased 21% in the country. Although it's prudent to note both new U.S. locations opened after the reporting period and Canada Goose does not report revenue attributable to DTC versus wholesale on a geographical basis, it's odd to see underperformance -- whether DTC or wholesale -- occur in a market of emphasis. Investors should pay attention not just to total growth, but also to geographical distribution as this richly valued company (trailing P/E of 114) will need to continue to grow at a rapid pace. 10 stocks we like better than Snap Inc.When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Snap Inc. wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of January 2, 2018 Jamal Carnette, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump touted the recent economic growth in the U.S. and the new record highs on Wall Street. Former economic adviser to President Obama, Austan Goolsbee, on Friday said the Obama should be credited for the booming economy and also criticized companies for not paying employees more than what had been promised from the tax cuts. When Barack Obama took office, the GDP was shrinking at a minus 8.9% annual rate we were losing 850,000 jobs a month. When Barack Obama leaves and Donald Trump takes over, Donald Trump inherits the lowest unemployment rate of an incoming president in a half century, he told FOX Business David Asman on After the Bell. Goolsbee said that the only thing Trump deserves credit for is not messing up the bullish economy that was given to him by Obama. The growth rate of the recovery was about 2.2% under Barack Obama, which is under 3%. The growth rate in 2017 was 2.3%. So there has been an increase, but it was 0.1%, he said. Trump believes that the lowered corporate tax rates would spark businesses to invest more and create new jobs, but didnt anticipate companies giving out bonuses. After the passing of the bill, more than 100 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) and Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) have decided to give employees bonuses and hike wages. House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) described the bonuses that companies were giving their employees as crumbs. Goolsbee explained that he thinks Pelosis comment was pointed at the companies not giving more than what they had initially promised. The one thing that I would highlight here however, is this bill cost about $2 trillion and what were seeing with these bonuses is that the firms are passing on less than 4% of what they got in tax cuts to their workers and that was pledged to us that it was going to be 50%, he said. Goolsbee concluded by saying in addition to companies paying people less than what they promised, they are also laying people off. Billionaire investor Jeff Greene on Friday reacted to President Trumps speech in Davos and how he would have changed the GOP tax plan. The interesting thing that I noticed from this visit of the president and his cabinet members is they seem to be playing like an orchestra now. They were all saying the same thing, so none of us were really surprised to hear what he said because we sort of heard it from his cabinet members throughout the last few days, he told FOX Business Liz Claman on Countdown to the Closing Bell. During his speech, Trump boasted about the bullish U.S. economy and has in the past credited the recently passed tax bill for the economic upturn. The corporate tax rate now stands at 21%, down from 35%, while the top individual rate dropped from 39.6% to 37%. Though Greene agrees with lowering the corporate tax rate, the billionaire investor was still critical of dropping of the individual rate. As a Democrat I would have probably done a little different tax plan. I probably wouldnt have cut the maximum tax rate from 39.6% to 37%, instead I would have maybe done an earned income credit so you could get some higher wages to people who need it the most. As an investor and a developer and a business person, the economy certainly will benefit from having lower corporate rates. It will help the job creation. It will help in a lot of different ways, he said. Greene said a cap on the state and local tax deduction will encourage more boomers to move out of high-tax states. When you are writing off that 13% surcharge and now its costing you 13% and after that 6.5%, it makes the decision that much easier. I feel that it is going to push a lot of high net worth individuals who are actually big taxpayers in these high taxed states to move to the states without income taxes like Florida, he said. Some of the biggest critics of the tax plan were lawmakers from New York, New Jersey and other states with high tax rates. Though the Republican-controlled House and Senate were able to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the 12 Republicans that didnt vote for the tax plan were all from high taxed states. I read a statistic recently that said that 76% of all private equity goes to New York, Massachusetts and California, the highest taxed states, so I dont know if its actually going to strike fear in those governors. I think that in those states, they are focusing on building great human and fiscal infrastructure, which attracts businesses, he said. 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. A bakery in North Carolina says theyre trying to educate Americas youth on whats okay and not okay to eat by making a doughnut that looks nearly-identical to a Tide laundry detergent pod. Wake N Bake Donuts in Carolina Beach, N.C., shared an Instagram photo of the treat earlier this week, which bears a striking resemblance to the single-load detergent packs that have become the subject of a popular, and very dangerous, internet trend. The bakerys Instagram post, which accompanies a picture of the doughnut, says the idea was spawned by one of their Millennial employees to help people figure out whats actually okay to eat. One of our Millennial employees (Caitlin) decided to take a moment to teach they youth the difference between what to eat and what not to eat, the post said. This is a Donut....you can eat this! Tide is for laundry silly. The recent internet trend, known as the Tide Pod Challenge, has people sharing videos of themselves eating the pods, which are not meant for human consumption and dangerous to eat. YOUTUBE BANS TIDE POD CHALLENGE VIDEOS Wake N Bakes owner, Danny Tangredi told WECT-TV that he didnt think we would make a Tide pod donut. But I also didnt think people would eat Tide pods. The creation has gained mixed reviews on the businesss social media page. Some users loved the concept: I love this!!!! EPIC! Thanks for this!!!!!!!, one wrote. Another said, that is a Tide Pod that I would eat. But others werent so keen on the idea, noting the dangers of the real challenge. this is the stupidest thing they could bakesomething that an image thats killing people!!!, one person wrote. MISSOURI DOUGHNUT SHOPS TIDE POD CHALLENGE TREAT GOES VIRAL Another doughnut shop, Missouri-based Hurts Donut, had the same idea, telling customers on Facebook that they hoped to clear up any confusion about the difference between the two. I thought this might clear up any confusion there might have been but now adults are throwing donuts in the washer, the post said with a split photo of the laundry pods marked NO and the sweet treat marked YES. The American Association of Poison Control Centers warned of a spike in teenagers eating the laundry product, which it says can cause seizures, respiratory arrest and even death. Poison control centers said that they handled 39 cases of intentional misuse among 13 to 19 year olds in the first 15 days of the year, compared to about 50 for all of last year. The maker of Tide Pods, Procter & Gamble, said it's working with social media companies to remove videos of people biting into the detergent. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 teenager with terminal cancer fulfilled his dying wish on Sunday and married his high school sweetheart after the local community rallied together to put together the special day. Dustin Snyder, 19, of Valrico, Fla., who has been battling a rare cancer called synovial sarcoma since he was 18, married his girlfriend Sierra Siverio on Sunday. The ceremony at Big Red Barn in Plant City was organized within days after donations poured in from people nationwide, FOX13 reported. [All I want to do is say] 'I do' and [be] forever in love with Sierra and [be] with her for the rest of, as long as I have, Snyder said. Snyder and Siverio first met in middle school and reunited in high school. Snyder was diagnosed with cancer a day before his 18th birthday. He was initially told he was cancer-free following surgery and chemotherapy, but just three weeks ago he experienced pain and was rushed to the hospital, where he was told the cancer had returned. TEENS EATING MORE TIDE PODS THAN EVER, DESPITE EFFORTS TO STOP TREND Snyder was given just weeks to live, according to FOX13. "The only treatment for this is removal and they cant remove this," Cassandra Fondahn, Snyders mother, told FOX 13. Its been a rough road. Siverio stayed by Snyders side through his sickness. After my first surgery when she was there for me in the hospital for 10 days straight, didnt ever leave. Thats when I knew she was the one, Snyder said. That means everything to me, Siverio told FOX 13. I'm going to be there for him no matter what and I'm really excited for this opportunity. People donated everything from the rings to the wedding gown and venue. FLU TAKES ALABAMA BRIDE-TO-BE ON WEEK AFTER DIAGNOSIS LifePath Hospice worked to get the flowers and bridesmaids dresses, along with someone to provide drinks and a bar service.A GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for the couples wedding. By Sunday, the campaign almost reach its $40,000 goal, with $39,567. I cant believe the amount of people that have reached out to help, Fondahn previously told WTSP. Its a lot of good and compassionate people. Siverio said she and Dustin would be together no matter what, forever, in both of our hearts. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jonathan Goldsmith, aka Dos Equis original Most Interesting Man in the World, knows a thing or two about pouring a drink. The actor and philanthropist is now the new face of Astral Tequila, and he chatted exclusively with Fox News about his favorite aspects of being the world's "Most Interesting Man," as well as his go-to drink and his private, off-screen life. Here's a few of the more "interesting" things Goldsmith shared. He's a big proponent of Astral Tequila. "[It] was a natural fit, having worked in the spirits world, says Goldsmith, who is actually a partner with Davos Brands, which includes Astral. He further believes that Astral's handcrafted method of producing the tequila results in a uniquely excellent 92-proof. NEW ZEALANDERS BUILT TINY ISLAND TO AVOID ALCOHOL BAN FOR NEW YEAR'S He says the company's controversial Columbus Day ad was misunderstood. The company's Columbus Day-themed ad called itself a "reenactment" of the holiday. In it, Goldsmith attempts to meet up with an Indian woman across the bar, but bumps into a woman who appears to be Native American on the way. That is, pretty much, how it happened, the actor says at the end. The ad was deemed racially insensitive by sone, but Goldsmith tells Fox News it was supposed to be tongue in cheek, " but quickly became a "misunderstood situation," for which ad agency Erich & Kallman has since apologized. He doesn't spend all of his time in the back of a bar. I loves the quiet of being outdoors, in nature, Goldsmith says, like looking into the woods of my backyard in Vermont. FORMER PORN STAR BECOMES FACE OF CHAMPAGNE HOUSE, PROMPTS LAWSUIT FROM FOUNDERS DESCENDANT He's been the president of Vermont's Make-a-Wish Foundation, and once visited Camp David. I most enjoyed that I was able to bring joy and good to the world for people of all ages something we need more of. I was able to serve as President of Make-A-Wish for Vermont, give commencement speeches at local prep schools, I also spoke at Harvard twice, Goldsmith said, adding that he never felt any pressure when serving as the inagural "Most Interesting Man" for Dos Equis. Another favorite memory is visiting Camp David with President Barack Obama, he said. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS He doesn't always drink beer. He actually prefers "A tequila martini, with olives but no vermouth." He could teach a class on being more interesting. The most common question that I got through my years as 'The Most Interesting Man' was 'How I can be more interesting?' [But] to be interesting, you have to be interested, Goldsmith mused. Get away from computer screens, be active in your own life, and participate in the parade of life. You only get one trip, one shot, and its a one-way ticket. Make it count. Hope Hicks has a habit of turning heads and she proved it once again at the World Economic Forum on Friday. The White House communications director stepped out in a stunning pair of taupe suede, thigh-high Stuart Weitzman boots, priced at $798, and a navy blue wrap dress. HOW TO GET MEGHAN MARKLES MESSY BUN She rounded out the ensemble with some pearl earrings and a beige coat, which she took off during President Trumps speech Friday. Twitter users quickly noticed Hicks look, with some chiding the 29-year-old for the outfit and others praising Trumps closest aide. TEAM USA'S OLYMPIC UNIFORMS WILL HAVE BUILT-IN 'HEATING SYSTEMS Looking like a pro, tweeted one person. Shes trying her hardest to nudge Melania aside, another joked. Hicks has been known to draw stares with her duds in the past. Last year, she donned a form-fitting tuxedo and matching bow tie at a Japanese state dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Hope steals the show, a Twitter user wrote at the time. Wow impressive suit ..gorgeous. -With Post wires This story originally appeared in the New York Post. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Liberal billionaire George Soros grabbed headlines at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday by attacking internet giants Google and Facebook. Conveniently ignoring his own investment in these companies, Soros branded them a menace to society. They deliberately engineer addiction to the services they provide, Soros said. This can be very harmful, particularly for adolescents. There is a similarity between internet platforms and gambling companies. Casinos have developed techniques to hook gamblers to the point where they gamble away all their money, even money they dont have. Something very harmful and maybe irreversible is happening to human attention in the digital age. Not just distraction or addiction: social media companies are inducing people to give up their autonomy. Well, Soros would know about gambling: after all, he made his billions, by gambling in the casino of the financial markets. It worked out great for him, turning him into a fabulously wealthy plutocrat afforded the platform to pontificate pompously to his fellow elitists at Davos, and to indulge his personal political predilections by throwing his money at liberal causes. But lets remember: its money he made off the backs of the poor and the working class. Soros gambling happens to have wrecked the lives of millions of working people, not least in the United Kingdom, where his manipulation of the currency markets in the early 1990s caused a deep recession and untold misery for millions. Of course, whatever the hypocrisy, many will agree with Soros characterization of the threat from Big Tech. But it was when he turned his attention to the Trump administration that he really went off the rails. Soros claimed that President Trump is attempting to turn America into a mafia state, and really amping up the hyperventilation (was it the mountain air?) he argued that not only the survival of open society but the survival of our entire civilization is at stake. The rise of leadership such as Kim Jong Un in North Korea and Donald Trump in the United States have much to do with this. In this one absurdly overblown sentence, the ludicrous hysteria of the Trump-hating elite is revealed. What on Earth is Soros talking about? So far, the key characteristics of the Trump presidency are substantial progress on the economic front tax reform and deregulation, leading to faster growth, more jobs and higher incomes. Combine this with implacable resistance from the media, the left-leaning courts and most of the establishment. Hardly the end of civilization. It is particularly upsetting to me personally to see Soros, a fellow Hungarian, make these over- the-top-claims, given our shared history. My father was a contemporary of Soros in Hungary, where both experienced an actual assault on the open society in the form of Soviet-backed communism. Both my parents (and my stepfather), like Soros, fled Hungary to escape it. Soros simply makes a fool of himself when he describes the democratically elected U.S. president in the terms he used. He knows what real oppression looks like. He should know better. But, like the rest of the Trump-hating elite, he cant control his snooty impulses and cant accept the real, tangible improvements that the Trump presidency is already making in the real lives of working Americans, who have suffered decades of economic insecurity as a direct result of the elitist policies that Soros personally supports. Another prominent Trump-hater with apocalyptic warnings about the future of our democracy David Frum, author of the new book Trumpocracy will be joining me this Sunday night on The Next Revolution at 9 p.m. EST on FNC. Hope you can join us Im sure it will be a lively debate! NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Special Counsel Robert Mueller wants to interview President Trump. We know that is true because the areas of inquiry that Mueller is interested in have been leaked. But the questions Mueller is looking at are not about the issue the special counsel was supposed to examine: collusion with Russians to fix the 2016 presidential election. Rather, the Washington Post reports that Mueller is seeking to question President Trump in the coming weeks about his decisions to oust national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James B. Comey, according to two people familiar with his plans. The two acts, according to the Post, are related to efforts by the president or others to hamper the special counsels probe. How can that be? Flynn had nothing to do with the special counsels probe. And firing the head of the FBI does not thwart what all the people under him are doing. So what is the alleged illegality here that could possibly hamper or obstruct the investigation? It is beside the point at this time that there is no such crime as colluding. It is beside the point at this time that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was so negligent in his drafting the appointment of Mueller that he did not limit the investigation in either scope or time. By agreeing to be interviewed by Mueller, Mr. President, you are agreeing to be questioned about exercising your executive authority in areas having nothing to do with any illegality or even collusion. Rosensteins omission resulted in Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Trump presidential campaign, being indicted for alleged financial crimes occurring years before he worked for Donald Trump. These alleged crimes have nothing to do with Russian collusion. It is not beside the point that a prosecutor wants to interview the president of the United States about conduct that is not only legal, but actually involves the execution of presidential authority. Two men have already fallen into Muellers trap. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to making statements inconsistent with tapped and taped conversations with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. But Flynns entire conversation was legal, or his statements would have been part of the charges against him. One might ask why the FBI, having the entire transcript of a conversation that contained nothing illegal, even questioned Flynn at all. This was the legal equivalent of the FBI showing up to ask you what you had for breakfast theres nothing illegal about eating breakfast. If you do not want to admit you had a glazed donut and reply yogurt, the prosecutor can charge you with making a false statement to the FBI. George Papadopoulos, an adviser to the Trump presidential campaign, pleaded guilty to providing false statements about the timing of his contacts with certain Russians. But the contacts were legal no matter when they occurred or they, too, would have been part of the charges against him. The caveat is not limited to a prosecutors questioning a person about legal conduct. There is also the danger of two people differing in their statements about an event and the prosecutor without any other evidence supporting one side or the other indicting one of them. Couldnt happen, you say? But it did. Vice President Dick Cheneys chief of staff, Scooter Libby (my longtime friend and sometime client), told the FBI he had not told then-New York Times reporter Judith Miller that Valerie Plame was a covert CIA agent something prohibited under federal law. Miller remembered it differently when she was interviewed by the FBI and so testified at trial. There was no other evidence to support Miller. Libby was charged and convicted of making a false statement. Later, Miller read Plames autobiography Fair Game and realized that she had been misled by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, a close personal friend of Comey, who had appointed him to the position. As a result, her testimony about Libby made no sense she wrote in her book The Story: A Reporters Journey. Millers recantation was ignored by the media. Equally appalling and reminiscent of todays brouhaha over Russian collusion, there was no crime involving Libby. Comey knew when he appointed Fitzgerald that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was the first person to discuss Plames CIA relationship when he disclosed it to columnist Robert Novak in 2003. Armitage admitted this in 2006. If that investigation had been kosher, Armitage would have been indicted. Case over. Plame worked for the CIA but she was not covert as defined in the law that I personally drafted. Perhaps the reason for focusing the investigation on Libby and not Armitage was the fact that Fitzgerald repeatedly told Libbys lawyers that unless Libby deliver(ed) someone higher up the vice president he would be indicted. Heres my advice to President Trump: By agreeing to be interviewed by Mueller, Mr. President, you are agreeing to be questioned about exercising your executive authority in areas having nothing to do with any illegality or even collusion. In agreeing to this you may recall that an event occurred on Monday and Comey may recall it occurred on Tuesday. A la Papdoupoulos, only the timing is off. Guess which one of you Mueller will indict? 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. President Donald Trumps legal team has been studying a 1990s federal court ruling that could be the basis for delaying, limiting or avoiding an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to people familiar the matter. Mr. Trump this week told reporters he was looking forward to speaking to the special counsels office, which has already interviewed more than 20 members of his White House staff. I would love to do it, and I would like to do it as soon as possible, the president said. Yet he also said that any decision about testifying before prosecutors looking into possible obstruction of justice on his part would be subject to my lawyers, whose interest is to spare Mr. Trump any legal jeopardy. Mr. Muellers investigation is looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow during the campaign and whether the president obstructed justice when he fired former FBI Director James Comey, who initiated the probe. Mr. Trump has denied both accusations, and Russia has said it didnt meddle in the campaign. Granting Mr. Mueller an interview poses legal risks that some people close to the president find unacceptable. The 1997 case potentially gives Mr. Trump some leverage. In that case, a federal appeals court ruled that presidents and their closest advisers enjoy protections against having to disclose information about their decision-making process or official actions. The court ruled that prosecutors hoping to overcome arguments of executive and presidential privilege must show that such information contains important evidence that isnt available elsewhere. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. A former Democratic Party chairman and prosecutor in Missouri was convicted of wire fraud Friday after admitting he exploited campaign funds for personal use, such as trips to California's wine country and Las Vegas. The Kansas City Star reported that Mike Sanders pleaded guilty to the federal corruption charge, along with his aide and chief of staff, Calvin Williford, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge at a separate hearing that same day. Williford also testified that the pair had a scheme involving a printing company that would create phone invoices and distribute the money to Williford and other workers on Sanders campaigns to bypass the Missouri Ethics Commission. Sanders admitted to converting roughly $62,000 in campaign funds for personal use through a kickback scheme using an old high school friend named Steve Hill. Hill told the Star in December that Sanders delivered checks to him for campaign work that he never performed, and would keep 10 percent while Sanders pocketed the rest for what he said was political purposes. Authorities later found that not to be the complete story, according to the paper. For example, in one instance Sanders used $4,550 in kickback money he obtained from Hill in 2012 to pay his federal taxes from 2010, the paper reported. Sanders, who served as the chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party from 2010 to 2013, cut off the checks in late 2013 after Hill told him the FBI was investigating, the paper reported. He also worked as a Jackson County prosecutor starting in 2002, prior to becoming county executive in 2007. Williford and two other unidentified conspirators were also tied to the kickback scheme. Both Williford and Sanders, who were released on signature bonds pending sentencing, could face up to five years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000, according to the paper. Click here for more from the Kansas City Star. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke says she's optimistic about Congress embracing the Trump administrations immigration-reform proposal, which she thinks meets the countrys border-security needs, while acknowledging the agency's challenge of having to find the right mix of manpower, a border wall and technology. Im absolutely optimistic, Duke told Fox News on Friday. It (ends) the search for what this country needs. I think everybody is going to rally around it. Among congressional lawmakers to immediately back the administration's framework plan was Trump supporter and Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton. The president's framework is generous and humane, while also being responsible, Cotton said after details of the plan were made public Thursday. Still, the plan faces an uphill challenge on Capitol Hill, where some Democrats and Republicans are pushing their own preferred legislation. On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump expressed his doubts about whether Democrats were interested in border security at all. "Democrats are not interested in Border Safety & Security or in the funding and rebuilding of our Military. They are only interested in Obstruction!" the president tweeted. Last week, Congress effectively shut down the federal government for three days after failed to pass a stopgap spending bill tied to Democrats' demands to extend protections for young illegal immigrants. In a compromise with Democrats that on Monday ended the shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., vowed to vote on an immigration bill so long as the government remains open, which effectively meant through Feb. 8, when the recently-passed spending bill expires. The administrations draft plan largely follows its firmly held four-pillar platform that calls for: enhanced border security; protecting immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children; stopping immigrants from bringing parents or other extended-family members into the country; and ending a lottery-based program that promotes diversity by allowing immigrants into the U.S. from underrepresented countries. In addition, the plan, which is scheduled to officially be unveiled Monday, calls for a $25 billion trust fund to pay for a U.S.-Mexico border-wall system and a path to citizenship for roughly 1.8 million illegal immigrants. That number is beyond the estimated 700,000 young illegal immigrants who could be deported now that Trump is scheduled to officially end in March the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program that has so far protected them. The plan also calls for money to hire new immigration enforcement officers -- including Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys, immigration judges and prosecutors -- amid complaints about insufficient manpower to protect borders and enforce immigration law. Duke also acknowledged Friday that the Homeland Security Departments final input for the administration plan was the result of competing demands, which included the calls for more personnel, Trumps campaign promise for a southern border wall and advanced technology, like drone surveillance over remote crossings. We look at what (the government) needs operationally, she said. Then we go through a series of alternatives, tradeoffs, between the three (demands) to try to determine the right mix. But its definitely a process. She spoke a few days after her boss, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, was on Capitol Hill to talk with Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, the top Democrat on the Senate homeland security committee, and others about immigration and border policy. Among the competing proposals is a bipartisan Senate bill limited to improving border security and extending DACA protections, which supporters like Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin say is the most that can be done on such a short deadline. Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Wednesday that the notion of passing a comprehensive immigration reform plan by Feb. 8 is unrealistic. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says the administrations framework plan finally acknowledged that the young illegal immigrants, known as DREAMers, should be allowed to stay to in the U.S. and become citizen, but is also tears apart the countrys legal immigration system and serves as a wish list for anti-immigration hardliners. The President has finally put pen to paper to show us where he stands on immigration, Schumer also said in a tweet. Unfortunately, this plan flies in the face of what most Americans believe. The plan, which was reportedly crafted with the help of White House policy adviser and immigration hawk Stephen Miller, was also criticized by conservatives including the influential Washington group Heritage Action, which called the plan a non-starter and suggested the proposed paths to citizenship were tantamount to amnesty. The plans biggest challenge could come in the Republican-controlled House, where the chambers conservative wing has enough power and votes to perhaps block its passage. Im not for blanket amnesty. And I dont think many people in the House are, Florida GOP Rep. Ted Yoho, told Fox News Americas News Headquarters, on Saturday. Yoho also suggested he prefers separating immigration legislation and the upcoming spending bill to avoid another shutdown. And he likes a bill by Republican Reps. Bob Goodlatte, Virginia, and Raul Labrador, Idaho, that makes border security a priority. If not, people are going to rush our borders, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump is expected to take something of a victory lap Tuesday when he makes his first State of the Union address, where officials say he will hail a roaring American economy and promote policies for building a safe, strong, and proud America. A senior administration official who briefed reporters Friday said that the address would be bipartisan, optimistic and forward-looking, and will cover at least five topics: jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade and national security. The speech will attempt to show that the American people had every right to be optimistic when Trump took office last year. Officials hope that it will allow Trump to communicate unfiltered to Americans about why his policies are part of a common-sense agenda. The State of the Union is about where we are and where we are going [as a country], the official said. The speech comes at the end of a tumultuous first year for Trump, but one that has seen some victories as of late. Among these is a strong economy boosted by a tax cut signed into law by Trump in December. That cut has also seen a host of companies give significant bonuses to their employees, and that is before many workers will see tax cuts take effect in February. His remarks will come shortly after a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he declared America open for business and hailed the economic achievements of his first year. "There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States," he said Friday. "America is open for business and we are competitive once again. In his remarks on Tuesday, Trump is expected to push a peace through strength philosophy when it comes to the military, outlining efforts to fight terrorism and deal with North Korea. He is also expected to call for immigration reform and a $1 trillion infrastructure package. But in the face of what the administration has decried as biased media coverage, officials said that the president will talk about his accomplishments for the year. They said it may well surprise some people to hear how much has been accomplished. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., a member of one of Americas most prominent political families, is taking the national stage to give the Democratic response to the speech. Fox News' Jennifer Bowman contributed to this report. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., a member of one of Americas most prominent political families, took the national stage to give the Democratic response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union address Tuesday night. Speaking from a high school auto shop in Fall River, Mass., Kennedy slammed bullies in his response to Trump. Bullies may land a punch. They might leave a mark. But they have never, not once, in the history of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future, Kennedy said. He also slammed the administration for targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Jan. 25 that Kennedy would give the rebuttal. In a statement, Pelosi called Kennedy a relentless fighter for working Americans. Ahead of his remarks, Kennedy, 37, said he was honored to have been chosen to deliver the speech. Here's what you need to know about Kennedy and his rebuttal. Who is he? Kennedy is the son of Joe Kennedy II, a six-term Massachusetts congressman. Hes also the grandson of Sen. Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and his two great uncles are former President John F. Kennedy and former Sen. Edward Ted Kennedy. (Its worth noting that in 1982, Sen. Edward Kennedy, along with other Democrats at the time, gave a pre-recorded response to former President Ronald Reagans State of the Union message). Kennedy, currently serving his third term, was born and raised in Massachusetts. Hes a graduate of Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in management science and engineering, according to his biography. He later attended Harvard Law School, graduating with a J.D. He and his wife, Lauren, a health policy expert, met during a class that Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., taught at Harvard. The couple has two children together: a young daughter named Eleanor and a son, James, who was born in December 2017. The young family lives with their dog, Banjo, in Newton. What about his career? Before entering politics, Kennedy served in the Peace Corps and then as an assistant district attorney in eastern Massachusetts, where he worked for Michael OKeefe, an old-school rough-around-the-collar Republican, Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College, a school outside of Boston, told Fox News. Its an interesting part of his career -- thats really where he got his start, he added. In 2012, Kennedy ran for a seat in Massachusetts' fourth district after Barney Frank, a longtime Democratic congressman, announced his retirement. Franks retirement was unexpected, said Ubertaccio. But for Kennedy, the timing served as the perfect way for him to enter politics the way he wanted. He understands what it means to be a Kennedy. But he doesnt rest on that name. He works hard to develop his [personal] reputation." Peter Ubertaccio As a representative, Kennedy has focused on educational access, health care and has continued the conversation around STEM and STEM training, Ubertaccio said. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. Kennedy is also a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, where hes focused on issues like mental health, addiction and energy costs, among other things. In the past, he was a co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The representative has also advocated for LGBTQ equality, voting rights and civil rights. He understands what it means to be a Kennedy. But he doesnt rest on that name. He works hard to develop his [personal] reputation, Ubertaccio said. What does giving the rebuttal mean for Kennedy's career? Kennedy has a good reputation in his home state, said Ubertaccio. Hes developed a reputation for himself in Massachusetts as thoughtful and conscientious," he said. And while Kennedy can be passionate and aggressive on issues that he deeply cares about, the Massachusetts representative has worked in a bipartisan fashion which is still expected in the state despite its liberal reputation. But the rising political star has largely lacked national recognition up until now. Indeed, aside from introducing Sen. Warren at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, giving the rebuttal at the State of the Union is arguably one of Kennedys most significant political moves to-date, said Ubertaccio. The national recognition will benefit him. If he wants to move up politically, this opportunity raises his profile, he added. And giving the response does not just benefit the representative, Ubertaccio added. It also could be an advantage for the Democratic Party. In a time when the Democratic Party is struggling with its image, its a smart political move to give a young leader the rebuttal, he said. Hes done an excellent job in Congress and is well regarded by those across the [political] aisle. President Trump is telling leaders of African nations, gathered in Ethiopia this weekend for summit, that he deeply respects their people and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit in March -- following derogatory remarks about the region purportedly made by the president. Trump contacted the leaders in a letter dated Thursday that also states Tillerson, the United States top diplomat, will make an extended visit to the continent. The comment attributed to Trump was made earlier this month during a White House meeting with congressional leaders about reforming U.S. immigration law, particularly a federal program that promotes diversity among the countrys immigrant population. The president has denied that he used the derogatory language, purportedly comparing Haiti and African nations to a dirty toilet. Some who were in the room with Trump say he did not make the remarks while others disagree. In the days that followed, U.S. diplomats scrambled to address the fallout from the comments. Many in Africa were taken aback, especially considering the Trump administration has paid little attention to the continent throughout the first year in power. Trump's letter, seen by The Associated Press and confirmed by two U.S. officials, says the U.S. "profoundly respects" the partnerships and values shared by the U.S. and Africans and that the president's commitment to strong relationships with African nations is "firm." The letter offers Trump's "deepest compliments" to the African leaders as they gather. It notes that U.S. soldiers are "fighting side by side" against extremism on the continent and that the U.S. is working to increase "free, fair and reciprocal trade" with African countries and partnering to "safeguard legal immigration." The letter gives no details on Tillerson's upcoming visit. On Friday, Trump met with Rwanda's president and new African Union chair Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum, calling Kagame a "friend." The 55-nation, African Union summit this weekend is being held in the Ethiopia capital of Addis Ababa. Leader attending are expected to respond to the purported comments. An AU spokeswoman has said the organization was "frankly alarmed" by the purported comments, and a number of African nations have spoken out or summoned U.S. diplomats to explain. The Associated Press contributed to this report. How did it get so late so soon? -- Dr. Seuss The temporal calendar may read January 26. But the fiscal almanacs in Washington practically read February 8. What caused this ripple in the space-time continuum? The fact is that the government is funded only through February 8 and theres no failsafe to avoid a second government shutdown. On Monday night, after voting to end recent shutdown, lawmakers practically ran down a subway platform like an ebullient Philadelphia Eagles fan who just saw his team punch a ticket to the Super Bowl. If they dont do something soon, lawmakers could abruptly crash blindly into a subway pillar just like the Eagles partisan. The House hadnt even voted yet to re-open the government late Monday when House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., warned colleagues of what lurked around the corner. We have 10-and-one-half days before we have another crisis in funding our government, he said on the House floor. Hoyer was referred to what lawmakers consider legislative days where Congress meets to conduct business. But it doesnt matter how you measure it. Calendar days. Legislative days. Heating degree days in meteorology. Theres not much track between now and when government funding runs dry again. We need to learn the lessons of what happened here, House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said during a short debate about the interim spending bill on the floor. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy. R-Calif., predicted: It will not happen again. The House voted moments later to flip on the federal lights again. Members then dashed for the exits, not to return to Washington until this coming Monday night. Ryan flew to Spain and the Middle East with a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers. McCarthy and others jetted off to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Senate hung around a few more days this week, then buzzed out of town around 2 p.m. Thursday. The House and Senate will meet Monday and Tuesday next week and hear President Trumps State of the Union address. Then Republicans will board buses at the crack of dawn Wednesday for their legislative issues retreat in rural West Virginia. Everyone returns to work the week after that -- just before government funding expires again. This is the type of scenario that prompted a series of shutdowns in the fall and winter of 1995 and 1996. It was an epic standoff between President Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. The sides tussled over health care reimbursements as well as education and environmental spending. They thought they were close to a pact after the initial shutdown. In fact, Clinton and Gingrich had a more concrete accord to find a solution by the time funding ran out the second time than the nod that re-opened the government this week. One of the biggest disputes in the Clinton-Gingrich imbroglio was if they should use budget numbers from the administrations Office of Management and Budget or the legislatures Congressional Budget Office. Congressional Republicans adored the CBO back then. Not so much today. Consider how GOPers regularly malign the office over health care projections. But thats another story. Its not a stretch to see how 2018 could be a repeat of the contretemps of the mid-1990s. When the shutdowns hit nearly 23 years ago, the National Zoo was closed but Congress was in session. During the 2018 weekend shutdown, the zoo and Congress were both open -- although some may struggle to observe the distinction. So how do the sides fund the government and forge a border security/DACA package in such a short period? Were going to be in an interesting week ahead, mused Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., part of the 22-member, bipartisan Senate working group searching for consensus on immigration and DACA, the Obama-era executive order that protects immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children and that President Trump is ending. Its outgrowing my office, said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who hosts the convocations in a suite of rooms in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. But the sides are torn as to what to expect from Trump to help break the impasse. If the president wants to be constructive, stay out of it and let the Senate be the Senate, Coons suggested. The less he tweets and jerks the wheel of the bus back and forth, then we have a chance. But one of the biggest problems for lawmakers is understanding what policy Trump could support. What (the president) says today is what he says today, sighed one senior GOP congressional aide about Trumps mutating positions. What he says tomorrow is something else. Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, met Tuesday with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen about immigration and border policy. McCaskill told Nielsen about what she needs from the White House. I cant commit to anything until you tell me you have the support in the president, said McCaskill of her request of Nielsen. McCaskill says Nielsen replied I understand what youre saying. On Thursday, key White House staff briefed congressional aides on the specifics of an immigration/DACA border security plan. Close to 700,000 persons have signed up for DACA, formally known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and could apply for legal status. However, the administration has grown the pool of those who could have a pathway to citizenship to 1.8 million people. That includes those who are DACA eligible. In addition, the administration laid out a requirement for Congress to create a $25 billion trust fund to construct a border wall system. Some wanted Trump to stay away. Some wanted specificity. But the details received a mixed message from stakeholders. This isnt an immigration proposal. Its a ransom note, snapped House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-N.Y. Democratic Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez declared: It would be far cheaper to erect a 50-foot concrete statue of a middle finger and point it towards Latin America. The conservative interest group Heritage Action blasted the White Houses plan. Amnesty comes in many forms, said Heritage Actions Michael Needham. If any amnesty negotiations are to take place, they should remain extremely limited in scope so as not to encourage further illegal immigration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., before the recent shutdown, offered Trump in their negotiating session funding for the border wall. But Schumer rescinded his proposal. At the Capitol late Sunday, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short complained that Schumer and Democrats would only commit to a one-year appropriation of money for the border wall. The president couldnt agree to that. Heres the problem: Congress sometimes authorizes programs on a multi-year basis. But a congressional authorization is different from a congressional appropriation. An appropriation is how lawmakers decide to spend the money. The Constitution grants Congress the ultimate authority: the power of the purse. There are a few programs that deal with multi-year outlays. Federal heating assistance follows a complicated formula that stretches beyond a year. The farm bill is a multi-year exercise. Same for the highway bill. Note that a trust fund -- similar to what the administration is seeking for the wall -- is what drives federal highway programs. Otherwise, Trump must rely on the good graces of Congress to provide wall funding. Fine. Then approve all of the money in one year, Short said. One source intimately familiar with the congressional appropriations process mused that lawmakers would be hesitant to do that. Short argues that multi-year funding for the wall is essential for national security. But Congress didnt approve advance funding to beef up national security after 9/11 for more than a year. Lawmakers didnt fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ahead of time. So why does the wall rise above all of those other national security initiatives and deserve different treatment? Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, noted that Republicans were simply not going to do a permanent DACA fix in exchange for one year of wall funding. Cornyn fretted that Democrats may not fund the wall if they flip either the House, Senate or both in this years midterm elections. Any future promise (of wall money) is illusory at best, he said. And so the government is open now. But for how long? Something must give. Or will it? Dr. Seuss was right about time slipping off the clock. Seuss also famously wrote about the North-Going Zax and the South-Going Zax. The two Zax encountered each other in the prairie of Prax. The Zax refused to step aside to let the other pass. The North-Going Zax informed the South-Going Zax he would keep standing here for fifty-nine days! The South-Going Zax upped the ante, declaring he wouldnt budget for fifty-nine years. Neither moved. This is why its so late so soon. Its been a nearly a month since New Years and winter drear has set in for many. If the colds got you feeling blue, take out your calendar, pour a tropical drink and get busy booking a getaway in honor of National Plan for Vacation Day. The inaugural holiday is being organized by the Project: Time Off Coalition in hopes of helping Americans improve their health and happiness. "Vacation has become a casualty of America's culture of busy. Planning is the simplest and most powerful way to use more timeand the advanced notice will make it easier for managers to say yes to requests, the groups senior director Katie Denis said in a press release. THIS 'HARRY POTTER'-THEMED CRUISE WILL COST YOU $36,000 Through 2018, dont join the ranks of the 55% of working Americans who dont use all their earned days off, and contribute to the 662 million vacation days lost each year. For inspiration, check out travel search engine KAYAKs top five trending destinations for 2018, compiled by popularity in over 1.5 billion annual searches. Maui For the first time this year, we saw a US destination not only make our top trending list but actually snagged the number 1 spot- Maui. Increased flight routes and more carriers entering the Hawaiian market are making it much more accessible and affordable to travel to, David Solomito, VP of North America Marketing at KAYAK told Fox News. So, if its been on your bucket list for a while, 2018 will be the year to visit. Barcelona Always the place to be, three cities in Europe won spots in KAYAK's top five locales this year: Barcelona, Amsterdam and Lisbon. Whether you crave a bustling metropolis, architecutre, culture or food, these iconic sites are sure to deliver. ROYAL WEDDING ESTIMATED TO BRING $680 MILLION TO U.K. Amsterdam If you're planning to head to the capital of the Netherlands, Solomito recommends booking six months in advance as the "sweet spot" for the bestdeal. Lisbon While Europe has always been a hotspot for tourists, were really seeing it gain momentum this year as more low cost carriers add routes ultimately driving down the price to travel overseas," he says of trips from the states to Europe. "Median airfare will likely hover just under $700, which is 15% cheaper than the median airfare for summer 2016 and 5% cheaper than last summer." Bali From gorgeous beaches to landscapes and culture, Bali is a great option for the traveler on a budget. "While flights can be pricey, its fairly cheap once you arrive with median hotel rates under $150 every single month of the year except December. For meals you can get away with spending $1 for a plate full of food and even many of the sit down restaurants will only set you back about $15 per person," Solomito notes. "So, if youre looking to take more than just a couple of days, you may want to consider everything Bali has to offer." FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Looks like it's time to get packing, after all. A Florida mayor was removed from office Friday after she was arrested and charged with three felony corruption charges. Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order suspending Joy Cooper, the 57-year-old mayor of Hallandale Beach, a city just north of Miami, after she was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions through former attorney Alan Koslow. Cooper surrender to authorities on Thursday following an undercover FBI investigation. She was charged with money laundering, official misconduct and exceeding campaign contribution limits, the Sun Sentinel reported. FLORIDA LIQUOR STORE WORKER ACCUSED OF TRYING TO STEAL WINNING LOTTERY TICKETS IN UNDERCOVER STING Court documents show that Koslow was given a Dunkin Donuts bag filled with $8,000 in cash by undercover agents August 2012. He allegedly told undercover agents he had influence with the city commission and had the vote of the mayor. Agents reportedly met with Cooper and Koslow several times in 2012 and secretly recorded the meetings. In one such meeting, Cooper was recorded saying she and two other commissioners were a team of three and could ensure a favorable result for their project, the newspaper reported. Additionally, Cooper also allegedly solicited fund for Anthony Sanders, the former commissioner of Hallandale Beach, who resigned from his position August 2017 following allegations of miscounted. The Sun Sentinel reported Sanders was accused of voting to award nearly $1 million to a nonprofit that made monthly payments to his church and family. In addition to the felony charges, Cooper was also charged with soliciting contributions in a government building, a first-degree misdemeanor with a one-year maximum sentence. The felony charges carry maximum prison sentences of five years. Larry Davis, her attorney, said she plans to plead not guilty. Cooper, a Democrat, has been the citys mayor since 2005 and previously served on the city commission beginning in 1999. I can assure you that I will vigorously fight these allegations in court, Cooper said in a prepared statement obtained by the Sun Sentinel. The news outlet reported Cooper emptied her office before turning herself into Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. She was released later that night. FLU OUTBREAK PROMPTS FLORIDA DISTRICT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS FRIDAY Eric Fordin, a developer, told the Sun Sentinel he was shocked by the allegations against Cooper. (She) has always been so aboveboard. I recall her writing a check for $2.45 for a soda at the grand opening of one of our hotels because she could not accept a drink, Fordin said. Fordin said he was never asked or pressured by the mayor or other Hallandale Beach politicians for contributions. Vice Mayor Keith London will take over Coopers duties while she is suspended. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Potential heirs of Charles Manson's remains and estate made emotional appeals Friday at a hearing where a Los Angeles judge looked to determine which California county would decide the case. Jason Freeman, Mansons grandson, said he's been trying for more than 60 days to get control of the cult leaders remains. "I'm here to claim my grandfather, have him cremated, spread his ashes and do the right thing," Freeman said. Also staking a claim to Mansons body and assets was Michael Brunner, who says he is Mansons son. His mother, Mary Brunner, was an early member of the Manson family. Brunners lawyer, Daniel Mortensen, said his client a military veteran would cremate and dispose of the corpse in a dignified way that does not appeal to culty people. Mortensen said Brunner wants to end the circus as quickly as possible. The third challenger was Michael Channels, a longtime a pen pal of Mansons who holds a will naming him executor and sole beneficiary. A fourth man, Matthew Lentz, claimed to have been fathered by Manson during an orgy in Wisconsin, but he has yet to show up in court or file papers. Manson purportedly signed and named Lentz as sole beneficiary in a will filed with the Kern County, Calif., coroner. According to the Los Angeles Times, an attorney representing the Kern County coroner said Manson had told prison guards he had no surviving children and no will. Judge David Cowan ruled that the cases for the cult leaders corpse and estate were to be divided and taken to separate counties. Litigation over the estate which could include royalties to songs he wrote that were recorded by Guns N Roses and the Beach Boy would remain in Los Angeles where Manson lived when he was arrested and convicted in the notorious 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and eight others. Cowan ruled that the case for the remains belonged in either Kings County, where Manson was imprisoned, or Kern County, where he died Nov. 19 at age 83. The Associated Press contributed to this report. It was a journey that lasted decades. A message in a bottle dropped into the ocean by second graders in Scotland turned up in Florida after Hurricane Irma -- more than 30 years after it was sent. The undated note was sealed in a plastic bottle and read: We are learning all about pirates. We would like to see how far this message goes. Please write and tell us where you found the bottle. We are Class 213, Chapelpark School in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. Ruth and Lee Huenniger, of Key Largo, found the bottle while they were out inspecting streets lights in the wake of Hurricane Irma last year. The couple wrote back to Class 213 to say the bottle had been found after a 4,000 mile journey. I thought, Lets see if this gets all the way back to Scotland,' Ruth told Fox affiliate WSVN-TV in Miami. I mean, Id never heard of Forfar. The school, it turned out, no longer exits, but the postman delivered their letter to another elementary school in Forfar which forwarded it to retired Chapelpark teacher Fiona Cargill. We forgot to put a date on the letter, but would you believe it, that bottle was sent on its journey more than 30 years ago, Cargill wrote in a letter back to Huennigers. The pupils who took part in this will now be in their mid-thirties! She added: The staff did an investigation and discovered it was my class. I retired from there just over a year ago and was so, so excited about this wonderful true life story. Cargill told WSVN her class was studying pirates at the time and decided that perhaps pirates would send messages in a bottle so thats what they would do. We just wanted to see how far it would go, Cargill said. She found a class photo that showed her students who sent the message dressed as pirates, WSVN reported. Cargill told the BBC that a student in the class was related to a trawlerman, who dropped the bottle in the North Sea on a fishing trip. Ruth told Fox News on Saturday that it was amazing how things happen. You could say its a small world, she said. What you do today may affect someone many years from now. Fox News reporter Greg Norman contributed to this report. Ever wonder what happens to Mardi Gras beads when the party's over? Since September, New Orleans cleaning crews have vacuumed 93,000 pounds of beads from the city's storm drains, officials said this week. The beads traditionally tossed between balconies and the street during the annual pre-Lent festivities were collected from 15,000 clogged catch basins along just five blocks of the yearly parade route on downtown St. Charles Avenue. The beads were just part of a total 7.2 million pounds of debris that included leaves, mud and sludge, the Times-Picayune reported. Crews working under a $7 million emergency contract used almost two-dozen vacuum trucks over nearly four months to clean just one-fourth of the citys 68,000 catch basins, the paper reported. "This is a staggering number," Dani Galloway, the citys interim director of public works, said Thursday at a news conference. "So we've got to do better. The $22 million mass removal project came in response to last summers heavy flooding across the city. An Aug. 5 storm caused residents to question citys drainage methods after 6 inches of rain led to street flooding that filled up underpasses, Reuters reported. Galloway has called on New Orleans residents to step up in their neighborhoods and help clear the clogged drains. "We need to take better care of our storm drains," Brenda Lomax-Brown, president of the Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood Association, told the Times-Picayune. "It is so important." This year, Mardi Gras will be celebrated Feb. 13. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle will undergo a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. Boyle's is facing a string of charges, including sexual assault, following his release from captivity. Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were taken hostage in 2012 by a Taliban-linked group and freed last year. His lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told an Ontario court Friday that an initial evaluation found his client fit to stand trial. But Greenspon added he would benefit from a fuller assessment at a mental health center. Boyle's next court appearance is scheduled for March 26. He was arrested by Ottawa police late last month. The purported acts allegedly occurred between Oct. 14 and Dec. 30 after Boyle returned to Canada. A publication ban bars reporting information that could identify the alleged victims. President Donald Trump issued a stinging statement on Saturday evening deploring a Taliban-orchestrated suicide car bombing that killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 others in Kabul, Afghanistan. In comments released by the White House, Trump said: "This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners." "The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail," the statement continued. "The United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists who would target Americans, our allies, and anyone who does not share their wicked ideology. Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them." The bombing, which unfolded earlier in the day, was the deadliest insurgent attack in the country so far this year. Wahid Majroh, a spokesman for the public health ministry, said that the toll might still rise, because reports from the hospital show many of the wounded appear to be in critical condition. The attacker used an ambulance filled with explosives to pass through a security checkpoint, telling police he was transporting a patient to a nearby hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry. The attacker then detonated the explosives at a second checkpoint. "The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well," Rahimi said. He said four suspects had been arrested and were being questioned but he didn't elaborate. The bombing sent thick black smoke into the sky from the site near the governments former Interior Ministry building. Also nearby are the European Union and Indian consulates. The powerful explosion was felt throughout the capital. At the scene, dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were also destroyed. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, claimed responsibility for the bombing. It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on various high security targets in the city. Vice President Mike Pence echoed Trump's sentiment, calling the terrorist group "cowardly." "Cowardly Taliban targeted innocent Afghans & brave police in Kabul today," the tweet said. "We, along with our international partners, are there to stop terrorists from exporting their evil terror to the U.S. or our allies. Together with our Afghan partners, we will not allow the Taliban to win!" U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also released a statement condemning the attack. "The Taliban's use of an ambulance as a weapon to target civilians represents inhumane disregard for the people of Afghanistan and all those working to bring peace to the country, and is a violation of the most basic international norms," Tillerson said in a statement. "We commend all the emergency services personnel for their courageous actions in responding to this terrorist attack." Last Saturday, six Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by shimmying down bedsheets from the upper floors. The U.S. State Department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. Afghan security forces have struggled to fight the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014. President Donald Trump has pursued a plan that involves sending thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and envisions shifting away from a "time-based" approach to one that more explicitly links U.S. assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government. Trump's U.N. envoy, Nikki Haley, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that Trump's policy was working and that peace talks between the government and the Taliban are closer than ever before. On Wednesday, ISIS militants stormed the offices of Save the Children in eastern Afghanistan killing four and triggering a standoff with police that lasted almost 10 hours. The Islamic State group was involved in at least 10 fatal attacks in Afghanistan last year. Fox News' Jennifer Bowman and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Spain's top court says that Catalonia's fugitive ex-president must return to the country and be present in the regional parliament to receive the authority to form a new government. The Constitutional Court ruled Saturday that a session of Catalonia's parliament scheduled for Tuesday would be suspended if former leader Carles Puigdemont tries to be re-elected without being physically present in the chamber. The court also said that Puigdemont must seek judicial authorization to attend the session. Catalonia's separatist lawmakers have been considering voting Puigdemont back in as regional chief without him returning from Belgium. The separatist leader fled Spain after the regional parliament made an unsuccessful declaration of independence in October. Spain is investigating Puigdemont for sedition. He is likely to be arrested if he goes back there. The Canadian held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan with his wife and three children is facing a string of new charges including accusations that he carried out a sexual assault with ropes and at least one physical assault with a broomstick following his release from captivity. Joshua Boyle, 34, the husband of 31-year-old American Caitlan Coleman Boyle was arrested earlier this month in Ottawa. The specifics of the accusations have not been released. A court order prevents publication of the name of Boyles alleged victim or identifying information. Boyle and his American wife were on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan in October 2012 when they were kidnapped by extremists linked to the Taliban. Pakistani troops freed them in October and they returned to Canada with their three children who were born while they were being held. Boyle appeared via a video link from a detention center in an Ottawa courtroom where he was slapped with a new set of 19 charges after prosecutors dropped the original charges. One count accuses him of sexual assault with a weaponropes, the CBC reported. Another charges him with one count of assault with a weapona broomstick. The CBC also reported that of the other charges, one accuses Boyle of administering the alleged victim the antidepressant Trazodone. Still another accuses him of misleading police into believing that someone was suicidal to divert suspicion from him. During the conference, the judge ordered Boyle to undergo a comprehensive psychiatric exam. His lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told the court that an initial evaluation found his client fit to stand trial. But Greenspon added he would benefit from a fuller assessment at a mental health center. Boyle's next court appearance is scheduled for March 26. In response to her husbands arrest, Coleman noted the strain and trauma he was forced to endure as a captive in a statement to a Toronto newspaper. Obviously, he is responsible for his own actions, but it is with compassion and forgiveness that I say I hope help and healing can be found for him, she said. As to the rest of us, myself and the children, we are healthy and holding up as well as we can. The Associated Press contributed to this report. French authorities are investigating a rape accusation against the government's budget chief, who denies the allegation. The Paris prosecutor's office said Saturday that an initial investigation was opened last year into an alleged rape by Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin, but the case was closed because the accuser didn't show up for questioning. The prosecutor's office said a new preliminary investigation was launched after the woman filed a lawsuit and she answered investigators' questions this week. The accuser's lawyer says the alleged rape occurred in 2009, when Darmanin was an influential conservative politician. Darmanin contests the claim and has filed a countersuit alleging false denunciation. French police have received more sexual violence and harassment report following the misconduct scandal that emerged from Hollywood last year, but no powerful French figures have lost their jobs. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Turkey's official news agency says a rocket fired from northern Syria has hit a house in the border province of Kilis, injuring two people. The Anadolu news agency said the rocket was launched from the Afrin region Saturday afternoon and targeted the city center. The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, control the enclave in northern Syria. The private Dogan news agency said the rocket did not explode. Turkey began a military operation on Jan. 20 against the YPG, which it deems a terror group. Since then, multiple rocket attacks have killed three people two of them Syrian refugees and wounded more than 20 others. The Turkish military's chief of staff and a deputy prime minister visited the scene of the most recent rocket attack. ___ 11:30 a.m. Syria's main opposition negotiating body said Saturday it will boycott a peace conference in Russia next week, saying it would not lead to a genuine peace track that could end the country's seven-year war. The High Negotiations Committee announced the boycott of the Russia-backed conference in Sochi in a tweet Sunday night after a vote held in Vienna, Austria, where a U.N.-led conference was being held. The two-day conference ended, as in many previous rounds, with accusations hurled back and forth between the two sides in comments to the press. "The (Syrian) regime doesn't believe in a political solution and it will not believe in the future ... it only believes in the military option," Syrian opposition leader Naser al-Hariri said from Vienna on Saturday. Russia has been steering a separate negotiating track in Astana, and now in the Black Sea resort of Sochi where the conference is scheduled to be held on Monday with the participation of some 1,600 representatives of the Syrian government and opposition. Europes populist movement was given a shot in the arm on Saturday when Czech Republic President Milos Zeman, running primarily on an anti-migration platform, fended off a challenge from political neophyte Jiri Drahos. Zeman won 51.4 percent of the vote from the two-day runoff while Drahos won 48.6 percent. Czech Radio reports that Drahos won in most of the main cities, while Zeman scored big with smaller towns and the countryside, with analysts saying Zemans common touch made the difference. Zeman, a former left-wing prime minister who ascended to the presidency in 2013, had been widely criticized for what critics described as Islamophobic rhetoric, and had also raised concerns in Western Europe by taking a distinctly pro-Russian approach on questions such as the annexation of Crimea. Zeman, who has warned of an organized invasion of migrants and asked why young men fleeing their country didnt take up arms and fight back home, had embraced the populist wave that swept through the West in 2016. He was one of very few European leader to endorse President Donald Trumps bid for the White House and by calling for a referendum on the Republics membership of the European Union, has taken a page from the British Brexit vote. Both candidates took tough stances on the migration issue, with Drahos rejecting accusations from Zeman that he was weak on the topic. The Associated Press reports that Zeman's supporters commissioned billboard and newspaper ads that called on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos." "This is our land! Vote Zeman!" said the advertisements. His victory cements the anti-E.U. and anti-migration nature of the Czech government, after the victory in October of billionaire Andrej Babis, whose anti-establishment ANO (Yes) movement won in October after taking a similar approach to migration. Babis party was unable to form a coalition, so it governed as a minority government. But Babis lost a vote of confidence amid fraud charges leveled against him and resigned as prime minister this week. Zeman has asked him to form a new government. Drahos, a former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences who had taken a more pro-E.U. stance, conceded defeat and offered his congratulations to Zeman, while promising supporters: Im not over. The result supported predictions that the populist wave, which surged in 2016 but was thought to have crashed somewhat in 2017, may still be alive and well. Neighbors Poland and Hungary have held firm with a strong anti-E.U. and anti-migration policies and their respective government are likely to welcome Zeman's victory. In the West, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has struggled to form a government and is currently engaged in frantic negotiations with left-wing Social Democrats to cobble together a coalition without having to go back to the polls -- where it is feared the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) could gain more seats. In Italy, voters will go to the polls in March; the populist Five Star Movement is leading the polls -- although it is far from clear if it will have support by itself to form a government. Instead, it may be left to former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconis center-right Forza Italia to attempt to form a coalition -- which would likely include further right-wing and anti-migration parties. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 As President Donald Trump declared that "America First does not mean America alone" at a global economic forum in Switzerland, his top diplomat was on a European trip of his own, trying to convince skeptical allies that the oft-repeated phrase is more than just lip service. Yet a year into Trump's presidency, his administration has demonstrated that "America First" may, indeed, mean "America alone," though it remains unclear if that has helped Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's bargaining position on crucial national security and foreign policy matters. Amid crises in multiple hotspots and before joining Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Tillerson visited London and Paris with a full agenda aimed at defusing not only the issues at hand but also tensions with Washington. His mission was primarily to secure British and French support for tough new measures against Iran that might prevent the U.S. from withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear accord. Along the way, he also accused Russia of responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and chastised Turkey for attacking U.S.-backed Kurd forces there. "As the old saying goes, it's always darkest before the dawn," Tillerson said while wrapping up his European tour in Warsaw on Saturday. "I don't want to say we're at the darkest moment of any of those three areas ... but I think it's why we have given it so much attention and are working hard with partners and allies to put mechanisms in place to begin the very, very hard work of addressing the concerns in all three." Tillerson left London for Paris on Monday cautiously optimistic that progress could be made with the British and the French on crafting a supplemental agreement to the Iran deal that would address what Trump has said are serious flaws. Trump has vowed to pull out if those issues aren't addressed by spring. In London, Tillerson announced the formation of working groups that began meeting this week to look at specific points of concern including Iran's ballistic missile program, sunset provisions that gradually allow Iran to resume some advanced atomic work, Iranian support for Syria's government, Yemen's Houthi rebels and LebaRunon's Hezbollah movement. While Iran will be excluded from those discussions, he said, the working groups would explore "how we might engage the Iranians on discussions to address these issues." On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian questioned why the U.S. was focused on securing the side deal only with the three European nations that are individual participants in the nuclear accord Britain, France and Germany and not the other parties, China and Russia, or the European Union as a bloc. It was in Paris, at the inauguration of a new group dedicated to bringing those who use banned chemical weapons to justice, that Tillerson launched his accusations at Russia. In unusually harsh terms, he accused Moscow of violating the 2013 accord brokered with the U.S. to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stocks and the international treaty that bans such arms. He also said Moscow was ultimately responsible for every chemical weapons attack in Syria since it became militarily involved in the conflict in 2015. Russian officials responded furiously, insisting that the U.S. was inventing new chemical weapons strikes for the purpose of maligning Russia. Still, when Tillerson spoke the next day with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the spat was not mentioned in readouts by either side. On Saturday, Tillerson stood his ground, saying new evidence of recent chemical weapons attacks outside Damascus had emerged since his initial remarks. He also referenced Trump's decision last year to respond to a chemical weapons attack with cruise missile strikes in Syria. "Russia has again failed in their commitment because the chemical weapons are clearly there. They are being used against civilian populations and the most vulnerable children inside Syria," he said. "And I think President Trump was pretty clear the last time he saw this happen inside of Syria." In Paris, Tillerson also encountered Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolu, whose government has highly criticized U.S. support for Kurdish forces in Syria that Ankara considers terrorists. A Turkish military operation against those forces in the northern city of Afrin entered its second week Saturday despite U.S. calls for restraint, and NATO ally Turkey appeared poised to expand its offense to other Kurd-held sites. As other U.S. officials have done, Tillerson recognized that Turkey has legitimate security concerns along its border with Syria. But he also renewed the appeal for restraint. "What we hope is that Turkey is able to satisfy that it has addressed its security concerns on its border, and it can limit the amount of fighting that goes on because clearly there are civilian casualties every time this happened, and we're already seeing those casualties," he said. The world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday as elderly survivors gathered at the former Auschwitz death camp and political leaders warned that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning. On Holocaust Remembrance Day we mourn and grieve the murder of 6 million innocent Jewish men, women and children, and the millions of others who perished in the evil Nazi Genocide, President Trump tweeted Saturday afternoon. We pledge with all of our might and resolve: Never Again! On Friday Trump issued a statement in advance of the commemoration that said that "our nation is indebted to the Holocaust's survivors." Tomorrow marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi death and concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, Trump said. We take this opportunity to recall the Nazis systematic persecution and brutal murder of six million Jewish people. In their death camps and under their inhuman rule, the Nazis also enslaved and killed millions of Slavs, Roma, gays, people with disabilities, priests and religious leaders, and others who courageously opposed their brutal regime. First lady Melania Trump visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Thursday after skipping the trip to Switzerland with her husband for the global economic summit in Davos. The first lady later tweeted that the visit was "a powerful & moving tour that honors the millions of innocent lives lost, and educates us on the tragedies and effects of the holocaust." "My thoughts and prayers are with the people whose lives and families were broken by the horrors of the Holocaust," she said in a statement. "My heart is with you, and we remember." In Warsaw, Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony Saturday at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaw's Jewish community read a prayer and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. "On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil," Tillerson said. "The western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to the assuring the security of all, that this would never happen again," he said. "As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again." His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultra-nationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while in Austria the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is in the government. Both parties have had issues with members making anti-Semitic remarks. Even Poland -- which was occupied and terrorized by Hitler's regime -- was convulsed this week by revelations of a fringe neo-Nazi group that honors Hitler. Other ultranationalist parties that espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem increasingly emboldened as well. In Europe, that support is partially a backlash to the large influx of mostly Muslim migrants that peaked in 2015. Some of those migrants, especially from Arab countries, have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism -- both from native far-right groups and from Arabs -- and Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been the target of German far-right attacks or threats. German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day by addressing the rising anti-Semitism in her weekly Saturday podcast. She said schools, which already teach about the country's Nazi past, will need to work harder at that especially so immigrant students from Arab countries will not "exercise anti-Semitism." She called it "incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security --whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue." Commemorations are set to take place on Saturday after dusk, after the end of the Jewish Sabbath, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, located in southern Poland. The United Nations recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The well-known science writer her 2015 TED talk, What do we do when antibiotics dont work any more? has been viewed more than 1.5 million times spoke at a Farm to Bedside symposium on the challenges of antimicrobial resistance in agriculture and human health. Organized by Fred Hutchs Infectious Disease Sciences Program, it featured a panel of scientists from the Washington State Department of Health, the University of Washington, Washington State University, Seattle Childrens Hospital and Fred Hutch, as well as a lively discussion with an audience that included veterinarians, high school teachers, cheesemakers and infectious disease specialists from across the state. A post-antibiotic world? Resistant microbes dont stay on the farm. They travel via groundwater, wind, on skin, clothing, and tires, and in meat contaminated in slaughterhouses. They cross borders and oceans. For years, McKenna said, the public assumed that however bad resistance became, science would always come up with a new and better drug. But the easy drugs already have been discovered, and pharmaceutical companies are wary of investing in drug development when resistance limits its earnings. Today there is an alarming lack of new antibiotics in the drug development pipeline. In that endless game of leapfrog between drugs and bugs, the bugs are ahead, McKenna said. Today antimicrobial-resistant superbugs kill an estimated 700,000 people around the world, 23,000 of them in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If nothing is done to address the crisis, one study projects that by 2050, resistant pathogens will kill 10 million people a year worldwide or as McKenna put it as many as a large passenger plane crashing every 15 minutes. She also pointed out the less-dramatic effects of a post-antibiotic world, never experienced by those who have been born since the golden age of antibiotics began with the widespread use of penicillin during World War II. Will we begin to fear things we dont fear anymore, she asked, like a scratch that could lead to an amputation? Would you ride a motorcycle? Would you bomb down a ski slope? she asked. Would you let your kid slide into home plate? Those are the things that are threatened by our loss of antibiotics that we dont think about. Fred Hutchs Dr. Steve Pergam, an infectious disease researcher, medical director of infection prevention at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and the convener of Thursdays symposium, said of McKennas talk, I hope her stories scare people so they pay attention to this issue. The threat to cancer patients Cancer researchers understand more than most the threat posed by treatment-resistant infections. Antibiotic resistance has the potential to not only change cancer therapy but to derail many of the tremendous gains that weve made, said Pergam. Many of those gains came from learning how to prevent or contain infections that prey on people with immune systems weakened by cancer or treatment, or both. Fred Hutch has one of the largest groups of infectious disease researchers at any cancer center due to its pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation. Preparing a patient for a transplant means essentially ridding the body of its cancerous immune system and allowing a new one to come in and set up shop. Until the new immune cells take hold, a persons natural defenses against infections are rendered useless. Threats can come from inside and outside the body. Even microbes that would normally be harmless can wreak havoc. Other cancer treatments surgery, radiation and chemotherapy also increase infection risks. Surgical incisions, as well as central lines for delivering chemotherapy, serve as portals for germs to enter the body. Radiation and chemotherapy can break down cells lining the mouth and the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, which ordinarily serve as barriers to germs. And these treatments can weaken the bodys immune system, already burdened by the cancer itself. Penicillin and newer antibiotics as well as anti-fungal drugs and antivirals revolutionized cancer care. The threat that they could lose their livesaving power explains how a cancer center came to convene a panel of experts in antimicrobial resistance. 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. Customers pick food and beverage products at We Life, the first cashierless pop-up store opened by Tencent in Shanghai. (Provided to China Daily) Tencent Holdings Ltd has opened its first cashierless pop-up store in Shanghai, the latest player to delve into what could become a 65 billion yuan (.2 billion) industry by 2020. Named We Life, the 300-square meter shop features the use of WeChat Pay, the proprietary e-wallet of messenger app WeChat, to let shoppers buy items without paying cash, swiping a card, or interacting with a single human being. Customers can enter the store by using a phone to scan a quick response code at the gate, which enables user identification and automatic payment. All products in the store are equipped with radio-frequency identification tags, which use magnetic chips to store information such as price and inventory. Shoppers can also skip long lines for the checkout by scanning these codes. The store, which will be open until Feb 4, showcases Tencent's payment capabilities in the realm of physical retail, said Bai Zhenjie, an executive in charge of retail at WeChat Pay. "Instead of opening our own brick-and-mortar stores, we would like to present such business models to third-party partners and provide them with such capabilities," he said. He added that facial recognition and a credit rating system would be incorporated in future stores. Tencent has joined a bevy of tech firms in China which are racing to popularize unmanned retail, a sector forecast by iResearch to top 65 billion yuan in China in three years. Last month, e-commerce giant JD announced a plan to roll out hundreds of stores that combine facial recognition, QR codes, and RFID to eliminate checkouts and boost data analytics, while Alibaba Group Holding Ltd launched its Tmall Cashierless Supermarket during the fourth World Internet Conference in December. Dozens of startups have also emerged in the past year, launching similar or identical concepts. From BingBox to F5 Future Store, they let users buy snacks and small meals through a touch screen with no humans on the watch. "Cashierless stores are going to be big business in China, as our research showed that Chinese shoppers have exhibited this very strong tendency of doing research online by themselves and self-serving when they make purchases," said Spencer Leung, a consumer analyst at Swiss financial services firm UBS. Zhang Xiaolong, senior vice-president of Tencent, said during a WeChat-themed Open Class last week that the app will make more aggressive strides in offline scenarios this year, a move likely to pit it squarely against Alibaba. "While Alibaba is more into owning everything, from travel agency Fliggy to local restaurant review platform Koubei, Tencent is more into decentralized partnerships," said Wang Xiaofeng, a senior research analyst at market research firm Forrester. kacylee at 27-01-2018 10:55 AM (3 years ago) (f) Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE involved in Operation DEEP PUNCH II have continued to deal decisively with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Sambisa forest and other parts of Northern Borno State with tremendous successes. Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE involved in Operation DEEP PUNCH II have continued to deal decisively with remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating in Sambisa forest and other parts of Northern Borno State with tremendous successes. On Friday 26th January 2018 afternoon, the troops with effective support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had contact with the terrorists while advancing into Sambisa forest. During the encounter and further exploitation, the troops destroyed Boko Haram terrorists equipment, make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), Booby traps, other delaying obstacles and devices. The troops also neutralized 7 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others. In addition, the gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Machine Gun, a Pistol, large quantity of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, a 120mm Mortar Base Plate and a Dane Gun. Similarly, the troops destroyed 11 Boko Haram terrorists Gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, 3 Canter trucks 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 30 Bicycles, Power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop. Unfortunately, 2 soldiers were wounded during the encounter. The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment. Impressed with the unprecedented performance, the Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Major General IM Yusuf, has visited the troops harbour location. He conveyed the Chief of Army Staff's and Theatre Commanders commendations to the troops for the wonderful job of annihilating the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists inside Sambisa forest and encouraged them to sustain the tempo of the offensive until they have eliminated all the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating. The GOC who was flown by Nigerian Air Force, was accompanied by the Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General IM Obot, and had meeting with the various field commanders. The success recorded has buoyed up troops morale who expressed enthusiasm in sustaining onslaught against the terrorists. The people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are requested to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities. They should also look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Nigeria Police Force location. On Friday 26th January 2018 afternoon, the troops with effective support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), had contact with the terrorists while advancing into Sambisa forest.During the encounter and further exploitation, the troops destroyed Boko Haram terrorists equipment, make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), Booby traps, other delaying obstacles and devices.The troops also neutralized 7 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others. In addition, the gallant troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 Machine Gun, a Pistol, large quantity of Anti-Aircraft Gun ammunition, a 120mm Mortar Base Plate and a Dane Gun. Similarly, the troops destroyed 11 Boko Haram terrorists Gun trucks, 12 Hilux vehicles, 3 Canter trucks 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 30 Bicycles, Power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop.Unfortunately, 2 soldiers were wounded during the encounter. The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment.Impressed with the unprecedented performance, the Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, who is also the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Major General IM Yusuf, has visited the troops harbour location. He conveyed the Chief of Army Staff's and Theatre Commanders commendations to the troops for the wonderful job of annihilating the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists inside Sambisa forest and encouraged them to sustain the tempo of the offensive until they have eliminated all the Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hibernating. The GOC who was flown by Nigerian Air Force, was accompanied by the Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General IM Obot, and had meeting with the various field commanders.The success recorded has buoyed up troops morale who expressed enthusiasm in sustaining onslaught against the terrorists.The people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are requested to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities. They should also look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Nigeria Police Force location. Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 27-01-2018 10:55 AM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero Beijing will establish a center this year dedicated to providing services to high-tech companies on intellectual property rights (IPR), officials said. Chen Jining, acting mayor of Beijing, announced the plan in a legislative meeting this week as part of the government's efforts to make the Chinese capital more tech-savvy. The center will offer fast-track services for patent applications to companies in information technology and high-end equipment production, two areas with the highest demand, said Wang Lianjie, a political advisor for Beijing and expert on IPR. Patent applications for unsophisticated inventions and exterior design will usually be processed within three months, Wang said, adding that the center will also fast-track cases involving IPR infringement. Beijing saw 9.5-percent growth in its high-tech industry in the past year, and the municipality's strategic new industries expanded 10.6 percent year on year, according to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. IPR protection centers have been established in cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen to meet the high demand in patent applications and growth in cases involving IPR infringement. China's patent office received nearly 1.34 million applications for invention patents in 2016, up 21.5 percent year on year. Chinese inventors filed more than 40,000 international applications in 2016. China continued to top global trademark applications in 2016, with about 3.7 million trademark applications, up 28.4 percent from 2015. The number of valid trademarks registered in China was nearly 12.4 million by the end of 2016. nametalkam at 27-01-2018 05:42 PM (3 years ago) (m) A professor of veterinary medicine, Ade Ojeniyi, has been conferred with an award, the Knighthood of The Dannebrog Order of the Kingdom of Denmark. A professor of veterinary medicine, Ade Ojeniyi, has been conferred with an award, the Knighthood of The Dannebrog Order of the Kingdom of Denmark. The university don also holds a degree in human medicine. Ojeniyi said on Saturday from Grindsted, Denmark, that the award was given to him by Queen Margrethe 11 of Denmark on January 5. This is one of the highest awards in Denmark. It was established in 1683 by the King of Denmark. I was given the award because of my enormous contribution to health and humanity. The Southern Regional government in Denmark recommended me for it and the Queen granted it, Ojeniyi said. The physician said he introduced a vaccination against cervical cancer in Greenland in 2007. As the Chief Physician and Medical Adviser to the government of Greenland, I introduced the vaccination against cervical cancer in 2007. I made Greenland the first country in the world to start vaccinating girls against cervical cancer, he added. Ojeniyi said he had been a visiting professor at the University of Texas in Houston for 18 years. He said after the September 11, 2001, attack, the university chose him to deliver a lecture on biological weapons and had been working with the university since then. Ojeniyi said he was happy to get the award because it was a victory for Nigeria and Africa. I dedicate the award to the continent of Africa and her people. I am a representative of the continent, which is the origin of mankind, he said. The university don also holds a degree in human medicine.Ojeniyi said on Saturday from Grindsted, Denmark, that the award was given to him by Queen Margrethe 11 of Denmark on January 5.This is one of the highest awards in Denmark. It was established in 1683 by the King of Denmark.I was given the award because of my enormous contribution to health and humanity. The Southern Regional government in Denmark recommended me for it and the Queen granted it, Ojeniyi said.The physician said he introduced a vaccination against cervical cancer in Greenland in 2007.As the Chief Physician and Medical Adviser to the government of Greenland, I introduced the vaccination against cervical cancer in 2007. I made Greenland the first country in the world to start vaccinating girls against cervical cancer, he added.Ojeniyi said he had been a visiting professor at the University of Texas in Houston for 18 years.He said after the September 11, 2001, attack, the university chose him to deliver a lecture on biological weapons and had been working with the university since then.Ojeniyi said he was happy to get the award because it was a victory for Nigeria and Africa.I dedicate the award to the continent of Africa and her people. I am a representative of the continent, which is the origin of mankind, he said. Post Reply I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you Posted: at 27-01-2018 05:42 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Edo Man, Etinosa Allegedly Kills Fellow Nigerian In Russia During Fight Over Money (Photo) bohlah at 27-01-2018 07:06 PM (3 years ago) (m) A Nigerian man has reportedly lost his life during a fight with another Nigerian over money in Russia. A Nigerian man has reportedly lost his life during a fight with another Nigerian over money in Russia. Luck has ran out on a Nigerian man identified as Etinosa from Edo State after he was arrested for allegedly killing a fellow Nigerian in Russia. The sad incident reportedly happened in the morning of yesterday during a fight over money in Moscow. Etinosa reportedly engaged the deceased in a fight, over his refusal to pay him for the cannabis he sold to him. Though Etinosa initially fled after killing the deceased said to be from Imo State, he was later apprehended and taken into custody. Luck has ran out on a Nigerian man identified as Etinosa from Edo State after he was arrested for allegedly killing a fellow Nigerian in Russia.The sad incident reportedly happened in the morning of yesterday during a fight over money in Moscow.Etinosa reportedly engaged the deceased in a fight, over his refusal to pay him for the cannabis he sold to him. Though Etinosa initially fled after killing the deceased said to be from Imo State, he was later apprehended and taken into custody. Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 27-01-2018 07:06 PM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero gogoman at 27-01-2018 07:18 PM (3 years ago) (m) na wa ooooooo Posted: at 27-01-2018 07:18 PM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero na wa ooooooo Reply slimber at 27-01-2018 07:27 PM (3 years ago) (f) Una np dey tire with problem outside the country ...but why must you kill him for how much.i Shake my head in pity..May almighty God forgive you. Posted: at 27-01-2018 07:27 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Una np dey tire with problem outside the country ...but why must you kill him for how much.i Shake my head in pity..May almighty God forgive you. Reply Markeve at 27-01-2018 07:30 PM (3 years ago) (f) what's wrong with naija pple. Posted: at 27-01-2018 07:30 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac what's wrong with naija pple. Reply osarobo62 at 27-01-2018 07:49 PM (3 years ago) (m) the fight wasn't a walk over for him Posted: at 27-01-2018 07:49 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Reply chukkychukky at 27-01-2018 08:03 PM (3 years ago) (m) can u imagine fightin over cannibis u guys are useless Joramentity aka chukkychukky Posted: at 27-01-2018 08:03 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac can u imagine fightin over cannibis u guys are useless Reply xspraise at 27-01-2018 09:39 PM (3 years ago) (m) love of money............ I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 27-01-2018 09:39 PM (3 years ago) | Hero love of money............ Reply kenshin2 at 27-01-2018 10:13 PM (3 years ago) (m) If I say edo people useless una no go believe me, foolani herdsmen better pass them sef... Posted: at 27-01-2018 10:13 PM (3 years ago) | Upcoming If I say edo people useless una no go believe me, foolani herdsmen better pass them sef... Reply WhaleDog at 28-01-2018 12:00 AM (3 years ago) (m) WTF !!! Killed your fellow countryman over some piece of weed!!! U r a piece of shit ,A*#S . Enjoy ur time in dungeons. Spare me Posted: at 28-01-2018 12:00 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac WTF !!! Killed your fellow countryman over some piece of weed!!! U r a piece of shit ,A*#S . Enjoy ur time in dungeons. Reply imaria at 28-01-2018 01:41 AM (3 years ago) (f) Quote from: kenshin2 on 27-01-2018 10:13 PM If I say edo people useless una no go believe me, foolani herdsmen better pass them sef... you are the most foolish person on planet earth idiot tribalism will kill you and your generation Posted: at 28-01-2018 01:41 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac you are the most foolish person on planet earth idiot tribalism will kill you and your generation Reply Choicearoma at 28-01-2018 06:42 AM (3 years ago) (m) Monkey Posted: at 28-01-2018 06:42 AM (3 years ago) | Newbie Monkey Reply Upbendel at 29-01-2018 05:25 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: kenshin2 on 27-01-2018 10:13 PM If I say edo people useless una no go believe me, foolani herdsmen better pass them Do you know the population of Edo state, are you so ignorant of the words you have chosen to use? NOTE: This is self defenses action, he should have paid or resolve it peacefully or plead for time, his picture speak volume............. Well, RIP to the dead Posted: at 29-01-2018 05:25 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming Reply ruthie at 29-01-2018 08:37 AM (3 years ago) (f) this is what u get when you dont think before you act Posted: at 29-01-2018 08:37 AM (3 years ago) | Hero this is what u get when you dont think before you act Reply osarobo62 at 1-04-2019 02:16 AM (2 years ago) (m) Quote from: kenshin2 on 27-01-2018 10:13 PM If I say edo people useless una no go believe me, foolani herdsmen better pass them sef... monkey,....your head go soon land for una village shrine. Posted: at 1-04-2019 02:16 AM (2 years ago) | Hero monkey,....your head go soon land for una village shrine. Reply Housing prices are a little bit of a problem in California.Right now, the average home value in San Francisco is north of $1 million . Of the countrys 100 most expensive zip codes , 77 are in California. The state is decades behind on building enough housing stock to meet demand, and lawmakers are having trouble finding ways to fix it.Its that last component that has Yury Lifshits and Stepan Korshakov intrigued. They have been looking into housing data in San Francisco for about half a year, and quickly found some problems: Government data sets containing information relevant to housing policy are often disconnected, housed in various departments and contain discrepancies on things as fundamental as how many apartment units are in a single building.There were just mistakes because people are in charge of entering the data and they sometimes enter the wrong number, said Lifshits.How, he asks, can regulators and policymakers fix the housing crisis if they cant answer questions about the housing market?Theyve started a company to try to help government do just that. Its called Statecraft, and its enrolled in the Y Combinator startup incubator programs Winter 2018 cohort. For the time being, theyre targeting customers like city and county planning departments, councilmembers, supervisors and their policy advisors.The company has a lot of plans in the future, according to Lifshits, the chief executive officer. But for right now, its focusing on housing, and three topics in particular: reporting, opportunity sites and policy insights.When it comes to policy, Lifshits thinks the people in charge will be able to work more effectively if theyre able to draw insights from multiple data sets at once. For example: A city might require developers to set aside a certain percentage of units in new apartment buildings for low-income residents. But how do developers respond to that? Has the law resulted in a greater percentage of affordable units per building, but fewer affordable units overall due to reduced development activity?It will take different types of data to answer that question.Right now, no one knows which zoning code generates the most property taxes, for example or which zoning code generates the most affordable housing, Lifshits said.Ideally, insights like that would shine a light for policymakers to learn from mistakes, identify successes and pursue the best paths in the future.Data integration, normalization and quality analysis will be a big component of that. For example, if two city departments have a different count for the number of housing units in a building, how can policymakers know which one is right and get an accurate count of units built in a given timeframe?You want to bring together the multiple data sources and then join them by using some universal identifiers for buildings, Lifshits said.Then, the company can figure out which count is accurate eventually, perhaps, they could even set up a user interface for developers to enter that information themselves.He also wants to gather information on the application process, and how long it takes for cities to approve building permits. That way, they could identify what a reasonable benchmark looks like for approval times and begin to look for ways to speed up the process.What that all would mean, for local government employees who deal with these issues, is streamlined reporting. By setting up streamlined processes for gathering data on multiple pieces of the larger housing picture, officials who need to report information to others the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example will be able to do so more quickly.Another service Statecraft will offer is digitizing and publishing zoning maps, which Lifshits said are often confined to PDFs. By putting those maps online, making them interactive and giving users ways to overlay other kinds of data on top of zoning rules, he thinks the average person will be much better able to understand the rules that govern changes in their city.Tied into that work is an effort to build lists of sites available for development a market research tool central to certain kinds of city work. For example, Lifshits said, cities and housing authorities which have money to build affordable housing or transit-oriented development projects must compete with private developers who want to build on the same land.They compete for the same kind of opportunity sites, he said. And at the moment, market rate realtors have the advantage because they have dedicated people to find those sites, and they have an advantage in capital and things like that.The company is in talks with several cities, counties and other organizations at the moment to start working for them, but isnt announcing any clients or pilot projects yet.The companys co-founders are both Russian-born, having moved to the U.S. after studying at universities in their home country. Lifshits has attained American citizenship and lived in the country for more than a decade, working at Yahoo! before going on to lead several companies.Housing is just the first focus area for Lifshits and Korshakov. Theyre also interested in using data to help local government address all kinds of urban problems, from homelessness to tax collection.The purpose of the company is to make cities more efficient, Lifshits said. Chinese ride-sharer Didi Chuxing has opened artificial intelligence labs to develop new transportation ideas, the company announced Friday. The labs are an expansion of DiDi's research network intended to attract top professionals to push the frontiers of smart traffic technology. With a team of over 200 scientists and engineers, DiDi AI Labs will work on natural language processing, computer vision for operational research, deep learning, statistics and other innovative technology. DiDi will make use of technology developed at the labs to improve user experience and efficiency. At DiDi, AI is enabling more convenient commutes, providing higher incomes for tens of millions of drivers and making travel safer for everyone, according to Jean Liu, president of Didi Chuxing. Philadelphias Office of Open Data and Digital Transformation (ODDT) is a relatively new agency, originally formed in May 2016, only a few months after Mayor Jim Kenney took office. This office, which is helmed by Chief Data Officer Tim Wisniewski, is responsible, of course, for the citys work with open data . But it has also been given a larger mission by the citys leadership, one that is both public-facing and internal.Publicly, the office is to redesign the citys website, which Wisniewski described as the biggest front door to government outside of the physical buildings. While internally, the office is to work with the individual departments that make up the local government, helping them find ways to be more effective for constituents. ODDT is a new office thats founded on this idea that we can bring specialized skills and practices from the tech world and the design world, and pair those with dedicated public servants inside government, Wisniewski said, and end up with government services that are easier to find, and understand, and interact with than ever before. This work is taking place while Philadelphia works to find a new CIO. Earlier this month, the city announced that Charles Brennan was out of the position , and that Deputy CIO Mark Wheeler would serve as interim CIO during a national search for a permanent replacement. This, however, will not affect the work being done by the ODDT, which does not report to the CIO but instead reports to the citys chief administrative officer. Wisniewski said the work on the new website , which is in beta and currently handling more than 40 percent of the citys Web traffic, is extensive, due to the sheer number of services the government provides from picking up trash, collecting taxes and putting out fires, to assistance programs for those who struggle to pay their water bills. Its all over the place and its hundreds of different things, Wisniewski said. Weve pored over tens of thousands of pages of content and information on the current website to start to think about what would an ideal online experience with government be. The team decided to build the new iteration of the website alongside continued use of its predecessor so they could collect feedback and have more flexibility to make changes during the process. Their user-centric design efforts are also being aided the PHL Participatory Design Lab , which was specifically built to assist with such work. That program has been made possible by an award from the John S. and James. L. Knight Foundation Knight Cities Challenge. The website, however, is just the portion of this work that the public sees. As the design has coalesced and come into focus, the ODDT has been focused on two types of end-user research: the research conducted with the public and the research conducted among civil servants who help them. The office has worked diligently to make sure they identify pain points for both groups that their work can help rectify. Officials with the office currently expect the website to launch mid-year. More information about the the work the ODDT is involved in can be found here and here Just this past week I moderated a webinar on the topic of using a computer program to do staff scheduling. Anyone who has a 24/7/365 multi-shift workforce would benefit from moving from a paper-based, labor intensive system to one using a program specifically designed to solve your staffing and scheduling issues. See the link below to watch the webinar.I personally have experience with the software tool from UKG called Telestaff. For four years I served as the director of security for the Port of Tacoma. We had a security force of armed and unarmed officers and three shifts, a control center, roving patrols, and fixed gates that opened and closed at different times due to ship schedules.Our paper-based system was a nightmare. Shift leads spent most of their work time on scheduling issues such as finding officers to fill open staff slots, adjusting schedules for delayed ships or staff calling in sick, etc. Then there were also the work rules that come with a unionized workforce. There was a lack of trust in the system with claims of favoritism to individual officers.My end of the stick was dealing with the high cost of overtime driven by a lack of staff. But proving that with a paper system was not easy.We finally convinced port management that we needed a computerized system to manage staffing. We selected Telestaff as the solution. While there is never a completely perfect solution to every problem, Telestaff was a bit of a godsend in that it automated most of the time-consuming aspects of scheduling and contacting officers. It also provided complete transparency so anyone could see the schedule 24/7 and know when there were openings that they could volunteer to serve in. Just having that helped with reducing overtime.Like any endeavor, success comes based on the time you put into the solution up front. Getting Telestaff set up and staff trained on how to use it were key.You could be a small organization, or like one of the presenters who works in corrections with thousands of employees. Organizations on both ends of the scale can benefit from Telestaff. A special Chinese New Year event entitled "China-Nepal Friendship Spring Festival Show 2018" was held in Nepal's lake city of Pokhara on Friday evening to mark the festivity which falls on February. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal in cooperation with the Overseas Chinese Association Pokhara and Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the celebration gathered over 400 representatives of Chinese enterprises, Chinese students and Chinese people living in Pokhara. This is the first time that such grand Spring Festival event was held outside of the capital city Kathmandu, which staged a special performance by Sichuan Dege Gesaer Cultural Troupe. Pokhara, that lies some 200 km away from Kathmandu, is the second most popular tourism destination of the Himalayan country. Addressing the celebration, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said such events are important to boost the cultural and people-to-people relations between China and Nepal. Referring to the latest development in Sino-Nepal ties, she said China is always ready to work with the Nepali government to enhance China-Nepal cooperation and push forward the bilateral relationship. China is the second largest tourism source country for Nepal. In 2017, out of nearly 1 million foreign tourists visiting Nepal, around 130,000 were Chinese nationals. Nepali officials said that such celebration would promote mutual understanding and friendship between people in China and Nepal. Man Bahadur GC, mayor of Pokhara, said this event would bring people from China and Pokhara closer and would boost the overall relations. He thanked the Chinese government for supporting Pokhara in various sectors such as construction of road, irrigation system, hydropower and international airport which is under construction. On the occasion, Bishwo Palikhe, president of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said cultural exchange is the base of people-to-people relations between two countries. "Today's event is the best example where both Nepali and Chinese people are celebrating the festival together," Palikhe told Xinhua. Besides the performance by the Sichuan troupe, dozens of employees of Chinese companies and Chinese students performed Chinese songs and traditional dances to celebrate the Chinese New Year. "I am very glad to participate in the show that highlights the rich Chinese culture. The cultural events and exchanges are important to strengthen bilateral relations," Rabindra Adhikari, parliament member from Province 4, told Xinhua after the show. Koh Yoo-hwan at Dongguk University said attitudes to North Korea among young people are as hardline as among the conservative elderly. "These attitudes seem to come from North Korea's nuclear tests." A Gallup Korea poll last August showed 62 percent of South Koreans in their 20s saying aid to North Korea must be halted until Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapons program. And only 34 percent felt humanitarian aid to the North must continue. Among those in their 20s, 41.4 percent are in favor, and among 30-somethings 39.6 percent. That contrasts with 57.8 percent in their 40s, 62 percent in their 50s and 67 percent of the over-60s. When it comes to providing aid to North Korea, South Koreans in their 20s and 30s are in fact more opposed than other generations. Only four out of 10 South Koreans believe reunification is necessary, a poll by Seoul National University finds. The poll reveals that people in their 20s and 30s are the most opposed to reunification of any age group. A straw poll by the Chosun Ilbo of 40 people in their 20s and 30s yielded similar results. Asked how they felt about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, not one had a positive opinion. Kim Tae-hoon, a 34-year-old graduate student who is about the same age as the North Korean leader, said, "I've never considered Kim Jong-un to be the leader of his country. I'm lost for words after watching him execute his own uncle and making countless threats to annihilate Seoul. To be honest, he was just born with a silver spoon in his mouth." And Kim Hye-young, a 32-year-old office worker, said, "A leader who murders his own family members and tortures his own people is simply a tyrant." In the old days, when North Korea was ruled by nation founder Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il, young South Koreans held much more charitable views of the two despots. Nam Sung-wook at Korea University said, "Back then, we believed North and South Korea are made up of the same people and that the two Koreas should unite. At that time, some in their 20s and 30s believed Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il were legitimate leaders of their country although they followed different ideologies than us." Kim Jong-un reminds many young South Koreans who are having a tough time finding a job of a spoiled rich kid. Yoon Duk-min, former head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said, "On top of that, they have witnessed Kim's reign of terror, so their negative feelings are quite understandable." But they do not organize protests against Kim Jong-un either. One university student said, "What can the young generation gain from actively criticizing Kim Jong-un? North Korea won't change, so we really don't care." Instead, young people are critical of their own government for being too accommodating to the North. Kim Eun-jae, a 23-year-old university student who supports Moon, said, "I don't think I would be able to tolerate Moon trying to make nice with Kim Jong-un." GREENWICH Like other medical institutions in the country, Greenwich Hospital has been coping with a shortage of nurses, especially ones with special skills such as operating-room nurses. Rey De La Cruz, the hospitals operating room educational specialist, had an idea: Why not start a program to train nurses in-house in Greenwich? The goal was to fill the shortage of skilled operating nurses by hiring from within. The one-year residency program recently graduated its first five operating-room nurses, and it is now accepting applications for its second group of trainees. A few years back, we had a nursing shortage in the operating room. We wanted to hire nurses with experience. ... Sometimes, we had luck, but we could not always fill positions, said De La Cruz, who has a background in education and nursing in Stamford and Houston before coming to Greenwich. Hospitals in the New York metro area can be at a disadvantage in filling certain positions, De La Cruz said. It was difficult were very close to New York City, theres a lot of competition. Nurses in the city are paid more, he said. The Perioperative Nurse Residency Program was started in October 2016. It was open to Greenwich Hospital nurses, and as well as nurses from New York City and Westchester County, N.Y., with one to three years of surgical experience, not necessarily in the operating room. Candidates were evaluated to make certain they were a good fit for the perioperative program, which is a specialty involved with all aspects of surgery. The first class of five nurses went through lectures, video presentations, labs and presentations. They also completed four months of hands-on training in all the surgical specialties at Greenwich Hospital. The students learned procedures for successful pre-operative and post-operative care, as well as operating room techniques. I wanted the residents to have experience in all those areas, said De La Cruz. The students were paired with nurses as part of the training. The nurses who took the residents training will really know how to take care of the patient. The next residency will begin at the end of April. It was very successful. And what better way to hire? said De La Cruz, who holds the designation of a certified nurse, operating room (CNOR). He has also worked as a clinical instructor. It was a happy moment for the students and their chief instructor when the group graduated. It makes me cry when I look at them now, De La Cruz said. GREENWICH A boy in a blue-collared shirt and a black sweater vest took a shaky deep breath. Im Kennet Duran and I am really nervous about this, he said. Before him classmates, teachers and administrators sat in metal folding chairs with watchful eyes, or leaned against bookshelves filled with high school classics. In one classroom on the grounds of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside, this was Windrose, the public school systems new alternative high school program. Launched this year, Windrose aims to end the reputation of the alternative school formerly called Arch as a place for students with discipline problems. The program seeks to rebrand itself through new courses and internships and attract a broader pool of students. Six months in, its leaders are navigating the challenges and success of transformation. Windroses 18 students understand the struggle, perhaps, better than anyone. I dont even know who I am said Duran, a high school senior, gripping the edge of the stern white podium, but Im trying. Duran moved to the U.S. from El Salvador at six years old. A string of subsequent relocations moved his family from Rye to Port Chester to Bridgeport and then Greenwich. School was challenging for Duran, who was still learning English. Difficulties with reading and writing kept him in English as a Second Language classes throughout middle school, despite his efforts to test out. He struggled socially too. When I was little, when I first came to this country, I was bullied for most of my life, Duran said. Even when I was in my country I was still bullied really, I dont know why. At Greenwich High, the problems grew worse. Duran focused on trying to help his girlfriend of three years pass her classes, completely neglecting his own. About halfway through high school, Duran only had five credits out of the 22 needed to graduate. I wasnt going to graduate on time and that was something that I really wanted to do, he said. A sense of direction That moment the chilling realization that graduation might be falling out of reach is when many students found Windrose. In heartfelt Presentation of Learning speeches earlier this month, students talked frankly about the reasons why they were failing high school. Several spoke of moving multiple times in their youth and feeling out of place when their family landed in Greenwich. Others said they spent so much time working that they had no time to get homework done or energy when they got to school. And being home, that was sometimes difficult, too. It is hard to grow up in a family where you are the only one who is not addicted to something, one student said. For many Windrose students, obstacles such as these resulted in chronic absenteeism. Some said they would spend all day in the high school student center munching on pancakes and talking to friends, to avoid going to class. Others would skip school altogether. I just slacked off. I didnt really care about school, said senior Giovanni Roldan. I looked for Ds pretty much. I just passed at the last moment, wait for that last quarter to pass. But then I discovered Windrose. Windroses goal is to re-interest these students in school by connecting their learning to concrete career paths. We did collect some surveys and did some responses from students and staff alike and noticed that one large component that contributed to students not performing the way they would want or they way their families would want really had to do with not feeling a sense of direction and correction, said Brian Keating, Windrose program coordinator. That is definitely what we wanted to incorporate into what we are doing. Windrose offers interdisciplinary courses, like forensics and STEM, unlike its predecessor, Arch. This spring, Windrose students will also start internships at companies and organizations of their choice. Some will shadow at Greenwich Hospital, work with local personal trainers or in retail. Duran, who wants to become a pilot, might find himself at Westchester County Airport. Internships are determined by the students interests. Finding that passion or goal is a focus of the programs social and emotional learning course in addition to time management, organization and emotion regulation. Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Mariscal said she wants to be a cop like her brother. Taylor Richards sees herself as a professional dancer, Yael Valle, a programmer. I still want to prove to people that I am able to achieve higher things, said Roldan, who hopes to join the military. Most Windrose students are working on significant credit recovery in order to get their diplomas. This means that a few hours each day are spent taking online classes so they can complete the courses they need that might not be offered by Windroses six full-time staff members. Some of the students struggle with the online courses, particularly language classes, saying they would prefer to be taught by a real teacher. I cant learn online, said senior Brian Valdovinos. Its horrible. But most students agreed that the smaller environment at Windrose was helping them focus and learn. Several said their grades were going up. This is a great environment for people to be in to catch up on their credits, junior Brian Cebanos said. Several said they can now see themselves moving on to higher education, and even named the schools they plan on applying to. I know I can graduate, said Mariscal. I know I can go to college. This is the beginning When many Windrose students first heard of the program, and its predecessor Arch, they thought it was just for chronic discipline cases. Many of the previous attendees had behavioral issues or run-ins with the law. Unfortunately, at some point, the student body became much more externally acting out and was developing a reputation of being a place where bad kids were sent and bad things were happening, Pupil and Personnel Services Director Mary Forde said last year. It started getting a reputation that we couldnt break. Kids who really needed to be off-campus, who really needed to benefit from some other kind of education, were not going there because of the reputation, and the kids who were going there were just feeding the reputation. That reputation, and the alternative high schools resulting enrollment decline over several years, prompted Greenwich High School administrators to redesign the program last year, creating Windrose. Most of the students who attend Windrose now are there because they had attendance issues and were struggling to get credits to graduate. A few current Windrose students attended Arch previously. Keating said some of the past students with discipline issues have moved out of Greenwich, graduated or joined Greenwich Highs Comprehensive Support Program, which has more mental health staff to support behavioral issues. Keating envisions the new Windrose as more than a program for saving students from failing or dropping out. He wants it to grow to include all kinds of students who want something other than the traditional Greenwich High experience. He wants students to ask to come to Windrose. Our vision is to try to make what we deliver here inspirational and invigorating and experiential, Keating said. There is more work to be done to build that enticing program, however. We have a long way to go to get to what I think the ideal program would look like, said Keating. This is the beginning ... we have just pushed off from the shore and I could foresee having a lot of exciting work ahead. Not all current students are sold on staying at Windrose. Several said they wanted to return to Greenwich High for the remainder of high school. This school is not a good fit for me, said senior Robert Brays. Trying to get a straight answer from administrators here is like pulling teeth. I can get three different answers from three different people and still be more confused when I walked out than when I walked in. Others, though, have embraced the new program that they say has helped them discover their true selves. At first, you just think of it as where the bad kids came to, said Cebanos. But with the choice to return to GHS, he said he has decided to stay the rest of the year at Windrose. I feel comfortable here, he said. Its a nice small group environment. ... Ill become a star student. emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson GREENWICH Budget season is to get under way in earnest Monday night when First Selectman Peter Tesei presents his proposed 2018-19 municipal budget at Town Hall. Tesei is to present his budget 6 p.m., followed by a Board of Education budget presentation and then a public hearing at 7. While the final numbers were not revealed, Tesei said Friday the budget would require a 0.32 percent raise in the mill rate, which is the rate by which town property taxes are assessed. He noted it would be the second year in a row in which the mill rate increase was smaller than the year before. For 2017-18, Tesei proposed a $419.7 million municipal budget, with a mill rate increase of 1.79 percent, which was the lowest increase in 20 years. Ultimately the the Representative Town Meeting approved a final budget of $420 million. This budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year represents a continuation of Greenwichs recognized sound financial and budgeting practices, Tesei said. Notably, it keeps my commitment to maintaining the character of the town of Greenwich and strengthens it as premier place to live, work and raise a family. We have been able to maintain stability and predictability which are attractive qualities for residents and businesses planning for and managing their budgets and finances, he said. The net result of this recommended budget recognizes the impact federal and state taxes have on our taxpayers and with this minimal increase, provides for some relief. Department hearings before the BETs Budget Committee will begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. when the Board of Educations budget will be discussed, followed by a joint discussion with the school board and the Parks and Recreation Department about field usage in town. Careful planning and management and a significant reduction of health care expenses, has the town well positioned entering into the fiscal 19 budget year, said new BET Chair Jill Oberlander. The BET expects to continue its recent approach to support excellent public schools and town services in a fiscally responsible manner. Oberlander, like Tesei, said the BET is mindful of the states ongoing budgetary problems as well as questions at the federal level. State funding for non-profits providing services to residents has been slashed. And Connecticut is one of the states expected to be hit hard by the new cap placed on property tax deductions that was part of the recent federal tax bill. On Friday, Connecticut joined New York and New Jersey in challenging that provision with a lawsuit. Our work will be focused on finding the balance between these concerns, many of which wont be fully known until the future, desired levels of services and infrastructure investments and maintaining a low mill rate, Oberlander said. We expect to focus the dialogue over next years budget on the initiatives and investments that will preserve and enhance Greenwich, maintaining its position as a vibrant residential community with thriving business sectors. The RTM, as always, will have the final say on the budget in May. The bodys Budget Overview Committee will again be keeping a close eye on the upcoming hearings and budget discussions, a role it has embraced with increased vigor in recent years. The BOC remains cautious about Connecticuts economic outlook and the impact to the town budget, BOC Chairman Lucia Jansen said. Fortunately, this years budget will again see significant health care savings due to the remaining town employees joining the state health care plan. Jansen also noted improvement in pension and post employee benefit investment returns, which means the town will be spending less money in those areas. The BOC is eager to see whether the town was able to meet or achieve additional savings described in the unanimously approved BET fiscal year 19 (budget) guidelines, Jansen said. The BOC believes that if these cost savings combined with other additional revenue improvements were incorporated the fiscal year 19 budget, the town could realistically achieve a zero percent mill rate increase. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com College reopening: Meeting of principals on Friday Higher Education Minister R Bindu has said that half the students in one class will be assigned for one session and the remaining for the next session. Rand Paul Proposes Killing $2 Billion Aid To Pakistan by Patrick Granger, Daily Caller, 01/26/2018 Sen. Rand Paul on Wednesday introduced a bill prohibiting the Department of State and USAID from sending foreign aid to Pakistan. If signed into law, Pauls bill would redirect those funds, which amount to more than $2 billion per year, to the Highway Trust Fund. We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly steward taxpayers hard-earned money when we support countries that chant Death to America and burn our flag, Senator Paul stated. Lets bring that money home and use it to help rebuild our infrastructure instead of giving it to a nation that persecutes Christians and imprisons people such as the doctor that helped us get Osama bin Laden. President Trump, convinced that America has gotten a raw deal from Pakistan for many years, tweeted support for Sen. Pauls proposal earlier this month. Calls for ending aid to Pakistan are growing on both sides of the aisle. In the House of Representatives, Republican Rep. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii are preparing to introduce a similar bill. Paul has been an outspoken and consistent opponent of federal foreign assistance to Pakistan ever since 2012. That year, Paul introduced an amendment that would limit foreign assistance to Pakistan in response to the incarceration of Dr. Shakil Afridi, a physician who helped the CIA run a fake hepatitis vaccination program to track down and kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Later that year, Paul introduced another amendment slashing $4 billion of annual foreign aid to Pakistan, Egypt and Libya. Hawaii: More Anti-Gun Bills Introduced From NRA-ILA, JANUARY 26, 2018 As previously reported last week, Senate Bill 2046 was introduced, aimed at criminalizing certain firearm parts, accessories and modifications. The trend continued this week as more anti-gun legislation was filed prior to the close of the bill introduction deadline. Please contact committee members and urge them to oppose these bills! Click the "Take Action" button below to contact committee members. Senate Bill 2265 , introduced by Senator Josh Green (D-3), is an omnibus bill that requires re-registration of firearms every five years; bans trigger modifications, trigger adjustments, and after-market triggers; bans certain muzzle devices; and modifications that prevent a firearm from overheating. SB 2265 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs. A hearing date has not been scheduled. House Bill 1908 , introduced by Representative Gregg Takayama (D-34), and Senate Bill 2406 , introduced by Senator Will Espero (D-19), are both aimed at prohibiting certain trigger modifications. HB 1908 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary and the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, SB 2406 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and to the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs. A hearing date has not been scheduled for either bill. House Bill 2024 , introduced by Representative Chris Lee (D-51), would allow for certain protective orders to remove your Second Amendment rights - not because of a criminal conviction or mental adjudication, but based on third party allegations and evidentiary standards below those normally required for removing constitutional rights. HB 2024 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary. A hearing date has not been scheduled. ---30--- Godless, Netflix, 2017 Although loaded with terrific actors and wonderful visuals, this miniseries inexplicably stretches over seven-plus dawdling hours. Regardless, creator Scott Frank, who co-wrote the X-Men Western Logan and adapted two non-Western Elmore Leonard stories into screenplays, has created a world both true to frontier history and to the genres iconographic, cinematic history. Outlaw Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) and his oversized gang (think Calveras band in The Magnificent Seven) scour New Mexico Territory in search of his criminal understudy, Roy Goode (Jack OConnell), who has robbed and deserted the outfit. Frank, all fire and brimstone, rides his horse into a church to declare he will slaughter all the residents of any town that harbors or aids Goode. Roy, meanwhile, finds work outside of La Belle on a small ranch owned by steely eyed Alice (Michelle Dockery) and her Paiute mother-in-law, Iyovi (Tantoo Cardinal). Roy must get used to women running things round these parts because La Belles inhabitants are mostly women widowed after 83 men died in a horrific mining accident. The mayors widow, Mary Agnes McNue (Merritt Wever), emerges as the de facto leader of the town when her brother, the feeble sheriff Bill McNue (Scott McNairy, in a fine performance), leaves to hunt down Griffin. Wever gently shifts between stoic and vulnerable, as the best Western heroes do. Griffin, of course, shows up in La Belle looking for Goode, leading to a familiar town vs. gang showdown (those havent been the same since Blazing Saddles). The main problem with Godless, however, isnt the familiar narrative or its occasional liaison with cliche but, rather, its length. Several interesting plotlinessuch as Marys power struggle over La Belles future, and the interracial relationship of Deputy Winn (Thomas Brodie-Sangster)peter out, flashbacks add only surface-level revelations to the story, and many scenes simply repeat information the viewer already knows. Despite the miniseries battles with pace and length, theres still much to appreciate in Godless. From its sweeping vistas to its Sergio Leonesque close-ups, the show welcomingly embraces its roots. The production design, acting and dialogue are often top-notch. There is no pretension nor any sci-fi genre-meshing. Godless represents the genre in its truest form but doesnt seem like a victim of nostalgia. Its a Western, plain and simple. Louis Lalire Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 65F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening with showers developing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. U.S. oil companies, most with headquarters or significant operations in Houston, have more than $150 billion in foreign earnings, including tens of billions of dollars in cash, that they could bring back into the United States at favorable tax rates under the recently enacted federal tax overhaul. Companies in other industries are already moving to repatriate their overseas earnings and invest some of the money in their U.S. operations. Apple, for examples, said it will take a $38 billion tax hit to bring home some $250 billion in cash, with plans to spend $30 billion to build a new campus, add data centers and hire 20,000 new workers. But don't expect oil producers, refiners and equipment makers to follow Apple's example. With the oil bust still fresh in the minds of investors, energy companies are under pressure from Wall Street to spend conservatively and use any spare cash to pay down debt, distribute dividends to shareholders and boost stock prices. "It's all about being disciplined with capital, and increasing spending just because you're repatriating cash wouldn't be well received," said Brian Youngberg, an analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis. "You only invest if the returns are appropriate." More Information Foreign earnings, by company Exxon Mobil Corp. $54 billion Chevron Corp. $46.4 billion Occidental Petroleum Corp. $8.5 billion Hess Corp. $7.6 billion National Oilwell Varco $5.673 billion Baker Hughes, a GE Company $4.5 billion Halliburton Co. $4 billion Valero Energy Corp. $3.9 billion ConocoPhillips $3.72 billion Murphy Oil Corp. $3 billion Phillips 66 $3 billion Atwood Oceanics $2.9 billion Diamond Offshore $1.8 billion Devon Energy Corp, $1 billion Dril-Quip $854 million Oceaneering International $623 million Gulfmark Offshore $565.3 million Oil States International $240 million Newpark Resources $161.7 million NOW Inc. $140 million Tesco Corp. $93.5 million ION Geophysical Corp. $86.3 million Helix Energy Solutions, $74.9 million Patterson-UTI Energy $18.8 million RPC Inc. $10.2 million Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Audit Analytics See More Collapse The question of whether American companies will bring home overseas earnings and what they will do with money are the result of the sweeping changes in the corporate tax system approved at the end of last year by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President Trump. Under the previous tax law, U.S. companies could avoid paying taxes on foreign earnings by keeping it abroad, and they stashed some $3 trillion overseas. The new system imposes taxes on foreign earnings, but U.S. companies are allowed a one-time tax of 15.5 percent for repatriated cash and 8 percent for other assets - far less than the 35 percent they would have paid under the old system. Many companies are taking advantage of the opportunity. JPMorgan Chase, which told investors that it would pay a multi-billion tax bill to bring back its foreign earnings, said on Tuesday that the corporate tax changes and a more favorable regulatory environment under the Trump administration helped drive a $20 billion U.S. investment plan that includes raising wages for 22,000 employees, opening 400 new branches across the country and hiring 4,000 new workers. Those investments include raises for nearly 3,500 employees in Texas, and 900 in the Houston area. Experts skeptical Analysts and economists are skeptical the oil industry will pour repatriated cash into U.S. drilling and refining operations, because the two oil companies with the bulk of the industry's foreign earnings - Exxon Mobil and Chevron - are among the more conservative spenders in the business. Exxon and Chevron together had more than $100 billion in foreign earnings at the end of 2016, according to data from the most recent regulatory filings data compiled by financial research firm Audit Analytics. Exxon Mobil had $54 billion in foreign earnings, the 10th largest among U.S. companies; Chevron had the 13th largest sum, with $46.4 billion. Foreign earnings can include the value of assets, among other things. At the end of 2016, Exxon had a total of $3.7 billion in cash and cash equivalents, Chevron, just shy of $7 billion. Exxon and Chevron, which declined to comment on their plans for overseas earnings, don't have the same incentives to spend the money on U.S. operations as say, Apple, which, in the Trump era, has had to shake off a reputation for relying too heavily on factories in China and other foreign countries, analysts said. For all the controversy the energy industry has stirred up over oil spills, air pollution and climate change in recent years, oil companies have avoided that kind of negative attention. The global nature of the oil industry means Exxon and Chevron also must invest in dozens of countries around the globe. But most important, analysts said, the energy companies are unlikely to reinvest foreign earnings because Wall Street wouldn't like it. Of late, investors have warned producers against spending too much on efforts to pump greater amounts of oil, saying they'd prefer to earn higher returns through share repurchases, which helps lift stock prices, and increased dividends after taking hits during the worst oil downturn in a generation. That's been a mantra of the nation's biggest publicly traded oil companies even before crude prices crashed in mid-2014. And that's pretty much the way of things in Corporate America, economists said. Historically, U.S. companies have typically used one-time tax advantages to return money to shareholders, rather than invest in expansions that might increase economic growth, according a recent report by the macroeconomic research firm Capital Economics said in a recent report. "This would be unlikely to provide a major boost to investment or hiring," Capital Economics said. Houston gets a cut Still, if oil companies repatriate their overseas cash, it would likely provide small benefits to Houston. The region, after all, is home to plenty of oil and gas shareholders, whether company employees with stock-purchase plans or energy-focused hedge funds. Whenever money moves in the oil industry, whether for parts for drilling in West Texas or platforms off the West Africa Coast, Houston almost always takes a cut, said Bill Gilmer, director of the Institute of Regional Forecasting at the University of Houston. "If it's spent abroad, or spent here," Gilmer said, "a good share of it would end up in the Houston area." Houston's energy companies have billions in foreign earnings overseas. Large independent oil producers, including Houston's Occidental Petroleum Corp. and ConocoPhillips, had almost $24 billion in foreign earnings combined at the end of 2016, according to the regulatory filings data compiled by Audit Analytics. Major oil refiners Valero Energy Corp., based in San Antonio, and Phillips 66, based in Houston, together had $6.9 billion in foreign earnings. Oil field service companies, equipment suppliers and rig contractors, including Houston-based National Oilwell Varco, Baker Hughes and Halliburton, had more than $24 billion in foreign earnings. Baker Hughes and Phillips 66 declined to comment. Other companies did not respond to requests for comment. Halliburton told investors on Monday it recorded an $882 million non-cash charge as a preliminary provision for "the net impact of tax reform," although executives did not specify the sources of the higher tax bill. Exxon Mobil and Chevron report fourth-quarter 2017 earnings on Feb. 2. Psst: Do you want to hear about a neat investing trick a family friend showed me? She started with $250. Through alchemical money magic, a mixture of time, compound interest and an important dash of neglect - she turned that $250 into an investment worth roughly $137,000 today. She still owns it, so results may vary in the future, but her gains are amazing. How ever did she do it? What financial wizardry did she employ? It was probably Bitcoin, right? Or some lesser known cryptocurrency? Or a hot commodity tip? I imagine you'd like to learn her trick. My friend didn't want to be identified, so we compromised and went with her mother's name Ruth. The story starts in 1965. Ruth was newly married. As much as possible, I'll let her tell it: "I lived in the state of Washington, and my grandmother used to buy stocks, even though she was a middle-class person. She thought it was good to buy local, and Seattle was dominated by Boeing Co. "At that time people thought you were supposed to buy 100 shares of everything. I didn't have enough to buy that amount, so I bought less than that initially. "I invested around $250 at the time. It was probably 20 shares, no more than 40. I remember the broker criticized me for not buying 100 shares." OK, that's the beginning of Ruth's story. Are you ready for the magical part? Then Ruth did nothing for 53 years. That's it. That's the whole magic. The moral to this story: Never sell. In 2018, her initial $250 investment in 20 or 40 shares of her local company Boeing has turned into 400 shares through stock splits and the reinvestment of dividends. With shares trading at more than $343 in late January, her initial investment is worth (at the time of this writing) around $137,232. Through Ruth's benign neglect. The dividends alone on her shares pay around $2,700 per year, or more than 10 times her original investment. At least three important lessons and clarifications of the lessons of Ruth's story are necessary. First, this is the story of a particular investment in Boeing that happened to be headquartered in Ruth's home state, but you could substitute hundreds of successful companies from 1965 into that same story with similar results. The point is not "I wish I'd bought Boeing in 1965," but rather "I wish I'd bought a tiny amount of shares of any number of successful companies, and then done nothing further for 53 years." Second, I was kidding earlier about magic, just to get your attention. This is actually the most normal thing in the world. Turning $250 into $137,232 over 53 years is not magical at all, but rather a mathematical result of time and compound returns. To be precise, Ruth's initial investment through reinvestment of dividends, splits, and stock price gains, grew on average 12.6 percent per year for 53 years, from 1965 to 2018. And that's a good return. It's above average. But it's not ridiculous for a successful U.S. multinational company from that period to today. The annualized return from the S&P 500 since 1965, including reinvestment of dividends, was 9.87 percent. If it had been technically feasible to invest $250 in the S&P 500 in 1965 (Note: It wasn't technically feasible then) and then let it compound for 53 years, the stake would be worth $36,689. That's not as cool as Ruth's $137,232, but it ain't nothing, either. Third, Ruth is no genius investor. She's pretty typical. The really funny thing is that while she told me her story, she continuously bemoaned her lack of investment savvy. "I feel embarrassed talking about Boeing because I could tell you about a lot of mistakes, and even stocks that went to zero," she said. Which is charming, and no doubt true, but doesn't negate her success. Remember, she turned $250 into $137,232. Psst: If you are still in your 20s, so could you. Start with $250. Then do absolutely nothing for 50 years or so. The doing nothing is actually the hard part. Also, the part of the story I didn't tell you yet is our whole conversation started because Ruth had initially described to me selling 500 shares of Boeing in the beginning of 2017. She'd bought those particular 500 shares at some point in the 2008 crisis. She saw a market price of $175 per share in February 2017 and thought to herself: That can't go any higher. Nearly a year later, the price has almost doubled. Ruth was kicking herself in the initial part of our conversation for that sale a year ago. "I know I'm doing it wrong when the price goes up and I've already sold, and I could have sold at a higher price. It's not the first time it's happened. It's hard to know how to time a sale," she said. She wanted to know when was the right time to sell. She felt like she blew it as an investor. Also, she'd been tempted to sell a lot earlier: "Sometime a few decades ago, my husband and I talked about selling our stake in Boeing, taking the money out and building a swimming pool. Our whole stake was worth $30,000, and we thought it couldn't go any higher," she said. "How do I know when to sell," she asked me - probably four or five times in our conversation. Never, I answered each time, or some variation on never. But still Ruth wanted to figure out how to properly time the market. Which is impossible. Ruth feels like she gets a lot of things wrong with her investing. Of course, she will sell some stocks as she funds her retirement life, but that has nothing to do with timing the market. It's better to be lucky than good, we always say on Wall Street, and of course, Ruth got lucky buying a small amount of the world-class stock from her hometown. But she was also good, in that she didn't sell that stock for over 50 years. Stock disclosure: I own zero Boeing stock, and zero individual stocks for that matter, preferring to invest in equity index mutual funds. And so should you, for that matter. The chairman of the Public Utility Commission expressed concerns about the rates charged by CenterPoint Energy given the likely windfall from recently-enacted corporate tax cuts and called on regulators to begin a comprehensive rate case for the Houston utility. The commission has long had concerns that part of CenterPoint's business consistently earns above the approved rate of return. Chairman DeAnn Walker, in a memo filed this week, said that given the challenges following Hurricane Harvey, she initially hesitated in seeking rate case, an intense process in which regulators review utilities' finances and the costs of maintaining the electric distribution system. But, she added, the expected reduction in CenterPoint's taxes and continued concerns about the utility over-earning changed her mind. "Although I continue to have concerns about the impacts of Hurricane Harvey," Walker wrote, "I believe there are too many factors that show there is a need for a rate review at this time." The PUC is joining a wave of regulatory agencies around the country that are pushing utilities to share the benefits of corporate tax cuts with customers. In some cases, utilities have said they will reduce their rates of their own volition. In others, such as in Kentucky, regulators have required utilities to lower rates and possibly offer rebates. None of the largest utilities in Texas have offered to use their tax savings to lower rates, and it remains to be seen what action the Public Utility Commission might take. In response to Walker's call for a rate case, CenterPoint asked to delay the decision until it could meet with commission staff. The commission is expected to take up the matter again on Feb. 15. In the meantime, the PUC has ordered all utilities in the state to begin tracking their revenues under existing rates as well as calculate what their revenues would be if lower federal taxes had been factored into their rates. The PUC also asked all utilities to calculate how much extra money they will have because to the federal income tax cut. Walker is also likely to reopen recently completed, and complex, rate cases for Dallas-based Oncor, the state's largest utility, El Paso Electric Company in West Texasand the Southwestern Electric Power Company, which serves the Panhandle region. "People today are paying something that they shouldn't be, in my mind," she said of those utilities' customers. CenterPoint has not said what it plans to do with its extra funds provided by the tax cut. CenterPoint said in statement that it appreciated the chance to meet with commission staff before a decision is made. Regardless, CenterPoint is due for a close examination of its rates, said Commissioner Brandy Marty Marquez on Thursday. Since 2011, Texas law has allowed utilities like CenterPoint to raise its electricity and gas rates between formal rate cases. For electricity customers in Houston, CenterPoint has sought three rate hikes since the fall of 2015. But the PUC has not called CenterPoint in for a full-blown rate case since 2010, said Thomas Brocato, a lawyer for the Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities, which advocates on behalf of energy customers in Texas. "For quite some time (CenterPoint's) transmission operations have had excess earnings," said Brocato. "We support the commissioners' efforts to make sure that the ratepayer see the benefits of this new tax law." The PUC has a history of reining-in CenterPoint when the company has over earned - in 2005, the commission found that CenterPoint collected an excess of $105 million from its electric customers in Houston and other Gulf Coast cities. The PUC reviewed the company's earnings and ordered CenterPoint to cut its rates by $68 million. CenterPoint's natural gas business is regulated by the Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator. The Railroad Commission has consistently granted CenterPoint rate hikes even as the company's earnings rose above the approved rates of return. The Railroad Commission also announced plans to examine the fairness of gas rates in the wake of tax cuts. In early January, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, joining with other state attorneys general, has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure that utilities pass along savings from the recently enacted tax overhaul to their customers. But any move by FERC to require utilities to pass on tax benefits would not apply to Texas' largest utilities - including CenterPoint - which are not regulated by the federal agency. The French oil major Total said it's beefing up its presence in the Gulf of Mexico by buying into Chevron-led discoveries. Total said it is acquiring 12.5 percent stakes from Oklahoma's Samson Energy in four blocks in the recent Anchor field discovery made by Chevron. Anchor is about 140 miles off Louisiana in nearly 5,000 feet of water. "The entry in the Anchor discovery further increases Total's footprint in deep-water Gulf of Mexico," said Arnaud Breuillac, Total's president of exploration and production. Total has about 7,000 U.S. employees, including a major presence in Houston. The acquisition price of the Samson holdings wasn't disclosed, but the company said it shows Total's long-term commitment to the deep-water Gulf, even though the offshore sector is continuing to languish after the recent oil bust. Lower prices have driven oil companies to move investments to lower-cost onshore fields, particularly the Permian Basin in West Texas. Chevron, for example, plans to spend $3.3 billion in the Permian this year, one of its largest investments in 2018. Chevron continues to own 55 percent of the Anchor blocks. Total's deal with Samson also includes another 12.5 percent stake in a nearby Green Canyon exploration block, where the French company already owned a 25 percent stake. This much smaller Samson deal continues Total's Gulf of Mexico growth from last year when it bought Denmark's Maersk Oil in a massive $7.45 billion deal. Maersk owned sizable Gulf positions, even though its greatest strength was in the North Sea. Total also joined with Chevron last year in agreeing to jointly develop other Gulf prospects. Mattress Firm CEO and president Ken Murphy, after two years at the helm, will step down in March and cede the role to another executive during a particularly turbulent time for the company. The company said Friday that executive chairman Steve Stagner, who served as the company's CEO from 2010 to 2016, will resume that role on March 1. It said the decision "reflects the need for a singular voice of leadership" at Mattress Firm, which has faced financial uncertainty amid an accounting investigation of its parent company, South African retail conglomerate Steinhoff International. "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. Murphy joined the company in 1998 as a retail sales associate in Greensboro, N.C. He climbed the ranks to become executive vice president of sales and operations in 2012, chief operating officer in 2014 and president in 2015. He replaced Stagner as CEO in 2016 and led the Mattress Firm negotiations that led to its $3.8 billion acquisition by Steinhoff in September of that year. The deal included Steinhoff assuming more than $1 billion in debt that Mattress Firm had racked up acquiring many of its competitors, ultimately becoming the largest U.S. mattress retailer with more than 3,400 locations nationwide, including more than 60 in Houston. Steinhoff last month launched an internal probe into its books after disclosing "account irregularities" that could affect some $7 billion in assets. The company later revealed that it did not have detailed knowledge of the financial workings of its many subsidiaries and admitted it will have to restate financial results dating back to 2015, if not earlier. The disclosure triggered a cash crunch for Steinhoff as banks withdrew lines of credit, forcing the company to negotiate with lenders and sell assets including the corporate jet to raise cash. The company on Friday said its short-term cash requirements had been "largely addressed" as a result of those efforts. It noted in a presentation that Mattress Firm, which will require about $200 million this year to close unprofitable stores and add new products, had resolved some of its funding needs. Mattress Firm late last month secured a $75 million line of credit that could increase to $225 million. Stagner, who started his career at Mattress Firm 22 years ago as a franchisee with one store and $1,300, has played a key role in the negotiations with Steinhoff's lenders. At a meeting in London last month, he sought to assure lenders of his company's stability by outlining a plan to boost revenue to $4 billion within the next five years by closing about 200 stores, expanding its private-label products to capture 40 percent of sales and investing more heavily in its e-commerce operations. A Florida legislative subcommittee has approved a bill that calls for the state's motto, "In God We Trust," to be placed in every public school. The bill, which calls for each district school board to adopt rules about displaying the motto "in a conspicuous place," was co-sponsored by state Rep. Kimberly Daniels, a Democrat and a minister affiliated with churches in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale. "This motto is inscribed on the walls of this great capital 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 country's foundation," said Daniels in brief remarks Tuesday before the panel. Other legislators voiced support for the measure, citing a national trust in God. But Maggie Garrett, legislative director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Tampa Bay Times such a stance would differ from court rulings barring schools from promoting religion. "Not all kids in Florida public schools believe in God," Garrett noted, and they shouldn't feel pressured while in school." A parent opposing the measure said the proposal was unnecessary because a state statute already requires schools' display of the state flag, which includes the motto. The phrase has been part of the state seal since 1868 and has been the state's official motto since 2006. "That current statute satisfies the requirement to display our state motto, which is, of course, on our state flag," Sue Woltanski of the group Common Ground told the panel. "Common Ground is opposed to bills that fail to address real issues in education and waste taxpayer dollars and time." In response to a question about the costs of the proposal, Daniels said she didn't think it would be significant. "I think the importance of our children knowing their history and being able to see this will far much outweigh whatever small cost that there may be," said Daniels, author of "The Demon Dictionary." State Rep. Ralph Massullo, a Republican, said he agreed with Daniels and compared the display of the motto to that of posted pictures of elected officials in public buildings and changing them in new administrations. "If there would be a time when the motto of our state would change for whatever reason - and God help us if it does - then that can change as well," he said. 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. With tens of thousands of patients flocking to hospitals and at least 37 children dead, this year's flu season is shaping up to be the worst in nearly a decade - and it's not over yet. At a time when experts hoped new cases would start tapering off, federal health officials said Friday that the number of patients seeking care for flulike symptoms continues to rise sharply. Nearly 12,000 people have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of flu, an increase of 3,000 in just one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest report, for the week ending Jan. 20, shows the rate of people seeking care now rivals that of the swine-flu pandemic of 2009. In Florida, West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton has seen a surge of patients. "We think it may be peaking," said Adam Leisy, head of the emergency room, "but who knows what the next few weeks will bring." Leisy said his hospital has been flooded with elderly snowbirds - often already dealing with chronic conditions and now wheezing from coughs and struggling with fever. In California, some hospitals have pitched tents outside their ERs to cope with the crush of patients; some facilities there have flown in nurses from out of state. Doctors have worked double and triple shifts. In Chicago, a shortage of patient beds has left ambulances idling outside hospitals. In New York, state leaders this week issued an emergency order allowing pharmacists to give vaccines to children. The toll on children has been especially severe. CDC officials said the pediatric death count is likely to approach, if not exceed, the 148 deaths reported during the especially severe flu season of 2014 and 2015. That season ended with 56,000 flu-related deaths, 710,000 people hospitalized and 16 million who sought care from a clinician or hospital. This year's intensity has been driven by a particularly nasty strain of the virus known as H3N2. Another strain has also begun showing up, hitting baby boomers especially hard, CDC officials said Friday, although experts have not figured out exactly why. CDC says the number of pediatric deaths is probably more than the 37 reported, because if often takes longer for deaths outside hospitals to be reported to authorities. The real number may be twice as high, officials said. "You hear people talking about how serious it can get, but you never think it's going to happen to you," Anne LaMontagne, 41, said by phone as she sat by her son in Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis. In the space of five days, 9-year-old Grant went from having a sore throat to being rushed to the hospital, with doctors struggling to force more oxygen into his lungs to keep him alive. The flu led to pneumonia. Her son's lungs filled with mucus, preventing him from breathing. Doctors put the boy on a ventilator and stuck a probe down his throat to suction out vinelike threads of mucus from his lungs. But his condition got worse. Last week, LaMontagne and her husband looked on with horror as doctors inserted a large tube into an unconscious Grant's neck and connected him to a lung-bypass machine to give his body the oxygen his lungs could not. The sight sent the couple fleeing to the hospital cafeteria. "We just cried and tried to breathe and talk each other through what was happening," she said. The treatment worked. Last Friday her son had recovered to the point that doctors woke him from sedation. "It all happened so fast," his mother said Friday. "He's a healthy boy. He swims. He's never had any major illnesses." Two differences with this year's flu is that it hit almost all states at the same time and has stayed at that high level nationally for three consecutive weeks, said Daniel Jernigan, who heads the CDC's influenza division. In past years, the flu more commonly appeared in different parts of the country at different times. The current season began in October, but there was a rapid ramp-up in January right after the holidays, probably triggered by children returning to school and spreading the virus, Jernigan said. In Florida and Texas, entire school districts have closed to stop further spread. The burden of so many cases on hospitals, experts say, underscores the fragility of the country's health-care system. Some hospitals are already strained to capacity on a normal day and could be overrun if a pandemic hits. "The concern is that with an emergency, we could get to a tipping point, where the demands of community exceeds our capacity as a country," said James Blumenstock, chief program officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The length and severity of a flu season is always notoriously hard to predict. Experts often look for clues in past seasons when the same strains of flu have dominated. In previous H3N2 seasons, flu activity remained active for an average of about 16 weeks but in some cases continued as long as 20 weeks. "By that measure, we are about halfway there," Jernigan said. "But it means we have several more weeks of flu to go." Already, this season has offered its share of surprises. People over 65 are usually the ones with the highest hospitalization rates, with the second most affected group being children under 4. But officials have been taken aback in recent weeks to see that individuals with the second-highest hospitalization rate are between 50 to 64 years old. "Baby boomers have higher rates of hospitalization than their grandchildren right now," Jernigan noted with surprise. It's not clear why this is happening. Officials say one possibility may be the mix of viruses circulating this season and the different levels of immunity that people have developed to those viruses over time. In addition, vaccination rates for adults under 65 are lower than those for seniors. "These are folks who would really benefit from higher vaccination rates," Jernigan said. "They're usually at the peak of their careers, or managing a lot of business, and them missing work because of flu would have a huge impact." It is not too late to get a flu shot, experts continue to stress. The current vaccine protects against all three of the most prevalent strains. It is least effective against the H3N2 strain, but its effectiveness against the other two strains that are now appearing - H1N1 and an influenza B strain - is much higher. The CDC recommends an injectable flu vaccine for everyone 6 months or older as soon as possible because the body takes about two weeks to produce a full immune response. The one upside to the severity of this year's season is that suddenly everyone wants to know how to avoid getting sick. "I have friends calling me, family asking me, 'Is it too late to get a shot?' " said Blumenstock, a health official in Arlington, Va. "I tell them: 'Hurry up. Go! Get your shot.' Hopefully, this year is a chance for people to learn." - - - The Washington Post's Julie Tate contributed to this report. Gregory Boyd, the Alley Theatre's former artistic director, retired under pressure from board leadership after they learned of "the depth of staff concerns regarding his behavior," the theater's top administrator said Friday. The Alley's leadership previously had refused to comment on abuse allegations leveled against Boyd, who announced his retirement Jan. 9, saying at the time that it had been planned for months but delayed by Hurricane Harvey. The theater's managing director, Dean Gladden, broke his public silence Friday as rumors swirled of a potential staff walkout, some donors and patrons assailed Boyd's severance agreement on Facebook and supporters of Alley employees wore red as part of a social media campaign demanding accountability, with the hashtag #WhyWeWearRed. The Houston Chronicle started investigating abuse allegations against Boyd in the fall and was told by more than 20 current and former Alley employees that his 28-year, Tony award-winning tenure was tainted by abusive behavior, particularly toward young actresses. Boyd's former colleagues reported he screamed profanities at employees, and two actresses told the Chronicle he touched their buttocks inappropriately while giving stage directions. Boyd, 66, did not return a reporter's phone call. The theater's managing director, Dean Gladden, issued a news release Friday morning that offered a vaguely worded apology for the Alley's handling of the allegations. "On behalf of the Alley Theatre, we apologize for recent events and the actions that led to these news stories," the statement read. Asked if he was apologizing for Boyd's allegedly abusive behavior or for the Alley's response to it, Gladden said: "It's everything. I just apologize for absolutely everything." Mum on personnel issue Gladden, managing director for 11 years, refused to answer many questions about Boyd. He and Boyd both reported directly to the board, and he had no power to discipline or fire Boyd, Gladden said. Asked when he first became aware of the allegations against Boyd, Gladden said he was unsure. He also said he could not recall the first allegation he heard. He said he made the board aware of allegations against Boyd but refused to disclose when he did so. "That is a personnel issue that wouldn't be proper to discuss," Gladden said. In a Jan. 9 news release announcing Boyd's departure, the theater said he had planned to retire before Hurricane Harvey hit in August, flooding the theater in the heart of the city's downtown. However, the Chronicle filed a request under a state law that requires financial disclosures by nonprofits and learned that Boyd had been paid more than $380,000 severance as part of his retirement. News of that payment angered many Alley employees, who have been unable to get raises this year. Some staff members were considering the possibility of a walkout before Gladden called a staff meeting Friday morning and issued the apology. "We recognize that this lack of transparency has been viewed negatively," Gladden said in the statement. "We should have handled it differently. We apologize to those impacted, the Alley staff, patrons, donors, press, and to the city of Houston." The statement said Boyd "had been discussing retirement options with members of the Board of Directors," but it did not say when that started. Gladden would not disclose which board members were involved in those conversations but said he was told they started a year ago. "When the Alley Theatre Board Leadership learned of the depth of staff concerns regarding his behavior, they requested he proceed with his retirement," the statement said. Gladden said that occurred in early January. Butch Mach, the board's president, did not return a reporter's phone call Friday. Boyd was about one year into a five-year contract when he announced his retirement. He was paid at least $420,000 in the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, according to tax records. The Chronicle started investigating allegations against Boyd after current and former employees complained about his behavior in the midst of the "#MeToo" movement. Emily Trask, a member of the company for nearly two years, told the Chronicle in an article published this month that she quit her "dream job" at the Alley in April after reporting to three members of management that Boyd had bullied her at rehearsals and called her a "stupid c---" while giving another actor stage direction. Trask and another actress, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported being touched inappropriately by Boyd on their buttocks. Alley hires consultant After the Chronicle's story this month, the Alley did not directly address the allegations against Boyd but announced the creation of a special board committee to evaluate the "workplace environment." The Alley also hired a third-party consultant, Walker Consulting Group, to help provide guidance and recommendations for changes. Asked why the Alley was issuing an apology now, more than two weeks after the allegations were published, Gladden said: "We felt it was best to make a full apology, that this is the appropriate time. We felt our advice on how to handle the situation wasn't working." He declined to elaborate. "We're really working on the healing process now," Gladden said. "We are very optimistic about the future and look forward to bringing on a new artistic director and having the Alley continue as an outstanding organization for the city." Jane Wagner, a longtime Alley donor and supporter who was critical of its earlier silence, welcomed the theater's apology. "This statement of contrition by Dean Gladden, and his taking ownership that The Alley mishandled many allegations of abuse, is a start to changing the climate there that protected the wrong people for decades," Wagner said. "Hopefully, stellar plays will continue to be performed at the Alley, but will no longer compromise human decency in the process. "It's a long road back to regain the confidence of donors, actors, playwrights, and the entire community, but it's an important beginning." Longtime Alley actor and director James Black is serving as interim artistic director at the Alley, which is among the five largest nonprofit theater companies outside of New York. Positive steps or PR? Actor John Feltch said the apology was a positive step, though the statement seemed "more cosmetic than genuine." "They are trying desperately to shore up public relations, but as is always the case in situations like these, they would have been so much better off coming clean and being honest about the situation," said Feltch, who worked at the Alley in the 1990s and returned recently for more than a year, until Boyd let him go in August. "To see a lack of transparency, that saddens me. "I hope and expect that will change." Blair Gulledge, who worked at the Alley from 2006 through 2013 as a resident costume design assistant, said she hopes the apology was made for the right reasons and marks a fresh start. "I can't help but think if the staff was able to produce world-class theatre under the tyranny of Greg Boyd - think of what they could do with honest, open and respectful collaboration," she said. Molly Glentzer contributed to this report. The third-year law student couldn't sleep the night before she stood steps from Sonia Sotomayor to ask the Supreme Court justice a question: Does mass incarceration of people of color violate Equal Protection or the Voting Rights Act, given state laws that prohibit ex-felons from voting? Sotomayor didn't miss a beat. "What do you think about it?" Sotomayor asked the student, Christina Beeler. "What are you doing about it? "That case is going to come to the court some day because of you. "You're only one side of the argument. I haven't heard the other side. I haven't read what the judges have said. ... I'm not the one who makes the change. All of you are. You're the ones who go out there and make the changes. They ultimately may get brought to me for decision making. "We're only as smart as the lawyers who present issues to us." Sotomayor spoke to Beeler - who after the event called the exchange one of the best moments of her life - and a packed room of other University of Houston law students, faculty and administrators on Friday. The wide-ranging discussion covered legal education, sexism and how Sotomayor responded to making her first C. A welcome gift The visit from Sotomayor was the first by a Supreme Court justice to a University of Houston Law Center event since Justice Sandra Day O'Connor visited in 2005, said Leonard Baynes, the center's dean. O'Connor received a cowboy hat upon her visit that year. On Friday, Sotomayor smiled as she accepted a Houston Astros cap and jersey from Michael Olivas, who directs UH's higher education law and governance institute and interviewed Sotomayor, before students asked questions. Law schools, Sotomayor said, need to focus their students more stringently on ethics early in their legal education. She added that all lawyers should learn the basics of various fields of law, including taxation and estate law, to be able to help family, friends and clients with everyday legal challenges. Several student questions for Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice and third woman on the Supreme Court, related to race and gender in law. More than 20 percent of entering UH law students last fall were Hispanic. Carl Stewart, a first-year law student, asked Sotomayor how people of color should balance perceived inequities in the justice system. "We don't do anything alone," she said, urging students to involve allies in their advocacy and build coalitions. In response to a student question, Sotomayor said that judges don't lose emotion when they put on their robes. To avoid bias, Sotomayor said, she takes stock of any personal feelings so that they do not sway her decisions. She recalled once seeing a lawyer's hands shake during a trial and "bending over backward" to be caring to the man. Soon, she realized he reminded her of her grandfather, who had Parkinson's disease. "I don't have a memory with him without the tremble," she said. Once she identified the memory and potential for bias, she said, it was easier to be more balanced. "You have to consciously correct for them. If you don't, you are being unconsciously unfair to the other side," she said. Visit 'brings the case alive' She urged one student, who said he was born abroad, to keep working on his writing and find peers or professors who can help him improve. The first time she made a C, she said, she asked the professor for help. The professor circled each time she wrote "of," noting she was using Spanish constructions of many phrases. Sotomayor said the #MeToo movement is part of society's "growth" and that she hoped it would be a "better world" for women entering law. Early in the conversation, she stood up from her chair at the front of the lecture hall and began pacing the room, shaking hands and taking pictures with attendees. A young girl hugged Sotomayor as she passed. Baynes, the UH Law Center's dean, said Sotomayor's background is inspirational to students and represents the "American dream." UH has worked to organize a visit from Sotomayor for three years, he said. "For law students, seeing a Supreme Court justice is like seeing a rock star," he said. "We read the cases, we learn about it, and then you get to see the judge who actually wrote the case. It really crystallizes it in a way you wouldn't actually think it would. It brings the person alive. It brings the case alive if you see the person who actually has written those cases, those opinions." WASHINGTON - A long-stalled disaster relief bill now pending in Congress not only would help Texans rebound from the misery Hurricane Harvey poured on Houston and the Gulf Coast last summer, but also could be a windfall for cotton growers on the high plains of West Texas. Much of the disaster debate has focused on delays and entanglements over broader budget and immigration issues. But out of the headlines, farm country lawmakers backed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have been spearheading a drive to add a safety net program to protect cotton producers from market fluctuations. Tucked into a House-passed $81 billion disaster relief package, now before the Senate, is a key change in farm policy that would put cotton back into a price support program called the Price Loss Coverage - a status it lost in 2014 after a challenge before the World Trade Organization. Cotton is big business in Texas - the state's biggest cash crop, generating about $2.2 billion in crop value in 2016. There's bipartisan support in the House for what insiders call the "cotton fix." But it appears to have hit a snag in the Senate, where it has been questioned by lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. "It's a much bigger part of the delay that people realize," said Minnesota U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. Although Peterson supports the measure, he said it has "absolutely" become a harder sell in the Senate, particularly among some powerful northern Democrats. The provision has been blistered by critics on the left and right who see it as an opportunistic end-run around the 2014 Farm Bill, which excluded cotton from the program. But it has the backing of Abbott and a slew of powerful Texas lawmakers, including the state's two U.S. senators, who see it as a remedy for the estimated $100 million in losses Texas farmers suffered in Hurricane Harvey. While the measure could help farmers in southeast Texas who were hit by the storm's flood waters, the main impetus has come from South Plains cotton growers championed by freshman U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Republican from Lubbock, more than 500 miles from the storm-ravaged coast. "You can't overstate the importance of cotton to West Texas," Arrington said, "and restoring its safety net status would save billions of dollars to our local economy and is the single biggest factor for ensuring a prosperous future for families living on the South Plains. Cotton is the lifeblood and identity of West Texas." Indeed, most of the state's nation-leading cotton production is centered in the West Texas cotton fields surrounding Lubbock, where rock 'n' roll legend Buddy Holly got his start in 1955 playing at local venues like the Cotton Club. Critics note that long before Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast last August, the industry had been battling to get back into the farm bill's price and income support program, a move that could have significant implications for international trade agreements. "This is a major policy change that shouldn't be buried in some disaster bill," said Daren Bakst, a research fellow in agricultural policy at the free-market Heritage Foundation. "It has nothing to do with a disaster at all. This is why people become skeptical about these disaster bills." Inclusion in bill is criticized Backers of the cotton fix note that the Congressional Budget Office, which calculates the costs of legislative changes, rated it as "budget neutral," meaning it would not add to the government's budget deficit. In part, that's because growers would be expected to pivot from special crop insurance subsidies Congress created for cotton farmers when they were dropped from the commodity support program linked to crop prices. But in any future down markets, opponents say, taxpayer costs could rise. They also argue that the change could invite a trade war with other cotton-producing countries like Brazil, which challenged the subsidies in the World Trade Organization a decade ago, winning a $300 million settlement in 2014 after retaliating against an array of U.S. imports. Backers of the new cotton proposal say it has been re-written to comply with U.S. treaty obligations, just like other major farm commodity programs. But its linkage to a bill intended to help victims of hurricanes and wildfires has caused political problems. In a blog on the eve of the 251-169 House vote for the disaster aid package last month, Scott Faber, vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, warned that Congress was "once again attempting to provide more subsidies to cotton farmers" under the guise of providing relief from the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Cotton already is one of the most heavily subsidized farm commodities in the U.S. agricultural system, which has sought to protect farmers from the vagaries of weather and markets since the Great Depression. Cotton farmers ranked third in commodity payments per-acre in a 2017 study by the Congressional Research Service, behind producers of rice and peanuts. But to Texas growers and the state's representatives in Congress, the cotton fix has been long overdue. Arrington says that Congress' decision to take cotton out of the price support program in 2014 has had a "devastating effect" on producers throughout the 17-state Cotton Belt, putting some West Texas farmers in danger of losing their farms. The overall economic impact from cotton and the many products it creates has been estimated to be as high as $24 billion annually, according to Southwest FarmPress, an industry publication. Texas produces about five million acres of cotton each year. Among those lobbying for the cotton fix is Richard Gaona, president of the Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, who put out a statement through Arrington's office saying the change would provide "the necessary risk management tools" farmers need to succeed throughout the entire region. Critics argue that the cotton subsidy provision should be negotiated as part of the upcoming farm bill. But Steve Verett, executive vice president of the Plains Cotton Growers, said farmers are making planting decisions for the coming year now. "Timing is of the essence, and by including this fix in legislation prior to the 2018 farm bill, our growers will have more certainty going into the new year," said Verett, who has spent time in Washington meeting with congressional leaders. Among them was Arrington, backed by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, a Republican from Midland, whose district also is in the middle of the cotton patch. Both were instrumental in whipping up support for the cotton provisions in the House version of the disaster relief bill. 'Window of opportunity' Abbott also has become involved, writing to Washington lawmakers this month urging their support for "a narrow window of opportunity" to help cotton farmers in the House-passed aid package. Abbott's letter cited "setbacks" in the cotton industry and in U.S. farm income generally, calling it "the steepest decline since the Great Depression." But it did not mention Harvey or any other natural disaster. Stephen Worley, a spokesman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said that while the Mississippi Republican supports the cotton fix, he stopped short of committing his support for including it in the disaster relief package, saying only that talks are "ongoing." The press office for Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the committee, did not respond to a request for comment. But in agriculture, the fault lines are often regional, rather than partisan. An attempt last year to restore the cotton subsidy got tangled in a dispute between southern commodity producers and northern dairy interests, represented by Leahy and Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. But the player with the most leverage in the end may be Conaway, whose district produces more cotton than any other in the nation. Peterson said that resolving the cotton fix now would make the upcoming farm bill - a perennially complicated piece of legislation that affects every facet of American agriculture - "90 percent easier to do." To Peterson, that's a powerful incentive for Congress to resolve the cotton subsidies, whether it's in the disaster bill or not. "There's not going to be a farm bill," he said, "unless cotton is fixed." A Kingwood man has been convicted of multiple charges in the 2016 death of a police officer and an 11-year-old boy in a Father's Day crash that followed a police chase. A Montgomery County jury on Friday found 30-year-old Garrett William Nee guilty of four felony charges - two of evading arrest/detention causing death and two of evading arrest/detention causing serious bodily injury. Nee was originally charged with murder and several other offenses. The trial began Monday, and the verdict was rendered after about 90 minutes of deliberations. The punishment phase starts Monday. The convictions stem from a fatal police chase on June 19, 2016. Patton Village Police Sgt. Stacey Baumgartner was pursuing Nee at a high speed when his patrol car was struck at the intersection of Texas 242 and FM 1485 by a Chevy Suburban carrying several members of the Hilario family. The collision killed Baumgartner and 11-year-old Adan Hilario, Jr., an occupant of the SUV, while injuring several members of Hilario's family who were returning home from a Sunday-night family celebration. "The father, Adan Hilario Sr., was driving his family members back home when they approached that intersection," Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Lisa Stewart said during opening arguments Monday. "He didn't hear or see the lights until it was too late. Authorities gave this account: Police had received a call earlier in the day that a man was urinating in public and reportedly had exposed himself to passersby at a gas station near the intersection of Texas 242 and U.S. 59. Baumgartner, 39, responded to the call, spoke with Nee and returned to his patrol car. Nee put his vehicle into reverse and nearly hit the officer's patrol car, then fled the parking lot with Baumgartner in pursuit. They traveled west at a high rate of speed over six miles of semi-rural roads. The Nissan Scion TC driven by Nee cleared the intersection of Texas 242 and FM 1485. As Baumgartner entered the intersection with his lights and siren activated, a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban carrying seven members of the Hilario family entered as well. The two vehicles collided, with the force of the collision pushing the officer's vehicle to the immediate right, into a traffic light pole. A Department of Public Safety investigation concluded that Baumgartner failed to slow as he entered the crossing or to look out for oncoming traffic. Baumgartner, who was trapped in his vehicle, was later transported to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Adan Hilario Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene. Nee returned to the scene after the crash and was arrested. He had been arrested the previous year on felony charges of evading arrest in a motor vehicle, court records show, but the case was dropped because of a lack of evidence. Representatives from both of the families attended the first day of the trial, with several wiping tears as details from the accident were read aloud and the radio transmission from Baumgartner's patrol car that day was played. "Choices were made that Father's Day," defense attorney John Lagrappe said. "We need to look at the evidence in the case that there were no restraints used in either vehicle and the traffic light was red." Former Woodbranch Village police officer Eric Pitts said the radio transmission was hard to listen to, as he had responded to the same indecent exposure call as Baumgartner. "I had just completed a traffic stop on Highway 59 when the indecent exposure call came through, so I responded as backup," Pitts testified. "I observed Baumgartner speak with the suspect. Then, as he got back into his patrol car, the suspect reversed, almost hitting the car and took off." Pitts did not join in pursuit because he was having a flat tire repaired. After the radio transmission played on the trial's first day, several jurors passed tissues around as friends of the victims embraced each other. Editor's note: Each year, the Greater Houston Partnership convenes its annual meeting attended by scores of the city's business and civic leaders. Marc Watts, president of The Friedkin Group and incoming board chair of the Partnership, addressed the group at this year's meeting on Jan. 19. This is a condensed version of his remarks. At the Greater Houston Partnership, our purpose is to make it easier for business people to become more civically engaged - engaged in collective efforts that enhance our position as a great, global city. Today, I want to specifically focus on business leader engagement in the political process. We must ensure that our public policies support growth and opportunity and improve the overall quality of life in Houston. And in this arena, the business community has been losing its voice. Engaging in the political process can be risky, but we have to do it. OUR FUTURE: Houston after 2020 As business people, we bring important values to the table that need to be more prominent in that process. Let's consider three: investing in the future, creating opportunity for people from all walks of life and a willingness to negotiate and compromise. First, we all have to invest in the future of our businesses if we are going to succeed. To do this, we focus on the facts and the numbers to support our decisions; that's just good business sense. DOWNTOWN: A plan for the central business district offers a vision worth pursuing It's the same approach we at the Partnership used in the pension reform discussion over the last three years. We, and others, spent those three years educating ourselves and the community about the facts supporting the critical need for pension reform. With the strong leadership of Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city now has in place a much-improved pension program to support our police, firefighters and municipal employees. Think about the other issues that are central to the success of Houston as a global city: education, infrastructure, flood resilience and quality of life to name a few. We have been talking about these issues for a long time and not nearly enough progress has been made. As business leaders, we must join with elected officials at all levels and take a leading role in these discussions. BUSINESS THREAT: The proposed bathroom bill harms Texas' reputation as a great place to do a deal The second business value is creating opportunity for our people, and as business leaders, we do that every day. Houston is America's most diverse city. We all know that better business results come from the diversity of ideas that arise from a diversity of people and perspectives. But we also know that diversity alone is not enough. We must create opportunity for the next generation of Houstonians from all economic and ethnic backgrounds if they are to feel truly a part of the fabric of this community. While Houston has a reputation as a city that welcomes all comers, as business leaders, we need to ensure that Houston is more welcoming and inclusive than ever. Our future depends on it. NEXT STEP: Houstonians should make sure that the future is in our hands The third value is the willingness to compromise. In broader terms, our state and our country seem to be at a stalemate, and we are being starved in the realm of good public policy. We have forgotten how to build consensus. Business leaders know how to do this. If they didn't, they wouldn't be in business. Now is the time for the business community to weigh in and help end the destructive partisanship that is taking us down the road to a very bad place. It's time for business leaders to have a broader conception of their role. Not simply to focus on what's needed to grow their business. Rather, to act as citizens of this community promoting the constructive values I just described. So how do we as business leaders move forward? First, we must get involved in the electoral process - in the primary stage if possible. Until business leaders show up, someone else will fill the void, often with negative results. And we can't simply show up midway through the next legislative session and expect to have any meaningful voice on the critical issues. The other way for us to change outcomes is through engagement with the Partnership. Our committees, task forces and special initiatives offer the opportunity to take your commitment to Houston and turn it into great outcomes for our community. AMAZON SHRUGGED: We need to make sure Houston doesn't get shut out the next time opportunity knocks Time is not our friend. If we are to continue to advance in the race to be one of the great global cities, we need to spend less time on the issues that divide us. We need to spend more time on the things that matter. We have had great business leaders with great vision for this city like Jesse Jones, Ben Love and Bob Onstead, among many others, but we must add more names to that list. They didn't sit on the sidelines, nor should we. Let's get started. UP: We start off our thumbs column with a 21-thumbs salute to our outgoing editorial board editor, Jeff Cohen, who created this column when he took the job. Jeff is retiring after a 40-plus-year career in the newspaper business that started at the Daily Texan and San Antonio Light before taking him to Albany, NY. Jeff joined the Houston Chronicle in 2002 as editor in chief, where he ran the paper until taking over the single most important job in the building - deciding what news deserves the enviable thumbs up and what merits the shameful thumbs down. Now his thumbs will spend their days wrapped around a sand wedge or gripping the handles of a mountain bike. Thumbs up to you, Jeff! UP: Maybe Jeff will take his bike on an outer Beltway adventure along Greens Bayou, where this week the Houston Parks Board held the first Bayou Greenways groundbreaking of the year. This linear park will be the first Bayou Greenways 2020 investment in the north Houston bayou. Hike-and-bike paths and verdant public spaces were never meant to be the exclusive domain of downtown-adjacent Buffalo Bayou. Everyone in Houston deserves to see the brackish waterways that line their neighborhoods transformed into usable parks. AFTER HARVEY: Bayou Greenways nonprofit sees groundswell of support DOWN: Help us John Culberson, you're our only hope. A leaked budget proposal shows that the Trump administration wants to shut down the International Space Station by 2025, according to a report by The Verge. Ever since Obama shuttered the Shuttle program, the Johnson Space Center's remaining duties involve serving as Mission Control for the ISS. If that space station loses funding, then say goodbye to Space City. Luckily, the final decision for government funding rests with the congressional appropriations committees. MOON PLAN: Trump's NASA promises lack necessary funding DOWN: Call it the Night The Lights Went Out in Houston. Those technicolor decorations on the bridges spanning the Southwest Freeway have turned to black because the Montrose Management District lost a lawsuit brought by property owners who say the district illegally collects taxes. Now they can't pay the electric bill and upkeep costs. Until the problem is resolved, denizens desperate for a nightly laserlight show can make their way to another Montrose-area attraction - the South Beach nightclub. 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. 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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. Why Digital Music (And Not Just Streaming) Is Booming In this piece music industry vet Seth Schachner weighs in on how he's seen the music industry change over the years, and how it's managed to crawl back from the precipice of destitution thanks to the rising of digital music. _____________________________ Guest post by Seth Schachner from Medium Dropping into a flashy, raucous major label event at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas recently, I felt like Id landed on a new planet. I didnt see ice sculptures, giant dessert towers, or sushi served on live models. But I did sense a radical change from the last decade. Eight years ago, towards the end of a long stretch at a major label, our bosses shunned a big holiday party, and just ordered in pizza to our lunch room. With proverbial knives to our throats, our digital business wasnt growing rapidly enough to offset our declining CD business, so the mood was dimmer that year. Streaming hadnt yet become a real business, and we played it safe. But on that November night in Vegas, I saw a revived recorded music industry, slightly high from successes like the crossover hit Despacito. Comforted by a growing streaming business, for once our hosts were not giving off a sense of imminent demise. And that big streaming bet they took? The one that would kill off download stores, and put the music industry on a track to sell subscriptions? It may be paying for some great parties, but todays labels actually sit alongside of a new wave of digital opportunity and complexity, far beyond streaming. With the comfort of a growing streaming business and a focus on supporting their big partners, I got the sense they may not see it all. Heres what I see lately: The Rise of Social Music and Influencers Social and collaborative services like Musical.ly, Smule, You Now, and 2bTube have grown audiences around simple but compelling propositions: one can connect with artists directly, sing with, or become stars on their own. At a recent artist recording for a social music service, I waited patiently in line with other big digital partners for our time with a major artist. But a group of young influencers goofing off on a couch were the real revolutionaries in the room. Snapping selfies, pushing boundaries, and prodding that artist to try something totally different with his new single made the difference that morning. They caught both the artists and labels attention, but neither were generating much revenue from this endeavor. In fact, the apps themselves are billing their customers and or selling advertising on top of all this activity. Neither dependent nor reliant on the major music interests or massive catalogs from major labels, they navigate on their own, artist-by-artist basis, bringing discrete content to their apps, growing audiences, even in parts of the world not often in the headlines emerging markets like Latin America or Asia. Not surprisingly, some of the services are resistant to the major media players. Investors havent missed this opportunity, particularly in China. I think these new social and collaborative music services are some of the most important marketing channels today, poised for broader strategic roles. Video For labels, Viacoms MTV was an accident of history, an example to avoid. Throughout the 80s and 90s, MTV grew exponentially, with the full support of labels. The labels believed in the idea that investing in music videos would drive sales. A music video network first, MTV grew into a highly profitable, diverse lifestyle network, sharing little of its media business, and the labels realized their mistake. Years later, its not clear if Sony & Universal-backed Vevo has made much of a difference. Created to help build a video advertising business, Vevo is still a key video marketing channel but not much more. And YouTube, perhaps the digital music business biggest conundrum? Their latest round of label deals points to a compromise: one can never stop or fully control user-generated content, so its better to monetize some of it. So where is the opportunity here? Its in social video and original programming. It may be too early to tell, but a recent Universal Music partnership with Facebook for social video sounds encouraging. Musical.lys $50MM creator fund targeted at developing original content sounds much more promising. This is an area all of the biggest music interests would do well to watch closely, particularly as the fragmented television marketplace opens up new platforms for music programming. Artist Independence Major labels no longer dominate or control distribution, and artists dont need them for their music to become available on music platforms. Today, any artist can find distribution via platforms like TuneCore, Mondo Tunes, or big indies like Sonys Orchard, Frances Believe Digital, or InGrooves. Distribution is a commodity, and all of these platforms compete in broader areas like marketing, data reporting, and even radio promotion. Blockchain technology only adds more options for any interest seeking to self-distribute and sell, too. The upshot? Artists today have a nearly unheralded degree of independence and choice. They may choose to go with a major, but they dont have to. In Latin markets, leading artists like Ozuna operate their own labels and leverage the marketing support of majors like Sony too. Going forward, this mix of interests and platforms will deepen, further blurring lines between a major artist and an independent, shifting the balance of power between artists and labels too. A smart major label would play this field opportunistically having that extra chart position and market share edge might be a better choice than letting that hot indie artist go it alone. Playlists & Radio Dinosaurs Perhaps the oldest school marketing channel, radio play still sits high on the radar for artists, even as it is not clear how meaningful it is anymore. But streaming playlists may be the most critical format for new music going forward, and unlike bygone days of radio promotion, theyre not generally for sale. A streaming service like Spotify monitors global consumption data closely, tailoring it to individuals and their listening habits. The promotional power and potential of these playlists cannot be overstated: Danny Ocean, an obscure young Latin artist, released a track called Mi Rehuso, which caught fire on a Central American playlist and rose to become one of 2017s biggest hits in the Americas, with over 500 million streams. Until a few months ago, the artist had no major label association and the tiniest of management teams. As to radio broadcasters chains like Cumulus, or Latin radio chains like SBS: lets just say theres a lot of digital catching up at hand. iHeart Media even with its severe financial troubles is an exception. To me, iHeart is a how to model for a radio broadcaster looking make the digital transformation, as are localized radio apps that look to take some of broadcast radios golden egg (local radio advertising) to digital. The Alien 3D & Spatial Computing Ecosystem Further out on the horizon lies one of the more hyped, foreign ecosystems for music: the new world of 3D content, VR, and AR spatial computing. The new VR/AR content ecosystem has barely scratched the surface of the music industry. Networks like Inception VR, VRTFY, Melody VR, and CEEK are trying to carve out roles as destinations and platforms; upstarts like Endless Riff and Wave VR are targeting social VR they want you to feel like youre back in that planetarium, stoned, and watching The Wall. A few major artists are eyeballing sponsored live VR events, too, in conjunction with concert promoters. But none of this rises to the level of a real business. Neither brands nor consumers will spend much on these platforms, without scale, broader programming, and experiences that justify a fee. While there may not be consumer spending here, theres lot of investor interest, and presumably an equity opportunity. Hailing from gaming, Spatial 3D audio is core to any 360 video product, but it is regarded as videos poor cousin, treated as a production tool. Someone may eventually become a spatial audio standard i.e., a Dolby of 3D Audio, collecting royalties forever -but its not likely to be driven by major labels, who appear more focused on supporting high resolution audio. Also worth mentioning: music bots, which can be deployed to automate some of the dialog between an artist and their social community. Facebooks Messenger, boasting over a billion people, is a compelling platform for these new music bots. Although fans may occasionally rebel at the idea of chatting with a robot, bots make sense to bring basic marketing messages to an artists community. Stashimis Bot 1, Octane, and the UKs Bot Platform are making progress with artists, labels and in some cases, brands, merchandise, and ticketing watch this area, as it is one of the least understood, promising spots for music marketing. Crossover and Dance Luis Fonsis Despacito made it clear there is a huge appetite for multi-cultural music beyond Latin markets. Whether or not it took Justin Bieber to make that single a smash, the US Latin market remains one of the most critical, poorly understood markets today. With a population of nearly 60 million who identify with it in the US alone, its only natural to assume this blend of cross-cultural crossover music continues artists like Bomba Estereo seem like models here, Fonsis newest single is with Demi Lovato, and smart US Latin interests would do well to continue pushing into the US general market. Watch for more blending and breakouts here. And while it doesnt make headlines, Dance and Electronic music may be one of the music industrys most overlooked areas. Look no further at Dance On and Sony Musics agreement with Dubset to monetize the world of DJ music to get a flavor of the potential here. Thats a lot of opportunity beyond streaming. So how does one capture even some of this? Partner, look broadly, and forget about those old boundaries. They wont matter much going forward. Share on: A new mural in Hull is confirmed to be the latest artwork drawn by mysterious street artist Banksy. The artwork a stencilled design showing a child holding a wooden sword with a pencil attached to the end was glimpsed on an abandoned bridge in the city by residents on Thursday (25 January). Despite speculation assuming the world-famous graffiti artist was responsible for the mural, it was only confirmed when images were shared on his official Instagram page the following day. The artwork which has drawn praise from Banksys legions of fans is accompanied by the words Draw the raised bridge! Banksy's Brexit mural appears in Dover Although its not known what inspired this latest piece, many expressed the belief it could be related to Brexit, following in the footsteps of the mural he painted in Dover last May which depicted a workman removing a star from the European Union flag. You can see more images of the new mural here. Follow Independent Culture on Facebook The South African government has revealed the number of rhinos illegally killed last year, suggesting measures to reduce poaching have had limited success. A total of 1,028 rhino were poached from 1 January to 31 December 2017, compared to 1,054 in the same period for 2016, "representing a decrease of 26 animals, the environment ministry said in a statement. The figures came as a disappointment to conservationists. News of the reduction in numbers of rhinos killed illegally in South Africa for the third consecutive year is encouraging. However, the numbers are still far too high, said Margaret Kinnaird, WWF wildlife practice leader. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Show all 14 1 /14 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 The good life - Daniel Nelson - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Daniel Nelson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Giant gathering - Tony Wu - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Tony Wu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Memorial to a species - Brent Stirton - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Brent Stirton/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 The jellyfish jockey - Anthony Berberian - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Anthony Berberian/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 The ancient ritual - Brian Skerry - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Brian Skerry/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Stuck in - Ashleigh Scully - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Ashleigh Scully/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Contemplation - Peter Delaney - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peter Delaney/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Palm-oil survivors - Aaron Gekoski - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Aaron Gekoski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 The ice monster - Laurent Ballesta - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Laurent Ballesta - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Crab surprise - Justin Gilligan - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Justin Gilligan/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Polar pas de deux - Eilo Elvinger - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Eilo Elvinger/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 The incubator bird - Gerry Pearce - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Gerry Pearce/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Tapestry of life - Dorin Bofan - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Dorin Bofan/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 In the grip of the gulls - Ekaterina Bee - Wildlife Photographer of the Year Ekaterina Bee/Wildlife Photographer of the Year There are estimated to be around 30,000 rhinos of all five rhino species surviving in the wild, and South Africa is home to the vast majority of the worlds rhino population. The South African government has made efforts to combat poaching, using patrols and electronic surveillance to monitor areas inhabited by rhinos. Though the Kruger National Park, one of the continents largest games reserves, still endured extensive rhino poaching, nearly 25 per cent fewer rhinos were killed there than in 2016. The government pointed to this decrease as a signal that its anti-poaching measures in the park were working. However, despite these measures the number of arrests of suspected poachers and traffickers declined from 680 in 2016 to 518 people last year. Moreover, the decrease in rhinos killed in Kruger was matched by an increase in other parts of the country, suggesting poachers have been moving their operations elsewhere. Recommended Shocking image of rhino killed by poachers wins global award WWF has also warned that the decline of rhino poaching in Kruger was accompanied by an increase in elephant poaching within the park. Rhino poaching is largely driven by demand from Asian countries, notably Vietnam and China. There is a pervasive but incorrect belief within these countries that rhino horn has medicinal properties, and can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases including cancer. Campaigners have emphasised the need to tackle the illegal supply chain in its entirety in order to prevent rhino poaching. We must also shine a light on the on-going struggles facing the people whose safety and livelihoods are threatened by this illicit trade, said Ms Kinnaird. To address poaching and the destruction it causes to both humans and wildlife, we need to put more effort into stopping the corruption that facilitates the trade and change consumer behaviour particularly in Asia, to stop the demand for illegal wildlife products such as rhino horn. Fashion designer Zuhair Murad has been criticised for cultural appropriation during the catwalk for his spring/summer 2018 collection. Models were spotted walking down the runway wearing pieces from the Lebanese designers haute couture collection with feathers in their hair. The collection has been named Indian Summer and has been directly influenced by Native American culture, which a number of people find disrespectful. Recommended Ivanka Trump accused of cultural appropriation for India trip clothing Native American culture - observed from a fantasised and respectful perspective - is at the heart of Zuhair Murads Spring 2018 Couture collection, the fashion house states. The house pays homage to the craftsmanship of an array of ancient tribes, notably the Sioux, the Navajos, the Iroquois, and celebrates their traditional prints, embroideries, and pictograms. While Murad may have genuinely wanted to feature aspects of Native American culture in his collection as a sign of admiration, there are those who argue that doing so was ignorant. An eagle feather is especially significant to Native Americans, as its a sacred symbol of freedom, wisdom, honour and strength. However, feathers werent the only element of Native American culture featured during the show. The runway was decorated with painted sticks on either side, in a clear nod to the traditional teepee. A number of the dresses were also designed with patterns clearly inspired by Native American tribes. Recommended Woman pens passionate piece about the cultural appropriation of henna One person took to Twitter to express their disapproval for Murads creative choice, stating: Can we ask the stylist who thought feathers in the hair for a nod to Native American culture to just not? Murad has admitted that choosing to highlight Native American culture as the focus of his collection was a daring decision. For haute couture, it was risky, yes, he told Vogue backstage. But I said to myself, I want to go beyond my limits this time; I want to do a challenge. Most of the time, I am inspired by the past, and this is a kind of an homage and respect to the people who left us a very beautiful heritage of art, craftsmanship, and design. Native American culture has long been the subject of many instances of cultural appropriation. Adrienne J. Keene, an American and Native American academic, writer and activist, has previously explained why adopting various elements of Native American culture is so problematic. Recommended Hoop earrings criticised as cultural appropriation Most often people who engage in cultural appropriation use the respect and honour argument to justify their actions - But I think Native culture is so beautiful! or Im honouring Native Americans! she told Refinery29. To me, there is no respect in taking designs or cultural markers from a community, divorcing them from their meaning and context, and selling them for monetary gain. The Independent has reached out to Zuhair Murad for comment. Brunching out... Apparently eating seafood for breakfast is as close as you can get to a healthy start to the day. Good for memory, building muscle and maintaining a healthy body, or so the thinking goes. Saying that, I imagine its a dish of wholemeal toast with poached eggs and smoked mackerel which features on the healthier end of the spectrum, rather than crab and scrambled egg on buttery English muffins, swimming in a beautiful and silky chive hollandaise. That was the pick of the dishes at Galley, a smart seafood-focused restaurant towards the Highbury end of Upper Street. The decor is evocative of a Manhattan bistro; its the sort of place youd take your parents if they were in town and were absolutely set on a bottomless brunch. At 26 for one main plus unlimited prosecco, mimosas or bloody Marys, its pretty decent value, even when you consider the 90-minute time limit. Generous, given most restaurants around London are trying to turn tables at brunch. Aside from the aforementioned crab and egg muffin, the winter chicken schnitzel was another pick: very well seasoned chicken that was improved as most things are by the addition of two fried eggs. You can also go in the direction of a fry-up, waffles two ways (topped with bacon and maple syrup, or a fruitier version that comes with a mixed berry compote), along with the requisite-at-brunch avocado toast. An a la carte menu is also available. Dont miss the tempura oysters, which come with a wonderfully rich tomato sauce that could tempt you to lick the shells, even though youre in a nice place. They even offer truffle and parmesan fries at brunch, which arent as good as the outstanding version at Goodman, but then again they are half the price. Probably the pick of the sides over the hash brown, which was more like a latke and was slightly over-fried. The menu and brunch time limit of 90 minutes are generous compared to its north London rivals (Galley) If you dont choose to have the bottomless brunch, for whatever reason, then youll be either mortified or delighted to find that the Galley offers matcha and pumpkin lattes. Im firmly in the delighted camp and this was a decent version. Theres also a respectable range of teas and juices if youre sticking to soft drinks. A decent neighbourhood option that feels nicer to dine in than most of its rivals in north London. Staff dont rush you, even if youre on the bottomless brunch time limit, and dont breathe down your neck to get you out while youre enjoying your eggs. It may not be entirely healthy, but theres no denying that a brunch at Galley is good for you. 105-106 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1QN, UK; 020 7684 2538; galleylondon.co.uk; open daily Brunching in... Herb-baked eggs with crispy Parma ham Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Serves 4 83g pack Parma ham tbsp unsalted butter, plus extra to grease tbsp olive oil 50g fresh breadcrumbs x 20g pack fresh dill, chopped x 25g pack fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra to serve 8 free range eggs 2 tbsp grated Parmigiano Reggiano Preheat the oven to 200C, gas mark 6. Arrange the Parma ham on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes until crisp. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Heat the butter with the oil in a large frying pan and gently fry the breadcrumbs until golden and crisp. Remove from the heat and set aside in a bowl to cool. Generously butter 4 small shallow oven dishes, scatter with the herbs and torn crispy Parma ham, then crack 2 eggs into each dish. Scatter with the golden breadcrumbs followed by the Parmigiano Reggiano. Cook in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until the eggs are just set. Serve with a scattering of parsley on top. Recipe and image courtesy of Waitrose.com Women who suffer from heavy periods can attest how terrible it feels when their time of the month comes around. Thankfully, heavy periods may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a pioneering new study into the causes of heavy menstrual bleeding. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, funded by Wellbeing of Women, explored how the shedding of the endometrium (the womb lining) is linked to dropping levels of oxygen during menstruation. When the endometrium is shed, this causes a woman to bleed during her period. In order to reduce the amount of blood lost, the surface of the womb that has lost its lining must heal. The study, which was published in journal Nature Communications, noted that when hypoxia occurred (lowered levels of oxygen), the body produced a protein called HIF-1 (hypoxia inducible factor one). Production of the HIF-1 protein speeds up the healing process of the womb lining. The researchers realised that women with heavy periods typically had lower levels of HIF-1 in comparison to women with a lighter flow. Therefore, creating a treatment for women with heavy periods that boosts their levels of HIF-1 could be the key to helping millions of women worldwide. Dr Jackie Maybin, clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Edinburghs Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health and leader of the study, explained the significance of the teams breakthrough. Our findings reveal fo the first time that HIF-1 and reduced levels of oxygen in the womb are required during a period to optimise repair of the womb lining, she said. Excitingly, increasing levels of the HIF-1 protein in mice shows real promise as a novel, non-hormonal medical treatment. Tina Weaver, CEO of Wellbeing of Women, also stressed how many individuals will benefit from these new findings. Heavy bleeding is a debilitating and common condition that affects thousands of women and girls but too often gets dismissed, she said. These findings give hope to women who have suffered in silence with the condition for too long." Donald Trump came to the World Economic Forum amid rising speculation that the US is preparing to launch a trade war on other states in order to deliver on his conviction that protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. The US President spoke at some length on the subject of trade in his speech to a packed hall of delegates from all around the world. So what was his message? What are its implications? And should we really be expecting a global trade war? What did Trump say? He picked up a theme already pushed by his Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin and his Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, at Davos, namely that the Trump administration is not protectionist, but merely demands fair trade. We support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal, Trump said. We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to our trading system. The implication is that the system is rigged against America something Trump asserted continuously when he was campaigning to be President in 2016. This is founded on the view that his predecessors negotiated bad trade deals with other countries, such as Mexico and Canada, which resulted in multinational companies shifting production and American jobs offshore. He also accused countries like China of manipulating their currencies to gain a trade advantage over America. Trumps rhetoric at Davos was uncompromising. 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, he said. These and other predatory behaviours are distorting the global markets and harming businesses and workers not just in the US but around the globe. Those references to state-led economic planning and subsidies were a pretty clear reference to China, although he did not mention the Asian trade superpower by name. What has Trump done in response so far? He ostentatiously walked away from two major multilateral trade deals that had been negotiated (or were in the process of being negotiated) by his predecessor Barack Obama: the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP]. The Trump administration is also demanding changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement, which covers the US, Mexico and Canada and is threatening to tear it up if not satisfied. Away from over-arching deals, the Commerce department bowed to lobbying from Boeing last year and is in the process of imposing punitive tariffs on the imports of the Canadian airline manufacturer Bombardier, something with alarming consequences for workers in Bombardiers Northern Irish supply chain. Earlier this week, the US government also imposed large tariffs on imports of washing machines and solar panels made in China and South Korea. Mnuchin and Ross also made it very clear in Davos there are more of these tariff hikes to come. So what might the US do next? The unusual claim from Mnuchin this week that a weak dollar helps America sent a shock through currency markets, with some traders apparently betting that the US is now planning to boost its exports by talking down the US currency. Mnuchins comments drew a sharp rebuke from the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, suggesting that he is concerned about this possibility too. However, on trade deals, Trump offered what, in a certain light, looks like an olive branch. The US is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreements with all countries, he said. 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 the interests of all That reference to perhaps as a group opens up the possibility that he is not so opposed to multilateral talks as his rhetoric implies. Indeed, Trump explicitly told CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the WEF, that: I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal. 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 So can we expect a trade war? Its important to bear in mind that Trump has talked tough on trade before but not delivered. He failed to deliver his unequivocal campaign promise to label China as a currency manipulator on his first day in office. An optimistic reading, taking into account his positive noises about resurrecting TPP, is that Trump will prove much less protectionist than his rhetoric suggests. However, a less optimistic reading is that his administration, having put huge effort during 2017 into repealing Obamacare and ramming through corporation tax cuts, will now devote more attention to perceived trade injustices and actually start to inflict the damage to the integrity of the global trading system that has long been feared. Scientists in China who created the world's first cloned monkeys have promised they do not plan to repeat the technique with humans. The birth of two identical long-tailed macaques named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua marked the first time primates had been cloned using the same technique that created Dolly the sheep. While the achievement was seen as a breakthrough, critics raised ethical concerns about the research and suggested it could lead to a slippery slope that would ultimately result in human cloning. However, the Chinese scientists who carried out the research said their interest in cloning primates came from a strictly medical perspective. We have no plan to clone humans, and social ethics would by no means allow that practice, Dr Mu-ming Poo, co-author of the macaque study, told Chinese state news outlet Xinhua. First monkey clones Show all 7 1 /7 First monkey clones First monkey clones Zhongzhong and Huahua Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Hua Hua Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Hua Hua Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Hua Hua Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Zhong Zhong Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Zhong Zhong Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences First monkey clones Zhong Zhong Qiang Sun and Mu-ming Poo, Chinese Academy of Sciences Instead the researchers said their study, published in the journal Cell, provided a framework for understanding human diseases. Dr Poo acknowledged that while their work could theoretically lead to cloning humans, they were only interested in advancing the treatment of brain conditions such as Alzheimers disease and autism. The scientists have previously emphasised the very strict ethical standards required for performing cloning research on primates. Just like nuclear power and artificial intelligence, cloning technology is also a double-edged sword, said Dr Qiang Sun, the director of the Suzhou Nonhuman Primate Research Facility and leader of the study. By creating cloned monkeys, researchers could potentially undertake experiments in which all the subjects are genetically identical apart from the genes they want to manipulate and study. This will generate real models not just for genetically based brain diseases, but also cancer, immune or metabolic disorders, and allow us to test the efficacy of the drugs for these conditions before clinical use, said Dr Sun. Professor Darren Griffiths, a geneticist at the University of Kent who was not involved in the study, confirmed there were clear benefits to this research. 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 said. However, he also noted the controversy that inevitably surrounds findings of this nature. The first report of cloning of a non-human primate will undoubtedly raise a series of ethical concerns, with critics evoking the slippery slope argument of this being one step closer to human cloning, he said. Other scientists noted the medical advantages of performing this kind of research on animals that are so evolutionarily close to humans, but stated human cloning remains a bad idea. This clearly remains a very foolish thing to attempt, said Dr Robin Lovell-Badge from the stem cell biology and developmental genetics laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute. It would be far too inefficient, far too unsafe, and it is also pointless. Clones may be genetically identical, but we are far from only being a product of our genes. Besides the research leading to human clones, observers have pointed to other ethical issues surrounding the cloned monkeys, such as the health issues that have been associated with cloned animals in the past. The somatic cell nuclear transfer technique the scientists used to produce the clones was described by Dr Poo as rather delicate, and required 79 cloned embryos to be used in order to obtain two healthy monkeys. The researchers also produced two other newborn monkeys, but neither survived for long. However, Dr Sun and his colleagues said cloning macaques could have the benefit of reducing the number of monkeys used for animal testing in labs, and that the technique could even be used to preserve endangered primates such as golden monkeys. Dr Sun also called for regulations to ban the inappropriate use of cloning technology. All current rape and serious sexual assault cases are to be urgently reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after the collapse of a string of trials due to evidence disclosure failings. A number of cases could be dropped following the emergency re-examination, warned Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders. Police officers dealing with the disclosure of evidence could also be required to obtain a licence to practise as part of an improvement plan unveiled jointly by the CPS, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and College of Policing. Recommended Rape trial collapses after police fail to disclose sex messages Specialist disclosure experts will be posted in every force area as part of efforts to address failings that have rocked confidence in the criminal justice system. The collapse of four cases within two months sparked serious concerns over arrangements for disclosing crucial evidence to defence teams. In the lead-up to trials, police and prosecutors are required to hand over relevant material that either undermines the prosecution case or assists the defence case. But the regime came under sharp focus after defendants facing rape allegations had the charges against them dropped when critical evidence emerged at the eleventh hour. Earlier this month the prosecution of Oxford University student Oliver Mears collapsed when the CPS said it had received new evidence from Surrey Police. The 19-year-old had spent two years on bail awaiting a trial. Days earlier, prosecutors had dropped a case against 28-year-old Samson Makele after his lawyers presented photos of him cuddling the complainant in bed that undermined her account of an alleged rape in London. His lawyers had previously been denied access to the images and only obtained them days before a scheduled trial. Surrey Police and the Metropolitan Police each announced reviews of live sexual offence cases after failings emerged. Ms Saunders said steps were being taken as a matter of urgency to identify any further cases of concern across the country. Senior prosecutors across England and Wales are currently assessing all live rape and serious sexual assault cases to check they are satisfied that disclosure obligations have been met. Inevitably, bringing forward these case reviews means it is likely that there may be a number of cases which we will be stopping at around the same time, said Ms Saunders. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA UK news in pictures 27 July 2021 A view of one of two areas now being used at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, for boats used by people thought to be migrants. PA UK news in pictures 26 July 2021 A woman is helped by Border Force officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, following a small boat incident in the Channel PA UK news in pictures 25 July 2021 Vehicles drive through deep water on a flooded road in Nine Elms, London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 July 2021 Utilities workers inspect a 15x20ft sinkhole on Green Lane, Liverpool, which is suspected to have been caused by ruptured water main PA UK news in pictures 23 July 2021 Children interact with Mega Please Draw Freely by artist Ei Arakawa inside the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London, part of UNIQLO Tate Play the gallery's new free programme of art-inspired activities for families PA UK news in pictures 22 July 2021 Festivalgoers in the campsite at the Latitude festival in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk PA UK news in pictures 21 July 2021 A man walks past an artwork by Will Blood on the end of a property in Bedminster, Bristol, as the 75 murals project reaches the halfway point and various graffiti pieces are sprayed onto walls and buildings across the city over the Summer PA UK news in pictures 20 July 2021 People during morning prayer during Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice, in Southall Park, Uxbridge, London PA UK news in pictures 19 July 2021 Commuters, some not wearing facemasks, at Westminster Underground station, at 08:38 in London after the final legal Coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England PA UK news in pictures 18 July 2021 A view of spectators by the 2nd green during day four of The Open at The Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 July 2021 Cyclists ride over the Hammersmith Bridge in London. The bridge was closed last year after cracks in it worsened during a heatwave Getty UK news in pictures 16 July 2021 The sun rises behind the Sefton Park Palm House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 15 July 2021 Sir Nicholas Serota watches a short film about sea monsters as he opens a 7.6 million, 360 immersive dome at Devonport's Market Hall in Plymouth, which is the first of its type to be built in Europe PA UK news in pictures 14 July 2021 Heidi Street, playing a gothic character, looks at a brain suspended in glass at the worlds first attraction dedicated to the author of Frankenstein inside the Mary Shelleys House of Frankenstein experience, located in a Georgian terraced house in Bath, as it prepares to open to the public on 19 July PA UK news in pictures 13 July 2021 Rehearsals are held in a car park in Glasgow for a parade scene ahead of filming for what is thought to be the new Indiana Jones 5 movie starring Harrison Ford PA The three bodies improvement plan set out proposals to review training on disclosure, develop a cadre of specialist and experienced disclosure experts in every force, and provide all multimedia evidence from the CPS to the defence via direct electronic link by July. The document also commits to reviewing whether there should be a requirement for officers to hold a Licence to Practise in respect of disclosure by January 2019. Ms Saunders said: The CPS and police have a vital role in ensuring there is a fair trial process in place to protect the public. Proper disclosure is a fundamental part of this. The steps we have already taken, along with the measures we have announced today, are aimed at tackling the deep-rooted and systemic disclosure issues which are of great concern to us all. She said changes in society, such as the vastly increasing use of social media and mobile phone messaging, bring challenges that all parts of the criminal justice system, despite the resourcing challenges, must deal with. Last week Ms Saunders said she doesnt think innocent people were in prison due to withheld evidence, despite admitting there was a systemic issue. But one lawyer said it was impossible to believe no one had been wrongly convicted. The three bodies disclosure improvement plan refers to an explosion in volume of digital material created in criminal investigations, with greater strain being placed on the capacity for lawyers and individual officers. Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, the NPCCs lead for criminal justice, said: Disclosure is an essential element of the criminal justice process, but has too often been seen as an administrative task completed at the end of an investigation, exacerbated by the rapid expansion of digital material involved in almost every case. We now need to firmly embed disclosure in the investigative mindset from the outset of any investigation. Reviews of recent cases have shown a range of issues leading to failures but there has been no intention by officers to conceal information. He expressed confidence the plan will lead to real improvements in quick time. The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, said the justice system was in a new world as a result of the large volume of digital evidence but denied a lack of resources was to blame for failings. Speaking to John Humphrys on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Wright said: Thats not true. Let me simply say this to you in relation to the Crown Prosecution Service, the number of specialist prosecutors who deal with rape and sexual offences has increased by 40 per cent since 2015. What we are talking about here is those people doing the job they are expected to do and following the disclosure regime properly thats what we should all expect them to do. The failings in these cases have not been because there wasnt a police officer and there wasnt a prosecutor, its because they didnt appear to be applying the regime they are expected to apply in conducting disclosure properly. Theresa May will hold talks with her top team on how to head off major losses in the upcoming local elections, as one of the countrys top pollsters warned Brexit could hit Tory electoral chances. Elections expert Sir John Curtice, who predicted last years shock election result, said the Conservatives could lose more than half of their London boroughs in the May elections, which are being fought mostly in Labour heartlands or Remain-voting areas like the capital. Cabinet ministers will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to avoid a poor showing at the polls, The Independent understands, in a sign of mounting fears that a disastrous set of results could cost Ms May her job. Recommended Sadiq Khan fires starting gun on Labour local election campaign It comes amid growing disillusionment over the Prime Ministers leadership among backbenchers after a chaotic reshuffle and continued shifts on Brexit policy, with reports that a string of MPs are gearing up to topple her. The Tories could lose at least half of their London boroughs, as its young population and pro-European views leave it vulnerable to Labour, Sir John told The Independent. The veteran psephologist, who is a senior fellow of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, said: What we do know is the Conservative Party lost ground among Remain voters in June of last year and gained ground among Leave voters. Given that the areas that are voting in May are predominantly urban England, including London, the Tories are probably going to find it very difficult in London because they are losing ground very heavily in the capital and Brexit has pushed that process further. David Davis humiliated by Hillary Benn over Brexit negotiation predictions The situation presents a political challenge to the Prime Minister as pro-EU sentiment in the eligible seats could give a misleading impression of how much difficulty the Tories are in, he said. Sir John said: Theresa Mays problem is that most visible elections are in London, which is probably the most difficult place for them to have to defend. Thats her misfortune. Its a picture of two halves. We may find in the less high-profile elections in some of the smaller districts that the Tories actually hang onto what theyve got, while losing ground in London. The political class will tend to focus on London and they may ignore the fact that the Tories are not doing so badly elsewhere. Thats her problem in the differences in the visibility of the contest. He added: Its in London where the big prizes are, not least because its a whole council election everywhere. Even if what happens in London replicates what happened in the general election, which of course is a reflection of the Brexit nature of London, then the Tories are potentially going to be in trouble. Labour is ramping up the pressure in London, where leader Jeremy Corbyn commands strong support and mayor Sadiq Khan has set his sights on capturing the Tory boroughs of Wandsworth and Barnet. All of the capitals 32 boroughs will be up for grabs in the election, as well as metropolitan boroughs such as Birmingham and Manchester, and scores of district council seats across England. Elections analyst Lord Hayward recently said that the Conservatives face losing Barnet Margaret Thatchers former local borough to Labour, while the Liberal Democrats look likely to snatch Kingston. 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 The Conservative peer also warned that the party faced the fight of their lives to cling on to three other boroughs which were previously seen as safe, including Westminster and Wandsworth which are seen as models for Tory efficiency. The last time all the London boroughs were contested in 2014, Labour gained three councils while the Conservatives under David Cameron lost two, leaving them with nine in the city. The local elections could prove pivotal for Ms Mays leadership amid reports that Graham Brady, the chair of the influential 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, has begged MPs to stop sending him letters calling for a leadership contest. A no-confidence vote would be triggered if 15 per cent of the parliamentary party or 48 MPs express concerns to the 1922 committee about the party leader. However, the claims were disputed by some senior Conservatives. One MP told The Independent: We are all a bit surprised. Lots of fed up are people, but surprising if more than 40 have actually put pen to paper. Another said: I really doubt it. More likely a few troublemakers from the Boris camp trying to flush out and encourage doubters. I doubt many have written to Graham Brady. Ms May has said she wants to fight the next election, insisting she is in it for the long term. A young boy has died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacteria after falling off his bike. Liam Flanagan, 8, from Pilot Rock in Oregon, was riding down a hill when he fell, sustaining a cut on his leg which required stitches. He was treated in hospital and sent home to recover, but three days later he was still complaining of pain in his thigh and groin. The boys mother, Sara Hebard, and her husband, Scott Hinkle, checked him and noticed the skin around the area was discoloured. Liam was taken to hospital and diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, a rare but serious bacterial infection that affects the tissue underneath the skin and the surrounding muscles and organs. The bacteria is believed to have entered the boy's body via soil in his cut. Liam was taken to Doernbecher Childrens Hospital in Portland, where surgeons amputated parts of his body to try to save his life. Almost his whole right side was gone. They kept cutting and hoping. Cutting and hoping, Ms Hebard told the East Oregonian. The childs condition deteriorated and his died in hospital on 21 January. 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 Ms Hebard has said she wants to raise awareness of the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis, which include intense pain that is out of proportion with damage to the skin, flu-like symptoms, swelling and discoloured skin, vomiting and diarrhoea. He was a lovable kid. He never had a bad word to say, Mr Hinkle said. We dont want any other parents to go through this. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the boys family. A large number of people have been shot dead in north-western Brazil after gunmen stormed into a party, police said. Local media reported that 14 people had been killed in the shootings at a nightclub in the city of Fortaleza. At least six others, some of them children, were injured, according to the country's National Public Security Force. Recommended Anger as police take smiling selfies with gang boss wanted for murders Police believe the shootings could be linked to a rivalry between drug gangs but many of those killed are thought to have been innocent party-goers with no connections to organised crime. Up to 15 gunmen arrived in three heavily armed cars at 1.30am on Saturday and fired their weapons as they entered Forro do Gago nightclub. People fled the club and sheltered in nearby houses as shots went on for half an hour, witnesses told O Globo, Footage of the aftermath showed blood on the ground outside the club in the Cajazeiras area of Fortaleza, a coastal city in the state of Ceara. The newspaper said the shooting was the deadliest in the city's history. Twelve people died at the scene and two others were pronounced dead later in hospital. At least men, four women, and two teenagers were reported to be among the dead. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty A 12-year-old boy and two 16-year-old girls were said to be among the wounded survivors. Police deployed a helicopter in the search for the gunmen but there are no reports of arrests. Witnesses were said to be scared of providing information to authorities out of fear of reprisals. Ceara has the second highest levels of violence among Brazilian states, according to the newspaper Estadao, with drug traffickers blamed for increasing bloodshed. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was set to be sworn in on Saturday for an historic second term after prevailing last year in a bitterly disputed election that sparked deadly protests and international condemnation over alleged fraud. Hernandez appeared set to lose the 26 November election until an abrupt halt in the vote count and a shift in the results, taking victory away from his centre-left rival, Salvador Nasralla. The opposition cried foul and more than 30 people were killed in protests that persisted through January in the impoverished Central American country. Nasralla has called for continued demonstrations. International observers said the election was marred by irregularities and the Organization of American States called for a new presidential vote. However, Hernandez held firm and the result was eventually ratified by the country's electoral tribunal, which is led by an ally of the president. Soon after, Mexico and the United States backed the incumbent. Following a contentious decision by the Supreme Court in 2015, Hernandez is the first president to be re-elected since the end of military rule nearly four decades ago. Hernandez has pledged to maintain his hard-line strategy in the fight against the country's gangs despite human rights groups' allegations of abuses. During his first term, the homicide rate fell by almost 50 per cent, but Honduras is still one of the world's most violent countries. Reuters Just days after high school shootings in Texas and Kentucky, an alleged school shooting plot in Pennsylvania has been thwarted. Police found multiple guns and machetes in a 14-year-old high school students bedroom after receiving a tip from one of the suspects classmates. According to officials, the classmate allegedly overheard the suspect threatening to shoot four students at Uniontown Area Senior High School, located about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The student who overheard the conversation recorded it, said Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower, according to CBS News. The person then told their parents, who contacted police. When authorities went to the suspect's home, they found an arsenal of weapons in his bedroom including a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, two machetes, throwing knives, two lever-action rifle, a revolver, a crossbow with arrows, and bulk ammunition for all of the weapons. It is unclear how the suspect obtained the weapons. Quite frankly the parent and the child who reported this are the heroes, Mr Bower said at a news conference. Had they not reported this, there could have been a major catastrophe at Uniontown High School. 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 Asked about why the suspect allegedly wanted to target the four students, Mr Bower responded: He didn't like them. That's what he said, he didn't like them. What a reason to do something. The teen suspect was arrested and is being charged with making terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a minor, and criminal attempt to commit catastrophe, according to CBS. He is being held in a juvenile detention centre and his parents are cooperating with police. Uniontown Area High School released a statement to the station saying that security has increased throughout a number of our schools today. The district would like to thank the Pennsylvania State Police, the Uniontown City Police, as well as our students, parents and staff members for their assistance and efforts to ensure a safe and productive day of education, it said. Faith groups protested on Friday against ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to institute a ban on travel by residents of a number of Muslim-majority countries. The demonstration in New York's Washington Square Park took place a year after Donald Trump's first executive order setting out the ban, which has been blocked by the courts. The US Supreme Court has agreed to decide the legality of the latest version of Mr Trump's ban, which affects residents from six countries instead of the original seven. It pits an administration that considers the restrictions necessary for Americans' security against challengers who claim it is illegally aimed at Muslims and stems from Mr Trump's campaign call for a "complete shutdown of Muslims" entering the US. The policy blocks entry into the US of most people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The justices plan to hear arguments in April and issue a final ruling by late June on a Trump policy that has been repeatedly blocked and struck down in the lower courts. On Friday protesters linked arms around a group of Muslim demonstrators who knelt to pray in Washington Square Park. Rev Dr Chloe Breyer, from the Interfaith Centre of New York, told Huffington Post: Its practically important and symbolically important to stand with people of different faith traditions. Its what we should do as Americans. Mr Trump's first travel ban was issued almost a year ago, almost immediately after he took office, and was aimed at seven countries. It triggered chaos and protests across the US as travellers were stopped from boarding international flights and detained at airports for hours. Mr Trump tweaked the order after the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit refused to reinstate the ban. The next version, unveiled in March, dropped Iraq from the list of covered countries and made it clear the 90-day ban covering Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen did not apply to those travellers who already had valid visas. It also dropped language that would give priority to religious minorities. Critics said the changes did not erase the legal problems with the ban. The same appeals courts that are evaluating the current policy agreed with the challengers. The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said the ban "drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination." The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Mr Trump violated immigration law. The Supreme Court allowed the ban to take partial effect, but said those with a claim of a "bona fide" relationship with someone in the US could not be kept out of the country. Grandparents, cousins and other relatives were among those who could not be excluded. 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 But the high court said lower courts were wrong to apply the same limits to the new policy, at least while it is being appealed. The justices did not explain their brief order. The third version is permanent, unlike the other two, and the administration said it is the product of a thorough review by several agencies of how other countries' screen their own citizens and share information with the U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco said in court papers that the policy is well within the President's "broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of aliens outside the United States when he deems it in the Nation's interest." In response, the challengers said the policy violates the Constitution because it is biased against Muslims and also violates immigration law. The new version continues "the same unlawful policy" that was struck down by lower courts last year, lawyer Neal Katyal said in his brief on behalf of the challengers. Additional reporting by AP President Donald Trump has said he deeply respects the people of Africa in a letter to 55 continental leaders, in the wake of his reported s***hole countries comments. The leaders are gathering for an African Union (AU) summit this weekend in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa. US diplomats have scrambled for weeks to address the fallout from Mr Trumps remarks, allegedly made during an immigration meeting earlier this month. Mr Trump has denied using the phrase, but admitted the meeting was tough. Others present have said he did use it. The US President met with Paul Kagame, his opposite number in Rwanda, at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday. Mr Kagame said the pair had had good discussions on economic and trade issues, and that the African Union was looking forward to working with the United States. Mr Trump said it had been an honour to meet the incoming AU leader. The 55-nation continental bodys summit is expected to respond to Trumps vulgar remark, having said previously it was frankly alarmed by his language. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an extended visit to the continent in March, Mr Trump added in his letter. The missive says the US profoundly respects the partnerships and values shared by the the US and Africans and that the Presidents commitment to strong relationships with African nations is firm. 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 letter offered Mr Trumps deepest compliments to the African leaders as they gather. It noted that US soldiers are fighting side by side against extremism on the continent and that the US was working to increase free, fair and reciprocal trade with African countries and partnering to safeguard legal immigration. The letter gave no details on Mr Tillersons upcoming visit. Mr Trumps alleged comments came during a bipartisan meeting on immigration at the White House on 11 January. According to The Washington Post, when plans were floated to protect some immigrants as part of the DACA deal Mr Trump asked: Why are we having all these people from s***hole countries come here? Rupert Colville, a UN human rights spokesman, called Mr Trumps offensive remarks about Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations racist, saying there is no other word you can use. The President tweeted that the claims had been made up by Democrats. Opposition senator Dick Durbin, who attended the Oval Office meeting, later told journalists that reports of Mr Trumps hate-filled, vile and racist language were accurate. He had used the word s***hole not just once but repeatedly, Mr Durbin said. Additional reporting by agencies When President Donald Trump delivered his first address to US Congress it was technically not termed a State of the Union speech because he had only been on the job for five weeks. He largely stuck to the script, claimed his election victory had been a rebellion of the people and outraged many by announcing the establishment of a body to help alleged victims of immigrant crime the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement. We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests, he said. Eleven long months later, Mr Trump has been President for a year, believes he has delivered on many of his electoral promises, and considers himself to be a victim of fake media coverage and Special Prosecutor Robert Muellers witch hunt into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. A senior administration official told reporters that when Mr Trump speaks at 9pm EST on Tuesday night, laying out future plans and reflecting on his first year in office, he will be speaking from the heart. That official, who declined to be named, said the President will discuss jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade and national security. Experts say that with a booming stock market and low unemployment rate that he inherited from his predecessor - and following a recent corporate tax cut that has resulted in a number of firms announcing new hirings, new projects and bonuses - Mr Trump will start by claiming victory for the resilience of the US economy. Its the economy, stupid. Hes got a story to tell, said Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, referring to the now legendary advice strategist James Carville offered Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992 as he challenged President George HW Bush. Most people have no idea how much a president influences the economy, but Trump will take 100 per cent of the credit for the good news of that we can be sure. Its all due to business confidence in him, and his tax-cutting, and his regulation-busting. He added: Yes, those are a part of the story, but the economy was in great shape during Obamas final year. Trump will never admit that. Hell create a reality that his base will swallow hook, line, and sinker. Trump is making America great again. Donald Trump at Davos: 'America First does not mean America alone' When Mr Trump spoke a year ago, many of his opponents and Hillary Clinton supporters, still licking their wounds from her surprise defeat, may have doubted he would make it this far. While Mr Trump had not yet fired FBI Director James Comey - a decision that would ultimately lead to the appointment of Mr Mueller he had got rid of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after learning he had lied about contact with Russian officials. Furthermore, questions were already being asked about his campaign advisers possible links to Russia, about his refusal to speak out against Vladimir Putin, and the unpresidential nature of much of his discourse and actions. In short, many believed it would only be a short time before Republicans turned against him and the House of Representatives started impeachment proceedings. Yet a year after he took office, Mr Trump appears to be in a much stronger position. While his approval ratings remain at a historic low, his support among his base and Republicans more generally remains solid. Following his success in getting conservative judge Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court, cracking down on immigration and signing into law the biggest tax-cut for three decades, many Republicans believe he has delivered on a lot of their wishes. According to his supporters hes had several major accomplishments," said Jeanne Zaino, a political scientist at New Yorks Iona College. 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 The Supreme Court nomination, the tax reform bill, booming economy/Wall St and jobs numbers, and the little discussed but critical roll back of Obama era regulations to an extent that no one expected. Officials said that during his speech which will be shown on major television and cable networks, as well as the White Houses own website Mr Trump will refer to what he sees as the benefits of reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent. Mr Trump will also reiterate his commitment to fair and reciprocal trade deals. Just this past week, the President for the first time reopened the door to the possibility of the US rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership almost exactly a year after he withdrew the country from the landmark 12-nation trade pact. The administration is also currently negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), which Mr Trump has made clear that he can still rip up if the US does not reach what he considers to be a better deal with Canada and Mexico. The speech, which will get a formal Democratic response from congressman Joe Kennedy, will come a day after the White House is due to deliver its legislative framework for an immigration bill to Congress. It is reported that the plan proposes a path to citizenship for up to 1.8m immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children so-called Dreamers while also calling for restrictions on immigration and $25bn (18bn) for border security. The proposal is likely to face a large amount of opposition from Democrats, some of whom are expected to boycott Mr Trumps address. If Mr Trump sticks to the teleprompter, or the speech his aides have hammered out for him, the nation may get few headlines on Tuesday night. But after a year in which racism, immigration, sexual abuse of women and gender inequality have made up much of the public conversation, will Mr Trump dare dive into any of these areas? Two weeks ago, Mr Trump triggered global outcry when it emerged he had referred to Haiti and African nations as s***hole countries. If I could have one wish, it would be for him to say he will open the path for immigration, without the need for a wall and without using the Dreamers as political pawns, said Veronica Arreola, an Illinois-based academic and gender expert. Professor Terri Givens, an academic focusing on politics and immigration at Californias Menlo College, said she was certain Mr Trump would tout the economy and claim success for it. She said she doubted he would dive into cultural issues. Yet she said she hoped the President, fresh from his speech in Davos, would say something reassuring to Americas traditional allies, many of which have been left uncertain and anxious by his past remarks his attacks on Nato, his strident America First position and his decision to unilaterally withdraw the US from the Paris accord on climate change. Another issue many will be watching for is whether Mr Trump will refer to the ongoing probe into his campaigns possible collusion with Russia. This week it was reported the President last summer had sought to fire Mr Mueller, only to be talked out of it by a White House lawyer. Mr Trump has dismissed the report as fake news. And there remains the possibility that he could use Tuesday nights speech to take a dig at either the investigation or the media, or both. In 1974, President Richard Nixon was almost at the end of his State of the Union address when he asked to offer a personal word about the so-called Watergate affair. I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end, the Republican said, referring to House and Senate investigations into his conduct. One year of Watergate is enough. He declared that he had no intention whatever of ever walking away from the job that the people elected me to do. Mr Nixon resigned seven months later. Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi is isolated and living in a bubble, says US diplomat and politician Bill Richardson, who just this past week resigned from an international panel advising her government on the Rohingya refugee crisis. The former New Mexico governor said Ms Suu Kyi, whom he called a long-time friend, had developed a siege mentality in her position as Myanmars civilian leader, but added that Western governments should continue to engage with her. The relationship with the West, with human rights groups, with the United Nations, with the international media is terrible, he told Reuters. Recommended Myanmar journalist hugs daughter goodbye as he faces 14 years in jail And I think Aung San Suu Kyi has brought this upon herself, the constant disparagement of the international community, which I think can be helpful to her ... She seems isolated. She doesnt travel much into the country. I think shes developed a classic bubble. While on a visit to Myanmar, Mr Richardson suddenly resigned from the advisory board, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Ms Suu Kyi. Ms Suu Kyis office said on Thursday that her government had asked Mr Richardson to step down and accused him of pursuing his own agenda. US and UN officials have described actions carried out by Myanmars military against the stateless Rohingya as ethnic cleansing. The government in mostly Buddhist Burma views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty I think the Myanmar military is to blame a lot and the only person that can turn them around, I believe, is Aung San Suu Kyi, and she should start doing that, Mr Richardson said. Mr Richardson served as a US ambassador to the UN under former President Bill Clinton during the 1990s. Around 688,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to Bangladesh in recent months to escape an army crackdown. Though Ms Suu Kyi once regarded as a democracy icon - is the de facto head of Myanmars civilian government, she is constitutionally limited in her control of the country and the military is in charge of the operations in Rakhine. Still, she has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defence of the Rohingya and for expressing doubts about allegations of human rights abuses. Mr Richardson said it was important for Western governments, the United Nations and Ms Suu Kyi to enter into a new dialogue to try to help each other, not to keep fighting each other before any thoughts of new sanctions on Myanmar. What we dont want is to have Aung San Suu Kyi just listen to ASEAN countries, China or Russia, he added. They need engagement with the West. Were all former friends. She needs to change, and perhaps the West needs to give her another chance and not impose sanctions. Riots broke out in India as protesters took the streets to oppose the release of controversial Bollywood film Padmaavat. Critics have accused the films director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of distorting history after he portrayed a Hindu queen as having a Muslim lover. Television broadcast images showed shops being attacked by protesters in Rajasthan and people burning tyres and waving swords in Bihar. Cinemas were also vandalised, vehicles burned and a school bus pelted with stones leading to disruption across the country. The majority of the opposition to the film comes from the Rajput community, where Padmavati is practically a deity. The protesters claim the film depicts the queen in a negative light as she is seen flirting with a sultan, while she is married to the king, which they argue is historically inaccurate. Experts are divided over whether the queen ever existed and the films makers say the story is based on mediaeval poem about the queen. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty If you have freedom of writers, freedom of expression, we too have freedom of protest, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, head of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, a conservative body, told Reuters. The controversy has resulted in cinema owners in several states abandoning plans for screenings. The Philippines President has said he pities Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for being in the storm of international criticism over her handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis. President Rodrigo Duterte says he told Ms Suu Kyi to ignore the human right activists, describing them as a noisy bunch. The two met in New Delhi this week at a summit of south east Asian leaders on the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. President Duterte was speaking at a meeting of the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled persecution by Myanmars military and attacks by Buddhist mobs into Bangladesh. US and UN officials have described Myanmars actions as ethnic cleansing, while Ms Suu Kyi once regarded as a democracy icon has been assailed as ineffective. Though Ms Suu Kyi has been the de facto head of Myanmars civilian government since her party swept elections in 2015, she is constitutionally limited in her control of the country and the military is in charge of the operations in Rakhine. Still, Ms Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defence of the Rohingya, especially given her history as a Nobel Peace Prize winner. 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 Former New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an advisory panel on the crisis this week, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Ms Suu Kyi. I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this, Mr Duterte said. We are talking about our country, the interest of our country, our own country, and I said, Do not mind human rights (activists). Theyre just a noisy bunch, he added. President Duterte is a regular target of criticism for his deadly war on drugs, which has left thousands dead over the past 18 months amid allegations of extrajudicial killings by police and other rights abuses. AP A ferry with some 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, according to rescue authorities. A New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion aircraft has been dispatched to aid Fijian rescue services in their search for the vessel, the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand said. Fiji is leading the search, taking place in an area of ocean the size of Britain. Authorities said the MV Butairaoi ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on 18 January. The journey of 149 miles was expected to take two days. Senior search and rescue officer John Ashby said the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5m wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to New Zealand authorities late on Friday. 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 the vessel had undergone repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems. Mr Ashby added that people on islands and vessels along the planned route were being contacted to ask if they have seen the vessel. It has a dark blue hull and yellow accommodation quarters, the New Zealand rescue service said. The weather in that part of the Pacific is currently moderate with some swells, Mr Ashby said. Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people. Additional reporting by AP The Czech Republic's pro-Russia president won a second five-year term Saturday after beating a political newcomer viewed as more Western-oriented in a runoff vote. With ballots from almost all polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said President Milos Zeman had received 51.5 per cent of the vote during the two-day runoff election. His opponent, former Czech Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, garnered 48.5 per cent. The Czech Constitution limits presidents to two terms. Appearing before supporters Saturday, Zeman, 73, called his win "my last political victory" and said "no political loss will follow." He pledged "to work as I have worked so far." Drahos conceded defeat and congratulated Zeman on Saturday afternoon. The career scientist and chemistry professor said he planned to stay in politics, but did not provide details. "It's not over," Drahos said. Zeman, a veteran of Czech politics and former left-wing prime minister, won his first term in 2013 during the Czech Republic's first presidential election decided by voters, not lawmakers. Since then, he has divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance, support for closer ties with China and strong anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Zeman was one of the few European leaders to endorse Donald Trump's bid for the White House. He also has proposed a referendum on the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union. Drahos, 68, who led the Academy of Sciences from 2009 until last year, campaigned on maintaining the country's ties to the EU and Nato. He ran unaffiliated with a political party. One of the Czech president's key responsibilities is picking the prime minister after a general election, power that was on display in the days before the runoff election. The government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis since his party placed first in an October election resigned Wednesday after failing to win a confidence vote. Zeman immediately asked Babis, his ally, to try again. The President had said that even if he lost the election, he would swear Babis in again as prime minister before his term expired on 8 March. The President also appoints members of the Central Bank board and selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament's upper house. Otherwise, the President has little direct executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister. 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 Zeman is considered a leading pro-Russian voice in EU politics. His views on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as Europe's migrant crisis, diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible. He has linked extremist attacks in Europe to the influx of newcomers to the continent, calling the immigration wave an "organised invasion" and repeatedly said that Islam is not compatible with European culture. Zeman has exploited widespread fear of migration among Czechs and worked to portray Drahos as someone who would welcome migrants. A group of Zeman's supporters commissioned billboards and newspaper ads that called on citizens to "Stop Migrants and Drahos," adding "This is our land! Vote Zeman!" Some pro-Russian websites spread fake news about Drahos during the campaign, according to the Prague Security Studies Institute, a respected think tank. The false information alleged that he cooperated with the Communist-era secret police and was willing to accept an EU plan to redistribute asylum-seekers among member countries, the institute said. Zeman is the Czech Republic's third president, after Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, since the country and Slovakia were created from Czechoslovakia in 1993. AP Dutch domestic intelligence service AIVD had access to the infamous Russian hacking group Cozy Bear for at least a year starting in mid-2014, local media outlets said on Thursday. According to the reports, the Dutch government alerted the United States to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections after Netherlands-based officials watched the hacking of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other operations by the Russians, including a 2014 State Department hack. The DNC hack, revealed by The Washington Post in June 2016, was considered a pivotal event in a series of actions believed to be undertaken by the Russian government to meddle in the US presidential election that year. Two independent research firms later confirmed that the DNC's network was compromised by Russian government hackers. The Dutch agency's involvement was first reported by current affairs programme Nieuwsuur and newspaper de Volkskrant on Thursday. Reached by The Washington Post on Friday, the domestic spy agency AIVD had no comment. The Dutch military intelligence service, MIVD, did not respond to a request for comment. According to Dutch media, AIVD agents also watched when Russian hackers launched an attack at the State Department in 2014, and compromised unclassified systems at the White House as well as in Congress. Officials later told The Post that the NSA had been alerted to the hacks by an unnamed western intelligence agency. The western ally had previously hacked not only the Russians' computers, but also surveillance cameras inside their offices. The unnamed western analysts were monitoring the hackers' manoeuvers inside US networks and even collected CCTV footage of those involved. Thursday's reports indicated for the first time that the ally which alerted the United States may have been the Netherlands. The country's analysts were reportedly also able to track the location of their offices down to a university building next Moscow's Red Square. The information obtained by Dutch AIVD agents was passed on to the CIA and the NSA at the time, according to de Volkskrant and Nieuwsuur, and could have contributed to a subsequent FBI inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Russia's hacking attacks not only targeted the United States but have also had major repercussions in Europe, where intelligence agencies have scrambled to stop Russian interference. In a congressional report released this January, congressional Democrats raised renewed concerns about mounting evidence of Russian interference in at least 19 European nations. 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 report, commissioned by Senator Ben Cardin, D-MD and numbering more than 200 pages, directly criticises President Trump for failing to respond to the threat, even as other nations in Europe have taken much stronger measures to counter Russian efforts in the region. "Never before has a president ignored such a clear national security threat," Cardin wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. Even though American intelligence agencies agree that Russia meddled in the 2016 US elections and have stood by their assessment, Trump has sent out mixed messages. After appearing to back the agencies, Trump later backtracked in November and publicly recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him he "didn't meddle." "I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it," Trump said at the time, referring to Putin's remarks. European leaders have long greeted the Russian leader's assurances with more scepticism. 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 UK 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. The Washington Post Floodwaters have approached their peak in Paris, after the River Seine burst its banks earlier this week. The river is expected to peak at around 6 metres (19ft 8in) on Sunday, following a period of unusually heavy rain. Normally, the river level is around 1.5 metres. Levels are expected to stay just below the exceptional 6.1 metre floods seen in 2016. Flooding has struck the region in the same week the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report calling for improvements to prevent flooding in Paris and the Seine basin. Recommended Paris braced for floods after rain causes Seine River to overflow The rain-swollen Seine has already engulfed scenic quays and threatened wine cellars and museum basements, as well as forcing a halt to all boat traffic in Paris, including tourist cruises. Some quay-side restaurants were submerged, and some roads and parks were closed as a precautionary measure along with the bottom floor of the Louvre Museum. Groundwater was also seeping into some Paris cellars, and authorities warned residents of some neighbourhoods to remove any valuables. Hundreds of people have been evacuated along the Seine as floods caused significant damage in Paris suburbs in recent days, but no deaths or injuries have been reported. However, authorities said on Saturday that the flooding wont be as bad as forecast earlier this week. 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 Flood levels are still some way off the level reached in the 1910 flood of the century, when the river rose to 8.6 metres. Nevertheless, the flooding follows a report by the OECD warning that Paris must prepare for an event similar to the flood disaster of 1910. According to the report, such an incident could affect up to 5 million people and cause up to 30bn (26.3bn) worth of damage. The impact on Paris of a major flood would be much greater today than a century ago, with serious economic and social consequences on top of the temporary disruption and material losses, said Dr Rolf Alter, director of the OECDs public governance and territorial development directorate. The better Paris prepares itself to manage this risk and improve its resilience, the less vulnerable it will be, to the benefit of the city and the country. Recommended Natural disasters increasingly linked to climate change Attributing individual events to climate change is complicated, but scientists are increasingly confident in making direct links between such changes and extreme weather events, including the high levels of rainfall seen in Paris. Because of climate change, we can expect floods in the Seine basin to be at least as frequent as they are right now, Dr Florence Habets, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, told The New York Times. No matter what we say, the more we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the more we reduce our impact on droughts and floods. For the time being, however, Parisians seemed to be taking the high water and closures in their stride. I understand that people might fear the floods because of the strength of the current but here we are in a port, no current, so there is no fear, said Maxime Potier, an amateur fisherman casting his line from the Arsenal Port in eastern Paris. Additional reporting by AP Polish politicians have given the green light to a bill to criminalise statements which suggest Poland bears responsibility for crimes committed by Nazi Germany. Phrases such as Polish death camps would be made a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine. The bill will also make it illegal to deny the murder of around 100,000 Poles by units in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army during the Second World War. It still needs to be approved by Polands Senate and president. Officials argue phrases such as Polish death camps suggest Poland is at least partly to blame for the camps in which millions of people, the majority Jewish, were killed by Nazi Germany. The camps were established and operated by the Nazis after Poland was invaded in 1939. Deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki told state news agency PAP: Non-governmental organisations indicate that every other day the phrase Polish death camps is used around the world. In other words, German Nazi crimes are attributed to Poles. And so far the Polish state has not been able to effectively fight these types of insults to the Polish nation. Critics say the law would have a stifling effect on debating history and freedom of expression within Poland. Polands ruling conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) in facing accusations of stirring nationalistic sentiment to fuel the far-right. One of the worlds richest men, Saudi Arabias Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has been released from detention at Riyadhs Ritz-Carlton hotel where he was held as part of the Kingdoms sweeping anti-corruption crackdown. The 62-year-old prince was the most well-known of the more than 200 royal figures, politicians and business leaders taken into custody last November in a move widely viewed as part of new crown prince Mohammed bin Salmans efforts to consolidate his power. The family of the multi-billionaire, who has holdings in global companies such as Twitter, Apple and Citigroup, confirmed his release on Saturday. Saudi Arabia's crown prince: Country will return to 'moderate, open Islam' In an interview with Reuters the previous evening, the $17bn (13bn) prince said, while drinking from a mug bearing his own image, that he was confident he would be cleared of wrongdoing and released soon. Rumours have been swirling in Saudi Arabia that Prince Talal, like another high-profile detainee, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was trying to secure his release with a payment to the House of Saud of $1bn (750m). The exact circumstances and terms of his freedom are not clear. A Saudi official said he was freed after a financial settlement was approved by the state prosecutor. Recommended Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal begins release negotiations Two months after the unprecedented crackdown, many of those arrested have been released after making similar financial settlements and giving up assets such as palaces and company shares. The Kingdoms attorney general has said the purge stands to put $100bn (76bn) lost through decades of embezzlement and corruption back into state coffers. The Ritz-Carlton is due to reopen 14 February. Those remaining in the hotel by that date are expected to be relocated to prison to await trial. News agencies contributed to this report Lets give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt and assume he does have something to hide when it comes to Russia and the 2016 presidential race. To accuse him of being entirely innocent would be quite unfair. No one guiltless would have behaved in the manner he has while under investigation, unless they had a screw or two loose. Or had such an exorbitant level of arrogance he thought he could talk his way out of any kind legal peril. That cant be. Because he is a genius, something he reminded us of this month. We should have done him this favour a long time ago. Like last May. I mean you dont fire the man who at that time was just kicking off the investigation into alleged collusion with Russia unless youre afraid. That, of course, was James Comey, the then director of the FBI. You certainly dont do it when the obvious inference every one else will draw is that you intend to obstruct justice. Thats a crime right there, whether or not the collusion stuff holds water. Sean Hannity makes painful u-turn on whether Donald Trump wanted to fire Robert Mueller And there are so many other things a vaguely smart man wouldnt do if he were he confident of acquittal. He wouldnt rage at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for formally withdrawing himself from having anything to do with the Russia investigation after admitting that he had himself had conversations with Russian officials in Washington that he had previously failed to admit to. Nor would he attempt to axe other officials high up in the investigation. People like deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe. He did recently, as it happens, but was firmly rebuffed by the Christopher Wray, who was confirmed later last year to replace Comey as FBI chief. Nor would you discuss ousting Sessions number two, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Firing Rosenstein really would been daft, because he was the one who after Comeys removal and Sessionss decision to recuse himself took the crucial step of appointing a special counsel to take over the probe. We learned that Trump did in fact consider getting rid of him from a front page report in the The New York Times on Friday. Together with one other nugget of information. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Getty (Getty) That was the headline on the piece: that last June Trump ordered the firing of the special counsel himself, Robert Mueller. We all know the mayhem that that would have caused. Washington would have been set ablaze. The obstruction of justice conjecture would have been seen as validated not just by Democrats, whod have gone bonkers, but by many Republicans too. Mueller did not get sacked, because the top lawyer in the White House handling the collusion case told Trump he would resign before carrying out the order. But the mere fact that this has come out is extremely damaging on its own. Trump thought he could fire Mueller, really? How could anyone not conclude then he was trying to obstruct justice? How could we not assume it was part of a wider cover-up? What did he and his campaign get up to in 2016 exactly? It would make sense also if you are innocent of all potential charges to run a White House that told no lies. But it has, we now see. He has. So have his people. I havent given it any thought, Trump told reporters in August when asked if hed ever pondered firing Mueller. Well, Ive been reading about it from you people. You say, oh, Im going to dismiss him. No, Im not dismissing anybody. Those who lied for him include top advisor Kellyanne Conway. The president has not even discussed that. The president is not discussing firing Bob Mueller, she told ABC News the same month. Another of his top lawyers publicly made the same contention. 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 He is still lying. Besieged by reporters in Davos to comment, he roundly dismissed The New York Times article. Fake news, folks, he replied. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake story. Not only did the Times have four sources for its report, several other news outlets quickly followed with versions of their own. Among them was Fox News, not normally swift to corroborate something that risks such obvious harm to him. They said, This is going to blow up, one source told Fox about the day Trump disclosed his desire to see Mueller gone. We also learned last week that Mueller is now close to interviewing Trump himself. He has already had just about everyone else with possible knowledge of what happened into his office including Sessions and Steve Bannon, the now banished former aide. Trump horrified his own legal team by appearing impromptu at a gathering of reporters in the White House last week and declaring he was not only looking forward to speaking to Mueller but that he was happy to do so under oath. His backers, notably on Fox, declared this a perjury trap. Because if he does have something to hide, he would be obliged to behave in character. He would be obliged to lie. Of course, he will do just fine if he is actually innocent. And, to be clear, he may be. But Lord its hard to understand why he has behaved the way he has if he is. On Holocaust Memorial Day, the focus is on remembrance and on learning the lessons, so as to never repeat this historical atrocity. We commemorate the six million Jewish people systematically murdered during the Holocaust, as well as those killed in genocides around the world since. This years theme is the power of words their capacity to have an impact, for good or for bad. It is grimly appropriate at a time when there has been an ominous spike in incidents of antisemitism, as well as a mainstreaming of this pernicious racism via the White House, and a rise of the far right across Europe. There appears to be a reluctance, or inability, to absorb the devastating severity of what is happening. There were many low points in the last year: we saw President Donald Trump fail to mention Jewish people in his statement for Holocaust Memorial Day his team later iterating that this was not a mistake. The White House insisted it was being inclusive in its statement since everyones suffering in the Holocaust is something that we consider to be extraordinarily sad. Later that year, when neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting Jews will not replace us!, Trump refused to condemn them, instead putting blame on both sides. Nazi shouts "Hey n****" and fires gunshot at counter-protester in Charlottesville With the President reluctant to disown his white nationalist base, the boundaries of common decency and public discourse are blurred. We see the rivets popping off the reinforced ring of consensus around these subjects as the far right tries to tug our national conversation onto their turf. Their efforts have an impact, normalising and animating hate. In the first three months of 2017, the number of antisemitic incidents in the US was 86 per cent higher than the previous year. In the UK, antisemitic incidents last year hit record levels. The British left has historically been in the front line of the fight against fascism, yet complacency has crept into the conversation, in the erroneous belief that the left-wingers are somehow above antisemitism, and any accusations of antisemitism are about stifling criticism of Israels policies. Meanwhile, were also dealing with a relentless cesspit of antisemitism online, as Twitter verifies Nazis and social media companies struggle to formulate coherent, effective policies to combat hate. It is chilling that so many Holocaust survivors are alarmed by the erosion of our debate on issues such as antisemitism and racism. Speaking about online hate speech last week, Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg told LBC news: Once you permit these people a free run, sooner or later the message of hate they preach will take root. It must not be permitted. Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Show all 15 1 /15 Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Children play on playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz speaks at a anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: A piece of playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas stands during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn A woamn takes a photo of messages and flowers left at a playground before a protest against racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn New York State Senator Daniel Squadron speaks as activists protest racism and hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Flowers left by activists at the entrance to Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016 after swastikas were found in the park. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Messages and flowers left by activists at a playground protesting racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest Racism and Hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Harry Bibring, a 92-year-old Kindertransport survivor, says: As far as the 21st century goes, we seem to not only have not learnt the lesson but are on track to copy it. Freda Wineman, a 94-year-old Auschwitz survivor, says: We have to be aware there are some right-wing movements that have to be stopped and eliminated. We must not let them get to the top because they are evil In several countries it has been happening and it is very worrying indeed. The Holocaust is such a terrible atrocity, a horror so beyond comprehension, that we cannot conceive ourselves capable of causing anything that resembles it. We locate this uniquely terrible crime firmly in the past. We think societies would stop, reverse and repair long before plunging to such appalling depths. Yet at the same time we close our doors to refugees fleeing wars and persecution, turn a blind eye to migrant deportations and routinely demonise the worlds Muslim population. We think were doing OK, but were not. We think never again is a statement of fact, but in reality it is a constant mission of vigilance, itself paramount to preventing any repetition, of any genocide, on any scale. Last month, Delta Airlines announced it would begin to charge unvaccinated employees an additional $200 per month for their health coverage. The move comes as other companies around the country, including Disney, Citigroup and Google, consider similar changes to their respective policies. Do you agree that an employee's vaccination status should affect what they pay for health insurance? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: Vandit Bhatt, an Indian American actor best known for having been featured in the film Ripped, has been cast in a recurring role on Season 3 of ABCs Quantico, which premieres April 26. (Vandit Bhatt/Twitter photo) A video footage is currently circulating online showing how a 25-year old Fulani kidnap kingpin identified as Ibrahim Umar, was being hailed by police officers as he stunned them by assembling an AK-47 rifle within minutes. The kidnapper was arrested and paraded alongside 15 others by the Nigerian Police, earlier this month when he disclosed that he had not only killed over ten of his kidnapped victims in recent times but also drank their blood raw. In the trending footage, the young criminal who is currently in custody can be seen assembling the gun as he was cheered by police officers at the station. He equally disclosed that he hunts and kills soldiers to get their arms and uniforms for operations whenever he was in need of the items. What stands Umars kidnap gang out among many others across the country is that it kills the victims even after collecting ransom from their families. Watch the video below: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by-ba8VI-N4] -Punch President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, January 26, departed Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). It is understood that the President left the Presidential Villa in Abuja via the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Addis Ababa few hours after observing the weekly Friday Jumaat prayer. Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, had on January 25, in a statement, disclosed that the highlight of the Presidents engagements during the visit would be his statements under the historic theme for the AU Summit, namely: Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation. This is the first time in the 54-year history of the AU that anti-corruption will be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders, the statement said. On July 4, 2017, African leaders unanimously endorsed President Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent. The endorsement, which took place during the 29th Session of the AU, was in recognition of his personal commitment and acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level. On July 25, 2017, the President, in a letter to President Alpha Conde of Guinea, who is also the out-going AU Chairperson, formally accepted his nomination to lead members of the AU on this crucial crusade against a veritable socio-economic vice that is anti-development. While thanking his colleagues for the honour, Buhari reiterated his commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent. Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard fears Chelsea risk losing their top stars like Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois unless the club brings notable stars. Hazard and Courtois are in the last 18 months of their current deals and are yet to commit their long-term futures to the west London club. Hazard has reportedly rejected Chelseas latest offer earlier this month. Real Madrid are to be monitoring the Belgium internationals ahead of a major summer rebuild. Lampard told Evening Standard, Great players such as Hazard and Courtois will always be looked at by Real Madrid, so to protect yourself you need to get them on long contracts. With the kind of money being spent elsewhere, Chelsea have to keep moving forward and recruiting new talent to play around them. The club cant lose what theyve got. Hazard is the main person there. He is 27 and a player of his ability has his prime years ahead of him. He will want to challenge for the Champions League but the club have to match that ambition as well. Chelsea have been linked with the likes of Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll and Ashley Barnes in the current window, a far cry from the type of A-List signings the club regularly pulled off during the early days of Roman Abramovics ownership. When Chelsea signed Ballack, it pushed me on. It was great we were bringing in a top player but I also knew I had to fight for my place. As a player you must concentrate on yourself first and foremost. But you want to see the club improving. -Goal Robbery plan gone soar as Banker and his syndicate gets arrested for using stolen SIM cards to steal millions from customers account. The operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) have arrested a staff member of a new generation bank, Christian Amechi, for allegedly conniving with fraudsters to steal millions of naira from customers account using a string of impersonators. The Nation reports that Amechi, who until his arrest, was serving at the ATM customers service unit of the bank in Victoria Island Lagos, was arrested last week Wednesday alongside five other members of the syndicate namely Oyozoje Joseph, 30, Nelson Matthew Eugari, Henry Omogbemi, 31, and Ene Mona Gabriel. Together, the gang had allegedly removed over N20 million from accounts belonging to different customers. Luck ran out on the banker after the police team arrested the leader of a gang of pickpockets, Akeem Apejoye, in Lagos. In his confessional statement, Akeem told the police how the banker, Amechi and his gangmembers, encouraged him to continue to steal phones. Akeem told the police that the gangs interest is mainly the SIM cards of stolen phones. After his arrest, he led the police to the homes of those who had been collecting SIM cards from him. He denied that he knew that Amechi and his group used the SIM card to steal money from the accounts of customers. He also said that the group often bought drinks for him at beer parlour joints whenever he ran into them. He said that they all grew up in Ajegunle and that he enjoyed being in the company of the gang members, particularly at weekends. I used the proceeds which I made from picking pockets to open a boutique in Ajegunle. My shop is located along Ojo Road, Akeem told the police Narrating how his gang removed several millions of naira from victims account, Amechi said that all that was needed for the illegal transfer to succeed was the customers SIM card, stressing that any account holder who does online transaction has his or her BVN number stored on his or her phone. I grew up in Ajegunle and I know almost all members of the gang. I knew them on the street, but I was introduced into the business by one of my friends known as Osey Boy and DJ. I attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN). I read Banking and Finance. I am an ATM card system analyst. Osey Boy and DJ are referred to as the gang shooters. What it means is that they could remove bank secret code numbers, particularly the BVN from phones. The moment any member of the gang laid his hand on stolen SIM card, they would dial the USSD number and with this they would access the owners BVN. That is if the owner does online banking. Once this is done, they will send me the six last digits with which I could access the owners account. My job is to ascertain how much is in the account and at times help transfer money to the person who provided me the information. The gang could then transfer at least N200,000 per transaction into their own account from where they will have easy access to the stolen funds. The gang pays me between N10,000 to N15,000 per transfer and I have lost count of how many of such transactions we have done in the past. In all, I have made at least N150,000 and I used part of it to upgrade my certificate, he said. Chris, as he is fondly referred to by his gang members, also revealed that, aside helping the gang to generate information of account holders, he also provided the gang with telephone numbers of victims. He disclosed in his confession that, at times, the gang would do a welcome back of some of the telephone numbers he generated. What happens in this case is that the original owner of the line would not be able to make or receive calls. All calls or text messages on such numbers can only be accessed by the person who did the welcome back. The gang members are staff of Telecommution Providers. These people are the ones who do the welcome back for the gang on any number to be profiled. My greatest pain was when my aged mother came to see me when I was in police custody. I pray that God will give her the heart and courage to bear the pains because I know that she will be going through so much pain right now. he said Another member of the gang, 30 year old Oyosoje Joseph, an engineer who graduated from the University of Lagos, said he had made well over N10 million from local fraud. According to him, he joined the gang out of frustration. As at the time of his arrest, the suspect had over N5 million in one of his accounts. It was learnt that the suspect is also presently being hunted for by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). An account he operates with one of the new generation banks has been frozen. Another suspect, Henry Omagbemi, 31, is said to have operated a network of bogus names to launder the proceeds. A police source said that members of the gang were all involved in a scheme to defraud account holders of millions of naira. Accounts belonging to people with large balances in some cases several millions of naira were targeted. To identify those rich accounts, Amechi, an employee of a new generation bank was recruited to help the gang. As an insider, he would then assist in breaching the security protocols in order to steal the money. The money would be transferred to accomplices who would swiftly transfer the money through a number of bogus businesses before the money would eventually disappear the police source said. Confirming their arrest, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police command, Chike Oti, said that one of the victims lost more than N2 million after a member of the gang used a fake welcome back telephone number in the account holders name to set up two transfers over three days. A customer with N200 million in the bank only escaped becoming a victim when they were arrested. -Gistmania The Minister of Finance, Ms Kemi Adeosun, has promised to ensure a salary increase for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service. Mrs. Adeosun made the promise at the celebration of International Customs Day at the Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Friday. The theme of the event was A secure business environment for economic development. The minister was represented by the Ministrys Director of Finance, Oladudumi Biosola. Mrs. Adeosun urged officers of the NCS to put in more efforts to rise above target in revenue drive. She said that security of trade environment was central for business to proper, adding that security aspect of Customs role was as important as its revenue role. The theme of this year Customs day coincides with the current ease of doing business initiative of the Federal Government. We understand that the initiative is already yielding dividends based on the fact that we have improved by 24 points in the World Bank ranking system, Mrs. Adeosun said. She commended the NCS for its remarkable success in ensuring national security in the past years. According to her, seizure of arms and ammunitions at the seaports were the possible indications that the Service is alive to its responsibilities. The minister also pledged to give the NCS the required support to succeed. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, said the Service had made steady progress in automation of its processes. The Comptroller-General said in addition to these were other reforms aimed at ensuring a secured business environment. Mr. Ali said that other ongoing reforms in the Service were repositioning it through strategic deployment, training and automation of Customs processes. He said that clearance process through Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), fast track facility for compliant traders and the post clearance audit were aimed at reducing clearance time and cost. The minister has been working diligently on how to see the welfare of the NCS improves. We are presently working on the computation of figures and she is waiting for that figure. As soon that is made available, then, the decision between her and Mr President will determine what Customs gets. I assure all Customs officers that between the minister and the President, both are all ready to see that there is an improvement in welfare of NCS, Mr. Ali said. The Customs boss urged Nigerians to support indigenous businesses by patronising made in Nigeria goods to encourage local production and boost industrial base. Source : (NAN) Babachir Lawal, the former secretary to the Federal Government, who is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for corruption, has been released on bail. EFCC sources confirmed that he has been allowed to go home on administrative bail. He was invited for interrogation on Wednesday by the EFCC, over alleged N223million contract scams awarded at some IDP camps in Yobe State. Mr Samin Amaddin, Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, said the former SGF was cooperating with investigators and had made useful statements. Lawal arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC at 11:00 am on Wednesday, after which he was detained. Lawals travails began on December 14, 2016, when the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on humanitarian crisis in the North East indicted him of fraud. Source: ( NAN ) Two primary school teachers in Ogun State, were released attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen, the teachers said are currently in a government-owned hospital. The incident, which took place few metres to Atola Primary School in Ewekoro North Local Council Development Area, sent residents of the area into a panic while other schools in the community hurriedly dispersed for fear of being attacked, too. The attack was said to have occurred few minutes after the teachers arrived school for the days work. Confirming the incident during a chat with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, Chairman of Ewekoro North LCDA, Mr. Kehinde Adepegba, said that the affected teachers had since been moved from the maternity hospital they were initially put into a government-owned medical facility in the Ijaiye area of the state. He said, The Ogun State Government has taken over the case and as we speak the affected teachers have been transferred from our maternity hospital at Onigedu to the Ogun State General Hospital at Ijaiye. They are receiving treatment and are recuperating. They were attacked while resuming for duties at the school. Following the incident, all security agencies in the state have been placed on the alert. As a matter of fact, I even learnt that some arrests have been made. While still searching for the perpetrators of the attack; we have put certain strategies in place to forestall against a similar occurrence in future. From preliminary reports, we gathered that the herdsmen who carried out the attack only recently migrated to the area. They are not part of the Fulani community cohabiting with the locals. They are unknown in the locality but they will be apprehended. Also, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying some arrests had been made but it was discovered that the herdsmen arrested were not the perpetrators but those residing and known to the residents in the area. He said the said persons had therefore been released. It is true that herdsmen attacked two teachers with sticks. Investigations had commenced into the matter, he said. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Twenty hectares of cassava and rice plantations owned by Lehin Investment Farms, have allegedly been burnt by a herdsman previously employed as a security guard by the company. The consultant of the company, Mr. Daramola Josiah, said the suspect, Hammed Gaa-Alakuko, was employed alongside two other herdsmen to help prevent the destruction of their farm by marauding herdsmen. Gaa-Alakuko, who was employed in March 2017 and disengaged nine months later, had returned to the business of tending to cattle. Since Gaa-Alakuko allegedly set the farm ablaze, he has been on the run, while the police are on his trail. Josiah said since the arson, Gaa Alakuko had been sending emissaries to the companys management to beg for forgiveness. Conducting journalists round the affected farm at Idofian/Igberiin in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Josiah estimated the destruction to be about N20m. According to him, the destruction has negatively affected the efforts of the company to contribute positively towards increasing food production in Kwara State. He called on the Federal Government and the Kwara State to come to the aid of the company to cushion the effect of the loss. Josiah said, We started this plantation last year and planted cassava and maize. I was on the farm working with 11 workers when we discovered the fire coming from the other side of the farmland. It was a hot afternoon and the fire became intense. It took 11 of us three hours to put out the fire. About 20 hectares of our cassava farm and two hectares of rice farm that were due to be harvested were destroyed. We were supposed to harvest the cassava this year, while we also lost some economic trees like cashew. Source: ( Punch Newspaper ) Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp says the club does not intend to add new players this month. The Reds sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for an English transfer record fee of 160 million. Liverpool brought in Van Dijk to bolster their defence, and Klopp insists there is no new player coming in. Its not really likely, Klopp told a news conference Friday. Should I say 100 per cent no? But that would kill all the rumours and I dont want to do that. Come on, we should enjoy it another five days. The Libyan Police has detained 186 illegal African immigrants after receiving information indicating the presence of abnormal movement in one of the buildings inside the city. On its Facebook page on Monday, the Directorate disclosed that the immigrants were from different African nationalities including Nigeria, who were waiting to be smuggled to Europe. The Directorate also arrested a Moroccan national after raiding a house in Abu Kamash area, noting that the house has become a focal point for illegal migration where equipment required for such acts including passports, identification cards for several people of African and Arab nationalities and mobile phones were seized. Source: ( Linda Ikeji ) Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has revealed that Sanchez was close to joining City, before United swooped him. Guardiola was close to signing the Chile international, only for a move to be blocked by Arsenal. United swooped in for Sanchez after City hesitated at the wage demands after a deal was agreed. I want to make it clear it was not me, Mourinho told MUTV of the Sanchez transfer. Totally the credit is for the owners and the board. They did it a player like Alexis Sanchez. It looks like it is difficult for people to say, Well done, you did it in a fantastic way. He was with one-and-a-half feet in another club. It looks like it is hard to give credit when we win matches there is always an If. When a player does fantastically well there is always a negative. But the reality is without Manchester United the industry would be in trouble, this is part of being at such a big club. Tribune A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said that she only acted on the written approval and directives of former President Goodluck Jonathan in releasing $1.3 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to security agencies. Punch Worried by the spate of kidnappings, militancy, killings, illegal oil bunkering and other criminal activities in his constituency, the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson, has hired the services of a cleric to heal the land. Vanguard Worried by the alleged indiscretions, which may derail the All Progressives Congress (APC) from achieving its set goals and subject it to public ridicule, the six zonal vice chairmen of the party have cried out. Thisday President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja lamented the sorry state of the countrys four refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, saying it was disgraceful that not even one of them was working optimally. The Sun President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have been asked to prepare to accept defeat in the 2019 polls. Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who made the call, also asked them to ensure they conduct a credible, free and fair election next year. Daily Times A member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Abiante Awaji-Inombek, has commended former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for speaking out against the current state of the nation. Guardian On January 18, one of Nigerias women in contemporary politics, Princess Aderenle Adeniran Ogunsanya, quietly and simply turned 70. The unassuming, humble, humane and largely unsung patriot, like her late father, given the state affairs in the country, deliberately stayed away from Nigeria and public glare to avoid the usual jamboree that attends such events. Daily Trust The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked the rumour that ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would end on Jan. 31, 2018. The Nation A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the remand of one Ali Bello in prison custody over alleged possession of cannabis. An officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) on Thursday night shot and killed a 20-year-old man, identified as David Yusuda, in Jalingo, Taraba State capital. An eyewitness told newsmen that the culprit, who is the driver of the Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, was in the habit of harassing youths in the Abuja Phase II area of the city. According to him, the tragedy occurred after the NSCDC official visited a nightclub in the area on Thursday and started harassing youths. When some of the youths resisted his continued harassment, he called his colleagues who were on night patrol duty. On reaching the nightclub, one of them opened fire and killed one of the guys instantly, the eyewitness said. Following the development, some youths in the area blocked some major roads within Jalingo, protesting and thereby causing gridlock. When contacted, the Taraba State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Kamilu Ado, who refused to confirm the death of the victim, however, said that there was a misunderstanding between his driver and some youths which led to the damage of his car. Ado said that his driver took his official car to the nightclub without his knowledge and a quarrel ensued between him and some youths, leading to the incident. He said, Preliminary investigations revealed that my driver took my official car to a nightclub and while there, he had a quarrel with a boy and some youths descended on him and also destroyed my official vehicle in the process. The driver is currently under detention and investigation into the matter is ongoing. I must get to the root of the incident. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Police in the state, David Missal, who confirmed the killing, said that the NSCDC, being a law enforcement agency, had taken care of the situation. Source: (Punch Newspaper ) Last year, Stephanie Otobo accused the clergyman of having an amorous affair with her. During the churchs Fire & Miracle service in Edo state last night, Stephanie who is based in Canada and recently came to Nigeria to promote her music, confessed that some politicians and pastors, paid her some money to slander the name of pastor Suleman. Apostle Suleman was in chiurch while she made the confesion. Source: Linda Ikejis blog A Nigerian man suspected of being a member of Boko Haram and killing people in Nigeria during attacks on schools and a village has been arrested in Germany, the federal prosecutor said on Friday. . According to Reuters, the 27-year-old man, named as Amaechi Fred O., was detained on Wednesday in Bavaria and a day later a judge issued an arrest warrant and ordered that he be remanded in custody, the chief federal prosecutor said in a statement. . He is strongly suspected of being a member of the foreign terrorist organisation Boko Haram, the statement said. It said Amaechi Fred O. was believed to have joined Boko Haram in 2013 and had admitted to actively taking part in four attacks against Nigerian civilians during his one-year membership of the group. . He is accused of killing several people during two attacks on schools and one attack on a village and taking part in another attack on a village, during which members of Boko Haram took girls as hostages and burned down a church. Source: ( Linda Ikeji) In a yet-shocking twist, Stephanie Otobo, the lady who claimed she had extra-marital affairs with Apostle Johnson Suleman has confessed, and shes said she was paid and used against the man of God. Right before our eyes in the Fire & Miracle Night of Omega Fire Ministries International Worship Centre Auchi, the serial accuser & blackmailer; Stephanie Otobo, apologizes to Gods Servant Apostle Johnson Suleman, his family, Church and the Body of Christ for the shameless show of deceits & lies, she and their paymasters embarked on sometime in 2017. The only offense he committed was to have intervened in the numerous heinous crimes against the Church of Christ around the Nation and became a Voice for the Gospel. What followed was a well doctored drama to attack the reputation of this Golden Voice and seemingly reduce the volume of his voice even as more evils were planned against the Church. After all the evil efforts, the secret agendas, the heavily funded set up and the unrelenting pursuits to snare an innocent man, they were futile. THE MASTER PLANNER HAS FINALLY VINDICATED HIS CHURCH & HIS SERVANT. This is not only a victory for Gods Servant; it is a victory for the Body of Christ & The Church in Nigeria. Right before our eyes in the Fire & Miracle Night of Omega Fire Ministries International Worship Centre Auchi, the serial accuser & blackmailer; Stephanie Otobo, apologises to Gods Servant Apostle Johnson Suleman, his family, Church and the Body of Christ for the shameless show of deceits & lies, she and their paymasters embarked on sometime in 2017. Watch Below; -YBL Adam Beckerink In Chicago, Adam Beckerink and Jonathan Welbel have become partners in the tax practice. Within the same practice, Andrew OBrien-Penney has become the director of economics and Ivan Tsios is now the director of economics and valuation services. Beckerink advises multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals on a range of tax issues, tax controversies and litigation, including multistate and federal tax planning and the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions. He represents clients on state tax matters before administrative appeal boards, tax tribunals and courts in Illinois and other US states. Welbel advises multinational corporations on transfer pricing and other international tax issues with a focus on US federal tax controversy. He helps clients navigate the audits, appeals and litigation process, and he has extensive experience working with tax court practice and procedure. OBrien-Penney provides clients with economic analyses and valuations to assist them in planning and supporting business reorganisations, new transfer pricing policies, transitioning to principal company structures and implementing cost sharing arrangements. He also advises on audit and dispute resolution situations, supply chain restructuring, planning, advance pricing agreements (APAs) and intellectual property migration opportunities. Tsios provides comprehensive economic and valuation services related to transfer pricing issues and other tax matters. He assists clients with planning inter-company pricing, US and foreign documentation, negotiating APAs, restructuring inter-company arrangements, intellectual property transfers and dispute resolution. Tsios also works in the preparation valuations of businesses, intangible property and damages in mergers, acquisitions and other transactions, corporate tax planning, corporate reorganisations, antitrust and competition, and debt and equity valuation. In New York, Paul DePasquale and Tatyana Johnson are now partners in the tax practice, and Joshua Nixt has been appointed as the director of economics. DePasquale advises high-net-worth individuals and families on a range of matters, including cross-border investments, real estate investments, income tax and transfer tax planning, trust and estate planning and business succession, among others. He also advises multinational corporations and investment funds on US inbound and outbound international tax issues, as well as financial institutions on FATCA, CRS, withholding taxes and information reporting. Johnson focuses her practice on US federal income taxation of corporations, with an emphasis on international tax planning. She advises clients on international mergers, acquisitions, post-acquisition and pre-disposition restructuring, spin-offs, supply chain restructuring, and other tax-related matters, including outbound and inbound tax planning, income tax treaties, efficient repatriation and intangible property migration. In his role as director of economics, Nixt advises multinational companies across a variety of industries on transfer pricing and tax-related engagements, including planning of inter-company transactions, preparing US and foreign documentation, valuation and audit defence. His practice focuses on IP and other intangibles, and he has managed several analyses related to licensing, IP migration, and cost sharing. In Mexico City, Victor Morales-Chavez has become a partner in the tax practice and Allan Pasalagua-Ayala is counsel. Morales-Chavez's practice focuses on corporate taxes, non-resident taxation, international tax treaties and general tax planning. He advises multinational companies on projects related to M&A, corporate restructuring and due diligence. Pasalagua-Ayala advises clients on transfer pricing matters, with an emphasis on economic analysis, including planning, compliance, valuations, APAs and audits in Mexico. He counsels companies from different industrial sectors on local transfer pricing matters, but has also been involved in global and regional documentation projects. He also has experience advising on business and intangible assets valuations. The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ. Share this article EDMONTON, Alberta - January 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Visionstate Corp. (TSX VENTURE:VIS) ("Visionstate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has executed a final agreement for the acquisition of Montreal-based 10384801 Canada Inc., doing business under the name "Chatbot Incubator" ("Chatbot") (the "Agreement"). The Agreement officially marks Visionstate's first move towards growing the business through M&A activity. "We are pleased to have executed this agreement with Chatbot Incubator," said Visionstate Corp. CEO, John Putters. "Now that the structure is officially in place, we can focus on implementing a roadmap that will combine our shared synergies." Chatbot Incubator specializes in applications for artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in customer service delivery and sales and marketing. AI technology from Chatbot Incubator will be leveraged for Visionstate's CINDI product, a digital in-room device that delivers concierge services to customers and tracks guest supplies used by housekeeping staff. Visionstate will also explore and develop opportunities to bundle the AI with its interactive directories to replicate customer service in the retail and office building environments. "We're looking forward to working with the Visionstate team," said Chatbot Incubator founder, David Weiser. "Now we can zero in on growing the company as part of a solid and mutually beneficial structure." Visionstate Corp.'s objective is to diversify the Company's product portfolio by investing in high growth opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, and blockchain related technologies. The Company looks for technologies that are synergistic to Visionstate's existing product portfolio in analytics, interactive customer service, and IoT applications designed to streamline operations. The terms of the Agreement include the issuance of common shares of Visionstate to the shareholders of Chatbot Incubator as consideration for the acquisition. Approximately 30% of the shares held by Chatbot shareholders will be purchased in exchange for 4,000,000 common shares of Visionstate at a deemed price of $0.065 per common share, for the consideration of $260,000. Visionstate will have the option to acquire the remaining approximately 70% of the shares held by current Chatbot shareholders in exchange for a further 9,000,000 common shares of Visionstate, also at a deemed price of $0.065 per share for further consideration of $585,000. The total acquisition price will be $845,000 in the event Visionstate exercises its option which will expire in 180 days after the closing of the initial 30% purchase. The parties are at "arm's-length" and no insiders were created as a result of this Agreement. About Visionstate Inc. Visionstate Inc., a division of Visionstate Corp (TSX Venture: VIS) specializes in the Internet of Things and analytics. The Company's core product, WANDA, is a 10/15 inch smart device used to monitor restroom cleaning, supplies, and maintenance activities. WANDA is installed in locations throughout North America and Europe, including hospitals, airports, office buildings, public facilities and shopping centers. More information can be found at visionstate.com Contact: John Putters, CEO Visionstate Inc. Ph: 780-425-9460 Email: jputters@visionstate.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TechSectorStocks.com - investing ideas in tech stocks- mobile payments, social media, AI and Robotics, Drone Stocks, GPS, Internet of Things (IoT) Like Tech Stocks? View our Tech Stocks Directory More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/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. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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) Wilfred Wong speaks about his brother Alfred Wong, 15, seen on a television, who was an innocent victim of an alleged gang shooting, during a Vancouver Police news conference in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday January 22, 2018. Alfred Wong's funeral will be held Saturday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Government News 27/1 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received the new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera in Hanoi on January 26. Thanking Vietnam for its solidarity with and support for Cuba, the diplomat pledged to do her best to effectively contribute to strengthening the special relations between Vietnamese and Cuban parties, governments and people. Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong congratulated Lianys Torres Rivera on her new post in Vietnam, saying he believes she will make significant contributions to Vietnam Cuba traditional relations and comprehensive cooperation. Trong stressed 2018 marks 45 years since Cubas revolutionary leader Fidel Castro first visited Vietnam. He suggested this could be a good occasion to educate people from both sides on the special ties share between their countries. Trong took the occasion to send his greetings to First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Raul Castro and other Cuban Party and State leaders. Cambodian delegation visits Vinh Long ahead of Tet A delegation from the Cambodian province of Kampong Speu visited and extended wishes to officials and people in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on January 26 ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. Governor of Kampong Speu province Vy Som Nang expressed his profound thanks to the Party, Government and people of Vietnam for saving Cambodia from the genocide regime in the past. He also thanked Vinh Long authorities for providing Kampong Speu with material and spiritual support over the past years. Vy Som Nang wished that solidarity and friendship between the two countries and the two provinces in particular will be further tightened in the coming time. Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Quang affirmed that Vinh Long and Kampong Speu have formed a twinning relationship with a number of friendly and cooperative activities. Quang informed the guests that Vinh Long posted a economic growth rate of 5.62 percent and earned a record 420 million USD from exports last year Up to 33 communes have been recognised as new-style rural areas while social welfares, especially for the poor and policy beneficiaries, have been ensured, he said. Quang also expressed wish to further reinforce Vinh Long Kampong Speu friendship for the development of the two countries. Deputy FM lauds Vietnams role in ASEAN-India ties Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung has said since Vietnam undertook the role of coordinator in August 2015, the ASEAN-India ties have thrived. He made the statement in an interview recently granted to the media on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs visit to India to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India from January 24-26. Dung said the most important outcome of the Summit is the adoption of the Delhi Declaration that outlines the vision, orientations and measures to lift ASEAN-India strategic partnership to a new height, adding that both sides will further enhance their comprehensive cooperation across politics-security, socio-economy-culture, connectivity and development gap narrowing. He expressed his belief that the growing ASEAN-India ties will make practical contributions to the ASEAN Community building. According to the deputy minister, since Vietnam took over the role of coordinator for ASEAN-India ties in August 2015, bilateral political ties have unceasingly been strengthened through dialogue and cooperative mechanisms at all levels. The implementation of the ASEAN-India action plan for 2016-2020 made good progress, with 67 out of 130 lines of action carried out. At Vietnams proposal, the two sides worked out of a list of 26 priorities for 2016-2018, helping define focus for the action plan, hence greater effectiveness. ASEAN-India cooperation has also expanded to new fields, especially the sea-based economy. Vietnam has helped accelerate the completion of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the ASEAN-India Centre in New Delhi, thereby laying a legal foundation for the centres operations and raising public awareness of ASEAN and promoting bilateral exchanges. Commemorative Summit, Dung said the delegation proposed a list of commemorative events and co-chaired the drafting of the Delhi Declaration. Speaking at the summit, PM Phuc said ASEAN and India need to see trade and investment as a key driving force of their strategic partnership, accelerate negotiations for the early signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and increase connectivity to ensure inter-regional sustainability. He called for efforts to build trustworthy collaboration in the spirit of compliance with international law, equality, mutual respect for the sake of peace and stability; promote trade liberalisation, and expand comprehensive cooperation and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, Dung said. The Deputy FM commented that achievements during Vietnams tenure as coordinator will create momentum for bilateral ties in the coming years.-VNA Japan ready to support HCM City in development projects Japan is willing to support Vietnams southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City in carrying out development projects, especially those on water environment, urban railway and natural disaster prevention. Acting Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan Motoo Hayashi made the statement at a meeting with Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong in HCM City on January 26. He is in Vietnam to attend the fifth Vietnam-Japan friendship festival, scheduled to kick off in HCM City on January 26 evening with a number of special art and culture performances and workshops on trade promotion and sport exchanges. The festival is the first in a string of events in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties in 2018, he said, adding that its success will help reinforce the bilateral friendship and cooperation. The Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Union will organise numerous cooperation programmes with Vietnamese National Assembly deputies to promote the sound collaboration and amity between the two countries, he noted. For his part, Phong said Vietnam, particularly HCM City, is keen to step up collaboration with Japan within the framework of the bilateral extensive strategic partnership, for the sake of their people as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. He expressed his belief that HCM City will continue to be a reliable and attractive investment destination for Japanese businesses in the coming time. He proposed the LDP leaders launch more initiatives to strengthen the relations between Vietnam and Japan in general and Japan and HCM City in particular, especially in the fields of climate change adaptation, urban infrastructure building and people-to-people exchange. Party leader stresses need to win peoples support General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong has emphasised the need to consolidate public trust, under the peoples aspirations, rely on the people and win their support in order to bring the country forward. In an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the the Year of the Dog, the Party leader underlined the countrys outstanding achievements in 2017 and outlined major tasks for 2018. He said the fight against corruption has made marked progress thanks to drastic, synchronous, methodical and firm measures, in the spirit of words matching up with actions. In 2017, many serious cases of corruption and economic crimes involving incumbent and former senior officials were discovered and brought to court in a timely manner, he said. In the first days of 2018, several major corruption cases have also been brought to trial, demonstrating the drastic actions and the determination to carry the combat through and leave no prohibited zone in the prevention and fight against the evil, the Party chief stressed. Regarding the personnel work in 2017, General Secretary Trong said the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission imposed disciplinary measures on many Party Committees and Party organisations of different levels, as well as officials and Party members, including those holding high positions, for their violation of the law. However, he said, it is even more important to prevent the root cause of such wrongdoings by regulations, laws and policies. Power must be kept within mechanisms, the Party chief stressed. General Secretary Trong highlighted the joyful atmosphere across the country as Vietnam has fulfilled and overfulfilled all the 13 socio-economic targets for the first time in the context of multiple challenges. The Party leader also recalled outstanding outcomes in external affairs, as reflected through the countrys successful hosting of APEC Year 2017, the 18 high-level visits by Vietnamese leaders to 19 countries and the countrys attendance at eight international events. In the year, Vietnam also welcomed 36 heads of states and Prime Ministers of foreign countries. Talking about key tasks in 2018, he underlined the need to create stronger changes in economic restructuring in tandem with growth model reform; improve productivity and competitiveness of the national economy; and mobilise, allocate and use resources effectively. Along with economic development, more attention should be paid to cultural and social development, the improvement of peoples living standards, General Secretary Trong said. He also called for more efforts to strengthen the Party and political system, stop and prevent the degradation of political ideology, morality and lifestyle as well as signs of self-evolution, and self-transformation. At the same time, the reform and streamlining of the apparatus must continue, with more heed paid to the personnel work, he said. Vietnam seeks stronger cooperation with Chinese province Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committees Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh met with Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Li Xi on January 26 to discuss orientations to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the figure. The Vietnamese official congratulated Guangdong on its achievements in reform and socio-economic development over the past four decades. He urged Guangdong to increase collaboration with Vietnamese localities in economics-trade, tourism, culture, personnel training, and experience exchanges in Party building. He called on local major businesses to boost investment in hi-tech projects in Vietnam. During the visit to Guangdong, the CPV delegation visited the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Vietnam Youth Revolutionary Leagues headquarters in Guangzhou city. Top Lao legislator lauds construction progress of NA House Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Pany Yathotou (R) holds a reception for Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha. Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Pany Yathotou has praised the construction progress of the Lao National Assembly House, a gift the Vietnamese Party, State and people presented to their Lao counterparts, and pledged support for the project so that it is carried out smoothly. At a reception in Vientiane on January 26 for a delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction, led by Minister Pham Hong Ha, she expressed her belief that with highly skilled experts and workers, Vietnam will complete the project with good quality and the building will become a symbol of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. For his part, Ha informed the Lao leader of his earlier working session with the management board for the Lao National Assembly (NA) House construction project on January 25, in which an agreement on coordination mechanism and scope of work between the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and the management board was inked. Both sides committed to ensuring equality, construction techniques, aesthetic appearance and safety of the building as well as completing the project by the end of 2020, he noted. The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction will do its best with the highest political determination together with Laos to build the NA House imbued with the Lao culture and make it a vivid illustration for bilateral special relations, he said. The minister also asked for support from the Lao authorities, especially the NA Chairwoman, to accomplish the construction on schedule. Work on the 100-million-USD project began in Thatluang village in Vientianes Saysettha district on November 2017. HCM Citys leader continues visit to Cambodia Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Citys Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan plants tree at Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Citys Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has lauded staff of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) - the oldest and largest university in Cambodia - for their contributions to human resources training in Cambodia, Vietnam and countries. During a working session with the university on January 27, Nhan, who is a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, said HCM City will offer 10 scholarships to the universitys lecturers per year to pursue master and doctorate degrees in the city. Reopened in 1986 after merging with several universities, RUPP has 6 subordinate universities with nearly 1,000 lecturers and 20,000 students. It is linking with eight Vietnamese universities and receives around 150 Vietnamese students each year. During a working session with leaders of Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital, Nhan asked them to propose measures to tackle difficulties, continuing to be a vivid symbol of neighborliness between the two countries, providing health care services for people in Cambodia and Phnom Penh in particular. Earlier, in a meeting with Cambodias Acting Prime Minister Sar Kheng on January 26, Nhan said HCM City and Phnom Penh will continue strengthening cooperative ties, focusing on education, tourism, agriculture and promoting the efficiency of Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital. Sar Kheng said he was delighted at the results of cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in general and between HCM City and Phnom Penh in particular, which he said helped nurture the bilateral friendship. In a reception hosted by President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum, Nhan affirmed that HCM City always treasures and does its best to foster Vietnam Cambodia ties, as well as relations between the city and Cambodian localities. Nhan wished that the Cambodian government would offer support in terms of mechanism and policy to facilitate immigration of medical staff and materials import for use in the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital. The same day, Nhan paid courtesy calls on Secretary of the Phnom Penh Party Committee Pa Socheatvong and Governor of Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng. On January 27 afternoon, the Vietnamese delegation concluded two-day visit to Cambodia. HCM City vows to foster cooperative ties with Japan Chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong (right) and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane. Ho Chi Minh City pledges to work with Japan to deploy cooperation programmes to foster economic, cultural and educational ties and people-to-people exchanges this year, said Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong. Phong made the statement when meeting with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane in the city on January 26. He thanked the Japanese Government and people for providing official development assistance (ODA) to aid Vietnams economic development and poverty reduction for many years. The chairman also hoped Nakane to continue encouraging Japanese localities to strengthen partnerships with HCM City, particularly in implementing cooperation activities marking of the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations. The potential for cooperation between HCM City and Japan remains great, notably in terms of tourism, trade, infrastructure development, climate change response, urban management and people-to-people exchanges, Phong said. The city will coordinate with Japanese partners to boost ties in all fields as a way to promote cooperation and friendship between the two countries, he added. Nakane, for his part, said Japan is ready to support Vietnam, including HCM City, in implementing international-standard infrastructure development projects and projects in areas of Japans strength. Japan is willing to share experience with Vietnam in urban management and addressing urban issues like traffic congestion or pollution, he noted, suggesting the two sides focus on stepping up collaboration in transport infrastructure, education, healthcare and exchanges of trainees and nurses. Japan now ranks sixth among 93 countries and territories investing in HCM City with more than 110 FDI projects, worth about 4 billion USD in total. The country has the fifth largest number of tourist to HCM City and has become one of the citys key trade partners. Cambodian delegation visits Vinh Long ahead of Tet A delegation from the Cambodian province of Kampong Speu visited and extended wishes to officials and people in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on January 26 ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. Governor of Kampong Speu province Vy Som Nang expressed his profound thanks to the Party, Government and people of Vietnam for saving Cambodia from the genocide regime in the past. He also thanked Vinh Long authorities for providing Kampong Speu with material and spiritual support over the past years. Vy Som Nang wished that solidarity and friendship between the two countries and the two provinces in particular will be further tightened in the coming time. Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Van Quang affirmed that Vinh Long and Kampong Speu have formed a twinning relationship with a number of friendly and cooperative activities. Quang informed the guests that Vinh Long posted a economic growth rate of 5.62 percent and earned a record 420 million USD from exports last year Up to 33 communes have been recognised as new-style rural areas while social welfares, especially for the poor and policy beneficiaries, have been ensured, he said. Quang also expressed wish to further reinforce Vinh Long Kampong Speu friendship for the development of the two countries. Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown leaves Queen's Park after a press conference in Toronto on January 24, 2018. First Nova Scotia's Jamie Baillie, then Ontario's Brown, and finally Ottawa's Kent Hehr.The toppling of three politicians in the space of two days obliterated all other talk around federal politics this week, reverberating through caucus meetings in Victoria and Ottawa, and reaching the prime minister during his trip to Davos, Switzerland.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim A wounded man is assisted at the site of a deadly suicide attack in the center of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. Afghan Public Health Ministry says dozens have been killed and over 100 wounded in a suicide car bomb attack in the capital. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini) EUGENE, Ore. -- Flu season has taken a hit on almost every state, including Oregon. Nearby daycares and fitness facilities are taking measures to prevent the spread of the illness. In Oregon, a new report released by the Department of Health on Friday said 25 percent of the more than 45, 000 cases tested postive for the flu. Symptoms of the flu: In children Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish skin color Not drinking enough fluids Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough Fever with a rash In adults Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen Sudden dizziness Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs: Being unable to eat Has trouble breathing Has no tears when crying Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal The YMCA in Eugene said they typcially have 20 kids attend their daycare, but seven of them were absent on Friday. While they are unable to control who gets the bug, Holly Kriz-Anderson, a spokeswoman for YMCA, said they are taking steps to pervent the germs from spreading. MORE: Flu season turns deadly in Lane County "We definitely are cleaning and spraying down the rooms on a daily basis. Countertops, toys are being washed, towels and blankets are being laundered on a more so regular basis than we normally would," Kriz-Anderson said. Lane County Public Health experts said they saw a decline in the flu cases last week. Experts said those at higher risk of contracting the flu are people 65 or older, pregnant women, and children. Health experts said common flu symptoms among children include fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches. However, they do emphasize that not everyone with the flu experiences a fever. MORE: Second flu-related death confirmed in Lane County Kris Christensen, owner of Oakway Fitness Center, is also taking safety precautions to keep members at her gym safe. That's because a large percentage of their members are seniors, a group that is vulnerable to the flu. "We also suggest they use hand sanitizer before and after [they use the equipment]," said Christensen. According to experts, most people recover within two weeks, but some can develop life complications that can put them in a life-threatening situation. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections are just some examples. Doctors recommend seeking immediate medical help if your child or family member show signs of having the flu. WHITE CITY, Ore. -- A man is in the hospital after, officials said, he was shot by a police officer in Southern Oregon. Deputies said the man was combative and was threatening a VA employee. Gilbert Matthew Negrete, 34, is being treated at Rogue Regional Medical Center after a police officer shot him at a VA clinic and will be arrested upon release, deputies said. Related stories: Deputies investigate shooting at VA center in Southern Oregon Detectives with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office said Negrete went to the Veterans Affairs SORCC clinic in White City Thursday morning for an appointment. They said he was agitated and began pacing around the admissions area. He didn't tell anyone why he was frustrated but he did make paranoid statements and was incoherent, deputies said. VA police were called out but before they got there Negrete pulled out a knife and threatened a VA employee, deputies said. They said several staff members tried to calm him down and officers tried to use less-lethal force to disarm Negrete but he became combative. An officer fired off a round that hit Negrete in the chest, detectives said. Police and medical staff rendered aid and Negrete was flown to Rogue Regional Medical Center for treatment. Deputies said he will face charges of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, disorderly conduct, and a restraining order violation. The name of the officer involved has not been released. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Detectives discovered that Negrete had several interactions with law enforcement in the days leading up to the shooting. They said he was arrested two days earlier by Medford Police after leading them on a chase while he was high. He was released from jail the next day. Deputies also found out that hours after being released, Negrete threatening employees at a towing company with a butcher knife but drove off before police arrived. PORTLAND, Ore. A rule increasing penalties for marijuana retailers that sell marijuana to minors takes effect Friday. The new rule allows a marijuana workers permit to be revoked if the person intentionally sells marijuana to a minor. It increases the penalty for the unintentional sale of marijuana to a minor to a 30-day license suspension or a $4,950 fine. Previously the penalty was a 10-day license suspension or a $1,650 fine. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission re-evaluated penalties after reviewing compliance from recent sting operations. For example, December visits to the Eugene-Springfield area resulted in sales to minors at three stores. Marijuana was also sold to minors by licensed marijuana retailers elsewhere in the state. Theres no margin for error on making sure that marijuana doesnt get in the hands of minors - period, said Paul Rosenbaum, OLCC commission chair. The integrity of Oregon's regulated system depends on industry compliance across the board. The new rule is temporary, and the OLCC will review compliance during the six months the new penalties are in place. At the end of that time, the OLCC will consider whether to make the rule permanent. It's our core mission at the OLCC to prevent the sale of marijuana to minors, said Steve Marks, executive director. The early results are unacceptable and we'll keep holding retailers and their employees accountable until they get it right. 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. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa woman convicted of murder in the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter was given three life sentences Friday. The sentences were handed down to 43-year-old Nicole Finn of West Des Moines. She was convicted last month of first-degree murder of Natalie Finn and three counts of kidnapping for confining Natalie's siblings. Finn said she intends to appeal but made no other comment after hearing the sentences. Natalie Finn weighed only 85 pounds when she died in October 2016, authorities have said. Experts testified that her siblings, Mikayla and Jaden, were at risk of starving to death as well and spent months recovering after Natalie suffered cardiac arrest. Judge Karen Romano called Finn's actions inexcusable and ordered her to not have any contact with her 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 Finn as more concerned about her animals than her children. The mother of five kept three of her teens confined in a bedroom without furniture and didn't allow them regular access to food or a bathroom for months. The children would at times climb out a window of their home and seek food from neighbors. Neighbors and school officials reported their concerns about Natalie Finn'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 Finn was detached from reality. ROCHESTER, Minn. AT&T has donated $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester. The money will support the Clubs career exploration and financial literacy programs for at-risk youth by buying six new laptops. Tanisha Chitseko is a junior staffer and said the computers will help fill a need in some teens' lives. "The laptops and all the other things upstairs in the Ed center help kids work on their school work when they don't have ways to access the Internet at home," Chitseko said. The organization helps kids become job-ready by teaching them how to fill out applications, write resumes, and conduct themselves during interviews. As a company, AT&T is committed to investing in our communities and helping prepare our young people to be our future leaders, said Paul Weirtz, president of AT&T Minnesota. We are very proud to support the Boys & Girls Clubs efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of Rochesters youth. The Club says it has two programs, Career Launch and Money Matters, which help underserved high school students prepare for post-secondary education and career opportunities. Our mission at the Club is to empower all youth, especially those in need, to become productive, successful citizens, said Ellen Tolleson, Interim Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Rochester. We are grateful for this contribution from AT&T to support our youth programs that help our teens succeed in school, explore career options and graduate with a plan for the future. Officials say Career Launch provides youth with fun and interactive activities that allow them to explore a broad range of career areas, match their interests to career clusters, and identify the skills and education needed for particular career paths, while Money Matters promotes financial responsibility and independence among youth by building their basic money management skills. The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester is changing lives for the better for Rochester youth, especially those with the highest need, said State Senator Carla Nelson. These programs help young people gain the skills and knowledge they need to put themselves on the path for lifelong success. It is great to see local companies like AT&T supporting programs that invest in our kids and our communities. HANCOCK COUNTY, Iowa A man facing four counts of sexual abuse is back in jail after authorities say he entered the home of the alleged victims. Damien Kyhl, 35, of Britt, is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail after authorities say he entered the victims home without permission or authority on Thursday. Kyhl is accused of committing sex acts on persons under the age of 12. According to court documents, Kyhl lived at a residence in Britt from 2013 to August of 2017. Authorities say the sex acts occurred in Hancock County. He is being held without bond. UPDATE: Rochester police say the continue to investigate the Friday afternoon incident at Heritage Manor Apartments. Witnesses reported a disturbance in the parking lot around 4 pm. Evidence of shots being fired, including at least one bullet and broken glass, was found. Police say they got a good description of the vehicles involved and located them over the weekend. One car appears to have a shot out window. No one is in custody. Previous story below ROCHESTER, Minn. Authorities are investigating an apparent incident at Heritage Manor Apartments. Police received a report around 3 pm Friday of suspicious activity in the parking lot and officers found glass and a spent bullet in the area. Three vehicles were also reported to have left the apartment complex. A person at the scene tells KIMT they think it may have been a drug deal gone bad. The witness says multiple men and women were seen getting into three different cars, there was a sound of glass breaking and then the sound of shots. The witness says the people were not residents of the apartment complex but described them as people who hang around all the time. MASON CITY, Iowa - In Iowa, minority students make up more than 23 percent of the student body K-12, according to the recent condition of education report. Third-graders at Jefferson Elementary are becoming immigrants Friday. Theyre riding a mock ship, getting medically and legally inspected, seeing if they get to come to America. These students had their suitcases and passports ready to go, including Nadia Jackson. I think learning about your culture is pretty fun because you get to learn about your ancestors and your family, Jackson said. They pretended to head to Ellis Island in order to learn about how people from all across the world came to America and what it took. Kaden Servantez is excited to find out who's all riding on the ship with him. First class is where they have all the chairs and steerage is where they don't have all the chairs and dirt, Servantez said. Students not only got split it up in either first class or steerage, some were even asked to give up a suitcase item in order to even hop on board. Then they were medically and legally inspected, giving kids an idea on how hard getting in to America could be. I think they should have been welcomed like other people should, Jackson said. Teachers explained while they're not connecting this days lesson with current immigration issues, it's still timely. We can learn about Italy, Japan, Germany and Ireland, Servantez said. Jackson explains she feels people do a better job nowadays to accept other people than they did back then. People have learned that it doesn't matter the way you look or talk, it matters who you are on the inside, Jackson said. By Susan Taylor TORONTO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Nevsun Resources Ltd is appealing to Canada's Supreme Court to throw out a lower court ruling which allowed Eritrean workers, who say they were forced to work at its mine, to have their lawsuit heard in Canada. Canada's top court said on Friday that Nevsun filed an application on Jan. 19, seeking permission to appeal a British Columbia court ruling in November which allowed the case to proceed in the western Canadian province. The Supreme Court can grant or deny leave to appeal applications, which the firm representing the workers will respond to, and there is no fixed time for a decision. Nevsun could not immediately be reached for comment. Nevsun has previously argued that the case should be dismissed and that any lawsuit should be heard in Eritrea, not Canada. The B.C. Appeals Court said a lower court judgment was sound and dismissed all three of Nevsun's appeals. The case is being closely watched by Canadian miners that operate abroad because its outcome could increase litigation risk. Canadian courts have also agreed to hear lawsuits against Tahoe Resources by Guatemalan men who say they were shot by the miner's security guards and three lawsuits against HudBay Minerals by Guatemalans who say they were gang raped and shot by security forces. If Nevsun loses the lawsuit at trial, the Vancouver-based company could potentially be forced to pay compensation for "severe physical and mental pain and suffering." In affidavits filed with the court, six men, who have since left Eritrea, said they were forced to work at Nevsun's Bisha from 2008 to 2012 and that they endured harsh conditions at the Eritrean gold, copper and zinc mine, including hunger, illness and physical punishment at the hands of military commanders. They said they were conscripts in the country's national service system when they worked at Bisha, working not for Nevsun directly but for government-owned construction firms subcontracted to build the mine. Nevsun says its mine is a model development. In legal filings, it said the Eritrean military never provided labor to the mine. Even if it did, the company argues, Nevsun was not directly responsible for employing the workers. The United Nations has said Eritrea's national service program is "similar to slavery in its effects", an allegation the government rejects. Eritrea, ruled by a former Marxist guerrilla leader since its independence from Ethiopia, sees conscription as crucial to its security. (Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Susan Thomas) ASHGABAT, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The economy of ex-Soviet republic of Turkmenistan grew by 6.5 percent last year, accelerating from a 6.2 percent increase in 2016, Turkmen President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said at a televised government meeting on Saturday. He said growth was achieved thanks to rising volumes of exports, which grew by 6.6 percent last year. Turkmenistan exports natural gas to China, and hopes to boost sales of the fuel to the world's largest energy consumer. (Reporting by Marat Gurt; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; 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. #K-pop industry K-pop industry looks beyond China as crackdowns increase The K-pop industry has increasingly been looking beyond the Chinese market to reduce the risks posed by Beijing's tightening regulations against celebrities, including "hallyu" sta... By Jacco Zwetsloot South Korea in the mid-1990s was in the international news for violent demonstrations by students and unionists. Even before I left Australia, friends who had seen footage on television told me to watch out for these rallies and to take care. When I came to Seoul, I learned that every spring was the beginning of riot season, when student radicals would square off against armored police who, because they were drawn from military conscripts, were usually of a similar age. In fact, after their discharge from the military they would go back to the same universities as the demonstrators they had clashed with. To foreign observers, the rallies appeared to be well-orchestrated but violent street ballets, with each side knowing when to advance and when to retreat, but in reality the potential for violence and injury was always there. The 1987 death of Yonsei University student Lee Han-yeol, killed by a teargas canister flying at full force from a police launcher into his chest, was still in memory. The Korea Federation of University Students Council, or Hanchongnyeon, was the major player in that summer's demonstrations. It was a national umbrella body for left-wing student union groups from various universities, and eventually came to be outlawed by the Korean government for allegedly pro-North Korean activities. In August 1996, it occupied the campus of Yonsei University for over a week in a battle that became increasingly violent. Unaware of all this, and before the real fighting had begun, I made my way on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 11, 1996, from Seoul Foreign School, which lies just over the hill behind Yonsei, to a bus stop across the road from the university's front gate. The day was my 23rd birthday. The main road to the front gate of the campus was strewn with the sleeping bodies of about 100 students. Most were lying on pieces of cardboard without blankets; the summer evenings were warm enough. A few had already roused and were moving around the closed front gate, wearing bandannas over their mouths and carrying thin metal rods. Clearly something was brewing. However, I was able to walk unmolested through this mass of students and out of a side gate, through a phalanx of riot police. That evening, I caught a train from Sinchon Station back home to Paju City. The windows were open and overhead fans circulated the air. I sat opposite two young American soldiers from Camp Edwards who had come to Seoul for the weekend. As we rattled slowly away from the station, I began to feel a stinging sensation in my throat. Soon my eyes began to water, and my mucus membranes were on fire. I looked around and saw that others were similarly affected. Some young children had begun to cry. My GI interlocutors told me, "Tear gas. We've been trained for this. Don't touch your face or blink your eyes." That was easy for them to say, when all my instincts told me to rub whatever was on my face to get it off. But they were right, rubbing and blinking only made it worse. I desperately wanted to get out of the train and under a shower, but after about 10 minutes the feeling went away. The battle at Yonsei had started. For the next week the whole Sinchon area was constantly covered in a thick shroud of tear gas that hung low to the ground. When I returned the next weekend, locals had taken to wearing damp cloths over their faces, but otherwise life went on as usual outside the university. Meanwhile, the students kept the police at bay before finally the campus gates were stormed and over a thousand demonstrators arrested. They were made to duck-walk to waiting buses that took them away. The riot left its scars. The volume of pepper spray dumped on the campus caused significant damage to Yonsei's trees. The geology department's priceless rock collection was found to have been taken to use as missiles. Perhaps it was one of those rocks that hit riot policeman Ko Jong-hui in the head. A university student on leave to fulfill his military service, Ko died a few days later. Within a couple of years, after similar violent incidents, Hanchongnyeon had been outlawed by the Korean government, and also lost the support of most of its member student councils that left one by one. This was my introduction to radical politics in Korea. I had several more run-ins with tear gas, including one when a friend and I walked unwittingly into a union clash with riot police near Myeongdong before running quickly in the opposite direction. But in 1998, the Kim Dae-jung administration vowed not to use the substance anymore. Now the memory is so distant that few Koreans under 40 will ever have experienced that burning and stinging sensation in their nose, mouth and eyes. Jacco Zwetsloot works for HMP Law as Director of Business Innovation. The thoughts expressed in this column do not necessary reflect those of HMP Law. Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, compiled these statements from interviews with the refugees. Chul-ong, male, arrived in South Korea in 2015 I was near Seoul station when she arrived, so I went over to see what was going on. I was able to see her from a distance and then read the news reports later. She looked too proud, too confident. The reality is that she is a prisoner just like the others in North Korea. They have privileged status because they are from North Korea's elite, but if she were here, she would be a regular person. She doesn't know the society here, the media was focused on her for the moment, but it would not last, they would move to the next story very quickly. Some people may be optimistic, but I don't believe the relationship between North and South Korea will change because of this. Nam-Sun (Sam), male, arrived in South Korea in 2010 She looked so proud and confident, but she was being so careful because she knows the regime is watching every move she makes. The media was eager to photograph her, but she is still a slave of Kim Jong-un. Even though she looks like she has a top position, she is still a slave with no freedom. I am not an important person in this world, but now that I am in South Korea, I have more freedom than she has. I even have the freedom to criticize her and Kim Jong-un. Ha-yong, female, arrived in South Korea in 2004 I escaped from North Korea many years ago, so I didn't know who she is. I have no particular feelings about her and I don't know why the South Korean media went so crazy about her. There has been too much coverage of her. One group supports her, another side hates her. I heard that the South Korean government blocked protesters, so she might not have seen the opposition. We should show the real opinion of people being asked about her. Not everyone is welcoming her. This is a free country, it is a mistake not to allow the voices of opponents to be heard -- that is too much like North Korea to silence people. Young-ho, male, arrived in South Korea in 2011 I have mixed feelings about her. I didn't like seeing the media go so crazy about her. The image of her looking like a star will be shown in North Korea. It will make it seem that South Koreans are united behind the dictator. On the other hand, it was a good reminder that the two capitals are so close physically, but so far apart in our relationship. When I saw her, I wondered, "Is she really happy?" She has a high position, but she belongs to the regime. She doesn't have real freedom. I am not optimistic there will be any change as a result of her visit and everything related to these Olympics. The current diplomatic relationship is terrible. North Korea won't give up its power, and South Korea certainly has its own national and diplomatic purposes for doing this. Bom-soo, male, arrived in South Korea in 2010 Those photos and videos of her were great advertising for North Korea. I really don't like it that so many media here focused on her so much. There was no fresh news, just another case of North Korea taking advantage of South Korea being so desperate for any relations with North Korea. As much as I disliked the way the media highlighted her, I do suspect this means that Kim Jong-un is ready to make a deal. She has a special connection to him from the past, so that means he wants to send a message. I do wonder if she saw the protests and the North Korean flags being burned. I hope she saw that South Koreans are free people who can disagree. She might be confused by it. Of course, South Korean hosts must be polite to her, but the opinions of the people should not be controlled. RECORDER REPORT ISLAMABAD: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Secretary Inam Ullah Khan Dharejo Friday said Pakistan and Indonesia have decided to enter into Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with focus on goods, services and investment, which can mark a radical shift in trade and investment ties between the two countries. Dharejo stated this while addressing the B2B interactive session under the umbrella of Indonesia-Pakistan Business Forum, organized by the Indonesia Embassy in Pakistan and TDAP, Ministry of Commerce and Textile, here on Friday. Business delegations also held the one on one business matching between Indonesia and Pakistan. The secretary TDAP said the government of Pakistan is committed to unlocking the immense trade potential with Indonesia by proactively engaging in deeper economic cooperation - a part of the governments strategic trade policy. Indonesia has been an important trading partner of Pakistan in the Asia Pacific region. He said bilateral trade with Indonesia has increased from $1.231 billion in 2011-12 to $2.375 billion in 2016-17. Pakistans major export products to Indonesia include cotton fabrics, cotton yarn, raw cotton, rice, mandarin, fish and fish preparations, cereals and cereal preparation and knitted fabric, etc. While Indonesias major export products to Pakistan include vegetable fats and oil, coal, briquettes, coke, vegetable and synthetic textile fiber, chemical elements, paper and paper board, fruit and fruit preparation including fruit, yarn and thread of synthetic fibers and machinery. Keeping in view the huge potential of Indonesian market and importance of achieving the status of Full Dialogue Partner in ASEAN, Pakistan is pursuing vigorously for the strengthening of commercial relations with Indonesia, the secretary added. Dharejo further said that Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed during the visit of the President of Indonesia in November 2005, was an endeavor in this direction. Under the umbrella of CEPA, both sides agreed to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The PTA was perceived to be a primer for the Free Trade Agreement to be negotiated subsequently. Under the agreement, Indonesia has provided market access on fresh fruits including grapefruit, citrus, lemons, apples, pears, apricots and dates. Both countries have decided to enter into FTA as per the commitments already agreed between the two sides under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The FTA would focus on goods, services and investment and I believe this FTA with Indonesia can mark a radical shift in our trade and investment ties. This shift will result from realization of the opportunities Indonesia represents for Pakistani business, he added. The TDAP, being the premier trade promotion organization of the government of Pakistan, commits in playing a proactive role for the successful implementation of all the bilateral trade agreements between Pakistan and Indonesia with concerted efforts. Under the PTA, there is a huge opportunity for Pakistani niche product line to enter the vast Indonesian market and also for the Indonesian investors to invest in this sector, inject their expertise in the supply chain and in the value addition processes. He further said that they are going to sign an MOU with National Export Development of Indonesia. This trade agreement is an opportunity for both countries to drive jobs and economic growth. There are many avenues to expand economic relationship with Indonesia. Indonesian consumers are looking for the remarkable fruits produce that Pakistani farmers are renowned for. The secretary TDAP said that there is a real opportunity to reach a broad-based understanding that meaningfully strengthens and deepens the economic relationship that Pakistan has with Indonesia. Director General of National Export Development of Indonesia Arlinda said that since 2013 Indonesia and Pakistan have a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which is currently under review by both parties. This agreement aims to bring two nations closer in terms of economic relations and people-to-people contacts. In term of trade, I could deduce that IP-PTA brings positive movement in improving the economic relations between two countries, she said, adding that based of those spirits, the Ministry of Trade of Indonesia actively encourages the Indonesian businesses to interact with Pakistan businesses and one of the ways is participating in the Trade Mission. Arlinda said this Trade Mission is part of their commitment to increase trade and create a mutual beneficial business climate for both countries. Today, we bring 17 CEOs and representatives of associations representing a wide range of business in Indonesia, from palm oil and bio-fuel to processed food, electronic, textile, agricultural products, real estate, machinery, spinning mills and information technology, she added. Arlinda said that this event could facilitate business of the two countries in establishing relationships and discussing more details about the products of interest. UPDATE 7/10/18: TV6 has obtained video from an officer-involved shooting in Rock Falls. The video shows the moment 43-year-old Nathaniel Edwards was pulled over and shot at. He died from a gunshot wound. The video shows the six-and-a-half minute chase, and police approaching from the side towards Edwards as they fire their weapons from the far right side of the video. The video shows that from weapons being fired to Edward's pulse being checked there is a two-minute delay, and medical personnel arrived on scene 9 minutes after no pulse is found. The video does not confirm the location of Officer Carter nor show him when he fires his weapon. The recording's audio also captures moments where an Officer Sugars involved saying comments such as "You're gonna get shot," "What's his name?" "No idea." The officer's microphone recording ends 12 minutes and 42 seconds into the 23 minutes and 32-second video clip. TV 6 has reached out to Rock Falls Police to see if there is another angle available to see the incident, and if the department plans to get body cameras. UPDATE: 6-29-18: The Whiteside County Attorney reviewed the investigation by Illinois State Police and concluded that the shooting was in self-defense, since the suspect, Nathaniel T. Edwards, was revving his car's engine while going in reverse toward the officer who opened fire, killing Edwards. See the entire document on the investigation below. ------------------------- UPDATE: Illinois State Police are now investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened in the 1300 block of Franklin Street in Rock Falls, Illinois. State Police Crime Scene Investigators processed the shooting scene and collected evidence from the involved officer and the person who was killed. They also spoke with witnesses early Saturday morning until 3 a.m. Investigators also collected dash camera video from one Rock Falls squad car and two Whiteside County squad cars. Police are not giving any details on regarding the shooting itself, nor are they releasing the name of the person who was killed. Multiple people who saw the incident take place tell TV-6 that some sort of police chase happened, and shots were fired. Whiteside County Coroner will perform an autopsy on the person on Monday. UPDATE: Illinois State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Rock Falls, Illinois. According to a Facebook post by the Rock Falls Police Department, officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling eastbound on Dixon Ave. in Rock Falls. The vehicle did not stop and officers followed it to the 1300 block of Franklin St. There the officers were involved in an officer-involved shooting. According to that post, the department says preliminary information indicates the officers acted appropriately. They also wrote an investigation is being done by the Illinois State Police Integrity Task Force. The Facebook post doesn't give any indication of the condition of the driver or the officers but did say, "Our thoughts are with the Officers involved and their families, and the family of the decedent." We've reached out to the Rock Falls Police Department for more information, we're hoping to learn more today. This transcript appears in the January 26, 2018 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. HAL COOPER TO LAROUCHE PAC MANHATTAN DIALOGUE Hamiltonian Credit To Link the Americas to the Belt and Road [Print version of this transcript] This is an edited transcript of Hal Coopers address to the LaRouche PAC Manhattan Project Dialogue, on Jan. 13, 2018. View full size Schiller Institute Hal Cooper: I would like to talk today about how we can rejuvenate our infrastructure and Im going to talk about how we can connect the continents to New York, the nerve center of the United States, and connect Europe and Asia to North America. We have the Silk Road program, and interestingly enough, in the very pro-establishment New Yorker magazine theres a big article this week about the Silk Road. Just to give you an example that its becoming reality, within the last year the number of freight trains going between China and Europe on a round-trip basis, ending up in Duisburg, Germany, has increased from 3 a day to 25 a day. And that shows how much additional traffic theres going to be, and that basically brings us more business and more economic activity, and more prosperity. China has very much taken the lead on this. Unfortunately, we end up with more exports from China and more imports in Europe, and we need to balance that out, which means we need more manufacturing all over the world, including in Europe and especially here in the United States. FIGURE 1 Eurasian Railway Network View full size On this slide [Fig. 1], we see the Silk Road, the One Belt, One Road network as it is in Asia, and how it will be connecting to Africa, from a conjunction point on the rail line connecting Europe and Asia. There is already major investment in Asia from many of the countriesChina and Russia in particular. One of these shown here is the Trans-Siberian Railway between Beijing and Moscow, where an almost 5,000-mile separate double-track electrified line is being built from Beijing to Moscow. This will make it possible to move freight and passengers between those two cities in two days or less, at speeds of up to 300 mph. Unfortunately, we are not doing this in the United States, and were going to need to, if we want to ship things very quickly from point of origin to destination. The Chinese high-speed rail system has over 10,000 miles of track now. Within five years it will be 15,000 miles of track, and rapidly building. The Chinese have been utilizing an approach of building two parallel, electrified high-speed rail lines, one for passengers, one for freight, and later on in this presentation, Ill be talking more about that. Thats a model we should be using in the United States. Unfortunately, our thinking on the subject of railroad building is not in a progressive mode. In the United States, private freight railroads received the highest mark for infrastructure because they have basically maintained their infrastructure. The problem is, that it is very limited, and sufficient emphasis is not put on passenger service, because they basically dont want passenger service. Its very narrow thinking, which is based entirely on the idea of 90-day profits, rather than 50 year sustainability, which represents the difference in economic thinking between the United States and China. FIGURE 2 Proposed Intercontinental Connection Points for The Worldwide Railway Network View full size The next slide [Fig. 2] shows the proposal for the world railway network. It would connect all the continents of the world together, particularly between North America and Asia, and that involves the critical infrastructure at the Bering Strait with the Bering Strait Tunnel, and of course a number of other major junction points in the world. In addition, we need to connect North America and South America together, and that means the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia. China is now beginning to make major investments in Central America and in South America, to bring that about. I think rather than trying to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, what we really need to be doing is developing the infrastructure to improve prosperity at the same time that we make an all-out war on the drug gangs and crime. We cant just have safety while doing nothing to improve the economic conditions of these countries. There has to be a major effort to redevelop and develop the economies, not only in the United States, but also in Mexico, Central America, and South America, all at the same time. Linking Russia and the United States FIGURE 3 Proposed Bering Strait Railroad Tunnel and Natural Gas Pipeline Network View full size This is the Bering Strait. [Fig. 3] We connect Alaska in the United States with Chukotka in Russia. I have been in both places. At the present time, western Alaska and Chukotka are devoid of a large population and there is not a lot of economic activity there. The thing thats missing is transportation. Now, there have been extensive studies done of connections to the Bering Strait Tunnel in Russia, but theres been virtually nothing done in the United States, with the exception of a feasibility study I did several years ago for the Canadian Arctic Railway, which sadly did not have the funds to go ahead with the project. You can see these rail lines; you can see a loop around Alaska, and there are many resources there, oil and coal, and a number of minerals that need to be developed and exploited. The same is true for Russia. Rather than spending all this effort, as some of our various defense-oriented people are trying to do, and spending it all on the military, we should be doing what Russia is doing, which is promoting economic development in the Arctic region. At its eastern terminus, the Bering Strait Tunnel would begin at Wales, Alaska. From there, it would progress to Little Diomede Island, which is on the United States side of the Bering Strait, and then to Big Diomede Island on the Russian side, with a four-mile separation between them, with trains going in and out of the tunnel. The Bering Strait Tunnel proposal would be 53 miles under water, with the two islands in the middle. On the Chukotka (Russian) side you have the Tekhany Mountains, and on the Alaska side you have the Brooks Mountains, and you would need to have the tunnels extended so that the rail line on each side would extend beyond those mountains. And the water there is between 150 and 180 feet deep. Its in a zone of relatively stable geologic conditions. The volcanic activity and earthquakes are in the Aleutian Islands, several hundred miles to the south. The One Belt, One Road, or Silk Road, extension from Asia into North America would need to come through the Bering Strait, and there would be a line across Alaska, and believe it or not, Alaska has already designated a 500-foot-wide corridor all across Alaska from Alcan in the east to Wales in the westabout 800 mileswhich would be where the railroad would be located, connecting down to Anchorage. Then it would also need to go up to the areas along the North Slope, including where the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is located. It would come down through the Yukon territory and British Columbia, through Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. From there, rail lines would go through the northern tier of the United States and the northern Great Lakes region, and also across Ontario and Quebec, as far east as Montreal and Quebec City. Lines would come to New York, Boston, and Washington, by way of Chicago. One of the key new developments is that the state of West Virginia has recently signed an agreement with the Shenhua coal company, the largest coal company in the worldits a state-owned company in Chinato develop the petrochemical industry, to improve and increase the natural gas production from the Marcella shale, to expand utilization of coal, and to make coal into chemicals, as well as for additional electric power generation. The Shenhua coal company has a subsidiary which develops, manufactures, and sells air pollution control equipment for coal-fired power plants. So they are way ahead of the United States in terms of the development of coal. FIGURE 4 One Belt, One Road Extension to North America View full size The next slide [Fig. 4] is an expanded view of the One Belt, One Road, and its really focusing on what lines would need to be built through the United States, and how they would connect the southwestern United States with the One Belt, One Road, and also then go down through Mexico to Central America and from there to South America through the Darien Gap. We need to do something besides having a drug economy. In fact its reached the point in Mexico, where its now very dangerous for Americans to go there because the level of crime and violence resulting from the propensity for drugs has just reached the point that it has created a very serious safety and law enforcement problem. We need to get that corrected, but were not going to do it only on the basis of law enforcement. Weve got to change the economies of those areas, and that means economic growth and development. The two best ways to make that happen are to build a railroad through there and then improve the electricity transmission and generation so that there is ability to have industrialization and development in Central America and in Mexico. Water In addition to rail and to roads, there is the issue of water, and there are areas of the United States that have too much water, and other areas that have too little. There is too much when we have a hurricane along the Gulf Coast, but, unfortunately, too little when we dont have enough water in California. We need to have a water distribution system that would start from the Mac- kenzie River in the Northwest Territories of Canada, and come down through the eastern part of British Columbia in the Rocky Mountain Trench, exactly as what the report by the LaRouche organization and the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA) plan showed. This is a report that has been suppressed. Water would come to California, and there would be no net loss out of the Columbia River. There would be water going east to the Courtenay River into the Missouri and then south. And believe it or not, the state of Arizona and the state of Nevada are looking at a new Interstate 11 Highway corridor going from Nogales, Arizona to Reno, Nevada, which could go through Tucson, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. This corridor would also have rail, water, and a freeway. So that shows that at least some thinking is going on. The other major development project would be to build an irrigation canal going down through the Great Plains, because the Ogallala Aquiferone of the largest in the worldis located there, and is running out of water. This is the biggest agricultural food-growing area of the United States, other than the San Joaquin Valley in California. To go one step further, we need to be building facilities for the storage of water, and for water transport. We have areas of the United States which are getting too much rainweve certainly seen that on the Gulf Coast, in Florida and Texas this year, but we have it in other placesand then we also see places such as in California and parts of the Western United States, including in some places in West Texas, where we dont have enough water. We should be collecting storm water and moving it around the country to where its needed, and that means building lots of storage reservoirs as well as canals. I propose that these could be built along and underneath existing railroad lines, where we would have water transmission pipelines and perhaps even a magnetic levitation rail or hyper-loop tubes, should that technology ever be developed. We would have parallel, double track, electrified high-speed passenger and freight lines just exactly like what are being built and already in operation in China, and we need to follow their model, and have these corridors specifically designated for transportation. The New Yorker magazine this week has been forced to acknowledge the fact that the Silk Road is coming and that it should be coming to the United States. This is the model we should be following in terms of what we do. In Lanzhou, China is building a new city in parallel with the old one, so they can foster their economic growth and development. Here in the United States, instead of investing in productivity and development, weve invested in gambling and speculation: One brings us benefits, and the other doesnt bring us anything at all except trouble. A Rail System for the Americas FIGURE 5 Proposed Intercontinent High-Speed Rail Network View full size Now, this is a proposed network for rail through both North America, Central America, and South America, with a connection at the Darien Gap. [Fig. 5] China is talking with Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. Theres a bi-oceanic railroad being proposed between Santos in Brazil and Lima in Peru, going through Bolivia and Brazil and Peru, plus other rail systems as well. FIGURE 6 Proposed Route of the Darien Gap Railway Line View full size This is where the Darien Gap would be, [Fig. 6] which would be the parallel to the Bering Strait, in completely opposite conditions, in tropical conditions where its warm, versus where its dry and cold up in the Bering Strait. You would need a 15-20 mile long bridge over the Gulf of Uraba, just inside Colombia. I would suggest building on the mountain range to the east so you didnt have to go through the swamp, although that route is a possibility as well, where the present highway is partially built. Theres a critical section going from the far south in Panama, into northwestern Colombia, and theres opposition to building the road because they dont want this being used as a conduit for drug dealers. This proposal would need to have governmental participation, and preferably as a part of the entirety of what is needed for Central America, aiming into South America. That ends the One Belt, One Road part. Now, were going to talk about New York. The United States In last Sundays edition of the New York Times Magazine, they had an article called The Case for the Subway, and why we should continue the subway, why we should fix it and take care of the many problems it has, which all of you know much better than I. FIGURE 7 Proposed National High-Speed Rail System View full size This is a map [Fig. 7] of a national high-speed rail system connecting the major urban regions of the United States, the Northeast, the Midwest, the Southeast, Florida, Texas, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest in Arizona and New Mexico, California, and the Pacific Northwest. This would be needed for both freight and passengers, and it should be done according to the same concept of the design that China is doing right now, and of course could become very much a component of the One Belt, One Road system. One of the possibilities for this, is a proposal from a company here in the state of Washingtonwhich owns some landof rebuilding the old Milwaukee rail between Chicago and Seattle as a high-speed rail corridor for both passengers and freight, and it would go across the central part of the state of Washington, and it would connect Spokane and Seattle with Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings, and then go south with a connection into the Twin Cities [Minneapolis/St. Paul], and Milwaukee, and then to Chicago. Another route is the present Amtrak Cardinal route, going through West Virginiawhich already has the beginnings of a major Chinese investment, much ahead of anything in the United States. This could be connected to the Northeast Corridor near Richmond, Virginia, and going all the way up to Washington and Philadelphia and New York, all the way to Boston. The Northeast Corridor is probably the most critical rail element in the United States. Coal We need to reorient our coal-based generation, and rather than following the environmentalist mode of lets get rid of coal and fossil fuels, and lets just have renewable energy, we need to actually think about capturing the rare-earth metals and precious metals, and base metals and strategic metals and other mineral resources that are in the coal, because its Mother Natures own activated carbon absorption system, and this should be done in conjunction with electric power generation, including reconstitution of some of the coal plants. Interestingly enough, a lot of the coal has quite a bit of uranium in it! And that would be a very good way of capturing that resource and using it for nuclear power plants, which we need to do more of, rather than trying to find ways to close them down. FIGURE 8 U.S. Major Coal Deposits by Type View full size Coal is one of the major resources of the United States, with large deposits located in the Rocky Mountains, in the Midwest, in Appalachia and in Texas, too. [Fig. 8] Because West Virginia has become the subject of this major investment by China, it certainly will become much more important, especially as it begins to grow economically. We would eliminate the economic depression conditions that were associated with the Obama Administration, and instead create much more the conditions for prosperity. Their goal is to greatly expand petrochemical production in that region, including from the Marcella shale, which in addition to coal comes into West Virginia. New York China now has 60% of the total distance of high-speed rail lines in the world within their country; and theyre building more and more. Theyre going to be exporting to other countries. China has built a system where you have the passenger line, with the freight line right next to it. This gives you the ability to move very large numbers of trains very quickly between the cities, and thats something we need to follow Chinas lead on and it will take the efforts of China to support us. At the opposite end of the pole, is the situation we have in New York with our subway system, and in contrast to the modern Chinese system, we now have a very decrepit system, because we lack development and maintenance. The system that currently services New York consists of the existing subway system, the commuter rail lines, Amtrak and the PATH. These are all different systems, and in some cases they dont even connect. Im proposing that we build a line from Hoboken to 14th Street on the west side of Manhattan up to Penn Station, for both subway trains and also for the inter-city trains, so we take some of the pressure off the line which is for the Gateway Projectwhich we badly need to have builtinto Penn Station. Penn Station will need to be expanded. We also need to have a connection between Grand Central Station Terminal and Pennsylvania Station. The subway system is the key growth factor in New York, and many other proposed expansions are needed. One of these is the 63rd Street East Side Access Project; another is a new PATH line from Lower Manhattan over to Brooklyn, so you have the ability to connect directly between Newark Airport and Kennedy Airport in New York. We need a rail connection between Brooklyn and Staten Island, from the Fort Hamilton area to Point Richmond in Staten Island; and then a series of additional routes for the subway, serving areas of New York City that are not covered now. In the meantime, we also have to immediately fix up the existing subway lines. We need to have a fix on where the problems areincluding PATH and Amtrakand what we need to do; and this all needs to be electrified if its not already. FIGURE 9 New York City Area Major Commuter Railroad Lines View full size This is a view [Fig. 9] of the major rail lines coming into New York City from Connecticut, from Westchester, Duchess County, from Rockland and Orange Counties on the west side of the Hudson in New Jersey, and the Long Island Railroad, which is the most extensively used rail system in the United States. It has a significant electric demand, and the Consolidated Edison Company in particular might be hard-pressed to serve additional lines if theyre built. Interestingly enough, when we look at the population projections of the New York Metropolitan Area, in the future theyre going to be primarily in New Jersey and that means were going to need more for more transit, serving more areas, farther and farther away from New York City. Were going to need to build them if were going to maintain the prosperity of the city, which we must do. A number of new connections also need to be built: The Long Island Railroad, the Metro North Railroad, the New Jersey Transit, plus Amtrak. FIGURE 10 Metro-North Railroad View full size This is a view [Fig. 10] of the trackage of the Metro North Railroad and the Long Island Railroad, and the lines in red are electrified, and ones that are not are in black. We need to expand the electrification. Unfortunately we have up to seven different voltages, for different systems that are either third rail or overhead catenary. That all has a long historical basis, but we do need to unify, and put them all under the same technology, if we can. We also have the East Side Access Project [Fig. 11] going from Sunnyside Yard in Queens into Grand Central and unfortunately, thats coming in at a cost of $3.5 billion a mile; whereas, by comparison, the Chinese are building their tunnels for $450 million a mile, and I think wed better get the cost factors under control in New York. FIGURE 11 East Side Access Project View full size The Gateway Project in New York would be connected to New Jersey, and this is one that so far the Trump Administration has not agreed to provide the financing for. They may be balking at the $29 billion costthat works out to about $2.5 billion a mileand it just doesnt seem like this is very realistic and needs to be reduced. Under the Gateway Project, here is what the future would be. [Fig. 12] In addition, we need a series of loops to make it easier for existing train traffic to flow. Any future track configuration must be mostly four-track lines because theyre going to handle lots of traffic. Theres about 450 trains a day coming into Penn Station from the west and 700 a day coming in from the east. So theres a lot of traffic! And a lot of people are being moved650,000 a day use Penn Station and 350,000 a day use Grand Central. There is also the issue of freight traffic. We need to build a tunnel between Greenville Yard in Jersey City and Fort Hamilton, so that we can connect these, finally. The original proposal for that was in 1910, but it was never built. They built the tunnel into Manhattan for the passengers, but they never built the freight line. In the 1920s, Robert Moses stopped it all from being built. All the way back in 1895 they had a plan for building tunnels, both for passengers into Manhattan and freight into Brooklyn. They built the passenger part, but they never built the freight line. Hamiltonian Credit FIGURE 12 Proposed Route for the Gateway Project New Railroad Tunnel View full size The Pennsylvania Railroad when it existedit doesnt exist any more, its been broken up into Conrail, CSX Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak owns the Northeast Corridorwas throughly electrified, beginning in 1928, up until 1932. The Pennsylvania Railroad financed this with its own bonds, but then it could no longer. When the Reconstruction Finance Corp. was created, their main project was a $200 million project to complete that electrification, financed through the RFC with a credit system, exactly as LaRouche has proposed today. The Reconstruction Finance Corp. needs to be recreated, and my guess is the legislation that created it could still be there, but you have to set up a national infrastructure bank and this would be a good project to show how it would really work, because it did in the past. In World War I, the rail system broke down. The trains all had steam locomotives, and they all had to be serviced, and the logistics just broke downthere was tremendous difficulty getting traffic to the ports. Whereas, in World War II, once the electrification was completed, they were able to move lots of traffic of goods and people without any significant delays or major disruptions. It was very successful. FIGURE 13 Existing Freight and Passenger Railroad Corridor Across the Northeast U.S. View full size This [Fig. 13] is the Northeast Corridor, which is the most important single railroad and the most heavily used, and also overused, rail line in the United States. A lot of maintenance and upgrading must be done. We saw this in the problem with the bridge over the Hackensack River, getting stuck open. It happened the day before yesterday, as an example of the fact we need to do a lot, to fix it up. A modernized and expanded rail system in the Northeast Corridor would get freight moving through the New York area, because right now it has to stop at the Hudson River and we need rail connections for that. We will also have to address the question of high-speed rail and the fact that our present Northeast Corridor is going to get overloaded and therefore we need to build an expansion onto that, and we also need to find where people can live far away, in affordable housing, and be able to get to business or work or pleasure, relatively easily. And we of course have the same problem in California, and here in the Pacific Northwest. The LaRouche movement is really showing the way it has to be done to get these infrastructure programs underway. I think the example we have of the Reconstruction Finance Corp.s support for the Pennsylvania Railroad electrification in the 1930s is a good way to start, in conjunction with a national infrastructure bank and the creation of a credit system. Thank you. This editorial appears in the January 26, 2018 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. Retaking the Industrial Heartland For LaRouches Four Laws by Bill Roberts [Print version of this editorial] Jan. 20LaRouche PAC has now released a national statement, 2018 LaRouche PAC Election Platform: The Campaign to Win the Future, which defines the only sane political battleplan for American voters in the months ahead. The key components of that 2018 LaRouche Platform are the following: 1) End the coup against the President and prosecute those responsible for the criminal frauds they have perpetrated. 2) Implement LaRouches Four New Laws for Economic Recovery and bring the United States into full participation with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative for economic development. In November 2016, the critical margin of victory for Donald Trump on election night was determined by an electoral shift in states in the industrial Midwest. As Lyndon LaRouche indicated at the time, this was part of a global shift in the world, a rejection of the failed policies of the trans-Atlantic financial system, including the destruction of the productive workforce of nations and useless, regime-change wars. In the period leading up to the election, Donald Trump campaigned heavily in traditionally blue mid-western states like Michigan and Wisconsin, while Hillary did not. To illustrate the gravity of the shift that occurred among segments of voters between 2008 and 2016, there were 206 counties nationally that voted for Barack Obama twicein 2008 and 2012and then voted for Donald Trump in 2016; 53% of those counties are located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. View full size EIRNS/Susan Kokinda Both parties are now eyeing competitive congressional districts, especially in these areas, hoping to swing the vote to gain more congressional seats in the next election. However, neither party is providing solutions the country needs to address the dire economic needs of the forgotten men and women who helped elect Trump. A sane approach for the Democratic Party would be to recognize the treasonous nature of the Robert Mueller-led Russiagate coup, then to help end it, and work with Trump to pass the Glass-Steagall Act, and build great projects. Instead, many of these Democrats continue to spout the now-exposed lies on Russiagate, while they simultaneously adopt a shifting anti-Trump narrative, ranging from Trumps supposed unfitness for office to the Dick Durbin-created lie that Trump uttered racist remarks. Thus, for many prospective Democratic Party candidates, they have absolutely nothing of substance to say, and their campaigns consist entirely of anti-Trump slanders and empty diatribes. It is precisely these Obama-organized antics that have made Democratic representatives an endangered species among blue collar and rural districts across the Midwest. On the Republican side, many among that Partys leadership continue to cling to Wall Street policies which will destroy the Trump Presidency and the nation. Wall Street-approved policies will never rebuild the areas devastated by the tropical storms of the past Summer or allocate the funding to stop the further crumbling of our infrastructure. Wall Street-controlled politicians will never move to shut down the illegal drug trade facilitated by those banks. They will only set up the next big, catastrophic debt bubble crash. Perhaps if the news media had reported the basic facts about President Trumps success in securing $254 billion in direct investment from Chinese companies into the United States, everyone would already be thinking about how China is able to do that while we spend hundreds of billions subsidizing Wall Street. There is a profound vacuum of leadership waiting to be filled by those who exhibit a basic grasp of how the implementation of LaRouches Four Economic Laws will transform this nations economy, opening up coordination among the credit systems of nations. View full size EIRNS/Bill Roberts Throw the bums out! the disgusted citizen says of their Congress members. It seems many have already thrown themselves out. After at least 55 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have announced that they will not run for re-election, a record number of U.S. House elections will be open races, and may draw large and crowded fields of candidates. Some of them will be local and state representatives who have studied and supported the policy proposals of Lyndon LaRouche. In traditionally Democratic districts, we may see Obama-backed candidates running against candidates actually interested in reviving skilled labor and farming. There will be races where the LaRouche PAC will be intervening to defeat incumbents who still openly associate themselves with the coup against the Presidency. We will insist that opposing candidates adopt the LaRouche platform, and that they campaign on it. The challenge for all of us is to create, in the constituencies of our districts, the notion that there is an option for using this LaRouche platform to create a standard of competence for the candidates running for federal office, whether they be Democrat, Republican, or Independent. This author sat through a Republican candidates debate which focused almost entirely on questions relating to immigration, and various other conservative hot-button issues. While candidates were asked how much they agreed with this or that policy of President Trump, none of those policies mentioned were the ones central to the crucial policy fight unfolding in the world. However, when I had the chance to speak to two of the candidates privately, both expressed a reverence for the wisdom of Lyndon LaRouche. One of them lamented that the Republican Party had made the critical mistake of abandoning cooperation with LaRouche, after Reagan left the Presidency and the Bush gang ran a political assassination against him. In the last two weeks, LaRouche PAC teams have conducted a series of meetings with state legislators in state capitals across the nation. In those discussions, we have seen a seriousness and willingness to fight. They are determined to demand a national top-down solution. Many Democrats want to end the treasonous coup attempt against President Trump and work with him to rebuild the country. Republicans are willing to reach across the aisle to find ways to get large-scale federal funding for big projects and end the Wall Street bubble. State legislators who have traveled the world are amazed at how Chinas policies are transforming the face of the planet. They are intrigued, and have a sense of urgency that we must not miss the opportunity at hand. They know that the political parties are in shambles. The basis for a new national constituencya coalition of producerscertainly exists. Unfortunately, the election campaign processaided and abetted by the mass mediais highly partisan in nature. Candidates are encouraged to play down to the lowest common denominator, the most base fears and desires of their imagined voter base. We have the power to change this! Not only should every opportunity be made to demand that these candidates campaign on the basis of LaRouches Four Laws, but professional associations, labor unions, state legislatures, and advocacy groups should endorse the LaRouche PAC 2018 Election Platform and campaign for the policies contained therein. Thus, we will force the issue of the urgent need for a new Hamiltonian Credit System, as outlined by Lyndon LaRouche. This editorial appears in the January 26, 2018 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. Muellers Russiagate Scam Is Imploding, So Neocons Are Hell-Bent on War [Print version of this editorial] Jan. 23There should be no misunderstanding that the two contradictory courses of developments within the United States today are somehow merely a coincidence. On the one hand, the two-year long campaign to stop Donald Trump, the so-called Russiagate, orchestrated by British intelligence agent Christopher Steele and his assets within the Obama intelligence community, is now verging on collapse. The outright criminal actions by this conspiratorial cabal now stand exposedand many of them should end up in prison. Peter Strzok, who led much of the Russia investigation at the FBI, and as a member of Robert Muellers Russiagate task force, has been caught bragging in a text message to his lover (and fellow FBI agent) about a secret society to bring down Trump just after his election. Strzok was also exposed as expressing his belief that there was no substance to the charges of Russia collusion, even as he was joining the Mueller witchhunt. On the other hand, the neoconservative hawks on both sides of the aisle, and in London, and even within Trumps immediate circle, have unleashed a shrill cry to prepare for war against the fake threats from Russia and China. The Chinese have taken note of the danger, while the Russians have more than taken note. There are multiple warnings from every part of the Russian establishment that the West appears to have gone madthat despite Trumps clear and repeated calls for peaceful and friendly relations with Russia, the drive for war is rapidly approaching the point of no return. At the Davos World Economic Summit, which opened today, Andrei Kostin, chief executive of VTB, one of Russias leading banks, told the Financial Times that his biggest concern was the dangerous situation being created by the Nato build-up of arms in Europe, which risked an accident between Nato and Russian forces. Kostin said: We are at the beginning of a new arms race. Kostin is said to be close to Putin. Nato is asking for more weapons and spreading more weapons in Europe, and Russia will retaliate in absolutely the same way. Former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry has made the same pointthat the launch on command posture and the reckless U.S. military buildup in both Europe and the Pacific has brought the world closer to war than it ever was during the Cold War. Kostin issued another warning, in light of threats from the U.S. Congress of yet more sanctions on Russia: Any economic sanctions against institutions, personally I say, would be like declaring a war. I see no reason why the Russian Ambassador should stay in Washington any longer after that, or the American Ambassador staying, swimming in cold water in Moscow. I think that is a worse than the cold war situation, and that is very dangerous. And I think that Congress is playing with fire, because the relationship is going from bad to worse and we are not responsible for that. There is only one way to end the madness. The geopolitical blinders must be ripped from the eyes of the American and European populations, and especially their leaders. The new paradigm for humanity, long proposed by Lyndon and Helga LaRouche, is no longer simply a vision of the futureit is right before us, in the New Silk Road, already transforming the majority of nations in the world: in Asia, in Africa, in Ibero-America, and even in parts of Europe and the United States. To ascribe evil intent to this transformation, which rests on close cooperation between China and Russia in both economic and strategic matters, is pure madness. There is nothing holding back the Western nations from full participation in this new organization of relations in the worldnot being replaced as the dominant power by the rising powers (as the geopolitical true believers in a unipolar world would have it), but as full partners in a partnership of sovereign nations committed to one common vision, for a better destiny for mankind. The exposure by the LaRouche Political Action Committee of the British-orchestrated Russiagate as an attempted coup against the government of the United States has now burst into the public eye, but the financial Lords of the City of London and Wall Street would prefer war to accepting the end of their Imperial domain. This fight can be won, but the desperation of the dying species known as the oligarchy leaves little time to achieve this great transformation. The time for action by all good souls is now. Hi, Im Carolyn Kellogg with the latest Books newsletter from the L.A. Times. THE BIG STORY Dave Eggers has proven his hand at fiction and childrens books, screenplays, literary journals and literacy nonprofits. For his latest project, the nonfiction book The Monk of Mokha, he tells the story of a Yemeni American from San Francisco who decides, against the odds, to pursue his own version of the American Dream. Paul Constant has our review. Dave Eggers in 2001. (Susan Ragan / AP ) Advertisement GOODBYE, URSULA K. LE GUIN We learned this week that Ursula K. Le Guin died Monday at the age of 88. The outspoken, visionary author best known for science fiction and fantasy had huge influence over the generations of writers who came after her. One of them, our Critic at Large John Scalzi, pays tribute. Ursula K. Le Guin in her Portland, Ore., home in 1985. (Brian Drake / For the Times ) ESSAYS FOR ALL Morgan Jerkins is a gifted millennial writer whose debut book of essays, This Will Be My Undoing, explores what its like to be a black woman in the U.S. today, tackling tough questions with nuance and passion. The book is not about all women, she writes, but it is for all women. Ilana Masad has our review. Morgan Jerkins and her book (Sylvie Rosokoff / Harper Perennial ) BESTSELLERS The No. 1 L.A. Times bestseller in fiction is the novel Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, landing in the top spot in its tenth week on the list. Advertisement The No. 1 L.A. Times bestseller in nonfiction this week is Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff. Its the controversial books second week on the list and its second week in a row in our top spot. See all the books on our bestseller lists here. Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff has topped our nonfiction bestsellers list both weeks it has been out. (Olivier Douliery / TNS ) MORE IN BOOKS Advertisement The Pen America Literary Awards based in New York announced their long list of finalists. Among the 40 titles are Carina Chocanos essay collection, You Play the Girl, The Changeling by Victor Lavalle, Ron Chernows Grant and Ursula K. Le Guins essay collection published in December, No Time to Spare. Google has launched an audiobook service, stepping into the territory where Audible has already made a major claim. In other Google news, it was the anniversary of Virginia Woolfs birthday Thursday, and the search engine celebrated the modernist author with a Google Doodle. At the Sundance Film Festival, The Times Justin Chang watched many things, including the upcoming biopic Colette, which stars Keira Knightley as the French literary icon. Advertisement Agatha French went to the Central Library to see Jane Hirshfield and Victor Teran discuss and read haiku in English, Japanese and Spanish (translation headsets were required). Swapna Krishna reviews the science fiction novel Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci, which is part Star Wars homage, part a surprising coming-of-age story. Maris Kreizman talks to Sandra Allen, whose unusual book, A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise tells her uncles story of schizophrenia using his words, family lore and scientific research. Sandra Allen, author of A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise (Robert Dubbin ) Advertisement BOOKSTAGRAM Are you on Instagram? So is L.A. Times Books. Follow us there to see pictures from the literary city and some of the best of our archives. Heres a sample. The Last Bookstore, shared on Instagram (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) Advertisement carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com @paperhaus A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Los Angeles fund giant Capital Group that alleged the firm was bilking employees by steering their retirement savings into its own mutual funds. Former employee DAnn Patterson sued the company in June, saying it had made imprudent and self-interested decisions by offering mostly its own mutual funds to employees through the companys 401(k) plan, and that those funds charged excessive fees. For the record: A prior version of this story referred to U.S District Judge Dale Fischer as a male. Fischer is female. U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer called the allegations implausible, saying it did not appear the company either overcharged its employees or erred by offering them its own mutual funds. Capital Group, which manages $1.7 trillion in assets, had called the lawsuit meritless when it was filed. Company spokeswoman Hannah Coan said Friday, We are pleased with the judges order, and agree with the ruling. Advertisement Pattersons attorneys did not respond to a request for comment. The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, compared Capital Groups American Funds family of mutual funds with similar offerings from passive investing specialist Vanguard. It argued Vanguard provided better performance and lower fees, giving Capital Group employees a bad deal. There have been a handful of similar cases filed over the last few years against money-management firms, all arguing that companies are harming employees by steering retirement savings into anything other than cheap, passively managed funds ones that track the S&P 500 and other stock indexes. Fees for American Funds, which are actively managed by stock pickers, are generally higher than for passive funds. But some of the comparisons in Pattersons suit showed that American Funds outperformed Vanguard funds, even after the higher fees were taken into account. In her order dismissing the case, Fischer wrote that Capital Groups fees were not obviously excessive. Fischer also wrote that retirement plan mangers must be able to take into account more than just the fees associated with particular mutual funds. She dismissed the case but gave Patterson and her attorneys until Feb. 20 to file an amended complaint. Advertisement james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren Saudi Arabia freed Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and several of the kingdoms most prominent businessmen from detention this weekend, clearing out the Ritz-Carlton hotel that served as a jail for the countrys elite during a controversial crackdown on corruption. Alwaleed, the billionaire chairman of Riyadhs Kingdom Holding Co. who owns stakes in Citigroup Inc. and Twitter Inc., returned home on Saturday after reaching a settlement with authorities, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. He will remain at the helm of his company, the official said, declining to provide the other terms of the deal. Waleed al-Ibrahim, head of a major media firm, and retail billionaire Fawaz Al Hokair were also freed after agreeing to deals, another government official said. The princes release came just hours after Alwaleed told Reuters in an interview that he expected to go home soon and retain control of his company, calling his detention a misunderstanding and expressing support for the kingdoms rulers. With the suspects names and evidence against them never officially announced, the detentions had raised concerns about transparency among foreign investors vital to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Kingdom Holding didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Through Kingdom, Alwaleed has built up a diverse portfolio, ranging from high-end hotels such as the Savoy in London and the Plaza in New York to Lyft and Apple. Alwaleed has also had a long relationship with Disney, dating to 1994, when the prince agreed to buy about $300 million in newly issued Euro Disney stock. That deal helped restructure the debt of the then-flailing Euro Disney theme park. Just last year, Alwaleed agreed to exchange nearly all of Kingdoms Euro Disney shares for Walt Disney Co. shares, allowing Disney to take full control of the Paris theme park during a time when the Burbank entertainment giant sought to delist Euro Disney from the Euronext stock exchange. Kingdom retains a 1% stake in Euro Disney. Alwaleed also has been a longtime ally of Rupert Murdoch but recently sold his stake in Murdochs 21st Century Fox. He previously owned about 5% of Fox. The departures from the hotel mark the end of the first phase of Prince Mohammeds anti-corruption campaign, which shook the kingdom when it was launched in November. Hundreds of suspects were arrested, including some of the countrys richest men and its top economic policymaker. Officials say the government expects to reap more than $100 billion from settlements with detainees in exchange for their freedom. Others have been transferred to prison to face trial, the Wall Street Journal reported. Also released this weekend after agreeing to settlements were Khalid al-Tuwaijri, head of the royal court under the late King Abdullah, and Prince Turki bin Nasser, who was involved in a massive arms sale that led to corruption probes in Britain and the U.S., one of the government officials said. Several of those released from detention earlier appear to be returning to their lives as usual. Among them is the former finance minister and minister of state, Ibrahim al-Assaf, who recently led Saudi Arabias delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. If they can just go back to their old jobs, it would appear that the campaign was just a warning signal, and an effort to raise money, said Gregory Gause, a professor of international affairs and Saudi specialist at Texas A&M University. If that is all that it was, I wonder if anything will change. Advertisement The identities of the detainees and some of the allegations against them were leaked to media, but few details have been provided on their cases or on the settlements many have reached since then. Critics say Prince Mohammed initiated the drive to intimidate potential opponents and consolidate his grip on the country. Government officials have denied that accusation. The end of the current phase of the corruption campaign during Davos is signaling a shift in Saudi strategy for welcoming investors who have been deeply disturbed by this episode, said Theodore Karasik, a senior advisor at Gulf State Analytics in Washington. The allegations against Prince Alwaleed were never formally made public, though a senior official told Bloomberg at the time of his detention that he was accused of money laundering, bribery and extortion. The billionaire maintained his innocence in his interview with Reuters, saying all his dealings had been appropriate and that it was very important to come out of this clean and pure. The senior official said he couldnt confirm or deny if the prince had been found innocent. Advertisement Settlements dont happen unless the accused acknowledges violations and documents that in writing and pledges that he wont repeat them, the official said. This is the general principle of all who were detained in corruption cases recently and not only Alwaleed bin Talal. During his detention, the Middle East Broadcasting Centers chairman, al-Ibrahim, was pressured by the government to give up a controlling stake in his Dubai-based company, according to two people familiar with the matter. The terms of his release arent clear. Al-Ibrahim will return to running the media company as usual, one of the people said, and Reuters reported that his ownership hasnt changed, citing an official. The purge has pleased some Saudis by showing that Prince Mohammeds economic shakeup is affecting the wealthy as well as the poor, said Tom Coghlan, director for the Middle East and North Africa at K2 Intelligence in London. But observers should not underestimate the anger among the Saudi elite, Coghlan said. There is a significant flight-of-capital risk. Advertisement Times staff writer Samantha Masunaga contributed to this report. UPDATES: 11 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about Alwaleeds investments. This article was originally published at 9:35 a.m. It has been a week bursting with artistic activity including wild musicals, new conductors atop the podium and art that takes on poverty and social justice. Im Carolina A. Miranda, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, with your weeks blazing culture news: GETTING PIRATICAL Pirates of Penzance has gotten an overhaul courtesy of the Hypocrites, a Chicago troupe that Times theater critic Charles McNulty describes as vibrantly inventive, and its currently on view at the Pasadena Playhouse. Aspects of the story are lost in the rehash, notes McNulty, but the delight of the staging overrides (for the most part) the blurriness of the storytelling. Los Angeles Times Tina Muoz Pandya, Amanda Raquel Martinez and Leslie Ann Sheppard in Pirates of Penzance. (Jenny Graham ) Advertisement NOT SO IN LOVE WITH SHAKESPEARE Charles McNulty also reports on two shows that fit within the phenomenon he dubs the Shakespeare Emporium that worldwide supplier of everything Shakespeare that has caused his plays to have taken a backseat to his branded image. In this context he looks at two new plays: Shakespeare in Love at South Coast Repertory, a stage adaptation of the 98 film, and Phillip Whitchurchs Shakespeare his wife and the dog at the Broad Stage. The results? Kind of meh. Theaters wishing to honor [Shakespeare], writes McNulty, would be better advised to grapple with his works. Los Angeles Times Philip Whitchurch in Shakespeare his wife and the dog at The Broad Stage. (Bated Breath ) AN ACTOR TACKLES POVERTY As part of the Pacific Standard Time Festival: Live Art LA/LA, I caught a captivating performance of Tijuana by the Mexican collective Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol at the Skirball Cultural Center. This work of documentary theater was centered on the experiences of actor Gabino Rodriguez, who spent five months as a minimum-wage factory work in Tijuana. The result was a work that was as much bracing sociological study as it was a psychological one, I report, one that steers clear of romanticized poverty porn. Los Angeles Times Gabino Rodriguez in Tijuana at the Skirball. (Larry Sandez / Skirball Cultural Center ) IN THE THEATERS Times contributing reviewer Margaret Gray takes a gander at Aladdin, currently playing at the Hollywood Pantages, offering a combination of staged magic and stalled narrative. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Michael James Scott plays the Genie in the touring production of Aladdin. (Deen van Meer ) And F. Kathleen Foley reports on the West Coast premiere of Anna Zieglers Delicate Ship at the Road Theatre on Magnolia. It offers some superb acting and a story of poignant loss and keen regret. Los Angeles Times Plus, remember to check in weekly for whats showing in L.A.s 99-seat theaters. The Times Daryl H. Miller has the latest picks. Los Angeles Times CLASSICAL NOTES Advertisement Charles Dutoit of Londons Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was forced to withdraw from conducting engagements after being accused of sexual assault. Taking the reins at a Thursday night show at the Segerstrom Concert Hall was Swiss conductor Thierry Fischer. The change, reports Times classical music critic Mark Swed, might not be such a bad thing. The performance of works by Saint-Saens and Stravinksy was cinematically old-fashioned, but in the concert hall the performance was a a blast and a blast is just what the Royal Philharmonic needs. Los Angeles Times Thierry Fischer leading the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. (Kousaku Nakagawa / Philharmonic Society of Orange County ) Swed also checked out director Susanna Malkkis first Green Umbrella concert with the LA Phils New Music Group, which featured a rare program of works by composer Helmut Lachenmann. There is only one way to play Lachenmann, and that is with total commitment, he writes. Malkki kept the players intensely focused, and the New Music Group sounded for all the world like one of Europes top new music ensembles. Los Angeles Times There was also Malkkis imaginative presentation of Bernd Alois Zimmermanns Cello Concerto, which featured exotic instrumentation and a pas de trois with three dancers choreographed by Tero Saarinen. Los Angeles Times Advertisement The L.A. Phils principal guest conductor Susanna Malkki at Disney Hall. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times ) And because too much is never enough, Swed also reports on the latest celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernsteins birth: a series of four concert performances of his operetta Candide by the San Francisco Symphony with none other than Bernstein pal Michael Tilson Thomas in the conductors chair. Los Angeles Times Plus: Some recently unearthed footage of one of Bernsteins last rehearsals. New York Times A MEDITATION ON MOURNING Advertisement The death of a mentor left artist Pouya Afshar reeling, so he poured his grief into his work creating paintings, drawings and animated videos that get at the ephemeral nature of memory. Those works, inspired by Shiite mourning rituals (Afshar is Iranian by birth), are the subject of an exhibition on view through Sunday at the Space by Advocartsy in San Pedro. The Times Deborah Vankin chats with the artist about his inspirations. Los Angeles Times A detail from Pouya Afshars Memories Disintegrated I. (Pouya Afshar / Advocartsy ) ART AND SOCIAL JUSTICE The Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights, a base for the Chicano civil rights movement during the 60s and 70s, is currently displaying art among its pews as part of the exhibition The Art of Protest: Epiphany and the Culture of Empowerment. The Times Jessica Gelt has a look. Los Angeles Times Advertisement The Church of the Epiphany presents The Art of Protest: Epiphany and the Culture of Empowerment. (Clarke Henry ) IN THE GALLERIES Times contributing reviewer Sharon Mizota finds joy in the paintings of Judith Linhares, currently the subject of a solo show at Various Small Fires in Hollywood. Her work shines with the confidence of a woman who has been painting for five decades, she writes. Los Angeles Times A detail from Joy, 2017, by Judith Linhares. (Gil Gentile / Judith Linhares and Various Small Fires ) Advertisement Mizota also has a gander at photographer Catherine Opies new experimental film, now on view at Regen Projects. Through the eyes of an arsonist, its a work that examines our fascination with Modernist design. Los Angeles Times IN OTHER NEWS The White House asked the Guggenheim Museum if it could borrow a painting by Vincent van Gogh for the presidents private living quarters. The museum offered a gold toilet by Maurizio Cattelan instead. Washington Post Maurizio Cattelans 18-karat-gold toilet titled America, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. (Associated Press ) Advertisement More than 250 scientists have signed a letter calling on New Yorks American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) to remove funder Rebekah Mercer from its board of trustees over her support of groups that politicize climate change science. Hyperallergic Speaking of the AMNH: An estimated 65,000 members of the Herero ethnic group of Southern Africa were killed in what is described as the first genocide of the 20th century. How did some of their skulls end up in the museum? New Yorker The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is planning to expand to a campus in South Los Angeles, where it will offer exhibitions, after-school programming and other events. New York Times If you didnt get to see some of the Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA exhibitions in Southern California, they may be coming to you. The Times Deborah Vankin has a list of all the shows that will travel. Los Angeles Times Advertisement The Google Arts & Culture app matches selfies with famous works in art history. Adrian Chen parses what it means for art and data mining. A really smart piece. New Yorker Catherine Wagley has a terrific piece on the female gallerists who have shaped the art world in L.A. but have often been written out of its history. Carla Aint Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations, based on the groups music, has just been added to the Center Theatre Groups 2018-19 season. Los Angeles Times American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco has named Carey Perloff its artistic director. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Meet Kurt Froman, the dancer who trains Hollywood actors to dance like ballerinas. Playbill LAST BUT NOT LEAST The mariachi freeway dancer of San Diego is the person I aspire to be. San Diego Union Tribune Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter Advertisement carolina.miranda@latimes.com @cmonstah First she took on BPA. Then sugar. Now, documentary filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig is going after Teflon the chemical that coats so many of our nonstick pans. In her latest expose, The Devil We Know which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week Soechtig investigates how harmful Teflon is to our health. First introduced to consumers in 1945 by the corporation DuPont, Teflon was marketed as something that could make life easier. It was supposed to liberate women from the kitchen, Soechtig explains. Look, you dont have to stay scrubbing your pans all day long! Teflon would go on to become so ubiquitous that as the documentarian discovered, the chemical can now be found in the bloodstream of 99.7% of Americans. So why is that a problem? Just look at Parkersburg, W.Va., the city where DuPont was headquartered. As Soechtig explores in the film, hundreds of local residents who were exposed to the chemical also referred to as C-8, or PFOA through their drinking water became extremely ill, suffering from cancer, facial deformities at birth and immunodeficiency. In February, the corporation was forced to pay $670.7 million to 3,550 plaintiffs whose water had been contaminated, though it has never admitted to any wrongdoing. (The corporation, which is now owned by Dow Chemical Co., did not respond to a request for comment.) Despite the massive class action settlement, perfluorinated chemicals like C-8 continue to turn up in our cookware just with different names. Soechtig is no stranger to this kind of controversy: In 2009, her film Tapped looked into our potentially dangerous plastic water bottles, and 2014s Fed Up researched the link between the processed food industry and obesity. In May, a judge dismissed a $12-million lawsuit aimed at the filmmaker and producer Katie Couric over 2016s Sandy Hook documentary, Under the Gun, in which the Virginia Citizens Defense League felt they were depicted unfairly while discussing gun control. Advertisement A few hours before The Devil We Know was unveiled to festivalgoers, we spoke to Soechtig about her latest film and why she feels we need to be more mindful about what we put into our bodies. OK, so first things first: What is Teflon? If its nonstick, its Teflon. Theres a whole category of chemicals called perfluorinated chemicals, and C8 is just one of those perfluorinated chemicals. But if you just want to eyeball it, if its waterproof, stain-proof or nonstick, its got one of these chemicals that you should be avoiding. And its not just in pans. Its in the carpets your kids are crawling on. Its in fast-food wrappers. Its in your dental floss. Because there is nobody out there saying, These things have to meet a safety criteria, theyre allowed legally into the marketplace. And I just find that infuriating. Ive always been like that, even since high school. What do you mean? I really dont like being a victim of corporations or a lack of regulations. So that always gets me excited Do you know that this is happening to you, its perfectly legal and if we just all spoke up, things could change? I like calling out when corporations or the government are screwing us. Teflon cookware is coated with a chemical that makes it so food does not stick to the pan. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times ) How did you become interested in looking into Teflon? I read some articles about it, and to be honest, Id been looking for a way to tell the story of chemical contamination ever since my first film, Tapped. And thats when I learned that killer chemicals are considered innocent until proven guilty and the onus on proving them guilty is on citizens. Advertisement So the two things that really interested me was that this chemical was in 99.7% of our bloodstreams and that it was such a personal story. I love the idea of inspiring people to take action. I feel like were all so complacent and we always think somebody else is going to solve the problem, or that we couldnt do anything anyway. I was hoping it could be a hopeful story instead of just doom and gloom. But it is overwhelming, thinking about all of the products out there that are potentially harmful to us. I do think people get so overwhelmed that they just throw their hands up, but you cant for your childrens sake. We have an obligation to them. The people of Parkersburg cant throw their hands up. Listen, you cant take on everything thats out there. You have to pick what youre passionate about. But I think when it comes to things youre putting on your body and eating and consuming, that should be a top priority. It really should be a top priority of our government. There would only need to be a short yet concerted effort to be made by people in order for there to be change. When you look at the effect of Blackfish or An Inconvenient Truth how quickly the corporations responded. We vote every day with the products we buy. Right, and whats interesting is that this is out there the DuPont settlement was all over the news. Do you think were turning a blind eye to the issue? Advertisement I do think that theres a pervasive idea that if its on the shelf, its safe. I think people believe that someone is looking out for us. This is America, this water is safe if I turn it on this cream is safe if I put it on my skin. I think people just are blown away when they find out that no, nobody is looking out for us. The chemical regulation in this country is abysmal. Have you always been really cautious about what you consume? Im hyper-aware of it. I was pregnant while we were making this film, and somebody asked me, Did it affect everything you did? But not really, because since Tapped, Ive been using stainless steel bottles and cooking on cast iron pans. So yeah, Im that girl. Ill tag my friends in pictures and be like, That Nalgene bottle youre using probably has BPA in it. Im a real good time. A still from The Devil We Know shows the factory where C-8 was produced in West Virginia. (Sundance Institute ) Advertisement Is this truly a problem outside of Parkersburg, where the chemical was being dumped into the local water system in large quantities? C-8 has been detected in 6 million peoples water systems. Its in Milan, the Netherlands, China. Theyre finding this in polar bears. This is not a story about Parkersburg. This is a story about you and I. OK, so if one was interested in avoiding nonstick chemicals, whats the plan of action? If youre out shopping and you dont know what to buy anymore, a great resource is the Environmental Working Group. My family, personally, weve switched to cast iron pans. I always just thought of Teflon as pans, which is so annoying and misleading. On top of that, if youre on the Williams-Sonoma website, everything says PFOA free, but there are thousands of other replacement chemicals. Advertisement If were not demanding change, no one is going to change things. If we say were not going to buy this product anymore, theyll change it. Theyre going to meet their customers demand. It means a tiny bit of discomfort: Maybe your eggs are going to stick to your pan for a little bit. But we need to send this message that we arent going to take it anymore. amy.kaufman@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @AmyKinLA We on The Times editorial board asked a question seven months ago that seemed almost inconceivable. Only a few days before the 45th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, the board wrote, could President Trump really be contemplating a reenactment of one of the most notorious episodes of that scandal: President Richard M. Nixons firing of Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor who was investigating the cover-up of that third-rate burglary, a power play that also cost the president his attorney general and deputy attorney general? The board went on to say that Trump would be nuts to fire special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Yet according to the New York Times Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman, thats just what the president was trying to do at the time. The deeply sourced pair reported that Trump ordered Muellers firing last June, only to drop the demand when he read The Times editorial. No, actually, Schmidt and Haberman reported that Trump reversed course after top White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to resign over it. Maybe McGahn read our words of advice. Theyre available free online, after all. OK, probably not. >> Click here to read more The cost of the Oroville Dam spillway failure last February has risen to $870 million, according to a new tally released Friday by the Department of Water Resources that includes $210 million of work done by agency staff and consultants. The department said in October that the cost of repairs by construction contractor Kiewitt would hit $500 million, but that estimate did not include the agencys internal costs. Heavy rains last year caused dam operators to release 55,000 cubic feet of water per second down the spillway, triggering the disintegration of the spillway and the evacuation of 188,000 nearby residents. An independent investigation found that the 1960s-era spillway had numerous defects, such as thin concrete, poor anchors to the underlying rock and the fact that it was set on weak rock. Originally, the department estimated that the Kiewitt work would cost $275 million, but that was before greater damage was found in the foundation of the spillway. The initial design called for about 485,000 cubic yards of concrete, but as excavation of the loose rock proceeded, that was increased to 870,000 cubic yards. Advertisement The department said that it had spent $160 million responding to the crisis in the months after the damage. And it is spending an additional $210 million for debris removal, power line replacement, staff time and technical consultants, spokeswoman Erin Mellon said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to cover 75% of the $870 million, with State Water Project agencies paying the rest, she said. So far, FEMA has reimbursed the department for $87 million. The new cost estimate includes work that will be done later this year to rebuild an upper section of the spillway, along with additional work to the emergency spillway that also failed last February when dam operators tried to use it instead of the damaged main spillway. Mellon said that the department is evaluating possible fixes to some of Kiewitts work, but it would be done within the $500 million contract. Three of the 234 concrete slabs have surface imperfections that may require fixes later this year. The concrete did not cure properly, because an outage at the concrete plant caused delays that let hot winds dry the concrete too quickly, the department said. The department also noted that water pooling on the hillside has led to seepage through the spillway walls, but those walls were planned to be replaced later this year. It also noted a small section of a new wall is 1% out of vertical alignment and its engineers are examining whether fixes will be needed. ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @rvartabedian CashCall: In the Jan. 25 Business section, an article and photo caption about a lending company penalized for violating consumer protection laws referred to the company as CashCall Mortgage. The company penalized is CashCall, a personal lender. CashCall Mortage is a separate entity with different ownership. Garamba National Park: In the Dec. 22 Section A, an article on the killing of a wildlife ranger in the Democratic Republic of Congo referred to the presence of white rhinoceroses in Garamba National Park. The northern white rhino, considered critically endangered, is no longer found in the park. Only three such animals are left, living in captivity in Kenya. Migrants in Europe: In Section A of the edition of March 5, 2017, an article about migrants stranded in Serbia said that threatening letters from the Taliban targeting Afghan refugee Tariq Stanikzay were posted on the wall of a mosque in his home village in 2013, and that Stanikzay tore up one of them. In fact, the letters were sent starting in 2011. One letter was posted at a mosque while another was delivered to Stanikzays familys farm, and neither was destroyed. The errors came to light during legal proceedings in the Netherlands, where Stanikzay is seeking asylum. If you believe that we have made an error, or you have questions about The Times journalistic standards and practices, you may contact Deirdre Edgar, readers representative, by email at readers.representative@latimes.com, by phone at (877) 554-4000, by fax at (213) 237-3535 or by mail at 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The readers representative office is online at latimes.com/readersrep. An epic $1.9-billion widening of the 405 Freeway in Orange County is about to begin after years of debate. The project will affect the 16-mile portion of the 405 between the 73 Freeway in Costa Mesa and the 605 Freeway near Rossmoor. It is expected to be completed in 2023. The plan includes a new general-purpose lane and a new express toll lane in both directions. The existing carpool lane in each direction will be converted to a second toll lane. The express lanes will be operated like those on the 91 Freeway. In 2015, the Orange County Transportation Authority was expecting the tolls to range from $2.13 to $9.99, depending on the time, day of the week and direction of travel. Advertisement OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said Friday that the tolls will be adjusted when the express lanes open in 2023. The 405 project also will include widening or replacing nearly 20 bridges and renovating various freeway ramps. The endeavor, which officials call the largest project under construction in California, has taken 15 years of planning. Transportation officials say it is needed to keep up with increasing demand on the busy 405. At a grand opening this week, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) said the project is what America is all about. The congressman praised the combination of tolls and state, local and federal tax dollars funding it. This truly is a team effort, added Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach). Everybody is looking at this project nationwide and statewide. The plan faced years of fierce debate before Fridays celebration. Residents and leaders from cities along the 405 including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley opposed the toll option. Community meetings about the topic were packed. Two cities filed lawsuits. Critics dubbed the express lanes Lexus lanes in the belief they would be affordable only to the rich. Opponents called the tolls a form of double taxation because Orange County voters already had approved a half-cent sales tax, Measure M2, in 2006 toward transportation projects. Advertisement Despite objections from local leaders and the OCTA board, the California Department of Transportation announced in 2014 that it would move forward with the toll option. By the following year, OCTA had agreed to the plan. OCTA spokesman Eric Carpenter said Friday that the project could begin this spring with restriping of the freeway and setting up concrete barriers. Though the complete construction schedule is still being set, paving and bridge demolition are scheduled to start this summer, he said. Zint writes for Times Community News. A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a series of arson and vandalism attacks at churches around Southern California, authorities said Saturday. Christian Michael Garcia was arrested Thursday by a special team of law enforcement officials dubbed the House of Worship Task Force. The group includes investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Departments Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section and Pasadenas fire and police departments. The destruction of a house of worship not only devastates the affected congregation, but affects the entire community, LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a joint statement. We will always investigate and prosecute the serious crime of arson to the fullest extent of the law. The case against Garcia will be presented Monday to the Los Angeles County district attorney, fire authorities said. Advertisement On behalf of the Boyle Heights community we applaud these investigators, Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar said in a statement. We look forward to assisting Resurrection Church rebuild knowing that the true spirit of this parish can never be destroyed. The most recent arson fires occurred at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Boyle Heights early Thursday and the Church of the Angels in Pasadena on Jan. 13. The blaze at the Boyle Heights church was primarily contained to the first floor of the two-story structure. The small fire at the Episcopal church in Pasadena was lit in the sanctuary, using pews, prayer books and hymnals as kindling. Vandals also used green spray paint to deface a statue of an angel outside the Pasadena church and to write the words Jehovah Lives and an Old Testament verse, 2 Kings 19:35, about the killing of Assyrians: And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. The same verse was spray-painted at Ancient Church of the East Mar Shaleeta Parish, an Assyrian church in San Fernando, in a November 2016 incident that the Assyrian American Assn. of Southern California called a hate crime. Police in February 2017 found similar graffiti at three West Covina churches: Christ Lutheran Church, St. Christopher Catholic Church and West Covina Christian Church. rosanna.xia@latimes.com Family and friends fighting over Charles Mansons body and estate will have to take their cases to separate counties, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled Friday. The battle over Mansons estate and no one seems to know what that is, because he spent the last decades in prison will take place in Los Angeles County, Judge David J. Cowan said. Thats because the last place Manson lived, and is therefore considered his legal domicile, was Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth, the judge said. The estate could include potentially lucrative rights to the use of Mansons image as well as songs he wrote and any other property. Manson was the mastermind of the gory rampage that claimed the life of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others during two August nights in Los Angeles in 1969. The problematic prisoner with a swastika carved into his forehead generated a cult following during four decades of imprisonment. Advertisement Jason Freeman, grandson of the late Charles Manson, speaks outside Los Angeles County court Friday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times ) The three people claiming to be the rightful heir to his estate are Mansons grandson from Florida, Jason Freeman; a man who claims to be his last surviving son, Michael Brunner; and his longtime pen pal from Newhall, Michael Channels. All three are also expected to duke it out in court over Mansons body which has been in storage with the Kern County coroner since he died at 83 in a Bakersfield hospital Nov. 19. Several issues will have to be resolved before a judge can determine who gets Mansons estate. There is debate over whether Brunner is Mansons biological son an attorney for Kern County has suggested that he may have been adopted and whether a last will and testament supposedly signed by Manson and given to Channels in 2002 is legitimate. 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 hes been a no-show at two hearings and has yet to file court papers. But a will purportedly signed by Manson and naming Lentz as sole beneficiary has been filed with the Kern County coroner. According to an attorney representing the Kern County coroner, Manson told guards at Corcoran prison that he had no surviving children and did not have a will. The next hearing over the estate matter is scheduled for March 9. In the meantime, the parties at the end of the month will head to Bakersfield, where the Kern County counsel has a petition filed requesting that a judge determine who gets to decide what to do with Mansons remains. Advertisement The question centers on jurisdiction. Is it up to a judge in Kings County, where Manson was housed for more than 40 years in Corcoran State Prison? Or a judge in Kern County, where Manson died? My grandfather has been on ice over 60 days, Freeman emotionally blurted out during Fridays hearing in Los Angeles, echoing the frustration of those who want to claim the remains. We want a court order on how to proceed, said Bryan Walters, an attorney representing Kern County. We prefer to dispose of it as soon as possible. joseph.serna@latimes.com Advertisement For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The man who called for an ambulance at an Altadena apartment last fall had the calm and direct manner of one familiar with healthcare emergencies. Baby not breathing, Dr. Carmen Puliafito, former dean of USCs medical school, told a 911 dispatcher shortly after sunrise Oct. 5. For the record: Childs death: In the Jan. 28 California section, an article about the death of an infant in Altadena identified the childs mother, Dora Yoder, as having a pending bench warrant for her arrest. The warrant had been dismissed and Yoder pleaded no contest Dec. 29 to petty theft, according to the Los Angeles city attorneys office. If Yoder completes the terms of a diversion program, including narcotics anonymous meetings and community labor, the case could be dismissed in December 2018. Are you there at the location right now? the dispatcher asked. No, the doctor replied. My girlfriends there. Advertisement The ambulance arrived within four minutes, but the 3-week-old boy was so far beyond saving that paramedics did not take him to the hospital or even attempt CPR. The death of the infant, Boaz Franko, is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Detectives are working to determine whether he died from natural causes, an accident or as the result of a crime. Investigators have interviewed the childs parents, an accused drug dealer and a nude model who both struggled with addiction and whose troubled lives became entangled with Puliafitos in recent years. An overdose, a young companion, drug-fueled parties: The secret life of a USC med school dean Sheriffs Cmdr. Steven D. Katz said the investigators do not consider Puliafito a suspect, but a possible witness or an informant. They have attempted to interview him about the childs death, and he has refused through a lawyer, Katz said. Hes someone who has the potential to provide some information about the parties involved in this investigation, Katz said. Carmen Puliafito, pictured in 2016, was once the dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine. (Los Angeles Times ) Security hold, toxicology tests He said investigators have received the results of toxicology tests, but declined to disclose them. Investigators recently imposed a so-called security hold on the case at the L.A. County coroners office, blocking the disclosure of the autopsy findings or other information. Whatever the outcome of their investigation, the death shows how Puliafito continued to have close contact with young addicts beyond the collapse of his once illustrious career. Advertisement The former dean was paying rent and other expenses at the apartment where the infant died and was a frequent visitor there, according to the landlord and others who went to the property. Puliafito is not the childs father, authorities said, but he and the babys mother, Dora Yoder, 27, have been in a relationship for years. The relationship concerned her family so much that her parents went to the Sheriffs Department in 2016 to express alarm about Puliafitos influence on her. Puliafito declined to comment. In a letter, his attorney, Timothy D. Reuben, accused The Times of sensationalizing the boys death, writing, your unfounded effort to somehow connect Dr. Puliafito to this tragedy just because the LA Times has attacked him in the past is utterly without basis and frankly disgusting. A 67-year-old with two Harvard degrees and an international reputation in ophthalmology, Puliafito started using methamphetamine with a circle of prostitutes and criminals while dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine, The Times revealed last summer. His partying continued even after a 21-year-old woman overdosed in his presence in a hotel room and he was forced from his deans post. His young associates told The Times, and later state investigators, that Puliafito provided drugs to poor, young addicts in the group, including a teenager, and that he repeatedly smuggled drugs to friends in rehab. Advertisement Ariel Franko, the infants father, in a July 30 booking photo. (Handout / San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department ) The Medical Board of California outlined allegations that he had furnished drugs to three people in an October filing seeking the revocation or suspension of his medical license. He has voluntarily surrendered that license. Yoder and the babys father, Ariel Franko, 27, were not among those referenced in the medical boards filing, but they were part of Puliafitos party clique, according to interviews, photos and videos of the group. A young mother Raised in the Amish religion in Pennsylvania, Yoder moved to Los Angeles at 17, according to relatives. She dabbled in hairdressing and modeling, and started a website offering arty prints of her in various states of undress. Her sister Miriam Jones lived with her when she moved to L.A. and said Yoder was introduced to drugs through the Hollywood club scene. Advertisement Yoder did not respond to messages seeking comment. A dozen people familiar with her relationship with Puliafito spoke to The Times; most requested anonymity. She began dating Franko, who grew up in Sherman Oaks, several years ago, friends and relatives said. His criminal record includes a conviction for accessory to burglary and two pending cases for possession of narcotics for sale. He has been to rehab at least twice for heroin addiction, according to court records. Police in Sherman Oaks arrested him last year in a car with heroin and other drugs, a scale and plastic baggies. Franko is in the L.A. County Jail awaiting trial. He did not respond to a letter seeking an interview. Advertisement USC received more than a year of questions about former medical school deans conduct before scandal broke Yoder and Franko crossed paths in recent years with Puliafito. Soon they were partying with him and other members of his circle. Photos taken by the group during a 2015 trip to Las Vegas show Yoder and Franko raising glasses with the physician in a hotel room. A pipe, butane lighter and a bottle of whipped cream are lined up on a coffee table. Yoder joined then-dean Puliafito that year at USCs medical school Christmas party, which he hosted at a downtown event space. Yoder and Puliafito posed with their arms around each other in photos reviewed by The Times. Sarah Warren, the young woman who overdosed last year in a room Puliafito had rented, is in photos with Franko, Yoder and the former dean. She said she used drugs with all three for more than a year in 2015 and 2016, and witnessed Puliafito furnishing heroin to Yoder on numerous occasions. Advertisement She needed the heroin, and Carmen paid the bill for everything, said Warren, who later got sober in a residential drug treatment program. He was her drug provider. Yoder made an attempt to get clean in 2015, but left rehab before completing the program, according to Jones, Warren and others who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The following year, Yoder confided in a teenage niece that she was again using heroin. Dezaree Jones, then 17, said that during the March 2016 conversation in the driveway outside her apartment, Yoder said Puliafito was the source of the heroin. She said she never paid for her drugs and that he would supply them, Jones recalled. Advertisement Three other people who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity said Puliafito provided Yoder with drugs or money to buy drugs. In a letter to The Times this week, Puliafitos lawyer did not specifically address allegations the physician provided drugs to Yoder, but wrote that many of the newspapers claims were provably false. An infant died at an Altadena duplex on Oct. 5. (Mel Melcon ) Fathers alarm over relationship The relationship worried Yoders family. Her father called the sheriffs station in Altadena from his Missouri home in August 2016 to report her missing and relay suspicions about Puliafitos influence. My daughters been known to do drugs, and shes involved with a doctor thats also been known to do drugs, Menno Yoder told a deputy, according to a recording of the phone call obtained via public records request. Advertisement Puliafito is not mentioned by name in the redacted recording, but a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed he was the eye doctor referenced in the call. He gives my daughter money and he pays for her rent and he pays for all that stuff, he added. Dora Yoder was eventually found at the Westin Hotel in Pasadena. Deputies did not pursue the matter. Pasadena officer who investigated overdose was skeptical of USC med school deans story, recording shows Advertisement The following day, Yoder was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. A police officer noted that she had visible track marks and was carrying an illegal stash of Suboxone, a heroin-substitution drug prescribed to addicts. After Yoder didnt show up for her court date, a judge issued a bench warrant for her arrest. It remains open. Yoder learned she was pregnant early last year and was surprised, Jones said. She went to a detox program to get off heroin and then spent several weeks resting at her parents Missouri home, according to numerous relatives. During that period, Puliafito answered a Craigslist ad for a two-bedroom apartment off Lake Avenue in Altadena. It was a short drive from his eight-bedroom Pasadena mansion. The owner of the property, Angel Rizo, said Puliafito was open about needing a place immediately for his mistress. He explained the situation, Rizo said. Advertisement Puliafito agreed to pay $2,000 a month and signed a yearlong lease, according to a copy reviewed by The Times. After Yoder moved in, Puliafito had a very expensive alarm system with security cameras installed, Rizo said. Franko and other young people were often in the home with Yoder and Puliafito, according to the landlord and others who observed the property. Friends said Yoder was excited about having the baby, which she delivered full-term on Sept. 10 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She chose a Biblical name, Boaz, which means strength is within him in Hebrew. Five hours after the birth, sheriffs deputies found the newborns father passed out in the drivers seat of an SUV parked in front of the Altadena apartment. Deputies patting Franko down discovered methamphetamine and black-tar heroin, and he admitted to using both drugs on a daily basis, according to the arrest report. Advertisement Three weeks later, sheriffs deputies were back at the apartment. 911 call She called me crying Puliafito phoned for an ambulance about 7:35 a.m. In a redacted recording of the 911 call obtained by The Times in response to a public records request, Puliafito did not provide his name. Katz, the sheriffs official, confirmed Puliafito made the phone call. The 911 dispatcher noted that Puliafito was phoning from Pasadena and asked if the baby was just found like this by his parents. Puliafito replied: I dont know. She called me crying. Advertisement Former USC medical school dean saw patients after using meth, investigators allege Yoder was alone in the home and distraught when the ambulance arrived. The coroners investigator noted that the baby appeared healthy and had no obvious injuries. The investigator and homicide detectives interviewed Yoder at the scene. Yoder told a coroners investigator that the heater wasnt working the night before so she had placed the 25-day-old baby in his crib, covered with a blanket. She told the investigator that hours later, she woke up and found him unresponsive, said Ed Winter, coroners assistant chief of operations. She first called the infants father and asked him what to do because she didnt know CPR and thought there was something she could do to revive him. Advertisement Yoder waited two weeks to inform her family of Boazs death and told them he died of sudden infant death syndrome, according to text messages reviewed by The Times. Relatives phoned the sheriffs station in Altadena to express concern about the babys death and worries that Puliafito was furnishing drugs to Yoder, sister Miriam Jones said. Jones later met with homicide detectives. In an email to Puliafito written two weeks after the boys death and reviewed by The Times, Yoder listed bills she wanted him to cover, including baby book(s) of Boaz, mani/pedi and collection agency debt. I accept cash, any kind of check, bank wire, google wallet, and more ;), she wrote, concluding, thank you for loving me. Puliafito e-mailed back that they should meet to discuss the amount of money she needed and added that they were at a crossroads seriously. Advertisement From day one I said that Boaz was a gift from God, he wrote in the Oct. 22 message. I really felt he was my son. You knew that. He still is a gift that will shine brightly in my heart. Boaz is buried under a magnolia tree in Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Culver City in a section of the cemetery reserved for children. Correction February 12, 2018, 10:25 AM Advertisement Childs death: In the Jan. 28 California section, an article about the death of an infant in Altadena identified the childs mother, Dora Yoder, as having a pending bench warrant for her arrest. The warrant had been dismissed and Yoder pleaded no contest Dec. 29 to petty theft, according to the Los Angeles city attorneys office. If Yoder completes the terms of a diversion program, including narcotics anonymous meetings and community labor, the case could be dismissed in December 2018. matt.hamilton@latimes.com | Twitter: @MattHjourno harriet.ryan@latimes.com | Twitter: @latimesharriet Alisa Orduna, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcettis homelessness policy director, is leaving her post to take a similar position with the city of Santa Monica. Orduna was appointed director in 2016, when then-director Greg Spiegel left to go to the Inner City Law Center, where he previously worked. Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said Ordunas last day will be Feb. 2 and that the mayors office is working to fill the director position as quickly as possible. The turnover on Garcettis team comes as city leaders struggle with a rise in homelessness and neighborhood complaints about encampments and trash. Advertisement Signaling a new approach to the crisis, Garcetti is looking to house dozens of homeless people in trailers on a city-owned downtown lot a possible model for citywide temporary shelters. Orduna didnt respond to a request for comment. She will work as Santa Monicas senior advisor on homelessness, a newly created position, said Santa Monica spokeswoman Constance Farrell. dakota.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @dakotacdsmith A Los Angeles man who groped three women and a teenage girl on the subway last year has been convicted of sexual assault and battery and will be required to register as a sex offender, prosecutors said Friday. Ager Linder, 26, pleaded no contest this month to two counts of sexual battery and two counts of battery, prosecutors said. Linder was sentenced to more than a year in county jail and three years of probation. He will also be required to complete a year-long sex offender treatment program. Linder groped three women and a 16-year-old girl on the Metro Red Line between July and December of last year, prosecutors said. One woman contacted law enforcement after he pinned her against the wall of a train and grabbed her buttocks. People should be able to use our transit systems without troubling and frightening harassment, abuse or worse, Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said in a statement. Public transit is essential to the future of our city, and we must do all we can to ensure our moms, kids everyone can ride without fear. Advertisement Linder has five previous convictions for similar assaults on transit, including grabbing a womans buttocks on a bus in Culver City, groping two women on a bus in Norwalk, and touching a womans thigh on a Metro Blue Line train in Long Beach, prosecutors said. As part of his sentence, Linder is barred from riding Metro trains or coming within 100 yards of a station, prosecutors said. Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Dave Sotero said the agency enforces such bans by distributing a copy of the court order and a photograph of the person to law enforcement officials. Now justice will prevail for this individual who has victimized our transit customers, Sotero said in an email. The order to remove him will enhance safety on our system and validate our zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment. Metro encourages passengers who experience a public safety threat to call (888) 950-SAFE or, in an emergency, 911. Ridership on the Metro Red Line fell by nearly 8% over a five-year period, a decline that some passengers have attributed to safety problems. In a 2016 survey, 29% of former transit riders said they stopped taking buses and trains because they felt unsafe. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez said during a public meeting this week that she would not ride the subway with her 8-year-old daughter. She described Metro buses and trains as enclosed areas where victims have very little room to escape. Martinez said Friday in a prepared statement that Linders conviction was an important step forward in the fight against sexual harassment and assault on public transit. Advertisement laura.nelson@latimes.com For more transportation news, follow @laura_nelson on Twitter. A combination of strong, gusty winds and low relative humidity will raise the risk of fire danger in Southern California through Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A red flag warning went into effect Saturday night and will remain in place until 3 p.m. Monday, as warm Santa Ana winds blow through the region. In the Santa Monica mountains, forecasters expect 30-to-45 mph winds, with gusts up to 70 mph. The coastline will see 20-to-30 mph winds, with gusts up to 45 mph, while the Santa Clarita Valley could see gusts of up to 50 mph. The strongest gusts are in the canyons and valleys of the mountains because they get funneled as they go through, said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the weather service. Theyll be strongest in the evening, so overnight they should go down a little bit. Advertisement Sunday brought very low relative humidity, in the single digits in some areas, as temperatures climbed into the 80s, with the trend expected to continue on Monday, forecasters said. Some areas saw record-breaking heat Sunday. A high temperature of 90 degrees was recorded in Long Beach, breaking the previous record of 88 degrees set in 1976, Hoxsie said. In Burbank, the temperature reached 86, breaking the old record of 85 degrees also set in 1976. Its very dry far below normal for this time of year, but its also kind of typical with a Santa Ana winds condition, said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. The Santa Ana winds are fueled by air moving from high pressure zones in the Great Basin area of Utah and Idaho to lower pressure zones along the Southern California coastline. Strong winds could potentially push a fire along, helping it to spread quickly, while low relative humidity allows vegetation to burn readily. The red flag warning is not a predictor for fires, Sweet said, but it does raise concern for rapid fire growth. UPDATES: 5:15 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from the National Weather Service about the wind forecast and record-breaking heat. Advertisement This article was originally published at 8:35 a.m. The shrieking came from inside the jumble of tents and bedding and personal belongings scooped off the street. Arms started flailing and the screams grew louder. In what could have turned into a fatal blunder, a homeless man scrambled out of a San Diego city trash truck and avoided being crushed by mere seconds last month, city officials say. Officials told San Diego Union-Tribune, the man walked away before work crews could offer assistance or even collect his name and information. Advertisement This was a terrible incident and all involved were shaken by what occurred, Paz Gomez, deputy chief operating officer, said in an emailed statement. Based on initial accounts, city staff and the citys abatement contractor tried to follow up with the individual but the person immediately left the scene and couldnt be located. Work was suspended for the day to figure out exactly what went wrong. The incident occurred Dec. 22 in downtown San Diego as police and code-enforcement officers were performing a regular clearing of homeless encampments. The abatements involve removing property left on the street, usually by homeless people. According to people familiar with what happened, police officers at the scene approved the area for clearing before work crews heaved the tent into the trash truck. Presumably they thought the tent was filled with bedding and other discards. San Diego police did not respond to questions about why officers allowed the code-enforcement team to proceed with the removal of an occupied tent. In recent years, block after block of some downtown San Diego neighborhoods have become makeshift camps for a population of homeless people that has swelled past 9,000. The accumulation of trash and lack of sanitation contributed to a hepatitis A outbreak last year that killed 20 people and sickened almost 600 before the public-health emergency was declared over this week. Advertisement Under a settlement reached in 2011 and approved by a federal judge, San Diego is required to follow specific steps before, during and after the cleanups protocols that appear to have fallen short in this case. Attorney Scott Dreher, who negotiated the settlement seven years ago, was stunned when told about the accident last month. Thank God somebody heard the guy and stopped it because it would have been way worse, he said. As bad as this is, the lawyer part of me doesnt think there was any kind of malice. It may have been carelessness, it may have been a lack of communication. Gomez said the city is careful to follow all of the procedures spelled out under the agreement. Advertisement City crews work diligently with homeless individuals to alert them of upcoming abatements and follow strict written procedures when conducting abatements, she wrote. Obviously this event was unacceptable and the city is taking action to ensure this never happens again. McDonald writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com In a courthouse in Los Angeles, a city accustomed to legal matters both bizarre and star-studded, the years-long drama centered on former rap mogul Marion Suge Knight is shaping up to be a standout. While awaiting a murder trial, Knight has become the star of a legal circus complete with a revolving door of attorneys, the defendant collapsing in court and, in true L.A. fashion, the leaking of sealed evidence to the celebrity news website TMZ. This week, the sideshow that already ensnared Knights fiancee and business partner expanded as authorities on Thursday arrested two of the rap impresarios former attorneys, accusing them of acting as accessories after the fact. Matthew Fletcher and Thaddeus Culpepper had been held in lieu of $1-million bail. But in an unexpected turn, both were released late Friday, sheriffs officials said in a statement. Advertisement 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. It is unclear exactly what charges the attorneys might face. Prosecutors alleged in court papers filed last year that they and others tampered with witnesses and discussed bribes connected to Knights murder case. But the district attorneys office did not file chargesFriday, and investigators would not comment further. It was the latest twist in an already memorable case, one that experts say points to concerns prosecutors may have over Knights ability to dissuade or intimidate witnesses who could testify against him. It is unusually more aggressive than any other case that weve seen in many years, Lou Shapiro, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, said of the arrests. And thats because theres an actual and realistic fear that a witness, or more than one witness, will actually disappear. The Compton-born Knight, 52, is the co-founder of Death Row Records, a record label that helped push gangsta rap into the mainstream with stars including Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. He is expected to stand trial soon on charges that he barreled his truck into Terry Carter and Cle Bone Sloan in the parking lot of a Compton burger stand in January 2015, after a dispute on the set of the movie Straight Outta Compton. Carter, 55, died of his injuries. Sloan was seriously injured. Footage from a security camera the video that was later leaked to TMZ shows Knight plowing his truck into the men. Knight, who fled the scene but later returned, pleaded not guilty and says he acted in self-defense. Advertisement Just three months earlier, Knight was charged with robbery after prosecutors alleged he and comedian Micah Katt Williams chased a woman and stole her camera in Beverly Hills. Knights court appearances were dramatic from the start. He was hospitalized after pleading not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges, and was rushed to the hospital again before another hearing connected to the robbery case. When a judge set his bail for $25 million, Knight collapsed in the courtroom. Meanwhile, investigators were digging in. Prosecutors later alleged in court documents that just two weeks after the deadly hit-and-run, Knights fiancee, Toi-Lin Kelly, and business partner, Mark Blankenship, began arranging the sale of the video to TMZ for $55,000. Advertisement The grainy footage, taken from a security camera at Tams Burgers, shows Knights red Ford F-150 Raptor pickup ramming into Carter and Sloan. I cant wait to get this video to you, Kelly texted a TMZ correspondent in February 2015, according to court records. Prosecutors alleged Kelly and Blankenship knew the video was under a protective court order. They were charged with conspiring to violate that court order, obstruct justice and commit grand theft. Last fall, Kelly pleaded no contest to violating the court order. Under the deal, the other two charges were dropped. Advertisement In February 2017, a grand jury indicted Knight in a third case, in which he was accused of threatening F. Gary Gray, the director of the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton. Knight was furious about his depiction in the film and the fact that he had not been paid, according to court records. He repeatedly called and sent the director text messages laced with expletives, gang terminology and a racial slur, the court records said. I will see u in person u have kids just like me so lets play hardball, Knight wrote. In another message, he bragged about being from Bomton, using Bloods slang. Knight then allegedly told Gray that he would make sure the director and others received hugs slang for physical violence, detectives told the grand jury. Advertisement The messages left Gray so shaken that he spent nearly two days dodging questions about the incident during the grand jury hearing, according to transcripts that were later made public. During the hearing, he repeatedly said he could not remember anything about the messages claims that one prosecutor said underscored his fear of Knight. Hes so afraid he came in here and lied under oath, Deputy Dist. Atty. Cynthia Barnes told the grand jury. Hes perjuring himself because hes that afraid. Another bombshell came late last summer, when prosecutors alleged in a 22-page court filing that Knight and Fletcher had discussed bribing witnesses to fabricate testimony in Knights murder trial. Prosecutors pointed to a series of recorded phone calls made in early 2015, in which Kelly and Blankenship were also on the line. During those calls, prosecutors allege, the group talked about paying witnesses to say they saw either the victims or others at the burger stand with a gun a move that would bolster Knights claims of self-defense. Advertisement By that time, Fletcher was no longer representing Knight in the murder case. But prosecutors asked the court to conduct its own inquiry into whether Fletcher had a conflict of interest in representing Knight in the threat case, in part because 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. When the filing was unsealed last August, Fletcher denied wrongdoing, telling The Times that prosecutors had taken his words out of context. Any talk of money, he said, was about attempts to obtain cellphone video of the hit-and-run. 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. 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. Advertisement The move drew mixed reviews from attorneys not affiliated with Knights case. Shapiro said he worried it would have a chilling effect between lawyers and clients who are already in custody. But Eric Schweitzer, treasurer of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, said attorney-client privilege is broken if a non-attorney, or a person not employed by an attorney, is on the call. Youre my client, and I say to you, OK, meet me at the Dennys, and we sit down at the counter and we start yakety-yaking about the case, and ... the waitress overhears me saying, You know, you shouldnt have ditched the gun in the storm drain in front of Pico and La Brea, he said. Theres no privilege there. We havent communicated in a way that we would have any reasonable, subjective expectation of privacy. Fletcher slammed the move at the time, telling The Times it was fairly reprehensible. Culpepper also chastised the district attorneys office. Advertisement 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! Neither attorney could be reached for comment after their arrests Thursday. james.queally@latimes.com For more breaking crime and cops news in Southern California, follow me on Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT The two envelopes, one for each twin brother, arrived in the mailbox on the same day in March of last year. The larger parcel, for Aiden Dvash-Banks, contained a new U.S. passport and a letter congratulating the boy on his American citizenship. A smaller, flimsier envelope came for Ethan Dvash-Banks. Inside, a letter stated that his citizenship application had been denied. The boys were carried in the same womb, born 16 months ago in Canada, minutes apart. But now, only one of them is in the U.S. legally. The disparity is at the crux of a lawsuit filed this week against the State Department in which the twins parents, a married binational gay couple in Brentwood, allege that the governments policy of granting birthright citizenship to children born abroad based on blood relation discriminates against LGBTQ couples. Advertisement Aiden and Ethan were conceived using an anonymous donors eggs and the sperm of their fathers, Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks. The twins were carried and delivered by a surrogate. Aiden shares DNA with Andrew, a Santa Monica native, while Ethan is biologically related to Elad, who was born and raised in Israel. In Ethans denial letter, addressed to Andrew, a U.S. Consulate official said that the Immigration and Nationality Act requires a blood relationship between a child and the U.S. citizen parent in order for the parent to transmit U.S. citizenship. The boys claim to U.S. citizenship has not been satisfactorily established, as you are not his biological father, the letter said. The couple were devastated and livid. As a parent, my No. 1 job is to protect my sons, Andrew Dvash-Banks, 36, said in an interview with The Times this week. I cant allow anyone to treat them differently. That is what my government is doing. In their fathers eyes, the boys are the same. They both grimace at the sight of broccoli. They both love playing hide-and-seek and the furry red Muppet, Elmo. But without birthright citizenship, the couple said, Ethan is undeniably different. For example, If hes not a U.S. citizen at birth, he cant become a U.S. president, said Elad Dvash-Banks, 32. A child should not start his life with, You cant do this. The couple never intended to disclose their biological connections to their sons or to anyone else. They said it wasnt necessary, and not even their parents or grandparents asked. Advertisement The fact that the State Department has taken it upon themselves to make it their business is wrong, Andrew Dvash-Banks said. The lawsuit argues that the provisions cited by the State Department apply only to children born out of wedlock, and therefore shouldnt apply to them. A State Department official declined to comment on pending litigation. The familys case exposes the unique immigration challenges facing binational LGBTQ couples, which number about 36,000 in the U.S., said Jackie Yodashkin, public affairs director for Immigration Equality. That means there are a lot of people who have or will be starting families soon, Yodashkin said. If the goal is to keep families together, then why would you ever create a situation where you have an undocumented baby and a U.S. citizen twin brother? Advertisement Legal experts said the statutes were written without contemplating same-sex marriages. Fundamentally, were dealing with very conservative, traditional notions of family when these statutes were written, said Jean Reisz, a professor at USC Gould School of Law, adding that she was surprised by the State Departments position. But Nancy Polikoff, a visiting professor at UCLA School of Law, said straight couples who use assisted reproduction abroad run into similar problems. The definition of parents thats being used has not caught up to the reality of parentage today, which is that lots of people are recognized as legal parents even though they arent biological parents and they havent adopted the child, she said. Advertisement Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks met in 2008 at a holiday party at Tel Aviv University in Israel, where Andrew was working toward a masters degree in Middle Eastern studies. They fell in love and, two years later, were married. The pair intended to settle in California, where Andrew Dvash-Banks has four siblings, along with 14 nieces and nephews. But at the time, same-sex marriages were not allowed in California because of Proposition 8 and not recognized by the federal government. That meant Elad Dvash-Banks couldnt obtain lawful permanent residency in the U.S. through his marriage. So his partner had a choice: He could either start his marriage away from his family, or away from his husband. Obviously I chose to live with the man I fell in love with, Andrew Dvash-Banks said. The pair settled in Canada, where Andrew has dual citizenship. Advertisement The couple were elated in 2013, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of a federal law that denied benefits to legally married gay couples. Elad applied for a green card soon after. A few months after the twins were born, the couple gleefully visited the U.S. Consulate in Toronto to get their sons U.S. passports. They carried their marriage certificate, matching birth certificates, a check, some diapers and their two newborns. After hours of waiting, an official called them to the window. There, they were asked a series of detailed questions about the boys conception. They felt humiliated, but offered answers. The official said Andrew Dvash-Banks would have to undergo a DNA test to prove a biological link to each twin. Without that, neither child would qualify. Advertisement If we were hetero couple, Elad Dvash-Banks said, she would never ask that. She would never ask that because she would assume we are husband and wife. Andrew Dvash-Banks wept at the window. Onlookers watched in silence. We were hit with a ton of bricks, he said. A few months after Ethans application was denied, the family arrived at LAX in June. Andrew and Aiden carried their U.S. passports, while Elad had his Israeli passport and green card. Ethan passed through customs with a Canadian passport and a six-month tourist visa. Advertisement In December, the family canceled a trip to Israel to visit the twins great-grandparents. Ethans tourist visa had expired, and leaving the country posed too much of a risk. The day they arrived in Los Angeles, the couple swore they would fight until Ethan obtained birthright citizenship. Were going to do whatever it takes to help Ethan to get what is rightfully his, Elad Dvash-Banks said. I know I will tell them, look at this this is a piece of history, because we fought for you and we changed the world. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @AleneTchek Thousands of volunteers and visitors were expected to gather Saturday in downtown Los Angeles with the areas homeless for the fourth annual Skid Row Carnival of Love. The event, founded by actor Justin Baldoni, known for his role on the CW network show Jane the Virgin, was created to connect Skid Row residents with health checkups, haircuts and showers, job preparation, resources on domestic violence, legal advice on citations and a number of other services both vital and entertaining to those in need. For anyone with a volunteer ticket who is coming to the @SkidRowCarnival of LOVE tomorrow, please watch our volunteer training video. (part 2 is below in the THREAD) For the 600 on the waitlist- stand by in the am as we will be releasing spots once the fire marshall approves. pic.twitter.com/rdsNbkz84q justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) January 27, 2018 From noon to 4 p.m., volunteers will be helping with resume writing and connecting people to Goodwill WorkSource and other job placement programs. Onsite job interviews with Starbucks will also be conducted, event organizers said. Advertisement The even will take place on San Julian Street between 5th and 6th streets, and on 5th Street between South San Pedro and Wall streets A parking lot will also be filled with nurses, doctors, dentists and therapists providing basic care and health checkups, body mass index, blood pressure and glucose screenings, private HIV/STD testing, insurance enrollment, substance abuse counseling and connections to free rehab services. Volunteers will also help set up voter registration, public library cards and Medi-Cal and food stamp enrollment. AmeriCorps will be there to help people start the process of transitioning into shelters and supportive housing. Organizers will also be handing out gift bags with soap and shampoo and clothing and setting up a full shower bus and spa area for foot washing, haircuts and massages. Other activities include: Pet section: Dog groomers, dog food, veterinarian services, flea medication. Dog groomers, dog food, veterinarian services, flea medication. Carnival activities : Carnival games, entertainers and performances, free hugs, face painting, music. : Carnival games, entertainers and performances, free hugs, face painting, music. Childrens area: A bounce house, book and toy donations, face painting, kids yoga, art and science projects, book readings. A bounce house, book and toy donations, face painting, kids yoga, art and science projects, book readings. Adult activities: Yoga and breathing classes, poetry writing, art projects. We create a space where there is no division between who is rich and who is poor, said Baldoni, who created the Carnival of Love after asking a group of close friends to help him celebrate his birthday one year by joining him in bringing supplies to skid row instead of having a party. By 2015, the group had grown to 75 people and is now an annual event with numerous sponsors. Our volunteers are there to help connect attendees with vital services; but, even more importantly, they are there to learn from attendees, hear their powerful stories, and create beautiful new friendships with people they might not otherwise meet in our community. Last year 2,000 volunteers served more than 4,000 skid row residents. This year, organizers said the event is expected to serve more than 5,000 people. Advertisement Earlier this week, thousands of volunteers and Los Angeles County officials fanned out across neighborhoods, in Metro stations, along rivers and under freeway overpasses for the annual three-day effort to count the number of homeless people in the region. After last years count, officials said there were nearly 58,000 homeless people in the county. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority will release this years count in the spring. rosanna.xia@latimes.com In response to a deadly school shooting in western Kentucky this week, some state lawmakers are pushing to pass a bill that would allow school districts to appoint campus staff members to become armed guards. On Tuesday, authorities said a 15-year-old boy shot and killed two students and wounded 18 others at Marshall County High School in Benton, about 20 miles southeast of Paducah. The attack started at 7:57 a.m. and ended when sheriffs deputies arrested the boy at 8:06 a.m., authorities said. For a rural school district, a police response time of nine minutes is not bad. But it was not quick enough to thwart the shooting before many students were harmed. So shortly after the shooting, Republican state Sen. Stephen West introduced Senate Bill 103, which would allow schools to appoint an employee in good standing of a local public school district or private or parochial school with a concealed-carry license to become an armed marshal at the school. Advertisement State Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a Republican who co-sponsored the bill, said the legislation would loosen state restrictions for guns on school property. The bill would apply to all schools, he said, but rural school districts might find it especially useful. Kentucky has 264 police officers who serve as school resource officers at schools in half of the states counties, but for some of our rural counties, which are small, they cant afford it, Alvarado said. People from rural communities are saying, Thank you, Alvarado said of reaction to his bill. People from urban communities are upset. They dont like it. Well, you dont have to do it. Alvarado added that city school districts were likely to have more money to pay for armed guards. After the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., school districts and lawmakers have looked for ways to prevent shootings. National Rifle Assn. President Wayne LaPierre, in a speech shortly after that shooting, called for Congress to act immediately, to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every school. That hasnt happened, and nor have liberal lawmakers hopes for universal background checks and other restrictions. Paying police or professional security officers to be stationed at schools is often cost-prohibitive. OK, what does it actually take to cover a school from the time it starts in the morning until activities are concluded at night? said Ronald Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center, a group that was created by a presidential directive in 1984. You start looking at the number of hours in a day, and number of hours in a week, and it may require more than a single marshal or officer, and the estimated costs start to mount, Stephens said. Advertisement Its usually budget, said LeeAnne Morrison, a justice specialist at the Kentucky Center for School Safety, a state agency, explaining why school districts might not have school resource officers, who are certified and trained law enforcement officials. Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., on Friday, the first day of classes since Tuesdays fatal shooting. (Ryan Hermens / Associated Press ) Those officers cost the same amount of money they would be making on regular duty for their local police departments, and costs are sometimes split between the school and the agency, Morrison said. When budgets have to trim, schools with school resource officers will sometimes cut down on the number of officers they keep on campuses, Morrison said. Advertisement Since the Newtown massacre, school districts across the nation have decided to bring in armed guards or officers, even at elementary schools. But even then, the plans and requirements can vary by state or by school district, and some gun control advocates draw a sharp line at proposals like those sponsored in Kentucky. Arming teachers and janitors and others to take on potential mass shooters its absolutely ridiculous, said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, a gun control advocacy group, who said guns do not belong in K-12 schools unless they are carried by trained law enforcement officials. We do not support any legislation that forces guns into schools and attempts to turn volunteers into sharpshooters, Watts said. She said lawmakers should instead aim to keep guns out of the hands of children and dangerous people, and there is a solution to that. Arming teachers and janitors is not one of them. Advertisement West had previously introduced his bill in the Legislature, with no success. The measure would also require local school boards to work with law enforcement officials to draw up plans for how their armed marshals would function. On Wednesday, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Ray Jones reportedly gave a floor speech that called for the Legislature to commit public money to every public school in Kentucky and have an armed officer, appearing to stop short of calling for volunteer armed officials. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. matt.pearce@latimes.com Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce. Advertisement More national headlines To the editor: Jonah Goldberg concludes his Jan. 22 column, If Trump wanted a clear and immediate win on illegal immigration, hed evolve and recognize that the walls greatest utility might be as a bargaining chip. No, President Trump wont evolve. Using the wall as a symbol or a bargaining chip, as Goldberg suggests, will not satisfy the members of his base. They see a wall; they understand a wall. Its the same way with the diversity lottery, which they vehemently oppose. His base sees only a fish bowl holding cards being plucked out one by one by a blindfolded secretary. They do not see or understand that nobody gets in that lottery who has not already been vetted and has been found to have no history that would suggest he or she would fail to become a good citizen. Nate Tucker, Costa Mesa Advertisement .. To the editor: It was laughable for White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly to say that Trump was uninformed in his thinking about the wall and that his views had evolved. Sure, Kelly may have wanted to foster that impression. Why? Though Trump wont admit it, he knows well that American business and agricultural interests and, ultimately, price-conscious consumers rely heavily on low-paid undocumented immigrant labor. But that matters not where Trump wont ditch his schtick: Divert attention from inconvenient truths, while dishing demagogic drivel that delights ill-informed, bigoted masses. Kelly excels as chief of staff because he helps the president have it both ways: appeal to the bigoted masses, who thrive on Trumps twisted tweets, and placate rational, better-informed voters, who favor Kellys more forthright comments. Mel Farber, Pacific Palisades .. To the editor: Goldberg hit the nail on the head: Its the employers, stupid! Advertisement My German-immigrant stepfather (here since 1957) complained vigorously about illegal immigrants: I came here legally, they should too. I asked him point blank, You own a restaurant; do you check I-9 forms for all of your staff? No one does, he said, because there wouldnt be any cheap labor. Therein lies the problem. If you offer it (jobs), they will come. The solution lies with the employers, not the employees. Wendy Winter, Altadena Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Gavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All Californians would be able to serve on state boards even people in the U.S. illegally under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date May 5 reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated and thus not independent expenditures when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians and potential voters on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m At least half a dozen times, President Trump by his actions has invited scrutiny for possible obstruction of justice in the Russia probe, and now comes a report that last year he ordered the firing of the very man investigating him. That man, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, ultimately will decide whether the presidents words and deeds make a case for a criminal indictment or an impeachment referral to Congress. For now, however, Trump has increased his political jeopardy, giving new arguments to impeachment advocates. That seems likely to raise the stakes for this years midterm election, in which control of Congress will be up for grabs. Both House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York have made clear that they do not want the midterm election to be a referendum on impeachment not least for fear of galvanizing Republican voters. Advertisement The issue could prove hard to ignore, however. With each development further incriminating the president, the pressure on Democratic leaders from the partys anti-Trump left builds. On Friday, Pelosi said in a statement that Trumps reported threat to Mueller was part of a grave pattern of attempts by the President to undermine and obstruct the ongoing investigations into Russias interference in our elections. The president has denied or disputed many of the episodes in question. On Friday he dismissed the latest story with his familiar pejorative fake news as he strode through the halls of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, seemingly unfazed by the new storm blowing from across the Atlantic. The New York Times reported late Thursday that in June, Trump ordered that Mueller be fired, relenting only after his White House counsel, Donald McGahn, threatened to quit rather than comply. The presidents order came at a time, seven months ago, when news reports were disclosing that Mueller had expanded his inquiry to include whether Trump, as president, had tried to obstruct the investigation into Russias election meddling and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. Throughout the month, Trump fired off tweets calling Muellers investigation a Witch Hunt! And several of his associates began saying privately and in some cases publicly that Trump wanted to get rid of Mueller. The possible case against Trump for obstruction had begun building the previous month, on May 9, when the president fired FBI Director James B. Comey and volunteered days later in an NBC interview that he had acted with the Russia thing in mind. Before long, the fired Comey would add potential evidence against Trump by authorizing friends to release contemporaneous memos hed written of his discussions with Trump before he was fired memos he has provided to Muellers team. Advertisement In the memos and in public testimony to Congress, Comey described a private dinner in January at which Trump demanded loyalty, even as Comey was heading the FBIs Russia investigation, and a White House meeting in February when the president suggested Comey back off an inquiry into the conduct of Trumps former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Other episodes that could be viewed as efforts to impede or influence the investigation include Trumps repeated comments and tweets humiliating Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia inquiry last March. Trump has also pressured Sessions to have the Justice Department open investigations of Democrats, in particular Trumps vanquished rival Hillary Clinton. In addition, Trump asked his director of national intelligence, former Sen. Dan Coats, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to try to persuade Comey, while he was still FBI director, to go easy on Flynn, news first disclosed by the Washington Post. He also asked the head of the National Security Agency, Adm. Michael S. Rogers, to publicly say that no evidence suggested collusion between his campaign and Russia, the Post said. Coats and Rogers did not deny those reports when questioned about them by the Senate Intelligence Committee in early June. Both men made carefully worded statements saying they had not felt pressured but refused to answer if they had been asked. Advertisement The president also participated in the drafting of a false statement that offered an innocent explanation for why his son, Donald J. Trump Jr., along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chief Paul Manafort, met in the Trump Tower in June 2016 with Russians claiming to have dirt on Clinton. The meeting was about Russian government policies blocking adoption by U.S. couples, the statement falsely said. The only person who can fire Mueller is Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who has been overseeing the special counsels investigation because of Sessions recusal. Rosenstein has testified that hes seen no valid reason to remove Mueller and that hed resist an inappropriate order to do so. Meanwhile, two bipartisan proposals to insulate the special counsel, which would provide a judicial review of any effort to oust Mueller, have languished in Congress since August. A cosponsor of one measure, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), said in a statement Friday, Its more important than ever for Congress to act to protect the independence of the Justice Department and the special counsel. Advertisement A spokesman for Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of the Republican cosponsors, said such legislation doesnt have enough support to pass. Besides, said the spokesman, Daniel Keylin, The chatter that the administration is considering removing special counsel Mueller has completely come to a halt. Even before reports of Trumps aborted order to fire Mueller, many people including Republicans have said that the anecdotal evidence of Trumps potential obstruction has become compelling. Yet even if Mueller recommended charges, bringing them against a president could prove difficult, according to some legal experts. The president, in my view, cannot be charged with obstruction of justice for simply exercising his constitutional power, regardless of what his motives may be, said Alan Dershowitz, a constitutional and criminal law scholar at Harvard Law School. He recalled that President George H.W. Bush pardoned officials from his administration implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal, actions that a special prosecutor called a coverup. Yet, Dershowitz said, Nobody dreamed of prosecuting President Bush for obstruction of justice. Advertisement Richard J. Davis, who was an assistant special prosecutor during the Watergate investigation of President Nixon, has a different take. The fact that he has the power to do something doesnt mean that he cant be abusing that power to obstruct an investigation, Davis said. You cant say, Im the president, and therefore what I do doesnt matter. Pursuing impeachment, however, is a different question a political one that doesnt require meeting a high legal standard. As Gerald Ford said when he was a House Republican leader, before he became Nixons vice president and then president: An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history. Advertisement On Friday, Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own investigation, called Trumps alleged actions Nixonian. Yet Democratic leaders are determined to keep a lid on calls for Trumps impeachment. Their mantra: Let Muellers probe run its course. Few things send establishment Democrats grabbing for their remote controls faster than the ubiquitous television ads financed by California billionaire and environmentalist Tom Steyer in which Steyer advocates for impeachment. Not someplace that I think we should go, Pelosi has said. Democratic leaders are cautiously confident that the party can recapture a House majority in November, given Trumps unpopularity and polls showing greater enthusiasm among Democrats to vote. The leaders argue that focusing on impeachment, rather than on more substantive messages about jobs and economic equity, might well incite Republican voters or even invite a backlash. Advertisement Many, including Pelosi and Schumer, recall 1998, when House Republicans lost seats as they pushed to impeach President Clinton. That was a rare exception to a decades-old political rule that a party gains seats in midterm elections when it doesnt hold the White House. Still, the zeal among Democratic voters to impeach Trump is rising, at least by one measure: Steyers impeachment petition, which had been signed by about 3 million people two months ago, now has more than 4 million names. jackie.calmes@latimes.com Twitter: @jackiekcalmes Advertisement chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian President Trump, in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, will call for overhauling immigration and spending more on the military and infrastructure. But his vision will confront political realities and budget constraints created by Republicans recent tax cuts, which hell tout as a boon to the economy. Trumps 60 minutes of uninterrupted airtime comes amid reports that his staff blocked him from firing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III in June as the investigation into contacts between Trumps campaign and Russia gathered steam. With the midterm elections approaching in November and GOP control of Congress in question, White House officials are shifting into overdrive to lay out accomplishments that include the $1.5-trillion tax bill and rolling back regulations on businesses, and claim credit for gains in the stock market and drops in unemployment. But the cloud of the Russia investigation continues to hang over Trump. Prosecutors have spoken to more than 20 current and former White House officials and are gathering facts about what Trump may have done to impede the investigation. In addition, Mueller may ask to interview Trump in the coming weeks, setting up a potentially historic standoff between a sitting president and special counsel. Advertisement From health care to economic justice to civil rights, the Democratic agenda stands in powerful contrast to President Trumps broken promises to American families. Deeply honored to be chosen to deliver the response to the State of the Union next week. Stay tuned for updates! Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) January 26, 2018 Trumps advisors are hoping Tuesday nights speech gives the president an opportunity to sweep that turmoil aside for an hour on national television during which he can beam a litany of his accomplishments in his own words directly to living rooms across the country. The central theme of the speech will be that Trump is building a safe, strong, proud America, said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to give a preview of the presidents remarks. Trump will hit five main points, the official said: He will praise the passage of the tax bill and take credit for creating jobs and boosting the economy; call for Congress to fund a $1-trillion plan to improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure; demand lawmakers revamp the immigration system to emphasize job skills over family connections; and call for additional military spending to promote peace through strength. We are honored that @RepJoeKennedy will lead Democrats #SOTU response. Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, the first Hispanic female immigrant elected to the Virginia House, will deliver the Democrats Spanish language response. https://t.co/DWlDhTVnMa Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2018 But Republicans are growing more wary of creeping deficits under Trumps military and infrastructure proposals, items the White House has said repeatedly would be paid for by super-charged economic growth. On infrastructure, the White House has quietly circulated a plan that would use about half of the $1 trillion to fund state and local project grants and encourage private investment. Another large portion would go to rural transportation, water, power and broadband internet investments. Trump has said he wants to protect so-called Dreamers from deportation in exchange for $25 billion to build a border wall and increase deportations, as well as an overhaul of the immigration system that slashes the number of legal immigrants allowed in the country each year and emphasizes job skills over family ties. Advertisement He has tried to make the case that the current immigration system poses a security risk, even though each person given permanent residency must go through a background check and a consular interview. I am pleased to announce that the very gifted @StormyDaniels will be on #Kimmel Tuesday 1/30 after the #StateOfTheUnion. I have MANY QUESTIONS! #MAGA Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 26, 2018 Trumps continued demand for a wall and his repeated implications that new arrivals are more likely to commit crimes and terror attacks threaten to drive away Senate Democrats whose support he would ultimately need to make a deal. To emphasize his security concerns, Trump may point out family members seated in the gallery who have had loved ones killed by people who were in the country illegally or who migrated through one of the family unification channels. Advertisement The White House has invited a few people whose lives have been affected by the devastating opioid addiction crisis to sit in the House gallery as special guests. Tackling the crisis which has seen a surge in overdoses across the country over the past few years has been a stated goal of Trumps administration. But steep budget cuts to the Office of National Drug Control Policy and some anti-drug programs have led public health advocates to criticize the effectiveness of Trumps approach. Democrats have tapped Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.), the 37-year-old scion of the Kennedy family and a rising star in the party, to deliver the minority partys response to Trump. Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, wrote Friday on Twitter that hell contrast Trumps broken promises with his partys agenda on healthcare, economic justice and civil rights. Virginia state Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, 44, will deliver the Democratic response in Spanish to be broadcast on Spanish-language television. Guzman is Peruvian American and in the fall defeated an eight-term Republican incumbent to take the seat. Several female Democratic lawmakers plan to wear black Tuesday to show solidarity with the #MeToo movement and to send a message to Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Advertisement Also following Trumps speech, Jimmy Kimmel announced this week he would host adult film star and purported Trump mistress Stormy Daniels late Tuesday night on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that Daniels who was born Stephanie Clifford received a $130,000 payment weeks before the 2016 election in exchange for not talking publicly about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. To read this article in Spanish, Click here Twitter: @ByBrianBennett brian.bennett@latimes.com Anxious parents peppered county health officials with questions about the safety of their children Friday afternoon after an individual at Johns Burroughs High School was diagnosed with a possible case of tuberculosis earlier this week. The two dozen parents who attended a special meeting held at the school wanted to know if their children had been exposed to the disease and if there was a risk of it spreading to the general public. Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health worked at assuaging their fears. There is no active, ongoing spread of tuberculosis at this school, Frank Alvarez, area health director for the department, said. This particular individual was identified and isolated. Despite the person being isolated, Alvarez said the health department will look at students and staff at the school who may have been potentially exposed to the disease. The Burbank Unified School District identified the students who came into contact with the person and sent a letter earlier this week to their parents informing them of the incident. An email was later sent to the wider school community about the possible exposure. Officials declined to say if the person who was diagnosed was a student or staff member, citing health privacy laws. They also declined to say when or where the person may have been exposed to the disease but said their investigation into the incident spans as far back as the first day of school. As a precaution, public health officials and the district will administer tuberculosis tests Feb. 2 to the students who may have been exposed to the person. A second round of testing will then be administered the following week on Feb. 6. Garin Ohannessian, a public health nursing supervisor for the county, said parents are also free to take their child to get tested by their family doctor. 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. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc A new facility at Providence High School is designed to give students the knowledge and experience they need if they want to pursue a career in the technology industry. On Thursday evening, officials from the private Catholic school in Burbank hosted a grand opening of the center that is being used by students enrolled in the Technology Focus program at Providence. Though the new facility which has a 32-station computer lab, four 3-D printers, a CNC machine, a mill machine and a laser cutter made its public debut this week, it has been in use since October, said Susan Beckenham, director of the Technology Focus program at Providence. Students get to practice their computer-aided design skills and 3-D printing of various objects. Meanwhile, students in the schools robotics club have been using the machinery and computers to build and program a robot that will be competing in this years Botball competition. Theres been all sorts of designing going on, and [the students] have been learning new ways to do things, she said. Weve barely scratched the surface. The Technology Focus program is a relatively new four-year course at Providence. Beckenham, who has been at the high school for 10 years, said there have been three classes to graduate from the program. Students focus on a different aspect of technology during each year of the program. Freshmen work on game programming, sophomores concentrate on robotics, juniors take an AP computer-science course and seniors emphasize on technology integration and social media marketing, Beckenham said. The whole idea of the program and the reason why it covers so many different things is to give the kids a more informed choice when they go to college, she said. Beckenham added that with the new computer lab and machinery at her and her students disposal, she expects the Technology Focus program to continue to grow and give students a 21st century-style of learning and a more hands-on experience. This room is so much more than even I envisioned, Beckenham said. Its just tremendous. anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio John Wayne Airport hasnt issued a notice of a noise violation to a commercial air carrier since 2006. Nick Gaskins, manager of the airports Access and Noise Office, shared that fact at an airport issues forum Friday afternoon in Newport Beach, to audible surprise in the audience. About 80 people turned out for the forum, where Gaskins gave a broad overview of how his five-person department enforces the operational and noise restrictions required by the landmark 1985 settlement agreement that regulates noise and the amount of air traffic allowed at John Wayne. Gaskins said the airport measures and enforces violations to within 0.1 decibels, though generally, the human ear doesnt detect changes of less than 3 decibels. Commercial carriers are rated and thus potentially can receive a notice of violation on a quarterly average. General-aviation violations which numbered 140 last year, mostly with first-time offenders can result from a single event. Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel was scheduled to co-host the forum but did not appear. Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff said the city was informed Thursday night that Steel wouldnt be present, but it didnt know why. That seemed to disappoint some people in attendance who said they had questions for the supervisor. The county owns and operates John Wayne Airport. One woman wanted to know if airlines could be offered incentives to fly newer, quieter planes out of JWA. She asked a Steel assistant who attended in the supervisors place to ask her if she can be more involved. Others in the crowd seemed more interested in discussing differences theyve noticed in noise since shifts in flight paths were implemented in the past two years as part of the Federal Aviation Administrations nationwide NextGen modernization and efficiency program. The FAA this month settled lawsuits that the cities of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach filed in 2016 over departure patterns. Additional airport issues forums in Newport Beach are scheduled for February and March. JWA matters also are on the agenda for the City Councils annual planning session Monday. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD Ive just finished reading military historian Victor Davis Hansons brilliant new book, The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won. The six years of WWII (1939-1945) saw the deaths of 60 million to 65 million human beings. The number is incomprehensible beyond biblical proportions. It represents the most people ever killed in any war in the history of the world. The dead were combatants and noncombatants, men and women, children and infants. They comprised 3% of the worlds population in 1939. Thats more than 27,000 deaths per day over the course of the war. One person died every three seconds, yet each person went to his or her grave they were fortunate to have a grave alone. They died en masse; yet one at a time. The summons of death comes to us all, and no one can die for another, said Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation in one of his Invocavit Sermons of 1522. Everyone must fight his own battle with death by himself, alone. We can shout into anothers ears, but everyone must himself be prepared for the time of death, for I will not be with you then, nor you with me. Jesus Christ makes an unambiguous pledge to all believers: I am with you always. Most especially in death. I was born in 1945, nine months before World War II ended. I dont remember my earliest thoughts, but neither do I recall reaching age 5 and detesting this rotting dungheap of a planet. Quite the contrary. The world I knew seemed pleasant and nurturing, though Id been exposed to but a sliver of it. During the war my parents, like most Americans, actively served their country. It was the worst of times and the best. There were moments of stupefaction and terror, but also of courage and compassion. For the first seven years of my existence, my world was Balboa Island a pretty good place in which to begin life. When my little brother and I would play in our front yard, passersby on the sidewalk would frequently stop, look over our small fence, say hello and ask us our names. They were kind people. Naturally, I thought Balboa Island was the world. It wasnt. During my first year of life, Berlin was reduced to rubble; Tokyo was firebombed into dross; and St. Petersburg (Leningrad) was tortured wreckage. And I had no idea. My childhood was bliss my world safe. Our family was blessed to be sheltered in the greatest nation on Earth. My 70 years have taught me a very different lesson, however. Evil exists, and always has. My dad understood that as a young father. Hed served in the U.S. Army for every single second and a bit longer of the four years that America fought. When Gen. Douglas MacArthur accepted Japans surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, my young mother turned to Dad and hopefully pronounced: This war shall be the last. Dad was a pragmatist: Honey, there will always be wars. He was right. Five years later when North Korean troops advanced across the 38th parallel into South Korea, Dad tried to talk Mom into letting him reenlist. With two boys under the age of 6 she put her foot down. Ironically, 15 years later I was stationed with the U.S. Army in Korea preventing another such incursion. But, in 1950 at age 5 I sensed no lingering stench of hatred or death. The world seemed clean and new. But 60 million whod been with us a decade earlier were gone. My 5-year-old brain couldnt process that. The present time seems more depraved to me than ever, even though weve not recently seen the wanton destruction of 60 million human lives. Todays 24-hour news cycle and social media perhaps have tainted my judgment. But, as I see it, evil advances. The past, some say, is prologue. Thats not a hopeful thing. JIM CARNETT, who lives in Costa Mesa, worked for Orange Coast College for 37 years. As local school bus drivers continue their strike, Glendale Unified officials have been lining up alternative transportation for many students. The school district contracts school bus service with First Student Inc., a bus transportation company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that employs local union drivers. Teamsters Local 572 the Carson-based union with roughly 11,500 members is on strike with First Student over allegations of unfair business practices, said Dennis Watson, the unions president. Those students who were impacted by the strike include about 930 students at Clark Magnet High School and 400 special education students across the district. All Clark routes were covered this week and will continue to be covered next week, with one First Student bus and 14 charter buses, according to Kristine Nam, spokeswoman for the school district. Currently, the district has 23 First Student buses operating for special education routes, Nam said, adding that starting Monday, the district expects to have approximately 52 special education students transported by ALC transportation services, with 26 more expected to be added later next week. mark.kellam@latimes.com Twitter: @lamarkkellam About 40 people spent Tuesday evening walking down alleyways and scouring side streets in Glendale in an effort to search for the citys unsheltered homeless. Split into teams of five that were each accompanied by an officer from the Glendale Police Department, the mix of volunteers and city employees set out to areas of the city where the homeless are known to congregate. The effort is part of an annual count and survey of the citys homeless population to give officials an idea of how many are living unsheltered in Glendale, either on the streets or in their cars, and how to better tailor social services. The count is federally mandated in order for the city to receive funding to help pay for the services, include substance abuse programs, housing vouchers and mental health aid, according to Ivet Samvelyan, Glendales community services manager. One team struck out at the first location they visited, a small shopping center off of Central Avenue and Windsor Road. The centers owner had taken better care to keep an underground parking structure from being accessed by the homeless than in previous years, according to Steve Koszis, an officer with the Glendale Police Department. Koszis is assigned as the departments homeless liaison. One of his responsibilities is to help the homeless population get connected with the citys available social services. Sometimes they need an advocate. Sometimes they need someone to point them in the right direction or open the door again if they feel they burned a bridge at one of the social services, he said. He has kept track of all the homeless people he has spoken to since he began in the position about a year ago. The last time he checked, it was 163. Many of the people Ive talked to I have never seen again, he said. But, there is a core group of people who are chronically homeless in the city that I talk to every day. Last years count found 168 people living on the streets, a 30% drop from 240 people in 2016. Samvelyan said itll be weeks before a final tally is available but said she expects a lower number this year. Our team worked aggressively to house about 10 chronically homeless people from last year to this year, and we made some progress on that, she said. But we also have new homeless clients coming into the city. Moving on from the shopping center, the team headed to an industrial park less than a mile away off of San Fernando Road. There, they met George Murray and got to work. As part of the count, volunteers ask the homeless a series of questions about their background including what year they were born, how long theyve been homeless, if theyre a veteran and if they became homeless as a result of fleeing domestic violence. The survey is voluntary, and people are free to give as much information as they want. Murray has been homeless the past two years and two months. The 63-year-old grew up in the Atwater Village area and spent some time in prison several years ago. Sometime after he got out of prison, he moved into a home in Monrovia with a fiance. A relapse into a heroin addiction a few years ago caused him to leave all that behind. I remember coming here with 80 pounds of stuff ... I was just falling apart, he said. Murray has been trying to get back on his feet lately. Hes been sober for a while, looking to get permanent housing and even going to school to become a barber. The owner of a nearby business had even given him a place to stay but a recent setback forced him and all of his belongings back onto the street, making it nearly impossible for him to look at apartments or attend class. Its getting frustrating. Im trying to do all I can, and some days, I just feel like not doing it anymore, he said. But, theres a part of me that needs to finish this. As the night went on, more people were encountered. Some were happy to answer questions, while others just said theyre passing through. The team also handed out bags with blankets and sweaters to help people get through the cold night, regardless of their participation in the survey. Nancy Salem has volunteered in the count the past six years. The Los Feliz resident said its not just important to know how many people are living on the streets but to make sure the people being counted know there are those who care for them. They are unique people; theyre not just a number, she said. They want to be seen and heard. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc The French historically have fought over many things. During the revolution in the late 1700s, they fought for their daily bread and later for liberte, egalite, fraternite. In the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, they fought for reason and science. France, of course, was among the allies who fought with Britain, the United States and others in World War I and World War II. In recent years, the French have fought to defend their cultural exception, a term that covers a multitude of things from haute cuisine to workers rights. This week, some people in France chose to fight over jars of chocolate and hazelnut spread after the Intermarche supermarket chain offered 33.5-ounce jars of the Nutella brand at a 70% discount, from $5.59 to $1.75 a jar. The spread is a breakfast staple for French children. Advertisement Lines of customers reminiscent of Black Friday shoppers had formed early outside many Intermarche stores across the country as reports of the unusually generous discount spread. When the shop doors opened, chaos ensued. In some places, punches were thrown, hair was pulled, faces were scratched and elderly customers were trampled underfoot as shoppers scrabbled to grab jars of the spread. They are like animals. One woman had her hair pulled. An elderly lady took a box on her head. Another had a bloody hand, one customer at an Intermarche store in Rive-de-Gier southwest of the city of Lyon told journalists Friday. At an Intermarche supermarket in the Moselle region of eastern France, an employee who did not want to be named said people were piling in. They knocked over everything and were breaking stuff. It was an orgy. We were on the point of calling the police, the employee said. Store staff members who tried to calm rampaging shoppers in some cases reportedly found themselves pushed aside. One customer in a store in the Loire region in central France suffered a black eye. There were no reports of serious injuries or arrests. Some stores reported selling more of the spread in five minutes than they normally sold in three months. Other shops insisted customers could buy a maximum of three 33.5-ounce jars. Advertisement On social media networks, stunned shop workers and customers posted videos of what were described as scenes of near rioting. Intermarche has apologized and said it was surprised its offer, which began Thursday and was to continue until Saturday, had sparked battle scenes in stores. Ferrero, the Italian firm that produces Nutella, said it had nothing to do with the promotion. We regret the consequences of this operation, which created confusion and disappointment in customers minds, Ferrero said in a statement. Advertisement In recent years, Ferrero has come under criticism for its use of palm oil and high levels of sugar in its flagship product that celebrated 50 years of production in 2014. About 400 million pounds of the product are made in 11 factories worldwide and consumed in 160 countries. Footage of American or British shoppers pushing and shoving their way into stores on the first day of discount sales often are viewed with disdain in France and seen as evidence of rampant capitalism and unfettered consumerism. This weeks supermarket scenes have shown even the French are not averse to an unusually good bargain. Willsher is a special correspondent. Advertisement UPDATES: 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times reporting and additional details. This article was originally published at 8:40 a.m. Kenyas main opposition leader is scheduled to be sworn in as president. Just one problem: The country already has a president. Raila Odinga, leader of the National Super Alliance, a coalition of center-left opposition parties, is preparing for an inauguration Tuesday to install him as a peoples president and create an alternative government in protest of the recent reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta. Its a combination of a symbolic gesture which calls into question the legitimacy of the de facto government, while at the same time provides alternative leadership both for the presidency and for the parliament, said Salim Lone, a longtime advisor to Odinga. Its a very crucial moment. The countrys attorney general said it would amount to treason, an offense punishable by death. Advertisement The showdown is the latest round of a deepening political crisis that some fear could turn violent and further diminish the nations previous standing as one of Africas most stable countries. Kenyatta, who has been president since 2013, was reelected in October after the countrys Supreme Court annulled the original Aug. 8 election, blaming the electoral commission for what it called illegalities and irregularities. Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks after the electoral commissions official announcement of the August election results, which were annulled by the Supreme Court. (John Muchucha / AFP / Getty Images ) Odinga, who was pursuing his fourth shot at the presidency, boycotted the rerun, arguing that the electoral commission had done too little to ensure a fair election. Kenyatta, head of the ruling Jubilee Party, was sworn in for a second term Nov. 28. On Friday, the opposition released what it called authentic election results that purport to show that Odinga won the original election, the Associated Press reported. But it was unclear how the data was obtained. The opposition has urged its followers to come out for Tuesdays swearing-in ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in sprawling Uhuru Park in the capital, Nairobi, even as authorities announced that it has been closed for maintenance. The opposition has created a Peoples Assembly to operate as a shadow government following Odingas inauguration. Advertisement There is concern that the event will trigger violence. In late 2007 and early 2008, after Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidency and Odinga again the contender alleged voter fraud and ballot manipulation, at least 1,200 people were left dead in clashes among three of the countrys largest ethnic groups: Luos, Kikuyus and Kalenjins. A resident of the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya, looks at the remains of a structure that was set ablaze by demonstrators during civil unrest that erupted after the 2007 presidential election. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty Images ) Kenyatta, who is Kikuyu and the son of Kenyas first president, Jomo Kenyatta, was indicted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague in 2011 for allegedly inciting the ethnic violence. He denied the charges, which were dropped three years later, after he became president. Advertisement Odinga, who is Luo and the son of Kenyas first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was appointed prime minister in 2008 in a power-sharing deal following the violence. The current political morass is bigger than just ethnicity, said Edmond J. Keller, a political scientist and Africa expert at UCLA. What we have now in Kenya is a struggle among power elites, Keller said. But many Kenyans resent that of the four men who have served as president since the countrys independence in 1963, three have been Kikuyu. The other, Daniel Arap Moi, is Kalenjin. Advertisement How can it be that in a nation of more than 50 ethnic groups only two communities produce leaders? said Maina Kiai, the former chairman of Kenyas National Human Rights Commission who is now based at Stanford Law School. A big proportion of the country feels really angry and miffed and marginalized, and that anger is palpable. So what happens next? Much will depend on the states reaction to the protest Tuesday, Kiai said. If the crowd is massive, as it is expected to be, it will prove a huge challenge to Kenyatta, Kiai said. Advertisement Some analysts suggested that Kenyatta might feel compelled to negotiate with Odinga. Opposition leader Raila Odinga addresses thousands of supporters gathered in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya, days after the August presidential election. (Ben Curtis / Associated Press ) Lone, the longtime advisor to Odinga, said the shadow parliament could launch a legal process aimed at holding a new election. Under Kenyan law, 1 million signatures are needed to mandate a referendum on whether there should be a new vote, he said. Some opposition supporters are calling for a change in Kenyas electoral system from the current winner-take-all voting to proportional representation, in which parties gain seats according to the number of votes cast for them. Advertisement The concerns about potential violence have reached far beyond Kenyas borders. Kenyan Diaspora, an online organization that connects Kenyan expatriates living across the globe, sounded an ominous warning: We would like to put the Uhuru government on notice that although we are a nonviolent movement if its security forces resort to the usual murdering and maiming of unarmed Kenyans who are lawfully and peacefully exercising their rights we as Kenyan Diaspora will be left with no option but to arm our compatriots at home to exercise their right to self-defense in accordance with established principles of law, the group said in a statement. People are afraid, said Debra Akello, a Kenyan expatriate who has lived in the U.S. for more than two decades. They are worried about violence. Advertisement Akello, who recently visited the country, said many people were stocking up on food and other supplies ahead of the swearing-in day, while others were rushing to buy bus and plane tickets to flee Nairobi. Its getting ugly, Akello said. Im so afraid for my country. ann.simmons@latimes.com For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in for a second term Saturday amid violent clashes between police and protesters who insist Hernandez was not legitimately elected. Soldiers and riot police fired tear gas and set up barricades to block thousands of demonstrators from marching to Tegucigalpas National Stadium, where Hernandez was presented with the blue-and-white sash of office in an elaborate morning ceremony. Masked protesters shot rocks from slingshots toward security forces and set fire to tires and road blocks, filling the capital with smoke. Videos showed police responding by violently beating several protesters in the street. Among those demonstrating was opposition candidate Salvador Nasralla, who has refused to accept the results of the November election, saying he was the true winner of the vote. Advertisement We remain in the struggle to rescue the country from dictatorship, Nasralla told the Associated Press. In an address to the nation, Hernandez said he hopes to begin a process of reconciliation to unite the Honduran family. But the chaotic and violent start to his second term highlights the challenges he will face in leading a country that is fiercely divided. Observers from the Organization of American States and the European Union documented many irregularities in the Nov. 26 election, including a long delay of the vote count. Eventually Hernandez, who trailed Nasralla in early counts, was declared the winner by more than 50,000 votes. Despite calls for a new election by the OAS, the United States issued a statement congratulating the president on his win. The U.S. views Hernandez as an important ally in its efforts to reduce violence in Central America and reduce migration from the region. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez kisses his wife Ana Garcia after being sworn in for a second term. (Fernando Antonio / AP ) Experts say the U.S. may have doubted whether it would receive the same kind of cooperation from Nasralla, a television personality with no previous political experience. Many of the nationwide demonstrations that followed were violently suppressed by police using tear gas, batons and live ammunition. Between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31, at least 30 people were killed, 232 wounded and 1,085 detained, according to the Committee of the Families of the Disappeared in Honduras, a human rights group. Reports of police brutality, including random killings, have not been investigated, the group said. Advertisement The country is in a fragile place, said Lester Ramirez, a researcher at Transparency International Honduras, an anti-corruption watchdog. Its totally uncertain what will happen next. While Hernandez may be able to win legislative victories because his National Party holds more seats than any other party in Congress, he doesnt have legitimacy at the popular level, Ramirez said. A 49-year-old lawyer, Hernandez is the first president to be reelected in Honduras. Thats another reason people are protesting against him.The nations constitution bars presidents from seeking a second term. In 2009, Hernandez and his allies deposed leftist President Manuel Zelaya for allegedly considering reelection. But in 2015, Hernandez won a Supreme Court ruling to get around the prohibition. Hernandez, who has stacked government institutions including the Supreme Court with political allies, told the nation Saturday that he will not seek a third term. Police block a road in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. (Orlando Sierra / AFP/Getty Images ) Advertisement Fueling distrust in the government was a vote by Congress this month targeting the attorney generals office, which has been working with an international panel to investigate high-level corruption cases. About 60 members of Congress are believed to be under investigation by the anti-corruption team. The Jan. 18 vote effectively stripped the attorney generals office of its authority to investigate the theft of government money. Shortly after, five Honduran lawmakers accused of diverting public funds were promptly released from detention. Honduras was rocked with another scandal this week, when the Associated Press reported that the nations newly appointed national police chief helped a cartel leader pull off the delivery of about $20 million of cocaine in 2013. The report cited a confidential government document that accused the chief, Jose David Aguilar Moran, of intervening after a police officer seized a tanker truck packed with 1,700 pounds of cocaine, and ordering the tanker to be set free. Officials said Aguilars appointment is being re-evaluated. Those scandals, along with the election and the governments harsh response to street protests, have helped generate support for the opposition, said Hugo Noe Pino, an economist aligned with Nasralla. The people are more convinced that there is a power structure that works for its own interests and not the interests of the people, he said. Thats the light at the end of the tunnel. Advertisement But many worry that Hernandez might turn to military action if he is challenged. We continue to receive reports about continued repression and abuses at the hands of the security forces, said Adriana Beltran, a Honduras expert at the think tank Washington Office on Latin America. She said it is in the best interests of the U.S. and other countries in the region to make sure anti-graft efforts are supported in Honduras, and investigations into police brutality at protests thoroughly conducted. Honduras is facing a political crisis, Beltran said. If these issues are not addressed effectively, it will lead to greater instability. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @katelinthicum The Associated Press contributed to this report. For decades, marijuana flowed in one direction across the U.S.-Mexico border: north. These days, drug enforcement agents regularly seize specialty strains of retail-quality cannabis grown in the United States being smuggled south. Widespread legalization in the U.S. is killing Mexicos marijuana business, and cartel leaders know it. They are increasingly abandoning the crop that was once was their bread and butter and looking elsewhere for profits, producing and exporting drugs including heroin and fentanyl and banking on extortion schemes and fuel theft. So when Mexicos tourism secretary this week boldly declared his hopes that Mexico will legalize marijuana for recreational use in an effort to reduce growing violence across the nation, some balked at the notion that marijuana was driving the bloodshed. Advertisement Avocados are a bigger industry than marijuana, said security expert Alejandro Hope. And the number of homicides connected to marijuana are very small. It is naive to believe that legalizing marijuana will reduce crime rates, tweeted Margarita Zavala, a presidential candidate. Still, that a Cabinet member was willing to advocate such a policy marks a dramatic shift from a time when Washington dictated a hard-line drug policy across Latin America. Mexican leaders have increasingly been taking more liberal stances on marijuana, in part to stay in step with other countries in the region and in part because they are at a loss about how to stem Mexicos rising violence, much of which is centered around the drug trade. The legalization debate comes amid Mexicos bloodiest wave of violence yet. There were more than 29,000 homicide victims in 2017, more than in any year since the government began releasing homicide records two decades earlier. The drug trade generates between $6 billion and $8 billion a year for Mexico, according to the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, which estimates that 15% to 26% of that comes from marijuana. Advocates of legalization say it would allow law enforcement officers to focus on more important work. Few in Mexico have touted legalizing harder drugs. The tourism secretary, Enrique de la Madrid, told reporters at a tourism conference Thursday that he thinks it is absurd that we have not taken the step toward legalization of cannabis. He said legalization should start first in Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, states home to the resorts of Cancun and Los Cabos, both of which have seen a dramatic increase in homicides in recent years. I am convinced that we must discuss it as part of the solution to violence and insecurity in Mexico, De la Madrid said later in a tweet, which also clarified that his views on the subject were his own, and not an official government position. But De la Madrid, a member of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, is one of a growing number of Mexican leaders who have called for pot legalization. Advertisement In 2016, President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed a bill that would allow Mexicans to carry up to an ounce of marijuana, arguing that Mexico and the U.S. should not pursue divergent policies on the drug. The bill stalled in Congress, but lawmakers did approve another measure that allows the use of medical marijuana in some cases. Legalization has been the trend across the Americas. In the U.S., marijuana is legal in some form in a majority of states and will soon be permitted for recreational use in eight. Cannabis is already legally sold for recreational use in Uruguay and will be later this year in Canada. Several Latin American countries, including Chile, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia, have changed laws to make marijuana more available for either medical or recreational use. Advertisement Full legalization faces an uphill battle in Mexico, where a majority of voters and the Catholic Church are opposed to the idea. A 2015 poll conducted by the newspaper El Universal found that two-thirds of Mexicans oppose decriminalizing cannabis, although 63% said they backed a debate on the issue. Amid talk of legalization, all signs suggest Mexicos marijuana market is on the decline. Seizures of marijuana by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol have been falling for a decade. Last year, 861,231 pounds of marijuana were seized at U.S. ports of entry, down from 2.4 million pounds in 2013 and 4.3 million pounds in 2009. Advertisement Mexico has also been eradicating fewer marijuana fields over the last decade. In 2006, federal forces wiped out 74,531 acres of marijuana crops, according to the Mexican government. In 2016, a total of 13,537 acres were destroyed. Increasingly, growers are moving on to other crops, such as poppies, which can be found flowering across violence-plagued states such as Michoacan and Guerrero. Drug traffickers are also switching to synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, which is easier to traffic than marijuana because it is much more potent, with just a few milligrams amounting to a fatal dose. In the coastal resort city of Ensenada, 85 miles south of San Diego, Mexican police recently seized a drug shipment that included 100 pounds of fentanyl, 914 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 88 pounds of cocaine and 18 pounds of heroin. There was no marijuana in the shipment. Cartels know their ability to compete in the U.S. marijuana market is diminishing, said John M. Walsh, director for drug policy at the think tank Washington Office on Latin America. U.S. consumers have better options. Advertisement Marijuanas profitability has been greatly reduced, with farmers receiving much less than they used to for cultivating the plant. At the same time, Mexico remains one of the worlds top producers of the drug, Walsh said. He said he supports legalization in Mexico. Even if it wouldnt end Mexicos violence, it could put a dent in it, he said. The role that cannabis plays in terms of contributing to violence is fuzzy, Walsh said. But illegal markets facilitate violence. Every little bit helps. A key question surrounding the legalization debate is whether Mexico would face opposition from the U.S., which over the last 50 years has invested billions of dollars in anti-drug programs aimed at reducing the flow of drugs from Latin America. Advertisement Inside the U.S., there is little consistency on marijuana regulation. While the legal pot trade is now a billion-dollar business and one of the countrys fastest growing industries, the federal government still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug, the same classification given heroin. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Twitter: @katelinthicum Cecilia Sanchez in The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. Jan 27, 2018, 2:36am ET Giugiaro to show electric sedan concept in Geneva The Italian stylists designed the concept with a Chinese energy management company. Celebrated Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro will introduce an electric concept car in early March at the Geneva Auto Show. The yet-unnamed model takes the form of a long sedan with a fastback-like roof line. That's about all we know when it comes to design; the blacked-out teaser image hides the rest of it fairly well. The designer points out he worked with a Chinese energy management company named Envision to turn his sketch into a concept car. To that end, it's "connected to a broader energy ecosystem," which sounds like it can dispense electricity when needed, not just take a charge. In other words, this concept could power your house during peak hours or in the event of a power outage. Giugiaro is surfing almost every wave in the industry. In addition to being entirely electric, the concept sedan is capable of autonomous driving. It still looks a lot like a conventional car inside, though. "The technology would have allowed me to eliminate the steering wheel, but I couldn't bring myself to do it," 79-year old Giugiaro told Automotive News Europe. He promised the concept nonetheless features "unique and innovative" solutions. This year's edition of the Geneva Auto Show opens its doors on March 6th. Leftlane will be on-location to bring you live images and full details of every new production and concept car on the show floor. Jan 26, 2018, 4:48pm ET Lexus said to greenlight LC convertible, more powerful LC F Brand president Yoshihiro Sawa says the luxury market \"requires a convertible.\" Lexus reportedly intends to expand its LC lineup with a convertible and a performance package. Company leadership has already given an official green-light to the drop-top edition, and the LC F is 'likely' to get a nod, according to Auto Express. The entire convertible segment has declined at a faster rate than sedans in recent years, but Lexus is said to be under pressure to offer at least one to better match the breadth of body styles available from German rivals. "I hope that we will have a convertible in the near future," Lexus International president Yoshihiro Sawa said in a statement to Auto Express. "We know the luxury market requires a convertible." A recent rumor suggests the LC F will be powered by a new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 621 horsepower, a significant jump over the LC 500's 471-pony output. It is also expected to shave a few hundred pounds, with a refined chassis tuning and bigger brakes. The new LC offerings are believed to be on track to arrive in 2019 or 2020. Giyaina "Gigi" Munoz Lopez's mother has never stopped encouraging her to achieve her dreams. Giyaina "Gigi" Munoz Lopez, 32, is graduating from NCC Saturday with a degree in social work. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) And she made it clear she wanted to be there to see them realized. Munoz Lopez has kept her mother's voice in the back of her head, encouraging her, as she worked up to 60 hours a week as a home health aide while attending Northampton Community College. When her three children begged her to stay home and play with them instead of studying, her mother, Maria Lopez, stepped in to watch them. Lopez lost her own mother when she was 17 and she's acutely missed her through life's milestones. "She always pushed me to do this while she was alive," Munoz Lopez, 32, of Easton, said, tears filling her eyes. "This really meant a lot to her." On Saturday, Munoz Lopez will be awarded as associate's degree in social work during NCC's winter commencement, and her mom will be leading her large cheering section. "This is a big deal to the entire family. She wants to be an example to her children. She feels a great deal of responsibility. She knows this is going to be the first step," said Penny Piper, coordinator of NCC's KEYS program. "She is taking a semester off and then plans on returning to school because she knows she needs more education." Aimed at boosting community college students' success, KEYS -- Keystone Education Yields Success -- is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the state Commission for Community College. It makes extra support available to students receiving food stamps or cash benefits. Piper's served as a cheerleader and counselor for Munoz Lopez during her four years at NCC. The idea of finally receiving her degree, after all of the sacrifice and hard work, is overwhelming and gratifying. "It's wonderful," Munoz Lopez said. "It's like the biggest achievement of my life until now." She already has her eyes on her next challenge: she plans to earn her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Kutztown University before her 40th birthday. She hopes the time off from school this semester will let her focus on her kids -- who are now 17, 13 and 10 -- and getting a more reliable car. "I know social work doesn't have the best pay in the world. But it is the feeling you get (doing the work)," Munoz Lopez said. "Those people need people that understand them." She's no stranger to struggle, but she's also incredibly resilient and driven, Piper said. "I find when my students step outside of themselves and take jobs helping others they tend to think less of their own issues," Piper said. "I think Gigi is one of those (students)." Munoz Lopez left her native Puerto Rico in 2006 for Massachusetts, where her children's paternal grandmother lived. She enrolled in classes to learn English and became a certified nursing assistant. Then in 2010, the single mother moved to Easton, following her own family to the Lehigh Valley. At her sister's urging, Munoz Lopez enrolled in classes at Northampton in 2013 and she found herself drawn to the diverse opportunities in the social work field, where she could help others on a deeper level than her current work. "There's a lot of need and they work with people that are more vulnerable," Munoz Lopez said of social workers. Juggling working full time, three children and a course load at school was often challenging. Sometimes Munoz Lopez found herself sneaking naps in her car between classes. She worked weekends, overnight shifts and holidays. Her mother and boyfriend of nine years often stepped in to help her parent when she needed support. She finally decided to take a leave from work last year to focus on her schooling full-time. It allowed her to be more present for her kids. Keeping her eye on her future goals, Munoz Lopez volunteered in an after-school program, so she could get experience working with children. There's often a perception that low-income students are not thoughtful planners, Piper said. But she finds that's so far from the truth. Her KEYS students take on jobs, internships and volunteer work all while driving toward their career goals. "Gigi is like the poster person for that," Piper said. "But you wouldn't guess it because she is very quiet about all of the things she does. She's very modest. I don't think she thinks of it as being extraordinary." Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Less than three months after he was critically wounded by gunfire in a shootout along Route 33, Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Seth Kelly attended a benefit in his honor Saturday in Upper Nazareth Township. Kelly and his wife, Forks Township police Detective Philomena Kelly, spent the afternoon into the evening at the fundraiser hosted by Upper Nazareth Fire Department. The Kellys live in Upper Nazareth Township. "We wanted to do something for him for everything he went through," township fire Assistant Chief Jeff Fassl said. "Our slogan is our neighbor, our brother, our friend." Seth Kelly was greeted with handshakes and hugs throughout the truck bays converted into a party, catered by Mission BBQ with Yuengling beer on tap and live bands. He declined to be interviewed. Kelly, a 13-year veteran of the state police, was shot in the neck/shoulder area last Nov. 7 after backing up Trooper Ryan Seiple at the traffic stop Nov. 7 in Plainfield Township. Kelly underwent multiple surgeries and spent time in intensive care before being discharged Dec. 1 from St. Luke's University Hospital. Daniel Khalil Clary, 22 and from Effort in Monroe County, but with ties to Easton, is accused of opening fire on the two troopers after initially being released with a speeding ticket. Clary was also wounded and drove himself to Easton Hospital, where he was taken into custody. Seiple was not hit by the gunfire. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Possession of marijuana plant material remains a crime in Pennsylvania, even for medical cannabis patients. This is a marijuana plant grown at the Curaleaf cultivation facility in Redland, Florida. TNS | For lehighvalleylive.com By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com An Easton councilman says he will draft legislation for review beginning next month to downgrade possession of a small amount of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a summary offense, akin to a traffic ticket, in the city. Councilman Peter Melan led a discussion Friday in council chambers about what the measure, commonly referred to as marijuana decriminalization, might look like. He proposes modeling the local measure after similar laws in other Pennsylvania cities. Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo said he would not oppose the lesser charge while stressing his support is conditioned on the backing of Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. "Watching it play out and, obviously, if it's something that's feasible, something that works, I would not be opposed to having alternate methods of charging," said Scalzo, whose department has taken proactivity to a new level with regular raids of homes linked to illegal drug sales around the city. Morganelli did not attend the discussion and could not be reached immediately afterward for comment. He has called the push to decriminalize a small amount of marijuana a better alternative than legalization for recreational use. Don't Edit Easton City Councilman Peter Melan leads a discussion on a potential bill to create a summary offense, rather than a misdemeanor, for possession of a small amount of marijuana in the city. In the foreground is Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo, who said he backs the alternative. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com Don't Edit The state misdemeanor would remain available to Easton police to file against an offender. But instead of a crime carrying a maximum 30 days in prison and $500 fine, the proposed lesser charge would mean a fine, or possibly community service instead. There was also talk of requiring offenders to attend a class on substance abuse, similar to that required in some alcohol offenses. Melan left the meeting saying he would work with the city solicitor's office, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Luis Campos, the city administrator, on getting a proposed ordinance together for a public hearing next month, followed by a possible vote in March. Council had voted 6-1 in December to permit Melan to move forward on drafting a proposal, with Councilman Ken Brown opposed. Councilmen James Edinger and David O'Connell took part in Friday's discussion, along with Scalzo; state Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton; defense attorneys Josh Fulmer and Alexander Karam Jr. and Jeff Riedy, from Lehigh Valley NORML, a pro-marijuana group. Others in attendance included Panto and a representative of state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton. Melan's effort comes amid New Jersey officials moving toward full legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use, including right across the free bridge in Phillipsburg. In addition, Pennsylvania's first medical marijuana dispensary opened earlier this month in Bethlehem. Don't Edit Bradley Carlson, director of pharmacy at Keystone Canna Remedies, leads a Medical Marijuana 101 workshop Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, at the dispensary in Bethlehem. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com Don't Edit Keystone Canna Remedies on Stefko Boulevard isn't yet distributing marijuana, or cannabis, products to patients who have secured a state medical marijuana identification card. But a series of educational workshops is underway. Friday morning, Keystone's pharmacy director, Bradley Carlson, led a talk titled Medical Marijuana 101. Speaking to more than a dozen potential patients, Carlson touched on the more than 90 components of cannabis that bind to the body's endocannabinoid system to ease pain/sleep, gastrointestinal, mood/behavior, neurological and other problems. "Some people might argue that we were almost made to use this stuff," said Carlson, who also touched on Keystone Canna Remedies' "layered microdose" approach to helping patients zero in how much and what type of medical marijuana product to use. He also addressed the products' relative safety compared to other drugs, asserting no one has ever died exclusively from marijuana use, but noted it's not for everyone. For example, Carlson said he can't guarantee medical marijuana as safe for pregnant women or nursing mothers. Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program prohibits use of marijuana buds or leaves, with a network of grower/processors lined up to manufacture whole-plant extracts for use through vaporization and in tinctures, oils, capsules and other preparations. Get caught with less than an ounce of marijuana in Pennsylvania and risk losing diving privileges for six months and a year's eligibility for federally subsidized student loans, on top of potential jail time, fines and a criminal record conviction, Melan said Friday in Easton. State legislation is stalled in committee in Harrisburg that would downgrade simple possession of marijuana, Freeman said. The Capitol was the scene of a rally on Tuesday for the reform of marijuana laws, with local residents like Lehigh Valley NORML's Riedy, who is from Bethlehem, in attendance. Don't Edit Don't Edit Started off the morning speaking at a press conference supporting the legalization of recreation marijuana. The war on... Posted by Rep. Jordan Harris on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Don't Edit Adding the alternative charge for local police to consider would cut down on municipal costs shown to cost about $1,200 in processing costs for each charge of simple possession of marijuana, according to Riedy. "Of course there's always going to be a few police officers who still want to use their badge and enforce the law, and that's their decision," he said. Police might have an incentive to level the lesser charge if a suspect is cooperative, noted Fulmer, the defense attorney. "Obviously this has to be left up to the discretion of the individual police officers," he said. Fulmer advocated Friday for applying Easton's new pot law only to adults, with juvenile justice still handling minor offenders. Don't Edit WATCH: Look inside Pa.'s 1st medical marijuana dispensary in Bethlehem Don't Edit Melan said he envisions the Easton measure blending those of other Pennsylvania decriminalization bill such as Philadelphia that applies a $25 fine per violation, or $100 for public use; Harrisburg, which levies a $75 fine for a first or second offense and $100 fine for first or second personal use offense; and York, which carries a $100 fine for a first offense up to $500 for a third offense. Offering an alternative such as community service might prove tricky, participants in Friday's discussion said. That's because a district judge can dispose of summary charges without sending them to county court, but district courts aren't set up to follow up on community service requirements. One solution might be for police to file the summary charge but follow up with the misdemeanor after a certain time if the fine goes unpaid or the community service requirement is not met, Fulmer said. "All we're talking about here is options," Scalzo said. Don't Edit Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Don't Edit Past and present administrators in a Monroe County school district are under investigation for bribery and related allegations, authorities announced. The probe of the Pleasant Valley School District officials comes amid the arrest of the district's supervisor of support staff on allegations he made secret recordings inside the faculty break room at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Joshua Ryan Krebs (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Joshua Ryan Krebs, 37, of Kunkletown, was arrested after a Monroe County investigating grand jury alleged he placed a D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi web camera atop a vending machine in the break room around April 5 or 6, 2016. Teachers spotted the camera April 6, and Krebs admitted that day to putting the recorder there "allegedly for the purpose of catching a member of the janitorial staff in dereliction of his duties," Monroe County District Attorney's Office Detective Wendy Serfass wrote in court papers. Faculty and staff at the elementary school had been told by Krebs and other administrators to use the break room for personal calls and related matters, rather than in classrooms or other locations in the building, and "viewed their activities within the break room as personal," court records say. Krebs is accused of downloading the audio and video with help from Alex Sterenchock, then a district information technology employee, and showing portions of the footage on April 8 at Pleasant Valley High School, according to court records. Sterenchock is not charged with any crime in relation to the investigation. He could not be reached immediately for comment Saturday because no number could be found for him. Krebs gave up his right Friday to a preliminary hearing on the charges of intercepting communications and both using and disclosing intercepted communications, court records show. "The Office of the District Attorney is currently investigating allegations involving past and present members of the school administration of the Pleasant Valley School District," the district attorney's office said Thursday in a statement. "The conduct alleged may involve criminal violations of bribery in official and political matters, threats and improper influence in official and political matters, retaliation for past official action, official oppression and violations of the Pennsylvania Wire Tap Act." Court records identify the timetable for the possible violations as "beginning on or before Jan. 1, 2010, and continuing." The Pleasant Valley School District administration issued the following statement on the investigation, the Pocono Record reports: "As we indicated at the time of the presentment, the board of directors of the Pleasant Valley School District is aware of the criminal proceedings against one of our administrators. The district has already taken action based on information known to the district. In addition, if new information is discovered, the district will conduct further investigation and, will evaluate what further action, if any, will be taken. "Because this is a personnel matter and a criminal matter, the school district does not want to do anything that will interfere with the rights of our employees or the criminal process. Therefore, we have been advised by our attorneys that we should not comment further. Instead, we can state that the district will cooperate with law enforcement and will take action with regard to personnel matters as may be appropriate based on the facts." Krebs could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday morning. A call to a number listed for him was cut off after a reported identified himself. He is free on unsecured bail and scheduled to appear for his formal arraignment March 14 in Monroe County Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from any contact with teachers at the elementary school or contact with or supervisory authority over two janitorial staff members. He is also ordered to avoid any district committee meetings related to the investigation but may have access to the elementary school in the event of any building emergencies. Investigators ask anyone with information related to the allegations to contact Serfass of the district attorney's office at wsbentzoni@monroecountypa.gov or 570-242-6742. All inquiries may be kept confidential, District Attorney E. David Christine Jr. said. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. TURKEYS U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan's "soul mate" defense against a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment didn't help, and probably hastened his demise. Meehan didn't dispute the facts in a New York Times article, saying he had feelings for the staffer and saw her as a soul mate, but didn't sexually harass her. House Speaker Paul Ryan removed Meehan from the House House Ethics Committee after Meehan confirmed he paid a settlement to the accuser last year with taxpayer money. On Thursday, Meehan, a Republican, said he won't seek re-election to his suburban Philadelphia House seat. Hawaii Gov. David Ige was slow in correcting the erroneous report of an incoming nuclear missile attack because he couldn't remember his Twitter password. The false alarm was sent out by the state's Emergency Management Agency at 8:07 a.m. January 13, causing a widespread panic. Ige learned the alert was bogus two minutes after it was issued; his correction was delayed for 17 minutes because of the password snafu. His reaction on Facebook was slower, 23 minutes after the alert. Ige, a Democrat, apologized, and told Hawaiians he has transferred his Twitter information to his phone. TROPHIES The widening of Route 412 has made it easier for motorists to get between Bethlehem and Interstate 78. For Hellertown residents, those improvements came with a price -- congestion that has made it more difficult for pedestrians to cross Main Street. Streetwork funding has been approved from several sources, including $160,000 from casino taxes, $200,000 from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and $35,000 from the Northampton County Community Investment Partnership Program. Two intersections will be upgraded, Main Street at Thomas and Hampton avenues. The work includes new crosswalks, ADA accessible ramps, button-activated flashing signs and a bus shelter. Construction is expected to start this summer. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has affirmed what everyone has known since 2012 -- the redrawing of the state's 18 congressional districts was a partisan gerrymander designed to help Republicans. The court said the remapping violates of the state Constitution and ordered the Legislature to put together a new map for this year's elections. GOP leaders in Harrisburg, who oversaw the gerrymander -- including splitting the Lehigh Valley into two districts -- are appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The issue will have to be resolved soon; nominating petitions for the May primary elections are scheduled to begin circulating in February. World News Toshi Automatic installs 111 ft. High National Flag at Ghaziabad The Foundation Stone 27.01.2018 10:46:53 - Toshi Automatic, Indias leading automation company has installed a 111 feet tall stainless steel flag pole in Rajnagar Central Park, in association with Utthan Samiti, and Joggers Group of Rajnagar Ghaziabad. (live-PR.com) - On the occasion of 69th Republic Day, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., Indias leading automation company has done the city of Ghaziabad proud by installing a 111 feet tall stainless steel flag pole in Rajnagar Central Park, in association with Utthan Samiti, and the Joggers Group of Rajnagar Ghaziabad. The National Flag was unfurled today in the presence of the - On the occasion of 69th Republic Day, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., Indias leading automation company has done the city of Ghaziabad proud by installing a 111 feet tall stainless steel flag pole in Rajnagar Central Park, in association with Utthan Samiti, and the Joggers Group of Rajnagar Ghaziabad. The National Flag was unfurled today in the presence of the officials and the teams of Toshi Automatic, Utthan Samiti and Joggers Club, who were cheered on by the local residents for this amazing feat! Speaking on the achievement, Mr. Sanjeev Sachdev, Managing Director, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., said, It is a privilege to be able to dedicate this special achievement to each and everyone in Ghaziabad. We sincerely believe that there is nothing more important than our pride for our country, and we are happy to share the feeling with every Indian! The project was completed on time only because of the dedicated effort of three people, Mr. Satendra Singh, Chairperson, Utthan Samiti, Mr. Sanjeev Sachdev, Managing Director and Mr. Kapil Sachdev, Chief Technology Officer of Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., all of whom relentlessly pursued this project over past several months. Fully financed by Toshi Automatic, Utthan Samiti and community donations, the total cost of the project exceeded Rs.10 lakhs, with Toshi Automatic being the largest donor towards this great national cause. This landmark flag pole is now the tallest in Delhi-NCR and eclipses the one installed at New Delhis Connaught Place by 21 feet! The installation includes music system and speakers to play Bhajans and Patriotic songs throughout the day. Elaborating upon the efforts to raise funds for the campaign, Mr. Kapil Sachdev, Chief Technology Officer, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., said, We thank everyone including our friends, business partners and vendors, who pitched in with their donations and participated wholeheartedly to make this project a success. We would also like to mention the cooperation from the officials of Ghaziabad Development Authority, without which the project would not have been successful. It is the appreciation for the project that actually motivated us to pursue it with so much persistence. While there has been zero financial assistance from the government, the project also involves beautification of the surroundings of the National Flag by GDA (Ghaziabad Development Authority). This is the first project of its type where citizens have put up the National Flag at their cost and then, transferred it to the government. Toshi Automatic is Indias leading automation company with installations that can be easily found at various airports, hospitals, chemical plants, petroleum plants, power generation sites, car and lorry parks, theme parks, hotels, caravan parks, shopping centres, retail parks, manufacturing facilities and office developments spread across India. About Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd. Established over 24 years ago, Toshi Group has grown to emerge as the thought leader and innovator in the home and industrial automation solutions; setting the pace in the design, installation of bespoke, cost effective and reliable automatic hygiene systems and security gates, barriers, turnstiles and car parking/traffic control equipment. For detailed information on Toshi Automatic or to buy its products online, please log on to www.ToshiAutomatic.com For more information, please contact: Deep Mon Creativizt Communications +91.9971722917 http://creativizt.com officials and the teams of Toshi Automatic, Utthan Samiti and Joggers Club, who were cheered on by the local residents for this amazing feat!Speaking on the achievement, Mr. Sanjeev Sachdev, Managing Director, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., said, It is a privilege to be able to dedicate this special achievement to each and everyone in Ghaziabad. We sincerely believe that there is nothing more important than our pride for our country, and we are happy to share the feeling with every Indian!The project was completed on time only because of the dedicated effort of three people, Mr. Satendra Singh, Chairperson, Utthan Samiti, Mr. Sanjeev Sachdev, Managing Director and Mr. Kapil Sachdev, Chief Technology Officer of Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., all of whom relentlessly pursued this project over past several months.Fully financed by Toshi Automatic, Utthan Samiti and community donations, the total cost of the project exceeded Rs.10 lakhs, with Toshi Automatic being the largest donor towards this great national cause. This landmark flag pole is now the tallest in Delhi-NCR and eclipses the one installed at New Delhis Connaught Place by 21 feet! The installation includes music system and speakers to play Bhajans and Patriotic songs throughout the day.Elaborating upon the efforts to raise funds for the campaign, Mr. Kapil Sachdev, Chief Technology Officer, Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd., said, We thank everyone including our friends, business partners and vendors, who pitched in with their donations and participated wholeheartedly to make this project a success. We would also like to mention the cooperation from the officials of Ghaziabad Development Authority, without which the project would not have been successful. It is the appreciation for the project that actually motivated us to pursue it with so much persistence.While there has been zero financial assistance from the government, the project also involves beautification of the surroundings of the National Flag by GDA (Ghaziabad Development Authority). This is the first project of its type where citizens have put up the National Flag at their cost and then, transferred it to the government.Toshi Automatic is Indias leading automation company with installations that can be easily found at various airports, hospitals, chemical plants, petroleum plants, power generation sites, car and lorry parks, theme parks, hotels, caravan parks, shopping centres, retail parks, manufacturing facilities and office developments spread across India.About Toshi Automatic Systems Pvt. Ltd.Established over 24 years ago, Toshi Group has grown to emerge as the thought leader and innovator in the home and industrial automation solutions; setting the pace in the design, installation of bespoke, cost effective and reliable automatic hygiene systems and security gates, barriers, turnstiles and car parking/traffic control equipment. For detailed information on Toshi Automatic or to buy its products online, please log on to www.ToshiAutomatic.comFor more information, please contact:Deep MonCreativizt Communications+91.9971722917http://creativizt.com Contact information: Toshi Automatic D-132, Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area, Ghaziabad - 201009, India Contact Person: Kapil Sachdev CTO Phone: 8287116904 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.ToshiAutomatic.com Author: Rishu Monga e-mail Web: http://creativizt.com 27.01.2018 10:46:53 - 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. Glenn Payne was convicted in 1991 of molesting a 2-year-old girl in San Jose and spent more than 13 years in prison. The crucial evidence against him was expert testimony by a county forensic analyst that hair found on Payne must have come from the victim that there was only one chance in 129,600 that it had come from someone else. Four months ago, the analyst recanted his testimony, saying it was based on an unreliable study and he would never make such a statistical claim today. On Friday, without objection from the prosecutor, a Santa Clara County judge, Vanessa Zecher, overturned Paynes conviction and the charges were dropped. Im very thankful after all of that, Payne, 55, said after the brief hearing. I got tired of living like that. Payne has been out of prison since April 2005, so the main benefit for him, aside from removing the felony from his record, was to eliminate his lifelong obligation to register with police every year as a sex offender, a status that was also posted on a public website. Because of the registration requirement, it has been really difficult to find housing and work, said Payne, who has been homeless at times in recent years. Still, he cant get his years back. And because he was released more than two years ago past the deadline to file a claim he is ineligible for the $140-per-day compensation California awards to former inmates who have been exonerated. But Payne says his mind is now at peace. And his clearance is due in large part to the persistence of the Northern California Innocence Project, the Santa Clara University Law School program that works to free the wrongfully convicted. Im very thankful for them, Payne told reporters. He had difficulty speaking at length, and Innocence Project representatives said Payne has suffered from mental illnesses for most of his life. I want to find housing, enjoy my life, he told The Chronicle afterward. Im figuring out what tomorrow will be, and the next day. Its amazing to think about. Payne was arrested in April 1990 after the 2-year-old, who lived across the street, was found asleep on a walkway a block away, her clothes torn and covered with debris. She told police a man who lived nearby had hurt her, and eventually, under questioning by the prosecutor at trial, identified Payne as the attacker. But, at trial, the girl would not answer the defense lawyers questions, and the judge told jurors to disregard her testimony. The only physical evidence against Payne was two strands of hair. For his part, Payne told investigators and later testified that he had been home all night, and his mother and sister backed him up. But county criminalist Mark Moriyama, who analyzed the hair strands, said one discovered on Paynes body was so similar to the victims hair that it must have come from her, and the other found on a tablecloth covering her body was probably Paynes. Multiplying the probability figures, Moriyama said the odds against a match were 129,600 to 1. After an initial deadlock, the jury convicted Payne of lewd conduct with a child, and he was sentenced to 27 years in prison. He has maintained his innocence, and in 2002, three years before his release on parole after serving 13 years, he asked the Innocence Project for help in seeking DNA tests of the evidence against him. The project agreed, but its executive director, attorney Linda Starr, said a two-year search produced only a court document showing the evidence had been destroyed in 1992. A break in the case finally came after the Innocence Projects national organization teamed with the FBI and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2013 in an investigation of hair-identification testimony. The results, issued two years later, were shocking: FBI expert witnesses had wrongly matched hair samples in 90 percent of the cases reviewed over two decades, some of which led to death sentences. Starr said the Innocence Project started a review of hair-identification cases in California, recovered the transcript of Paynes trial after a lengthy search, and began meeting with the district attorneys office that had prosecuted him. In September, the office issued a declaration signed by Moriyama, who still works for the county, and the director of the district attorneys crime laboratory. They said Moriyamas statistics were based on a 1974 study that should not have been used for that purpose and had never been uniformly accepted by hair experts in the forensic community. At most, they said, the evidence showed that the hair found on Payne could have come from the victim, and they no longer believe that the statistics the jury heard were scientifically valid. Paynes case isnt unique, the Innocence Project said. It is reviewing nearly 300 more cases in Northern California in which hair analysis led to convictions. Starr said Moriyama, according to his own testimony, had appeared as an expert witness in eight other cases. Its the first microscopic hair comparison reversal and dismissal in the state of California in state court, she said. What we hope is that it will help others identify these cases. Starr said Paynes case was only an example of a broader problem that is now coming to light. What was once relied upon by juries as scientific fact in many of the so-called forensic sciences, she said, is now known to be false. Jenna Lyons and Bob Egelko are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com, begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno @BobEgelko Washington The Republican-led Senate narrowly approved Sam Brownback's bid to be U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom, setting the stage for him to resign the governorship in Kansas after seven contentious years in office. On Wednesday, with two GOP senators absent, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Capitol Hill to cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Brownback, a favorite of Christian conservatives for his views on same-sex marriage and abortion. The vote was along party lines, 50-49, underscoring the narrow margin Republicans hold. Fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer will be elevated to governor in Kansas once Brownback submits his resignation. That could come as early as next week. "I'm glad to have the vice president in my corner," Brownback said after a meeting with Kansas legislative leaders at the statehouse in Topeka. He added later, "I'm happy. It's a critical job. I'm excited about being able to do it." Brownback served in the Senate before becoming governor in 2011. He made Kansas an economic laboratory for the nation by aggressively cutting taxes, arguing that they would provide "a shot of adrenaline to the heart" of the state's economy. Persistent budget problems followed, along with court mandates to boost spending on public schools. Kansas became an example even for conservatives of how not to do trickle-down economics. Voters turned on his legislative allies in 2016, and bipartisan majorities rolled back most of the cuts last year over Brownback's veto. President Donald Trump's selection in July of Brownback for the State Department post had come under fire from Senate Democrats and LGBT rights groups. During his confirmation hearing by Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October, Brownback declined to unequivocally declare there is no situation that would allow a country to cite religious freedom as the basis for criminally prosecuting LGBT people. Brownback was an early advocate of U.S. action to stop genocide in Sudan's Darfur region and visited Congo and Rwanda to decry humanitarian crises and call for better coordination in foreign aid programs. As the Republican Party prepared to shut the government down over an anti-immigrant agenda, Trump loyalists went on national television to defend a president who cursed whole nations in a meeting about immigration. Sen. Lindsey Graham may have been the most forthcoming in his CNN appearance last week. When asked why he could not confirm Trump's use of the term "shithole" to describe African countries, he replied: "Because I want to make sure that I can keep talking to the president." Americans must learn to see clearly what leaders of African nations have articulated in their response to the president of the United States cursing them and their people. The real issue is the systemic racism that a prophetic reading of the Bible must always challenge. Policy rooted in white supremacy and attacks on the poor is a curse against the great majority of people created in God's image. It does not matter how politely it is executed and defended, this cursing must be opposed by public witness. The Bible is clear that cursing is the act of using political and economic power to hurt poor people and immigrant children. "The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor," the Psalmist sings in the Bible's righteous resistance song. "He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. ... His mouth is full of cursing." Every political leader who is accommodating Trump's vulgar extremism is, biblically speaking, cursing and not blessing this nation. They curse every time they demonize nonwhite people and nations. They curse when they attack immigrant communities with scapegoating, extreme enforcement and Muslim bans. They curse every time they take health care from the sick and repeat lies about "voter fraud" to justify voter suppression. As a pastor who tries to remain faithful to a prophetic moral vision, I must shout aloud that the spiritual sickness and moral bankruptcy we are witnessing in Congress and the White House are a damnable shame. This hypocrisy must be cursed. If the preachers are not willing to curse what is evil, who will? God will judge America for the sins against helpless children who were pitted against young immigrants in an attempt to cast a false choice between poor white people's interests and those of people of color. Meanwhile, the greatest response to the political cursing of our president and his party is to build a movement that blesses, liberates, and brings truth, love and justice to the world. This is what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did until the last day of his life organizing the black, white, Native and brown people of America who had been cursed by generations of policy violence to join in a Poor People's Campaign to demand a "moral revolution of values" in America. This is the work that is still needed now: to bless this nation and our world with the vision of a beloved community, united across our historic lines of division, in a movement that reflects the single garment of destiny that is our true identity and our greatest political hope. William J. Barber II is pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, N.C., and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Officials at Jones State Forest are hoping Mother Nature will cooperate as they give another try at starting a "prescribed burn" in the forest. The burn, if the plans work out, would actually be a series of small fires intentionally set in the forest over a number days to burn away brush, fallen trees and dried out vegetation that could provide fuel for what could eventually turn into larger and potentially devastating fires. The burns are also a forest management strategy to keep forests healthy by returning nutrients to the soil and allowing trees to grow in healthier and less crowded conditions. Forest officials had tried to start a fire Thursday, but clouds rolled in and the direction of the wind changed, dousing plans to burn several acres, said John Warner, the manager of the forest. "We tried yesterday, but the cloud cover came in," Warner said. "It's just not cooperating right now." Warner hoped the weather conditions would be right to give another try at igniting a burn on Tuesday, Jan. 30, or the next day. Forest officials had actually set a target dates of Jan. 11, then later on Jan. 18 to start the fires. But the weather has continually failed to cooperate. It's been nearly two years since the last burn in the 1,722-acre preserve, so Warner is not only watching the weather, but also the calendar in the hopes of getting a fire started in the coming weeks. The window for prescribed burns generally closes some time in March as the forest starts "greening up" with new growth, Warner said. Changing weather and wind factors during the late spring can also throw cold water on opportunities to start the burns. Forestry officials intentionally set fire to wooded areas to manage the growth of forests. The Texas A&M Forest Service, which owns and operates Jones State Forest, describes prescribed burns as "a recognized, science-based management tool" of forests. Fires also help to restore the habitat of endangered species, which is especially critical at Jones State Forest because the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker makes it home in the forest's pine trees. Meanwhile, as Jones State Forest officials have been stymied in their attempts to start the fires, officials at Sam Houston National Forest were able to ignite a prescribed burn on the east side of Lake Conroe Thursday. Though Sam Houston forestry officials have to abide by the same guidelines as Warner and his colleagues at Jones State Forest have to follow in prescribed burns, because the national forest is in a more remote area officials there don't have as many restrictions in starting the planned fires. "We're more urban so we have to very selective," Warner said. Want to talk across town or across the world without paying a cellphone or internet service provider? Looking for a way to help your community during natural disasters? Or do you just want a chance to be on the forefront of technology? Give amateur radio a try, the Midland Amateur Radio Club suggests. The club will offer classes for those wanting to upgrade to the highest amateur radio class, the extra level class and gain the ultimate operating privileges in the world of amateur radio. The free classes will be open to interested residents from Midland and the surrounding counties. Starting Feb. 12, the class will meet each Monday and Thursday for the next seven weeks at Midland High School room 321, 1301 Eastlawn Drive. The class begins at 7 p.m. and runs about two hours. There is no fee for the class, though students will need to purchase the study guide -- The ARRL Extra License Manual. When purchased through the club, the guides will be available at a discounted price of $25 from the over-the-counter price of $29.95. After the conclusion of the class, MARC will conduct an authorized FCC test for the class as well anyone wishing to try for any of the available levels of license. To register for the class, or to be placed on a contact list for the introductory level class, contact Lee Hodges at 989-486-3771 or kc8iti@arrl.net BERLIN - Guided by its catastrophic history of warmaking, modern Germany has long been reluctant to send troops to foreign conflicts. But the country has not held back on supplying the world with weapons: It is the globe's fifth-largest arms exporter. Now, however, events both at home and abroad are forcing the country to reckon anew whether that role needs to be reconsidered. After Turkey began an assault on Kurdish militia Jan. 20, German news wires reported this week that German-made Leopard-2 tanks may have been used in the offensive, which displaced an estimated 5,000 people and killed at least two dozen civilians in Syria's northwest Afrin region, according to U.N. reports. The revelation prompted calls, particularly from Germany's left parties, for an end to arms sales to Turkey. Even before the report was released, Germany's political parties had been wrangling over their role in supplying weapons to the Middle East. In their preliminary talks to renew a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, the Social Democratic Party won a major victory - a ban on arms exports to countries involved in the war in Yemen. The Social Democrats have long been pushing for tighter restrictions to countries fueling the conflict in Yemen, where a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and which includes Egypt and several Gulf states, has been trying to crush Iranian-backed Houthi rebels for years, resulting in one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Civil society groups have pointed to German-made patrol boats that may have been used in Saudi Arabia's blockade of Yemen, where 90 percent of all goods are imported, and as many as 8 million people are facing starvation, according to the United Nations. "The war in Yemen is so atrocious that we, as the Federal Republic of Germany, must show our partners that this can't go on," said Rolf Mutzenich, a deputy of the Social Democrats who has advocated for more restrictions on Germany's arms exports for years. Mutzenich says Germany should not only stop delivering weapons to countries involved in the Yemen conflict directly but also to "transfer" countries such as the United Kingdom, France and South Africa, which import arms - or components to build arms - from Germany, only to export them to countries involved in the Yemen war. As it stands, the ban's language is sweeping but ambiguous, stating, "The federal government will no longer permit exports to countries involved in the war in Yemen, effective immediately." The ban is part of a preliminary deal intended to form the framework for Germany's coalition government, but even Merkel's own party is divided on critical details - whether it applies to existing contracts, whether it includes transfer countries such as the United Kingdom and France, and whether it'll encompass all weapons or only some. "The sentence can't stand as is," said Florian Hahn, an MP and member of Merkel's more conservative sister party, the Christian Social Union. "Otherwise it will trigger irritation among Germany's international partners and a lot of damage for Germany." Michael Brand, another member of the Christian Demcorats, Merkel's party, said he will defend the statement in forthcoming coalition talks but refused to comment on details. "We won't let ourselves be forced to act in the interests of a country that's playing with highly explosive weapons," he said. "That's why you'll find the statement again in the final coalition treaty." For Germany, arms exports have long been a key instrument for security and foreign policy. In 2012, Merkel outlined what the German magazine Der Spiegel called "a tectonic shift' in Germany's general foreign policy. She told a room full of diplomats and international security experts: "If Germany shies away from military intervention, then it's generally not enough to send other countries and organizations words of encouragement. We must also provide the necessary means to those nations that are prepared to get involved. I'll say it clearly: This includes arms exports." She added that this policy would have to align with human rights. As part of that strategy, Germany has sent arms to a long list of countries. Germany gave 50 armored vehicles to Jordan in 2016 to help the country fight terrorism as part of a multimillion-dollar defense aid package. The initiative also included defense aid for Tunisia, Mali and Niger, among others. In 2014, Germany supplied weapons to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State militant group in northern Iraq. In the third quarter of 2016 and 2017, arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Egypt quintupled. Arms deals with Turkey go back much further. In the '80s and '90s, Germany exported more than 400 tanks to the Turkish military, declaring them part of "German NATO defense aid," under the condition that they be used only for self-defense from armed attacks. Turkey says it has acted to defend the country against a militant group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, that has fought a long insurgency against the Turkish state. The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey as well as the United States. Turkey's latest offensive in Syria has targeted PKK-linked militias. But the militias have also been instrumental in the fight against the Islamic State and are supported by the United States. But the debate about whether Turkey is acting in self-defense - or suppressing Kurdish groups seeking greater autonomy - also goes back decades. "Even in the 1980s and 1990s, it was apparent to the government that Turkey could use the tanks against Kurds," said Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In 2005, when Turkey started receiving an additional 354 upgraded tanks from Germany, the self-defense condition fell away entirely, according to Der Spiegel. The reasons aren't entirely clear, but, Wezeman said, "we should of course wonder to what extent export revenue, jobs and the lobby from the arms industry plays a role in these decisions." In 2017, the German government approved 6.24 billion euros in arms exports, according to the German daily Handelsblatt. The top eight export countries include three countries directly involved in the conflict in Yemen: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates." German weapons manufacturers employed roughly 55,000 people in 2015, according to data collected by the Hans-Boeckler Foundation. Even though Germany is the world's fifth-largest arms exporter and the second-largest supplier of arms to Turkey, it's well behind an even bigger exporter - the United States, which has supplied nearly three times as many weapons to Turkey between 1950 and 2016, according to SIPRI. On Thursday, German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement that the government would freeze the decision about whether to grant Turkey's request for more modernized tanks until a new government has been formed. Gabriel's statement comes at a time when relations between Germany and Turkey could hardly be more strained. The countries' leaders have feuded over Germany's large Turkish minority, which includes dissidents, Berlin's criticism over civil rights abuses in Turkey, and German journalists who've been imprisoned without charge or trial, one for over 11 months. Despite Germany's role as a major arms supplier to Turkey, there are limits to its leverage, said Andrew Feinstein, an expert on the global arms trade. "Even if Germany decided to stop selling weapons to Turkey now, they've got decades worth of German weaponry to use in these sorts of assaults against the Kurds," Feinstein said. BAGHDAD - At least six Iraqi police and allied militiamen were killed in American airstrikes early Saturday during a raid for a wanted Islamic State militant after they were apparently mistaken by Iraq's military for armed insurgents. The apparent friendly-fire incident is being investigated by Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad but it has provoked some anger among critics of the United States who have long been suspicious or hostile to the U.S. military's involvement in the fight against the Islamic State. Iraq's joint operations command, the umbrella for Iraq's military, police and militia forces, said that before dawn a team of Iraqi troops was executing a search in the Anbar province town of al-Baghdadi for a man with links to Islamic State. The team was backed by U.S. airpower, the command said. ALSO: U.S. signals deeper commitment in Syria (story continues below) More for you Germans up in arms about weapons sales to Turkey and others Once the militant was arrested, the Iraqi forces encountered an armed group they did not recognize and American helicopters swooped in and opened fire, according to the command statement. The command said it was launching an investigation into the incident. A spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition did not respond to a request for comment, but said in a Twitter post that the episode is being investigated. The Twitter post also said United States air support only comes at the request of or by approval of the Iraqi military. "NO unilateral coalition operations in Iraq," the spokesman, Col. Ryan Dillon, said in the tweet. Khalid al-Obaidi, a local tribal leader in al-Baghdadi, said in a telephone interview the airstrike had also injured 20 people including the heads of al-Baghdadi's police and local council. Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, long a critic of American military presence in Iraq, said in a statement the "American occupation proves its tyranny, its arrogance and its blatant aggression against the Iraqi government, its independence and its sovereignty, by indiscriminately and unjustly bombarding Baghdadi district which claimed innocent lives." Sadr, who also recently positioned himself as a nationalist who opposes Iranian meddling in Iraq, demanded the "aggressors" be punished. Separately on Friday, the U.S.-led coalition said a total of 831 civilians have been killed in coalition airstrikes by the end of 2017 during the three-year war against Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria. Airwars, an independent monitoring group, has said that number is implausible given the intensity of the war, particularly in Islamic State's self-declared capitals of Mosul and Raqqa and that their research has shown that up to 9,210 non-combatants were killed by the end of last year. ISTANBUL - Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the billionaire investor who was detained in Saudi Arabia more than two months ago as part of what officials called an "anti-corruption" probe, was released from custody Saturday, according to a relative and an associate of his family. The news of Alwaleed's release came hours after he was quoted praising members of Saudi Arabia's royal family in an interview with the Reuters news agency that was published on Saturday. "I can only say I'm supporting the king and crown prince in all the efforts they're doing to really have a new Saudi Arabia," he said, according to a transcript of the interview. The arrest of Alwaleed, one of the world's most prominent investors, had brought into sharp relief the power struggles, societal shifts and systemic changes taking place in Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the country's young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Alwaleed was among hundreds of people, including princes, tycoons and former cabinet members, who were detained in November as the authorities in Saudi Arabia embarked on what they said was a determined and overdue campaign to root out a deeply-entrenched system of graft in the kingdom. The arrest of so many influential Saudis was intended to send a message that no one was immune to prosecution and to signal to foreign investors that corruption would no longer be tolerated, Saudi officials said. It was part of a more ambitious and far-reaching effort to yank the moribund kingdom into the modern era, they asserted. But the precise nature of the accusations and even details of who exactly was arrested were shrouded in mystery. The government soon disclosed that it was hoping to reach financial settlements with the accused, rather than bring criminal charges, which fed suspicions of a government shakedown rather than an earnest attempt at reform. The detainees were not sent to police stations or prisons but to the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, the Saudi capital - fueling the perception of an elite feud, rather than a law enforcement action, and one that would be settled in private rather than a courtroom. The hotel is scheduled to open to the public next month, signaling that a phase of the anti-corruption push was coming to a close. The Saudi government had consistently maintained that the arrests were part of a legal process, but "there were never any charges filed," said Karen Young, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "It was outside of the rules. You can't see it in any other way than the government using mechanisms that are corrupt, to fight corruption," she said. The government has not officially disclosed how much it had received from the detainees in financial settlements. Rumors put the amount at upwards of $100 billion. Reports that the government had taken control of assets in media and construction companies as part of the settlements suggested that the Saudi leadership was looking to "concentrate power, but in fewer hands," Young said. A spokesman for the Saudi government did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment on Alwaleed's status. The conditions of his release, if any, were not immediately clear. The family associate, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding the arrest, hinted that Alwaleed had reached a financial agreement with the government and would be remaining in Saudi Arabia for the time being, in order to "make all the arrangements." In his interview with Reuters on Saturday - his first public comments since his arrest - Alwaleed asserted his innocence and did not disclose the details of what settlement, if any, he had reached with the government. "I cannot divulge, because there are two parties here," he said. He portrayed his detention as the result of understandable concerns by the Saudi authorities. "When a high-profile person like me has some doubts around him, it's very important to clear these doubts 100 percent. I have dealings nationally, regionally, internationally, with international banks, with companies," he said. "I have nothing to hide. Everything's pure and clean." Many of his fellow detainees had left the hotel without facing charges, he added. He consented to the interview, he said, to quell rumors that he had been mistreated or tortured during his incarceration. "All lies," he said. He had been in regular contact with his family and his business associates, he said. "I'm so comfortable, I'm so relaxed. I shave here, like at home. My barber comes here," he said. "I walk, I swim, I exercise, I stretch." - - - Haidamous reported from Beirut, Lebanon. Moving to Mexico on impulse in the 1960s, Joseph Dunwoody Jr. fell in love with the country. Though he spoke no Spanish at the time, Dunwoody quickly learned enough to appear as Johnny on Lupita y Johnny, a Mexican sitcom similar to I Love Lucy. He was teaching English to some of the people at the television station and they said, Youre good looking! Lets pair you with (Mexican actress) Skippy Casado, and he fell into it, said his wife, Martha Tanner. Though the role didnt last long, Dunwoodys love affair with Mexico never wanned. He lived in Mexico for five years, in Puebla, Mexico City, San Miguel and Monterrey, his wife said. He got his masters and then the peso got devalued he had to come back, he couldnt make a living. Settling in San Antonio because of its strong Mexican influence and its proximity to the border, Dunwoody began teaching at San Antonio College in 1968 while continuing to visit Mexico whenever he could. Dunwoody was a natural teacher, his wife said. He loved SAC thought those students were so important and special. He loved it, she said. More Information Joseph Dunwoody Jr. Born: Jan. 12, 1934, Troy, New York Died: Jan. 11, 2018, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents Winifred Baumis and Joseph Dunwoody Sr. Survived by: Wife Martha Tanner; aunt Barbara Mead; cousins Robert Mead, Mark Morgan, Dean George and Margaret Dunwoody Services: Funeral services are pending. See More Collapse Dunwoody died Jan. 11, just a day before his 84th birthday. Raised in New York, Dunwoody attended the Amherst College from which he graduated in 1956. Joining the Navy after graduation, Dunwoody was commissioned as an ensign and served on the destroyer USS Vogelgesang before becoming an English instructor at the Naval Preparatory School, his wife said. After his discharge from the service, Dunwoody worked on his masters degree at the University of Delaware, but moved to New York City, where he worked at a bookstore, before moving to Mexico. It was the 1960s where people did things by the seat of their pants, Tanner said. He received his masters in Spanish language and literature from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey while there. He briefly returned to Mexico in the early 1980s as a visiting professor at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City. Back in San Antonio, he met Tanner in February 2001. The couple married the following December. Dunwoody soon introduced her to Mexico, driving there about four times a year. An unabashed liberal, Dunwoody had a particular interest in womens rights. He went to the womens march last year, Tanner said. Then he went to New York for a march; he was really a womens libber from the start. mheidbrink@express-news.net A 38-year-old man has been arrested on a charge of solicitation of a minor after being accused of asking a San Antonio teen to perform a sex act while she was on her way to school, police said. An arrest warrant was issued for Rafael Lopez Villegas, who was arrested Friday during a traffic stop near his home on the Northeast Side, said Officer Doug Greene, a San Antonio Police Department spokesman. Greene said the teen did the right thing when she told adults who contacted authorities Monday and reported that the man had asked her if she wanted a ride, then asked her if she would perform a sex act. RELATED: Testimony about FourWinds CEO's 'red flags' draws laughs Anytime you make this sort of comment, a request or demand of a child, it qualifies as solicitation of a minor, Greene said. He added that when the teen reached out after the incident, adults were able to come to her aid, and one took a photograph of the man. The officer declined to give the age of the girl and the school district involved. Greene said the case is being forwarded to the Bexar County District Attorneys Office. He added that it is possible Villegas is connected to two other incidents in which teen girls were approached in much the same manner while they were walking to a bus stop. Villegas has not been charged in those cases. RELATED: SAPD: Man fatally shot at homeless camp behind fire station The officer commended the three teens for recognizing the seriousness of the situation and reporting it. These individuals who were approached did everything we ask our young people to do, everything we ask parents to tell their kids to do, Greene said. Greene asked that anyone who might have been approached in the same manner by Villegas to contact the San Antonio Special Victims Unit at 210-207-2313. Solicitation of a minor is a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in state jail. The officer who was cut during a struggle to subdue a man on a North Side highway was the one who fatally shot him, police confirmed Friday. San Antonio Police Department officer Paul Armendariz and two other officers were trying to subdue a 19-year-old man about 6:30 p.m. Thursday on Loop 410 just west of the McCullough overpass when he attacked Armendariz with a knife and Armendariz shot him, according to a police statement. Armendariz, a 15-year-veteran of the force, will be placed on administrative duty according to police procedure. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office had not released the mans identity as of Friday evening because they were still trying to reach next of kin. Police did not respond to requests for more information or the police report, saying they had nothing to report beyond what was provided by Police Chief William McManus during a Thursday evening news conference. The officers did exactly what they were supposed to do. They were trying to apprehend someone who robbed a Target, McManus said, noting the entire ordeal was dangerous. The whole incident was dangerous from start to finish. It was dangerous in the Target; and it was dangerous when he got up on the highway; it was dangerous when the officers stopped him, McManus said. Any of those officers could have been stabbed; the knife was certainly big enough to kill someone. According to procedure 501 of SAPDs general manual, deadly force is authorized to protect an officer or another person from what is reasonably believed to be an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury. McManus said the incident began when the 19-year-old stole a bicycle during a robbery at Target in the Park North shopping center and rode out of the store despite attempts by security to stop him. Nearby officers then spotted the man and followed him onto Loop 410, blocking traffic behind him as he rode east on Loop 410. One of the officers pulled him off the bike, and all together three officers, including Armendariz, tried to subdue him. They put their hands on him, took him to the ground, McManus said. The man pulled out a knife, which McManus described as having probably about a 5-inch blade, maybe a 4-inch handle, and cut Armendarizs finger. Thats when Armendariz stepped back and pulled out his service weapon, firing a single fatal shot at the mans abdomen, according to McManus. The man died at the scene. Armendariz was taken to an area hospital after the incident and has since been treated and released, police said. I dont know what exactly transpired in the Target, McManus said. I know there was an attempt to apprehend him in the Target, which they were unable to do. Reached for comment Friday, Target spokeswoman Kali Dingman directed specifics of the robbery to police. She said she could not comment on the specifics of procedures regarding store robberies, but said they are committed to creating a safe and secure shopping environment for their customers. Last night, after a guest shoplifted an item from our store, we engaged law enforcement and will continue to provide them whatever support is needed, Dingman said. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA NAIROBI, Kenya - As she walks through the alleyways of her poor neighborhood, to a job washing other people's clothes, Valentine Akinyi weathers the jeers yelled at her: "Elephant, elephant, elephant." She has gotten used to the insults, she said, but still, it hurts. "Who's going to want to marry me?" she asked. It used to be difficult in Kenya to find many people built like Akinyi, who, at 5 feet 9 inches tall and 285 pounds, is obese. In Africa, the world's poorest continent, malnutrition is stubbornly widespread, and millions of people are desperately hungry, with famine conditions looming in some war-torn countries. But in many places, growing economies have led to growing waistlines. Obesity rates in sub-Saharan Africa are shooting up faster than in just about anywhere else in the world, causing a public health crisis that is catching Africa, and the world, by surprise. In Burkina Faso, the prevalence of adult obesity in the past 36 years has jumped nearly 1,400 percent. In Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia and Benin, it has increased by more than 500 percent. Eight of the 20 nations in the world with the fastest-rising rates of adult obesity are in Africa, according to a recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. It is part of a seismic shift in Africa as rapid economic growth transforms every aspect of life, including the very shape of its people. Many Africans are eating more junk food, much of it imported. They are also getting much less exercise, as millions of people abandon a more active farming life to crowd into cities, where they tend to be more sedentary. More affordable cars and a wave of motorbike imports also mean that fewer Africans walk to work. Obesity may be an especially tough battle in Africa for other reasons. For one, people who did not get enough nutrients when they were young (which is still a problem in Africa) are more prone to putting on weight when lots of food is available. And second, African health systems are heavily geared toward combating other diseases. 'The worst epidemic' African doctors say their public health systems have been so focused on AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and tropical fevers - historically, Africa's big killers - that few resources are left for what are called noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes and heart ailments. "What we are seeing is likely the worst epidemic the country will ever see, probably in the long run worse than the HIV epidemic of the '90s," said Anders Barasa, a cardiologist in Kenya, referring to obesity and its related diseases. "But changing the health care system to cater for obesity-related diseases is like turning a supertanker." In Kenya, one of Africa's most developed nations, there are around 40 cardiologists for the entire population of 48 million people. In the United States, there is one cardiologist for every 13,000 people. Even as the obesity problem worsens, Africa's older problem of malnutrition has hardly vanished. While millions of Africans are eating unhealthy foods or overeating, millions of Africans are still starving or near to it. Health professionals say that people who grow up deprived of nutrients, as millions of Africans do, run a higher risk of later becoming obese. During famine times, one of the body's defense mechanisms, some experts say, is to slow down metabolism to hold onto every calorie. When feast times come, metabolism often remains slow. Such metabolic disorders can lead to all kinds of health problems later on, some of them life threatening. Diabetes rate also grows One leading Kenyan endocrinologist, Nancy Kunyiha said that when she started a diabetes practice years ago, her medical school colleagues thought she was crazy. "'There's no way you can survive off diabetes,'" she said they warned her. But Type II diabetes is closely linked to obesity, and sub-Saharan Africa is in the midst of a "rapidly expanding diabetes epidemic," according to a report last year in a medical journal, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. In the past decade, Kunyiha's diabetes practice has quadrupled, and most days, her brightly lit, no-frills waiting room at the Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, is standing room only. Kenya's obesity rate, which is close to 1 in 10 people, is still far below industrialized countries like the United States (where more than one-third of adults are obese). But Kenya's rate is rising fast, more than doubling since 1990, and many Kenyans are thinking about obesity for the first time. Akinyi says she reads any article in the local papers about "lifestyle diseases," as obesity and hypertension are often referred to here. But what the writers recommend to lose weight, she cannot afford. She is a high school dropout, a single mother and a washerwoman; on about $40 a month, she supports herself and three children. Millions of Africans are just like her: trapped between the old and the new. They might not be destitute like their parents were. But they are still poor. Chips, soda, inactivity While they have just enough money to buy processed foods like potato chips, which are now widely available in low-income areas for a few cents, they often do not have enough to join a gym or buy fish or fresh vegetables. And instead of working in the fields (which is how most Kenyans lived just a generation ago), they are marooned in squalid urban areas and are less physically active. Some of the least expensive foods to buy in the Kibera slum where Akinyi lives are french fries and fried dough, each around 20 cents. Apples, at the equivalent of 40 cents, are outside her budget, though soda isn't. "And I love Sprite," Akinyi said with a guilty smile. One of Coca-Cola's strategies in Kenya has been to reach the lower economic classes by making smaller 200-milliliter bottles, or about 6.75 fluid ounces, that cost about 15 cents (compared with the standard 300-milliliter bottle that costs 25 cents). Burger King, Domino's, Cold Stone Creamery and Subway have all recently opened their first stores in Kenya, part of their strategy to break into Africa. Many Kenyans used to walk miles a day to work or to school. But the road network has vastly improved, and it is now much easier to travel via minibus. Countless Kenyans also use motorcycle taxis, which were not widely available 10 years ago. Akinyi, 30, said she still enjoyed walking. "It's a way to get to work and get a little exercise," she said. Best of all: It is free. 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Periodicals postage paid at Houston, Texas. The Houston Chronicle (USPS 807-680) is published daily by the Houston Chronicle Publishing Co. Reader Representative For comments on the Houston Chronicle's coverage, standardsand accuracy Phone: 713-362-6303 Email: readerrep@chron.com Fax: 713-362-6373 Mail: Reader Representative, Houston Chronicle 4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027 Copyright 2018 Houston Chronicle Co. Chronicle Advertising Classified713-224-6868 Display Advertising713-362-3565 Outside Harris County800-735-3815 Other Chronicle Departments City Desk713-362-7491 Sports713-362-7891 Chronicle in Education713-362-7904 WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats said Friday that they would seek to ensure that continuing budget negotiations included legislation to protect Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, from being fired by President Donald Trump. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the top Democrat in the Senate, said an article in the New York Times this week detailing an effort by Trump to fire Mueller in June demonstrated the urgency for Congress to act. "The most important thing Congress can do right now is to ensure that Special Counsel Mueller's investigation continues uninterrupted and unimpeded," Schumer said. The move by the Democratic leadership escalates previous efforts by lawmakers in both parties to stave off a possible constitutional crisis should Trump try to shut down the Russia investigation by getting rid of Mueller. Over the summer, members of the parties introduced legislation to prevent that from happening. The legislation went nowhere as the president, his lawyers and his top aides denied he had considered firing Mueller. But bipartisan outrage has been rekindled by the news Trump ordered the dismissal of Mueller, backtracking only after Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, said he would resign rather than carry out the order. The latest Democratic efforts would require cooperation from Republicans as both parties negotiate must-pass legislation to fund the government. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Friday that he could not think of any reason "why you wouldn't want to pass that legislation if you respect the rule of law." The deadline for passing the plan is Feb. 8. In August, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., proposed legislation that would require a Senate-confirmed official at the Justice Department to discipline or fire a special counsel. Another measure, sponsored in part by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would require a judge's review to ensure a special counsel is fired for cause and not for political reasons. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., reiterated Friday that Republicans in the House would oppose any attempt by Trump to fire Mueller. "It would just be a political firestorm, and you would just be presumed guilty whether you are or not," Cole said. Trump denied Friday that he had ordered Mueller's firing and called reports of the episode "fake news." The Times report was based on four people who were told of the matter. Shannon McClendon is challenging state Sen. Donna Campbell because she wants to reclaim a small piece of the Republican Party. The far right, the alt-right, she said, they have hijacked my party, and I want it back. Jenifer Sarver is running for Congress to replace U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith for pretty much the same reason. I want to reclaim the core values of the Republican Party, she said. I am concerned about the way that we talk to each other, the way we talk about one another and the way we talk about groups of people. Peggy Wardlaw, another candidate in that oh-so crowded GOP congressional field, said, Like Jenifer, I was completely stunned by the divisiveness of the past political year-and-a-half, and I (decided) that I was actually going to talk politics to every single person I ran into. Shes been pleasantly surprised with those conversations. Can they win their respective elections? A more interesting question is, why are these candidacies outliers? These three women are educated, well-spoken, nuanced on issues and interested in solutions. No government shutdowns, pandering to divisive social issues or hyperbolic rhetoric here. Just a desire for good, inclusive governance. Preferably smaller government with less regulation, please. They are also Republicans facing strong primary headwinds in Republican gerrymandered districts. Sarver, a communications consultant who served as a staffer for former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, did not vote for President Donald Trump. McClendon, an attorney with an expertise in electrical markets, openly talks about her wife. She also mourns House Speaker Joe Straus decision not to seek re-election a decision the tea party has celebrated. Like Straus, she wants to lower property taxes by improving state spending on schools. Wardlaw, a petroleum engineer and commercial appraiser, said she is open to working with Democrats. For example, she supports comprehensive immigration reform. Those arent necessarily winning tickets in Republican primaries. But these candidates also contend Republican primary voters arent necessarily representative of their party. As Sarver said, Its important that the next representative of this district isnt someone who only represents the primary voters of the GOP. But, of course, this is Texas. The GOP primary is usually the only race that matters (for now). In that sense, these candidacies reflect an under-the-radar consequence of gerrymandering, the invisible force that shapes our political representation and discourse. Not only does it disenfranchise voters in a states minority party, it also disenfranchises candidates who are broader than their respective party bases. These three candidates are all conservatives, but a more telling commonality is pragmatism. If gerrymandering facilitated that fracturing, its only become exacerbated under Trump for Republicans who cant look the other way. Especially for women. Consider the question of whether Trumps rhetoric matters. I am inclined to take the actions of an individual over his orations, said William Negley, another candidate in the primary to replace Smith. This is a pretty typical Republican primary candidate answer. After all, GOP voters overwhelmingly approve of the president, polls show. The economy is booming. Stocks are up. Regulations are being slashed. What is the problem, right? But Wardlaw and Sarver view the presidents Twitter feed and rhetoric much differently than Negley. I think words matter, Wardlaw said. I think his words have made a divisive toxic atmosphere in our country and the Congress. No wonder recent national polling has shown Democrats with a 26-point edge over Republicans among women voters. In Texas politics, the conversation often turns to the rising Latino demographic. For the 2018 midterms, the conversation is often been about galvanizing progressive voters. But as we move through 2018, one question to ponder is, what happens to Republicans such as Wardlaw, Sarver and McClendon? Understand, these are not liberals or Democrats. Sarver talked about entitlement reform. They all spoke passionately about being Republicans. But where do they, and their voters, go if they cant reclaim their party? And what does it say about our political environment that such sensible people may lack a political home? jbrodesky@express-news.net The development phase of an Alamo master plan is still in the works. It promises to reimagine the Alamo experience for visitors, with a focus on the 1836 battle. Meanwhile, we asked the makers of and researchers behind the Alamo Reality app a program that will allow visitors to take a virtual tour of the Alamo on their cellphones as they walk through the site to tell us about Alamo history and how they can be so sure they will get it right. Responding were Michael McGar, president of Imagine Virtua; Stephen Hardin, a noted Texas historian who teaches at McMurry University in Abilene and who consulted on this project; and Gary Zaboly, an illustrator and Alamo historian who consulted on the project. RELATED: 'Digital battlefield' shows what the Alamo looked like in 1836 So, lets take an Alamo history tour. Q: The Alamo Reality app promises detail on structures and people at the Alamo in 1836, and before and after. How do you know what these looked like nearly 182 years later? Is the historical record that accurate, or does this involve some guesswork? Zaboly: The Alamo compound of February-March 1836 remains a work in progress as far as determining its true appearance during the siege and battle, but research and archaeology over the past few decades have considerably advanced our knowledge. It took a scrupulous re-examination of the available documentation, both written and visual (such as Col. Sanchez-Navarros two plans of the fort), to arrive at many of the new conclusions that are reflected in the Imagine Virtua reconstruction. The greatest mistake made by Alamo historians and artists in the past was to assume that the post-battle drawings and paintings of the Alamo ruins reflected its condition in early 1836. In fact, those depictions showed an Alamo that had been mostly and deliberately destroyed by Gen. Andrades Mexican army when it evacuated San Antonio de Bexar in May 1836: All the single walls, palisades, battery positions, and adobe buildings and other structures had been torn down, blown up or set on fire to deprive the Texians of ever again using it as a fort. This forgotten fact has led many artists and filmmakers to depict the Alamo of Feb. 23 to March 6, 1836, as a messy ruin of a compound a supposition not verified by any of the participants in the Texas War for Independence. On the contrary, while a few sections of the fort were in need of repair, the accounts of eyewitnesses describe the Alamo in different terms: It was strongly arranged, imposing, strongly fortified; even Santa Anna called it a solid fortress. All this is borne out in Sanchez-Navarros eyewitness sketch of the Alamo as seen from the west, drawn on a rooftop in Bexar. Q: There are competing theories on the causes of the Texas Revolution, some citing distant dictatorial rule from Mexico City, others pointing to the desire of some of Texas founding fathers for slavery (outlawed by the revised Mexican Constitution, right?) and still others pointing to a simple land grab, with covert support from a still relatively young U.S. Walk us through the reasons, causes and motivations of the revolution. Was there any one reason? McGar and Hardin: Even the people on the same side who were allies in the cause had their own reasons or interpretations as to why they were in the revolution probably, and this differed widely even among people of the same ethnicity or regional background. The Tejanos, by and large, were not happy with the centralist government of Santa Anna and had fought in the revolution against the Spaniards to gain independence. They also remembered the brutality of the Battle of Medina in 1813 and its aftermath, where at least 200 of the rebel survivors of the battle were marched into San Antonio and executed in front of their families. Among the Anglo Americans, there were many different motivations and hopes for the outcome of the revolution. This is evident by the dissension in the government of the rebellion as representatives were torn between the competing reasons for the revolution: Was it a fight to restore the Mexican Constitution of 1824, or for independence? Some of the Tejanos supported the provision to wink at slavery by granting permission for indentured servants, while others were against it but still fought against the centralist government. No one explanation can be determined, but we present the competing interests and motivations in the Alamo Reality application. Hardin: Mexican slavery was abolished by the Guerrero Decree of 1829. Yes, the United States was a young country, but the Republic of Mexico was even younger. It had achieved its independence only in 1821. That was a large part of the problem as an infant nation, Mexico was still trying to find its footing and decide what sort of governmental system worked best for them. Zaboly: There are no clean answers to explain the Texas Revolution. The Mexican government had invited the Americans in to build frontier settlements as buffers against raiding Comanche and Tonkawas. Unfortunately, the instability of Mexicos constantly changing leadership, best exemplified by Santa Anna himself, as well as obstreperous, greedier Anglos who had followed the more agreeable immigrants from the States under Stephen Austin in the 1820s, created a powder keg situation not unlike that of the American Colonies and the British government in the first half of the 1770s. Most of the American Texians were Southerners who wanted to expand slavery into Texas, but slavery was not the root cause of the revolution: the perceived new regulations that Santa Anna was suddenly imposing including taxation, a stop to immigration, Mexican control of ports, the incarceration of dissidents, the threat to send regular troops to garrison San Antonio, and so on. These were the immediate reasons. It did not take much more to arouse a good part of the Anglo population against Santa Anna, though many others definitely protested against starting a war. Q: There are many competing sides to the story, and there is a mythology, thanks to movie and TV treatments, surrounding the revolution. If there is another side, likely the most prominent is the Mexican national side. Why was Santa Anna so ruthlessly intent on preserving Texas for the Mexican state? McGar and Hardin: Santa Anna believed that the rebellion was a land grab by the Americans and was determined to quash the rebellion in a brutal military action similar to the campaign in 1813. He had dictatorial ambitions and saw the independence of any region as a threat to his power. Several other regions in Northern Mexico were also in rebellion at the same time as Texas. Santa Anna viewed all these rebellions as a threat to him and the Mexican state. Zaboly: The Mexican side of things is easily understood and empathized with. When, for instance, you read the accounts of Sanchez-Navarro and Jose Enrique de la Pena, both officers in Santa Annas army, you instantly get a sense of their deep-seated patriotism even though de la Pena frequently excoriated Santa Anna and his policies, both political and military. And Santa Anna did not help his own historical case by adopting a policy of extermination against all the Texian pirates, as he called them a policy he had learned from Spanish Gen. Arredondos depredations against Tejano and American revolutionists in Texas in 1813. Unfortunately, the loss of Texas for Mexico made the story of the Alamo, even though a victory, one best forgotten. In recent years, however, the bravery of the Mexican soldados during the campaign has been better examined, revealed, and honored, so Mexico should feel pride in its efforts during that war, despite Santa Anna. Q: Surprise us. What has your research uncovered in the I didnt know that or Oh, wow! category? McGar and Hardin: We did not discover the recent research about the runaway slave Sarah, who fled Louisiana with Patrick Henry Herndon, but we will be able to tell her story in a compelling way. She was long known only as the only woman to die in the battle and also as the unknown black woman found dead after the battle. The researcher in Louisiana found a legal action by a slave owner seeking the return of his slave Sarah who had absconded with Patrick Henry Herndon and fled to Texas. This discovery unlocked the name of the mystery woman who died defending the man who freed her. Patrick Henry Herndon was on the rolls as an Alamo defender. Q: There have been many stories emanating from the Alamo narrative. Theres Davy Crockett fighting to the last, musket swinging. There is William Barret Travis line-in-the-sand speech. There is Jim Bowie either dying at the cannon or deathly ill in bed and yet fighting to the last. There is the story of all the Alamo defenders dying within the walls. Bust or confirm some myths for us. McGar and Hardin: As with all major events, there are legends and myths that are promulgated almost from the start. The Alamo is no different. We present the myth, then show where and when it began, and help the viewer to understand the real story as can best be understood by the evidence available today. Several Texian defenders fled to escape the carnage inside the compound only to be chased down and killed by the Mexican lancers stationed to the east in anticipation of that occurrence. Also, we will show the aftermath of the assault when Crockett and four or five other men are led from the church by Gen. Castrillon, who demanded that Santa Anna spare their lives only to have Santa Annas personal guard saber them to death. Each of these events is documented by our historians and referenced by diaries of the Mexican soldiers who witnessed them. Zaboly: Crockett was indeed recorded fighting to the end by his adversaries; whether he died fighting or was executed by Santa Annas orders after laying down his arms on the promise of good treatment remains controversial. Travis line may be an echo of the line drawn by Ben Milam in 1835, when he challenged Texian Army volunteers to cross it and join him in the attack on Gen. Cos positions in San Antonio; yet de la Pena himself noted that on the 5th (of March) Travis promised them (the garrison) that if no help arrived on that day, they would surrender the next day or would try to escape under cover of darkness; these facts were given to us by a lady from Bejar, Traviss slave, Joe, who was the only male who escaped, and several women who were found inside. As for a good number of the garrison trying to escape the fort when all was deemed lost during the battle, that is well-documented. Once a position was hopeless, where is the sense of fighting to the death unless by dying you really accomplish some strategic purpose? But the fact remains that all of the defenders died that day; many within the walls, many without. It still remains a heroic last stand. Q: Tejanos Texans of Mexican descent also died at the Alamo. Give us a brief history of their role there. McGar and Hardin: Gregorio Esparza and his family were perhaps the most famous Tejanos in the Alamo, but many others were there, including Juana Navarro Alsbury, who survived and was sister-in-law to James Bowie. Gregorio died defending the cannons in the back of the Alamo church beside Almeron Dickinson and James Bonham. And many Tejanos had fear and anger about how they had been treated by the centralist government in Mexico and joined forces with the revolution. Juan Sequin had been in the Alamo and was sent out by the defenders to help bring additional forces. Many of his mounted Tejano scouts stayed behind and were killed. Q: Among the Alamo stories: The 13-day siege of the Alamo gave other Texas forces, led by Sam Houston, time to organize and get ready to confront Santa Anna. Was it folly for Santa Anna to not simply contain and bypass the Alamo to pursue Houston? If he had, would this have changed the outcome of the revolution? Is that even knowable? McGar: The answer to this question is unknowable but intriguing. The problem Santa Anna faced was that San Antonio was on one of the two main routes into Texas. To leave the Alamo untaken would present a problem for his supply lines and a propaganda problem as well. He thought he needed a glorious victory both for his audience in Mexico and to frighten the population of Texas into submission. The question of what could have been different is a good one. The Texian government was in disarray and could possibly have been driven out of Texas with a rapid advance by Santa Anna, but Houston was also a crafty tactician and may have been able to lure him into a similar trap. We will never know. But what is known is that Santa Annas victory at the Alamo and Goliad slowed his advance, crippled his army more than he anticipated, gave him a sense of invincibility, and provided the Texians with a battle cry and thirst for revenge. Hardin: The notion that the stand at the Alamo bought Sam Houston time to organize the Texian army is a myth. Houston was with the Independence Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos and did not join the army until after the Alamo had fallen. Zaboly: There is some truth in the old chestnut that the Alamo siege gave Houston time to raise an army but only a particle of truth, for during that time Houston had other issues on his plate, including negotiating with possible hostile Indian tribes to stay out of the conflict. Indeed, had Santa Anna left a token force in Bexar to surround the Alamo and had proceeded eastward to confront Houston, the outcome might have been far different. However, in the east, the Texians enjoyed good interior lines and were more easily reinforced, so the scenario cannot be firmly spelled out one way or another. Consumer groups are calling on Ford to recall more than 1 million Ford Explorers following reports of on-going carbon monoxide leaks by citizens and law enforcement officials. About the Watchdog Call to Action In a letter addressed to Ford on Tuesday, the Center for Auto Safety called on the automaker to address a potentially deadly hazard present in Explorer vehicles. There have been multiple reports of carbon monoxide leaks occurring in newer Ford Explorer vehicles, with several coming from law enforcement officers in Texas. An investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involved 1.3 million Explorers from the 2011-2017 model-years, but the federal regulator says it still lacks actual evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning occurring in civilian vehicles. According to authorities, complaints to NHTSA on the matter have increase 900 percent over the past few months. Among those complaints was one which involved an 18-month-old in Iowa who became unresponsive in the back seat. The child was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and received treatment, but became unresponsive again on the ride home. The family said the child became conscious when the windows were rolled down. Another instance involved a Florida resident who passed out twice and crashed while driving two different Explorers. Still another motorist, this one in California, says that multiple repairs have not resolved the issue. She keeps a detector in her Explorer which keeps alerting her to high carbon monoxide levels. Ford Claims Vehicles are Safe Despite the complaints, Ford contends their Explorer vehicles are safe. They say they have conducted extensive testing and have found that carbon monoxide levels do not exceed what people are exposed to every day. The company also says they do not have data suggesting a defect, but customers can bring vehicles into dealerships for a free service designed to reduce the concern. The Center for Auto Safety urges Explorer owners to put monoxide detectors in their vehicles and report any elevated levels to NHTSA. Contact an Experienced Auto Recall Attorney Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys are leaders in the area of product liability litigation. Our Defective Drug and Products Division has extensive knowledge and resources in order to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. We represent a multitude of people who are battling against manufacturers of defective vehicles and auto parts. Your choice does matter. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries because of a recalled vehicle or defective auto part, call Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys immediately. We represent clients/victims all over the country. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends. Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Assam in a Quagmire The Hindutva politics has brought Assam on the brink of a massive social unrest. The reason is the partys decision to grant citizenship to all Bengali Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, while holding all Bengali Muslim immigrants as illegal infiltrators to be deported to Bangladesh. Whether this will be at all physically possible (that is, whether Bangladesh will accept them) is quite another matter. Bangladesh has said repeatedly that not a single citizen of theirs is staying in Assam. To end the seven-year-long anti-foreigner agitation in Assam (1979-85), an agreement called the Assam Accord was signed by the organisations leading the agitation on the one hand and by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the other in 1985. Para 5.8 of the Accord stated: Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971, shall be expelled in accordance with law. Immediate and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners. The significance of March 25, 1971, was that Bangladesh declared independence and the liberation war started on that day. It was presumed that those who had come to Assam before that date were either victims of religious persecution (Hindus) or entered Assam due to economic reasons (Muslims). They would be allowed to stay on in Assam. It needs to be mentioned that the present BJP Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal was, at that time, a leader of the All Assam Students Union, one of the organisations spearheading the anti-foreigner agitation, and the AASU was one of the signatories to the Accord. The BJPand before it its earlier incarnation the Jana Sanghhad all along accused successive Congress governments in Assam of deliberately encouraging immigration of Muslims from East Pakistan/Bangladesh and allowing them to settle in Assam in order to increase the partys vote bank. Now the BJP is being accused of indulging in vote-bank politics by granting citizenship to Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh. Before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJPs Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, himself promised in public meetings that if the BJP came to power at the Centre, it would take steps to drive out all the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, irrespective of their religion. In the 2016 State Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in Assam but it failed to get a majority on its own. It had just 60 legislators in a House of 126. It had to rope in the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with its ten members to form a coalition government. It needed to expand its vote-bank. The party moved for the amendment of the Citizenship Act. This evoked a strong protest from the Assamese people of the Brahmaputra Valley who feared that if this process continued, then they would be eventually outnumbered by the Bengalis in their own land. The result was that the age-old Assamese-Bengali antipathy, which had ended, was revived by the short-sighted policy of the BJP. Whatever support the BJP earlier had from the Assamese people was in danger of evaporating. Then, in its desperate bid to saffronise Assam, it made another costly faux pas. Himanta Biswa Sarma, an ULFA-man-turned-Congressman turned-BJP-man who now holds Finance and several other portfolios in the Sonowal Cabinet, announced that the State Government would open twentytwo new model colleges in Assam, all named after the late BJP leader, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Immediately, there were angry protests from the civil society all over the State. The first question was: Who is Deen Dayal Upadhyaya? We have never heard his name. Then, when his identity was known, people asked, why name the colleges after someone whom none knows in Assam and who had no contribution in any field in Assam. Assam has a galaxy of luminaries. Why not name the colleges after them? There is Krishna Kanta Handique, the renowned scholar and Indologist, who was the first Vice-Chancellor of the Gauhati University. There is Lakshminath Bezbarua, the eminent litterateur. Then there is Birinchi Kumar Barua, the well-known historian and linguist. There is Padmanath Gohain Barua, who is considered the pitamaha (grandfather) of modern Assamese literature. Why not any one of them but an unknown man who had nothing to do with Assam? Faced with this volcanic eruption of indignation and sense of outrage, the Sonowal Government hastily retreated from its decision to name the proposed new colleges after Upadhyaya. The AGP, which is the coalition partner of the BJP Government, is now in a fix. Several organisations are opposing the move to grant citizenship to Hindu Bengali immigrants from Bangladesh. The AGP is also with them. Its allies are asking it to come out of the BJP-led coalition government by withdrawing its two Ministers from the Sonowal Cabinet. But the Ministers do not seem to be enamoured of this idea at all. If the movement against citizenship gathers steam, the AGP may be in a serious crisis. The BJP has also suffered another embarrass-ment recently. The firebrand peasant leader of Assam, Akhil Gogoi of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity, was arrested under the National Security Act and charged with sedition for delivering a speech in a public meeting at Moran in Upper Assam tearing the Modi Government to shreds for its decision to grant citizenship to the Hindu Bangladeshis in violation of the Assam Accord. He was put in Dibrugarh jail. On December 21 last year, the Gauhati High Court quashed the sedition charge under the NSA and set him free. As far as deportation of illegal immigrants to Bangladesh is concernednot one or two but thousands of themthis is a mission impossible and both the Sarbananda Sonowal Government in Assam and the Modi Government in Delhi know it. Anyone familiar with the deportation tamasha in Assam knows what actually happens. An illegal immigrant living with his family in Assam for decades suddenly finds policemen knocking on his door. The policemen tell him he is an infiltrator, load him and his family onto a vehicle and take them to some place in the Assam-Bangladesh border. They are then pushed into Bangladesh. Their task finished, the policemen return. What happens to the unfortunate family? They have no friends or acquaintances in Bangladesh either because they were born and brought up in Assam and had nowhere to go to in Bangladesh, or Bangladesh would not just accept them as Bangladeshi citizens illegally living in Assam. Most of these people, after wandering about for a day or two in Bangladesh, in all probability without a morsel of food, would re-enter Assam through some other point, return to where there home was, only to find that their land and house had been occupied by local people. Then their gruelling efforts would begin to set up another home and find some source of income. What the present exercise at determining illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators will actually end in is that thousands of Bengalis, mostly Bengali Muslims, will be declared infiltrators but because it is not physically possible to deport them all to Bangladesh, they will be disenfranchisedthey will lose their voting right. And actually this is what really matters. The local people will be happy if these people are not allowed to take part in elections, either as candidates or as voters. If they cannot make their presence felt in the Assembly or Parliament, the locals will feel secure. In all likelihood, their descendants will also be denied citizenship. These people will remain in Assam as Stateless people, without any right that citizenship confers. A very small number will try to enter West Bengal and get settled there. This elaborate exercise at preparing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) will end up by creating a large army of Stateless people. The author was a correspondent of The Hindu in Assam. He also worked in Patriot, Compass (Bengali), Mainstream. A veteran journalist, he comes from a Gandhian family and was intimately associated with the RCPI leader, Pannalal Das Gupta. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Skill Development Minister, RSS and Secularism by Binoy Viswam All along its history the BJP has had a position on secularism. It was full of antagonism and arrogance against the very concept. To reflect this, their stalwarts had coined a phrase long backpseudo-secularism! Their cadres were taught in such a way to believe that secularism is nothing but unnecessary appeasement of minorities. And those in the BJP are asked to believe that secularism is anti-thetic to the Indian ethos. According to them Indian ethos are based on Chathurvarnya and their guiding principle is Manusmriti. One of the reasons for the BJPs bitterness towards the Indian Constitution is its allegiance to secularism. The other day Union Minister for State for Skill Development Ananth Kumar Hegde was proving his loyalty to the Sangh ideals. The Minister openly questioned the relevance of secularism in the Indian Constitution. He called for its removal. Not satisfied with that, the hardcore Swayam Sevak went to the extent of telling that those who adhere to secularism are people who dont know about their parents. Naturally this speech might have enthused the protagonists of racial pride in the BJP and RSS. At the same time the sophisticated elements dealing with the task of governance smelled the risk of a Minister making such a speech. With in no time they took to fire-fighting measures. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister disassociated from the statement of his ministerial colleague and Hegde was called to rectify himself. Understanding the danger he made a statement saying that if it hurts anybodys feelings...... That means the Minister finds nothing wrong about his statement. But if it hurts anybodys feelings, this is for their sakehis regrets are recorded. The wise men in the BJP might be thinking that everything is fine with the first and second statements of the Skill Development Minister. But that is not the case with the vast majority of Indians who believe that secularism is the cornerstone of the Indian polity and guiding principle of the Constitution. They naturally are in absolute disagreement. Their disagreement is not only with the statement but more with the philosophy from which that statement emanates. Anyhow on the eve of the 68th anniversary of the Republic the RSS, BJP have once again notified the nation of their uncompromising standpoint on secularism. Whatever certain BJP leaders might have told as part of their hand-washing efforts, their ideology is in blatant conflict with secularism. For an organisation that has proclaimed Hindu Rashtra as their final goal it cannot be otherwise. That is why M.S. Golwalkar, their ideologue of all times, came out openly as a crusader against the concept of secularism. In all his speeches and writings his enmity to secularism was vividly argued. If one goes through his works like We or Our Nationhood Defined (1939) and Bunch of Thoughts (1966), he/she would be astonished to see the gravity of his bitterness. It is worthwhile to remember the editorial appeared in the July 31, 1947 issue of Organiser, the officialorgan of the RSS which was titled Hindustan and the Argument was for Making India a Hindu Rashtra.In the August 14, 1947 issue, Organiser went one step ahead and pleaded that Saffron should be the colour of the National Flag. Tricolour, according to them, would only create confusion among the people. Again in November, 1947 when the Constituent Assembly was announced, Golwalkar came out and expressed his resentment against the move. At a meeting in Delhi during those days he had ridiculed democracy saying that it is nothing more than granting rights to dogs and cats. In Bunch of Thoughts Golwalkar wrote: Our Constitution is only a compilation of various paragraphs taken from various Western Constitutions tailored together. It is complicated and diversified. There is nothing in it which we can call ours. His sharp reservation against federalism was aired in a public meeting at Kanpur in 1949 just before the Constitution was enacted: When the Constitution was drafted they have forgotten us. They forgot Hindutva, the unifying factor. In its absence the Constitution will create only disunity. One country, one nation, one state should be the unifying motto. There should be only one legislature and one Cabinet for the whole country. That is to do away with federalism and embrace a unitary form of government. In 1973 at a seminar held in Bangalore he further exhorted, We should proclaim a unitary constitution through appropriate amendment in the existing one. All these facts tell us that ever since the Constitution came into being the Sangh Parivar was at loggerheads with it. During the period of the Vajpayee Government they took the first step in this regard by appointing an 11-member Commission headed by former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, M.N. Venkatachellaiah. But the Commissions report disappointed them. His recommendation was not to make any change in the basic structure of the Constitution. The Supreme Court in the Kesavanda Bharathi case and S.R. Bommai case also held the view that there should not be any alteration in the basic features of the Constitution like secularism. All these narratives make it clear that the RSS, BJP always nurture a sort of vengeance about the secular, democratic and federal nature of the Indian Constitution. Needless to say, the constitutional goal of socialism is like a poison for them. This is natural for an organisation which is tuned to believe that Muslims, Christians and Communists are internal enemies of the country. Ananth Kumar Hegde was only being trustworthy in his fundamental, ideological doctrine. But poor Skill Development Minister! Out of his over-enthusiasm he was a bit unskilful in communicating those ideals espoused by all Swayam Sevaks. Hence the regrets and denials are all part of the drama. The RSS-BJP position on secularism and Constitution will ever continue unchanged. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > On Ninetieth Anniversary of Mahad Satyagraha Remembering Mahad Can Water Catch Fire? The question may surprise anyone in her/his senses. Yet any person who keeps an open eye for social and political movements would know that when masses forge ahead, breaking the millennia-old chains of slavery, then not only can the sky be pierced, but water too can catch fire. In December 2017 fell the ninetieth anniversary of the Mahad Satyagraha when thousands of people had gathered at Mahad in Maharashtra to challenge the practice of untouchability by drinking water from a public pond. It may appear to be just one event in one corner of the country, but it gave voice to many new notes of rebellion in the social and cultural landscape of India. It needs to be noted that this historic satyagraha is known as the Mahad Revolution Day in the social movements of Western India, when in the first phase Ambedkar and his followers had gathered to drink water from the Chavdar pond, in the second phase on December 25, 1927 he had publicly burnt Manusmriti. It may appear today that all they did was to drink water from a pond; yet this one simple act was a declaration of revolt against the centuries-old pernicious practices of the Brahminical caste system. They openly challen-ged the injunctions ordained by religion, which did not mind animals drinking from a pond, but would punish a section of humanity doing it. It is not without reason that in Marathi it is said, with pride, that it was the day when water caught fire. This was a symbol of the self-respect of Dalits, and they announced their arrival at the forefront of the battle for equality. This declaration of their basic rights by Dalits forever changed the face ofse bonds and become victims of selfish parties that seek to divide and rule. Perhaps 1857 wasnt all that bad. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Bhima-Koregaon: History with Many Dimensions and Ramifications Despite a long-standing tradition for annually commemorating the victory of the Koregaon battle fought on the banks of river Bhima in district Pune of Maharashtra on January 1, the event became contentious in 2018, being its bi-centenary. the Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh and Udaysinh Pashwe, a descendant of the Peshwas, asked the Pune Police to deny permission for the event to the organisers. The Pune Nagar Hindu Parisad, Shivaji Pratishthan and Samasta Hindu Aghadi (All Hindu Front) joined the Brahman Mahasangh and denounced the bi-centenary celebrations as unconstitutional and anti-national.1 This is ominous for democracy. The battle of Koregaon was a landmark in history. In her University of British Columbia doctoral thesis (1985), research scholar Ardythe Basham observed that a small force of 500 men under the command of Captain F. F. Staunton [who] fought without rest or respite, food or water continuously for twelve hours against a large force of 20,000 Horse and 8,000 Infantry of Peshwa Baji Rao II. She added that the battle of Koregaon became a part of folklore, serving as an example of Mahar Dalit valour. A significant portion of the British Armys 21st Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry, which fought at Koregaon had Mahar soldiers. The names of the 21 Mahars who died in the battle were inscribed on the war memorial. The battle was a turning-point in the third Anglo-Maratha war, and established the British firmly on Indian soil.2 This sums up the essence and importance of the Bhima-Koregaon battle. Reviewing the history of the British conquest of India, Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar stated that in the battle of Plassey, which laid the foundation of their Empire in 1757, the Dusadhs, an untouchable caste of Bihar, fought under the command of Robert Clive and the Mahars of Maharashtra against the Peshwas in Koregaon.3 This battle brought down the curtains on the Peshwa rule. Prolific writer and military historian General S. K. Sinha in an article wrote that Robert Clive had visited Patna prior to the battle of Plassey and recruited 1500 Dusadhs for the army of the East India Company.4 Gross Treason of Untouchables! There are many, observed Dr Ambedkar, who look upon the conduct of the untouchables in joining the British as an act of gross treason.5 The Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh and the descendant of the Peshwas articulated the same aversion against the untouchables who fought for the British in conquering India. Ambedkar added that not only did the untouchables enable the British to conquer India, they enabled the British to retain it. The mutiny in 1857 was an attempt to destroy British rule in India. So far as the army was concerned, the mutiny was headed by the Bengal Army, comprising upcountry menthen known as Hindustaneethough it had no Bengali at all. The Bombay Army and the Madras Army remained loyal to the Company and it was with their help that the mutiny was suppressed. The Mahars were the native component of the Bombay Army whereas the Pariahs were the native force in the Madras Army. Both were untouchables.6 However, Dr Ambedkar found justification in the conduct of the untouchable castes who joined the Armies of the British that conquered, subjugated and retained hold over India. Treason or no treason, this act of the untouchables was quite natural. History abounds with illustrations showing how one section of people in a country have shown sympathy with an invader, in the hope that the newcomer will release them from the oppression of their countrymen.7 As rulers the Peshwas were tyrannical, exploitative and prejudiced against the untoucha-bles. Should the bi-centenary celebrations of victory in Koregaon battle, resulting in the eclipse of Peshwa rule, nonetheless be termed as anti-national? To the Mahars, the fight could be interpreted as a struggle for their social emancipation. But decidedly this is one more attempt to erase the vista of achievement, glory and contribution of the untouchables from the pages of history. To cite one instance, we may state that historians and litterateurs shied away in documenting the role the Chandals of Bengal played in thwarting and frustrating the Aryan invasion. A cryptic note of C. J. ODonnell on their valour stated that ............the long-limbed Chandal........was the active and successful enemy of the Aryan invader and there is little trace of actual conquest, by the early Hindu kings beyond the Bhagarithi, except in the riparian districts along its eastern bank.8 Distortion of history, carried out by skilled and dedicated hands leaving no trace of historical truths, began very long ago. Such glory of the Chandals (who in 1911 were re-designated as Namasudras) was targeted for wiping out from history. Koregaon, no surprise, is now on the agenda of the same forces. Their loyal Highnesses In his magnum opus (1881), Loke Nath Ghosha stated that When Ali Vardi Khan was succeeded by Siraj-ud-Daullah, Maharaja Krishna Chandra (Ray) was on the side of the English with the object of establishing their power and took active part in the battle of Plassey. The assistance which Maharaja Krishna Chandra rendered to the British was so satisfactory that he received the title of Rajendra Bahadur from Lord Clive with a present of 12 guns used at Plassey, which are still to be seen in the Rajbari of Nadiya.9 The Nadia zamindars treasonable action had enormously gratified Robert Clive, the founder of the British Empire, at Plassey in 1757 to earn the gift of 12 guns used in the battle. Surprise of surprises is that nobody yet charged him with treason! He was indeed the chief architect of conspiracy that ultimately brought Nawab Suraj-Ud-Daullah down. This was not all. The colonial masters till 1877 conferred salutes, badge of honour of Baronetcy and Knighthood, titles and honorary distinctions on at least 735 Indian princes, chiefs, zamindars, and nobles, since its early settlement in the subcontinent. The highest number of gun salute given to any Indian was 21. Seven Indians were favoured with 21-gun salute. The lowest number, the nine-gun salute, was earmarked for seven-teen Indians. In between the 19 gun-salute was sanctioned for four Indians; 17 for six; 15 for seven; 13 for six; 12 for two; 11 for three and finally nine for 17 Indians.10 Titles and honorary distinctions conferred on favourite and loyal Indians included Rajendra Bahadur, Maharaja, Maharani, Maharaja Dhiraj Bahadur, Rao, Rao Saheb, Sirdar, Sirdar Bahadur, Nawab, Nawab Bahadur, Khan, Khan Bahadur, Sawai, etc. besides Knight, Baronet, etc. from the east to the west, from the north to the south of the subcontinent. They were Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains etc., both men and women. Some of them, the most favoured, were addressed as His Highness or Her Highness. They were a formidable body of remorseless quislings. They invaded the veins and arteries of the body politic; moulded and mobilised the public opinion, grabbed and exploited the resources and riches, besides various institutions of power and authority of the country to their advantage. The masses suffered at their tyranny. There were innumerable illustrations to show that many of these Indians held the hands of their alien masters back from initiating and enforcing policies and initiatives aimed at ameliorating the fate and fortune of the Indian masses. Hindu God under Alien Master: Infidelity or Patriotism? The Koregaon battle, we have indicated before, led to the collapse and ultimate eclipse of the Peshwa rule, 15 years after their humiliating overthrow from Orissa in 1803. Under orders of the Governor-General Lord Wellesley, an English Army conquered Orissa in a 14-day campaign ending on September 18, 1803. Orthodox Brahmans though, the Peshwas merrily taxed Hindu pilgrims who resorted to Jagannath Temple at Puri. The tax, interestingly, was imposed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.11 Indian historians and political classes are carping in attacking the Mughal Emperor only. They are stone-blind to see the role of the Peshwas! Nobody questioned the patriotism of the Peshwas! When the victorious Army on march to capture Orissa under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt reached Pipli, on the outskirts of Puri, a delegation of Brahman priests of the Jagannath Temple waited upon him at his camp and placed the temple at his disposal. According to Swami Dharma Teerth [Parameswara Menon (1893-1978) in pre-ascetic life], in his erudite work, History of Hindu Imperialism (1941), The oracle of the Puri Jagannath temple proclaimed that it was the desire of the deity that the temple too be controlled by the company, and the latter undertook to maintain the temple buildings, pay the Brahmins and do everything for the service of the deity as was customary.12 Was it a hoax or a truth? The prodigious Lord Jagannath embraced alien masters and patrons! This sounds fictitious but the Hindus did not question Lord Jagannaths freedom of choice of the the masters. The East Indian Company took charge of the temple soon thereafter. A highly successful and unique Brahman-Christian joint venture, the first of its kind, there and then began on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. The government enacted several Regulations aimed at management and administration of the Jagannath shrine. A vast section of Hindus, held as untouchables including the wealthy but degraded Pirali Brahmans of Calcutta, was barred entry into the Jagannath Temple. The privileged Hindus were classified into four categories based on rate of tax between rupees 10 to rupees 2 per head payable for entry. Hunter noted that .......not less than 20,000 men women and children live, directly or indirectly, by the service of lord Jagannath.13 The deitys servants, divided into 68 categories, were entitled to pay out of the alien, Yavan (meaning Christian), hands.14 The puritanical priestly class, though practitioners of untouchability, did not suffer any qualms of conscience to hobnob with the Christians. No industry, commercial establishment or business house, either on the east or west of the Atlantic in 1872, it may not be an exaggeration to state, boasted of employees as large as those in the service Jagannath! A cursory look at Table-1 for an idea of the joint venture of the East and West at Puri may be of interest, if not rewarding. The average gross annual collection of tax amounted to rupees 1,16,074; rupees 54,973 was spent on the temple and a balance of rupees 61,101 went to swell the Companys exchequers. The Company posted an average profit of 52.6 per cent per annum during the period. They earned more than they spent. Religion provides the most potential field for profit-making in India. Jagannath was no exception. Hunter had rightly claimed that pilgrim tax as an important item of our revenue from Orissa.16 While the Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb, is known for his bigotry and notoriety in persecuting Hindus, neither the Peshwas nor the East India Company nor even the priests of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, who were accompanists and accomplices in extorting and exploiting the Hindu pilgrims, earned the ire of Indian critics. Neither the Peshwas nor the priests of Jagannath temple were ever portrayed as anti-national or traitors for taxing Hindu pilgrims. Why did nobody question the priests for placing the Jagannath Temple at the disposal of the East India Company which used the Hindu shrine for pure commercial pursuit? How did the action of the priests not amount to criminal breach of trust of tens of thousands of Hindus? They nonetheless never raised their voices against the immoral priests for fear of the threats of their curses and abuses. Alongside Puri, incidentally in three years between 1812-1815, the tax collected from pilgrims at Gaya amounted for Rs 6,00,734; in 1815-16 a sum of rupees 73,053 at Allahabad and rupees 19,000 at Tirupati by the Company. The Raja of Khurdah, who was the traditional custodian of the Jagannath Temple, Puri was paid five per cent of the gross tax collected by the Company. The Maharaja of Tikari, Gaya, on the other hand, was more fortunate to receive 10 per cent of the tax.17 The Vishnupad temple on the river Falgu at Gaya belonged to the Tikari estate. There was, however, more to the episode of the conquest of Orissa. The Priests of Puri sold Deity of Jagannath for Crumbs The conquest of Orissa by the East India Company was preceded by a letter addressed to Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, Commander of North Division of the British Army. A month ahead of the launch of the campaign, Governor General Lord Wellesley wrote on August 3, 1803, inter alia, as follows: The situation of the pilgrims passing to and from Jagannath will require your particular attention, you will be careful to afford them the most amiable protection and to treat them with every mark of consideration and kindness. On arrival at Jagannath, you will employ every possible precaution to preserve the respect due to the pagoda, and to the religious prejudices of the Brahmans and the pilgrims. You will furnish the Brahmans with such guards as shall afford perfect security to their persons, rites and ceremonials and to the sanctity of the religious edifices, and you will strictly enjoin those under your command to observe your orders on this important subject with utmost degree of accuracy and vigilance. The Brahmans are supposed to derive considerable profits from the duties levied on pilgrims. It will not, therefore, be advisable at the present moment to interrupt the system which prevails for collection of those duties. Any measures calculated to relieve the exactions to which the pilgrims are subjected by rapacity of the Brahmans, would necessarily tend to exasperate the persons whom it must be our object to conciliate. You will, therefore, signify to the Brahmans that it is not your intention to disturb the actual system of the collection of the pagoda. All the same you will be careful not to contract with the Brahmans any engagements, which may limit the power of the British government to make such arrangements with respect to the pagoda or to introduce such reform of existing abuses and vexations as may hereafter be deemed advisable. You will assure the Brahmans at the pagoda of Jagannath that they will not be required to pay any other revenue or tribute to the British government than that which they may have been in the habit of paying to the Mahratta government, and that they will be protected in their exercise of the religious duties. In every transaction relative to the pagoda of Jagannath, you will consult the civil commissioner, whom I have named for the settlement of the province of Orissa. You will understand that no property, treasures, valuable articles of any kind contained in the pagoda of Jagannath or in any religious edifice or possessed by any of the priests or Brahmans or persons of any description attached to the temples or religious institutions is to be considered as a prize to the army. All such property must be respected as being consecrated to religious use, by the customs or prejudices of the Hindoos. No account is to be taken of any such property, nor any person be allowed to enter the pagoda or sacred buildings without the express desire of Brahmans. You will leave a sufficient force in the vicinity of Jagannath, under the command of an officer, whom you will particularly select and in whom you can place perfect reliance, for the execution of the directions contained in these instructions.18 The above facts warrant no elaboration nor elucidation as they are self-explanatory. In an illuminating illustration of diplomacy for appeasement of the Brahmans engaged in priestly duties at the Jagannath Temple, the Governor-General had put to effective use his clear vision regarding the extraordinary greed and inordinate avarice of his target. The priests jumped to grab the words of honour flowing from the Companys highest authority given in writing. We have no information or material to suggest that there were backdoor parleys or understanding between the East India Company and the mandarins of Jagannath before the campaign to capture Orissa to allay all apprehension or ambiguity for entering into such a unique experiment for joint venture. But facts on record do indicate that the Company since long had an eye for conquest of the province. The letter of Wellesley was translated and circulated widely in Orissa. The result was spectacularsilent surrender of the deity, claimed as the Lord of the Universe by the priests and the people of Orissa! Strangely, nobody questioned the wisdom or justification of the treacherous action of the priests. Belief and devotion of the Hindus, it seems, did not suffer humiliation, embarrassment, mortification, shame, indignity, ignominy, disgrace, or discomfiture at the turn of events involving Lord Jagannath. This was a unique example of vested interest dominating supreme over nationalistic or patriotic interest, pride and perception. Perhaps never has a treacherous act of gigantic dimension as this, committed by a section of people, gone unnoticed without focus in the academic discourses or public debates. Did Jagannaths Priests explode a Grotesque Illusion? Justice A. R. Dave of the Supreme Court of India, was quoted by the Press Trust of India as declaring only recently that, If I were a dictator, I would introduce Gita in Class I19 thereby his Lordship might have intended to impart moral instruction ab initio to Indian school-going children. There could be tens of thousands of men who, with abiding conviction, have likewise reposed faith in the Gita, their holy book. Many more recite often the soul-stirring assurance Lord Krishna held out to His devotee Arjuna: As and when dharma is in danger in Bharat (India), to protect the pious, holy and righteous men and to crush the evil and wrongdoers with the aim of re-establishing dharma (religion), I appear again and again.20 This British attack on His holy temple was the most appropriate occasion for Lord Krishna to fructify the promise outlined in the Holy Gita. But His action did not match His assurance. Puris Jagannath Temple is said to be the home of Lord Krishna, his elder brother Balabhadra (Balaram) and their beloved sister Subhadra. Was not the sacred shrine desecrated by the takeover and domination of an alien power? Or did not the control and taxation of pilgrims at the Jagannath Temple by the Peshwas go against the grains of the tenet of Gita to invite the displeasure of Lord Krishna for their overthrow? Why did not Lord Krishnas omniscient and omnipotent Sudarshan chakra thunder and crush the British invaders and their quislings who were none but the priests of the temple for conspiring against Him and His siblings? No question from any quarter was perhaps ever raised. This only means that the tall claims made in the Holy Gita were a grotesque illusion created by vested interests. They are comparable to the manifestos of political parties issued before the elections in India. Political promises in India are honoured more often simply in the breach without accountability. Lord Krishna in the Gita did not distinguish Himself from the political class of India. The diagnosis on the issue of fascist dictator Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf (1923) having universal bearing and significance seems apt: All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it... Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.21 The fascist ideology flourishes on human psychology born out of fear, suspicion, helplessness and apprehension over the uncer-tainties in life. Tailpiece Unsolicited, Prompt and Powerful Support during Sepoy Mutiny by Favourites When the Sepoy Mutiny spread to Oudh (Awadh), Moulvie Ahmadullah Shah joined the rebels and became their leading light. He turned out to be such a serious threat to the Company that a proclamation for a reward of rupees 50,000, which was the highest during those days, was published in The Calcutta Gazette (order no. 580 of April 12, 1858) for his arrest.22 This Moulvie had a tragic end. He wanted Raja Jagannath Singh, a landlord of Pawayan in Shahjahanpur district, to join the mutiny. With advance appointment, the Moulvie reached the fortress-like home of the zamindar. He was not received by the host at the gate. Rather bullets of the zamindars men greeted him and he fell down there. Jagannath Singh and his brother rushed out of their home and severed the head of the rebel. They hurried with the head covered in a piece of cloth to the house of the Shajahanpur District Magistrate. He was then having lunch with his friends. The beasts had no patience to wait for the Magistrate to finish his lunch. He straight went to the dinning hall and presented the head of the rebellious Moulvie, blood still oozing out. Deeply impressed the Englishman presented the loyal zamindars the declared sum of rupees 50,000.23 Colonel George Bruce Malleson, who was a historian, paid the Moulvie handsome tributes as a true patriot. Damodar Vinayak Savarkar addressed the Moulvie as a patriot of highest excellence, who offered his life-blood on the altar of the Motherland.24 Descendants of the favourite loyal Indians honoured with gun salutes by the East India Company are today guiding the fate and fortunes of millions of people in at least two Indian States. One of their forefathers provided to the beleaguered East India Company unsolicited, prompt and powerful support at a very critical time threatening their sheer existence during the Sepoy Mutiny. Descendants of many more of the quislings have been controlling the levers and handles power and authority across the subcontinent. They suffered no taint. The Dalits who fought for emancipation, lo and behold, are branded by fellow countrymen as anti-national. We are living in a strange country! Footnotes 1. 200th year of battle of Bhima-Koregaon, The Indian Express, December 27, 2017 and Ram Puniyani, Bhima Koregaon: Dalits in search of icons from History, The National Herald, January 5, 2018. 2. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Monument at Koregaon: Maharashtra battlefield is a reminder: Caste stereotypes of valour are misplaced, The Indian Express, January 2, 2018. 3. Writings and Speeches of Dr B. R. Ambedkar, vol. 12, pp. 85-87. 4. Though I read the article of General Sinha while in service of the State of Bihar, the details of reference are regrettably misplaced. 5. Writings and Speeches of Dr. B R Ambedkar, op. cit. p. 86. 6. Ibid., p. 86. 7. Ibid. 8. Census of India,1891, vol. III, p. 42. 9. Loke Nath Ghosha, The Modern History of The Indian Chiefs, Rajas, Zamindars etc. Part II, J N Ghosh & Co., Calcutta, 1881, p. 363. William Hunter perhaps was the first to document this information in his Statistical Account of Bengal, vol. II, Districts of Nadiya and Jessor, 1875, published from London. 10. Ibid., pp. 610-611. 11. Peggs, James, Pilgrim Tax in India: Facts and Observations relative to The Practice of Taxing Pilgrims, second edition, London 1835, p. 5. 12. A. K. Biswas, The Foreign Hand in Puri, The Temple courted the East India Company, Outlook, Delhi, August 26, 2013. Peggs recorded 68 variety of attendants of Lord Jagannath. pp. 28-31. 13. Hunter, W. W., Orissa, vol. I, London, 1872, p. 128. 14. Peggs, op. Cit., pp. 28-31. 15. Col. Laurie, Puri and The Temple of Jagannath, article in The Calcutta Review, vol. X, September 1848, p. 251 & 261. 16. Biswas. A. K., Did Ambedkar Appreciate Puris Jagannath? Ambedkar denied entry into Jagannath Temple, article in Mainstream, Vol. LV, New Delhi, July 22, 2017. 17. Peggs, op. cit. 18. Col. Laurie, Puri and The Temple of Jagannath, article in The Calcutta Review,vol. X, pp. 238-239, 1848. 19. The Times of India, August 2, 2014. 20. Free translation of the verses of Gita by this writer. 21. Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1923. 22. Biswas, A. K., Events and Historiography: An analysis, Khuda Baksh Library Journal, No. 150, October-December 2007, Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna, p. 73. 23. Biswas, A. K., ibid. 24. Savarkar, Damodar Vinayak, The First War of Indian Independence, 1909, London, p. 870. A retired IAS and former Vice-Chancellor, Dr A.K. Biswas, a social anthropologist and freelance analyst of sociocultural issues, may be reached at anwesan4[at]gmail.com Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Fact-finding Report on the Rashtra Seva Dals Inquiry into Bhima-Koregaon (...) The following is the fact-finding report on Rashtra Seva Dals inquiry into the Bhima-Koregaon riots conducted by the Rashtra Seva Dal. The inquriy team was headed by Dr Suresh Khairnar, the President of the Rashtra Seva Dal. Located at the eastern side of Pune and situated on the banks of River Bhima, Koregaon-Bhima can be traced along the Pune-Ahmad-nagar highway and approximately 25 km from the Pune City; its population is around 7000-8000. January 1, 2018 was the occasion of celebrating the completion of 200 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle. It is considered to be a valour day for the Mahar Regiment and this was initiated by Dr B.R. Ambedkar nearly 90 years ago in 1927. From 1927 to 2018 the number of people belonging to and consisting of depressed classes from all over Maharashtra increased magnificently from a few thousands to nearly around 1.5 million this year. Prior to this years conglomeration a substantial number of conferences were held all over Maharashtra in which hundreds of anti-caste groups under the banner of Elgaar had participated and they included the Rashtra Seva Dal also. These conferences facilitated the record turnout at Bhima-Koregaon this year. The State administration was well-informed about all these developments. In the year 1990-91, on the special occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and the birth centenary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a decision was taken to celebrate certain historical events like the establishment of the first womens school at Bhidewada, Pune and the locations having historical significance like the birthplace of Savitribai Phule at Naygaon, Pune. Along with that, it was also decided to commemorate those events which have hitherto remained marginalised like the installation of the first statue of Gautam Buddha by Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the Dehu road near Pune. Celebration of the victory memorial of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, as it was initiated by Dr B.R. Ambedkar on January 1, 1927, was also a part and parcel of this broader objective. The Bhima-Koregaon war was fought between the British forces on the one hand and the Peshwas forces on the other. In that the Peshwas had near-about 20,000 soldiers while the British regiment, known as the Bombay Native Infantry, 2nd battalion consisted of merely around 1000 soldiers. However, the latter were armed with better quality of arms and ammunition. This particular regiment consisted of the Mahar community soldiers in a majority. Ultimately, the battle won by the British resulted in the downfall of the Peshwa regime. It was during this regime that atrocities related to the caste system were at its peak and the then untouchables along with women were at the receiving end. They were the most severe victims of caste-oppression and humiliation. The then untouchables were required to carry a pot hung from their chest to belly so that whenever they spit the matter should not fall on the ground as it was considered to be impure. Further, a broom was also used to be tied at the back of their waist so that while walking on the ground the impure traces of their footprints automatically get cleaned and cleared. This humiliation was the most prominent reason behind the Mahar communitys participation in the brave fight from the British side. Thats the reason behind Dr Ambedkars commemoration of the event as a Victory Day. Another version of this episode was that the end of the Peshwa regime did not automatically result in putting a full stop to the caste oppression. Instead, in the aftermath of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny (which is also being upheld as the First War of Independence within the ranks of nationalist historiography), the British regime assured both the Brahmins and the Muslims that they will not interfere in the religious affairs of the indigenous communities. They discontinued with the recruitment in the separate Mahar Regiment in accordance with this assurance. Thus, as per the proponents of this version of history, the British strategy should be looked upon with suspicion and thereby we should refrain ourselves from celebrating this battle as a Victory Day which, according to them, amounts to being anti-national. The descendents of the Peshwas along with the Hindutva forces hold on to this view and had also approached the court to demand a ban on the celebration of this day as a Victory Day. However, their petition was rejected by the court. Interestingly, the War Memorial has been standing at that place since the last 200 years with the martyrs names inscribed on it. These consist not only the names of the soldiers from the Mahar community; but a few Maratha and Other Backward Caste soldiers names are also visible alongside those names. A few kilometres away from this memorial, a mausoleum of Chhatrapati Sambhaji is also situated at a village called Wadoo (Budruk). Renowned historian V.C. Bendre had discovered this mausoleum in the year 1939; this can be located in the Dalit locality of the village. Sambhaji, the then scholar of Sanskrit language, became an eyesore to the Brahmins as gaining the knowledge of Sanskrit was prohibited for the non-Brahmins on the basis of the Manu-smriti dictum. These Brahmins advised Aurangzeb to punish Sambhaji in accordance with the Manusmriti code which included brutalities like to take out ones eyes for the crime of reading Sanskrit Vedas, to cut off the head for memorising those along with the body being cut into pieces. A fatwa was issued prohibiting the cremation of his body parts. However, there was one Govind Mahar who took up the responsibility of performing late Sambhajis last rites and duly cremated his body after sewing up those parts and pieces. Renowned historians, apart from V.C. Bendre, like Kamal Gokhle and Sharad Patil, had also corroborated this version. However, there is another version coming from Hindutvavaadi forces that the body parts were not sewn by a Mahar but by a Maratha. Hence the Marathas of the village are claiming that it is the ancestor of a Maratha family, named Sevale, who had performed the last rites of Sambhaji. The Hindutvavaadi forces are giving this twist to the story of punishment to Sambhaji for the last 25 years in western Maharashtra which added fuel to fire in the riots on January 1. On December 28, 2017, the existing family members of the Govind Mahar had put up a board indicating the direction towards Sambhajis mausoleum. However, certain miscreants from the same village removed the hoarding. They also removed and threw away the shed over the mausoleum of Govind Mahar. The latters family members lodged a police complaint and accordingly 49 people were arrested from the village. On January 1, 2018, a rumour spread like wildfire that some suspicious activity was taking place at Sambhaji Maharajs mausoleum. An organisation called Hindu Aaghadi had been active for quite some time in this area. They had been holding public meetings for the last three weeks and issuing warnings to the people that those who would assemble on January 1 would be considered as anti-national. One amongst them held a press conference on December 28, 2017 at Pune and publicly said that probably India was the only country in the entire world where some anti-national elements could celebrate the victory of a foreign power over the nationalist forces (that is, the Peshwas) and the incumbent government, instead of interrogating them, provides all facilities to hold such public gatherings. On December 29, 30 and 31, 2017, law and order prevailed over Bhima-Koregaon, Wadoo (Budruk) along with Sanaswadi. However, some strangers were found loitering around these villages. The Bhima-Koregaon village council had passed a resolution to observe a shutdown on January 1, 2018 and had also submitted a copy of the resolution to the nearest Police Station at Shikrapur. But the police ignored it and grossly underestimated the situation. On January 1, 2018 people from all over Maharashtra were approaching to gather at Bhima-Koregaon. On the other hand, thousands of people with saffron flags had assembled at Vadhu (Budruk) around 10 am. The open space around Bhima-Koregaon was filled with vehicles parked by those who came to celebrate the memorial and Victory Day. After parking their vehicles, people came walking for three-to-four kilometres towards the memorial and they included women, children and the elderly. Around 11 am, an attack was launched upon them by the bearers of the saffron flag. Hundreds of vehicles were burnt down. The riots escalated further towards the Sanaswadi and Chakan-Shikrapur road. The attackers were duly equipped with stones and sharp-edged weapons. A shop belonging to one Salim Inamdar was set ablaze. Petrol was freely used to burn the vehicles. A warehouse belonging to one Salim Khan was put on fire. A tyre-shop belonging to one Asgar Ali Ansari was burnt. His younger brother, who had taken shelter inside the shop, fled when the shop was put on fire. A cylinder in the adjacent hotel burst and gutted the shop Sarvesh Autolines belonging to one Bhausaheb Khetre. Two trucks (truck nos. MH-12-786 and MH-12- 2757) in front of one Razzak Bhais garage was set on fire. A shop belonging to one Shivraj Prajapati displaying the nameplate Ranabhai Marble was looted. A warehouse of firewood belonging to one Haribhau Darekar was burnt. One Dalit, by the name of Sudam Shankar Pawar, is a project-affected person who had been rehabilitated in the Sanaswadi and who had received two acres of land out of which one-and-a-half acre is used for sugarcane cultivation while in the rest of his land a Buddha Vihar has been built along with a meeting hall and an open space. He had also built 29 one-room row houses (chawls). On January 1, 2018, around 6 pm a crowd marching from the side of a steel factory entered his field and broke the vehicles parked in his open space and put on fire his sugarcane field from all sides and also broke the glass-panes of the Buddha Vihar. Interestingly, the houses and fields belonging to Darekar and Hargude remained intact; those were just in front of his home. Thus, it becomes apparent that the rioters had targeted only Sudam Pawers house and field because he was a Dalit. Similarly, the attackers also pelted stones towards the houses of Ravi Kamble and Athwale. The studio of a famous painter and sculptor, Elvin Fernandes, was also burnt. The property of Mutha Jain was put on fire. On the Pune-Ahmednagar Road, the fire brigade vehicle was also set on fire. A total of 5000 vehicles were destroyed. Fifty cars and luxury buses were burnt. The following questions can be raised with regard to the whole incidents: 1. Who took the decision for the shutdown on January 1, 2018? How come a village, which claims to provide hospitality to outsiders every year, gave a call for shutdown on that very day this year? As a result of which the visitors did not even get a glass of water to drink. 2. We noticed tremendous fear among the common people in Bhima-Koregaon; they requested us repeatedly not to write their names in our report. Due to this same fear, the existing family members of Govind Mahar of Vadoo-Budruk, who had filed a case earlier, have retracted now. All 49 people who were arrested in the case of destruction of Govind Mahars mausoleum have now been released. What is the cause of this fear psyche? 3. The Hindutva forces, that are clearly involved in this entire episode, are roaming freely, giving interviews and putting up distorted video clippings on social media putting the entire blame on the Dalits for whatever happened. What is the State administration doing? 4. This whole episode clearly indicates an attempt directed at dividing the Dalits and the Marathas along caste lines thereby disrupting the social fabric of Maharashtra. Why are the law and order agencies not paying any attention to the polarisation effect taking place due to this incident? Our demands are as follows: 1. Arrest immediately the main culprits involved in the riots of Bhima-Koregaon. 2. A judicial inquiry must be immediately instituted and it should duly publish its report. 3. The role of the police and the administration should be investigated and the guilty persons should be punished accordingly. 4. The role of the media in this entire episode should be scrutinised. The team members of the Rashtra Seva Dal who conducted this fact-finding were: 1. Dr Suresh Khairnar (President) 2. Allauddin Sheikh 3. Vinay Sawant 4. Feroz Mithiborewala 5. Puja Badekar 6. Shivraj Suryavanshi in association with 7. Bharat Patankar and 8. Kishor Dhamale Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Mother India Beckons Us All From N.C.s Writings After forty years of the foundation of our independent republic, the Frankenstein has appeared againthe monster that is out to destroy democracy and plunge this nation into civil war that shall rend asunder thousands of towns and villages of this great country. The term communalism does not convey the gravity of the crisis that confronts us todaylet it be bluntly stated that what we face today is the demon of Hindu-Muslim hatred. Over a large part of this land, particularly in the northern States, straddles today this monstrous hatred of the majority Hinduthe Muslim must be subjugated and, if unbending, then liquidated. In response to that, the minority Muslim, in deadly despair, tries to hit back as a means of survival. The map of India today is dotted with bloodstainsbloodstains of brothers fighting brothers. Bhagalpur, Bijnore, Hyderabad, Aligarh and Kanpur have today turned into not only the disgrace-points but danger-signals for Indias nationhood. The rule of the knife and the bomb has taken over from the so-called guardians of law and order. At every one of these placesand many others like Varanasi and Meerut are also coming under the spotlight of the mediafrenzied hatred has been spread with cynical design to arouse the flames of insensate violence in which neighbours of yesterday have butchered one another and the administration itself got involved in the orgy. It does not require any academic research to point the finger at the agitation over the temple-mosque controversy at Ayodhya for having polluted the political environment in which communal antipathy has become the order of the day. And once the winds of hatred spread, the flames of violence have caught on unimpeded. The BJP leaders plead innocence, that their plea was for the building of the Ram temple only, but they cannot exonerate themselves from the responsibility of having unleashed forces that have taken to murder and loot. Inevitably, the minority community, faced with such a grim situation, has at places hit back, which has only provided impetus for the fundamentalists in their camp. Hence, mutual hatred spread far and wide. The time is over for the ideologues of the BJP to come out with the thesis that Islam does not fit into the national mould. They have to realise that the ponderous labour spent in building up such a thesis is being put to good use by those indulging in killing and looting in the frenzy of communal violence. This has also helped the bigots in the Muslim community in their communal campaign. All the prattle about pseudo-secularism has only added grist to the mill of those who are wielding the long knife in the dark night that has descended over a large stretch of this beautiful land of ours. For leaders of major political parties, too, this is the hour of truth. The hands of many of them can hardly be regarded as clean as they too in the past have sometime or the other indulged in pampering communal urges to secure votes, and quite a few in their respective camps are ready to do so again, once the elections are on the agenda. That is a matter for them to settle with their conscience. What matters today above everything else is that the beast of communal hatred has been let loose and is playing havoc. If this ghastly apparition is allowed to roam about unchecked, there shall be no question of democratic functioning, no elections to legisla-tures and Parliament, no civil liberties, but the drum-beat of communal fury with goose-step marching of the hatchet-gangs out to destroy civilised conduct of public life. The disintegration of this republic of ours threatens us in a manner never seen before. The Valley of Kashmir and the fertile fields of Punjab have virtually come under the grip of secessio-nists. The political base-camp of patriotic elements in Kashmir has been swept away by the avalanche of bitter alienation for which all parties in power in the past have to share equal responsibility. In Punjab, all the official assurances about Khalistani terrorists being on the run, has turned out to be so much poppycock as one finds the terrorist killer literally gagging the media even to the point of silencing the governments radio and television news in Hindi. This threat of imminent disintegration can be rebuffed not just be despatching the Army but, more importantly, by mobilising the entire nation for a determined endeavour to win back the trust and confidence of those alienated. The responsibility for summoning such a national mobilisation rests irrevocably on the wisdom and patriotism of leaders of all political parties. At this crossroads of Indias destiny, we put this question to our leaders of all parties, those in office and those outside: Can you not bury your hatchets and join hands to stir the vast multitude of this great nation so that the fiendish forces of communal hatred are put down and chased out of our public life for good? This is the moment when your patriotism needs to be tested. Let all other differences and squabbles, allergies and misunderstandings, be set aside, and all, really all, together come forward at the call of the nation. For heavens sake, join hands and march shoulder to shoulder to fight the enemy that has entered the gates. Mother India beckons us all. (The Telegraph, December 16, 1990) Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Netaji on India after Independence On the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses 121st birth anniversary on January 23 this year, we offer our homage to the memory of that indomitable freedom fighter by reproducing excerpts from one of his writings. A question which many people ask is as to what will happen when the British are forced to leave India. British propaganda has made many people think that without the British there will be anarchy and chaos in India. These people conveniently forget that British occupation began only in 1757 and was not complete till 1857while India is a land whose history is measured by thousands of years. If culture, civilisation, administration and economic pros-perity were possible in India before British rulethey will also be possible after British rule. In fact, under British rule, the culture and civilisation of India has been suppressed, the administration has been denationalised and a land that was formerly rich and prosperous has become one of the poorest in the world... It would be wrong to dogmatise from now about the exact form of the future Indian state. One can only indicate the principles which will underlie that state and determine its form. India has had experience of several Empires in the past and this experience will furnish the background on which we shall have to build in future. Then we shall have to consider the causes which led to our political downfall and prevent their recurrence in future. Further, we shall have to remember that the intelligentsia of India today is quite familiar with modern political institutions and is greatly interested in them. We shall also have to consider the political experiments made in different parts of Europe in the post-Versailles period. And lastly, we shall have to consider the requirements of the Indian situation. One thing, however, is clear. There will be a strong Central Government. Without such a Government, order and public security cannot be safeguarded. Behind this Government will stand a well-organised, disciplined all-India party, which will be the chief instrument for maintaining national unity. The state will guarantee complete religious and cultural freedom for individuals and groups and there will be no state-religion. In the matter of political and economic rights there will be perfect equality among the whole population. When every individual has employment, food and education and has freedom in religious and cultural matters, there will be no more any minorities problem in India. When the new regime is stabilised and the state-machinery begins to function smoothly, power will be decentralised and the provincial governments will be given more responsibility. The state will have to do everything possible to unify the whole nation and all methods of propagandapress, radio, cinema, theatre, etc.will have to be utilised for this purpose. All anti-national and disruptive elements will have to be firmly suppressedalong with such secret British agents as may still exist in the country. An adequate police force will have to be organised for this purpose and the law will have to be amended, so that offences against national unity may be punished heavily. Hindustani, which is already understood in most parts of the country, will be adopted as the common language for India. Special emphasis will have to be laid on the proper education of boys and girls and of students in the schools and in the universities, so that they may imbibe the spirit of national unity at an early age. British propaganda has deliberately created the impression that the Indian Mohammedans are against the Independence movement. But this is altogether false. The fact is that in the nationalist movement, there is a large percentage of Mohammedans. The President of the Indian National Congress today is Azada Mohammedan. The vast majority of the Indian Mohammedans are anti-British and want to see India free. There are no doubt pro-British parties among both Mohammedans and Hindus which are organised as religious parties. But they should not be regarded as representing the people. The great revolution of 1857 was a grand example of national unity. The war was fought under the flag of Bahadur Shah, a Mohammedan, and all sections of the people joined in it. Since then, Indian Mohammedans have continued to work for national freedom. Indian Mohamme-dans are as much children of the soil as the rest of the Indian population and their interests are identical. The Mohammedan (or Muslim) problem in India today is an artificial creation of the British similar to the Ulster problem in Ireland and the Jewish problem in Palestine. It will disappear when British rule is swept away... While dealing with the problems of reconstruction, it would be interesting to know that in December, 1938 when I was the President of the Indian National Congress, I inaugurated a National Planning Committee, for drawing up plans for reconstruction in every department of life. This Committee has already done valuable work and its reports will be helpful for our future activity. The Indian Princes and their States are an anachronism which must soon be abolished. They would have disappeared long ago, if the British had not preserved them in order to hamper the unification of the country. Most of the Princes are active supporters of the British Government and there is not a single Prince who is likely to play a role, similar to that which Piemont played in the Risorgimento movement in Italy. Among the people of the States who are one-fourth of the total Indian population, there is a popular movement which is closely connected with the Congress movement in British India. The Princes will naturally disappear along with the British rule, since most of them are very unpopular with their own people. But they cannot present any difficulty to the Free India Government... Young India has a gigantic task to fulfil. There are tremendous difficulties to overcome, no doubt, but there is also the joy and glory of struggle and ultimate victory. [From the article Free India and her Problems first published in the German periodical Wille und Macht in August 1942 and then reproduced in Azad Hind, the official publication of the Free India Centre in Berlin] Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > A Pilgrim in Quest of Truth January 30 this year marks the seventieth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhis assassination. On this occasion we remember the Father of the Nation by reproducing excerpts from a piece that Jawaharlal Nehru wrote in homage to the pioneer of our freedom struggle three years after Gandhijis martyrdom. o o o . . . What gods there are, I know not and am not concerned about them. But there are certain rare qualities which raise a man above the common herd and appear to make him as made of different clay. The long story of humanity can be considered from many points of view; it is a story of the advance and growth of man and the spirit of man, it is also a story full of agony and tragedy. It is a story of the masses of men and women in ferment and in movement, and also the story of great and outstanding personalities who have given content and shape to that movement of masses. In that story Gandhi occupies and will occupy a pre-eminent place. We are too near him to judge him correctly. Some of us came into intimate contact with him and were influenced by that dominating and very lovable personality. We miss him terribly now for he had become a part of our own lives. With us the personal factor is so strong that it comes in the way of a correct appraisal. Others, who did not know him so intimately, cannot perhaps have full realisation of the living fire that was in this man of peace and humility. So both these groups lack proper perspective or knowledge. Whether that perspective will come in later years when the problems and conflicts of today are matters for the historian, I do not know. But I have no doubt that in the distant, as in the near, future this towering personality will stand out and compel homage. It may be that the message which he embodied will be understood and acted upon more in later years than it is today. That message was not confined to a particular country or a community. Whatever truth there was in it was a truth applicable to all countries and to humanity as a whole. He may have stressed certain aspects of it in relation to the India of his day, and those particular aspects may cease to have much significance as times and conditions change. The kernel of that message was, however, not confined to time or space. And if this is so, then it will endure and grow in the understanding of man. He brought freedom to India and in that process taught us many things which were important for us at the moment. He told us to shed fear and hatred, and of unity and equality and brotherhood, of raising those who had been suppressed, of the dignity of labour and of the supremacy of things of the spirit. Above all, he spoke and wrote unceasingly of truth in relation to all our activities. He repeated that truth was to him God and God was truth. Scholars may raise their eyebrows, and philoso-phers and cynics repeat the old question: what is truth? Few of us dare to answer it with any assurance and it may be that the answer itself is many-sided and our limited intelligence cannot grasp the whole. But, however limited the func-tioning of our minds or our capacity for intuition, each one of us must, I suppose, have some limited idea of truth, as he sees it. Will he act up to it, regardless of consequences, and not compromise with what he himself considers an aberration from it? Will he even in search of a right goal compromise with the means to attain it? Will he subordinate means to ends? It is easy to frame this question, rather rhetorically, as if there was only one answer. But life is terribly complicated and the choices it offers are never simple. Perhaps, to some extent, an individual, leading his individual and rather isolated life, may endeavour with some success to answer that question for himself. But where he is concerned not only with his own actions but with those of many others, when fate or circumstance has put him in a position of moulding and directing others, what then is he to do? How is a leader of men to function? If he is a leader, he must lead and not merely follow the dictates of the crowd, though some modern conceptions of the functioning of democracy would lead one to think that he must bow down to the largest number. If he does so, then he is no leader and he cannot take others far along the right path of human progress. If he acts singly, according to his own lights, he cuts himself off from the very persons whom he is trying to lead. If he brings himself down to the same level of understanding as others, then he has lowered himself, been untrue to his own ideal, and compromised that truth. And once such compromises begin, there is no end to them and the path is slippery. What then is he to do? It is not enough for him to perceive truth or some aspect of it. He must succeed in making others perceive it also. The average leader of men, especially in a democratic society, has continually to adapt himself to his environment and to choose what he considers the lesser evil. Some adaptation is inevitable. But as this process goes on, occasions arise when that adaptation imperils the basic ideal and objective. I suppose there is no clear answer to this question and each individual and each generation will have to find its own answer. The amazing thing about Gandhi was that he adhered, in all its fullness, to his ideals, his conception of truth, and yet he did succeed in moulding and moving enormous masses of human beings. He was not inflexible. He was very much alive to the necessities of the moment, and he adapted himself to changing circumstances. But all these adaptations were about secondary matters. In regard to the basic things he was inflexible and firm as a rock. There was no compromise in him with what he considered evil. He moulded a whole generation and more and raised them above themselves, for the time being at least. That was a tremendous achievement. Does that achievement endure? It brought results which will undoubtedly endure. And yet it brings some reactions in its train also. For people, compelled by circumstances to raise themselves above their normal level, are apt to sink back even to a lower level than previously. We see today something like that happening. We saw that reaction in the tragedy of Gandhis own assassination. What is worse is the general lowering of standards, when Gandhis whole life was devoted to the raising of these very standards. Perhaps this is a temporary phase and people will recover from it and find themselves again. I have no doubt that, deep in the consciousness of India, the basic teachings of Gandhi will endure and will affect our national life.... People will write the life of Gandhi and they will discuss and criticise him and his theories and activities. But to some of us, he will remain something apart from theorya radiant and beloved figure who ennobled and gave signifi-cance to our petty lives, and whose passing away has left us with a feeling of emptiness and loneliness. Many pictures rise in my mind of this man, whose eyes were often full of laughter and yet were pools of infinite sadness. But the picture that is dominant and most significant is as I saw him marching, staff in hand, to Dandi on the salt march in 1930. Here was the pilgrim on his quest of Truth, quiet, peaceful, determined and fearless, who would continue that quiet pilgri-mage, regardless of consequences. [Excerpts from Foreword to Mahatma by D.G. Tendulkar (1951)] Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Ominous Forebodings Editorial Today is January 23, the 121st birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the stalwarts of our freedom struggle whose Azad Hind Fauj, which symbolised Hindu-Muslim unity, played a vital role in hastening the British departure from India thereby ensuring our nations independence from alien rule on August 15, 1947. And after three days we shall celebrate our sixtyninth Republic Day; we reinforced our freedom by becoming a Republic and adopting a Constitution which has few parallels anywhere. While observing the sixtyeighth anniversary of our Republic we must necessarily remember the architect of our Constitution, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. In his last speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 after completing the onerous task of drafting the Constitution, Dr Ambedkar made a memorable observation: On the 26th January 1950 we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognising the principle of one man one vote, and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long should we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment, or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this Assembly has so laboriously built up. Over the years the course of events in the country has established the validity of this statement and the recent violence in Maharashtra on the occasion of 200 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle has once again brought this out in sharp relief. Today we are also constrained to admit that the dreams of our freedom fighters have largely remained unrealised even if India can justifiably boast of having maintained its image as the worlds largest democracy and has taken bold strides in several fields of science and technology while safeguarding our hard-won independence. The idea of inclusive growth, which our leaders had projected at the dawn of our emancipation from colonial yoke, has, however, eluded us and our teeming multitudes have yet to overcome abject poverty whereas growing disparities in economic life are becoming increasingly visible thus stalling our self-reliant advance. Last year 73 per cent of the increase in wealth in India went to the top one per cent (with the country currently having as many as 101 billionaires, 17 of whom came up only in 2017) whereas the condition of those at the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder continues to remain as in the past or has worsened of late. But what is more alarming is the social unrest that has gripped the nation with mounting assaults on the minorities as an integral part of the majoritarian onslaught which has increased phenomenally since the assumption to power of the present dispensation in 2014. A sense of insecurity thereby prevails among the minorities, especially Muslims, and the possible transformation of secular India into a Hindu replica of Islamic Pakistan stares us in the face as those heading the Union Government are supremely indifferent to or actively in favour of such a possibility. Indeed the nation is threatened by both religious and caste violence triggered by myopic leaders. Unless well-meaning individuals and groups come together for effective intervention, Dr Ambedkars apprehension may well turn out to be true. Such ominous forebodings punctuate this years Republic Day. India must be on guard. January 23 S.C. Home > Archives (2006 on) > Corrigenda - Mainstream weekly, January 27, 2018 In the editorial We Shall Overcome!, published on page 6 in Mainstream Annual 2017, there is a slight error. In the paragraph beginning with the words Since then the outcome... the third sentence should read: On the contrary those in power at the Centre took the results as public endorsement of the demonetisation drive by the PM that was unequivocally opposed by all distinguished economists across the globe. In Harish Chandolas article, Iran quiet after Protests, in the same issue on page 19 column one, the name of the former Yemeni President (who was assassinated a few days ago) was given as AbdRabbo Mansour Hadi; it should have been Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was Yemens President from 1978 to 2012. On page 80 of the same issue a poem, The Cripple, by A.K. Das has been published. It was mentioned that the poem was composed on December 3, 2017 on the occasion of the International Day of Person with Disabilities. However, A.K. Das has informed us that it was written much earlier. These errors are regretted. Editor SPRINGFIELD -- Video recordings of interviews police did with Jeffrey Lovell on the day he shot Dylan Francisco gave his view of events on July 16, 2016 at his Chicopee home. Lovell, in an interview played at his manslaughter trial, said his "panic-stricken" wife woke him up saying three people were trying to get into the house. He got his loaded gun out of his safe and went to the home's side door. Lovell told police when the person outside broke the glass of the door's top pane, he told the person to "get the f---" away, and then shot through the door. "I just didn't want anybody to come in the house. I was scared s---less at this point," said Lovell, 44. The man banging on the door was saying something but it sounded like incoherent moaning, Lovell told police. He said he aimed his gun low because he thought he would do less harm than if he aimed high. But Francisco, 15, died of a gunshot to his chest. Lovell is on trial for voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of the Springfield teenager, who had gone to Lovell's home thinking it was the nearby home of a friend. Lovell's jury-waived trial before Hampden Superior Court Judge Constance M. Sweeney will continue Monday. In the police interview Lovell said, "I'm not out to kill anyone." "I'm not going to shoot someone who's banging on the door," he said, saying it was the glass breaking that caused him to shoot. Assistant District Attorney Karen J. Bell told Sweeney she expects to finish with the prosecution witnesses halfway through the day Monday. Defense lawyer Frank Flannery will give his opening statement -- which he deferred from the start of the trial -- and will present his witnesses. He has said Lovell, his wife Michelle Lovell and their two daughters -- who were 12 and 14 years old when the shooting happened -- will testify. Chicopee police officer Gerald Nelson was the dispatcher on Michelle Lovell's 911 call at 12:56 p.m. He took the stand to verify the recording of the call so the prosecution could introduce it into evidence. In the call, which lasted over four minutes, Michelle Lovell reported an attempted break-in. Partway through the call said her husband had fired a shot. In the recording of Lovell's first police interview, he asks about the person he shot: "Do we know how he's doing?" The officers say they do not. He also asks if he should get a lawyer and the officers tell him it is up to him, but that he is not under arrest. SPRINGFIELD -- City firefighters have extinguished a morning blaze, which resulted in an estimated $25,000 worth of damage to a St. James Avenue home. Dennis Leger, aide to the Springfield Fire Commissioner, said firefighters quickly extinguished flames in the attached garage behind the home located at 1179 St. James Ave. The Springfield Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at the structure just before 9 a.m. on Saturday. Leger noted that no one was injured in the fire, which officials attributed to an overloaded electrical outlet. The Red Cross is assisting three residents impacted by the fire, Leger said. This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available. Nearly five years ago, shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2013, two men in dark hooded sweatshirts entered Patriot Skateboards, the Malden skate shop owned by Marine Corps. veteran Shawn Clark. A confrontation began between Clark and the men, one of whom shot Clark multiple times, fatally wounding him. The case has remained unsolved, and the Middlesex DA's office is again releasing security footage from the store and encouraging the public to come forward with information. "It has been five years since the shooting death of Shawn Clark at Patriot Skateboards at 804 Main Street in Malden," the Office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. "Since the incident occurred, Malden Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office have devoted many resources and hours to investigating the circumstances of Clark's death. Authorities have made some progress, but no one has been charged in connection with the crime." In 2016, Clark's mother told NBC Boston her son had served multiple tours in Iraq and the Middle East. He had long dreamed of opening a skate shop and attracted a loyal customer base of young skaters after opening the store in 2010, the Boston.com reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Massachusetts State Police at (781) 897-6600 or Malden Police at (781) 397-7171. SPRINGFIELD -- A former Hadley police officer was arrested Friday and charged in federal court with using unreasonable force during an arrest and filing a false report. Christopher M. Roeder, 48, of Agawam, faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted. He was charged after an indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court. Prosecutors accuse Roeder of falsifying a police report about an incident on April 3, 2017, in which a male in custody at the Hadley Police Department was struck in the face, suffering a broken nose that required plastic surgery to repair. Prosecutors allege Roeder hit the man for no apparent reason while he sat on a bench in the booking area. The indictment states Roeder then wrote a report saying the arrestee refused to comply with orders as he attempted to handcuff the man, and the arrestee used obscene language toward Roeder. Roeder wrote in his report that he was left with no option but to deliver an elbow strike to the man's face to force him to comply. Federal investigators allege that report was false. Roeder faces charges of deprivation of civil rights under the color of law resulting in injury and falsifying a police report. Combined, the two charges could result in up to 30 years in federal prison, 10 years for the civil rights violation and 20 years for the false reporting for Roeder if he is convicted. The sentence could include three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. SPRINGFIELD -- A 25-year-old Holyoke man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Akeem Castro was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court. Prosecutors allege he had an AM-15 assault-style weapon on March 7. He is prohibited from possessing firearms after he was convicted of a felony. The AM-15 is a civilian-legal clone of the A-4 carbine used by the U.S. military. It is capable of using a 30-round magazine and fires the NATO standard 5.56 mm high-velocity cartridge. The indictment also alleges that Castro possessed 34 rounds of ammunition for the firearm. The weapon is made by the Anderson Manufacturing Company, of Hebron, Kentucky. If convicted, Castro faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a minimum of three years supervised release and a minimum fine of $20,000. NORTHAMPTON - A good friend, a passionate person, a diva, and a lot of fun, is how many people remember Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien. Dozens of people crowded into the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence church on Main Street Saturday morning, to share their remembrances of Steele-Knudslien, who was murdered in North Adams earlier this month. A transgender woman who had deep ties to the Pioneer Valley, Steele-Knudslien was allegedly killed by her husband, Mark Steele-Knudslien, in their home in North Adams in early January. Yet though the end of her life may have been dark and violent, those gathered in the Northampton church Saturday remembered her as being full of energy, passion and life. Memories of Christa's influence in the local LGTBQ community, her humorous fun loving personality, and her apparent love of Mountain Dew--which she drank by the liter, some alleged--were all on tap Saturday. The ceremony was led by Rev. Yohah Ralph, a longtime friend of Steele-Knudslien who met her in 2008 when she was getting married to her first husband. "It is a grace to have so many people from different parts of Christa's life here today," Ralph said, surveying the crowd. Interspersed throughout the morning's speeches were ballads from Deja Nicole Greenlaw, who, at one point, belted out "I Did It My Way" accompanied by guitar. One of the people to speak was Ben Power, a longtime friend of Steele-Knudslien. "I was her big brother and she was my sister," Power said. Power, who runs the Sexual Minorities Archives--a library of art, music, literature and oral histories concerned with LGBTQI people--says he met Christa in 2008, and subsequently helped her to realize her dream of organizing two beauty pageants for trans women in 2009 and 2010. Christa's pageants, Miss Trans America and the Miss Trans New England, helped to give trans people visibility in New England in a way that had never been possible before, Power said. One of the highlights of his life, Power said, was seeing the electronic marquee for the Academy of Music lit up with "Miss Trans New England Pageant," which he said helped lift up the trans community. The winner of one of those pageants, Lorelei Erisis, who won the Miss Trans New England in 2009, also spoke Saturday, saying that she owed Knudslien "so much" of what she has. "She gave me and so many other people the boost they needed to be who they were in the world," Erisis said. That meant teaching people to be "proud to be trans, to celebrate being trans," and that being trans and being a woman were not two mutually exclusive concepts, she said. "From Christa's example I knew that I could celebrate being trans and also just be a woman, just be the woman I am," Erisis said. "I loved Christa as a sister," she said, commenting she was afraid that Steele-Knudslien "never knew the giant impact she had on the world." A violent death At Saturday's service there was also some rumination on the violent end that Christa suffered, and how it fit too well the pattern of abuse and violence that trans people experience with higher frequency than others. Adams police say that on Jan. 5 Mark Steele-Knudslien walked into the police department and allegedly confessed to killing his wife. Further details on the events leading up to the crime, as well as his motive, have not been released, and despite his alleged confession to police, Steele-Knudslien plead not guilty in Berkshire Superior Court. He is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 7. As a response to Christa's death, Power has organized a rally to draw attention of the issue of violence against the transgender community, which he called a "horrific problem." "In response to Christa's brutal murder, I am now the lead organizer of Stop Killing Trans People!, a protest rally and march that I am organizing with multiples trans and LGBTQ organizations from Boston to the Berkshires," Power said in an email. "We all must do something," Power said at the memorial, explaining he believed that there were "intersections of oppression" that led to Knudslien's death. "In the name of Christa, do something," Power said. The rally will take place Feb. 7 outside the Northern Berkshire District Court in North Adams, from 9 a.m. to noon. SPRINGFIELD -- Latin King gang member Kenneth Lopez made a fatal mistake during a cellphone call in March, 2015, a prosecution witness testified Friday. When several other Latin Kings urged him to get some guns and meet them outside a house party, Lopez refused, Valerie Medina, 25, of Springfield, recalled. "He said they could get their own f------ hammers," Medina said, using slang for a 9 mm firearm. The four gang members riding in Medina's car were angry, particularly Lee Rios, who demanded a gang meeting the next afternoon to discuss punishing Lopez. Rios overslept and missed the meeting, but later decided to kill Lopez himself with help from other gang members, Medina said. "As he (Rios) always said, he didn't care about anything ... and didn't fear anybody," she said. Medina spent most of the day on the stand during the fourth day of Rios' murder trial in Hampden Superior Court. A second defendant, Jonathan Guevera, 20, of Springfield, is also charged in Lopez's death and is scheduled for trial later in the year. Lopez, 18, of Springfield, was shot in the head, neck, arm and leg early on March 24, 2015, and his body was found frozen to the ground a day later in Springfield's North End. Rios took the victim's 9 mm firearm and sold it, Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett said during his opening statement on Tuesday. Rios, 24, has pleaded not guilty, and defense lawyer Mary Anne Stamm has said other gang members had motives and opportunity to kill Lopez. Several Latin King members are expected to testify in the case, and Rios' older brother, Nelson, 28, took the witness stand Tuesday to identify him as the killer. Under questioning from Bennett on Friday, Medina said she used a cellphone to record Rios describing the killing and admitting he was the shooter. The recording was played for jurors Friday, who listened with headsets and read from transcripts. The recording was later played in open court, but was largely inaudible. Medina said she made the recording after learning that Rios had falsely claimed that Lopez was planning to kill her and several gang members, including her then-boyfriend, Nathan Guevera. Partly out of fear of Rios and partly out of loyalty to her boyfriend, Medina said she helped get rid of evidence after the killing. She tossed Lopez's cellphone out a car window and threw his blood-spattered crutches in the Connecticut River, she said. Stamm questioned much of Medina's account, and noted that she, like several other witnesses, is testifying under a cooperation agreement with the prosecution. Medina acknowledged being strung out at the time of the killing. "I was always on drugs. I barely ever slept," she said, before adding that she has been drug-free for two years. During the secretly taped interview, Medina, Rios and several others could be heard unwrapping a package of marijuana and then coughing as they smoked it. Under cross examination from Stamm, the witness expressed affection for Lopez, whom she considered a family member. "You called him 'little cousin,' didn't you?" the defense lawyer asked. "Yes, I did," Medina replied. The trial, presided over by Judge Mark Mason, will continue on Monday. In addition to murder, Rios is charged with eight firearm and ammunition offenses. A newly-released draft of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's 2018 rail plan includes a proposal to study ways to connect Boston and Springfield with passenger rail, following a years-long struggle by Longmeadow Sen. Eric Lesser and other Western Mass. legislators to pass such a study through the State House. In the plan, MassDOT has designated East-West rail as a Tier 2 project -- one meriting further study. The rail plan says that MassDOT will examine both conventional rail service proposed by a multi-state study in 2016 and higher-speed options. "Given the lack of consensus on the appropriate type of service to pursue between Western Massachusetts and Boston, as well as a lack of full understanding of the costs and impacts of a higher speed service, further study is necessary," the rail plan says. "This study, at the direction of MassDOT, will address more than ridership. It will examine safety needs (including Positive Train Control) associated with the expectation of higher speed trains, right-of-way acquisition, constructability, community impacts, and the need to protect freight rail capacity, as well as MBTA commuter rail sevice on the Worcester line." In an interview, Lesser described the proposed study as a vindication of the efforts of the Western Mass legislative delegation and constituents who rallied, petitioned and testified in favor of the measure. "It's very encouraging news. It's the news everyone has been waiting for and I'm glad to see it," Lesser said. "We're committed to working with MassDOT to make it a reality. It's something the people of Western Massachusetts have been waiting for for a very long time." From Lesser's first election campaign in 2014, he has made the study of improved rail service from Springfield to Boston a signature issue, describing it as a potential economic boon to Western Massachusetts and a way for the region to benefit from the greater Boston area's strong growth. Each legislative attempt to launch the study has run into obstacles. In 2016, the study made it into the final budget before being vetoed by Gov. Charlie Baker, who recommended replacing it with a study that would also consider other forms of transit. The House did not override Baker's veto, and the measure died. Last year, the study was included in the Senate's version of the budget but was cut in secret budget negotiations with the House before it reached Baker's desk. The spiking of the study blindsided Lesser, who said at the time he was unaware of any opposition among his Democratic House colleagues. But with the study's inclusion in MassDOT's rail plan, East-West rail will get the analysis Lesser has pushed for, without the conference committee talks, budget process frustrations and vetoes that previously prevented the study from coming to fruition. The study could include an analysis of a potential fare structure, as well as technical feasibility, safety and how passenger rail could coexist with freight service already in effect. It does not, however, explicitly mention performing an economic cost-benefit analysis of the project -- something Lesser pushed for in his legislative lobbying for a rail study. Lesser said he consulted with MassDOT and Transportation Sec. Stephanie Pollack as the agency prepared the rail plan, and will advocate for including such an analysis in the eventual study. "It's very important that a very robust and thorough examination of costs are done, but we also need to examine the benefits," Lesser said. "An analysis needs to be done of the costs of not doing it - of doing nothing." The rail plan identifies several potential challenges to East-West rail, including current use of Western Mass rail capacity by the freight operator CSX, lack of additional capacity at South Station during peak hours and existing use of Worcester to Boston rail capacity by MBTA commuter trains. MassDOT will hold a hearing on the rail plan in Worcester on Monday evening. SPRINGFIELD -- Stormy Daniels, former Penthouse Pet of the year, porn star and alleged consort of President Donald J. Trump, will appear at the Mardi Gras Gentlemen's Club on Taylor Street in Springfield and at its sister club, Mardi Gras 2 in East Windsor, Connecticut, the club said Friday night. Club promoter Tony Long said the clubs received confirmation of Daniels' booking Friday afternoon. Daniels will perform two shows at the downtown Springfield club on June 22, then two more shows on June 23 at the club's East Windsor location. The relationship between Daniels and Trump became public after the Washington Post reported that Trump's presidential campaign paid Daniels $130,000 to sign a confidentiality contract in October 2016, preventing her from talking about the relationship during the run-up to the November election. Trump has denied the affair, calling it "fake news." However, Daniels allegedly told a gossip publication in 2011 that she had sex with the then-real estate magnate in a Las Vegas hotel. Long said advance tickets will $15 and available sometime next week. Admission at the door will be $20. Tickets will be sold through clubs affiliated with the Mardi Gras organization. Those clubs are the two Mardi Gras clubs, Anthony's in South Hadley, Center Stage on Dwight Street in Springfield and the Fifth Alarm on Worthington Street in Springfield. Long said booking Daniels took a lot of time and connections. "This was a challenge," he said. "We have been working on this for over a week, and it just came together. This is an established club, and we have a lot of connections in the industry. Even so, had we waited any longer it would have been impossible to book her." According to the New York Daily News, Daniels is taking advantage of recent allegations that she and Trump had an affair not long after the president's wife gave birth to the couple's only child. She recently appeared at a Las Vegas club, demanding -- and getting -- $75,000 a night. Long would not comment on how much the Mardi Gras clubs are paying for Daniels' appearance but did say unlike many porn celebrities, Daniels worked as a featured dancer in her past and will bring her nightclub routine and show costumes. Long said she will be on stage for perhaps 20 minutes for each show and will be available for private dances, photos and autographs. Long said the last celebrity dancer who attracted attention from the general public was Amy Fisher, known as the "Long Island Lolita." Fisher appeared at the club in 2009 after she was released from prison for shooting her lover's wife in the face. Long said Daniels' appearance is far and away a bigger draw. BOSTON -- A draft report from the state Department of Transportation gives top priority to growing passenger rail routes between Springfield and points to the north and south. The report, issued Friday, gives lower priority to a proposed route from Springfield to Boston, saying further study is needed. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal praised the report's conclusions on the the north-south routes. "This is a win for Springfield Union Station as there will be a major influx in passengers in the near future," Neal said in a statement. "I anticipate and expect other projects to continue to be studied as promised in the report. I am hopeful that all parties involved will be able to seek consensus as we move ahead in favor of advanced rail service from Boston to Worcester to Springfield and on to Pittsfield." Starting in May, Connecticut's rail system is expected to offer 12 trains per day through Springfield Union Station with service to Hartford and New Haven. An existing shuttle service between Springfield and New Haven had 351,307 passengers in 2015, according to the report. "Planned improvements will allow 25 daily round trips between Springfield and New Haven with trains operating up to 110 mph," the report says. "The faster speeds and improved capacity will reduce travel time between Springfield and New Haven from 90 minutes to 79 minutes." Meanwhile, the MassDOT report says the agency is working with Amtrak and CTRail to "assess the feasibility of a pilot that would extend passenger rail service from Springfield to Greenfield." Among the Tier 2 projects slated for further study is the proposed high-speed route from Springfield to Worcester to Boston championed by state Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow. "Given the lack of consensus on the appropriate type of service to pursue ... as well as a lack of full understanding of the costs and impacts of a high-speed service, further study is necessary," the report states. It also notes that there is uncertainty around ownership of rail lines along the proposed route and concern that it could conflict with freight trains. Lesser has said the east-west rail line would drive economic development in Western Massachusetts. He has been advocating for years for the type of feasibility study the MassDOT report recommends. "It's very encouraging news. It's the news everyone has been waiting for and I'm glad to see it," Lesser said in an interview. "We're committed to working with MassDOT to make it a reality. It's something the people of Western Massachusetts have been waiting for for a very long time." The study should look not only at ridership for the proposed route but also safety, community impacts, protecting freight capacity and other considerations, the MassDOT report says. The report lists among Tier 3 priorities improvements to the railroad station in Palmer and development of a Springfield-to-Montreal route. No action is recommended on those projects. Passenger rail ridership is already on the rise in Massachusetts, according to the report. From 2010-16, Amtrak saw a 17.5 percent increase in passengers at the 14 stations it serves in Massachusetts. Amtrak serves 3 million riders in the Bay State annually, according to the report. For comparison, the MBTA serves 40 million riders per year. Amtrak ridership in Springfield was 89,629 in fiscal 2017, according to the report. In Northampton it was 19,974, in Greenfield it was 6,290 and in Holyoke it was 1,487. MassLive's Dan Glaun contributed to this report. SPRINGFIELD -- The $14.4 million federal Preschool Expansion Grant the city received four years ago is saving children and family's lives, preschool leaders told Massachusetts' top early education official Friday. Doreen Malone, of Headstart, told Ted Weber, commissioner of early education and care, told the story of a preschooler whose violent behavior and vulgar language was making it impossible for teachers to reach him. After securing a spot at the new Early Childhood Education Center on Catharine Street, the preschool team found out that the child's mother was in an abusive relationship. After identifying why the boy was acting out, the preschool team's parent engagement team was able to reach out to his mother and provide her with the help and services she needed to make her home safe and secure for her son. The boy is now thriving, Malone said. Preschool leaders said the funding has enabled them to help children like Marcus. Providing quality preschool instruction by improving preschool workers' pay, the grant has developed programs that encourage family involvement and partnerships. Stories like the one told by Malone are common, according to the more than 30 preschool leaders who have benefited from the expansion grant that enabled Springfield to offer free preschool to 195 4-year-olds at 11 sites throughout the city for each year of the grant. Preschool leaders shared data showing academic improvements in the children served by the expansion grant. One teacher told of a student who came to the program from Puerto Rico, speaking no English. Within a year, he was speaking clearly in English with a phonological and math knowledge. The funding has also helped preschool teachers advance in their careers by providing them with ongoing training and educational opportunities. Weber said the Preschool Expansion Grant is "moving the needle with the children we are serving." He said the challenge is how to grow the program in the future, given the state's limited financial resources. Weber urged those attending the meeting to push for funding for the program beyond the 2018-19 school year, when the funding dries up. "You have compelling stories and data," he said. Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick and Mayor Domenic Sarno, who attended the meeting, underscored the need to expand quality preschool opportunities, especially for low-income families. In praising the expansion grant, Warwick said, "We are seeing too many kids who don't have the skills they need in kindergarten," he said. "We need to redouble our efforts to make sure our kids are getting quality experiences in preschool." In concert with the receipt of the grant, the city invested $2.8 million to turn a building it owned in the Mason Square neighborhood into the Springfield Early Childhood Education Center. Under the initiative known as SCOOP (Springfield Cooperative Preschool), pre-school programs run by the city's public schools, Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, Square One and the YMCA of Greater Springfield each operate classrooms in the Early Education Center at 15 Catharine St. Weber said Springfield was the ideal place to expand early education programs because of the longtime tradition of public-private partnerships in the community. Other cities in Massachusetts expanding preschool opportunities under the grant include Boston, Lowell, Lawrence and Holyoke. Authorities have identified 51-year-old Todd E. Williams of Webster as the driver who died in a two-car collision in Leicester Saturday morning. Williams was driving a 2008 Nissan SUV around 6:55 a.m. when he and another vehicle collided head-on on Route 58 near King Street, Leicester Police Chief James Hurley said. Williams' SUV partially rolled over and came to rest up against some trees on the side of a roadway embankment. The other car, a 1993 Cadillac sedan, remained in the roadway with a crumpled front section. Police, fire personnel and a LifeFlight helicopter soon arrived on the crash scene, Hurley said. "Multiple police and fire units responded to extricate Williams from vehicle," Hurley said. Williams was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the other vehicle, a 55-year-old Leicester man, suffered serious but non life threatening injuries and was transported to UMass Medical in Worcester. A crash reconstruction team with the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council responded to assess the crash scene, and the Leicester police department is working with the Worcester County District Attorney's Office on the ongoing investigation, Hurley said. Hurley declined to discuss possible causes of the crash due to the ongoing inquiry. No citations or charges have been filed. Route 56 was closed for about two and a half hours and reopened between 10:30 and 11 a.m., Hurley said. SPRINGFIELD -- On Tuesday night, a state trooper pulled over a car with Vermont plates as it veered from lane to lane on Interstate 91, according to the arrest report. Five people were riding in the car, and 830 packets of heroin were hidden in the trunk - enough for a trafficking charge. Nobody, however, seemed to know anything about the drugs or much else, Trooper Jacob Sheehan noted in his report. The driver, Chrystal Stilwell, 31, of Barre, Vermont, denied knowing where she was or where she was going while the front seat passenger, Amanda Atkins, 34, also of Barre, said they had come to West Springfield to visit a friend. In the backseat, Jonathan Martinez, 21, said he didn't know the women in the front seat, but had met them earlier at a gas station. He offered them $50 to drive him and another passenger, Billy Webb, 21, to a party. When the trooper asked who he gave the money to, Martinez "said he didn't give it to anyone yet." The fourth passenger, David Rios, 23, said he had just been picked up, and had no idea where the vehicle was going, the report said. No address was listed in the arrest report for the three male passengers. The trooper, after determining that neither Stilwell nor her passengers had valid driver's licenses, ordered the car towed. While searching the vehicle, he found 830 packets of heroin under a spare tire in the trunk. A small container of cocaine was found in Stilwell's purse, the report said. "Everyone in the vehicle denied knowing anything about what was in the vehicle," Sheehan wrote. All five suspects were arrested and charged with heroin trafficking and conspiracy to violate drug laws. In addition, Stilwell was charged with possession of cocaine, driving with a suspended license, and marked lane violations. Defense lawyer Steven Nison opposed the prosecution's $2,500 bail request for Stilwell, saying the vehicle did not belong to her and she had no knowledge of the drugs. A construction worker, Stilwell is the mother of five children, and could not afford to post $2,500 bail, Nison said. Judge William O'Grady set bail at $2,500 for Stilwell while the other defendants were held in lieu of lower cash bail or released on personal recognizance. All five defendants are due back in court for a pretrial hearing March 22. Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, whose company is in the midst of building a $2.4 billion casino in Everett, has resigned his position as finance chair of the Republican National Committee following a Wall Street Journal report that detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Politico first reported the resignation Saturday afternoon, and it was quickly confirmed by multiple news outlets. Wynn, a major Republican donor in recent years, was appointed RNC finance chair by President Donald Trump in January of 2017. 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, including exposing himself to and requesting sexual services from massage therapists at his casinos. 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 initially appeared to be in lockstep with its CEO, releasing a statement Friday morning that also blamed Elaine Wynn for the allegations. That night, the company's Board of Directors announced it had formed a special committee to investigate the claims. Wynn Boston Harbor, the company's Everett casino project, 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. On Friday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said it was launching a review of the situation to determine if Wynn Boston Harbor was in compliance with state regulations. File photo / The Republican Massachusetts House and Senate lawmakers cast ballots on measures ranging from a $1.7 billion housing package to abolishing archaic laws as they met for various legislative sessions this week. Here's how members from the Western part of the state voted on those proposals: Don't Edit HOUSE: Don't Edit Dreamstime $1.7 billion housing package The House, on a 150-to-1 vote, approved and sent to the Senate a bill funding various state programs to construct and preserve affordable housing in Massachusetts. Provisions included: $400 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which funds a myriad of programs like help for first-time homebuyers; $600 million to rehabilitate and modernize existing public housing; $60 million for disabled persons and seniors to renovate and modify their homes; 100 million for innovative and alternative forms of rental housing, including shelters for survivors of domestic violence, housing for seniors and veterans; transitional and permanent housing for the homeless; housing for recovering drug addicts; and $45 million for grants to non-profits for early education and out-of-school time program facilities that serve low income children. Tax incentives, meanwhile, included: extending several existing tax credits, such as credits for companies that invest in affordable multifamily rental projects; credits for individuals who donate to community development corporations; credits for developers in Gateway Cities to construct or rehabilitate properties and create affordable and market-rate housing; and a credit to clean up contaminated sites known as brown fields. With the passage of this bond bill, we renew our commitment to affordable housing, said House Speaker Bob DeLeo. Im particularly proud of the provisions that support housing for those with disabilities and improve facilities used for early education and care. Individuals and families need access to safe housing, quality child care and jobs that allow them to support themselves, said Michael Durkin, president and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. But high housing costs, a lack of affordable housing production, and low wages create significant barriers to opportunity and jeopardize our future workforce and economy. The Housing Bond Bill is essential to efforts to produce, preserve and modernize affordable housing in communities across the state. Massachusetts ranks in the top three of per capita debt in the country, said Rep. Jim Lyons, R-Andover, the lone member who opposed the package. Our overall debt has increased from $19 billion to over $26 billion dollars since 2009. The overall debt per person in Massachusetts has grown from approximately $23,000 in 2010 to over $32,000 in 2016. Our overall spending is unsustainable. My job is to protect the hardworking taxpayers and families of my district and that is exactly what my vote does. Voting "yes," or for the $1.7 million housing package were: Reps. Brian Ashe, John Barrett, Donald Berthiaume, Michael Finn, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, Carlos Gonzalez, Stephen Kulik, Paul Mark, Thomas Petrolati, William Pignatelli, Angelo Puppolo, John Scibak, Todd Smola, Jose Tosado, Aaron Vega, John Velis, Joseph Wagner, Susannah Whipps, Bud Williams. No one in the Western Massachusetts delegation voted against the bill. Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Peter Kocot did not vote. Don't Edit SENATE: Don't Edit Rich Pedroncelli Abolish archaic laws The Senate, on a 38-to-0 vote, approved and sent to the House a bill repealing an 1800s ban on all abortions, a ban on contraception use for unmarried women and a requirement that all abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy be performed in a hospital. It also repeals laws punishing adultery and masturbation. I am so proud that, at a time when there are renewed threats nationally to providing comprehensive health services to women, the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to adopt this bill, said Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton. We stand with a womans right to make decisions about her own body, including the right to complete control over her medical care, and decisions about contraception and abortion. Creem also said that just because these laws are not currently enforced does not mean they could not be enforced in the future. She noted that there is discussion in Congress about an attempt to reverse the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. We are living in a time when leaders at the highest levels of power in our country are demeaning women and attempting to roll back their rights, said Acting Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester. Massachusetts must affirm its commitment to protecting womens rights to essential health care and expunge these dangerous laws. The Massachusetts Senate is unwavering in its commitment to womens health care, said Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. This legislation continues our commitment to women and sends a strong message that this commonwealth will continue to move forward in improving the health and well-being of all our citizens. Voting "yes, for the bill were: Sens. Anne Gobi, Adam Hinds, Donald Humason, Eric Lesser, Stanley Rosenberg and James Welch. No one voted against the bill. Don't Edit Don't Edit Last week's votes How they voted: Western Mass. lawmakers weigh in on net neutrality, illegal hunting Advertisement Advertisement Freed goes on to point out that this is not a typical topic for discussion in schools or other platforms, hence generally parents become aware about child organ donation during their most difficult time of their lives. Not all hospitals have trained personnel to have proper discussion with grieving parents.24% of parents who have children in their teens between the age 15 - 18 said that their children registered as organ donors. 22% of parents said that they would not encourage their children to choose the option to be registered organ donors, while 49% said that they would.About less than half of the parents said that their teen has received some sort of awareness about organ donation. Most of the time teens are unlikely to receive information up until they have to make a decision to be registered as an organ donor.Almost half of the parents (54%) showed that most of their concerns were whether their child's life would be saved in the event of a life-threatening situation and that their child would suffer more if they kept their child alive for organ donation (53%). The cost of organ donation(30%) and not enough awareness if their child was in a position to donate (33%) was another concern.6% of the parents said that they did not want to entertain the thought of death and organ donation about their child. Parents of children (17%) ages 0-14 showed an interest to gain more knowledge on organ donation while 52% were not interested. 64% parents preferred learning about organ donation from their child's primary care provider while 37% from an organ donor organization. 24% felt they preferred gaining knowledge from local hospitals and 7 percent preferred to discuss it with a clergy member.The organ transplant waitlist for kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs and other organs according to the Federal Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network have more than 2000 US children.Freed said that parents understood that when child organ donation is done it helps save the lives of many other children.More awareness should be given to help them understand their decision could help save many lives.Source: Medindia Holocaust Remembrance Day is humanitys small tribute to the memory of the millions of Jews exterminated in the Nazi concentration camps. Today, 73 years following the liberation of Auschwitz, Greece remembers the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, including the tens of thousands of our compatriots, Greek Jews, who were victims of this inconceivable barbarity. The Greek State will never forget the heinous crimes perpetrated against the Greek Jews. Greece unequivocally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and has undertaken systematic efforts to combat intolerance and racism. In the context of this ongoing effort to redress historical injustices against the Greek Jewish community, the work that is to begin soon on the construction of the Thessaloniki Holocaust Museum is an important step in the institutional enshrinement of the memory of the Holocaust. The presence of the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the groundbreaking ceremony reaffirms the Greek governments strong and practical commitment to the values of humanism, so that humanity may never again experience such atrocities. PIGEON The Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Board of Education likes the job Superintendent Brian Keim is doing. The board gave Keim a rating of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale at this weeks school board meeting, which qualifies as highly effective. Im very thankful for the feedback Ive received from our board and the faith theyve placed in me, Keim said. My evaluation is a reflection of the great work being done by our administrative team and teaching staff across the district. Keim said there were successes in some areas of professional development. I was pleased with some of the new things we tried in the area of professional development (PD), he said. We made an effort to get out and visit successful schools and companies to see what we could learn from them. We also tried to give our staff more of a voice in their (professional development) activities, and they did some great things with those opportunities. In evaluating himself, Keim said he has some goals he would like to see come about. There are also many areas where I can improve as a school leader, he said. I want to create more personalized learning opportunities for students, like we have done with our staff. Id also like to develop more connections with our business community. There are so many potential partnerships that would benefit our students and local employers. I get excited about those possibilities. UPPER THUMB Four school districts in the area have approved language looking for money from voters. Cass City, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers, North Huron and Ubly school district voters all will have to vote on bond issues May 8. Cass City is looking for $8.86 million over 16 years in an extension of a bond that would extend a current 3-mill issue from 2008, according to Superintendent Jeff Hartel. Lakers is seeking $19.1 million over 25 years. This bond would increase the debt another 1.35 mills. The district is also seeking a renewal of the 1-mill sinking fund that expires this year. North Huron is trying again to pass a bond after a November request failed. This bond is for $7.8 million instead of the $8.2 million the district asked for in November. And Ubly is going after $8.7 million over 20 years after having a similar bond request voted down in August. 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. Poisoned toothpaste that takes a month to end its target's life. Armed drones. Exploding cell phones. Spare tires with remote-control bombs. Assassinating enemy scientists and discovering the secret lovers of Islamic holy men. A new book chronicles these techniques and asserts that Israel has carried out at least 2,700 assassination operations in its 70 years of existence. While many failed, they add up to far more than any other Western country, the book says. Ronen Bergman, the intelligence correspondent for Yediot Aharonot newspaper, persuaded many agents of Mossad, Shin Bet and the military to tell their stories, some using their real names. The result is the first comprehensive look at Israel's use of state-sponsored killings. Based on 1,000 interviews and thousands of documents, and running more than 600 pages, "Rise and Kill First" makes the case that Israel has used assassination in the place of war, killing half a dozen Iranian nuclear scientists, for instance, rather than launching a military attack. It also strongly suggests that Israel used radiation poisoning to kill Yasser Arafat, the longtime Palestinian leader, an act its officials have consistently denied. Bergman writes that Arafat's death in 2004 fit a pattern and had advocates. But he steps back from flatly asserting what happened, saying that Israeli military censorship prevents him from revealing what - or if - he knows. The book's title comes from the ancient Jewish Talmud admonition, "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first." Bergman says a huge percentage of the people he interviewed cited that passage as justification for their work. So does an opinion by the military's lawyer declaring such operations to be legitimate acts of war. Despite the many interviews, including with former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, Bergman, the author of several books, says the Israeli secret services sought to interfere with his work, holding a meeting in 2010 on how to disrupt his research and warning former Mossad employees not to speak with him. He says that while the U.S. has tighter constraints on its agents than does Israel, President George W. Bush adopted many Israeli techniques after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and President Barack Obama launched several hundred targeted killings. "The command-and-control systems, the war rooms, the methods of information gathering and the technology of the pilotless aircraft, or drones, that now serve the Americans and their allies were all in large part developed in Israel," Bergman writes. The book gives a textured history of the personalities and tactics of the various secret services. In the 1970s, a new head of operations for Mossad opened hundreds of commercial companies overseas with the idea that they might be useful one day. For example, Mossad created a Middle Eastern shipping business that, years later, came in handy in providing cover for a team in the waters off Yemen. There have been plenty of failures. After a Palestinian terrorist group killed Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Israel sent its agents to kill the perpetrators - and shot more than one misidentified man. There were also successful operations that did more harm than good to Israel's policy goals, Bergman notes. Bergman raises moral and legal concerns provoked by state-sponsored killing, including the existence of separate legal systems for secret agents and the rest of Israel. But he presents the operations, for the most part, as achieving their aims. While many credit the barrier Israel built along and inside the West Bank with stopping assaults on Israeli citizens in the early 2000s, he argues that what made the difference was "a massive number of targeted killings of terrorist operatives." One of Bergman's most important sources was Meir Dagan, a recent head of Mossad for eight years who died in early 2016. Toward the end of his career, Dagan fell out with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu partly over launching a military attack on Iran. Netanyahu said intelligence techniques such as selling the country faulty parts for its reactors - which Israel and the U.S. were doing - weren't enough. Dagan argued back that these techniques, especially assassinations, would do the job. As Bergman quotes him saying, "In a car, there are 25,000 parts on average. Imagine if 100 of them are missing. It would be very hard to make it go. On the other hand, sometimes it's most effective to kill the driver, and that's that." Puerto Rico may pave the way for struggling U.S. cities and states to bite the hands that fed them billions. The U.S. territory says it can't pay any of the estimated $17 billion due to bondholders in the next five years. If the gambit is approved by a federal financial control board and kept in place once it emerges from bankruptcy, it would be the first time a major municipal borrower formally suspended debt payments since New York City's 1975 fiscal crisis. That could make it easier for some of America's most troubled cities and states -- among them Chicago, Illinois, New Jersey, and Connecticut -- to try the same maneuver in the years ahead. Such a step would provide relief for places struggling with pension obligations and moribund urban economies, but could cripple their ability to improve infrastructure and pay for new services. And it would threaten the viability of a $3.8 trillion market generally thought of as the safest investment behind Treasury bonds. "When you've got unfunded liabilities in which there is no way to ever catch up, you wonder what's the end game," said Marilyn Cohen, chief executive officer of Envision Capital Management, who has worked in the municipal market since 1979. "The end game won't be pretty for bondholders, that's for sure." Puerto Rico is idiosyncratic, given that its special territorial tax status made Wall Street eager to fuel a $74 billion debt binge despite a declining economy and population. Indeed, the number of municipal defaults -- excluding those made by the island -- reached an eight-year low in 2017. No city or town has filed for bankruptcy protection since August 2015, and states don't have the ability to have their debts dismissed in federal court. The market is sensitive to any possibility that Puerto Rico's suggestion of a moratorium might spread. In 2010, banking analyst Meredith Whitney incorrectly predicted "hundreds of billions" of municipal-bond defaults, causing one of the steepest selloffs in the municipal market in the past decade. State and local governments face a $1.7 trillion debt to their pensions, a debt that is difficult for politicians to rein in if they don't deeply cut spending or hike taxes. In 2015, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down a 2013 pension overhaul, saying it violated the state constitution's ban on reducing retirement benefits. Other states have similar protections. States can't file for bankruptcy protection, and when the idea of giving them that option was raised after the last recession it was roundly dismissed by U.S. lawmakers and governors of both parties. But some governments need a way out, said John Moorlach, who was treasurer of Orange County, California, which filed its own record-setting case in 1994. "There are ways to get out of the situation," he said. "It's just the will." Puerto Rico isn't the first to try a debt-payment moratorium. New York lawmakers in 1975 allowed the near-bankrupt city to stop making payments on short-term notes for three years. An appeals court declared the measure unconstitutional the next year. But the respite allowed the city to fix its finances, said James Spiotto, managing director at Chicago-based Chapman Strategic Advisors, whose firm advises on municipal restructurings. The state created a vehicle that allowed the city to tap the capital markets again and it operated under a control board similar to Puerto Rico's. In the 1840s, eight states and one territory defaulted on their debts. Florida, then a mere territory, repudiated $4 million in bonds in 1842, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. It took Florida over 10 years to borrow again, Spiotto said. For that reason, he said he doesn't think municipalities will follow Puerto Rico's suit because having the ability to borrow cheaply is essential. "It's been greeted by the market harshly," he said. States and cities are already taking at least one page out of Puerto Rico's playbook. The island built up its crushing debt by borrowing to pay off older debts, like using one credit card to pay off another. After a political standoff left Illinois without a budget for two years, the near junk-rated state borrowed $6 billion in October to pay off the $16 billion in unpaid bills it accrued from that time without a spending plan. Pennsylvania, which has seen its credit rating slide over the years due to high debt and pension costs, will borrow more than $1 billion next week to help close its deficit. Houston took on a $1 billion obligation in December to close the debt it owes to retirees, a practice widely frowned upon. Puerto Rico gives a "big warning sign" for states and cities with large debts, poor financial management, and unfavorable demographic trends, said Jeff Timlin, managing director and portfolio manager at Sage Advisory Services, which oversees about $1 billion of municipal bonds. "This isn't a widespread problem, but there were no problems a decade ago in the muni market," he said. "We're starting to see municipalities trending in a direction leading to their own demise." GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Comcast will add faster internet service in West Michigan on Jan. 31 that will deliver speeds up to 1 Gigabit-per-second to residential and business customers. These speeds will be among the fastest and most widely available in the area, the company said in a statement announcing the new service. The new speed is available across most of Comcast's service area in West Michigan, including Grand Rapids and other communities in Kent County, north Allegan County and portions of Ottawa County such as Holland. Comcast's new 1 Gigabit Internet service will use DOCSIS 3.1 technology that makes it possible for Xfinity and Comcast Business internet customers to receive gigabit speeds over the communications lines that most customers already have in their homes and offices. "As consumers and small businesses continue to rely even more heavily on the internet, we have the advanced technology in place to meet this growing demand," said Tim Collins, senior vice president of Comcast's Heartland region, which includes Michigan, in a statement. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss praised Comcast's new technology investment for aligning with the City's economic development efforts. "The ability to say 1 gig service is available citywide has tremendous value as we seek to attract residents and businesses to Grand Rapids," Bliss said. The new service tiers complement other multi-gigabit options already available to Comcast Business customers, including Comcast Business Ethernet, which the company launched and has been expanding nationally since 2011. Those services can support speeds of 100 gigabits per second over fiber. Comcast will charge $140 a month for residential 1 Gigabit service without a term contract. Customers interested in this new service will need a DOCSIS 3.1- capable modem, such as the company's newest xFi Advanced Gateway, to achieve the faster speeds. The West Michigan launch precedes the company's expansion of the service to southeastern Michigan later in the first quarter of 2018. Comcast first introduced its 1 Gigabit Internet service using DOCSIS 3.1 technology in the city of Detroit in November 2016. BAY CITY, MI -- Newly occupying the old PNC Bank building in downtown Bay City is a company built around helping businesses navigate the complicated medical marijuana industry that's coming to Michigan. Michigan Marijuana Licensing Experts LLC is headquartered in suite 201 of the building at 300 Center Ave., having recently relocated after forming as a consumer-data business in Pinconning. Tera Lanczak, chief administrative officer, said the consulting firm was having a hard time recruiting staff at its old location and wanted a more centralized office to serve clients throughout Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties. In describing the business, Lanczak said they "specialize in navigating through the process of licensure at the local and state levels for the (Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act)." The firm has 25 employees and is looking to hire more, specifically those with backgrounds in marketing, graphic design, social media and security. Recently, parent company KTC Industries bought half the building from Bay City businessman Art Dore and rents space to MMLE. The firm currently services about 120 clients. "The clients we service are interested in either investing, business development, or attaining one of five licenses," Lanczak said. The five licenses under the MMFLA are secure transport, safety compliance facility, processing, growing, and provisioning. MMLE also has a municipal side, advising and educating area governments on the state laws. To that end, they recruited a zoning expert, Tom Reif, who travels to municipalities to inform them on rules, regulations, and laws pertaining to the industry laws. "We'll often times have a township call us and say, 'We're really undecided on what to do. We don't know what the right choice for our community is,'" Lanczak said. "Tom actually goes out and meets one-on-one with the township and zoning boards and helps them decide on proper zoning in order to achieve the look and feel that they want for these facilities in their community." Case in point, such consultation occurred with Hampton Township, which has opted against provisioning licenses, also referred to as dispensaries, but is going ahead with the other four, like growing and transport. Hampton Township is one of more than 80 municipalities that has worked with MMLE. In Bay City, the firm is working with five groups interested in obtaining provisioning licenses and 10 interested in manufacturing licenses, Lanczak said. "The challenge is finding real estate that's properly zoned and qualifies," she said. On Friday, Jan. 26, MMLE hosted its first networking event, drawing about 60 people. Speakers Jamie Lowell and Rick Thompson discussed such topics as how temporary licenses are awarded, tax policies, a rundown of legislation, and what implications come with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recently stated rescinding of the Cole Memorandum, which restricts federal marijuana enforcement in states that have legalized medical or recreational use. "His actions seem to have created a response that's very favorable," said Lowell, an activist who co-founded Michigan's first recognized medical marijuana dispensary. "Congress seems to want to shore up this issue and not leaving it hanging as it is. It has created a response that might actually get some clarification for us. It's at least made it clear that he doesn't have significant support to carry through on a lot of this stuff. "Of course a lot of people are concerned, but as it's settled," Lowell continued, "we've learned the discretion of the (federal) prosecutors may be to not make this a priority." LANSING, MI - Attorney General Bill Schuette at a press conference Saturday announced a team he had put together to investigate Michigan State University's handling of former university physician Larry Nassar. "It is abundantly clear that a full and complete investigation of what happened at Michigan State University, from the President's office down, is required," Schuette said. He led the charge on prosecuting Nassar, who pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison in Ingham County Circuit Court. Now, he's broadening his investigation to include the university that harbored Nassar for close to two decades. He announced the team investigating the university, which will be lead by independent special prosecutor and former Kent County prosecutor William Forsyth. Also leading the team's investigation are Assistant Attorney General Christina Grossi, Chief Deputy Attorney General Laura Moody, Chief Legal Counsel Eric Restuccia, Criminal Division Chief Rick Cunningham and Chief Investigator David Dwyre. And Michigan State Police Chief Kriste Kibbey Etue said her department would be dedicating resources to work on the criminal side the investigation. Forsyth said he's been a prosecutor for a long time, and this case was unique. "I've been doing this for over 40 years and in my career I've never seen anything with the scope and breadth of this particular investigation," Forsyth said. Secretary of State records indicate that Forsyth was a donor to Schuette's campaigns for Attorney General, contributing $350 since 2010. Forsyth aims to move quickly but also complete a thorough investigation, he said. He and Schuette talked specifically about Nassar, but indicated the entire university would be under the microscope in the course of the investigation. "No individual and no department at MSU is off limits," Scheutte said. Victims of Nassar have long called for an investigation of the university. At Nassar's hearing his victims put MSU on trial too, recounting all the warning signs the university had since girls and women first started alerting authority figures to Nassar's conduct in the late 1990s. And in 2014, MSU got a Title IX complaint against Nassar and provided his victim with a report stating she did not understand the "nuanced difference" between medical treatment and sexual assault. The university put him back on the job after investigating but while he was still under police investigation, during which time he assaulted another 20 women, according to attorneys representing them in civil cases. Schuette listened to the victims' testimony, and said one takeaway was that "too many voices of too many victims had been unheard for too long." He also hit back at the MSU Board of Trustees, which had called for him to investigate. He said he didn't need their advice on how to investigate and that "frankly they should be the last ones to provide advice given their conduct." He will be sending them a letter asking for the materials from former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation, he said, something MSU previously declined to turn over. "Their response to this simple request will speak volumes about MSU's willingness to cooperate in this cooperation. Conversely, their failure to do so will also speak volumes," Schuette said. He's instructed his department that this is the number one priority, he said, and the entire department will be at Forsyth's disposal for the investigation if needed. The entire board of USA Gymnastics will resign to comply with an order from the U.S. Olympic Committee, according to a report from USA Today. The move comes as USA Gymnastics deals with the fallout from one of its doctors, Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting girls and women, many of whom came to him seeking medical treatment. In a sentencing hearing in Ingham County Circuit Court this week, more than 150 of his victims addressed him in court, but also Michigan State University and USA gymnastics. The U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said in an open letter to Team USA on Wednesday that "all current USAG directors must resign" if USA Gymnastics wanted to avoid decertification. Three members had already resigned recently. In a statement regarding the letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics expressed a willingness to change. "We agree with the USOC's statement that the interests of our athletes and clubs, and their sport, may be better served by moving forward with meaningful change within our organization, rather than decertification," USA gymnastics said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. KALAMAZOO, MI-- People flooded the sidewalks of downtown Kalamazoo in search of the perfect chili Saturday for the 2018 Kalamazoo Chili Cook-off. The annual event, which kicks off Restaurant Week, is a crowd favorite and featured different chili recipes from over 30 different restaurants and businesses Saturday, Jan. 27. First-time attendees Amanda Aguirre and Hector Marin said they looked forward to trying the spicy chili from Taco Bob's. "I like a little kick, so I'll check it out," Marin said. "Chili fanatic," Derek Ketchum said the cook-off is a regular event for him because he enjoys trying different variations of a favorite food. "It's great to see the different recipes everyone comes up with," Ketchum said. After waiting in the long line in front of Taco Bob's, Ketchum said it was "the best spicy chili I've ever had." He rated the heat as an 8 out of 10, but gave the chili a perfect scoring overall. "I felt the heat coming off the top of my head when I came outside," Ketchum said. Detroit residents Louise Taylor and Graham Kato came to the cook-off for the second year and looked forward to trying the chili at Food Dance and Mangia Mangia. Tomato-based chilis, with a "heavy smokey flavor" are favorites for Taylor and Kato, they said. Chris Slocum, owner and chef at Ol' Moose BBQ, served his chili to cook-off participants in Spirit of Kalamazoo. His chili will be the best this year because he keeps it "very simple," using fresh vegetables, he said. "We don't want to mask the flavor with a bunch of crazy stuff," Slocum said. His recipe includes roasted jalapenos and roasted corn, which he described as "a little bit of heat, a little bit of sweet." "Nice and easy, nice and simple. That's how we like to keep it," Slocum said about his approach to the perfect chili recipe. Last year's winner Mangia Mangia had a full restaurant of people waiting to try the city favorite Saturday. The hot chili included a toppings bar with sour cream, cheese, onions and chips. Restaurant owner Maria Dacoba said there was a secret ingredient in this year's chili and if someone could guess it, they'd win a gift card. Just post a guess on the Mangia Mangia Facebook page, she said. KOCHVILLE TWP, MI -- About 100 employers from a variety of industries will attend the 2018 Summer Job & Internship Fair at Saginaw Valley State University. The event is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Curtiss Hall Banquet Rooms. SVSU is located at 7400 Bay Road in Kochville Township. Employers signed up to participate include Saginaw Bay Underwriters, Consumers Energy, Nexteer Automotive, Covenant HealthCare, Mid-Michigan Health, Morley Companies, Duro-Last Roofing, Fabiano Brothers, Children's Zoo at Celebration Square, Amigo Mobility International, Chippewa Nature Center, Great Lakes Loons, Friends of Dan Kildee, PepsiCo and United Way of Saginaw County. These and other participating employers seek to hire sales representatives, engineering interns, entry-level insurance underwriters, therapists, nurses, tellers, camp counselors, teachers and more. Download a complete list of participating employers and open positions here. "Employers want talented people with hard-working ethics, and they see that in our students and the members of the public who show up to our fairs," Mike Major, director of SVSU's Career Services, said in a statement. "It's those qualities -- those 'roll-your-sleeves-up' and 'get-the-job-done' types -- that attract a lot of the companies we work with." In addition to next week's event, SVSU's job fair lineup includes the Manufacturing and Information Technology Employment Fair hosted each February, the Spring University-Wide Employment Fair each April, the Education Employment Fair each June, the Part-time Job Fair each August, the Accounting and Finance Fair each September, the Fall University-Wide Employment Fair each October, and the Health and Human Services Employment Fair each November. Professional attire is recommended. ALPENA, MI -- A $59 million expansion and renovation project is planned for the campus of MidMichigan Medical Center -- Alpena. The MidMichigan Health Board of Directors approved the plans to build a 99,000-square-foot, three-story inpatient tower, which would house private patient rooms. Now, the Michigan Department of Community Health must approve MidMichigan's certificate of need request before construction can begin in spring 2019, according to a MidMichigan Health news release. "Prior to joining MidMichigan Health, our Alpena Board wrestled with the decision to either update the Emergency Department by expanding capacity and providing private exam rooms for our patients or to eliminate our semi-private inpatient rooms and move them to all private rooms," Eric Smith, board chair, MidMichigan Medical Center - Alpena, and member of the MidMichigan Health Board of Directors, said in a statement. "This expansion and renovation is one example of MidMichigan Health investing locally in our community. In fact, one of the many benefits of joining MidMichigan Health is that we have the ability to make private rooms a reality for our patients and these are now the standard of care." MidMichigan Health officials say private patient rooms reinforce a safe, more family centered healing environment, which allow patients to better rest and recover faster. Private rooms help maintain infection control and reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections; they improve the patient experience by providing privacy and quiet surroundings, supporting patients' emotional and psychological well-being during an inpatient stay; and they are more comfortable for family members who stay overnight. The MidMichigan Health Foundation approved a fundraising campaign to provide a portion of the financial support for the project. It relies heavily on the Foundation's Development Council in Alpena which has historically advanced philanthropy gifts for the Medical Center over the years, the release states. "The Development Council in Alpena has always supported the mission of the Medical Center," Ann Burton, member of the MidMichigan Health Foundation Board and Development Council of Alpena, said in a statement. "A recent example was the successful fundraising campaign to help make possible the renovations to the Emergency Department, which is now a state-of-the-art facility, providing care and privacy to patients. We look forward to seeking philanthropic support of this new patient tower." Once construction of the new building is complete, many of the areas in the existing Medical Center will also be renovated. Midland-based MidMichigan Health is a nonprofit health system affiliated with Michigan Medicine, the health care division of the University of Michigan. It covers a 22-county region with medical centers in Midland, Alpena, Alma, Clare, Gladwin and Mount Pleasant. In addition to its medical centers, MidMichigan Health offers both home health care and physician services and has a strong commitment to medical education. MidMichigan Physicians Group provides urgent care and medical offices in more than 30 specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, hematology/oncology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, family medicine and more. The MidMichigan Health Foundation raises funds to support equipment, services and programs for patients and families served throughout the health system. MidMichigan has more than 7,200 employees, volunteers and physicians and provided $90 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2017. Low-cost airline AirAsia India has carried 1.42 million passengers in the December quarter, a growth of 79 percent over the same quarter in 2016. This was despite the fact that its load factor slipped by one percentage point to 85, but was compensated for by an 80 percent increase in capacity, the airline said. However or the full year of 2017, the airline which is a JV between the Tatas and the Malaysia-based Air Asia Group, has carried 4.44 million passengers, up over 81 percent from 2016 and recorded an average full-year load factor of 87 percent, up 1 percentage point from 2016. Air Asia India, which is keen to fly overseas this year, has ended the quarter with a fleet size of 14 aircraft after adding one plane in the quarter and six in the year. In the reporting quarter, it commenced operations in three new routes--Bangalore, Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad, and ramped up the frequency in the Bangalore-Hyderabad sector and also reduced the frequency on Bangalore-Pune sector. Currently, it operates over 100 daily flights connecting 16 destinations with a fleet of 15 Airbus A320s. Earlier this month, managing director and chief executive Amar Abrol had told PTI that he was hopeful of breaking even by the end of 2018 or in the first week of 2019. He expects to be 21-fleet airline by the yearend, which will make it eligible to begin overseas flights. In the September 2017 quarter, it had massively narrowed its net losses to Rs 16.4 crore form against Rs 62.12 crore a year ago, on a revenue of Rs 395 crore, which rose from Rs 175.13 crore a year ago. Abrol had also said they were planning to triple the headcount to over 4,800 by 2020 from 1,612 in 2017 as it would be spreading wings to international skies besides expanding domestic operations. "In 2017, we had 1,612 employees, which we plan to take to 2,569 this year and 3,684 in the subsequent year. By 2020, we expect to have 4,834 people working for us," Abrol had told PTI earlier this month. Abrol said the Bengaluru-based carrier will be completing four years this June and is also likely to double its passenger traffic to 8 million this year from almost 4 million in 2017. "We expect this number to go to 12 million in 2019 and by 2020, we hope to fly 15 million," he added. AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes had also announced a public float for the India joint venture wherein his group controls 49 percent. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More After two consecutive weeks of decline - pharmaceutical stocks bounced back this past week as the overall bullish sentiment in the stock markets has begun to rub on to the sector. The BSE Healthcare rose 1.25 percent in the past week, the benchmark Sensex gained 1.23 percent. Biocon was the biggest gainer rising 7.49 percent, despite the lacklustre Q3 results. The other pharma stocks that gained included Sun Pharma (1.52 percent), Dr Reddy's (2.2 percent), Lupin (2.97 percent), Cipla (2.81 percent), Aurobindo Pharma (0.68 percent), Glenmark (1.84 percent), Torrent Pharma (0.39 percent) and Divis (1.54 percent). Shares of Cadila Healthcare, however, declined 5.49 percent. Here's What Kept the Sector Buzzing: Dr Reddys Q3 results saw the net profit dip by 29 percent to Rs 334.4 crore, but the company improved by 12 percent on its North America business which constitutes US generic business improved by 12 percent (on a sequential basis). North America contributes about 42 percent of Dr Reddys revenues. The profit was helped by one-off licensing income, in addition to traction of generic Renvela or Sevelamar Carbonate and sustained performance of injectable drugs. Dr Reddys said it is expecting re-inspection of its crucial oncology injectable site in Duvvada in the quarter or two. Biocon reported 46 percent decline in net profit to Rs 92 crore in the third quarter ended December 31 due to decline sales of small molecules and biologic divisions, and high interest and depreciation costs related to its Malaysian insulin facility. The US generic business is likely to remain challenging in 2018 for Indian pharmaceutical companies, with pricing pressure of 10-12 percent, according to credit rating agency ICRA. According to ICRA, pricing pressure on the US generic business may sustain for the next 12 months thereby negatively impacting profitability and cash flows before tapering off gradually. Drug maker USV said it is in the process of acquiring a German company to get a toehold in the highly competitive tender market. The German drug maker is said to have sales of around 5 million euros and has 50 marketing authorisations or approvals to market generic drugs. USV expects the German entity to grow 20 million euros in next five years. India Pakistan Business representatives from Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir held a three-day meeting that concluded today in Bangkok (Thailand) and signed an MoU to boost cross-border trade. Secretary General of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (J&K-JCCI) Muzaffar Majid Jan said the three-day meeting of representatives of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jammu, Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and prominent business leaders, Line of Control (LOC) traders as well as women entrepreneurs was convened by Conciliation Resources in Bangkok from 25-27th January. He said important issues concerning each region were discussed by the representatives, the key focus being on the improvement of connectivity across the regions. This was followed by a detailed discussion about the support required by the J&K-JCCI to become more strengthened in order to be able to work towards the facilitation of trade, Jan added. J&K-JCCI extended support to the LoC traders and assured them that the chamber will take their recommendations to respective governments for enhancing this confidence building measure, he said, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed in this regard. The new leadership of the J&K-JCCI assumed office for the new term of 2018, as per the prevailing traditions of this forum. Javid Ahmad Tenga took the position of president, while Rakesh Gupta and Ghulam Murtaza assumed office as joint presidents. The main ideas discussed to promote the LoC trade were inclusion of services in this context and advanced banking arrangements to facilitate a better and more effective trade process. "All the business leaders agreed to take these ideas forward by talking to the governments of India and Pakistan and building confidence in their respective communities as well as amongst the three Chambers of Commerce and Industries," Jan said. The attendees, including women leaders from the three regions Jammu, Kashmir and PoK, also proposed futuristic measures to boost trade and economic and cultural connectivity. The ex-presidents and presidents of the chambers apprised the participants of the previous efforts made to promote the cross-LoC trade. The efforts and leadership of the past presidents to get the Joint Chamber to this point were greatly admired by the participants and it was emphasised that their continued guidance and support for this institution would be highly valuable, Jan said. A farm worker shells a coconut in Samut Songram, Thailand, 75 kilometers (47 miles) south of the capital Bangkok on March 5 2001. Thai coconut farmer Kitti Maneesrikul has developed a clean and cheap fuel from used coconut oil which can be used by cars, trucks and industrial engines. Environmentalists say such renewable fuels should replace fossil fuels, which are contributing to global warming. DWW/CC - RP2DRIIQHYAA India exported coconut products worth Rs 2,084 crore in FY 2016-17, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today. "In the year 2016, we started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the countries from where we were importing earlier. For the first time, desiccated coconut is being exported to the US and Europe in large quantities from India," Singh added. For the first time, India is exporting desiccated coconut to the US and Europe in large quantities, Singh said while inaugurating farmers' training centre cum regional office building of Coconut Development Board (CDB) in Patna. The annual coconut production is 2,395 crore from 20.82 lakh hectare and the productivity is 11,505 coconuts /hectare. Singh also said CDB is promoting coconut production in Bihar. CDB, through its scheme, is also focusing on productivity, processing for coconut products, value addition, marketing, and export promotion in the state, he added. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More By Mazhar Mohammad It was nothing short of a Chartist delight when I discovered breakouts across the time frames as I delve through historical charts of different indices. The conclusion? Each time frame chart was throwing up its own target for Nifty50. On daily time frame target was 11100, on the weekly chart, it is 11533, monthly chart it is 12005, and on the quarterly chart it was about 13,500 on the Nifty50. This bull market which was till now dominated by a handful of sectors with minimal contribution from pivotal names like IT, Pharma, Capital Goods, and Metals are suddenly looking much stronger and robust with broad-based participation as leadership appears to be changing from Financials to IT and becoming much wider. Besides many sectors which were lagging till now have either registered breakouts or on the verge of a breakout on the longer time frame charts which shall facilitate Nifty50 in achieving bigger targets. Is it possible to deliver 20% return year after year? Now, the moot question to address whether this kind of lucrative target is possible after registering 28 percent gain of last year is possible. For that historical data has the perfect answer. In the last bull market of 2003-2008, the market registered a gain of 40-45 percent every year for the next three years in a row from the year 2005-2007. In the bull market of 1990s market saw a minimum 30 percent gain for consecutive years of 1990, 1991 and 1992 in a row. Before that, in 1981, the S&P BSE Sensex delivered 53 percent return after netting a gain of 24 percent in 1980. Based on historical data analysis, it is clear that indices can post a decent 25-30 percent gain year after year. Hence, we cant rule out the lucrative target of 13,000 on the Nifty just because indices already delivered a 28 percent return in the year 2017. Technically, what gives confidence to me is the fact that index consolidated for years 2015 and 2016 and then registered a breakout in the year 2017. This on longer time horizon should be read as a consolidation breakout which should pave the way for bigger long lasting up moves. What is likely to contribute to the rally? After 13 months of relentless upmove led by financials, things are changing fast. The participation is becoming broad-based. Pivotal like IT, Pharma and Capital goods appear to be coming back to life as IT appears to have taken over the leadership mantle for the time being. Software behemoth TCS is leading from the front by hitting new lifetime highs in this sector which was otherwise out of favour and topped out way back in 2015. Similarly, pharma index which also topped out in the year 2015 appears to be bottoming out and is on the verge of a breakout which will be confirmed if it sustains above 10,150 levels. This breakout on the long-term charts is throwing up a big target of around 12,060 which is a gain of 18 percent from breakout points. From the old economy, L&T and JSW Steel hogged the limelight with new lifetime highs whereas Tata Steel is yet to catch up. Metals which were reeling under bear market kind of scenario till February 2016 are yet to get past their 2008 highs and are 25 percent away from that coveted mark. In this bull market, private bankers and NBFCs till now assumed leadership and delivered fantastic returns but some of the largest bankers in the country like SBI, BOB and PNB are still struggling and yet to deliver returns to their shareholders. But, fortunately, tide seems to be turning for PSU Banking space as this index is negotiating downward sloping trend line resistance on the long-term charts for last 4 months and appears to be on the verge of a breakout. Once it manages a sustainable breakout above 4000 levels it will have a long way to go with a decent appreciation of 20 percent which should lead it closure to the test of 2010 highs. What about Valuations: It is rightly said that Value lies in the eye of the beholder. The market may definitely look expensive on the back of historical figures like PE Ratios/ Book Values/Dividend Yield etc. There were instances when Indian Markets traded at a historical PE of 34x in 2000 and at a PE multiple of 50x plus in 1994 and in 1997. Hence, a Historical PE of around 28x at current levels may not be expensive for the smart money which is chasing the stocks at these levels hoping that earnings will eventually catch up. Who knows, George Soross Theory of Reflexivity may be at work which should eventually impact fundamentals in a positive fashion going forward. Critical Technical points to be watched: The key issue to be addressed is about the direction of the market in the near-term which is looking very tricky at this point in time as markets are defying gravity and trying to sit in their own orbit. As there are breakouts on the long-term charts post-budget if the market sustains above 10600 levels market can retain its positive momentum over the medium term. However, significant damage to the current bull market will be done if Nifty50 closes below 10300 on the monthly closing basis. From Elliot Wave perspective, it looks like the current leg of rally from December 2016 lows of 7893, in a very long-term bull market, is wave three which based on our observations, should top out somewhere between March to June of 2018 thereby paving the way for multi-month correction in the form of wave 4 which when culminates pave the way for final leg of bull market. The author is Chief Strategist Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in. The views and investment tips expressed by brokerage firms 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. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More By Hadrien Mendonca Pre-Budget extravagance continues on Dalal Street! The market extended its dream run further as indices recorded rose for the eight consecutive weeks. Largecaps gained momentum as midcaps continued to underperform. Steady corporate earnings so far have kept investors' confidence intact and led to further buying which propped up the indices to fresh lifetime highs almost every day of the week. The Nifty recovered sharply in the last hour of trades on Friday; however, daily chart analysis indicates the index formed a Doji candle stock pattern on Thursday followed by a Hanging Man kind of candlestick pattern on Friday. These are signs of uncertainty and also a possible reversal may be on the cards going forward. With the Union Budget to be announced next week it is advisable to remain cautious and sticking to stock specific activity should be adhered to in the short term. Bank Nifty too recovered towards the end of Fridays session thanks to private banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank which showed immense strength. On the other hand, PSU banks failed to hold on to gains despite the mega infusion announcement by the government. Here is a list of stocks that can deliver up to 6-12% returns in the short term: Vedanta: BUY| Target Rs388| Stop Loss Rs329| Returns 12.4% The stock has been consolidating for over past four weeks and has finally broken out from a Classic Cup and Handle pattern on the daily chart. The 13-DEMA has proved to act as a very strong support every time the stock declined. With Vedanta closing above the neckline of Rs340, it marks a fresh buy signal according to Dow Theory. In addition, volumes have also accompanied the overall price up move which further accentuates our bullish stance on the stock. We expect Vedanta to rally towards its potential target of Rs365. Reliance Industries Ltd: Target Rs 1025, Stop Loss Rs 938, Returns 6.2% Reliance Industries (RIL) has been consolidating for over 12 weeks now and has finally broken out from the Channel pattern on the weekly chart. Volumes have also accompanied the price outburst on the weekly basis. In addition, the relative strength has also reversed from the 60 mark indicating that the current momentum is likely to extend further. We expect, RIL to move higher towards its potential medium-term target of Rs 1025. Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. Coal India Ltd: BUY| Target Rs328| Stop Loss Rs286| Returns 9.6% Coal India is a classic retracement play. The stock had broken out from a Cup and Handle pattern two weeks back. Since hitting highs of Rs 311, Coal corrected and retraced back to the breakout zone of Rs 286 in the previous week. The current move saw the stock once again finding support at the breakout level and rebounded sharply. In addition, the relative strength also reaffirms our bullish stance on the stock. We expect Coal India to rally towards its potential target of Rs 328 in the medium term. The author is Senior Technical Analyst, IIFL. The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Eight people were arrested for damaging a UP Roadways bus near a village in Industrial Area Site 4 here, police told PTI. An FIR was launched at the Link Road police station by the driver and the conductor of the bus against 30 people, including a local councillor, for allegedly torching the bus near Jhanda Pur village on Wednesday night, police said, adding that 18 among the accused were identified. Councillor Jaiveer Singh is accused of allegedly provoking his associates into burning the bus to protest against the release of 'Padmaavat', Assistant Superintendent of Police Anoop Singh said. Driver Devraj Singh and conductor Kapil Singh claimed nearly 50 people intercepted the bus when it was on its way to the Anand Vihar bus terminal at around 10 pm, pelted stones and set it on fire after dousing it with petrol. The driver sustained minor injuries in the incident, the ASP said. Jaiveer Singh was still on the run, he added. Representative Image Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has hailed the remarkable progress of Indo-Japan strategic ties in 2017, describing it as a "great year" for bilateral relations. Kono was speaking at the Republic Day celebration event hosted by India's Ambassador to Japan Sujan R Chinoy at the Indian Embassy here yesterday. "I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of India's Republic Day and to express my appreciation to our host Ambassador Chinoy and Mrs Chinoy. Thank you for bringing us together today to celebrate this important event for your country," he said in his speech. "I feel like I need to speak in Hindi as Ambassador spoke in such good Japanese. My apology for not being able to do that. "Japan and India are strategic partners that share values such as democracy, human rights and rule of law. I was witness to our close relationship last year when I visited India at the gracious invitation of the Indian government. I was struck by our remarkable relationship of friendship and respect," the foreign minister said. "India is one of the most important partners in promoting our Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. In 2017, we saw many positive developments in our bilateral relationship," Kono said as he recalled Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe's visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat where the two leaders held their 10th summit meeting. He noted that economic relations were robust as there are about 1,400 Japanese companies with over 4,800 establishments in India. Numbers that continue to grow every year. Last year was also the year of Japan-India Friendly Exchanges with around 200 cultural events being held in India and Japan. "2017 was undoubtedly a great year for Japan-India relations. I will strive to make sure 2018 is an even greater one. I hope to have a chance to visit India this year. In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for the further prosperity of the people of India and the continued development of Japan India partnership," Kono said. A radicalised Pune-based teenage girl was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police Thursday night following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned ISIS terror group, police said. The girl 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 have 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, the officials said. The state police have 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 girl 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 girl, 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 a 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. New Delhi: Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi addresses a press conference after Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film release Padmaavat at Press Club in New Delhi on Saturday. PTI Photo by Arun Sharma (PTI1_27_2018_000153B) Shri Rajput Karni Sena today said it was ready to pay the money spent on making Padmaavat if it was handed over the film's rights and stressed that the organisation had nothing to do with the incidents of violence that happened over its release. Karni Sena's chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said at a press conference that their members or of any other Kshtariya organisation had no hand in the attack on a school bus. On Wednesday, a mob attacked the school bus carrying 20 to 25 children in Gurgaon, where hundreds of violent protesters took to roads torching vehicles and destroying public property to oppose the film's release. "We are ready for any kind of probe, be it by the CBI or a judicial one. A Rajput can never think of doing such a thing. If we were present there, we would have never let such an attack happen," Kalvi said. He also said that their outfit's members had nothing to do with the violence in Ahmedabad in which vehicles were vandalised outside the malls. Kalvi accused those connected to the film to be behind the attacks. "Yesterday, we did not carry out any protests because it was Republic Day and we respect our nation. But we will continue our protests till the film is taken down from cinema halls," he said, stressing that they would never resort to violence. Kalvi said they were ready to pay Bhansali the money he had spent on making the film. "We are ready to collect the money and pay him if he hands over the rights of the film to us. We will then carry out a jauhar of the film's reels (assign them to flames)," he said. Bhansali's "Padmaavat" starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh finally released on January 25 amid protests and vandalism by disgruntled groups which accused the filmmaker of "distorting historical facts" and wrongful portrayal of Queen Padmavati. Historians, however, are divided on whether Rajput queen Padmavati existed. With seven new rail projects and an ambitious '7-star Village' scheme for gram panchayats announced by the Haryana government, 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 on all these projects, having a total length of 439 km, 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 occurring 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 the 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, a pink star would be awarded to those panchayats that would make an outstanding performance in improving sex ratio, a green star for protection of the 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 dropout, golden star for good governance and silver star would be awarded for participation in a 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. A district consumer forum has held the SBI guilty of deficiency in service for debiting money from a bank account despite a failed ATM withdrawal and awarded a compensation of Rs 3,000 to the account holder. Besides awarding the compensation, the consumer forum in Akola district also directed the bank to refund the wrongly debited amount of Rs 5,000 and pay Rs 2,000 towards the legal cost to the account holder. The complainant, Pradeep Shitre, had approached the forum in September 2017 saying the bank had wrongly debited Rs 5,000 from his account in January that year although he did not receive the cash from the ATM. The forum, chaired by S M Untavle and comprising member Bharti Kethkar, earlier this week passed the order ex-parte observing that the SBI did not appear before it despite issuing notices. Shitre (51), a farmer, said that he had gone to an ATM to withdraw Rs 5,000. When he failed to get the cash from one machine, he used another one, which dispensed the cash. According to Shitre, he immediately received a text message saying that Rs 10,000 was withdrawn from his account. He told the forum that when he followed up with the bank on the matter, it assured him that he would get the refund. However, this never happened, which prompted him to approach the forum. In August, the bank wrote to him, saying both his transactions were successful. The forum, however, noted that the bank neither appeared before it nor submitted the CCTV footage of the transaction involving the complainant. "The CCTV footage was an important evidence, but it was not submitted," observed the forum in Akola district in the Vidarbha region. The forum then directed the bank to return Rs 5,000 wrongly debited from Shitre's bank account and also ordered it to pay Rs 3,000 as compensation and Rs 2,000 towards legal expenses. Supporting US President Donald Trump's tough stance against Pakistan on dealing with terrorism, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai 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. The annual congregation of world leaders in this snow-laden Swiss town concluded on January 26, 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 the 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 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. Switzerland 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, the 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. Trade ministers from various countries including Australia, Japan and Switzerland met for an informal WTO ministerial gathering 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. 29 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. Besides, 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. January 27, 2018 Weekly Review And Open Thread 2018-04 (also Jordan) Jan 15 - Syria - U.S. Traps Itself, Commits To Occupation, Helps To Sustain The Astana Agreement Jan 18 - Syria - Tillerson Announces Occupation Goals - Erdogan Makes Empty Threats A few days later those threats turned out to be not so empty - see below. Jan 20 - Sundry - Shutdown, Ukraine, Omidyar And Syria Jan 21 - Syria - Turks Attack Afrin, U.S. Strategy Fails, Kurds Again Chose The Losing Side Jan 22 - Syria - Some Random Oddities Jan 23 - Calls Upon" Trickery - How Europe Cheats On Iran's Nuclear Agreement Jan 25 - Why Europe Must Reject U.S. Blackmail Over Iran's Nuclear Agreement - An Update Tillerson just said that negotiations between the U.S. on Iran's nuclear deal have started: The working groups have already begun to meet on efforts to agree principles, what is the scope of what we attempt to address and also how much we engage Iran on discussions to address these issues, he said. Oh my ... Jan 25 - Who Lost Turkey?" - The U.S.-Kurdish Project In Syria Endangers NATO There is trouble with another U.S. ally in its war on Syria. Bread prices in Jordan doubled (fr) today after the state removed subsidies. There will be protests and these may developed into something bigger. The country is nearly bankrupt and under severe IMF restrictions. Under U.S. and Saudi pressure Jordan took part in the war on Syria by hosting "rebels", their refuge families and the U.S. "war room". The war cut off the transit traffic from Turkey through Jordan to Saudi Arabia as well as the local commerce with Syria. The Syrian government will only allow regular traffic if it is in control of the border stations. Attempts to achieve that in a truce and to reopen the border with Syria failed over resistance from the "rebels" in south Syria. The policy of accommodating the Saudis and the U.S. has failed. The war on Syria created huge damage for Jordan for no gain. The Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom is also responsible for the Haram esh-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Trump administration's move to take the issue of Israel control over Jerusalem "off the table" and the Saudi acceptance of it has seriously de-legitimized the Jordanian king. Jordan is looking to reorientate its foreign policy. It is moving nearer to Turkey and also held talks with Iran. The next step is probably an invitation for the king for a visit in Moscow. Some Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander has said: "Bush gave us Iraq, Obama gave us Syria and Trump will give us Israel." Maybe not Israel yet, but Jordan looks like a decent mosaic piece in that larger picture. Please use the comments as open thread ... Posted by b on January 27, 2018 at 19:10 UTC | Permalink Comments Waste Control Specialists, which operates a low-level radioactive waste storage facility in Andrews, has been sold, according to a company press release. WCS was sold by Valhi Inc. to J.F. Lehman & Co., a middle-market private equity firm focused on the government, defense, aerospace and maritime sectors. In Focus with Allison Walker is a 30-minute public affairs program, featuring a roundtable of newsmakers representing a range of perspectives, including local officials and expert analysts as they tackle topical issues of importance to Floridians. In Focus airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., right after Political Connections. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has opened what's being called an "active criminal investigation" into former Sen. Jack Latvala. FDLE said investigation launched Friday afternoon Latvala resigned amid probe of sexual misconduct allegations He was longtime lawmaker from Pinellas County The investigation was launched just after 3 p.m. Friday, an FDLE public information officer confirmed. FDLE said it did not have documents or additional information to share since the investigation was only a few hours old. Latvala resigned a few weeks ago amid an FDLE investigation of sexual misconduct allegations. Latvala, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Pinellas County, was accused of making inappropriate comments and unwanted physical contact against a female Senate staff member over a period of four years. His resignation took effect Jan. 5. What started as a selfless act of generosity more than 30 years ago, has now blossomed into a thriving legacy that has no doubt touched the lives of every person in Plainview, Hale County and West Texas. Through the more than $5.3 million donated by the James and Eva Mayer Foundation over the years, local organizations, initiatives and services have been able to flourish and live out their missions to the area. And this Sunday, the community will celebrate that enduring spirit once again as we mark the grand-opening of Covenant Health Plainviews new James and Eva Mayer Surgical Center. The gift from the Mayer Foundation of $500,000 is the single largest gift given by this foundation. And I think that exhibits the importance of this hospital to Plainview and to the area. We are very grateful for this gift, said Keeping the Covenant Capital Campaign Chair, David Wilder. The Keeping the Covenant Capital Campaign was tasked with locally raising $3.5 million of a total $40 million renovation of the entire hospital. We are so thankful for the large donation from the Mayer Foundation, which kicked off the construction of the massive surgical center, which is the first completed phase of the hospital renovation, said Carol Terrell, Senior Foundation and Development Coordinator. Starting at 2:30 p.m., Jan. 28, Covenant Health Plainview is inviting the community to tour the state-of-the-art surgical center as well as offer a collective prayer to bless the new facility. A Plainview native, Eva (Hoyle) Mayer was raised in Seth Ward in the early 1900s. In fact, Seth Wards Hoyle Street, is named after Evas family. After attending the University of Oklahoma, Eva met and eventually married James Mayer of Missouri. James found much corporate success in his career, as he worked for companies including Bell Telephone and Western Electric. Through the years, the Mayers lived in several metropolitan areas across the country. James died in the 1961 while in Philadelphia. After burying her husband, Eva decided to stay in Plainview to care for her mother, Elizabeth Hoyle. Eva stayed busy while in Plainview, befriending many. She was active with the Plainview Womens Club and Covenant Health Plainviews Auxiliary group where she was a volunteer at the hospital. Prior to her death and with no children or other heirs, Eva decided to use her familys wealth to create a foundation to benefit others in the future. With the help of attorney, the late Gene Owen, Eva was able to create the James and Eva Foundation prior to her death in 1982. They worked with Mrs. Mayer because she wanted to create a perpetual, charitable foundation, said Rudd Owen, Genes son. Rudd is a current trustee on the Mayer Foundation. Also trustees for the James and Eva Mayer Foundation are Paul Lyle and Wilder. James and Eva were both very interested in healthcare and finding ways to enhance it. So we thought the new Surgical Center would be something they both would be very proud of. And it does enhance local healthcare significantly. Lyle agreed. She was a gracious, charming person. Just a dynamic person and a very kind and caring person, said Lyle. So the concept of the Foundation supporting this project is just out of heart. Since the creation of the Foundation, the trustees have helped to grow the initiative from $2.2 million to the $4 million its valued at today. And in that time, the Foundation has given more than $5.3 million in donations, 85 percent of which has been donated inside a 35-mile radius of Plainview. Just a few examples of where funds have been donated include; Wayland Baptist University, the Wee Care Child Center, Faith in Sharing, the High Plains Childrens Home, the Salvation Army, the Rainbow Room, the Crisis Center of the Plains, Happy Feet, the Plainview Skate Park, the YMCA, the Ronald McDonald House, the Hale Center Fire Department and much more. I think Mrs. Mayer would be proud of the success of her foundation, Wilder said. Wilder said it is the generosity of foundations like these that help keep Plainview viable and growing. Plainview is very fortunate to have four very significant foundations. The other funds Wilder said, came from the caring and giving people of Plainview and the area. Wilder said hes constantly surprised at the people that give and the stories behind their generosity. One example included Doug and Alice Eubanks, a former loan officer and school teacher that donated $100,000 to Covenant Health Plainview to build a new chapel. Plainview is just so generous, said Wilder, who with his late wife Myrt have raised millions for local projects since the late 1970s. Wilder has been an intricate part in our fundraising effort and has provided volumes of expertise in this campaign; a major factor on why Wilder was asked to chair the campaign drive, said Terrell. On why hes dedicated so much time working to fundraise, Wilder had a short answer. You want to do something that benefits the community and makes it a better place to live, said Wilder. Tasked to raise $3.5 million of a $40 million renovation of Covenant Health Plainview, Terrell, Wilder and community leader, Nicki Logan have been able to raise nearly $2.5 million in just 3 years. Logan agreed with Plainviews willingness to give. I am totally not surprised by the generosity of Plainview and our neighbors in the surrounding communities, said Logan, a former newspaper editor and grant writer. Its really rewarding to be able to help with a project like this. Plainview without a hospital would not be a community. And when its all said and done, and you see what a first class facility we have, I dont think anybody in this area would hesitate in coming here for their medical care. In one last token of gratitude, Terrell thanked the present and past leadership of Covenant Health Plainview for the advancement of our local hospital. Blessing festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28. Guests will meet on Covenant Health Plainviews second floor where they will be greeted and taken to the Same Day Surgery area. The blessing will also be a great footnote in a centennial milestone as Covenant Health celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2018. Several events and festivities are planned throughout 2018 as we look back at our humble beginnings and our vision for faith and healing for the next 100 years. Sundays event will also be the site of a Plainview Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. A psychologist was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his ex-fiancee, who was a marriage counselor. Earlier in the day, jurors convicted Lester Winningham, 59, of murder. Authorities say the licensed psychologist shot Deborah Houchin three times in her Arlington home before dumping her body behind a mechanic's shop in 2005. During three days of testimony, the jury was told how the couple fought often in the months before her death and that the relationship soured after Houchin asked Winningham to sign a prenuptial agreement. Winningham testified in his own defense Thursday, saying he is innocent, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in its Friday online edition. Houchin, 56, owned a marriage counseling clinic and had been engaged to Winningham briefly after meeting him through an online dating service. She helped Winningham set up his practice in Arlington after he received his doctoral degree. He also moved in with her. MERIDEN Three people were arraigned Friday after police said they broke into Meriden Markham Airport twice last May, stealing an Air Force drone and thousands of dollars in other equipment. Anthony Renzi, 20, of 44 Michael Dr., Southington, Robert Argo, 19, of 157 Bunker Ave., and Tiffany Charpentier, 19, of 470 Pomeroy Ave., were arrested Friday. The charges against them include first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, tampering at an airport, weapons in a motor vehicle, third-degree larceny, fourth-degree larceny, five counts of sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy. On May 4, 2017, police investigated a report of an overnight burglary at the municipal airport, 213 Evansville Ave., and discovered a security perimeter fence was left unsecured. The suspects entered the main building after removing a window and unlocking a door, according to a police report. The items stolen included a phone, model aircraft, jewelry, and keys to other buildings, vehicles, fuel systems, and an airplane. The total loss to the city from the theft and damage was estimated at over $4,000. The Civil Air Patrol reported multiple challenge coins stolen. Mustang Aviation reported three firearms stolen including an antique 1860 cap and ball rifle and a .22 caliber Remington Model 522 Viper semiautomatic rifle. On May 6, police responded back to the airport for another report of an overnight burglary. Police discovered entry was gained by bypassing a locked and secured entrance, the report said. Items reported stolen included a drone, computers, hydration packs, survival gear, and specialized electronics owned by the Civil Air Patrol, and a computer owned by the city, the report said. The total loss was estimated at $7,100, the report said. Police checked a fingerprint from a window pane in a database and reported it came back as a match to Argo, the report said. When police spoke to Argo and a juvenile on May 8, both said they were involved in the burglaries and implicated Renzi and Charpentier. When police were granted permission to search Argos home they found a blue Toyota Corolla parked outside that Argo said was used as the getaway car for the second burglary, the report said. The car was later reported stolen in Berlin. Argo, Renzi and Charpentier were all arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on Friday. The judge set bond for Argo at $105,000 and continued the case to Feb. 28. The judge set bond for Renzi at $75,000 and continued the case to Feb. 26. The judge set bond for Charpentier at $50,000 and continued the case to Feb. 28. According to the bail commissioner, Argo and Charpentier have pending cases for charges including first-degree burglary and first-degree larceny, and Renzi has a pending case for third-degree burglary and larceny. MERIDEN A bus driver was taken to the hospital after a school bus carrying students crashed into a Maple Avenue home Friday afternoon. None of the students was reported injured. There was no one in the house at the time of the crash. The bus carrying 11 students from Xavier High School and Mercy High School, both in Middletown, crashed into a home at 11 Maple Ave. about 3:15 p.m. said Deputy fire chief Ryan Dunn. The bus driver was taken to Hartford Hospital. Dunn said. There was no information on the extent of the drivers injuries. The house has been deemed uninhabitable, Dunn said. Eversource Energy responded to cut power. A section of Maple Avenue was closed for about an hour, Dunn said. Staff writer Mary Ellen Godin joins the Morning Record to talk about a discrimination complaint against the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, led by the Meriden-Wallingford NAACP, after the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities held a forum in Meriden Thursday. Advertisement WALLINGFORD Christian Rao, owner of the downtown restaurant J. Christians, is looking to quell rumors that he plans to sell the business. Technically, its not for sale, Rao said. But if someone comes along and says, hey Im going to give you a good price for your restaurant Im going to listen. Around Christmas, someone said the business was going to close in a post on Facebook that was later deleted. After that, Rao said, some seemed to believe he was closing or selling the North Main Street restaurant. It really spread like wildfire, said Rao, who also owns Cafe Ra, right around the corner at 350 Center St. A few people even approached him about buying the restaurant, but they kind of low balled it or they were not in the restaurant business, Rao said. Its just always been my philosophy that your business should always be for sale, he said. If someone wants to buy your business, that means youre doing a good job. But Rao has no immediate plans to close or sell. He recently signed a five-year renewal option on the lease for the building at 9 N. Main St. Rao opened J. Christians in 2011. It is ranked as the number one downtown Wallingford restaurant on Yelp. The restaurant and lounge offers an American-style menu with many traditional southern entrees and is located in a renovated 1920s bank building. Theres a uniqueness to the style of his building, said Tim Ryan, the towns economic development specialist. The building used to house the Wallingford Electric Division, as well as a bookstore, Ryan said. Its one of Wallingfords historical buildings that has converted very nicely into a restaurant, he said. Rao said that if he were to sell the business, he would look for a buyer that planned to keep some of the nostalgic feel to the restaurant. Jonathan Harris, a North Carolina native who led the restaurants kitchen for six years, is returning to the restaurant after being away for two years. He's really excited to come back and get back to his Southern roots, Rao said. mzabierek@record-journal.com 203-317-2279 Twitter: @MatthewZabierek Federal immigration officers across the country will be able to track where vehicles have been after contracting with a Livermore company that keeps a vast database of license plate scans, officials said Friday. James Schwab, a spokesman at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Francisco, confirmed that the agency entered into a contract with West Publishing, which is partnering with Bay Area company Vigilant Solutions to provide the service. The contract was first reported by the news site The Verge. The Montrose Management District, unable to pay its bills, provide services or keep U.S. 59 bridge lights on, will learn Tuesday whether it will be able to resume operations as the district seeks to fight off a lawsuit seeking its dissolution. After a three-hour hearing Friday, a district court judge said he will rule Tuesday whether to extend a court order that prohibits the management district, whose operations are funded by assessments on commercial property owners, from issuing, collecting or spending those assessments. If the judge extends the order, the district could be shut down until a trial is held on the lawsuit. The district is being sued by angry property owners who say that its programs don't benefit them and that the group's assessments amount to taxation without representation. "We're here to tell the district we're never going away. We're never going to quit trying," Andy Taylor, attorney for the property owners, said after the hearing. "We will dissolve you once and for all." The Montrose Management District is one of dozens of improvement districts in Houston authorized by the Legislature to promote economic development and enhance public areas and individual neighborhoods. In Montrose, the district provides services such as security patrols, graffiti removal and colorful lights on the bridges over U.S. 59. Those lights went dark a week ago after Reliant Energy shut them off for nonpayment of the electricity bill. Late Friday, a tweet from Mayor Sylvester Turner's Twitter account said he wants the lights back on and that he'd "pay from my own campaign account until we can find a permanent solution." Lawyers argued Friday in front of state District Court Judge Daryl Moore over the legitimacy of a petition with more than 1,000 petitions seeking that the district be dissolved. The district had denied that petition, claiming it didn't meet the threshhold for dissolution. Bob Rose, a Montrose property owner and plaintiff in both lawsuits, testified Friday that the signatures on the dissolution petition are valid and that has he has documentation proving it. "I'll wager anybody any amount of money that those are valid signatures," he said after the hearing. In a separate case against the district, one that dates to 2012, a judge in October ruled that it illegally collected nearly $6.6 million in assessments and that it must reimburse that money to property owners. That case is now on appeal. The lawsuit under which the temporary restraining order was granted was filed in January. It claims the district collected an additional $1.4 million in assessments made after the earlier case was tried more than a year ago and that the additional money should be reimbursed as well. It also makes a claim that the district should be dissolved based on the petition. If the judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs Tuesday, the district's operations would be suspended until there was a trial, which, Taylor said, could take months or years. Barry Abrams, the district's attorney, declined to comment after the hearing Friday, as did David Hawes of Hawes Hill & Associates, a Houston consulting firm that manages the district. In previous statements, the district has maintained it is operating with its legal charter granted by the state. Commercial property owners within the boundaries of the Montrose Management District are assessed at a rate of 12.5 cents per every $100 of property value. Residential property owners are not assessed. EAST HAVEN Before Lena Daglieres death she relied on a reimbursement program for elderly and disabled Connecticut renters for more than10 years. With her husband deceased and living on a very low income, the East Haven resident received financial help from her sons , but the additional money from the renters rebate program was not only appreciated but needed, according to her son Ken Dagliere, also of East Haven. When youre living on a fixed income, you have other obligations like supplemental insurance, food, rent. That extra couple of hundred dollars helps a lot, Dagliere said. Twelve years after it was implemented, many senior citizens of East Haven rely on the Renters Rebate Program. Many seniors were concerned when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy cut funding for the program due to the budget deficit before adding it back in. The revised Renters Rebate Program restored millions of dollars to the program. It can mean rebates up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single individuals. However, the program has changed. Due to the states major budget problems, towns are now responsible for the first time to pay half of the rebate money subject to a maximum of $250,000. While it may not seem like a large amount of money in the context of the states overall budget, East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. railed againstthe decision to force municipalities to pick up 50 percent of the tab. Quite frankly, financially responsible towns like East Haven should not be penalized because of the States inability to manage its own finances, he said in a press release. Last year, 511 East Haven residents applied for and were grantedaid totaling $278,000 under the renters rebate program. East Haven taxpayers will now have to come up with almost $140,000, according to a press release. Maturo said the reduction in funding to local municipalities amounts to an indirect tax increase. Its just another perfect example of how the States unpredictable economic policies are forcing local towns to scramble and sending people and businesses fleeing for more stable, predictable places to live and work, he said. State Rep. James Albis, D-of East Haven, said with the way the state budget negotiations went this was, unfortunately, the outcome. While it wasnt ideal, he saidEast Haven has done good job over the past several years building up a rainy day fund, so that could be an option short term. Ideally, Id like for the state to pick up the whole cost, so the town doesnt have to bare any of it. In this circumstance, I think its something thats certainly doable from the towns side, Albis said. jessica.lerner@hearstmediact.com; @jesslerner on Twitter "Words have the power to make or break relationships." Rabbi Mendel Blecher of Chabad of The Woodlands is offering "Communication: Its Art and Soul" at the Chabad. The six-session course began Jan. 23 and attendees will be discussing how almost constant interactions with electronic and digital devices are affecting relationships. Using both Jewish literature and contemporary modern studies, the course delves into what it means to truly communicate with someone and how miscommunication affects relationships. The first week's lesson explored the essence of communication and how to do so effectively. In the Torah "(In the Torah) there's a lot of wisdom on speaking, listening, how to effectively use communication to enhance relationships, resolve conflict and have a positive influence on (others)," Blecher said. For example, Proverbs 18:20-21 reads, "From the fruit of the mouth, a person's stomach becomes satiated; with the produce of his lips, he is sated. Death and life are in the hand of the tongue." If a person lacks the ability to effectively communicate with co-workers, superiors and clients, then all of their knowledge in their field of work will not bring success, Blecher explained. This in turn could cause financial problems and the person may go hungry. "Words have the power to make or break relationships," Blecher added. In the Torah, an entire kingdom was split in two (the tribe of Judah and tribe of Israel) because of harshly spoken words. This illustrates how important communication is, he said. Scientists have studied what communication is and the various types of communication. For those who question why faith scriptures should be included on a class about communication, Blecher said it boils down to two types of wisdom-human and divine. "Why focus on Torah sources at all? There's been so many studies about communication, why don't we just use those tips?" Blecher asked. "The answer is there's two different types of wisdom. There's human generated wisdom and there's divine wisdom. When we talk about human wisdom, it's based on trial and error. They do studies on people, come up with statistics-what works and what doesn't work. The Torah however is not trial and error. It's actually the manual and the code behind our experience and existence in its entirety. The Torah is divine wisdom. It's God's wisdom. It is to be understood as the instruction manual that teaches us how to use what's around us or how to interact with what's around us." Blecher used the analogy of learning how to use a new iPhone. It can be taken out of the box and the user can discover how it works through the trial and error of pushing buttons to see what they do. The phone will work well enough, but the fullest potential will never be unleashed with experience alone. That's why an owner's manual is included. If read from cover to cover, all the functions that the phone can perform can be unlocked. The human knowledge of communication through scientific studies is through experimentation to see what works and the Torah is the instructional manual on how to communicate, Blecher said. But what exactly is communication? Speech Reveals and Conceals Communication is not simply speaking. People can talk for hours and communicate nothing with each other, Blecher said. Words can be flowery and complex or short and simplistic. But unless they reveal something about the speaker, they are just words. No communication has taken place. "The essence of communication is soul revelation. Talking can be non-revealing. In order for us to be communicating, communication must reveal something about your inner psyche, your inner soul, your thoughts and your feelings," Blecher said. "What does speech boil down to? Not words. Revelation. Something is hidden and speech reveals that which was contained within," he explained. "Speech is basically revealing what our inner thoughts and our inner feelings are to somebody else." While speech reveals inner thoughts, it also conceals many more that are running through a person's mind. According to the Torah, God created the universe by speaking. In order to do so, he had to limit his infinite knowledge and concentrate on a single word or idea. "(Speech is) revealing but on the other hand, it's concealing. The truth is it has to be so because God is infinite," Blecher said. "There has to be a revelation, but the revelation has to have brakes on it. There's got to be valves on it because it's a tremendously powerful revelation coming from the infinite, so there has to be a contraction and limiting as well." Blecher again used the analogy of a cell phone. If a person plugged a charger into the phone and then tried to plug the charger into a nuclear power source, the phone would be fried. The output is so powerful that the small device would break and become useless. Without limitation, or concealment, communication can be overwhelming. Another example is a person's train of thought. If a wire could live feed one person's thoughts to another, it would be unintelligible - just a rapid and jumbled string of words. "Speech requires us to filter and express what's going on inside of us. We want to reveal what's there, but it has to be limited and come out in a clear and a structured way. So the concealment is for the sake of accurately and effectively revealing ourselves," Blecher explained. --- There are five more sessions planned for the course. Two options are available: Tuesday evenings at 7:15 p.m. or Wednesday mornings at 11 a.m. The payment is structured for all six sessions, but Blecher is offering a pro-rated amount for those who only attend a few classes. The first class for newcomers is free so they can decide if they want to attend more. Those interested can call 281-719-5213 or visit www.JewishWoodlands.com/learn for registration and other course-related information. LONDON - President Donald Trump said Friday that he was ready to apologize for retweeting anti-Muslim videos from an ultranationalist British group, and he reiterated his assertions that he is not a racist. In an interview with the "Good Morning Britain" television program, Trump was pressed by Piers Morgan, the presenter, about his November retweet of three videos circulated by a far-right fringe party called Britain First. The retweets caused outrage in Britain and brought a rebuke from Prime Minister Theresa May, who described the president's posts as "wrong." Trump said repeatedly Friday that he knew "nothing" about the group's politics. He said the tweets showed his concern about the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. "If you are telling me they're horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize if you'd like me to do that," the president told the ITV broadcaster. Reaction in Britain was mixed to Trump's rare offer to admit a mistake. Many Britons noted that it wasn't really an apology; others said it was close enough. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president appeared to be working to reset frayed relations with May and Britain, traditionally America's closest ally but now a country where Trump is so unpopular that governments on both sides of the Atlantic fear the mass demonstrations that would likely greet him on a visit to London. Sitting beside May on Thursday, Trump dismissed the idea of division between the two as a "false rumor." "We're on the same wavelength, I think, in every respect," Trump said. "And the prime minister and myself have had a really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that, but I can tell you it's true." Trump said he thought "the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot." He and May are "very much joined at the hip" on security challenges, he added. May was more circumspect. "We, too, have that really special relationship between the U.K. and the United States," May said. "It's at each other's shoulders. We face the same challenges across the world, and . . . we're willing to go and to defeat those challenges and meet them." When May first met Trump at the White House in January 2017, she was photographed holding his hand - an image that brought ridicule and discomfort back home. The optic was particularly problematic because many in Britain believe that in 2003, then-Prime Minister Tony Blair was led under false pretenses into a ruinous war in Iraq because of his overly chummy relations with President George W. Bush. At that White House meeting last year, May invited Trump for an state visit to Britain, which traditionally would include pomp, parades and an audience time with Queen Elizabeth II. The prime minister's office has said the visit is likely to come in the latter half of 2018. But British politicians, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have said that Trump is not welcome. Activists have predicted that Trump's appearance would spark the largest demonstrations in London since protests against the Iraq War in 2003. In the television interview Friday from Davos, Morgan asked Trump what he thought about opposition to his visit by the likes of Khan and Corbyn. "I don't care. I don't care. It's just one of those things. I don't say anything. You know why? I don't care," Trump said, adding: "The real me is somebody that loves Britain, loves the U.K. I love Scotland." Trump listened as the interviewer described Britain First, which presents itself as a political party but is widely seen as an extremist group targeting Muslims, as "racist." The president denied having any knowledge of the group when he shared three videos from Jayda Fransen, its deputy leader. "Of course I didn't know that. I know nothing about them, and I know nothing about them today other than I read a little bit," Trump said. "I don't know who they are. I know nothing about them, so I wouldn't be doing that." He added, "I am often the least racist person that anybody is going to meet." After Trump retweeted the videos, Fransen expressed joy, tweeting "God Bless You Trump!" and noting that the president has 44 million Twitter followers. Fransen was convicted of religiously aggravated harassment in November 2016 after abusing a woman wearing a hijab and was arrested a year later for a speech in Belfast that allegedly used "threatening, abusive, insulting words." The videos showed alleged violent acts carried out by Muslims, including one of a teenage boy on crutches being beaten by a young man purported to be a "Muslim migrant." Dutch authorities said the assailant was actually born and raised in the Netherlands and was punished under Dutch law. A statement from the British prime minister's office later said it was "wrong" to share such materials that promote "hateful narratives." Trump, in turn, responded on Twitter. In a tweet that initially was directed at the wrong person, he wrote: "Theresa @theresamay, 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!" Many in Britain felt that Trump was almost gloating over terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. They also pointed out that during the same period, there were repeated mass shootings and attacks in the United States by domestic assailants. --- Schemm reported from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. South San Antonio Independent School District trustees filled a vacant board seat Thursday night and extended the application period for a second seat after no eligible person applied for it. At a special meeting, the board unanimously appointed Edward Mungia, 24, a staffer for City Councilman Rey Saldana, to serve as trustee for the District 3 seat held by Linda Longoria, who resigned in October without providing a reason. Mungia was selected from three applicants in the first major decision the South San board has made since the exit last week of the districts state-appointed conservator. The District 6 slot vacated in December by Helen Madla-Prather, who cited plans to move outside her district, had no valid applicants. One person applied but withdrew because of residency issues, district spokeswoman Jocelyn Durand said. Trustees voted to extend the application period to Feb. 1. Both appointed replacements will face re-election in November. Mungia has worked for Saldana since early 2016, first as an intern and then as constituent services and special projects manager. He graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans in 2015 with a bachelors degree in political science. A San Antonio native, he attended schools in North East Independent School District, graduating from the International School of the Americas, a magnet school. During his interview with the board Thursday, Mungia said his priorities as a trustee would include promoting transparency, helping the community better understand the districts budget and improving student transportation and safety. Mungia said in an interview that the Texas Education Agency will still be keeping an eye on South San even after the end of its formal oversight. The test for the board, he said, will be whether trustees can maintain the professionalism and practices they established under their state-appointed conservator. Im really concerned that the next time the state gets involved, it will be a worse situation, Mungia said. Its a really critical time. Outside of governance problems, in recent years the district has also struggled with declining enrollment and revenue. To address those problems, Mungia said South San needs to continue rehabilitating its public image and highlight student successes to help attract and retain students. He also proposed meeting regularly with state representatives to address problems with funding and resources. We need to prove to people that the mistakes of the past are the past, Mungia said. To head off potential conflicts between his service as trustee and work for the city, Mungia said he will regularly consult with city and school district attorneys. He said he would funnel any school district concerns, such as those related to infrastructure, to other staffers in Saldanas office and avoid meetings in City Council District 4 that involve South San business. Mungia was appointed after two rounds of public questioning, beating out former South San trustee Denice Jimenez and business owner Alex Dovalina. Jimenez served as a South San trustee from 2002 to 2004. During her tenure, her husband, Robert Tinker Garza, was indicted alongside Raul Prado, husband of longtime South San trustee Connie Prado, in a Texas Rangers investigation of corruption at the Alamo Community College District. As part of a plea deal, Garza admitted he solicited thousands of dollars in cash contributions from ACCDs legal counsel for Jimenezs South San trustee campaign, funds that were not disclosed in her campaign contribution reports. Jimenez resigned from her post two years into her four-year term, citing personal reasons and plans to move outside her district. Twenty-Five years ago the media scene in San Antonio changed forever when the last issue of the San Antonio Light hit the streets Thursday, Jan. 28, 1993. After more than a hundred years, and many decades of being part of a two-paper city, Hearst turned out The Light after purchasing the rival paper, the Rupert Murdoch owned San Antonio Express-News. RELATED: 1993 - The year the Light went out Hearst operations in San Antonio were transferred to the Express-News and some Light employees were hired onto the Express-News staff. So journalists who had just days before been heated competitors, were now forced to integrate and get along. Twenty-five years later, more than a few of those Light/Express-News employees once part of that rivalry and sometime testy integration still bust their backs (but never deadline) to bring San Antonio its news. Part of that mashing together of brands and news philosophies was a photo archive that had doubled in size. READ ALSO: Photos show life in San Antonio 30 years ago in 1988 In looking at those archive photos we have discovered a visual history of San Antonio. From early labor struggles of the 1930s in downtown and visits from Babe Ruth and presidents, to the very first animals at the San Antonio Zoo and San Antonio's first recorded big snowfall in 1949, you will be enthralled with these photos. Stay turned onto mySA.com throughout the year as we search and bring you more photos, and memories, from the San Antonio Light archives. DAVOS, Switzerland - Snow was piled high outside, but inside the Davos summit, relations between President Donald Trump and the assembled global elites seemed to thaw. Before Trump's debut appearance at the World Economic Forum, critics speculated that the president would function as a protectionist bull in the free-trade-loving china shop. After all, this was a former reality television star who rode a wave of nationalist angst to the White House, blew up international trade deals and inflamed allies with his coarse rhetoric. That uncertainty was clear as Trump arrived at the conference center Thursday. A hush fell on the crowd of people snapping photos and then someone asked the president how he would be treated. "You tell me," Trump shot back. Overall, not that bad. While there were scattered protests, some critiques and many panel discussions with Trump-wary titles - "Democracy in a Post-Truth Era" and "The Global Impact of America First" - the president's visit also brought him praise from allies, a reception in his honor and a fawning dinner with European business executives. "I think I have 15 new friends," Trump enthused about his business dinner. Before Trump's centerpiece speech on Friday, attendees crowded around an international buffet in an open hall, dining on curry and empanadas, before filing into the brightly lit hall. "Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs and your investments to the United States," the cheerleading president told the crowd, which seemed to regard him with a skeptical eye. Applause was light, but the reception was generally polite. Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab did draw some hisses in his introduction of the president when he said Trump's presidency could be subject to "misconceptions and biased interpretations." And Trump himself got a laugh about how he's always been the recipient of good press coverage - but that quickly turned into boos when he made a crack about the "fake" media. Taking time for some diplomacy, Trump exuded affection in a Thursday meeting with close ally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and earlier played nice with British Prime Minister Theresa May, batting away the idea of a strained relationship. On Friday, he worked to mend relations with a key African leader following his use of a vulgar term when referring to African nations. Rwandan President Paul Kagame said they had "good discussions" on economic and trade issues. This week, to hear Trump tell it, not only did he come to Davos, but he also made Davos better. Said Trump: "We have a tremendous crowd and a crowd like they've never had before." Cracklin Rosie was my first favorite. Only it wasnt quite Cracklin Rosie as the legendary Neil Diamond wrote it or performed it. It was called Rosa Marchita, and it was sung in Spanish by Mexican pop star Roberto Jordan, who rode a new wave of cover translations into the early 70s. My parents tell me how, nearly 48 years ago, their baby lit up when the tune came on one of those radios that looked like a shoebox with a dial on it. My daddy remembers nonsensical baby noises and little arms bouncing along to the music; my mom remembers a tiny voice singing along to the line la pobre flor the first memorized lyric! I was on the other side of 2 years old then, so I dont remember the details. All I remember is the feeling that came from the first few notes a feeling of complete, unfiltered happiness. Neil Diamond made that happen. A few years later, after my little brother arrived, my family spent hours in the Ford pickup on Friday nights on the way to visit our out-of-town grandparents. Together, we learned all the words to everything that came over the eight-track player; sometimes it was Elvis Presley or Julio Iglesias, other times it was Vikki Carr or The Carpenters, Jose Alfredo Jimenez or the Grease soundtrack. One Friday, my dad showed up with Neil Diamonds Hot August Night. My mom looked at the sticker on the cover of the cartridge. It was a shaggy-haired Neil Diamond on stage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, presumably on the night the live album was recorded, swathed in denim. He looks, I remember her saying with a generous dose of self-righteousness, electric. Hes the guy who wrote Rosa Marchita, my dad said in Diamonds defense. It became a road-trip staple. More important, though, it became something I could talk about in the cafeteria during lunch with kids whose parents forced them to listen to the uncool stylings of Neil Diamond on their way to school. I didnt know I was so uncool; my mom was singing along to Camilo Sesto in those years, and only one other kid at Olmos Elementary School knew who he was. At least Neil Diamond sang in English! But during those lunchtime conversations in which I was figuring out how exactly I was going to fit in, I learned how much cooler I could be if I listened to Shaun Cassidy, Styx or Earth, Wind and Fire instead of my precious Neil Diamond, whom I secretly loved. Yet, despite the uncool factor, everyone knew all the words to Song Sung Blue, just like me because, I firmly believe, those sounds made every one of those snotty little naysayers happy. Neil Diamond made that happen. There are experiences that bring us together as a specific generation of Americans, such as remembering the songs that were playing on the radio in the front seat while we were fighting with our little brothers in the back seat. Those experiences are brighter and bolder when they are accompanied by sounds and melodies. There are feelings that transcend language, experiences that are far too big to put into words, that enhance the beauty and challenges that shape our lives. And there are tunes that make us want to sway and smile despite the threat of looking a little goofy, just because they are that good. Thats what Neil Diamond made happen. Last week, Diamond announced his retirement from touring after having been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. At 77, he has said that he hopes to continue writing and recording. I hope that he does. Theres still too much that cant be put into words. mariaanglinwrites@gmail.com Chuck Schumer started a government shutdown he couldnt finish. The New York Democrat, among the shrewdest operators in national politics, stumbled badly because he succumbed to the siren song of the anti-Trump resistance. He believed that any charge could be made to stick to President Donald Trump, no matter how implausible, and chose the dictates of an inflamed Democratic base over common sense. His embarrassing climbdown after a short, mostly weekend shutdown shows the limits of the resistance. Yes, an anti-Trump midterm wave appears to be building, and Democratic activists marching in the streets by the tens of thousands and badgering Republicans at town hall meetings are energized. But this doesnt mean that Democrats can act with impunity so long as they are fighting under an anti-Trump banner. Schumer sought to attach an extraneous matter, an amnesty for so-called Dreamers, on a must-pass government funding bill and, when Democrats inevitably didnt get what they wanted, blame President Trump for the ensuing government shutdown. This effort depended on gravity-defying spin that proved sustainable for less than three days. The fact is that the Republican House handily passed a bill to keep the government open, with the support of the Republican president. Almost every Republican in the Senate voted to pass that bill through the upper chamber where it required a supermajority of 60 and therefore some Democratic votes while almost every Democrat in the Senate opposed it. Republican leaders said they didnt want a shutdown and urged Democrats not to force one. It was always going to be true that people, even reporters, were going to notice all this. The press wasnt hostile to the Democrats over the shutdown, but it wasnt uniformly compliant, either. The left objected to a headline on a New York Times news alert right after the shutdown vote on Friday night: Senate Democrats blocked passage of a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open. Its not clear how a remotely honest news writer could have described it any other way. If the media couldnt be counted to be on board, neither could everyone in the party. In what is a persistent temptation for Democrats, Schumer forgot that the rest of the country doesnt regard Trump with the deep disdain and abiding alarm of the coasts and the major metropolitan areas. The party still has senators in red states that the president won handily who cant afford to indulge in anti-Trump flights of fancy. Five of them defected on the initial shutdown vote, and more would have broken with Schumer if the shutdown had endured. When Schumer was forced to buckle, it outraged a base that believes Trump needs to be resisted on all fronts and chased from office as soon as possible, and considers anything less the work of quislings. Nancy Pelosi didnt back the deal to reopen the government, and the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said of Senate Democrats: They are getting their butts kicked. The co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee pronounced it a cave. The political director of CREDO, a progressive advocacy group, called Schumer the worst negotiator in Washington. Hes not the worst negotiator, but he acted in flagrant disregard of the first and most important rule for winning a government shutdown dont be the one to shut down the government and paid a price. Its only a tactical defeat, and perhaps a temporary one. In exchange for Democratic votes for a temporary funding measure, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised to hold votes in coming weeks on DACA and other immigration measures. Theres still a good chance that Democrats can force a bad DACA deal, given that the GOP is divided on immigration and President Trump might be tempted to sign up for anything as long as theres notional funding for a wall. So, Schumer lives to fight another day, but can only do it shrewdly if hes more realistic than the resistance. comments.lowry@nationalreview.com It was probably only a matter of time before some unbalanced person decided that he needed to take out a few members of the fake news media. And it was inevitable that his actions in this case, his threats would be placed at the feet of Donald Trump, who has spent a considerable amount of time and energy demonizing the media. If youre a disturbed 19-year-old, then maybe you hear a call to arms from the commander in chief. Fortunately, Brandon Griesemer didnt hurt anyone, nor did he travel to CNNs Atlanta headquarters as he allegedly threatened to several times over the course of two days and 22 phone calls to the cable network this month. FBI agents tracked Griesemer down in Novi, Michigan a Detroit suburb and charged him with interstate communications with intent to extort, threaten or injure. He made an initial appearance in court Jan. 19 and is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond until his next hearing in February. This arrangement would seem to suggest that Griesemers alleged threats have been deemed unserious enough to warrant his release, but this is cold comfort to the many journalists who recently have felt that they have a target on their backs. Im not alone in having received death threats and other unpleasant suggestions when Ive written critically of Trump. Whether this is at least partially Trumps fault is an interesting question without a convenient answer. One can reasonably argue that Trump isnt to blame for what others do or say. On the other hand, one could also posit that when the president targets journalists or media institutions by name in his frequent fake news rants, he bears some responsibility for what happens as a result, assuming a direct connection can be made. Trump has said, after all, that he prefers Twitter to reporters because he can talk directly to people. Tweeting for him is like whispering in someones ear a few million at a time. This false intimacy can be almost like having a conversation, as Ive heard many of his supporters say. Given this perception and the relative novelty of social media, is it time to expand the definition of conspiracy or to tweak laws against yelling fire in a crowded theater? When a pattern of incitement can be demonstrated, should the inciter be held accountable? Excerpts from the calls, which were also laced with anti-Semitic and racist language, suggest a familiarity with the presidents messaging: Fake news. Im coming to gun you all down, the caller said. (Expletive) you, (expletive) (n-words). I am on my way right now to gun the (expletive) CNN cast down. (Expletive) you. Im coming for you CNN. Im smarter than you. More powerful than you. I have more guns than you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours. Not really so smart, it would appear or armed. Griesemers father told the Washington Post that neither he nor his son owns any guns. As much as Id like to impugn the president, a temptation he seems to enjoy nurturing, its premature and probably dangerous to link his idiotic fake news diatribes with this man whose apparent unhinging could be attributable to any number of factors. Who knows what thoughts the caller harbored or what rage simmered within? Is he a tortured soul, a bullied child, a friendless dreamer? Was he hoping to act on his rants, or was he exploring his capacity for vileness? Without a statement or a manifesto, as these things tend to go it would be impossible to discern whether Trumps was the voice in his head. There is surely no paucity of people who harbor an irrational hatred for the media. All journalists have heard from them, which is why our workplaces are fortresses and why we glance a third time over our shoulders before turning the corner toward home. Trump didnt create those people or their distemper but he did make a conscious decision to mine and legitimize their darkest inclinations in exchange for power. This alone doesnt make him culpable if someone goes off the deep end, but it does make him a despicable human being, which is bad enough. In a president, its unpardonable. kathleenparker@washpost.com If Gov. Greg Abbott is serious about lowering property taxes for Texans, he will need to do better than the latest plan he has offered. This plan takes bad ideas from the last legislative session and amplifies them. It targets cities and counties, and fails to adequately address school finance. We cant state this clearly enough: Surging property taxes are directly linked to school finance. The state is not adequately funding public schools, even as school populations swell from growth. So districts are forced to make up the difference through property taxes. RELATED: 15 ZIP codes where residential properly values rose the most in San Antonio in 2017 According to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, local school districts account for 55 percent of property taxes. Cities and counties are much smaller players in property tax bills. Abbotts proposal would cap annual revenue increases for local governments to 2.5 percent. Last legislative session, lawmakers sought to cap annual revenues for cities and counties at either 4 or 6 percent. That legislation, which failed, was bad enough, but Abbotts plan goes further. Not only are the revenue caps lower, but they also include school districts. The inclusion of school districts in this proposal is recognition from Abbott that, indeed, school finance is key to this issue. But it also makes his measure worse than previous efforts because his remedy for school finance is vague and inadequate. In other words, hes seeking to control district spending without adequately improving state spending. For example, his proposal forbids new state mandates on local governments, but is silent on existing mandates. And he offered only vague language about state spending, saying the state should be prepared to increase its share to the extent necessary to ensure that public schools have access to the funding they need. That sounds great, but if history is a guide, the state wont increase funding to the extent necessary. If it had, your property taxes would be much lower. READ MORE: New report shows which ZIP codes in San Antonio are doing the best economically The Texas Commission on Public School Finance met for the first time recently. It is tasked with developing legislative recommendations for funding public education. The governor is running for re-election this year, and property taxes remain a hot-button item for voters. This proposal, coming before substantive recommendations can even be formed, smacks more of politics than substantive policy. Abbotts proposal also would require a two-thirds vote for school districts, cities, counties or other special districts to break the 2.5 percent cap, and it would limit how that spending could be used. We question the need for a vote at all, but if there is one, why would a simple majority vote be inadequate? Abbotts proposal also is silent on the flawed appraisal process for commercial properties, a huge factor in residential property tax pain. Unlike residential properties, commercial property sales are kept secret. It creates a huge loophole that shifts the tax burden onto homeowners. As it stands, its highly unlikely Abbotts proposal would provide meaningful tax relief. But it could create major headaches for school districts, cities and counties that use property tax dollars to provide essential services to residents. The governor is at his best when he is a leader for all Texans and doesnt unnecessarily stoke divisions. Think of his response to Hurricane Harvey. But this proposal targets cities and counties, tramples local control and doesnt adequately address school spending or tax relief. On property taxes, Texans deserve better. COMMENTARY: Property taxes, bail and drunken driving fees a triad of unfairness I think that insulting and showing disrespect for other races and other countries, tweeting like a teenager and speaking whatever occurs to him off the top of his head, without thinking about how it sounds, and using words like shithole to describe anything, even an outhouse, is undignified and unacceptable for the president of our country. Virginia Castro Stifle partisanship A year ago, my husband and I attended the inauguration in Washington, D.C., along with thousands of happy people certain that, at last, America would get back on the right track. There was such joy all around us! I was shocked upon our return to the hotel to see the vitriol spewing from the media the media liberal bias was consistently distorting what was happening. The next day, the Womens March brought a whole new mood to the city. These women carried vulgar signs and pushed people out of their way. They left behind piles of trash and a feeling of hate. But the media gave glowing reports! One year later, sadly, things have not changed with the media still ignoring all the good things that have happened due to the Trump administration. How about the wonderful fact that African-American and Latino unemployment is at an all-time low? The stock market is at an all-time high, 2 million new jobs have been created, consumer confidence is at an all-time high, 2 million fewer people are on food stamps. Please swallow your partisanship and celebrate the growing improvements to America. Mary Johnson Party backs Medina Re: Soules lends his own advice to campaign, Brian Chasnoff, Saturday: Chasnoff states Manuel Medina perplexed and perturbed many in his own party. This gives the impression that the party is somehow divided and that he is losing support within the party. Nothing could be further from the truth. Under Manuels leadership, the Bexar County Democratic Party has created financial stability and electoral success not seen in the party for a long time, and he enjoys the support of the vast majority of party members. The 2018 elections are extremely important for the Democratic Party, and I look forward to Manuel Medina leading the party to an even more successful election than he did in 2016. Michael Costello Re: Trump delivers stunning remark on immigration, front page, Jan. 12: Even though I was born in the U.S., I lived in Haiti from ages 3 to 16, and I attended high school there. My father, in his wisdom, registered me at Saint-Louis de Gonzague, run by the Freres de lInstruction Chretienne, instead of the American Union School. I received a better education there than I would have in any high school in my home state of Florida in geography, history, languages, geometry, algebra and even calculus. In these subjects, I believe I got a better education than my children did at Trinity University and the University of Pennsylvania. The only subjects that were deficient were the sciences, such as chemistry, applied physics and astronomy. If those subjects define what it means to be from an advanced country, then by all means, I received a poor education. But by all the parameters that define what it means to be an educated person, my Haitian education has served me well, and I take offense at the presidents remarks. Michel Laham, M.D. Profanity explained I was so relieved to discover that Donald Trump did not use the word shithole in referring to certain countries from Central America and Africa. I was sure he was misquoted, especially when I heard a senator I think his name was Perdue say the president did not use the word. I have discovered that Sen. Dick Durbin was mistaken. President Trump, according to others present at the meeting, used the term shithouse, not shithole. This is clearly a more accurate descriptive term. The word shithole just did not make sense to me. What a relief. John H. Lindquist What trickle-down? I love the presidents idea of trickle-down. Surely everyone is getting a raise and even bonus money. The stock market is booming, so stocks are up and companies are making even more money so it can trickle down to you. Oh! You did not get a raise? The money went to the boss and a few others? Surely you will get one real soon, but just in case, maybe you better not count on it. At least teachers should finally get a raise because everyones property taxes went up. So, you are a teacher and you did not get a raise? Surely, schools do not expect someone with all that student-loan burden to go without a raise. Everyone knows there are managers at fast-food restaurants who make more than teachers, but managers must teach kids how to make the burgers. Love trickle-down! Jim Denton, Gatesville New monikers Re: I tot I taw a tweet, Your Turn, Jan. 17: As far as nicknames for Donald Trump, how about Trumpelthinskin or Trumpty Dumpty? Audrey Dlugosz Leadership lacking How irresponsible of Congress not to discuss and approve the federal budget when its due. They cannot approve the many bills they seek, so they decide to take their ball and go home. These continuing resolutions are just another way for our politicians to play games rather than do their jobs. We, the people, need to become more involved and contact our congressional representatives to tell them what we want. Hank Forrest Judicial overreach Re: Public mistrust of political leaders at a new high, Rudy Apodaca, Dec. 3: Judge Rudy Apodaca asserts that public officials deserve mistrust because of malfeasance or errors in judgment. He illustrates his point by arguing, In the judiciary, for example, some judges, aware of the publics tenor, turn their backs on judicial independence and render decisions not based on whats right, but on whats popular with the public. Such conduct by judges should incur public mistrust if failing to do whats right means failing to follow the law. The principal reason for public mistrust of the judiciary, in my view, is the perception that some judges, rather than impartially deciding cases according to law, apply their political predilections and personal preferences to do whats right by dictating public policy that rejects what they believe, as described by Judge Apodaca, to be extremism or radical ideas. Judicial independence means adhering to the rule of law regardless of public opinion and political pressure. Robert R. Barton, senior district judge, Kerrville Again, a republic Re: U.S. under attack, Your Turn, Jan. 19: When are the letter writers and the editors of this newspaper going to realize our nation is a capitalist republic and not a socialist democracy? Durand C. Waters, Windcrest Its therapy, yall Sometime ago, you published a funny commentary by John Eubanks about Southern speech (Swannee! Hes fixin to talk words, Another View, Aug. 19). It reminded me, fondly, of my Southern roots Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina. Bless your pea-pickin heart. It has come in handy dealing with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I have bad COPD from secondhand smoke, pollution and several bouts of pneumonia. After using all the medications and technology, my hospice nurse told me to revert to my Southern drawl to better cope with my use of oxygen. That is hard to do after living in Texas for over 40 years. Ida C. Jones Libertarians: There's a billion words out there OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO LOSE ONE WORDDown Syndrome community calls for Netflix to remove comedy special for hate speechThe Down Syndrome community is asking Netflix to remove Tom Seguras comedy special for alleged hate speech against people with the syndrome.In the comedy routine, called Disgraceful and released earlier this month, Segura complains about not being allowed to use the word retarded.He argued that since he wasnt using the word to refer to a specific person, he should be allowed to say the word in regards to a situation.We were never like, Look at that guy! he said.You said it to describe an idea, or a situation, you know? [] But now you cant say that. Now youve gotta be like, Thats not smart. Your idea has an extra 21st chromosome, if you ask me.People with Down Syndrome have developmental challenges because they were born with three 21st chromosomes, instead of two.At time of publication, Over 65,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org trying to convice Netflix to remove the special.The words used in this program are wrong, offensive and by definition is hate speech against the Down Syndrome community, the petition, which was started by a parent of a child with the condition, reads.By allowing people like Mr. Segura to make a joke of the daily struggle this community faces for the sake of promoting his brand is morally wrong.People with Down Syndrome are also speaking out against the Netflix show. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser S Subhakeerthana By Express News Service CHENNAI: It seems just like yesterday, but its already been more than 40 years since legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja made his debut with Annakili (1976).Brace for some monumental figures. During this time, hes worked on more than 1,000 films and composed more than 6,500 songs in various languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Take a deep breath and let those figures sink, for, we may never see another composer be as prolific again. IN PICTURES | Unsung heroes: Padma Award winners During this illustrious career, he has collaborated with legendary directors like Bharathiraaja, Balachander, Balu Mahendra, and Mani Ratnam, and the union has resulted in enduring musicals like Sindhu Bhairavi, Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, Punnagai Mannan, Mouna Raagam This space wouldnt suffice to list the historical films hes helped make. Hes won five National awards, received the Padma Bhushan, and now, won the Padma Vibhushan too. Hes come to be called Isaignani. Heres the most astounding, remarkable aspect of his career: he continues to be active. He worked on more than five films last year, and looks set to repeat the feat this year too. His arrival into the Tamil music scene of the 70s came as a breath of fresh air, like the arrival of great artists often do. Lyricist Snehan notes that it marked an experimental phase in Tamil cinema, which had till then remained cautious with classical and semi-classical tunes. Its not that he didnt demonstrate those skills, but he was also able to bring his own flavour into his music a rooted aesthetic that got through to the common man, he says. Snehan considers himself fortunate for having had the opportunity to write lines for a Bharathiraaja teleserial, Thekkathi Ponnu, that Ilaiyaraaja composed music for. From having known the composer a bit, Snehan says, Hes a child at heart. Hes straightforward and sometimes thats why he gets misunderstood. There are very few people who truly know him well. The lyricist believes hes one. I know of cases where despite his stature, he has composed music for free, because he liked the script. Actor-director Parthiepan still remembers how desperate he was to get Ilaiyaraaja to compose music for his debut film, Pudhiya Paathai (1989). But I managed to work with him for my second film, Pondaati Thevai. Its an aspect that the composer has always been noted for: his eagerness to work with new talent. He has never failed to recognise fresh talent, Parthiepan says. I think his biggest plus is that he gives music that people like and connect with. In an age when composers are often accused of coming up with repetitive tunes, Parthiepan notes that no two tunes of Ilaiyaraaja are ever the same. When I listen to his music, everything in life seems serene. Thats what good music does. It comforts you even when you feel lonely, he says. Even by the late 80s barely 10 years since he had made his debut Ilaiyaraaja had cemented his reputation as a great. At that time, if a director had managed to get Raaja sir on board, producers would queue up to fund the project, he says. Veteran director Priyadarshan, for whose first film, Gopura Vasalile, Ilaiyaraaja composed music for, urges us to note that the composers music was made at a time when there was little technological assistance. His music transcended social barriers, he says. The maestro also made music for Priyardarshans 2016 film, Sila Samayangalil, which was among the last ten shortlisted films of the 74th Golden Globe Awards. I learned the importance of silence in music from him. He always tries to understand characters, their emotions and motivations before composing, he says. The composers music has been instrumental in films bagging notable awards. The 2000 film, Bharathi, for instance, which won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, was highly appreciated for its music. The films director, Gnana Rajasekaran, thinks himself blessed that he agreed to make music for his debut, Mogamul. Initially, he wasnt interested, and in fact, he had suggested another musician. But I insisted, he says. He is a genius and a man with a golden heart. Among new-age directors that he has struck a good partnership is director Bala, with whom Ilaiyaraaja has done a number of films. Balas Tharai Thappattai incidentally marked the composers 1000thfilm. Scientist who turned plastic into roads A day after Rajagopal Vasudevan was conferred with the Padma Shri for his innovative idea of turning plastic wastes into durable roads he said that since the government was discussing implementing a ban on the use of plastic, he was inspired to develop an idea for using the plastic wastes to lay roads. When the former President of India A P J Abdul Kalam came to our college, I pitched this idea to him and he asked me to proceed with it as it was very innovative. Within 20 days, I came up with the method by modifying the process. On October 4, 2002, the first plastic road was laid at Lenin Street in Kovilpatti, in Thoothukudi District. Following good response, we have laid one lakh kilometre length of plastic roads at several places across the country. 98-yr-old yoga teacher yet to visit a hospital Coimbatores 98-year-old yoga instructor who has trained over 1000 yoga teachers across the country has got a place in the list of unsung heroes for the prestigious Padma Shri award that was released on Thursday. Padma Shri awardee V Nanammal who has never stepped in a hospital in her life says she wants to build more than 6000 yoga centres across the State comparing to the number of TASMAC shops in the State. The people in the state are ruined under the influence of alcohol and it is Yoga that could rescue people from the evil deeds, she says. Nanammal is a mother of six children, has 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. All my daughters and granddaughters gave birth to children only through normal delivery and it is only because of yoga, Nanammal shares. Eco-warrior charmed by snakes Born in America and raised in India, Romulus Whitaker turned a childhood fascination for snakes into a career as a world-renowned herpetologist, author and conservation biologist. Speaking about his childhood in a video, Whitaker said, I was smitten by snakes, the same way kids are smitten by tops, marble. In 1972, Whitaker founded Indias first Snake Park in Chennai with support from World Wildlife Fund. Later, he founded the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust Centre for Herpetology to re-establish three species of crocodiles that were nearing extinction. The facility now houses 3,000 crocodiles of 15 species. Whitaker is a naturalised Indian citizen and currently lives in Chengalpattu. In 2008, he filmed The Dragon Chronicles, for PBSs series Nature. For Subscribers Golden Dozen: Newport County high school football players to watch With the season openers on the doorstep, it's time to sit up and take notice of these impact players. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). New Delhi: Focusing on reducing the risk of non-performing assets, the Centre has directed small public sector banks (PSBs) to cut their corporate loan exposure over the medium term and focus more on retail lending. Retail loans include housing, vehicle and car loans, typically exhibiting low level of non-performing assets, while corporate loans have been mainly responsible for the build-up of stressed assets in the banking system. According to an official, the corporate loan exposure for a number of PSBs is around 50 percent or higher, while retail exposure is around 15 percent. In a communication to chairpersons and CEOs of PSBs, detailing the governments reforms agenda, Banking Secretary Rajiv Kumar said smaller PSBs must cut their corporate loan exposure by a minimum of 15 percent by March 2019. Banks have been asked to ensure board-approved policies in place for achieving the loan exposure mix, for which they can pursue asset swaps and sales with the larger banks. Following the announcement of capital infusion, it has emerged that the government intends to grow larger banks that focus on corporate lending, while weak banks are cut to size and geared towards retail clients. In the roadmap towards reaching the 25 percent corporate loan exposure mark, the government has asked smaller banks to first cut their corporate loan exposure to either below 40 percent by March 2019 or by at least 15 percent from the September 2017 level. The government hopes to see some smaller PSBs turn into national retail banks and regional retail banks, limiting the corporate loans business primarily to large banks such as State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda. Apart from reduction in corporate loan exposure, the government has asked banks to have board-approved policies on monetising their non-core assets, sale of vacant real estate and exit from all strategic equity investment in unrelated businesses. The Ministry Wednesday said that eleven weak banks will be given a total of Rs 52,311 crore to maintain minimum capital requirement even as nine strong banks will get Rs 35,828 crore to pursue growth. The government expects capital infusion to result in additional credit deployment of Rs 5 lakh crore. A total of around Rs 1 lakh crore will be infused in the PSBs by March-end, which comprise Rs 80,000 crore via recapitalisation bonds, Rs 8,139 crore through gross budgetary support and Rs 10,312 crore of funds raised from the market. Mumbai: At least 13 persons were killed as a mini-bus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra. The incident took place at around 11.45 pm on Friday when the vehicle carrying three families was returning from Ganpatipule, a picnic destination of coastal Konkan, a police official said. The deceased include three men, three women and seven children, including a nine month baby, he said. The speeding mini-bus was on the Shivaji Bridge of Panchganga river when its driver lost control of the vehicle. The bus later fell into the river, the official said. Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot as an onlooker alerted the Kolhapur police about the incident. Rescue and search operations were launched immediately, he said. The rescue teams managed to trace 16 passengers of the ill-fated bus, wherein 13 had died. Three persons are admitted to a hospital for treatment, the official said. All the passengers hailed from Balewadi in Pune, police said, adding the rescue operation is underway. Shahdol: In another shocker for wildlife lovers and authorities, tiger population suffered yet another jolt as another big cat was found dead in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh under mysterious circumstances on Saturday. This is sixth tiger mortality since January 2018 and whopping 61st demise since the year 2016 when the state had lost 30 tigers in calendar year. Meanwhile, the fresh casualty was reported from village Devahara in Jaitahari block of Shahdol district, around 550 km from state capital Bhopal on Saturday morning at around 6am. The carcass, presumably belonging to an adult tiger aged around five years, lied dead in the agriculture land belonging to a local farmer in village Devahara, around 8km from block headquarters this morning. A local resident spotted the dead big cat and intimated the forest department. On this, Range Officer accompanied by his staff reached the spot. However, senior officers and veterinary expert took several hours to reach the place and start an investigation. In between a huge crowd gathered on the spot and started clicking selfies tampering vital pieces of evidence of its death in the process. Sources in forest department claimed that the big cat is aged around five years and suffered mild electric shock. The skull also carried an injury mark and the big cat was bleeding from nose which suggested that it could have been assaulted by a heavy object. The exact cause would be ascertained once the autopsy is performed on Sunday, an officer from the forest department said adding the feline perhaps belonged to nearby Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and was trapped in cameras recently. The Shahdol-Umaria region was in limelight in the second half of last year after it reported four big cat deaths including a cub. After the state reported presence of 308 striped cats in 2014, efforts were intensified for putting MP back on number one spot in terms of tiger population. However, the mortalities reported in the state suggest otherwise. In the year 2016, the state reported the death of 30 tigers, highest in India, and in 2017; the state lost 25 big cats again clinching the dubious topmost spot among states in tiger mortalities. With the state already reporting half a dozen deaths in January, the toll has reached 61 since 2016. Among other reasons electrocution by illegally powered farm fences and poaching of big cats for vital organs used in witchcraft have emerged as prominent causes that are killing tigers in MP. The situation is alarming but the complacency of state forest department and NTCA is baffling and painful at the same time, said one of the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Wildlife Wardens adding the department seems to have turned a blind eye towards all these deaths. New Delhi: Police in Telangana will soon have the power to arrest those accused of criminal intimidation without a court nod, a move seen as an attempt to crack down on government critics. The K Chandrasekhar Rao government has reportedly decided to make Section 506 and 507 of the Indian Penal Code cognizable and non-bailable offences, which means those accused of using harsh words against a person or institution can be arrested without permission from a magistrate. While Section 506 deals with criminal intimidation of a person, Section 507 is for criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication (through social media or anonymous letters, mails). The punishment under both sections is imprisonment ranging from two to seven years, with or without fine. Telangana governments decision to use "harsh words" as a yardstick to determine an offence under the proposed amendments reminds of the Shreya Singhal case which led to the landmark verdict on Section 66A of the IT Act. In the Shreya Singhal case, the court had found that not defining terms such as grossly offensive or menacing in Section 66A fell foul of Article 19(1)(a), due to the wide scope for discretion it allowed and the consequential effect on freedom of speech and expression. According to constitutional expert Dr TK Vishwanathan, such an amendment to the IPC is not a law unless passed by the central government and the President. This amendment to the Indian Penal Code will not take effect unless it is approved by the central government. All these matters of Concurrent List are passed only by the assent of the President under Article 254 of the Constitution after central government approval. The central government would examine the various laws to deal with social media and then take a call. This is not a law at all and is only a suggestive proposal now, said Vishwanathan, who was also the secretary general of the 15th Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat. Vishwanathan had recently headed the expert panel constituted to study the 267th Law Commission of India report on hate speech and has suggested amendments to the IPC, CrPC and IT Act. The panel had said that for a speech to be deemed offensive it should have been highly disparaging, abusive or inflammatory against any person or group of persons, and should have been uttered with the intention to cause fear of injury or alarm. The committee has proposed the addition of Sections 153C and 505A to IPC. Inserting Section 153C was proposed by the Law Commission to prohibit incitement of hatred through online speech on the basis of religion, caste, community, gender, sexual orientation, tribe, language, place of birth etc. Likewise, Section 505A was proposed to be inserted by the Commission to prevent alarm, fear, provocation of violence etc on grounds of identity. The expert panel qualified the offences with specific reference to the intention. The Vishwanathan-led expert panel also expressed the need for guidelines to prevent the abuse of the provisions by investigation agencies. PDT Achary, former secretary general of the 14th and 15th Lok and Lok Sabha Secretariat told News18 that "legislatures have a tendency to encroach upon rights of the people, but it is bound to be judicially reviewed." "All legislations are liable to be judicially reviewed if they violate any random provision in the law or any provision in the Constitution. It is liable to be challenged by any citizen. The court has the final say on this and can strike it down. I dont recollect any precedent as such, but legislatures have a tendency to encroach upon the rights of the people. Lots of questions have cropped up after the surge of social media," said Achary. The move has also not escaped opposition criticism in the state. Calling it an autocratic decision, Telangana BJP spokesperson Anugula Rakesh Reddy said, "How does the government define if a particular word is an abuse? It is very subjective. The government can very well misuse this to compel police to harass people who question the government." "As elections near, the government is planning to stifle criticism and suppress opposition parties. This is against the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. It only exposes the fear and frustration that's building up within TRS, Reddy added. Telangana Congress said the crackdown should begin from the CM himself. "If action has to be taken, it must start with the Chief Minister, who uses abusive language against leaders from opposition parties. Clearly, the TRS government is using Sections 506 and 507 of the IPC for its political motive to muzzle out democratic voices, Krishank added. New Delhi: A Delhi court has sentenced a man to five years in jail for pushing into a drain a 66-year-old person, who later died during medical treatment, saying the attacker did not have the intention but had the knowledge that his actions may cause the victim's death. Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam handed down the jail term to 37-year-old Raman for the offence under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. "It can be safely held that in the case in hand, the accused has done the act with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death but without any intention to cause death and caused such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and as such, court is of the view that act committed by accused falls under part II of the Section 304 IPC," the judge said. The court, while holding him guilty of the offence, noted that on March 9, 2017, the victim was standing with his son outside a government school in east Delhi when the accused came to snatch a Rs 500 note from him. After an altercation, the accused hit the man with a brick and pushed him into a drain. The injuries suffered by the old man, who was already suffering from various ailments, were sufficient to cause his death, the court said while noting that he died in hospital during his treatment. "In the instant case, the convict caused injuries to deceased on account of which he died during medical treatment. The incident took place on the petty issue of Rs 500...The victim died on March 22, 2017, after succumbing to his injuries as a result of falling in the nallah," the judge said. During the trial, the accused denied the allegations claiming he was falsely implicated. The court, however, jailed him while observing that the courts have to take a balanced view in determining the sentence. "Proportion between crime and punishment is a goal respected in principle and in spite of errant notions, it remains a strong influence in the determination of sentences. "After giving due consideration to the facts and circumstances of each case, for deciding just and appropriate sentence to be awarded for an offence, the aggravating and mitigating factors and circumstances in which a crime has been committed are to be delicately balanced on the basis of really relevant circumstances in a dispassionate manner by the court," the judge observed in his order. New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of House leaders of all political parties on Sunday, on the eve of Parliament's Budget Session during which the government and the opposition are likely to clash over a host of issues, including the triple talaq bill. A similar meeting has been convened by the government on Sunday during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top opposition leaders are expected to express their mind on pertinent issues, which they would like to be taken up in the session. The first leg of the session will be between January 29 and February 9 during which the government will present the economic survey on January 29 followed by the Union Budget on February 1. The session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In his first such address to Parliament, Kovind is expected to outline the government's thrust on development and empowerment of people, especially those from backward and weaker sections, official sources said. With the BJP-led NDA government presenting its last full-fledged budget before the next Lok Sabha polls scheduled for 2019, there is an expectation that it will have a strong political overtone. Following a recess after February 9, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6. The government is expected to give a fresh push for passage of the triple talaq legislation and a bill seeking constitutional status for the OBC commission during the session. Both bills carry political significance for the BJP which is a strong votary of the abolition of instant triple talaq among Muslims, a practice declared void by the Supreme Court last year. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill seeking imprisonment for Muslim men convicted of practising instant triple talaq, but a united opposition had stalled it in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority. The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by according constitutional status to the OBC commission, which will make it more powerful. Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said he was still open for discussions with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to find an amicable solution to the inter-state Mahadayi river water sharing row. Stating this at an all-party meeting chaired by him to discuss the row, he said he would also try to convince Congress leaders in Goa of the need to release water to Karnataka. "If the Goa Chief Minister responds to my recent letter and calls for a meeting on the issue, I will also make honest efforts to convince Congress leaders there" (to release water to Karnataka), Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. He said except BJP, those at the meeting decided that if there was no response to his letter in a day or two, an all-party delegation, led by him would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention on the issue by calling a meeting of Chief Ministers of riparian states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. Siddaramaiah said that he expected state BJPs participation and cooperation in this regard. After mediation by BJP national president Amit Shah, Parrikar, in a letter to Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa last month had said that in principle, Goa would not oppose the "reasonable" and "justified" quantum of water meant to be utilised for drinking while pointing out that the matter is pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. However, Parrikar has still not responded to Karnataka government which had expressed its readiness for talks at "any place and date" to work out an amicable settlement. Meanwhile, state BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of playing politics on the issue by seeking for Prime Minister's intervention, instead of trying to convince Congress leaders in Goa who are opposed to sharing of water. Reiterating that BJP will take the responsibility of convincing Goa and Maharashtra Chief Ministers regarding water sharing, and state Congress should convince their party colleagues who are in opposition there, Yeddyurappa questioned Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi's silence on the issue. "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should have rebuked Goa Congress Chiefs statement about not releasing even a drop of water to Karnataka," he told reporters and added that the issue was pending for the last 30 years and Congress was responsible for the matter gong to the tribunal. Karnataka, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on sharing Mahadayi River water, is seeking the release of 7.56 tmcft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag. It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi River, to divert 7.56 tmc ft water to Malaprabha which meets drinking water needs of the region. Attempts have been made by Karnataka to amicably solve the issue that is also pending before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal. New Delhi: Around 19,500 schools across India have been asked by the government to open their computer labs to candidates appearing for JEE Advanced so they can take mock tests, ahead of the online-based exam on May 20. The move comes amid concerns that the online format of the entrance exam may put rural students at a disadvantage. The schools, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which administers the exam, have been asked to accommodate not just their own students, but also those from the neighbourhood, The Telegraph reported. According to the report, the letter to the effect was sent by special secretary in the HRD ministry, R. Subramanian, to CBSE chairperson and commissoners of Kendriya Vidyalaya and Jawahar Navodaya. "All the students who qualified to write JEE Advanced examination based on the JEE Main rank may be allowed free access to the computer centre of all the schools under your administrative purview to take a mock test provided online by IIT Kanpur," the report quoted the letter as saying. The mock tests will be held from May 1 to May 15. The JEE Advanced will be held for students who clear the JEE Mains exam on April 8. The JEE-Mains is the entrance examination for admission to engineering courses offered across the country and a qualifying exam for JEE-Advanced which is required for admission to the prestigious IITs and NITs. Belagavi: Unidentified bike-borne miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at a cinema theatre screening the controversial film "Padmaavat". However, no one was injured in the incident. Late on Friday night, the miscreants threw a bottle filled with petrol which exploded in a huge fireball outside Prakash theatre, police said. The explosion sparked panic among the audience, police said. The controversial film has infuriated Rajput groups which allege that the period drama distorts history and hurts the sentiments of their community. Several acts of vandalism were reported in different parts of the country during protests against the film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" was released yesterday after the Supreme Court gave its nod to the film. Vadodara: Police in Ankleshwar town of Gujarat arrested two persons for allegedly thrashing a man for saying, despite being a Rajput, that he planned to watch the film "Padmaavat". According to the complainant Upendrasingh Jadhav, a resident of Vadodara, the incident took place on January 24 when he was visiting Ankleshwar. Sitting in a hotel, he was speaking on phone with a friend in Vadodara, asking him about the situation ahead of Padmaavat's release, and told him that as the film won't be released in Gujarat, he planned to travel to Mumbai to watch it. The accused, identified as Bhargavgsinh Padhiyar and Ranjit Fuvad, overheard him, and assaulted him saying how could he dare to watch the film, despite being a Rajput and despite the Karni Senas appeal for the film's boycott, Jadhav told police. The accused also shot a video of the assault and forced Jadhav to write an apology. After the video went viral on social media, Jadhav, feeling all the more humiliated, decided to approach police, he said in the complaint. An officer from GIDC Ankleshwar police station said, "We have arrested Padhiyar and Fuvad under IPC sections 323 (assault) and 342 (wrongful confinement). They will be produced in a court later." Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama "Padmaavat", facing stiff opposition from some Rajput groups for `distortion of history', released nationwide on January 25. However, theatre owners in Gujarat have decided not to screen it as of now, fearing violence. Washington: Scores of diplomats including ambassadors of four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France and Britain attended one of the largest Republic Day receptions outside India at the UN headquarters, besides events across the US as well. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, was the only P-5 country envoy not to attend the impressive Republic Day reception hosted jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York. Haley, who was not in town, sent one of her top diplomats to the event, which was attended by several hundred Indian Americans, officials of the UN and envoys of scores of countries at the UN. Prominent among those were Miroslav Lajcak, the President of the General Assembly, and Deputy UN Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, surprised many by her presence at India's Republic Day celebrations at the UN, which was marked by an impressive dance performance at the UN Delegates Dining Room. "Though far from India's shores, the young sing about the 'land that nourished and nurtured' as we celebrate India's #Republicday2018@IndiaUNNewYork," Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, said in a tweet. "We are grateful this evening that several distinguished officials, as well as representatives, have joined us. I am grateful to the President of the General Assembly who is here with us, also to the Lt Governor of New York, who is with us and the Deputy Secretary-General, who is with us," he said as he was joined by other dignitaries in lighting the lamp. For many UN observers, it was one of the largest gatherings of ambassadors at a public event at the UN. Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid floral tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Embassy in Washington before unfurling the national flag, in the presence of embassy staff and members of the Indian American community. Akbaruddin unfurled the national flag at the UN mission in New York, with India's other diplomatic missions in the US - in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta - also hosting events. Diego Gomez Pickering, the Consul General of Mexico in New York was the guest of honour at the Indian consulate celebrations in the city. "Honored to participate in the celebrations of the 69th #RepublicDay at @IndiainNewYork along with Consul General Chakravorty and the vibrant Indian community of #NYC. #Mexico and #India partners, friends and allies," he tweeted. Illinois Lt Gov Evelyn Sanguinetti joined the Republic Day celebrations in Chicago along with Indian Americans. Officials of the Indian Consulate in Houston posted a special video on twitter "Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day". Congressman Pete Olson appeared in a traditional kurta at the Consulate and joined Indian Americans in the Republic day celebrations in the Indian Consulate in Houston. "Great to celebrate the 69th India Republic Day at the Consulate General of India this morning!" he said. "#OTD in 1950, the largest democracy on earth was born when the Indian constitution was adopted. I look forward to many more years of friendship between our two great countries!" Olson tweeted. A number of Republic Day celebrations have been scheduled by Indian Americans across the country over the weekend. The day was also marked in the South African city of Johannesburg. "2018 is a wonderful year for us because it commemorates various important occasions for India and South Africa," Consul General K J Srinivasa said. "It commemorates the 125th anniversary of the incident at Pietermaritzburg when Mahatma Gandhiji was evicted from the train that led to his involvement in the struggle against discrimination and which in turn led to the independence of India and many other nations. "2018 also marks the centenary of Madiba's (Nelson Mandela's) birth, the 25th year of resumption of formal diplomatic relations with South Africa, and the 20th year of a strategic relationship between South Africa and India," he said. India's High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj reminded the audience of expatriates and South Africans, most of them from the local Indian community, that India was the world's largest democracy, the world's fastest-growing major economy, and one of the most liberal economies in the world for foreign direct investment. In the Netherlands, a 15th-century royal church 'Nieuwe Kerk' in Amsterdam, which is the official venue for the Dutch Royal investiture ceremonies, lit up in the Indian tricolour on Friday to mark the 69th Republic Day of India. This was the first time ever that a prominent monument of the Netherlands was decked up in the Indian colours, said a statement issued today by the Indian Embassy in the Hague. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Interior Kajsa Ollongren were among those attending the diplomatic reception hosted by Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony. In Egypt, Indian Ambassador Sanjay Bhattacharyya hosted a reception on Friday to mark the Republic Day. The reception was attended by several Egyptian officials, artists, media people as well as the members of the Indian community and foreign diplomats. Houston: 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 on Saturday, Wesley and Sini Mathews stood in shackles before a judge and agreed to relinquish their parental rights an irrevocable decision, Dallas News 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. Thiruvanathapuram: A group of migrant students at CUCEK (Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttand) has raised complaints of the college principal hurting their religious sentiments by feeding them beef without any warning about the food. The students, who are incidentally ABVP members, have written to the district collector against the principal for serving them beef cutlet. Meanwhile, Principal DR Sunil Kumar said that it were not the college authorities who had provided the snacks. He said, It was a seminar on digital banking awareness, where the organisers had supplied the snacks and they were outsiders. However, the students have alleged in their letter that the principal had done this only to satisfy his ego as they had some issues on January 22, when the students organised Saraswathi Pooja on campus. According to the students, they had sought permission to conduct the pooja on January 22 and the principal had allowed it. However, on January 22, there was a strike by the ABVP and the students called for a boycott of classes. The principal said that he had given permission to conduct Saraswathi Pooja but on condition that no classes would be disrupted like it has been happening for the past several years. The principal claims that on the day of the strike, many of the students who were organising the event had called for the classes to be disrupted, which led him to give a stop memo. Kumar also refrained from taking part in the event. He added that while the stop memo was given to the students, they were not stopped from conducting the pooja. A first-year student was later suspended because of a procession conducted on January 23. The principal claims that it was done to instil discipline on campus as the students had conducted a procession not adhering to the conditions on which he had given the permission. Dr Sunil Kumar further said that permission was given for processions on the condition that they would not disrupt classes and enter the academic area with high volume speakers. They were also asked to come back to the campus by 10.30 am, which the students defied and entered the campus with loudspeakers around 1.30 pm and disrupted classes. The principal added that since the rules were violated, it was a symbolic suspension of the student who had applied for permission and when he submitted a written apology, the suspension was revoked immediately. New Delhi: For how long one can delay a judicial order? A tenant in Gujarat succeeded in thwarting a court order for five decades, making the landlord run from pillar to post to get his house back. On Thursday, his run of luck finally ended, with the Supreme Court bringing curtains down on what it described as a "game" good enough to "shock" the judges. A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan reproached the "abuse of judicial process" and made sure the landlord got back the possession 52 years after he had obtained an order in his favour. It was in 1965 that a court in Gujarat decided in favour of BM Patel, who had let out his house to MK Barot. Patel had sublet the house and wanted the possession back. But Barot challenged the decree by filing a petition and successfully stalled the execution proceedings until last year when the High Court asked Barot to vacate the premises. Unrelenting, Barot appealed against the HC order in the top court and when the matter was taken up, the judges were "shocked" to see how Barot could defy a court order for more than five decades. It is a gross case where even when the decree was passed in favour of the respondent in the Suit for possession way back in 1965, the execution proceedings are pending all these years and the decree holder has not been able to obtain the possession only because of the reason that the petitioner herein has filed a petition," stated the bench. Shooting down all requests to defer the case, the judges gave Barot's lawyer six days to inform the court of only one thing when will he vacate the house? On Thursday, the lawyer came back, seeking six months time, but the bench turned down the plea and gave Barot one month to leave the house. It ordered Barot to file an undertaking too. The judges also involved the police this time, asking them to throw out the tenant if he does not comply with the undertaking. "In case the petitioner does not vacate the premises, it will be open to the High Court to issue warrants of possession, which can be executed with the help of police," directed the bench. It also asked the HC to decide the quantum of damages (mesne profits) that should be paid by the tenant to the landlord for wrongful possession all these years. Lucknow: Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj district witnessed communal violence for the second consecutive day on Saturday when a group vandalised few shops and attacked a religious structure. The mob was reportedly returning from the last rites of a local resident who died in Fridays violence. A Rapid Action Force team rushed to the spot and dispersed the mob. Police also barred Sadhvi Prachi from visiting the sensitive area, following which her supporters entered into a heated argument with the personnel and sat on a dharna. One person was killed and two injured in clashes that erupted following stone-pelting at a motorcycle rally taken out by VHP and ABVP volunteers on the Mathura-Bareilly Highway to mark the Republic Day, police said. The district administration had to impose curfew in the trouble-hit area. 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 in to ensure that the situation does not worsen," Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said. #BeingADalit is a series on what it takes to be a persecuted minority in India. In an attempt to go beyond the numbers, News18 also mapped incidents of Dalit atrocities over the last one year across India. Once a subject of empathy, Dalits are fast emerging as a subject of envy. Govind Gopal Gaikwad epitomises that best. Even in death, Govind scares the local caste Hindu society so much that his tomb attracts stones. Who was Govind Gopal Gaikwad and why was his tomb stoned on December 29, three days before the same treatment was meted out to unarmed Dalit pilgrims headed to Bhima Koregaon War Memorial? A Dalit, Govind Gopal Gaikad lived in Vadhu Budrak village, 4 km north of Bhima Koregaon. In 1689, Aurangzeb, during his Deccan expedition, incarcerated Chatrapati Shivajis eldest son Shambhaji Maharaj. Shambhaji was tortured for months and killed. His dead body was cut into pieces and thrown around Vadhu village with a warning those conducting Shambhajis last rites would meet a similar fate. Fearful of Aurangzeb, villagers fled. Govind Gopal answered the call of humanity. Women of the Dalit hamlet worked the entire night to piece together Shambhajis body. Defying Aurangzeb, Govind Gopal, along with fellow Dalits, performed Shambhajis last rites. As per one folklore, 20 Dalits, including Govind Gopal, were massacred by the forces of Aurangzeb. To mark the valour and sacrifice of Govind Gopal, villagers constructed a tomb for him, close to that of Shambhaji Maharaj. In popular public imagery, Govind Gopal Gaikwad is a victor even in death. In 2003, villagers put up a memorial-tablet explaining why a Dalit lay along a Maratha king. Visitors to Bhima Koregaon also visit the tomb of Govind Gopal, along with that of Shambhaji Maharaj. Prior to the stoning of Dalit pilgrims on January 1, same caste Hindus attacked Govinds tomb and destroyed the plaque that explained his sacrifice. The Bhima Koregaon war also shows Dalits as victors, hence they are targeted by the Hindu warriors of today. Under Peshwai, Dalits were not permitted to carry swords or ride horses, let alone serve in the army. In fact, they had to carry earthen pots around their necks in case they needed to spit, and a broom hung around their waist. When the British came, they needed to develop and deploy indigenous regiments in pursuit of their expansionist military policy in India. Mahars seized the opportunity. The British treated Mahars as humans. The Mahars were hired as cooks and enrolled into the British army. Mahar soldiers also proved their prowess with swords and rifles, challenging the Peshwa prowess. On January 1, 1818, around 500 Mahar soldiers fought an unequal war a war that saw 500 men staring at a Peshwa army of 28,000 fighters. This works out to 1 Mahar against 56 soldiers of the Peshwa army. In the eponymous battle at Koregaon, Dalits pulversied the Peshwa army. While Peshwa soldiers fought for salaries, Dalits fought for their dignity as Peshwai rule practised the crudest form of untouchability. Dalits visiting Bhima Koregaon War Memorial relive the valour of Mahar soldiers. The present day caste Hindu warriors cant really stomach Dalits as victors. That in many ways explains the stoning of Govinds tomb and the unarmed pilgrims to the Bhima Koregaon. Is Maharashtras caste Hindu society the only one that has Dalit phobia? Travel some 700 km to central India, Ratlam countryside in Madhya Pradesh to be precise and recall the August 2015 news flash a Dalit groom sporting a helmet while approaching the brides house. The village already wore a war-zone look. All this because a Dalit family in the village had dared to receive the groom on a horseback. As the practice goes, in certain parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat, Dalits asserting themselves or reclaiming their dignity have started riding horses for the wedding ceremony. As a symbol of defiance, Dalit grooms also sport swords. To do this, Dalits seek protection from the district administration. In societys collective imagery, men riding horses, with swords in their hands are victors. Its an imagery intrinsically associated with the upper caste Hindus who claim martial ancestry. Despite heavy police presence, the Dalit groom in Ratlam, upon entering the village, faced a volley of stones, including from women. A police constable came to his rescue, offering his helmet to the besieged broom. Several members in the marriage party were injured. Wait for summer, the marriage season in north and central India, and vernacular newspapers will be full of such reports of how in their own country, Dalits cant walk as victors. Now lets take a trip to central Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh village, which is close to the Sangam the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. It was mid-June in 2015 when two Dalit brothers, Brijesh and Raju, cracked IIT in Open category. Born Dalits, the two brothers were brought up in abject poverty. Their mother a farm labourer and father a construction worker, the family could hardly make ends meet. A local reporter did the story. The boys turned celebrities overnight. The then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav felicitated the boys on June 23 at the Lucknow Secretariat. Full of pride, the boys reached their village at dusk. The caste Hindus of the village had waited for hours for the two brothers to arrive. Stones rained on the little house that the brothers lived in. The boys told the media of how their school principle had kept advising them to try for ITI (Industrial Training Institute for skill development), which have been set up in all districts of the country to train people for skilled labour that industries require. Instead, the boys aimed for IIT, a global engineering brand. Cracking IITs in Open category showed the brothers as victors, and their home paid the price for that. A year ago, UPs Saharanpur witnessed the rise of a Dalit youth leader named Chandra Shekhar Ravan. Ravan, an advocate by profession, also worked in the communitys open schools in Dalit hamlets. These schools lay a lot of emphasis on teaching English. Soon, he got into conflicts with the caste Hindu society. While Ravan was charged with various cases of rioting, he was granted bail from the higher judiciary of the state. However, he is still in prison as the government clamped the National Security Act against the beleaguered youth. He was accused of provoking trouble. Any evidence? Ravan rides Royal Enfield bike and maintains twirled moustaches. By caste codes, Dalits are prohibited from sporting twirled moustaches. Ravans moustache, therefore, is seen as an act of rebellion. Ravan of Saharanpur is not an exception. Over a 1,000 km away, Gujarats Mehsana town witnessed a related incident. Just a month ago, caste Hindu warriors thrashed a Dalit youth for sporting a pointed moustache. Grow Twirled Moustache has now become a form of protest. India is transforming and so are its social institutions. The Constitution that came up post Independence, and the capitalism that entered India after reforms has put a lot of pressure on Indias caste order. Class has begun replacing cast. Dalits, for the first time in Indias known history, have tasted freedom. Nostalgic caste Hindu society seems to be sinking into impatience. While an India free of caste will be good for all, Dalits freedom will be a victory for the nation. Somehow, the wearisome caste society is finding it hard to stomach the march of modernity. Maybe, Dalits will have to pay for their freedom. Howsoever ludicrous it may be, this savagery against Dalits might endure for a few more decades. Didnt American Blacks pay for their freedom? Lynching of Blacks began after Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1861, and lasted for several decades. (Chandra Bhan Prasad is a researcher and an author. Views are personal.) Deng Xiaoping wanted a peaceful rise for which he evolved a 24 Character Strategy that revolved around hiding ones capability, maintaining low profile and never claiming leadership. On the contrary, Xi Jinping in 2013 announced a One Character Strategy and that was to BE ASSERTIVE. That strategy was to proclaim to the world that China has arrived on the centre stage and was soon to regain its position as the centre of the Universe and was all set to challenge USA, should the world be thinking that it is a unipolar world. China had befriended Russia and had gradually absorbed Russian military prowess, had evolved its own R&D and was growing militarily strong and economically sound. It had actually lifted 225 million people from low middle class to middle class. Today, China has less than 10 million people below the UN-laid standard of Below Poverty Line (BPL), that is $1.90 per day. Moderate Poverty line is supposedly between $1.90 and $3.10 per day. We have over 300 million people Below Poverty Line (BPL) by UN standards. If we grow at 10% every year, we can lift approximately 10 million people annually from BPL. Assuming that we grow at 10%, it would still take us three decades with the population remaining constant. This notwithstanding the Chinese economy, which is five times bigger than ours, and the military modernisation on top gear with allocation almost five times more than us, the size of the Chinese population and the size of their military almost the same as ours, after the teeth to tail ratio was addressed by Xi. The rise of China with Chinese characteristics is the cause of turmoil in the region. We will soon be the third largest economy in the world but to compete with China militarily will not be advisable. What then are the options available to India to ensure the territorial integrity of the country and not buckle under pressure from China or in conjunction with its surrogate state, Pakistan. War is not an option. The need is to develop a credible deterrence against China and a punitive deterrence against Pakistan. President Xi, the most revered leader after Mao, dressed in combats, urged the military to be ready for a war and to continuously sharpen their swords for any eventuality, as he reviewed the military parade this year. Doklam has seen mobilisation once earlier in 2008 and was amicably resolved as was the 73-day standoff in 2017. In 1999, too, the Chinese did something similar at another grazing ground near Tawang. Recently, be it at Chumar, Depsang, DBO, Pangong Tso Lake, Barahoti or Tuting, Chinese belligerence has been tackled with border personnel meetings held under the Peace and Tranquility Agreement between the two countries. China, after the Dalai Lamas visit to Tawang and India distancing itself from CPEC and the perceived closeness to US, has tried coercing New Delhi to tow Beijings line and not show eyes. China wants India to do Pyar, Vyapar and Vyavahar with only China. I personally felt that PM Modi did walk few additional steps to keep Xi favourably inclined towards its old civilizational neighbour, but all in vain. Somehow the transgressions, its stand on the NSG and Hafiz Saeed, standing firm with the surrogate terrorist nation which is wasting its ammunition on innocent civilians along the LOC/IB, is a cause for concern. The Chinese, hopefully, would soon realise that the USA lost its clout primarily by supporting regimes which were not democratic and that India firmly believes in non-alignment. However, this belligerence shown by China and its all-weather friend Pakistan, would necessitate some alliances by India to keep the belligerent neighbours in check. China believes in strength and China wants India boxed in South Asia and is happy seeing India occupied with its estranged cousins. China knows that heights matter in mountains and whoever is tactically sited cannot be dislodged by jostling. China is a responsible nation looking to become Numero Uno and will never take a hasty step, but will wear out its adversary and drive them to wits because it knows it cannot tame an old civilization like India. Such situation demands that India cannot remain complacent and hope to resolve its crisis politically or diplomatically unless it gets militarily strong at known/possible places of transgressions. To avoid transgressions from becoming an ugly face-off, boots on ground adequately equipped 24/7 will only count to be able to deal diplomatically or politically. Today, we have all of it. All we require is a constant upgrade and infrastructure to remain logistically balanced. Despite the internal challenges that India faces of deprivation, inequalities and violent extremism, we have no choice but to modernise our troops gradually, train them hard, prepare them for a short and intense engagement and keep them acclimatised for high altitude. We have to ensure that their morale is high at all times despite eye ball to eye ball confrontations. Placing CAPF guarding the Northern or eastern borders under a unified command for better coordination and reactions is a step long overdue and must be taken up on priority. Doklam/Zhoglam/Donglang is an 89 Sq Km plateau in Bhutans Haa Valley, which is claimed by China and over 20 rounds of talks between Bhutan and China have not resolved the dispute. Chumbi valley is said to be the single most strategically important piece of real estate in the entire military region. The control of Doklam is critical as it overlooks the Chumbi Valley, giving China an edge to close on to the narrow 24-km Siliguri corridor, which is also the main supply route to Bhutan besides a link to the Seven Sisters. Doka La is nearly equidistant from Batang La and Gipmochi. India considers Batang La as the tri-junction, whereas the Chinese consider Gipmochi as the tri-junction. The distance between Batang La and Gipmochi is approximately 13 km. The Chinese will not stop constructing a road in their own area extremely close to the place of dispute. It was agreed in 2012 by India and China that the tri-junction points will be finalised in consultation with all stakeholders. China, in all probability to win over Bhutan, wishes to create a wedge between India and Bhutan by not letting India talk on behalf of Bhutan and would like to settle the border dispute with Bhutan by itself and swap Doklam for other territories. It wants to lure Bhutan with economic assistance to ruin the Gross National Happiness of Bhutan. Engagement with China at all levels in all fields, especially trade, is a must. Boycotting Chinese goods is not a step the government must take. In a democracy, the buyer is the king. Let them decide. Indian manufacturers must raise their standards and give our teeming BPL millions an alternative Made in India goods, cheaper and better. The teeming millions want to pray to Ganesha and Lakshmi for prosperity. From where they get the idols, crackers and Holi colours doesnt matter to them. Doklam 2.0 will happen. Not a shot will be fired, but in a jiffy, the situation can change which no government in a media-frenzy republic will be able to handle. Being forewarned is being forearmed. Capacity building takes time. Intentions can change overnight. To assume that all transgressions by Chinese are executed by local commanders without the blessings of the CPC is living in a fools paradise. Xi, the Chairman of CPC, is a prominent leader who is in a hurry to consolidate his position and make China the leading power in the world with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese believe that a declining America, stagnant Europe, divided Asia and vulnerable Africa in the present state is an opportunity they dont want to miss. Play Poker, but remember that still waters run deep. Stay alert, stay alive, be a Deng. (The author, in 1974, led the 4 Kumaon regiment that planted the first Indian flag on Siachen Glacier at Bilafond La which began Operation Meghdoot. Views are personal) New Delhi: The BJP today released its first list of 44 candidates for Assembly elections in Tripura where the party looks to oust the Left Front government which has been in power for the last 25 years. The strength of the state assembly is 60 members. While releasing the list, senior BJP leader J P Nadda said the Central Election Committee headed by party chief Amit Shah finalised the list of 44 candidates. The party is going to contest on 51 seats and nine have been kept for its alliance partner, IPFT. The BJP refrained from announcing a chief ministerial candidate for the state elections. The list includes the name of BJP's state general secretary Pratima Bhowmik who will be contesting from Dhanpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The party has decided to field its state president Biplab Kumar Deb from Banamalipur. "We have considered all sections and walks of society while choosing our candidates. While there are 10 seats reserved for SC candidates, we are going to field 11 SC candidates. One is contesting from a regular seat", he said. Nadda was speaking after the meeting of the Central Election Committee which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all its members. The list also includes seven sitting MLAs, four women, 10 professionals like doctors and engineers, and two candidates from the field of arts. The BJP did not win any seat in the last state assembly polls but emerged as the main challenger to the ruling CPI-M. Several leaders from parties such as the Congress and the TMC joined its ranks in the last couple of years. Tripura will go to the polls on 18 February and vote- counting will be held on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya. Agartala: The Congress on Saturday released its list of candidates for next month's elections to the 60-seat Tripura Assembly, and threw open the door for an alliance with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC). All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Central Election Committee Oscar Fernandes communicated the candidates' names to the leaders of Tripura unit of the party. "Central leaders headed by party president Rahul Gandhi approved candidates for 56 seats out of the total of 60 assembly seats. The names for the remaining four seats will be declared soon," Tripura Pradesh Congress general secretary Harekrishna Bhowmik told the media after announcing the names of the party nominees. He said: "We are ready to forge an electoral alliance with the TMC. However, in that case, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will have to talk to our President Rahul Gandhi to finalise the deal." Of the 56 candidates, three are women and 17 candidates are below the age of 50 years. State Congress chief and sitting MLA Birajit Sinha will contest from his old turf Kailashahar in northern Tripura, while Congress Legislature Party leader Gopal Roy will fight from his existing seat in Banamalipur in Agartala. Former Congress minister Laxmi Nag, one of three women candidates, would contest from western Tripura's Dhanpur constituency, from where Chief Minister and ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Manik Sarkar has been getting elected for the past five consecutive terms. Accompanied by state Congress vice-president Tapash Dey, Bhowmik said that no electoral alliance was so far done with any tribal-based party. INC COMMUNIQUEAnnouncement of the list of Congress candidates for the ensuing elections to the Legislative Assembly of Tripura. pic.twitter.com/f7XgP0Khn7 INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) January 27, 2018 Earlier, the Tripura Congress leaders desirous of forming an electoral alliance held a series of meetings with the three tribal-based parties -- Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and Rajeshwar Debbarma-led faction of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s in-charge of Tripura elections, said the BJP's central parliamentary board meeting would be held in New Delhi on Saturday evening and the parties' candidates for the three election-bound northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland -- would be finalised. "The names of the BJP nominees would be declared either on Saturday night or Sunday morning," said Sarma, a former Congress Minister who joined the BJP before the Assam assembly elections in 2016. The ruling CPI-M-dominated Left Front on Tuesday released its list of candidates for the 60-seats featuring both old and new faces, and seven of the nominees being women. New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led government continues to ride high on its popularity, even as the recent Gujarat election results jolted some nerves in the party. If parliamentary polls were held now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would easily secure another term although anti-incumbency is slowly catching up with him, a survey by ABP News-Lokniti-CSDS has predicted. The survey has found that in the event of a Lok Sabha election in the country today, BJP-led NDA may get a total of 293-309 seats. This is 30 seats less than what NDA won in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. If NDA loses 30 seats out of 336 it won in 2014 elections, it means BJP may finish short of the majority mark of 272. In 2014 BJP won 282 seats, leading the NDA, which in total got 336 seats. The mood-of-the-nation survey also shows a steady rise in the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) seat tally and the Congress's vote share. In May 2017, a similar survey had predicted 331 seats for the BJP-led NDA alliance. The slight dip in the BJPs popularity seems to be benefitting the Congress party the most. According to the survey, UPA can get 127 seats and Others 115. The survey says the Congress now has a 25 per cent vote share - up 4 points from May 2017 and 6 points from the 19 per cent it had tallied in 2014 general election. Its allies are projected to secure 5 per cent of the votes, a slight dip since May 2017s survey. Prime Minister Modis own personal popularity has also declined in the last eight months, although he continues to be the most popular leader by quite a distance. In May 2017, 44% of the voters had wanted him to return as prime minister in the event of a snap election. Now, the same figure is down by 7 percentage points to 37%. The survey also shows that Rahul Gandhis popularity has gone up. Around 48% of respondents agree that Rahul Gandhi is competent to be the prime minister of the country. This is an 8% increase from the March 2014 pre-poll survey by Lokniti before the Lok Sabha elections that had found 40% of the respondents wanting Rahul Gandhi to be the prime minister. The survey also concluded complete dissatisfaction with BJP governments work is now at its highest in the last three years. 17% of respondents were fully dissatisfied with the BJP government; while 23% of the respondents were somewhat dissatisfied from the government, according to the survey. This is an increase from the 2017 survey when the numbers were at 15% and 12% respectively. This dissatisfaction with Modi governments performance has increased across all the regions. The survey was conducted between January 7 and 20 across 175 parliamentary seats in 19 states. Of the 14,336 respondents, 51 per cent expressed satisfaction with the government's performance while 41 per cent said they were dissatisfied. In May 2017, 64 per cent were satisfied with the government's performance. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked party leaders from poll-bound Karnataka to prepare "people's manifesto" and undertake mass outreach programmes, taking a cue from similar exercise during the party's recent electoral outing in Gujarat. Karnataka goes to polls this year. "The exercise has already been undertaken by a team headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily and it is expected to come out with an 'all-encompassing manifesto' much ahead of polling in the state," a senior party leader said. "The party president has asked leaders to come out with a manifesto that truly reflects the expectations of the people of Karnataka. The Congress will seek feedback from all stakeholders," AICC secretary in-charge for Karnataka, Madhu Goud Yaskhi, told PTI. In a similar exercise, telecom entrepreneur Sam Pitroda had interacted with residents of five cities of Gujarat, namely Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surat, ahead of the two-phased assembly elections there last year. The manifesto prepared thus focused on education, health, small and medium enterprises, employment generation and environment protection. "That 'good' practice helped us know what people wanted. It is better than leaders sitting in their offices and drafting manifestoes," another party leader said. He said in Karnataka, the party unit will focus on socio-economic aspects relating to development. The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has performed well and listed its pro-people schemes like Ksheer Bhagya, Anna Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Indira Vastra Bhagya, Indira Canteen and others, the Congress leader said. While the schedule for the 224-member state assembly poll is yet to be announced, campaign for the high voltage election has already begun with leaders of both the Congress and BJP exchanging barbs at each other. The southern state is expected to witness a triangular contest with the H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) being the third dominant player. Kannur: Senior CPI(M) leader and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday alleged that India was becoming a strategic partner of the US in that country's effort to form a larger defence alliance against China, "which is as per interest of RSS." "China is emerging as a big power in the world... India is becoming a strategic partner of the US in their effort to form a larger defence alliance against China," he said. "This is as per the interest of RSS. The aim of RSS is to build an axis of countries like US, India and Israel against China," Vijayan said, inaugurating the CPI(M) district committee meeting here RPT inaugurating the CPI(M) district committee meeting here CPI(M) state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had triggered a row earlier this month after he remarked that an axis of countries like US, Japan, Australia and India has taken shape for attacking China from all sides. The BJP in Kerala had demanded registration of a case against Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for his remark. Vijayan said CPI(M) was not for any political alliance with Congress, which was in tune with the party's central committee resolution in this regard at Kolkota. He said the party would move forward by strengthening Left forces in the country. 'The party will organise agitations against BJP's policies by joining hands with those with whom we can move together," he said. The Chief Minister alleged that the Congress 'tie up' with communal forces several times in the past has resulted in the growth of BJP in the country. The saffron party, he alleged, has a record of corruption and was attempting to subvert democracy in the country. "BJP can be opposed only by a right alternative, he said and pointed out that Congressmen were joining BJP en masse. In Tripura, BJP virtually had swallowed Congress, he said and alleged that the saffron party was joining hands with divisive forces. "We must be able to unite all secular and democratic forces to take on the communal outfits. The party has to be strengthened, he said. Meanwhile activists of Hindu Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram in protest against his remark and also took out a march in that city. J R Anuraj, District president of the morcha, said they would observe a 'protest day' throughout Kerala on Sunday. Bengaluru: Reigniting an erstwhile controversy, Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) founder Padmanabha Prasanna Kumar has alleged that there is a threat to his life from BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje. Speaking to the media in Bhagalkote on Saturday, Kumar sought security from the government. Kumar alleged that his life is at risk as he possesses a CD with visuals of Shobhas marriage with BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa in a temple in Kerala. I am not releasing the CD just yet because I have a threat to my life. If the chief minister provides me with adequate security to ensure my safety, I will release the CD. I have nothing against Yeddyurappa as it is Shobha who has been misleading him, said Kumar. Kumar first came up with these allegations in January 2016, three years after KJP merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The KJP was founded in December 2012 after BS Yeddyurappa, along with several leaders from the BJP, including Shobha, walked out of the party. The party, which diluted BJP's vote share in the subsequent elections, soon joined the BJP less than a year after it was formed, causing friction between Kumar and Yeddyurappa. Hyderabad: Just a few days after YSR Congress party chief Jaganmohan Reddy created ripples in Andhra Pradeshs political circles by saying he was ready to go with the BJP in 2019, NDA ally and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has said his party is ready to go its own way if they are not needed anymore. Speaking to reporters in Amaravati after his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Naidu said he was disappointed by some comments made by state BJP leaders against his government recently. He also questioned why the Centre is not granting special status to the state after bifurcation. I have controlled my party men. I always tell them not to talk against them (BJP). If a party is in alliance, then one should not talk against each other. Its not right. But some state BJP leaders are making several comments. The high command should take note or react. But if we are not needed, I fold my hands and we will go our way", Naidu said. Currently, TDP and BJP have an alliance in both AP and New Delhi. But the relationship seems to have soured in the last four years. Naidu may have been referring to BJP floor leader in the state Assembly, Vishnu Kumar Raju, who had recently embarrassed the ruling party by saying that YSRCP MLAs who became ministers in the TDP government after defection could resign, contest elections and come back with dignity. He said giving cabinet berths to the MLAs who migrated from the YSRCP was not correct. The chief minister said he is not worried about Jagans offer of alliance for the BJP as he knows the YSRCP chief is only doing drama. Why did he support BJP in the presidential election when he knows the same government is denying special status to the state? asked Naidu. Talking about a possible tie-up with the BJP ahead of next year's polls, Reddy had said that he was willing to go with the PM Modi if he was ready to grant special category state status to AP. "If the BJP is ready to grant us special status, we will go with them. The PM can do that in a minute. It is his prerogative," he had said in an interview to News18. But Naidu was unfazed with the talk. "Last year he said his MP's will resign as a protest against Centre for not granting Special Status. What happened? Nothing. He is only doing drama. He has trying to mediate with BJP for long, nothing new. He only wants to come out of his court cases of corruption, Naidu said. New Delhi: Shri Rajput Karni Sena today said it was ready to pay the money spent on making Padmaavat if it was handed over the film's rights and stressed that the organisation had nothing to do with the incidents of violence that happened over its release. Karni Sena's chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said at a press conference that their members or of any other Kshtariya organisation had no hand in the attack on a school bus. On Wednesday, a mob attacked the school bus carrying 20 to 25 children in Gurgaon, where hundreds of violent protesters took to roads torching vehicles and destroying public property to oppose the film's release. "We are ready for any kind of probe, be it by the CBI or a judicial one. A Rajput can never think of doing such a thing. If we were present there, we would have never let such an attack happen," Kalvi said. He also said that their outfit's members had nothing to do with the violence in Ahmedabad in which vehicles were vandalised outside the malls. Kalvi accused those connected to the film to be behind the attacks. "Yesterday, we did not carry out any protests because it was Republic Day and we respect our nation. But we will continue our protests till the film is taken down from cinema halls," he said, stressing that they would never resort to violence. Kalvi said they were ready to pay Bhansali the money he had spent on making the film. "We are ready to collect the money and pay him if he hands over the rights of the film to us. We will then carry out a jauhar of the film's reels (assign them to flames)," he said. Bhansali's "Padmaavat" starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh finally released on January 25 amid protests and vandalism by disgruntled groups which accused the filmmaker of "distorting historical facts" and wrongful portrayal of Queen Padmavati. Historians, however, are divided on whether Rajput queen Padmavati existed. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has made his intentions clear that he would like to contest the 2019 election from Kannauj, which is currently held by his wife Dimple, but the contest would not be a cake walk for him like in the past. The former UP chief minister had started his parliamentary career from Kannauj and has been a three-time MP from the seat. Although it is considered to be an SP bastion, if recent results at Kannauj are anything to go by, the party would have to work really hard to maintain its grip. Dimple Yadav had won this parliamentary seat by a margin of just 19,000 votes in 2014, despite SP being in power in the state at the time. In the 2017 assembly election, the SP lost four out of the five seats and only won the Kannauj city seat, that too by a margin of just 2,400 votes. To make matters worse, it lost all the three Nagar Palika chairman seats and all five Nagar Panchayat chairman seats to BJP in the recent civic polls. On his tour to Chattisgarh, Akhilesh on the question of dynasty politics had announced that his wife Dimple would not contest elections. He confirmed later that his father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest from Mainpuri instead of Aligarh, while he wants to contest from Kannauj. Known world-wide for perfumeries, Kannauj has been an SP seat since 1998 when Pradeep Kumar Yadav became the MP here. A year later, Mulayam was chosen as the MP of Kannauj. In 2000, Akhilesh contested and won the seat. He completed three terms as MP and vacated it in 2012 to become the CM of Uttar Pradesh. But if he has to win again, he would have to get the equations right. The votes of both Yadav and Muslim communities play a crucial role in deciding the winner. The share of Yadav and Muslim voters in Kannauj is 16 and 36 per cent respectively. While they are traditionally considered to be SP supporters, Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party, too, are wooing them. The percentage of Brahmin voters is also around 15% in Kannauj while 10 percent voters belong to Rajput community, so they too cannot be ignored. New Delhi: It is not uncommon to see Panchali Bhattacherjee returning on a cycle rickshaw from the neighbourhood market near her official bungalow. To put it into context, Panchali is the wife of Manik Sarkar, who has been Tripuras Chief Minister for the last 20 years. The poorest CM of India survives on the fee that he gets from his party, the CPI(M). He donates his CMs salary to the party. But Manik Sarkar is probably fighting one of the toughest electoral battles of his lifetime. The BJP has been on a winning spree in the North East, but CPMs Sitaram Yechury feels Sarkar is the general who will give the BJP its Waterloo moment. The battle in Tripura has always been between the Congress and the Communists. But this time, the BJP has made a direct entry at No. 2 by virtue of acquisition. In the 2013 Assembly elections, the CPM won 49 seats in the 60-member House. The CPI won one and the Congress won the remaining 10 seats. Ahead of the 2015 Assembly elections in West Bengal, six MLAs from the Congress had quit to join the Trinamool Congress, upset by the fact that the Congress had allied with TMC in West Bengal, which made their position difficult in Tripura. The same set of six MLAs Sudip Roy Barman, Ashish Kumar Saha, Biswa Bandhu Sen, Pranjit Singh Roy, Dilip Sarkar and former tribal face of the Congress Hrangkhawl joined the BJP on August 2017. Thus, by acquiring six MLAs, the BJP is now the main opposition party in the state. BJP STRATEGY The leitmotif of Tripuras political battle has been the fissures between the Bengali-speaking majority and the 31% indigenous people. The violence reached its peak in 1997, when the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA) was enforced in Tripura. Members of two separatist groups the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) were on a terror spree, demanding the secession of Tripura from India. But the situation improved, and by 2015 the peace, however fragile, was strong enough for all stakeholders to agree on removal of the draconian Act. Politics of the state, however, would continue to explore these fault lines. The BJP, essentially an urban party, finds its base primarily among the Bengalis. In Tripura, however, they have decided to ally with one of the main tribal parties. The Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura has been given nine seats, while the BJP is likely to fight on rest of the seats. The exponential growth of the BJP in the North East has been cast using the same dice acquiring local talent, mostly disgruntled Congress leaders, and teaming up with the indigenous parties. In Assam, they acquired Himanta Biswasarma from the Congress, arguably the best electoral mind of the region, and tied up with the indigenous parties like Bodo Peoples Front and Asom Gana Parishad. In Manipur, the entire party is made up of former Congress leaders, and has tied up with the hill parties like NPP and NPF to form the government. In Arunachal Pradesh, Congress MLAs moved en masse to the BJP. So while the ruling team remained the same, the party changed overnight. WILL THE FORMULA WORK IN TRIPURA? The BJP has made Himanta Biswasarma the election in-charge for the state. Himanta, in a freewheeling conversation many months ago, had conceded that Tripura could be the most difficult battle for the BJP in the region. Today, though he sounds confident, it isnt that the party is without problems. The old guard and the new imports are at loggerheads. While it is clear that the biggest local face is going to be home-grown party chief Biplab Kumar Deb someone who comes from a RSS family and has been groomed by the Sangh for Tripura the senior opposition leaders who joined the party recently want more control. And therein lies the problem. The set of legislators who joined the BJP are known turncoats in Tripura. Whether they add value or pull the party down is a question that is weighing on the minds of some of the party workers. But the party says the additions have only made the BJP stronger. Bullish about the partys chances this election, a senior spokesperson from the state Mrinal Kanti Deb says, These are the leaders who won even at the peak of the Left wave, so their popularity is unquestionable. This, along with the fact that the party is led by a young, dynamic and organic BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb, will ensure that the BJP wins the elections in Tripura. But even party insiders agree on the rumblings. The party has delayed declaring the candidates and those disgruntled will be left with very slim chance to file candidature either as Independent or go to the Congress for a ticket. MODI MAGIC Whatever the dispute in local leadership, the party hopes that once tickets are distributed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to campaign, the prospect of the party would turn gold. As of now, there are two rallies scheduled in north and south districts of the state on February 8. The party is hoping that Modi would have time to visit the state once again before the elections in February 18, 2018. While senior ministers and BJP leaders, including party president Amit Shah, have been frequently visiting the state, they feel it is the Prime Ministers visit which will have the cherry-on-the-cake effect. In Manipur last year, the Prime Minister had arrived towards the last leg of first phase campaigning. It is believed that the tide took a decisive Right turn after that. And this hasnt gone unnoticed even by the Left front. LEFT SIDE STORY CPM spokesperson and member of its Central Committee Gautam Das says that earlier the fight was with the Congress, and now the BJP has become the main challenger. But what has also changed according to him is the way the BJP is using the central government machinery to fight elections. Das claims that unlike before, the BJP not only uses the central ministers but also the central PSUs to further its political cause. Every month, one or the other central minister comes to Agartala and after a brief meeting with the ministers, they straightaway engage in party works. The BJP leaders are invited as guests in the official programmes of central PSUs. But unlike in Manipur or Assam, the BJP doesnt have its favourite poll plank of corruption. While Ibobi Singh and Tarun Gogois tenures were marred by the baggage of corruption, their Tripura counterpart Manik Sarkars kurta remains starch white. A man of frugal means who donates even his salary to the party, Sarkar has never had to face charges of corruption. In the 20 years that he has been the Chief Minister, even his strongest opponent has not been able to accuse him of corruption. Thus, though the Left Front has traditionally been about cadre, it is the personal charm of the Chief Minister that is driving them for a record fifth attempt at power. At every meeting, Manik Sarkar harps about how he would rather invest money in fixing the irrigation problem than print flashy campaign material like the BJP. The state has mostly seen a two-way fight between the Left and the Congress, but will see a three-way fight in certain areas. The Congress, though well past its prime in the state, is seen essentially as a vote cutter, which is trying to align with a couple of tribal parties. Traditionally, a three-way fight has always benefitted the incumbent, with the anti-incumbency vote splitting two ways. In a number of seats in Tripura, there will be a three-way fight between the Left, BJP and the Congress. In some of the tribal seats, it could even be a four-cornered fight after the possibility of alliance between National Conference of Tripura and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura fizzled out. THE LAST WORD The fight between the BJP and the Left goes beyond the electoral numbers. It is a fight of two divergent ideologies. While the Congress was just a political rival, for the 20-year-old Left Front government in Tripura, this is the first time they would be waging an ideological battle as well. Though Tripura election results wont have much of an impact in the larger scheme of things, in the Lefts tryst with democracy, Manik Sarkar would certainly rise up the ranks if he manages to keep the BJP at bay. No wonder his party secretary, too, has already sounded the poll bugle, calling Tripura Prime Minister Narendra Modis waterloo moment. Baghdad: Eight Iraqis were killed on Saturday, most of them security personnel, in a US air strike that apparently targeted them by mistake, a provincial official said. "Eight people -- a senior intelligence official, five policemen and a woman -- were killed by a US strike on the centre of Al-Baghdadi," a town in western Iraq, the official said, asking not to be identified. "It seems the strike was a mistake," the official said of the incident in the Euphrates Valley town, adjacent to the Ain al-Asad airbase 250 kilometres (160 miles) west of the capital. Beijing: China is developing a new surveillance plane designed to be launched from its aircraft carrier and fitted with a radar system to spot enemy stealth jets. State media confirmed for the first time on Monday that China was building its first carrier-borne early-warning plane (AWCS) called the KJ-600, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported today. The announcement comes as the United States has deployed F-35 stealth jets to bases in Japan and other parts of the Asia-Pacific over the last year, challenging China's air defences in the region, the report said. Chinese military observers said the KJ-600 would be fitted with an advanced active electronically scanned array, or AESA, radar which could enable it to spot stealth aircraft such as America's F-22s and F-35s. Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said the new surveillance plane could also become a command centre in the air. "AESA can detect stealth fighters at a very long range," Li said. He said the aircraft would fill a critical weapons gap with the US and improve the combat effectiveness of Chinese carrier battle groups. Li said the KJ-600 would likely be used on China's third aircraft carrier under construction in Shanghai and be compatible with its advanced electromagnetic launch system (EMALS). EMALS can launch jets more quickly and effectively than the ski-jump ramps used on Chinas first two aircraft carriers. China currently has operationalised its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made vessel in 2012. It launched its second aircraft carrier in April 2017 which was expected to begin sea trials next month and it announced plans to build a third one in Shanghai. Earlier reports said China plans to have four aircraft carriers in by 2030 to operate from the disputed South China Sea as well as the Indian Ocean. Davos: 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 complimenting him for putting together this "really great" economic forum. Trump, who arrived on Friday 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 the 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 I m very happy and pleased with your infrastructure focus..." Narasimhan said Novartis is one of the largest healthcare 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 the 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". Davos: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US-backed coalition forces had won back almost 100 percent of the 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 eastern 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. Washington: President Donald Trump may have realized his "America First" policy risks leaving the US alone on trade, but analysts are skeptical his latest offer to rejoin a multilateral trade pact will bear fruit. Trump went to the free-trade bastion World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and offered the possibility that the US would rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That came a year after one of his first official acts as president was to withdraw from the deal, and only days after the 11 remaining TPP countries agreed to proceed with the accord in the absence of the United States. That decision to go ahead without the US "really got under his skin," said Monica de Bolle of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. But Trump also plays to the crowd, which makes some wonder if he will follow through. In his speech Friday to a packed audience in Davos, Trump said the US would consider negotiating with its onetime TPP partners "either individually, or perhaps as a group, but only "if it is in the interests of all." A 180 on trade? In Davos the signal, although vague, was well received by the free-market loving audience, which included the who's who of the world's economic and political elite. The TPP was initially a US-led project that, while deliberately excluding Washington's rival China, would have accounted for 40 percent of global gross domestic product, one of the most important economic indicators. Trump dumped the deal in the belief it would punish US workers by allowing companies to hire cheaper labor abroad. His first year in office has been marked by a huge increase in trade complaints against various countries, especially China. "With President Trump and trade policy, the world has learned to have to 'wait and see.' There can sometimes be a large gulf between his words one day and his policy actions the next," Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute told AFP. Gregory Daco of Oxford Economics said he is not confident Trump is set to do "a 180 on trade." Just before going to Davos he "took a much more protectionist stance," imposing import tariffs on washing machines from South Korea and solar panels from China, and there are a host of decisions looming on steel and aluminum from China, he noted. The hint of a possible change of heart could be the result of urging from the business community which benefits from free trade deals. Edward Alden, of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP that "the biggest story here is he is under pressure from business not to embrace" a radically protectionist trade policy agenda. "Trump clearly received this message," Alden said. The business community certainly has ramped up its efforts to convince the administration to preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which Trump also threatened to tear up. US, Canadian and Mexican officials will continue the latest round of talks to salvage the accord this weekend in Montreal. "I think there is a realization that you can't just be America First, and America alone, you have to be America with others," Daco said. But he cautioned, "I'm not that confident honestly" that Trump will follow through on the TPP offer. Daco said that Trump, now returned to Washington, will have other major issues looming including reaching a budget agreement to prevent another government shutdown, raising the federal debt limit, and the investigation into possible election campaign collusion with Russia. "At home you tend to forget what you said," Daco noted. Azaz (Syria): 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. 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. Kabul: An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others, officials said, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. The Taliban-claimed assault - the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week - triggered chaotic scenes as terrified survivors fled the area scattered with body parts, blood and debris, and hospitals were overwhelmed by the large number of wounded. It came as both the insurgents and the Islamic State group have escalated their attacks on Kabul, one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians. An AFP reporter saw "lots of dead and wounded" civilians in the Jamuriate hospital, which is metres away from the blast and where medical staff struggled to treat the bloodied men, women and children lying on the floor in corridors. Health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told AFP that the toll "now stands at 95 dead, 158 wounded", shortly after the interior ministry warned that an earlier death toll of 63 could rise. The blast happened in an area where several high-profile organisations, including the European Union, have offices. Members of the EU delegation in Kabul were in their "safe room" and there were no casualties, an official told AFP. The force of the explosion shook windows of buildings at least two kilometres (more than a mile) away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse. 'Unjustifiable' The suicide bomber passed through at least one checkpoint in the ambulance, saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital, an interior ministry spokesman told AFP. "At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew his explosive-laden car," Nasrat Rahimi said. Rahimi told a news conference that most of the victims were civilians. He said the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network was responsible and four suspects had been arrested. Twenty minutes before the blast an AFP reporter saw police checking ambulances several hundred metres from the scene of the explosion, as the drivers and patients stood on the street. Ambulances are rarely checked in the city. The International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan condemned the use of an ambulance in the bombing, saying on Twitter it was "unacceptable and unjustifiable". The Taliban used social media to claim responsibility for the attack, which comes exactly a week after its insurgents stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel, killing at least 25 people, the majority foreigners. 'Massacre Photos shared on social media purportedly of the blast - the deadliest in Kabul since a truck bomb ripped through the city's diplomatic quarter on May 31, killing 150 people and wounding hundreds - showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the sky. Near the blast site civilians walked through debris-covered streets carrying wounded on their backs as others loaded several bodies at a time into ambulances and private cars to take them to medical facilities around the city. The Italian NGO Emergency said 131 wounded had been taken to its hospital, with its coordinator Dejan Panic tweeting that it had been a "massacre". A photo posted on Emergency's Twitter account showed hospital staff treating injured people in an outdoor walkway next to a garden. A man told Ariana TV he had taken his wounded brother to Jamuriate and Emergency hospitals but had been turned away. "They are asking people with non-life threatening wounds to go to other hospitals," he said. Aminullah, whose stationery shop is just metres from where the explosion happened, said the force of the explosion shook the foundations of his building. "The building shook. All our windows broke. The people are in shock in our market," he told AFP. 'Pools of blood' A man told Tolo News he was passing the area when the explosion happened. "I heard a big bang and I fainted," he said, outside the Emergency hospital. "There were dozens of people who were killed and wounded. There were pools of blood." The attack was condemned by the presidential palace as a "crime against humanity". There was international outcry too, with NATO, the US embassy in Kabul and British foreign minister Boris Johnson among those expressing horror at the latest attack. The offices of the High Peace Council, charged with negotiating with the Taliban which has been waging a more than 16-year insurgency in the war-torn country, are also near the blast site. "It targeted our checkpoint. It was really huge -- all our windows are broken," Hassina Safi, a member of High Peace Council, told AFP. "So far we don't have any reports if any of our members are wounded or killed." A security alert issued on Saturday morning had warned that the Islamic State group was planning "to conduct aggressive attacks" on supermarkets, shops and hotels frequented by foreigners. Washington: Air Force One is primed to receive an upgrade that will include new refrigerators expected to cost American taxpayers nearly $24 million. The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $23.6 million contract in December to replace two of the five "cold chiller units" aboard the aircraft used by President Donald Trump. "The current rear lower lobe cold chiller units being replaced are the original commercial equipment delivered with the aircraft in 1990. The units were based on the technology at the time and designed for short-term food storage," Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek told CNN. "Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage," she said. Defense One highlighted the cost of the chillers earlier this week. Due to the fact that Air Force One is a one-of-a-kind aircraft, many of its components require unique testing by the Federal Aviation Administration and the cost of the testing is included in the price of the component, in this case, refrigerators. The $24 million contract will cover the costs of engineering support services for the new chillers including prototype design, manufacturing and installation, according to the DOD contract. "The units and associated aircraft structural modifications are being specially designed to provide nearly 70 cubic feet of temperature-controlled (refrigeration/freezer) storage to support onboard personnel for an extended period of time, without having to restock while abroad," Stefanek told CNN. "The engineering required to design, manufacture, conduct environmental testing and obtain Federal Aviation Administration certification are included in the cost," she said. Former senior adviser to President Barack Obama Eric Schultz mocked the high price tag in a tweet on Friday, saying, "we would have been impeached." The Boeing fridge contract isn't the first time an administration has come under fire for the high cost of military aircraft upgrades -- the Obama administration was pressured to scuttle plans to build a new fleet of presidential helicopters in 2009 after reports emerged that they cost at least $11 billion. When he was running for president, Trump boasted he would swap out Air Force One with his private jet and has been fiercely critical of the cost of the new Air Force One program in the past, stating "costs are out of control" and "cancel order!" in a December 2016 tweet. But since taking office, Trump-like his predecessors has travelled aboard the Boeing-made VC-25 aircraft, the latest version of which entered service in 1990. The Air Force announced last year that it had finalized a deal to purchase two already-built aircraft from Boeing to serve as the next generation of Air Force One, flying future presidents around the world for decades to come. That contract is separate from the arrangement between Boeing and the Air Force for the upkeep of the current Air Force One fleet. Islamabad: Pakistan launched a search Saturday for two alpinists who went missing while attempting to climb the country's second-highest peak Nanga Parbat, nicknamed "Killer Mountain" for its treacherous terrain. It comes a day after Elisabeth Revol, from France, and Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz were spotted through binoculars by fellow climbers at the base camp. "We have dropped down four individuals who have seen (Revol)," an official from Pakistan's military, which is conducting the operation, told AFP. "They hopefully will recover the lady tonight," he said, adding that saving Mackiewicz will be "quite difficult" because he is believed to "be present on a very high point". "But it is possible," he said. A spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan said that four mountaineers were lifted from the base camp of the country's highest mountain K-2 to rescue the missing climbers. "The rescue operation was started in the afternoon and army helicopters dropped volunteers in the area where the mountaineers are believed to be missing," Karar Haideri told AFP. "The operation was delayed in the morning because of bad weather," he added. According to the tour managers who arranged the pair's expedition, Revol has sent messages from the mountain expressing concern over Mackiewicz's fate. "For Tomek, I don't think we can have any more hope. This is a tragedy. I'm deeply affected," the tour operators quoted her most recent message as saying. They said she has also reported bad weather on the mountain, writing: "There is fog, and I couldn't see or hear any sound of helicopters, and I want to believe it again." Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet). It earned the nickname "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. Pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman was re-elected Czech president on Saturday, narrowly outpacing his pro-European liberal rival Jiri Drahos in a knife-edge run-off that underscored deep divisions in the EU and NATO state. The populist ex-communist Zeman took 51.36 percent of the vote against 48.63 percent for Drahos, Czech Television reported quoting full official results. Political analyst Jiri Pehe told AFP the outcome reflected the "very deep polarisation" of Czech society which is "split down the middle" along rural-urban and populist-liberal lines, echoing divisions elsewhere in Europe and in the US. A former leftist prime minister, the 73-year-old Zeman represents poorer and rural voters with a lower level of education, while academic and political novice Drahos, 68, appeals to wealthier, well-educated urbanites. "It's not only between Prague and other big cities on one side and the rest of the country, but also a polarisation of world views, between people open to the outside world and modernisation, and those rooted in the past," Pehe told AFP. Zeman's victory comes amid a political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis -- dubbed the "Czech Trump" -- is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Speaking to a jubilant crowd at his Prague campaign headquarters, Zeman vowed to give political ally Babis plenty of time to cobble together a government. "I see no reason why I should squeeze Andrej Babis with too short a deadline for the nomination of his government," said a jovial Zeman. He also struck an overtly populist tone by insisting that the "intelligence of journalists...(and) some politicians is significantly lower than that of normal citizens." Congratulating Zeman on his narrow win, Drahos told backers in Prague that "we haven't won, but we haven't lost either," pledging he would not retreat from public life. National Interests In the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe, the anti-Muslim Zeman staunchly opposed EU quotas designed to distribute asylum seekers across the bloc. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has only received 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Zeman's stance on the European Union echoes other populist politicians in Poland and Hungary who are at odds with Brussels over the refugee quotas and various rules which they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organised invasion" of Europe, claiming Muslims were "impossible to integrate". Billboards across the Czech Republic sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: "Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!" According to Pehe, his position cast Zeman as "the defender of Czech national interests in the eyes of his supporters." The pro-European Drahos had also opposed the EU quota system but had insisted the Czech Republic was strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. East Versus West Drahos underscored his concerns about possible Russian meddling in the campaign, saying that "for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's regime, NATO is the biggest enemy and we are part of NATO." Petr Vasicek, a Prague artist, told AFP that he chose the "educated and intelligent" Drahos over Zeman who is "pro-Russian and pro-Chinese, which I don't like at all." Zeman has repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Voter Daniel Hajek said he had chosen Zeman "because he's opening the door to economic cooperation with countries like Russia and China. "It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe but we can't go in just one direction," he said in Prague. Europe's fifth biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4 percent this year. Smear Campaign? Running under the slogan "Decency is a strength," Drahos, a mild-mannered 68-year-old professor of chemical engineering who cuts a trim figure, could not have been more different from Zeman who is diabetic, walks with a cane and has become known as a heavy drinker and smoker. Drahos fought off allegations of paedophilia and having been a communist police agent, suggesting the accusations were a smear campaign by Russian intelligence with links to Zeman. The president appoints the prime minister and government, central bank board members and judges and university professors, and sign bills passed by parliament into laws. Czech TV pegged turnout for round two at 66.6 percent, the highest figure since parliamentary elections in 1998. Warsaw: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today said he stands by his claim that Russia bears responsibility for recent chemical attacks in Syria, despite strong denials from Moscow. "These are just unacceptable deployments of chemicals in ways that violate all conventions which Russia itself has signed up for. It violates agreements that Russia undertook to be responsible for identifying and eliminating the chemical weapons inside of Syria," Tillerson said during a visit to Warsaw. "The chemical weapons are clearly there, they're being used against civilian populations -- and the most vulnerable are children -- inside of Syria," Tillerson told reporters, in a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. "So we are holding Russia responsible for addressing this. They are (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad's ally. They are members of those conventions and they made commitments. They need to deliver on those commitments." Tillerson first made the accusations on Tuesday, as diplomats from 29 countries met in Paris to push for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of the chemical attacks in Syria. Russia and China have blocked Western-backed efforts at the UN to impose sanctions on Damascus over their use. On Wednesday, Russia lashed out at Tillerson for having "hastily accused the Syrian -- as they call it -- 'regime' for the attack in Eastern Ghouta," adding "now they are trying to drag Russia into this as well." Damascus has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons, with the United Nations among those blaming government forces for an April 2017 sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead. There have been at least 130 separate chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2012, according to French estimates, with the Islamic State group also accused of using mustard gas in Syria and Iraq. Next week, Moscow will hold negotiations in the Russian city of Sochi aimed at ending Syria's civil war. Vienna: The Syrian opposition will not attend a peace conference Russia is hosting next week, a spokesman said on Saturday, dismissing the meeting as an attempt by the Syrian government's close ally to "sideline" the current United Nations peace process. He was speaking at the end of two days of UN-brokered talks between the Syrian government and opposition, after which the host said the United Nations had not decided whether to attend the conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Western powers and some Arab states believe Sochi is an attempt to create a separate peace process that would undermine the United Nations' efforts while laying the groundwork for a solution more suitable to Assad and his allies Russia and Iran. "This whole round in Vienna was supposed to be a crucial one, a test for commitment. And we didn't see this commitment. And the UN didn't see this commitment," said Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the opposition delegation at the Vienna talks. Nine rounds of UN peace talks between the warring sides have made little progress toward ending the civil war in which hundreds of thousands have been killed and 11 million - a majority of the Syrian population - driven from their homes. Previous rounds of talks have been held sporadically in Geneva, with a mandate to discuss new elections, reformed governance, a new constitution and the fight against terrorism. Having regained the upper hand on the battlefield after nearly seven years of conflict, Assad appears unwilling to negotiate with his enemies at all, let alone step down as part of any peaceful solution as rebels and opposition groups have demanded. "It's quite clear that somebody there is obstructing the whole process and wanting to sideline the importance of Geneva, the political process as a whole," al-Aridi said. As the talks dragged into Friday evening, another spokesman for the opposition said it had received a pledge from Russia that it would press the Syrian army to enforce a ceasefire in the besieged rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta, near Damascus. Syrian army and Russian jets have for the last two months been escalating their bombardment of the area, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds, rebels and aid workers say. With Aridi later announcing that the opposition would not attend the talks, it was unclear where that left the ceasefire plan. 'TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE' 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. A document drawn up by the United States, Jordan, Britain, France and Saudi Arabia made recommendations to the Vienna talks' host, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, for what they called a "practical approach" to what would be a "slow" UN political process. The document's recommendations included "a specific and immediate focus on discussion of a reformed constitution and organization of free and fair elections", language that was echoed by the opposition delegation in Vienna. But the Syrian government's envoy to the talks, Bashar al-Ja'afari, dismissed the document as "totally unacceptable". "Our people have not and will never accept a solution that is parachuted onto them or that is carried on tanks," he said in a statement to reporters. "The goal of the conference in Sochi is to engage in a national intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference. The conference will be attended by about 1,600 participants who will reflect the various components of Syrian society," he added. Al-Aridi, however, said Sochi was aimed at giving the appearance of reconciliation among Syrians and many of those participants had been chosen by Damascus. The opposition scheduled a news conference for 0900 GMT on Saturday. De Mistura said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would decide how the United Nations would respond to the invitation to attend Sochi. He added that Russia said Sochi was aimed at supporting the UN process. "I took note of the statement by the Russian Federation that the outcome of the (Sochi) congress would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the UN", he said. Edinburgh: Britain's defence minister Gavin Williamson said a new radar off Scotland's Shetland Islands would help tackle the "severe and real" threat from Moscow. In a return to the Cold War days when Shetland had hosted an early warning radar, the new Royal Air Force facility is being built to track unidentified military or civilian aircraft. "We will always protect our skies from Russian aggression," Williamson said yesterday, describing the radar as vital to British defences. "Russia's actions are not limited to Europe's eastern borders -- the threat to British livelihoods is severe and real," he added. The 10 million pounds radar on Unst, Britain's most northerly inhabited island, is due to be fully operational soon, the Ministry of Defence said. Once launched it will feed into the country's quick reaction alert system, which in the past has been used to scramble RAF jets to intercept Russian aircraft. On January 15 two fighter jets were launched to monitor two Russian military aircraft, which the Ministry of Defence said did not respond to air traffic control authorities. A total of 69 such operations have been carried out in the past five years, the ministry said without detailing how many involved Russian aircraft. Williamson's praise for the radar comes as he and defence chiefs up their rhetoric against Russia. On Thursday the defence minister accused Moscow of spying on Britain's crucial infrastructure, as part of possible plans to create "total chaos" in the country, in comments published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. His intervention came after the head of the British army warned Russia poses the "most complex and capable" security challenge since the Cold War. Chief of the General Staff Nick Carter warned Monday that Britain struggled to match Russia's military capabilities, saying the ability to respond to threats would be eroded "if we don't match up to them now". The comments come as Williamson, in the post since November, is reportedly pressuring finance minister Philip Hammond for more money. Davos: 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. "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." 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: "Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered." 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. All India Radio tableau on display at Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Friday. (Image: PTI) 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. Zimbabwe Assemblies Of God Africa (ZAOGA) has been slapped with a $300 000 lawsuit by a local consulting engineering firm for breach of contract. The consulting engineering firm Stratus Consulting (Pvt) Ltd was hired to provide professional engineering services for the construction of the massive Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) campus in Bindura. While in the middle of the project, Stratus claims it was elbowed out in violation of the contract entered between the parties. To that end, Stratus has instructed its lawyers Sachikonye & Hlabano Legal Practitioners to sue for damages. In summons filed at the High Court on Monday, Stratus is claiming $300 000 with costs. The company is also claiming collection commission calculated at the rate of 10 percent. According to the plaintiffs declaration, the parties entered an agreement for the provision of professional mechanical engineering services on May 15, 2012. The services were needed for the construction of ZEGU campus in Bindura. In terms of the said agreement, which still subsists, Stratus should provide the services for a fee. Construction work, according to Stratus, was stopped for eight months due to financial challenges around 2015. When the project resumed, Stratus was dumped without proper termination of the contract. The plaintiff has reason to believe that, for reasons best known to the defendant, he has been unlawfully replaced in the project and that in itself is a clear breach of the agreement that the parties signed. The President called on investors to look at tourism, which is considered one of the low hanging fruits towards economic growth. Victoria Falls is very beautiful and she faces Zimbabwe. If you want to see her from the back, go to Zambia, but if you want to see her from the front, you need to come to Zimbabwe. President Mnangagwa has been on a charm offensive to woo investors as his administration seeks to do business with global investors by ending years of isolation. Zimbabwe is politically stable and will hold its general elections within constitutionally-prescribed time-frames, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. The President also paid tribute to Zimbabweans for being united throughout last years leadership transition. President Mnangagwa was speaking to Russian journalists at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. Well, I am not so sure who told you it is May or June (when we are going to hold elections), but it is soon. Zimbabwe is very stable in terms of politics. There is political stability. I am sure you are aware that this transition, which took place about two months ago, (was) a people-driven transformation, very peaceful. I do not think it can happen anywhere else except in Zimbabwe because our people are united; our people know what they want. During that period of perhaps under eight or nine days of transformation in the country, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people marched on the streets of Harare, also in other towns outside Harare. But no single incident of damage, not a single window pane of any shop was damaged. As a matter of fact, crime during that period went down. There was very little crime being committed. Which meant all of our people were focused, demanding change in the country. And (as) Zanu-PF party, we are based on trying to meet the needs of our people, and our people had spoken that they wanted change. So, our (former) President responded to that call and stepped down and then the ruling party, Zanu-PF, nominated me to lead them and later on after two weeks, we went to Congress and I was elected President of the party. On the election date, President Mnangagwa said: Yes, we are going to go for elections in a few months time and we will indicate when. But I havent mentioned any month at all. In terms of our Constitution, every five years, we have to surrender ourselves to a new mandate and that we are not going to forget. We will continue to obey the Constitution because we want to entrench constitutionalism in our system. So, we will make sure that in a few months time, we proclaim a general election. The country is very peaceful and is expecting these elections and I have no doubt I will sweep the elections. President Mnangagwa said Davos had given him an opportunity to present Zimbabwes new order to the world. Zimbabwe is a developing country. Its a developing economy and Zimbabwe has been isolated for the past two decades and so on. So, we (have been) lagging behind in terms of economic development for that period, 16 years, 18 years. Primarily, our economy is agricultural, which means that the area we would want to modernise is agriculture. We want to mechanise our agriculture, modernise our agriculture, that is, at production level and we would want investors who want to participate at that level of production. Then the second level (is) where the products of agriculture have to be processed: the value-addition, beneficiation of those products, and marketing. So, investors can choose to come to the marketing level or beneficiation level or production level. The President said Zimbabwe produced about 500 000 tonnes of cotton, but only utilised 30 percent; opening avenues for investors to set up shop in the sector. He clarified the indigenisation policy saying: We may have issues. I am sure you are aware of indigenisation where it is required that those who come into these extractive resources (sectors) have to come at the sharing level of 51 percent local/49 percent foreign investors. But we have said that ratio can only now relate to two minerals, that is, diamonds and platinum; because we dont have a complete policy on our diamond industry and platinum industry. For now, we keep these two minerals requiring 51 percent domestic/49 percent foreign. The rest of the minerals gold, coal, chrome, nickel, lithium (and others) it is free. President Mnangagwa said foreign companies that had invested in particular industries were free to explore other sectors. We have one Russian company, which came some years back, in gold mining. Initially, it came in for gold mining, but they spread their wings into diamonds. Then we have another Russian partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe in platinum and those are the two areas where Russian companies are involved. But with the new dispensation, we are opening up. We are not restricting Russian companies to these two. It is open across the board. They can go into infrastructural development, construction of railways, construction of highways, dualisation of highways, tourism, ICTs Sunday Mail THE Zimbabwean government has committed to paying the US$1,2 billion arrears to the World Bank by April this year, as the first step towards unlocking fresh funding from multilateral institutions, but still faces a number of hurdles, including a credibility test, before accessing much-needed funds, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt. The development comes at a time Harare is re-engaging British multinational bank Standard Chartered Plc and other institutions to help raise US$1,8 billion to clear arrears to international financial institutions (IFIs) for the country to secure US$2 billion in fresh funding. Harare is seeking to clear the US$1,2 billion arrears to the World Bank and US$600 million owed to the African Development Bank (AfDB) to enable it to attract funding. The clearance of arrears could also result in possible debt treatment by the Paris Club and non-Paris Club bilateral creditors through an IMF financing programme. Zimbabwe presented an arrears clearance plan to its creditors in Lima, Peru, in 2015, which was anchored on several financial sector and structural reforms. Officials close to the Lima Plan told the Independent that Zimbabwe will likely present its programme of action at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC from April 20-22. They maintained that a binding decision will not be made on Zimbabwe at the Spring Meetings, even if it clears its debts, because the United States of America and some influential European Union members are adamant that the country should pass the legitimacy test before accessing fresh capital. Washington and European capitals are, among other considerations, insisting that President Emmerson Mnangagwas government which rose to power on the back of military action widely seen as a coup should earn its legitimacy by delivering a credible election, strengthening democracy and human rights as well as ushering in progressive economic reforms. An extended credit facility is therefore likely to be discussed at the IMF board meetings sometime in October. If funding is to come, it will be after a detailed economic programme with time-bound reforms. But it will be critical to get the Americans on board because they are very influential at the IMF and World Bank, an official said. The EU this week said it would support the authorities in establishing as soon as possible a constructive re-engagement with international financial institutions based on a clear and time-bound economic and political reform programme. The bloc however said the support was tied to peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent elections and reforms. America has also insisted on credible reforms and elections before normalising relations with Harare. Officials say Western capitals, which hold sway at the IMF and World Bank, have been encouraged by Mnangagwas reformist talk but want to see tangible progress on the ground. The IMF and World Bank board meetings, where Zimbabwe is likely to be discussed, will be held in Bali Nusa Dua, Indonesia, in October. To clear its debts, Harare is engaging StanChart, overseas financial institutions and a global energy company for a syndicated loan. Mnangagwa on Tuesday met officials from StanChart in Davos, Switzerland, before meeting Jose Laroca, the head of Traffigura on Wednesday. The Independent in December 2016 reported that StanChart had unexpectedly agreed to shell out US$262 million to bail out president Robert Mugabes bankrupt regime. Confidential documents seen then showed that StanChart had agreed to help raise US$1,8 billion to clear arrears to international financial institutions (IFIs) for Harare to secure US$2 billion in fresh funding. The documents showed the British bank, which operates a network of over 1 200 branches and outlets across more than 70 countries around the world, including Zimbabwe, would pay US$262 million towards Harares debt to AfDB. The African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) was supposed to pay the balance under a refinancing scheme to clear part of the over US$600 million owed to the AfDB. The Zimbabwe government was supposed to pay US$82 million on its own. The deal fell through after the expose sparked an international outcry, given that Zimbabwe was regarded as a rogue state. Harare then secured a syndicated loan of US$1,1 billion which involved a global commodities firm, but again the deal fell through because of political infighting and lack of reforms in government. At the time, Mnangagwa and his backers, including Chinamasa, supported the Lima Plan while the G40 faction, which had coalesced around former first lady Grace Mugabe, was opposed to the deal. Following Mugabes ouster, the Mnangagwa government has been re-engaging IMF officials with a view to bringing the Lima Plan back on track. The government is saying the Lima Plan has the support of all members of cabinet unlike in the past. The government is setting stiff targets even where modest targets could have been better, the official said. Zimbabwe requires a raft of reforms, which include reducing the fiscal deficit to sustainable levels through the alignment and re-organisation of the public service, to secure funding. Currently, the government wage bill gobbles up more than 90% of total revenue. Government is also expected to strengthen financial sector stability and confidence, as well as accelerate the ease of doing business reforms and reduce the cost of doing business under the Rapid Results Approach to enhance investor confidence. Overhauling state-owned enterprises is also critical for Zimbabwes re-engagement process. Zimbabwe paid its US$108 million IMF debt on October 2016 using Special Drawing Rights holdings with the fund. The payment of IMF arrears enabled the funds executive board to lift the declaration of non-cooperation, fully reinstate the provision of technical assistance and restore Zimbabwes eligibility to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) all punitive measures imposed on Harare due to the accumulation and non-payment of arrears. Zimbabwe Independent (Newser) Israel has turned to assassination to deal with its enemies more than any other western country since WWII. And "no target thwarted, vexed, and bedeviled the Israeli assassination apparatus more than Yasir Arafat," the New York Times reports in a deep look at Israel's futile, decades-long attempt to kill the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Israel first considered assassinating Arafat, whose death many believed would resolve Israel's Palestinian issue, in 1965. "I thought that hitting him would have changed the course of history, " said former Israel Defense Forces special ops expert Meir Dagan, who called Arafat a "kind of founding father of the Palestinian nation." Thatfor a number of important reasonsproved to be easier said than done. story continues below One reason wasas the head of one assassination operation put itArafat's "interminable good luck." On one occasion, Israeli soldiers entered a house where Arafat was based to find his food still warm but the leader nowhere to be found. Another reason were increasingly unlikely plans as killing Arafat became something of an obsession for Israeli defense minister Ariel Sharon. In 1968, Israelinspired by The Manchurian Candidatespent months brainwashing a Palestinian prisoner to kill Arafat (it didn't work). But mostly Israel's failure to kill Arafat was about an internal struggle over what methods and level of civilian casualties were acceptable for a democratic nation. That struggle played out in Israeli plans to blow up a stadium, shoot down commercial planes, and threaten Israeli journalists. Read the full story here. (Read more Longform stories.) (Newser) This week brought the revelation of a letter written in 2013 and sent to San Francisco police, purportedly by John Anglinwho, with brother Clarence and fellow inmate Frank Morrisfamously escaped Alcatraz in 1962. That they famously escaped at all is thanks to Popular Mechanics, argues ... Popular Mechanics in a look at how of two of its issues, which were available to Alcatraz inmates, may have played a role in the escape. It's not wild speculation: It reports the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons mentioned the magazine in its files, and Richard Tuggle, the screenwriter behind 1979's Escape From Alcatraz, puts it like so: "They never would have tried to escape [without it].The magazine gave them the final key that they needed to be able to try this crazy thing." story continues below The first issue is November 1960, which profiles a hunter who used scavenged rubber to make goose decoys. The technique he employed is vulcanizing: It forges "water-resistant links between rubber molecules," as Popular Mechanics explains, and all the men needed to begin vulcanizing their own lifeboat was their Alcatraz raincoats (other inmates helped them amass a stash of 50) and rubber cement. The second was the March 1962 issue, which featured the article, "Your Life PreserverHow will it behave if you need it?" The magazine's take: "Popular Mechanics tells its readers how to make things. Always has, since 1902. When that information gets used illegally, theres not much we can do about it." Read the full story here. (Read more Alcatraz stories.) (Newser) Most people go to great lengths to avoid stepping on their kids' Legos. Not Russell Cassevah, described as a "madman" by ALT 103.7 for what appears to be a (painful) new world record. WAVY reports the Virginia man traversed 120 feet of the sole-puncturing plastic bricks on Sunday, declaring before he started his feat of the feet: "I don't know what I was thinking." His agonizing crossing is shown here, beginning at around 18 minutes in with a test run, with him lamenting he didn't spread the bigger Legos around more because "the smaller pieces that stick to my feet hurt so bad." story continues below The actual record is set starting at around the 37-minute mark in the video, with Cassevah unable to stop at any point if he wants his record to count. He crosses the finish line about one minute and 10 seconds after his start, letting out a primal roar to the camera. "Guinness, we made it," he says (he has submitted the video to the organization for official review). The tootsie torment wasn't just for masochistic personal pride, either: Cassevah did it to help raise money for Fairy Bricks, a charity that delivers Lego sets to hospitalized children. The group had had 2,000 sets stolen from one of its delivery vans in November. (Read more Lego stories.) (Newser) Dustin Snyder and Sierra Siverio are moving fast. The Tampa Bay Times reports Snyder proposed to his girlfriend of two years after leaving a Chili's in Florida on Thursday. They'd only been talking about marriage since Monday, and they're getting hitched on Sunday. But you have to move fast when doctors give you less than a month to live and marrying your high-school sweetheart is one of your dying wishes. "I wanted to give her something back before my time was up," Snyder says. The 19-year-old has synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer, and doctors say there's nothing they can do, according to WTSP. ABC News reports Snyder is in hospice with a pain pump connected to his heart. But that won't stop him from declaring his love for Siverio in front of friends and family this weekend. story continues below Snyder and Siverio dated in middle school and reconnected as seniors in high school when Siverio showed up to the Steak and Shake where Snyder was working. "I'm blessed that he has her," Snyder's mom, Cassandra Fondahn, says. "She's literally been by his side the whole time." Siverio says Snyder was her "first love," and Snyder says she "means the world" to him. She was there with me since the beginning, and I couldn't imagine being with anyone else, he tells WTSP. Now the community has come together to give them a wedding, donating a dress, photographer, venue, and even a diamond ring. I can't believe the amount of people that have reached out to help, Fondahn says. Another $13,000 or so in donations will help the young couple tie the knot. (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) "I knew when I got off the plane that I would never see my mother again," Carrol Amrich tells the Pueblo Chieftain . "As soon as she took me off, I knew it." Amrich got word her 80-year-old mother had been hospitalized Jan. 16. The New York Times reports Amrich couldn't afford the plane ticket from Colorado to Minnesota to visit her mom, so her landlord, Ines Prelas, bought her a $585 ticket for United Airlines through Traveler HelpDesk. When it became clear Amrich's mother was dying, Prelas called United and paid an additional $75 to get Amrich on an earlier flight, according to the AP . And that's where the trouble came in. Amrich was on that earlier plane when a gate agent told her she had to get off. "They told me ... that no one flies for free," Amrich tells the Chieftain. story continues below Apparently Traveler HelpDesk got word that someone changed Amrich's ticket and refunded it to protect her from fraud. A customer service supervisor says they're "so sorry for Ms. Amrich's loss" but Prelas should have gone through them to change the flight. The United gate agent wouldn't let Prelas buy another ticket over the phone to get Amrich back on the flightthe last of the dayso Amrich started the 15-hour drive to Minnesota. She was still driving when she got word her mother had died. "I drove 1,000 miles, and she was gone before I got there," Amrich tells the Times. "I went straight through. And she was gone." Prelas says United, which had assured her it would be fine to change the ticket through them, offered to send flowers. "What are the flowers going to do?" Prelas asks. "You took away from her that she might have been able to see her mother alive." (Read more air travel stories.) (Newser) A New Jersey doctor accused of arranging his wife's murder has committed suicide in prison, reports People. James Kauffman, a 68-year-old endocrinologist, allegedly helped set up the 2012 murder of his 47-year-old wife, April Kauffman, inside their home. The motive? Prosecutors say their marriage had gone south, and April Kauffman was threatening to expose the prescription drug ring her husband was operating with a local motorcycle gang out of his Atlantic City office. April Kauffman had been a popular local radio personality. story continues below Authorities at the Hudson County jail have not provided details on Kauffman's death, except to say that he was found in his cell Friday morning by jail staff. NJ.com reports that Kauffman tied something around his neck to asphyxiate himself and laid down on his bunk so that it appeared as if he were sleeping. Kauffman, who had recently been moved to the jail because of threats against his life, also left a lengthy suicide note, the site reports. The gunman who allegedly killed April Kauffman died of a drug overdose in 2013. A member of the motorcycle gang still faces murder charges in her death. (Read more New Jersey stories.) (Newser) President Trump has been critical of costs associated with Air Force One in the past, calling them "out of control" just before taking office, CNN reports. So it's unclear how he feels about the $23.6 million contract the US Air Force signed with Boeing last month to replace two of the presidential plane's refrigerators. Experts tell Defense One this isn't a case of Boeing making a hefty profit off American taxpayers but rather a result of requirements placed on Air Force One by the Air Force and White House Military Office. The two refrigeration units being replaced came with Air Force One in 1990 and are different from at-home refrigerators and the "coolboxes" found in other planes. Air Force spokesperson Ann Sefanek says the units' "reliability has decreased with failures increasing." story continues below Air Force One has five "chillers" with 26 total compartments for keeping food cold and frozen. Those chillers need to store enough food to feed Air Force One's passengers and crew for weeks without resupplyingabout 3,000 meals. Stefanek says the two new units will provide "nearly 70 cubic feet" of refrigeration and freezing. The nearly $24 million bill will cover design, manufacturing, installation, and testing. Still, one former senior adviser to President Obama tweets they "would have been impeached" if they spent $24 million on refrigerators. The Guardian notes that money could fund about eight weekend visits to Mar-a-Lago by Trump or two months of presidential security at Trump Tower in New York City. The fridge replacement project is expected to be completed by October 2019. (Read more Air Force One stories.) (Newser) It seemed like no big deal. Eight-year-old Liam Flanagan fell off his bike on the family farm in Pilot Rock, Oregon, and suffered a gash on his thigh from the handlebars, recounts People. It was serious enough to warrant a trip to the ER, where Liam got seven stitches, but everybody involved figured that was the end of it. Except Liam kept complaining of pain in the ensuing days, and when Tylenol didn't help, his parents discovered that his thigh and groin had become severely discolored. Doctors now think flesh-eating bacteria entered Liam's wound from the dirt when he fell, and a series of amputations at Doernbecher Childrens Hospital in Portland failed to stem its advance. He died after an eight-day fight. story continues below Almost his whole right side was gone, mom Sara Hebard tells the East Oregonian. They kept cutting and hoping. Cutting and hoping. Hebard says she hopes her son's death raises awareness for other parents about the symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis, including include fever, chills, fatigue, and vomiting, per USA Today. The infected area also may turn purple and be a source of chronic pain. He said it hurt, but it was his very first accident, and he never had stitches before, Hebard says of her son's first complaints. A GoFundMe page had raised about $40,000 as of Saturday. (Read more flesh-eating bacteria stories.) (Newser) A suicide car bomber killed at least 95 people and wounded about 160 more in an attack claimed by the Taliban on Saturday in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, authorities said. The bombing came just a week after Taliban militants killed 22 at an international hotel in the city. The attacker used an ambulance to get through a security checkpoint, telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital, authorities said, per the AP. The attacker then detonated his explosives at a second checkpoint. story continues below A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from the site near the government's former Interior Ministry building. Also nearby are the European Union and Indian consulates. So far, no foreigners have been reported as being among the casualties, per the Washington Post. A week ago, six Taliban militants attacked the city's Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by shimmying down bedsheets from the upper floors. (Read more Kabul stories.) (Newser) A New Jersey father of five whose T-shirt saying "In Need of Kidney" went viral has received a lifesaving transplant from a stranger. Robert Leibowitz said he had the surgery last week at a New York hospital and is now "walking on clouds," per the AP. Leibowitz, 60, said his background in advertising and the roughly decadelong waiting list for a new kidney led him to make the T-shirt and wear it every day during a vacation to Disney World last summer. The shirt said he has O-positive blood and listed a phone number to call. When a picture of the shirt took off on social media, he said, his phone started buzzing with calls, voicemails, and messages from random people wanting to help. story continues below "I got my doubts sometimes about humanity, but the fact that I got so many calls, it brought tears to my eyes," he said. Medical tests narrowed the donor pool until a man from Indiana, Richie Sully, was found to be a perfect match. "As bad as my memory is, I will never forget what I told him: 'Hi, my name is Richie. I saw your post on Facebook, I'm O-positive, I have an extra kidney, you're welcome to it. I'm not crazy, but I'm from Indiana,'" said Sully, who made multiple trips to New York to prep for the procedure. For Sully, the decision to give his kidney to a man he'd never met was a "no-brainer." "I just saw a father that wanted to spend more time with his kids," he said. (Read more kidney donation stories.) (Newser) One of the richest men in the world is once again a free man, but it may have cost him a fortune. Saudi billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal walked out of prison Saturday after being arrested on corruption charges as part of a sweeping roundup in November, reports Reuters. More precisely, he walked out of the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, which has been turned into a prison of sorts for Saudi elite accused of wrongdoing. Prior to his release, Saudi authorities were reportedly seeking a financial settlement of $6 billionyes, billionfrom al-Waleed, though it is unclear what, if any, amount he paid, reports the Wall Street Journal. story continues below Neither the prince nor Saudi authorities have provided details about his release, including whether he has been cleared of wrongdoing. The corruption crackdown set in place by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is widely regarded as more of a bid on his part to consolidate power as he institutes wide-ranging reform throughout the country. So far, the government has secured about $100 billion in settlements from those rounded up, though nearly 100 have not paid and face prosecution. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.) (Newser) President Trump's handpicked Republican National Committee finance chair is resigning over allegations of widespread sexual misconduct, Politico reports. Billionaire Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn, who Trump has called "a great friend," stepped down from the position Saturday, according to NBC News. A Wall Street Journal report Friday revealed allegations of sexual harassment and assaultincluding coercing employees into sexagainst the 76-year-old Wynn going back decades. Wynn calls the allegations "preposterous" and blames his ex-wife "with whom I am involved in a terrible and nasty lawsuit." It's unclear who will replace Wynn as finance chair. Deputy finance chair and Trump lawyer Michael Cohen says Wynn "is a truly great man." story continues below Over the past five years, Wynn has given more than $3.2 million to the Republican Governors Association, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the RNC, and the National Republican Congressional Committee. USA Today reports Democrats are pressuring Republican lawmakers to return money they've received from Wynnsomething GOP lawmakers demanded of Democrats following the allegations against Harvey Weinstein. In the exact words of RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, If you stand for treating women well and you stand for the respect of women, you shouldn't take money from somebody who treated women with the absolute highest level of disrespect,'" says Sabrina Singh, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee. (Read more Steve Wynn stories.) Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here New Delhi: Ramalinga Reddy, Home Minister of Karnataka on Saturday hit out at the BJP over its charge of the Congress government indulging in minority appeasement. BJP doesn't understand English properly. It's not a circular, just a reminder. A few minority leaders had represented that some false cases have been registered against members of the minority communities hence the IG sent a letter to SPs to remind them; that's all, responded an angry Reddy. The office of the Director General & Inspector General of Police Karnataka had on Friday sent a letter to the 22 district police heads of the state from seeking opinion on the withdrawal of cases against innocent persons from the minority communities to which the BJP took strong objection and accused Karnataka's Congress government of indulging in minority appeasement. Bengaluru: In poll-bound Karnataka, a letter sent to the 22 district police heads of the state from the office of Director General & Inspector General of Police Karnataka seeking opinion on the withdrawal of cases against innocent persons from the minority communities has created a political storm in the state as the BJP has accused Karnataka's Congress government of indulging into minority appeasement. The letter reads, "As mentioned in 2 letters sent earlier by this office, your clear opinion was sought on withdrawal of cases from the last five years i.e., 2013, 14', 15', 16', and 17 booked against minorities in all police stations across the state. No response or report in this regard has been received so far. Hence, you are once again reminded to file a report with documents in this regard with your clear opinion on dropping cases against minorities in communal and other cases to this office immediately. Soon after the letter became public, Murlidhar Rao, National General Secretary of BJP and Karnataka in-charge took to Twitter and slammed the Congress. "Karnataka govt circular to release innocent Muslims. Now d cat has come out of d bag. Innocent is euphemism to cover up d hard-core criminal intentions to terrorize n liquidate BJP leaders n also utilize their muscle power to influence electoral outcome in favor of Congress. Karnataka govt circular to release innocent Muslims.. Now d cat has come out of d bag. Innocent is euphemism to cover up d had core criminal intentions to terrorize n liquidate BJP leaders n also utilize their muscle power to influence electoral outcome in favor of Congress. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/QmD8NLtK8b P Muralidhar Rao (@PMuralidharRao) January 26, 2018 Speaking to News Nation, Congress leader Rizwan Arshad said, Few minority organisations had sent a representation to state government and requested to withdraw the cases against the innocent people who have been arrested during Congress rule. We have asked the police to give an opinion about those people who have not been involved in any murder or have caused injuries or arson. Moreover, BJP has no moral right to put questions to us since their government has withdrawn cases against 20 thousand party workers including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh. The first letter regarding this matter was sent on December 22, 2017, and later two reminders were sent on January 2, 2018, and January 19, 2018, but till now none of the concerned police officers has replied so far. The Government has sought the opinion of Commissioner of Police Mangaluru and Mysuru, Superintendents of Police Kolar, Tumkuru, Ramnagar, Chikkaballapur, KGF, Hassan, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Karwar, Chikmagalur, Udupi, Ballari, Kalburgi, Bidar, and Yadgir. New Delhi: A 48 hour Delhi Bandh has been announced by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) as a mark of protest against the sealing drive being carried out by the civic authorities in the National Capital. The bandh will be observed by about 7 lakh traders who will close their shops from February 2 to February 3. Traders association will hold a meeting with the representatives of the Delhi Government on Sunday morning to raise the issue. They will gherao the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs and MLAs and submit a memorandum to the Monitoring Committee on Monday. New Delhi: Bigg Boss 11 proved to be an entertaining affair for the television viewers. The popular reality show managed to become the number one show in the latest set of ratings. After staying locked up inside the BB11 house for over 100 days, Shilpa Shinde won the show by defeating Hina Khan in the grand finale. The Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain actress grabbed maximum eyeballs in the latest season of Bigg Boss 11. Shilpa won millions of hearts during her stint in the Salman Khan hosted show. Her genuine and caring nature was appreciated by the fans as well as celebrities. Read- Gauri Khan shares picture of her KNIGHT RIDER AbRam and you definitely need to see it The Marathi Mulgi recently took to Twitter to say thanks to another former Bigg Boss 11 winner. The person in question is none other than Gautam Gulati. For the uninitiated, the BB8 winner had extended her support to Shilpa during the BB11 finale. The Azhar actor wanted her to win the show and his wish came true as Shilpa defeated Hina Khan by a huge margin. Dil Ki Baat Hi karta Hu Main.#Shilpashinde First and Last Tweet on #BB11 Gautam Gulati (@TheGautamGulati) January 13, 2018 The Maayka actress tweeted, sometimes words matter a lot. Sometime few words matter a lot.. Sorry @TheGautamGulati for not responding to this earlier. Thanks a lot https://t.co/WoYRGdRv8V Shilpa Shinde (@ShindeShilpaS) January 25, 2018 Interestingly, both Shilpa and Gautam had a similar journey in the Bigg Boss house. The two television celebrities fought the battle all alone and were even ostracised by the other contestants at one point of time. We believe it was a very sweet gesture from our very own Shilpa Angoori Shinde. New Delhi: Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairperson Prasoon Joshi has announced that he will not be attending the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF). Joshi was slated to address a session at JLF on Sunday. Joshis decision to skip the event comes in the wake of threats he received from the Sri Rajput Karni Sena for clearing Padmaavat for release. Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees, said Joshi. I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. Certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to concerns of society and cinema. Sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue, added Joshi. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Renowned Kannada actor Chandrashekhar breathed his last during the wee hours of Saturday. Reportedly, the actor suffered a massive cardiac arrest at his home in Canada. He was 63 years. Chandrashekhar is survived by his wife and daughter Tanya. The news of his death was confirmed by his daughter while talking to Hindu. She said, Last night I spoke to him when he was shifted to a hospital. He only said he had a slight pain, but I got a call at around 3.30 am saying he passed away." Talking about Chandrashekhar's journey in showbiz, he had made his debut as a child actor with 1969 release Namma Makkalu. While there was no looking back for him them, he got his big break with Puttanna Kanaga's Edakallu Guddada Mele in 1973. In fact, he got the Edakallu post the grand success of the movie. Chandrashekhar has worked in over 40 movies in his career and was last seen 3 Ghante, 30 Dina, 30 Second which was released early this year. The actor had been living in Canada for a while after he married dancer Sheela. Reportedly, the family is yet to decide whether Chandrashekhar's last rites will be conducted in Canada or Bengaluru For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jhabua: A 12-year-old girl was slapped 168 times over a period of six days by her classmates at a residential school on the instructions of their teacher, the child's father complained to school authorities and police. However, the school principal K Sagar termed it a "friendly" punishment. "Those were not strong slaps but mild and friendly ones, we will also talk to the parents," Sagar said The incident took place at the Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thandla town here and the girl's father, Shivpratap Singh, told police that she was slapped 168 times between January 11 -16 for not completing her homework. The girl is a student of Class VI at the school. He told police that the school's science teacher, Manoj Kumar Verma, on January 11, told the his daughter's classmates to slap her as a form of punishment and 14 girls slapped her two times every day for six days. Also Read: Delhi Police drops charges against nursery student booked in rape case Singh also stated in his complaint, filed a couple of days ago, that his child was unwell and therefore was unable to complete her homework. He alleged that the school was aware of his child's illness. He also told police that his daughter fell ill due to fear and distress and refused to go to school, following which she had to be admitted to a local hospital. Thandla police station in-charge S S Baghel confirmed that a complaint had been received but added that no injury was found during medical examination conducted on the girl. "We had received a complaint. No injury was found during the medical examination of the girl. Our team also visited the school and found that such an incident had occurred. We are investigating further. However, no formal case has been registered so far," he said. School Principal Sagar defended the action of the teacher and termed the disciplining method a "friendly" punishment. "We don't allow corporal punishment in the school. The girl is weak in studies and doesn't complete her assignments," he said, adding that the teacher chose this form punishment to improve her performance in school. Also Read: While Delhi is turned into fortress, bike-borne criminals kidnap class 1 student from school bus, shoot driver District Collector Ashish Saxena said that the issue had come to his knowledge and he had ordered an investigation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kasganj: Violence erupted in Western Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj town on Saturday when a group of people from a particular community went on rampage after cremation of a youth in his early twenties, who was killed during a clash on Friday. The groups vandalised shops, burnt down several others at the towns main market. The mob also set two buses on fire. According to police, one Chandan Gupta, 22, was killed in a clash that broke out during a Tiranga Rally by activists of ABVP and VHP. Another person identified as Naushad is admitted in the hospital with critical injuries. Both had suffered bullet injuries. Soon after the incident Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the police to sternly deal with the culprits. Also read| Uttar Pradesh: 1 killed, at least dozen injured in clash over Republic Day flag march in Kasganj Police have arrested nine people in connection with Friday violence. Senior IPS rank officers have been deployed in the town to control deteriorating law and order after Friday evening clashes. Paramilitary forces including CRPF and BSF have been deployed to thwart any untoward incident. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Brussels : The EU today hit US chipmaking giant Qualcomm with an antitrust fine of 997 million euros (USD 1.2 billion) for paying Apple to use its chips exclusively in iPhones and iPads. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that by striking the agreement with Apple in 2011 that Qualcomm had abused its market dominance to unfairly shut out rival chipmakers such as Intel, denying choice to consumers. The fine is the latest blow struck by the EU against US tech giants and also a fresh hit for Qualcomm, the leading global supplier of smartphone chips, following another antitrust fine of $800 million imposed by authorities in Taiwan last year. Qualcomm cemented its position by illegally shutting out rivals from the market for over five years, Vestager told a press conference. Between 2011 and 2016 Qualcomm paid billions of US dollars to a key customer, Apple, and the payment was to prevent Apple to buy from rivals, Vestager said. This meant that no rival could effectively challenge Qualcomm in this market, no matter how good their products were. The deal involved so-called chipsets that enable smartphones to send and receive voice calls and data over cell networks, for use in video calls and internet use. The Danish commissioner said that Qualcomm had denied consumers and other companies more choice and innovation. Vestager said the EUs two-and-a-half year probe uncovered internal Apple documents showing it was seriously thinking about switching to Qualcomms rival Intel on several occasions. This would have made a big difference to Intel. Apple is one of the largest makers of smartphones and tablets in the world. In the end Apple decided not to make the change, Vestager said. Qualcomm and Apple are currently entangled in a bitter legal dispute over patents and royalties. The iPhone manufacturer filed a US lawsuit in January 2017 accusing Qualcomm of abusing its market power for certain mobile chipsets to demand unfair royalties. Moscow: Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the United States new economic sanctions against Moscow, labelling them "absurd" and reserving the right to a "response". This "absurd sanctions campaign has not succeeded and will not lead to any results," the ministry said in a statement. "If the American authorities prefer to break economic ties... with Russia, it is their right, as it is ours to reserve the right to a response". The fresh sanctions, which were announced by the US Treasury earlier on Friday, target Russian officials who supplied turbines to a power plant in annexed Crimea, as well as several "ministers" from the breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. A total of 21 people and nine companies were hit with the sanctions, some of them over the turbines, which were built by German engineering giant Siemens for delivery to Russia but were later sent on to Crimea -- which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014. Moscow said the new sanctions were imposed "under the pretext of inventing Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian crisis", adding that the US is merely "showing the whole world its own powerlessness". "Washington cannot shed the illusion that it is possible to scare us by refusing US visas or by trade bans," the statement said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Saturday said he stands by his claim that Russia bears responsibility for recent chemical attacks in Syria, despite strong denials from Moscow. These are just unacceptable deployments of chemicals in ways that violate all conventions which Russia itself has signed up for. It violates agreements that Russia undertook to be responsible for identifying and eliminating the chemical weapons inside of Syria, Tillerson said during a visit to Warsaw. The chemical weapons are clearly there, theyre being used against civilian populationsand the most vulnerable are childreninside of Syria, Tillerson told reporters, in a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. So we are holding Russia responsible for addressing this. They are (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assads ally. They are members of those conventions and they made commitments. They need to deliver on those commitments. Tillerson first made the accusations on Tuesday, as diplomats from 29 countries met in Paris to push for sanctions and criminal charges against the perpetrators of the chemical attacks in Syria. Russia and China have blocked Western-backed efforts at the UN to impose sanctions on Damascus over their use. On Wednesday, Russia lashed out at Tillerson for having hastily accused the Syrianas they call it regime for the attack in Eastern Ghouta, adding now they are trying to drag Russia into this as well. Damascus has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons, with the United Nations among those blaming government forces for an April 2017 sarin gas attack on the opposition-held village of Khan Sheikhun that left scores dead. There have been at least 130 separate chemical weapons attacks in Syria since 2012, according to French estimates, with the Islamic State group also accused of using mustard gas in Syria and Iraq. Next week, Moscow will hold negotiations in the Russian city of Sochi aimed at ending Syrias civil war. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On the day when India was celebrating its 69th Republic Day, a Pakistan backed 'Black Day' campaign was organised outside the Indian High Commission in Central London. According to the Black Day organisers, led by Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan baron in the House of Lords, they were protesting the oppression of Kashmiris in India and wanted an Azad Kashmir. They were strongly defied by many Indian and British groups resulting in an eruption of clashes and scuffles outside the Indian High Commission leading to police intervention. I am here today to tell Lord Nazir that they are asking for independence for my state of J&K but I want freedom from Pakistan sponsored terrorism, ceasefire violations, and their proxy war, said an Indian activist and writer from the state of Jammu and Kashmir based in London. #WATCH Clashes erupted outside Indian High Commission in London as British Lord Nazir called for Azad Kashmir on India's Republic Day pic.twitter.com/IJQb3XajIu ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018 For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A higher gas tax and new fees for alternative-fuel vehicles are among the ways America can pay for a major overhaul of its outdated infrastructure and create jobs in the process, says a bipartisan group that includes U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty. This will put people to work, and everybody knows we need to do it, said Esty, a three-term Democrat who co-chairs the U.S. House Problems Solvers Caucus Infrastructure Working Group. We think there is narrow window of a couple months to do this, so we are going to push very hard to get it done. Esty is referring to recommendations in the groups new report that include modernizing not only highways and bridges but also power plants, water systems and broadband networks - especially in rural America. Although most infrastructure money comes from the states, the House members recommendations were welcomed by one Connecticut group for putting the focus on the countrys future. Taxes cant always be an evil word, said Kevin Maloney, the communications director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. The state of Connecticut is still very fiscally challenged, so we have to look at alternative ways to fund infrastructure projects. As anyone whos endured Fairfield County rush hour knows, Connecticut is at an infrastructure crossroads. For years, the state has delayed upgrades to roads and bridges while millions of dollars in dedicated transportation funds are spent by the legislature to close gaps in the budget. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had proposed a $100 billion transportation plan over the next three decades, but that initiative was undercut earlier this month when the outgoing Democrat suspended $4 billion in road improvement projects in greater Danbury and across the state. At the same time, the nation has fallen behind on repairs, in part because Congress has raided infrastructure funds to solve its own budget problems and in part because the 18 cent-a-gallon gasoline tax has not been raised since 1993 and no longer pays for the nations annual highway needs. Unless Congress makes changes, the federal Highway Trust Fund will be $2 trillion in the hole by 2025, Estys report says. The good news is that if one issue unites Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C., its infrastructure, Esty said. President Donald Trump made headlines last year when he proposed a $1 trillion infrastructure program over 10 years. He has said in published reports that he would consider raising the gas tax to pay for it. Trump plans to unveil details of that plan next month. Esty said a fully funded federal highway program would help Connecticut. If we appropriately fund it, that will help Connecticut because there will be more money for projects, Esty said. The federal match for highways generally is 75 to 80 percent. The state Department of Transportation had not reviewed Estys report by Friday. We appreciate the congresswomans interest in transportation, DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said. It is important to have this focus, particularly with the issue we face with the highway special transportation fund. Rebuilding A Republican member of Estys working group, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, tells the story of a bridge in his district in southeast Pennsylvania. Each day the school bus stops at the bridge to let the children out. The bus then crosses the bridge empty, since any more weight on the bridge would be dangerous. The children cross on foot, and then climb back into the bus. That story underscores the kind of issues we are all facing, Esty said. That is not what a great country does. Esty and the Republican co-chair of the infrastructure group, Rep. John Katko of New York, spent four months analyzing the practices surrounding federal infrastructure and looking for areas where there might be support from the White House and both parties. In addition to new user fees and regulatory reform, the group said that government accountability was vital to building a 21st century infrastructure. Specifically, provisions need to be passed to ensure that money raised by new user fees is spent on highway improvements, Esty said. You cannot collect user fees and then not use them for what you collected them for - that just erodes public confidence and makes it hard to get support for the revenue you need to have, Esty said. It is very important to have public confidence. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 NEW MILFORD Residents strolling through the center of town around noon Saturday might have noticed a chorus of bells emanating from St. Xavier Francis parish. The church bells, followed by a quieter refrain of handbells, marked The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Connecticut Forget-Me-Nots 33rd annual ceremony to remember the anniversary of the Paris peace accords, which ended the Vietnam War 44 years ago. Under this agreement, all prisoners of war were to be sent home within 90 days, but the New Milford-based group works to find those who have still not returned. We have not forgotten the veterans, Thomas J. Saadi, acting commissioner of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, told the crowd. We have not forgotten our veterans who are here and we have not forgotten veterans who have not come home. Saadi said 25 soldiers from Connecticut are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, along with hundreds of others not recovered from World War II, the Korean War, Iraq War, Afghan War and the Cold War. The names of more than 100 unaccounted-for soldiers and about 15 whose remains have been found and returned were read at Saturdays ceremony. The crowd of about 20 veterans and residents rang their handbells following each name. One name on the list was former New Milford resident Gerald Yarrish, a soldier killed in the Korean War. His cousin, Leona Tomascak, said honoring Yarrish was the reason she came to the event. (Im here) so hes not forgotten, said Tomascak, who lives in Brookfield. His remains are still over there, as far as I know. Tomascak said she has been working with Kathy Shemely, the president of New Milfords Forget Me Nots, to contact legislators about her cousin. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Elizabeth Esty are helping her find information, Tomascak said. Other residents gathered Saturday said they dont personally know a prisoner of war or missing soldier, but still wanted to show their support. This is my way of honoring our veterans, said Pat Bought, of New Milford. I want to make sure that Im out here cheering them on. Shemely also gave the crowd updates on cases in progress with government officials to recognize or obtain the remains of soldiers. She said the event is meant to raise awareness and honor even those families of soldiers who cant make it to the ceremony. The families need to know that their family members are important, she said. The event was also attended by New Milford Mayor Pete Bass and state Sen. Michael McLachlan (R-24). I want to thank you for being here, year after year, Bass said. In the snow, in the sleet, in the rain, you guys are here to remember even when some of us dont. aquinn@newstimes.com Across the Danbury area, special education costs are rising as more students with disabilities are sent out of their home districts to get the services they need. Public schools are required to pay for special education students to attend different schools if they cannot provide adequate services in their own district. A state grant covers some of this cost. Although officials caution that there is no data to suggest a trend or give specific reasons, some school superintendents said the rise in outplacements may be connected to better identification of children who need those services. Recently, superintendents in Brookfield, New Milford, New Fairfield, Redding and Ridgefield have all asked for higher special education budgets for the 2018-19 school year. Brookfield and Ridgefield are also struggling to find ways to fund the current school years special education services. Both districts hope to get special appropriations to cover their budget overruns. We are not alone in this work, Ridgefield Superintendent Karen Baldwin said at a recent school board meeting. It presents an opportunity for us to come together ... and talk with our neighbors about strategies that might help us get to some of the root causes and determine what appropriate next steps may be to help contain costs. Rebecca Adams, a senior staff attorney for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, said special education costs in general are continuously rising across the state. But she has not noted a statewide trend in the past 15 years of more students needing to be placed out of their home districts. You look back over time, I think youll find big spikes and big drops, she said. I dont think its easy to see some sort of a general pattern. The costs of services can also differ greatly for each student, ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to six figures. Adams said just one or two students being sent out of the district can lead to a jump in costs. The state does not track trends in outplacements and districts decide whether students should be sent to another school on a case-by-case basis, but must honor an outplacement from a students former district. Adams said the latter is more often the reason for a spike than existing students needing to be outplaced. Kids and families move around the state frequently, Adams said. Were not seeing that suddenly more students are needing outplacements. Brookfield Superintendent John Barile said the rise in students sent out of the district could be a combination of increased needs in children and better identification. The district is very careful to make sure were accurately identifying student needs and, at the same time, demographics are also changing, he said. Baldwin said Ridgefields improved methods of evaluating students with disabilities and recent legislation on the identification of certain disabilities could be affecting the 3 percent increase in Ridgefields special education population over the past seven years. She cautioned the district will need to do a thorough analysis to be sure. There is a possibility that through the professional learning and incoming resources and stronger evaluation, that were capturing more children that have a disability, Baldwin said. The district is projecting 23 students will need to be sent out of Ridgefield next academic year, costing the district $2.35 million. This year, Ridgefield sent seven more students than anticipated to other schools.The district has been able to cover some of this overage thanks to a spending freeze, but plans to ask the town for a special appropriation to offset the rest. New Milford also needed to outplace seven more students than anticipated this year. But the district was able to absorb these costs in the rest of the budget, Superintendent Joshua Smith said. Weve been able to mitigate this cost for the past five, six, seven years, Smith told Board of Education members at a recent meeting. We anticipate being able to do that moving forward. But literally these swings could be any minute of any day. Somebody moves in, some email happens, something changes and were no longer able to provide services to these students. Not all school district are seeing this type of increase. Danbury and Bethel have not seen a hike in outplacements. Since many of the Bethels estimated 380 special education students have similar needs, the district is able to provide in-school services for most of them, Superintendent Christine Carver said. Its not to say we dont have outplacements we do, she said. But we have been trying to manage it with the resources we currently have, and part of the reason weve been successful is weve been creative in developing programs. This might be difficult for other districts if they only have one or two students with similar needs, Carver said. Recently, Bethel has focused on addressing students social-emotional needs, and has long had a program for autistic students. It is student driven, Carver said. But its about creating the right culture and services for the students. Each program has a unique set of needs to address based on the disability categories. In Ridgefield, the district plans to create a special education task force to tackle this and related issues. We need to have a better sense of where things arent going well and we need to improve in that area, Baldwin said. This is a priority area for us. Anna Quinn contributed to this report. ONEIDA, N.Y. - The New York State Police today said an unarmed man who died in police custody Monday after being Tasered twice was high on methamphetamine. John C. Havener Jr., 41, of Vernon Center, died at a local hospital after he was subdued by police, police said. State police, who are assisting with the investigation, released new information this afternoon describing what happened when police were called to a report of a man in the middle of a road in Oneida at about 4:20 a.m. Monday. An autopsy performed by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office showed no anatomical cause of death, police said. State police said toxicology results may take up to several months to return, police said. The preliminary investigation has revealed that Havener used methamphetamine prior to the incident, police said. Police did not specify how they knew he had taken meth. Havener and a male passenger, who was not named, left a residence in Munnsville around 3 a.m. in a 2005 Toyota Corolla and were headed to Wal-Mart on Genesee Street in Oneida, police said. The passenger told investigators as they were headed down Genesee Street near the Glenwood Plaza in Oneida, Havener began to drive erratically, police said. The passenger stated that he grabbed the steering wheel a couple of times because he was afraid of crashing, police said. After passing the traffic signal at Dream Catchers Plaza, Havener became very agitated and for unknown reasons, started to drive backward down Route 5, the passenger told police. The vehicle then struck a curb and snowbank near the entrance of the state police building, police said. The passenger grabbed the keys from the vehicle and ran down Genesee Street toward McDonalds, police said. The Madison County 911 Center received a call from a female motorist regarding a male subject, who was later identified as Havener, walking in the roadway along Genesee Street in the area of the State Police building. The woman told dispatchers the man was screaming and attempting to enter passing cars, police said. Two city of Oneida police officers responded and found Havener in the roadway holding a flashlight and screaming incoherently, police said. As officers approached Havener, they attempted to get him out of the road by using verbal commands, police said. Havener refused to listen to the officers and began to be physically combative after officers made physical attempts to remove him from the roadway, police said. Officers used pepper spray and deployed a Taser to try to gain control of him, police said. An officer from Canastota Police Department arrived on scene to assist, but Havener continued to resist and he was shot with a Taser a second time, police said. Members of the Madison County Sheriff's Office and state police arrived shortly after that and assisted in securing Havener with handcuffs and restraints, police said. Officers requested emergency medical help after they noticed Havener having trouble breathing, police said. Vineall ambulance responded and transported Havener to Oneida Healthcare facility which was about a half a mile away, police said. Havener was prounounced dead at the facility, police said. Several motorists told police that they witnessed Havener driving erratically and acting aggressive toward police officers. Witnesses said Havener appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said. Police identified the following officers who responded to the scene: Oneida Police Officer Daniel Slator, Oneida Police Officer Jeffrey Barres and Canastota Police Officer Derek Oursler. State police did not identify which officers shot Havener with Taser.s State police said no further details will be released until the conclusion of the investigation by the state police and the New York State Attorney General's Office. The state Attorney General's Office investigates deaths of unarmed people in police custody, under an executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 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. This week in 1998 marked the beginning of the Monica Lewinsky scandal that rocked the second presidential term of President Bill Clinton. It might have also been the beginning of the end of good taste, whatever that means. Social mores took a turn in 1998. "The Jerry Springer Show" had become recommended viewing for all ages and throwing chairs seemed like a way to get a point across. Kids acted out their favorite "Jerry Springer" moments at recess. RELATED: What did Houston look like in 1988? On January 7, 1998, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky signed an affidavit denying she had an affair with Clinton. She had been subpoenaed by lawyers for Paula Jones, who was suing the president on sexual harassment charges. There was much more to their story, as well all know by now. The country would soon have an impeachment process to watch on CNN. CHUCK KENNEDY In Nov. 1995, the pair had entered into a sexual relationship, according to audiotapes secretly recorded by then-fellow Pentagon employee Linda Tripp and later testimony under oath. The pair met one last time in the Oval Office on Dec. 28, 1997 with Clinton giving her several Christmas presents and they kissed. Within the first weeks of 1998, the scandal became the only thing on the minds of Americans, it seemed. On Jan. 19, the story hit burgeoning news aggregation website Drudge Report and two days later various news organizations begin to report on the alleged sexual relationship between Lewinsky and Clinton. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky," Clinton said with marked pauses in a press conference, but the damage was done. Check out a timeline of the things to come here, via the Washington Post. Remember that this story was easily the first time that digital news made its presence known. Americans were soon talking openly about oral sex. Soon, stained dresses and cigars placed in naughty places began one of the most trashy years in modern history. RELATED: Vintage pictures show Houston as it was in 1977 You had Cameron Diaz (albeit inadvertently) using semen as hair gel in a mainstream motion picture and George Michael getting busted in a public bathroom in Los Angeles. If you wanted to watch Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee have sex, all one had to do was go to your local porn shop and buy their illegally-obtained, now world-famous, sex tape. Not to sound like the morality police, but even Alanis Morisette had a naked music video. Pop-culture really went for it 20 years ago. In the end, we would survive the '90s and even that pesky Y2K bug. 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. He was listening to a lot of Dave Matthews Band in 1998. STAMFORD Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker, who chronicled the mishaps of the worlds laziest U.S. Army private since 1950 while maintaining an unrivaled run of work in the comics industry, died in his Stamford home Saturday at 94. Walkers work ethic was defined by Beetle Bailey, the longest-running comic strip drawn by its original creator, but he published eight other strips at various points of his career. Among those was Hi and Lois, a Beetle spinoff he launched in 1954 with Dik Browne, future creator of Hagar the Horrible. Walkers sons, Brian and Greg, now handle Hi and Lois, and collaborated with their father on Beetle Bailey, which they will continue to produce. The early Hi and Lois strips were Mort Walkers interpretation of family life in Greenwich. His youngest son, Greenwich resident Neal Walker, has also contributed to Beetle Bailey for decades and will take on added duties with Hi and Lois. Brian Walker, who has written several books on the history of the medium, said his father was part of a post-World War II generation of cartoonists that created lasting strips, including Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Bil Keane (The Family Circus) and Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace). They led a movement from serial strips to gags; they changed the comics, Brian Walker said Saturday. These are strips that are all still running. Mort was at the head of that. Walker died in his studio, surrounded by scores of cartoon troops represented in toys, comics, books and strips, according to family members. Working ahead, months of his work exists and will be appearing throughout 2018, said Bill Janocha, who has worked as Walkers assistant for more than 30 years. Thousands of hand-drawn gag sketches have been saved, so Morts writings and layouts can potentially continue to help steer Beetle Bailey for years to come. Walker kept pedals under the desk to squeeze in an occasional workout while he drew. He kept his foot locker nearby from his days as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he served in Italy. While Beetle was born in that locker, comics already filled Addison Morton Walkers home surroundings during his childhood in Kansas City, Mo., following his birth in El Dorado, Kan., on Sept. 3, 1923. His earliest memories included reading Moon Mullins on his fathers lap in the 1920s. He cherished a handwritten response he received from Moon Mullins cartoonist Frank Willard, who deemed Walkers boyhood illustrations swell. Ill bet youll be a big-shot cartoonist someday, Willard wrote. As a teenager, Walker was already drawing cards for Hallmark. After a brief career in New York as a cartoonist for Dell Publishing Co., Walkers childhood dream came true. He liked to boast that Beetle was the final comic strip approved by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Beetles beginnings Beetle Bailey was initially based on Walkers years as a University of Missouri undergraduate, and specifically on a school pal, the late David Hornaday. A statue of Beetle now lounges on the campus. Beetle was drafted during the Korean War, but Walker feared the long-term appeal of an Army strip and sent Beetle back home. Readers demanded Beetle re-enlist and he remains a private 60 years later. The Camp Swampy ranks included Sarge, who was based on Walkers own sergeant; Gen. Halftrack, inspired by a corrupt major; and Plato, an ink version of Browne. Walker was Lt. Fuzz, a young officer who takes himself too seriously. The only occasional combat they saw was with offended readers. Walker wrote books addressing accusations of sexism (regarding the character of Miss Buxley, who was based on Marilyn Monroe); and racism (concerning Cpl. Yo and Lt. Flap). He even drew friendly fire, as Stars and Stripes once suspended publication of the strip, perceiving it as not supporting the American soldier. He lived in a home that had once been the studio of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, converting it into a virtual cartoon museum. A bas-relief carved into a bar depicts Beetle alongside the other faces on the monument. He installed an elevator to his self-described man-cave. As it rose, a window flashed panels of Beetle floating skyward via balloon. His sanctuary housed countless items featuring his family of characters, from boxer shorts and neckties to shot glasses and U.S. postage stamps. The strip started slowly, but King Features Syndicate saw circulation expand from 200 to 1,100 between 1954 and 1968. Beetle would eventually ship overseas as Recruta Zero (Brazil), Flippi Flink (Germany) and Billy (Norway). At its peak, the strip appeared in 1,800 papers. Some bawdier gags were published in European publications. Beetle also served briefly on television in a 1963 cartoon and on the Candlewood Playhouse stage in New Fairfield for a limited run in a musical. Cartoon collection Walker launched the Museum of Cartoon Art, which opened in Greenwich in 1974 before a longer stay in a castle in Rye Brook, N.Y. In 1992, it moved to Boca Raton, Fla. Walker poured his own money into sustaining the enterprise. After a failed attempt to find a permanent home in the Empire State Building, much of the collection was sent to a museum at Ohio State University. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Walker and his wife, Cathy, flew over the World Trade Center. By the time they landed in Florida, the airport was on high alert in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Two months later, Walker rallied fellow cartoonists to salute the nation with patriotic strips on Thanksgiving. Walkers daily mail inevitably included requests for an original piece of art. They all want a drawing, he said in 2015. And they get a drawing. Walker was still playing golf in his 90s, and said he found inspiration for gags everywhere. Norwalk artist John Newcomb, who co-wrote a book with Walker named Mind Control: Think Your Way to Better Health and Happiness, said his best friend cherished teasing strangers. A car salesman explaining that the automobile Mort wanted only came in vanilla got the quick response, Oh. I had my heart set on butter brickle, Newcomb said Saturday. His well of gags seemed bottomless, spilling over into other strips he contributed to, such as Boners Ark, Sams Strip, The Evermores and Gamin and Patches. Walker wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Stamford Advocate earlier this month about a photo he kept on his desk of peers gathered around him on his 40th birthday and a doctors subsequent warning about his excessive drinking. I quit immediately. Im 94 now and havent had a drop or a puff for more than 40 years, but all but three of my buddies in this photo are now dead, Walker wrote. I think of all the comic strips Ive drawn, the books Ive written, and all the other things Ive accomplished in those 54 years and the mass of things those friends could have contributed. In addition to his second wife, Catherine, and sons Greg, Brian and Neal, Walker is survived by a son, Roger Walker; daughters Polly Blackstock and Margie Walker Hauer; stepchildren Whitney Prentice and Priscilla Prentice Campbell; 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Funeral arrangements are private, though family members said they expect to hold a memorial service at a later date. The family has requested donations to The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at The Ohio State University. jbreunig@stamford advocate.com; 203-964-2281. WEST HAVEN Sometimes you dont know just how many friends you have until you really need them. Stacy Matthews Riccio, a lifelong Westie, has a lot of friends and theyre all coming out to the Cielo banquet hall at the West Haven Italian-American Club, 85 Chase Lane, Sunday to show how much they care about her as she continues to fight the battle of her life against Stage 3 breast cancer. While its too soon to know exactly how many people will pay the suggested donation of $25 to come, its likely to be well into the hundreds if the outpouring of love and support is any indication, as her daughter, Angela Franco, and friends drum up support via social media. So far, friends and local businesses have donated 80 yes, 80 gift baskets to be raffled off, along with a host of other items. Restaurants and individuals all over town have donated tray after tray after tray of food to feed the hungry masses. People and businesses all over town have been taking donations and selling bracelets to support the cause and money has already begun to roll in to an online fund set up for Riccio at paypal.me/StacyRiccioFund . One West Haven business owner, John Johnny Z Ziada of Zs Corner Cafe a lifelong friend of Riccio who went to grammar school with her, in addition to being an experienced commercial caterer has volunteered to coordinate everything in the kitchen. The event, featuring food, music, raffle prizes and a 50/50 raffle, will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Riccio, 52, a local real estate agent who until December was the 4th District City Council representative, and who previously worked in the Mayors Office and the Corporation Counsels office in City Hall, is flabbergasted by the outpouring of support. Shes not the kind of person who usually would ask for help, although shes grateful for it. Ive always been a very independent person. Ive always done everything myself, said Riccio, who also has multiple sclerosis and eventually will need a knee replacement. But the stuff I used to do, I just cant do anymore, she said. Theres so many people involved. Im so overwhelmed, said Riccio, the ex-wife of former councilman and GOP mayoral candidate David Riccio. All the generosity and all the gift baskets that theyre putting together. It kind of made me feel like people are really, genuinely caring about me. Its really overwhelming, she said. Riccio, a single mother and now, grandmother said since being diagnosed Nov. 9 with Stage 3A invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer, which means it has spread to her lymph nodes, I just went from being so on-the-go, nonstop, every day, to really just being down for the count. After having surgery and spending a few days in the hospital for cancer surgery and reconstructive surgery, she ended up back in the hospital earlier this month after contracting an infection related to the reconstruction. Shes getting ready for 20 weeks of chemotherapy, which will be followed by six to 10 weeks of radiation therapy. While she has good insurance, it will be some time possibly up to two years before shes able to work again. Thats where the benefit and help from all of her friends and the community at-large come in. You dont know how much I love everybody for what theyre doing for me, Riccio said. She, in turn, has a message she wants to pass on. I want people, or women and men, too to really pay attention to their bodies, Riccio said. It only takes a few minutes. Thats how I found it I found the lump, I found it myself. At the center of the benefit organizing effort is Riccios oldest daughter, Angela Franco, 31, who has suddenly turned into a social media dynamo dedicated to drumming up interest for her mothers cause. Shes really a good kid, and shes so worried about me, Riccio said. Riccio has a lot of friends, said Franco, the daughter of Riccio and her first husband, Anthony Franco. I just cant believe the response that Ive had. So many people have offered all types of stuff. Thats good, because despite the familys hard work, Were going to need some kind of assistance for at least a few months, said Franco, who was raised in West Haven but now lives in East Haven. Riccio also has two grown children from her marriage with David Riccio, twins David and Rachel Riccio, both 26. Franco said she feels good about the way the benefit, which will be kid friendly, appears to be shaping up. I feel as though well probably get a great turnout, she said, for sure! Riccio said she will be at the benefit but might not be able to stay for the whole thing. She also said that, because shes about to start chemotherapy and cant afford to get sick, I dont plan on hugging or kissing anybody and I feel bad about it. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN A city man was seriously injured in a possible slashing attack Thursday in the Fair Haven neighborhood. Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East Pearl Street at about 6:30 p.m. on a report of an assault and theft. They found the 30-year-old victim inside a business being aided by an acquaintance. NANAIMO, British Columbia, Jan. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troymet Exploration Corp. ("Troymet") (TSXV:TYE) announces that, further to its news release dated November 9, 2017, due to market conditions, Troymet has terminated its $1,500,000 non-brokered private placement. As the private placement is not occurring, no consolidation will be occurring at this time. About Troymet Exploration Corp. Troymet Exploration Corp. is a junior mining exploration company with projects in British Columbia (Redhill and Golden Eagle), Utah (Wildcat) and Manitoba (McClarty Lake). Troymet operates the Wildcat, Redhill and Golden Eagle projects. Hudbay Minerals Inc. is the operator of the McClarty Lake joint venture and must contribute $1,151,052 in joint venture expenditures before Troymet is required to fund its participating interest. Troymet retains a 2% net smelter returns royalty (NSR) on the Key property, British Columbia, which was sold to New Gold Inc. in 2013, and now forms part of New Golds Blackwater gold-silver project. TROYMET EXPLORATION CORP. Kieran Downes, Ph.D., P.Geo. President, CEO & Director For further information, contact: Investor Relations Tel: 250-729-0453 Email: info@troymet.com Website: www.troymet.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. CAN: 26505842.1 Ahead of Sundays opening of the 30th African Union Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari started his four-day engagement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday by joining 14 other members of the Peace and Security Council, a standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the African leaders discussed the persistence of violent conflicts and crisis situations in some parts of the continent and upsurge of Internally Displaced Persons and refugees.Shehu said the leaders also discussed climate change and its consequences as well as the issue of the derailment of national development programmes.He said, The meeting is essentially reviewing the situations in Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Guinea Bissau, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.It is also discussing the situation in Lake Chad Basin, the regional efforts to combat Boko Haram as well as the situation in Mali and the Sahel region which continues to be a source of deep concern despite efforts by the countries of the region and the United Nations.He further explained that the PSCs major duty is to conduct early warning and preventive diplomacy, facilitate peace-making, establish peace-support operations and, in certain circumstances, recommend intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability. President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to flag off Africas anti-corruption war tomorrow (Monday) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Addis Ababa Friday night after Buhari arrived for the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.The presidential spokesman said at the unveiling ceremony, the president would set the tone for the African continents anti-graft war.According to him, President Buhari was well prepared for the AU summit which has as its theme, Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation.He explained that The theme for this years summit is essentially on corruption. The AU has chosen the theme of winning the fight against corruption as a sustainable launch pad for Africa for African transformation. So, it is important for President Muhammadu Buhari that he has been chosen as the champion for this theme.What that tells you is that the whole continent is looking at the good work that our president is doing, pushing back and fighting corruption effectively. And the rest of the continent will say, lets look at what Nigeria is doing and wants to share the Nigerian experience.The president has come well prepared. He has the role of flagging off the continents wide war against corruption. So, he is going to set the tone and as well unveil the logo. So, it is big theme for our country.Shehu further stated that the President would use the period of the meeting to engage in bilateral talks on other issues of continental significance such as single air transportation system, free movement, free trade, climate change, security, Lake Chad and the Sahel crisis as well as all of these acts of terror flowing from Libya, Somalia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo.Continuing he said, So, they (African leaders) have their plates full and it is going to be deeply and highly engaging for them. We are looking forward to, perhaps, one of the busiest summits ever in the African Union. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned one Muhammed Momoh before Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, on one charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences.Momoh was arrested on December 22, 2017 by operatives of the EFCC for attempting to defraud the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, and his wife, Mairo.According to the anti-graft agency, the suspect, while posing as a private investigator from the Villa approached the wife of the governor with a proposition to help stop a purported investigation of two accounts belonging to the governor.The suspect claimed he came across information regarding the two accounts that had been under investigation since 2011 and also intercepted mails and gotten wind of investigation report purportedly sent to First Bank by the EFCC.The EFCC said the suspect requested for N8m but was offered N6m.Suspicious about the proposal, the governors family contacted the commission and were asked to play along with the suspect. The suspect was arrested in a sting operation after he collected marked N2m.The offence is contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.The charge sheet read in part, Muhammed Momoh, on or about the 22nd day of December,2017 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2m from one Hajia Mairo Tanko Al-Makura through Idris Ahmed Al-makura under the pretext that you are a private investigator with capacity to help the said Hajia Mairo Tanko Al-Makura resolve her case with the EFCC which you knew to be false.The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.In view of his plea, counsel for the EFCC, Benjamin Manji, asked for a date to commence trial and also asked the court to remand the defendant in prison pending trial.Momohs counsel, F. U. Okolo, however, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail, relying on Section 35(c) ,36(6) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and section 156,162 and 167 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.Justice Kekemeke admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5m and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have property within the jurisdiction of the court.The matter has been adjourned till March 7, 2018 for hearing. Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday faulted Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali for attributing the invasion of the state b... Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday faulted Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali for attributing the invasion of the state by killer herdsmen to the enactment of anti-open grazing laws.He said it was unfortunate that the minister prefer conferring immunity on cattle to human beings.He said herdsmen attack on farmers is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country.He said as at Thursday, there were reports of killings in Guma part of the state.Ortom, who reacted to the Ministers claims at the Benue Peoples House, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the minister.He said: It is unfortunate, but I want to console myself that that thing is not coming from the Honourable Minister. But if it did, Ill say that it is very, very unfortunate. Then the solution to the security challenges we have in this country is not in sight having those kinds of people in position who are not able to give quality advice and to also proffer solution to the security problems we have here.For instance, if you say it is because of the law that killings by herdsmen are going on in Benue, is there any law prohibiting open grazing in Adamawa State? Is there any one in Plateau State? Is there any law in Kaduna, Ondo, Bayelsa, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta or Edo State?In Edo State, cattle have taken over even schools. This is provoking. It is like dancing on the graves of those people who were murdered and slaughtered in this state on the first of January. Its unfortunate that you have those kinds of people who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security for our country. I do not want to join issues with him, but I will personally see him and try to find out why he had to say that.The other day, a report came from the Department of State Services (DSS) that it was the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorist organisation that is taking over, and I also heard that the minister was quoted as saying we should accommodate foreigners. Foreigners who come here illegally should be accommodated?So if a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming out to encourage our citizens to do illegal things, I now begin to see why they have given immunity that is the prerogative of the President and the Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors, to herdsmen who kill and even to cattle.So, cattle in Nigeria have more immunity than human beings. This is unfortunate, and I look forward that he will apologise to us and retract what he said, because it is an insult on our collective leadership.It is wrong. And let the minister know that we are more intelligent than he thinks we are. We will continue to do the right thing. Were not asking for anything outside the laws of this land. The law prohibiting open grazing that we have enacted was legitimate as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as law-abiding citizens, we will continue to do this.Ortom asked the Federal Government to address the security challenge at hand instead of diverting attention.He said: I want to advise the Federal Government to face this challenge squarely because it is their responsibility to provide security for lives and property, because we as a state dont own the security apparatus of this country.So it is their responsibility. Instead of diverting attention, they should address the security challenges at hand.Today, they will say that Ortom is arming 6,000 militia and tomorrow they will go and sponsor people to write rubbish about me and all that just to try to divert attention. Why not face the real issue that is confronting us?This is a monster that has the capacity of consuming the entire country, and we must arise as leaders and support Mr. President to ensure that we surmount this.Responding to a question, he asked the President to caution the Defence Minister.He added: Well, Ill see what Mr. President will do, because Im sure that he must have also heard what the minister said and I expect that hell respond to that because its wrong.I want to believe that the Mr. President I know and who I supported and Im still supporting is an upright person who is always truthful and hell say the right thing and caution his minister, because I cant believe that a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this time will come and add insult to our injury.We are pained by what this man came out to say yesterday.On the likely backlash of his protest against the killings in the state by the powers that be, he said he would continue to stick to the truth.Whatever it is I say, it does not matter. As long as Im on the side of the truth and doing the wish of my people, Im satisfied. I dont care about any gang-up. It doesnt matter.But I heard it; gang up to do this and that. But it doesnt matter, he said.The governor also said the death toll in Benue killings could be higher than 73.He expressed regrets that the herdsmen were also killing security personnel.Ive not got the complete figure, but there is a committee working on that. But even on the burial, I did say that the deaths were more than 73.Even yesterday, there were some killings in Guma, including a policeman. One policeman was wounded and one is still missing. You see, these people are joking.If terrorists that are hired by herdsmen under the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that are known by the Federal Government have gone beyond killing our people who are civilians to killing security personnel, if security men are being killed in this manner, where is our safety? That is what the minister of Defence should be concerned about.They know where these people are, so they are making me to believe that the Minister of Defence is also part of the conspiracy against Benue State, and is not about grazing, it is about occupation, taking over the land.That is what Miyetti Allah said, and they have accepted that it should be so. This is not correct.Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with security chiefs on Thursday, Dan-Ali blamed the recent killings in Benue State on the states anti-open grazing law. Nigeria and India would mark 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2018 since the establishment of such relations in 1958.Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Nagabhushana Reddy, said this at an event to mark the 69th Republic Day of India on Friday in Abuja.Reddy said that both countries had over the years remained strategic partners with improved levels of cooperation between them with a bilateral trade volume of 9.4 billion dollars in 2017.India is now the largest trading partner of Nigeria globally and Nigeria is the largest trading partner of India in Africa with bilateral trade of 9.4 billion dollars last year.Both countries have had existing relations in various areas including agriculture, defense, trade, capacity building, healthcare, infrastructure and socio-cultural relations.The envoy, in a separate interview, said that most of the trade was reliant on oil import from Nigeria, which stands at 80 per cent compared to 20 per cent of Indian exports to Nigeria.Though, we are the largest purchaser of crude oil from Nigeria, there is room for improvement.The trade balance is 80-20 where 80 per cent is what we import from Nigeria and 20 per cent we export which is essentially in pharmaceuticals, engineering equipment, automobile to some of the specialised products particularly in the power sector.We also have some amount of fuel being sold here by Indian oil companies.Gathered from the website of Indias Ministry of External Affairs, is that India imports around 12 per cent of its crude oil requirements from Nigeria.The ministry stated that petroleum imports from Nigeria accounted for 7.46 billion dollars out of total imports of 7.65 billion dollars in 2016 to 2017.Indias imports, however, declined significantly by 23 per cent to 7.65 billion dollars during the period 2016 to 2017 as against 9.94 billion dollars registered during the period 2015 to 2016 due to the fall in crude oil prices in the international market.The decline, however, did not affect Indias amount of oil imports from the country.Furthermore, Indias exports to Nigeria declined from 2.22 billion dollars in 2015 to 2016 to 1.77 billion dollars in the period of 2016 to 2017 due to Nigerias internal security and economic recession.The Indian high commissioner added that India was an emerging development partner of Nigeria with emphasis on sharing of knowledge and experience with a view to improve capacity building in diverse areas.He reiterated that about 500 training programmes annually were offered under the India Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.Furthermore, he reiterated the readiness and commitment of his government extend developmental assistance for projects of national importance to Nigeria.Director of Regions, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olusola Iginla, expressed optimism in the relations shared between both countries.Iginla reaffirmed Nigerias readiness to cooperate in the conclusion of all outstanding agreements to strengthen bilateral relations.I will conclude by expressing Nigerias gratitude to the Indian High Commission for sustaining the excellent relations that exist between the two countries.I also request that the high commissioner conveys the willingness of the Government of Nigeria to partner with the Government of India and its private sector in accelerating the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of Nigeria for the mutual benefit of both countries.NAN reports that Jan. 26 marks the Republic Day of India and 2018 would mark the 70th anniversary of the countrys independence from colonial rule. BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes, P.A. (K&T), www.nasd-law.com, announced today that it filed a claim against Merrill Lynch on behalf of a former UPS (NYSE:UPS) employee for losses sustained from unsuitable covered call writing strategies for concentrated UPS stock positions. According to the claim, the Claimant, worked with UPS for 31 years. He accumulated more than 29,000 shares through the UPSs Employee Stock Purchase Program and the Manager Incentive Program. He invested his shares with Merrill Lynch, who recommended a call writing strategy, to earn present income. The strategy was improperly implemented, and it lead to the Claimant losing thousands of his shares. The Claimants specific investment objective was not to lose his shares, which he was assured he would not. More importantly, the Claimant was earning much needed quarterly dividends, which he relies upon in his retirement. The strike prices that the call options were sold at were far too low given market conditions, and the firm failed to buy them back. These recommendations led to the Claimant losing thousands of his shares as well as a significant portion of his much-needed dividend payments. The sole purpose of this release is to investigate the sales practices of Merrill Lynch for FINRA sales practice violations including: unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentation and omissions of material facts, and failure to supervise. Current and former UPS employees who held accounts at Merrill Lynch, and have information relating to the manner in with the firm handled their concentrated, leveraged portfolios, are encouraged to contact the attorneys of Klayman & Toskes, P.A., at (888) 997-9956, or visit our firms website at www.nasd-law.com. About Klayman & Toskes, P.A. K&T is a leading national securities law firm which practices exclusively in the field of securities arbitration and litigation on behalf of retail and institutional investors throughout the world in large and complex securities matters. The firm represents high net-worth, ultra-high net-worth, and institutional investors, such as non-profit organizations, unions, public pension funds, and multi-employer pension funds. K&T has office locations in California, Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico. Destination: http://nasd-law.com/notice-to-ups-employees-with-merrill-lynch-accounts-klayman-toskes-p-a-files-claim-for-500000-against-merrill-lynch-on-behalf-of-former-ups-employee-who-sustained-losses-from-unsuitable-covere/ Contact: Klayman & Toskes, PA Lawrence L. Klayman, Esq. 888-997-9956 lklayman@nasd-law.com www.nasd-law.com A Lagos lawmaker, Prince Adebisi Yusuff on Saturday, advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be ready to face new challenges in 2019 general elections and address them accordingly.Yusuff, representing Alimosho Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.According to him, INEC needs to foresee possible areas politicians may want to scuttle the process to prevent the exercise from being free and fair.Efforts should be made to make the elections free and fair. INEC has to be very smart and be ahead of those who may want to cut corners.INEC should be fair and be prepared to face new challenges. The elections will be interesting and memorable.INEC must take into consideration the security situation now and plan adequately. It is now that INEC has to start not tomorrow.About card readers, I dont think there is an alternative to them, but the card readers must be updated regularly to ensure optimal performance, he said.On the multiplication of political parties, the lawmaker said some of the newly registered parties were dead on arrival because they could not even produce a local government counsellor.Yusuff, who is the Chairman, Ad hoc Committee on Public Accounts (Local), expressed optimism that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would survive the current challenges facing the party.He said that the incumbent government had been doing its best to build on the achievement of the previous governments.The lawmaker said that the government had achieved a lot within three years in office.He, however, commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun for their achievements in the area of employment creation, agriculture and infrastructural development.Yusuff also advised politicians to shun all tendencies to resort to falsehoods, blackmails and backstabs as well as violence as the elections approach.Politicians should desist from creating make-believe stories to tarnish the image of their rivals. I want to advise my co-politicians not attack one another.We should outgrow campaigns of calumny; focus on developmental issues and what we can offer people if elected.Those who want to re-contest elections should not abandon their responsibilities for campaigns now.This is the best time for them to work and serve the people that gave them the mandate to serve. If they do otherwise, it is worse than armed robbery.If politicians abandon their mandates now because of electioneering campaigns, it is worse than robbery, he said.Yusuff said that politicians also planning to buy votes with money would be disappointed, saying Nigerians are getting wiser and enlightened now.On the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the country, he advised the security agencies to use their intelligence network to unravel the problem.It is not about the President, I believe that it is another penetration of Book Haram into the system, he added. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed an application for an order compelling the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, whom his family and lawyers had declared missing since September 2017.Delivering judgment on the application filed on behalf of Kanu, Justice Binta Nyako, ruled that there was no evidence showing that the IPOB leader was in the custody of the Nigerian Army as contended in the suit.Justice Nyako noted that Kanu was the applicant who instituted the suit, wondering how a person declared missing was the one praying the court to make the orders sought in the suit.The judge explained that the suit should have been commenced in the name of Kanu rather than listing him as the applicant.She held that affidavits filed in support of the suit by the Ifeanyi Ejiofor-led legal team were laced with criminal allegations against the Nigerian Army.The judge explained that such allegations required to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, which the applicants lawyers failed to do.She ruled, Has the applicant placed enough evidence to show that the respondent was the last to see the applicant?Was there any evidence that he was last seen with even one soldier? The onus of proof will not shift from the applicant to the respondent except the applicant is able to prove that he was last seen by the respondent. This they have failed to do.This application fails and it is hereby dismissed.Ejiofor with some lawyers acting on Kanus behalf, had on September 27, 2017, filed an originating motion of a habeas corpus marked FHC/ABJ/CS/908/20017, praying for an order directing Buratai to produce Kanu in court.Part of the 12 grounds of the motion, stated that rampaging soldiers under the Chief of Armys command allegedly invaded Kanus house in Afara-Ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State on September 14, 2017, abducted and possibly killed the IPOB leader and his other relatives in the process.The lawyers claimed that soldiers had a direct contact with Kanu on September 14, 2017, when they allegedly invaded the IPOB leaders house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on an unarmed and defenceless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many.It is either the respondents rampaging soldiers abducted the applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process, part of the grounds of the motion read.Ejiofor, who referred to photo exhibits allegedly showing scenes of destruction at Kanus house during the alleged invasion by the soldiers, urged the court to invoke the doctrine of last seen and compel the Chief of Army Staff to produce Kanu.But arguing the Chief of Army Staffs objection to the suit, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, which he said was riddled with conjecture, speculation, assumption and unfounded opinions.He said contrary to the contention in the suit, soldiers had no contact with Kanu during the said operations.He argued that the application, not being certain that Kanu was in the custody of the Nigerian Army, the writ of habeas corpus cannot be used.He also argued that the court could only invoke the doctrine of last seen in a criminal trial involving murder or culpable homicide whereby the court would impose a duty on the accused persons to account for the death of the deceased.He also faulted the competence of the suit and other processes allegedly filed by the defendant outside the time stipulated by the courts rules.Justice Nyako agreed with the Chief of Armys lawyer on Friday to the effect that the doctrine of last seen was only applicable in a murder case.Justice Nyako is the same judge before whom Kanu and others are being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on charges of treasonable felony.Following Kanus absence from the proceedings of the criminal trial on October 17, 2017, some weeks after the alleged military invasion of his home, the judge ordered Kanus sureties, including a serving senator, Eyinnaya Abaribe, to account for the defendants whereabouts.On Friday, after the judge delivered her judgment, Ejiofor asked about the status of the criminal trial since Kanu was still missing.In response, Justice Nyako said the sureties were duty-bound to produce the IPOB leader in court at the next hearing date on February 20.She said, As far as I am concerned, the applicant is on bail. Was he not released on bail based on an undertaking by sureties?The sureties guaranteed to produce the applicant in court for his trial, so three of them should produce him. They made an undertaking and deposed to the fact that they would produce him to stand trial.If there is any reason they cannot produce him, they should tell me on that date. A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has been told how some telephone conversation recorded exposed the alleged lies told by the embattle... A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has been told how some telephone conversation recorded exposed the alleged lies told by the embattled Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogibia to the investigating officers during investigation.The Investigation officer was attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the agency which is prosecuting her for alleged corrupt practices. Justice Ajumogobia is standing trial along with a former EFCC prosecutor, Godwin Obla. When the investigation commenced and the investigators sought her attention to respond to some allegations, Justice Ajumogobia lied that she was on medical admission. But unknown to her, the investigation had checked her to confirm the veracity or otherwise of her claim.The recordings of the conversation were played today in court. At todays proceedings Mr. Abdullahi Lawal, an EFCC, operative, told a Lagos High court judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi that Justice Ajumogobia lied about the sum of 20 million paid into her bank account as proceeds from sales of a land. The investigator, Mr. Lawal while being led in continuation of evidence by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo of the EFCCs legal department for the third time testified that findings from the defendant indicated that the payment which she mentioned was a payment for sale of her land in Abeokuta to two persons, one Haruna Abdullahi and one Tola were false.According to the witness, During the course of investigation, we discovered that sometimes in February 2015, the sum of 8 million naira was paid into her Lordship account, Nigel and Colive Company account. She was confronted about the payment where she mentioned that the money was for the sale of her land at Abeokuta, that it was sold to two people: Haruna Abdullahi and one Tola.He added that further investigation revealed that Haruna was a Bureau De Change operator in Lagos and there was no transaction between the two, that is, the 1st defendant and the operator. Whereas Tola was a building contractor that handled the building of her residence at Park View Estate.He explained further that there was no transaction between them as regards the said sum. Lawals evidence also included two audio recordings of telephone conversation between him and the embattled judge, played before the court, stating showed that when he initially tried to invite the judge on the payment of the said sum into her account, the investigator alleged that the judge lied she was ill and that she was in an hospital at Ikoyi but investigation showed that her claim was also false.In one of the audio recordings played, the prosecution witness confirmed to the court that the voice of the caller and receiver were his and the judge.Mr. Lawal: Hello Ma, are you still at the hospital?The embattled judge: Yes, I am.Mr. Lawal: Right now, we are here at the hospital and you are not there.The embattled judge: Huh, are you there?Mr. Lawal: Hello, Hello, Hello,.. In explaining further what transpired between them, the witness said, As at the time this conversation ensued, I was at Gold Cross Hospital, Ikoyi. What happened was that Honourable Ajumogobia phone went off when I was calling and the sound seized. He buttressed that the judge was not in the hospital and that was why he put across to her that call. He explained that what prompted his visit to the hospital was as a result of the first phone conversation he had with her, which partly went thus:The embattled judge: I have been on admission at Gold Cross.Mr. Lawal: When do we expect you in our office?The embattled judge: Let me get discharge, Im not running away. I am not as sick as I think I am. Can I reach you on this line? Do you want to come there?Mr. Lawal: No.The embattled judge: What is your name?Mr. Lawal: Abdullahi Lawal.The prosecution witness added that based on this conversation, he went to the hospital to confirm the truthfulness of her claim but she was not there.But while leading his witness, Oyedepo attempted to seek for amended charge when it appeared that Ajumogobias lawyer, Mr. Robert Clarke opposed the line of evidence claiming that the prosecutor derailed from the charge before the court and brought in evidence on another sum of 12 million naira against Clarkes client.Oyedepo led his witness to testify that one Omale Musa, an Assistant Controller- a Customs officer working at Abuja office also paid 4 million, 3 million and 5 million naira totalling 12 million naira into Ajumogobias account. Meanwhile, the second defendant, Mr. Obla has again asked for permission of the court to travel to America between now and February.Justice Oshodi who was visibly uncomfortable with four weeks absence however granted Obla access to his travel document in order to procure visa for his trip and ordered that it should be return to the court Registrar on or before 5th March and appear for further proceedings adjourned till 23rd February, 2018 for continuation of evidence-in-chief of the witness in the defendants trial.It would be recall that Ofili-Ajumogobia is standing trial alongside Mr. Obla, SAN and former prosecutor of the EFCC. They are jointly charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice. Obla is facing trial on two counts charge of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ajumogobia, a public official while serving as a Federal High court judge. The duo denied all the charges against them. A 16-year-old girl, (name withheld) who allegedly poured hot water on her friend over N200 gift yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Chie... A 16-year-old girl, (name withheld) who allegedly poured hot water on her friend over N200 gift yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court.The accused, a student, who resides at 42, Arefun St., Ayobo, Lagos, with her brother is being tried for assault and causing grievous harm.The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offences were committed on Jan. 15, at the accused residence.Ogu said that the accused and her friend, Busayo Olorundahunsi, 17, were fighting over how the accused spent N200 that was meant to be shared between them.The complainant accommodated the accused in her brothers house since 2017.The complainants brother gave her N500 to prepare beans, but the accused collected N200 from her friend claiming she did not want to eat the beans, he said.Ogu explained that the complainant, thereafter, told the accused that they would both share the N200 and then use N300 to prepare the beans.The accused spent the money alone and a fight ensued between them.The accused, who was at that time boiling hot water to cook noodles, poured it on her friends body, he said.Ogu added that the complainant face, neck and chest got burnt and she was rushed to a hospital.The prosecutor said the case was reported to the police and the accused was arrested.The offences contravened Sections 173 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni granted the accused to a bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.The case was adjourned until Feb. 26, for mention. Months before Sam Haskell, the former CEO of Miss America, was booted from his post after his incendiary, misogynistic emails were exposed in a HuffPost report, Miss America's broadcast partner broke ties with the pageant. But it turns out Atlantic City officials knew the production company had severed its relationship with the pageant two months before the news went public in December. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority -- the state body that has subsidized the pageant with millions of dollars since its return to Atlantic City from Las Vegas in 2013 -- knew about Dick Clark Productions deciding to break with Miss America in October of 2017. According to the Inquirer report, just days before the HuffPost report came out on Dec. 21, CRDA officials sent Haskell and and Dick Clark a letter critical of the Miss America Organization for not informing the state authority of Dick Clark's decision to split with the pageant. Haskell left at the end of the 2017 following an upheaval in pageant leadership, and former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, Miss America 1989, became chairwoman of the pageant board of directors. Part of Miss America's contract with the CRDA is contigent on the production company promoting Atlantic City during its TV programs. In 2016, the CRDA inked a deal that provided $12 million to the pageant over three years, with stipulations that Dick Clark Productions promote Atlantic City during its productions, including "New Year's Rockin' Eve." But planned New Year's Eve concerts in Atlantic City never materialized. Chris Howard, executive director of the CRDA, publicly called for the authority to review its contract with Miss America in light of the December report about Haskell's emails, in which the former pageant CEO responds favorably to a suggestion that the pageant script refer to former Miss Americas with a vulgar term. It wasn't until Dec. 19, a few days before the HuffPost story came out, that the CRDA sent a letter to Dick Clark and Haskell asking them to talk about a possible breach of contract. Howard brought up the fact that the company severed its relationship with the pageant, but claims the pageant never informed the CRDA of the change. He also said Dick Clark failed to mention Atlantic City during the 2017 Billboard Awards. In a December email obtained by the Inquirer, Howard told officials that Dick Clark Productions had agreed for host Ryan Seacrest to talk about Atlantic City on the 2018 "New Year's Rockin' Eve" broadcast to make up for not fulfilling the earlier obligation. CRDA is set to review its contract with the Miss America Organization on Jan. 30. There is one pageant left on the contract -- the 2019 pageant, which is set for September. Given the fallout from the email scandal, Miss America also faces uncertainty with its network, ABC, which is only contracted to carry the pageant through this fall. Haskell, a former TV executive now derided for his email comments and response to the HuffPost report (he disputed its accuracy), had previously been credited with bringing the pageant back from obscurity and irrelevance when it was exiled to cable TV in the early 2000s. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. First came the leaf blower ban. Is a prohibition on texting in the roadway next on the list of uncommon ordinances to come to one Essex County township? It might be, according to a Maplewood committeewoman who raised the possibility of ticketing pedestrians who step into the street while looking at their phones. "There are already laws on the books for driving while being distracted by a mobile device, and it's becoming more and more apparent with younger people like Generation Z ... that they need to look up and make sure that they can cross safely," Committeewoman Nancy Adams said in a phone interview. Inspired by Honolulu's new law banning "distracted walking" in the roadway, Adams said she proposed the idea of ticketing pedestrians who look at their phones at the Jan. 16 committee meeting. The township's public safety committee, which includes first responders, is now slated to weigh in on the suggestion. The proposal is in its very beginning stages, Adams said, so no details have been hashed out. Fines would likely be minimal, and police officers would use discretion in deciding when to hand out a ticket. A person using his phone as a flashlight to cross the street, for example, would not be fined under Adams' plan. Nationwide data, courtesy of Governors Highway Safety Association Ticketing pedestrians would be the latest in what Adams said is a string of recent safety initiatives in Maplewood, including educational programs and cops in plain clothes giving summonses to drivers who fail to stop at crosswalks. The township also plans to purchase reflective armbands to give to people who frequently walk downtown in the evenings, Interim Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul said. He said ticketing pedestrians who look at their phones in the road would be more of a safety and awareness initiative than a punitive one. Creating an ordinance to govern pedestrians' behavior would also shift some of the responsibility for their safety to them because "the driver's not always the one at fault" in an accident, Adams said. Although she said pedestrian accidents don't occur more frequently in Maplewood than in any other town, the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates there were roughly 6,000 pedestrian fatalities nationwide in 2016, up 11 percent from the prior year. State Police data shows 602 of those pedestrians who died in collisions with motor vehicles were in New Jersey. Many factors likely contributed to the uptick in deaths, but the growing use of smart phones may have had an impact, the safety association said in a report. Nationwide data, courtesy of Governors Highway Safety Association Maplewood would likely be the only municipality in the state to ban pedestrians from texting or using a smart phone app in the roadway. Township officials and the New Jersey League of Municipalities were unaware of any other towns with similar policies. A statewide proposal introduced to the Legislature in 2016 never reached a committee and was not subject to a vote. The bill, proposed by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, would have fined pestrians $50 for texting or otherwise using a phone while crossing the street. Cyndi Steiner, the executive director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, said she felt any attempts to regulate pedestrians' behavior in the roadway would be akin to victim blaming. She said the state and municipalities should focus on narrowing road lanes, creating bumpouts and adding lights to crosswalks to encourage drivers to slow down. "We have a big problem, and it's caused by speed," Steiner said. "It's not irrational pedestrian behavior. They're trying to survive in an environment that's not built for them." Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips JERSEY CITY -- Suntex Marinas, the company seeking to build a new 45-acre marina in Liberty State Park, has postponed a public hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30. The presentation was set to be held at the Liberty House restaurant, but after a request from officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection, the company agreed to postpone, according to a release. The company said an alternate date will be announced once it has been confirmed. The marina plan, which would also expand the existing Liberty Landing Marina on the north side of the park by 10 acres, is under review by state officials after a judge last week dismissed Jersey City's lawsuit aiming to halt the plan altogether. The state Department of Environmental Protection oversees the 1,200-acre park. Suntex says the new marina would include a waterfront restaurant, a boat club, and a sailing school. The company also plans on refurbishing the public boat launch, as well as building a public fishing pier at the park's south side. But park advocates are opposed to the plan. They say it would ruin the peaceful nature of the south side of the park and potentially harm wildlife. Among the opposition is Sam Pesin, president of Friends of Liberty State Park, who told The Jersey Journal he was "glad" the company canceled the "so-called" public meeting. "Suntex and former Gov. Christ Christie and his DEP ignored the 41 year overwhelming majority opposition to Liberty State Park privatization plans and they think Hudson County people are stupid and wouldn't fight against their destructive south side marina's open space, peacefulness, vistas and free parking lot confiscation plans," he said. "I urge (Gov. Phil Murphy) or the new DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe to officially kill this plan so the meeting will be permanently postponed." Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Angel Ortiz had been in Philadelphia for less than a week, hoping to save up and establish a new life for himself and his family on the mainland, when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with his wife and daughter still on the island. "With the little savings I had, I had to buy plane tickets as soon as I could ... everything that I worked for went to the hurricane," he said. "My mind was on my family." His home in Puerto Rico, where his wife Isabel and young daughter Samantha were staying, had no water or electricity. They jumped on a plane and joined him in Philadelphia, but on Jan. 13, he was told he could no longer live in the FEMA-provided housing he was in. "Thank god I have a grandmother in Jersey City," he said. "I didn't want to bother her, but she opened her home to us." He and his family now find themselves here in Hudson County, among many other families that were displaced by Maria. Since the storm made landfall on Sept. 20, the island has seen widespread dysfunction. Four months later, nearly half a million of the island's population is still without electricity. Luckily, there's a local nonprofit organization at work to help connect the people and families displaced by the hurricane in Jersey City. And they have big plans. Project P.I.E.D.R.A. (Professionals in Education Delivering Relief Assistance), in conjunction with the Jersey City Board of Education, welcomed dozens of families displaced from Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria to Jersey City with a communal dinner on Saturday, Jan. 20. "The day after the hurricane hit, I turned to my wife and I said 'Let's just sell the house and move to Puerto Rico and let's help rebuild from the inside out,'" said Francisco Santiago Jr., the chairman of P.I.E.D.R.A. "She said 'I love you, but you're crazy.'" Instead, he and a group of Jersey City public school teachers and administrators decided to start a nonprofit group to help the battered island's residents in whatever way they could. "We created this group to assist the educational systems in Puerto Rico; they haven't been well for a long time," he told an audience that included more than 40 families in Jersey City recently displaced from Puerto Rico. "We just wanted to help support those systems as much as we can. "We don't have that much money, all we have is just people who care and have a heart for the island," he added. Last Saturday, in what officials called Step 1 of the nonprofit's mission, more than 50 families and more than 60 children were guests at the Franklin L. Williams Middle School. There they connected with other Puerto Rican families displaced and now living in Jersey City, creating a network of support. The group is supported and is working collaboratively with the Jersey City Board of Education, as well as others in the community, including local police and firefighters. "Earlier this week I saw on the news 'Why are these kids in this Puerto Rican school jumping up and down and celebrating' and so I thought maybe ... they had won some kind of prize," said Marcia Lyles, superintendent of the Jersey City school district. "However, when the news came back, they were celebrating because they just had their lights turned on in their school, months after Hurricane Maria -- and it struck me, my god, we are taking so much for granted. "So I would like to thank the young men who organized this, and I'd like to thank the Jersey City community for embracing our cousins from Puerto Rico and making sure they lights are on for them," she added. But this is just Phase 1. P.I.E.D.R.A. is currently raising money to get volunteers down to Puerto Rico to help try and rebuild their own educational system. "Give us one week of your time, beginning of July let's say, or end of August -- we'll take it," Santiago Jr. said. "We'll have all the logistics of where you're going to stay, how you're going to get there, meals, etc." Anyone who wishes to learn more or to volunteer can do so by visiting the group's website here. For Ortiz and his family, it's been a chaotic six months. "The Hurricane's complicated things ... everything has changed since that day," he said. He's working as a Lyft driver now, and he's hoping to find some kind of permanent housing in Jersey City. But he doesn't think he will be returning to Puerto Rico anytime soon. "There's no way I can make repairs to my house," he said. "And with conditions (on the island) worsening, I'll be staying here." Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- Three teens charged in connection to the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old in Jersey City have been waived up to the Superior Court Criminal Division where they will be prosecuted as adults and face far more severe sentences if convicted. Three 17-year-olds, Devon Statan, of Newark, and Khalil Vance and Raymont Rogers, of Jersey City, were waived up on Wednesday and made their first court appearance today in connection to the Aug. 13 homicide of Jaharee Broadway, 19, on Forrest Street. They are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, weapons offenses and receiving stolen property, as well as the attempted murder of a second person wounded in the incident, Hudson County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Ray Worrall said. The boys appeared in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City where Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mark Nelson entered not guilty pleas on their behalves. At the hearing, the state moved to detain the boys through the course of their prosecution and a detention hearing is set for Wednesday. Also arrested in September in connection to the homicide was Zafarri Francis, 18, of Jersey City, and he faces the same charges as the boys, officials said, adding that two of the juveniles were 16 years old at the time they were arrested. On the day of the shooting, police responded to Forrest Street near Martin Luther King Drive at 1:25 p.m. on a report of shots being fired and found Broadway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m., officials said. Responding officers also found a 22-year-old man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds at the location and he was taken to the JCMC for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening. A judge has ordered Francis detained through his prosecution and he is being held at the Hudson County jail in Kearny. Officials have not released information on a possible motive for the shooting. For the past 17 years, Lynda DeRosa, 61, has felt limited by her rare joint disease, Scleroderma, which restricts her movements. Then, 2017 brought personal tragedies, when the Clinton Township resident lost her niece, Jaci, who succumbed to a long term illness in July and their dog BigBoy to heart failure in September. However, after seeing a YouTube video of a dog being resuscitated through the use of a pet oxygen mask, she felt inspired. DeRosa made a few phone calls to fire departments and Wag'N O2 Fur, an educational and public safety company dedicated to providing pet oxygen masks to first responders across North America. Once she found out the total cost to donate pet oxygen masks to various fire departments and rescue squads in Hunterdon County was about $850, DeRosa called her family and friends and said they were not receiving Christmas gifts this year. She was going to attempt to save so she could donate nine masks. Tuesday she made it happen. "I thought about the sacrifice those guys make, and I wanted to do something to help the animals," DeRosa said. "When you're not able to do a lot physically, sometimes you just get frustrated. But, I didn't feel disabled. I felt abled. I felt like I was really doing something. It was the greatest feeling in the world." The five fire companies, that make up the North Hunterdon Fire Alliance, received what DeRosa calls a "project of love." The departments include Clinton Fire Department, Annandale Hose Company, Lebanon Borough Fire Department, Quakertown Fire Company and EMS Division, High Bridge Fire Department and the Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad. DeRosa made the donation at the gathering held at Annandale Hose Company's firehouse in Clinton Township. Clinton's Fire Chief Walter Dorf said this is the first time the department has received a pet oxygen mask, and they will soon have training for it. Had it not been for DeRosa's donation, he said the department probably would have not been able to purchase a mask. "Sometimes you say to say to yourself, 'Why do I do it?', and it feels good to have people recognize what you do and what goes on behind the scenes," said Dorf, who has volunteered with the department for 34 years and says his dog is his best friend. "Any piece of equipment you put on you hope you won't have to use it, but the day that we do need it, it will be there for us to put it to work." The main difference between an oxygen mask for a person and one for an animal is it is designed to fit an animal's face and around its snout. "It's just a better tool for animals. You're wasting oxygen and the animal won't get the oxygen they need," said Ines de Pablo, founder, owner and chief executive officer of Wag'N O2 Fur Life. "We always appreciate anyone who goes above and beyond their call of duty which isn't just limited to the human response." de Pablo also added if you don't have your own animal kit, you could also try using a cup. Fire departments aren't required to keep statistics on pet fire deaths which makes obtaining statistics more difficult, but the National Fire Protection Agency predicts around 150,000 pets are killed in house fires annually. Some 68-percent of U.S. households own at least one pet, which is an estimated 84.6 million pets living in homes nationwide, according to Wag'N O2 Fur Life. Since the organization's inception in 2008, the Wag'N O2 Fur Life program has provided over 11,691 pet oxygen masks kits to more than 4,225 fire and EMS departments. Just knowing those six departments now have those pet oxygen mask kits is what satisfies DeRosa, and she says she plans to donate under the name, "Jaci & BigBoy's Hands Helping Paws" in memory of Jaci and BigBoy as long as she can. "Of all the Christmas gifts, nothing wold have made me feel like the night I felt driving home (from the fire station)," DeRosa said. "You have to look and what you can do, not what you can't do and you have to look at what God has given you to help others." Taylor Tiamoyo Harris may be reached at tharris@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ladytiamoyo. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Three Trenton men involved in the murder of a U.S. Army veteran seven years ago were sentenced to prison on Friday during a hearing which saw the mother of a one of the suspects hug the mother of the victim. Dardar Paye, 33, a Liberian immigrant living in Maplewood, was kidnapped, robbed and shot to death in the basement of a Monmouth Street home in Trenton in 2011. Danuweli Keller was convicted of murder, possession of firearm for an unlawful purpose, eluding, tampering with evidence and tampering with a witness in June 2017 and later sentenced to 61 years in state prison. From top left, Phobus E. Sullivan, Abdutawab Kiazolu, Danuweli Keller, and Mack W. Edwards His co-defendants - Mack Edwards, 31; Adbtawab Kiazolu, 29; and Phobus Sullivan, 34, all pleaded guilty to lesser, related charges in December. Edwards was tried alongside Keller, but the jury was hung on all accounts in his case. He then pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping. He was sentenced in accordance with his plea agreement, to 11 years in state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he's eligible for parole. During his opportunity to address the court, Edwards addressed Paye's mother and apologized for what happened, saying he considered Paye a friend. "I want him to take this as a lesson and come out a better man," Mack Edwards mother Katherine Edwards said when addressing the court. Katherine Edward then turned to Paye's mother and tearfully commended her for being able to sit through everyday of the trial. And she told her to pray to God in order to help her move on - and the two women briefly hugged. Sullivan also pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping. It was his home where the killing took place and he admitted to restraining Paye and driving his body across state line into Pennsylvania. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, also subject to NERA. This sentence is to be served consecutively to the 20 years he is currently serving for an unrelated second-degree manslaughter charge. Kiazolu pleaded guilty to second-degree desecrating human remains. He was a passenger in the car where Paye's body was found and was sentenced to a full 10 years years in state prison. Paye's mother told all three of the defendants to use their time in prision to repent and ask God for forgiveness. The last remaining co-defendant William Brown, 32, will be tried separately because of statements he gave to police implicating himself and his co-defendants. He is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence for the September 2008 slaying of Tracy Lamont Crews. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora announced Friday he's running for mayor of Trenton, saying he's fought for the city repeatedly while a state legislator. "I believe I have a lot to offer Trenton as a leader and that my experience will help me create better outcomes for our citizens," the 15th district legislator said in a statement. Gusciora, a Democrat who has been in the state assembly since 1996, issued a statement declaring his candidacy about an hour after Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson publicly announced he would not seek a second term. In his statement, Gusciora said: "As a legislator, I've come to understand the big-picture issues that affect our urban areas, and how their deeply interconnected nature can compound existing problems. The only way to address one issue is by addressing multiple issues simultaneously." The now-candidate's statement mentioned: - increasing reliance on community policing and police resources, "so people feel safe walking down the street to local businesses any time, day or night." - investing in communities, promoting homeownership, and holding predatory landlords accountable for their actions, "so that lifelong Trenton residents, as well as newcomers, feel comfortable living, working, and playing in the City. - improving educational outcomes, "so that graduates have jobs that pay well enough to support them and their families." Gusciora, who lives in Trenton's Hiltonia neighborhood, said he'll work with new Gov. Phil Murphy, in order to promote Trenton's "revitalization." "For the past eight years, we've all watched as Governor Christie ignored the City of Trenton, much to its detriment," he said. Trenton needs a mayor with strong relationships with state and county officials to make sure it benefits from the progressive policies Murphy has promised, Gusciora believes. "I've built those critical connections, and am ready to put them to work in a new role," he said. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. An Edison man swiped a winning scratch-off lottery ticket with a $1 million prize while working at a convenience store last year, authorities said Friday. Rayhan Sorwar, 36, was arrested Friday and charged with theft of moveable property over $75,000, conspiracy to commit money laundering and attempted money laundering, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said in a release. When a customer went to cash-in their scratch-off ticket on Sept. 6, 2017, at the Edison store where Sorwar worked, he gave the customer payouts from two other tickets, instead of giving the person a claim form. The NJ Lottery requires such a form for prizes $600 and higher. State and county authorities started looking into the alleged theft after Sorwar's wife tried to cash the lottery ticket at the Lottery Commission in Lawrence later that month, the release said. Carey said the real winner has since been paid their winnings. Sorwar is scheduled to appear in Middlesex County Superior Court next month. Craig McCarthy may be reached at 732-372-2078 or at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips There has been a surge of new flu cases throughout New Jersey in the past week, as the state continues to battle what some experts believe could be one of the worst flu seasons on record. New Jersey has seen more than 4,000 confirmed flu cases so far this season, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. There have been 18 severe cases this season, and one child has died in the state from a flu-related illness. According to the latest data, emergency room visits and admissions in New Jersey has now topped the three highest flu seasons ever recorded in New Jersey. In the past two weeks alone, New Jersey has seen more than 1,000 new flu cases, as patients continue to flood emergency rooms and clinics, putting some at full capacity. "This week's data confirm that we are in the midst of the most active flu season in years," said Dr. David Cennimo, an epidemiologist at University Hospital in Newark and a professor of medicine at Rutgers University Medical School. With new flu patients seeking treatment at hospitals, Cennimo said there is a risk of infecting other patients. He recommends people try primary care physician first unless the illness is extreme. The flu strain currently sweeping the state and nation is the H3N2 virus, one of the most severe flu strains, especially for young children and people over 65, according to Cennimo. State Epidemiologist Christina Tan stressed it is not too late to get a flu shot. The vaccine's effectiveness is in the 40 percent range, which is "roughly typical" of how close scientists come to selecting the most common strains with which to make the vaccine. "The vaccine will still offer some protection from (the strains) circulating. Often they are related," Tan said. "It's not too late" to get vaccinated, Tan said, who expects the illness "to be circulating in the community for some time." "We are definitely seeing high levels of flu activity, similar to what we are seeing nationwide," Tan said. "There are a lot of other respiratory viruses, so it's important to precautions, like washing hands." Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us. nj.com/tips The New York man accused of killing his ex-wife with the help of their 20-year-old daughter was about to jump off the roof of a parking garage before he was tackled and subdued by a New Jersey State Police detective, video made public Friday shows. Lloyd Neurauter, 46, was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the strangling death of Michele Neurauter, also 46. She was found dead in her home in Corning, N.Y. on Aug. 28, 2017, in what at first appeared to be a suicide by strangulation, NYUp.com reported. But authorities later determined the circumstances were suspicious, and Lloyd Neurauter and his daughter Karrie, 20, a student at Rochester Institute of Technology, were charged and arrest warrants issued. Karrie Neurauter was arrested at her apartment in Syracuse, N.Y. and Lloyd Neurauter, who was living in North Brunswick, was tracked to the five-story Spring Street Parking Garage in Princeton. Members of the Princeton police, New Jersey State Police (NJSP) and New York State Police were at the scene. "As the officers approached, Neurauter immediately ran from his car and perched himself on the ledge of the building," the NJSP said in a Friday statement about the footage. The video shows Neurauter away from the ledge but beginning to take some steps. That's when the NJSP detective makes his move: sprinting toward him and taking him to the ground. Other officers closed in to hold him down. No law enforcement were injured in the incident, the NJSP said in a news release. Lloyd Neurauter was later taken to a local hospital for evaluation and was later taken to the Mercer County jail as a fugitive from justice to await extradition to New York. Police activity at Spring Street Parking Garage in Princeton 11 Gallery: Police activity at Spring Street Parking Garage in Princeton Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips As Washington debates the fate of immigrants in its usual maladroit fashion, one of them raised his right hand Wednesday morning and pledged to be "a champion of due process for all persons" and to "promote the fair and impartial administration of justice." Gov. Murphy stood beside Parthiv Patel as he became the first Dreamer to be admitted to the New Jersey bar, to the sound of a Statehouse erupting in joy. It was a special moment - not only for 27-year-old Mt. Laurel resident brought here from India at age 5, but for our state, which now has a chief executive who supports the 17,400 New Jerseyans who could be deported from the only home they've ever known. It is bad enough to have a president whose governing principles are rooted in Islamophobia, racism, and pathological nativism. It is just as bad to have a governor who cowers in tacit agreement, which until recently was our unfortunate predicament. It's impossible to forgive or forget that Chris Christie sat on the sidelines last September, when 15 states challenged Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for 690,000 Dreamers in court. Indeed, if you heard one utterance of support for these kids from Christie since Trump made them political pincushions, it's news to Mr. Google. Instead, he watched Trump use immigrants to serve up a full buffet of paranoia -- terrorist threats, job anxiety, amnesty, white victimhood. Christie's successor, however, fights back. Murphy wants a legal defense office for immigrants. He joined the DACA lawsuit. He recognizes the value of sanctuary cities. He wonders, as we all do, why ICE spends so much time trolling courthouses and churches. And he stood by Patel when the young man said this Wednesday: "Dreamers are Americans. We are your friends and colleagues. We are your doctors, your accountants, and now, in New Jersey, your lawyers." To certify that, he raised his right hand and took an oath administered by the first Sikh-American Attorney General in history, Gurbir Grewal. And it was the damnedest thing. It was also a reminder that Trump and Christie might try to torpedo the futures of some of our best and brightest, but they cannot deport our ideals. Now we have a governor willing to fight for them, and the fight has just gained more legal gravitas from Parthiv Patel. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The Star-Ledger, Times of Trenton and South Jersey Times encourage submissions of opinion and letters to the editor. We give priority to pieces written by local residents and those on state and regional issues. Submissions must be exclusive to our publications and their online home, NJ.com; articles may be published in affiliated newspapers (The Star-Ledger, Times of Trenton, South Jersey Times and Jersey Journal). Op-eds: Please send submissions for The Star-Ledger and Times of Trenton to oped@starledger.com and submissions for the South Jersey Times should be sent to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com. All submissions must include the writers names, address and phone number. Address and phone number are kept confidential. Op-ed submissions should be limited to 700 words. In the subject line, put the authors name followed by the topic or suggested headline. Paste the text of the piece into the body of the email message. No attachments, please. If a piece is time sensitive, please make it clear in the subject line. Letters: Send letters for The Star-Ledger and Times of Trenton to eletters@starledger.com. Letters for the South Jersey Times should be sent to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com. No attachments, please. Letters must be no longer than 200 words and include your hometown, or name of organization and title. All op ed and letter submissions become the property of The Star-Ledger/NJ.com. Submissions may be edited, published and otherwise reused in any medium. Because of the volume of email, we cannot always provide information on their status. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. It was pretty impressive crowd at Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis's fundraising soiree at McLoone's Bayonne Grill on Thursday evening. One thing not mentioned among those attending the packed affair was the alleged sexting scandal shadowing the administration. Several of women at the fund-raiser whom I talked to are split on whether former municipal employee Stacie Percella, 52, was a victim as she claims in her recently filed federal sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit against Davis, 54, and the city. While some believe Percella was probably harassed on the job, none would ever consider the possibility that Davis did anything wrong. "We are talking about people who are friendly and knew each other for years," said one woman who made it sound like the plaintiff and defendant were involved in something akin to Nick and Nora Charles banter. "It is a shame that she is being used by people (naming a number of anti-administration types. Yes you, Peter and Pat.) for their own purposes." PRE-ELECTION PLOY? The Davis backers are of the collective mind that it is no coincidence that the allegations are being made so close to the city's May municipal election. The only way they may have had hedged in their belief is if Davis had pranced around the restaurant, naked. Luckily for me, he did not. "People will see through this," Davis said of the kerfuffle - not to minimize the seriousness of the subject (and a cover my butt phrase) . In the past he has echoed the assessments of his assortment of spokespeople that the accusations were fiction and that Percella is looking to cash in "on a big payday" at taxpayers' expense. He said she had a sexual harassment lawsuit against the previous administration of Mayor Mark Smith that is still active. I take that to mean the same alleged devil-tongued employees are still working in City Hall. Percella has allowed several reporters from various media outlets a view of the text messages and it was reported that some of the communication was lewd and too salacious to publish in "family" newspapers and blogs. There wasn't a hint that there was anything untoward in the air Thursday evening. There was a sprinkle of Hudson County politicos in attendance, including Democratic state 31st Legislative District Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, a Democrat, county Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango, Democratic Freeholder Bill O'Dea, former Democratic state Sen. Bernie Kenny of Hoboken, former Bayonne guy and Colts Neck Mayor Joseph "JP" Bartolomeo and others. The mayor addressed the crowd with as generic a speech as anyone has heard at other political functions. Davis was humble, proud to represent the city, is working hard for the taxpayers and planning some great changes for the Peninsula City. At least it didn't come with Sen. Cory Booker pre-2020 angst but with a good ol' boy, native son smile. DEVELOPER'S MECCA Scattered among the audience were about a dozen developers who have seen a golden opportunity in Bayonne for several years now. Everyone at McLoone's agrees that the city will undergo great changes in the next decade and not just Downtown or along the waterfront. Are we talking potential skyscrapers in the Jersey City mold? No but there will still be some impressive multi-story (10 perhaps) structures in the future, sporadically going up along the entire length of Broadway anchoring several commercial blocks, despite some critics calling the inner-city commercial zone dead. Then again, everyone running for office promises a rebuild. Perhaps all that is needed is a giant 40-story Ferris wheel with an as-far-as-you-can-see view of Lower New York Bay to rival the London Eye. Kidding. We'll learn more about Bayonne's future from Davis' State of the City Speech at the city Chamber of Commerce meeting -- probably in April, before the city election, rather than during the usual June meeting. Davis may be right. By the time the election comes around the sexual harassment allegation will not be a factor for Bayonne voters. Other than a veiled pail of #MeToo splashing, the campaign effort of rival and former Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell has been very quiet with the contest only three-plus months away. Here in the media, we are waiting for more of a Hatfields and McCoys campaign but at this pace it may be more Rowan and Martin. Adding to the campaign speculation is the rumor that just won't die. Former Mayor Mark Smith has not yet decided whether he will give up a chance to run for his old office. Local sources say Smith has decided to take a poll to assess his chances. It seems strange when you consider there is Smith, or rather father-in-law Neil Carroll, family member involved with the Davis campaign. Also, Bayonne political observers say a three-man race would help Davis who would prefer a low turnout contest. For the incumbent it is not a sexting scandal that should concern him. If anything his vulnerability is the perception that he is not the boss of City Hall. It is the sense by some in Bayonne that out-of-towners run the Peninsula City, folks who have moved into important positions. The obvious example is Business Administrator and Jersey City native Joe DeMarco who held the same post in West New York. DeMarco is running the Davis campaign as he did when Davis first successfully ran in 2014. Whatever comes, Davis did not seem concerned Thursday evening. Why not, while the figures are not in yet, it's obvious the evening provided him with a lucrative nice haul for his ticket. McLoone's is attached to Winners, the off track betting site. There are many monitors that allow diners who placed bets to watch the races. Davis was intently watching one race and when the horses crossed the finish, the mayor was excited about the outcome. I reminded him that the most important race is coming up and he can't bet "to show." He nodded and laughed. What we need to know is whether Davis a mudder and what will be the final odds in the big Bayonne derby? EDITOR'S NOTE: Agustin C. Torres' columns appear on the nj.com opinion website on Saturdays and occasionally in the print edition of The Jersey Journal. Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com. Nicholas Fierro seems to be making a career out of playing the lottery. Fierro, a retired Paterson teacher, first claimed a piece of a huge jackpot in 1991, when he and 38 other faculty at the elementary school where he worked purchased a winning ticket for a $90 million New York State Lottery drawing. Fierro's group, known as the K-39, held one of nine winners and split $10 million among them. "The prize money helped put my children through college and helped the other group members in many ways," Fierro told the New Jersey Lottery. More than a quarter-century later, Fierro enjoyed another big payday when he won $1 million in the Sept. 6 Powerball drawing by matching five white balls. He bought the lucky ticket at Union Food Stores in Totowa. "I am going to consider carefully how to handle winnings and God bless the U.S.A.," Fierro said of his latest jackpot. Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- Republicans have a new idea on how to boost Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, considered the New Jersey lawmaker most at risk of losing re-election this fall partly because of the backlash against President Donald Trump. More than a decade after scandal temporarily cost them control of the House, Republicans are debating whether to resume allowing members of Congress to designate specific local projects for federal funding. The Washington term for it is earmarking. But you probably know it better as doling out money for pork barrel projects so lawmakers can woo the voters back home. That would put Frelinghuysen, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, in a stronger position than most to ensure a steady supply of pork to his district and his state. "Rodney is in the absolutely perfect position: He has the big chair," said former Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., a former Appropriations subcommittee chair who touted his ability to obtain earmarks during his re-election campaigns. "People can say, 'Thank you for that bridge project, thank you for that economic development project, thank you for that new housing development,'" Walsh said. Trump's record-low approval ratings are hurting Republicans up for re-election this fall and Frelinghuysen, R-11th Dist., is no exception. He has no better than a 50-50 chance of winning re-election this fall, according to the Cook Political Report, a Washington-based publication that tracks races for the House and Senate. The only other New Jersey district considered as competitive by Cook is in South Jersey where Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist., is retiring. House Republicans decided to revisit their earmarks ban, enacted after they reclaimed the majority in 2011, due to the inability of Congress to come together on major legislation, including the deadlock over a spending bill that culminated in the recent three-day shutdown. The House Rules Committee recently held a hearing on the issue. The idea behind restoring earmarks is that lawmakers would be more willing to support legislation if it includes provisions for their districts. "The complete gridlock in Congress has led some people to argue that this forced Republicans and Democrats to talk and to deal and to horse trade," Republican consultant Craig Russell said. Bringing back earmarks would enhance Frelinghuysen's clout. All 20 House members receiving the most money in earmarks in 2010, including both Frelinghuysen and then-Rep. Steve Rothman, D-9th Dist., either sat on the Appropriations Committee or represented states where a senator did, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, a research and advocacy group supporting cuts in government spending. "I have always supported congressionally-directed funding," Frelinghuysen said. "The Constitution gives the 'power of the purse' to the House and Senate and I have long argued that it is preferable for members of Congress, who know their district far better than any unelected agency bureaucrat, to submit requests in a transparent way through the Appropriations Committee." A campaign brochure touts Frelinghuysen's committee chairmanship as "giving New Jersey a major voice in Washington decision-making for the first time in a generation." But it doesn't carry the power it once did, thanks to the earmarks ban. "It's better to be an appropriator or have a friend on Appropriations but the idea that individual Appropriations members can designate projects is a thing of the past," said Ross Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. Even when Frelinghuysen last year added $900 million to a House spending bill for the Gateway Tunnel project, some House Republicans sought strip the funding because they said it ran afoul of the earmark ban. After ending 40 years of Democratic control in 1995, House Republicans used earmarks to cement their majority. The number of earmarks grew to 15,569 in 2016 from 4,126 in 1994. That led to scandal. There was the questionable: $300 million for a "bridge to nowhere" between the city of Ketchikan, Alaska, to its airport on Gravina Island, population 50. And there was the corrupt: GOP Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California went to prison for trading contracts for bribes, and Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was ensnared in his own criminal case. That helped Democrats win back the House in 2006 and impose new stringent disclosure requirements for earmarks rather than a ban. One of Frelinghuysen's Democratic challengers, Mark Washburne, said earmarks should not return. "I understand the argument that they are needed to help secure enough votes to get some controversial legislation passed," said Washburne, a political science professor at the County College of Morris. "Most legislation is not usually controversial, however, and legislators were using the privilege of earmarks to add pet projects for their district and/or state to bills that then needed to be paid for by all taxpayers." Opponents fear that scandals that led to the ban would resurface if earmarks are renewed. "You're making funding decisions on the basis of political muscle rather than project merit," said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "We're wasting money going to lower-priority projects when there are more important needs facing the country," Ellis said. "We're bringing back pay-to-play, where thousands of dollars in lobbying cash can turn into millions of dollars in taxpayer money going to their clients." Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. In an attempt to change University Greek Life culture, the LSU Task Force on Greek Life Wednesday (Jan. 24) proposed possible policy changes in its first meeting of 2018. Those changes include mandatory random drug testing for Greek students, developing an amnesty policy, developing a broader definition of hazing, requiring all chapters to have an advisory board and a four-year review cycle for organizations. "A few more rules and regulations is not going to change the culture," said chairman Rob Stuart. "It boils down to lack of personal accountability." Stuart said the task force would need to have a "full debate" about the legality of mandatory random drug testing. He said the council would have to spend some time "understanding the legalities" of random drug testing. "Clearly, those who are advocating drug testing are really thinking in terms of rehabilitation," Stuart said. "That will be a healthy discussion." In addition to these potential policy changes, which Stuart said came from a number of different sources, membership contracts were also presented as a method for holding students accountable. Stuart said that membership contracts have been effective at other universities, and a few of the stipulations of the contract would include a code of conduct, behavioral expectations and expulsion from the fraternity if a member refuses to sign. The Greek Life Task Force is also considering sweeping changes to the new member recruitment and education process. Stuart emphasized an alcohol and drug-free recruitment process, in addition to lessening the time it takes new members to join an organization. Maintaining a web portal for prospective members that displays chapter GPA, five-year disciplinary history and philanthropic and community service methods were also on the list of potential changes that the group is considering. Following the death of Phi Delta Theta pledge Maxwell Gruver, the LSU Greek Alumni Unity Council was formed. The council, represented by Tommy Bernard, call themselves the "definitive voice for LSU Greek alumni committed to eliminating hazing and substance abuse." Of the 40 fraternities and sororities on campus, 37 Greek organizations have joined the council. Bernard said if Greek organizations are not satisfied with the policy changes proposed, they can "leave campus." The council presented a detailed list of policy changes to the task force. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "[Our] bigger issues emanate from the IFC council," Bernard said. The Council's mission to enforce a "holistic cultural change" involves eliminating all forms of hazing, curbing high risk drinking, reducing illegal drug use and reducing sexual misconduct. Bernard noted it would take education training, accountability, transparency and communication to yield the desirable results. "Underage and high risk drinking will be the most difficult," said Bernard, who suggests the policy changes include the use of law enforcement. Other policy changes suggested by the council include moving Greek tailgaters from the Parade Ground to their respective chapter houses. A 3-guest-to-1-member ratio was suggested for parties at chapter houses. "Too many unrealistic policies will doom the system to failure," Bernard said. Bernard plans on taking a signed copy of the Council's recommended policy changes to LSU President F. King Alexander and Gov. John Bel Edwards. Next week, the group plans on laying out the full recommendations and policy changes, which they plan to present to Alexander on Feb. 21, Stuart said. -Alden Ceasar, LSU Daily Reveille This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. Inside a hot classroom is a group of adults seated and attentively listening to an instructor standing in front of the class, teaching sentence construction in the Lusoga language. The instructor points randomly to participants and asks them to read what is written on the blackboard. Each participant stands up joyfully and reads the sentence emphasizing commas, full stops and question marks, before the whole class clap in unison and sings a pre-primary rhyme. These are no ordinary pupils, they are primary three teachers gathered at Jinja Primary Teachers College to receive training on how to improve teacher and school effectiveness in the public primary education system through teaching different subjects in the local languages understood by learners. A tutor training primary teachers at Jinja PTC The group of teachers was chosen from different districts of Busoga to be trained on how to teach in the local language. To scale up early grade reading, the government recently came up with the Early Grade Reading Model, developed under the School Health and Reading Programme which requires teachers to teach their lower primary classes in local languages to enable them understand, comprehend, and answer questions. The project named the Uganda Teacher and School Effectiveness Project (UTSEP) is supported by a $100m grant from the Global Partnership for Education Fund and is being implemented by the World Bank in 80 Ugandan districts. According to Jonathan Kamwana, the commissioner for primary teacher education at the ministry of Education and Sports, about 29 primary teachers colleges have been earmarked as training centres in different regions. This is an intervention that we took because of the low reading and writing capabilities in the children; so, we introduced the local languages. If they learn the local languages, they can start reading well thereafter before being introduced to English, Kamwana told The Observer in Kaliro yesterday. He added that the intervention will look at three things: subject competence, languages competence and development skills. What we are looking for as government is not (better) PLE results, but those three items pointed out, he said. For us we want to build the personality, good grades dont make good lawyers or doctors. He added that a number of private schools have expressed interest in joining the project and they are charged some money for the trainings and teaching materials. Over 10,000 government teachers from primary one to three have so far been trained under the project since 2015. SHORTCOMINGS Officials worry that the project is faced by a huge challenge of teacher mobility where those trained leave the profession shortly after either for retirement or for greener pastures. Also, many of the teachers in the field still have no training to implement out such projects. REACTIONS Muhammed Mukisa, a mathematics teacher at Hindudu Primary School in Buyende district, cant wait to see what fruits could come out of the project. I think we shall be able to teach these pupils and they understand us very well. Among other reasons, communicating in English to pupils in rural areas especially in lower primary makes it difficult for them to understand whatever they are being taught; but if we make them understand things in their local languages and we slowly slide in English, you would be amazed, he said. However, one learner disagrees. Nine-year-old Justine Kagoya, a primary four student, says that even when the local languages help them understand better, transition to English at a later stage will not be easy. We are competing with children in Kampala whose parents make them speak English at home from childhood. If they teach us in vernacular, it will become hard for use to switch back to English. They should just get us good English teachers, she said. For Nicholas Odeke, a pupil of Kirinya church of Ugandan primary school, improving early grade reading by teaching them in their local languages will enable them grasp things faster. Some of the English words are hard. I know them but I cant understand them. Teaching us in our local languages will help us understand more, he said. CAREGIVERS TRAINING It is now mandatory for government primary schools to have a nursery section. But even when this is far from realisation, it is also hindered by the fact that government doesnt train caregivers to handle these children at this age. In PTCs, we only train teachers from the level of primary one and not nursery but then we need to have a good foundation for our children, Noel Ayisu, the principal of Gulu core primary teachers college said. The government through a Shs 357 billion grant from the Global Partnership for Education fund, is training over 1,000 people from the public as caregivers under the Community Child Care program. The program is targeting 24 districts and is in collaboration with faith-based organisations such as the Uganda Episcopal conference, Muslim supreme council and church of Uganda. The religious institutions identify these people from their congregations and we train them in skills and methods of handling children at this stage. They must have the love for children and competence to handle them, Ayisu said. kamogajonathan50@gmail.com Alex Byarugaba, the parliament's Natural Resources committee chairperson at one of the sand ditches in Lwera wetland last year Locals around Lwera wetland along the Kampala-Masaka highway have expressed concern over the continued unregulated sand mining in the area. Locals around Lwera wetland along the Kampala-Masaka highway have expressed concern over the continued unregulated sand mining in the area. Lwera, a stretch covering over 20-kilometres from Mpigi to Kalungu district has been degraded by sand mining activities, destroying the entire Lake Victoria catchment area. The sand mining, which has triggered public uproar in the past, is done by a number of companies, among them, Ark Uganda Limited, a company owned by Pastor Samuel Kakande, Freedom Multi Company, Seroma Limited and Parkson Hongkong Investments. The companies have stationed dredgers in the middle of the wetland and scooped tonnes of sand more than 10 metres underneath the swamp, from an area covering several kilometres across the highway. The activities have created dangerous open pits that are filled with water, now on the verge of crossing through the road, the main gateway to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gerald Ssenyondo Kikyamu, the LC III chairperson of Lukaya Town Council says that although sand mining existed in Lwera for many years, the use of heavy machinery has turned it into a deadly activity that is leaving the terrain bare. Apart from dangerous pits filled with water, there are fears that Lake Victoria may submerge the road because of sand mining near its shores. James Musisi, a resident of Kamuwunga village fears that many of them could be displaced by the sand mining activities. In 2016, hundreds of residents were displaced from Kamaliba, Kamuwunga and Balatira villages in Lukaya town as a result of floods. Musisi says that the flooding was a result of unregulated sand mining activities in Lwera. URN visited a site managed by Ark Uganda Limited and found pits near the lake with some disguised as fish ponds. Workers at the site declined to comment on the matter when probed on measures for restoring the spots and referred us to their offices in Kampala. Others sites were heavily guarded by police and not accessible to the public. Water and Environment minister Sam Cheptoris said that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had ordered all companies excavating sand in Lwera wetland to restore the dug pits. "There was a time when the parliament raised concern with activities of Pastor [Samuel] Kakande and then personally, I went and we found out that some of these people continue mining sand without restoring. You know, when you mine sand, youre supposed to restore the areas to their original position. But these people they have been mining the sand without minding about the environment," said Cheptoris. "So, we told them to stop until they have restored where they have degraded. Some people did it and Kakande continued, it means probably that he has finished restoring but I dont have the latest information. All those activities are allowed but they must be done in a controlled manner," he added. NEMA couldn't be reached for a comment. However Mary Goretti Kitutu, the state minister for Environment said that companies involved in sand mining are licensed to do so, and, as a geologist, she doesn't see any danger of mining sand there. Kitutu explained sand deposit in Lwera wetland happened in 1962 floods and they will reoccur around 2050 to refill the place. "It is you lay persons who see a problem, for me when I pass there as a geologist, I dont see any problem. We expect the heavy rains in around 50 years time, maybe around 2050 and Lwera will be flooded again. So those who have constructed houses around there should know this science fact. Lwera is that area where sand will always be deposited, mine it and it will again be deposited", said Kitutu. A report by Natural Resources Parliamentary committee of 2016 revealed that the miners were not paying royalties because sand is not considered as a mineral under article 244 (5) of the Uganda Constitution. The report further revealed that the miners had affected fish stocks within Lake Victoria since Lwera wetland acted as a breeding area. It also recommended for banning sand mining but nothing has been done to date. David Brown is on a mission, one that would have been considered unlikely, even outlandish, a few years ago. But it's one he's convinced will prove environmentally righteous, economically sensible, and profitable to boot. When the Northwest's aging and polluting fleet of coal-fired power plants begin shutting down in 2020, starting with Portland General Electric's 600-megawatt workhorse in Boardman, Brown is hoping to replace them, in part at least, with a sea of solar panels and backup battery storage. His company, Obsidian Renewables, has optioned 7,000 acres of high desert sagebrush territory along existing transmission corridors in south-central Oregon. In the next five years, he hopes to install a series of arrays there with an aggregate capacity of 600 megawatts, backed up by 400 megawatt hours of battery storage. It's a mega-project, though not by California standards. That state's 20,000 megawatts of solar capacity means that solar energy can meet half of its electricity needs -- as long as the sun is shining. But it also puts California grid operators in the position of having to dump surplus electricity into neighboring states for free, then scrounge to meet power demand when the sun sets and evening demand kicks in. Oregon, meanwhile, didn't surpass the 300-megawatt mark until last year. Those projects deliver less than 1 percent of overall demand. The largest single plant, the 56-megawatt Gala Solar Project southwest of Prineville, was completed last year by Avangrid Renewables and Sunpower to supply power to Apple. Brown's proposal, then, is audacious. It's a byproduct of plummeting solar prices and comes as Oregon's green energy advocates press a 10-year plan to meet 10 percent of the state's electricity needs with solar by 2027. That would require growing the current installed capacity by more than tenfold. The goal, 4,000 megawatts in capacity, would generate enough electricity to supply 500,000 homes, or one third the homes in the state. Last year was a solid year for Oregon's diminutive solar sector, though the-100 plus megawatts that came online still fell well short of the breakout year that some industry groups and market researchers had predicted. The sector is still poised for growth, though the picture is clouded by both national and state policies that could change the trajectory. NEW TARIFFS ON PANELS Just last week, President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on imported solar panels, starting at 30 percent in the first year and declining incrementally to 15 percent by year four. Hillsboro-based SolarWorld Americas was one of the co-petitioners on the tariff request to protect itself from illegal competition from China and other Asian countries. It's still unclear whether the tariffs will be sufficient to save the financially troubled and relatively small manufacturing operation. SolarWorld has downsized its Hillsboro labor force from a high of more than 1,000 to about 300 last year. And while it is reportedly ramping up production again, its German parent company is currently working with an investment bank to sell off pieces of its operation. Meanwhile, the tariffs could raise project costs, reduce profitability and thus the pipeline of investment in the sector. Jon Miller, the executive director of the Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association, predicts the tariffs could cut the state's 4,500-strong solar workforce by anywhere from 20 to 50 percent. Those are drastic estimates, which some dismiss as scare tactics. Many industry insiders are more sanguine, saying it will take some time to see how the tariffs shake out. Still, most agree there is downside potential. In theory, the tariffs should have the least price impact in the residential sector, as panel prices make up a much smaller portion of the cost of rooftop systems than they do for commercial or utility scale installations. Robert Sandberg, owner of Portland-based solar installer Lightsource Energy, says he pre-ordered a supply of panels in anticipation of the tariffs. Though the 30 percent tariff isn't as bad as anticipated, he said, it would still raise the price of a typical home installation by 7 percent or so. "It's going to have a chilling effect. Everyone is faced now with longer payback periods, 12 to 15 years payback versus 10," he said, referring to how long it takes homeowners to recoup investment costs through energy savings. POTENTIAL STATE INCENTIVES The tariffs are "just one more thing," said Rio Davidson, who owns Cascade Coast Solar in Newport. The bigger problem, he contends, is the Legislature's decision to let the state's long-running Residential Energy Tax Credit program, or RETC, sunset at the end of the 2017. That subsidy cut the cost of a rooftop system by as much as $6,000 and markedly reduced payback periods, a crucial selling point for residential customers. As a result, Energy Trust of Oregon has stepped up subsidies for rooftop systems to a maximum from $4,400 to $4,800 per home, depending on the utility. And the Legislature will consider a bill that would restore a production-based incentive for rooftop systems that would max out at $4,500 per system initially, then ramp down to $2,000 over three years. Those incentives would replace some of the Energy Trust dollars. "In residential rooftop, a lot of it depends on incentive packages in place," said Jeff Bissonnette, a longtime energy advocate in Oregon. "Anything that puts the payback period past 10 years, homeowners start thinking, 'Do I put in marble countertops instead?'" The tariffs would impose higher costs on commercial installations. Plummeting panel prices from overseas have helped the commercial solar sector recover from the loss of the Oregon's Business Energy Tax Credit Program, which covered as much as half the cost of an installation. And again, the Energy Trust has stepped up its incentives in the sector. Businesses typically demand shorter payback periods than residential customers, so any increase in costs will put some projects on the bubble and cut into growth, said John Grieser, owner of Portland's Elemental Energy. "We're most concerned about what impact (the tariffs) would have on the pending Community Solar program," he said. Lawmakers included the Community Solar program in 2016 legislation that doubled the state's renewable energy mandate now 50 percent by 2040 for large utilities and aims to eliminate coal power from Oregon's energy supply by 2030. The program will allow utility customers to buy into large solar projects and receive a credit on their bills for the power the projects produce. The size of those credits, or the "resource value of solar," is the subject of debate at the Oregon Public Utility Commission, with utilities lobbying for credits in the neighborhoods of 5 cents per kilowatt hour, and solar advocates hoping for double that level. The viability of the projects, which are expected to appeal to residential and commercial customers, will depend on the level of the credits and the cost of the arrays. "Assuming the credit comes out at a reasonable level, we expect to see 160 or 170 megawatts built out rapidly," said Miller, the trade group director. "That'll be the next big wave." UTILITY PROJECT GROWTH The Trump tariffs are expected to have the largest impact in utility-scale installations, those above 2 megawatts, where panel prices make up the highest percentage of project costs and the power is sold to utilities or large companies seeking to green up their power supply. It's also the sector that has seen the most rapid growth in Oregon. The state saw a burst of activity in utility-scale installations in 2016 and 2017. Much of that activity came under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, which requires utilities to buy power from "qualifying projects" that can deliver electricity less expensively than the utility can generate or buy the energy itself. PacifiCorp spokesman Ry Schwark says the utility saw 80 megawatts of such projects come online at the end of 2017 and expects about the same volume this year. PGE has seen only a fraction of that activity because most of its service territory is outside the sunniest areas of the state. It has only four qualifying projects delivering energy at the moment, with a nameplate capacity of 3 megawatts (solar plants typically deliver about 15 percent of their nameplate capacity). Another six projects totaling 13.2 megawatts of additional nameplate capacity are expected to be completed in the next three months. But the utility has a massive overhang of potential projects. It has contracts with 69 qualifying facilities representing an aggregate nameplate capacity of 443 megawatts and has another 95 projects in various stages of contracting representing another 877 megawatts of aggregate capacity. Steve Corson, a PGE spokesman, says the utility has little control over how many of those projects end up completed and actually delivering power. Developers have four years from the date the contract is signed to start providing energy, and the decision to go forward depends on equipment pricing, potential profitability and the availability of financing. "The tariff will mean some of the projects we had approved will not get built," said Jeff McKay, a spokesman for Cypress Creek Renewables, a California-based developer that has invested heavily in Oregon. "It's too early to predict which projects those will be, but 30 percent tariff could mean some of these become less viable." That leaves the utilities themselves, and projects like Brown's behemoth in southern Oregon. Obsidian is aiming at an entirely different market than a typical solar project -- combining storage with the solar arrays to maximize the power delivered into the grid and make it available when its needed most to replace coal and natural gas. PGE will shutter Boardman in 2020. Another big coal plant in Centralia, Washington, will start ramping down the same year, leaving Puget Sound Energy in need of new capacity. And PacifiCorp plans to shut a number of coal units over the next decade. Meanwhile, companies like Apple, Microsoft and Facebook are in the market for green power to feed their data centers in Oregon. Brown refers to his approach as solar 2.0, charging batteries overnight with energy from the grid, which can then be used to meet early morning demand. The solar system then wakes up and starts delivering power to the grid, or recharging the batteries during the early afternoon, when demand is typically low. And that storage can be used to meet evening energy production needs. He says he hasn't figured out what combination of utility and corporate demand will support the project. But he estimates he can deliver electricity for $36 a megawatt hour. The storage will add another $8 per megawatt hour, which would still make the output competitive with both renewables and fossil fuels. The economics are based on capturing the federal investment tax credit, which means beginning construction before the end of 2019 and finishing before the end of 2023. And the panels won't be installed until after 2021, which means escaping Trump's tariffs. It sounds good on paper. And, as Brown says, "being a solar developer isn't for the faint of heart." "I don't think I've discovered anything unique," he said. "The energy I generate will be about a third of energy generated by Boardman and a fifth of Centralia, so if we're really going to replace the coal plants we'll need more of these." - Ted Sickinger 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Andrew Oswalt, the Oregon State University graduate student arrested this week for allegedly putting racist bumper stickers on cars at a social justice meeting, didn't keep his activities confined to Corvallis, police records indicate. Oswalt and three reputed white nationalists were spotted "acting extremely suspicious" on the University of Oregon campus last July 29, according to a UO police report. A campus police officer saw the men just after 11 p.m. near a dormitory during the usually quiet summer term. Three of the men wore dark clothing and covered their faces, according to police. Oswalt wore a mask and the other two had scarves shielding their faces, the report said. Oswalt was carrying a stapler and another man had a ladder as they walked toward a white pickup truck, the report said. The officer said the men had fliers with Ku Klux Klan propaganda and others saying, "diversity means fewer white people" or other slogans. The men also had a box of chalk. Several of the fliers promoted the Daily Stormer, a notorious neo-Nazi website. Another said, "You are what made America great, its protection begins with you," with men with rifles and a wheeled occult symbol known as the sun wheel appropriated by the Nazis. The police report is the latest confirmation that Oswalt, a student government representative at OSU, has worked alongside white nationalists to spread their materials in public spaces across the state. Similar fliers have been posted in Ashland, Eugene and Corvallis in the past year. Racist and anti-Semitic messages written in chalk also sprouted on sidewalks last year in Eugene and Corvallis. Oswalt was arrested that Saturday evening in Eugene on a concealed weapons charge in connection to a stiletto knife that he allegedly carried. A jury in Eugene Municipal court found him not guilty in October. Oswalt was with Jimmy Marr, David Woods and Justin Marbury then. Marr, a Springfield resident, has claimed credit for displaying anti-Semitic banners and hateful signs on Interstate 5 overpasses last year. He's called for exterminating Jews. Marbury was arrested in Ashland in January 2017 for allegedly defacing private property with anti-Semitic posters. Woods lives in Corvallis and anti-fascist groups say he participated in an April 2017 white nationalist rally in Portland and has participated in demonstrations denying the existence of the Holocaust with Marr and Oswalt. According to the UO police report, the four men also were spotted at the Market of Choice grocery store near the UO campus earlier that night yelling racial slurs. An anti-fascist website this week published photos of Oswalt giving Nazi salutes from a highway overpass, carrying a flag with a swastika on Holocaust Remembrance Day at Marr's house and marching with white nationalists at the rally in Portland last April. Oswalt has declined comment on the photos. Oregon State declined to say whether Oswalt was still a student or employee at the university, citing confidentiality laws. A probable cause affidavit from Corvallis police officers released this week also sheds new light on other controversies on the Oregon State campus. Oswalt was identified as a suspect in the June bumper sticker incident after Corvallis officers posted surveillance photos on Facebook of two men suspected of pasting the offensive stickers on cars and dropping paper leaflets on others outside a First Alternative Natural Foods Co-Op while members of the Showing Up for Racial Justice group held their a monthly meeting inside. The person who identified Oswalt in the case recognized him as her chemistry teaching assistant. Police didn't contact Oswalt until this week, after reaching his mother in December and learning where he lived. In another OSU controversy, the recently released police affidavit states Oswalt was the one who put up a Confederate flag hanging in a window across the street from the black cultural center in Corvallis, prompting condemnation from city and university leaders. It was unclear last year who had put up the flag. The Confederate flag was on display when classes started in the fall, facing a busy street next to OSU's campus and the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center. In September, Steve Clark, vice president of University Relations at OSU, called the flag "a representation of slavery and racism" and said it would be disappointing to see it "anywhere in Corvallis, certainly across the street from the black culture center." A recently released police affidavit says Oswalt lived in the room near campus with the Confederate flag in the window. The address of the building is redacted in the affidavit, but the Corvallis Gazette-Times identified it as "The Pillar," a men's co-op inside a building owned by the Assemblies of God Church. According to its sign, The Pillar is "a student resource center" provided by the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. The location of Oswalt's room and the description of the flags in his room match up with the photos taken last year of a Confederate flag in a window of The Pillar. On Friday, Corvallis Mayor Bill Traber added to an earlier statement in an email, saying, "Views expressed by actions such as hanging a confederate flag or placing racist stickers are hateful and against our values. Further, the sticker activities are defacing property and thus investigated as crimes by Corvallis PD. The recent arrest reflects progress in an ongoing investigation; one in which I have no further comment." Chi Alpha Campus Ministries released a statement saying the flag was displayed by a student unaffiliated with the organization and that it had asked for the flag to be removed. "Chi Alpha wholly rejects any racist implications of this action," read the statement on its website, "and welcomes students from all backgrounds." According to an employee of a nearby business in Corvallis, the Confederate flag was still hanging in the window of The Pillar on Friday morning. The Oregonian's Lizzy Acker and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh contributed to this report -- -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen They were a day late and, apparently, a few bucks short. National Pie Day was Tuesday. But Christopher Briggs and Kimberlee Riedy are suspected of stealing money -- and pies -- from a Troutdale restaurant early the next day. The couple were arrested on suspicion of felony robbery and are being held in Multnomah County jails. Lt. Marc Shrake, a county sheriff's office spokesman, said deputies were initially called to Shari's Cafe & Pies, 557 N.W. Phoenix Dr., about 3:25 a.m. for an armed robbery. The suspect, since identified as Briggs, had left in a car before deputies got there. Gresham police later stopped a car matching the description of the getaway vehicle and found Riedy behind the wheel and Briggs laying in the backseat, according to a probable cause affidavit. A robbery note was found in his pocket, the document says. While searching the car, a detective found $190 and a black BB gun that looks like a semiautomatic gun, according to the document. And two pies. Shrake said the pies -- cherry and marionberry -- hadn't been eaten, and nothing else was stolen from the Shari's. There's no sign the couple was involved in another robbery at the same restaurant last month. Despite the disturbance, the restaurant chain known for its dessert appears to have still observed the spirit of the pie-lovers' celebration, per its Facebook page. People who missed National Pie Day (not to be confused with National Pi Day, which is March 14) but still want some Shari's goodness can get themselves a free slice of pie by simply signing up for the restaurant's rewards club. If only the suspects had known. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 LONGVIEW, Wash. Two western Washington state police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a Longview man. The Daily News reports in a story on Saturday that Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Jurvakainen cleared Longview police officers Tim Deisher and Levi Weatherl. Jurvakainen says that the officers acted lawfully and justifiably in their use of deadly force. The two police officers on Sept. 3 responded to a report of a domestic violence assault. Authorities say 48-year-old Henry Rakoz Jr. pointed a gun at Deisher and Deisher opened fire. Police say Rakoz then ran toward Weatherl, in training at the time, and he opened fire. Rakoz was hit by six bullets in all. Authorities say Rakoz had a pump-action pellet gun that looked similar to an actual firearm. -- The Associated Press Multnomah County commissioners will sign a lease on a new 120-bed shelter in Southeast Portland after a vote Thursday. The commissioners heard several hours of testimony from neighbors and homeless advocates. Much of it was opposition from residents who live around Southeast 61st and Foster Road, where a 13,000-square-foot former grocery store will become a shelter that prioritizes women, people with disabilities and elderly people. Critics say that the shelter is too close to Mt. Scott Learning Center, an alternative high school a short walk away, and that people who stay in the shelter will cause disruptions for nearby businesses. Commissioner Loretta Smith vehemently opposed the lease for multiple reasons -- the vote was too soon, the community had not been properly engaged, the cost is too high. She also accused fellow commissioners of ignoring residents' concerns and ignoring their duty to the public. "This is unconscionable what we are doing," Smith said. Not all the people who spoke were critics. Many people who live both in Mt. Scott-Arleta, the neighborhood that will host the shelter, and surrounding areas also spoke in favor of it. The Joint Office of Homeless Services, which is funded and led by the city of Portland and Multnomah County, opened about 650 shelter beds in 2016. But some of those, such as the 200-person Hansen Shelter at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street, are in buildings that were old and crumbling when the shelter opened. With that many people living in them each day, the shelter can't stay in that location for long, shelter operators say. There is no date set to close the Hansen Shelter, and the Foster shelter and others like it are not intended to be a one-for-one replacement. Joint Office and county officials said several times that some people from the Hansen shelter might be moved to the new one, but they also want a large chunk of the shelter's residents to be people who currently live on the streets in the Foster-Powell area. The Joint Office struggles to find suitable large shelter locations. Marc Jolin, director of the Joint Office, said staff look at several factors -- nearby transit and amenities, services to help find work and housing and, of course, cost. Local government must compete with private businesses in a hot real estate market. "The reason there is urgency around agreeing to the sign the lease now is we will lose the property," said Jolin, when Smith suggested that the commissioners delay the vote. The building will cost the Joint Office $13,390 a month in rent, which will increase to $16,322 per month by end of 10 years. Officials plan to spend $2 million to renovate the former empty building. The building owners, Winson International LLC, will also receive a tax abatement as all government buildings do. The shelter, which will include room for case workers and housing liaisons to meet with shelter occupants, is expected to cost $1.2 million per year to operate. The people who stay at the shelter will be able to access it 24 hours a day and bring in their pets. They don't have to be sober or drug-free, but they won't be allowed to use drugs or alcohol inside the facility. Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson said she pushed for a new model of outreach for the Foster shelter, after her neighborhood was given just two weeks to adjust to the Hansen shelter opening. She asked to lead a steering committee that would include business leaders and residents from the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as Mt. Scott Learning Center, to set guidelines for how shelter operator Transition Projects and people who live at the shelter interact with the community. "While some haven't been happy with the process so far, this is just the beginning of the process," Vega Pederson said. "A delay in this decision would scuttle this shelter and we'd have to go back to the drawing board to find shelter for people to sleep in." Commissioners Sharon Meieran and Lori Stegmann both said they want more outreach in the future, but voted to sign the lease. "It's a matter of sometimes triage and doing what is right," Meieran said. "I can't sit by and watch people die. I know we have opportunities to communicate about how to put a facility into play to help those people." -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger Note: This post has been updated to fix inaccurate references to the length of the five-week session. A political nonprofit allied with business interests has unleashed a negative website and ad campaign against Gov. Kate Brown. This week's launch is just the start of what promises to be a busy year for Priority Oregon, which got its start last year fighting against proposals in the Legislature to raise corporate taxes. The group plans to weigh in on a push by many Democrats to pass a statewide carbon cap and pricing plan in the five-week session that begins Feb. 5. And Priority Oregon is spending money to qualify four initiatives on taxes, public employee unions and state spending for the ballot. The breadth of Priority Oregon's agenda hints at the intense political battles that lie ahead this year, as Brown seeks re-election and Democrats try again to win supermajorities in the state House and Senate in November. Democrats are currently one vote shy in each chamber of the three-fifths supermajorities they need to raise taxes without help from Republicans. Jill Gibson, a spokeswoman for Priority Oregon, said it will function as a watchdog to "have conversations with the voters about transparency, accountability, how government officials are performing in their jobs, and also get behind policies that are pro-growth." Gibson said the bills to cap carbon emissions are "going to be an issue" for Priority Oregon, although she did not know whether the nonprofit will come out for or against them. As for who funds Priority Oregon and how much money it has raised, Gibson had little to say. "We won't be disclosing donors beyond what we have to under the law," Gibson said. She also did not know how much money Priority Oregon has in its budget this year. Public records also yield few details. The group has not yet filed a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, and its structure as a mutual benefit nonprofit means Priority Oregon does not have to file paperwork with the Oregon Department of Justice, according to spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson. On the website OregonAccountabilityProject.com, Priority Oregon goes after Brown for problems ranging from the state child welfare agency's failure to protect kids in its care, to the timidity of the agency charged with overseeing safety at day cares. The website relies on news articles for most of its content. Priority Oregon also paid for a full-page ad in The Oregonian this week to promote the website, stating "It's time for Governor Brown to take responsibility." "We're not opposing Kate Brown's candidacy," Gibson said, citing Priority Oregon's status as a so-called social welfare nonprofit. Such groups aren't allowed to participate in campaigns for or against a specific candidate. "We don't have an end goal per se other than to educate the public about these issues." Social welfare nonprofits span the political spectrum in Oregon and nationally, and Edmunson pointed out they can engage in "direct political activity" such as running ads for or against candidates "as long as that is not the organization's primary purpose." Gibson said she did not know whether the group would also scrutinize Brown's likely Republican opponent, Knute Buehler. "We're starting at the top, and she's the governor." Priority Oregon is also planning what Gibson described as "a pretty significant TV ad buy" in upcoming weeks, although Gibson said she did not know what the message would be or whether the ads would target a candidate such as Brown. Brown's campaign adviser, Thomas Wheatley, said the accountability project's name was "an ironic name for a group desperate to hide their identities and avoid responsibility for the false information they are disseminating." "There's an obvious political agenda behind their dark money group," Wheatley wrote in an email. "The leaders of this group should be held accountable themselves before they cast aspersions against our state's governor." Priority Oregon has previously acknowledged its members include the Oregon Small Business Association and the Taxpayers Association of Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive has also previously documented its ties to a co-founder and chief executive at Entek, a battery component manufacturer based in Lebanon. Entek and the state have tangled over potentially elevated levels of a cancer-causing solvent near its factory. A co-founder and chief executive at Entek are tied to the political nonprofit Priority Oregon. Political action committees for the building, trucking and restaurant and lodging industries reported contributing $30,000 to Priority Oregon last year, according to state records. Priority Oregon has spent nearly $23,000 to help four ballot initiatives qualify for the ballot this year, according the state. One of those initiatives would make it more difficult for lawmakers to raise taxes and fees, and another would force local governments and the state to spend more of their existing money to reduce the long-term public pension shortfall. A third initiative would require public employee unions to file reports with the Secretary of State detailing their dues and certain operating expenses, and a fourth would allow public employees to avoid paying dues if they opt out of union membership. Those employees' pay and other aspects of their employment would no longer be governed by the union contract. -- Hillary Borrud 503-294-4034; @hborrud Air Force One is upgrading its refrigerators, and the cost to taxpayers will be a cool $24 million. Under a new government contract awarded to Boeing, the U.S. Air Force will pay the aeronautics behemoth $23,657,671 to replace two of the five chiller units on the plane currently used by President Donald Trump. Both of those units, which are used to store food, were installed on the plane when it was originally delivered in 1990, according to the Air Force. Increasingly, however, the plane has needed additional cold food storage space "to support onboard personnel for an extended period of time, without having to restock while abroad," Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email. "The [old] units were based on the technology at the time and designed for short-term food storage," Stefanek said. "Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage." The new refrigerator units will have nearly 70 cubic feet of storage space, she said. The nearly $24 million price tag will also cover the cost of testing and certification by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the contract. Work related to the upgrade will be carried out in Oklahoma City, San Antonio and other cities, and the work is expected to be done by the end of October 2019, the contract stated. The high-cost upgrade was first reported by Defense One, which detailed the unique needs of the presidential aircraft -- the plane reportedly needs refrigerated storage space for about 3,000 meals -- as well as the White House's and Air Force's strict requirements for "bespoke equipment" when it comes to Air Force One. "It's not a contractor issue; it is a requirements issue," Richard Aboulafia, a vice president at the Teal Group consulting firm, told the defense and national security news site. "It's not getting people rich." However, Eric Schultz, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, reacted to the news by tweeting that "we would have been impeached" if they had carried out such an upgrade to Air Force One during the previous administration. Schultz declined an interview request Saturday morning. Air Force One has two galleys where up to 100 meals can be prepared at a time, according to ABC News. An accompanying slide show captured an array of "legendary" dishes that have been served on board, from beef tenderloin and lasagna to kebabs and tiramisu. (The president can request pretty much anything, CBS News once reported, with a caveat that Air Force One french fries tend to be "a bit soggy" due to the lack of a fryer on the plane.) "During international trips, chillers in the belly of Air Force One keep food for daily meals fresh," ABC News reported. "The crew never procures food overseas to serve on the plane as a safety precaution." It's unclear if the Air Force considered other, less expensive alternatives to replacing the two chiller units in question, or whether the replacement would take the plane out of commission for an extended period of time. Stefanek said the Air Force was not able to answer additional questions Saturday morning. The current plane is set to be replaced. In 2015, the Air Force announced that two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft would be used in the presidential fleet. But Trump, while campaigning for the presidency, criticized the planned purchase for its $4 billion price tag. He even suggested that his personal private aircraft was better and that Air Force One would be a step down for him. Even after winning the election, Trump pushed back against the expense, tweeting that the U.S. should cancel an order for a new presidential 747 because "costs are out of control." A subsequent fact-check by The Washington Post highlighted some of the inaccuracies in Trump's tweet. But he continued to make the claim. "I refuse to fly in a $4.2 billion airplane," Trump told a crowd last February in Florida. "I refuse." But at the rally, he also claimed to have negotiated the deal down with Boeing, reducing the cost by $1 billion. (Air Force officials would later say they did not know of any such negotiations or savings.) Still, it only took a few days in office, and a trip on the plane, for Trump to change his opinion of Air Force One. "Beautiful, a great plane," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One after his first trip. "Terrific." -- Amy B Wang With tens of thousands of patients flocking to hospitals and at least 37 children dead, this year's flu season is shaping up to be the worst in nearly a decade - and it's not over yet. At a time when experts hoped new cases would start tapering off, federal health officials said Friday that the number of patients seeking care for flulike symptoms continues to rise sharply. Nearly 12,000 people have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of flu, an increase of 3,000 in just one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest report, for the week ending Jan. 20, shows the rate of people seeking care now rivals that of the swine-flu pandemic of 2009. In Florida, West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton has seen a surge of patients. "We think it may be peaking," said Adam Leisy, head of the emergency room, "but who knows what the next few weeks will bring." Leisy said his hospital has been flooded with elderly snowbirds - often already dealing with chronic conditions and now wheezing from coughs and struggling with fever. In California, some hospitals have pitched tents outside their ERs to cope with the crush of patients; some facilities there have flown in nurses from out of state. Doctors have worked double and triple shifts. In Chicago, a shortage of patient beds has left ambulances idling outside hospitals. In New York, state leaders this week issued an emergency order allowing pharmacists to give vaccines to children. The toll on children has been especially severe. CDC officials said the pediatric death count is likely to approach, if not exceed, the 148 deaths reported during the especially severe flu season of 2014 and 2015. That season ended with 56,000 flu-related deaths, 710,000 people hospitalized and 16 million who sought care from a clinician or hospital. This year's intensity has been driven by a particularly nasty strain of the virus known as H3N2. Another strain has also begun showing up, hitting baby boomers especially hard, CDC officials said Friday, although experts have not figured out exactly why. CDC says the number of pediatric deaths is probably more than the 37 reported, because if often takes longer for deaths outside hospitals to be reported to authorities. The real number may be twice as high, officials said. "You hear people talking about how serious it can get, but you never think it's going to happen to you," Anne LaMontagne, 41, said by phone as she sat by her son in Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis. In the space of five days, 9-year-old Grant went from having a sore throat to being rushed to the hospital, with doctors struggling to force more oxygen into his lungs to keep him alive. The flu led to pneumonia. Her son's lungs filled with mucus, preventing him from breathing. Doctors put the boy on a ventilator and stuck a probe down his throat to suction out vinelike threads of mucus from his lungs. But his condition got worse. Last week, LaMontagne and her husband looked on with horror as doctors inserted a large tube into an unconscious Grant's neck and connected him to a lung-bypass machine to give his body the oxygen his lungs could not. The sight sent the couple fleeing to the hospital cafeteria. "We just cried and tried to breathe and talk each other through what was happening," she said. The treatment worked. Last Friday her son had recovered to the point that doctors woke him from sedation. "It all happened so fast," his mother said Friday. "He's a healthy boy. He swims. He's never had any major illnesses." Two differences with this year's flu is that it hit almost all states at the same time and has stayed at that high level nationally for three consecutive weeks, said Daniel Jernigan, who heads the CDC's influenza division. In past years, the flu more commonly appeared in different parts of the country at different times. The current season began in October, but there was a rapid ramp-up in January right after the holidays, probably triggered by children returning to school and spreading the virus, Jernigan said. In Florida and Texas, entire school districts have closed to stop further spread. The burden of so many cases on hospitals, experts say, underscores the fragility of the country's health-care system. Some hospitals are already strained to capacity on a normal day and could be overrun if a pandemic hits. "The concern is that with an emergency, we could get to a tipping point, where the demands of community exceeds our capacity as a country," said James Blumenstock, chief program officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The length and severity of a flu season is always notoriously hard to predict. Experts often look for clues in past seasons when the same strains of flu have dominated. In previous H3N2 seasons, flu activity remained active for an average of about 16 weeks but in some cases continued as long as 20 weeks. "By that measure, we are about halfway there," Jernigan said. "But it means we have several more weeks of flu to go." Already, this season has offered its share of surprises. People over 65 are usually the ones with the highest hospitalization rates, with the second most affected group being children under 4. But officials have been taken aback in recent weeks to see that individuals with the second-highest hospitalization rate are between 50 to 64 years old. "Baby boomers have higher rates of hospitalization than their grandchildren right now," Jernigan noted with surprise. It's not clear why this is happening. Officials say one possibility may be the mix of viruses circulating this season and the different levels of immunity that people have developed to those viruses over time. In addition, vaccination rates for adults under 65 are lower than those for seniors. "These are folks who would really benefit from higher vaccination rates," Jernigan said. "They're usually at the peak of their careers, or managing a lot of business, and them missing work because of flu would have a huge impact." It is not too late to get a flu shot, experts continue to stress. The current vaccine protects against all three of the most prevalent strains. It is least effective against the H3N2 strain, but its effectiveness against the other two strains that are now appearing - H1N1 and an influenza B strain - is much higher. The CDC recommends an injectable flu vaccine for everyone 6 months or older as soon as possible because the body takes about two weeks to produce a full immune response. The one upside to the severity of this year's season is that suddenly everyone wants to know how to avoid getting sick. "I have friends calling me, family asking me, 'Is it too late to get a shot?' " said Blumenstock, a health official in Arlington, Va. "I tell them: 'Hurry up. Go! Get your shot.' Hopefully, this year is a chance for people to learn." -- The Washington Post BY DOUGLAS PERRY Robert Mueller cant avoid the spotlight, much as he might like to. He is, after all, the special counsel investigating whether President Donald Trumps 2016 election campaign colluded with the Russian government. The investigation is expected to reach its apex this year, with conclusions that likely will lead either to the presidents impeachment or his public exoneration. While leaks are voluminous from both the White House and the congressional committees investigating Russian election interference, we dont hear anything from Mueller. But we do know a thing or two about how the decorated Vietnam War veteran and accomplished former federal prosecutor goes about his business. The best single source on the subject is Garrett M. Graff's 2011 book "The Threat Matrix," about the FBI's hunt for terrorists after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Mueller served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013. Weve collected here the most pertinent revelations from the book that show Mueller's motivations and how hes probably conducting the special-counsel investigation. Don't Edit Photos: Associated Press The 73-year-old special counsel is a stern taskmaster, setting an example for long hours, sustained focus and high standards that few of his colleagues have been able to match. Mueller went through five chiefs of staff in his first four years [as FBI director], and his special assistants rarely lasted more than a year, Graff wrote. It wasnt that he was cruel to his staff -- just relentless and demanding. He had the energy of the sun, said one FBI manager. James Comey, Muellers successor as FBI director and whose firing by Trump led to Muellers special-counsel appointment, offered a similar analogy. He drives at such speed that he can burn up people around him, Comey said. Some people burn people up because theyre a--holes. Bob burns them up by sheer exertion. Added Lisa Monaco, one of Muellers chiefs of staff at the FBI: Hes got one speed, and its pretty relentless. Don't Edit Mueller tried, with his wifes help, to be conscious of the fact that not everyone on his FBI executive team could maintain his pace. But it didnt come naturally to him. Wrote Graff: When his wife, Ann, warned him that he was working his staff too hard, he called his then counsel Chuck Rosenberg. How are you doing? he asked when Rosenberg answered the phone. Fine, Rosenberg said. What can I get you, boss? Nothing, Mueller replied, the conversation over. He had checked in on his staff. In one of the more memorable footnotes in Threat Matrix, a fellow government lawyer recalled how Mueller, early in his career as a federal prosecutor, attempted to build rapport with his staff by hosting summer barbecues from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The three hours set aside for the get-together was not a suggestion but a hard limit. Said the colleague with a chuckle: At five minutes to eleven hed start flipping the lights to get people out of his house. Don't Edit Mueller doesnt do generalities. He wants evidence nailed down before its brought to him. Graff wrote the following about intelligence briefings in the early post-9/11 days: In briefings and meetings, agents and briefers would say things like "Such and such is linked to al-Qaeda" or "is associated with terrorists. Mueller would fume: "I don't know what linked means. If that's all you've got, don't brief me." He wanted specifics, definitive statements, and hard facts. "There was a level of answer that was acceptable within the Bureau that didn't provide the level of detail Bob Mueller required -- and objectively probably wasn't satisfactory either," explains his friend and counselor Lee Rawls. Mueller wanted, as he put it himself, ground truth. That is, whats really happening, not just what people want to tell you. He said: The mistakes Ive made are when I havent gotten to the bottom of it, dug really deep down, asked all the questions. Don't Edit As a boy, Mueller attended New Hampshires prestigious St. Pauls boarding school. (John Kerry, who would become a U.S. senator and secretary of State, was a classmate.) The school focused on manliness and Christianity -- and Mueller, by all accounts, took both subjects seriously. Said a friend: Bobs the best of the old prep-school tradition. He stands for service, integrity, and has the confidence to never bend. He doesnt do anything for himself. Mueller went on to Princeton University, where he excelled, and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He led a combat platoon in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star after evacuating wounded soldiers from a battle scene with complete disregard for his own safety. He also earned a Purple Heart and two Navy Commendation Medals. Don't Edit Don't Edit The time in Vietnam, Graff wrote, was intensely formative for Mueller, forging his leadership skills literally under fire. Indeed, Mueller himself credits much of his success in life to his experience in the Marines. Your improvement, he said, comes from the ability to maximize the embodiment of a Marine. Don't Edit Muellers dedication to work is unending, but Graff wrote that his dedication to his wife matches it. Ann had two bouts with cancer during Muellers FBI directorship, and he made every doctors appointment and monitored every checkup, every dose of chemotherapy. When asked about the importance of his wife and children, he responded, simply: Everything else pales in comparison. Don't Edit One of Muellers favorite books is Thomas Friedmans The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. Graff says the 2005 book influenced greatly [Muellers] thinking about the Bureau. Friedman argues, The Guardian pointed out in a review of the book, that globalization and technological change are "a greater threat to western economies than we realize." Don't Edit Many observers of the national political scene, both Trump critics and Trump supporters, believe Muellers investigation is going to come to a head in 2018. Don't Edit I dont know wholl be Times 2017 Person of the Year, but I must say it would be nice if Robert Mueller turns out to be Times 2018 Person of the Year. Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 25, 2017 What that will mean, for President Trump and for the country, no one knows -- not even Mueller. But this much is known: once Mueller determines the correct course of action, he will do everything in his power to see it through. Said one FBI agent: The director respects you if you want to argue about which route to take up the hill, but he wont argue over which hill is the right one to take. Muellers favorite description of his own management style comes from the movie Crimson Tide: Im here to protect democracy, not to practice it. -- Douglas Perry Don't Edit Updated 9:44 p.m. An Aloha man is in custody after Washington County authorities found the decapitated and dismembered body of a woman stuffed inside two suitcases in the trunk of a luxury car, law enforcement sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive. The man, a suspect in the woman's death, tried to slash his throat and wrists before police arrested him late Thursday night, the sources said. Washington County officials on Friday identified the woman as 28-year-old Sara Zghoul of Aloha. The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed earlier that it received word of a possible homicide Thursday evening and later found parts of Zghoul's body inside a black BMW near Southwest Sarala Street and Hargis Road in Aloha. Deputy Jeff Talbot, a sheriff's spokesman, declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation. According to sources, authorities learned of a possible suspect and tracked him down to a ravine near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Teal Boulevard. That's when the man, who remains unidentified, tried unsuccessfully to kill himself, the sources said. Beaverton police took the man into custody, Talbot said. A Facebook page for Zghoul says she worked as an actress, model and voice-over artist. Her social media pages offer a glimpse into her life: She posted photos of her young son, selfies and playful memes. One post on Instagram from fall 2016 suggested she was making strides in her life. She said she was grateful she wasn't homeless, hospitalized or in jail. "'I don't know how my story will end but nowhere in the text will it read 'I gave up,'" she wrote. "'Life gets better if you want it to. And I love mine.'" A woman who answered the phone at her family's residence declined to comment. Natasha Thomas, a friend of Zghoul's brother, said on Twitter that she had known Zghoul for nearly 10 years, and that the woman had welcomed Thomas into her family without question. "Sara was funny, kind and a great mother," she said. "She was the kind of person to give you the shirt off her back. Even in rough times, she was grateful." Portland activist Gregory McKelvey said in a message to The Oregonian/OregonLive that he grew up in the same neighborhood as Zghoul, who was a few years older than him. Everyone knew her family, he said, and Zghoul was funny and sweet. "She was known for being a great person and she touched so many people," he said. "It felt like she knew everyone and losing her is a big loss for the community." This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh skavanaugh@oregonian.com 503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh Anna Marum contributed to this story. amarum@oregonian.com 503-294-5911 @annamarum Ahmed Turay A Washington County judge has sentenced a man to nearly six years in prison for underage trafficking. Circuit Court Judge Oscar Garcia on Thursday sentenced 36-year-old Ahmed Turay Jr. to 70 months in prison for coordinating underage prostitution of a 17-year-old girl on backpage.com. Turay was arrested in September after detectives with the Beaverton Police Department and the federal Child Exploitation Task Force arranged a "date" with a 17 year-old Washington girl featured in online prostitution ads on backpage.com. According to a news release from the Washington County District Attorney's office, on Sept. 6, 2017, undercover officers were waiting when the girl arrived at the arranged time and place in a silver Mercedes Benz driven by Turay. Police interviewed her and confirmed she was there for prostitution, the statement says. She also told them Turay was keeping the money she had made from previous prostitution activity. She estimated she had made $15,000 to $20,000 over the summer through prostitution with Turay. Police recovered additional information from numerous other backpage.com ads as well as prostitution-related communications from multiple cell phones in Turay's vehicle. At Thursday's sentencing, the news release says, Turay complained he had been "attacked" by the state, and he attempted to argue with the judge as the sentence was imposed. Garcia called the evidence against Turay "overwhelming" and sentenced him to 70 months in prison. -- Anna Marum amarum@oregonian.com 503-294-5911 @annamarum MidMichigan Health Gladwin medical office building's final steel beam is filled with lots of well wishes as it finishes the 17,000 square-foot facility, expected to offer higher-quality health care to the community. The facility is slated to open in late July or early August, replacing an outdated building, currently used for physicians. Community leaders, hospital board members and others signed the beam at the Rivertown Inn, Gladwin, on Thursday evening during a private reception. Hospital employees, physicians and volunteers signed the beam on Jan. 22. The beam will be placed in the building at 11 a.m. Jan. 30, at 1105 E. Cedar Ave. Dr. Paul Berg, who served on the design team for the new facility, said the development will offer better patient care along with advanced technology. "It is very patient centered," said Berg, a Midland physician who sees patients in Gladwin a few days a month. "When people come in they will be greeted, registered and immediately put in a room," Berg said. "There is no front desk." The new facility will house primary care physicians, diagnostic X-ray services, a lab draw station and urgent care. The physician's offices at 609 Quarter St., on the campus of MidMichigan Medical Center-Gladwin, will serve as space for specialists. MidMichigan Medical Center Clare-Gladwin President, Ray Stover said this facility has been a dream of his since his arrival at the hospital in 2008. He wanted to lure more physicians to the area, provide more efficient and better patient care, equipped with modern technology. "I couldn't be more ecstatic," Stover said, noting that the new facility will be equipped with technology that modern doctors and physicians want to practice with. He said it will help with the primary physician shortage in the community. Stover said the new facility has already helped lure three new physicians that will begin their tenure in August and September. "This is a huge step and will have a huge impact in our access to care for the community," Stover said. Stover said he couldn't be more thankful to the community, Gladwin City Mayor Dee Jungman and City Manager Bob Moffit. "Everybody's excitement about this project is obvious," Berg said. Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Yvette Keast is quite excited about the facility and the role it will play in the community. "What it is going to do is create a great atmosphere for medical staff to come to our community," Keast said. "It will be good for the community as a whole to have the high medical standard. "Ray (Stover) has been an asset to this community, both economically and medically," Keast added. MidMichigan Medical Clare-Gladwin Board of Directors member David Sprang said the facility will be a great addition to the town and is visible as people come and go. Unlike the other facility, which is tucked away. "It replaces a building that has been modified many times," Sprang said, noting that the new facility isn't an old building turned into a medical facility. "This building is designed with doctors' offices and new technology in mind." MidMichigan Medical Center Vice President Glenn King said he is pleased with the design of the new facility as well as what it will offer. "It will be incredible for our community and it will bring primary care physicians together," King said. "It won't have an industrial look, this will be warm and inviting." A carbon copy of the project is under construction in Bay City and is expected to open two weeks to a month after Gladwin's facility opens. "The design of this new facility will strengthen our ability to meet the needs of our patients, while enhancing their overall patient experience," Stover said of the $5 million Gladwin project that workers broke ground on Oct. 5. MidMichigan Health is a non-profit health system, headquartered in Midland. It is affiliated with Michigan Medicine, the health care division of the University of Michigan. Recently named one of the nation's 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics. MidMichigan Health covers a 22-county region with medical centers in Midland, Alpena, Alma, Clare, Gladwin and Mount Pleasant. MidMichigan has more than 7,200 employees, volunteers and physicians and provided $84 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2016. To the editor: The purpose of this letter is to make our community aware of a free program being offered this spring specifically for family members and friends of adults who live with mental illness. The program is being presented by the Midland County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As a loved one with a person with mental illness, you face unique challenges, social stereotypes and stigma, complex family dynamics, and unpredictable aspects of the illness. It can be overwhelming. Our program helps you. NAMI Family to Family gives you information, crucial resources and access to a community of people who relate to your experiences. You will learn from people who, like you, get it, and who have been there. Its open to adults 18 and older who are family members and friends of people who live with mental illness. Examples include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression. This free class will meet for 11 weeks on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. from March 13-May 22. During the last session of this past falls workshop in Midland, participants were asked to complete a written evaluation. These are some of the comments we received from them about the teaching/support team and Family to Familys impact: Excellent program. Very interactive leaders. Helped us get involved. Excellent team that worked well together to inform and engage class with helpful testimonies. Very positive and professional. Listened as well as shared information. Change in my expectations for my family member. More accepting of situation. Better communication. Do not feel as isolated. Be more understanding and patient. I am not alone even in Midland, Michigan! To register for this springs class, call NAMI Midland County at 989-948-3273 or email: NAMImidlandMI@gmail.com. This program has received generous financial support from the Midland Rotary Club. Thank you. MARTA MANNING President, NAMI Midland County Esko Appoints Chris Miller to Vice President, North America Chris Miller Jan. 26, 2018 - Esko announced that Chris Miller has accepted the position of Vice President North America. Miller assumed his new responsibilities at the beginning of the year in preparation for the planned retirement of Mark Quinlan, assuring an orderly succession of responsibilities during the first quarter of 2018. With Mark Quinlan's retirement, we thank him for the great value he brought to Esko's North American and Latin American teams and the solid achievements he realized during his 8-year year tenure at Esko, comments Niels Stenfeldt, Esko Global Vice President, Sales & Service. Both Mark and I are delighted to see Chris return to the US and move into this role. In his current role Chris has built a highly engaged, high performing team for the Esko Asia and Pacific region that has grown revenue impressively during the past seven years. Miller has a strong, long-serving history with Esko, starting in March 1991, in a variety of senior management roles. These include leadership management positions as VP Sales West - North America; Director of Inside Sales North America; General Manager - Greater China; and currently VP APAC. Miller will continue in his role as Vice President APAC until a replacement has been identified. The Esko product portfolio supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners, retailers, designers, premedia and trade shops, packaging manufacturers, and converters. To learn more, please visit: www.esko.com . SOURCE: Esko Back in September, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rolled back Title IX motions implemented under Obama that provided guidelines to universities and colleges for handling sexual assault cases. Civil rights group loudly decried DeVos' move, saying it was a step backward from starting to solve the issue of rape on college campuses. Now, three of those groups SurvJustice, Equal Rights Advocates, and the Victim Rights Law Center are suing the Department of Education for discriminating against sexual assault survivors. Three civil rights groups, SurvJustice, Equal Rights Advocates, and the Victim Rights Law Center, are suing the Department of Education for allegedly discriminating against sexual assault victims on college campuses. They claim that DeVos' policies protect the accused more than the survivors by deterring them from filing a complaint. Related | Betsy DeVos Rolls Back Obama-Era Protections for College Sexual Assault Survivors "Sexual violence and assault victims have expressed an unwillingness to report harassment and assault to campus authorities," the complaint, posted on Mother Jones, read. The policies under DeVos allow the accused to repeal a college's decision on a case, but survivors are not given the same opportunity. The civil rights groups suing DeVos are seeking to reverse her rollback of Obama's guidelines, with the underlying claim that DeVos and her acting civil rights chief, Candice Jackson, have biases against women who accuse men of sexual assault. Specifically, the lawsuit accuses DeVos and Jackson of believing "that many girls and women who report sexual harassment misunderstood a harmless romantic advance and that those who report sexual violence often are either lying or have regret about a consensual sexual encounter." "This discriminatory mindset not only motivated decision makers at the Department, it flows from the top of the Executive Branch," the complaint continues. This is a reference of course to Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual assault by at least 19 women. Image via Getty Patna: Governor Satya Pal Malik, speaking at the 69th Republic Day celebration at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on Friday, stuck to political cliches and bullet points provided to him by the Home Department that included a heavy dose of how things were communally peaceful in Bihar and how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's policies were changing the social landscape of the state. Beginning with the glorious history of Bihar, the Governor praised the government for fostering an environment of communal peace in the state and asked the people of Bihar to help the administration make Bihar an economic powerhouse in the coming years. {gallery}newsimages2018/jan/012718{/gallery}Mr. Malik, in his 15-minute speech, touched several topics that put the Nitish administration in positive light including the government's mantra of 'development with social justice for all', establishment of rule of law in Bihar, zero tolerance policy towards corruption, Student Credit Card Scheme, Chief Minister's 'Seven Resolves', 'Bihar Start-up Policy', and Bihar Industrial Investment Encouragement Act of 2016, and of course, the government's prohibition policy and how it was turning Bihar into a model state, among others. Touting the success of the two human chains in Bihar, Mr. Malik also encouraged people to help government eradicate child marriage and dowry system in the state. The Governor, in an open Jeep, took salute from wings of the Indian Armed Forces including the Central Reserve Protection Force (CRPF), Bihar Military Police (BMP), Special Task Force (STF), Home Guard, District Armed Police (DAP), and the three divisions of the National Cadet Core (NCC) and honored many Bihar law enforcement officials with gallantry award. Prior to his speech, Mr. Malik paid floral tribute to fallen soldiers at the Kargil Memorial Chowk near Gandhi Maidan. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chowdhary, and Bihar Legislative Council Chairperson Haroon Rashid were among many who were present on the occasion. Fourteen departments of the state government presented their colorful tableau with the Education Department's float promoting end of child marriage through education walked away with the first prize for the best presentation while the float by the Industry Department showcasing Bihar handicraft was given the second-place prize. As has been practiced in the last few years, the Chief Minister later unfurled the Indian flag at his official residence and at the Mahadalit Tola in Punpun. 40 Iranian MPs Call for Immediate Release of Detained University Students 01/27/18 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Forty Iranian lawmakers have written to President Hassan Rouhani and Judiciary Chief Sadegh Larijani urging them to immediately release student detainees who were arrested during the weeklong protests that hit several Iranian cities on December 28, 2017. Member of Parliament (MP) Ghasem Mirzaei Nikoo told the semi-official Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) on January 16, 2018, that the lawmakers were particularly focused on the release of female university students. The two letters, one addressing the president and the other the judiciary chief, have not been made public but according to Nikoo, they state in part: According to reports given to MPs in a closed parliamentary session on January 7, [2018], if recent bitter events are not analyzed and closely dissected, they could harm our national interests. Continued the MPs: In order to prevent discontent from spreading, the security and law enforcement forces carried out numerous arrests. While we are thankful for their efforts, it appears that prolonged detentions, especially of the students and particularly the female students, will lead to many problems. Therefore, we beseech you to take steps to end the detention of students as soon as possible, wrote the MPs. On January 15, Parvaneh Salahshouri, a reformist MP and the leader of the womens block in Parliament, said the State Prisons Organization was responsible for the detainees well being. Every day we see the name of a new victim being published, said Salashouri. This has caused great concern among MPs and we intend to visit the prisons as soon as possible. Salashouri told reporters that she didnt have exact casualty figures, adding, Lawmakers have said they will look into all cases involving deaths, including Sina Ghanbari and others such as Saro Ghahremani, to find out how they really died. Reformist MP Mahmoud Sadeghi told Etemad Online on January 14 that he believed about 110 students had been detained as of January 8 and at least 60 had been released since then. MPs Requests to Visit Prisons Denied A week and a half before the MPs sent the letters, the judiciary and Intelligence Ministry turned down requests by several lawmakers from Tehran to visit detainees held in Evin Prison. But the hardline head offices did agree to an inspection of the prison by the Parliamentary Legal and Judicial Affairs Committee. We will definitively carry out an inspection of the facility where the detainees from the recent unrest are being held and talk with the suspects, said the committees deputy chairman, MP Mohammad Kazemi, on January 16. At a press conference on January 14, Judiciary Spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei claimed that based on reports by the Intelligence Ministry and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), 622 people were arrested between December 28 and December 31, 400 of which remain in detention, including 55 in Tehran. On January 9, MP Sadeghi stated that 3,700 had been arrested across the country but did not provide a date range or the source of the figure. At the press conference, Ejei added that one of the detainees is a dual national who was arrested as he was taking pictures and filming the street protests. Ejei did not reveal the persons name or where he was arrested. Ejei also expanded on Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis claims that external forces fomented the protests. There were individuals based abroad who encouraged and instigated the riots through cyberspace and other means, said Ejei. We intend to pursue them through Interpol. He continued: We were expecting these events but not on this scale or at this time. We predicted something on a smaller scale and at a later time. We had held meetings with prosecutors and advised them to be prepared for disturbances in mid-February to early March [2018]. Ejei also addressed a question about establishing a permanent space for public protests in Tehran: In selecting such a space it is important to ensure there would be no public disturbances. If people follow the law, they can hold gatherings. Following the law would solve 99 percent of the problem, if not 100. Officials of the Medical and Dental Council have apprehended a man they suspect to be operating a clinic at Kotobabi, a suburb of Accra, without licence. The supposed medical doctor, identified as Charles Acquah, according to officials of the council, is not a registered member of the council and so not qualified to attend to patients. However, he was spotted in his clinic attending to patients. He was arrested with the help of the Kotobabi police last Wednesday afternoon to assist in investigation. The registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eli Kwasi Atikpui, who briefed the media, said during the latter part of December, 2017, the council had information that there was a man by name Charles Acquah who was practising as a medical doctor at a clinic (name withheld) at Kotobabi. With the details of the said medical doctor given, investigators of the council were tasked to crosscheck information on him in their database. Dr. Atikpui said their investigation established that the said Charles Acquah had his medical school training at the M. Gorky Donestk National Medical University and later transferred in the sixth year to the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University both in Ukraine and completed in June, 2015. Further checks revealed that the said Acquah had been registered as a physician assistant by the council in the year 2011, but never renewed his licence. Sometime in 2015, Acquah showed up at the council to register for the October 2015 examination for foreign trained doctors but failed in the exams, Dr Atikpui disclosed. He said Acquah again took part in the October 2016 and November 2017 examinations conducted by the council, and failed both again. He was supposed to have come for an introductory letter to an accredited hospital for an attachment for a period of six months before he is allowed to write another examination, but had failed to do so, the registrar posited. He claimed that on January 22, 2018, a team was dispatched to locate the facility where Acquah was operating; and it was established that he was the same person who took the examinations as a foreign-trained doctor and failed. He was subsequently nabbed. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The conspiratorial posturing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government over the sudden illness of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has taken a turn for the spooky as high-ups of the ruling party are spotted prowling around the London hospital in which Dr. Bawumia is on admission. With the precincts of the Guy's Hospital beginning to crawl with NPP bigwigs, the governments strange decision to clutch information on what really is happening to the Vice President to its chest has left eeriness in the air. Meanwhile, in the wake of the governments obscurantist antics, news is filtering in from London about the Vice Presidents bodyguards fighting off some NPP bigwigs who tried to visit him at the hospital. Like lions fighting off hyenas, Dr. Bawumias security detail is said to have prevented Kennedy Agyapong, the NPPs MP for Assin Central, from entering the Guy's Hospital to check on the Vice President. Mustapha Hamid, Minister of Information, thickened the plot on Monday when he told outlandish lies about what is really happening to Dr. Bawumia lies that have left him looking silly in the estimation of Ghanaians. According to the government spokesman, Dr. Bawumia was jetted off to the UK so that he can escape visitations from over-concerned relatives who would have thronged his residence in Accra to check on him! The whole drama has served to nourish suspicion among Ghanaians that the Vice President was poisoned by people from within the NPP government who are locked in a power-play with him. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia wears his Presidential ambitions on his sleeve. He was said to have suddenly fallen ill on Friday and rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. The incident happened just two days after President Akufo-Addo had indicated at an encounter with the press that if the NPP elects him flagbearer again he will run for President in 2020. The Presidents indication is a U-Turn on a promise he had made in the build-up to the 2016 election that he would rule for only one term. The announcement of the illness had been totally rushed and irresponsibly emotive, with a released statement somberly asking for prayers for the Vice President without disclosing what the ailment was. Curiously, one of the first channels of the announcement was the Twitter Handle of President Nana Akufo-Addo. Following from this, a release signed by Head of Communications at the Flagstaff House came out confirming the news of the Vice Presidents sudden illness. However, soon after that, Eugene Arhin came out claiming he had not issued that statement, even though amidst the controversy, a statement on the letterhead of the seat of government came out confirming the same announcement. Enters, second phase of the drama a statement emanating from the Flagstaff House soon announced that the Vice President had been attended to and sent home, and that the cause of the brief trip to the hospital was stress. However, it subsequently emerged that the man had been jetted off to the UK for further medical attention! Thenceforward, the government has not been coming forth with the truth on what really sent the Vice President to the hospital. Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has famously claimed that the man had been flown to the UK in order to avoid panic over-reactions and visitation from his family and friends. When he is in Ghana people will come from his village, from Walewale, wherever he is the people will besiege. Normally when you are out of reach you will have the peace to heal, Mustapha Hamid told Accra based Joy FM. The dramatic lie has left Mustapha Hamid looking like a useful idiot set up to cut his own nose to spite his own face on behalf of the NPP government. Mr. Hamids claim has since provoked questions as to why the government would rush to announce that the Vice President was ill in the first place if it did not want a panic reaction. Curiously, Mustapha Hamid who claimed that Dr. Bawumia needs the peace to heal did not tell Ghanaians what exactly the Vice President needs to heal from, nourishing an already existing climate of secrecy around the mans sudden illness. Meanwhile, as he is on admission at the Guy's Hospital in London, Dr. Bawumias security detail has suddenly developed a heightened sense of responsibility for the Vice Presidents safety. Consequently, the NPPs MP for Assin Central, Ken Agyapong was tackled by bodyguards and refused entry into the hospital to visit Bawumia when he attempted to do so on Monday. Mr. Agyapong is said to have been in London to attend a funeral before whatever ailment is plaguing Bawumia had sent him jetting off to the British capital, London, to seek medical attention. His attempt to enter the Guy's Hospital in London to call on Dr. Bawumia was said to have been fiercely resisted by the security detail of the Vice President who shepherded him away after refusing him entry. Government sources who have confirmed the incident to The Republic newspaper claim that Ken Agyapong had been refused admittance because of his penchant to attack the Vice President in public. It would be recalled that last year, Ken Agyapong laid all responsibility for the failings of the Akufo-Addo government in the area of the Economy on Vice President Bawumia, who is the head of the Economic Management Team. The Republic has heard that later, after Ken Agyapong had been prevented from seeing Dr. Bawumia at the Guy's Hospital, the NPPs MP for Adansi Asokwa was spotted at Central London around where the Hospital is. The governments obscurantism over the issue, coupled with the drama playing out has only served to stoke suspicion among Ghanaians that Dr. Bawumia was poisoned. It does not make sense to anybody that the man who was seen hale and hearty during President Akufo-Addos last week encounter with the press at the Flagstaff House will suddenly fall sick and be rushed to the hospital. Whats more, even though the government claimed that his sudden health crisis was stress related, the same government then followed up with jetting him off to the UK for further medical attention. The jury is out on the issue in town and the verdict is that Dr. Bawumias Presidential ambition, which is believed to clash with that of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is attracting the shadow of death on him. Source: The Republic newspaper Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Jan. 27, 1945, the Soviet Army liberated the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Soldiers freed more than 7,000 people who had been held at the camp in Poland by Nazi Germany. They were starved and tortured. The Soviets also found piles of corpses and piles of clothing, shoes and human hair removed from people who had been executed in the gas chamber. During World War II by mid-January, the Soviet Army was approaching Auschwitz. The SS - Adolf Hitler's paramilitary organization, Schutzstaffel, began destroying evidence and emptying the concentration camp by forcing 60,000 prisoners - mostly Jews - to march west. Prisoners who fell behind were shot. Fifteen thousand on the death marches. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, thousands of prisoners also were killed in the days prior to the marches. "It is estimated that at minimum 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945; of these, at least 1.1 million were murdered," according to the museum. The Holocaust began in 1933 when Hitler came to power. It ended in 1945 when Hitler and the Nazis were defeated. During the Holocaust, 11 million people died including 1.1 million children. Of those 11 million, 6 million were Jews. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designed Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) -- Former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle will undergo a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. FILE- In this Oct. 31, 2017 file photo, Joshua Boyle speaks to the media after arriving at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto. The former Afghanistan hostage will undergo a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. Boyle faces a string of charges, including sexual assault, following his release from captivity. Boyle and his wife Caitlan Coleman of Stewartstown, Pa., were taken hostage in 2012 by a Taliban-linked group and freed last year. His lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told an Ontario court Friday that an initial evaluation found his client fit to stand trial. But Greenspon added he would benefit from a fuller assessment at a mental health center. Boyle's next court appearance is scheduled for March 26. He was arrested by Ottawa police late last month. The purported acts allegedly occurred between Oct. 14 and Dec. 30 after Boyle returned to Canada. A publication ban bars reporting information that could identify the alleged victims. By Daniel Walmer, Lebanon Daily News LEBANON, Pa. (AP) -- As Hope Rescue Mission in Reading was gearing up to provide winter shelter for the homeless, it knew it had to address drug sharing that sometimes goes on within its walls. The rescue mission could have called police, but its leadership didn't want to create a pipeline from the shelter to prison. Enter Fred Nell who runs a business, featuring his dog Sadie. Nell said he believes his business is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania. By randomly drug testing shelter residents, Sadie has sent a message that drugs won't be tolerated - and the amount of drugs at the Code Blue winter shelter has drastically decreased, pastor and program director Steve Olivo said. Sadie used to alert regularly during drug sweeps the shelter, but now rarely has occasion to do so. By increasing the likelihood that drug users will be caught, it also helps people struggling with addiction make better decisions, Nell said. In this Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 photo, a rescue Labrador retriever/German shepherd mix named Sadie, adopted by entrepreneur Fred Nell, chews on a tennis ball next to a vest Sadie wears while working as a drug-sniffing dog, placed on a desk in Nell's home in Annville, Pa. Nell established two small businesses, Drug Search Team and Next Day Outreach, and his drug-sniffing dog Sadie performs more than two dozen drug searches each month. (Michael K. Dakota /Lebanon Daily News via AP) "In the beginning, I didn't like you. I just thought you were bad news, you were out to get me," one 18-year-old at the shelter told Nell. But now, "every time I talk to you, I know you're here to help me get through my recovery with narcotics." Drug Search Team and Next Day Outreach isn't Nell's first innovative business involving his pets - he's also known as Mr. Scoop for his dog waste-removal company "inspired" by his former dog, Teddy. After Teddy died, he adopted Sadie, a rescue Labrador/German Shepherd mix that he soon discovered has a special talent. Sadie alerts to illegal narcotics, fueling a business that performs drug searches at organizations like the rescue mission, drug rehabilitation centers and even private homes. "It's really not anything out of the ordinary to get a call from someone you'd least expect," he said. While police and some large security firms employ drug-sniffing dogs, Nell said he isn't aware of any other small private business like his in Pennsylvania. He does 25-30 searches per month, and business is booming so much that Nell is considering training a second dog to keep pace with demand. In this Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 photo, Fred Nell, an entrepreneur, holds a canister of swabs that carry the scent of illegal drugs and are used to train drug-sniffing dogs, as the rescue Labrador retriever/German shepherd mix he adopted, named Sadie, follows Nell through his home in Annville, Pa. Nell established two small businesses, Drug Search Team and Next Day Outreach, and his drug-sniffing dog Sadie performs more than two dozen drug searches each month. (Michael K. Dakota /Lebanon Daily News via AP) Sadie alerts to drugs, at which point Nell's client - not Nell himself - conducts a search of the person or bag about which Sadie alerted. The people being tested have typically signed paperwork saying they consent to a search. As a result, the Hope Rescue Mission has been able to develop a drug-free environment to help struggling community members get back on their feet. "It worked tremendously. You never beat it completely, but we have it under control right now," Olivo said. "They're not tempted every minute by a guy saying, 'I've got this, I've got that, and if you want some, I've got it.'" Certified to sniff Perhaps surprisingly, private drug-sniffing dogs are a largely unregulated profession in Pennsylvania. There is no training or certification in Pennsylvania for private vendors with drug-sniffing dogs, according to state police spokesman Ryan Sarkowski. A Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs spokeswoman was not aware of any regulations. Even nationally, the industry standards are "loosy-goosey," said Terry Ulrich of the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association, which provides what he considers one of the best certifications. Still, Tom Gross, executive director of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, said you would probably want to ensure a dog and dog-handler have some certification and have met some standard. "In my own experience, I've seen drug-detection dogs that were terrible," he said. Nell said he never had a narcotics job before and does not have a law enforcement background. However, Sadie and Nell were certified in Missouri by Gary LaFollette, who owns the LaFollette K-9 Training Center, he said. In order to be certified, a dog must successfully find cocaine and another narcotic such as heroin within a time limit and avoid any false positives, according to LaFollette's website. Nell also has commercial liability and health insurance policies for Sadie, he said. For the most part, organizations who avail themselves of Nell's services will pay for it. Businesses have to pay a minimum of $150 for a drug search from Sadie and Nell, more if they have a lengthy commute. But he's willing to negotiate costs with people who find their family members wrapped up in the opioid epidemic and don't know where to turn. "You never say no to someone who can't afford it, because then you're doing it for the wrong reasons," he said. "Knowing the opioid crisis right now, and how bad it is, I'm here to help people and not to make it difficult on them." "We're not trying to get you in trouble, we're trying to get you to the next day of recovery," he said. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has retained a special advisor and asked for technical data in the event it needs to become more directly involved in creating Pennsylvania's next Congressional district map. The court issued an order Friday naming Stanford University law professor Nathan Persily "to assist the court in adopting, if necessary, a remedial congressional redistricting plan." Persily is an elections law expert who has been retained by courts in several states to help draw new legislative district lines. In its order, the court also tasked the General Assembly to submit, by Wednesday, its digital files that contain current boundaries of all Pennsylvania municipalities and voting precincts. This is all kind of a back-up plan. The court's direct involvement in map-building would be contingent on two things: The U.S. Supreme Court's failure to grant a stay of the state court's initial order, A failure by legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Wolf - if they need to press forward - to Persily, of course, may be asked to review a legislative product. Wolf, who is not fighting the current order, armed himself with his own expert Friday. The governor said Friday after an unrelated press conference that his legal team on the redistricting case has retained Tufts University mathematician Moon Duchin to help with its evaluation of new maps. "It is my mission to reverse the black-eye of having some of the worst gerrymandering in the country," Wolf said. "I am open and willing to work with the General Assembly, but I will not accept an unfair map and enlisting a non-partisan expert is essential to ensure that is possible." While acknowledging there's a certain degree of an "eye test" that can be applied to creating new maps for the state's 18 U.S. House seats, Wolf's press secretary said Duchin will help the administration with the science of compactness and the like. "He wants to have someone who he can rely on independently to do a mathematic analysis (of any new maps) and do it fairly," said J.J. Abbott. Abbott noted that unlike the four legislative caucuses, the administration does not have in-house staffers who have worked on mapping issues before. The 11th-hour redistricting was ordered Monday by a sharply-split state Supreme Court, when a four-justice majority held that the current district maps violated aspects of the state Constitution. The case, which applies only to the state's map of Congressional districts, was brought by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and 18 registered Democrats from around the state. The voters argued they have been made victims of "viewpoint discrimination" by the extreme voter sorting that occurred in the building of the 2011 maps. The legislative leaders have countered that the development of the Congressional maps actually checked every black-and-white constitutional requirement, and that the plaintiffs are seeking turn their right to vote into a right to vote for winning candidates that simply doesn't exist. The state court's ruilng, and Friday's follow-on, is intended to have the new maps with redrawn lines enacted and ready for use in time for the May 15 primary election. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for the media ahead of their meeting in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan.24, 2018. The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are gathering in New Delhi to celebrate 25 years of the group's ties with India. (AP Photo) Czech Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, right is accompanied by his wife Eva as he acknowledges defeat in the Czech presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. With almost all votes counted, the pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman defeated Jiri Drahos. Unsuccessful presidential candidate from the first round Michal Horacek is visible in background. (AP Photo/Pavel Sojka) 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) ISSUES.... Inside, confidential and off the record Macron the Conqueror Charles Platiau/Reuters French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France on June 3, 2017. France is back, thanks to a president committed to disrupting politics at home and abroad. In advance of an Anglo-French summit this week, French President Emmanuel Macron officially offered to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain. The tapestry depicts the campaign that culminated in the victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 of William the Conqueror the duke of Normandy and later king of England over Harold Godwinson, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. It suits the martial setting of the conference, to be held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst near London, and its focus on Anglo-French defense cooperation. More broadly, however, the loan of the tapestry is a fitting diplomatic gesture: It symbolizes who Macron is and what he wants to do at home and abroad. William the Conqueror's accomplishment was to create a new Anglo-Norman polity that has, more or less ever since, locked English politics into those of the European continent. That Macron is drawing attention to this historical truth is not necessarily meant as a rebuke of Brexit, so much as a powerful reminder that a millennium of linked history, ancestry, and culture goes deeper than the populist politics of the moment. William's own dual identity as an English king and a Norman duke is an implicit rebuke to the fetishizing of nativist identities promoted by the European populism of which Macron is the antithesis. It also speaks to Macron's own political approach, which seeks to generate new political categories and possibilities. And it seems to be working. Eight months since he took office, he is polling at 53 percent approval at home (up by 9 percent in the past two months) and has confidently returned France to a central place in European leadership and the world stage. Macron's election campaign itself transcended the West's inherited categories of left and right categories forged on the anvil of the transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy. Macron recognized that these political coordinates no longer provide a coherent approach to the economic and social problems faced by deindustrializing Western states after many decades of rapid globalization and the rise of the information economy. Of course, Donald Trump and the leaders of Brexit also saw this early and won political victories on that basis. But each movement proposes a different way out of the malady it commonly identifies. For Trump, it's America first, which among other things means threatening to pull out of trade deals. For the Brexiteers, it's the U.K. first, which means it's all about new trade deals. But for Macron, it's neither about rejecting globalization nor doubling down on it but carving a middle way between the two, one that proposes a strong France in Europe and a strong Europe in the world. Domestically, Macron has trodden a broadly pro-market path, most notably in his major reform of French labor law in September 2017. But he has also made some protectionist excursions to fend off the populist threat, particularly in the temporary nationalization of certain shipyards threated by an Italian takeover, limited price fixing in agriculture, and a move against rules on EU posted workers, which allow companies to move employees around the EU single market without full compliance with local labor laws. It's hard to measure political impact on the economy in only eight months, but French business confidence is clearly up. On social policy, although he is liberal on issues such as marriage equality, he is conservative on immigration, most evident in his attempts to reduce the number of refugee asylum claims in France, which last year numbered more than 100,000. In a visit to the northern port of Calais this week, Macron delivered a tough message about the port city being a dead end for migrants seeking to get to the U.K. With respect to the European Union, Macron's oft-rehearsed slogan is Une Europe qui protege les Europeens (A Europe that protects Europeans). The idea is that while he wants a broadly free market within Europe, he is skeptical of having the European market flooded with cheap goods from emerging markets such as China. Macron may not get the kind of eurozone reform he wants in the short term, given general German resistance to closer fiscal integration, although the key here is how the ongoing German coalition negotiations go. Meanwhile, his project for closer defense integration will need to harmonize with NATO and work out what role, if any, the U.K. will have once it leaves the EU, which are both tricky questions, as we'll see in the summit this week. Emile Simpson / Foreign Policy / Friday, January 18th, 2018 (Emile Simpson is a research fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. He was formerly a British Army officer.) Link to original article. ISSUES.... 01/ 29 / 2017 - Send Us Your Issues Inside, confidential and off the record Is an independent journalist effort from Petroleumworld, on Inside, Confidential and Off The Record Information, the views are not necessarily those of Petroleumworld (From left to right) Laura Giknis, Michael Satow, and Danny Vaccaro in Time Stands Still, through Feb. 11 at Bristol Riverside Theatre. Read more Imagine a couple whose shared interests once brought them together. Now, their needs are starting to diverge, and they face tough decisions about their future. At the core of Donald Margulies' Time Stands Still is this most ordinary, and relatable, of romantic dilemmas. Here it's gussied up with social relevance arguments about both the value and pitfalls of reporting and photographing war and its fallout. By now, these polemics have a familiar cast. (Time Stands Still had its Broadway premiere in 2010, and America's martial misadventures in the Middle East have long since come to seem Sisyphean.) But Susan D. Atkinson's elegant, finely paced production at the Bristol Riverside Theatre makes a persuasive case for this well-crafted, if rather conventional, play. Both acts of the two-hour piece take place in what we're told is a loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, imagined by set designer Jason Simms as a comfortably middle-class refuge with exposed-brick walls and contemporary decor. The action begins with the return to New York of star war photographer Sarah Goodwin (Eleanor Handley). She's had a near-death experience after a car bomb explosion and is now home to recuperate. The fiercely independent Sarah, effectively underplayed by Handley, has a crutch, a foot cast, a sling, and a face covered with scars. Trying to take care of her is her longtime boyfriend, James Dodd (Michael Satow), a freelance magazine writer who has partnered with her professionally in the past. It turns out that Jamie, portrayed with conviction and emotional verve by Satow, has (less visible) scars of his own. Having left Sarah behind in Iraq after a psychological breakdown, he can't help half-blaming himself for her injuries. In fact, both journalists betray symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Impatient to see Sarah after her homecoming is Richard Ehrlich (an animated Danny Vaccaro), the photo editor of the magazine that's buying her work. Once an item, the two have retained a loving and professionally beneficial friendship. Richard shows up at the apartment with his new girlfriend, Mandy Bloom (Laura Giknis), an event planner. Young and naive, outfitted in a short skirt and high boots and carrying silver balloons, she seems as though she might be his daughter. By the play's end, though, Giknis has made a case for her, and for her bond with Richard. The characters in Times Stands Still express and embody the various arguments raised by war reporting: Is it exploitative to photograph the carnage of war? Should journalists in extreme situations lay down the tools of their trade and help save lives? Does the American public, war-weary and agog over celebrities and fluff, even care about suffering in the Middle East? Are those who persist in covering it heroes, or primarily junkies in need of an adrenaline fix? Margulies gives each of his characters a sympathetic hearing. In Time Stands Still, whose title refers both to the way a photograph freezes action and to the contrasting need for people to move on with their lives, no one is entirely right or wrong. But they may be wrong for one another. Carolyn Grace (left) and Shirley Johnson are the Brittany Woods Community Action Group and are leading an effort to improve their neighborhood, where they supported construction of a new playground that opened last year. Read more Shirley Johnson and Carolyn Grace chose to live and choose to stay, thank you in Brittany Woods, a Gloucester Township neighborhood they say is coming back after a long decline. Built nearly 40 years ago on a pretty hillside in the Sicklerville section, the community some locals refer to as "Little Camden" made headlines Jan. 10 when a heavily armed man barricaded himself in a Hampshire Road home, fired 15 rounds at police, and took his own life. To the founders and, currently, sole active members of the Brittany Woods Community Action Group, as well as their allies in town hall and the police department, that tragic event doesn't represent this tucked-away part of this sprawling Camden County suburb. Johnson and Grace see Brittany Woods as worthy of improvement, not as a blight to be bulldozed away, as some on social media have suggested. Brittany Woods is their home. "When they say, 'Little Camden,' I don't agree with that," says Grace, 50, who grew up in the city. "I don't see it," says Johnson, 69, showing me the handsome playground the township built last year, at her suggestion, on what had been a vacant lot on a Yorkshire Road cul-de-sac. She was there to cut the ribbon in October when the Brittany Woods Children's Park, which the township built for about $100,000, opened. "I'm all about the kids," says Johnson, who raised a daughter in Brittany Woods and moved there in part because of the quality of the township's schools. "When I asked them what they wanted for the neighborhood, they said, 'What about a playground?' I said, 'Let me see what I can do.' " During my recent visits to Brittany Woods, where about 350 compact townhouses stand in rows along sloping, curving streets named to evoke the British countryside, I see a diverse, mostly working-class community with a mix of well-kept homes and others that could stand sprucing up. Yes, there's litter, a sagging fence or two, missing shutters, and some tired siding. But it also looks like a place with good bones, a good location and a good chance to turn around. And Brittany Woods certainly has two formidable champions in Grace and Johnson. "The ladies are great. The challenge is that many of the units in Brittany Woods are owned [and rented out] by people who may not even live in the state, let alone in Gloucester Township," says Mayor David Mayer. The number of rental vs. owner-occupied units at Brittany Woods was not immediately available. The neighborhood, like others in the 23-square-mile town of nearly 65,000 people, saw the value of many properties drop in the aftermath of the 2008 crash. Mayer says home sales in Gloucester Township jumped from 921 in 2013 to 2,010 last year. He's encouraged by the jump in sales of Brittany Woods homes as well, from a half-dozen annually in 2011 and 2012 to 34 in 2016 and 31 last year. The township also estimates that 27 Brittany Woods units are vacant, although Johnson and Grace who seem to know every square inch of the neighborhood say only a handful of empty units remain. Brittany Woods was built in 1979 as a moderately priced community of modest-sized townhomes priced for appeal to first-time buyers. "I wanted to raise my kids where there were good schools. Brittany Woods was a young, family-oriented place where kids played hopscotch," says Grace, who first moved there in 1989. "I raised three daughters here, and they're all college-educated. They got a good foundation from the Gloucester Township school system. The kids here need to realize they're living in a good community, and that there are opportunities for them," she adds. "It was my first home," says Johnson, who still lives in the townhouse she bought in 1981. The daughter she raised there went off to college and then grad school. "Brittany Woods was fabulous," Johnson, a retired employee of the Haddon Township tax assessor's office, says. "Everybody knew you. If they saw you shoveling snow, they offered to help. It was very family-friendly for a very long time. What happened? Drugs." Like Mayer, township Police Chief W. Harry Earle supports what Johnson and Grace are trying to accomplish in their neighborhood. The chief and the mayor say programs of community policing, code enforcement, neighborhood enhancement, and providing a drug and alcohol addiction counselor to the municipal court are yielding results townshipwide. "Drug addiction causes crime," says Earle, who commands a force of 131 full-time officers. "We're trying to address the social disorder causing the crime. Not just the symptoms." Between 2009 and 2017, the annual number of violent crimes in the township fell from 268 to 87, with property crimes dropping from 1,487 to 1,036. That's still too many. And it's still too early to declare victory in Brittany Woods, as Johnson and Grace the sort of dynamos every neighborhood ought to have acknowledge. They say that while the township and local businesses have been supportive, and young people turn out for events such as neighborhood cleanups the next is set for April 4 getting more people involved is a challenge. Two younger women who were active recently are now away at college. "I stay here because I want to make it better," Grace adds. "But it can't just be me and Shirley." Philadelphia Police Officers Ronald Green and Michael Kane Jr. had just pulled into the parking lot of the 18th Police District at 55th and Pine Streets when word came over their car radio that shots had been fired a few blocks away. En route to investigate, they heard another dispatch this time from Officer Jesse Hartnett, who screamed that he'd been hit and was bleeding heavily at 60th and Spruce Streets in West Philadelphia. "To hear that, it sent a shock through me," Green said Friday in a torrent of emotional testimony in the trial of accused gunman Edward Archer. "It doubled my speed to the location." Archer, 32, is charged with attempted murder, assault on a law enforcement officer, and related counts. He has refused to formally enter a plea to the charges from the unprovoked attack on Hartnett in his patrol car on the night of Jan. 7, 2016. After his arrest nearby, Archer allegedly told a detective he was motivated by devotion to Allah and the Islamic State a claim that drew national attention, although authorities found no proof of a connection to any terror group. Green, a 20-year veteran of the force, told the jury nine women, three men, four alternates that he'd worked with Hartnett. He said the personal connection had led him to "floor it" to reach the injured officer, shot three times in the left arm while alone in his squad car just after 11:40 p.m. Arriving at the crime scene, Green said, he found Hartnett standing at his open front passenger door, the trunk lid raised, and both front side windows shattered by bullets. Hartnett, holding his arm, was covered in blood from his waist to his shoes so much that Green thought his colleague had been shot in a leg. "The first thing he asked me was to get the tourniquet out of his trunk," said Green. "What did you say" in response, asked Assistant District Attorney Allison Borgatti. Turning to the jury, Green replied, "Excuse my French. I said, 'F the tourniquet, get in the car.'" Green said that he and Kane put Hartnett in the back seat of their patrol car and headed for Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, a few minutes away on 39th Street in University City. "It was probably the longest ride in the shortest amount of time that I have ever taken," said Green, who noted that Hartnett was sliding around on the blood-slick back seat, his words drowned out by the car's blaring sirens. Green's attention was focused on getting to the hospital and on listening to the police radio for a description of the shooter. He alerted the hospital, and navigated through a "train of police cars" that had converged near the crime scene from every part of the city, he said. When Borgatti asked about the large number of police cars, Green explained: "An officer shot is a citywide call. It's the highest priority." Green appeared generally poised during his testimony, but at times seemed angered at the memory. He repeatedly mentioned the blood on the street, in his car, on Hartnett's clothes. "It was so much blood," Green said. "I'm sorry, I'm a 20-year veteran. I've seen a lot of things, but it's traumatic to see one of your brothers, someone you know" in such a situation, Green said. Green's passionate testimony, driven by prosecutor Borgatti repeatedly asking him what he was thinking at various times after the shooting, drew the ire of defense attorney Trevan Borum. "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't tell the commonwealth that questions like that are inappropriate," Borum told Common Pleas Court Judge Leon W. Tucker after the jury had been escorted from the courtroom. Considering the nature of the incident, Borgatti said, "obviously the responses are going to be emotional." Archer, 32, who on Monday at the start of jury selection told the judge that his two court-appointed lawyers do not represent him, watched Friday's proceedings passively. He is not expected to testify. Hartnett is scheduled to testify when the trial resumes next week. Hillary Clinton's former faith outreach adviser has been accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a woman in Clinton's 2008 campaign for president, according to a report from the New York Times. Clinton reportedly chose to shield Burns Strider, who led her religious outreach efforts, instead of firing him as her campaign manager recommended. Clinton, who has taught Sunday school and raised money for charity, often struggled to talk comfortably about her United Methodist faith on the campaign trail, saying she didn't come from a tradition where people wore faith on their sleeves. Strider, a gregarious Southern Baptist, emailed Clinton daily Bible readings every morning during her 2008 campaign and served as a liaison of sorts to religious groups. Politico in 2014 described Strider as "a Hillary Clinton favorite." Strider did not respond to phone messages from the Washington Post. "The complaint against Mr. Strider was made by a 30-year-old woman who shared an office with him," the New York Times report states. "She told a campaign official that Mr. Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent her a string of suggestive emails, including at least one during the night, according to three former campaign officials familiar with what took place." The Times reports that the complaint was taken to Clinton's campaign manager at the time, who suggested Strider be fired. Clinton declined. "Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job," the report states. The woman, who was not named in the report, has not spoken publicly about her experience. Strider was part of a small group that has pushed the Democratic Party to expand its faith outreach. While outreach to religious voters has come naturally to many in the Republican Party, with many of its leaders such as Vice President Pence open about faith, the Democrats have struggled to formalize outreach outside of appearances in black churches. The Democrats' faith outreach began to formalize in the mid-2000s on Howard Dean's campaign and later under John Kerry's campaign. "When it comes to religion outreach in terms of the trust she placed in him and his skill at knowing all the players, he was the very best," said Amy Sullivan, author of The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap. "He could counter the stereotype of cold, godless Democrats because he was a white good ole boy from Mississippi who had a thick, Southern accent and had a story of coming to Christ. That's not something most Democrats walking into evangelical spaces knowing how to do." Strider also knew whom specifically he could target within religious circles who would be open to a Democratic candidate. For instance, Sullivan said, he could explain the differences between Southern Baptists and the more progressive Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Strider in the mid-1990s spent three years as a youth minister with a Southern Baptist mission in Hong Kong. He has long been part of a group of Democrats pushing candidates to speak more about their faith and to make a more confident run for voters who say religion is a priority. Along with Mara Vanderslice Kelly, who worked for Kerry, Strider was one of the first to implement the Democrats' strategic outreach to religious voters. He set up conversations between Pentecostals and Clinton, figuring that since many Pentecostals had women in church leadership, they might be more receptive to a female candidate. He also helped the behind-the-scenes work that led to a 2008 conversation between Clinton and then-candidate Barack Obama at Messiah College where Clinton spoke openly of her faith. But Strider, who formerly worked for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), was mostly absent from Clinton's campaign in 2016. Strider spoke about his work for Clinton at a gathering at Calvin College in the spring of 2017. There he said he continued to work for her "even after she stopped paying me." He said Democratic campaigns would only set up meetings in black churches instead of reaching beyond their usual base to white churches. Strider co-founded one of the few faith outreach consultancies to Democrats, called the Eleison Group. Strider led an independent group that supported Clinton's 2016 candidacy called Correct the Record, but he was fired after several months for workplace issues, including allegations that he harassed a young female aide, according to the Times report. People close to Strider say he was a key adviser to Clinton, and he would often be the go-between setting up conversations with such faith leaders as megachurch pastor Rick Warren's wife, Kay Warren, and popular author and speaker Tony Campolo. Several people who have done faith outreach for the Democratic Party told the Post that the party does not seem particularly interested or eager to do much outreach to religious voters at the moment. Some fear that this kind of publicity directed toward Strider doesn't help the cause. He was in the first wave of Clinton hires during the 2008 campaign and built a specific kind of trust and closeness, Sullivan said. He served a pastoral-like role, praying with her and for her. "It doesn't excuse anything he might have done, but I don't think this is a matter of Hillary Clinton protecting just any staffer," Sullivan said. "I think she would've been extra hesitant to let him go." The Washington Post's Michelle Boorstein contributed to this report. Developer Eric Blumenfeld is one step closer to finishing the redevelopment of Philadelphia's Metropolitan Opera House, having closed this week a $56 million financing package from public and private lenders. The package comprising loans from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. (PIDC), Fulton Bank, New Jersey-based lender Billy Procida, and New Orleans-based Enhanced Capital will be used to complete the remaining construction on the Oscar Hammerstein's 1908 opera house, Blumenfeld said. So far, Blumenfeld said in an interview, the project is "one-third done," with the interior demolition phase already finished. Blumenfeld, in partnership with the Church of the Holy Ghost, purchased the property at 858 N. Broad St. in 2013, after the church's Rev. Mark Hatcher had saved it from demolition years before. Last year, it was announced that concert promoter Live Nation would lease the building and turn it into a concert venue. Blumenfeld expects that the renovated opera house will open in December. Once the redeveloped building reopens, the Church of the Holy Ghost also will use the space for Sunday church services. "My prediction is that the North Broad Street Corridor will just get better on Dec. 13 of this year when we open and continue to attract the best and the brightest from all sectors of the economy," Blumenfeld said in a statement. "It is a great place to live and work, and as time goes on, it will become a major destination." Beyond the loan package that Blumenfeld has received, he is awaiting to hear whether he will receive a grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a state program from which he requested $5 million for the opera house project. Not far away along North Broad Street, Blumenfeld has been finishing construction of the historic Divine Lorraine building. The prominent, 11-story tower, which also had fallen into disrepair, has been redeveloped by Blumenfeld for $33 million throughout the last few years, and held its grand opening in September. After opening its doors to residents nearly a year ago, Blumenfeld said Friday that about 75 percent of residential units in the building have been leased. Three commercial leases have been signed so far, he said. He is working on securing additional commercial tenants. Both the Divine Lorraine and the Metropolitan Opera House projects have the potential to increase the prominence of the North Broad Street corridor, which has not seen nearly the same investment as has South Broad Street within the last decade. "The Met in Philadelphia is still a new thing for most people," Geoff Gordon, Philadelphia regional president for Live Nation, said in a statement. "I think a lot of people have a misconception when they hear 'The Met' that it's in New York well, Philly has one, too, and ours has been a part of the Philadelphia culture for many years." "The reincarnated Metropolitan Opera House is about to become one of the great venues in the world," Gordon continued. People lay hands on then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as they pray during a pastors leadership conference in Cleveland, Ohio, in September of 2016. Read more At a conference for Christian colleges in California this month, one topic in particular wafted through seminars and workshops, permeating conversations among professors of every discipline: President Trump and his impact on the conservative faithful who did so much to help loft him into the Oval Office. Can people who espouse by-the-Good-Book principles of Christian living continue to embrace a president who to cite a few first-year lowlights conflated the protests of white nationalists and anti-racism demonstrators in Charlottesville, played fast and loose with facts, used vulgarity to describe Haiti and Africa, and most recently was accused of paying off a porn star to hide an alleged affair? That question has fired up debate, and exposed fissures, in even the most Bible-abiding circles. "There is a lot of dispute right nowabout what [being a good Christian] means and how that carries over to political stances and how we vote," said conference attendee Greg Schaller, a professor of political science at Cairn University, a Christian college in Langhorne. "I know self-identified conservative evangelicals who would never vote for Trump because of his personal behavior, divorces, affairs, his moral character, and that he has not been strongly aligned with a faith most of his life," Schaller said. "At the same time, I know some strong, self-identified conservative evangelicals who believe it was right to vote for him, the only correct vote to make. Then, there are people in the middle who say they disagree with a lot of what he stands for, but it was down to the lesser of two evils." In the November 2016 election, 81 percent of white evangelicals supported then-candidate Trump, along with a majority of Protestants, Catholics and Mormons, according to a Pew Research Center study. One year into his presidency, his job approval has declined among some Christian groups, but remains highest among white evangelicals, at 72 percent. The past week alone bore witness to the ongoing willingness of conservative faith leaders to draw a dotted line in the sand for Trump, even in the face of damning accusations. In a CNN interview, Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, minimized the importance of the president's alleged liaison with Stormy Daniels by saying it occurred "11, 12, 13, 14 years ago." He described the reported comments about Haiti and African countries as the rough language of a businessman. He said Trump was a "good man" put in the White House by God. Tony Perkins, president of the activist Family Research Council, told Politico that he would grant Trump "a mulligana do-over" on past bad conduct providing he puts forth policies favorable to evangelicals on bedrock issues such as abortion, support for Israel, and religious freedom. For the Rev. Dr. Frank James, president of the Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield and Philadelphia, the rationales raise "an important question that requires some self-examination: What are we driven by our political and cultural concerns, or our biblical, theological concerns?" The answer is evident to him. The theological meaning of "good Christian" has been co-opted by politics. "Our faculty is very concerned about not only the question of what does it mean to be a good Christian," James said, "but what does it mean to be a Christian at all?" In a collection of essays to be released this week, faith leaders examine what the book's editor, the Rev. Dr. Mark Labberton, calls a crisis among evangelicals in the Age of Trump. "When people representing themselves as mature Christian leaders are endorsing someone whose life seems to be a subversion of what that leadership is all about, that's a problem," said Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. In one essay in Still Evangelical? Insiders Reconsider Political, Social and Theological Meaning, Shane Claiborne, a Philadelphia-based Christian activist, asserts that the core beliefs that have historically defined an evangelical "a personal relationship with Jesus, salvation by grace of God, a love for the Bible as God's Word" have been hijacked by a contemporary image that accommodates some of the very things Jesus decried, like self-righteousness. "We've become known more for who we've excluded than who we've embraced," writes Claiborne, a leader of the nondenominational movement Red Letter Christians, which opposes the incursion of politics into faith from the right or the left. Asked what constitutes a good Christian, James pointed to the Bible and Micah 6:8 specifically: "He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Theologian Ekemini Uwan, of Germantown, a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary and co-host of the podcast Truth's Table, referred to the New Testament. When asked about the greatest commandments, Jesus answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." But the second most important resonated with Uwan, no fan of the president: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "When you love your neighbor as yourself," she said, "you should walk into that voting booth thinking about who's strugglingHow do I vote in a manner that benefits them?" A more detailed set of requirements is outlined in Matthew 25: 34-35, said the Rev. Dr. Dan Williams, pastor of New Life in Christ Fellowship in Coatesville. Explaining who will inherit the kingdom of heaven, "Jesus said, when I was hungry did you feed me? When I was thirsty, did you provide water? When I was naked, did you clothe me? When I was in prison, did you come see about me?" Williams said. In other words, he added, "How you treat others is paramount." But the very act of defining a good Christian is a loaded proposition, said Kathryn Getek Soltis, an assistant professor of Christian ethics at Villanova University. By identifying the "good," one also conversely identifies the "bad" or the "fake." And that, said Soltis, "is not very Christian." As 3,000 top business and political leaders awaited Donald Trump's speech at the Davos World Economic Forum on Friday, my mind flashed back to Davos in the early 2000s when those who denounced multilateral trade deals and institutions were outliers. In 2000 and 2001 I watched cadres of scruffy anti-globalization protesters march up Davos' narrow main drag, blocked by riot police, and occasionally heave a rock through a shop window. By 2003, Davos organizers wary of unrest had encouraged a counter-Davos forum that was held in a local high school and debated issues like "Can globalization be ethical?" and "Alternatives to free trade." No one could have imagined that an antiglobalist who disdains multilateral trade pacts would become the most-awaited speaker of Davos 2018. Yet the demands of those early protesters and Trump's America First message while superficially similar could not be more at odds. To anti-globalizers on the left, globalization meant a race to the bottom, corporations moving jobs to countries that exploited low-wage workers while despoiling the environment. They argued that U.S. workers were hurt by the lack of a level playing field. They wanted to address inequities in wages and regulations that hurt the poor. Those aren't the concerns that motivate Trump. Trump's Davos speech delivered carefully and uncomfortably from a teleprompter was a sales pitch for more investment in America. Nothing wrong with that, in principle (although it was bizarre to listen to an American president who barely mentioned geopolitics as he addressed an assembly of world leaders). But his pitch to the global elite was for policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthy and won't lift those the downside of globalization has left behind. The president proudly touted his tax cut. And he bragged of stock-market gains and massive deregulation; this reminded me of grim Davos Forums past, where world leaders reeled from the consequences of lack of regulation in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian crisis and the crash of 2008. Yet for a supposed populist, Trump's speech was sorely lacking any mention of growing income inequality, which the Davos 2018 Risks Report rightly named as one of the industrial world's biggest economic challenges. And, of course, a dramatic disparity in income growth is one of the biggest economic challenges facing this country. In 2016, 20 percent of U.S. national income was taken in by the top 1 percent of the population, while the bottom 50 percent garnered around 13 percent. This disparity was far lower in Europe. The tax cut that Trump bragged about will do little to address that gap. The one-time bonuses that some U.S. companies are offering and attributing to the cut, and which the president cited in his speech, don't guarantee pay raises. With unemployment low, there is little indication so far that the huge corporate gains from the tax cut will go to job creation, especially decent-paying jobs that benefit less-educated workers. And then there's the destruction of medical care that adds to the burdens on the working poor. But inequality was not on Trump's agenda at Davos. He proudly cited U.S. job gains on his watch, but didn't mention that job creation last year was lower than it was during each year of President Barack Obama's second term. "America is open for business," the president proclaimed, as if that alone could resolve the structural problems that globalization helped create. Yet Trump's base will see few benefits if U.S. business profits repatriated under the new tax code go to stock buybacks and further enrich the 1 percent. No doubt Trump will deflect responsibility by blaming Hillary Clinton. The president's bizarre claim in his speech that the market would have gone down 50 percent if a Democrat had been elected reminded his audience that facts are not the president's forte. And Trump couldn't resist taking a swipe at the U.S. press from the Davos stage. No wonder, then, that the Davos crowd, which politely applauded Trump, was far more enthusiastic for French President Emmanuel Macron. "Let us not be naive, globalization is going through a major crisis," Macron said, "and this challenge needs to be collectively fought by states and civil society in order to find and implement global solutions." He also said that "a race to the bottom" by constantly lowering taxes was not a sufficient response to the inequalities globalization creates. And Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel got it. "Let us never accept a situation where people are left behind, particularly in the digital economy," she said. "If we don't manage [this] we will have Luddites." She warned against the "poison" of populism. Both Macron and Merkel have seen how far-right political populists feed off the discontent of those who feel bruised by technology, trade, and rapid societal change. Both are thinking seriously about job training, education, and global cooperation to cope with the fallout of the technological change. On the other hand, Trump appeared confident that his deal-making (and bilateral, not multilateral trade deals) was sufficient to ensure widespread prosperity. His pitch was the perfect blend of globalist and populist, wooing corporate titans while pledging to empower the dreams of the American people. At Davos, America's salesman-in-chief pushed policies that mainly boost the 1 per cent, while insisting to the 50 per cent that he is really on their side. On the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, a beach-side massage is typically less than $10 for a full hour. Read more Azure-hued water. Soft, white-sand beaches. Palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze. Deliciously fresh seafood. For most Westerners who've never been to the island of Phu Quoc, these aren't exactly images we would typically equate with Vietnam. But the rapidly developing resort island in the Gulf of Thailand offers all that and more at a price point that even perpetually underemployed and overdebted millennials can afford. Imagine seaside resorts for $20 to $60 a night, freshly caught and prepared seafood for a few bucks and a full body massage right on the beach for about the price of a cocktail in an American city. A relatively new international airport and relaxed visa rules for Phu Quoc visitors make this paradise resort island the most accessible to Western tourists it has ever been. The summer can bring monsoon rains, but the island comes alive for the dry season from November to March, when the humidity drops and average daily temperatures hover around a pleasant 80 degrees. A quick lesson Vietnam has been a Communist country since its reunification 40 years ago, although private ownership, free commerce, and foreign investment have been encouraged since reforms in the 1980s. As a result, Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's most rapidly developing countries with a growing list of economic successes. For casual tourists, there are few markers of communism as experienced in day-to-day life. American tourists to mainland Vietnam must obtain an entry visa either ahead of time or at the airport. This process can be confusing, as the rules and forms change frequently. To attract more tourists to Phu Quoc, Vietnam offers a 30-day visa waiver for visitors to the island. The push for tourists is also changing the character of the quaint fishing island long known for its prized fish sauce and deserted beaches. The 2030 master plan, adopted in 2014, calls for the main town of Duong Dong to expand its population tenfold and for the island to become Vietnam's tourism diamond. Most tourists come from Russia, Australia, and other countries in Asia as well as Europe, but that will surely change as development continues. To that end, most hotels have staff who speak passable English, Russian, and some French, but that quickly becomes less common outside touristic areas. The crime rate is very low in Phu Quoc, a generally safe island for tourists and locals alike. Still, crimes of opportunity typically increase with tourism, so tourists should never leave valuables unattended. The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong and the exchange rate is typically around 22,500 VND to $1 US. Most resorts, taxis, cafes, and restaurants accept credit cards, but cash is still king, particularly at street-food carts and locally driven restaurants. ATMs are plentiful. Getting there Flights to Asia from the United States are long and often involve a layover or two. (Traveling from Philadelphia will take more than a day and will almost certainly include a stop in Seoul, South Korea.) In Phu Quoc, the new international airport has only one runway and few airlines that service it. From Ho Chi Minh, it's a 40-minute flight to Phu Quoc on a local airline. Vietnam Airlines is the most reliable, though the cost of airfare can sometimes be double the rate of the ultra-low-cost airlines VietJet and JetStar, which are plagued by delays and cancellations. You'll need to book this inter-Vietnam flight ahead of time and show proof at the Ho Chi Minh airport to be granted the visa waiver. Where to stay The island offers a range of accommodations and experiences, with inexpensive hostels at the low end and five-star resorts at the top end. But even in the middle, a three-star hotel located right on Long Beach, where most resorts are located, can be found for as little as $20 to $60 a night. At the top end, rooms at the ultra-chic JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa start at around $400 a night and go up from there. Accommodations on Long Beach offer the convenience of being right on the main drag, with beachside bars and restaurants lining the strip all the way into Duong Dong town. Located on the western side of the island, Long Beach also offers multiple locations to watch breathtaking sunsets. Accommodations can be booked on Agoda and Booking.com. Getting around Phu Quoc has yet to catch on to the ride-sharing app craze that's prevalent on mainland Vietnam and elsewhere. Taxis are abundant and easy to hail from the airport and in town and metered and regulated, in contrast to in Ho Chi Minh and elsewhere on the mainland, where scams are prevalent. A ride from the airport to most hotels on Long Beach runs about 100,000 VND ($4.40) ; a ride into central Duong Dong from Long Beach is about $1. Many visitors opt to rent a motorbike, at about $5 to $15 a day, which allows zipping around the island and exploration of the more pristine hidden beaches and fishing villages that dot the island. Many hotels provide bicycles to guests, and though the island is 220 square miles, much of the action is on Long Beach and the adjacent Duong Dong town, making walking a viable option as well. What to do Most visitors come to Phu Quoc for its pristine beaches. Resorts on Long Beach provide lounge chairs and food and drink service. There are also vendors hawking fresh coconuts to drink from ($1.30) and other fruit, delivered right to your chair. You can get an hourlong full-body massage on the beach for less than $10. Bai Sao Beach, on the southeastern tip of Phu Quoc, is the most picturesque of the island's better-known beaches. It can get crowded midday, making the morning and late afternoon the best times to visit. For a more active water experience, there are plenty of guides and boat operators for hire who'll take you snorkeling, scuba diving, or night fishing for squid. Some resorts also offer jet-ski and kayak rental. Before it became Asia's next big resort destination, Phu Quoc was known internationally as home to the world's finest fish sauce a funky, salty and sweet condiment ubiquitous in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisines. Today the island boasts more than 80 fish sauce factories, many of which are open to the public for tours. You might want to hold your nose as you visit the warehouses of enormous wooden tanks full of fish that ferments often for longer than a year. More than half of the island is protected National Park land, making it a destination for ecotourism as well. The island boasts rich biodiversity of flora and fauna as well as hiking trails and waterfalls for adventure travelers. Watching the sunset is somewhat of a daily ritual on Phu Quoc and one of the best spots to do so is the Dinh Cau temple, lighthouse, and pier, where locals and tourists alike gather every evening to watch the sun disappear into the ocean. The temple is located atop a rocky outcropping that reaches into the sea, offering unobstructed views. As darkness falls, the surrounding area fills up with street vendors hawking all sorts of grilled meats, banh mi sandwiches, fresh fruits and cheap souvenirs. For a boozier sunset option, grab a Hanoi beer ($1.32) and a seat at Sunset Beach bar and toast the end of another day in paradise. When the night takes over, the island comes alive with activity. Children zoom around on lighted bicycles and other two-wheeled vehicles in a park near the marina in Duong Dong, and families gather for dinner at low tables in open-air restaurants and residences. The Phu Quoc Night Market in the heart of Duong Dong is a must-visit at this time. Beginning around 7 p.m., hundreds of vendors set up shop in this district where you can find fake pearls, Thai rolled ice cream, and seafood still swimming in tanks that front the entrance to many of the restaurants. With all that Phu Quoc has to offer, it's unlikely you'll want to travel elsewhere, but tour companies along the main drag south of Duong Dong offer bus tours of nearby Cambodia, as well as tours and travel to other parts of Vietnam. You'll need a visa to visit mainland Vietnam, but those can be arranged through the tour operators or the immigration office in downtown Duong Dong. Pat Meehan must go. The Delaware County Republican exposed for using taxpayer dollars to secretly settle a sexual harassment claim made by a former staffer should resign from the U.S. House. Meehan must go now, not 11 months and five days from now, at the end of the 115th Congress. Now. Meehan, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, should still possess a prosecutor's sense of how evidence establishes guilt. Meehan was seeking a fifth term when the New York Times broke an explosive story on Jan. 20 about the settlement. He dropped that reelection bid Thursday after a calamitous attempt at crisis communications exponentially compounded his predicament. If Meehan's betrayal of the trust of the public and his constituents are bad enough to end his congressional career, why should we wait until next January to be rid of him? Members of the House are paid $174,000 per year. That means we'll pay Meehan $161,605 before he departs public office. But it's not just about the money. Consider the defense he offered last week. Meehan, 62, explained that he told the staffer, decades younger than him she was his "soul mate." And he claimed he revealed this not to harass her but so they could prevent his feelings from leading to anything inappropriate. He also released a two-page, hand-written note he gave the aide last May, describing her as a "complete partner to me." Across the region, the cringing was legion. The harassment claim was already terrible. That Meehan clearly still does not understand that is unforgivable. Meehan even tried to duck culpability through semantics, saying the secret payout was "severance," not a settlement. This from a member of the House Ethics Committee who had been reviewing sexual harassment claims filed against other representatives. Meehan offered to pay back the taxpayers, but only if an Ethics Committee investigation concludes that he harassed the staffer. There is no credit to be had in offering to repay public money with strings attached only after getting caught spending it to conceal your own bad behavior. Then there is this: Meehan told Jonathan Tamari of the Inquirer and Daily News he felt "invited" to express romantic feelings to his aide. He cast himself as a victim, recounting how it was "a big blow to me" to hear the staffer had started dating someone. "When I discussed her boyfriend, I stated that I wished I could be better at accepting it right now but I probably needed a bit of time," Meehan told Tamari. Let's pause here to let that sink in A congressman needed time to process that an employee was dating someone. That's some pretty deep creepy. U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, an Ohio Republican and chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, offered this: "While I'm disappointed by the circumstances leading to Congressman Meehan's retirement, I thank him for his dedication to his district," Stivers wrote. "We must always hold ourselves to the highest possible standard especially while serving in Congress." Meehan should hold himself to that highest possible standard today, not 11 months from now. #TimesUp. In this June 21, 2017, file photo, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, the special counsel probing Russian interference in the 2016 election, departs Capitol Hill following a closed door meeting in Washington. Read more WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats on Friday demanded that lawmakers act to protect special counsel Robert Mueller III after revelations President Trump sought to oust him last summer from overseeing the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Several Democrats and one moderate Republican called for votes on Senate legislation that would prevent presidents from firing special counsels unless a panel of three federal judges agreed with the move, citing the revelations that Trump came close to pushing out Mueller last June. The president backed off only after White House counsel Donald McGahn threatened to quit, according to two people familiar with the episode. Republican leaders show no new urgency to address the matter, saying that the president's threats are isolated and in the past. "If these latest reports are true, it seems to me that they show the president listened to good advice from his advisers," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Judiciary Committee with jurisdiction over any special-counsel bill, said Friday. "Based on his statements from the last couple weeks, he and his lawyers appear to be cooperating with Mueller." Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., responding to rumors in the summer that Trump might fire Mueller, each advanced legislation that would involve a panel of federal judges in any decision to end a special counsel's tenure. Graham's bill, co-written by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and other Democrats, would require a three-judge panel to approve a presidential order to fire a special counsel. Tillis' bill, written with Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., would allow a fired special counsel to appeal the president's decision to a panel of judges, to avoid trampling the president's executive authority. Lawmakers have thus far not been able to reconcile the two bills and satisfy Grassley, who says he has "constitutional concerns" with the legislation and will address only one bill in committee. Moderate Republican Rep. Charlie Dent, Pa., predicted that the news that McGahn "prevented an Archibald Cox moment" a reference to the prosecutor whose firing President Richard Nixon ordered during the Watergate scandal would increase pressure to "protect Mueller." But Republicans remain unruffled even as the president is expected to be interviewed by Mueller's team. "The timeline is critical here," Tillis spokesman Daniel Keylin said Friday, noting that Trump sought to fire Mueller in June and the bills were introduced in August. Since their introduction, Keylin said, "the chatter that the administration is considering removing special counsel Mueller has completely come to a halt." Democrats, frustrated by what they see as Republican recalcitrance, openly accuse the GOP of abetting an all-out assault on the special counsel and the federal law enforcement agencies assisting him. "Republicans in Congress have been co-opted into participating and amplifying these attacks" against the Justice Department and the FBI, said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, N.Y., the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. The GOP, he added, is complicit in "sham investigations" of Trump's former political opponent Hillary Clinton to distract from the inquiries into the president's alleged ties to Russia. Republican lawmakers are examining how the FBI and Justice Department handled their investigations of Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. They also question the veracity of a now-famous dossier financed in part by the Clinton presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee that suggested Trump had personal and financial ties to the Kremlin. Late Friday, Grassley and Graham released letters to both Democratic organizations and their top officials demanding information and documents about how the dossier was compiled. Republicans say their scrutiny is appropriate and does not undermine Mueller's probe. This week's revelations about Trump's attempts to oust Mueller, first reported by the New York Times, came as the special counsel has been deepening his investigation into potential obstruction of justice, according to people who have interacted with his team. Asked about the report Friday at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump declared it "fake news." It would be natural for Mueller to investigate an effort to oust him as special counsel, said Paul Rosenzweig, a senior fellow at the criminal justice think tank the R Street Institute, who was a member of the team led by independent counsel Kenneth Starr that investigated President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. Obstruction-of-justice cases turn on motive, he said. To prove a criminal case, a prosecutor must demonstrate that a defendant took action to disrupt a criminal probe with a corrupt motive, generally to hide criminal activity. Rosenzweig said that Mueller could use Trump's attempt to remove the special counsel as part of an obstruction case, particularly if it appeared that the reasons Trump tried to cite were a pretext for disrupting the investigation. "A way of analyzing it is to assess the strength or weakness of the professed reasons to fire him. If they, on reflection, seem moderately legitimate, well, the president should fire someone who has a conflict of interest." On the other hand, Rosenzweig said, if the reasons were "pretextual," an obstruction case would have more merit. "It would appear more in the nature of a conscious . . . effort to frustrate an investigation of [the president's] own misconduct," he said. Rosenzweig said the whole issue could be moot, however, given that Mueller is likely to feel bound by Justice Department legal findings that the president cannot be criminally indicted. Instead, Mueller could file a full accounting of Trump's actions in a report to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who would have to decide whether to make the report public or transmit it to Congress. It would be for Congress to decide whether to initiate impeachment proceedings and what legal standards would govern whether the president had committed impeachable offenses. Democratic leaders in Congress have shied from discussing whether they should try to impeach Trump, which would first require Democrats to assume the majority in one chamber of Congress. Those involved in negotiations over bills to protect the special counsel, including Coons and Booker, say they just want a vote. The bill's authors agree that getting around separation-of-powers concerns requires a 10-day delay before any presidential order to fire the special counsel would take effect. In that time, a fired special counsel could fight the decision before a panel of judges. But senators remained concerned that a court could act unilaterally to extend that timeline, preventing a president with legitimate complaints from acting swiftly. Democrats, for now, seem less concerned with future presidents' autonomy than with checking Trump vis-a-vis Mueller. "If he fires Bob Mueller," said Dianne Feinstein, Calif., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, "I expect Congress won't stand for it and will take action." WASHINGTON Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday voiced opposition to the White House's immigration proposal aimed at breaking a congressional impasse over a long-term budget deal, prompting President Trump to lash out at him and injecting renewed uncertainty into the negotiations. Schumer (D., N.Y.) waited overnight to react to the plan, which would provide a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants, along with increased border security and cuts to legal immigration channels. In a tweet, Schumer called it a "wish list that anti-immigration hard-liners have advocated for years." The criticism did not sit well with Trump, who responded on Twitter by taunting Schumer for taking a political "beating" in the recent government shutdown fight and accusing him of making an immigration deal "increasingly difficult." Using the derogatory nickname "Cryin' Chuck" that Trump coined last year, the president mocked Schumer for being "unable to act on immigration." That appeared to be a suggestion that criticism Schumer took from Democrats and progressive groups for his handling of the shutdown had complicated his political calculations on immigration. The fresh dispute illustrated the difficult path forward for Congress as it negotiates ahead of a Feb. 8 must-pass government spending bill. Many Democrats and some Republicans have said they will not support a long-term funding bill that does not provide deportation protections for 690,000 young undocumented immigrants known as "dreamers" who were enrolled in a deferred action program Trump terminated last fall. The Senate's failure to strike an immigration deal last week resulted in a three-day partial shutdown before lawmakers agreed Monday on a three-week funding extension that reopened government offices. Despite Trump's taunts of Schumer, some polls suggested more Americans blamed Trump and Republicans for the shutdown than they did Democrats. "This is a clear signal the White House can't be relied upon to negotiate in good faith," Greg Chen, advocacy director for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said of Trump's tweet. On Friday, Ben Marter, communications director for Sen. Richard Durbin (D., Ill.), a lead negotiator, said Democrats have not been briefed by the White House. In a tweet, Marter said the White House canceled a briefing for a bipartisan group of senators that had been set for Monday with Chief of Staff John Kelly and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. "We have yet to receive so much as a fact sheet," Marter wrote. White House aides said Kelly remained in Washington during Trump's two-day visit to an economic conference in Davos, Switzerland, to continue talks with Congress. But Kelly had not visited lawmakers as of Friday afternoon. In addition to a citizenship path for dreamers that could take 12 years, the president is seeking $25 billion for a border wall and other security measures, as well as the elimination of legal immigration visas for parents and siblings of U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute said the proposed cuts to legal immigration could amount to an annual decrease of at least 288,000 green cards 36 percent of the total number issued to family members of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Democrats, including Durbin, have widely denounced the plan as a White House attempt to use the dreamers as "ransom" to dramatically curtail legal immigration levels and bolster deportations with costly increases in immigration agents and judges. On the other side, immigration restrictionist groups with close ties to House conservatives also panned the deal, saying the cuts to legal immigration will take too long. Though the White House plan eliminates some categories of family visas, it allows a waiting list of 4 million applications already in the pipeline to be processed, which could take more than a decade. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, wrote in the National Review that if Trump's framework becomes law it "will fatally demoralize Republican voters in November." Trump is entering a crucial stretch for his proposal. On Tuesday, he will deliver the State of the Union address to a bicameral gathering of Congress, and aides confirmed he will make a case for his immigration agenda during the speech. In the days after the speech, the president is reportedly eyeing a visit to San Diego to review prototypes for his proposed border wall. The Department of Homeland Security has requested $18 billion to build and refurbish a total of 700 miles of walls and fencing. Trump's Twitter attack on Schumer made as the president was flying back from Davos to Washington aboard Air Force One came just hours after he had suggested he would take a more diplomatic tone in the immigration talks. Before Schumer had publicly reacted to the bill, Trump was asked in an interview with CNBC on Friday whether Democrats were prepared to shut down the government a second time in three weeks if an immigration deal is not reached. "No," Trump said. "Because you look at every poll, it said they made a mistake." He added: "I don't want to say Schumer got badly beaten. Why should I do that? I'm negotiating with someone I'm not going to say he got badly beaten." Mark Wagenveld, 73, who went from rural Midwest farmboy to big-city journalist to beloved mainstay of civic life in West Philadelphia, a tall, silent type determined to make a difference but uncomfortable with the spotlight, died at home Saturday, Jan. 27, after a six-month battle with glioblastoma. Mr. Wagenveld spent the bulk of his newspaper career at the Inquirer, where he was a versatile and even-keeled government reporter, deadline rewrite specialist, and suburban editor. During his tenure in the West Chester, Conshohocken, and Cherry Hill bureaus, his nurturing of young reporters won their respect as well as their affection. He retired from the paper in 2005 after 28 years but did not sit idle. Mr. Wagenveld threw himself into various community efforts that had drawn his attention over the years, said Terry Mond, his wife of 30 years. He soon took on leadership roles, serving for a time as president of the Spruce Hill Community Association in West Philadelphia, a board member of the City School, and a board member of the Association for a More Just Society, a faith-based social justice organization in Honduras. He also was a volunteer for UC Green, a nonprofit group that plants and tends trees throughout University City. In his steady, unassuming manner, Mr. Wagenveld rode herd on the annual Clark Park May Fair and the Spruce Hill association's massive Halloween parades. Two of his last projects were to help the 4300 block of Osage Avenue win recognition as a historic district and to distribute thousands of fliers that helped police make two arrests in the February 2017 slaying of his friend and fellow community activist Winnie Harris, the acting executive director and longtime volunteer coordinator at UC Green. Police have said her alleged killers broke into the wrong house that day on the 300 block of North Holly Street in Powelton. Eight months would pass before the first arrest was made, time that Mr. Wagenveld devoted to finding answers. "I wanted to know who murdered my friend, and he said, 'Let's do this and I can help you do this,' " said Saundra Fulwood, a retired Philadelphia narcotics police officer who was one of Harris' closest friends. She tirelessly posted fliers Mr. Wagenveld made seeking tips on the shooting. "It was because of him that I kept going. I was the foot soldier, but Mark was the force behind me." A quiet force, Fulwood, who last visited with Mr. Wagenveld on Friday, called him "a gentle giant. He was very quiet about what he did." Terry Mond called her husband "a very humble man who was always behind the scenes by choice but was the glue who held so much and so many together in lots of different ways." So humble that Mr. Wagenveld had insisted that she, upon his death, not "let them put more than a couple paragraphs about me in the paper." "Mark would be furious," Mond said with a laugh Saturday when a reporter called for additional details on his life and interests. Mr. Wagenveld was born in 1944 into a struggling farm family of Dutch Reformed Calvinists in rural western Michigan, an upbringing that imparted both discipline and moral propriety. His intellect shone through early, earning him admission to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, where he received a bachelor's degree in English and history and where his flair as a student journalist was on display, as he editorialized against the escalation of the Vietnam War. He went on to earn a master's degree in history from the University of Maryland, and then was hired by the Winston-Salem Journal, where he served as an editorial writer and reporter. His writings contributed to the Journal's successful crusade to stop a plan to dam the New River for a power project in western North Carolina. As an Inquirer reporter, Mr. Wagenveld wrote hundreds of stories, delving into such subjects as the notorious murder of teacher Susan Reinert, the decay of Chester City, the mob wars of the 1980s, and the investigation of the MOVE disaster. He was also routinely drafted to write judicious and deeply reported obituaries, including those for former Philadelphia Mayor James H.J. Tate and former Pennsylvania Gov. William W. Scranton. Said Inquirer reporter Craig R. McCoy: "Mark had an amused and almost serene good judgment that masked his deep passion for the country. His scholarly bent and deep knowledge of history were a huge asset to the paper, too. Whether he was chasing a story himself, serving as unflappable rewrite man or editing, Mark was the consummate journalist." Neche Harris struggled with her emotions Saturday in recalling Mr. Wagenveld's efforts to help find her mother's killers. "If more people in the world just had a little bit of the courage and gumption that Mark always had, our world would be so much better," Harris said. "I feel selfish in saying I'm sad that we won't have him anymore, that we have to do the rest of this journey by ourselves." In addition to his wife, Mr. Wagenveld is survived by daughters Grace and Sarah; a sister; and a brother. A visitation from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, will be followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 412 Pine St. A life celebration will be held afterward at the City School, 910 N. Sixth St., where he was a board member. Burial is private. Memorial gifts may be made to the Association for a More Just Society, Box 888631, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49588. An Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper acted quickly, pulling the driver from a vehicle moments before it was struck by a passing train. The driver of the vehicle had driven off the roadway and became stuck on the tracks, according to a press release. Henry (Hank) Roanhorse, a northeastern Arizona based trooper, was driving home at the end of his patrol shift when he came across the vehicle stuck on the tracks. Roanhorse was familiar with the area and knew that the tracks carried a large volume of rail traffic, often traveling at high speeds. Trooper Henry (Hank) Roanhorse (Photo: Arizona DPS) When Trooper Roanhorse approached the vehicle, he found an unresponsive man seat belted and unconscious in the drivers seat. He also smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. As the trooper crawled into the vehicle to remove the drivers seat belt, he looked up and saw a BNSF Railway train approaching from around a curve. At the same time, the railroad signal activated and the crossing arms lowered. With a sense of urgency, Roanhorse pulled the unresponsive driver from the vehicle as the train approached. Struggling to carry the nearly 300 lbs. driver, the trooper lowered him to the ground, grabbed him by the feet and pulled him off the tracks. The driver regained consciousness and while unaware of the danger, fought against the trooper the entire time. Trooper Roanhorse pulled the driver about 25 feet away from the tracks before the passing train struck the vehicle. The impact caused the vehicle to travel 150 feet away; it also sustained extensive damage. The car stuck on the tracks was struck by the train and damaged. (Photo: Arizona DPS) After the entire ordeal, the man told Trooper Roanhorse, Thank you officer, you just saved my life. Roanhorse stated that he just remembered hearing the screeching of the trains emergency braking in the background as he struggled to remove the driver from the tracks. This incident occurred within McKinley County, NM, just across the Arizona state line, on Defiance Draw Road. 959 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard MSNBCs Joy Reid exposed White House aides on Saturday, showing a video clip of Donald Trumps associates saying that the president never even discussed firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller. All of the interviews took place after Trump reportedly ordered White House counsel to remove Mueller from his post. Video: Joy Reid Exposes Trump WH In Damning Clip Of Aides Lying To Cover Up Effort To Fire Robert Mueller #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/ijHM77Bb9g Sean Colarossi (@SeanColarossi) January 27, 2018 The clip and a short exchange between Reid and DOJ Spokesman Matthew Miller: REID: Here are a series of Trump aides denying that Donald Trump had any intention of firing Bob Mueller. Now were going to listen to this with the context being that we now know that he attempted to order his aides to fire Bob Mueller. REID: Matt, is there any way for us to know whether or not those guys were conscious of the truth when they were saying those things? MILLER: I dont think theres a way for us to know. Theres a way for Bob Mueller to know because hes interviewed a good number of them. I dont think hes interviewed Sarah Sanders, but hes interviewed bunch of other aides. And he will have asked them directly that question. I think what this really exposes is how dangerous is it for these staffers to work for Donald Trump. According to Thursdays explosive report, Trump ordered Mueller to be fired last June. After top White House lawyer Don McGahn said he would resign before complying, Trump backed off. Its unclear whether he revisited the idea later on. The three interview clips that were shown during Saturdays edition of AM Joy all took place following Trumps reported attempt to remove Mueller Aug. 6, Dec. 21 and Dec. 17, respectively. Either some of the presidents closest advisers were completely clueless that their boss was about to make the shocking decision to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, or they were simply covering up that effort. Given the history of this White House, what do you think is more likely? 754 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In a letter obtained by NBC News, Donald Trump told the people of Africa that he deeply respects them. According to NBC, The letter a copy of which was obtained by NBC News is dated Thursday and was sent ahead of the African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopia. To show his so-called commitment to the region, Trump also said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Secretary will make an extended visit to Africa in March of this year. Oh, good. The empty letter comes weeks after the president offended just about everybody with a conscience by referring to nations in Africa as shithole countries, a view which apparently guides his immigration policy. Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Trump said during a meeting with members of Congress. Instead, the president suggested the U.S. take in more immigrants from predominantly white countries, like Norway. Despite the letter, few people both at home and abroad will believe his words are sincere. Before, during and after he became a political figure, he has demonstrated deeply held racist views, whether its claiming a judge cant do his job properly because of his Mexican heritage or saying there are very fine people who participate in Nazi marches. A letter written by a White House staffer that Trump probably never read wont make those moments go away. We know what Donald Trump really believes because he tells us each time he has to think and speak for himself, whether its during unscripted interviews, Twitter posts or private Oval Office meetings. Without a prewritten speech or functioning teleprompter, Donald Trump always reveals himself as the racist man that he is and has been throughout his entire life. 970 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump liked a tweet late Friday from The Wall Street Journal, which linked to a story about accusations that his wealthy friend, Steve Wynn, pressured his employees to perform sex acts. The tweet Trump liked: According to the report, [D]ozens of people The Wall Street Journal interviewed who have worked at Mr. Wynns casinos told of behavior that cumulatively would amount to a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Wynn. Some described him pressuring employees to perform sex acts. In the past, Trump has called Wynn who is also the RNC finance chairman a great friend. The president apparently rescinded his like later on, but it was far too late. Several Twitter users picked up on it right away, particularly since Trump rarely ever likes other tweets. Ultimately, the fact that Trump would give a thumbs up to this tweet or Wynns behavior may seem stunning, but it shouldnt be all that surprising. After all, Trump himself is a wealthy man who has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct or assault. In the infamous Access Hollywood tape, he bragged about having used his status to force himself on women. Most recently, it was revealed that Trump paid a porn star $130,000 so she would keep quiet about their sexual affair during the 2016 election. Its still unclear where that money came from. All of this may seem like a dilemma for Republicans, but this assumes the GOP has a moral compass. If theyre okay with a sexual predator occupying the Oval Office, why should they care about one being their finance chair? The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a hospital for sick and injured sea turtles, and is the only hospital of its kind in the state of Georgia. Located on Jekyll Island, on the Atlantic coast about midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla., the center is open to the public and offers an interactive exhibit gallery and rehabilitation pavilion where you can see and learn about sea turtle patients. Part of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Jekyll Island intrigues Midwesterners with its moss-laden live oaks, huge, quasi sculptures made of driftwood strewn along the beaches, American history, lore and all those wonderful turtles. Located south of Savannah near Brunswick, Jekyll Island is one of the treasured spots on the eastern seaboard where Loggerhead turtles nest. It is also home to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. For any budding marine biologists in the family, a vacation in this neck of the woods provides opportunities for dreams to come true. There's plenty to do on the island, in nearby Brunswick and on St. Simons Island too. Beach combing, soft adventure a la kayaking and paddle boarding, dining on fresh seafood, stepping into the 18th-century history and learning about spirit trees do add up to a memorable stay. For the Eco-minded, experiences at Georgia Sea Turtle Center take a dreamy family vacation or family reunion and kick it up a notch. Led by members of the Center's education staff, the entire family can sign on for a Behind the Scenes Tour and visit non-public areas of the rehab-educational facility. Stops include food prep areas, holding areas, and departments like the Treatment Room, Radiology and a Surgical Suite. Children need to be 10 years of age to go on this tour. For families lucky enough to take a week-long holiday, think about Jekyll Island Sea Turtle Summer Camp a morning-long, day camp, Monday through Friday for kids ages 6 to 12. The kids can send their mornings with the turtles and afternoons telling all to parents, grandparents and whoever else has packed to come along. Sessions include events in the sun, field-based activities and both learning about and interaction with sea turtles. Inside the Center, there are tours, interactive exhibits and daily presentations created for the entire family. See and touch turtle opportunities and programs geared toward learning the stories of recovering sea turtle patients. I didn't see one of Scute's programs the Center's turtle mascot puppet but daily shows keep groups entertained enough to keep coming back. The Scute's Spot Kids Corner on the Center's website can help to prep the family for a visit. It also provides an opportunity to reconnect after returning home. Personal favorites: the jigsaw puzzles (Loggerhead Love, 35 pieces and 7 minutes of personal labor to finish), followed by The Kids FAQ videos. ---- Destination: Jekyll Island, Georgia Georgia Sea Turtle Center: The State of Georgia's only turtle education and rehab facility, the center is open to the public. It offers a year-round roster of programs to promote awareness of turtles, especially the Loggerhead turtle. To discover more about this turtle discover center, visit gstc.jekyllisland.comor call 912-635-4444. Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau: For more information and ideas to build a family reunion or vacation itinerary in the Golden Isles of Georgia, visit goldenisles.com. Jekyll Island, Georgia: The entire island is a Georgia State Park and a very special sanctuary for both historian and naturalists. Discover more about the history at the Jekyll Island Museum or hop on a covered tram tours that includes the 240-acre historic district. jekyllisland.com. Jekyll Island FYI: Jekyll Island is the most accessible of Georgia's barrier islands. As a state park, it protects more than a thousand acres of maritime forest. Check out a program called Ranger Walks. The walks are held on Saturdays and provide insights into the goings on to protect the loggerheads, the dune systems, tidal marches and all of their inhabitants. Start your list with the places you've always wanted to see. Then consider a few that don't necessary hit your "must" list but would be convenient to some place else you're going. (Some of my most memorable trips have been to places I never knew I wanted to go.) Definitely use a knowledgeable travel agent. At the luxury price point, look at agents from the Virtuoso network (virtuoso.com). Take the time to be sure the agent you are using knows about the specific destination or travel style you want; the same agent may not be best for every trip. These would be on my must-see list of natural wonders: Antarctica. This still rates as my No. 1 nature experience. Go via a cruise with a strong reputation for first-rate lecturers and naturalists. African safari. No one place will do it all. In South Africa, you can sip top-drawer wines, visit luxury safari camps and learn about the apartheid struggle. But if you're keen to seen the Great Migration and wide plains filled with great herds of wildebeests, zebras and Cape buffalo, you'll need to head to the East African nations of Kenya and Tanzania. (Tanzania's Ngorogoro Crater is a personal fave.) Galapagos Islands. This was nowhere on my own list until I went there. Even if you're not a nature fan, the animal life here is fascinating. The ecosystem is a living testament to both sides of the nature v. nurture debate. Definitely choose a cruise that emphasizes its naturalist staff. Great Barrier Reef. Even if you've snorkeled a thousand times, Australia's Great Barrier Reef is an underwater marvel; fly out to Lizard Island for a stay far from the crowds and close to the best the sea has to offer. (Don't miss the Barosso Valley's delectable wines and Uluru (otherwise known as Ayer's Rock) for the dessert and the aboriginal cultures. My cultural sites bucket list is too long for any column, but here are some highlights: Easter Island. In it's own way, Easter Island is also a testament to evolution of human culture. If you allot enough time, you can combine it with a Galapagos visit or a trip to one of the most staggeringly beautiful places on the planet: Chile's Torre del Paine National Park. (Check out the Explora luxury lodge.) India. India can be both glorious many of the former palaces are now luxury hotels and maddening (the drivers make Miami look tame.) The Taj Mahal alone is worth the visit. And don't miss the holy city of Varanasi not always easy, but thought provoking and the luxuries of Jaipur and Udaipur. Several river cruise lines now offer India options that could work well. Jerusalem, Petra and Egypt. Given world events, this may not be the time to go. But keep each of these on your list. Visiting them will deliver an understanding of both the ancient and modern worlds that you can't quite get from books. East Asia. I leave my favorite to last, only because this is a vast place, and just scratching the surface requires multiple visits. Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing offer glimpses of a world changing at hyperspeed. The temples of Bagan in Myanmar, Ankor Wat in Cambodia and Java's Borobodur offer Buddhist riches far different from that in the Himalayan regions of Bhutan and Tibet; all deliver memorable experiences. Japan brings the contrasts of ultra-modern Tokyo and the ancient grace of Kyoto (be sure to stay in a traditional ryokan.) Somewhere along the way, take a least a few nights at an Aman Resort; you'll never look at a hotel the same way. A tired maxim provides that if liberals didnt have double standards, they wouldnt have any standards at all. But sometimes they really abuse the privilege. Take this headline from the Washington Post today: Trumps flirtation with firing Mueller inspires new demands from Democrats to protect the special counsel Congressional Democrats on Friday demanded that lawmakers act to protect special counsel Robert S. Mueller III after revelations President Trump sought to oust him last summer from overseeing the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Several Democrats and one moderate Republican called for votes on Senate legislation that would prevent presidents from firing special counsels unless a panel of three federal judges agreed with the move, citing the revelations that Trump came close to pushing out Mueller last June. The president backed off only after White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn threatened to quit, according to two people familiar with the episode. In other words, what is essentially going on here is that Democrats want to bring back the Independent Counsel statute under a different guise. Which they rushed to abolish back in the Clinton years when they discovered to their horror that Independent Counsels could be used against Democrats. People just dont get it: Independent Counsels were created as a tool to be used against Republican presidents, like Reagan and now Trump. If I had time and inclination, Id go back to all those liberal eulogies of Justice Scalia that grudgingly admitted that his dissent in the Morrison v. Olson case that upheld the constitutionality of the independent counsel statute back in the 1980s was actually quite prescient, given what they see as the disaster of Ken Starr. Like Lawrence Tribes recent pirouette over whether a sitting president can face criminal indictment while in office, get ready for liberals to forget all of that rectitude en masse. ( Read 3641 Times) Source : Superstar Amitabh Bachchan unveiled the third edition of Mumbai Police calendar, shot by ace photographer Pravin Talan, at the glittering star-studded event Umang along with Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Mr. Dattatray Padsalgikar and other senior officials of the police force.Mr. Bachchan has always shared a close bond with the city police and was all praises for the families of the policemen who sacrifice their personal time so that police can serve the city. The efforts of the policemen have been well documented in the calendar.This time the much-awaited calendar by Pravin Talan has more realistic photographs taken through out the year, covering the herculean tasks of Mumbai Police across various seasons and festivals, making it one of the most enriched and liveliest calendars yet.Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Mr. Dattatray Padsalgikar said, For Mumbai Police, 2017 has been 365 days of celebrating an undying bond with the citizens and rediscovering its power in helping us overcome any crisis. He thanked each and every Mumbaikar for the constant faith, support and encouragement.Pravin Talan 's work has always been regarded as original, soulful and creative. Talking about the calendar he says," capturing the spirit of Mumbai in the shadows of police was a roller coaster ride in spite of all the jostling at mass gatherings or getting all drenched in pouring rains.The Mumbai Police calendar has come to be regarded as one of the finest visual statements on Mumbai city and its police force. From crowd management in massive rallies like Maratha Kranti Morcha to management of religious festivals like Ganpati and Eid, it not only showcases the multi cultural and religious flavor of the city but the humongous task of maintaining law and order at such times.The fish eye view of the police man on patrol boat taking up the security challenges on the daunting sea or traffic cop braving pouring rains are amongst some of the more unforgettable shots. The calendar as usual has it's signature shots of warmth and human connect where a policeman on the beach smiles at children making sand houses, or a senior citizen confiding in a smiling policeman.The calendar also gives a peek into the state- of- the- art Police control room and recently introduced Riot Control Police.Internationally acclaimed fashion & lifestyle photographer Pravin Talan has made it a mission to photograph men and women in uniform and in past four years photographed almost every Indian Defence and Central Armed Police Force that includes Army, Navy, Coast Guard, NSG, BSF, CISF and CRPF.He has been bringing out Mumbai Police calendar since past three years and for his enormous talent and selfless service to the force, Amitabh Bachchan felicitated him on behalf of Mumbai Police by presenting him a memento on the prestigious stage of Umang. LAS VEGAS, Jan. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent statement, Rael, spiritual leader of the atheist Raelian Movement (www.rael.org), has offered his support to India's human resource development Minister, Satyapal Singh, who dared to question Darwin's theory, saying that no one ever saw "a man turning into an ape." "Minister Singh isn't the only scientist resenting the notion that Darwin's theory shouldn't be questioned, and that all new discoveries should be explained through Darwin's theory prism otherwise they shouldn't be accepted for publication or teaching," said Brigitte Boisselier, PhD, spokesperson of the Raelian Movement. "Mr. Singh has a PhD in chemistry and has therefore been trained to interpret facts and even use these facts to question or validate established theories. All PhD students have to question and then adopt or reject theories. Only the evolution theory remains unquestioned, the scientific establishment being too afraid to have to deal with the alternative divine intervention," Boisselier added. Boisselier explained that there is no need to refer to an almighty god nor to a series of accidental mutations to explain the abundant diversity of species. "Scientists are able to genetically modify species," said Boisselier. "In doing so, they show that random mutations are not the only path to explain how new species arose, but directed mutations by advanced scientists could be another way. It's possible to imagine a large scale and deliberate genetic engineering undertaking responsible for simple protozoans, colorful birds, graceful mammals, and even Homo sapiens." The Raelian philosophy endorses atheist creationism and states that scientists from another planet created all forms of life on earth including humans, "in their image," and were later mistaken for gods by their own creation. "Besides being more dogmatic than theory, Darwin's evolution theory prevents scientists from appreciating all life forms that resulted from a deliberate and intelligent design," added Boisselier. "If scientists were allowed the possibility to consider life as having been scientifically engineered, all biological departments would live a major revolution leading up to changes in all social aspects of our lives. Minister Singh's proposal to change the curriculum would not bring our society backward but rather allow a major leap forward into our unavoidable future where we, too, become creators of life." Related Links http://www.rael.org SOURCE Indian Raelian Movement (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. 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For media inquiries, please contact: Sarah Atkins Media Relations Officer [email protected] SOURCE Bachmann & Welser Capital Ltd If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, Jan 26 : 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) Srinagar, Jan 26 : 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 Kashmir. 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 Kashmir 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 Kashmir. 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) Dehradun, Jan 26 : 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. New Delhi, Jan 26 : Arvind Kejriwal has slammed Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and may be rightly so, for delaying rehabilitation of slum dwellers under his jurisdiction, but a shelter board headed by the Chief Minister has itself held up plans to give houses to 2,500 families across Delhi. These 2,500 families, living in some 20 slum clusters across the city, have even paid Rs 68,000 each to the Delhi government in 2013 as their share to build houses. They are among the 4,000 families that have paid the money, but only 1,500 have been given houses. Ironically though, Kejriwal, earlier this month, accused Baijal of delaying the rehabilitation of evicted slum dwellers of Kathputli Colony in central Delhi that comes under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) headed by by the Lt. Governor (LG). The DDA looks after the rehabilitation of slum clusters in areas where it owns the land. And in areas where the government owns the land, the rehabilitation is done by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) that Kejriwal heads by virtue of being the Chief Minister. Criticising the LG for the delay, the Chief Minister also asked Baijal to transfer all slum clusters for rehabilitation under the DDA to the Delhi government, promising to "complete it (rehabilitation) within a period of three years". Kejriwal has had rocky ties with Baijal and his predecessor, Najeeb Jung, over who the real administrator of the city is, often causing a war of words between them. In a letter to the LG on January 4, a copy of which is with the IANS, the Chief Minister said despite the work being handed over to Raheja Developers in 2009, not much progress has been made to build houses for the Kathputli Colony slum dwellers. "I request the LG, also the chairman of the DDA, to transfer all the (development projects for slum dwellers) in DDA land parcels to DUSIB/GNCTD for rehabilitation. (The) Delhi government will rehabilitate all the JJ Bastis within a period of three years," the letter says. However, a deeper look into the performance of the shelter board gives the impression that it may be as remiss as the DDA. In 2013, the Delhi government had collected Rs 68,000 each from around 4,000 families in 32 slums across the city. They were promised flats and the project was handed over to the DUSIB, officials and some of the slum dwellers told IANS. DUSIB CEO Shurbir Singh told IANS that after the AAP government came to power in 2015, the rehabilitation policy was changed to include more slum dwellers. The policy was approved on December 11, 2017. "(It) took a lot of time and it was one of the major reasons for the delay," Shurbir Singh explained. He said the process was further complicated as the chunks of land on which slum clusters existed belonged to different civic bodies, state and central government-controlled agencies like the Railways and the Defence Ministry. "The land owning agencies have to come forward and pay their share of money for rehabilitation," he said, expressing his inability to give a deadline for providing houses to those who have paid for it five years ago and were even allotted flat numbers. Aktari Begum, 60, from Dhobi Ghat, a slum cluster in west Delhi, is one of those whose allotment letter says that she has been allotted flat number 40C in Baprola. She said she even went to see the house that "was on the third floor" of a building. But was later told that since the government had changed the policy, she and other slum dwellers will have to go through the process once again before they are allotted a new flat. Begum recalled how she and other dwellers tried to meet Kejriwal but the meeting didn't happen. (Nikhil M. Babu can be reached at nikhil.b@ians.in) Kolhapur (Maharashtra) : Kolhapur (Maharashtra) Jan 27 (IANS) At least 13 persons were killed and four others injured after a minibus fell into a river early on Saturday, an official from Kolhapur Control said. The accident occurred just after midnight when a private Tempo Traveller bus with around 16 passengers of three Pune-based families was proceeding from Ratnagiri to Kolhapur. The passengers were returning after a Thanksgiving pilgrimage to the famed Ganpatipule beach temple in Ratnagiri. Around 12.50 a.m. when it was speeding along the Shivaji Bridge on the Panchganga River, the driver apparently attempted to overtake a vehicle in front of him. Just then, another speeding vehicle suddenly came in from the opposite lane, causing him to lose control and the minibus rammed into the stone barriers before plunging into the river, around 100-feet below. Police and disaster teams were engaged in a massive operation to search and rescue the victims since morning with heavy duty cranes and dumpers deployed to hoist the bus from the stony bottom. Three injured persons were extricated from the bus wreck and rushed to hospitals. A few others were stuck inside the vehicles. Efforts were underway to retrieve the bodies. New Delhi, Jan 27 : ONGC will buy 51.1 per cent of the government's equity in HPCL for Rs 36,915 crore ($581 billion) to stem the fiscal deficit and boost disinvestment -- a year after the Modi government mooted a much-needed initiative to create an integrated supply chain in the oil sector. The government will exceed its 2017-18 disinvestment target by Rs 20,000 crore after the "strategic sale". Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) Chairman Shashi Shankar confirmed that it will use debt, cash reserves and proceeds from sales of its stake in IOC and GAIL to fund the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, India (HPCL) acquisition. It owns 13.77 percent stake in Indian Oil and 4.86 per cent in GAIL that is worth an estimated Rs 30,000 crore. This could be followed by the acquisition of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) by HPCL (HPCL currently holds 16.96 per cent equity of MRPL). Chairman Shankar said: "That is a logical step. We see an advantage in that but cannot give a time frame." The merger will help in creating the first of the two fully-integrated oil and gas producers that India needs to create, so as to improve supply chain efficiency. For a nation that still relies on imports for over 80 per cent of its oil and gas, India lacks a comprehensive energy strategy that costs it billions of dollars each year. Both the earlier United P{rogressive Alliance (UPA) and the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments have previously failed to realise that the 30 largest oil-consuming nations have invested significantly in the integrated supply chain to improve efficiency and reduce costs. India fails to do that math despite repeated prodding by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The talk of an integrated supply chain is not new. The proposal to integrate oil companies first came up in 2004 under the UPA. "It was then struck down by an expert committee, Sushil Chandra Tripathi, a former Petroleum Secretary, told this correspondent during a discussion on Lok Sabha TV last year. "In the Western world we have Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP and Total; in Russia we have Rosneft and Gasprom, in Saudi Arabia we have Aramco and in China we have Sinopec. They are all large, integrated oil majors very unlike Indian companies," Tripathi added. India has six separate entities, all very small by comparison: ONGC the oil producer, GAIL the gas producer, MRPL a refiner, and IndianOil Corporation Ltd (IOC), HPCL and BPCL that are refining and marketing companies. Strangely, the integrated supply chain concept does not exist in the Indian subcontinent. After the ONGC-HPCL merger, the integrated supply chain created by ONGC as a producer could add both "supply planning", including crude buying, storage and refining, as well as "distribution planning" that would have networked pipelines, transport and marketing infrastructure, and sales outlets like petrol pumps for retailing all petroleum products. There are two major advantages of having integrated supply chains. Oil is an intensely volatile commodity. The production price of oil or gas is fairly high for Indian companies when compared to that of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Russia or the US. When crude prices are low, integrated oil companies import heavily. When international prices are high they raise their domestic production. This gives them better control over their profits -- which are high for the marketing arm when international prices drop and high for the producing unit when the prices surge. Besides, the size of the company matters, as oil is a capital intensive industry. While the IEA recommends 90 days oil storage to stem crude oil volatility, India has just around 15 days storage capacity, mostly developed by the marketing and refinery units. When ONGC, with a net worth of Rs 221,900 crore, takes over HPCL (net worth Rs 21,070 crore) it automatically gives the latter fiscal muscle to improve its storage and pipeline capacities. So, though the current acquisition is primarily to meet the government's disinvestment target, the process should be taken forward to ensure that India has two major integrated oil and gas majors -- the other one would be GAIL-IOC-BPCL -- that can compete on a global scale. (Sandip Sen is a senior journalist who writes on economic affairs. He can be contacted at sen.sandip@gmail.com ) New Delhi : When he directed "Dharmaputra", his first film, in 1961, little did Yash Chopra know what he was getting himself into. The film, about Hindu-Muslim relations, touched on the raw history pertaining to events that were just over a dozen years old. The re-construction in "Dharamputra" of the carnage during the post-Partition riots opened up raw wounds in the audience, and sparked off riot-like situations in theatres screening the film. Yash Chopra vowed never to touch the thorny communal issue again. "They threatened to burn down theatres, harm the actors... I was getting calls at any time of the day and night, warning me of dire consequences. I said, 'Never again'," Yashji told me when we met some years ago. Cut to "Padmaavat" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. What is that French "kahaavat": The more things change, the more they remain the same. As I write this column, vehicles are being torched, buses carrying school children are being stoned in Gurugram... because some fanatical elements don't like the look of "Padmaavat"? Or maybe because Bhansali forgot to cover up Deepika Padukone's tummy when she performed the ghoomar? Does that make sense to you? We as a nation are a touchy people. Some may even call us intolerant. And, admit it, we are intolerant people. Over the years, there have been other controversial films, mostly to do with communal issues. Govind Nihalani stepped into the territory bluntly and insouciantly. In "Dev" he recreated the Muslim genocide in Gujarat following the incident in Godhra where a two train bogies full of Hindu devotees was set on fire -- with chilling authenticity. As a fictional retaliation to Godhra he sees a communal Hindu cop (Om Puri) stand mute accomplice as Hindu rioters burn a whole building full of Muslims. It was a frightening topicality dwelling on issues that pierce the facade of normalcy which we like to uphold for the sake of a peaceful and "civilised" existence. Nihalani's "Dev", Deepa Mehta's "Fire", Gulzar's "Aandhi" and Anurag Kashyap's "Paanch" are some of the other prominent films that have courted controversy. But no film has been as vehemently opposed as "Padmaavat"; none has evoked such fierce temper-tantrums from a nation on the boil. Could it be that somewhere the protesters have decided "Padmaavat" is a "feel-bad" film -- as opposed to a "feel-good" film? Nihalani rightly says, "Feel-good films will always be there. They serve a very important function in our society. But one feel-bad film every five years, which reminds us of the mistakes that we make, isn't a bad idea." However, "Padmaavat" is not that feel-bad film which comes once every five years. Its depiction of Rajput valour and feminine derringdo is so broad and magnificent it just makes us happy that a filmmaker of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's vision takes history by its horns and raps a nation steeped in escapism on its collective knuckles. If you want to kill a film by scaring little school-going children, then surely that film deserves to be seen. (Subhash K. Jha can be reached at jhasubh@gmail.com) New Delhi, Jan 27 : In keeping with New Delhi's Act East Policy which has Southeast Asia as its central focus, India and Cambodia agreed to enhance maritime cooperation while deciding to combat the menace of terrorism together following delegation-level between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen here on Saturday. A joint statement issued following the talks said both sides expressed interest "in enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain, including sustainable marine development and protection and preservation of marine and coastal environment, anti-piracy cooperation, security of sea lanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region". "They also agreed that peace and maritime security is important for both countries," it stated. "To that end, they support complete freedom of navigation and overflight and pacific resolution of maritime issues based on international law, notably the 1982 Unclos (UN Convention for the Law of the Sea)." This assumes significance given China's aggressive stance in the South China Sea and India's keenness to play a more influential role in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the statement, both Modi and Hun Sen affirmed that those responsible for committing, abetting, organising and supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and be punished. "The two leaders further agreed that terrorism cannot be used as an instrument of state policy for furthering narrow political objectives," it stated in what is a veiled reference to Pakistan. In a joint address to the media with Hun Sen following the talks, Modi also reiterated India's commitment to development cooperation with Cambodia. "We have proposed several lines of credit according to the requirements of the Cambodian government., especially in the areas of health, connectivity and digital connectivity." Hun Sen, who arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Dialogue Partnership and was among the all 10 heads of government or state of Asean nations to be guests of honour in this year's Republic Day celebrations, raised the trip to that of a bilateral state visit on Saturday. Modi said that the number of quick impact projects (QIPs) that India does in Cambodia every year would be increased from five to 10. During the visit of then Vice President Hamid Ansari to Cambodia in 2015, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for implementing QIPs in that country under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative. Under the QIP scheme, India grants assistance of $50,000 each for implementing five projects every year. During the last two years, 10 QIPs have been implemented in the fields of agriculture, health, women empowerment, capacity building, sanitation and environment. "We have set up a Rs 500-crore project development fund," Modi said. "This fund can be utilised to expand India industry and business and make the supply chain cost effective." Stating that India will establish a centre of excellence in IT and IT-enabled services in Cambodia, Modi said over 1,400 Cambodians have benefitted from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. He said that India was not only ready but "committed to deepen economic, social welfare, capacity building, cultural, trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties with Cambodia". While pointing out that Cambodia is making fast economic progress with a growth rate of 7 per cent annually over the last two decades, the Indian Prime Minister said that India is also the fastest growing large economies. "Since there are similarities in our values and culture, there can be a natural synergy in increasing trade between our two countries," he said. "Cambodia's liberal economic policies and the establishment of the Asean Economic Community provides a good opportunity for Indian investment in Cambodia, especially in areas like health, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, automobiles, auto components and textiles." Bilateral trade between India and Cambodia stood at $153.13 million in 2016, according to figures provided by the Ministry of External Affairs. In terms of connectivity, the joint statement said that Modi and Hun Sen "noted with satisfaction the progress in regional connectivity efforts such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and agreed to explore the possibility of extending this Highway further to Cambodia and beyond". Cambodia also reiterated its support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. Following the talks, four agreements were signed between the two sides, including on a credit line for a water resource development in that southeast Asian nation and on prevention of human trafficking. Jaipur, Jan 27 : The third day of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival witnessed several hard-hitting sessions that addressed the burning issues of nationalism and Hindutva in the contemporary scenario. With acclaimed writers Shashi Tharoor and Nayantara Sahgal leading the charge against what the latter called "Sanghiwadis," a lot of the day's happenings on Saturday revolved around Hindutva, and more so reclaiming Hinduism. Tharoor addressed as many as five sessions during the day and while most of them were themed on literary aspects, the last session of the day was based on his latest book "Why I Am A Hindu". In conversation with Arundhati Subramaniam, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram waxed eloquently on his idea of Hinduism, which, according to him, is what most Hindus believe in. In a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor criticised him and his dispensation for double standards. "The Prime Minister says that the constitution is his holy book and at the same time he hails Deendayal Upadhyaya, who did not believe in the constitution. You can either believe in the constitution or hail Deendayal Upadhyaya. Doing both is troubling," he said. "To my mind, most of the people I know are unapologetic about being Hindus and they do not believe in belittling the faith of others. Today it is high time that we take back Hinduism from them. Even some of the greatest of our thinkers like Swami Vivekananda did not believe in what they are practising today. "I don't know how such a liberal faith as ours has been reduced to such low but I certainly don't want to have a part in it," he said during the hour-long session, which ended with evocative phrases from his book like "Garv se kaho main Hindu hoon" (Say proudly that I am a Hindu) and "Main Garv se kehta hoon ki main Indian hoon" (I say proudly that I am an Indian)a. A Tharoor said that the current government does not want "unity in diversity" but "uniformity" and that, to his mind, is a sign of dangerous times. "If people are going to burn effigies and attack buses of school children just to prevent somebody from expressing his creative freedom, that is something to worry about. Hindutva is like Hindu wahibiism. It is high time that those of us who are better Hindus than them reclaim Hinduism," he added. Acclaimed writer and a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Nayantara Sahgal, reinforced her sustained attack on the "ideology of Hindutva," dubbing it an extension of Hitler's and Mussolini's philosophy, while also emphasising that the country's Dalit movement is the "strongest and most organised voice" against the current trials of time. "When the atmosphere in the country is what it is today, there are only two options: One, to get drunk and the other to write a novel and that's what I have done," she said. Sahgal's last novel "When The Moon Shines By Day" is a satire on an age when there are acute restrictions on freedom of expressions as characters in the novel come face-to-face with subjugation by the state. "It seems to me that the Kshatriya mentality has taken over the country and is trying to decide what we do. I sense a very war-like situation in the country, not only with Pakistan but also with internal enemies," she said, before describing that the internal enemies are "others" -- those who disagree with the current dispensation. Responding to an interjection from an audience member, she contended that "Hindutva is a problem to me because I am a Hindu. I am not only a born Hindu and practising Hindu. We rejected a religious identity at Independence because we are a deeply religious society of many religions. Our founding fathers ensured that the practitioners of every religion have pride of place in the country". "Under that banner of Hinduism, attacks are carried out on freedom of expression. Scientists, artists, filmmakers and everybody who do not agree with them are attacked and killed," she added. (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) New Delhi, Jan 27 : Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar was on Saturday appointed chairman of the 70- member Congress campaign committee for the coming state assembly elections in which state party president G. Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will also be members. The list cleared by Congress President Rahul Gandhi also contains names of several ministers including S.R. Patil, party working president Dinesh Gundurao, senior leader party's leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge and actors Ramya and M.H. Ambarish. Among others are state Textile Minister Baburao Chunchansur, former state Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Saroke, former Central Aviation Minister C.M. Ibrahim and member of legistative assembly including Abhay Chadra Jain and Shivara Thangadagi. The dates for assembly elections for the southern state have not been declared yet. The state is divided into 224 Assembly constituencies spread across 30 districts. New Delhi, Jan 27 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday called on visitng Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and discussed issues of bilateral interest. They were accompanied by Anand Sharma, a former Union Minister for Commerce and Industry. "It was a very good meeting as India and Cambodia share a special relation which is rooted in history," Sharma told the media after the meeting. He said India was the first country to recognise Cambodia's independence in 1953 and independent India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first international leader to visit that country in 1954. "That is one thing which is fondly remebered and recalled, which PM Hun Sen preferred to do even today during his meeting with Gandhi and Singh," Sharma said. Hun Sen arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Dialogue Partnership and was among all 10 Heads of State or government of Asean nations who were guests of honour at this year's India's Republic Day celebrations. Hun Sen extended his visit to that of a State visit on Saturday. "He (Hun Sen) also specifically referred to the role of (then Indian Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi when she returned to power in 1980 to recognise the regime change in Cambodia and to assist in the restoration of peace and rehabilitation there," Sharma said. The Congress leader said that Hun Sen particularly spoke to the Congress President about his very close friendship with his father (then Prime Minister) Rajiv Gandhi. "... and also the family friendship he and his wife had with Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi," he said. "It was a free and frank exchange of views where the need to reinforce party linkages was stressed," he added. New Delhi/Agartala, Jan 27 : The BJP on Saturday released its first list of candidates for 44 of the 60 seats in Tripura Assembly, polls for which will be held on February 18. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 51 seats, nine seats will be contested by by tribal-run Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, with which the BJP formally announced its alliance on Thursday. According to the BJP leaders, the names of party candidates were finalised and announced after the party's Central Election Committee met in New Delhi under the chairmanship of BJP President Amit Shah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other CEC members also attended the meeting. The BJP named state unit President Biplab Kumar Deb from Banamalipur, state unit Vice President Subal Bhowmik from Sonamura, state election media coordinator Sushanta Chowdhury from Majlishpur, state unit General Secretary Pratima Bhowmik from Dhanpur, and state unit Secretary Amit Rakhsit from Khowai. The party also fielded seven sitting MLAs -- Sudip Roy Barman from Agartala, Ratan Lal Nath from Mohanpur, Ashish Kumar Saha from Town Bordowali, Dilip Sarkar from Badharghat (Reserved for Scheduled Caste), Pranajit Singha Roy from Radhakishorepur, Dibachandra Hrangkhwal from Karamchhara (Scheduled Tribe), and Bishwa Bandhu Sen from Dharmanagar. The counting of votes polled for the 60-member Assembly will take place on March 3. Brasilia, Jan 28 : At least 14 people were killed and six others injured during a shootout at a club in Brazil on Saturday, police said. The killings occurred in a dancing club named "Forro do Gago" in Fortaleza city in CearA when a group of heavily armed gunmen barged into the party and began to shoot at the people, Xinhua reported. At least two of the injured are in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said that bullet marks could be found on the walls of the club, nearby houses and vehicles parked around. Even though it rained on Saturday, bloodstain can still be seen in front of the club. According to police, the shooting was "well planned" and the agents were searching for the suspects with a helicopter overseeing the security situations in the region. The police have started investigating whether the killings were part of an ongoing fight between two drug gangs. The state of CearA, with Fortaleza as its capital, registered a record number of homicides in the year of 2017, according to state governor Camilo Santana, who said earlier that over 80 per cent of the homicides are results of conflict between drug gangs over territory controls. To date, Armenian prime ministers have mostly used the services of the presidential airplane for their official trips. However, on January 22, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan flew to France, while Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan had to leave for Davos on the same day. The presidential plane had left, and so, Karapetyan had to get to Davos somehow on another plane. The prime minister and his entourage made it to Davos, but not on a commercial airliner. As far as we can ascertain, Karapetyan flew on a plane belonging to businessman Samvel Karapetyan. Later that day, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan posted some photos from the airplane he took on his official Facebook page, which showed a luxury aircraft. This created a furor in Armenian news outlets and social media. Prime Minister Came Back by Presidential Airplane On the night of January 26, the Prime Minister's delegation arrived from Zurich (the closest airport to Davos is there) in Yerevan by the presidential airplane (flight ARY 4002), as seen at www.flightradar24.com and www.planefinder.net. The flight route shows that it arrives from Zurich to Yerevan. Its type - Airbus A319-132, and registration number 701 (this is a military registration, since it was included into the military aircraft registry at the end of 2014), prove it to be the presidential airplane. Thus, after bringing the presidential delegation back to Yerevan on January 24, the plane left for Switzerland to bring back Karapetyan's delegation. Tracking the Luxury Jet: Zvartnots Airport Website is Silent The Zvartnots Airport website usually shows not only regular flights by large and small airlines, but also flights by different private carriers. Nevertheless, no flight to Zurich has been registered. Gulfstream G650 Multimillion Dollars Jet Judging from the photos posted on Karen Karapetyans Facebook page, particularly the design of the salon and seats, it was an American Gulfstream G650 (flies 13,000 km) or Gulfstream G650ER (flies 14,000 km). Both can transport up to 19 passengers. There are various amenities inside - a sofa, TV set, kitchen, luggage compartment and so on. The manufacturer, Gulfstream Aerospace, can provide more than 120 options for the salon and seats. In short, G650 is a jet airplane that meets the capricious demands of the rich, and its used by various businessmen and officials all over the world. Here's an example of a G650ER interior. The airplane costs US$65-68 million (depending on whether its a G650 or G650ER). According to various data available online, a one-hour lease costs $4,800-$10,000. The flight from Yerevan to Zurich takes around three hours, which means that the flight time itself would cost at least $14,500. The Information and Public Relations Department of the Armenian government reports that "the Prime Minister left for Davos on a private plane, but no money was allocated from the state budget for its lease". Since its hardly possible that somebody from the prime ministers office would have paid a few thousand dollars from their pocket, the only remaining option is a third persons involvement. However, since its about a high-ranking official, there is an issue of ethics and conflict of interest in the case. Armenian Businessmen Owning Private Jets According to information available on the Internet, famous Swiss-Armenian businessman and philanthropist Dikran Izmirlian owns a G650. His plane is managed by ExecuJet, known for its charter flights. The company has many branches in different continents, with a head office at the Zurich Airport, managing more than 250 aircraft belonging to private owners, commercial and state institutions. Nevertheless, the design of Izmirlian's aircraft salon (in the photo above) differs from the one that transported Karen Karapetyan (if we exclude the possibility of modification of the Armenian businessman's aircraft). Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan also owns an airplane. In February 2015, the Russian edition of Forbes magazine published an interview with the businessman who said: "I do not own yachts or rare paintings. Of course, I like luxury, but I never cling to it and do not make it an idol. Its simple: I liked a plane - I bought it. But not for the sake of saying that I have it. Zara Atchemyan, representative of the Tashir group of companies owned by Samuel Karapetyan, told RFE/RL that she didnt want to comment on the information that the businessman's plane had been used for the prime ministers trip to Switzerland. In other words, she didnt deny it. The two Karapetyans, Karen and Samvel, are close friends, and the prime minister is also the godfather of the businessman's younger son, Karen. Haykakan Zhamanak compared the jet transporting the prime minister with another one (allegedly belonging to Samvel Karapetyan), in which the businessman's grandchild is seen. In one of the avia-forums, there is a suggestion that Samvel Karapetyan owns a French Falcon plane, but the appearance of the hall and the style of the windows is different from the one that transported the prime minister. So, we must conclude that the official delegation of Armenia flew to Davos on Samvel Karapetyan's Gulfstream G650. United Nations, Jan 28 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Saturday's deadly terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which was claimed by the Taliban. "Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and can never be justified. Those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice," said the statement released in Addis Ababa, where the UN chief is attending an African Union summit. The secretary-general extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He expressed his solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan, Xinhua reported. A suicide bombing has killed at least 102 people and injured at least 158 others in central Kabul, officials said. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, was the deadliest for months. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people. United Nations, Jan 28 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to send a representative to attend the Russian-brokered intra-Syria talks in Sochi. Guterres has designated Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria, to participate in the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Xinhua quoted Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, as saying on Saturday. Guterres made the decision after being briefed by de Mistura and taking into account the statement by Russia that the outcome of the Sochi talks should be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations, said the statement released in Addis Ababa. "The Secretary-General is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution to a revived intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the UN in Geneva," said Dujarric. De Mistura has just concluded a special round of intra-Syria talks within the framework of the Geneva process. The talks were held in Vienna, Austria, for logistic reasons. De Mistura on Friday called for political will for the peaceful resolution of the Syria crisis. Guterres is in Addis Ababa for an African Union summit. With a focus on prompt delivery and customer experience for both the agent and the homeowner, PlanOmatic is a welcome addition to our program. said Robin LaSure, LeadingRE vice president of corporate marketing Leading Real Estate Companies of the World has selected PlanOmatic as a preferred provider through its Solution Group program, which presents top business resources to its global community of 565 real estate firms. PlanOmatic provides professional real estate photography shot by industry veterans, with a network of 130 photographers in 32 states. The companys comprehensive marketing services also include interactive floor plans, virtual staging, aerial photography, 3D walkthroughs and digital advertising with an automated process that delivers materials within two days. PlanOmatic offers a seamless system for delivering beautiful photography and other valuable marketing resources, which an agent can easily use on every listing, said Robin LaSure, LeadingRE vice president of corporate marketing. With a focus on prompt delivery and customer experience for both the agent and the home owner, PlanOmatic is a welcome addition to our program. Kori Covrigaru, PlanOmatic co-founder and CEO, adds, We founded PlanOmatic because we believed in the power of photos to not only grab buyers' interest and help get the home sold, but also to create a connection between the seller and their brokerage. We also thought the process of getting amazing photos for every listing should be smooth, professional and friendly. We will offer these same sentiments to the LeadingRE network as a Solutions Group member. PlanOmatic will be exhibiting during LeadingREs upcoming Conference Week, January 29-February 2 at Wynn Las Vegas, where they will also be photographing the event. Learn more about PlanOmatic at http://www.planomatic.com. Learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World at http://www.LeadingRE.com. ### About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (http://www.LeadingRE.com) is a selective global community of the highest quality independent real estate companies, with over 565 companies and 130,000 sales associates in 65 countries. Network members generate over 1.1 million transactions annually, with $368 billion in home sales. LeadingRE exists to make its members better by connecting them to opportunities and people around the globe, supporting them with an international referral network, professional development programs, unique events and connections to people and opportunities worldwide. About PlanOmatic PlanOmatic provides the real estate industry with marketing services, including photography, interactive floor plans, virtual staging, aerial photography, 3D walkthroughs and digital marketing. With a network of 130 photographers in 32 states and an automated ordering process, PlanOmatic is positioned to be every brokerage offices marketing solution for every listing. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Denver, PlanOmatic serviced more than 73,000 properties nationwide in the past year alone. The company has been named the last three consecutive years as one of Inc. 5000s Americas fastest growing companies. For additional information about PlanOmatic call 866.599.7526 or email marketing(at)planomatic.com. Chris Decker - VP Life Sciences d-Wise- New CDISC Board Member "Chris's experience and track record leading standards teams and global organizations will provide a valuable perspective. d-Wise Technologies, Inc. announced today that Chris Decker, VP of Life Science Practices, has been appointed to the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Board of Directors for a three-year term, effective January 1, 2018. CDISC is a global, open, multidisciplinary, non-profit organization that has established clinical data standards for acquisition, exchange, submission and archive of clinical research data and metadata. Chris has served on the executive leadership team at d-Wise for over 10 years as VP of its Life Sciences Practice, and leads the team in helping d-Wise clients optimize their process, enable technology, and leverage data standards. Commenting on Chriss appointment, John Leveille, CEO of d-Wise said, Chris is deeply committed to the advancement of clinical data standards with a focus on meaningful improvements that ultimately drive benefit to patients. d-Wise is very excited to support Chris in this new role, combining his leadership talents with those of the CDISC board to carry forward the impactful mission of CDISC. Chris has also been a driving force in the evolution of the Pharmaceutical Users Software Exchange (PhUSE) FDA Computational Science Collaboration, serving in multiple roles as a Board Member, PhUSE/FDA Liaison, and co-chair of the Computational Science Collaboration Steering Committee. As a volunteer in the CDISC organization for over 10 years and as a user of the CDISC standards since its inception, Im honored and excited to serve in this role helping CDISC evolve into a next generation standards organization, added Chris. Chris brings a diverse background of clinical domain knowledge, technology expertise, business process change and solution implementation experience to CDISC that life sciences companies will be able to leverage to empower organizations toward a healthier world. "We welcome Chris to the Board," said CDISC CEO and President David R. Bobbitt. "His experience and track record leading standards teams and global organizations will provide a valuable perspective. Through their voluntary service, Chris and his Board colleagues contribute greatly to our global clinical data standards community. " Chris also serves as the PhUSE/FDA Liaison supporting the ongoing CS Collaboration between PhUSE and FDA. In September 2017, PhUSE and CDISC announced an evolution of their partnership where the two non-profit organizations will further each others mission, with CDISC members and volunteers providing expertise to develop global, platform-independent data standards, and PhUSE s 8,000+ members serving as the industry voice to regulatory agencies and standards organizations with expertise in implementing standards. ABOUT CDISC CDISC is a 501 global, non-profit organization that develops data standards to foster smarter research and enable connections to healthcare. CDISC standards allow data to speak the same language, by providing common formats for data collection, data sharing and data analyses to make the most of the valuable information offered by patients participating in research studies around the globe, enabling researchers to discover new treatments, find breakthroughs, and unlock cures. CDISC standards are required for regulatory submissions to the U.S. FDA and Japan PMDA, endorsed by the China CFDA, and requested for use by the European Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). The suite of CDISC standards is freely available on the CDISC website. CDISC is funded through the generous support of over 400 member organizations from pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical research organizations, regulatory agencies, academia, and healthcare, as well as through grants, authorized CDISC Education courses, events and charitable contributions. To find out more about how to support CDISC and get involved, please visit http://www.cdisc.org. About d-Wise d-Wise Technologies, Inc. is a technology leader with the expertise to empower world-class life science and healthcare organizations to resolve their business optimization challenges, and help them rapidly harness change by leveraging data, systems and processes to gain competitive advantage. The d-Wise Life Sciences Practice has been providing clinical advisory and modernization services to our clients for over fourteen years. d-Wise consultants engage with life science clients to adopt a progressive and comprehensive approach to modernizing clinical trials through well-designed solutions and processes. More at http://www.d-wise.com PR Contacts Keith W. Ward Director, Global Marketing d-Wise keith.ward(at)d-wise(dot)com 803-270-8973 A Ninth Circuit panel has reversed a lower court dismissal, allowing a False Claims Act suit against former Lockheed Martain health care subsidiary, QTC Medical Services Inc. to proceed (US ex rel. David Vatan v. QTC Medical Services, Inc., et al Case No. 16-55406). The unpublished decision came down on Friday, January 12, 2018 in an appeal from whistleblower and former QTC claims file analyst, Dr. David Vatan, whose suit was dismissed for failure to state a claim. In the suit, Vatan alleges that QTC submitted false claims to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for evaluating Vietnam War veterans symptoms of Agent Orange-related diseases. A 1991 settlement that is still in effect, stemming from a class action lawsuit, requires the VA to take certain actions whenever it recognizes a new disease as linked to Agent Orange exposure. These actions include reviewing previously denied claims and paying disability and death benefits to affected veterans or their survivors. QTC was hired by the VA to review 65,000 files for Agent Orange-related Parkinsons disease, ischemic heart disease, and hairy cell leukemia, as well as 95,000 files for peripheral neuropathy. QTC was to flag files that merited a second review and final decision by the VA. The lawsuit brought by Vatan in 2014 alleges that claims that QTC, created and executed a scheme to incentivize analysts to review as many files as possible, and that this rush to close files came at the expense of accuracy and completeness. He further alleges that he and other analysts were not formally trained and were not given the VAs training guide. QTC was paid between $300 and $350 for each file reviewed. According to McClatchy News in 2015, QTCs various contracts with the VA exceeded $175 million. In February of 2016, it appeared that the case might be dead in the water after a lower court judge threw out two of Vatans claims against Lockheed and QTC based on the fact that Vatan did not have access to the full contract between the company and the government and therefore could not prove that the company misrepresented its work. Vatans appeal said the court overly relied on this fact and reversed the decision. "To achieve happiness you need to ensure you have a 'balanced portfolio' in terms of your daily emotions, purpose and life satisfaction." Dan Buettner, National Geographic fellow and Blue Zones founder, spoke at the World Economic Forum annual meeting at Davos this week. He shared his extraordinary findings on what drives happiness in individuals and countries, as well as how to use these insights to improve the well-being of large populations. Amidst a crowd of world leaders, Nobel Prize winners, and industry titans, Buettner's presentation of his research on the longest-lived and happiest populations in the world received intense interest and was highlighted by the press as one of the best of Davos. His speech, which included global takeaways for improving lives and entire communities, was in keeping with the Davos 2018 theme of Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World. This year's World Economic Forum report states, "Decades of prioritizing economic growth over social equity has led to historically high levels of wealth and income inequality." Their Inclusive Development Index measures nations using multiple metrics including GDP, employment, life expectancy, poverty, wealth inequality, and carbon intensity. The United States has the highest GDP of any country in the world, but it also has the second highest rate of poverty among the world's 30 most advanced economics. Overall, the U.S. ranked 23rd on the list of 30 advanced economies. The World Economic Forum meeting takes place every January in Davos, Switzerland to address global issues. It includes over 3,000 participants from around the world and is attended by heads of state, C-suite executives, and other policymakers. Headline guests this year included President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and French President Emmanuel Macron. About Dan Buettner and Blue Zones Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live longer, better. The companys work is rooted in explorations and research done by National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner in Blue Zones regions around the world, where people live extraordinarily long or happy lives. The original research and findings were released in Buettner's bestselling books The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones of Happiness, The Blue Zones, and Thriveall published by National Geographic books. Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones Project works with cities to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city's environment, policy, and social networks. Participating communities have experienced double digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs. Currently, 42 communities in nine states have joined Blue Zones Project, impacting more than 3.3 million Americans nationwide. Blue Zones Project is an exclusive partnership between Blue Zones and Sharecare. For more information, visit bluezones.com. CellBlocks "Cellblocks appears to have the potential for our inmate population and for the personnel" Joe Lizarraga, Mule Creek State Prison Warden CellBlocks is set to become the first cryptocurrency to provide a digital solution to an outdated, inefficient, and sometimes corrupt monetary system within correctional facilities. CellBlocks, a solution that was created to help make financial transactions within prison systems more secure, transparent, accurate, and uniform, is not only unique because of what it is, but also because of its astounding capabilities. It will be the only decentralized cryptocurrency to make its way in to the United States prison system. About CellBlocks In 2017, CellBlocks was developed to be an effective alternative to a slow and inefficient prison financial network, as well as to reduce the violence associated with inmate-to-inmate money transfers. CellBlocks is now ready to give federal and state inmates a swift, secure, and efficient payment system that will let them send and receive digital assets through virtual wallets in real time. The current problem with the U.S. prison payment system For years now, correctional facilities have struggled with poor financial systems that leave inmates vulnerable to negligence by those in charge of their funds as well as outright deception by other inmates. With a population of over 2 million people currently locked up in U.S. prisons, the financial systems designed to help inmates make purchases or pay for the services they use in prison dont always work as designed. The pay systems currently used in prisons charge exorbitant fees to deposit and transfer money into inmates personal accounts, hugely reducing the amount that finally gets to the inmate. Additionally, money in inmates private accounts is often easily accessible by those with access into the system. Some prison personnel have been reported to use this access to take money away from inmates private accounts, and such inmates rarely get reimbursed for the stolen funds. The payment system also presents other challenges such as a lack of transparency, accountability, efficiency, and is excessively time consuming. View the CellBlocks white-paper at https://cellblocks.io/whitepaper.pdf to see all the inefficiencies associated with the current U.S. prison payment system. CellBlocks: Providing the solution With all these challenges facing the U.S. prison payment system, a modern-day solution by CellBlocks is set to resolve all these problems within the payment system. In fact, letters from prison wardens, package mailing companies, and even inmates have already come through to show the support for this project. Joe Lizarraga, the Mule Creek State Prison Warden says CellBlocks appears to have the potential for our inmate population and for the personnel, while Joel Martinez, the Sierra Conservation Center warden agrees and says "We have submitted your coin info for consideration and possible implementation." CellBlocks is set to offer: a transparent payment system, real-time transactions, 100% funds security, reduction of violence in prisons, labor reductions, and faster inmate package-delivery services. Initial Coin Offering CellBlocks will be offering prepayment of CLBK Tokens at the initial market value of 0.10 USD per CLBK Token with a limit of 150,000,000 tokens. The sale starts on April 1st 2018 (10 a.m.) and stays on for 61 days, which is up to June 1st 2018 (10:a.m.). You can purchase the tokens with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin or through wire transfer. Interested parties can find out more about CellBlocks at https://cellblocks.io/ APS Fellow Laurie Santos has made a name for herself studying what makes the human mind different from that of other animals. But shes just achieved another high mark in her scientific career one thats garnered her some media attention. Santos is now teaching the most popular course in Yale Universitys 316-year history; more than 1,180 undergraduate students are enrolled in her class, Psychology and the Good Life. The popularity of the course is the subject of a January 26 story in The New York Times. In the course, Santos is incorporating psychological science findings on social connections, gratitude, and other habits that promote emotional well-being. Santos, who gained recognition for her cognitive experiments with monkeys and dogs to illuminate the unique aspects of the human mind, delivered the 2017 Bring the Family Address at the 29th APS Annual Convention in Boston. A video of her presentation is available here. "Its an honour that Ghana gave me the opportunity to represent as a tourism Queen on a global scale. Everybody knows such a journey is not going to be easy but I like to focus on the positives. It was a competition but the opportunity to experience the culture of people from around the world was breathtaking in Malaysia. Youd have to be around these girls to know that everyone was a winner because everyone of the 51 tourism Queens had their country and tourism at heart".In the end Ghana made the top 15 and was crowned Miss Tourism World Africa for the continental Queens. The journey was always about Ghana and Im grateful to have brought something home, she added.Ms. Geraldine also made it to the top 15 of the entire Miss Tourism World Contest. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The NDC government, he said, even went to the extent of trying to change the names of the two alleged Al-Qaeda terrorists and that records were there to prove that attempt.According to him, the name change was even done way ahead of the expiry of the two-year agreement that President Mahama and his minister signed with the then Obama administration. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also said Mahama and his administration surreptitiously granted the two who according to US authorities, were Osama Bin Ladens foot soldiers refugee status before the expiry of the two-year agreement.He said one of them is married to a Moroccan but has vowed never to go to the Maghreb country for reasons best known to him.The majority leader also said that then Foreign Minister, Hannah Tetteh, had created the impression in parliament that the so-called deal was subject to renewal after two years, which elapsed about two weeks ago, although the same Mahama government had secretly undermined the two-year agreement and granted them refugee status. Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the NDC government, in altering the agreement, did not even have the courtesy to include it in the handing over notes to the NPP government during the transition early 2017.The NPP Acting General Secretary, John Boadu, said on Asempa Fm that the Akufo-Addo government was able to successfully negotiate with Morocco to repatriate the alleged terrorists to that country, but when the documents were reviewed, it was detected that the Mahama administration had granted them refugee status without informing parliament.Interestingly, the opposition NDC MPs in parliament, whose government took the unpopular decisions, are the same guys daring the current government to deport the two terrorists. The minority chastised Akufo-Addos government over its failure to bring the agreement before parliament for ratification before allowing the terrorists to stay in the country.NDC MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who appeared to have turned himself into a spokesperson for the alleged terrorists of late, said recently that the two men were comporting themselves and had not given the security agencies any cause to complain. He claimed on Peace FM Thursday, There was no specific exit agreement..there is nothing wrong; we have always known that. That is why within the two-year period discussions ought to continue.The MP admitted that the Mahama administration decided to give a refugee status instead of a permanent residence or a visa because the refugee board can revoke it at any time.Our motivation was the national interestit came with support for our national security in the fight against terrorism, he claimed. Here's everyone who has reportedly threatened to quit: John Kelly After Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May, chief of staff John Kelly reportedly threatened to resign. Comey and Kelly reportedly had a professional relationship and a "deep mutual respect" for each other. Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that Kelly often threatened to quit as leverage over Trump to get him to follow orders. It was one of the few weapons Kelly had in his arsenal, a presidential adviser told The Times. Kelly has repeatedly denied any intention to quit. "Although I read it all the time, pretty consistently, I'm not quitting today," he said as rumors swirled that he was itching to leave the White House. Christopher Wray FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump selected to replace James Comey, reportedly threatened to resign after being pressured by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Rex Tillerson Following Trump's controversial speech to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in July, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was close to resigning from his post, NBC reported at the time. Tillerson had reportedly become incensed because Trump injected politics into what many thought should have been a neutral speech to young Boy Scouts. Tillerson was the national president of the BSA from 2010 to 2012. Trump's speech came just days after Tillerson reportedly called Trump "a moron" during a meeting with administration officials. He has consistently denied the report. Gary Cohn Some employees at the Los Angeles Times are reportedly facing new uncertainty only days after the newspaper's editorial staff voted to unionize, HuffPost reported on Friday. Tronc, the publisher of the LA Times, is developing a separate entity within the company and hiring a team of editors who will oversee a group of contributors, HuffPost reported. The new entity called the L.A. Times Network exists on the company's business side, prompting concerns about potential conflicts with editorial staffers. Journalists hired for the new venture have been working on the second floor of LA Times' offices, one floor below the main newsroom. Some had not yet been formally introduced to editorial staff, HuffPost reported. Employees cited by HuffPost said they fear Tronc may be trying to create a redundant, "shadow" newsroom of non-union employees as a precursor to layoffs of newly unionized journalists. The initiative Tronc is pursuing, in which contributors produce content on niche topics that get distributed throughout Tronc's newspaper network, is not a new concept. Business Insider's advertising reporter Tanya Dua wrote last week that such a model, which for years had been a proven way for publishers to scale quickly and affordably, has gone out of fashion. Additionally, employees alleged that some staffers were being targeted by management over suspected leaks, with some employees saying they feared the company was spying on their phones and computers. Those fears were compounded, according to HuffPost, after one LA Times editor was recently suspended and escorted off the premises. According to HuffPost, that editor, Kimi Yoshino, had previously supervised an investigative piece about the business relationship between Disney and the city of Anaheim, where two Disney theme parks are located. Yoshino is widely respected in the LA Times newsroom, according to staffers cited by HuffPost, but the Disney story allegedly upset editor-in-chief Lewis D'Vorkin, who current and former LA Times employees described as "highly critical" of Yoshino. "He's at war with the entire staff. It's incredible," one employee reportedly said. The suspect who is of Ningi Local Government Area of the state is alleged to have killed his son using insecticide because he could not afford to organise naming ceremony for him. Daily Post reports that the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, Kamal Abubakar, made the disclosure while briefing journalists on the successful operations carried out within the week. On January 21, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Abubakar, said that the suspects brother, one Musa Bala, reported the case at the Ningi Police Station. He revealed that on the same date at about 2:30 p.m., his younger brother poisoned his newborn son by feeding him insecticide. As a result, the baby became unconscious and was later taken to Ningi General Hospital, where a medical doctor certified him dead. READ MORE: Pension for cocoa farmers to be rolled out in 2018 Ivory Coast slashed the price it guarantees for cocoa farmers by 36 percent to 700 CFA francs ($1.14) per kilogram in March 2017. Ghana on the other hand maintained the prices of cocoa beans higher than the Ivorians. This has compelled Ivorian cocoa farmers to smuggle their beans to Ghana in order to rake in high returns. A cocoa farmer, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity said: "The price isn't good. We have to send our children to school. we have a lot to pay. "The books are expensive, the cost of living is expensive and that is why we are sending our cocoa to Ghana. "We are being forced to defraud the state "We don't have a choice, if the price was good as in Ghana, we wouldn't smuggle our beans across the border. "It is the sole reason for smuggling our beans overthere." Last year, Ghana Cocoa Board Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boahen Aidoo, told Bloomberg that the country is trying to stop smuggling from Ivory Coast. "Because theres no border wall between us, it is likely that some cocoa will trickle in, he told Bloomberg. It is not in the best interest of Ghana. READ MORE: No reduction in cocoa price despite world price slump According to him, COCOBOD has not received any official report on smuggling activities. READ MORE: Police arrest 2 escapees and 3 accomplices in connection with Kwabenya jailbreak He was arrested by a surveillance team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, January 25, 2018. The police had earlier re-arrested two of the seven cell breakers who escaped after armed men storm the police station to set them free. In the process, a police officer, Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, who was on night duty at the police station, was killed by the armed men. READ MORE: Kasoa police arrest 3 men over sale of guns to criminals Adom News Kwame Kulenu, who has been following development in the Kwabenya area reported on Adom Midday News that the Police who arrived at the scene prevented the residents from carrying out any attacks on the suspects thereby provoking them. The angry mob, he said, pelted the Police with stones and other materials but the Police succeeded in moving the suspects away unharmed. Some police officers sustained injuries in the process with some vehicles also getting destroyed. The Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Oquaye is expected to be sworn in as acting President of Ghana for the second time in a week. This is because President Akufo-Addo will leave for an AU summit in Ethiopia on Saturday and the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is on a medical leave in London. Prof Ocquaye assumed the position of president from last Saturday up until Tuesday. At the time both the president and his vice were out of the country. Mr Akufo-Addo left for the investiture of new Liberian President Oppong Weah in Monrovia while his vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is on a medical leave in the UK. Speaking on the development, Minoritys spokesperson on Constitutional and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Inusah Fuseini, told Accra-based Starr FM that swearing in the Speaker in the absence of the President and his Vice is unconstitutional. Yes, I think that we have engaged in constitutional illegality, an unconstitutionality all these while by reading into article 60 (11) of the word Absent which clearly is not part of that provision, he said. The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision in 2014 ruled that the Speaker must be sworn in as the president if the both the President and the Vice were outside the jurisdiction. Speaker of Parliament shall always, before assuming the functions of the Office of President when the President and the Vice-President are unable to perform their functions, take and subscribe to the oath set out in relation to the Office of President," the nine member panel had said. However, Mr Iddirisu opines:I think that we must have a definite pronouncement on this matter because it will become an embarrassment. "Because now that the Vice President is not available and nobody knows when the Vice President will come and the President will continue to perform the functions of the office of the President, within territory and outside territory you can be sure that we will continuously be called back to this house to swear in the [Speaker]. The embassy gave the advice while announcing the 6th edition of the French Education Fair holding in Abuja between February 12 and 14. ''The French Embassy remains committed to strengthening ties between France and Nigeria and education provides the perfect platform to do so. The French mission in Nigeria is also creating partnerships between Nigerian and French Institutions to encourage exchange in not just knowledge but in students and faculty. Many French Universities, through the development of English language programs, can now break the language barrier and accept more Nigerians to study a wide array of courses, The Education Fair according to the embassy will provide opportunities for Nigerian students to meet some of the best higher educational institutions in France. The embassy further said that the Fair will be attended by 10 different French universities offering English Language taught courses at the Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D levels. ALSO READ: 5 Courses Nigerian parents were crazy about in the 80s 30,000 Nigerians are currently living in France Meanwhile, Modupe Irele, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to France recently announced that 30,000 Nigerians are currently living in France and some of whom are students. He joined 14 other members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to discuss conflict and crisis situations across the continent. PSC is a standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. This was contained in a statement issued by the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday. He said that the meeting would be discussing the persistence of violent conflicts and crisis situations in some parts of the continent. He said the meeting would also discuss the upsurge of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees, climate change and its consequences as well as the issue of the derailment of national development programmes. According to him, the meeting is essentially reviewing the situations in Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Guinea Bissau, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is also discussing the situation in Lake Chad Basin, the regional efforts to combat Boko Haram as well as the situation in Mali and the Sahel region which continues to be a source of deep concern despite efforts by the countries of the region and the United Nations, he added. The PSCs major duty is to conduct early warning and preventive diplomacy, facilitate peace-making, establish peace-support operations and, in certain circumstances, recommend intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari arrived Addis Ababa on Friday evening ahead of Sundays opening of the 30th African Union Summit. NAN reports that Buhari is expected to unveil a new logo on anti-corruption on Monday as part of activities meant to inaugurate a campaign against the menace of corruption across the continent. The unveiling followed his endorsement to champion the fight against corruption on the continental level at the 29th summit held last year. The president would speak on Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation. Beyond the issue of anti-corruption fight, delegates attending the summit would also be brainstorming on ways of implementing single air transportation system, free movement on the continent and free trade. Onochie also said that no past or present leader can challenge Buhari. According to Daily Post, she said No one can argue this. Some may insult, abuse, or even clown, but no one can dispute this fact that only President Muhammadu Buhari can stand out among past and present leaders. Name any Nigerian leader not accused of corruption? Obasanjos letter to Buhari in a letter, said that Buhari does not understand the intricacies of Nigerias economy. Dani-Ali had earlier blamed the clashe on the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue state government. In their reaction, the Benue APC members said the defence minister is a disgrace to democracy. According to Daily Post, the Chairman of the party in the state, Abba Yaro also accused Dan-Ali of supporting the herdsmen. The chairman also issued a statement saying The Benue State Working Committee of our great party, All Progressives Congress led by the Chairman, Hon. Prince Emmanuel Abba Yaro, hereby states categorically that we read with utmost disgust the frivolous statement credited to the supposed honourable Minister of Defence, Col. Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali where he reportedly told Nigerians and other members of the public that the attack on two communities in Benue that led to the death of over 70 innocent people and destruction of properties worth millions of Naira was as a result of the open grazing prohibition law enacted by the State Government. While we are still bewildered if the said statement truly emanated from the Zamfara born retired Military Colonel serving as our supposed Defence Minister, we consider this statement as a flatly ridiculous absurdity, and the highest level of public disgrace to democracy and the Nigerian populace. By this singular utterance, the Minister of Defence, Col. Muhammad Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) has inarguably displayed incontestable lack of the required sensibility and capacity to serve as Defence Minister in a country of over 180 million people with over 300 ethnic nationalities. We have therefore been constrained to believe that Mr. Mansur is a component unit of the perceived conspiracy against the good and hospitably peace loving people of Benue State. As an integral part of the country, Nigeria and as a State that gave President Muhammadu Buhari an edge in the 2015 general elections, we demand that Col. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) resigns his position as Nigerias Defence Minister immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the good people of Benue State and the country at large. In as much as we would not dignify Col. Mansur with obnoxious affronts, we would again want to inform him that he is not just an ingrate, but an unrepentant pathological opportunist who was in his farm working for the PDP when many of us toiled the nooks and crannies of this country to ensure victory for President Muhammadu Buhari in the election that brought him (Buhari) to power through which he (Mansur) is one of the biggest beneficiaries. As someone who read Photography in the polytechnic and later took to animal husbandry with flocks of cows to his credit in his Zamfara country home, we urge our President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to aid Col. Mansurs timely resignation and return him to his farm with a Xenon HD Camera to continue taking snapshots of his flock of herds back home. Minister Mansur apparently is one of those who are working against the unity of Nigeria and must be stopped now before he and others with such parochial, hateful, divisive and repulsive tendencies plunge the country into deeper crisis. We once again declare our staunch support for our dear Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and herein reiterate our commitment towards making the open grazing prohibition law our number one priority in the State. Wike also condemns Dan-Ali Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state also condemned the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali over his comments on the Fulani herdsmen crisis in Benue state. The Punch reports that EFCC sources confirmed the former SFG has been allowed to go home on administrative bail. The detention According to the report, Babachir Lawal was invited for interrogation on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 by the EFCC, over alleged N223million contract scams awarded at some IDP camps in Yobe State. The acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Samin Amaddin, said Lawal was cooperating with investigators and had made useful statements. The former SFG arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC at 11:00 am on Wednesday, after which he was detained. ALSO READ: FG suspends SFG and NIA bosses According to Daily Post, Prince Hornby, the spokesman of the ex-militants, the allegations against the former First Lady is aimed at embarrassing Niger-Delta people. Hornby also said Non-governmental organisations are for the empowerment of the people. How many first ladies of Nigeria did not have NGOs while in office? How many of them do not own properties? Why should Dame Jonathan be the target for harassment and public ridicule? Her NGOs office complex was demolished without following the due process of the law. This is capable of igniting tension in the Niger Delta. The target on Dame Patience Jonathan is aimed at ridiculing the people of the region, which produces the bulk of our nations wealth. We are saying that this harassment should stop immediately. We shall no longer tolerate this vindictive fight against our daughter and mother and her family. President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, immediately. Patience Jonathan dares EFCC Responding to allegations that she stole N17b, Mrs. Jonathan dared the EFCC to provide evidence that she stole N17 billion when her husband was President. The Director -General of National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu, disclosed this at the DSO Stakeholder Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. At the retreat attended by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the director general said that preparations for the launch in the two states were near conclusion. Modibbo-Kawu also disclosed that the process of installation of equipment for the roll out in Gombe and Delta states were near conclusion and the launch would hold before the end of the first quarter of the year. He gave an assurance that between the middle of the year and the third quarter of year, NBC would have concluded DSO roll out in 12 states. It would be recalled that the government had so far launched DSO in Jos, Abuja, Ilorin and Kaduna. He said the commission and other stakeholders had heightened discussions about completing the digital mapping of the country, adding that the process was vital for achieving the overall planning of the entire DSO mapping of Nigeria. Speaking on the challenge of virtual coverage of the states and territory where the DSO had been launched, Kawu said that it was due to topography. Coverage is related to topography. Take an example of the FCT, it is a city of hills and undulating grounds. As I am talking to you, the signal distributor for Abuja has purchased feeder pillar transmitters which will be installed for the entire Abuja and environs to be covered. The same thing applies in Plateau. The signal distributor has to put feeder pillar transmitter in places like Langtang for the entire state to be covered, he said. He said the commission had also taken a decision that by the end of March, it would switch off analogue transmission in Abuja and Jos to compel television viewers to get Set-Top Box. Kawu said that the retreat provided the opportunity to solve some of the problems associated with the DSO process. Also speaking at the retreat, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation and Values, reiterated the support of the National Assembly to a successful completion of DSO. The lawmaker said that funding of the DSO through budgetary provision might not be achievable because of the constraint of fund. He, therefore, called on the government to sell off the available spectrum and use part of the money to fund DSO. The Government must give directive for the sale of spectrum which is the ready made funds for it and make part of the realised money available to bankroll the process The best and the only sure way to raise money is to sell off the nations spectrum. The process requires huge investment and because it is Nigerians that will benefit from it, it is time for government to invest in its people. There should also be a plan for compensation to those people that are vacating the spectrum. Money from the spectrum will also be used to subsidise the purchase of Set-Top boxes for the masses. The government must have the political will to drive the process, he said. Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of Licenced Set-Top Box Manufacturers, Godfrey Ohuabunwa, said the only solution to the challenge of funding the DSO was to sell the spectrum. From his estimation, a sum of N1 trillion would be realised from the sale of the spectrum from which part could be used to fund the DSO process. Ohuanbuwa said that money spent on DSO should be seen as an investment because it would be realised by the government from sale of licences by the NBC and seamless annual collection of TV levies from millions of TV households. Daily Post reports that the teachers were attacked in Onigbedu community in Ewekoro Local Government Area. They herdsmen attacked them and injured them, using machetes. The spokesman of the Ogun police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident, saying that two suspects were arrested. Oyeyemi however said that the suspects were later released. Security agencies on high alert The Chairman of Ewekoro North LCDA, Mr. Kehinde Adepegba also revealed that security agencies have been placed on high alert. Adepegba said The Ogun State Government has taken over the case and as we speak the affected teachers have been transferred from our maternity hospital at Onigedu to the Ogun State General Hospital at Ijaiye. They are receiving treatment and are recuperating. Following the incident, all security agencies in the state have been placed on the alert. As a matter of fact, I even learnt that some arrests have been made. While still searching for the perpetrators of the attack; we have put certain strategies in place to forestall against a similar occurrence in future. From preliminary reports, we gathered that the herdsmen who carried out the attack only recently migrated to the area. They are not part of the Fulani community cohabiting with the locals. They are unknown in the locality but they will be apprehended. Fulani herdsmen cannot be defeated On Saturday, January 27, 2018, the National Chairman of Fulbe Development Association of Nigeria (FULDAN), MallamAhmad Usman Bellosaid that the Fulanis are unbeatable. The chairman of Irigwe Development Association, Mr Sunday Abdu said that the herdsmen attacked several villages. Abdu, who said the incident occurred on Thursday, January 25, 2018, added that over 20 houses were destroyed. According to Tribune, he said The causality figure was more than five. I am just going around. Five people were killed in the first village I visited. I am still going round to see the number of people that were affected. My brother is affected, too. Until I finish going round, I cannot tell you the actual figure. As soon as I am through, I will call you. Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Plateau state police command, ASP Terna Topev, said on three people died in the attacks. Topev also said While we were close to the village, the armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen sighted us and took to their heels. Three people were killed and burnt by the armed men. ALSO READ: Fulani herdsmen litter Adamawa community with dead bodies One Danlami Gomaster of Kwall District and one Emmanuel Audu of Jebbu-Miango were identified while the last person is yet to be identified. Eight other persons sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries and were taken to Enos Hospital in Bassa for medical treatment. Twenty housing units were also set ablaze. According to Topev, the Fulani herdsmen also attacked Jebbu-Miango Village. Nobody can stop Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria The National Chairman of Fulbe Development Association of Nigeria (FULDAN),Mallam Ahmad Usman Bello has said that the Fulanis are unbeatable. Bello also said that his ethnic group cannot be run down by any ethnic group in Nigeria, Tribune reports. This is coming as a cross section of Nigerians have condemned the several killings in Benue and Taraba state, allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen. According to him, Take it or not, Fulanis have remained unbeatable; no ethnic group can fight us face to face. Any ethnic group that fights us will learn a bitter lesson." Bello also said that the Fulanis are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria. It is in our own interest that the country lives in peace [and for the country] to be united. If anything happens in Nigeria, we are the ones to lose because we have more people than any other ethnic groups. When you have more people, if any war occurred, certainly we Fulanis would have more dead people to record. And we are not beggars as we are equally blessed with wealth, he added. Buhari is protecting Fulanis Recently, GovernorAyo Fayosecalled on President Muhammdau Buhari to stop protecting Fulani herdsmen. This is coming after the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Alireportedly said that the anti-grazing law in Benue is the cause of the killings. Dan-Ali, while speaking to newsmen, said Look at this issue (killings in Benue and Taraba), what is the remote cause of the farmers crisis? Since the nation s independence, we know there used to be a route whereby the cattle rearers take because they are all over the nation. If you go to Bayelsa or Ogun, you will see them . If those routes are blocked, what do you expect will happen? These people are Nigerians. It is just like one going to block the shoreline ; does that make sense to you ? These are the remote causes of the crisis. But the immediate cause is the grazing law. Some state Governors had passed laws banning open grazing by herdsmen, to curb the constant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. According to Daily Post, the Governor said State governments are constitutionally empowered to make laws for the good governance and peaceful coexistence in their states. The killings were there before the laws came into being. The laws are part of the solution to end the killings. We are indeed surprised that the minister could say that. The Department of State Services, in its report, said the killings were done by Islamic State in West Africa and the minister is blaming the killings on blockage of cattle routes and anti- open grazing laws. So, who do we believe? DSS blames Benue killings on ISIS The Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies recently revealed that the Islamic State in West Africa network might be responsible for the killings in Benue state and other parts of the country. The agency also revealed that foreign terrorists are recruiting young men to kill innocent people, adding that the aim of the attacks is to cause tension and distrust, so as to destabilise the country. Fulani herdsmen will continue attacks Gov. David Umahi, made this disclosure in Abakaliki while receiving Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health during his visit to the state to ascertain the situation report of the outbreak. Umahi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, said that the minister came to the state after the disease had claimed several lives, especially medical personnel. We are not happy over the development and have declared the outbreak of the disease in the state, even if other affected states have not done that. We know that accessing money from the Federal Government is not easy but we want the health minister to redouble his efforts to ensure that funds and other logistics are released promptly to check such outbreaks. He called for the equipping of the south east virology centre, constructed by the State government and handed over to the Federal Government in 2016. We thought that the government should have made the centre operational to make it respond to such outbreaks, as it serves states in South East and neighbouring ones as Benue, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, he said. He called on the Federal Government to release a stabilisation fund to enhance the centres operations, adding that the state government had bought a dialysis and a PCR machine for greater efficiency of the centre. We recorded 16 cases, nine confirmed cases, six suspected cases, one probable index case; eight persons admitted at the virology centre, one admitted in Irrua, Edo. There were four deaths, including two doctors and a nurse and three patients discharged from admissions, he said. Adewole, after inspecting the virology, said that the ministry was not informed about the outbreak of the disease on time. We reacted accordingly immediately we learnt of the outbreak, as the governments duty is to support states and we expect them to be in a position to respond accordingly. We only come to their rescue when the situation is beyond them because there is a Commissioner of Health on ground; this makes us offer only additional support. We are not supposed to take care of the states health care, as I have seen patients and staff at the virology centre, we have noted the gaps and would fill in the gaps accordingly, he said. Adewole promised that the Federal Government would provide more facilities to the centre in the coming weeks to ensure that it caters for other diseases beyond Lassa fever. IRT commander, ACP Abba Kyari, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday that some members of the kidnap gang were also arrested. Kyari said that Messrs Thomas Arnold and Hendrick Gideon were kidnapped at a mining site in Maidaro Village on Jan. 23 and taken to Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State. He said the victims were rescued on Saturday morning following intense pressure jointly mounted on the kidnappers by the IRT, Police Air Wing helicopter patrol and Kaduna State Command Police. The victims were moved from Kaduna to Abuja this morning and were handed over to the South African Embassy and their company representative for medicals and other immediate needs. Victims are in good health and have given useful information to the police that will help in further investigation. Some suspects were arrested and serious efforts are on to arrest other gang members, Kyari said. NAN recalls that on Saturday Jan. 23, two Americans and two Canadians, kidnapped on Jan. 23 along Jere-Kagarko Road in Kaduna State, were rescued on Tuesday. Two policemen were killed by the gunmen during the kidnap incident while two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested. Ilimo Farm dairy (thanks to reader for helping out; we hope this is a more recent image!) FRANCIS NII KUNDIAWA - The announcement by Innovation Agro Industries (IAI) at Ilimo Farm outside Port Moresby that its locally produced milk will find the shelves of PNG supermarkets next month has been received with mixed reactions. IAI managing director Ian Weiss told PNG News that 746 cows were producing six tonnes of milk a day with production aimed to be ramped up to 12,000 tonnes a day by March. The quality is in the taste, said Mr Weiss, Ive got years of diary experience and this is the best you can get globally. To many Papua New Guineans, the announcement is welcome news for the local economy especially at a time when imported milk product prices are high due to the falling value of the kina and government tariffs. Once the IAI product hits the supermarkets, it will create competition against imports, giving consumers an economical choice. According to a statement by Brig.-Gen Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations late Friday, troops also destroyed 11 gun trucks and 12 Hilux vehicles during the operation. Usman said that other terrorists equipment destroyed were make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), booby traps and other delaying obstacles and devices. In addition, the gallant troops recovered one gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, one machine gun, a pistol, large quantity of anti-aircraft gun ammunition, a 120mm mortar base Plate and a dane gun, he said. Usman added that three canter trucks, two double barrel rifles, 30 bicycles, power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop were also destroyed by troops. Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded during the encounter.` The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment, according to the army spokesman. He said the GOC 7 Division and Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Maj.-Gen. I. M. Yusuf, and Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, have visited the troops and commended them on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for a job well done. Usman urged the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities. Daily Post also reports that the minister blamed the clashes on the anti-grazing law passed by the Benue state government. Wike, in his reaction, said that Dan-Ali displayed a high levl of insensitivity. The Governor also said So far, there is no indication that the state government is planning to create grazing routes or cattle colonies in the state. The statement by the minister only smacks of insensitivity on his (ministers ) part. Assuming that grazing routes were blocked, should killing become the next action? We are not in a jungle, we are a society of enlightened people. If there is a problem, people should come together and find a solution to it and not take up arms and kill innocent people, Daily Post reports. Buhari loves cattle more than human lives Governor Nyesom Wike recently said that cows are more important than human lives under President Buharis administration. Since Obasanjos letter dropped Nigerians have not stopped talking about it. While most Nigerians agreed with the content of the letter, a few others have expressed reservations about the intention of the messenger Obasanjo who they say is trying to play god again. Few hours later, the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande rushed to the Aso Villa for an emergency meeting with President Buhari. But, after over 24 hours of careful thoughts, the minister of information, Lai Mohammed released a statement in which he thanked the former president for the long statement. Lai, however, termed Patriot Obasanjos advice to President Buhari on seeking a reelection a . The ruling party also commended Obasanjo for the letter but declared the APC the best option for Nigeria. Well, we didnt expect anything less. They federal government and APC may have dismissed Obasanjos letter in their statements but events that have played out these few days suggest otherwise. 1.Babachir Lawal was finally arrested After thirteen (13) months and ten (10) days after the Senate adhoc committee investigating the humanitarian crisis in the northeast indicted the former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This did not happen until a day after Obasanjos letter to Buhari. Obasanjo had accused President of nepotism, clannishness and condoning acts of corruption. After a night at the EFCC cell in Abuja, Babachirs accounts have been reportedly frozen by the EFCC. The EFCC has however said that their action on Babachir was not due to Obasanjos letter. 2. Buhari met with security chiefs Former President Obasanjo had accused Buhari of handling the farmers/herdsmen clash with kid gloves. Although the President had ordered the inspector-general of Police, Ibrahim Idris to relocate to Makurdi following the gruesome killing of over 100 Nigerians in the Benue state, that did not stop the attacks. President Buhari had advised the governor, Samuel Ortom to appeal to Benue people to "accommodate their countrymen". But the killings continued until Buharis letter dropped. On Thursday, January 25, 2018 two days after Obasanjos letter President Buhari met with service chiefs over the rising insecurity in the land. President Buhari was briefed on intelligence gathering and law enforcement efforts across the country. Security meeting today, presided over by President @MBuhari. NSA, Service Chiefs, Intelligence Chiefs, IGP in attendance. President briefed on Intelligence-gathering and law enforcement efforts across the country, by the various agencies, the Presidency said on Twitter. "We are stepping up our efforts to tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country. The security agencies already have standing instructions to arrest and prosecute anyone found with illegal arms," the Presidency added. 3. More trouble for notable Nigerians Arising from President Buhari's meeting with the service chiefs was an order for the security agencies to monitor the social media accounts of prominent Nigerians against hate speech. The minister of defence, Mansur Dan Ali, had described the trend of hate speech on social media as worrisome. Relevant security agencies should as a matter of urgency tackle the propagation of hate speeches through the social media, particularly by some notable Nigerians, Ali said. But some Nigerians have described the order as an attempt by the federal government to stifle critics. 4. APC backs restructuring Sequel to the increasing call for restructuring, the APC had set up a panel to look into how the issue can be addressed. Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state headed that committee. But the recommendations were not made public until two days after Obasanjos letter, Thursday, January 25, 2018. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kashim Shettima of Borno state had dismissed the call for restructuring. People are talking about artificial intelligence, other nations are talking about nano technology or robotics engineering but unfortunately, the topical issue in Nigeria is restructuring. Restructuring my foot! To hell with restructuring, Shettima declared at the launch of Bolaji Abdulahis book, On the Platter of Gold How Jonathan won and lost Nigeria. The governor had more... Let us improve on governance, let us work for the people, invest in education, create jobs for our people, this madness will stop. Restructuring my foot! To hell with restructuring, the governor exclaimed during his remarks at the event which took place in Abuja on Thursday, November 30, 2017. "Let's focus on governance. Let's invest in education, let's work for the people and create jobs so this madness will stop," Shettima added. Two days After Obasanjos letter, the APC panel has backed the call for restructuring in the following ways. The panel proposed amongst other things an amendment of the constitution to provide referendum to be conducted on national or state issues, Item six, police, we have also moved it to the concurrent list. we are recommending that police should be both federal and state, the report said. Heres are other recommendations as proposed by the El-Rufai led panel. We have proposed an amendment to create the State Judicial Council that will appoint and discipline judges within a state while the National Judicial Council will exercise control over the appointment, discipline of judges of the federal government only. We have recommendation on fiscal federalism and revenue allocation in which we propose amending section 162 and sub-section two of the Constitution; as well as amend the revenue allocation of revenue Federation Account Act to give more revenue to the states and reduce the federal governments share of revenue. On citizenship, the issue of local government or state of origin is discriminatory and should be replaced with state of residence. It is around this that we have proposed an amendment to the Federal Character Commission Act to allow people domiciled in a place to be considered as indigenes." On Independent candidacy, Governor El-Rufai said: We believe widening the political space is consistent with APCs and the Presidents commitment and we have made recommendations but with very strict conditions. We have included in the bill to allow for independent candidacy that no one that wants to run as an independent candidate should not be a member of a political party six months to the election. The panel also proposed that that state of origin is discriminatory and should be replaced with state of residence. 5. President Buhari signs eight bills into law Again, on Friday, January 26, 2018, President signed eight more bills into law. The senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate), Ita Enang, told statehouse correspondents that part of the bills signed was the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges), 2018. This act grants the legislative houses both national assembly and state houses of assembly -- immunity from litigation for actions taken in plenary or committee proceedings of the house or committee. Others bills assented to by President Buhari includes: Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain (Domestication and Enforcement) Act, 2018; Rail Loan (International Bank) (Repeal) Act, 2018; Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018; Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Act, 2018; and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment), Act, 2018. Do you think these actions by the APC-led government mere coincidences or a non-verbal response by the Buhari-led government to Obasanjo's letter. Trump had earlier referred to Africa, Haiti and El Salvador as shithole countries during a meeting with lawmakers to discuss a proposal for an immigration plan. This sparked a lot of controversy, with the some diplomats and African leaders, calling for an apology from the President of the World super power. The US leader later denied using the language, adding that he used tough words. According to the UK standard, the decision to visit Africa might have come out of his meeting with the African Union chairman and president of Rwanda Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum. Trump, after the meeting referred to Kagame as a friend. Nigeria summons US Ambassador The Nigerian government also summoned the United States Ambassador, Stuart Symington, to explain the derogatory remarks which President Donald Trump allegedly made. If all this sounds a bit surreal, thats because it is. Tabarnia whose name is a mashup of Tarragona and Barcelona is an entirely fictitious entity, created and promoted by some of the people opposed to Catalonias independence from Spain. The founders of Tabarnia intend for it to send a message to Catalonias separatist politicians: That not everyone in Spains restive northeastern region shares the same breakup hopes, and that one declaration of independence could set off a cascading series of separations, to the point of absurdity. Tabarnia holds up a mirror to the nonsense that is the demand for Catalan independence, said Joan Lopez Alegre, a politician, journalist and now the spokesman for the invented country. Separatists feel they can violate Spanish law and declare the independence of Catalonia, but they should know that people who oppose their movement around Barcelona or Tarragona could do just the same and split away from them. The Tabarnia initiative went viral on social media shortly after Dec. 21, when Catalonias separatist parties retained their narrow parliamentary majority, winning 70 of the 135 seats in the Catalan parliament, in a snap election called by Mariano Rajoy, Spains prime minister. While the vote was a setback for Rajoy, whose own Popular Party finished last in the regional election, it also confirmed the split within Catalan society and left the separatist parties with an uphill struggle to form a new government. On Tuesday, Catalan lawmakers are to decide whether to re-elect Carles Puigdemont as president. He was removed from office by Rajoy in October, after he and other separatist lawmakers declared unilateral independence. Puigdemont then left for Belgium and has since refused to return to Spain to face prosecution for rebellion. Rajoys government is counting on Spains judiciary to stop Puigdemonts political return. Should Puigdemont be re-elected, Rajoy warned that he could extend Madrids direct rule over Catalonia, using the same emergency powers that forced Puigdemonts ouster three months ago. While separatist lawmakers are struggling to form a new government without incurring more sanctions from Madrid, Tabarnias mock president, Albert Boadella, was elected unopposed. In the waning years of the Franco dictatorship, Boadella was a co-founder of Els Joglars, a theater company that used mime and comedy to challenge censorship under Francos regime. Since 2006, however, Boadella has refused to produce a play in Catalonia, after suffering what he called a campaign of hatred for helping launch Ciudadanos, or Citizens, a staunchly anti-secession party that has grown into a national political force. In the December vote in Catalonia, Ciudadanos won a quarter of the votes, making it the largest single party in the Catalan assembly. But Ciudadanos is leading the opposition, not trying to form a government, because the three separatist parties won a combined 47.5 percent of the vote, enough to give them a majority, under a voting system that favors their dominance in rural areas. Boadella accuses the separatists of pushing Catalonia toward the most absolute ruin. He is beginning his mock term as president of Tabarnia in self-imposed exile because this territory has become insufferable for the lovers of liberty and good humor. Even if Tabarnia is a lighthearted pushback against the separatists, Lopez Alegre noted that the Spanish Constitution, which forbids unilateral secession, does allow the creation of new autonomous regions. And while Tabarnia highlights the opposition to secession in and around two of Catalonias largest cities, residents of the Val dAran, a tiny mountainous community along the border between France and Catalonia, have also been warning that they could break away if Catalonia seceded from Spain. Pere Rusinol, a co-founder of Mongolia, a magazine of political satire, sees Tabarnia as an interesting provocation to underline the contradictions of Catalan nationalism. But if Tabarnia ever became a serious political project, there could be a real danger of Balkanization, he said, even perhaps like the violent breakup of the former Yugoslavia. What is a game would then look scary, Rusinol warned. For the separatists, however, Tabarnia is an irrelevant case of sour grapes, coming after an election that failed to yield the decisive blow to Catalonias independence movement that Rajoy had anticipated. Tabarnia is something like Peter Pans Neverland for the unionists, said Salvador Garcia Ruiz, chief executive of Ara, a pro-independence newspaper. The territorial tensions within Catalonia, he added, are manageable and comparable to those provoked by other heated political debates, like Britains referendum on leaving the European Union or the election of President Donald Trump in the United States. In democratic countries, such differences are resolved at the ballot boxes, Garcia Ruiz said. Tabarnias theoretical borders would contain two-thirds of Catalonias 7.5 million residents. Unlike the Catalan republic that Puigdemont and other separatists want, Tabarnia would swear allegiance to the Spanish monarch, Felipe VI, while using its own flag and coat of arms. Tabarnia is a parody, but one that feeds into the debate raised by the Catalan independence movement over the limits of the principle of self-determination, said Manuel Muniz, dean of the school of international relations at IE University in Madrid. The mock territory raises the issue of who is to vote and when within a democratic system, Muniz said. Are regions the ones entitled to decide on their independence or would cities also qualify? Or should it be neighborhoods within cities? Similar questions, Muniz said, could apply to Scotland, London and other constituent parts of the U.K. once a slim majority of Brits took the decision to leave the EU. Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, Spains far-left party, recently criticized the promoters of Tabarnia for fueling a war of flags that he said helps neither Spaniards nor Catalans. But Lopez Alegre, the spokesman, said the goal was never to fragment Catalonia itself, but instead to try to end what he sees as a disruptive chapter of Catalan secessionism. Tabarnia has its own flag and symbols. Acta est fabula, the Latin saying for the play is over, is the motto on its coat of arms. Mali recently commemorated the fifth anniversary of a French military mission to oust Islamic extremists from power in the major towns to the countrys north. The operation, however, merely dispersed the jihadis into the surrounding desert. In the years since, they have staged frequent attacks on the military as well as on United Nations peacekeeping forces that are trying to stabilize the country. Last January, at least 54 people were killed in the eastern city of Gao after a camp, which housed hundreds of former fighters from armed groups, was bombed. The former fighters, who were signatories to Malis 2015 peace agreement, had agreed to join forces with the military to battle extremist groups. Despite the presence of a peacekeeping mission and troops operating under a regional French anti-militant mission, violence is again on the rise and attacks are spreading farther south toward the capital, Bamako. A land mine explosion blew up a civilian passenger vehicle near the central Mali village of Boni on Thursday, killing 26 people and injuring several others. In a separate incident on the same day in the nearby town of Youwarou, the Malian military said its forces had repelled an attack by fighters suspected of being Islamist insurgents. Mali and its western neighbor of Senegal plan to deploy 1,000 troops soon in an operation to pacify central Mali and contain jihadis who had been confined to its Saharan expanses in the north. But analysts doubt they will be able to do so purely through military means. Property details: You Are Bidding On the Full Purchase Price for 20 Acres in Northern California! County Road Frontage. Electric. Views. Mountain Views for Miles. Parcel: This auction is for legal description: Lot 631 Moon Valley Ranch Unit No. 4. This is a 20 ACRE +/- parcel of land in Lassen County, California. This land is about 11 miles southwest of Madeline, California approximately 5 miles west of Highway 395. The property is located near Whitinger Mountain. The lot is very quiet and peaceful. The land is n... Price: $ 19,900 State/Province: California Seller State of Residence: Arizona City: Madeline Type: Recreational, Acreage Zip/Postal Code: 96619 Location: 852**, Tempe, Arizona You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 96619 Are you searching for the best foreclosure defense lawyers in Washington, DC? Then you came to the right place. We have listed the top 5 best foreclose defense lawyers in Washington, DC area to save your time and money. Check out the list below! 1) Synergy Law LLC Synergy Law, LLC, is a Full Service Law Firm with a synergetic combination of legal professionals. The firm works with an extensive and experienced nationwide network of Attorneys who are in good standing with each of their respective State Bar Organizations. Our Attorneys have strong work ethic, sound integrity, and are dedicated to helping our clients receive the best possible resolution. 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Its niche is combining its practice areas to restructure distressed commercial real estate and LLC's, including workouts, recapitalizations, bankruptcies and sale-leasebacks and including handling any litigation associated therewith. This firms real estate and bankruptcy work includes (a) in the good times - acquisitions, joint development agreements and easements, leases (including air rights, ground, interior space, tower, rooftop, and governmental leases), subleases and licenses, and financing structures; and (b) in the bad times - workouts, foreclosures, landlord/tenant renegotiations and evictions, bankruptcies (including single asset real estate and Chapter 11s), and LLC member disputes. 4) Shulman Rogers The Foreclosure Practice Group is staffed with qualified attorneys, legal assistants, and other staff members ready to Foreclosure Practice group based in Marylandassist clients in achieving success. The departments attorneys collectively have more than fifty years of experience representing secured creditors. Unlike some firms that only handle foreclosure-related matters, Shulman Rogers is a full-service law firm staffed by a team of seasoned lawyers with transactional and litigation experience. 5) Touchstone Law Firm, LLC Touchstone Law Firm, LLC is one of the most respected full-service firms in suburban Washington, DC. We pride ourselves on setting the standard of excellence and providing well-researched, creative, competent legal adivce and consultancy to our clients. We focus our practice in the areas of Bankruptcy, Immigration Law, Foreclosure Defense, Family Law and Litigation. Fighting fake brand peddlers: How the complex web of counterfeit goods threatens to trip e-commerce giants in the country. IMAGE: Pirated DVDs and software like this at a streetside hawker's shop in Mumbai is available nearly anywhere. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters. Last month, when global footwear brand Skechers filed a case against Flipkart, and four sellers on its platform, for fake goods being sold under its label, it cracked open the lid on one of the most persistent problems in Indian e-commerce. Counterfeit brands. IMAGE: Fake designer men's briefs. Photograph: Courtesy, Michal Hvorecky/Wikimedia Commons. From footwear to branded apparel, beauty and personal care products, alcohol and perfume, big brands have been going head to head with online marketplaces over fakes on their platforms. With brands threatening to pull out, the e-commerce giants have said that they are determined to weed out the counterfeiters and are doing everything to counter the menace. The problem of fakes impacts customers, companies and the online sellers. It has become too big to ignore. Indian retail merchants experience high fraud rates of as much as five per cent of total Gross Merchandise Value, according to a report by Experian Credit Bureau in 2017. Image used for representational purpose only. Customs officers shredding counterfeit Nike, Adidas and Puma trainers at the Hamburg harbour. From footwear to branded apparel, beauty and personal care products, alcohol and perfume, big brands have been going head to head with online marketplaces over fakes on their platforms. Photograph: Christian Charisius/Reuters. Fortunately, the report noted, despite a high frequency of fraud incidents, consumers in India are generally more tolerant and willing to accept the occasional fraud involving minor monetary losses if given assurance of non-recurrence. Companies however are not as patient. Recently German shoemaker Birkenstock took legal action after it was exasperated with Google redirecting consumer traffic to Amazon which stocks a number of brands with similar names like Brikenstock, Bierkenstock and Birkenstok, reported Reuters. The German company parted ways with Amazons US and Europe services in protest. IMAGE: Bottles of fake French Chartreuse liqueur at their cellars at Voiron, Isere, France. Liquor is also commonly counterfeited and it is very difficult to distinguish a real bottle from a fake. Photograph: Courtesy, TwoWings/Wikimedia Commons. According to a report in the American Journal of Transportation last month, footwear is the most commonly faked product across the $ 461 billion industry of pirated and fake goods, but by no means is it the only industry under the scanner. Sizing up the problem According to a report by KPMG and Ficci, titled Illicit Trade: Fueling terror financing and organised crime, counterfeiting, smuggling and piracy are highly pervasive across countries and sectors, representing a multi-billion-dollar industry that continues to grow and impact commerce and society at large. It estimates that by 2022, the value of counterfeit and pirated goods will be around $1.90 to $2.81 trillion. The report also pins a big part of the blame for fakes on the Internet because of its apparent anonymity, its ability to operate across different jurisdictions and its potential to present sophisticated replicas in seemingly official online boutiques. IMAGE: Customs officials destroy about 35,000 pirated film DVDs confiscated at Chennai airport. It is estimated by 2022, the value of counterfeit and pirated goods globally will be around $1.90 to $2.81 trillion. Photograph: Babu/Reuters. According to IP attorney Ranjan Narula: The IT Act gives certain immunity to the e-commerce players as often they do not possess their own inventory and source the products directly from the sellers. The onus really lies on the brands to bring these discrepancies to the attention of the platform. He adds that e-commerce platforms walk a very thin line as they are caught between increasing the enrollment of sellers on the platform and conducting a more stringent scrutiny of their credentials. E-tailers want to provide maximum choice for all the categories on display and attract as many sellers as possible on their platforms. The United States Trade Representative has already placed India along with China, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, Kuwait, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela on a priority watch list for notorious markets of counterfeit products. The global counterfeit import industry is worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, or around 2.5 per cent of global imports according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the EUs Intellectual Property Office. American, French and Italian brands are the worst hit by global counterfeit trade. IMAGE: Instagram spambots feature sites selling counterfeit luxury items of different brands. Photograph: Courtesy, Andrea Stroppa, Daniele di Stefano and Bernardo Parrella/Wikimedia Commons. The imitation game We remove suspected counterfeit items as soon as we become aware of them, and we suspend or block bad actors suspected of engaging in illegal behaviour or infringing others intellectual property rights. We have taken independent legal action against bad actors, and will continue to do so, said an Amazon India spokesperson. Amazon and Flipkart are keen to dispel any doubt about their ability to crack down on fakes. They have worked hard to win the trust of Indian consumers. The spokesperson for Amazon added that they work closely with rights owners to strengthen protections for their brands and with law enforcement when presented with valid legal process. Technology giant Google has put out a statement that says it has undertaken a massive campaign to clean out advertisements that directed users to fake pharma peddlers and phishing websites. Advertising veteran Sandeep Goyal believes that brands are quite crippled when it comes to identifying dubious sellers themselves as one can never know how far and long a product might have travelled after it was initially sold. Goyal calls for a strong sensitisation campaign across social media as well as media voices to call out the trouble-making platforms. Some lessons could be drawn from Alibabas experience with fakes; the Chinese behemoth fought counterfeiters for years and only in 2011 was it unlisted from USTRs notorious markets list. IMAGE: According to a report in the American Journal of Transportation, footwear is the most commonly faked product across the $ 461 billion industry of pirated and fake goods, but by no means is it the only industry under the scanner. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters. Counterfeit goods arent the only problem brands face. Often, third-party sellers source phased out products from one market or region and sell them in another without the knowledge of the original company. This is especially common for electronics and apparel where out-of-fashion or old stock is recycled from one market to another, said Narula. Such behaviour too damages customer trust. When one buys from a nondescript online platform, there is a certain risk. However, when consumers go to well established e-commerce platforms, they expect a level of service. And e-tailers cannot wash their hands off and say that a third party seller was responsible for fake products, said Goyal. If the retailers and companies do not take the fight against counterfeit more seriously, fake brands could end up doing some real damage. At least 95 people were killed and 163 others wounded when an ambulance packed with explosives blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday. The attack is claimed by the Taliban. However, the Afghan government said the attack was a handiwork of the Haqqani Network. The explosion -- one of the biggest since a truck bomb ripped through the Afghan capital's diplomatic quarter on May 31 last year -- triggered chaotic scenes as terrified people fled the area where several high-profile organisations, including the European Union, have offices. Officials confirmed the rise in death toll to 95 and put the number of injured to 163. According to Afghanistan's TOLO News, the explosive laden ambulance was detonated between two checkpoints outside the old Ministry of Interior building close to Sedarat Square, close to well known Chicken Street. The force of the blast shook windows of buildings at least two kilometres away and shattered windows within hundreds of metres of the site. Some low-rise structures in the vicinity of the explosion also collapsed. The interior ministry said 'the suicide bomber used an ambulance to pass through the checkpoints. He passed through the first checkpoint saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital'. "But he was stopped at the second checkpoint and blew his explosive-laden car," the ministry's spokesman said. This is the second big attack by the Taliban in a week, after the attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul in which 22 people were killed. The explosion happened in a busy part of the city where the High Peace Council, which is charged with negotiating with the Taliban, has offices. The Indian ministry of external affairs condemned the attack. 'India strongly condemns barbaric terrorist attacks in Kabul targeting innocent civilians. This follows the cowardly attack on children and civilians in Jalalabad on January 24. There can be no justification for it. The perpetrators and their supporters should be brought to justice,' the MEA said in a statement. 'India stands in solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan at this difficult time of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the kin of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured,' the MEA said. 'India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured,' the statement read. With ANI inputs. IMAGE: Afghan security forces members and civilians assist the injured after a blast in Kabul on Saturday. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters A local court on Saturday acquitted Nationalist Congress Party MLA and former Kerala transport minister A K Saseendran of the sexual harassment charges levelled by a woman journalist. With the chief judicial magistrate's court in Thiruvananthapuram acquitting him, the way has been cleared for Saseendran's re-induction into the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The court acquitted Saseendran holding that no case had been made out against him that warranted conviction. The case, an off-shoot of a sleaze audio tape row involving Saseendran and the woman, had taken a new turn with the latter reversing her statement in court that he had misbehaved with her. She had also stated during cross examination that she was not sure about whether the 'person on the other side of the phone' was Saseendran. In a related development in the case, a public interest litigation was filed in the court this morning stating that the woman journalist might have reversed her statement due to 'fear' and that the proceedings should not be closed. The chief judicial magistrate rejected the plea, stating that it was a matter between the two persons and a third person cannot interfere into it. Mystery also surrounded the PIL as there were reports that the address of the petitioner given in the plea was not correct. The case was registered against Saseendran after the woman filed a complaint, in which she stated that he had misbehaved with her when she met him for an interview at his office. Saseendran resigned as minister in March 2017 and Thomas Chandy, the other MLA of the party, replaced him as the transport minister. However, Chandy also had to resign in November 2017 after allegations of land encroachment surfaced against him. The NCP state leadership had then taken a decision that whoever comes clean of charges first would become the minister again. Expressing happiness over the verdict, Saseendran said he would abide by the party leadership's decision. Saseendran ran into trouble after a Malayalam TV channel aired a purported sleaze audio of him in conversation with a woman, who was later identified as the petitioner journalist. The channel had later tendered an apology admitting that it had conducted a "sting operation" involving one of its women journalists and not a housewife, as claimed earlier. The Justice P S Antony commission, which went into the allegations against the former minister, had in its report submitted to the government in November last year stated that it could not ascertain the authenticity of the purported voice clip of Saseendran. The Chief Executive Officer of the channel and four mediapersons were arrested in connection with 'sleaze audio' case and were now out on bail. At least 38 people have been arrested or detained in connection with the violence by fringe Rajput groups against the screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial film 'Padmaavat' in Gurgaon, police said on Saturday. Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar told PTI that the department arrested 24 people for their alleged involvement in violent incidents, and another 14 as part of preventive measures under Section 107/151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in eight cases. He dismissed social media reports that Muslim youths were detained or arrested, and urged people to not pay attention to rumours, but follow the district administration's guidelines. Kumar said the people arrested have been sent to judicial custody by a court. On Wednesday, a school bus carrying 20-25 students was targeted in Gurugram and the Delhi-Jaipur national highway was blocked by supporters of Karni Sena, which is at the forefront of the opposition to the film, and other Rajput fringe groups. Another state-run bus was torched near Bhondsi village. The protesters allege that the movie based on the saga of the 13th-century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, distorts history and shows Rani Padmavati in "poor light", despite historians being divided on whether the queen actually existed. The filmmakers, too, have denied the allegations. The groups nonetheless had threatened the owners of more than 40 multiplexes and theatres operating in Gurugram to not screen the film. Fearing trouble in the area, the police had on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders. But the protesters still rampaged through, forcing residents to initially avoid theatres. On Saturday, the police said the situation was under control. "Best efforts are being made by police teams to identify other miscreants involved in previous violent incidents which occurred in different places in the district," Kumar said. He said a special investigation team, headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officer, has been formed to probe the incidents. The SIT will strive to collect scientific evidences and identify the remaining people involved in the violence, he added. "The situation in Gurgaon is peaceful. Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers at malls, multiplexes and sensitive locations to maintain law and order," Kumar said. The national secretary of Karni Sena, Suraj Pal Amu, was arrested yesterday on charges of breaching peace in the city. He has been sent into judicial custody until Monday. IMAGE: A bus was torched by protesters in Gurugram's Sohna Road. Photograph: ANI Miscreants damaged at least three shops and torched a few other commercial establishments on the second day of violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj city on Saturday, police said, after a young boy was killed in clashes following pelting of stones on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day. A bus was also set on fire in the latest flare-up in the city, where a curfew was imposed on Friday after the clashes. A state government spokesperson said prohibitory orders still remain in effect in the city in western Uttar Pradesh, but did not specify whether the curfew had been lifted. Meanwhile, 49 people have been arrested in connection with the conflict on Friday. Fire brigade personnel were deployed to douse the fires. A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district, whose borders have been sealed to stop elements detrimental to peace from sneaking into the city. The fresh violence happened a day after a 16-year-old boy was killed and two others were injured in clashes in the city. The clashes on Friday happened after stones were reportedly pelted on the motorcycle rally taken out by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad volunteers as part of celebrations on the 69th Republic Day. While nine accused have been arrested on charges of murder and rioting, 39 have been arrested for disruption of law and order situation, which include those who torched buses and shops. A Special Investigative Team has been formed to arrest the others accused in the violence. "Till now, 49 people have been arrested in connection with Kasganj clash. Section 144 is still imposed in the state. While borders have been sealed too," R P Singh, Kasganj District Magistrate, said. "Anti-social elements today tried to set on fire a small shop on the city's outskirts... Some of the anti-social elements have been taken into custody, while others were chased away," Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said. "Our main job at this point of time is to ensure that along with normal law and order situation, brotherhood among communities also remain intact," Kumar told reporters. He added the police was trying to make people 'understand communal bonhomie'. "The situation is under control, and will remain so. Sufficient police personnel have been deployed." Superintendent of Police, Kasganj, Sunil Kumar Singh, said: "Anti-social elements had set two shoe shops afire in Ghantghar market, and fire brigade was pressed into action. "Apart from this one utensil shop was set afire by anti-social elements. A bus was also damaged by anti-social element, who set it afire. Fire brigade was called to douse the flames." Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished. The state police said today that a complaint has been registered at the Kasganj police station and a special team has been formed to arrest others involved in the violence. On Friday, the police said a few unidentified miscreants had hurled stones at the motorcycle rally. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had condoled the loss of life and told the police to sternly deal with the culprits. The victim's family was demanding the status of a martyr for the deceased. With ANI inputs. IMAGE: A shop set afire by miscreants in UP's Kasganj on Saturday. Photograph: ANI 3 1 of 3 Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The attorney representing infamous drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is questioning whether the jury in his upcoming trial should be afforded special protections, according to the New York Post. Prosecutors have requested an anonymous jury due to Guzman's violent history and belief that he's killed past witnesses, reports the newspaper. The prosecutors have also requested armed escorts to and from a safe location for the trial, set to start in September in Brooklyn's federal court. Davos may have been expecting Donald Trump the flamethrower on Friday. Instead it got Donald Trump the salesman. The president may as well have been standing in front of a giant American flag as he declared in an address to the World Economic Forum: "America is open for business, and we are competitive once again." The speech was a jarring transition from Trump's first day at the mountain gathering in Davos, Switzerland, where he dominated the event with his trademark bravado, spontaneity and camera-grabbing disruption. It was a measured, respectful and thoroughly scripted pitch to an unfamiliar audience of global elites. But it was a pitch all the same. And Trump, apart from an unscripted aside about the "vicious" and "fake" press that drew boos, kept to the sales job. Unemployment's down. Business and consumer optimism is up. The U.S. economy is growing. The tax cuts Trump signed into law late last year are "the most significant" in history. Regulations are going away. "Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs, and your investments to the United States," Trump proclaimed. Forgive the wealthy elites, central bankers and assorted other globalists at Davos if they looked past Trump's insistence that his "America First" agenda would benefit the world, not just his country, or his dubious commitment to free trade, or the reminder that he's trying to restrict U.S. immigration and take in fewer refugees. The American president wants to make them even more money. "We entrepreneurs are for business, and it's good to hear about business," said Moretti Polegato, chairman and founder of Italian shoemaker and retailer Geox. Martin Sorrell, the president and chief executive officer of public relations giant WPP, heard a similar message from Trump. "The U.S. is open for foreign direct investment, we're open for business," Sorrell said. "He talked about trade, free trade but fair trade, doesn't want to see America exploited. And lastly he said 'look what I've done so far,' which is the tax plan which was implemented faster than people said and at a lower rate than people thought, and is highly stimulative." "It was a good Trumpian speech," he said. The corporate world had already embraced Trump at Davos. The night before the speech, the president hosted a dinner for European executives, where the White House let reporters observe the opening 20 minutes. It was reminiscent of White House meetings in which his Cabinet members take turns ingratiating themselves to the president. Similarly, Trump invited the businessmen -- they were all male -- to describe how they were helping to make America great again. "It's kind of amazing to have all your customers talking about adding jobs and growing their business," Bill McDermott, the CEO of software company SAP said of his fellow executives. "And it's just a real tribute for the momentum that you've created in a global economy." There were rumors before Trump's speech of a boycott or a walkout, but instead the conference participants lined up for the show. One of the president's fiercest critics said that Trump's speech wasn't bad, for Trump. "He only spoke for 15 minutes and had a script; even he can manage to hold it together for that long," Anya Stiglitz, the wife of Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, said after the speech. She sat in the audience while Trump spoke wearing a t-shirt that read "not my president." In an overflow room of more than 100 people, there was loud booing both at Trump's remarks about the media and at his "America First" explanation. "He's giving tax cuts to rich people and screwing the poor," Stiglitz added. "He's not up to the job." And in some cases, the corporate embrace of the president is still delicate. Tupperware CEO Rick Goings skipped Trump's speech to go meditate after seeing the heavy crowds. "I have to separate the person from the administration and policy," Goings said. "He makes a strong case for taking actions to level the playing field with regard to taxes." Davos isn't Donald Trump's kind of place -- and Trump isn't Davos's kind of world leader. But as long as he keeps the business world happy, his first visit may not be his last. --- Bloomberg contributors: Simon Kennedy, Jacqueline Simmons, Stephen Morris, Javier Blas, Alessandro Speciale and Benedikt Kammel. Cuomo said the lawsuit could argue the tax law violates states' rights and is unfair because it singles out Democratic states for political reasons. The lawsuit will have to meet a high bar to succeed, according to constitutional law professor Michael Dorf of Cornell University's law school. He said plaintiffs might need to show that Congress explicitly targeted certain states because of the political leanings of their residents, or convince the courts that the tax law violated states' rights. But he said the suit could still amount to a political victory if it fuels opposition to the tax law or puts pressure on Congress to reconsider it even if the challenge is a loser in court. "Any time you bring a lawsuit of this sort you have two audiences: the judges who will decide the case and the other is the public," he said. Top Republicans in New York have dismissed Cuomo's lawsuit as an ill-advised political stunt. State GOP Chairman Ed Cox said that if Cuomo wants to do something to reduce the impact of the new tax code on New Yorkers he should address the state's high taxes. "It applies to every state. I don't think they can claim it's discriminatory," Cox said of the law. "Some states have high taxes and some don't. That's up to the states." A message left with the Trump administration was not immediately returned. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 1 PROPOSALS for a leisure complex and hotel around the site of the old Guest and Chrimes building next to the AESSEAL New York Stadium could take a step forward next month. Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart is due to meet English Heritage to further discuss the detail behind the vision for the former Grade II listed iron foundry. Mr Stewart is keen to press on with Phase Two of the NYS site development as the stadium itself approaches its sixth anniversary. He said: "I've invested quite a lot of money a six figure sum to get a situation where a top leisure company in the UK to work with us to get a leisure complex up and running. "Ordinance surveys and structural surveys have been done and I have put a masterplan forward for the leisure centre and hotel but that has to be assessed by English Heritage. "We've had one meeting since the turn of the year and I hope the next one will help us put a structure in place to move to the next stage which we can announce next month." Report: Army, committees conduct ground attacks against Saudi soldiers, mercenaries over Friday [27/January/2018] SANAA, Jan 27 (Saba) The army and popular forces have launched military operations, including artillery, missiles and snipping attacks to frustrate US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition troops infiltration over Friday, according to army media reports combined by Saba News Agency on Saturday. In border province of Jizan, three Saudi solders were shot dead in Qewa village and sites of Shabakah and Dukhan.And artillery shelling targeted Saudi soldiers gatherings in Qaren site. Also in Jizan, Zilzal-2 missile was fired towards gatherings of Saudi soldiers and militias beyond Kars-Jubah site. In Asir border province, artillery shelling targeted Saudi soldiers gatherings in Majaza. In Najran Saudi border province, artillery Saudi soldiers gatherings were shelled by artillery in Sudais and Shurfa. In Yemen province of Lahj, 4 infiltration attempts into Qahus hill were foiled, inflicted heavy losses. In Taiz province, the army and committees foiled an attempt of Saudi-paid mercenaries to sunk up toward Tashrifat area in Jahmalia district, killing and wounding many in militias ranks. 20 militias military vehicles were destroyed when the army repelled infiltrations Also in Taiz, Mercenaries' infiltration towards Air defense hill in Bir-Bash was aborted, killing and injured many of them. 4 Saudi-paid mercenaries were killed in the province. Furthermore, two mercenaries' attempts to infiltrate into Balas and Modarajat hills was foiled. Saudi-paid mercenaries' infiltration attempt was repelled in Quhaifa area of Maqaba district, another infiltration of mercenaries was foiled in Aynayn Armys sites, and aborted infiltration attempt into Salh district. In Jahmalia district, an infiltration attempt was repelled towards Mohammed Ali Othman schools, inflicted the militias heavy losses. In Migdad and Mudarajat hills of air defense area, an infiltration attempt was foiled . Also in Taiz, Saudi-paid mercenaries ' military vehicle was smashed in Kuzami hill of west coast. In Yemen province of Jawf, mercenaries infiltration into Hamr-Dhubab of Utemah, inflicted heavy causalities. Military vehicle loaded with mercenaries was destroyed in Khub-washaaf district, killing all its crew. In Nehm district, 3 military vehicles was destroyed by artillery shells in Yam area of Hawl, killing and wounding many of Saudi-paid mercenaries. Sameera H.-Zak Saba India and Cambodia on Saturday signed four agreements, including on a credit line for a water resource development project and on prevention of human trafficking, following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen here. A credit line agreement of $36.92 million was signed between the EXIM Bank of India and the Cambodian government to finance the Stung Sva Hab Water Resource Development Project, according to the External Affairs Ministry. A cultural exchange programme with Cambodia for the years 2018-2022 was signed which seeks to promote cultural exchange and strengthen the friendly relations between India and Cambodia. An agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was signed which is aimed at improving the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes through cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed on cooperation for prevention of human trafficking. It seeks to increase the bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking. Hun Sen, who arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Association of Southeast Nations (Asean) Dialogue Partnership and was among the all 10 heads of government or state of Asean nations to be guests of honour in this year's Republic Day celebrations, extended his trip to that of a bilateral state visit on Saturday. Two all-party meetings will be held on Sunday, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament which is due to start on Monday, government sources said on Saturday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar has called for an all-party meeting at 4.00 p.m., and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will hold a meeting at 7.30 p.m, which will be followed by dinner, sources said. The Budget Session will start on Monday with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of the two Houses. This will be Kovind's first address to a joint sitting of Parliament since he took over as the President. The Union Budget will be tabled on February 1. The session will go into a break on February 9. The second phase of the Budget Session will start on March 5 and conclude on April 6. The session is likely to see important bills, including one for the commission for backward classes and another on Triple Talaq. While The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was stuck in the Rajya Sabha after getting passed in the Lok Sabha, the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, which proposes constitutional status for the OBC Commission, could not be passed in the Lok Sabha. The government had tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha with an amendment alternative to the amendment made by the Rajya Sabha. At least 40 people were killed and 140 others injured on Saturday when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. At least 102 people were killed and nearly 200 others injured on Saturday when a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. "At least 102 people killed, 196 others wounded. We fear the number of people killed may go up," health and interior ministry sources told the local media. The horrific explosion occurred at around 12.50 p.m. near the old building which still houses some ministry offices. Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid, confirmed to Efe that "a suicide bomber with a car laden with explosives tried to penetrate the complex (the ministry), but detonated the vehicle as he was being identified by police at the checkpoint". The Taliban claimed the attack in a message on social network Twitter, stating that "a martyr in a car bomb reached the first checkpoint near the Interior Ministry". Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that at the time of the explosion, a large contingent of police officers was in the area. Public hospital Jamhuriat, some NGO offices and busy local markets are also located in the area. The attack comes amid a recent surge in terrorist attacks on civilian targets by the Taliban and Islamic State. Last weekend over 20 people died at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul during an assault by six armed attackers who clashed with security forces for 12 hours. On Wednesday, the IS led an attack on Save the Children's headquarters in Jalalabad killing four NGO employees, a passerby and a security force member along with the five terrorists. Although in the first nine months of 2017 the civilian death toll dropped by 6 per cent - its first decline since 2012 - the toll of 2,640 dead and 5,379 wounded, remains too high, according to a UN report. At least 14 people were killed and six others injured during a shootout at a club in Brazil on Saturday, police said. The killings occurred in a dancing club named "Forro do Gago" in Fortaleza city in Ceara when a group of heavily armed gunmen barged into the party and began to shoot at the people, Xinhua reported. At least two of the injured are in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said that bullet marks could be found on the walls of the club, nearby houses and vehicles parked around. Even though it rained on Saturday, bloodstain can still be seen in front of the club. According to police, the shooting was "well planned" and the agents were searching for the suspects with a helicopter overseeing the security situations in the region. The police have started investigating whether the killings were part of an ongoing fight between two drug gangs. The state of Ceara, with Fortaleza as its capital, registered a record number of homicides in the year of 2017, according to state governor Camilo Santana, who said earlier that over 80 per cent of the homicides are results of conflict between drug gangs over territory controls. Where do you go to find perfect beaches? For Martin Miranda and Manuela Zavala, Samoa is no doubt, the perfect choice of white sandy beaches, crystal blue ocean destination. The pair from Argentina embarked on their trip searching for a perfect escape, and being first timers in Samoa, the more than 20 hours flight was all worth it at the end. The Dear Tourist team met the couple taking in the cool sea breeze and sun tanning by the beach at Saletoga Sands Resort. Curious as to why they would travel in search for nice beaches, Martin said: Maybe because in our country, you cant find something like this, a perfect beach. To them, it was perfect and Samoa offered them even more than what they expected. We love the beach. We came here for the beach and we love it, Martin said. And we only went to Lalomanu, we liked that, the beach is beautiful. And there were a lot of trees, we like that too, it was really nice. We went by a motorbike we rented here in the hotel, we could see everything and we stopped wherever we wanted to. Their love for the ocean blossomed with Samoas crystal blue ocean. Weve swum in the ocean, snorkelled and kayaked as well and weve loved it, Martin said. He said Samoa should not develop at a fast rate because it would affect people like him who travel for the sake of beauty in nature and Samoa was a scenic destination. The Samoan people are really nice too. We went to a lot of places in Samoa and they helped us, I think theyre very nice. The food is really good too, he said when asked of the island hospitality. The pair has bid their farewell, but something is for certain, despite the distance, they are sure to return for more. We all have a role to play in our families. Parents and even children have a responsibility towards the daily survival of their family. Such is the opinion shared by Eli Lauvi, 21, from the village of Faleasiu. Mr. Lauvi supports his family with whatever he harvests from his plantation. Theres only one person here in our family who works at the moment to support our family. I also have three other siblings overseas and they also help out sometimes by sending money to my parents. So for me, this is my job and this is my contribution to my family, providing them with food from the plantation. Mr. Lauvi was returning from his plantation when he met the Village Voice team yesterday afternoon. He says he is eager to get a job, but no one would fill in his shoes at home. I really want to find a job to help out with my younger brother who is the only person working for our family at the moment. But the problem is that my other younger siblings are too young to do what Im doing here at home. I do the plantation work almost every day and I also do the cooking and I tidy up our kitchen every day. Mr. Lauvi says life is really hard right now in Samoa. Life is not that simple anymore here in Samoa; weve got to have money in order to do whatever we want and also to support our families. We also need money to support church and village matters and also pay our bills. So that is why I am working hard here on my plantation to help my family and we also save money, so instead of buying food, we provide for our own so we can be able to have enough for other stuff. Mr. Lauvi adds life today is all about helping out. We know that life is hard and we have to seek any opportunity that comes our way to be able to take care of our families. It simply means that when life is hard, we have to do something good or work hard to support our families, he said. On the front page of yesterdays Weekend Observer, the main storys bold headline reads: P.M. accuses lawyers. Accompanied by a photograph of Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, facing the camera, the story reveals that at the time, he was addressing Parliament. In fact, he was speaking in the House of Representatives during its deliberations, pertaining to its present Supplementary Budget. During his address though, Tuilaepa took the time to launch an attack on lawyers whom he accused of posting lies on Facebook, with the sole intention of misleading members of the public. The story said Tuilaepa did not name the lawyers he was referring to, other than to express how clearly unhappy he was with the way the social media, was being abused to attack senior government leaders. And then without elaborating, he went on to say: If you continue to lie, lie, lie to the public on Facebook, eventually people will believe it. Indeed, he went on to warn, that: Even one who is well educated will fall for these lies. Hes probably right. Still, what might have been the case had not the government insisted on bringing back the law of Criminal Libel, which had been abolished way back in 2013, solely so that it can use it to hunt down so-called Ghost writers who, as far anyone is aware, they do not exist, and yet it is now causing so much silly turmoil it is driving Samoas Prime Minister, and Members of his Cabinet quite insane? Incidentally, when the Law of Criminal Libel was brought back, the governments Press Secretary, told the country it was part of efforts to address the growing number of ghost writers who use fake social media pages, to attack members of the public. Incidentally, one of the pages was known as Ole Palemia, the Prime Minister. Wrote the Press Secretary then: The Police had launched an investigation to find out who is responsible for this page, but then up until now they have not been successful. There are other pages though so that today the government has had enough. He also revealed: The intention is not only to protect the privacy of the individuals and the general public from unsubstantiated, vicious and inciting allegations posted by ghost writers on the social media, but to safeguard and ensure peace and harmony in the country remain intact. As for Prime Minister Tuilaepa, he revealed that after the law of Criminal Libel had been abolished, some have abused their freedom to express their views and in particular, there were those defamatory allegations posted on social media. He also said: Some of these postings could lead to violent confrontation which may eventually cause misery to families, so that the government will not stand by any longer. He revealed: There are 4,500 hackers in Samoa. Some are children and even lawyers are among the best hackers in the country. And now he warned: To find those writers who are hiding behind anonymity, by using their freedom of expression to vent their vile and demeaning allegations on social media, will no longer be tolerated. They should be warned now that their days of mischief are numbered. According Tuilaepa though, the trick is simple enough, and he explains: Those hackers will be used by the government to track down ghost writers. It is like using a thief to catch a thief. Interesting. Still, how many ghost writers are we talking about here? Since as far as were all aware, all those 4,500 hackers in Samoa - if we are to accept Tuilaepas estimation - are interested only in hacking just one ghost, and his name is Ole Palemia. Sure, there are other ghosts in Cabinet and in Government Offices too, but then they can easily be disposed off anyway. Not O le Palemia though. This ones stamina is, without a doubt anyones mind, tougher than nails. Still, Tuilaepa believes he knows who the Bloggers whove been calling themselves O le Palemia were. Theyre lawyers, Tuilaepa said. Theyre lying. That is what theyre doing. And yet they are well educated and they are lawyers. I know all of them. During one of his interviews with the Samoa Observer, Tuilaepa talked about Mein Kampf, the book that had been written by the Nazi Party leader, Adolf Hitler. He said the book shows what when you put effort in lying to someone, you continuously lie until one believes the lies; that is the psychology behind this whole thing. Tuilaepa then said: The posts on Facebook were lies and that was Hitlers philosophy. Even the smartest people believed Hitler, the German scientists eventually believed Hitler. The philosophy of Mein Kampf as well as Hitlers, is how to make people believe you, even a very stupid lie, they will believe you, if you keep on repeating and repeating yourself. Now is that so? Is he saying that smart Samoan people such are lawyers are the way they are today, because they have brilliant minds such as that of Adolf Hitlers whose rule of terror during his time, caused the death of six millions of Jews? Still, now that Tuilaepa has revealed that he knew who the Bloggers whod been calling themselves O le Palemia were, why did he not do so publicly then? Indeed, had he done so then, wouldnt the problems that are now causing him so much worry and unnecessary aggravation, been swept well out of the way then? He didnt say. All that Tuilaepa said was: What I am worried about is their safety. We all have families including those who are off in the head, and they are the ones who are after these people, who continue to defame us. It will not end well if they are caught, he explained. And that is why Im protecting them although it is very demeaning what theyre saying. He said: Good governance, transparency and accountability, are essential tools in any democracy. Its a principle this Government adheres to. Wonderful! Well said! Now lets see if we can start practising to walk the talk! Have a peaceful Sunday Samoa, God bless! A tragic accident at Faleula yesterday afternoon, where a speeding bus flipped several times landing on its roof, claimed three lives. This was confirmed by Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, in response to questions from the Sunday Samoan. A total of 46 passengers were on the bus including the three people who died, said Auapaau. The bus driver and two elderly women unfortunately died as a result of the tragic incident." Preliminary reports from the National Health Services accounted 46 passengers, from men, women and children who were at the hospital for medical treatment." Auapaau declined to further comment noting Police investigation continues. At the hospital, there was a heavy presence of police, families and friends of the passengers. One of the survivors is a 17-year-old college student at Aana Apolima. Tausaga Solifono spoke to the Sunday Samoan on what had occurred. The bus was packed and I was sitting on a woman at the back of the bus, Tausaga said. My grandmother was sitting with another old lady right behind the bus driver, when we got on the bus she insisted to sit behind the driver, said the emotional Tausaga. Tausagas grandmother was one of the deceased. She said: While my heart is heavy with the passing of my grandmother, near death experience is nothing I would want to wish on anyone. Tausaga claims the bus driver was trying to play a song on his cell phone that is connected to the stereo on the bus. And his attention was distracted that he ran into a red car and thats when the bus flipped several times. I dont recall how many times the bus flipped because I was in shock and screaming at the same time. I saw the whole incident and I dont know how to move on from this whole ordeal. I was stuck in the bus, with my head between my legs and grounded by the wooden chairs of the bus and I lost most of my hair when I was trying to move my head. Luckily for me, the men next to me helped remove the wooden chair that held my head and they kicked out the back part of the bus and that was how we managed to leave the bus, she told the Sunday Samoan. Videos of the tragic incident posted on social media saw the quick response by members of the public who provided aid to the injured passengers and covered up the deceased at the scene. The Sunday Samoan team arrived at the scene when the Police officers and tow trucks were about to remove the remains of the bus from the road. Auapaau, on behalf of the Ministry of Police, expressed condolences to the mourning families. To the motorists, please heed the traffic speed limit which is 35miles per hour, he said. The Government has strongly rejected claims they are trying to restrict Air New Zealands movements on the Samoa-Auckland route in a bid to give Samoa Airways a leg up in the competition. Both Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, say the claims are unfounded. The government does not get involved in the operation of the Air New Zealand. We have nothing to do with that, Lautafi told the Sunday Samoan. The only Airline the government has denied their request to fly the New Zealand and Samoa route is Virgin Australia. Thats it!" And that is because under the joint venture, they were allowed and now the joint venture is finished, they cant fly from New Zealand to Samoa and vice versa anymore." But in respect to Air New Zealand, let me be clear that the government does not dictate how things are done within Air New Zealand. The Minister also rejected claims the government is moving towards squeezing Air New Zealand to use only an airbus on their service to Samoa. Any operational plans by Air New Zealand that is there call, we have not made such a request, Lautafi said. Its up to them as to what type of airplanes to use. The government has nothing to do with that, unless I am not made aware of such a request. That is what I know. The Prime Minister supported his Minister. Why would the government step into the operation of Air New Zealand? he said. The government does not have that type of authority and I know those decisions are made on commercial merits. The type of aircrafts Air New Zealand chooses to use will be determined by the loads, the Prime Minister said. The same principle applies to Polynesian Airlines (renamed Samoa Airways). But that depends on the number of passenger. Last week, Member of Parliament, Laauliolemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, used Parliament privileges to attack Air New Zealands work in Samoa. To the Minister responsible for Samoa Airways, Air New Zealand is out to kill our company, he said. Laauli, who praised the governments decision to revive the airlines international operations under Samoa Airways, said he watched with caution how Air New Zealand has gone all out to heighten the competition on the Samoa route. All of a sudden we see them doing things they never did before, he said. They have suddenly reduced their airfares. He added that they are also increasing the frequency of their flights by bringing in bigger aircrafts, making it difficult for Samoa Airways to compete. Where were they when our people were paying $2000 to $3000 to fly one way, he asked. Where were they all this time when our travellers needed help with expensive airfares? And now all of a sudden, the M.P. said, they have gone out of their way to try and kill Samoa Airways. Laauli congratulated Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the government for their boldness in resurrecting the airline. He also called upon Samoans in Samoa and overseas to fly with Samoa Airways and support the airline that truly belongs to Samoa. Drawing on his experience as the former Minister of Agriculture, he said loyalty was the point of difference when he travelled to market the Samoan taro. Samoan people will always be loyal to Samoan products, he said, which is something the management of Samoa Airways should remember. Air New Zealand was contacted for a comment last week. The Airlines Samoa Manager, Lisa Ailuai, responded: Thank you for your email and for the opportunity for Air New Zealand to comment on the comments expressed by M.P. Schmidt during Parliaments sitting this morning." I have copied in our Auckland Public Affairs team as they will respond accordingly on Air New Zealands behalf. This was on Thursday. As of press time last night, no response has been received. More than 15 women gathered at the Tanoa Tusital Hotel board room on Friday for the Women in Climate Change Roundtable symposium. First of its kind to be held in Samoa, the conference aims to increase womens involvement in climate action and representation not only in Samoa and the region, but also in the international arena. The dialogue is hosted by Conservation International, in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.). In delivering her keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, says such dialogues are crucial in highlighting the important role women play in society, especially in the fight against climate change. It is often said that countries like Samoa do not contribute much to the cause of climate change, but we are in fact one of the most impacted countries, so that is our reality. Climate change and gender are two crosscutting issues that are being dealt with by N.G.Os, and other climate actors and its crosscutting because it impacts all sectors. And these crosscutting issues are what the Government of Samoa is focused on. It is also interesting to see these two cross cutting issues brought together for discussion. Fiame says it is also important that policies and frameworks reflect the needs of the local community and also involve the grassroots level. Participants were from various organisations in Samoa, New Zealand and some islands in the region. An independent commission on Friday rejected proposed tariffs on imported Canadian aircraft, a reminder of the limits on President Donald Trumps authority to reshape U.S. trading relationships with the world. By a 4-0 vote, the International Trade Commission ruled that Boeing, the Chicago-based aircraft maker, had not been injured by multibillion-dollar Canadian subsidies for Bombardier aircraft. As a result, 300 percent tariffs that the Commerce Department had suggested to counter those subsidies will not take effect. Still, the surprise verdict by a panel of nonpartisan government experts is likely to have little impact on the presidents plans to erect other barriers against what he regards as unfair trade. This decision should be viewed as limited to an extraordinary set of facts, said Dan Ujczo, a trade attorney with Dickinson Wright. It in no way should be interpreted as a broad-scale limitation on the Trump administrations trade enforcement authority. Advertisement In Montreal, where negotiators are meeting to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, the decision was welcomed. Canadian officials had bitterly objected last year as the U.S. moved toward effectively barring Bombardier from the lucrative American market. This means a major irritant between the two countries disappears, and having that irritant disappear becomes a very positive thing for reaching a NAFTA deal, said Eric Miller, president of the Rideau Potomac Strategy Group. The ITC commissioners, who are appointed for nine-year terms designed to insulate them from political influence, preside over a fact-heavy, technocratic process. The president exercises more direct control over other trade remedies, such as the safeguard tariffs he imposed this week on imported solar panels and washing machines, as well as potential actions against China for stealing trade secrets. Hes got an independent hand on all of those, said Edward Alden, a trade policy expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. This weeks tariffs on solar panels and washing machines also had immediate economic and diplomatic implications, with at least one importer promising to raise prices and the South Korean government filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization. The ITC ruling on Bombardier comes as a growing number of U.S. companies file complaints against overseas rivals, hoping to win support from the Trump administration, which has vowed to crack down on trade cheaters. Last year, the number of anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations launched by the Commerce Department rose more than 60 percent. But the unanimous ITC decision, coming after preliminary rulings that pointed to steep tariffs, caught many analysts by surprise. The Commerce Department last year issued preliminary findings that the governments of Canada and the province of Quebec had unfairly subsidized development of Bombardiers medium-range C Series aircraft, which U.S. officials said were then sold in the U.S. below their cost of production. Advertisement Commerce Department officials proposed combined duties of up to 300 percent on the Canadian jets. None of the planes had yet been delivered to U.S. airlines, although Delta inked a $5 billion deal for them in 2016. Analysts said Boeings bid for help ultimatelyfell short because the company overreached, asserting an unsupported injury claim. The aircraft maker did not compete directly with the single-aisle Bombardier aircraft and had not bid for the Delta order at the heart of the case. This was always a stretch in terms of Boeings claims, said Alden. It was obvious Boeing was trying to stretch the definition of injury pretty significantly. . . . There were a lot of things here that were pretty far outside the norm. The ruling leaves Boeing in a difficult spot. The Canadian government has already retaliated against the aircraft maker for its petition for government protection. Advertisement Late last year, Canadian officials made good on an earlier threat to cancel a proposed purchase of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter planes, dealing a blow to Boeings defense contracting business. Now, Boeing finds itself in a situation in which it has alienated a key customer for its defense business and irked a key commercial customer in Delta Air Lines, while failing to block the U.S. expansion plans of its Canadian rival. Boeing officials expressed disappointment with the ruling, while Bombardier applauded it. Todays decision is a victory for innovation, competition, and the rule of law, Bombardier said in a statement. It is also a victory for U.S. airlines and the U.S. traveling public. Advertisement Likewise, Canadian government officials, business groups and labor leaders welcomed the unexpected verdict. Im thrilled that common sense has finally won out and that these ridiculous tariffs have been tossed, said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The USITC ruling means that good-paying Bombardier jobs can stay in Canada. The dispute took a twist in mid-October when Bombardier agreed to sell the C Series plane to Airbus, a deep-pocketed European aerospace giant that is Boeings closest competitor. The companies promised to shift future production of the plane from Canada to Mobile, Alabama. Airbus executives argued that moving production in that way should allow them to avoid the tariff. Advertisement The fact is that when you produce an aircraft in the U.S., its not subject to any U.S. import tariff rules, Bombardier President Alain Bellemare said in an October news conference. In its arguments before the trade commission, Boeings lawyers cast doubt on the idea that Airbus would set up an Alabama-based production line, arguing that the company could change its plans. There is no joint venture. Period. And there may never be one, Boeings lawyers argued in the companys most recent official filing with the commission. The parties have not broken ground on anything in Mobile related to the joint venture, let alone a full C Series production facility. Boeing later revealed in December that it is pursuing a joint venture with Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer, a close competitor with Bombardier in the market for smaller commercial jets. The two companies have not announced a finalized deal yet. Q:Is there any agency - state, county or city - that oversees HOA boards? I am extremely frustrated by mine, and have been for years.C.C., San Diego A:No, in California there is no agency overseeing common interest communities. It is left up to the individual communities to operate themselves properly. If they do not, a member has recourse to the courts (and often the reimbursement of attorney fees if they are successful). Q:I want to thank you for your articles dealing with homeowners associations. However, [in an article last year] these words you wrote stayed with me because it is in my opinion, the trouble with Davis-Stirling. You wrote that there is no state agency that enforces the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act. I believe forcing people to hire their own lawyer to enforce this is simply disgusting because most people do not have the funds needed to hire an attorney. Do you support developing an agency to enforce Davis-Stirling? C.R., Sun City. A: Our neighboring state Nevada has a state agency that governs common interest communities. By all accounts, the arrangement is working quite well. However, Nevada has 3,200 associations, while California has at least 45,400 associations (Foundation For Community Association Research 2016 Factbook). The massive size of this housing sector in California would require a very large bureaucracy, funded almost certainly by a tax on all association residences. So, I think it is unrealistic to expect a state agency in our state to oversee all those associations. Advertisement I favor manager licensing in California, if properly established. Many states have manager licensing, and the Community Associations Institute has developed a model for licensing that has proven to work in a number of states. However, the massive number of managers in California makes the creation of a licensing body a major venture, with the many thousands of people managing associations in the state. Therefore, the best protection for California homeowners comes from hiring and keeping very good managers and from homeowners becoming much better informed about their rights and responsibilities in their associations. Q: I live in a small condo which is unincorporated. One of my neighbors said that we are supposed to be filing papers and paying fees to the Secretary of State. But according to one of your recent columns, it sounds like only incorporated HOAs need to file papers. Is that correct? Do unincorporated HOAs need to file or pay anything? A.D., Redondo Beach. A:All associations, whether incorporated or not, are required by Civil Code 5405 to file two documents, the SI-100 and SI-CID, with the Secretary of State every two years. The forms are available online. Incorporated associations failing to file can be suspended pursuant to Civil Code 5405(d), rendering the corporation as not recognized as existing. A suspended HOAs corporate name is not protected, and it cannot appear in court to defend itself or to pursue a claim. However, there is no penalty stated if the unincorporated association fails to file, meaning there is no reason for those associations to file. Check association corporate status at www.businesssearch.sos.ca.gov. Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Senior Partner of Richardson Ober PC, a California law firm known for community association expertise. Submit questions to Kelly@RichardsonOber.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront.com. SeaWorld announced it has started a new multi-year partnership that aims to help marine animals across the world by sharing information with OCEARCH, a nonprofit that studies of marine species. OCEARCHs popular Global Shark Tracker will now have data on rescued, rehabilitated and returned marine animals including a pilot whale, harbor seal and dolphin that SeaWorld animal rescuers successfully returned back into the wild for the scientific community and the general public, the company said in a news release. The announcement was made aboard the 126-foot research vessel M/V OCEARCH, a floating science lab and mothership on its first research expedition of 2018, the release said. Future missions are scheduled for May and September of this year. OCEARCH, which lists a Utah address, tags sharks and gathers data from them and conducts conservation-outreach and education programs. Advertisement These missions will bring together the OCEARCH team and SeaWorld veterinarians, scientists and researchers to share knowledge and experience that will contribute to their shared mission to educate, inspire and advocate for ocean health and marine animal conservation efforts, the release said. SeaWorld said in October that its animal rescue and rehabilitation remain priorities and were not impacted by layoffs of 350 workers at that time. grusson@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5470; Twitter, @GabrielleRusson The president of the Jack in the Box brand, Frances Allen, will be leaving next month, a move that follows the companys decision two months ago to sell its struggling Qdoba fast casual brand. With its CEO firmly in place, a new chief operating officer on his way, and just one brand to manage, the departure makes sense, Allen said in a statement Friday. Her resignation is effective Feb. 9. Im very proud to have led this brand over the last three-plus years and of the accomplishments we have made during my tenure, but I could not in good conscience remain in position within a single-brand structure, said Allen, who has served as brand president since October of 2014. The appointment of a new COO is the right time for me to exit, and I am excited to embark on the next phase of my career. Jack in the Box CEO Lenny Comma had recently hinted at upcoming management changes within the San Diego-based company when he spoke at the recent ICR investment conference about plans to flatten the organizational structure in the wake of the Qdoba sale. Advertisement Frances graciously suggested the elimination of her position so that we could more quickly to begin restructuring the brands leadership, he said in a statement. Frances was instrumental in refining the brands strategy and positioning, with an emphasis on improving the quality of the food and transforming the business model to be more asset-light through refranchising. When she leaves, Allen will receive a payout of $1,213,000, which is a combination of one years base pay and the value of unvested stock. Jack in the Box also announced the addition of Marcus Tom as vice president and chief operating officer. He has more than 15 years of experience in operations leadership positions, including Einstein Bros. Bagels and Starbucks Coffee Company. And earlier this month, Jack in the Box reported the hiring of a new chief financial officer, Lance Tucker, to replace Jerry Rebel, who already was planning to retire. Because Jack in the Box is moving increasingly toward a franchised operation, it is not surprising that Allen is leaving, said San Diego restaurant consultant John Gordon. Had she stayed, it would be too heavy of an organization, he said. They already have one CEO, why do they need another? They would receive criticism from Wall Street and they do have to reduce their administrative costs. A franchise store doesnt give you as much profit as a company-owned store. Meanwhile, in a reprise of the fast food wars, Jack in the Box has joined its rivals this year in a major discounting push to both retain customers and lure new ones. As McDonalds was rolling out its new dollar menu, with items priced at $1, $2 and $3, Jack in the Box debuted this month its Value Jacks Way, a promotion that runs the gamut of four crispy chicken nuggets for $1 to the Bonus Jack Combo for $5. Advertisement Comma previewed the plan in a November earnings call, acknowledging the reality of what he called this sort of value-oriented discount drug that has permeated the industry in the last 18 months that doesnt seem to want to go away. Gordon noted that as much as the franchisees dislike heavy discounting, Jack in the Box was smart to offer value options priced as high as $5. So it was creative on their part, he said. The franchisees are saying stop discounting so much. Advertisement Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com Advertisement (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg Del Mar city officials announced Friday that 25-year employee Jon Edelbrock has been promoted to the position of community services director and chief lifeguard, a job formerly held by Pat Vergne, whose firing in August continues to roil the small community. Edelbrock, who will lead 87 employees in the departments lifeguard, parking and facilities divisions, said he plans to set aside the controversy and focus on the job. Weve been working through this and dealing with it for the past eight months, Edelbrock said. The best thing I can do is make sure my staff has what they need to do their job. Edelbrock, 44, was hired as a seasonal lifeguard for the city in 1992 and rose through the ranks, becoming a lifeguard lieutenant in 2010. Advertisement I love my job, he said. I wouldnt trade it for any other job in the world. Vergne, a 35-year employee of the city, was fired in August after a months-long investigation allegedly uncovered nearly $200,000 in misused funds, falsified payroll records and the improper personal use of a city credit card. Two other employees in his department also were dismissed. The investigation and subsequent dismissal of Vergne triggered a community uproar. He is strongly supported by many longtime residents who say Vergne only followed policies established over the years and that he did nothing wrong. Hes filed a claim against the city for wrongful termination seeking millions of dollars in damages. Meanwhile, a Sheriffs Department official has confirmed an investigation of criminal allegations against Vergne, though no charges have been filed. Many residents have demanded the dismissal of City Manager Scott Huth, saying he started the investigation because he had a personal vendetta against the former chief lifeguard. Huths annual performance review has been under way for weeks, and his contract renewal expected in December is overdue. Another discussion of his job is scheduled for a City Council closed-session meeting Monday morning. Huth, in a written statement announcing the promotion, said Edelbrocks broad experience in multiple areas makes him right to be Vergnes replacement. Advertisement I have no doubt that Jon will do a great job leading the department and continue to provide a high level of service to the community and the many visitors that enjoy our beautiful beach every year, Huth states. Edelbrock lives in North County with his wife and two children. Advertisement philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl A memorial and paddle-out ceremony is set to take place in Imperial Beach Monday to honor a city official killed last month while vacationing in a resort town in southern Mexico. The ceremony for Doug Bradley is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Imperial Beach Pier. Mayor Serge Dedina is expected to make some remarks before surfers paddle out to honor Bradley. An avid surfer, Bradley lived in Playas de Tijuana and commuted across the border for his post as administrative services director of Imperial Beach. Dedina has described Bradley as a world-traveling surfer who was a pleasure to work with. Advertisement According to authorities in Mexico, Bradley was fatally shot outside a well-known nightclub in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero around 4 a.m. on Dec. 28. The shooting occurred a day shy of his 50th birthday. Investigators said Bradley had been drinking at a bar known as 4020, where he contracted the services of a woman. The pair went to an adjacent hotel where they had an apparent dispute, Mexican authorities said. Bradley returned to the bar, insisting that his money be returned and saying that the woman had robbed him. He then began fighting with employees and patrons. As he left, he was caught by the killer, who shot at him from two or three meters away, authorities said in a statement. A suspect who was identified by witnesses was arrested earlier this month. He was in possession of the weapon connected by ballistics tests to the shooting, authorities said. Bradley, who was divorced and had no children, is survived by his mother, a brother and a sister. Ballast Point, San Diego Countys largest brewery, is moving out of its Scripps Ranch facility and into a brewing campus in Miramar. Were going to take all the people working at Scripps Ranch and most of the brewing equipment and create a brewing campus here, said Marty Birkel, Ballast Points president, from his San Diego offices in the neighborhood sometimes called Beeramar. We want to find a suitable lessee for Scripps get another up and coming brewery and pass the torch to them. About 50 employees, a brew house, fermenters, bright tanks and a bottling line will be relocated to Trade Street, north of the 107,000-square-foot main production brewery on Carroll Way. The move is scheduled to be completed by summers end. Advertisement The announcement, made late Friday, capped a busy week for Ballast Point. On Wednesday, it announced plans to open a 7,300-square-foot tasting room and kitchen in Anaheims Downtown Disney this fall. Founded in Linda Vista in 1996, Ballast Point grew steadily and shifted its headquarters to a 24,000-square-foot building in Scripps Ranch in 2006. In 2014, the headquarters moved to Miramar, now home to the main brewery and a restaurant. In 2015, Constellation Brands bought the San Diego company for $1 billion, an unprecedented figure for a craft brewery. Since then, Birkel said, Constellation has invested more than $50 million in the company, opening a Ballast Point brewery in Daleville, Va., and a 54,000-square-foot facility on Trade Street for barrel-aged and sour beers. These moves, plus plans to open a Chicago taproom this year, underline Constellations national ambitions for Ballast Point. Still, this is San Diegos largest brewery. In 2016, the most recent year for which statistics are available, it made 431,000 barrels of beer, each barrel equal to 31 gallons. It employees about 725 people. While the Miramar operations are divided by a busy street, Ballast Point is considering ways to bridge the gap. Weve got some early ideas of how we can create a look and feel for the campus, Birkel said. A Taliban suicide bomber detonated explosives stuffed into an ambulance he drove past a security checkpoint on Saturday, killing 103 people and injuring more than 150. It was the second massive attack in a week on a well-secured location in Afghanistans beleaguered capital. The attacker got past the security checkpoint by telling officers he was taking a patient to the hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. He detonated the explosives at a second checkpoint, officials said. The blast damaged multiple buildings in the area and was heard across Kabul. The toll climbed sharply throughout the day, making the blast one of the deadliest in the 16-year war in Afghanistan. It came a week after Taliban militants attacked Kabuls six-story Intercontinental hotel and killed 22 people in an hours-long siege that ended only after Afghan and U.S. special operations forces conducted a room-to-room search and found the attackers and several guests had escaped by jumping off balconies. Advertisement Several American citizens were killed or wounded in the hotel attack, Afghan officials said. The scale of Taliban attacks has increased in recent months despite a surge in U.S. troops advising Afghan forces and assurances from U.S. military commanders that the coalition troops are turning the tide in the war. Saturdays attack took place in the early afternoon between two checkpoints leading to Jamhuriat Hospital, a 350-bed facility built by China a decade ago. Surrounding it is a bustling neighborhood housing government buildings as well as commercial streets lined with poultry vendors and shops, where many office workers were milling about. Mohammad Halim, a 56-year-old public servant who was standing near the hospital gate, said the blast knocked him to the ground and left him unconscious. When he awoke, he saw a horror scene. Everywhere was full of dark smoke, and I couldnt hear anything, Halim said. After a few minutes, I saw dozens of people lying on the ground. Many of the injured were taken to Emergency hospital, an Italian-run charity facility that treats war victims and was so deluged it had to turn some patients away. Its a massacre, the charitys coordinator in Afghanistan, Dejan Panic, said on Twitter. Advertisement #Kabul. Over 70 wounded, 7 dead on arrival transferred at @emergency_ong hospital after the attack. Its a massacre, said Dejan Panic, coordinator in@#Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/IZ2FFMO11Y EMERGENCY (@emergency_ong) January 27, 2018 Outside Emergency hospital, Mohammad Naser, a 44-year-old employee of a nongovernmental organization, said he was watching TV footage of the blast site when he recognized his cousin being taken away in an ambulance. I was shocked, he said. I rushed to the hospital to see him, but you can see the crowd here at the gate. I could only find his name on a list of the wounded. In a statement, U.S. Ambassador John R. Bass condemned the attack, calling it a senseless and cowardly bombing. Advertisement The death toll was the highest in a single attack in Afghanistan since June, when a truck bomb exploded outside the German Embassy in Kabul, near an entrance to the so-called Green Zone that houses many government and diplomatic buildings. Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Shashank Bengali from Mumbai, India. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Shashank Bengali is South Asia correspondent for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali Advertisement UPDATES: 10:15 a.m., Jan. 28: This article has been updated with death toll rising to 103. 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details of the attack. 7:05 a.m.: This article was updated with 95 dead and 158 wounded. Advertisement 5:40 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting and additional quotes. 4:35 a.m.: This article was updated with 63 dead. 2:35 a.m.: This article was updated to report the bomber used an ambulance. 2:20 a.m.: This article was updated with 40 dead. Advertisement 1:55 a.m.: This article was updated with 17 dead, 110 wounded. 1:35 a.m.: This article was updated with 70 wounded. 1:20 a.m.: This article was updated with 18 wounded. This article was first published at 1 a.m. The military disciplined two pilots for failing to follow the correct flight plans following a pair of October incidents near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Officials say no residents were put in danger by the aviators mistakes but some neighbors say military leaders dont always listen to their noise and safety concerns. Noise complaints near the base have plummeted in recent years but several residents think the Corps needs to do more to shore up years of problems. A pair of military aviators were disciplined for violating Marine Corps Air Station Miramars flight regulations during two separate October incidents, and several neighbors say the base hasnt done enough to police pilots. Lt. Col. Bryant Budde, Miramars director of operations, said that investigators found no unsafe issues with the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet strike flights on Oct. 18 and 20 but the pilots were reprimanded after failing to follow all Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller commands and straying into areas usually off limits because of base noise rules. When a University City neighbor submitted noise complaints on both flights, Budde the base supervisor in charge of a wide range of Miramar functions, including airfield operations, weather forecasting and aviation safety investigations pulled what aviators call the radar tapes to track them. In the first case, the unnamed aviator misheard commands from the tower. Instead of taking off and turning right, he kept going over University City, Budde found. In the second event, the pilot went to the wrong altitude and flew over nearby residences. Advertisement Budde ruled that they also didnt copy well enough to the flight track over the ground, which means that they failed to follow their intended departure path. Citing federal privacy laws, Miramar officials declined to identify either the pilots or their squadrons but said one aviator was based there and another traveled there for training. We want to police it up and fix the problem and educate the pilots because we want to be good neighbors, Budde said. Neighbors told The San Diego Union-Tribune that they were glad the military took action but the Marines arent always so transparent when probing complaints that residents contend are equally valid. Its an attitudinal problem, Ron Belanger, a retired Navy aviator, said during an interview. He pointed to the Dec. 8, 2008, crash of a sputtering Hornet in University City that killed two women and two children after the pilot ejected safely. Military investigators blamed the incident on an engine malfunction that was complicated by a string of pilot errors and shoddy ground maintenance. The Corps disciplined 14 personnel, including the pilot and his commanders, but Belanger said Miramars brass grew defensive after the tragedy, clamming up when they should have leveled with the public about failures that caused the crash. Advertisement Belanger estimates that hes filed dozens of complaints after incidents like the ones in October, but hes never received a response. And hes not alone. Im a leader in the community liaison group but I dont always feel like I get answers to my questions, said Diane Ahern, vice president of the University City Community Association who often meets with Miramar officials to address neighborhood noise and safety grievances. Ahern and Belanger said the stakes are high at Miramar because of well-publicized problems with Marine Corps aviation. On Aug. 11, Marine Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller ordered all squadrons to ground flights for mandatory safety training. Six days earlier, three Marines died when their MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crashed in Australias Shoalwater Bay during routine training. Advertisement That followed the July 10 crash in Mississippi of a Hercules KC-130T aircraft crewed by the Yankees of New York-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 45. Fifteen Marines and a sailor died. Since 2002, the Corps has suffered 153 aviation Class A mishaps serious accidents that kill or permanently disable a service member or cause at least $2 million in damage. The Marines need to make safety a bigger part of their planning and not take shortcuts with safety ever, Belanger said. To Belanger and Ahern, the safety margin is lower over Miramar because of the sheer volume of aircraft in the sky. Advertisement The federal sheepdog herding planes across the region Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control is the busiest air tracking facility on the globe, serving Los Angeles International, John Wayne, San Diego International, Bob Hope, Ontario International and Long Beach airports, plus smaller fields and military installations. Near Miramar, San Diego International Airport boasts the busiest runway in North America but there are seven other fields within 23 miles of the base, which is why a 2010 Marine Corps report called the sky traffic here congested. To mitigate the risk to residents, military and FAA leaders created approach and take off corridors for Miramar that largely overfly unpopulated areas. Miramars fixed-wing aircraft mostly rely on the Sea Wolf corridor to the Pacific Ocean to take off or the north-south Julian corridor over the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. Called LAKEE2 by pilots, it flies over Julian and the park but at altitudes above 7,000 feet. Advertisement A Ground Control Approach Box that follows the largely unpopulated northern contours of the base has jets flying between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above the ground. Theres also a training oval pilots use within Miramars gates. The routes cater to Touch and Go hops by aviators practicing landings and takeoffs or pilots simulating carrier operations. Usually commercial jetliners travel a north-south coastal route between 6,800 to 10,000 feet. Smaller planes from Montgomery Field south of Miramar fly around 3,200 to 6,800 feet over the shore or below 1,800 feet when over I-15, according to FAA and military reports. That means Miramars fighters must thread between Montgomery Fields civilian small planes flying between 1,800 to 3,200 feet while staying far below most commercial jets. Belanger said that Marine planes often travel too fast from the base, giving them little time to avoid Montgomerys small and slow aircraft. Ahern added that neighbors know when Miramars jets stray outside the Sea Wolf and Julian corridors because residents hear them. Advertisement Noise is a symptom, she said. I dont hear the aircraft and I dont see the aircraft if they follow one of the two departure routes. Theyre out of sight, out of mind. A military jet hitting its afterburners 50 feet above the runway would generate a roar of about 130 decibels painful for exposed ears but base officials estimate far lower volumes for residents outside Miramars gates. The 2010 impact study determined that the Marines new F-35B Joint Strike Fighters flying over a section of Mira Mesa put out 65 to 66 decibels of noise less than the roar of a vacuum cleaner and the area near Copley Park might encounter jets at 58 to 63 decibels, similar to a restaurants background sounds. Budde said that FAA controllers will report serious safety violations to the agencys Seattle office, which then forwards substantiated cases to Marine headquarters in Washington, D.C. Advertisement The October incidents didnt trigger such reports, and Budde said he cant recall any others filed over the past year. The National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident and Incident Data System records five serious events at Miramar dating back to 1995. All were accidents the most recent the fatal crash of Sky Rocker stunt pilot Sean deRosier during the bases 2004 airshow and none involved military aircraft. We do not have authority over military operations, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said by email. If we get a report that a military pilot may have violated a federal aviation regulation, we would investigate and send our findings to the appropriate military agency for follow-up. In 2003, Miramar recorded 360 noise complaints from neighbors and this year the base is on pace to notch about 200, but those numbers are a little deceptive, Marines say. Advertisement In December of 2016, for example, Miramar received 49 noise complaints including 38 from one person. Last month, the base got 17 complaints, and all but four were from the same unnamed person. Few complaints are substantiated, according to Budde. We take these complaints very seriously and were constantly trying to balance a million things here, but safety is our top priority, he said. Budde said that many of the grievances he receives are driven by an incorrect assumption of airspace usage. Advertisement He pointed to an FAA speed limit on commercial planes about 287 miles per hour for planes below 10,000 feet a rule Budde says doesnt apply to some military aircraft because they were never designed to operate that slowly. He said that a pilots trying to follow the FAA rule would make their planes perform like someone driving a car on an icy road, creating unsafe conditions. To abate jet noise, most of Miramars planes use runways 24R and 24L. But in Santa Ana winds, the base shifts to runways 6L and 6R. That changes flight patterns and can spark new sound and safety complaints from neighbors but pilots have no other choice of tarmacs, Budde said. FAA flight controllers also redirect Marine pilots over residential areas like University City if congestion or other concerns emerge, something neighbors dont realize when filing complaints, Miramar officials added. Advertisement We do our best every day to be good neighbors and limit the number of flights that overfly populated areas, but they are not necessarily violations, or unsafe if they occur, base spokeswoman Lt. Casey M. Littesy said by email. Advertisement Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com 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. Advertisement 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 Advertisement 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. They are the women no one ever sees, but at last weekends Womens March San Diego, members of the local janitors union were front and center. Also loud, proud and invaluable. When the massive march kicked off at Waterfront Park last Saturday, the procession was led by women from Service Employees International Union United Services Workers West, the union that represents janitors, security officers, airport service workers and other property service workers. As members of the marchs marshals group, the women were responsible for security and crowd control. These veterans of labor marches and the 2017 San Diego Womens March got there early, stayed late and had the time of their lives. It was actually one of the most unforgettable moments for me. I will cherish it forever, janitor Marisol Castaneda said through a translator earlier this week. Advertisement My role went beyond being a union member or a janitor. I was there at 7 a.m. setting up and getting people information. I was a key point of contact. I felt more respected than (I have) on any other day. I was not just there representing myself. I was there to represent the millions of women who are in the same position. And when you are a female janitor working alone at night in an office building, that position can leave you vulnerable to the kind of harassment and assaults that fueled the 2017 and 2018 Womens Marches and inspired so many women to join the #MeToo movement. That danger and vulnerability was the subject of Rape on the Night Shift, a joint investigation series done by KQED, the UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting program, Frontline and the Univision network. The project which included a documentary and radio series that were released in 2015 focused on the dangers faced by female janitors, many of whom are in the country illegally, which makes it even harder for them to speak out. Mobilized by that report, many of the women worked with rape crisis groups and other womens organizations to act as trainers and advocates for fellow janitors. The report also inspired San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez to author Assembly Bill 1978, which established janitorial workforce protections against sexual harassment. In the fall of 2016, a group of janitors launched a hunger strike at the state Capitol in Sacramento to spur Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the bill. Three days later, he did. These are the strongest women I have ever met, and they are the most hard-working, said Genoveva Aguilar, San Diego coordinator for SEIU-USWW. Advertisement Even before the #MeToo movement, our janitors did the San Diego International Womens Day March in 2016. They went on a hunger strike. Our women have been marching a lot. We are no longer invisible. As a member of the Womens March San Diegos executive board, Aguilar brought her organizing know-how to an event that was still finding its footing. Aguilar also worked to make sure that the female janitors were not the only women bringing some diversity to the march, which like the whole #MeToo movement has been criticized for being too white and too privileged. The janitors were at the front of that line, too. Genoveva made sure we had a bus that we could send out to underserved communities to give them transportation to the march. That was absolutely critical, said Amy Swazey, who led the logistics, accessibility and security team for Womens March San Diego. Advertisement Last year, the janitors were represented, but they were very much alone. These women represent San Diego. They are part of San Diego. They are who we are looking to represent and uplift. With a combined crowd count of more than 37,000, the Womens Marches in San Diego and San Marcos were a huge success. For the female janitors, it was a personal triumph they hope will have a universal impact. The march is over. These marchers are just getting started. I was important that day. I went beyond just being a janitor. I went beyond just vacuuming skyscrapers, Violeta Ortiz said through a translator. Advertisement Working at night keeps us in the shadow of everything else and everyone else. As people drive up the 5 freeway, they dont realize that the lights are on in that building because someone is in there cleaning it. We were there to march for better protection for ourselves and our families and to become more visible within the community. Advertisement Twitter: @karla_peterson karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com Michael Joyces memory, and some of his speech have been snatched by Alzheimers. The disease is so advanced that he forgot he was married to his wife of 38 years. But he is in love with her, and he is also an honorable man, so he proposed to her on a recent morning. She said yes. You dont say, Oh, were already married, Linda Joyce, 64, told the New Zealand news site Stuff. So, I said, Of course I will, thinking he might not remember. But the next morning, Michael Joyce, 68, woke up and asked her, So, when are we doing this? according to Stuff. Linda Joyce, who lives with her husband in Frankton, New Zealand, turned to her neighborhood community website Neighbourly and asked if anyone would be willing to marry them over the weekend. She began her query, Amidst the often sad and frustrating times living with Alzheimers . . . there is joy! Advertisement My adored Hubby of 38 years suffers from Alzheimers/Disphasia. Two nights ago, out of the blue, with tear-filled eyes, he asked me to marry him! she wrote. She continued: Michael had clearly forgotten we were already married but I absolutely went along with him and said I would be delighted to be his wife. In spite of his confused mind, he obviously knows and feels this is something he really wants to do . . . to Michael it will be our Wedding Ceremony and to our friends and myself, a truly precious memorable occasion. Joyce asked if there was anyone in the community who would say a few words and marry them. People responded enthusiastically offering to help officiate, and local photographer Desmond Downs volunteered to be the wedding photographer. He documented the experience on his blog with a post he titled, A special wedding shoot. I couldnt resist offering to photograph this special occasion for free, just for the privilege of being there, Downs wrote. On their wedding morning, Linda Joyce said she wasnt sure he would remember, but he woke up and told his betrothed, Todays the day, she told Stuff. The beaming couple, originally from Scotland, exchanged vows Saturday at a scenic lake near their home as friends looked on and ducks waddled by in the background. When the ceremony was over, bagpipes began to play a melancholy tune, and the newlyweds danced. Theres been a lot of sadness and a lot of frustration, Linda Joyce said. And despite all the fogginess, today has been pure joy. Allison Klein anchors The Posts Inspired Life blog. Advertisement To most Internet users, Grumpy Cat the feline with a furry frown is a minor celebrity that capitalized on the popularity of memes in 2012 as a perpetual sourpuss. One of the most famous images of the cat, for example, was overlaid with the text, I had fun once. It was awful. To her owner, Tabatha Bundesen of Morristown, Arizona, she was a cash cow and lifeline. The cats unexpected fame allowed Bundesen to quit her job waitressing at Red Lobster, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She later formed Grumpy Cat Limited, monetizing the dour kitty. The company has produced a line of branded clothing, pillows, mugs, pens, bags and books written by the unhappy cat, including a New York Times bestseller. The cat herself real name: Tardar Sauce has appeared on Today, Good Morning America and even American Idol. She has starred in a commercial for Honey Nut Cheerios and became an official spokescat for Nestles Friskies cat food in 2013, CNN Money reported. Advertisement Its been reported that the company raked in anywhere from $1 million to $100 million in its first few years in existence. Naturally, the lucrative cat soon found itself at the center of an intellectual property dispute thats raged on since 2015 between Grumpy Cat Limited and the Grenade beverage company. On Monday evening, an eight-person jury in Santa Ana, California, awarded Grumpy Cat Limited $710,001 in damages, according to court documents. It all began in 2013, when Nick and Paul Sandford, the owners of Grenade struck a licensing deal with Grumpy Cat Limited to sell a line of iced coffees called Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino. But in 2015, the beverage company decided to create a line of Grumpy Cat Roasted Coffee, which was not in the original deal, prompting Grumpy Cat Limited to file a copyright lawsuit in federal court. Ironically, while the world-famous feline Grumpy Cat and her valuable brand are most often invoked in a tongue-and-cheek fashion, Defendants despicable misconduct here has actually given Grumpy Cat and her owners something to be grumpy about, the complaint stated. Grumpy Cat Limited also claimed that Grenade was also selling unauthorized Grumppuccino T-shirts which blatantly infringe on the Grumpy Cat copyrights and Grumpy Cat trademarks without sharing the profits and that the beverage company wasnt paying the agreed-upon percentage of profits from the iced coffee. Grenade then fired back with a countersuit in which it claimed that Grumpy Cat didnt hold up its end the deal, which was to promote the iced coffee. As an example, the countersuit stated that Grumpy Cat Limited claimed the unhappy cat would star in a blockbuster movie alongside comedy superstars Will Ferrell and Jack Black. But the only movie Grumpy Cat has ever starred in was Grumpy Cats Worst Christmas, which was made for the Lifetime Network and earned a dismal 5.1 out of 10 stars on IMDb. During the week-long trial at which Grumpy Cat herself made an appearance, Grenades attorney Brian Kinder said that Grumpy Cat didnt support the joint venture. Advertisement Kinder pointed to the fact that Grumpy Cat only posted about the iced coffee 17 times on social media. He also cited a Grumpy Cat appearance on the Fox News Show Fox and Friends, Courthouse News reported. According to Kinder, the cats handlers were supposed to say, Watch out, Starbucks. The cats coming for it, but didnt. The jury wasnt swayed. Grumpy Cat feels vindicated and feels the jury reached a just verdict, said David Jonelis, the attorney for Grumpy Cat Limited, according to Courthouse News. The cat frowned. The populist, pro-Russian president of the Czech Republic fended off a vigorous challenge from a pro-E.U. political neophyte Saturday in an election widely seen as a referendum on whether the central European nation will tilt East or West. The narrow victory delivered a second five-year term to Milos Zeman, the wily 73-year-old political veteran who is known for his inflammatory rhetoric, his close ties to Moscow and his self-described image as the Czech Trump. This, my dear, is my last political victory, and no loss will follow it, a beaming Zeman told cheering supporters as he vowed to abide by a constitutional two-term limit. The result marked a major defeat for pro-Western forces in the country, which had mobilized behind Jiri Drahos, a 68-year-old chemist. The low-key former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences had campaigned on a platform of robust support for the European Union and a more civil approach to politics. Advertisement In a speech to hundreds of deflated backers, Drahos congratulated the incumbent and said the ideals behind his campaign would live on. I am thankful for the enormous wave of energy that has surged with this election, he said, an arm draped around his wifes shoulder. This energy cannot disappear. And I am convinced that it will not disappear. Polls going into the election had shown a dead-even race. But the final tally gave Zeman a 51- to 49-percent edge, with some 66 percent of voters casting ballots in the nation of 10.5 million. In the campaigns final days, Drahos had been hit by a barrage of online attacks, with websites, chain emails and social media posts spreading misinformation. The campaigns variously alleged that Drahos was behind a secret globalist society, had hidden plans to open the country to mass immigration and is a pedophile. Drahos had spoken out against the assault before the vote, saying it was logical to think that Russia was trying to interfere in the campaign. He did not directly address the issue Saturday, saying his campaign would wait to analyze the results. The Czech president does not run the government; that job is carried out by the prime minister. But the presidency is an influential institution, one that sets the political tone for the country. The president has the power to veto laws and appoint a prime minister, a particularly important role now given that the country has been locked in political paralysis since October parliamentary elections. Advertisement That vote ended with the party of billionaire populist Andrej Babis coming out on top but needing partners to form a government. So far, he has been unable to find them, with other parties saying they will not support Babis as prime minister while he is under investigation for alleged fraud. Zemans victory will be a boost for Babis, a close ally. Babis had endorsed Zeman in the presidential campaign, while Zeman has said he will continue to support the businessmans attempts to form a government. With Babis and Zeman in charge, Czech advocates for closer integration of the country with its Western allies fear there could be a shift the other way. Both Hungary and Poland have bucked the E.U. in recent years, while moving in a more populist and authoritarian direction. The Czech Republic has been more cautious, but shares Hungarian and Polish resentment toward E.U. directives to take in refugees. Although the Czech Republic has accepted just 12 of the 2,600 asylum seekers it was supposed to take - and despite Drahos joining Zeman in rejecting E.U. quotas - the president capitalized on the issue. Advertisement Zemans campaign billboards read Stop immigration and Drahos. This country is ours. Drahos had largely avoided talking about immigration, saying he disagreed with Zeman on style but not substance. The political newcomer had promised to govern with politeness, an implicit rebuke of Zemans polarizing approach. Zeman has long seemed to delight in provoking outrage. He has said Muslims are impossible to integrate in Europe and that E.U. leaders are cowards. He has also cultivated close ties with authoritarian leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Washington Posts Katerina Santurova in Prague contributed to this report. A man stabbed his wife in the neck then himself during an argument at their Old Town home Saturday morning, San Diego police said. The fight began about 6:30 a.m. at the home on Congress Street. The man used a knife to stab his wife twice in the neck, and she fled the house looking for help, police said. She was taken to a hospital. Officers found her husband at the home with a self-inflicted wound, and he was also taken to a hospital. He is expected to be booked into jail upon release. Advertisement Three children were at the home during the violence but were not injured. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis A 24-year-old man was shot in the chest by a man who tried to rob him in University Heights early Saturday, San Diego police said. The victim was near his car on El Cajon Boulevard near Florida Street about 2:15 a.m. when he was approached by the would-be robber. The assailant pointed a gun at the victim, and when the victim did not cooperate, he was shot once in the chest, police said. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to survive. The shooter ran away. He was described as black, in his mid-20s, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, about 160 pounds, wearing a black flannel shirt and dark pants. Advertisement kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis A music venue in downtown San Diego is holding a benefit Saturday in honor of a musician missing since he fell from Crystal Pier last weekend. Taylor Watts, 27, often performed solo or with his band, Keep Your Soul, at the downtown venue, Tin Roof San Diego. Watts fell from the pier in Pacific Beach about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and may have hit his head on the way down. He did not resurface. The search for Watts continued through the week, but in a scaled-down version since Wednesday. Advertisement The benefit is slated to start Saturday at 8 p.m. at Tin Roof, 401 G St. in San Diego. Information about the event can be found on Tin Roof San Diegos Facebook page. General Manager Keegan Hunter said the cover cost and a percentage of the bar take will be donated to the Watts family. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Advertisement Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT President Trump, in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, will call for overhauling immigration and spending more on the military and infrastructure. But his vision will confront political realities and budget constraints created by Republicans recent tax cuts, which hell tout as a boon to the economy. Trumps 60 minutes of uninterrupted airtime comes amid reports that his staff blocked him from firing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III in June as the investigation into contacts between Trumps campaign and Russia gathered steam. With the midterm elections approaching in November and GOP control of Congress in question, White House officials are shifting into overdrive to lay out accomplishments that include the $1.5-trillion tax bill and rolling back regulations on businesses, and claim credit for gains in the stock market and drops in unemployment. But the cloud of the Russia investigation continues to hang over Trump. Prosecutors have spoken to more than 20 current and former White House officials and are gathering facts about what Trump may have done to impede the investigation. In addition, Mueller may ask to interview Trump in the coming weeks, setting up a potentially historic standoff between a sitting president and special counsel. Advertisement From health care to economic justice to civil rights, the Democratic agenda stands in powerful contrast to President Trumps broken promises to American families. Deeply honored to be chosen to deliver the response to the State of the Union next week. Stay tuned for updates! Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) January 26, 2018 Trumps advisors are hoping Tuesday nights speech gives the president an opportunity to sweep that turmoil aside for an hour on national television during which he can beam a litany of his accomplishments in his own words directly to living rooms across the country. The central theme of the speech will be that Trump is building a safe, strong, proud America, said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to give a preview of the presidents remarks. Trump will hit five main points, the official said: He will praise the passage of the tax bill and take credit for creating jobs and boosting the economy; call for Congress to fund a $1-trillion plan to improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure; demand lawmakers revamp the immigration system to emphasize job skills over family connections; and call for additional military spending to promote peace through strength. We are honored that @RepJoeKennedy will lead Democrats #SOTU response. Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, the first Hispanic female immigrant elected to the Virginia House, will deliver the Democrats Spanish language response. https://t.co/DWlDhTVnMa Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2018 But Republicans are growing more wary of creeping deficits under Trumps military and infrastructure proposals, items the White House has said repeatedly would be paid for by super-charged economic growth. On infrastructure, the White House has quietly circulated a plan that would use about half of the $1 trillion to fund state and local project grants and encourage private investment. Another large portion would go to rural transportation, water, power and broadband internet investments. Trump has said he wants to protect so-called Dreamers from deportation in exchange for $25 billion to build a border wall and increase deportations, as well as an overhaul of the immigration system that slashes the number of legal immigrants allowed in the country each year and emphasizes job skills over family ties. Advertisement He has tried to make the case that the current immigration system poses a security risk, even though each person given permanent residency must go through a background check and a consular interview. I am pleased to announce that the very gifted @StormyDaniels will be on #Kimmel Tuesday 1/30 after the #StateOfTheUnion. I have MANY QUESTIONS! #MAGA Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 26, 2018 Trumps continued demand for a wall and his repeated implications that new arrivals are more likely to commit crimes and terror attacks threaten to drive away Senate Democrats whose support he would ultimately need to make a deal. To emphasize his security concerns, Trump may point out family members seated in the gallery who have had loved ones killed by people who were in the country illegally or who migrated through one of the family unification channels. Advertisement The White House has invited a few people whose lives have been affected by the devastating opioid addiction crisis to sit in the House gallery as special guests. Tackling the crisis which has seen a surge in overdoses across the country over the past few years has been a stated goal of Trumps administration. But steep budget cuts to the Office of National Drug Control Policy and some anti-drug programs have led public health advocates to criticize the effectiveness of Trumps approach. Democrats have tapped Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.), the 37-year-old scion of the Kennedy family and a rising star in the party, to deliver the minority partys response to Trump. Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, wrote Friday on Twitter that hell contrast Trumps broken promises with his partys agenda on healthcare, economic justice and civil rights. Virginia state Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, 44, will deliver the Democratic response in Spanish to be broadcast on Spanish-language television. Guzman is Peruvian American and in the fall defeated an eight-term Republican incumbent to take the seat. Several female Democratic lawmakers plan to wear black Tuesday to show solidarity with the #MeToo movement and to send a message to Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. Advertisement Also following Trumps speech, Jimmy Kimmel announced this week he would host adult film star and purported Trump mistress Stormy Daniels late Tuesday night on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that Daniels who was born Stephanie Clifford received a $130,000 payment weeks before the 2016 election in exchange for not talking publicly about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. @ByBrianBennett brian.bennett@latimes.com San Diego city work crews nearly killed a homeless person who was inside a tent they scooped off the sidewalks and placed into a garbage truck. Only the individuals screams and frantic arm-waving prevented the clean-up team from activating the hydraulic trash compactor. City officials, who acknowledged the December accident after questions from The San Diego Union-Tribune, say they are now investigating what happened. The shrieking came from inside the jumble of tents and bedding and personal belongings scooped off the street. Arms started flailing and the screams grew louder. In what can only be described as a jaw-dropping blunder, a homeless person scrambled out of a San Diego city trash truck and avoided being crushed to death by mere seconds. According to city officials, who confirmed the events from last month after being questioned by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the individual walked away before work crews could offer assistance or even collect a name and other information. Advertisement This was a terrible incident and all involved were shaken by what occurred, Paz Gomez, deputy chief operating officer, said in an emailed statement. Based on initial accounts, city staff and the citys abatement contractor tried to follow up with the individual but the person immediately left the scene and couldnt be located. Work was suspended for the day to figure out exactly what went wrong. The unthinkable oversight occurred Dec. 22, on the Friday morning before Christmas at Commercial Street between 16th and 17th streets. Police and code-enforcement officers had performed one of their regular clearings of homeless encampments. According to people familiar with what happened, police officers at the scene approved the area for clearing before work crews heaved the tent into the trash truck. Presumably they thought the tent was filled with bedding and other discards. Generally the police department is supposed to run the lead to roust people ahead of time, but every time some people will not leave, said one source who was briefed on the mistake. Its a tedious process. The abatement is pretty straightforward if no ones there. San Diego police did not respond to questions about why officers directed the code-enforcement team to proceed with the removal of an occupied tent. The abatements are sidewalk-cleanup efforts that entail removing property left on the street, usually by homeless people. In recent years, block after block of some downtown San Diego neighborhoods have become makeshift camps for a population of homeless people that has swelled past 9,000. The trash and lack of sanitation contributed to a hepatitis A outbreak last year that killed 20 people and sickened almost 600 before the public-health emergency was declared over this week. Advertisement Under a settlement reached in 2011 and approved by a federal judge, San Diego is required to follow specific steps before, during and after the cleanups protocols that appear to have fallen short in this case. The agreement, dubbed the Isaiah Settlement after the advocates who challenged San Diegos practices, requires the city to post notices about the abatements at least three days in advance so homeless people know their property may be confiscated. Before the sidewalks are cleared, police are supposed to check any tents, lean-tos or other property for materials of worth important papers, photographs, identification and the like. Advertisement If an officer determines some of the property has value, it must be stored so the owners can claim their items. Once San Diego police complete their evaluation of abatement sites, code-enforcement teams are approved to clear the areas. Attorney Scott Dreher negotiated the settlement seven years ago on behalf of David the Waterman Ross, the homeless advocate who created The Isaiah Project to deliver bottles of water to needy people and to lobby for more bathrooms downtown. Dreher was stupefied when told about the accident last month. Thank God somebody heard and stopped it because it would have been way worse, he said after digesting what transpired. As bad as this is, the lawyer part of me doesnt think there was any kind of malice. It may have been carelessness, it may have been a lack of communication. Advertisement Either way, the attorney said it is clear that city crews did not adhere to the steps outlined in the Isaiah Settlement. If they had followed the terms, police would have examined what was inside the tent before telling code-enforcement teams to proceed, he said. We took a lot of time in coming up with specific procedures for when police find things on the street, he said. You cant just throw something away. The whole point of the Isaiah case is unless its clearly trash, they have to keep it so it can be claimed. Gomez said the city is careful to follow all of the procedures spelled out under the agreement. City crews work diligently with homeless individuals to alert them of upcoming abatements and follow strict written procedures when conducting abatements, she wrote. Obviously this event was unacceptable and the city is taking action to ensure this never happens again. Advertisement Michael McConnell is another homeless advocate who has been critical of the citys treatment of disadvantaged people. For months he has taken video of police confiscating homeless peoples property and throwing it away. He posts many of the encounters on social-media accounts. McConnell was silent for a moment after learning about the near-death horror. Im a little speechless right now to be honest with you, he said. A few seconds later, McConnell said the incident underscores how the city treats its homeless population more generally. Advertisement When I first started covering these sweeps it was really clear they barely looked at the belongings before they were thrown away, he said. This just really shows how little they care about people or their belongings. McConnell also said it was no surprise the person walked away without further incident. Theres so little trust out there, he said. Thats one reason why the folks out there do not want to have any encounters with city people -- police or anyone else. They just really feel they are being treated like trash. According to Gomez, the city launched an investigation soon after the misstep. Advertisement Dependent on the results of the fact-finding, appropriate follow-up measures will be taken which may include additional training, modifications to procedures and/or disciplinary action, her statement said. The city does not comment on personnel matters. Join the discussion on reddit City spokeswoman Katie Keach said by email, The city will share the actions and changes we pursue based on the results of the fact finding. For personnel reasons, the city will not release the fact finding report itself. I understand the fact finding will be complete in the next few weeks, but that is subject to change to ensure all related information is reviewed. Dreher is not waiting for city officials to act. He said he planned to approach the court that approved the settlement terms about the apparent violations. Advertisement I will bring this to the attention of the judge and well sit down with him and the city and try to make sure this never happens again, Dreher said. Im not surprised something like this could happen; Im kind of ashamed. jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald UPDATES: 2 p.m. Jan. 30 This story was updated to use gender-neutral language in referring to the homeless person placed into a trash truck. At 31 years old, I struggle with the balance between making more money and having more free time. See, I still dream of writing for a living. I suppose I mostly do that already; I just pictured doing it in a more artistic way. I currently work in business development for a construction and engineering firm a field Ive mostly been in for the last eight years: technical writing, marketing, proposal coordination. Ive also worked as an assistant adjunct professor, freelance writer, and there were a couple of graduate degrees in there. Its not the artsy kind of life I want, but a man has to pay his bills. I make decent money now in the 60s. I like, geographically, where I live in Oceanside, in southern California. Im a few miles away from a girlfriend I intend, if she lets me, to stay with for the rest of my days and enjoy great weather year round. I take trips, as I did this past weekend, 50 miles north to Lake Forest, and hike all weekend with my girlfriend and her dog, and have a couple of nice meals out, without taking any time off work. Recently, however, Ive been tempted. Maybe by greed. Maybe by quality of life. Maybe by the new American dream of corporate America. I got a call from a recruiter where Ive been offered an interview for a position as a proposal manager for an engineering firm very close to where I just went hiking. The starting salary is around 100K, maybe more. Advertisement This is a good problem to have, dont get me wrong. But its a difficult situation to be in nonetheless. That kind of money would dig me out of debt very quickly. I could buy a home, probably at the end of the year. If I didnt like it, I could save a bunch of money and resign, doing the substantial traveling that Ive wanted to do before getting married and having kids. I could rent an apartment wherever I wanted, with nearly any amenity I can imagine. In short, there would be few, if any, financial restrictions to the way I live my life. A well quoted study from 2011 states that the optimal yearly salary is $75,000; after earning any more than this, there seems to be no correlation between more money and greater happiness. Studies that tried to look deeper into this found that it depends on cost of living in ones state, and the size of ones household. Another study examines 13 developed countries and the numbers are a bit higher. Still, this number seems to be, more-or-less, in the ballpark. I have to ask myself some basic questions: How is my relationship with my girlfriend going to be impacted? How many more hours per week, including potential weekends, will I be required to work? Where will my level of stress be? How much of my own writing will I actually work on? Making that kind of salary, how much scrutiny will I be under? If Im honest with myself, and I have to be, I dont like the answers to those questions. I will see my girlfriend substantially less. Pressure will be placed upon that relationship because even though its only an hour away, it could feel like being on the other side of the country. Rarely, if ever, would we see each other during the week. The hours per week may often rise to the 50s or 60s. The stress from the job and the relationship will be exponentially higher than what they are currently. Ill almost never get any of my own writing done; it will be sporadic, and longer-form pieces that require a lot of creative energy will take substantially longer. Ill be able to take off little time, and it will need to be planned far in advance. Regardless of whether I am under a lot of scrutiny, it will feel like Im under a lot of scrutiny for at least the first six months. How much of my personal life am I willing to sign over for six figures? The answer, ultimately, is simple: not that much. Watkinson has an MFA from Old Dominion University, where he taught writing. He lives in Oceanside and works in business development. Read more of his work at geoffwatkinson.wordpress.com, or find him on Twitter: @GeoffWatkinson. In his recent budget presentation, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed creating an online-only community college to great fanfare. But with an online program already in place in our community college system, the proposal is already coming under fire for being expensive, unnecessary and counterproductive. Instead of spending an initial $100 million and then $20 million a year on a duplicative program that may further increase the achievement gap in our community colleges, the governor and the Legislature should focus instead on investing on proven programs that already work. For example, the money would be much better spent on investing in career technical education, which gives students the technical and occupational knowledge necessary to compete in the new economy. Related: Working learners would benefit from new online community college The underlying assumption for the proposal that California needs a new, fully online college is flawed. The initiative is duplicative of what the community college system already provides to our students. Advertisement Through the State Chancellors Office Online Education Initiative, students from anywhere in California can currently take classes at any California community college. Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent on the current program, which is already 100 percent online, and includes counseling and tutorial services. In fact, in 2012,about 11 percent of courses taken at Californias community colleges were taken online, with one in five students taking these courses. In addition to being duplicative, the new initiative will also hurt the very students the governors program is designed to address. In a report released last year, researchers at the Brookings Institution found that the least well-prepared students consistently perform worse in an online setting than they do in face-to-face classrooms and that taking online courses increases their likelihood of dropping out and otherwise impedes progress through college. These findings back up a 2014 study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, which found that California community college students in online courses are 11 to 14 percentage points less likely to successfully complete an online course than otherwise similar students in traditional format classes. Even more troubling, the Public Policy Institute found that online learning exacerbates existing achievement gaps in Californias community colleges, with the largest achievement gap for Latino and African-American students (15.9 and 17.9 percentage points, respectively). Funding a new initiative based on helping a student demographic that is in the most need makes no sense from either a pedagogical or policy viewpoint, and runs counter to the important student equity work currently underway across our community college system. Millennial students, those aged 25-34 who are the target group of the governor in his proposal, dont need another reason to sit isolated behind a computer screen. What makes education really come alive for students is interaction with instructors and other students, and the ability to access all that a college campus has to offer. There are yet more concerns. It appears that this new online-only college would fall outside of accreditation statues. What credibility would such a college, degree or certificate have? Again, it seems as though this proposal is at best wishful thinking that quality education can be done online on the cheap rather than about actually meaningfully educating our students. It is noteworthy that both the UC and CSU systems have already rejected this approach. The process that led to this problematic proposal also lacked stakeholder participation and transparency. The work group formed to develop the options for carrying out this proposal lacked representation from a broad cross-section of stakeholders. All participants were handpicked by the chancellor rather than selected by the various stakeholder organizations, as has been customary. For the above reasons, educators from throughout the state soundly reject the governors proposal for a fully online college. There is a place for online learning in our community college system, and our faculty are engaged in developing innovative coursework that meets the needs of our students. But this must be done as a supplement to traditional face-to-face coursework, not as a replacement. Its what the students want; its what the research shows is effective. Advertisement Finally, if the governor is truly interested in increasing the success rate of our community college students, then he should include additional funding in the budget for community colleges earmarked to allow the system to target the specific needs of under-represented students, instead of an expensive and duplicative program. For example, there is ample documented evidence that hiring more full-time faculty and classified staff would increase both the retention and success rates of our students. Pechthalt is president of the California Federation of Teachers. Gov. Jerry Brown may not want to discuss his legacy just yet, but he is a visionary on criminal justice reform as he used his State of the State speech this week to underscore. He is the first California governor to realize the self-defeating folly of governments routinely ruining the salvageable lives of so many people by locking them up for so long. Brown noted that the state incarcerates nearly three times as many people per capita now than it did in 1970 while spending nearly three times as much of its budget on prisons. Then he got to the point: Californians need to take time to understand how our system of crime and punishment has evolved, how other states and countries have devised their prison systems and what changes might we now make. I urge that instead of enacting new laws because of horrible crimes and lurid headlines, you consider the overall system and what it might need and what truly protects public safety. For the record: A factual error in reference to a 2014 ballot measure was removed. So whats needed? For starters, more mental health and drug treatment programs and better training and education. Those we are getting, but more is needed, particularly hope, Brown said. When a human being gets a 20- or 40-year sentence, as tens of thousands do, incentives to reform weaken ... . That is why recent measures are so vital which allow the possibility of earlier parole and milestone credits for those who turn their lives around. The last sentence refers to Proposition 57, a 2016 measure that Brown championed. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board opposed it over flaws in its drafting but hailed its rationale: the understanding that crime is generally a young mans game, and that it is absurd to warehouse tens of thousands of prisoners into their 40s and 50s at extreme cost to taxpayers. An FBI study of 1990s crime data found 18-year-old males were nearly 10 times as likely to be arrested as men aged 45-49. Advertisement Yet such findings were brushed aside a quarter-century ago when a tough-on-crime movement swept the nation, leading to three-strikes-and-youre-out laws and harsh minimum sentences. The result: While the U.S. has less than 5 percent of the worlds population, it has more than one-fifth of all prisoners. This mass incarceration doesnt correlate with increased public safety. The U.S. has somewhat more to far more crime than industrial democracies in Europe and Asia, according to the Numbeo database. It also spends far more on prison. Thankfully, the irrationality of many basic elements of our criminal justice system is beginning to sink in. In Congress, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers backs sentencing reform and opposes the hard-line policies of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In California, a state appeals court last week questioned the constitutionality of state laws that set bail so high that poor criminal suspects can never get out of jail, whether or not they are threats to public safety severely damaging their hopes for productive lives. This may give new momentum to the Legislatures interest in major bail reform. Lets hope so. Jerry Brown grasped years ago that a legal system that unnecessarily throws people away without adding to public safety must change. Its time far more Americans had this epiphany. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Lightly edited comments from our online coverage. Re Media need to be honest about their failings (Jan. 21): CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, NBC, ABC, and etc. know the facts, but spin their reports for political reasons? In other words, they deceive, which is a form of lying. fdbiddle Joined April 17, 2016 Advertisement Two university studies determined that Fox News viewers fared worse in knowledge of current events than folks who didnt watch or read the news. MSNBC and CNN viewers fared better than non-news viewers. Why? Fox issues forth with misinformation. Wyman E. Hack Joined April 22, 2016 Re Measure would force countywide votes on backcountry housing projects (Jan. 23): Ballot box planning is being used in a cynical attempt to thwart the will of voters who elected the Board of Supervisors who represent them. It was a mistake for developers to use it, and it is a mistake when NIMBYs use it. Kirk Effinger Joined Dec. 11, 2017 We cannot build, baby, build. We dont have the water or the infrastructure. San Diego is crowded enough. John Oliver1 Advertisement Joined May. 19, 2016 Re Company behind portable toilets convicted of illegal dumping (Jan. 19): There are just too many doubles ententes in that headline alone to comment on with a straight face. L. Ray Starks Joined Jan. 20, 2017 Advertisement The citizens no longer have a way to protect themselves. Our county officials are not measuring up. Why do we keep voting in incompetence? If you defraud the county your ability to continue to provide service must be terminated permanently. What gives? Caged Bear Joined Dec. 14, 2017 Advertisement Re Supervisor Gaspar should resign if she wants better job (Jan. 24): I agree with the suggestion that she should choose either to fulfill the commitment she made to voters who elected her supervisor, or resign and go for Congress. This seems to be a pattern for Encinitas officials. The same advice is offered to Tasha Boerner Horvath who has only been on the City Council for one year and is already running for Assembly. Either serve in the job you have or resign and let someone else fill the seat who wants to be there. 49thVoter Joined Jan. 25, 2018 Lets make sure a Democrat replaces Darrell Issa and we will not need to think about what Gaspar did. Advertisement hillcrester Joined April 16, 2016 Re Many mayors boycott Trump meeting, but not San Diegos Kevin Faulconer (Jan. 24): Faulconer is a clear cut above those other foolish, crybaby mayors. I am so very glad to see that sanctuary cities are about to face financial and other consequences this is so overdue. Americans are sick and tired of illegal aliens and other criminals demanding to take our dollars and our opportunities. Victor Jones 91604 Advertisement Joined May 25, 2017 With no laws, nothing matters Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. And yet this POTUS seems to be intent on finding as many as he can and break them. However, since its been proven neither Trump nor Mike Pence can govern or have anything useful to say or contribute, what a total waste of taxpayer money. hunternomore Joined Jan. 05, 2017 Advertisement Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. A British Airways flight about to land at Lindbergh Field instead diverted to Los Angeles after a FedEx plane blew a tire on the runway Friday, an airport spokesman said. At 5:22 p.m., the FedEx plane was landing on runway 27 when one of the tires blew, said Jonathan Heller, spokesman for the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. The plane was able to taxi to the west end of the runway to a ramp, and officials closed the runway so they could check it for damage. None was found, and the runway reopened 12 minutes later, Heller said. But during that time, a British Airways flight approached for a landing. The plane did a go-around, then headed to Los Angeles International Airport, known as LAX. The plane was slated to refuel and return to San Diego on Friday. Advertisement A Delta flight from Salt Lake City also came in and did a go-around, but was able to land when the runway reopened, Heller said. Airport firefighting crews responded and checked the FedEx plane for fire or leaks, but found none. Heller said FedEx mechanics were en route to repair the aircraft. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Advertisement Twitter: @loriweisberg Blue Waters numerical relativity simulation of two colliding black holes with the open source, numerical relativity software, the Einstein Toolkit. Authors: R. Haas and E. Huerta (NCSA/University of Illinois); Visualization: R. Haas. Scientists at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, have pioneered the use of GPU-accelerated deep learning for rapid detection and characterization of gravitational waves. This new approach will enable astronomers to study gravitational waves using minimal computational resources, reducing time to discovery and increasing the scientific reach of gravitational wave astrophysics. This innovative research was recently published in Physics Letters B. Combining deep learning algorithms, numerical relativity simulations of black hole mergersobtained with the Einstein Toolkit run on the Blue Waters supercomputerand data from the LIGO Open Science Center, NCSA Gravity Group researchers Daniel George and Eliu Huerta produced Deep Filtering, an end-to-end time-series signal processing method. Deep Filtering achieves similar sensitivities and lower errors compared to established gravitational wave detection algorithms, while being far more computationally efficient and more resilient to noise anomalies. The method allows faster than real-time processing of gravitational waves in LIGOs raw data, and also enables new physics, since it can detect new classes of gravitational wave sources that may go unnoticed with existing detection algorithms. George and Huerta are extending this method to identify in real-time electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events in future LSST data. NCSAs Gravity Group leveraged NCSA resources from its Innovative Systems Laboratory, NCSAs Blue Waters supercomputer, and collaborated with talented interdisciplinary staff at the University of Illinois. Also critical to this research were the GPUs (Tesla P100 and DGX-1) provided by NVIDIA, which enabled an accelerated training of neural networks. Wolfram Research also played an important role, as the Wolfram Language was used in creating this framework for deep learning. The blame game. Even the phrase betrays the lack of serious concern, the lack of respect, the lack of statesmanship evident in Washington these days. It is not a game, although those who are inside and eager to play and those on cable news who are eager to boost ratings with breathless play-by-play are addicted to the drama. Republicans say they want full funding for the military, for children's health, for the major functions of our federal government but they want all of those before they allow a vote on the status of the Dreamers, those young and now not-so-young people brought to this country by their parents and raised here to pursue the American Dream but without benefit of American citizenship or a reasonable path to it. Democrats say that they want all these things, too, but they want them all because they do not trust the Republicans to keep their word about funding everything that needs funding and then moving on to the actions necessary to ease the burden on the Dreamers. It should be an easy fix. It used to be. But for the past decade or so, conflict has become more satisfying than compromise. Four black bears that got kicked out of Southern California for bad behavior were living it up Friday in Oakland. The bears three cute cubs and their up-to-no-good mother spent the morning checking out their new waterfall-equipped paradise at the Oakland Zoo, as well as gobbling up four birthday cakes, an apparent reward for terrorizing Los Angeles. No one knew if it was really the cubs birthday, as they were born in the wild. None of the keepers seemed to want to get close enough to ask. All the same, they ordered up four carrot cakes from a local bakery, placed them inside the enclosure and opened the gate to the new 1.5-acre sanctuary. In came the bears and, in a flash, the carrot cakes were no more. These bears are smart, curious and very strong, said bear keeper Darren Minier, who appeared to be very glad that he was standing on the right side of a 12-foot-high electrified fence. The bears story is a tale of turning the other cheek. Last spring, state Department of Fish and Wildlife rangers ordered the bears to be euthanized after they broke into several homes in a remote area of north Los Angeles County. The animals snuck through a dog door and into one womans home, helped themselves to the cuisine and attacked the homeowner, said Joel Parrott, Oakland Zoos president. The bears were trucked to Sacramento, where they were days away from a lethal injection. But in stepped the Oakland Zoo, which was looking for a few stars to feature in its new bear exhibit. The black bear habitat is one of a dozen under-construction exhibits that will make up the California Trail section of the zoo scheduled to open this summer. Located just east of the upper gondola station, the new section will also include exhibits for animals such as bald eagles, wolves, mountain lions, jaguars and grizzlies. For now, the black bears are getting acclimated to the wooded habitat, complete with a comfy indoor area with showers, skylights and radiant floor heat. In this regard, they seem to have a leg up on their fellow black bears at the San Francisco Zoo, where smaller digs were created next to the noisy kiddie train that clatters by every few minutes. Oaklands idea, Parrott said, was to use the bears story as an object lesson. Bears are supposed to be frightened of humans. When they arent, its the bears that are identified as the problem. Thats not particularly fair, Oakland keepers said, but dozens of problem bears are euthanized every year. Signs at the new exhibit will tell the familys story. None of this is the bears fault, Parrott said. They are what they are. Theyre just being bears. Its our job to learn to live with them. Parrott knows this firsthand. Bears broke into the zoo presidents vacation home in Colorado last year and ransacked his kitchen. He had to buy a new $850 refrigerator. He was also obliged to install special boards with spikes around his home, to discourage a repeat visit. Despite all that, he clearly bore no hard feelings. We people have to do a better job living with animals, Parrott said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Until the new California Trail section opens, the bears antics may be viewed on a live bear cam installed in their habitat. There are similar cameras in the sun bear, elephant and condor enclosures. Other zoo animals retain greater privacy strictly for economic reasons, zoo spokeswoman Erin Harrison said. Wed like to have more cameras but theyre expensive. The elephant camera costs $8,000, she said. If there was any irony in the four bears being rewarded Friday with human food after nearly being euthanized last year for raiding peoples kitchens none of the Oakland keepers was letting on. Most of the carrot cakes were eaten by the mother bear, as her cubs watched and learned a life lesson while awaiting the crumbs. With the cakes gone, the bears splashed in their pool, pawed at their waterfall, investigated a pair of sorry-looking pumpkins, poked at a rubber ball and walked right up to the fence, inches away from Minier when he came by with a container of sliced apples. Theyre not at all scared of people, he said, after the apples went the way of the cakes. There is no way they could ever be released. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Just before 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, a tree branch fell into a power line in the town of Kenwood east of Santa Rosa as sparks were scattered by heavy winds. Local emergency officials contacted Pacific Gas and Electric Co., asking the utility to immediately evaluate the damage because of the evenings dangerous fire conditions. It was one of the first reported electrical disturbances in Sonoma County the night that numerous fires erupted across the North Bay, and would prove a harbinger of things to come. As the night progressed, county dispatchers recorded 111 fire and medical emergencies, from a thick smell of smoke near the coast to flames scorching a creek trail in central Santa Rosa. Nearly half of those incidents mentioned downed or sparking power lines, blown transformers or other concerns with PG&Es equipment, a Chronicle review of dispatch logs shows. The state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has not determined the causes of the wildfires that swept across Wine Country in October, destroying whole neighborhoods and killing at least 45 people. But among the suspected sources are power lines, which have been responsible for some of the nations most devastating fires. During the first night of the conflagration, county dispatchers contacted PG&E about troubles with gas and electrical lines in at least 54 locations. There were many additional electrical issues recorded in the dispatch logs that the utility was not advised about. The problems became so prevalent that a PG&E representative was called into the dispatch center to help handle the deluge of reports a rare measure that has happened only once before, said Aaron Abbott, who runs Sonoma Countys fire and medical emergency dispatch center, the Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications Authority. It was certainly surprising, it was certainly unusual, and yeah, thats a high number, Abbott said, referring to the dozens of times his agency contacted PG&E. I wont pretend to know what did or didnt start the fires, but we certainly had a lot of electrical issues in the county that night. The Chronicle was unable to obtain similar records from Napa County, where most of the major fires originated, before publication. And officials at Cal Fire would not comment on the newspapers review of the dispatch logs, because of the agencys investigation into the wildfires. Reports of downed or sparking power lines in an area burned by fire does not necessarily mean that the line started the flames. PG&E often has emphasized a point echoed by fire investigation experts: Sometimes a fire will damage electrical lines and utility poles, rather than the lines themselves starting the flames. Its important to remember that there has been no determination on the causes of any of the fires, said Keith Stephens, senior director of communications for PG&E. Some outside experts said the major wildfires have the signature of a lightning storm: Many disparate blazes breaking out over a short window of time across a large area. But because there were no reported lightning strikes in the North Bay when the flames erupted, the most likely culprit is electrical wires, said Steve Pyne, a professor and fire historian at Arizona State University who is not directly involved in Californias investigation. From what I know, power lines seem like the most plausible explanation, he said. And its not a freak thing. It happens all over the country. In Sonoma County late on Oct. 8 and early on Oct. 9, dispatchers handled a flood of reported problems with the electrical grid. Within seconds of each other, calls about downed and arcing power lines came from opposite ends of Santa Rosa; blue bursts and green sparks shooting out of transformers were reported miles apart. Many of the electrical issues were accompanied by reports of fires and requests for PG&E to respond to the scene or restore or shut off power. At around 9:50 p.m. on Oct. 8, 35 mph winds pushed flames toward homes in a rural part of Healdsburg that would later become an isolated portion of the Tubbs Fire. Dispatch logs show that power lines may have been involved, and PG&E sent field personnel to the location to begin restoration work. At 10:20 p.m., a number of callers reported seeing a possible transformer explosion, downed wires and a field on fire on both sides of Highway 101 in Windsor; again PG&E was advised. Within 10 minutes, the utility had a crew on site, assessing the damage and trying to figure out how to restore power to 500 nearby customers who had lost service. Shortly after 11 p.m., dispatch received word of downed power lines and fire engulfing buildings near 8555 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood a town that would later be decimated by the blazes. Witnesses reported flames approaching a winery and ammonia tanks, which can be explosive. PG&E inspected the area two days later and found that a 60-foot-tall eucalyptus tree had toppled into a power line, knocking three wires to the ground. Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle And around midnight, there were calls about power lines arcing into a tree and an active fire in Occidental a rural town 15 miles west of Santa Rosa left untouched by the major wildfires. County dispatchers requested emergency assistance from PG&E, which sent someone to the location to help first responders. Through the rest of the night until sunrise, dispatchers would handle nearly 400 fire-related incidents all over the county, including many reports of downed or damaged electrical equipment, some throwing sparks into nearby vegetation. Calls continued Oct. 9, with an increasing number mentioning hissing, leaking or burning gas lines. Theres fires in Kenwood, fires in the middle of Santa Rosa, fire up near the county line, fires out in Sonoma Valley, fires up in Geyserville, hazardous conditions in Occidental and Sebastopol, Abbott said. It was really a widespread emergency that was occurring very rapidly. Although Cal Fires investigation remains open, records PG&E filed with state regulators show that the utility found damaged electrical equipment at or near the suspected primary starting points for the four biggest Wine Country fires: the Atlas, Nuns, Partrick and Tubbs fires. PG&E crews responding to three of those locations discovered tree limbs or in one case, an entire tree striking electrical equipment. At the fourth location, Cal Fire investigators took possession of a downed PG&E line leading to a burned home, as well as several sections of a power line owned by the homeowner. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In all, the utility filed 20 incident reports with the state, reporting significant damage to its equipment across eight counties. PG&E also fielded many calls on the night of the fires, both from dispatch centers across the region and through the utilitys own emergency number. We received calls from many, many locations not just Sonoma, Stephens said. Problems with power lines are relatively common during windstorms and have caused some of the nations worst wildfires. One of the largest fires in New Mexico history erupted after a tree fell on a power line in 2011. That year, authorities suspect the most destructive firestorm recorded in Texas began after winds blew dead pine trees into electrical lines. In California, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. paid out $2.4 billion to settle lawsuits spurred by a series of wildfires in 2007 sparked by electrical equipment blown about by powerful winds. Of the 10 most destructive wildfires fires in California with a known cause, four were found to be started by malfunctioning electrical equipment. This has been a slow-moving catastrophe for the public utilities in California, said Mike Rohde, a consultant based in Orange County for firefighting agencies and public utilities. The liability generated from wildfires has threatened the financial integrity of some of these companies. While many experts consider damaged power lines one of the most likely culprits for the Wine Country fires, the conditions that night strong winds, low humidity and years of built-up vegetation dried by drought would have made any spark a threat. A vehicle dragging a chain, unextinguished burn piles rekindled by the wind, and arsonists all have caused fires to break out in many places over a short period of time, said Paul Steensland, a former fire investigator and retired U.S. Forest Service senior special agent. Electrical fires almost always leave some physical evidence, which investigators will probably search for. Remnants of a branch that hit a power line, pieces of aluminum that melted and fell to the ground, and remains of a blown fuse are commonly present. If the soil composition is right, something called a fulgurite can also be created fused soil that looks like coral. Cal Fire has not set a definitive timeline for completing its investigation, but at a state senate subcommittee hearing in Santa Rosa on Friday, Chief Ken Pimlott said that more than 30 investigators are searching for what started the Wine Country fires, and that each blaze will have its own report. Its painstaking, and as you indicated, theres a lot at stake, Pimlott told the legislators, many of whom are eagerly seeking answers about about the disaster. Hopefully, in the next several months, well be reaching a conclusion on many of these. ... I can tell you the process is very far along. Joaquin Palomino and David R. Baker are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com, dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino, @DavidBakerSF It wasnt long ago that the maritime industry was a mans world. It was part of the culture in books, movies, songs and legends. The sea captains, sailors, explorers, naval heroes, even the pirates were all men. It was ingrained in the language: seaman, helmsman, fisherman, longshoreman, yachtsman. The world has changed in recent years. Now there are female admirals, ship captains, ferry skippers, deckhands, marine engineers, maritime executives. At the end of last year, Marina Secchitano of San Francisco defeated two men to be elected national president of the Inlandboatmens Union of the Pacific, which represents ferry and tugboat workers. She is the first female head of a seagoing labor organization. Its a sea change, so to speak. The future of women in the maritime industry is with the young people starting out in sea careers. One of them is Bonnie Muchnick, a 24-year-old Oakland woman in her first year as a seagoing officer. She is third mate on a tanker, carrying cargoes of gasoline and diesel fuel on the Mississippi River, across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida ports. Muchnick represents new blood in an old-line company. She sails aboard the Legacy, a combination tug and barge that is 748 feet long, has an engine that develops over 16,000 horsepower and can carry 327,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel. When she is on the bridge, she runs a ship and cargo worth millions of dollars. The Legacy is owned by Crowley Maritime, a family-owned firm that got its start on San Francisco Bay with a single rowboat back in 1892. Now it is a $2.2 billion company with worldwide operations and an eye on the future. Which is where Muchnick comes in. Growing up in Oakland, the bay and the Oakland estuary always in the background, she learned to sail and fondly remembers her first solo voyage. When I was really young, I sailed an El Toro a small sailboat all the way across Lake Merritt all by myself, she said. One day, when she was at Bishop ODowd High School in Oakland, she went to a job fair and saw some material about the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo and careers at sea. I had no idea, she said. The maritime academy is part of the the state university system and is selective. I didnt get in the first time I applied, she said. But she persisted, was admitted and earned a Crowley Maritime scholarship. Its a four-year course, everything from marine transportation studies, seamanship, leadership, modern electronics, even old-school celestial navigation. She was the cadet watch officer aboard the training ship Golden Bear in Long Beach in her senior year. When it was time to sail, she took the ship out to sea. Everyone was watching: the captain, the pilot, the other cadets. She was running the ship. No one ever forgets something like that. She graduated last spring with a bachelors degree, and a third mates license in the United States Merchant Marine. Crowley offered her a job, and she went to work that summer. Muchnick reported aboard the Legacy as the most junior officer. There are 14 mariners in the crew. She is the only woman. Sexism and all kinds of bad behavior are in the news these days. Has she had any trouble? No, no, she said. They see me as part of the crew. They all want me to do well. Muchnick works the 8-to-12 watch, taking over on the navigating bridge at 8 in the morning and again at eight at night. She has other duties as well, including working with the cargo of gasoline and diesel. Its a 12-hour day, usually, 45 days on and 45 days off, and she is paid $94,000 a year. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A typical voyage on the Legacy starts at the refinery at Garryville, La., heads down the Mississippi, for 145 miles, past New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico then east to Tampa, Fla., to deliver the cargo. A river pilot does the navigating on the Mississippi, and a harbor pilot in Florida. The captain is always around, but much of the time, she is on her own. Every single day, I learn something new, Muchnick said. And every day is different. I like it, I really do. Most of the time, the trip is routine. But in September they ran into Hurricane Irma on the gulf. We had 20-foot seas for three days, she said. We did a lot of rocking and rolling. I had the watch. It was interesting, to say the least. Like any 24-year-old at the beginning of a career, Muchnick has goals. Shed like to work in tugs, for one thing, and work her way up to be a captain, and then maybe a ship pilot, a job that takes long experience and a lot of skill. Shes aiming high. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. His column appears every Sunday. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf On Jan. 20, Aimee Allison stood before thousands of women and supportive men in Civic Center Plaza to address the second annual Womens March. Allison, who is African American, is president of Democracy in Color, a national group that wants to empower minority progressive voices. She had a simple message for the enthusiastic crowd that was dotted with pink knit hats. Trust, follow and let black women lead that was my message, she recalled. People were excited. People were cheering! Three days later, she was dumbstruck when a political power play that had been quietly orchestrated behind the scenes for weeks ended with acting Mayor London Breed, the first African American woman to hold the citys top job, being removed from her post in favor of Supervisor Mark Farrell, a rich, white, male venture capitalist. To say I was disappointed is to understate it, said Allison, adding that shes committed to using her organization to make Breeds fate a national story. Not very many black women have ever been mayor of a major city. It was historic. To replace her in some weird deal with Mark Farrell is a slap in the face to the importance of black women. A slap in the face? Certainly. But it could be an unexpected boost to Breed in the June 5 election to fill the remainder of the late Mayor Ed Lees term. Against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, having the most liberal members of the Board of Supervisors in one of the most liberal cities in the nation remove Breed for purely political reasons is not a good look. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Women angry over the move were not shy about sharing their opinions on Facebook and Twitter, and many of them included a link to the donation page on Breeds campaign website. Between the vote Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, her campaign received 240 new donations and more than 100 new signups from people who want to volunteer. Oh, my God, it has been overwhelming, Breed told me. Just the support of people saying, You know, I hadnt made up my mind, but Im determined to get you elected. I didnt know you very well, but this is outrageous. People are really hurt by this. ... They are fired up, theyre motivated, they want to help, and they want to be a part of something that I think will change San Francisco for the better. Meena Harris is the founder of the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign, which sells T-shirts with the phrase borrowed from the famous Maya Angelou poem to benefit womens causes. Shes also the niece of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. She tweeted Tuesday night that she was shocked and shaking with anger over the vote by the supervisors, and encouraged her followers to donate to Breeds campaign. Christine Pelosi, a prominent Democratic strategist and daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, tweeted sarcastically, Theres nothing a black woman does that a white man cant do better! On Wednesday, Christine Pelosi told me, My phones been blowing up with people asking, Why did they do this to her?... For women who run for office, every time you get someplace and you think youve gotten to the table, it turns out theyre making decisions in another room. I like most of the supervisors and candidates for mayor. I dont know whom Im voting for in June. I wont decide my vote based solely on demographics, and I have yet to hear much at all about how the four major candidates would run San Francisco. I understand the reasons for wanting to remove Breed as acting mayor. For those whove been living under a rock, she got the top job upon Lees death last month by virtue of being board president and retained her board presidency, too, under the City Charter. Some supervisors said the same person should not lead both the executive and legislative branches. Others didnt want Breed to have the advantage of incumbency in the mayoral race so their preferred candidate, former state Sen. Mark Leno or Supervisor Jane Kim, would have a better chance. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle (Funnily enough, Breed will still appear as acting mayor/supervisor on the June ballot, according to the Department of Elections, because the deadline for changing the designation has passed.) But where the supervisors lost me? Claiming that the only person in all of San Francisco who could get the votes and wanted the job of interim mayor was Farrell. That the only way to remove white, male, moneyed tech interests from having undue power at City Hall was to put a white, male, wealthy tech venture capitalist in charge. Puh-lease. This was not about elevating a white man, professed Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the mastermind behind the move. This was about sending another white man a message that he cant corrupt our democracy and run the city from the shadows, and his name was mentioned numerous times. Who is this, Voldemort? No, tech mogul and multimillionaire Ron Conway, who apparently has been acting like a bull in a china shop in his quest to get Breed elected. But hes also been a supporter of Farrell. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Farrell is an affable, smart guy who would be on the liberal end of the spectrum pretty much anywhere else. But he was one of the most conservative members of the board and hell be no caretaker just making sure the lights stay on. Hell oversee negotiations for important labor contracts, including for the Police Officers Association, which doesnt like any of the June mayoral candidates but has long backed Farrell. Hell get to propose a budget and fill many significant commission seats. He can get lots of name recognition and run again in 2019. The optics are horrendous Mark Farrell would not have been my first choice, acknowledged Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who gave a tearful speech about the importance of setting the city on a different path than the one she believes was created by Conway and his ilk. She said she and other supervisors tried to find a woman to take the job instead, but were rebuffed by City Administrator Naomi Kelly, former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and Angela Calvillo, clerk of the board. But Ronen wholeheartedly believes she made the right decision. Were a mess of a city, she said. The middle class cant live here, let alone the working class. Our kids dont have stable teachers in our public schools. Down the hall the day after the vote, Supervisor Jeff Sheehy looked dazed. He told an aide to forget about ordering him lunch he was heading home early. After casting the surprise vote to put Farrell over the top, he had been escorted by a sheriffs deputy to his office and again to the taxicab he caught home to Glen Park. He said deputies told him not to ride public transit, because his safety could be in jeopardy. He couldnt sleep. Sheehy claimed he was stunned Farrell was nominated and that he had not been offered anything in return for his vote. He repeated several times that he just found the idea of the same person being mayor and board president weird, just weird. He said he knows the decision could cost him his job in his tight race in June against progressive Rafael Mandelman and that hes received plenty of irate messages from moderates angry that he cost Breed the mayors job. Im a man without a country right now, he said, looking lost. The upside is the mayors race is wide open, and people can articulate their views in the city and the city can choose. Thats how it should be. Ironically, he said that come June, hell probably vote for Breed. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com, Twitter: @hknightsf The revelation that President Trump attempted to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller should reinvigorate the bipartisan effort to protect the independent office. It should also illuminate the troubling defense that Trump has pursued to this day: Instead of answering the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign that Mueller is investigating, he has attacked the investigation itself and thereby exposed himself to additional charges of obstruction. The New York Times widely confirmed report indicates that only the objection of White House counsel Don McGahn, and presumably fear of the fallout, stopped Trump from firing Mueller in June and triggering a crisis of Nixonian proportions. The Saturday Night Massacre, in which Richard Nixon fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox and precipitated the resignation of the attorney general and deputy attorney general, marked the beginning of the end of his presidency. Canning the special counsel could well have numbered Trumps days in office too, but a pair of bipartisan Senate bills would take the reasonable precaution of enabling the courts to review such a move. Stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee for months, the legislation deserves to proceed. Even for an administration known for propagating disinformation, the report that Trump tried to dismiss Mueller debunks a remarkable series of categorical denials. Asked about the prospect that the special counsel would be fired in August, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told ABC, The president has not even discussed that; Trump lawyer John Dowd told USA Today, That has never been on the table; and Trump himself said, I havent given it any thought. In fact, even as Trump and company have pretended to be eager to cooperate because there was no collusion, they have waged a war on the investigation that did not end with the abortive attempt to oust Mueller. Consider recent howls to release the memo said by some to reveal investigative abuses and bias. The memo was compiled by aides of Central Valley Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, the House Intelligence Committee chairman and an avid administration water carrier, based on classified information (which is why it hasnt been released). Republican and Democratic lawmakers are at odds about its import, and both its source and its inaccessibility advise skepticism. The same goes for the text messages a former Mueller agent inappropriately exchanged with his paramour, an FBI lawyer, on government-issued phones. The texts do show that the agent (like a majority of his fellow Americans) harbored a distaste for Trump, which is why Mueller fired him in July. But contrary to the most unhinged Republican lawmakers, the messages dont reveal a secret society within the FBI that plotted the presidents overthrow. Moreover, the special counsels reaction to them suggests he runs a tight ship. Its worth reiterating that Mueller is a decorated Marine and a Republican chosen by Republicans to serve as FBI director and special counsel. That his investigation has been under such sustained attack speaks to its seriousness and smacks of a coverup. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. A tattooed line cook takes a long, theatrical slurp of water from a straw hanging on the side of a plastic quart container. Ever seen Rivers Edge? he blurts to another cook. Its a mystery why this movie comes to mind as he slides a pan of steaming pasta into a customers bowl. Equally mysteriously, both cooks soon start dancing to the garage rock on the speakers. At the Mission Districts Locanda late on a Thursday night, as orders arrive less frequently, kitchen employees vacillate between urgent efficiency and such displays of looseness. When they arent blowing off steam, the cooks take swift inventory of their leftover mise en place so the morning cooks know, for instance, how much onion to dice. They store unused meat and fish for the next nights menu (or potentially staff meal). As I watch, a wiry dishwasher named Hugo Aguilar threads dangerously through the kitchen with an armful of fearsome cutlery. The manager, Daniel Bishop, walks up. Youre here for the least glamorous part, he laughs, and Im not sure if hes mildly apologetic or gently accusatory. Hes certainly right. Theres nothing glamorous about chefs packing up their knives and wiping down their stations, but thats why Im here. Glossy magazine spreads, television shows that deify chefs and Instagram pictures of carefully constructed dishes can work the glamour angle. Even chefs burned and nicked fingers (or hardscrabble biographies) add luster when they serve narratives celebrating artistry, dedication and eventual acclaim. At the end of the night though, a restaurant kitchen cleans up, reorganizes after the frenzy of service and plans for the next day of work. It can be a boring routine, at least compared with watching a well-dressed Francis Mallmann hang chain-ganged chickens over an open flame in the Patagonian wilderness on an episode of Chefs Table. Breaking down a kitchen is a deconstruction that restarts the creative process. It reveals much about a kitchen, its chefs and the organizing principles that govern their work. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Its 10:30 p.m. on a Friday at Frances in the Castro, and the last parties are having dessert. Geneva Chapler, the pastry line cook, scoops muscovado ice cream in a skinny corridor across from the walk-in, and when its door swings open, she has to execute a bullfighting maneuver to dodge a collision. As servers turn the corner (shouting corner, of course), they pass from the placidity of the dining room to a closet-size kitchen that feels like a cauldron, where chef de cuisine Connie Tsui, sous-chef Brandon Peralta and line cook Evan Montelongo stand back to back as they break down. (Tsui, whod been at Frances since 2015, has since left the restaurant; Peralta and Chelsea Olsen were both named to the chef de cuisine position.) Carlos Colli washes dishes, a cable tentacle writhing above his head. When I venture into any restaurant kitchen, Im aware I dont quite fit, both physically and metaphorically. At Frances, I squeeze against the corner joining the kitchen and the corridor and keep my arms folded across my chest, not in a gesture of insecurity but to avoid causing trouble. Hefting a box of glasses above his head, Colli almost decks Montelongo as he hustles down the corridor. But in a clearly familiar dance step, Colli turns his arms at the last possible moment and Montelongo, who is tall, simultaneously pivots 90 degrees. He will cook another day. Whats going on back here is as orchestrated as the service out front. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Its a good habit to constantly focus on the next move, says Tsui. Naturally, were always thinking of what needs to be done tomorrow. According to Tsui, the Frances breakdown unfolds in stages. Chefs maintain an inventory throughout service. They measure and weigh ingredients for anything the morning crew will bake. They prep ingredients for stocks and sauces and make sure the tools those preparations require arent hard to find. Conscious of the restaurants storage limitations, Peralta squishes bavette steaks into a seemingly too-small container a clown car for proteins. Even with a cleaning crew due to scrub the stoves and pans very early the next morning, Tsui methodically wipes a procession of miniature cast-iron pans. Montelongo, who has been plating cold dishes all night, finishes his station first and starts cleaning and organizing everyone elses knives a gesture that Tsui characterizes as typical. When our own stations are ready for the next day, we move on and help the next person, Tsui says. That way no one gets left behind on the clock. Everyone is done quickly at the same time and everyone clocks out at the same time, which promotes teamwork and saves labor costs. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle You have to start early or youll never get out, says Montelongo, who comes off like a guy who likes to get out and then go out. When I mention the heat, he quips: You go through a gallon of water during service and a gallon of beer after. Before that, though, he sits at the bar with Tsui to appraise the night and plan the next mornings farmers market visits. They stare at a MacBook and taste some rose. Between swipes of his kitchen rag, Peralta tells me that the breakdown process varies slightly from restaurant to restaurant. Montelongo chimes in that restaurants with shared kitchens and menus heavy on fermented foods and charcuterie have procedures specific to their needs. He also says that a restaurant with a new menu every night, like Coi, would do less repurposing of unused ingredients. Although my sample size is small (unsurprisingly, most restaurants dont want a backstage visitor curious about cleaning), I find that Peralta is correct. The denizens of the restaurant kitchens I visit all clean, save, organize, prep and escape. They rely on cleaning companies (although large hotel restaurants usually have their own in-house cleaners). They advocate a culture of personal and collective responsibility. They celebrate the dishwashers and morning prep cooks who set the night staff up for success Aguilar at Locanda, for instance, whom Reitz calls the best, and Carlos Colli at Frances, the man, according to Tsui, a guy who handles any task at Frances or sister restaurant Octavia. Tsui also praises team members Pablo Villamonte Paz and Jorge Macias, a legend, who, over 25 years, has worked for more respected Bay Area chefs than the rest of the kitchen put together. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle But the subtle differences in how these restaurants approach the same essential process reflect their unique cultures, which cant be separated from the food they prepare. At the Progress on Fillmore, for instance, I expect the airy, fluid, efficient open kitchen I observe a far cry from Frances and Locanda, both smaller, hotter and rowdier to varying degrees. Sous-chef Jeremy Broucek earnestly walks me through the closing routine. Gesturing at the range, he describes the cleaning process a typical arrangement of chefs responsibilities and nightly cleaning crew efforts. The range gets cleaned nightly, the walls and hoods monthly. At a two- or three-Michelin-starred place, maybe theyd be more fastidious about the kind of soap used or the scrubbing motion, Broucek says. I look at him, waiting for a grin. Nothing. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. I mean, its just basic hygiene, he adds. And hes right. The details of how a restaurant gets clean are less interesting than how it stays organized, saving time, money and effort in the preservation and expression of an artistic vision. As Diana Peschel, manager of the Progress, mentions casually, Stuart (Brioza, the restaurants chef-owner) is always looking for new ways to organize. As the partner of a woman who has made a career out of information management (and applied her expertise to our shared home), I understand very much how organization can become passion as much as necessity. Clearly, by virtue of its size and the more meticulously constructed nature of its dishes, The Progress has more cooks in the kitchen, and that means breakdown roles are more scripted than at Frances. I watch cooks web bundles of leftover ingredients with plastic wrap, layer proteins in the ubiquitous plastic aquariums for storage and stack containers in Tetris-like configurations to be tucked into coolers. The grill cook brings leftover meat to the butcher who records whats been used. That will affect his subsequent orders and plans for breaking down the whole animals the restaurant receives. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle I slip into the walk-in with Broucek and see a wall of pickles, stocks and sauces in satisfyingly straight, different-colored columns stretching up to the ceiling, each container labeled clearly in handwriting on a strip of neon green tape. A lot of places use green tape, says Broucek. Reading my mind, he adds helpfully, in the same uninflected tone: I dont know why. The importance of these routines and what they reflect shouldnt be underestimated. Tsui sees a link between the health of the kitchen environment and the happiness and productivity of her team. The reward and pride that the kitchen staff get is more than worth the elbow grease, she says, which may be especially important at Frances. There, the proximity means that the four people in the little kitchen must look out for one another, whether theyre cooking or closing down. We work very physically close, says Tsui. And you just cant help but see what the person next to you is needing at every moment. That means they have to actually care. And they kind of have to be nice. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Tantrum-throwing Marco Pierre White-esque chefs are glamorous cliches. Kitchen Confidential makes a cooks work seem like drug-fueled trench warfare. Being nice isnt a mantra often associated with the restaurant kitchen. Yet while its not what were taught to expect or, funnily enough, get a kick out of seeing or imagining, care and decency might indeed be organizing principles many successful restaurants couldnt survive without. Andrew Simmons is a freelance writer. Email: food@sfchronicle.com Tens of thousands of sign-carrying demonstrators filled Civic Center Plaza for an afternoon rally Saturday and then paraded down Market Street in what is annually one of the nations largest marches against abortion. Its been 45 years since a landmark Supreme Court ruling legalized abortion nationwide. Every year, activists with Walk for Life West Coast plan their march for the weekend closest to the Jan. 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling. The goal, according to Walk for Lifes website, is to reach out to women harmed by abortion and to inform society of the damage done to women by abortion. For the groups 14th annual event, a huge crowd converged at San Francisco Civic Center to look at information booths and listen to speakers before the 1:30 p.m. walk down Market Street to Embarcadero Plaza. The event closed traffic on Market and Mission streets from 10th Street to the Embarcadero for six hours. Eva Muntean, a Walk for Life organizer, told attendees that they were here to take back the narrative that abortion is a right. We are not going away, Muntean said. We will not rest until every life is protected in America. The Rev. Clenard Childress Jr., a speaker at the event, told the crowd that President Trump who recently addressed thousands of antiabortion activists at the annual March for Life in Washington is helping the cause. I thank God for a pro-life president with pro-life laws, he said. As the protesters headed down Market Street carrying signs, one stood out from the crowd. Georgette Forney, co-founder of Silent No More Awareness Campaign, carried a sign that read, I regret my abortion. Forney, now a 57-year-old antiabortion advocate, said she had the procedure done when she was a 16-year-old high school junior and 12 weeks pregnant. It came to me that I didnt just have an abortion, she said as she walked down Market Street. I aborted a human being. I aborted a child. I aborted a person. For Oakland resident Berta Ortega, it was her daughter who had an abortion at 16, she said. Ortega held a sign at the rally that read Moms for Life as she said her daughter has never been able to deal with the abortion more than a decade later. Todays society doesnt really pay enough attention to the true value of life. It is viewed as a commodity, said Ortega, 68. I think the youth needs to know the truth. Deeper in the crowd, Modesto resident Adriana Stevens held a sign that read Smile Your Mom Chose Life #blessed. Stevens, 26, said adoption is an option and that she plans to both adopt and have biological children with her husband. To women that are expecting or think that theyre alone, they really arent, she said. Theres other resources. As the march approached Market and Fifth streets, dozens of police officers formed a buffer between antiabortion walkers and counterprotesters who chanted, Our bodies, our choice and Abortion is health care, and health care is a right. Kelly Groth, a 28-year-old San Francisco resident, held a sign that read Free abortion on demand without apology. We deserve a right to our own bodies, Groth said. It is a womans decision along with her doctor. The church and the government should not be intervening. But both sides kept the peace as marchers continued to Embarcadero Plaza. Marchers sang Amazing Grace or chanted Pro-lifes the way to be. Pro-life you and me. Organizers had told marchers early on to remain peaceful and instead opt for joy and compassion. Where theres life, theres hope, organizer Muntean said. The Walk of Life is also a walk of hope. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, but on Jan. 1, millions of Californians will be safer under a law requiring landlords to provide alarms that detect the gas in apartment houses and other multi-family buildings. About 23,000 multi-unit residences in San Francisco will be affected in this second installment of a gradual rollout of a law enacted in 2010 that requires detectors for the deadly gas, which is odorless and colorless. Single-family and duplex homes were required to have the alarms as of July 2011. Building and health officials hope to make the silent killer a little louder with the alarms, which beep loudly like smoke alarms. San Francisco's older buildings are particularly risky, since carbon monoxide often comes from appliances fueled by natural gas or oil. The gas often spreads through ventilation systems in buildings. Signs of exposure begin with flu-like symptoms and get worse from there. "It'll kill you, and you might not even know it," said Eileen Shields, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Alarms will be required on every floor, including basements, and should be placed in hallways outside of bedrooms. The law applies only to homes and buildings that have a gas heater or appliance, fireplace or attached garage. The alarms do not replace smoke detectors, which are still required, though many manufacturers sell units that are both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Each alarm typically costs between $10 and $40. They can be found at hardware stores. San Francisco fire crews responded to 47 cases of carbon monoxide leaks in the past year, said spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge. Because it is not a disease that requires reporting for record keeping, it is difficult to find statistics on how many illnesses and deaths occur from carbon monoxide poisoning in the Bay Area. But about 500 people die and 20,000 are injured each year nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In San Francisco, Pacific Gas & Electric crews have responded to 757 carbon monoxide investigation calls so far in 2012, said utility spokesman Joe Molica. Last year, four people at the Marriott hotel at Fourth and Mission streets were hospitalized after an Indian restaurant next door began leaking carbon monoxide from a poorly repaired appliance, Shields said. Earlier this month, a hotel in Burlingame was evacuated after a man reported feeling ill and paramedics found a boiler was leaking the gas. Neither building had carbon monoxide detectors at the time, San Francisco and Burlingame authorities said. Hotels and motels will not be required to have them until January 2016. All buildings that undergo construction or are being remodeled are required to have the alarms installed when work is completed. Serious illness and death are relatively infrequent, but since the gas can only be detected by an alarm, it's an important life-safety issue if residences don't have working alarms, said San Francisco Fire Marshal Tom Harvey. Landlords will be held responsible if their building doesn't have the alarms after Jan. 1, but Harvey and others say tenants should protect themselves by reminding landlords to install the alarms. "We've been urging tenants that if the detector isn't installed, to demand it from the landlord, and if that doesn't work, to contact a local inspector to get them cited for it," said Dean Preston, executive director of Tenants Together, a California tenants advocacy group. Bill Strawn of the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection said complaints about missing alarms will be handled within 48 hours. Landlords get a first warning and, if they don't comply, each citation is $200, he said. Poisoning About 500 people in the United States die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many occur during power outages when people try to cook or heat their homes by burning charcoal or using unvented camp stoves. The initial symptoms of low to moderate carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu, but without the fever. They include: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. High level carbon monoxide poisoning results in progressively severe symptoms and can be fatal. They include: mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Palo Alto has become the second city in California to require the installation of photoelectric smoke detectors in new homes and businesses. The City Council voted unanimously Monday to mandate the use of the devices, following the lead of Albany. The fire chief of the East Bay city, Marc McGinn, is crusading to phase out the most common type of smoke alarms, known as ionization detectors. Photoelectric detectors are believed to limit the number of false alarms prompted by such things as smoke from stoves and steam from showers. Some studies have shown they are better than ionization detectors at detecting smoldering fires before they turn deadly. Palo Alto Mayor Pat Burt said members of the California Fire Chiefs Association had asked the council to delay its decision until the group completed its own study of the detectors. "But they did not offer an opinion that found photoelectric was less safe, and we had significant testimony that ionization was less safe," Burt said. The new requirement will take effect Jan. 1. Photoelectric devices detect smoke once it has crossed a small beam of light. Ionization detectors contain a tiny bit of radioactive material that creates an electric current, and once that current is disturbed by smoke, the alarm sounds. Photoelectric detectors typically cost $15, about $5 more than the ionization models. "For a relatively few dollars, our residents can have what we believe is a safer system," Burt said. "This follows a steady increase in technology making people safer, and we needed to keep that ball rolling." Within months, drivers weary of the eastbound crawl to and across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge every evening should get relief with the addition of a new traffic lane. But bicyclists, who were supposed to get their own path on the upper deck at the same time, will have to wait, perhaps up to a year, and they might have to surrender the path to cars for a few hours each weekday morning. East Bay bike advocates, who fought for years for a two-way path just for cyclists and pedestrians, arent pleased with the development. Were not prepared to give up all of the bridge during the morning, said Dave Campbell, advocacy and policy director for Bike East Bay. In 2015, the Bay Area Toll Authority, Caltrans and Marin and Contra Costa transportation agencies agreed to a $74 million project that would put the double-deck bridges wide shoulders to use. The lower deck, which carries eastbound traffic, would get a third lane of traffic while the upper deck would get a bike and pedestrian lane protected by a barrier that would be movable to permit critical maintenance. The additional lane for cars and trucks during peak afternoon and evening commute times will open by April, said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the authority. The plan is to open the lane only from 2 to 7 p.m. each weekday, though operators in Caltrans Oakland traffic control center will monitor cameras and lengthen the hours when its appropriate. A red X or a green arrow will be displayed over the lane to let drivers know when they can travel on it. For the time being, construction crews are completing work on the lane, including wiring and testing the network of cameras and inspecting cracks atop a retaining wall above the Richmond end of the bridge, Goodwin said. The 5-mile bridge, with an odd look thats been described as a bent coat hanger or a roller coaster, carries about 83,000 vehicles a day on Interstate 580 between Contra Costa and Marin counties. When it opened in 1956, the bridge had three lanes in each direction, but in 1977, the span was so lightly traveled that authorities decided that a lane could be used for a pipeline to transport water to Marin County during a drought. The pipeline was removed in 1978, and the former lane became a shoulder. But traffic has swelled by about 13 percent over the past five years, and backups have become common, especially with eastbound traffic in the evening. Morning congestion, heading west, has also worsened. So Marin transportation officials went to regional planners this month to consider using the movable barrier to transform the bike path to a car lane in the mornings to ease the backup. Were asking that MTC explore opportunities for shared use, said Damon Connolly, a Marin County supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Commission member. Given the amount of growing congestion on that span, weve been hearing from a lot of our constituents about what are the options. The goal is to create some flexibility. Campbell, the bicycle advocate, said a deal is a deal, but he is willing to discuss the issue with Marin transportation officials. We feel like we already have compromised, he said. Weve got the upper deck and theyve got lower deck. We all agreed to that. Across the bridge, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition is more circumspect in its approach, saying it wants more detailed data about the impact an additional upper-deck lane would have in improving traffic flow in the morning. We get it. We understand their reasons for concern, said Jim Elias, executive director of the coalition. When the multiuse pathway was originally conceived, we saw an empty shoulder and historically low traffic volumes. That has changed. And yet a lot has been invested in the project. The Toll Authority is still committed to opening both the third lane and the bike lane, Goodwin said. Both are experimental projects that have to be evaluated after four years. While the third lane of traffic is expected to open by April, the bike and pedestrian path is projected to open late this year or in early 2019. But changes could come to the bike path. The authority will study what it would cost, how much work would be involved and how long it would take for a project in which bikes and cars share the upper deck of the bridge. There will be a bike and pedestrian path on the bridge, he said. But it could become a bike and pedestrian and car path. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan SHANGHAI Ivanka Trumps brand and Apple both rely on Chinese suppliers that have been criticized for workplace abuses. But when it comes to dealing with those problems, theyve taken different tacks. After Apple learned that thousands of workers at an iPhone supplier had been underpaid in 2016, it helped them get their money back. After Ivanka Trumps brand learned that workers at its suppliers were complaining of low wages, forced overtime and verbal and physical abuse, it said its shoes hadnt been made at the factory in months. When three men investigating Ivanka Trumps supply chain were arrested last year, neither she nor her brand spoke out. Worker suicides, sweatshops and other scandals have pushed a growing number of brands including Apple, Nike Inc., and Gap Inc. to become more transparent and take public responsibility for conditions throughout their global supply chains. But many companies still dont reveal the identities of their suppliers, fearing disclosure would erode their competitive position. They continue to enjoy the twin benefits of outsourcing: lower costs and less accountability. California, the United Kingdom and France have passed laws to encourage basic protections for workers at factories that supply global brands, and some stock exchanges, including Hong Kong, have environmental and social impact reporting requirements for listed companies. But supply chain ethics remain largely a matter of corporate choice. When Tim Cook took over as Apples chief executive in 2011, the company was reeling from reports of suicidal workers flinging themselves from the buildings of its supplier Foxconn. The next year, Apple began publishing the names of its top suppliers and joined the Fair Labor Association. In its most recent supplier responsibility report, Apple said it performed 705 supplier audits in 2016 and helped educate more than 2.4 million workers about their rights as employees. Prodded by a New York nonprofit called China Labor Watch, Apple helped ensure that thousands of people who worked at supplier Jabil Inc.s Green Point factory in Wuxi, China, in 2016 got an additional 2.7 million yuan ($426,000 at todays rates) in wages they deserved. The money, which came in a few hundred or thousand yuan at a time, paid for tuition and food, and kept many students out of debt. I bought a computer for myself after receiving the money, a Lenovo, which has been very useful, said Zhuang Huaqian, an electrical engineering student at Hunan University of Technology, who spent the summer of 2016 in a moon suit of dust-free clothing assembling iPhones at the Green Point factory. I am still using it. Eric Austermann, Jabils vice president of social and environmental responsibility, said in an email that his company invested hundreds of hours of staff time to contact approximately 17,000 employees. Although often lacking an email address, phone number, or other standard contact information, Jabil located all but about 5 percent of these employees, all of whom have been paid in full, he said. Apple declined to comment specifically on the case. Ivanka Trumps company, meanwhile, has called supply chain integrity a top priority, but maintains that suppliers are the responsibility of its licensees companies it contracts with to manufacture tons of Ivanka Trump handbags, shoes and clothes. The brand doesnt publish the identities of its manufacturers. In fact, its supply chains have only grown more opaque since the first daughter took on her White House role, the Associated Press showed last year. That mode of thinking is the dominant mode of thinking, said Seth Gurgel, who has worked on Chinese legal and labor rights issues for more than a decade. Theyd be a textbook company that would want to hide behind licensee protections. Big brands with dedicated suppliers tend to be more invested in workplace conditions than smaller brands like Ivanka Trumps. But the political and ethical calculus surrounding Ivanka Trumps name and her namesake brand, which she still owns but no longer closely manages shifted radically when she became an adviser to her father in the White House. If Ivanka could be pressured or convinced to become a global leader or speak out about abuses in the apparel industry, she could be a huge ally for labor NGOs and worker groups around the world, Gurgel said. So far, she hasnt. The three men arrested last May while investigating Ivanka Trumps supply chains worked with China Labor Watch, the same group that called out Apple for underpaying workers at the Green Point factory in 2016. They were released on bail after 30 days, but continue to be monitored by police. China Labor Watch founder Li Qiang said he has sent five letters to Ivanka Trump and her brand but has gotten no response. One of the detained investigators, Hua Haifeng, spent his month in jail sleeping on the floor near a bucket that served as the toilet for around 20 men. Police ordered him not to speak with the media, and he declined to comment for this story. His wife, Deng Guilian, said neighbors in their small hometown in central Chinas Hubei province think Hua sold state secrets to the U.S. She had to go back to work and now does the overnight shift at a karaoke parlor, sleeping in a nearby dormitory. She gets just three days off a month to see her young children. Whatever they do, I wont be afraid, Deng said. I have already tasted the most horrifying things. Erika Kinetz is an Associated Press writer. If you missed it ... In a week when #DoomsdayClock and #CrockPotIsInnocent became hot topics on Twitter, this also happened: If you had this in the office pool, you oughta be playing the lottery: The next Colonel Sanders will be ... Reba McEntire. Shell be both the first musician and the first woman to play the founder of KFC, enhancing the Colonels white suit and black tie with some fringe on the back and a glittery shine a little bit of the country music flair, she told the Associated Press. FedEx and Starbucks added their names to those companies that are giving workers pay raises and other benefits because of the new tax law. Others include Home Depot, Disney and Walmart. This just in: India has lots and lots of people. The Wall Street Journal reported that people at Google were stumped because so many smartphones in India were having trouble many mornings. Turns out lots of people as in, millions and millions and millions of them like to send Good morning! greetings, complete with images that all demand their piece of the bandwidth. For the first time since 2001, Budweisers Clydesdales wont be in Super Bowl commercials. AdAge reported that Anheuser-Busch InBev will instead tout its water giveaway program, which drew a lot of attention because of disasters like the ones in Houston and Puerto Rico. A Missouri State University student who feared he had Tinder-swiped a potential sweetheart out of his life decided to email every Claudia on campus to find her. He had swiped left instead of right, accidentally getting rid of her profile, and all he knew was her first name and that she was also a Missouri State student. So he emailed the 22 Claudias on campus, offering to take the one that got away out for doughnuts. Freshman Claudia Alley got the email, knew it was about her and agreed to the date. And thats how you turn doh into doughnuts. Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techchronicle Three years ago, Amazon.coms horticulturalist was giving Jeff Bezos a preview of what the companys three plant-filled spheres the centerpiece of its $4 billion downtown Seattle office project would look like on opening day. One rendering showed the view from a 30-foot-high suspension bridge looking down on a tree. The next showed the same tree as it would look five years later, branches stretching high above the bridge to form a canopy, giving Amazonians the feeling of walking through a rain forest. Bezos didnt want to wait for the little tree to grow. The question I got back was, Well, can we have year five on day one, says Ron Gagliardo, the projects lead horticulturalist. And thats kind of been our motto ever since. The online retailer is scheduled to unveil the spheres Monday morning following seven years of planning and construction. The glass orbs were built to let Amazon workers escape from emails, meetings, reports and deadlines to walk along stone paths beside waterfalls, let ferns from South America brush their shoulders and the moist, tropical air fill their lungs. Its Always Day One has been Bezoss mantra ever since he founded his company 24 years ago, and that startup ethos has remained intact even as Amazon swelled to more than 540,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue of almost $180 billion. Day One is so integral to Amazon culture that it is the name of the new Seattle tower where Bezos spends most of his working hours. But when youre building a conservatory with 40,000 plants from around the world, Day One would resemble a barren wasteland recovering from a forest fire. So the team of plant specialists, architects and construction workers had to put their own twist on the bosss catchphrase to create a mature, living environment: Day One is Year Five. The trickiest part of the project was transporting a 55-foot-tall tree nicknamed Rubi (short for Ficus rubiginosa) from a southern California farm to downtown Seattle, where it was hoisted by crane last summer and dropped through a hole in the roof. Finding and cultivating plants from around the world while simultaneously building their new home wasnt easy. The project created 600 full-time jobs from design through construction. Accomplishing year five on day one presented a really big challenge for us, says M. David Sadinsky, an architect with the firm NBBJ that designed the spheres. We realized we had to finish the sphere, take part of it back apart, drop the tree in and then put it back together again. From the outside, the three connected spheres resemble a glass-and-steel sculpture of a triple-scoop sundae. The biggest sphere is 90 feet high and 130 feet wide. Inside, visitors first notice the warm, moist air, about 72 degrees and 60 percent humidity, compared with the 30 percent humidity in a typical office. Eyeglasses fog over and sweat beads on foreheads while bodies adjust. Just inside the doors is a five-story living wall cascading with greenery. The climate varies throughout so visitors can find a micro-climate to their liking. The temperature swings as much as five degrees, a big difference in the humid environment, and ventilation systems simulate an outdoor breeze. Wi-Fi is available for those looking to work, as well as small meeting spaces like the birds nest, perched along the suspension bridge beneath Rubi that resembles a tree fort swaying in the branches. The spheres can accommodate 800 people at a time, and Amazon will use employee badges to monitor time spent inside and make sure no one hogs the tree fort. Management wants employees to relax, just not too much. Besides creating a park-like setting where workers can recharge, the spheres will serve as a recruiting tool, says John Schoettler, who runs Amazons global real estate division and oversaw the project. Candidates interviewed in the spheres will leave with the impression that Amazon remains a forward-thinking company, he says. From the moment we started construction, people would stand on the street corners taking photographs, Schoettler said. This structure is about thinking big and thinking long term. Spencer Soper is a Bloomberg writer. Email: ssoper@bloomberg.net The Trump administrations efforts to reverse the direction of federal labor policy appear to have accelerated with a proposal to demote the senior civil servants who resolve most labor cases. Under the proposal, those civil servants considered by many conservatives and employers to be biased toward labor would answer to a small cadre of officials installed above them in the National Labor Relations Boards hierarchy. The proposal could pave the way for a pronounced shift in the day-to-day workings of the agency, making it friendlier to employers named in complaints of unfair labor practices or facing unionization drives. Peter Robb, the agencys general counsel and a Trump appointee, outlined the proposal this month in a conference call with the civil servants, known as regional directors, according to a letter sent by the directors to Robb. The regional directors and their staffs typically resolve more than 85 percent of the roughly 20,000 cases filed with the agency each year over disputed labor practices without involving the general counsel, the top enforcement official. The proposal follows a series of aggressive changes in posture at the agency since last fall, when Republicans gained a majority on the five-member board. In early December, a mere two weeks into his tenure, Robb released a memo announcing the end of many of his predecessors initiatives, including a campaign against employers who improperly classify workers as contractors, and featuring a long a list of hot-button issues on which regional directors were required to seek input from his office. New general counsels will at some point signal cases they want to look at, said Wilma Liebman, a former chairwoman of the labor board. But this was so sweeping and so fast that it was just kind of startling. That same month, the agency overturned a key Obama-era ruling that had made it easier to hold companies responsible for labor-law violations at companies they do business with, such as franchisees and contractors. Robb came to his position after a career largely spent representing management, including handling part of the Reagan administrations litigation against the air traffic controllers union that waged an illegal strike in 1981. Many labor historians say the governments hard line in firing the controllers contributed to organized labors decline in subsequent decades. The labor boards general counsel is confirmed by the Senate. The counsel has independent authority as a prosecutor, derived from the National Labor Relations Act, and performs other duties on behalf of the agencys board, which acts as its highest court of appeals. Demoting the regional directors there are 26, including two vacancies and inserting a new group above them would most likely require board approval. The regional directors account suggested that the new officials would probably be civil servants as well, rather than political appointees. Michael Lotito, a lawyer with the management-side firm Littler Mendelson, who has discussed the proposal with officials at the agency, said they had assured him that it was largely a response to budget cuts reflecting a significant decline over several decades in the number of labor charges filed. He said some of the savings could come from staff reductions among managers and supervisors at the regional offices, achieved in part through attrition. The agency itself said that given budgetary issues, the general counsel is assessing the current organizational structure for possible changes, but added, No specific plan involving the restructuring of our organization has been developed. Labor advocates and even management-side lawyers often praise the professionalism of the regional directors, but critics consider them too sympathetic to workers and unions. Some are way more ideologically pro-union than others, but they all tend to be fairly ideological, Lotito said. The agency tends to promote I think that it should individuals who want to protect the rights of employees. But if youve been doing that all your life, you can miss the rights of the employer. The proposed changes appear consistent with a broader Trump administration suspicion of longtime civil servants. President Trumps former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, called for the deconstruction of the administrative state. During the administrations first year, dozens of senior career officials resigned or retired from the State Department and the Environmental Protection Agency as many complained of being sidelined or ignored by political overseers. The Interior Department reassigned a few dozen senior civil servants to posts that often made little use of their expertise. In one case, a top climate policy official was reassigned to the office that collects royalty payments from oil and gas companies. He quit not long after. According to the NLRB regional directors letter, Robb said on the conference call Jan. 11 that the changes were necessary and independent of budget considerations implying a lack of confidence in the directors ability to investigate and adjudicate allegations of labor-rights violations. Robb, according to the letter, said the agency might hire a handful of district directors, each with authority over a portion of its 26 regions, and proposed lowering the regional directors rank within the Civil Service. The letter expressed concerns that Robb was intent on removing many of the core responsibilities of the sitting regional directors, although it acknowledged that it was unclear how much authority he intended to shift to district directors, how many there would be and whether any regional offices would be closed or consolidated. Lotito, the management lawyer who has discussed the concept with agency officials, said the idea was to keep most or all of the regional offices in place and allow management and labor to appeal decisions to the district directors. The regional directors are their own fiefdoms, he said. If there was an ability to go to a district director, who oversees eight regions, chances are that would drive consistency. At a Jan. 19 meeting with an American Bar Association committee whose members represent both management and labor, Robb argued that the reaction to his proposal was overblown. According to someone familiar with the discussion, Robb acknowledged that he would need the approval of the agencys board for any changes, and he said he would seek public comment as well as input from the regional directors. In the meantime, the letter from the regional directors indicates that many may take Robbs proposal as a cue to resign or retire, as some of their counterparts at the State Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department did. We believe the changes you suggest, including the removal of directors from the Senior Executive Service, will cause senior directors and managers, whose institutional knowledge is a valuable asset to the agency, to retire sooner than they otherwise intended, the directors wrote to Robb. As you can imagine, the information you provided to the regional directors has created much uncertainty and has disheartened us. Noam Scheiber is a New York Times writer. In route news, Southwest joins Alaska and United in planning service from a new Seattle-area airport; low-cost Frontier will expand its network to Mexico with a code-sharing partner; China Airlines has optimistic plans for an unlikely southern California gateway; Chinas Hainan Airlines is coming to Vancouver; Emirates boosts its Newark schedule; Icelandair adds another U.S. gateway; and JetBlue expands in the Caribbean. That new passenger terminal under construction at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, is starting to get crowded before it even opens. The airport north of Seattle also known as Snohomish County Airport has already been designated for new service later this year by Alaska Airlines and United. And now Southwest Airlines plans to join the Paine party as well. Southwest, which already offers 40 flights a day to 15 cities from Seattle-Tacoma International, said it plans to start flying out of Paine Field later this year. The carrier said it will initially operate five flights a day out of the airport, but it wont announce the destinations until this spring. Alaska said earlier it will fly from Paine Field this fall to San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Portland, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Orange County and Las Vegas, while United is targeting new service from Paine to Denver and San Francisco. TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by See More Collapse Late this week, Mexican discounter Interjet announced it would fly from San Francisco International to Cancun and Guadalajara starting March 14. Interjet will use 150-seat Airbus A320s on the routes with thrice weekly service to both cities. Ultra-low-cost Frontier Airlines said it expects to start selling tickets this spring on new code-share connections it is planning to create with Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris. Code-sharing means Frontier will put its F9 code on designated Volaris transborder flights so they will be listed in reservations computers as Frontier flights, and Volaris will do the same on Frontier routes within the U.S. Customers will be able to book and buy a connecting itinerary to Mexico through Frontiers website, its mobile app and its reservations lines, or through travel agencies. A natural fit between the carriers networks already exists, with each serving more than 20 of the same markets. In addition, both carriers fly Airbus A320 aircraft, Frontier said. Both Frontier and Volaris are owned by the investment firm Indigo Partners. Last fall, Taiwan-based China Airlines announced that it would start service March 25 on a new route between Taipei and southern Californias Ontario International Airport. Other than a couple of routes to Mexico, this will be the only international service out of Ontario, which served 4.5 million passengers last year. China Airlines had originally planned to operate four flights a week on the new route, but it is reportedly seeing such demand for Ontario-Taipei flights that it has now increased its schedule to daily service. Hainan Airlines, which offers service on several routes between China and North America, is planning to add another. According to Routesonline.com, Hainan has started taking reservations on a new route linking Vancouver with Shenzhen, via a stop in Tianjin. The carrier plans to use an A330-300 on the route, offering two flights a week starting May 25. Emirates already operates one daily flight between Newark Liberty International and its home base of Dubai, but it makes a stop in Athens. Now the carrier plans to add a second daily departure from Newark, this one a non-stop. It will begin June 1, using a three-class 777-300ER. With the extra capacity out of Newark, Emirates plans to eliminate one of its four daily A380 flights between Dubai and New York JFK on March 25. It will still offer two daily non-stops from JFK, and one JFK-Dubai flight operating via a stop in Milan. Icelandair In addition to its plans to revive service to San Francisco starting June 1, Icelandair will also add another new U.S. route this spring. From May 25 through October 1, the Icelandic carrier will fly from Kansas City International to Reykjavik three times a week the first-ever transatlantic service from Kansas City. Icelandair will use a Boeing 757 on the route. JetBlue plans to increase its Caribbean presence this year with new service to the islands from its Ft. Lauderdale focus city. On June 14, JetBlue will launch daily service from Ft. Lauderdale to Santiago in the Dominican Republic, and in October it plans to add daily flights from FLL to Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. *See ALL TravelSkills posts here* Get TravelSkills via email! Daily or weekly updates. Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. A man who admitted robbing four banks, three of them in the East Bay, during a 2 1/2-month period last year was sentenced Friday to 7 years and 3 months in federal prison. Clayton Quiz Smith, 45, of Sacramento pleaded guilty in October to four counts of armed bank robbery and has been in custody since May. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland, who also ordered him to pay $28,104 in restitution. The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety arrested a mother and son Friday in connection with a prostitution ring. David Romesburg, 37, and Fay Romesburg, 59, allegedly recruited women to the prostitution business, arranged appointments with men at a Rohnert Park apartment and a Santa Rosa home, and took a cut of the money for themselves. David Romesburg also allegedly refused to allow one woman to leave the business until she paid off her debt and would not give women money for basic needs unless they had sex with him or engaged in prostitution. Police said that they began an investigation into the Romesburgs after managers of an apartment complex on the 4000 block of Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park tipped them off to the possibility that the apartment was being used for prostitution. A neighbor also complained about men constantly visiting. Detectives in Santa Rosa had received complaints that the Romesburgs seemed to be using their home in Santa Rosa for prostitution. Ads were located on the Internet offering massage services in Rohnert Park, which stated the services included nude massages and upgrades were available, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said. Detectives obtained search warrants for the Rohnert Park apartment, the Santa Rosa house and a gaming and karaoke business the Romesburgs were about to open. On Friday, an undercover Rohnert Park officer set up an appointment with one of the women listed in the online ads. The woman, 19, met the detective at the apartment and offered him a sex act in exchange for money, police said. Officers then searched the apartment and detained several women as part of the investigation. Other officers searched the Santa Rosa home and arrested David and Fay Romesburg. Both are facing charges of pimping and pandering, and David Romesburg also faces charges of human trafficking. They have been booked into Sonoma County Jail; David Romesburg is being held on $250,000 bail and Fay Romesburg is being held on $245,000 bail. Sophie Haigney is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophie.haigney@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophieHaigney The recent spate of television show reboots continues with "Murphy Brown." CBS announced this week that the network is bringing back the sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons from 1988 to 1998. The network said in a statement that it has committed to 13 episodes, which will air in the 2018-19 season. Actress Candice Bergen, 71, will reprise her role as Brown, a fierce female journalist working in a male-dominated world of broadcast news. Diane English, the show's creator, will return as a writer and producer. The statement implied that the reboot will tackle current political and cultural issues, saying the show "returns to a world of cable news, social media, fake news and a very different political and cultural climate." The original show was critically acclaimed, earning 62 Emmy nominations. It often tackled divisive social issues during its decade-long run. The most famous instance came when Brown, a single woman, became pregnant. She wrestled with the idea of having an abortion but eventually decided to have the child and raise it on her own. The storyline prompted harsh comments from former Vice President Dan Quayle, a Republican, who criticized the show while giving a speech in 1992 on the Los Angeles riots, which he claimed were the result of "the breakdown of family structure." He said "Murphy Brown" contributed to this breakdown. "Bearing babies irresponsibly is simply wrong," Quayle said. "Failing to support children one has fathered is wrong. We must be unequivocal about this. It doesn't help matters when prime-time TV has Murphy Brown, a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman, mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another lifestyle choice." The show responded by including snippets of Quayle's speech on the show itself in its Season 5 premiere. Brown overhears the speech in the episode and says, "I'm glamorizing single motherhood? What planet is he on? I agonized over that decision." "Perhaps it's time for the vice president to expand his definition and recognize that, whether by choice or circumstance, families come in all shapes and sizes. And, ultimately, what really defines a family is caring and love," Brown says later in the episode. The show often incorporated real people into its storylines. The guest list of Brown's baby shower, for example, included Katie Couric, Faith Daniels, Joan Lunden, Mary Alice Williams and Paula Zahn - all whom played themselves. "Murphy Brown" is the latest in a long list of popular network sitcoms that are being revived as the major networks fight for viewers with increasingly popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Fox rebooted "The X-Files," while NBC brought back "Will & Grace." Finally, ABC is bringing back "Roseanne." Like "Murphy Brown," the new "Roseanne" reboot will address the modern political culture, portraying its main character as a Trump supporter in opposition with her family. A school district cant prohibit striking teachers from picketing or carrying signs on school property, a federal appeals court says. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled Friday that a school district in southern Oregon violated the free-speech rights of teachers during a strike in 2012, and the rights of a high school student who was barred from parking in a school lot because her back windshield had a sign supporting the teachers. The Jackson County School District No. 9 also told four students they would be suspended unless they took down Facebook posts backing the teachers or criticizing the district. The district policies were directly aimed at stifling disagreement with the districts position, Judge Richard Clifton said in the 3-0 ruling. The First Amendment, he said, protects the expression of views that disagree with the government. The district is in Eagle Point, east of Medford. The Eagle Point Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association, went on strike in May 2012 over pay, working hours and other issues. More than 250 employees walked out, closing most of the 12 schools, with 4,100 students, until a settlement was reached nine days later. Preparing for the strike, district officials issued orders that banned picketing on school property, ordered strikers to stay off school grounds, and prohibited signs or banners on campus without the superintendents approval. The district also leased a vacant lot near its headquarters and barred members of the union, which had previously used the lot for organizing. Defending its edicts in court after the strike, the district argued that picketing and carrying signs on campus was a type of government speech, which the public might associate with the school district rather than its critics. The Supreme Court has upheld state and local agencies restrictions on private expression that a reasonable observer would attribute to the government. One ruling upheld a citys refusal to allow a religious organization to install a monument in a public park. Another upheld Texas rejection of a license plate showing the Confederate flag. In each case, the court said, observers might believe the message came from the city or state. But the appeals court said no reasonable observer would connect the teachers pro-strike message with the school district. The districts lawyers also argued that picket signs on campus would cause observers to question the districts resolve, but Clifton said the argument, if accepted, would allow the government to block any expression of views on its property that did not match the governments own favored position. Henry Kaplan, a lawyer for the union, said the ruling reaffirmed the Supreme Courts observation in a landmark 1969 case that people do not check their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse door. Lawyers for the district could not be reached for comment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The fundraising for Californias June 5 primary is well along, the political debates have begun and the first nasty hit pieces are already showing up on the Internet. But voters might want to be wary before making any nonrefundable election bets. History shows theres always plenty of early jockeying for political position and that the early contenders in California contests arent always the ones who end up on the primary ballot. You really dont know until March 9 how much of this is just hot air, Garry South, a Democratic consultant who has run a number of statewide races, said of the filing deadline. On Jan. 18, for example, Democrat Asif Mahmood, a Los Angeles physician, announced he was pulling out of the race for lieutenant governor, despite having raised more than $1 million for the contest. Instead, the first-time candidate says he plans to run for state insurance commissioner, a seat left open because current Commissioner Dave Jones is termed out and running for attorney general. On the GOP side, Doug Ose, a former Sacramento-area congressman, said earlier this month that hes now a candidate for governor, ignoring a pair of Republicans who have been in that race for months. Last week, Vivek Viswanathan, a 30-year-old Democrat who worked as a policy adviser on Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and as a special adviser in Gov. Jerry Browns office, said he is running for state treasurer, where he will challenge Fiona Ma, a state Board of Equalization member and former San Francisco supervisor. Mahmood said the change was an easy call. I want to help California succeed ... and I think the best fit is serving as insurance commissioner, he said, citing his years of experience in dealing with insurance companies in his medical practice. My experience is better than anyone who has ever run for the office. Mahmood denied that political considerations played any part in his decision, even though he would have been facing three other well-financed candidates in the lieutenant governors race, with only the top two finishers advancing to the Nov. 6 general election. Its not unusual for politicians to toss out that standard denial, since no one wants to say theyre not running because they cant win, South said. If you come from nowhere and no one knows who you are, it makes sense to move to what you think is more attractive terrain, he added. That doesnt mean a political shift cant be a surprise not just to the voters, but also to the candidates campaign team. In 2009, for example, then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced he was running for governor and even collected an endorsement from former President Bill Clinton. But in October, he dropped out of the race. With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to and should be done, he said, not mentioning that the daunting prospect of running against attorney general and former governor Jerry Brown made his run for governor the longest of long shots. But by February 2010, he had taken out papers to run for lieutenant governor, even though South, his consultant in Newsoms now-ignored governors race, had told The Chronicle he would have Newsom kidnapped by one-eyed aliens from the planet Pluto before he would make that decision to run for lieutenant governor. Newsom won, was re-elected in 2014 and is now the front-runner in the governors race, so it was a good call. So was then-Board of Equalization member John Chiangs 2006 decision to drop his plan to run for state treasurer when then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer got in the race and instead join the state controller contest. Both Lockyer and Chiang won, and Chiang, now the state treasurer, is also a 2018 candidate for governor. It doesnt always turn out so well, though. In 1994, termed-out state Controller Gray Davis joined the lieutenant governors race, facing state Democratic Party Chairman Phil Angelides. With polls showing him in trouble against Davis, Angelides moved to the treasurers race, where he won the primary but lost the November election to Republican Matt Fong. With the state filing deadline about six weeks away, theres still plenty of time for changes in the primary lineup, with some candidates switching races, others getting in and a few, like incumbent GOP Reps. Ed Royce of Orange County and Darrell Issa of San Diego County, getting out of politics altogether at least for now. People have to remember, (candidates) can do anything until they file their campaign papers, South said. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A state appeals court Thursday ordered a new bail hearing for a San Francisco man accused of stealing cologne and held for $350,000 bail, a move that could change how bail is handled all over California. The decision by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco could abolish the practice of using large bail amounts to detain low-income defendants without giving them detention hearings, according to the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. "It means judges can't set super-high bail amounts for low-income people who can't afford to pay unless they represent a danger if they are released," said Tamara Barak Aparton of the Public Defender's Office. In a 48-page pleading, the district court ordered a new bail hearing for 64-year-old Kenneth Humphrey. Humphrey can't afford the $350,000 bail and has languished in San Francisco County Jail since he was arrested May 23 on suspicion of stealing $5 and a bottle of cologne. "...the trial court erred in setting bail at $350,000 without inquiring into and making findings regarding petitioner's ability to pay and alternatives to money bail," the district court said. "Petitioner is entitled to a new bail hearing at which he is afforded the opportunity to provide evidence and argument, and the court considers his financial resources and other relevant circumstances, as well as alternatives to money bail," the court said. If it stands, the decision would affect how judges across the state set bail. Currently, the amounts are determined by a chart, called a bail schedule, that doesn't take the defendant's ability to pay into account. The system has been under attack for some time, spearheaded by Humphrey's case. The San Francisco Public Defender's Office and the nonprofit Civil Rights Corps are representing him. "We want to start a movement in which defenders all over California demand that judges follow the law and hold new bail hearings pursuant to the Humphrey decision," said San Francisco Public Defender Ted Adachi in a statement. "The court was clear that judges are acting unconstitutionally and unlawfully by following the current practice," Adachi said. "We want all the public defenders and defense attorneys in the state to demand bail hearings for their clients, because their clients are entitled to them," Aparton said. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) About 100 people rallied this afternoon outside a federal immigration office in San Francisco to gain the release of a husband and father of three detained despite a recommendation he be released. The rally started at noon at the San Francisco Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at 630 Sansome St. in the city's Financial District. Fernando Carrillo, who lives in San Jose, has been held in the Contra Costa County jail in Richmond since Oct. 11 after immigration agents picked him up when he dropped off his 4-year-old daughter at daycare. Meanwhile, Carrillo's wife Lourdes Barraza said she has become the breadwinner and is serving as both mother and father, making life very challenging. "It's been a nightmare," Barraza, 37, said at today's rally. She's been paying rent with a credit card, the San Jose resident said. Furthermore, her power was turned off last week because she did not have enough money, but the power is back on with the help of a nonprofit group, Barraza said. Additionally, Carrillo's detainment has been hard on their children. Barraza said their oldest daughter has gone from being a regular high school student to being home-schooled because of anxiety and depression. Carrillo is a Mexican national. Barraza and her children are citizens, however, she said there is no path to citizenship for her husband, even though he's married to a citizen. She said her husband has no criminal record but was detained on a previous deportation order. San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell issued a statement this afternoon about the city's stance on protecting immigrant communities. "I will be a mayor who fights on behalf of our immigrant families," he said. "We are and always will be a Sanctuary City. "We have a President who repeatedly attacks and insults our families and consistently threatens those who do not align with his misguided policies and hateful beliefs. San Francisco is prepared and unified. "We will not allow threats and accusations to undermine the values of our city," Farrell said in the statement. James Schwab, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, could not immediately confirm or deny the reason for Carrillo's detainment or comment on the case. The rally was led by several Jewish organizations such as Bend the Arc Jewish Action and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and included other groups such as Catholic Charities. "We read from Exodus this week," Lee Winkelman, California organizing director for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said. "It says welcome the stranger because you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Winkelman said what's happening now is happening against Jewish values and California values. Barraza wants immigration officials to release her husband on bond so he can fight the potential deportation. She said she feels blessed by the support she received at the rally and wants the public to know that her husband is not a criminal and doesn't deserve to sit in a cell away from family. Organizers said Carrillo's detention officer and the officer's supervisor have recommended that Carrillo be released based on references and supporting documentation. But David Jennings, the head of the enforcement removal operation in the immigration office in San Francisco, has refused to release him, according to organizers. Barraza said, "If they want him to become a citizen they need to provide a pathway to do it," such as releasing him on bond so that he can find resources to fight the case. Bay Area residents and others can follow the family's efforts on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FreeFernandoNow/. SAN RAMON (BCN) Officers arrested a suspected thief who crashed his car in San Ramon while fleeing Friday afternoon, police said. Lenny James Cabrera, 36, of Concord, was arrested on suspicion of evading and hit and run, a felony warrant from Concord for identity theft, grand theft and drugs and a Pleasant Hill felony warrant for identity theft, drugs and possession of a firearm by a firearm, police said. After being taken to the hospital as a precaution, Cabrera was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, police said. The case began when a San Ramon officer tried to stop Cabrera's car around 10:50 a.m. for a speed violation at Alcosta Boulevard and Estero Drive, according to police. The car stopped, but then sped off, police said. The officers didn't try to pursue because it was foggy, but followed at a safe speed, according to police. The suspect crashed his car into a house at the corner of Vera Cruz and Montevideo drives, then ran away, police said. With the help of a canine officer, Walnut Creek police and an East Bay Regional Parks helicopter, officers searched for the suspect. San Ramon residents spotted the suspect in the Country Brook Loop Apartments, and officers arrested him, according to police. OAKLAND (BCN) Multiple people were injured in two assaults and one armed robbery in Oakland Thursday evening and early Friday morning, police said. At 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, three people, two males and one female, were shot by two suspects in the 800 block of East 12th Street, several blocks south of Lake Merritt, according to police. One of the victims was taken to a local hospital to be treated for a left arm wound and was reported to be in stable condition, police said. The two suspects are still at large. At 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, a male victim was assaulted by a suspect with a knife in the 2500 block of Cordova Street, near Fruitvale Avenue, police said. However, the victim didn't suffer any serious injuries and didn't need to be hospitalized, according to police. The suspect is still at large. At 1:40 a.m. today, a male victim and a female victim were hospitalized with cuts and bruises they suffered during an armed robbery in the 2300 block of 86th Avenue that was carried out by four suspects who used a handgun, police said. The suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash from the victims, according to police. The suspects remain at large. Six members of the same family were charged with murdering a bouncer last year over a confiscated identification card, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office announced Friday. Two brothers, a sister and three cousins were indicted earlier this week by the criminal grand jury, prosecutors said. Santos Andrew Trevino, 22, 28-year-old Joseph Esquivel, 26-year-old Percella Marissa Esquivel, 25-year-old Aaron Ruben Vallejo, 33-year-old Robert Anthony Ruiz and 21-year-old Andrew Ray Cervantez were charged with murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, according to prosecutors. On Feb. 25, 2017 a security guard working at the Tres Gringos bar on South Second Street in San Jose confiscated an identification card from Joseph Esquivel. Esquivel was using his younger brother's identification card to get into the bar, the district attorney's office said. Esquivel and his sister demanded the ID back. After the security guard told the Trevinos that they needed to call the police if they wanted the ID, at which point they walked away and called the younger brother whose ID was being held. An estimated 15 minutes later, a car pulled up outside of the bar and the other four defendants got out to speak with the brother and sister who were already standing outside, prosecutors said. The whole group walked up to the security guard and confronted him, asking for the ID back. Both brothers involved with the ID card punched the guard, according to reports. Prosecutors said that 35-year-old Frank Navarro, the head of security, walked over to try and diffuse the situation. While he was talking to the group, Navarro was attacked and stabbed five times. The stab to his neck was fatal. Ruiz and Vallejo fled in the car they had pulled up in and the other four defendants took off on foot, according to the district attorney's office. San Jose police arrested Ruiz and Vallejo after a high-speed car chase fifteen minutes after the murder. The rest of the defendants were arrested within the following two weeks, prosecutors said. The defendants are expected to be arraigned Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Hall of Justice in San Jose. If they are in fact convicted, they potentially face life in prison. "This was a savage and senseless crime that took the life of a beloved member of our community," prosecutor Lance Daugherty said. "Every murder is a tragedy. Sadly, Frank Navarro was stabbed to death over a confiscated ID, which would have cost $30 to replace." A state appeals court Thursday ordered a new bail hearing for a San Francisco man accused of stealing cologne and held for $350,000 bail, a move that could change how bail is handled all over California. The decision by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco could abolish the practice of using large bail amounts to detain low-income defendants without giving them detention hearings, according to the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. "It means judges can't set super-high bail amounts for low-income people who can't afford to pay unless they represent a danger if they are released," said Tamara Barak Aparton of the Public Defender's Office. In a 48-page pleading, the district court ordered a new bail hearing for 64-year-old Kenneth Humphrey. Humphrey can't afford the $350,000 bail and has languished in San Francisco County Jail since he was arrested May 23 on suspicion of stealing $5 and a bottle of cologne. "...the trial court erred in setting bail at $350,000 without inquiring into and making findings regarding petitioner's ability to pay and alternatives to money bail," the district court said. "Petitioner is entitled to a new bail hearing at which he is afforded the opportunity to provide evidence and argument, and the court considers his financial resources and other relevant circumstances, as well as alternatives to money bail," the court said. If it stands, the decision would affect how judges across the state set bail. Currently, the amounts are determined by a chart, called a bail schedule, that doesn't take the defendant's ability to pay into account. The system has been under attack for some time, spearheaded by Humphrey's case. The San Francisco Public Defender's Office and the nonprofit Civil Rights Corps are representing him. "We want to start a movement in which defenders all over California demand that judges follow the law and hold new bail hearings pursuant to the Humphrey decision," said San Francisco Public Defender Ted Adachi in a statement. "The court was clear that judges are acting unconstitutionally and unlawfully by following the current practice," Adachi said. "We want all the public defenders and defense attorneys in the state to demand bail hearings for their clients, because their clients are entitled to them," Aparton said. A male suspect who allegedly stole a Cadillac and then used it to ram a San Leandro police vehicle head-on Friday morning after officers tried to stop him is expected to face multiple felony charges, police said. Lt. Isaac Benabou said that shortly before 8 a.m. officers spotted the Cadillac, which had been reported stolen out of Fremont, in the parking lot of the West Gate shopping center at Davis Street and Timothy Drive. Officers tried to get the male suspect and a female passenger into custody by giving them commands to exit the Cadillac but the man started the car and sped away, according to Benabou. While he was evading officers, the suspect driver clipped the rear end of another vehicle on Timothy Drive and continued to flee, driving the Cadillac into a residential neighborhood, Benabou said. The suspect driver led officers to the 600 block of nearby Tudor Court, which is a dead end street, according to Benabou. He said the male driver then turned the Cadillac around and drove head-on toward a marked San Leandro police patrol vehicle and collided with its front end in an attempt to escape. The driver then lost control of the stolen vehicle and veered into a telephone pole, where it came to rest, according to Benabou. Officers were then able to arrest the driver and the female passenger without any further incident, according to Benabou. The police vehicle was damaged by the impact of the collision but the officer wasn't injured, Benabou said. The two suspects also weren't injured but they were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated before they're booked at the Alameda County jail, he said. Police tried to locate the vehicle hit by the Cadillac during the chase but it left the area before officers arrived, according to Benabou. Police describe it as a "white transit van" and said they want the owner to contact them. "We are thankful no one was seriously injured in this event," Benabou said in a statement. He said, "This was a deliberate act by the suspect to ram our officer in an attempt to escape." San Leandro police are asking anyone with information about the theft and pursuit, including the van operator, to contact them at (510) 577-2740. A woman pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge based on the prosecution's allegation that she gave a knife to a male accomplice just before he fatally stabbed his neighbor in East Oakland last June. Ebony Lewis, 32, was arrested at Oakland police headquarters on Christmas Day and was charged on Dec. 27 for her alleged role in the fatal stabbing of 38-year-old Alexander Hayes in the 7700 block of MacArthur Boulevard at about 12:15 a.m. on June 16. Oakland police said that when officers responded to the stabbing they found Hayes suffering from stab wounds and he died at a local hospital a short time later. The suspect who allegedly stabbed Hayes, 44-year-old Antwan Robinson of Oakland, was charged with murder last June 19 and recently had a preliminary hearing at which a judge found that prosecutors produced enough evidence to have him stand trial on that charge. Prosecutor Butch Ford said Friday that authorities always believed that Lewis played an active role in Hayes' death even though she wasn't the one who stabbed him and more evidence was produced against her during Robinson's hearing. Oakland police Officer Omar Daza-Quiroz wrote in a recent probable cause statement that one witness testified at Robinson's hearing that Lewis had provided the knife to Robinson to kill Hayes. Daza-Quiroz said Robinson also told police that Lewis was standing next to him during the stabbing but "Lewis denies being present." Daza-Quiroz wrote in a previous probable cause statement after Robinson was arrested that there was a second stabbing victim but that man survived his injuries. Daza-Quiroz said witnesses at the scene directed officers to Robinson, whose body, arms and hands "were covered in fresh blood" and Robinson also was in possession of a folding knife that was covered in fresh blood. He wrote that three independent witnesses told police that there had been a fight between Robinson and Hayes and that Robinson stabbed Hayes after Lewis provided Robinson with a knife. Witnesses said Robinson then stood over both Hayes and the second victim and stabbed them with the knife, Daza-Quiroz wrote. Robinson previously had waived his right to a speedy trial but his attorney, Richard Foxall, withdrew that waiver Friday and said Robinson now wants to stand trial within 60 days. Ford then accused Foxall of engaging in "gamesmanship" because he said Foxall knows that he (Ford) will be busy with another trial next month. Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer said he didn't want to address Ford's allegation that "games are being played" by Foxall Friday but tentatively scheduled Robinson's trial for March 12 and said he will address it then. Lewis is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 6 for a hearing on her motion to have her case consolidated with Robinson's and to have a bail hearing. She and Robinson currently are both being held without bail. Ford said he opposes having Lewis and Robinson prosecuted together but didn't explain why. A Santa Rosa man was sentenced Friday to 24 years in prison for continuously molesting his two stepchildren for seven years, according to prosecutors. Rodolfo Velazquez, 32, pleaded no contest to continuously molesting the girls in the family home between 2011 and 2017. Both girls confronted him at a preliminary hearing in May about the molestations, the Sonoma County District Attorney's office said. Velazquez must register as a sex offender after his release from prison, the District Attorney's Office said. The California Department of Public Health's director reminded residents that eating wild mushrooms could cause serious illness or death in a statement released on Thursday. Dr. Karen Smith said in a statement that the most serious illnesses and deaths have been linked primarily to wild mushrooms that can cause liver damage, including "death cap" and "destroying angel" fungi. "Telling the difference between wild mushrooms that are safe and those that are poisonous can be difficult for many people," Smith said. "Wild mushrooms should not be eaten unless they have been examined by a mushroom expert and determined to be edible." The California Poison Control System said that 1,038 cases of mushroom ingestion were reported throughout the state from November of 2016 to Jan. 15, 2018. The breakdown of the reports said that 16 people suffered a major health outcome like a coma or transplant and 51 suffered a moderate health outcome like vomiting or injury to the liver. The health department said that 433 of these cases were children younger than six years old who had typically eaten a small amount of mushroom growing in yards or neighborhood parks. Poisonous mushroom ingestion can lead to abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage or even death, according to the health department. Anyone who develops symptoms after eating wild mushrooms is encouraged to seek medical attention and call CPCS at (800) 222-1222. A turtle is being treated at a wildlife care center in Burlingame for a cracked shell, which can be fatal for turtles, officials with the Peninsula Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Friday. The female Western Pond Turtle was found Jan. 16 behind a Target store in Redwood City and brought to the humane society's shelter by a Good Samaritan. "The turtle has a three-inch crack in her shell, which may have been caused by being hit by a car," humane society spokeswoman Buffy Martin Tarbox said. Tarbox added, "Shell cracks on turtles are often times fatal, but with treatment the shell can be restored, however she does have a long road of recovery ahead of her." Staff members are treating the turtle with daily pain medication and antibiotics to keep her from getting an infection, as well as cleaning its wounds, which entails soaking it in clean water every other day. Native to the San Francisco Bay Area, Western Pond Turtles are the only native freshwater turtle found on the West Coast. The number of Western Pond Turtles is declining because of the loss of habitat and competition from non-native turtles. The turtle is a Federal Special Concern Species and a California Special Concern Species. Tarbox said the turtle being cared for is likely to need treatment for the next three to six months. Then she'll be released back into the wild. As many as 1,400 animals are rehabilitated each year at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in Burlingame and all the money to do that comes from donations. BURLINGAME (BCN) A turtle is being treated at a wildlife care center in Burlingame for a cracked shell, which can be fatal for turtles, officials with the Peninsula Humane Society & Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said today. The female Western Pond Turtle was found Jan. 16 behind a Target store in Redwood City and brought to the humane society's shelter by a Good Samaritan. "The turtle has a three-inch crack in her shell, which may have been caused by being hit by a car," humane society spokeswoman Buffy Martin Tarbox said. Tarbox added, "Shell cracks on turtles are often times fatal, but with treatment the shell can be restored, however she does have a long road of recovery ahead of her." Staff members are treating the turtle with daily pain medication and antibiotics to keep her from getting an infection, as well as cleaning its wounds, which entails soaking it in clean water every other day. Native to the San Francisco Bay Area, Western Pond Turtles are the only native freshwater turtle found on the West Coast. The number of Western Pond Turtles is declining because of the loss of habitat and competition from non-native turtles. The turtle is a Federal Special Concern Species and a California Special Concern Species. Tarbox said the turtle being cared for is likely to need treatment for the next three to six months. Then she'll be released back into the wild. As many as 1,400 animals are rehabilitated each year at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in Burlingame and all the money to do that comes from donations. WASHINGTON - The top American commander for the Middle East wants a more aggressive Afghan military pressuring Taliban and other insurgents over the normally quieter months of Afghanistan's winter, and then quickly going on the offensive in the spring. It's all part of a plan the United States hopes will change the course of a war now entering its 17th year. Gen. Joseph Votel of U.S. Central Command said an influx of new American trainers can help escalate the fight. They'll be operating with Afghan units, closer to the front lines and at greater risk, but Votel said U.S. commanders will ensure American and allied forces have adequate protection. The goal is to get the Afghan military moving on its military campaign sooner, rather than later. 'Keep the pressure on' The United States wants the "focus on offensive operations, and we'll look for a major effort to gain the initiative very quickly as we enter into the fighting season," Votel said. Afghan forces must "keep the pressure on all the time and work to gain the upper hand as quickly as we can. So that as we get into this next fighting season we can build on the initiative," he said. The Trump administration's Afghanistan strategy gives the U.S. military greater authority to launch offensive attacks against a resilient Taliban and an emerging Islamic State affiliate. The plan, announced in August, was designed to reverse a stalemate in America's longest war. It specifically eliminates the Obama administration's scheduled plan to withdraw U.S. forces, but includes no dramatic changes in an approach that has failed to stabilize the country or snuff out extremist groups operating from Afghan territory. As 2018 begins, Afghanistan appears to be high on President Donald Trump's agenda. On New Year's Day, he slammed Afghanistan's neighbor Pakistan in a tweet for "lies & deceit," accusing the country of playing U.S. leaders for "fools" by not crushing militants in its territory. A major focus of Trump's Afghanistan strategy is to persuade Pakistan to eliminate havens for the Taliban and other fighters. Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador and Islamic groups held rallies in major Pakistani cities in response. "Pakistan has played a double game for years," Nikki Haley, Trump's U.N. envoy, said Tuesday, explaining that Washington was withholding $255 million in aid to Islamabad. "They work with us at times and they also harbor the terrorists that attack our troops in Afghanistan. That game is not acceptable." On the Afghan side of the border, Washington is trying to build a tougher national military. Votel said as the coalition builds up the Afghan Air Force and trains more security forces, the Afghans will become better fighters. "By the time they get to the next fight," he said, "they will be able to really present a significant offensive capability." But it's hardly the first time the American military has vowed to shape up the U.S.-backed army into a force that can defeat the Taliban, al-Qaida, ISIS and others. Nor does Trump's approach represent the first time a frustrated president has pumped troops into the country to turn the situation around. There are now as many as 16,000 U.S. forces in the country - roughly double what Trump inherited - and a special training unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan early this year. When then-President Barack Obama took office in 2009, he authorized a surge of U.S. forces to Afghanistan that took the total there to about 100,000. The goal was to tamp down a resurgent Taliban and train and expand Afghan security forces. The plan centered on forcing the Taliban to the peace table and ending the war by the time Obama left office. The plan never worked, despite the mission meeting several celebrated benchmarks: Obama ended combat operations in 2014, curtailed offensive strikes and set deadlines for a full U.S. troop withdrawal. And as the U.S. and NATO forces pulled back, the Taliban stepped up attacks and regained ground, while an ISIS faction carved out its own foothold. Obama ended his presidency leaving more than 8,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Seeking peace negotiations Beyond boosting troop numbers, Trump has granted his generals' wishes for fewer combat restrictions, greater authority for commanders and no withdrawal deadline. Next year will be the first test of the policy. The Taliban currently controls as much as half of the country. James Stavridis, a retired Navy admiral who served as the top U.S. commander for NATO from 2009 until 2013, said the ultimate goal in Afghanistan remains the same: pushing the Taliban into seeking peace negotiations. "There is a slightly better than even chance that there are some new factors which move us toward the possibility of a successful outcome," said Stavridis, now dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Those changes, he said, include the elimination of troop withdrawal timelines and Taliban fatigue. "I think they're tired, too. This is also a 17-year war for them," Stavridis said, but suggested any settlement will require compromise. "Is this going to be a sweeping victory? No. But I think the odds are much higher of getting them to the negotiating table." But as winter arrives, Votel said the Afghan army must stay on the offense. "We frequently talk about these fighting seasons, but as you know the fighting never actually ends," Votel said. 1. Chinas introducing two adorable little monkeys. Whats the story? A: Raised in giant iPhone factory B: Found on high-speed rail train C: Created via cloning, a first D: Mascots for countrys Olympic team 2. Since Jan. 1, U.S. schools are facing a surge in what problem? A: A major jump in gunfire and shooting incidents B: Absences due to opioid use C: Dreamer kids dropping out D: Anti-vaccine parents avoiding required shots 3. What wallet essential is about to get a makeover? A: Credit cards soon to require blood drop to ID holder B: Treasury Department wants bigger bills to thwart counterfeiters C: Leather shortage forcing more plastic into use D: Drivers licenses requiring extra steps and long lines to obtain 4. What issues going on the Santa Clara County ballot, thanks to 100,000 signatures? A: Tax on tech to pay for housing B: Recall of judge who gave a light rape sentence C: Ban on nighttime robocalls and texts D: Countywide sanctuary laws protecting immigrants 5. Its not much of a business here, but San Francisco may ban it anyway. Whats the target? A: Assault rifles B: Fur garments C: Arranged marriages D: Sport utility vehicle dealerships 6. Mount Mayon is blowing its top, sending tens of thousands fleeing. Where is it? A: Chile B: Kenya C: Philippines D: Russia By Marshall Kilduff. Email: mkilduff@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@marshallkilduff Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B, 5-B, 6-C. Even before Donald Trump was sworn in as 45th president, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra served notice that he was ready to do battle to defend the states values. In fact, one of the very reasons that Gov. Jerry Brown selected Becerra to succeed Kamala Harris was the veteran congressmans legal and political mettle. Brown and Becerra knew from Trumps campaign rhetoric that California policies would be in peril, from immigration to gun control to health care to cannabis to climate change. We have policies in place that probably wont pass at the federal level for another five, 10, 15 years, Becerra said in a conference call with reporters right after his appointment last fall. If you want to take on a forward-leaning state that is prepared to defend its rights and interest, then come at us. The Trump administration certainly has been coming at us, to a degree that sometimes seems singularly punitive to a state where Trump won just 31.6 percent of the vote. How else to explain that the administration moved to open the nations coastal waters to offshore oil drilling a near-sacrilegious notion in California while quickly making an exception for Florida because of the value of its coast to tourism and other industries? In the first year of the Trump presidency, Becerras office has initiated or joined more than two dozen legal actions against the federal government. The state-federal conflict is escalating on several fronts, especially immigration. I think weve always tried to defend our values, Becerra said in a phone interview Friday. Because our state is such a large home to immigrants, we obviously play an outsized role. The Trump administration appears hell-bent on breaking the will of states and cities that limit their cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These sanctuary cities and states resist not just out of a sense of humanity, but out of a commitment to public safety: Otherwise law-abiding immigrants who are living in the U.S. without valid documentation are much less likely to come forward as victims or witnesses to crime if they fear it might lead to their deportation. A showdown appears to be coming soon, and it could move from the courtroom to the streets. The Trump administration recently sent letters to 23 state and local governments including California, San Francisco and Sacramento demanding records on whether their law enforcement agencies are sharing information with federal agents about the immigration status of people in their custody. Enough is enough, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement revealing the letter. Moreover, as The Chronicle reported Jan. 17, federal immigration officials are preparing for a major sweep in Northern California, potentially apprehending 1,500 undocumented immigrants to send a message to the sanctuary state. Which raises the question: How will local law enforcement react if those raids dont go smoothly? Will state or local officers step in to help the feds, directly or indirectly, if chaos erupts? An equally ominous development has been the Trump administrations threats to elected officials who support and uphold sanctuary policies. They go beyond the efforts to take away millions of dollars in federal grant money. Thomas Homan, acting director of ICE, raised the specter of arrests. We gotta take (sanctuary cities) to court, and we gotta start charging some of these politicians with crimes, Homan said in a recent Fox News interview. Becerra chuckled, then paused, when asked about the threat. I dont know what to make of comments like that that are untethered from the law and common sense, he said. Listen, weve heard a lot of things coming out of Washington, D.C., that dont make a lot of sense. I dont act based on words, I act on actions and deeds. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has said she would be willing to go to jail in defense of her citys sanctuary policies. It may seem unthinkable that a central government would be arresting elected officials of another party over policy differences in this democracy, but such is the state of absurdity in an administration whose authoritarian instincts start at the top. I asked Dennis Herrera, San Franciscos city attorney, whether he took the threat seriously. Whenever you have the federal government threatening localities, its something you take seriously, whether you think the grounds to do so are baseless or not, Herrera said, adding that he doubted that this threat was more than saber rattling for political purposes. Herreras office also has been quite busy taking on the federal government since Trump was inaugurating, filing or joining 20 legal actions against administration actions. Then again, getting involved in issues that go beyond city limits is nothing new for Herrera, whose 16-year-tenure has been punctuated with consequential cases on gun control, marriage equality and abortion rights. What is different about the Trump era is that so many other states, including some with Republicans at the helm, are engaged in some of the same legal fights. Im gratified now, as a result of the circumstances, that other state and local jurisdictions are doing the right thing and were working together, Herrera said. What could be the next big issue where states band together against the Trump administration? Marijuana would be a good guess. California is one of 29 states that allow marijuana for medical purposes, and is among the eight that also allow its recreational sale and use. Under Sessions, the Trump administration repealed the Obama-era policy that assured state-licensed sellers they would not be prosecuted by the feds. Actually, I still hold out hope that marijuana is an area where we can work closely with our law enforcement partners at the federal level, Becerra said. Theres enough work out there to make sure we go after the folks who are trying to do this illegally. It remains to be seen whether this U.S. Department of Justice will share his conciliatory tone. In the civil rights era, states rights was a rallying cry from the South to try to shield segregation and other forms of discrimination from the rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Today, its being invoked to protect individual rights from a central government determined to take them away. This time the resistance is honorable, it is unrelenting, and it is not bound by geography. And California is at the forefront. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron 1 Billionaire apparently murdered: Police say they believe Canadian billionaire businessman Barry Sherman and his wife were murdered. Det. Sgt. Susan Gomes said Friday investigators came to the conclusion after six weeks of investigation. The founder of generic drug maker Apotex and his wife were found dead in their Toronto 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. The day after the bodies were found, prominent media outlets quoted unidentified police officials as saying it appeared to be a murder-suicide. But that theory was never publicly confirmed by authorities. 2 Mass pardons: A restive region in Ethiopia says it has pardoned 2,345 prisoners as part of the governments recent pledge to release jailed politicians and others after the most serious antigovernment protests in a quarter-century. Oromia region spokesman Addisu Arega says in a Facebook post that more than 1,500 of the prisoners had been convicted, while the rest had been under investigation. They were accused of taking part in violent protests. The government says those pardoned are expected to be released in a few days after taking rehabilitation courses. The government has said it wants to widen the democratic space for all, but some critics have expressed concern it could be a ruling party tactic to buy time. WARSAW Elderly survivors gathered Saturday at the former Auschwitz death camp and political leaders warned that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning as the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Warsaw, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and placed a wreath at the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaws Jewish community read a prayer and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil, Tillerson said. The western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to the assuring the security of all, that this would never happen again, he said. As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again. His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultra-nationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while in Austria the nationalist, anti-immigrant Freedom Party is in the government. Both parties have had issues with members making anti-Semitic remarks. Even Poland which was occupied and terrorized by Hitlers regime was convulsed last week by revelations of a fringe neo-Nazi group that honors Hitler. Other ultranationalist parties that espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem increasingly emboldened as well. In Europe, that support is partially a backlash to the large influx of mostly Muslim immigrants to Europe that peaked in 2015. Some of those migrants, especially from Arab countries, have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have felt threatened by anti-Semitism both from native far-right groups and from Arabs and Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been the target of German far-right attacks or threats. Hanni Levy, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor from Berlin, criticized anti-immigrant hatred during a speech at a Greens party convention in Hannover. In the past, the Jews were found guilty of everything. Today its the refugees, said Levy, who survived thanks to the Germans who hid her. One should never forget how difficult it is to leave behind everything just to survive. Vanessa Gera and Matthew Lee are Associated Press writers. Thousands of people flooded the National Mall and the steps of the Lincoln Memorial last Saturday in a show of unity against sexual harassment and to demand equal wages and opportunity for women. The Womens March on Washington was one of several protests taking place in cities all around the country. Protesters were energetic about recent Democratic electoral wins and optimistic about upcoming elections. Some protestors held signs with phrases like THE STORM IS COMING, RIDE THE BLUE WAVE, in support of the Democratic Party. Nancy Pelosi was one of the many speakers at the event. The House minority leader reminded women that theyre transforming the world. She then took to the crowd to greet protestors. I am here for womens rights today and every day, every woman, all over the world, said Megan Monte, one of the March attendees. Adele Gleixner, another attendee, said shes frustrated with President Trump. Trump has caused so many issues, but I will never let him take away something like this, Gleixner said. Positivity like youre seeing today. Positivity like people standing up for what they believe in. But honestly, I cant believe I must stand here and hold this sign up today in 2018. There were several signs about President Trump and the turmoil he has caused across the country. One read You are the s***hole a reference to a comment Trump allegedly made recently about countries in Africa and included pictures of the president. There was also a huge pink sign on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial that said Impeach#45. The back of that sign read Narcissist. There were several anti-abortion groups at the March expressing their support of President Trump and his conservative views, showing pictures of fetuses that had been aborted. Planned Parenthood activists stood in front of anti-abortion activists with signs, chanting My body, my choice. Nadia Lopez was one of the activists supporting Planned Parenthood. She held a sign that said, Were the granddaughters of the witches you werent able to burn. Im fighting for all the women who couldnt fight for themselves today and for all the women in the past who fought for the same reasons Im fighting today, Lopez said. After the rally at the Lincoln Memorial, protesters marched to Lafayette Square in front of the White House, where protests continued. Saturdays march was peaceful, although several protesters expressed their frustrations about public restrooms being closed due to the government shutdown. Lakin Kefauver was one such protester. Kefauver said she had to use a port-a-potty for construction workers due to the shutdown. It was incredibly frustrating, Kefauver said. The government is supposed to represent us, and I couldnt even use the bathroom because of their shutdown. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The landscape of Staten Island is shifting -- quite literally -- from the development of St. George to new businesses and housing on the South Shore. Local community boards give residents an opportunity to offer input in the decision-making process for many of these long-term projects. Community Board meetings are open to the public and afford a great way to learn more about what's going on in your neighborhood and to get involved. If you have something you would like to speak out about, all you need to do is sign up -- before the meeting is called to order -- to speak in the public session. The following meetings are scheduled for the week of Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. COMMUNITY BOARD 1 Arlington - Castleton Corners - Clifton - Concord - Elm Park - Fort Wadsworth - Graniteville - Grymes Hill - Livingston - Mariners Harbor - New Brighton - Port Richmond - Randall Manor - Rosebank - St. George - Shore Acres - Silver Lake - Stapleton - Sunnyside - Tompkinsville - West Brighton - Westerleigh There will be a Waterfront Committee Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Community Board 1 office. On the agenda: Mr. Will Fisher from the NYC Economic Development Corporation will be in attendance to discuss FEMA funds to rehabilitate a building at the Stapleton Homeport for storm resiliency. The board office is located at 1 Edgewater Plaza, Suite 217, Stapleton. The office phone number is 718-981-6900. The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari; the district manager is Joseph Carroll. COMMUNITY BOARD 2 Arrochar - Bloomfield - Bulls Heads - Chelsea - Dongan Hills - Egbertville - Emerson Hill - Grant City - Grasmere - High Rock - Lighthouse Hill - Midland Beach - New Dorp - New Springville - Oakwood - Ocean Breeze - Old Town - Richmond - South Beach - Todt Hill - Travis There are no meetings scheduled for Community Board 2 for the week of Jan. 29. All committee and full board meetings are in the board office, which is located in the Lou Caravone Community Service Building on the campus of Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, 460 Brielle Ave., Sea View. The office phone number is 718-317-3235. The chairman of the CB 2 board is Dana T. Magee; the district manager is Debra A. Derrico. COMMUNITY BOARD 3 Annadale - Arden Heights - Bay Terrace - Charleston - Eltingville - Great Kills - Greenridge - Huguenot - New Dorp - Oakwood - Pleasant Plains - Prince's Bay - Richmond Valley - Richmond - Rossville - Tottenville - Woodrow There are no meetings scheduled for Community Board 3 for the week of Jan. 29. All committee meetings take place at the Community Board 3 office, located on the second floor of 1243 Woodrow Rd. All general board meetings take place at the Woodrow Methodist Church Hall located at 1075 Woodrow Rd., 10309. The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The CB 3 board chairman is Frank Morano; the district manager is Charlene Wagner. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Chief Assistant District Attorney Paul Capofari has been given the prestigious Morgenthau Award for his devotion to justice and public safety. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon announced today at the District Attorney's Association of the State of New York's 2018 Winter Conference that Capofari would be receiving the award. "Chief Assistant District Attorney Paul Capofari has devoted his life to upholding the law and ensuring fair and equal justice for the people of Staten Island," McMahon said. "His years of military service in the U.S. Army were instrumental in helping my administration to establish the borough's first dedicated Veterans Court part, which has flourished under his leadership and allowed his fellow veterans to connect with much-needed resources," McMahon added. Chief ADA Paul Capofari has devoted his life to upholding the law and ensuring fair and equal justice for the people of Staten Island. I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to him on receiving the prestigious Morgenthau Award. pic.twitter.com/DzZv58AuQq Michael E. McMahon (@StatenIslandDA) January 26, 2018 Capofari is a native Staten Islander and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1972. Among other positions, Capofari was part of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, where he was assigned to posts throughout the United States, including the Pentagon, where he drafted the Army's AIDS policy. During his time in the Army, Capofari graduated from New York Law school in 1980, and later in his military career, Capofari returned to West Point to teach constitutional law. After 21 years of service, Capofari was honorably discharged in 1993, and soon thereafter was appointed as an assistant district attorney in the Richmond County District Attorney's Office. As an assistant district attorney, Capofari was a major consistent of multiple pivotal cases, including prosecuting various homicides, members of a prominent cocaine drug ring, and was lead counsel in a 2003 multi-defendant state prosecution of Ronell Wilson - who assassinated two undercover police officers, and who was ultimately convicted in federal court, according to a press release from the Office of the District Attorney. Capofari's 19-year career included assignments in the Investigations Bureau, the Criminal Court Bureau as a deputy bureau chief, and as the chief of the Supreme Court Bureau, where he offered his experience and knowledge while supervising ADAs in the prosecution of felony offenders. Capofari's tenure ended in 2012, but he was asked by McMahon to join his new administration as chief assistant district attorney in 2016. Since rejoining the district attorney's office, Capofari worked closely with McMahon to enforce key criminal justice initiatives, create a Veterans Treatment Court and oversee the creation of the HOPE program, among other major accomplishments. "He is tireless in his efforts to guide and mentor ADAs in the office to seek the strongest and most ethical prosecution possible in order to hold criminals accountable for their actions and protect victims,'' McMahon said. "Staten Island is truly fortunate to have him fighting on their side, and I want to offer my sincerest congratulations on this well-deserved award." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A 9-year-old Tottenville boy was suspended for bringing a kitchen knife to his elementary school Thursday, according to Department of Education (DOE) officials. Angel Mercado brought the utensil to P.S. 6 to cut up the jalapeno peppers that were in his lunch, his mom, Maybeli Mercado, told the Advance Saturday. "He's really sad," she said. "I hurt for him because he said, 'I just wanted to eat my jalapenos.' He thought it was OK." Mercado said she didn't know the boy had packed the knife with his lunch. Angel was in the lunch room sharing the peppers with friends when a teacher approached him and took the knife, the mom said. "He said he was sorry, and that was it," she said. "Nobody felt threatened. Nobody felt scared." On Friday, the school told the parents the DOE was categorizing the incident as a Level 5 threat, which is comparable to bringing a gun to school, according to the mom. "I agree he needs to be disciplined, but you're treating him like a criminal, like a terrorist," Mercado said. "It's cruel to treat him that way." In a letter to the boy's parents, the DOE said, "Your child's continued presence in school poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption to the academic process," according to NY1. "Safety always comes first," said a DOE spokeswoman. "The school followed protocol in addressing this incident, and appropriate disciplinary action was taken." But the school has rallied around Angel, and will allow him to attend class despite the suspension, the mom said. School officials are also working with the parents to resolve the incident. "The teachers are supporting him," she added. "They're looking out for him. The school is helping because they know it's wrong." The fourth-grader's suspension hearing is scheduled for Thursday. "If I don't fight this, he could be out of school from six months to a year," Mercado said. "It's not fair." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Since the city's cashless tolling system went into effect on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, some drivers say the implementation of the new system has subjected them to excessive fines, leading Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis to urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to implement a toll amnesty program. "Cashless tolling has its benefits, such as improving traffic flow and easing congestion at toll plazas, however there are clear glitches within the system that need to be addressed," said Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn), as she stood alongside concerned drivers near the entrance to the Verrazano Bridge on Friday. The proposed program would credit residents for violations received as a result of glitches in the cashless tolling system, so long as they pay all outstanding tolls. Numerous Staten Islanders say they have received fines as high as $100 per trip due to failed notifications of insufficient funds, ineffective camera screening of passengers in HOV lanes and incorrectly identified Class 1 vehicles. "The MTA should not be making a windfall on commuters if violations are due to glitches in the tolling system," Malliotakis added. The MTA defended the current cashless tolling system, citing the improvements it has brought to traffic flow. "Cashless tolling has generated significant and sustained improvements for motorists and the environment through decreased travel times, reduced congestion, lower carbon emissions, and has improved safety throughout the system," said MTA spokesman Christopher McKniff. But the assemblywoman is requesting that the MTA offer amnesty for all fines imposed as a result of glitches since the program took effect this past summer. "I am asking that the agency establish amnesty for violations received since cashless tolling went into effect on July 8, 2017," said Malliotakis. MARIO CUOMO BRIDGE A similar program was recently implemented by the New York State Thruway Authority for unpaid toll violations received on the Mario Cuomo Bridge (formerly the Tappan Zee Bridge) between April 24, 2016, and Jan. 31, 2018. In the four days since the program began, over 1,100 commuters have paid approximately $49,000 in unpaid tolls, relieving them of their excessive fines. COMMUTER CHAOS Malliotakis was joined by numerous Staten Island residents who say they have been unfairly fined as a result of the cashless tolling system. Community activist Michael Reilly spoke about his brother, Thomas, who he says has received over $2,000 worth of violations from traveling to Manhattan for work. "I wrote a letter to the MTA, it was a tough haul, but we were able to, with some help from elected officials, eventually get it resolved. But it shouldn't have to go that far," said Reilly. Matthew Smith, the driver of a Class 1 passenger van who says he has constantly been charged the Class 4 vehicle rate of $34, explained that it has been difficult for him to resolve the issue on his own. "It's hard when you're dealing with the agency and you have no place to turn," he said. MOBILE ALERTS Malliotakis urged commuters to visit the E-ZPass website to register for email and text alerts. Users will receive a notification on their mobile device of a low balance or insufficient funds, allowing them to avoid costly fines. With the removal of toll booths that displayed when an account had a low balance or insufficient funds, many commuters were left unaware until they received a fine in the mail. EXPANSION OF CASHLESS TOLLING Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called for the expansion of cashless tolling to all Port Authority crossings, as well as the New York State Thruway. Malliotakis has asked that the cashless tolling program not be expanded until the issues with the system have been resolved. Since cashless tolling has been implemented, customer travel times have been reduced by 32 percent, saving commuters a total of 3.4 million hours of travel time, according to the MTA. With less vehicles idling at toll plazas, fuel consumption has been reduced by 1.6 billion gallons, resulting in a reduction in carbon emissions of 15,393 tons, according to the MTA. McKniff also stated that the MTA has worked with local elected officials in an attempt to rectify any issues with the current system, and "will continue to work collaboratively with them, as well as with our customers, to resolve any issues." The MTA recently announced that it will open a new customer service unit dedicated to Staten Island residents with E-ZPass issues. MTA Bridges and Tunnels will have representatives on hand at Borough President James Oddo's Direct Connect this Sunday. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Castleton Corners gas station early Saturday morning. The incident occurred at the Mobil gas station at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Manor Road at around 4:40 a.m., police said. "Somebody came in and put a gun to his (worker) head and stole all the money in the register," said the gas station manager. The 26-year-old employee was not injured in the incident. "He's OK," the manager said. "He's a little confused." The individual also tried to take money from a store safe and attempted to rob a customer who was filling up gas, according to the manager. Two men, one who had a gun, fled southbound on Manor Road after the alleged incident, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. Police are searching for two black males. One is 5-9, 190 pounds and was wearing a mask and green hooded sweatshirt, police said. The other suspect is 6-1, 185 pounds and was in black shirt and pants, police said. Police have not yet confirmed if anything was taken from the gas station. The investigation is ongoing. This story will be updated when more information is available. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Allegations of guns, gangs and gangsters kept Richard Luthmann's co-defendant in the joint the first time. This time, vicious jailhouse rantings and ravings have secured his spot in the slammer. George Padula III, 29, the Staten Island man indicted in the scrap-metal scheme with the controversial lawyer, was again denied bail Friday after a hearing in Brooklyn federal court. The defendant, who is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identify theft, and money laundering conspiracy, was caught on a series of prison calls threatening his lawyer, another inmate and a government witness, according to recent court filings by the U.S. Attorney. In a Dec. 28 call, Padula is talking to his mother about how there's no way to beat the charges when he suddenly becomes irate when another inmate walks by him. "If this guy walks past me one more time I'm going to smash his f------ head open," Padula said, according to allegations in the detention memo. The defendant then turns to the other inmate and allegedly says, "Yeah you, c---sucker." In a few January calls, Padula allegedly fumes he's going to "snap" on his attorney, and threatens to choke him. "This guy's lucky on the next visit I don't f------ just pummel him," Padula allegedly said in the Jan. 8 recording. "I'm gonna explode . . . I'm gonna snap . . . son of a f------ b----," he said during another conversation. He then turns his wrath to the woman he believes is the government's confidential source. "I really can't wait to see her and spit in her face," he said in a Jan. 17 call, the court filing alleges. In the recordings, Padula believes his father, a city school teacher, who, according to the detainment memo allegations, "clearly leads a double life," is at least partially to blame for his current predicament. "I'm pretty mad at Daddy. . . . ...And I do blame a lot of it on Daddy because I told him years ago . . . 'Don't let on that we're, that we, you know,'" he says during a rant to his mother, according to the memo. He allegedly goes on, "All he had to . .. was say hey look it's not true we're not . . . It doesn't matter to anybody because it's only going to make things worse for me. A lot worse." "You know I'm tired of being in the trenches for everyone else," he adds. GUNPLAY In 2012, Padula was busted for gun trafficking after he allegedly sold two firearms and ammunition to a cooperating witness, who is a former associate of the Colombo organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, prosecutors said. Padula and his father where caught on tape discussing alleged illegal activity with the witness, including selling firearms, plans to purchase cheap cigarettes from Indian reservations, put counterfeit tax stamps on them and sell them to delis in New York City, the memo alleges. In another call with the ex-Colombo associate, authorities claim Padula admitted to shooting someone outside his house and lying to police about the incident. Before cops arrived at the scene, Padula allegedly went into his house and retrieved a bat and told the officers someone was shooting at him, according to court records. "This statement along with the charged conduct, the guns found in the defendant's home and the other incidents where the defendant was seen with guns...demonstrate the defendant's dangerousness," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Moira Kim Penza. The defendant would allegedly brag about having guns in his house, saying he was "going to go collect money for the mob" and had to "put [his] bulletproof vest on." Padula told government sources he had a Glock 9mm and hallow point bullets, which he called "cop-killer" bullets. He allegedly said the prison term for having those bullets is "five years for each bullet," according to court records. HOUSE SEARCH During the raid of his Prince's Bay home, agents found a letter from reputed Luchese crime family associate Joseph Cutaia, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. In the letter, Cutaia promises that when Cutaia is released Padula will have it all- "Money GIRLS respect," prosecutors said. Authorities found about 23 firearms, a ski mask, vest plates and tons of ammunition in the family's home. Last month, Padula was denied bail for the weapons and his alleged mob ties. His attorney could not be reached for comment Friday. Padula's co-defendant, Michael Beck, was released on bail earlier this month. Luthmann's bail hearing is still pending. Eight beers from Canberra breweries have been rated among the top 100 craft beers in Australia, including one in the top three. Bentspoke's Crankshaft IPA came in third place in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers for 2017, while its Sprocket was ranked 24th and Barley Griffin 27th. It's a move up for Crankshaft, which came in at eighth last year, but down for Barley Griffin, which was 19th a year ago. Bentspoke Brewery owner Richard Watkins at his bar in Braddon. Credit:Matt Bedford Two other Canberra brewers also placed in the list. Fyshwick-based Capital Brewery's Coast Ale came in at 25th, its Trail Pale Ale at 28th and Evil Eye red IPA at 68. Pact's Mount Tennent Australian Pale Ale was 50th, up from 52nd in the 2016 list. Airlines are pulling out all stops to woo Canberra travellers, as a second international carrier prepares to fly to the Australian capital for the first time. Singapore Airlines this week announced it would bump up its flights to Canberra ahead of Qatar Airways launching daily flights to the ACT on February 12. Two international airlines will soon fly into Canberra Airport. Credit:Rohan Thomson Singapore Airlines' new daily service will begin on May 1, and like Qatar Airways' Canberra flights, will include a 70-minute stop at Sydney. The Wellington to Canberra link was severed as part of the route restructure. But Singapore Airlines will also switch the Boeing 777-200 it uses for the route to a Boeing 777-300ER, which will allow Canberrans to fly first class and premium economy for the first time. With another school year just around the corner, the race is on to buy the long list of supplies before classes begin again. However, for Queanbeyan mother Naomi Reeves, there's one school expense that stands out above the rest. Roseanna Harris with her son Curtis Edward Harris, 14, who will finally be receiving a laptop from the government for the upcoming school year. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos "We had to fork out a huge amount of money on a new laptop for our daughter," she said. "It was easily the biggest expense." A woman has been charged with culpable driving over a crash in Hughes that claimed the life of a former ACT opposition leader's son. Angela Lea Smith, 33, was charged with a range of driving offences including culpable driving negligently causing death, failure to provide assistance at a crash and speeding. Police attend the scene of the fatal accident on Yarra Glen in Hughes. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong Jozef Stefaniak, 24, died after he was thrown from the vehicle Ms Smith allegedly crashed. It was alleged Ms Smith and her passenger, Kane David Kell, then fled the scene of the fatal crash before police arrested them in Griffith. A senior public servant at the federal government's infrastructure agency is returning to the sector's advocacy group as its chief executive, a move that has sparked concerns about a "revolving door" between government and the business lobby. Transparency campaigners say the departure of Adrian Dwyer from his role as Infrastructure Australia's executive director of policy and research to head up Infrastructure Partnerships Australia showed the need for new rules around lobbying and advocacy. Mr Dwyer was one of Infrastructure Australia's public faces appearing in the media. He will begin in March at Infrastructure Partnerships Australia - a group that describes itself as a "think tank and executive member network" but which has regularly been described, including by shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese, as a peak "lobby group" for the infrastructure sector. Infrastructure Partnerships Australia denied Mr Dwyer's appointment was any way improper. Listening, I often think of this island as like one large therapy centre, full of people needing healing from trauma. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are obviously still wounded by the effects of 1788 and thereafter. People can learn much from how trees support each other. Credit:Brook_Mitchell Further, especially since the end of World War II, Australia has become home to wave after wave of people traumatised and in need of healing; starting with Jewish Holocaust survivors, who just wanted to get far from Europe, then the subsequent waves and today's realities, including folk from parts of Africa and Asia. There is much healing needed and therefore we need to be careful with each other, recognising a shared vulnerability. The work ethic of young Australians also compares favourably with previous generations. The proportion of full-time students with a job in the 15- to 24-year age group is much higher now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. The employment rate among Australians aged between 15 and 24 which takes in the Millennial generation born after the mid-1990s is close to 60 per cent. That's way above the 41 per cent average for that age group among the advanced-country members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The share of 15- to 24-year-olds that work in Korea, France and Belgium is less than half of Australia's rate. Our employment culture has contributed to this trend in Australia it's widely considered a good thing for young people to get a job and earn some money. The custom for Aussie students to work part-time promises long-term financial benefits. Credit:Tamara Voninski There's also a widespread acceptance of part-work among Australian employers, which is a must for those who are studying. That's one of the things economists are referring to when they talk about Australia having a more "flexible" labour market than in the past. Our relatively high minimum wage may also be factor. If pay rates were lower, all those young people living at home with parents might be less willing to supply their labour. Pay rates are very important to my teenage kids. They often talk about the hourly rates they receive doing part-time jobs and compare what they've been getting with others. It turns out the custom for Aussie students to work part-time promises long-term financial benefits. Claire Rowe sees herself as one of the lucky science graduates among her cohort as she gets to research the upside-down jellyfish now spreading along Australia's east coast. Visitors to coastal lakes such as Lake Wallis and Lake Illawarra might share in her good fortune too if her work at the Australian Museum improves understanding of the Cassiopea jellyfish and how they might be controlled. Stephen Keable, a senior researcher at the Australian Museum, with a giant sea lice specimen. Credit:Steven Siewert The jellyfish, which hails from more tropical climes such as Taiwan, attach themselves to the seabed. Swimming over them, especially with flippers, can trigger the release of invisible stinging cells. These can cause extreme itchiness, and stepping on them can sting too. "I've wanted to be a marine biologist since I first snorkelled at age six," said Ms Rowe, now 23, as she wound her way through the museum's warren of storage rooms that hold 18.4 million natural history specimens alone. Jasmin Mates found shelter from the heat at IceBar in Fitzroy. She said crews were investigating the cause and were working to restore power across the networks. "We apologise for any inconvenience these outages are causing, particularly during this extreme heat," Ms Tyner said. AusNet spokesman Hugo Armstrong said that as of 9.30pm, about 7500 homes were without power. AusNet look after the city's northern and eastern suburbs as well as eastern Victoria. "There are a lot fuses blowing in the hot weather and a significant power pull with people having put in air-conditioners they didn't tell us about," Mr Armstrong said. Mr Armstrong said the AusNet outages peaked about 5.30pm, when about 9000 homes were without power. During the afternoon, Phillip Island lost supply for about 30 minutes. Mr Armstrong said extra crews would be working throughout the night to restore power but it may not be return until 4am. A spokesperson for Jemena said as of 9.25pm, more than 1000 homes across Melbourne's north were without power. Meanwhile, train services struggled to cope with the sweltering heat on Sunday. As the heat took its toll on the state's transport network, water trucks were used to cool tram lines to prevent them buckling, while bitumen melted on Victorian roads after another hot and humid day. And the demand for emergency services also heated up, with paramedics called to hundreds of jobs around the state. How hot was it? And when can we expect relief? The temperature reached 38.1 degrees at 5.09pm on Sunday. And there is no relief in sight. Duty forecaster Stewart Coombs said Sunday night was expected to be an "unusually warm, humid night". "It will only go down to 28 degrees, which will make for very uncomfortable sleeping conditions," Mr Coombs said. "People need to remember to stay hydrated, keep in touch with elderly relatives and make sure their pets are also in a cool place and able to access water when they need to." The cool change is not expected to hit until Monday afternoon. "There won't be relief until mid-afternoon tomorrow, around 3pm to 4pm through the city area," senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said on Sunday evening. "So another hot day to get through [on Monday] with temperatures at 35 degrees." Mr Carlyon said the drop in temperature would be gradual with the humidity hanging around until Tuesday morning. "It will drop into the mid-20s into Monday evening with a fair bit of cloud cover and rainfall to follow into the night. "Then we'll end up with a 20-degree day on Tuesday and the humidity really drops off then." Man fighting for life after waterslide accident Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics had been called to hundreds of jobs around the state. A man in his 50s was fighting for his life after being pulled from a dam in the Yarra Ranges. Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said emergency services were called to a private property on Tarrango Road, Wesburn, at 12.15pm after a man suffered a cardiac arrest. It is believed the man was on a homemade waterslide into a dam, when he fell several metres into the water. He was pulled unconscious from the dam and his friends performed CPR on him. Paramedics continued efforts to resuscitate the man until a helicopter arrived and he was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital. Late Sunday afternoon, the man remained in a critical condition. No major fires Despite the uncomfortable and for some dangerous heat, Victorians were spared the catastrophic fires which can accompany hot days. More than 20 CFA firetrucks were called to a blaze in bushland near Tubbut in the north-east of the state. It was contained by about 6.15pm. A CFA spokesperson said on Sunday afternoon that no major bushfires were burning. Beating the heat As thousands fled Melbourne to escape the oppressive weather, others adopted extreme measures in the city to beat the heat. Jasmin and Terry Mates spent five hours in a Fitzroy bar at -10 degrees. Sitting on kangaroo skins, they donned protective clothing, gloves and ugg boots so as not to literally freeze. Most people last just 30 minutes at IceBar Melbourne, but the couple were keen to hit a six-hour record. And the cocktails helped. "It's pretty cool," Mrs Mates said. Meanwhile, as the mercury soared, some stores struggled to keep up supply for Melburnians desperately trying to cool their homes. A Kmart in Northcote on Sunday was completely sold out of all cooling devices, from fans to air-conditioning units, its duty manager said. One of those who left the store empty-handed was Northcote woman Elizabeth Watt. "I'd been putting off buying a fan, but with today being a 40-degree day I decided it was time," Ms Watt said. Unfortunately it wasn't. Ms Watt said she might be forced to sleep on the couch in the living room of her share house the one room which did have air-conditioning. Trains delayed, replaced by buses Commuters were also affected by the heat. Buses replaced trains on the Hurstbridge line during the day, while the weather also caused minor delays on the Frankston line, Metro Trains said. V/Line said services to Bendigo, Echuca, Geelong, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool were all affected by the heat, with buses replacing trains in several areas and delays expected. Close to record-breaking heat Barnaby Joyce has flagged possible changes to a landmark Pacific-wide trade deal agreed to last week if needed to bring the United States on board. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan are among the 11 nations that agreed on Tuesday to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was thrown into disarray last year when US President Donald Trump pulled his country out. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was lauding the deal for much of last week, saying it would be signed in Chile in March. But the deputy prime minister says the agreement reached isn't yet final. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will use a weekend speech in the United States to deliver a thinly veiled appeal to the Trump administration to resume a pathway of freer trade and to eschew protectionism. Ms Bishop will pointedly link open economies to the American and Australian strategic objective of buttressing a "rules-based order", which is seen as under pressure in Asia because of power shifts such as the rapid rise of China. Julie Bishop will tell an American audience that the US should remain open to free trade in the Indo-Pacific. Credit:Nick Moir A day after US President Donald Trump said he would reconsider joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact if the US got "a substantially better deal", Ms Bishop will tell an audience in Los Angeles that all countries benefit by trading openly according to clear rules, and that US leadership is vital to such a rules-based system. "The role of US power and influence in creating incentives for countries to abide by the rules cannot be overstated," she says, according to speech notes provided by her office. Excitement about the new Richmond High School has spread all the way to Ringwood and Box Hill. But principal Colin Simpson has been upfront with out-of-area parents inquiring about enrolments. Ive told them, my school isn't set up to attract people from other places," he said. The 57-year-old is on a mission to make Victoria's first vertical state high school the school of choice for local families. If we were like Finland, and every child just went to their local fantastic school, what would that change here in Melbourne? he said. A nurse at the Port Moresby hospital said that the man was refusing to eat and staff at the hospital believed he should receive medical treatment in Australia. "We are concerned for his life," the nurse said on Friday. "What's next? How can we keep someone who's not eating?" Amnesty Internationals pacific researcher Kate Schuetze said the man had gone on hunger strike to protest "the poor medical treatment" he has received in Papua New Guinea and "his need for further medical treatment, which could not be provided in the country". Forcing medical treatment and feeding a patient without his consent, unless it is medically necessary, may violate the right to health and the right to be protected from torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," Ms Schuetze said. The Papua New Guinea and Australian authorities must address the underlying concerns raised by the asylum-seeker, and must transfer him to a hospital in Australia where he can receive the appropriate treatment he urgently needs. Amnesty International said the man was previously sent to Australia for medical treatment before being returned to Manus Island. The human rights group said he had been informed by medical professionals that his condition could not be treated in Papua New Guinea but that Australian officials had refused to transfer him to Australia for further treatment. They said he had been at the Pacific International Hospital for just over a month. The Port Moresby nurse said the Iranian man was currently in the Intensive Care Unit. Asked if staff had tried to feed him via tubes the nurse replied: "Yes ... but he has been pulling them out, you cannot force someone". "He's been pulling out drips, he wants to remove the tube, he doesn't want anything to be done to him," the nurse said. "Since a few weeks back he decided not to take anything, he doesnt want be to be treated, he doesn't want to be touched. He really doesn't want to communicate with any one of us too." The nurse said before a "sudden change in his mood" the Iranian man was "a lovely patient" and staff were very distressed to see his decline. The nurse said he spoke of a wife in Australia. "We want something to be done, we have spoken to management in the hospital regarding this, but were nurses, what can we do?," the nurse said. "I believe he should be referred to Australia where he can be treated or whever he can be treated well." Mr Boochani said the asylum seeker had a long history of medical problems throughout his years of detainment since arriving on Christmas Island in July 2013. Mr Boochani was on the same boat as the man and was sent on the same plane to the Manus Island detention centre in August that year. "We were together in Foxtrot compound then he became very sick and I remember he had a serious problem on his leg and could not walk," Mr Boochani said. The journalist and asylum seeker said the man was sent to Australia for medical treatment for several years, during which time he met his wife, who he said was an Australian citizen. "I know that he has suffered for a long time, he has struggled with his pain for years and years but still is suffering and has not received medical treatment," he said. Mr Boochani said the man was on hunger strike because he was "very tired" of being in Port Moresby without the advanced medical equipment required to treat him. He described the man as well-liked but said he was being kept in isolation. "[He] is a very kind and sometimes funny person, he always likes to make fun," he said. "Its hard to get access to [him] at this moment. They have prevented people from visiting him since [Friday] morning." Ms Schuetze said it was a concerning allegation. "Given his vulnerable mental state and that his being restrained is likely to cause him futher distress, the support of his friends and people who he trusts would be critical in his getting better," she said. A hospital staff member said on Saturday afternoon said that the asylum seeker was eating again. Ms Schuetze said she remained concerned for the man's welfare even if that were the case. I got to thinking about Apple's responsibility last week when two large investors wrote an open letter asking the company to do more about its products' effects on children. I was initially inclined to dismiss the letter as a publicity stunt; if you're worried about children and tech, why not go after Facebook? But when I called several experts, I found they agreed with the investors. Sure, they said, Apple isn't responsible for the excesses of the digital ad business, but it does have a moral responsibility to - and a business interest in - the well-being of its customers. And there's another, more important reason for Apple to take on tech addiction: because it would probably do an elegant job of addressing the problem. "I do think this is their time to step up," said Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google who now runs Time Well Spent, an organisation working to improve technology's impact on society. "In fact," Harris added, "they may be our only hope." For one thing, Apple's business model does not depend on tech addiction. The company makes most of its money by selling premium devices at high profit margins. Yes, it needs to make sure you find your phone useful enough to buy the next one, but after you purchase your phone and sign up for some of its premium services, Apple doesn't really need you to overdo it. Indeed, because it can't make infinite battery life, Apple would probably be OK if you cooled it with your phone a little. Yet even though Apple is not part of the ad business, it exerts lots of control over it. Every tech company needs a presence on the iPhone or iPad; this means that Apple can set the rules for everyone. With a single update to its operating system and its app store, Apple could curb some of the worst excesses in how apps monitor and notify you to keep you hooked (as it has done, for instance, by allowing ad blockers in its mobile devices). And because other smartphone makers tend to copy Apple's best inventions, whatever it did to curb our dependence on our phones would be widely emulated. Harris suggested several ideas for Apple to make a less-addictive smartphone. For starters, Apple could give people a lot more feedback about how they're using their devices. Imagine if, once a week, your phone gave you a report on how you spent your time, similar to how your activity tracker tells you how sedentary you were last week. It could also needle you: "Farhad, you spent half your week scrolling through Twitter. Do you really feel proud of that?" It could offer to help: "If I notice you spending too much time on Snapchat next week, would you like me to remind you?" Another idea is to let you impose more fine-grained controls over notifications. Today, when you let an app send you mobile alerts, it's usually an all-or-nothing proposition; you say yes to letting it buzz you, and suddenly it's buzzing you all the time. Harris suggested that Apple could require apps to assign a kind of priority level to their notifications. "Let's say you had three notification levels - heavy users, regular users and lite, or Zen," Harris said. "And then Apple could say, by default, everyone is in the middle level - and instantly it could save a tonne of users a tonne of energy in dealing with this," Harris said. There's a danger that some of these anti-addiction efforts could get too intrusive. But that's also why Apple would shine here; building a less-addictive phone is chiefly a problem of interface design, which is basically Apple's entire corporate raison d'etre. Another thing that Apple is good at is marketing, and I suspect it could make a lot of gauzy ads showing people getting more out of iPhones and iPads by unplugging from them for a little while. Note that it already sells a device, the Apple Watch, whose marketing extols the magic of leaving your phone behind. Done right, a full-fledged campaign pushing the benefits of a more deliberative approach to tech wouldn't come off as self-interest, but in keeping with Apple's best vision of itself: as a company that looks out for the interests of humanity in an otherwise cold and sometimes inhumane industry. "How we live with technology is the cultural issue of the next half-century," said James Steyer, the founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media, a non-profit group that studies how children are affected by media. He suggested that the feeling was ripe for Apple to tap into. "It's something that everyone cares about - whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, liberal or conservative, whether you live in San Francisco or Biloxi, Mississippi, you know that you and your kids are part of the arms race for attention," he said. Apple released a statement last week saying it cared deeply "about how our products are used and the impact they have on users and the people around them," adding that it had a few features on addiction in the works. Next month Apple and Amazon will each launch smart speakers in Australia, trebling our options for voice-activated, internet-connected, American-tech-giant-controlled home assistants. The Apple HomePod and Amazon Echo will join Google's Home which has been on Aussie shelves for half a year in a much-hyped product category that promises to sit at the centre of connected homes and let you interact with everything from your music to your light globes in a much more natural way than can be achieved on your phone. Apple's HomePod is the most expensive smart speaker yet, and musically it's the most sophisticated. But will its tie to Apple Music drag it down? At their core, these devices are designed to remove barriers between you and the content and functionality provided by your internet connection, and their usefulness largely depends on the connected tech you already have in your home. The category has taken off in the US, where it was pioneered by Amazon, but will it fly in Australia? The prison, seen as a long-term replacement for Geelong and Pentridge prisons, was being built at the time. They bought the second block, in Chisholm Road, for $110,000 in 2000 a decade after Barwon opened. The previous year, the state government revealed there were only 60 prison beds free in the state, while the population in police cells swelled to 200. The two blocks combined are around 128 hectares, according to one half of the farming couple. She said that they received a letter from the state government requesting a meeting the day before the prison expansion was announced. The couple has not responded to the request, and are still unclear about their intentions for the land. "We will just have to see what they have got to say," she said. "If they want the land, we'll take it from there. "It's not necessarily going to be to the east. It could be north, or the other side of the road, to the west. Until we speak to them we don't know." Ms Tierney said that the government would consider compulsorily acquiring the land, and denied it was in a weakened bargaining position by declaring its intentions before negotiating with the land owners. It appears the most favourable site would be the Chisholm Road property, which is immediately behind Barwon Prison, and roughly the same size as the block currently occupied by the prison. The Peak School Road block is immediately to the east of Marngoneet Correctional Centre, which is next to Barwon Prison. It is unclear whether the government will buy only the land it needs for the expansion, or use the negotiating process to secure another block for the long term. The landowner said she had not previously been approached by the state government about the land. Another nearby landowner said he had not heard from the state government, nor heard of any other local farmers being approached. The prisons are bordered to the west by Bacchus Marsh Road, to the north by the dirt Peak School Road, and to the south by Chisholm Road the blocks to the east are the only sites which would allow the prison to expand without crossing a road, which could present security and logistical challenges. Andrew Thorburn, a commercial real estate agent at Gross Waddell, was involved in the $25 million sale of a 79.6 hectare block in Lara to developers last August. The Patullos Road farm is six kilometres south of Barwon Prison, has a residential zoning and is likely to become a housing estate. That did not mean that land values in the area were not favourable to those who may be approached about selling for the prison expansion, Mr Thorburn said. He said they could expect between $20,000 to $40,000 a hectare even though the land was "not much use to anyone other than government" when it came to development, given its location near the prison and agricultural zoning. A mass drug overdose at a Festival Hall rave could have proved lethal if partygoers hadn't received medical help as quickly as they did, an Ambulance Victoria official says. Nine people were taken to hospital, some of them in a critical condition, after being treated for suspected drug overdoses at the I Am Hardstyle event at the West Melbourne venue on Friday night. Several others affected made their own way to hospital. "They are certainly lucky they didn't die on the spot," Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said. Ambulance Victoria commander Paul Holman briefing the media on Saturday about Friday night's drug overdoses. "They had St John Ambulance there providing first aid, they had a doctor there who was providing intervention. Wellington: A ferry with an estimated 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati. New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said on Saturday it has sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search of an area of ocean approximately the size of Britain. North Tarawa, one of the atolls that make up the Pacific islands nation of Kiribati. Credit:JOSH HANER The search is being led by Fiji. Authorities say the ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on January 18. Two lawyers who specialise in sanctions law said it appeared the transactions violated UN 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. It was also unclear if the owners of the vessels that sailed from Russia to South Korea and Japan knew the origin of the coal. The US Treasury on Wednesday put the owner of one of the ships, the Ul Ji Bong 6, under sanctions for delivering North Korean coal to Kholmsk on September 5. It imposed sanctions on nine entities, 16 people and six North Korean ships it accused of helping the weapons programs. It was unclear which companies profited from the coal shipments. 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 council's 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. 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 US sanctions," he said. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused Russia of not implementing all the UN sanctions and said Moscow "may be frustrating" some of the steps. Tillerson said the Russian failure to comply with the UN measures "primarily" concerned fuel "but some other areas potentially as well." A State Department official said it was time for Russia to act. "There is no more time for excuses," the official said. "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." The independent panel of experts that reports to the Security Council on violations of sanctions was not available for comment. North Korea has refused to give up the development of nuclear missiles capable. 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 September 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 US President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on January 17 that Russia was helping Pyongyang get supplies in violation of the sanctions. 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 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 August 3 and docking at berth No 4 run by LLC Port Livadiya in Nakhodka. It left the port on August 18. The vessel had turned off its tracking transmitter from July 24 to August 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 ship's captain, but means the vessel could not be tracked publicly. Another ship arrived at the same berth on August 6, loaded 20,500 tonnes of coal and headed to the South Korean port of Ulsan in August 24, according to Russian port control documents. 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 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 - on 3 and between September 1 and September 8, according to the official Russian Information System for State Port Control. Warsaw: Polish lawmakers have approved a bill that makes it a crime, punishable by up to three years in prison, to use statements suggesting Poland bears responsibility for crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany. The camps were built and operated by the Nazis after they invaded Poland in 1939. A far-right group, the National-Radical Camp, march in Warsaw. Poland's government is facing pressure to deal with the phenomenon of a rising far-right. Credit:CZAREK SOKOLOWSKI The bill will also make it illegal to deny the murder of about 100,000 Poles by units in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War II, a move likely to increase tensions with neighbouring Ukraine. Artistic and scientific activity will be exempt. Poles have fought for years against the use of phrases like "Polish death camps", which suggest Poland was at least partly responsible for the camps where millions people, mostly Jews, were killed by Nazi Germany. Warsaw: Survivors have gathered at the former Auschwitz death camp to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day as political leaders warned that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning to the world. In Warsaw, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Portraits by Italian photographer Luigi Toscano form a Holocaust remembrance exhibition outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. Credit:KATHY WILLENS Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaw's Jewish community read a prayer and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling on the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court, pointing to "serious violations" including blocking aid deliveries and medical care to millions. The UN chief also called on all combatants, UN member states and civil society to cooperate with an independent panel established by the General Assembly in December 2016 to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria. A Syrian child sits on a wheelchair after he and his family crossed into Turkey on Friday. Credit:Lefteris Pitarakis Guterres said in a report to the council circulated on Friday on the humanitarian situation in Syria, that "accountability for serious violations is a requirement under international law and central to achieving sustainable peace". During December, he said, no aid was delivered to more than 417,000 people in nine "besieged" locations, and only 60,000 of the nearly 2.5 million Syrians living in hard-to-reach areas received humanitarian help. Warsaw: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the US has started work on fixing what it sees are flaws in the Iranian nuclear deal. Tillerson, ending a week-long European trip in Warsaw, said that he had secured support from Britain, France and Germany all parties to the 2015 agreement to work on the deal that President Donald Trump has warned he will walk away from. "It's always darkest before the dawn," Tillerson said. "The working groups have already begun to meet on efforts to agree principles, what is the scope of what we attempt to address and also how much we engage Iran on discussions to address these issues." The nuclear deal gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic program. Berlin, Jan 27, 2017 (SPS) - The meeting between the Sahrawi President and Secretary General of Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, and the United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, was "frank" and "positive," said Friday in Berlin M'hamed Kheddad, member of the Polisario Front Secretariat General and Sahrawi Coordinator with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The two-day meeting, which wrapped up Friday evening, "was frank and positive and focused mainly on ways to implement the UN Security Council's decisions for a peaceful, just and lasting solution that would allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter," said Kheddad. "Polisario Front has reiterated its support to the UN envoy's efforts to achieve the decolonization process in Western Sahara," he added. The discussions between Kohler and Ghali and the delegation accompanying him began Thursday at the UN envoy's office in Berlin, Germany, few days ahead of a meeting between the two sides to the conflict in Western Sahara, Polisario Front and Morocco. The forthcoming meeting aims at finding a solution to the Western Sahara conflict and guaranteeing to the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination and independence. Kohler invited the Sahrawi president and the Moroccan minister of Foreign Affairs for bilateral talks between Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco in January and February, in line with the UN efforts for the decolonization of Western Sahara. The talks will be attended by the observer countries Algeria and Mauritania, represented by their foreign ministers. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS For over a decade, school districts across the state have been encouraged to teach about the Holocaust in history classes. But after swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti appeared in several communities over the last year, state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, concluded that recommendation should become a mandate. Acts of anti-Semitism are continuing, and it seems that theres an awful lack of knowledge about just how serious what happened during the Holocaust was, Boucher said. All of this really brought to mind that we have to do something more. Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton, all part of the district Boucher represents, have reported instances of the hateful graffiti over the last year, much of it found in schools. Boucher said she recalls similar incidents in Westport and Norwalk in recent years. Statewide, twice as many anti-Semitic incidents were reported in late 2017 as in the same period the year before, according to Connecticuts chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. Boucher hopes that legislation she plans to introduce in the next few weeks can help curb the trend. The bill would require that World War II and the Holocaust be taught in Connecticuts public schools. She said having all students learn the dark history behind the swastika will make them think twice about using it. They really do need to know the dark truth of this instead of glossing over it, Boucher said. It was used to symbolize the Nazis and the Nazi party and how they represented this horrible, systematic plan to exterminate all Jews. Some students learn about this history with their families, she said, especially those who with a personal connection to the Holocaust. But over the years, she added, she has been shocked to find that some students have no knowledge of it at all after going through history and social studies classes. Creating teachable moments in the school setting will ensure that even those who dont address the subject at home will know the background, Boucher said. Steve Ginsburg, president of the states ADL chapter, said studying and teaching the Holocaust is a way to examine both basic morals and how name-calling or stereotyping can escalate to violence or genocide. When done in the right way at the right time, Ginsburg said, teaching the history of the Holocaust can absolutely help prevent incidents of anti-Semitism, or at least help people address them when they occur. Will we ever get to a point where theres a way to prevent every single anti-Semitic incident just in teaching the Holocaust? Ginsburg asked. No. But that doesnt mean its not worth it. When youve taught enough people about the Holocaust, when they see something like a swastika on the building, their positive reaction and ability to lead the effort against that type of thing because they know what it means can overwhelm any of the negative elements that come from the swastika. Guidelines for teaching the Holocaust were first made available to school districts 10 or 15 years ago. Boucher said she tried at the time to make the topic a requirement, but settled for a recommended course of study with materials available through the Department of Education. She said the new bill, which is still being finalized, likely wont dictate how or at what level districts integrate the topic into their curriculums. But Boucher believes it can fit well into current high school courses. Many incidents in her district occurred in schools. Ridgefield officials suspect one or more juveniles might be responsible for some or all of the graffiti found at the high school, in Ballard Park and most recently at the Aldrich Museum and Masonic Lodge. The ADL has offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Middlebrook School in Wilton saw three similar incidents last fall, when swastikas were found twice in the boys bathroom and a sixth-grader found a sticky note reading Jews will burn in her locker. The swastika in Redding was found carved into a tree in Topstone Park last week. (These) really concerned me, Boucher said. But its not isolated to our little part of the state. There is an increase, unfortunately, in anti-Semitic instances in our schools and in our communities that is a cause for concern. aquinn@newstimes.com Connecticut water supplies are limited and vulnerable to droughts or even summer dry spells that can pit town against town and individual consumers against high-powered commercial interests, a new plan warns. Even as the state crawls out of a two-year drought, with reservoirs now rated at more than 103-percent of capacity, regulators hope the study leads to the states first conservation plan that can help manage the precious resource, and balance the needs of commercial, recreational and individual consumers. Consumer advocates are critical of the 616-page report from the state Water Planning Council that will be presented to four key legislative committees when the General Assembly reconvenes next month. They are worried that what happened in a Hartford suburb a couple years ago when a major water-bottling plant was approved with little public input and oversight, and is now diverting a million gallons of drinking water daily could happen anywhere in the state. People are especially irate that corporations are turning it into a private asset, said Valerie Rossetti, a retired physician who watched he hometown of Bloomfield open their local water supply to the Niagara Bottling Corp. She and other activists who were disappointed with the councils report, believe that utilities, business lobbyists and the top Republican state senators attacked the compelling testimony of she and other advocates during the recent public hearing process. They have devised this whole state water plan without consideration of what are safe yields, she said, stressing an upcoming lobbying effort in the General Assembly. In fact, there has been a very public battle over the use of public trust to describe the states definition of the 150 reservoir systems in Connecticuts 44 river basins. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney joined Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, in asking the council for the public-trust designation. Competitive advantage Certainly the principle that Connecticuts water is to be treated as a public trust is a key component to any state water plan, if that plan is indeed committed to preserving our natural resources for generations to come, Looney said. Arguments to the contrary undercut what is the essential aspect of the public trust concept: to ensure that there is enough water for all to use in perpetuity. But Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano of North Haven and Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, argued the words should not be included. This is a complex legal issue that has been the subject of considerable litigation throughout the country and raises serious concerns regarding whether it will be construed in ways that impede the water use rights of agriculture, business and industry, the two GOP Senate leaders recently wrote to the planning council. In the end, the Water Planning Council fell short of declaring water a public trust, instead relying on an existing state law that says there is a public trust in the air, water and other natural resources of the state of Connecticut and that each person is entitled to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the same. Drought preparedness Lori Mathieu, the public health section chief for the state Department of Public Health, who serves on the water council, said that the report is really just a starting point for the state, and the first time so much information on water resources has been collected. It gives Connecticut a path forward. More Information Connecticut water facts No other state consistently reserves the highest-quality drinking water. Connecticut is the only state that prohibits wastewater discharges into sources of drinking water. The Southwestern coast has some of the highest summer demands for water. The Town of Greenwich gets its drinking water from Bridgeport. *Source: Connecticut Water Planning Council Connecticut has more than 2,550 public water systems. About 550 are local water systems that serve about 77 percent of the state's 3.6 million residents. There are 150 reservoir systems and 4,000 groundwater supplies. *Source: State Department of Public Health 66% of the human body is water; 75% of the human brain is water. 75% of a chicken, 89% of a pineapple and 95% of a tomato is water. A person must consume 2.5 quarts of water per day, from all sources to maintain health. Source: U.S. EPA Daily per-capita water use varies widely Litchfield, Aquarion: 44 gallons Danbury Water Department: 49 gallons Newtown, Aquarion: 64 gallons Valley, Aquarion: 71 gallons Ridgefield, Aquarion: 74 gallons Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Aquarion: 81 gallons See More Collapse We can do much better on drought, she said in an interview. We need to talk about what were doing now for water conservation. Is it being enhanced? Also we should look at private wells, with possibly moving forward with testing. While state reservoirs are filling up from seasonal snow and rain, the pattern in recent years has been for warmer weather to occur sooner in the year and linger later, Mathieu said. The warming season is extended, she said. That puts a challenge on drinking water supplies. We start to use water sooner, and the watering season is longer. Still, at a time when much of the country has major problems with drinking supplies, Connecticut has water wealth, the report said. We think it can have a competitive advantage for the Northeast, said Joseph McGee, vice president for policy with the Business Council of Fairfield County, and a former member of a subcommittee of the water council. Historically, we have had a lot of water, and we want to continue to be good stewards of the resource, said John W. Betkoski III, vice chairman of the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority who is chairman of the Water Planning Council. One of the things I would love to do, with guidance from the legislature, is to look ahead to conservation. Bottling plant battle The plan is the result of a year-long study following a 2014 state law. Right in the middle of the planning process was the controversy in Bloomfield, where the Niagara Bottling Corp. cut a deal with local officials and the regional water authority in 2015 that activists said was not thoroughly reviewed by taxpayers. Basically, there are no regulations in the state of Connecticut for large industrial water-bottling facilities, Rosetti said in an interview. At the time we were in a serious drought and over the next two years we have asked the state to develop more oversight. People were really outraged. They dont want international bottling companies coming in and taking water from the state. The state refused to regulate in any way. Karen Burnaska, former Monroe first selectman who represents the Connecticut Fund for the Environment on the planning council, said she expects the public-trust issue to emerge over the next few months as the legislative committees on Environment, Public Health, Planning and Development and Energy & Technology review it. I fully expect that well have another public hearing, said Mathieu, the veteran head of the Department of Public Healths water division. That is fine. We now have a plan that we can focus on. Since the 1950s Connecticut has said we need a plan for water. Burnaska said that the sheer size of an unprecedented report that tries to get a handle on such a broad subject, is bound to ignite critics. Once you get 400-plus pages you are going to find something that someone doesnt like, she said. It is up to the state to manage it and plan enough for the public, private and commercial needs to be met. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is expected to ask for $716 billion in defense spending when he unveils his 2019 budget next month, a major increase that signals a shift away from concerns about rising deficits, U.S. officials said. The proposed budget is a victory for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who recently unveiled a strategy that proposes retooling the military to deter and, if necessary, fight a potential conflict with major powers such as China and Russia. And it represents a setback for deficit hawks such as Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, who last year pressed for an increase in defense spending that could be offset by cuts to domestic programs. The $716 billion figure for 2019 would cover the Pentagon's annual budget as well as spending on ongoing wars and the maintenance of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It would increase Pentagon spending by more than 7 percent over the 2018 budget, which still has not passed through Congress. The proposed budget would be a 13 percent increase over 2017, when the United States spent about $634 billion on defense. In the absence of a budget, spending continues at 2017 levels. The proposed increase is "a huge deal," said Mark Cancian, a defense analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "It's a big jump in defense and means that the Trump administration is putting resources against an extremely aggressive defense strategy." The Pentagon and the White House declined to comment on the president's proposal, which has been circulating among the military services and in Congress. Trump touted his 2018 defense budget as one of the largest in U.S. history, but the proposal was seen as something of a disappointment inside the Pentagon and among defense hawks in Congress. Many lawmakers have pushed for the military budget to increase far beyond what Trump proposed last year. Trump sought $668 billion in spending for national defense in 2018, but Congress passed a bipartisan defense authorization bill late last year that would direct roughly $700 billion to military spending. That bill authorizes military spending but does not actually appropriate it, which would have to be done through a different act of Congress. A senior U.S. official said that $716 billion is the target the White House provided to lawmakers as they make plans to adjust congressionally mandated caps on spending. Last week, Mattis said political dysfunction in Washington, congressionally mandated spending caps and lawmakers' inability to pass a budget were eroding the military's ability to retool and prepare for future threats. "As hard as the last 16 years have been, no enemy in the field has done more to harm the readiness of the U.S. military than the combined impact of the Budget Control Act, defense spending cuts and operating in nine of the last 10 years under continuing resolutions," Mattis said. As the Pentagon was finalizing its new defense strategy late last year, Mattis began making the case to Trump for a big increase in defense spending. The Trump administration's proposed 2018 budget set aside large sums of money to boost training and the overall readiness of the existing force. Pentagon officials said the 2019 budget would focus on modernizing the military's aging weapons systems and preparing it for a potential conflict with major world powers after a long emphasis on counterterrorism and insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mattis faced some resistance from White House officials, such as Mulvaney, who worried that the deficit would explode with a large increase in military spending, combined with Republican tax cuts. Mulvaney joined the Trump administration after spending six years in the House as one of its most conservative members, an outspoken deficit hawk who pushed for lower spending. Since taking over the White House's budget office, Mulvaney has agreed publicly with Trump's push to expand the military budget, but he did not incorporate a long-term increase in military spending into his budget plan last year, as it would have dramatically expanded the deficit over time. "If this is the number, then the battle between Mattis and Mulvaney is over and Mattis won," Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at CSIS, said of the $716 billion figure. The Trump administration's 2018 budget paid for increases in defense spending by making big cuts to domestic spending and the State Department that drew heavy resistance from Democrats and some Republicans in Congress. The proposed increase for 2019 is so large that it is "even more unrealistic" that the White House will be able to offset it with cuts, Harrison said. The increase is likely to please defense hawks such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has assured the White House that there is support among lawmakers for major increases to Pentagon spending, said Mackenzie Eaglen, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The proposed increase also reflects Mattis's contention in his new defense strategy that the United States is "emerging from a period of strategic atrophy" during which China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and other rivals have extended their influence and military capabilities. It also emphasizes that military dominance of the sort that the United States has maintained since the end of the Cold War is becoming more costly. "What Mattis is saying is that you can't have the best military in the world on an Obama budget," Cancian said. Bump Stock Ban Dies In This State's House Subcommittee By Tom Knighton. January 26th, 2018 While it's understandable that people are freaked out by bump stocks, they've been around for years and we have exactly one instance of anyone using them for anything other than just good, clean fun. While Las Vegas was horrific, it doesn't undermine the positive track record for the blasted things. Too bad it doesn't stop some people from trying to ban them. In Virginia, new Governor Ralph Northam and his gun control agenda took another hit when a bump stock ban bill died ingloriously in a House subcommittee. A House subcommittee shot down multiple gun control bills Thursday despite a tear-filled statement from a survivor of last fall's Las Vegas shooting who urged legislators to ban bump stocks. Cortney Carroll of Henrico County was one of several citizen lobbyists who attended the meeting of the Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee. She urged delegates to support HB 41, which aimed to ban the sale of bump stocks, devices that significantly increase the number of rounds that can be fired per minute.... ..... Nevermind that a bump stock ban won't stop bump firing. Nevermind that the same thing can be replicated with things like a rubber band or a belt loop. Nevermind that the law would accomplish absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. ....... What a contrast - compare this with what we reported recently regarding the draconian MA ban on 'bump stocks'. The VA decision no doubt upset the Governor who seems hell bent on attempting more and more "gun control", but fortunately cooler heads seem to have prevailed. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." You just have to love freedom. 2018 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top A star physics professor from Stratford has scooped one of the worlds top science prizes for his pioneering work in the study of neutron stars. Last year Professor Andrew Levan, 37, of the University of Warwick, led observations which captured the light of two colliding neutron stars, part of the most eagerly anticipated phenomenon in modern astronomy. In recognition of his achievements Professor Levan has been named as one of three finalists for the Blavatnik Young Science Award, being essentially one of three winners of the accolade. The prestigious Blavatnik Award is given to three individuals, who a jury believes are the three best scientists currently working in their particular area. Professor Levan is the finalist in the Physical Sciences & Engineering category. In addition to receiving their medals at the Blavatnik Awards ceremony at the Victoria and Albert Museum in March, each winner will be given a $30,000 cash prize. Professor Levan said: Im very honoured to be recognised by the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists for my work exploring some of the most extreme events known in the Universe. While they may seem distant and remote, these events are both life-giving and life-threatening. The elements they produce seed our planet with the elements we observe around us, but if they occur too close could be responsible for large scale extinctions. This work seeks to answer many central questions about our place in the Universe, it is driven by curiosity about how the world around us works. I am deeply indebted to my friends, colleagues and collaborators who have helped to make it possible, and have worked with me on the science for the past decade and more. I am also very grateful for the research environment in Warwick that has nurtured this curiosity driven research, and enabled the progress that has been made." The Blavatnik Awards honour young scientists early in their careers and originally began in the United States. The Blavatnik Awards UK started in 2017. Chinese credit crisis shakes local travel firms View(s): Chinese travel agents owe Sri Lankan travel agents millions of rupees in credit advances for organising tour packages for Chinese visitors and the delayed payment has hit the industry in a sluggish economy, local tour operators said. A few small timers have closed operations while several medium and large scale operators are faced with delayed payments up to 180 days or non-payment up to large amounts of US dollars at present, an official spokesman of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) told the Business Times. Around 40 to 50 Sri Lankan travel companies are engaged in bringing down Chinese travellers at present, he revealed. Many Chinese travel agents have defaulted in settling credit given by a number of travel companies in several instances. One such local travel company has given credit amounting to US$ 2 million to a Chinese travel agent and is now in serious financial trouble, he said adding that the accumulated credit of some of these local tour operators under this set up would be more than $10 million easily. Working with Chinese agents has a credit risk at large. The ideal scenario is to recover the full payment in advance or 60-80 per cent prior to the tour, he observed. If credit is extended, it should be given after a thorough background check, he pointed out adding that generally majority of Chinese agents will request credit for 60-90 days. However when credit is extended a very close tab on payments is needed on the business handled and future business as well, he suggested. Each company will have to carry out their own back ground checks on Chinese agents and extend credit accordingly, SLAITO spokesman emphasised. Most of the Sri Lankan companies have used different methods to recover debt payments by complaining to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing and with the help of third party payment recovery units operating in China. Some have been successful to a greater extent while others have not been that successful, he disclosed. Over 268,000 Chinese tourists visited Sri Lanka last year with China emerging as the second largest market, Tourism Ministry data showed. In December 2017 alone, over 19,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Sri Lanka. (BS) Amping it up That Nepals deteriorating air quality has reached a critical tipping point is no secret. The latest global Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which was released on Tuesday by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, ranked Nepals air quality as the worst in the world, with the country being ranked at the very bottom of 180 countries surveyed in a global study. Emirates and Dilmah celebrate 25 years of exclusive brewing in the sky View(s): Emirates marked its 25 year partnership with Dilmah, the countrys premier tea brand just as Sri Lanka celebrated the 150th anniversary of Ceylon Tea in 2017. A collaboration that began in 1992 has resulted in a select range of 10 types of tea being produced exclusively for Emirates passengers on flights worldwide, catering to a wide palate of taste and sensory preferences, the airline said in a media release. More than 9.6 million tea bags made in Sri Lanka by Dilmah are served on Emirates flights around the world per year. Both brands have grown exponentially since their collaboration began and today Emirates, the worlds largest airline by passenger km, takes the Dilmah brand to more than 150 destinations on six continents. At the top of the airlines exclusive tea selection is the Emirates Signature Tea a single-estate tea made from Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe 1 leaf growing at an elevation of 1020 meters above sea level on the Dombagastalawa Estate, in Sri Lankas Nawalapitiya region. Made in the artisanal orthodox style with a sprinkling of marigold and safflower, the coppery infusion reveals the excellent natural climatic influence on the tea before the tender shoots were handpicked. The Emirates Signature Tea is really a very special tea that we are honoured to have crafted for Emirates passengers, said Dilhan C. Fernando, Director at Dilmah. Our emphasis was on offering passengers a signature and therefore uniquely Emirates experience in tea, so we integrated Rose as a defining element of the cultural heritage of Emirates airline, added Almond to balance the richness of the Rose especially for male guests, while using an ingredient that symbolises good health and luxury in the Middle East. The hint of Ginger has a functional element in restraining the extravagant aroma and flavour of Rose and Almond while emphasising the natural goodness that the tea offers for Ginger, like tea, is potent in its human health benefits. The aroma and taste elements in the Emirates Signature Tea are designed to work in elegant pairing with food, but the tea can be a dessert in itself. While savoury dishes with nuts or leafy vegetables in them work well with the tea, it is also an excellent accompaniment to most desserts including chocolate, caramel or light cake. Were proud to offer gourmet food and beverages as part of our commitment to a superior passenger experience. Food and beverages are at the heart of our on-board offerings which is why its so important to have the right partnerships in place and why we continue to invest in and support world-class local suppliers like Dilmah, said Joost Heymeijer, Emirates Senior Vice President, Catering. Immunity for CB Governor, officials in debt management bill By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Proposed new regulations governing the management of Sri Lankas massive debt has a significant provision giving immunity to the Central Bank (CB), members of the Monetary Board and all officers of the banking regulator against prosecution if they act in good faith, according to the gazette that has been issued. The new regulations under the Active Liability Management bill is aimed at better liability (debt) management and due to be presented to parliament within the next three months. Section 9 which deals with defence in criminal or civil proceeding states that members of the Monetary Board, officials of CB and those working for the line Minister of Ministry cannot be held liable, either for criminal matters or civil matters for performing in good faith the duties and/or exercising the powers given to them by this Act or any regulation, Order, decision or directive issued and made. The Sunday Times last week reported plans for this new law. This new bill authorises the raising of loans in or outside Sri Lanka for the purpose of active liability management to improve public debt management in Sri Lanka and to make provisions for matters connected or incidental to it. Any loan raised for and on behalf of the Government for the purposes of refinancing and pre-financing of public debts shall be exempted from the application of the provisions of section 2 (1) (b) of the Appropriation Act, No. 30 of 2017 and also of any annual Appropriation Act which is enacted after the date of commencement of the Appropriation Act, No 30 of 2017. Discussing the proposed new law, Deputy Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Dr. Harsha de Silva told the Business Times that this bill has been endorsed by international independent rating agencies as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sri Lanka has commenced a debt sustainability process under the supervision of the IMF, he disclosed. Ministries of Finance, National Policies and Economic Affairs, and the CB all worked together to introduce this bill which is aimed at managing public debt to ensure the financing needs and payment obligations of the Government are met at the lowest possible cost over the medium to long term consistent with a prudent degree of risk, he disclosed. Sri Lankas non-commercial debt has increased alarmingly to 55 per cent in 2017 from seven per cent in 2006; he said adding that this massive debt problem is inherited from the previous Rajapaksa regime. We have been collecting dollars from the market for the past 6-7 months while building buffer stocks to service additional debts, he said. He stressed the importance of maintaining a liability management fund with input coming in from profits in managing strategic entities and money raised from the divestiture of non-strategic public enterprises. The money collected from the sale of Grand Hyatt Hotel and Hambantota port lease will also go to this fund. Diversification of external borrowings in financial markets in 2020 is also on the cards he added. Asked to comment on the immunity clause, he said most of the laws have this as a standard clause and there is nothing to be alarmed about. Analysts however say the immunity clause in the Active Liability Management bill appears to have a wider meaning than what is contained in other bills. For example the Foreign Exchange Act 12 of 2017 in the section under Indemnity for acts done in good faith says: No person shall be liable in any suit or other legal proceedings for any act done, or purporting to be done, in good faith in pursuance of the powers conferred by or under this Act, or for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act. The connected clause in the Monetary Law Act under Section 47 on Protection for acts done in good faith says: No member of the Monetary Board or officer or servant of the Central Bank shall be liable for any damage or loss suffered by the bank unless such damage or loss was caused by his misconduct or willful default. The Development (Special Provisions) Bill says no action or prosecution shall be instituted against the Agency, Board or other institution for any act which is done in good faith, or purported to be done, by such Agency Board or other institution under this Act. The same applies to its officials. Japan urges team effort to counter Chinas presence in Sri Lanka By Alvin Sallay View(s): View(s): A top Japanese industry chief has called for joint-action with other like-minded countries to counter Chinas growing influence in Sri Lanka revealing the island-nations leadership would welcome such an initiative as it looks for more investment from the private sector in Japan. We must not stand against China or confront China. It is very difficult for individual countries to act on their own, and we should approach China (its business initiatives in Sri Lanka) with other like-minded countries and take joint-action, said Dr. Akio Mimura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He led a 77-strong delegation of captains and heads of Japanese industry to Colombo this week as they made a pitch for business in Sri Lanka as well as welcomed local companies to look at Japan as an export market. He also stressed the urgent need for an improved business-friendly environment in Sri Lanka. Among the high-powered delegation were giant corporates like Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Honda, Japan Airlines, The Bank of Tokyo, Marubeni and Tokyo Gas most of them represented by the chairmen and CEOs. Japan and its ally the US, as well as regional power India, are highly concerned over Chinas growing influence in Sri Lanka. The island is a vital cog in Chinas new silk route, the One Belt One Road plan, and this has led to increased traffic from Tokyo over the past few months. Earlier this month, Taro Kono was the first Japanese Foreign Minister in 15 years to visit Colombo. Dr. Mimuras delegation was the biggest group of Japanese investors since 1979. What is important is that we recognise a free trade economy and we should promote strong cooperation with other countries and work with them. Sri Lankas leaders share the same thought as us and I was impressed by this, Dr. Mimura told international and local media on Thursday. During the two-day visit Dr. Mimura, who is also the chairman of the powerful Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is understood that the increased interest in Sri Lanka is largely due to growing interest for Japanese corporates to tap into Indias 1.2 billion marketplace as well as the rest of South Asia through Colombo. Magnetic flag pole for vehicle lovers on Independence Day Text and pic by Raj Moorthy View(s): View(s): With Sri Lankans preparing to celebrate the countrys 70th Independence Day on Sunday February 4, a local company has developed an innovative way to fly a flag on a car without scratching the surface of the vehicle. It has been created by Pasindu Auto Parts (Pvt) Ltd, a local company that manufactures all kinds of vehicle accessories. The flag pole can be fixed inside or outside the vehicle. Managing Director of the company, T.G. Namal Pushpakumara, said this product was introduced last year on a small scale. This year we have manufactured the flag poles on a large scale since the demand was high, unlike other flag poles that has a sticker at the bottom and could probably damage the surface of the vehicle. The flag is available at all leading bookshops island-wide from February 1at a reasonable price of Rs. 200, he added. His factory is located in Eheliyagoda while the company has branches in Avissawella, Ukwaththa and Ratnapura with around 30 electricians in-house. No one in the country has manufactured this type of a high power flag pole that doesnt damage the surface of the vehicle. We have tested the flag even while the vehicle is moving at 100 km per hour on the Southern Expressway, he noted. SL-Spore FTA to open trade to the East Asian region By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka and Singapores free trade agreement (FTA) signed during a visit by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Colombo is part of the broader strategy of eyeing the East Asian region and plugging into Asian supply chains, top state officials say. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade in his address at the Sri Lanka- Singapore Business forum in Colombo on Wednesday said that this FTA comes at a time when trade with Sri Lanka is growing, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 2.7 billion last year. This is a lynchpin in the ongoing policy reforms, he said. The negotiations of the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) commenced in August 2016 after signing of the joint statement of Singapore and Sri Lanka, during the official visit of Sri Lankas Prime Minister to Singapore on July 18-19, 2016. Eight rounds of negotiations have been completed and as a result, the agreement has come to the final stage in January 2018. Singapore is Sri Lankas seventh-largest foreign investor. Sri Lanka has many pluses such as excellent location and ports, a modernised Customs Department and the One Stop Shop at the Central Customs Clearance Unit, Mr. Samarawickrama noted saying that now a more comprehensive system of trade agreements is required. Following the signing of the SLSFTA, three Singapore companies sealed deals with Sri Lankan partners. To capture opportunities in this growing market, Food Studio1, Ark Holdings and HPL Hotels & Resorts signed four agreements for new projects across food, aquaculture, hospitality and infrastructure. The forum was organised by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Sri Lanka Singapore Business Council. Mr. Samarawickrama and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran, who was in Sri Lanka, witnessed the signing. Mr. Iswaran addressing the forum said that this FTA was a clear indication of the Sri Lankan Governments determination to connect with global markets to ensure growth for local business and its people. When the FTA is in force, he said that Sri Lankan importers will be able to benefit as custom duties are reduced in phases over the next few years for goods imported from Singapore. This would also benefit Sri Lankan consumers, increasing the variety and affordability of high quality products. The Trade-in-Services chapter creates more opportunities for our professionals in sectors such as Professional Services, Environmental Services, Construction and Tourism to offer their respective services in each others markets. The Government Procurement Chapter offers companies the assurance that international tenders for Government projects will be conducted fairly and transparently, while the Investment Chapter will help attract more investments by providing investors with assurances that their investments will be protected. Already, we are seeing significant momentum in our bilateral economic ties, from 2016 to 2017, bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Singapore increased by more than 25 per cent to Rs. 300 billion. The bilateral trade in Services and Foreign Direct Investments also show an upward trend, he added. Singapore has invested US$530 million in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan companies have invested US$120 million in Singapore, making FDI a two way process between the two countries. Singapore companies that have seen success in Sri Lanka include Prima, which houses Sri Lankas largest flour mill; Shang Kwan Group, which developed the iconic World Trade Centre in Colombo and Havelock City, the largest integrated development in Sri Lanka. Others include BreadTalk, Certis Cisco, Charles & Keith, Food Empire, Meinhardt, Surbana Jurong and Woh Hup Construction. Smooth Bahrain visa process through Mack Air View(s): Mack Air, General Sales Agent of Gulf Air, in partnership with Visit Bahrain, Bahrains largest destination management company, has launched Bahrain Tourist Visa and Holiday services available at the Gulf Air office in Colombo. Travellers with return Gulf Air tickets can now conveniently apply for a visa to the Kingdom of Bahrain by visiting the Gulf Air office. The visa service takes a minimum of four working days to process and it is done in coordination with the relevant ministries and government entities, Mack Air said in a media release. Commenting on this initiative, Mack Air CEO Anil Bandara said, By launching Visit Bahrain visa services and holidays we hope to provide our customers with a broad spectrum of holiday packages to Bahrain. This initiative will now give travellers even more choice when visiting Bahrain and to make their holiday even more convenient and comfortable. Gulf Air, Bahrains national carrier, currently serves 42 cities in 25 countries, spanning in three continents. The airline operates five times weekly flights from Colombo to Bahrain with two class configuration, Business and Economy. Spore meets like-minded partner in Sri Lanka By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): Singapore has opened opportunities for Sri Lankas Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector and other larger businesses and increased access to the ASEAN bloc following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a like-minded partner state. Singapores Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S. Iswaran said on Tuesday that the FTA was a timely event because of the growing momentum of bilateral relations between the two countries. The minister was delivering a speech at the second Colombo Colloquium of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He also noted that this was significant in the context that for Singapore it would mean entering into a deal with a like-minded country and a country we can work with. Recalling the work of the two Prime Ministers of the countries that went into the establishment of the FTA, he reminisced the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamars plans that had laid the foundation for many of the elements of the FTA. This is the first time in 10 years that Sri Lanka was signing an agreement of significance that took place on Tuesday at the Presidential Secretariat. This FTA is about working together to access our regional markets, Mr. Iswaran noted adding that the agreement came about in the wake of increased anti-globalization trends around the world. He pointed out that this was an opportunity for the SMEs to access not just Singapore but also the ASEAN markets as well. The agreement covers sectors like hospitality, infrastructure, ports, industrial parks and those that would afford mutual benefit for the two countries. Mr. Iswaran highlighted that this agreement was not just limited in its scope but would go beyond its offering by having more engagements with the business sector. Singaporean investors eyeing Colombo would want to ensure there is confidence in investment that would ensure all were treated fairly and in this context the government and its agencies involved in investment promotion should create the right environment. Moreover, it was noted that international integration would require complementary legislation in place. Tourism industry No Nos John on CNN campaign By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): Amidst opposition from the tourism industry, Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga is likely to forge ahead with an advertising campaign on CNN costing US$650,000. This will be an interim campaign as the digital campaign continues to be further delayed despite the sacking of the Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara who was cited as the reason for the process being held up. Industry leaders opine that what is required today is fast-tracking the digital marketing campaign in a bid to boost tourist arrivals to the country and not an advertising campaign on international news media channels that was unlikely to reach its target audience. Minister Amaratunga had proposed to the industry at various forums to carry out this interim campaign to which the industry had opposed noting that it is not the proper thing for the destination. It was pointed out visitors from Sri Lankas source markets like Germany, UK, France, China and India were not viewers of CNN. The industry had also informed the minister that it would be better to hold onto that money, and come up with the digital plan. While one industry leader told the Business Times that we have said this as strongly as possible, another industry personality explained that CNN is watched by businessmen not the consumers that we target. This interim campaign is being proposed since the digital campaign is getting delayed and the industry has also agreed to this proposal, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Managing Director Sutheash Balasubramaniam told the Business Times. He noted that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had about two weeks ago also asked to look at other good names of media channels as well to carry out the advertising campaign since the CNN campaign had obtained approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM). CNN is expected to produce the content on their own through their agencies in Colombo and is expected to carry out the advertising campaign everyday for three months. Minister Amaratunga told the Business Times said that this CNN interim campaign was mooted since the digital campaign is getting delayed due to bureaucratic procedures. And he explained that after the CCEM approves it, cabinet would definitely agree to this proposal and there was no need for board approval. The minister noted that the new chairman for the SLTPB would be appointed after the election concludes. SriLankan directors still aboard! Directors of SriLankan Airlines, who sent in their resignations to the Government some weeks ago, held their usual board meeting on Thursday. Details of the meeting were not available. Commission proposes specific procedure to appoint CBSL Governor View(s): The Commission of Inquiry that probed the countrys largest bond scam has recommended that relevant criteria and a specified procedure be adopted in the appointment of a Governor for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). The move follows the previous Governor Arjuna Mahendrans involvement in the scam together with his son-in-law Arjun Aloysious, a key player in his company Perpetual Treasuries Limited according to the Commission. Though the Commission said it agreed with the view expressed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that the provisions of the Monetary Law Act, the Constitution and the Law do not require that the CBSL Governor must be a citizen of Sri Lanka, it has commented on the Premiers contention that the very first Central Bank Governor, John Exeter had been an American national. Likewise, Mr. Mark Joseph Camey who is not a British subject but a Canadian is the current Governor of the Bank of England. The Commissions report declared that .the circumstances in which Mr John Exeter was appointed the Governor of the Central Bank of Ceylon (as it then was) in 1949, after the enactment of the Monetary Law Act No 58 of 1949, (of which Mr Exeter was the principal author) can be properly compared with the circumstances which prevail in Sri Lanka in the present day. We also note, it was widely reported that, when Mr Mark Carney was appointed Governor of the Bank of England in 2013, he stated he would be applying for British citizenship while retaining his native Canadian citizenship. A noteworthy fact is the title of the report Report of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate, inquire and report on the issuance of the Treasury bonds during the period from 1st February to 31st March 2016. Contrary to claims by some sections of the media, it was not a Presidential Commission but a Commission of Inquiry. The Commissions mandate was issued under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. It appears on the front page of the report. The Commission declared that there was a conflict of interest during Arjuna Mahendrans tenure since his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius did, in fact, continue to remain actively engaged with the operations of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. contrary to assurance which Mr Mahendran had repeatedly given the Hon. Prime Minister. The Commission adds: Next, with regard to the statement made in Parliament by the Hon. Prime Minister on 17th March 2017, in which he states inter alia, that, Mr Mahendran had not interfered in the Treasury Bond auction of 27th February 2015, we have held that, evidence establishes that, Mr Mahendran and Deputy Governor Samarasiri, deliberately and mala fide, misled the Hon. Prime Minister and suppressed material facts and misrepresented the factual position when they reported the events relating to the Treasury Bond auction held on 27th February 2015, to the Hon. Prime Minister and also when they submitted a Briefing Note to the Hon. Prime Minister, with regard to the events of that auction. While we do not, for even a moment, presume to make any pronouncement on events that transpired in Parliament, we consider that, the Hon. Prime Minister would have been better advised, if he had independently verified what had happened at the CBSL on 27th February 2015, before making any statement, instead of relying on the Briefing Note and report submitted to him by Mr Mahendran and Deputy Governor Samarasiri. We note that, Report of the Pitipana Committee did not determine that, there was any impropriety in the conduct of the Treasury Bond Auction held on 27th February 2015 and that, consequently, Mr Mahendran (who had been on leave pending the completion of the Inquiry of the Pitipana Committee and the submission of its Report resumed duties as Governor of the CBSL when there was no finding of impropriety. We consider that the position may have been different if the Committee or other body which carried out this Inquiry had the benefit of members who had knowledge and experience in the technical and practical aspects of the matter being inquired into. ..since no finding of impropriety or bad faith has been made against him, Mr Mahendran continued to serve as Governor of the CBSL until his term ended on 30th June 2016 and he was not re-appointed. The Commission was headed by Justice K.T. Chitrasiri, Judge of the Supreme Court and comprised Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, Judge of the Supreme Court and Kandasamy Velupillai, retired Deputy Auditor General. Sirisena shows Rajapaksa did not vote against Ravi President Maithripala Sirisena went to a UPFA election rally in Panadura last Thursday armed with a copy of the Hansard, a record of Parliamentary proceedings and a copy of the Vote of No Confidence that was moved against the then Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake. The reason to disprove his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksas claim that there was no such motion. Mr Rajapaksa had said so at a local polls rally. Sirisena described Rajapaksa as my friend and declared he was not present in Parliament when the motion was taken up for vote. After the vote, he said, he called Karunanayake to congratulate him. Sirisena said that the Hansard includes names of those who voted for the motion, against and those who abstained. Mahinda Rajapakasas name is there among those who were listed as absent, he added. Triad gets Rs 150 million image building contract from UNP The United National Party (UNP) has awarded to Triad Advertising, a publicity contract costing more than Rs.150mn. It is for the partys print and electronic media campaigns for the local council election. Former top cop misuses Presidential Secretariat letter-head A former top cop who is now a security consultant to a hotel chain owned by a controversial businessman added a plum assignment to his post only a year or so ago. That was to become Advisor to HE the President on Defence Affairs. Just two weeks ago, the man wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police under whose purview comes the Tourist Police. It was to complain about the behaviour of fishermen, beach boys, etc who he says tarnish the good name of Sri Lanka and it is a huge drawback to the national economy.Interesting enough, the complaint relates to a southern resort which belongs to the hotel chain. And what makes it worse is that the letter is written on an official letter-head of the Presidential Secretariat. Attached to that letter, the former cop encloses a report which the General Manager and Deputy Chairman of his company had forwarded to him. He points out I am bringing this to your notice in my capacity as Advisor to HE the President on Defence Affairs, he points out. He wants the Tourist Police to assemble a special team to deal with three-wheeler, beach boys and fishermen harassing the tourists on the beach. A Police Headquarters official said there were the so called beach boys who were engaging in fruit or other trades whilst three-wheeler scooters provided easy transport to tourists. Whenever there were law violations, we have taken action. We cannot prevent them assembling outside a hotel premises under different pretexts, he added. One job within another has helped the former top cop but Police circles are asking whether it was correct to use a Presidential Secretariat letter-head to keep things moving for a private company. Who cares when the boss has his investments among all politicians? Lack of commitment of the mercenary soldiers This article is part of a continuing series on Sri Lankan history View(s): View(s): The Dutch decided to leave King Rajasinghe out of the scene of the struggle to besiege Colombo. However they did not like to positively oppose the king. Once Colombo was captured, they did not intend to hand it over to the king nor to demolish the fort. Up to now, they needed the kings help. Because of this they did not want to get angry with the king, before the capture of the city. The Portuguese meanwhile, taught a good lesson to the Dutch who kept much hope in capturing the city. Due to these reasons, they could only keep attacking the city. Capturing it was delayed day by day. Whatever damage the Dutch caused during daytime was soon repaired by the Portuguese during the night. Once in a way, they came out of the fort. On these visits, they attacked the plans made by the Dutch to capture the city. These Portuguese soldiers were very loyal to their king and country. They fought with utmost courage to protect the honour of their king and also of the army. The soldiers of the Dutch company were different in this regard. Most of the Dutch soldiers were hired mercenaries and they belonged to a number of nationalities. They did not have any idea of undergoing danger on behalf of the Dutch company and for the benefit of this company. There was no compulsion on them, in this regard. By Halaliye Karunathilake Edited and translated by Kamala Silva Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila Australia Day celebrated Australian Ambassador to Nepal Peter Budd organised an event in Kathmandu on Thursday on the occasion of the Australia Day, which is celebrated annually on 26 January. Amagi Aria joins hands with Illy Coffee and PMD Tea View(s): Amagi Aria Hotel in Negombo has taken on a unique scope of food and beverage offerings for all their Sri Lankan and foreign guests, commencing with the recent induction of partnerships with Ceccato Colombo (Illy Coffee) and P. M. David Silva & Sons. Ceccato Colombo Pvt Ltd is a BOI company which was established in 2001 with a 100% Italian investment. The vision for Ceccato is to become a one-stop-shop creating an authentic Italian experience for clients and it has become a leading brand in Sri Lanka within a short period. The collaboration between Ceccato, the sole agent for Illy Coffee brand and Amagi Aria, a prestigious hotel located in Negombo was announced recently. Ceccato decided to join hands with Amagi Aria mainly because we recognise its key location, beautiful structure and professional management and believe that they are capable of mirroring our values and image. We are pleased to commence our joint venture and hope it will be a long and fruitful collaboration for both our companies said Salvy de Bellis General Manager, Ceccato Colombo. The leading tea company, P. M. David Silva & Sons was established in 1945 during the Plantation Raj in Ceylons world famous Dimbula Valley. Today, three generations on, P. M. David Silva & Sons remains a family company. Our teas are found globally in hotels of the leading hotel aroud the world and small luxury hotel groups, Harrods of London and Her Majesty the Queen of Englands Royal Farm Shop in Windsor to mention a few. Partnering with Amagi will boost our image and always looking to enhance the customer experience, fits in with our company values and vision. We are partnering with Amagi hotels because there is a shared synergy between our two brands said Dananjaya Silva, Managing Director of P. M. David Silva & Sons. Amagi Aria is set to introduce an exquisite tea and coffee based cocktail menu as well as other promotional offers such as high tea on the lagoon deck and tea tasting sessions on a catamaran where guests will be able to sample and taste the different varieties of teas whilst a tea sommelier encapsulates on a tea education angle. Special tea and coffee induced drink and food items will be included in the hotels al a carte menu and wedding menus for a further emphasis on the values of these two commodities, specifically in the line of promoting tea as a prominent essence of Sri Lanka. Founded in 2012, Amagi Hotels has been offering unique and unforgettable hotel experiences in some of the most sought after destinations in Sri Lanka. Within its portfolio, Amagi Hotels hosts two distinctive properties; Amagi Aria is a four-star located along the serene locale of the Negombo Lagoon; and Amagi Beach is a three-star hotel set amidst the pristine western coast of Marawila. Amagi Hotels debuts on a new venture with the rebranding of its Negombo property early in 2018 with the Aria brand, that significantly caters to the four-star market in Sri Lanka. Dr. Vijaya Corea receives Lifetime Achievement Award View(s): Well known broadcaster, telecaster and showbiz personality, Vijaya Corea received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the State Awards Ceremony held under the patronage of President Sirisena and the Minister of Cultural Affairs recently. The award was presented to him in recognition and appreciation of his excellent contribution to electronic media for more than five decades. Vijaya Corea has been in broadcasting since 1964 as Newsreader, Commercial Broadcaster, Compere and Master of Ceremonies. He became a household name even in India. His versatility saw him lend his voice to the Sinhala Commercial Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on the Sooriya Show. He was at the helm of Sri Lankas inaugural TV transmission and goes on record as the countrys first TV compere. In July 1976, he was called by the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to be the Master of Ceremonies at the banquet she held for visiting heads of state at the 5th Non-Aligned Nations Summit Conference. Four years later, he was called by the then President of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene, to be the Master of Ceremonies at the banquet he held in honour of Britains Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip during their visit to Sri Lanka. He was awarded the trophy for the Most Popular DJ consecutively in the public poll conducted in the mid-70s by the Daily Mirror. At the first ever National Media Awards Ceremony held in 2007, he received a Gold Award from Prime Minister, RatnasiriWickramanayake for his outstanding contribution towards the upliftment of broadcasting. He reached the zenith of his career when he was appointed Director General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. He was simultaneously a member of the Board of Directors of both the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the National Film Corporation. He is indeed both a distinguished old Thomian and a Sri Lankan citizen whom this nation boasts, not merely on account of his accomplishments but, because of his servant hood to all humanity. Padmaavat finally here By Susitha R. Fernando View(s): View(s): Cleared by Indias Supreme Court Padmaavat was scheduled to start its release in India and worldwide on January 25. The film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was delayed due to deadly threats from Hindu groups and Rajput caste organisations. Ruling in favour of the film, the Supreme Court lifted the ban on it and went on to direct the states to allow the screenings in their respective territories.. However protests continued even after the Supreme Court ruling and last week extremist Hindu groups torched buses and vandalised a theatre in the western state of Gujarat. Despite the court ruling and tightened security, theatre owners in the state have decided against screening the film as they fear further violence. The film narrates the story of a 14th Century Hindu queen belonging to the high Rajput caste and the Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh play the lead roles. According to media reports, Hindu groups and Rajput caste organisations had alleged that the movie, depicted an intimate romantic scene between the two characters, which they say disrespects her character. The producers of the film deny this. Here in Sri Lanka the film will be released in Hindi and Tamil at the Majestic Cinema Colombo and other theatres around the country. 1.Eligibility: Applicants to this scholarship program must meet the following two conditions: Citizen of Sri Lanka Have completed GCE OLevels or equivalent prior to September 2018 and not yet entered a bachelors degree programme or similar Must be no younger than 16 and under 18 years on the September 1, 20182. Requirements: Successful applicants should demonstrate the following qualities: 1. Curiosity and Motivation A genuine urge to learn about the world around oneself and the ability to recognize the details and grasp the breadth of issues (for example global and local concerns) involved in any given topic and to analyze them thoroughly. 2. Active Commitment The ability to develop and readiness to reflect, question and confront ones own values, to measure ones behavior within family and community against ones values, and to act on ones own beliefs accordingly and responsibly. 3. Social Competence The ability and readiness to make contact with other people, to interact respectfully with them, to work together with them in a team and to achieve solutions; the ability to express oneself adequately in different situations and to different people. 4. Resilience, Personal Responsibility, and Integrity The ability to look after oneself physically and emotionally during the challenging and transforming experience that a UWC offers; the personal motivation to adhere to UWCs common moral and ethical principles, a sense of humility and an ability to listen and value another persons opinion and experience. Women on top at Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards View(s): Dark comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won three prizes at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards on Sunday in a ceremony marked by women and their stories amid the sexual misconduct scandal that has swept Hollywood. The Fox Searchlight film about a furious woman seeking justice for the murder of her daughter was named best ensemble, the top SAG honor. Frances McDormand won best actress and Sam Rockwell took home the best supporting actor statuette for their roles in the film. Britains Gary Oldman won best actor for playing wartime leader Winston Churchill in Focus Features Darkest Hour. Allison Janney won for her supporting actress role as a demanding mother in independent ice-skating movie I, Tonya. The SAG awards are indicators of likely Oscar success in March because actors form the largest group of voters in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday.The SAG ceremony took place after two days of marches by hundreds of thousands of women throughout the United States. Host Kristen Bell said women were having a watershed moment. Lets make sure we lead the charge with empathy and diligence because fear and anger never win the race, said Bell, star of televisions The Good Place. Accusations of sexual misconduct have forced dozens of powerful men in Hollywood to step down, be fired or dropped from creative projects. Women, many of them leading actresses, have responded by breaking their silence through the #MeToo social media movement and the Times Up campaign for legal support of victims. On the red carpet, women swapped the black gowns that marked support for victims of sexual harassment at the Golden Globes two weeks ago for brighter blues, green and metallic hues. Women were the dominant theme inside the Shrine Auditorium. Nicole Kidman, 50, won for playing a battered wife in HBOs female-centric TV series Big Little Lies. (REUTERS) All party village unity by Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha candidates View(s): Four kilometres off Anuradhapura town in a remote village, candidates from all political parties contesting the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha gathered at a temple last Sunday on the invitation of the Buddhist monk of the temple. The candidates took part in a Bodhi Pooja and listened to a sermon (Anushasanawa) where the theme was the unity of the village amidst elections. This is the message I want to get across to the candidates, Ven Hewane Bodhiseela Thera of the Sriyanandjothi Vivekasensanya in Kurundankulam Anuradhapura, told the Sunday Times, which was present to capture the moment. Pic by Lakshman Gunathilake. Bank accounts of 28 PTL companies frozen By Namini Wijedasa Central Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit takes urgent steps to prevent money laundering View(s): View(s): The operations of bank accounts of all 28 companies within the Perpetual Group associated with Arjun Aloysius, a key suspect in the controversial Central Bank bond scamshave been frozen with immediate effect by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. The directive was issued on Wednesday to banks in which the accounts reside and was pursuant to available intelligence that Perpetual, beneficiary of questionable bond transactions that are under investigation, was taking steps to siphon funds. The suspension means that none of the 28 companies within the group can carry out financial business of any sort through their bank accounts. The authorities will now begin vetting each of the accounts so that the suspension could be eased to facilitate the groups routine activities such as payment of salaries to employees. Lawful transactions will be permitted, the sources said, adding that the action taken this week was an urgent move to prevent money laundering. Among the companies in the group are Perpetual Treasuries (Pvt) Ltd, Perpetual Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd, Perpetual Capital Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, W M Mendis & Co Ltd and Integrated Media Networks (Pvt) Ltd. The concern also has large shareholdings in various other listed entities. The fresh order supplements an earlier Monetary Board directive freezing PTLs two accounts that were maintained to trade in Government treasury bonds. Those assets amount to a total of Rs 12.5bn, including Rs 7.5bn in cash and the rest in securities. The companys effort to have that suspension overturned by court was unsuccessful. The FIU implements anti-money laundering regulations and administers the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act. Its order this week has a wider ambit than the Monetary Board action which caused a suspension of trading in both the primary and secondary markets of treasury bonds by PTL. The FIU order suspended all debit transactionswithdrawals or transferring out of moniesof all accounts of the entire Perpetual Group. The CBSL issued a media statement explaining the November 2016 directions of the Monetary Board. It said PTLs levels of operation in the primary and secondary market were curtailed and that the alienation of funds was prevented. Further directions were issued from time to time, it said. The companys business activities are suspended and PTL is prevented from the disposal of assets, distribution of profits and making payments without the prior approval of CBSL till July 6, 2018. The Securities and Exchange Commission was also requested to take appropriate action with regard to PTL assets coming under its purview. The regulator is yet to issue a statement on the latest developments. Conceptual change imperative to tackle countrys bribery, corruption: PRECIFAC By Chandani Kirinde View(s): View(s): The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) said a conceptual change is needed to tackle bribery and corruption in the country. It said that acts of bribery and corruption in the country have become normalised in the eyes of the public, with abuse of State resources and privileges viewed in a manner which hinders eradication of these evils from society. The Commission which handed over its final report to President Maithripala Sirisena earlier this month, concluded that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had, by their actions while in office, caused losses to the country running into millions of rupees. The main accusations against the former President were in relation to causing losses to the State owed Independent Television Network (ITN) running into over Rs 102 million, by using political influence to obtain free airtime for election propaganda material during the 2015 presidential election. The charges against the former Defense Secretary were in relation to the Avant Garde Floating Armoury case. The Commissions report was presented to Parliament this week and made public. It detailed the systemic weaknesses that have resulted in no substantial inroads being made to minimise corruption and bribery in the country. Aggressive marketing tactics adopted by businesses as well as their promotion through the media, people are being promoted to obtain these goods at any cost. When they have no financial means to obtain such goods, they then go to extremes to find money, even using illegal methods, the Commission said. It added, there is no counter propaganda activity to counter this aggressive marketing tactics and educate people that using ill-gotten money has serious repercussions, not only on their families, but on society as a whole. Unfortunately, there are many wrong concepts ingrained in the people of this country at present. To counter this, there must be a more aggressive drive by the authorities, so that it can be ingrained in people that obtaining ill-gotten wealth will not pay, the Report said. The Commission said that neither a new institution nor large amounts of money is needed to launch an effective anti-corruption drive that would impress upon the public, but a sincere effort is needed to awaken them to the dangers of corruption. The Commission has recommend that new laws be promulgated to ensure that all television stations devote a certain amount of time to air anti-corruption programmes and that, such laws can be made under the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act of 1982. If not, relevant officials should discuss with television stations to voluntarily conduct such programmes. The Commission also said that, as mobile phones are widely used, the Short Message Service (SMS) can be used to educate people on the evils of bribery and corruption. Anti-corruption programmes must be done in a manner so that it can be embedded in children that bribery and corruption are wrong, so that the scourge of corruption can be minimised, it added. Conclusive reading still not possible for Feb 10 local polls but few signs of election campaign By Anthony David and pix by Lakshman Gunathilake The Sunday Times team makes four day, 1400km tour of Northern and North Central provinces View(s): View(s): No posters or cutouts, most candidates go house to house with little rivalry or danger of conflicts A four day, 1,400km journey across three different provinces will not give a conclusive reading on the winning order for the February 10 local polls. However, it does lay bare a number of new changing ground realities. What strikes one forcefully is the absence of any visibility of a poll no posters and no cut outs. A few areas are dotted with decorated party offices. Creditably the Police are bringing down whatever springs up within hours. There are less meetings and candidates have found that door to door contact with the voters is the best way. In a humorous twist, some of those contesting have begun to remember their dead parents or grandparents. Alms givings are held and would be voters enjoy a sumptuous meal as the candidate pleads for their votes. Candidates have mostly chosen simple issues such as building of drains, providing drinking water, beautifying the area, providing solutions to garbage issues or improving recreation facilities. Anura Udara Nawaratna, a young candidate vying for a place in the 16-member Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha says, that the campaigns have been peaceful in his division. The new electoral system where one party fields just one candidate from one party for a ward is helping to minimize the rivalry witnessed in previous elections. Besides as the candidate concentrates in a small area each candidate is known to each other and thereby reduces confrontation, Mr Nawaratna said. His rival contesting from the same ward from the JVP, K.P.Piyaratna, also believes the change of the electoral system has contributed towards a healthy completion in contrast to what has been experienced in the past. I witnessed a rather unusual scene at the Sriyanandjothi Vivekasensanya Viharaya in the outskirts of Anuradhapura town area. There, four candidates met before the Chief Incumbent Ven Hewane Bodhi seela and pledged that they would not resort to violence but carry out a campaign peacefully. As Sri Lankans we should be united. Humanity is the basis. Even the preachings of the Lord Budda says that we should be united. We cannot live peacefully without unity. This is the message I want to get across to the candidates, Ven Hewane Bodhi Seela Thera said. The campaigns continue late into the night. In the outskirts of the Anuradhapura city limits Women Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara who represents the same district was addressing a pocket meeting in support of a UNP candidate in the area. Though the election campaigns were widely confined to local issues, Ms Bandara went on to speak about the Central Bank Bond issue and called the report a Pussa (damp squib). Many in the audience, some of them in high spirits showed no response though they welcomed her comments about developing the area. In contrast to previous election campaigns the unity among rival support seem to be high. A van carrying supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) managed to drive through the crowd of the meeting venue located on the side of a road as UNP supporters guided them through. Women candidates too are actively involved in the campaign with some of them having some background but, others virtually being pushed into politics by their family members or politicians. W.M Pushpalatha, another candidate for the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha contesting under the Phottuwa symbol says she has been associated closely with political campaigns in the district and was an automatic choice to contest for the council. In contrast the Gayani Pradeepa contesting under the UNP ticket for the Anuradhapura Municipal Council says she was led to contest the elections as her husband was not able to contest, being a staff officer in the public sector. But I have experience running a business and should be helpful to represent the villagers in the Municipal council, she said. Despite the enthusiasm among the candidates the interest among the public is still low in the Anuradhapura district, but is likely to catchup in the next 12 days. As we drive through the Polonnaruwa district we witness a string of development activities including carpeting of roads, construction of new roads and new buildings underway. Residents credit President Maithripala Sirisena for attracting a string of development activities into the area. They include a tri- nation school under construction, a new administrative building complex where most government offices will be shifted to. But, in the interior areas of Polonnaruwa the situation is different with poverty and unemployment still an issue, a farmer Kapila Munidasa said. Some of the candidates are popular in the respective area they are contesting and some times a partys popularity may be not the only reason the voters will consider, he said. The roads from Polonnaruwa upto the north, again there no signs that elections are due shortly. At some of the locations an abandoned building or part of the house is used as the office of the candidate. In Polonnaruwa, similar to scenes in Jaffna, many women have opted to use motor bikes or scooters to go to work and pick up their children from school. In Jaffna political parties and their candidate are keen about the elections with main concentration on house to house campaigns carried out in the evenings to distribute propaganda material among voters in the respective area. Almost all main parties contesting in the north have put forward their manifestos, in contrast to the campaigns in some of the provinces in the south and offer a range of benefits including infrastructure development, improvement of sanitation facilities and introducing livelihood projects to the voters once they form the councils. The only Municipal Council in the Northern province the Jaffna Municipal council for which 45 members will be returned has drawn the biggest attraction from the main 10 to 12 parties contesting in the province. C.V.K. Sivaganam, currently serving as Chairman of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) controlled Northern Provincial Council and involved in drafting of the manifesto of the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) says though the election was largely on local issues they have also been forced to deal with their position on national issues. Our opponents have raised the issue that we have dropped the idea of federalism and we have been forced to explain ourselves to the people regarding the position taken in the interim report on the proposals to be included in the Constitution, he explained . Unlike Parliamentary elections the voting will depend on several issues such as locality, religion, cast, friendship , he added. Unlike in most other provinces unemployment rate (18 per cent), he says is high in the province with no industries in the area while the province has some unique problems with 80,000 widows, 15,000 destitute children and about 15,000 disabled persons which need to be resolved. Mahalingam Arulkumaran, one time journalist also contesting under TNA ticket for Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) in Grand Bazar- Vannarpannai ward We have just released our manifesto for development of Jaffna city this week based on the needs and expectation of our people. This time, the local elections also caught significant attention of some ongoing national topics such as new constitution making process which is currently underway. Mr Arulkumaran said. Some culprits are misinterpreting the interim report of Constitutional Assembly accusing us (TNA) that we have agreed for power devolution under unitary system (ekiya raajiya). When we go to door to door campaign, people ask us whether we gave up the mandate of previous elections won by TNA. Therefore we have to address and explain this process among other things too in order to secure their votes, Though the ITAK remains strong with the chances of capturing the majority of the councils after obtaining 69.1 per cent at the last parliamentary elections in Jaffna district and 54.5 in the Vanni district they are being offered some competition by parties such as the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Tamil United Liberation Front who may have increased representations in the council. The ACTC led by former MP Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam has fielded mostly young candidates who are on a campaign for a Change calling that parties which have failed to serve the people should be replaced. Sivakanthan Thanjun, a graduate serving as a Central Cultural Fund (CCF) officer contesting for the Jaffna Municipal Council under the ACTC says they want a clean city and clean hands. Taking time to speak during the house to house campaign , Mr Sivakanthan said People in Jaffna need a change as those representatives from the local bodies failed to fulfill the needs of the people. There are 2840 votes in our ward. This time, our candidates, mostly youths have launched an active door to door campaign instead of using posters to make an effective change in our local government system, Kathirkamanathan Kenthiran, another candidate of the ACTC whose name has been placed on the Proportional Representation (PR) list for the Jaffna municipal council said. The main parties contesting in Jaffna are the United National Party led by minister Vijaya Kala Maheshwaran, UPFA campaign led by MP Angajan Ramanathan and the Sri Lanka Podujana Party led by M. Rajiv, an ex-EPDP member. A sitting ITAK provincial council member Ponnadurai Ainkaranesan who was removed from his position as a minister in council is supporting an independent group in Nallur which is set to break some of the ITAK votes. In the adjoining Kilinochchi district the elections are being held for three Pradeshiya sabhas with all parties fielding list of candidates which included former LTTE cadres. In the rest of the Vanni district which comprises Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar elections are being for the Vavuniya Urban council and four PSs in the district, in Mannar one Urban council and four Pradeshiya Sabhas and four PS in Mullaitivu. (Additional reporting by Augustin Fernando, Athula Bandara and L. Thayalan) Govt. to introduce regulations preventing use of kerosene in vehicles, industries By Damith Wickramasekara View(s): View(s): The Government will soon introduce regulations to prevent the use of kerosene in vehicles and industries, senior officials disclosed. Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development Secretary Upali Marasinghe stated the Ministry would negotiate with the Treasury to introduce a formula for kerosene sales, in the next two to three weeks. An internal audit conducted by the Ministry exposed a large scale racket where diesel had been mixed with kerosene at filling stations. Those operating buses and lorries had also bribed employees of filling stations to mix kerosene with diesel, when pumping fuel into their vehicles. Kerosene, according to officials, is used as a cheap substitute for diesel, as it increases the efficiency of the vehicle, though it damages the vehicles engine in the long term. There have also been incidents where businessmen have purchased kerosene in bulk, to sell to those engaged in adulterating diesel with kerosene, according to the audit report. Mr Marasinghe said the racket is causing severe losses to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as the kerosene is sold at subsidised rates. Meanwhile, some companies which use the more expensive industrial kerosene in their machinery, have resorted to use subsidised kerosene, it has been found. As such, a policy decision has to be taken urgently to prevent further abuse. Under the CPC Act, it is the Ministry of Finance that is authorised to impose regulations relating to fuel. We dont want any new measures to victimise fishermen, farmers and others who rely on kerosene, but we will have to take steps to limit bulk sales of kerosene in certain cases, he emphasised. CPC Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga noted that several filling stations where the adulteration had taken place, had been sealed in the past few days. He stressed that further stern action will be taken to stamp out this racket. Dr Ruit to get Indias Padma Shri award The government of India has decided to confer the prestigious Padma Shri award on Nepals noted eye surgeon Dr Sanduk Ruit for his contribution in the field of ophthalmology. Indian High Commission marks Indias 68th Republic Day View(s): The 69th Republic Day of India was celebrated at the Indian High Commission in Colombo on Friday (26). Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu unfurled the Indian flag and inspected a Guard of Honour presented by a contingent of the Border Security Force. He read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of Republic Day by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. The High Commissioner and officials of the High Commission also paid their respects to the fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), at a solemn ceremony at the IPKF memorial in Colombo. The Consular Generals of India in Jaffna and Hambantota and the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy, also celebrated the 69th Republic Day by organising flag-hoisting ceremonies on Friday. India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on a grand scale. Leaders from all 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries were invited as chief guests for the Republic Day parade. Money laundering: Sri Lanka listed among high risk countries View(s): The inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has listed Sri Lanka among eleven high risk and monitored jurisdictions that have taken insufficient measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system. The other countries are Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Korea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Yemen. The list is published on the website of FATF. The FATF sets standards and promotes implementation of legal, regulatory and operations measures for combating money laundering terrorist financing and related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. It monitors countries progress in implementing its recommendations; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the FATF Recommendations globally. In October 2017, Sri Lanka made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) to strengthen the effectiveness of its anti money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regime and to address any technical deficiencies. The Central Banks Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) aspires to implement some 40 recommendations encapsulated in an action plan by the end of 2018, an official source said. He said there had been a lack of interest in the past but that Sri Lanka is now invested in fulfilling its commitments. Other agencies of the Government must also play their part. Among other things, Sri Lanka has promised to amend the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to ensure cooperation may be provided on the basis of reciprocity; to issue a revised Trust Ordinance and demonstrate that implementation has begun; and to establish a Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions (TFS) regime to implement the relevant UN Security Council Regulations related to Iran and North Korea. Civil Society activist Chandra Jayaratne this week wrote to Presidential Secretary, Austin Fernando warning that there was a risk of Sri Lanka being further downgraded from a light grey area classification to dark grey after the next FATF country review. He called for early action to ensure that serious violations of FATF recommendations and misuse of or engaging in irregular and unauthorised foreign exchange transactions were made a predicate offence under the money laundering legislation. Mr Jayaratne has also recommended the creation by statue of a Serious Frauds Office and an Independent Public Prosecutor and the enactment of a standalone Proceeds of Crime Act, among other measures. Private media training institute allegedly used Jaffna Uni. name for its programmes By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s): A private media training institute has been misusing the name of the University of Jaffna (UoJ) to conduct training programmes for young journalists, since Dec.31, 2016, collecting more than Rs 300 million from foreign donors. This has been revealed in an Internal Audit (IA) Report submitted to UoJ Vice Chancellor (VC) R. Wigneswaran. VC Wigneswaran confirmed to the Sunday Times he was in receipt of the IA Report and would take up the matter with the foreign donors and the University Grants Commission, to initiate appropriate action against the said institute. Officials who spoke to the Sunday Times on the grounds of anonymity, stated that a former director of the UoJ Media Resources Training Centre (MRTC), which is part of the UoJ Arts Faculty, had set up a bogus institute under the name of Media in Cooperation & Transition (MiCT). The officials revealed that the original programme to train young journalists was started in 2002 by MRTC, with funding from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and ended in 2016. The UoJ had accordingly informed Parliaments Committee on Public Enterprises that the programme had concluded. However, the former MRTC director, a graduate of the UoJ Arts Faculty, had used the UoJ name and sought funds to continue the MRTC training programme. After consultations with other Faculty Deans and UoJ Department Heads, former UoJ VC Prof Vasanthi Arasaratnam however, had refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the UoJ and the newly formed institute, MiCT, under the former director, and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development. Afterwards, the former director had allegedly continued using the UoJ name to train young journalists throughout the island, in all three languages. Following several complaints against the newly formed MiCT, UoJ officials had initiated an IA. Last week, the IA Report had revealed that, not only had MiCT misused the name of the UoJ, but had unlawfully obtained more than Rs 300 million in funds from foreign donors, by submitting false documents. The IA Report had further revealed that MiCT had spent Euros 26,250 (Rs 5,013,750) for a months training programme. An MiCT official however, refuted the allegations as being baseless, adding they are continuing with their training programmes for new journalists. We have no involvement with the UoJ, the official stressed. SriLankan Board votes to sack CEO Suren Ratwatte View(s): The Board of Directors of SriLankan Airlines, which won a new lease of life, decided by majority vote to sack their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Suren Ratwatte. The board met on Thursday for the first time after all of them except one handed in their resignations, but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked them to continue in office until the board was reconstituted. The board took up the continuation of Mr. Ratwatte as CEO of the national airline despite it not being on the agenda and voted by a majority a 5-2 vote to remove him. The CEO was to be told verbally of the board decision to be followed by a letter. However, the Sunday Times learns that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has said that a caretaker board of directors had no power to take such action. He said the removal of the CEO would be a matter for the Minister in charge of the airline, Kabir Hashim to decide. There was also a Ministerial Committee and a separate Restructuring Committee of the airline that needed to be consulted. Among those who voted against the removal of the CEO was the airlines Chairman. One of the issues raised against the CEO Ratwatte is that he had falsely misled the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), the parliamentary oversight committee, a matter on which the board had charge sheeted him in November last year. At least one board has initiated a separate investigation on revenue management under the CEO, as well. CEO Ratwatte, a former captain with Emirates has also had run-ins with the SriLankans trade unions, including the Pilots Guild. (ENDS) Here, East and West do meet By Shaahima Rashid Fine art makes its way to the desert sands a look inside the Louvre Abu Dhabi View(s): View(s): There was much intrigue surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi ever since the announcement of its would-be presence ten years ago. Connoisseurs were dubious, yet piqued. Others anticipated a taste of the art world in the culture-dry sands of a petro-nation. Would the Arab worlds first universal museum live up to expectations? When the doors were declared open for the public in November of last year, ticket-holders anticipating the artworks confined within most certainly did not expect that the first masterpiece to behold would be the building itself. While architect Jean Nouvels design-eccentricity is his renowned signature trademark on any of his projects, his prowess at architectural conception truly shines through with the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the sunlight filtering through the latticed dome roofing, bathing its visitors with awe at the magnificence of the structure. Nouvel claims to have wanted to create the perception of light permeating the fronds of the palm tree in a desert oasis, and walking through the entry passage there is indeed an ephemeral, yet acute synergy with water and concrete. The bar was set. As with any exquisite entree, the next course was anticipated for greatness. Get ready to see humanity in a new light, pledges the museum brochure as it charts out a map, guiding visitors through twelve galleries which, through visual masterpieces, is a chronological and thematic comparison of cultures. Segregating galleries in this regard as opposed to geography was a conscious decision by the curators in wanting to highlight the museums key ethos to transcend borders through artistic commonalities, focusing more on what unites the East with the West, rather than on what divides them. An unorthodox, yet apt approach if taking into context the population variables of the United Arab Emirates alone (aside from considering the ethnicities of tourists visiting the museum) a nation housing over 75 nationalities, together outnumbering the local Emiratis by approximately 88 percent. The aficionado might find the notion of artefacts grouped in order of time and theme hard to grasp, but the challenge is a refreshing one. The museums title may suggest otherwise, but the Louvre Abu Dhabi functions as an independent institution. The over 600 artworks on display is a collection of the museums own pieces, as well as those on loan from some of the more established French galleries. Also on loan is its name, borrowed from the more renowned French museum as part of an agreement between the governments of France and the United Arab Emirates a pact that was conceived a whole decade before the Louvre Abu Dhabis opening. As with any other established art vault, this museum too will host temporary, visiting exhibits, maintaining at the same time its permanent collections. An introductory The Great Vestibule serves as a prelude to this journey through time, tutoring the visitor on the concept of chronological and thematic harmony. For instance, an artefact from Egypt of the goddess Isis nursing her son Horus is positioned next to a medieval French sculpture of the Virgin and Child together portraying the maternal love between mother and child. The twelve galleries that follow chart the history of our civilisations in an uncomplicated layout within a number of box-like buildings. One can choose to follow a guided tour, or opt to leisurely contemplate the collection at ones own pace. ] Wandering through galleries titled The First Great Powers, The Magnificence of the Court, and Challenging Modernity, the curatorial narrative is weaved into place. Within Universal Religions, rather self-explanatorily, ancient manuscripts of the Quran coexist in glass enclosures alongside Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian scriptures, as visitors pause undaunted, to read and reflect from the description cards on each piece. Larger-than-life tapestries from the Orient sail us through Asian Trade Routes into later galleries featuring a Mediterranean treasury of painted porcelain and decorative objects intricately carved in ivory. However, offering much-needed respite, and the chance to take a mental breather from the overwhelming cultural inhalation in between galleries, are floor-to-ceiling glass windows bequeathing a calming view of water lapping at the concrete shores of the museums exterior. Notable relics from the many rooms vary from ingeniously constructed Babylonian astrolabes, to the somewhat bemusing red-lacquered commode from China. Artefacts of note however, include an imposing, larger-than-life sculpture of Rameses II, pharaoh of Egypt, and The Monumental Statue with Two Heads from Jordan one of the earliest sculptural representations of the human form ever discovered. Popular draws in gilded frames include La belle ferronniereby Renaissance maestro Leonardo da Vinci (one of only fifteen of his artworks in existence), impressionists Claude Monets La gare Saint-Lazare and Vincent van Goghs Self-Portrait, and Pablo Picassos surrealist Portrait of a woman. Oriental-Bliss by Paul Klee and Piet Mondrians recognisable Composition with Blue, Red, Yellow and Black pull the weight of abstract modernists, before Chinese activist-artist Ai Weiwei snares all eyes in the museums final gallery with the phenomenal Fountain of Light. While it is often the big names that steal the proverbial show, there are plenty of lesser known(yet brilliant) global art on display. Food for Thought Al-Muallaqat by Saudi Arabian artist Maha Malluh and Bindu by the recently deceased Indian-born Parisian, Syed Haider Raza, are just a few examples of thought-provoking artworks that dont deserve to be swept under the ornate rug. Unlike the Musee du Louvre, its namesake in Abu Dhabi isnt an all-day excursion. This visual expedition through the ages can wrap up in a few hours, and visitors will them find themselves docked at an expansive plaza showered yet again with Nouvels Rain of Light. A nice little addition which ticket-holders with young ones in tow might choose to indulge in, is a colourful Childrens Museum cleverly appealing to the target populace through interactive art and history themed activities and games. It may well only be while pensively sipping a hot beverage at the museum coffee shop, or in discussion with fellow museum-goers, that one will truly come to comprehend the dexterity with which the curators have managed to ingrain the museums key tenet into our subconscious. A subliminal message of universality bound by era and story, with art being only a representation of a much larger dynamic of how in reality we have all evolved together over time. A conversation one does not expect to have at the conclusion of a visit to an establishment of the arts. But perhaps in our current turbulent times, there is much more to learn from brushstrokes and porcelain than we think. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is located in Saadiyat island, approximately a twenty-minute drive from the Abu Dhabi airport. The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers wheelchairs and strollers on loan for the duration of your visit. Tickets cost AED60 (LKR2500) for those aged 22years and above, and AED30 (LKR1250) for visitors aged 13-22.Entry is free for children, and disabled visitors with one companion. Guides tours are priced separately. Opening hours are from 10am-8pm Saturday through Wednesday, and from 10am-10pm on Thursday and Friday. The museum is closed on Mondays. She came and conquered with her first hello The much-awaited star of FGLF 2018, Dame Maggie Smith brings alive the packed EddystoneHall at Jetwing Lighthouse View(s): View(s): Im delighted, because I think if I wasnt giving the introduction there is no way I would get in to hear her, says author Sallyanne Atkinson on Day 3 of the Fairway Galle Literary Festival, adding that the latest news doing the rounds was they were killing each other on the streets to get in. The scene is the Eddystone Hall at Jetwing Lighthouse; packed to overflowing with a crowd that is literally buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The room suddenly erupts in a standing ovation and the festivals most talked about star walks up to the stage. With her first deadpan hello, Dame Maggie Smith has her captive audience bubbling over in laughter. At the Galle Literary Festival for the first time, Englands most recognizable actress needs little introduction. The audience is a gathering of eager fans: From those who have followed her work as a stage actress, to drama worshippers of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Lady in the Van to fans of Downton Abbeys sassy Dowager Countess of Grantham to her younger fans who see her only as the beloved head of Gryffindor House in the Harry Potter series. When Atkinson first met the celebrated thespian, it was in her pre-Dame years, almost 50 years ago as a young journalist interviewing her for her legendary role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, she tells the audience. From the get go, Dame Maggie holds the room captivated, her carefully selected readings and anecdotes sending the audience into ripples of laughter. Her session- aptly titled Dame Maggie Smith: The Serious Art of Being Funny was moderated by writer Charlotte Breese who first met Dame Maggie as a teenager at her parents house. Breese is the wife of Pakistani writer and columnist Irfan Husain and stepped in for her husband who was unable to lead the conversation. Their discussion travelled back and forth between Dame Maggies hilarious and insightful stories behind the scenes and off the stage. Speaking on her experience working in period dramas such as Downton Abbey she says, Truth be told, I cheated when it came to donning authentic period costumes including the much dreaded corset. The costumes were beautiful, but she couldnt bring herself to lace herself up for 12 hours every day. And the hats were so heavy. Those period plays are very very tricky, she adds, talking of the time when Dame Judi Dench and herself were wearing stiff collars, and found the glue holding their high wigs seeping into them, with Judith asking her do we look natural enough? proceeding to posture comically, allowing the audience to envision the two stalwarts in all their naturally comic glory. She also divulges her trick to memorizing lines- It sounds crazy she discloses but she prefers to write down her lines by hand, marking the punctuation and grammar, which she admits is tedious a technique that has her noted as an actor who knows the entire script before filming begins. She also relived her time working on the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel series in Jaipur, India. I enjoyed the first movie more before I got to sit around in a wheelchair. But then so did the flies, she adds. She also shared the extreme weather they dealt with during shoots- a tidbit audiences who loved the wanderlust filled movie might have never guessed before. I have never been so cold, she says, remembering everyone running around in flimsy things. Usually one does not reject things but there was one particular role Dame Maggie knew she would never do. Offered the role of a Lady Cavendish in Vanity Fair, it was a very small part she was told. Flipping through the script she finally found her prospective characters lines- Lady Cavendish leaps, startled from the bath, adding with an expression of mock horror. No she doesnt and so decided her involvement or rather the lack thereof in the project. Its a line she refuses to cross but that is required from an actress now, to be stark naked. Not for me, Ill wear a corset, she adds cheekily. Interestingly the only school plays Dame Maggie performed in were limited to her classroom. She never had a life changing revelation while watching a specific performance, she says. Her first performance was at age 17; playing Viola in Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse. It was just something I always wanted to do. She also credits her English teacher in school; a Miss Dorothy who urged her to pursue theatre professionally. Shes also not one to read reviews, and has famously confessed to never seeing Downton Abbey. On the whole actors dont mingle with critics, she says remembering how her husband, playwright Beverley Cross would read her bits and pieces from reviews- his comments ranging from Its alright Mog (his nickname for her) to Id like to punch that so and so from the Guardian, she smiles. Between the waves of laughter that subside for a few sober minutes, she is asked whether she camps her diverse resume of characters. She answers in a tone echoing a certain Dowager Countess I never camp. You just play them as honestly as you can. -Purnima Pilapitiya Can we break the cycle of cultural extinction in Sri Lanka? By Shalini Corea View(s): View(s): Apo, you look like a veddah! is an insult we use when a friend has a bad hair day or to admonish our kids when they look disheveled. In contrast, in our courtrooms and government offices, we claim to respect and mourn the loss of the Veddah culture. We cant help but view their lifestyles as outdated and their knowledge as limited and, therefore, attempt to resettle and find new professions for this primitive community. What can we learn from our attitudes and actions, and how can we relate its effects to the wave of westernisation that is sweeping away our own culture? Our actions regarding Veddahs are purported to be altruistic. We have moved their barely surviving communities into villages and attempted to integrate them into ordinary society. But often, the underlying reason is that these communities hinder physical expansion or access to resources of our own towns and villages. The land that is vacated could be then utilised for development projects and the like. We have exploited their ancient practices by making them tourist attractions, converting these otherwise useless activities, like making tools and constructing huts, into money-making schemes. We are in awe that Veddahs are wild and their existence is dissimilar to our complicated lifestyles, so why not use this interest for commercial gain? Thus, their value is assigned to them based on their contribution to the GDP through tourism, and on the quality of leisure time, of the tourists and the rich, spent observing them. Within their communities however, their worth runs deeper. The Veddahs were the original inhabitants of the country, the true Sri Lankans so to speak. Their population was decimated by the Aryans, who invaded and colonised Sri Lanka circa 500 B.C., whose descendants comprise the majority Sinhala population today. The Veddahs went from a flourishing community inhabiting the whole island, to a far smaller community restricted to the jungles of the Eastern Province. They faced a second blow after independence, when the new indigenous governments decided to open these lands to agriculture. Recently, the little patches of jungle that still remained theirs were declared wildlife sanctuaries, and the last of the Veddahs were forced to leave their traditional homelands. The tiny proportion who still practice a hunter-gatherer lifestyle are keen to continue in this way, and not adapt to a mainstream Sinhala or Tamil way of life. Stop trying to convert us into cultivators and let us be! entreated the Veddah patriarch Tissahamy and two tribal leaders. What relevance does this tragedy have to us? I believe that our actions and attitudes regarding indigenous people are highly reflective of the actions taken by the colonialists during their long reign of over 400 years. Material destruction and economic deprivation aside, the effect of the imperial powers on Sinhala and Tamil culture and lifestyles is so ingrained, it is taken for granted. The businessmen wear suits and shirts to work and on special occasions, while the poor farmer wears the traditional sarong. The fairer girl is chosen to advertise a beauty product over the darker. The man who is fluent in English is addressed as sir in conversation by the one who is not. Although these issues seem minor, they demonstrate a different kind of extinction to that of the Veddahs, a loss of pride in national values and an adoption of western norms. The Veddahs were also faced with predatory cultures, and burdened with the decimation of most of their population. Yet they persist, even today, in attempting to distinguish themselves from the dominating cultures and refusing to accept the idea that they are lower-class primitives, even when surrounded and greatly outnumbered by the very people who reduced them to this. We, on the other hand, no longer have imperialist rule and did not lose our populations to colonialism, and yet we labour under the most unfortunate belief that our own culture is second rate and that there is a superior culture. It is useless to wait till we are in as severe a situation as the Veddahs are in today to experience a surge of patriotism and pride in our culture. The value of Veddah culture dawned on us only when the possibility of it dying out emerged. We are attempting to revive Veddah populations and culture, thereby righting our wrongs of the past- but we fail to see our own culture deteriorate with no culprit to compensate us for so great a loss. (The writer is a student at the New York University, Abu Dhabi.) University of Peradeniya: Utopia never lost By Professor R.P. Gunawardane View(s): View(s): The University of Peradeniya, formerly University of Ceylon, Peradeniya completed its golden jubilee last year. I read with great interest a series of articles published in newspapers regarding the golden jubilee and particularly about the present status and achievements of the University of Peradeniya. My attention is particularly drawn to an article with the title Utopia lost the University at Peradeniya. Utopia, by definition is an imaginary ideal or perfect state. If such a state existed in the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya at that time in the fifties, it remains today in a different form evolved over the next five decades. The University of Peradeniya remains one of the most beautiful campuses in the world even today. Academically it has expanded from a one-faculty university in the fifties to a highly complex university with nine different faculties covering almost all the disciplines, three postgraduate institutes at national level, three teaching hospitals for medicine, dental and veterinary science and many other academic and research centers and units. It has expanded tremendously in the science and technology fields based on national needs. Like any other prestigious international institution, it has gone through ups and downs at different times during this evolution process as our country went through difficult periods. But the University of Peradeniya remained resilient and never lost its luster. The Peradeniya university has many unique features in addition to its picturesque setting. Out of all the universities in Sri Lanka, Peradeniya has the largest number of students residing in the campus. Out of the nine faculties, three faculties are unique to Peradeniya. The Faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Dental Science and Allied Health Sciences are the only such faculties in the Sri Lankan university system. Similarly, the Departments of Geology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and Anaesthesiology are the only such departments in the university system at least until 2010. Furthermore, the Science Education Unit and Nuclear Medicine Unit are two other unique entities at Peradeniya. The Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, the first post graduate institute created in the university system and the Postgraduate Institute of Science are national institutions attached to the University of Peradeniya. The main library at the University of Peradeniya with faculty libraries in most faculties is the biggest such library in the university system. In the fifties Peradeniya was dominated by the dons of the Faculty of Arts. Some of them were national figures who excelled in various fields such as drama, economics, sociology, linguistics etc. In the 1950s we saw a cultural reawakening with the production of Maname, Sinhabahu and other cultural features initiated by the dons at Peradeniya. However, in the late sixties and beyond university development took place with strong emphasis on science based disciplines leading to a scientific reawakening in the country. During this period many academics from disciplines such as science, medicine, agriculture, engineering and education came into prominence at the university and also at a national level. This trend was prominent particularly in the decades 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. Although some specific names can be mentioned, I am reluctant to do so because I may inadvertently miss some important names. I entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in 1965 and graduated in 1969. Since my graduation I served the Faculty of Science from 1969 for about four decades until my resignation in 2007. I have witnessed the various stages of development of the university during this period, although I spent a few years away from the university on overseas leave and also undertook a four year assignment in the government service during the same period. Golden era. The 1950s was considered the golden era of the Peradeniya University. In fact, this description is true in respect of the arts and humanities disciplines. It is therefore more appropriate to consider this the golden era of the University of Peradeniya. The situation gradually changed in the 70s because of the development of science based disciplines in the university. The era of science, technology and innovation at Peradeniya began in the 70s and continued in the 80s, 90s and beyond. Young academics at the University of Peradeniya were preparing to face the challenges of the 21st century by using their talents and making use of advances in science and technology. There was a rapid advancement of scientific disciplines which includes natural sciences, medical, engineering and agricultural sciences at the university with the expansion of teaching, research and outreach activities in these disciplines during this period. Furthermore, there were a sufficient number of faculty members who were national figures active in scientific research at the time. Some of them were serving government institutions as advisors or directors of governing boards. Thus, this era can be considered the second golden era of the University of Peradeniya. During this period a large number of young graduates with PhDs and some with advanced clinical training and qualifications mostly from the UK, USA, Canada and Australia returned to Sri Lanka and joined the faculties of Science, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Dental Science. Many faculty members in scientific disciplines engaged in research relevant to the needs of the country with research grants from local and foreign or international sources. Some of them, while maintaining their research links with foreign universities, developed their own research groups at Peradeniya with grants from local and international sources. Despite some drawbacks the number of international research publications and the patents originating at the university remained at a consistently high level. Some of this work was done in collaboration with scientists from foreign countries such as the UK, USA, Sweden and Germany. Because of these achievements Peradeniya was considered as a centre of excellence in scientific disciplines. The science-based faculties at Peradeniya recognised the importance of extension and outreach activities and embarked on an extensive programme to provide various services to the nation utilising the expertise and the facilities available in the university. Some typical examples are science camps in the underprivileged areas and teacher training sessions in science subjects conducted by the Science Education Unit, patient care services provided by the Nuclear Medicine Unit, dental health care services offered by the Dental Faculty and veterinary clinical services provided by the Veterinary Hospital in the campus. The performance of students after graduation is an important factor in judging the quality of training at a university. We have witnessed the quality of graduates in the first golden era with pride. They have performed extremely well and held very important positions at home and abroad. Although not publicised a similar situation prevails in the case of students who graduated in subsequent years. While those who remained in Sri Lanka excelled in their positions, those who migrated to other countries such as UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are doing extremely well. Since I am a resident in the USA for the last decade I am personally aware of the achievements of our graduates here. Our graduate students are doing extremely well in sciences receiving awards, scholarships and grants as reported by their professors. Those with postgraduate qualifications are holding high positions in reputed universities, pharmaceutical research and industry, major hospitals, IT institutions and prestigious research institutions in USA. This confirms the excellent quality of teaching which prevailed in science based faculties during the second golden era. Way forward The University of Ceylon, Peradeniya was the first university in the country and was not expected to be a perfect university in the fifties although it had some novel features. Similarly, the University of Peradeniya today is not perfect although it has many unique features and a great potential to achieve excellence. In fact, Peradeniya has enormous potential, diverse resources and many opportunities for improvement and advancement of academic disciplines and research in line with global trends. Universities all over the world are changing rapidly in their approach towards teaching, research and service functions. Peradeniya should also make necessary changes in keeping with global trends and national needs to remain as a centre of excellence. A multidisciplinary approach coupled with team work and strengthening of international links is essential in the development of new courses and research programmes in the future. It is up to the present administration and the faculty members to take up this challenge at the faculty, senate and council levels and develop an action plan to achieve these objectives. (The writer is an emeritus professor and a former dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya) 'Decisions made by govt will have long-term impact on NC' CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the decisions made by the caretaker government have raised a question over the democratic character of Nepali Congress (NC) at a time when the peoples new verdict has already come. Maori business owners from around the region will have the chance to network with other like-minded communities, at an upcoming conference held in Tauranga. Te Hekenga III is the third national meeting for Maori business networks and Maori SMEs throughout the country. Mana Taiao Events director Jacqui Rolleston says the event is well-anticipated by businesses communities. Even though it does have a focus on Maori businesses, a lot of strategic partners and advice givers are non-Maori. Its beneficial for everyone. These speakers can also benefit a lot of non-Maori. The event was formerly run as an initiative of the Tauranga Maori Business Network, says Jacqui. It is now independent of them and is run by Mana Taiao events, but we collaborate a lot with local Maori businesses to bring it all together. She says there is a real need for the event in the local area. There are a lot of Maori business networks nationally, but none from a local perspective, so we see a need to pull these networks together, by hosting this event. We looked at taking the conference to Wellington, but we ended up bring it back because we wanted to share the benefits of hosting the conference with the city. We tend to pull in a lot of sponsors and support from the local area. We have around ten sponsors including local and national. Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Priority One and MoanaFM are some of many local sponsors. At a national scale, the event is also being sponsored by Te Puni Kokiri. In addition its well supported by Minister of Maori Development, Nanaia Mahuta and Minister of Regional Economic Development, Shane Jones, who will both be at the event. She says the event has a great line up of speakers. Weve got Ian Taylor as a key note speaker, he has extensive experience in media and on top of this has also created a lot of software solutions for sporting events One of these was the Americas Cup. He also spoke at Matariki X, the Callaghan Innovation Conference. We have speakers from New Zealand Maori Tourism businesses, including one named John Barrett who runs a tourism experience in Kapiti. Brad Kora, will also be sharing a speech on his music background with LAB and as a business owner of a mixed martial arts gym in Whakatane. Jacqui says one of the most exciting speakers is Christian Wroth, creator of the widely popular Pipi Ma doll and winner of innovation award at the 2017 Rotorua Westpac Business Awards. We also have a three person panel of people with portfolios around Maori economic development, who will be able to provide some really good advice not only to business owners but those who are looking into starting a business. Our speakers are divided into two categories, including people who give advice for business including marketing finance accounting. The other type is those who are in business and they give journey stories. We have a great calibre of speakers not only at the conference, but at our registration evening on February 14, which is free. She says the event is beneficial to all. Its not just for small businesses, its also for trusts and hapu. They can get a lot of very good advice, networking opportunities and alliances for investing. Weve focused this event to carter to those in a business space who are wanting to develop. Were looking at small-to-medium-enterprises but also larger enterprises, because theres a double spin-off. The smaller businesses can learn off the bigger fish and bigger businesses are happy not only to mentor but to see whats happening in the economic development area. The networking conference will be at Trinity Wharf from February 15 and 16, with a free registration evening on February 14 at Tauranga Art Gallery. Registrations can be made on the Te Hekenga website. Bay of Plenty You will be driving the Roller and also required to help out the team hands on. You will be working around Tauranga, for... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, launched an initiative on Wednesday to maximise the economic potential of the Spanish language as a global brand. Saying it was an important affair of state, he promised to transform the language into a strategic tool to create new business opportunities and to build a new world in Spanish. Rajoy highlighted that Spanish, with 570 million speakers and the third most used language on the internet and the second most used on social media after English, is already our best ambassador in the world and an asset that we have to take care of. However he added that more can still be done, especially in an increasingly digital world or with the expected increase in Spanish speakers to 700 million by 2050. Although exact details are to be decided, the scheme, to be called 'El espanol, lengua global', (Spanish, a global language), will include initiatives to stimulate more links with other Spanish-speaking countries. As Spain is already the preferred destination of European students for the Erasmus exchange programme, the government hopes to found a new Erasmus-style scheme with countries in Latin America. Well-known personalities will also be appointed as language ambassadors and businesses will be encouraged to participate in other initiatives with the promise of tax breaks. As a sign of the importance of the plans, Rajoy announced that the worldwide Spanish trade promotion agency, known as Marca Espana, will take responsibility for coordinating the scheme. Govt shelves plan to review police term The government has backtracked from its plan to remove the provision of the 30-year service period for Nepal Police personnel. Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009. In the air If youre looking to the movies for a bit of romantic escapism, even inspiration, you need look no further than two recent featuresvastly different from each other in a lot of ways Tama County Ag Outlook, Sept. 3 August rain grows the grain. Throughout the last half of August, northeast and central Iowa has been blessed with timely rains just as the ... Posted on Friday, January 26, 2018 Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB), and King Ranch, Inc. announced today that they will combine their efforts to make a joint donation of $100,000 to the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI). The grant will fund the ongoing development, installation and research of South Texas native seed mixes and the restoration of native monarch butterfly habitat throughout South Texas. During the last year, Valley Crossing, King Ranch and CWKRI have been working together to identify and utilize a native seed mix throughout Valley Crossings newly constructed right-of-way in Kenedy County, TX. The objective of this grant is to support CKWRI researchers as they study the benefits of utilizing native seed mixes to restore habitat for monarch butterflies on the Valley Crossing Pipeline right-of-way on participating private lands in Kenedy County. Valley Crossing is excited to work with the King Ranch and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute on this important project, said Bill Yardley, president of Gas Transmission and Midstream for Valleys Crossings parent company, Enbridge. We are impressed by the work done by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to restore critical natural resources and believe this project will benefit landowners, industry, and the habitats of this region and beyond for years to come. The Valley Crossing Pipeline right-of-way lies within a primary migratory corridor of the monarch butterfly along the Texas Gulf Coast. A significant portion of the monarch butterfly population traverses this region in both spring and autumn each year to and from wintering grounds in Mexico, and breeds on native milkweeds found there. Through the efforts of King Ranch, CKWRI and Valley Crossing, the entirety of Valley Crossings right-of-way through Kenedy County will be transformed into 42 miles of uninterrupted corridor populated by native grasses, forbs, and legumes which are capable of providing native grassland habitat needed by the monarch butterfly population. Robert J. Underbrink, President / CEO of King Ranch, Inc. said, King Ranch has long been a committed steward of this critical region for native and migratory wildlife. We believe this grant, combined with the capable researchers at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the dedicated landowners in Kenedy County and the forward thinking of Valley Crossing Pipeline as an industry participant, will collectively improve monarch research and habitat while also restoring native habitat for other pollinators and wildlife. The grant will also fund CKWRIs work to lead educational outreach activities on this project with landowners and other community stakeholders as well as to collect, summarize and report results of the seeding over the next three years. Valley Crossing, King Ranch and CKWRI hope this contribution will be a catalyst to attract additional financial support for this project from landowners, foundations, and conservation organizations. We are so grateful for the support of this important project. We believe this has potential to serve as a model project of the collective ability of researchers, the pipeline industry, and private landowner interests to work together toward effective natural resource conservation solutions in tandem with energy development, said Forrest Smith of CKWRI. This project represents one of the largest scale and most ecologically significant, monarch habitat restoration efforts ever attempted. About Valley Crossing Pipeline Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge. The Valley Crossing Pipeline project is a 176-mile natural gas pipeline that begins in Agua Dulce, Texas and extends south toward Brownsville, Texas where it terminates 14 miles offshore in Texas State waters. Construction of the Valley Crossing Pipeline project is estimated to generate approximately 3,504 jobs, $183 million in property taxes over 35 years for counties along the route and a total economic impact of $294.8 million in South Texas. About Enbridge Inc. Enbridge Inc. is North America's premier energy infrastructure company with strategic business platforms that include an extensive network of crude oil, liquids and natural gas pipelines, regulated natural gas distribution utilities and renewable power generation. The company safely delivers an average of 2.8 million barrels of crude oil each day through its Mainline and Express Pipeline; accounts for approximately 65% of U.S.-bound Canadian crude oil exports; and moves approximately 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., serving key supply basins and demand markets. The company's regulated utilities serve approximately 3.6 million retail customers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge also has a growing involvement in electricity infrastructure with interests in more than 2,500 MW of net renewable generating capacity in North America and Europe. The company has ranked on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations index for the past eight years; its common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. Life takes energy and Enbridge exists to fuel people's quality of life. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com. About King Ranch King Ranch, Inc. owns the historic 825,000 acre King Ranch in South Texas. Founded in 1853, the Ranch is a pioneer in ranching and wildlife management, habitat conservation and sustainability. King Ranch contributed significantly towards the founding of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch management at Texas A&M Kingsville and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M Kingsville. About Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and South Texas Natives Project The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Established in 1981 by a grant from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Institute operates as a nonprofit organization and depends financially upon private contributions and faculty grantsmanship. Our mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of wildlife in South Texas and related environment. The South Texas Natives Project (STN) is a research program of CKWRI. The mission of STN is to develop and promote native plants for restoration and reclamation of habitats on private and public lands, focusing on the development of locally-adapted native plant seed sources for use in restoration projects. The STN Project began in 2001 at the urging of private landowners concerned with increases in highways and pipeline construction, greater oil and gas activity, and because of enhanced awareness of the role of native plants as vital components of wildlife habitat. Founding sponsor of the program was the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation. STN is committed to providing economically viable sources of native seeds and effective restoration methodology to both the private and public sector to enable restoration of native plant communities in South Texas. - # # # - CONTACTS Valley Crossing Pipeline Devin Hotzel (888) 992-0997 Devin.hotzel@enbrige.com King Ranch William R. (Billy) Murphy, Jr. (832) 681-5719 wmurphy@king-ranch.com Texas A&M University Kingsville Cheryl Cain (361) 593-2138 Cheryl.cain@tamuk.edu Posted on Friday, January 26, 2018 Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB), and King Ranch, Inc. announced today that they will combine their efforts to make a joint donation of $100,000 to Texas A&M Kingsvilles Engineering Department and King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. The grant will fund scholarships for students of both programs. We are very appreciative of this gift that will impact these well-known programs that have far-reaching impacts across Texas and the nation, said Dr. Steven H. Tallant, President of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. This donation will provide scholarship support, and this helps us recruit and retain the very best students to our programs. It is a gift that truly makes a difference for our students. Valley Crossing and King Ranch also recently teamed up to provide a separate donation to Texas A&M Kingsvilles Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI). Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers a complete array of engineering programs at the Bachelors and Masters degree level and two doctoral programs. Along with the Universitys accreditation, its engineering programs are independently accredited. The Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering is named in honor of the pioneer of natural gas engineering and long-time professor who helped build the college into an engineering powerhouse. We are so impressed by and grateful for the positive impact this university has on the students and communities of South Texas and beyond, said Devin Hotzel, Manager of Stakeholder Engagement for Valley Crossing Pipeline. Through their Engineering department and unique institutions like the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Texas A&M-Kingsville has taken an innovative approach to provide its students with an education and skills that are in high demand in Texas and the rest of the Country. We are so pleased to be able to contribute to these important programs. About Valley Crossing Pipeline Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge. The Valley Crossing Pipeline project is a 176-mile natural gas pipeline that begins in Agua Dulce, Texas and extends south toward Brownsville, Texas where it terminates 14 miles offshore in Texas State waters. Construction of the Valley Crossing Pipeline project is estimated to generate approximately 3,504 jobs, $183 million in property taxes over 35 years for counties along the route and a total economic impact of $294.8 million in South Texas. About Enbridge Inc. Enbridge Inc. is North America's premier energy infrastructure company with strategic business platforms that include an extensive network of crude oil, liquids and natural gas pipelines, regulated natural gas distribution utilities and renewable power generation. The company safely delivers an average of 2.8 million barrels of crude oil each day through its Mainline and Express Pipeline; accounts for approximately 65% of U.S.-bound Canadian crude oil exports; and moves approximately 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., serving key supply basins and demand markets. The company's regulated utilities serve approximately 3.6 million retail customers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge also has a growing involvement in electricity infrastructure with interests in more than 2,500 MW of net renewable generating capacity in North America and Europe. The company has ranked on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations index for the past eight years; its common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. Life takes energy and Enbridge exists to fuel people's quality of life. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com. About King Ranch King Ranch, Inc. owns the historic 825,000 acre King Ranch in South Texas. Founded in 1853, the Ranch is a pioneer in ranching and wildlife management, habitat conservation and sustainability. King Ranch contributed significantly towards the founding of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch management at Texas A&M Kingsville and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M Kingsville. About Texas A&M- Kingsville Founded in 1917 and opened in 1925, Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the oldest comprehensive institution of higher education in South Texas. Well-known departments include music, engineering, wildlife and agriculture. The biomedical sciences department houses the National Natural Toxins Research Center, an internationally recognized program that studies the benefits of snake-venom toxins. Other prestigious research entities include the Citrus Center, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Center, the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Eagle Ford Center for Research, Education and Outreach, and the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment. Texas A&M-Kingsville is home to more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students coming from more than 30 states and across the globe. With a focus on teaching and research, Texas A&M-Kingsville offers more than 40 bachelors degrees, approximately 40 masters degrees and six doctoral degrees. About King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) offers the only Master of Science in Ranch Management degree in the world and is designed to develop educated and experienced ranchers into exceptional leaders and managers. The curriculum and instruction at KRIRM prepares graduate students to manage complex ranching operations, and to positively impact the lives of people on those ranches and in the community the ranches support. The Master of Science in Ranch Management is built around a model of systems thinking and is designed to broaden the skills and comfort zone of our students. - # # # - CONTACTS Valley Crossing Pipeline Devin Hotzel (888) 992-0997 Devin.hotzel@enbrige.com King Ranch William R. (Billy) Murphy, Jr. (832) 681-5719 wmurphy@king-ranch.com Texas A&M University Kingsville Cheryl Cain (361) 593-2138 Cheryl.cain@tamuk.edu A lot of talk among Democratic lawmakers has been to preserve net neutrality. Democratic senators were able to collect enough signatures to review the repeal of net neutrality but nothing has come out of it yet. On Monday, Governor Steve Bullock of Montana took a step forward. He signed an executive order requiring state contractors to stick with net neutrality. The Federal Communications Commission's repeal of net neutrality still hasn't taken effect nationwide. Preserving Net Neutrality The executive order signed by Gov. Bullock prevents any internet service provider that does business with the state government from being able to block or charge more for faster web services to any customer in the state. Service providers such as Charter, CenturyLink, AT&T, and Verizon are contracted by the state of Montana. This executive order would affect new or renewed contracts signed after July 1. "If you want to do business with Montana, there are standards on net neutrality you will have to follow," said Bullock. The FCC repealed neutrality back in December. Since the repeal there have been lawsuits by groups of states, state laws introduced to legislatures to preserve net neutrality, and a Silicon Valley trade group threatened to bring a lawsuit against the FCC. Bullock says that the decision to sign the executive order is a simple step to preserve net neutrality, that states can't wait for lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to "come to their senses." The executive order could be challenged in courts. Instead of applying net neutrality as law, Bullock made net neutrality a requirement for government contracts. Big money government contracts are being used to persuade the internet service providers to keep net neutrality. One Step At A Time The FCC's repeal still isn't law but there are groups that are fighting to keep it from affecting the internet. Earlier this month, Democrats in the Senate got enough support to vote a resolution of disapproval. This may not go very far Republicans control the House and even if it were to go through Congress, Pres. Ronald Trump would have to sign it into law. The Internet Association, a Silicon Valley Trade group representing Google, Amazon, Facebook, and others threatened the FCC with a lawsuit. Other lawsuits include one brought by 21 states and the District of Columbia against the FCC. States have been introducing legislation to preserve net neutrality. New York currently has a bill in the State Assembly similar to the executive order signed in Montana, which says the state will not do business with any internet service providers that don't adhere to the principles of net neutrality. A bill in California seeks to ban blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After CES 2018, the tech world's attention shifts its focus to the Mobile World Congress 2018, wherein smartphone manufacturers make major announcements and reveals. Speculation and supposed leaks point out Samsung's alleged plans to unveil this year's flagship model, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. Other brands that are suspected to make their respective announcements are LG, HTC, and Huawei. However, several reports claim that the latter three's signature flagship units will allegedly pass off the opportunity due to each brand's respective reasons. Samsung Takes The Spotlight Given the rumored absence of the three of its closest competitors, most eyes will be on the South Korean electronics company as it purportedly flaunts Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845. On the other hand, as of this writing, a couple of new articles shared supposedly leaked photos of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, albeit the front-facing side only. The rendered images apparently confirm some of the buzzes surrounding its design. A dedicated Bixby button and a curved bezel-less display are just some its noticeable features. Rebooting A Lineup Prior to CES 2018, it was rumored that LG would make the first move and unveil the LG G7 at the Las Vegas electronics expo. Industry analysts suggested that the two South Korean manufacturers might reveal their respective flagship units during the Consumer Electronics Show. In its place, LG showcased a bunch of new high-end monitors, a 4K projector, and a new color scheme for the V30 mobile phone. A report claims that Jo Seong-jin, LG Electronics vice chairman and CEO, changed tactic and told his team to cease development and redesign everything from scratch. The information allegedly came from a company insider who confirmed that existing work on the next installment of LG's premium model was halted. Hence, the Mobile World Congress 2018 won't see the G7 in action. "Right after the vice chairman made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, a direct order was sent down to the working-level officials to start over," the insider told The Korea Herald. "A new decision on a possible launch date will be released around the Lunar New Year holiday next month." HTC And Huawei Bow Out It looks like LG is not the only brand that will skip the Mobile World Congress 2018 for a separate unveiling. Industry experts suggest that Samsung will have very little competition from the likes of LG, HTC, and Huawei as all three will reportedly hold off the reveal of their flagship models for a later time due to respective reasons. Others suggest that the ultimate winner is actually Qualcomm, whose latest Snapdragon 845 SoC is expected to be on almost every premium handset this year. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. India Republic Day marked The Embassy of India celebrated the 69th Republic Day of India by hosting a function on its premises in Kathmandu on Friday. Eight-year old boy Liam Flanagan crashed his bike and got some bruises. A few days after, he was dead due to a rare but fatal flesh-eating disease. A second-grader from Pilot Rock, Oregon is the latest casualty of the deadly flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis a severe bacterial infection that targets soft tissues in the body. It Started With A Bike Crash Liam's ordeal started when he crashed his bike down a hill on his family's farm in Spring Creek. The end of the bicycle's handlebar cut through his jeans, prompting an emergency room visit to stitch the wound. The boy's mother, Sara Hebard, said the wound wasn't a bad one and Liam just needed a few stitches. Liam didn't even panic over the deep gash on his thigh. His mother just took him to the hospital and had his wound cleaned and stitched up a total of seven stitches. The attending physician bandaged the wound and instructed Liam to go home and treat his wound. A few days after, the boy was rushed again to the hospital in a condition far worse and deadlier than just a bike crash bruise. Bacteria Sets In Liam's condition became worse within days after the emergency room visit. His wound did not heal. Instead, he felt a severe pain in his groin. His mother gave him a few Tylenol to manage the pain. Little did Liam's family knew that the boy was already infected with the deadly necrotizing fasciitis, and the infection has spread so quickly in his body. Hebard and Scott Hinkle, Liam's stepfather, said they knew something was oddly wrong when they noticed the discoloration of Liam's wound. "It was purplish-red and gangrenous looking," Hinkle said. Liam was rushed back to the St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton. His family was shocked to discover that he contracted flesh-eating bacteria and the infection has spread from his ankle to his armpit. It was at the hospital that Liam received his first surgery to remove the dead tissue infected with the flesh-eating bacteria. On early morning Thursday, Jan. 18, the boy was airlifted to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland for more tests and surgeries to save him from necroziting fasciitis. Liam had total of four surgeries. "They basically cut him up piece by piece," Hinkle said. "Almost his whole right side was gone," added Hebard. "They kept cutting and hoping. Cutting and hoping." The doctors were unable to save the boy, but they believe the flesh-eating bacteria entered through Liam's wound from the bike crash. Liam died at the Randall Children's hospital on Jan. 21. Dead Within Days Liam's parents only had good words for him. "He was a lovable kid," Hinkle said. "He was so strong and so brave," said his mother. Hebard shared his son's story in a GoFundMe page to spread awareness on the rare disease. Infection from necrotizing fasciitis attacks the skin tissue and muscles, causing the discoloration of wound. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, group A streptococcus is the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis. The bacteria can enter the body through wounds and skin cuts. Once infected, the bacteria spread swiftly in the body. In some cases, just within hours after an injury. Necrotizing fasciitis also has flu-like symptoms. A recent case of the flesh-eating disease also caused the death of a woman from Arizona who was initially diagnosed with flu. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Coral reefs are already in bad shape due to several reasons. A new study reveals that there's another threat to these marine habitats. Climate change has resulted in mass scale coral bleaching, overfishing has shaken the balance of ecosystems that lead to healthy reefs, and toxic waste from human industry is destroying the sea and ocean rainforests. A new research paper suggests that coral reefs have another problem - plastics. Researchers studied over 124,000 corals spread across 159 reefs in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar. The study published in the journal Science reveals that the team observed plastic was everywhere. We came across chairs, chip wrappers, Q-tips, garbage bags, water bottles, old nappies, said study author Joleah Lamb, a Cornell University marine disease ecologist. Everything you see on the beach is probably lying on the reef. The Presence Of Plastics Increase Risk Factor Of Corals Getting Disease The researchers inferred that a minimum of 11 billion plastic waste products are harming corals in the Asia-Pacific region, and by 2025, this number is expected to increase by 40 percent. This prevalence of plastic pollution is disastrous for reefs all over the planet. The possibility of disease in coral reef increases from four to 89 percent when they come in contact with plastic. Further research is required to find why plastics are making corals more prone to various diseases. Based on their initial findings, plastic debris cuts the skins of the coral reefs, exposing them to pathogens. Corals require light and water flow for oxygen, and plastics cut off both of these, thereby endangering the existence of these habitats. Corals are animals just like me and you they become wounded and then infected, Lamb added. Plastics are ideal vessels for microorganisms, with pits and pores, so its like cutting yourself with a really dirty knife. The scientists noticed that plastic debris distribution in the ocean differs depending on the location. The highest concentration of plastics was detected in the reefs near Indonesia while Australian reefs had the lowest. The reason for this could be Australia's efficient waste removal system. The Importance Of Coral Health The preservation of coral reef health is of utmost importance for several reasons. Many marine creatures live inside the reefs. Corals support more species for every unit area than any other underwater environment. Reefs protect coastlines during tropical storms and waves. Every year, these reefs support fishing industries globally and serve as a tourist attraction. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Four biomedicine students from Beihang University spent 200 days in a simulated space lab in China's capital city, Beijing, as part of an experiment to test the possible effects of staying on the moon for an extended period of time. Longest Stay In A Self-Contained Cabin The volunteers make up the second group of volunteers to stay in the Yuegong-1, or Lunar Palace 1. They completed the second phase of a 365-day experiment on Friday, setting a record for the longest stay in a self-contained "cabin." The first group, who earlier stayed in the cabin for 60 days, re-entered the cabin on Friday to take the place of the second group. Their stay will mark the start of the third and final phase of the experiment that will last for 105 days. Assessing The Physical And Mental Effects Of Living In Confined Space The experiment aims to determine the effects of the confined environment on the mental and physical conditions of humans. Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics professor and module's chief designer Liu Hong, and colleagues who work on the project cited the potential effects of being confined in a small space for an extended period of time. The participants, for instance, can become depressed and psychological problems may arise. Unexpected Blackouts She said that the experiment tested the volunteers to the limit particularly on three occasions when the lab had an unexpected blackout. The longest blackout, which was caused by a malfunction of an electric switch, lasted a whole night. It luckily occurred in the evening, so the volunteers just went to bed. "The longer-than-ever stage, during which time three unexpected blackouts happened, has challenged the system as well as the psychological status of the volunteers, but they withstood the test," Liu said. Bioregenerative Life Support System The experiment also wants to determine how the Bioregenerative Life Support System, where animals, plants, and microorganisms co-exist, works in a lunar environment. Water and food can be recycled within this system, creating an environment similar to that of the Earth. Human waste goes through a bio-fermentation process while the volunteers grow crops and vegetables using food and waste by-products. "We've designed it so the oxygen (produced by plants at the station) is exactly enough to satisfy the humans, the animals, and the organisms that break down the waste materials," Liu Hong earlier said. China may not be sending astronauts to the moon in the near future. The project, however, aims to help prepare lunar explorers for longer stays on the lunar surface. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Inmate on the run injured in police encounter An inmate who escaped from Dillibazaar Prison on January 18 was injured during an encounter with police in Chitwan on Saturday. Minister removes secretary over Caan chief row Tourism Minister Jitendra Narayan Dev has transferred Secretary Maheswor Neupane for his non-cooperation in sacking the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) chief Sanjiv Gautam, multiple sources confirmed. A former assistant fire chief in Gonzales has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to possession and distribution of child pornography, federal prosecutors said Friday. Kristopher Johnson, 422 S. Olena, Ave., Gonzales, had served in the Gonzales Fire Department from 2001 until his resignation shortly after his arrest by Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies and state and federal investigators in March 2016. Ex-Gonzales district fire chief pleads guilty to federal child porn charges A former Gonzales district fire chief also facing state child pornography charges pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal counts that accused him of Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baton Rouge said that the joint law enforcement investigation into Johnson, 37, began in early 2016 when officers found a Gmail user with several email addresses that had uploaded child pornography images, including one email address that was Johnson's at the Fire Department. Investigators were able to trace the online activity back to Johnson's home, where a later search turned up images on his cellphone and iPad of 6- to 12-year-olds being sexually abused, prosecutors said. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Former Gonzales fire chief indicted on federal child porn counts A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge indicted a former Gonzales district fire chief on child pornography possession and distribution charges We Johnson, who carried the title of district fire chief, later admitted to investigators that he viewed and traded child pornography through the internet. Investigators also found out he texted child pornography images to another person, prosecutors said. Johnson, who is also facing 11 state counts of possessing child pornography, pleaded guilty to four federal counts of distribution of child pornography in November 2015 and a single count of possession of child porn in March 2016. At the sentencing Wednesday in Baton Rouge federal court, U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick also sentenced Johnson to seven years of supervision after his release from federal prison, and he must also register as a sex offender. GONZALES An inmate in the Ascension Parish Prison has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Jeff Wiley and his office over the teenager's rape while in custody early last year. Jacob Westbrook, whose second-degree murder trial is set to begin Monday in the 2015 fatal stabbing of a St. Amant High School senior, alleges sheriff's deputies failed to obey a judicial order to keep him in protective custody, and instead exposed him to "the very substantial risk of serious harm" from his alleged attackers. Filed Jan. 12 in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, the suit claims Westbrook had "sexual batteries" and "rapes" committed against him on two consecutive days in January 2017 by two 17-year-olds. Westbrook was also 17 years old at the time. "During each violent attack, plaintiff screamed for help and from the pain. No deputies came to his aid. Moreover, at all relevant times, jail personnel failed to follow supervision of detainee policies and procedures and there was no video monitoring of this area of the jail," the lawsuit alleges. The suit claims Wiley, Warden Paul Hall and others in the Sheriff's Office deprived Westbrook of his civil rights by failing to properly train jail deputies and failing to follow an Oct. 14, 2015, court order to place Westbrook in protective custody while he awaited trial. Juvenile court minutes show Judge Jason Verdigets of the 23 Judicial District ordered the protective custody in the same 72-hour court hearing where he also ruled that Westbrook, then a 16-year-old, should be tried as an adult in the slaying of 18-year-old Todd T.J. Toups Jr. on Oct. 10, 2015. The lawsuit alleges Westbrook was at first placed in protective custody, but then deputies removed him and that was when he was attacked. The suit added that Wiley, Hall and deputies failed to ensure that Westbrook received antiretroviral medicines after the attacks to protect against potential HIV exposure. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles has been assigned to the lawsuit, which was referred to U.S. Magistrate Richard L. Bourgeois Jr. The lawsuit identifies Westbrook, who is now 18, by name as the sole plaintiff. The Advocate does not normally identify victims of rape and other sexual crimes. Aidan Reynolds, one of Westbrook's attorneys in the lawsuit, said Thursday evening that Jacob Westbrook and his parents agreed to his identification in this story. The teen's father, Duane Westbrook, added Friday by text message that he son claims these kinds of attacks have happened to others in the jail, as well. "And Jacob wants justice," the father said. "And if this (is) the only way, then so be it." Reynolds said that after the rapes, Jacob Westbrook was placed back into a private cell that keeps him away from other inmates, a status Reynolds says constitutes protective custody at the jail. He is in protective custody as we speak, Reynolds said Friday. The jail knows how to do it and, in fact, prior to the rape, he had been protective custody, and, for whatever reason, he was removed from protective custody and was exposed to other inmates that, ultimately, raped him repeatedly. Jarrett Ambeau, Westbrooks criminal defense attorney, is listed as co-counsel with Reynolds in the civil suit. +2 Teen suspect in bizarre Ascension Parish stabbing case identified, will be tried for murder as adult GONZALES A 16-year-old arrested in the stabbing death of a St. Amant teen on Saturday will be tried as an adult on a count of second-degree Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Wiley had not yet received a copy of the suit and was provided one Friday by The Advocate. The sheriff pointed out his office made arrests in the reported sexual assault last year after an investigation and also defended his offices adherence to Verdigets order. Wiley said that his office has a longstanding practice of sound classification management, including segregating 17-year-olds so they are not mixed with the general population. Regarding the commentary about the lack of protective custody, I and my office stand behind our policies and procedures, and we fully adhered to the courts order, Wiley said. Westbrook, of Baton Rouge, is scheduled for a two-week jury trial on the murder charge starting Monday in Ascension in which he is expected to claim self-defense. The lead-up to the case has featured complaints from defense attorney Ambeau that Wileys initial description of the attack in an Oct. 13, 2015, news conference was grossly inaccurate. Ambeau grilled Wiley on the stand in early 2016 in an unsuccessful bid for a change of venue. Wiley has said that Westbrook hacked or stabbed at Toups with a steak knife several times before the fatal stabbing during an argument at Westbrook's girlfriend's home. Toups had come by to talk to the girlfriend's then 14-year-old stepsister about picking her up later to go to a homecoming dance. Citing other witness statements, Ambeau has said it was Toups who was the aggressor and who lunged at Westbrook first, prompting Westbrook to stab once in self-defense. Ambeau and prosecutors have since been placed under a gag order by Verdigets, who is presiding over the criminal trial. Ambeau and Tyler Cavalier, spokesman for the 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin, declined to comment Friday, citing the gag order. Ascension sheriff's deputies publicized on Jan. 13, 2017, their arrests in a jailhouse rape, saying an inmate had reported the night beforehand that he was raped by "another inmate on two different occasions in the past week." The sheriff's statement said then that Tre'Anthony James, of Baton Rouge, twice raped the inmate, but also accused Kaglin Green, of Donaldsonville, of assisting James in one of the rapes. James is awaiting trial on two counts of second-degree rape and a count of criminal damage to property while Green faces a principal to second-degree rape charge. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. Westbrook's lawsuit also identifies Green and James as his attackers and names them as defendants but doesn't make a distinction about the role each one played in the attacks. In an unexplained discrepancy, James' and Green's criminal charging documents and Westbrooks lawsuit both say the sexual attacks happened on Jan. 15 or 16, 2017, two to three days after the contemporaneous sheriff's statement came out about the attacks at the jail. Travis Turner, the criminal defense attorney for Kaglin Green, said Friday his client vehemently denies the lawsuit's allegations. "We are also exploring the possibility of a countersuit for defamation of character," Turner added. Allen V. Davis, James' criminal defense attorney, could not be reached for comment Friday. An ex-Louisiana State Penitentiary guard was convicted Friday in the cover-up of the 2014 brutal assault of a shackled and handcuffed Angola inmate. Former Angola Maj. Daniel Davis, 41, of Loranger, was not convicted of actually beating the inmate. "We are very pleased that our client was acquitted in the beating of this inmate," said Andre Belanger, one of Davis' attorneys. "That is very, very important to us." A Baton Rouge federal jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 11 hours before finding Davis guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsifying reports in a federal investigation, tampering with a witness and perjury. He was found not guilty on one count of depriving the inmate of his rights in an alleged beating at a prison tier but the jury could not come to an agreement on a second deprivation of rights count involving an alleged beating on a prison breezeway. The judge declared a mistrial on that one count. There was no immediate word from the prosecution on whether they would retry him on that count. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles did not set a sentencing date. Davis will remain free until his sentencing. The inmate suffered fractured ribs, a punctured lung, dislocated shoulder and other injuries in the January 2014 incident, prosecutors said. The inmate sued Davis and several of his fellow guards after the incident, and the case was settled in 2016. Jury to begin deliberating at ex-Louisiana State Penitentiary guard's trial in 2014 inmate beating A then-Louisiana State Penitentiary guard took part in the brutal beating of a "thoroughly restrained" Angola inmate and masterminded a cover- Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Three former Angola corrections officers previously pleaded guilty in the case. Ex-Capt. James Savoy, 39, of Marksville, admitted in November that he failed to intervene when he witnessed other guards using excessive force against the inmate. Savoy also admitted plotting with other corrections officers to cover up the beating and personally falsifying official prison records to cover up the attack. John Sanders, 32, a former captain from Marksville, pleaded guilty in September to deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He admitted punching the inmate repeatedly in the head in retaliation for an earlier incident. Scotty Kennedy, 49, of Beebe, Arkansas, was the first former Angola guard to be charged in the case. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to depriving the inmate of the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, and to conspiracy to obstruct justice. Davis and Sanders had prior excessive force complaints filed against them but Kennedy had a clean record, so prosecutors said Davis, Kennedy, Sanders and Savoy decided to falsely document that Kennedy was the only guard who used force on the inmate believing that internal affairs investigators would view allegations against Kennedy with less scrutiny. +2 3 more former Angola guards charged in beating of inmate and alleged cover-up Three more former Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola guards were charged Wednesday in the 2014 beating of a handcuffed and shackled Angola Kennedy, Sanders and Savoy have not been sentenced. Kennedy and Sanders testified against Davis at his trial. Davis did not testify in his own defense. A man was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries on Friday night after he was shot in the leg on Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge police spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola Jr. said. The man was shot around 11:30 p.m. in the 7100 block of Florida Boulevard, Coppola said. Officers continue to investigate. Police were on the scene of a fatal shooting on South Boulevard when several officers left the scene to head to the Florida Boulevard shooting. The fatal shooting happened around 10 p.m. Nepali art and imitation What we think or create might have already been conceived by someone else, says veteran art teacher and writer Madan Chitrakar, It is like the old saying: Gary Meise taught high school chemistry for several years before graduating from Vanderbilt Law School and working at one of the largest corporate law firms in Nashville, Tennessee. Then he became a crack addict and spent 15 years bouncing between rehab programs and serving time in prison, finally landing in Baton Rouge. Now 18 months clean and sober the longest since his first experience with drugs Meise, 52, has dedicated himself to advocating for criminal justice reform, volunteering with several local organizations and most recently joining the fledgling community police ambassador program developed over the past year by East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker and others. First group of Baton Rouge community police ambassadors to start training in January Training sessions will start in January for the first group of community police ambassadors participating in a program aimed at reducing tensi The program arose from recommendations by a police policy committee following the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling and subsequent ambush on law enforcement that killed three officers and injured three others. Baton Rouge police have pledged their support and been involved in the planning process. Meise is one of about 25 city residents participating in the first class of ambassadors hoping to reduce tensions between police officers and the people they serve. Some have backgrounds in counseling, advocacy or law enforcement while others simply have spent their lives in the Baton Rouge area and want to see their community succeed. Police policy group irons out details for community police ambassadors, introduces police career mentorship program The proposed community police ambassador program aimed at decreasing the divide between Baton Rouge Police and the people they protect came cl Meise checked himself into rehab only three months after smoking crack for the first time, hoping to save his marriage and remain present for his two young daughters. His rapid descent from upstanding attorney and family man to convicted criminal struggling with addiction and mental health issues showed him what he considers some significant flaws within the criminal justice system in particular horrific prison conditions and the tendency to lock people up for minor, nonviolent offenses. Meise said he has "been on both sides of the law" and has met a lot of people involved in criminal activity, some of whom are genuinely good people facing extreme challenges and others who commit horrendous acts for personal gain and should spend their lives behind bars. "My frustration with policing and criminal justice is that we have a police state mentality that goes beyond arresting people for serious crimes. I think we put too many people in jail," he said. "Once someone gets incarcerated you almost create a criminal. It becomes this vicious cycle." Meise said he hopes the community police ambassador program will help people avoid unnecessary encounters with law enforcement that land them in prison, suggesting that officers could resolve some situations without invoking "the full extent of the criminal justice system" for minor offenses. Meise was homeless after relapsing in 2016 and was sleeping outside the library when Baton Rouge police officers stopped and offered to help him get treatment. That encounter launched him onto his current path of sobriety 18 months ago, leading him to contact the officers and thank them after achieving one year clean and sober. +2 Close to 40 applications received for Baton Rouge community police ambassador program Close to 40 people have applied for the nascent Baton Rouge community police ambassador program aimed at reducing tensions between officers an He said the possibility of relapsing again seems to recede steadily because he has invested himself in the Baton Rouge community and given himself a sense of purpose. He plans eventually to become a social justice advocate for people struggling with addiction. "This has been my story. I have lived it the past 15 years," Meise said. "I love having that perspective and now, instead of being the person in handcuffs, I have the opportunity to be a liaison between that person and the police officer dealing with them." Other participants in the ambassador program cited similar reasons for applying. During an orientation session Tuesday, ambassadors heard from researchers, prosecutors and public officials who provided an overview of the program, which will continue with training sessions twice a week from now until the end of February. Once training is complete, the ambassadors will start working within their neighborhoods. They will serve for two years in the volunteer role, connecting with residents and providing them with information and resources that could help them navigate the criminal justice system. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up +2 Baton Rouge council members, police committee scout applicants for ambassador program East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council members along with participants from the police policy committee have started a campaign to recruit pote Michael Thomas, 54, spent 11 years as a deputy with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and now teaches driver's ed. Thomas said he left law enforcement because of what he considered unfair management practices determining which officers were hired, promoted and disciplined. But his desire to serve the community the reason he became involved in law enforcement to begin with remains strong. "I've always been a public servant at heart. I think it's just a calling by nature," Thomas said. "I want to roll my sleeves up and do what I can do to help." Several years after leaving law enforcement, Thomas said he became involved in the ambassador program because he hopes to help people "understand that the police are not their enemy" despite some beliefs to the contrary and long-standing tensions between officers and residents that erupted after the fatal police shooting of Sterling in July 2016. Several years ago, police officers "knew the neighborhoods, they knew the families and they knew the people," Thomas said. He hopes the program helps restore those close relationships and allows officers to effectively deter crime and work more closely with residents instead of "putting everybody in jail." Thomas said working with young people has made him realize some of the challenges they face, particularly growing up in unstable homes. Another ambassador, Southern University law student Dmitrius McGruder, 26, also said during the orientation meeting that he wants to see more young people particularly young men of color getting involved as the program moves forward. "I'm the only young man in here," he said. "We can't move forward and be productive if we're not going to hear those voices." McGruder was arrested for fighting in college and later worked in law enforcement before starting law school two experiences he said that broadened his perspective on criminal justice issues. Marsha Scott has worked as a counselor for people re-entering society after serving time in prison. She said she hopes the general public will gain more understanding for what prisoners have been through and foresight for what they need upon release. She joined the program out of "love for the community" and a desire "to see all people respecting and loving one another." Melvin Bazile, 62, a retired social worker, said he became an ambassador to "bring some humanity and peace into the environment." Bazile spent decades as a forensic social worker, including serving defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. He said he hopes to see ambassadors work alongside police, using their knowledge and experience to complement that of the officers. "From my perspective, this is not a mission to outcast law enforcement," he said. "I would like to see law enforcement get back to its original purpose acting as guardians of people's rights, not being expected to use special skills they don't have (such as) dealing with mental health issues and social services issues." "Let's stop cheering from the sidelines and get involved," Bazile said. "I don't want folks to get the impression these ambassadors are going to save the world, but it's important for the community to know that something is being done." Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- The North Boulevard Town Square screen show the Weather Channel's broadcast tracking the progress of winter storm Leon, just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, as a front bringing sub-freezing temperatures and possible freezing precipitation advances into the Baton Rouge area. At least one prominent local name is missing from the 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival roster: Dr. John. The 77-year-old New Orleans music icons official website lists no upcoming performances anywhere. He canceled two scheduled shows at Tipitinas in late December, citing illness, and has apparently not performed publicly since then. Whether his absence from the stage is because of an ongoing recovery from whatever ailed him in December, a temporary hiatus, or possibly a sign of a more permanent retirement, is not clear. His manager, Gavin Massey, did not return calls seeking comment. Mac Dr. John Rebennack has rarely missed Jazz Fest. He skipped the 2014 festival to focus on an all-star tribute concert at the Saenger Theatre that featured Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty and many others singing his praises. But he was back at the Fair Grounds the following year. During the 2017 Jazz Fest, he performed on the first Sunday, April 30, after the days earlier acts were washed out by thunderstorms. In a green suit unruffled by the days turbulent weather, he fronted his revamped Nite Trippers, a band consisting of New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Roland Guerin, guitarist Eric Struthers and guest saxophonist Charles Neville. They closed their set with an epic Big Chief and a salacious Such a Night. Rebennack then strutted offstage, grinning, surround by a trio of scantily clad young ladies. In 2017, he logged nearly three-dozen performances across the country, including dates with the Avett Brothers at Red Rocks amphitheater near Denver and at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. He also played several shows on a tour marking the 40th anniversary of The Bands Last Waltz farewell concert (he was part of the original Last Waltz). In April, he sat in with fellow New Orleanian Jon Batistes band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On Nov. 2, Rebennack celebrated his 77th birthday with a lunchtime reception at the Napoleon House in the French Quarter. Later that evening, he materialized on the stoop of Fats Dominos old house in the Lower 9th Ward at the conclusion of a memorial parade in Dominos honor. On Oct. 25, he taped a tribute to Domino during the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Induction celebration in Texas. Onstage with Elvis Costello, Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews and members of the Neville Brothers' backing band, Rebennack seemed to have trouble navigating his piano and vocal parts on Aint That a Shame. He has battled a litany of ailments over the years. The illness that forced him to cancel his Tipitinas shows in December was not specified. Jan. 22 marked the 50th anniversary of his debut album, Gris-Gris, which Rolling Stone magazine named one of the 500 best albums of all time. A spooky synthesis of New Orleans music and psychedelic rock, it concluded with I Walk on Guilded Splinters, one of his signature songs. He's released a number of albums that are essential to the New Orleans music canon, even as he's evolved into one of the city's most enduring, respected and iconoclastic musicians and cultural figures. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Dr. John is not the only bedrock New Orleans act absent from the 2018 Jazz Fest schedule. No version of the Meters -- either the original quartet, or the offshoot Funky Meters -- is on the bill. Founding keyboardist Art Neville, who turned 80 in December, has dealt with limited mobility in recent years, and is reportedly recovering from a number of recent health issues. Earlier this week, Jazz Fest announced the addition of rapper LL Cool J to the festival's May 4 schedule. If he's up for it, Dr. John may yet become another late addition to the schedule. Fans of New Orleans music would undoubtedly cheer the good doctor's return. The Mexican Navy has called off the search for a woman who went overboard during a cruise on the Carnival Triumph nearly a week ago, according to a report from KLFY-TV. Juwanna Brooks, 44 of Lafayette, went overboard in the Gulf of Mexico last Sunday. The Mexican Navy had been leading the search, but to no avail. Passengers said they saw Juwanna and her husband Scott Brooks arguing at dinner before being escorted out by security, according to a report from WWL-TV. She was seen going overboard about 30 minutes later, the report said. It was scary, Nikki DAndrea, a passenger on the cruise, said to WWL-TV. We went to the balcony and looked over. They threw the life thing over and they had a search light going. Really sad, it was awful. The FBI in New Orleans is investigating the death of Brooks after the ship returned to New Orleans Thursday. The Mexican Navy is running search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Brooks mother, Marilyn Winfrey, told KLFY-TV in Lafayette that Brooks was on her first cruise, which was a Christmas present from her husband. I just want to believe that theyre going to find something, I just want to be able to put her to rest, Winfrey told KLFY. Im still believing that shes going to come home one way or the other. I want her to come home. Thats mainly what I want right now, just to have closure. Winfrey said that her daughter sent her a video shortly after they boarded the Triumph on Saturday. The ship was sailing from New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico. The Carnival Triumph operates four- and five-day cruises from New Orleans. For the full report from KLFY-TV, click here. Fifty leading Australian companies are being challenged to find the "missing piece" that will improve their corporate gift-giving as charities increasingly rely on big business for their funding. Corporate grants and funding made up 20 per cent ($17.5 billion) of charity revenue in the last financial year, according to research conducted by Purposed. Charities including the Wesley Mission, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Landcare Australia said they benefited from more than 175,000 hours of corporate volunteering in the same year. Red Cross volunteers during Cyclone Debbie in Queensland last year. Credit: Red Cross. "Corporates and charities both agree their combined effort can make tangible progress in solving some of the biggest social, environmental, and economic problems of our time. The missing piece is how to do this in an effective way to guarantee real impact," said Purposed managing director Tom Ferrier. One of the biggest obstacles for corporations is employee engagement, including ensuring employees are aware of the opportunities available to them through their workplace giving program, Mr Ferrier said. Casino mogul Steve Wynn has no immediate plans to relinquish his role as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee in the wake of reports detailing decades of alleged sexual misconduct, according to a company spokesman. A report by the Wall Street Journal included interviews with dozens of people who have worked at Wynn's casinos or been told of his behaviour, including allegations that he pressured some employees to perform sex acts. In one case detailed in the report, Wynn allegedly paid a $US7.5 million ($9.3 million) settlement to a manicurist who accused him of forcing her to have sex with him in 2005 Wynn, 75, is an outsized figure in Las Vegas, where he built the Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio hotels and has used his wealth and influence for years mostly to the political benefit of Republicans. He is a one-time business rival of President Donald Trump, who last year named him head of the RNC's fundraising operations after supporting the president's 2016 campaign. "Around our world, we see divisions widening and conflicts deepening," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, warning people to learn from one of the darkest chapters in human history. In a statement, Mr Turnbull said it was as important as ever to contemplate the Holocaust known as the Shoah in Hebrew in which the Nazis murdered up to 6 million Jews and millions of other civilians, including people with disabilities and mental illnesses, Slavs, Roma, gay men and Christians. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy lay a wreath during a memorial ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem in November. Credit:ODED BALILTY "We see the hardening of hearts and closing of minds. Indeed, the experiences of the past, as well as our own changing and challenging times, vividly highlight the continuing struggle for peace and understanding," Mr Turnbull said on Saturday. "Here in Australia, we are proud of our diverse and harmonious society. But there is a need for all of us to remain vigilant against discrimination, fear and mistrust whenever it occurs." Jojo is upfront about the therapy she had in her 30s, which made her examine her patterns of behaviour. "People divide quite clearly into those who are capable of looking at themselves and those who can't," she says. "When people can't, it's amazing the traps they set themselves, and they walk into the same mistakes again and again and again." Although she never saw herself as a writer, Jojo fell into journalism and ended up on the news desk at The Independent. She was writing fiction during the day before her night shifts, until the arrival of children prompted her to take up writing full-time. "I've always been one of those people with half a novel on the go," she explains. "I started having kids, and newsrooms and babies don't mix not if you want to do it properly so it gave me the extra push to keep writing." That push saw her write three books before she finally got the fourth published, in 2002. A further seven novels followed, none of them very successful. ("That's a diplomatic way of putting it," she laughs.) "I was preparing for it to be over because you can feel your publisher cooling on you," she says. "There's only so long you can be the next big thing without anything actually happening. The advances were dropping dramatically, the attention was getting less and I thought, 'What am I going to do?' " Things were looking so dire she and her husband started planning to take in lodgers to make extra money. Then, in 2012, came Me Before You. The story of young working-class Lou Clark, who is employed as the carer for wealthy quadriplegic Will Traynor, became a New York Times best seller, and has now sold over 12 million copies. The 2016 screen adaptation, also written by Jojo, grossed over $250 million and sent her profile sky-rocketing, generating a surge of interest in her back catalogue. She now finds her novels in B&Bs and is recognised in public. She's walked the red carpet at film premieres and awards ceremonies, and when she turns up at book signings the room is often crammed with women wearing Lou's famous bumblebee striped tights. Not bad for a book that her husband joked would finally kill her career stone-dead. "Luckily for me it went the other way pretty unexpectedly for all of us," Jojo says. With its appealing lead characters, topical themes of chronic illness and end-of-life choices, and thorny "what would you do?" conundrum, Me Before You was a word-of-mouth hit. Yet because of her years of struggle, Jojo had little faith her success would last. "Every week I would say, 'Well this has been nice' and wait for it to drop [out of the best-seller list]," she recalls. Even now, Jojo, who's warm and friendly, seems to half-expect it to all end in an instant. Readers' desire to know what happened next for Lou prompted a sequel, After You, another best seller. Tomorrow, the third instalment in Lou's story, Still Me, is released. "I saw it sort of as a horseshoe shape, in that I brought Lou down After You is quite a melancholy book in many ways and then I wanted to bring her up again and take her out punching." Still Me sees Lou move to New York to start a new life while endeavouring to maintain her relationship with Ambulance Sam in London. A catastrophic change of circumstances forces her to confront who she really is and what she wants. Jojo says, "Because I knew that Lou was a role model for a lot of young girls, it was really important to me that she found her own happiness, that she found what was going to make her happy independent of a man independent of a career, even." Still Me has all the hallmarks of her best writing, especially her deep sense of empathy. She attributes her keen insights into character and relationship dynamics to the fact she hasn't led a straightforward life. "I didn't sail through my early years," she says, "and I think if you have to deal with a certain amount of stuff it gives you perhaps a slightly more mature view of human nature." Lou Clark fans should savour Still Me, because her story is now complete. "I hate saying that because I really love writing her, she feels like a friend after all these years, but I don't want people to get tired of her and I feel that this is the natural stopping point." Meanwhile, Jojo is researching her next book, has film scripts waiting to go into production, and is working on a comedy pilot for American TV. Meryl Streep portrays Katharine Graham in a scene from The Post. Credit:Niko Tavernise "It's men fighting for what is right, and that resonated deeply with me because, last year, when I was trying to extend my infinity pool, the neighbours lodged a complaint, saying it was invading their backyard. Pedro, my executive pool assistant had a look for me, and told me they were full of it. So I stuck to my guns." "Ah yes! The Darkest Hour! Back when leaders - like Winston Churchill - really knew how to lead! Or, they knew how to give good speeches, which is the same thing really. Why, it reminds me of that time I told the catering staff at my daughter's "Save the Date" cocktail party for her engagement to Tommy to make sure every single champagne glass was filled! And by God they filled them! They know how to follow orders." "Oh, I've heard about Get Out. It's an important film, very important. Very much so. It's on my list to watch, I just have been so busy promoting my own work this year. You know, my project about a cantankerous old man who is rescued from loneliness by a quirky 23 year-old who teaches him how to break dance? Oh, it will debut at Sundance, you'll love it. It's a comedy. No, no there's no minorities in there, they just don't seem to bring the chemistry somehow." "Ladybird! Now there's a pretty girl! No, not that Irish one, I can't pronounce her name! No, the director, Greta Gerwig! So pretty. I spoke to her at the SAG awards. She actually seems quite with it, which is so rare for young women, you know. They're all crying "Me Too!" but I don't recall Ava Gardner ever complaining about being hit on! That was back when dames were dames - you could slap them around and they would scream and then you'd laugh with them later over scotch and soda, and ice of course! Oh they needed ice! Ha!" Parties Upper House picks dismay watchers Major parties have failed to grasp the spirit of the constitution and to realise the purpose of the National Assembly, observers have said, referring to candidate selection for the Upper House election. Oliver Curtis got down on bended knee and proposed to his wife and the mother of his two children, Roxy Jacenko, last July, but she has no plans to walk up the aisle again, preferring to invest her money more wisely. "I don't think I could do it again. I'd rather not spend on things like a wedding, we've been there, done that and it was a beautiful day. All of that attention of weddings and the politics involved in weddings, heck, I don't know if I could deal with it again," Jacenko, Chargrill Charlie's new ambassador, told The Sun-Herald this week. "I'd rather save every cent that I've got and buy another property. Property is king and the more you buy of it the better A house, maybe in Bellevue Hill or Vaucluse. The children love swimming and I want to have a pool for them. "But Oli wants to get married again. Maybe when we go to Italy during the [northern summer]. The way he does things, I could be walking down the aisle and I wouldn't even know it," she laughed. Supporters of Sydney's Sirius building gathered on Saturday to farewell its last remaining tenant and pledged to make a bid for the social housing complex in The Rocks to save it. Myra Demetriou, 91, has lived in the building since 2008 and has been a resident in The Rocks and Millers Point area for almost 60 years. Myra Demetriou, the last resident of the iconic Sirius building in The Rocks, is packed up and ready to go. Credit:Steven Siewert Following the state government's 2014 decision to sell the site and invest the proceeds into social housing elsewhere, Ms Demetriou has featured prominently to the campaign to allow Sirius residents to remain. Shaun Carter, chairman for the Save Our Sirius Foundation, introduced her at the Saturday meeting as "the face of our campaign, the voice of our campaign". Toronto: Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman were murdered in a targeted killing, Toronto police investigators say in their first detailed comments on the case since the couple's bodies were found on December 15. Police said they are treating the case as a double murder, but declined to say if they had any suspects. Barry and Honey Sherman pose for a photo in Toronto, Canada, in October. Credit:AP The Shermans were found hanging by belts from a railing next to a swimming pool at their Toronto mansion, police said. Toronto homicide detective Susan Gomes said at a press conference that authorities believed the Shermans were targeted, but did not elaborate. A Eriauchenius milajaneae known only from one remote mountain in the southeast of Madagascar. Credit:Nikolaj Scharff Since E workmani's 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. 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. It's common for arachnids to hide in leaf litter during the day, making them hard to spot even if you're 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 there's 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 it's doing, but so far this species has proven to be quite elusive," Wood said. "I hope it's 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 she'd 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." Wood's fascination with pelican spiders (and the four other members of the superfamily Palpimanoidea) goes back 10 years. Previously, she unravelled the secrets of trap-jaw spiders, a related family with lightning-fast mandibles. "From the beginning, I'd 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. 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 that's 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 manoeuvrable jaws, which they use to impale their prey. "Other spiders can potentially harm them [with] venom or silk," Wood said. "Essentially, they're attacking their prey at a distance and keeping it very far away until it's dead." Pelican spiders may sound intimidating, but they're actually afraid of anything that isn't their potential prey. "I've never been bit by one," Wood said. "They're going to be very scary if you're another spider, but for everything else they're just going to drop to the ground. They're not fighters at all." if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Poet of the people Born and raised in Jyamdi village of Kavre, Arjun Parajuli didnt grow up in an environment that was equipped to nurture the love for literature in him. Rural Connection One attraction for trekkers and pilgrims heading to the sacred Tsum valley in northern Gorkha is a cave where Buddhist guru Milarepa is believed to have meditated. With a rich history of art, culture and Tibetan Buddhism, Tsums natural beauty has attracted pilgrims and trekkers in hordes. The Fairfield University Art Museum will offer a special family day, Italian Treasures The Baroque: Gold and Gilded, of Saturday Feb. 3, designed for children 4 to 10 years of age. The event is but one of numerous special offerings for adults, scholars, students and children during the next few months to celebrate the universitys 75th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the museums Bellarmine Hall Galleries are hosting The Holy Name, Art of the Gesu: Bernini and his Age, now through May 19, described by the museum as a major international loan exhibition (that) will bring together for the first time an important group of dazzling and historically important works of art to tell the twin stories of the rise of the Society of Jesus in Rome and the building and embellishment of the Gesu, its glorious mother church, in the very center of the city. NORWALK Motorists approaching South Norwalk on the Route 7 Connector will no longer have large overhead signs to direct them to the Maritime Aquarium. Under the Connecticut Department of Transportation Attractions Sign Program, as developed by the DOT commissioners Signing Taskforce with input from the state Office of Tourism, the DOT will replace overhead signs for attractions with ground signs near exits. The goals of the program are to direct visitors to attractions, ensure the safety of the traveling public, maintain the scenic beauty of the states communities and roadways, and maintain efficient traffic flow. The task force looked at ways to standardize the publicizing of attractions at or approaching highway exits, said DOT spokesman Judd Everhart. As signing and sign supports are replaced, the old signs are removed and new ones installed. There are three standalone Maritime Aquarium signs on Route 7, which are being removed. A panel noting that the Maritime Aquarium is at the next exit will be added to a new sign with up to six local attractions. Everhart said the sign program will have no immediate impact on the overhead signs announcing the Maritime Aquarium from along Interstate 95. If, at some point, as the project is initiated to replace the sign supports along I-95 through there, a determination will be made about how to address all of the attraction signs in that corridor, Everhart said. Generally, however, the standalone brown signs for local points of interest, such as the Aquarium, will be removed and the information will be added to new signs listing multiple attractions. Typically, the new signs are installed at an approach to an exit, and then also at the bottom of the exit showing motorists which way to turn to get to the attraction. One result will be fewer signs along highways, Everhart said. The Maritime Aquarium Norwalks largest tourist attraction with about 500,000 visitors annually will live without the large overhead signs above the Route 7 Connector, according to aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. Loss of a limited number of brown overhead signs shouldnt have a big impact on way-finding for our guests, especially with so many people having GPS capabilities on their phones and in the cars, Sigworth said. We believe that the brown signs act more as a reassurance that our guests are on the correct path to the aquarium, than as their sole guide, or than to let motorists know we exist. Sigworth said the aquarium heard several times over the last few years that the brown overhead signs would be going. He said the aquarium officials will not dispute the mandate but added that they hope adding roadside signs can be prioritized when the overhead signs are taken down. Norwalk Director of Public Works Bruce Chimento told the citys Traffic Authority this month that the DOT will replace the brown overhead signs reading Maritime Aquarium with overhead signs reading South Norwalk. However, they are proposing a small sign alongside of the road, here and another one down here, said Chimento, pointing at a DOT map of the Route 7 Connector. And its going to be a sign that looks like this, Attractions and it will give you attractions. Actually, we want to add Mathews Mansion in here also. Less clear, according to Chimento, is whether the DOT will allow the city and SoNo Collection developer General Growth Properties to place at their own cost overhead directional signs near the bottom of the Route 7 Connector ramp to West Avenue. We want this because when you come down that ramp, what lane are you going to be in? Chimento said Tuesday. Well, Im going to be in this lane to go to the aquarium and West Avenue. I want to be in this lane to go to the mall. Mayor Harry Rilling, chairman of the Traffic Authority, expressed disappointment about the large overhead signs coming down along the Route 7 Connector. Not only are they going to disrupt everything with the Walk Bridge project and destroy the Maritime Aquariums attendance, Rilling said. Now they want to take the signs out so you cant get there that way, either. The DOT plans to raze the IMAX Theater at the aquarium to make room for replacement of the nearby Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River. The aquarium has received city approval to build a 4-D theater and new exhibit space elsewhere on its campus and hopes to open the new spaces before the DOT begins the bridge replacement in 2019. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is teaming up with AARP and the IRS to offer residents help filing their taxes this year. This years expanded program, which will run nearly every day of the week, will offer people opportunities across the city to receive prep and filing assistance from qualified volunteers from Jan. 29 through April 17. Those interested can attend meetings on Tuesdays at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., from 1:30-8 p.m.; Thursdays at the Main Library, 1 Belden Ave., from 2:30-8 p.m.; and Saturdays at the Norwalk Public Librarys South Norwalk Branch, 10 Washington St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are no appointments necessary Norwalk Community College, 188 Richards Ave., will also assist residents on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Residents can also schedule appointments at the Norwalk Senior Center, 11 Allen Road, for Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling 203-847-3115, or at the Family & Childrens Agency, 140 Water St., on Tuesdays, from 5-9 p.m., by calling 203-523-5336. Residents attending the tax session will need their 2016 returns, all 2017 tax report forms (W-2s, 1099s, brokerage statements, etc.); Social Security and official photo identification; and health insurance documentation (Form 1095-A or other identification). Last year, trained VITA volunteers in Norwalk prepared 2,082 tax returns, returning $2,443,597 in state and federal refunds to local families including $603,998 in federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) which may have otherwise gone unclaimed, according to United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. Visit the librarys website at www.norwalklib.org for more information. NORWALK CENTER The Norwalk Center neighborhood may soon be expanding, courtesy of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency. A new plan, outlined by the Regional Planning Association, would see the Wall Street and West Avenue corridors combined into a single neighborhood, according to documents submitted to the Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 19. In 2017, the citys Redevelopment Agency began working with the RPA to engage local stakeholders in an effort to understand the areas opportunities and challenges, and to develop a vision for the future of the neighborhood. The plan would combine the Wall Street and West Avenue corridors into one area in the hopes of creating a healthy and vibrant city center, according to the RPAs plans. The new boundaries would run from North Avenue, through the already established Norwalk Center neighborhood, down to a southern border just passed the Stepping Stones Museum for Children. From Orchard Street, the new neighborhood would stretch west down Maple Street to its border with Woodbury Avenue, encompassing the Norwalk Hospital and parts of the neighborhood known as Hospital Hill. The proposal will be open to public comment from Jan. 22 to March 13. Other important dates moving forward include: Planning Commission meetings on the plan on Feb. 20 and March 1; City Council meetings on March 13 and 20; and a final Redevelopment Agency meeting on April 1. The plan for a new Norwalk Center can be viewed on the citys website. (norwalkct.org/DocumentCenter/View/12517). ROWAYTON After decades of serving its community, one Rowayton preschool is finally being recognized for its work with young children. The Community Cooperative Nursery School, located in Rowayton, recently earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. The accreditation process uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments. Were proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards, said Dana Gorman, CCNS educational director. Founded in 1953 by a group of parents that wanted to provide their children a creative learning environment, CCNS remains one of the few cooperative nursery school programs in the state of Connecticut. The school uses a play-based philosophy to educate children ages 2 to 5. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, CCNS went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to verify and ensure that the program met each of the 10 program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years. In the 30 years since the NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition. NAEYC-accredited programs bring our definitions of excellence for early childhood education to life each day, said Kristen Johnson, senior director of Early Learning Program Accreditation at NAEYC. Earning NAEYC Accreditation makes CCNS an exemplar of good practice for families and the entire community. Share your neighborhood news To share your community and neighborhood news with The Norwalk Hour, contact Pat Tomlinson at 203-842-2570, or at ptomlinson@hearstmediact.com. NORWALK When a wave of buses arrives at the WHEELS Hub at once, it can be difficult to tell who is going where. People scatter, moving from one vehicle to another, as the morning light bounces off the bus shelter and the parking garage across the street. In their midst on Wednesday stood two volunteers, Eliza McNamara and Nancy Meany, both dressed in long coats and clutching surveys McNamaras printed out in packets and Meanys downloaded on her phone. Excuse me, do you have a second? McNamara asked a young man in a red sweatshirt. He paused, giving her enough opening for her pitch: Im trying to do a survey for people under 25 to understand their housing needs and I have a gift card for you. The ultimate goal of the survey was to collect data on youth homelessness but finding young people who are homeless, and recognizing them when you do, is a notoriously difficult task. I mean, a lot of times young people dont even identify as homeless, McNamara reflected. A lot of times you may be staying with a friend, and youre not staying on the streets, so you dont think youre homeless. But youre couch surfing, so you dont have anywhere to go. So its a specific subset of people, and its hard to know how to help if you dont really understand it. Thats what brought volunteers like McNamara and Meany to places where young people pass through, such as libraries, train stations and the Norwalk Community College campus, to survey as many people under 25 as they could. While the federal government has required counts estimating adult homelessness for over a decade, last week marked the third Connecticut Youth Count. The most recent data shows that Fairfield County has over 760 homeless and unstably housed young people between the ages of 13 and 24 much higher than previous estimates. Despite all this, McNamara said she was optimistic that the data she was gathering would help Connecticut reach its goal of ending youth homelessness by 2020. Shes speaking from a place of experience. Now a member of the Youth Advisory Board, which works with housing issues, McNamara has insight into many of the programs currently in place to help unstably housed youth. As a child, she was removed from her mothers custody and went to a residential school for children in similar situations. When she aged out of services provided by the Department of Children and Families, she moved into transitional housing with Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMAS), which she recalls as a safe bridge to independence. There, she graduated from high school, started college and got a job. DMAS provides you with a lot of safety nets, she recalled. But once she joined the Youth Advisory Board, she learned that many people who need similar resources do not qualify for them. Theyre kind of caught in the middle ground where they need resources, but do not qualify for certain services, she said. And I think once the need is known once its known how many people are caught in that in-between, gray area systems can be put in place to help those people. The increased attention on young people has already made a difference. Data has shown that unstably housed youth under the age of 25 do not feel safe or comfortable in general-age shelters, and many are young mothers or members of the LGBTQ community. Since 2015, new resources including beds at the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk, Homes with Hope in Westport and Pacific House in Stamford have been dedicated to young people. What do young people need? Young people really need options, McNamara said. And so she went back to asking young people about their living situations, pen in hand. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz Swaraj likely to visit Nepal before mid-Feb External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj is likely to visit Kathmandu before mid-February as part of her engagements for handing over the Birgunj Integrated Check Post to Nepal. A lipstick collection created from a collaboration between L'Oreal Paris and Balmain Paris is set to become available in Indonesia on Feb. 1, as announced by the makeup giant in a recent statement. L'Oreal Paris and the French fashion house, headed by designer Olivier Rousteing, has created a 12-shade limited edition collection, which was originally launched in September. The lipsticks' formula boasts an infusion of pure pigments and camellia oil to create its rich color and moisturising matte finish, according to the L'Oreal Paris UK website. Read also: Olivia Palermo reveals favorite New York spots for Bobbi Brown campaign The collection divides the shades into three new color themes, or tribes, inspired by Balmain's own runway themes "Glamazone," which is symbolized by the green marble reflected in its packaging, onyx-enveloped "Rock" and malachite "Couture." A post shared by Get The Look Indonesia (@getthelookid) on Jan 23, 2018 at 11:07pm PST Dian Sastrowardoyo, brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris in Indonesia, expressed her enthusiasm ahead of the launch of the collection onto the Indonesian market. "I love how the collection is aimed at uniting women everywhere and allowing them to express themselves through their different personalities," Dian said, as quoted in a statement. (liz/asw) Parents who give their teens alcohol, even to teach them how to drink responsibly, are more likely to do harm than good, according to a six-year study in Australia, published Thursday. "Parental provision of alcohol is associated with risk, not with protection," said lead author Richard Mattick, a professor at the University of New South Wales. "Parents should avoid supplying alcohol to their teenagers if they wish to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms," he said in a statement. Mattick and colleagues monitored nearly 2,000 teens aged 12 to 18 in three Australian cities, along with their parents, over a six year period, with participants completing detailed questionnaires every year. At the start -- when the teenagers were 13 years old on average -- only 15 percent accessed alcohol from their parents. By the end, when they were nearly 18, some 57 percent did so. The proportion of kids who said they had zero access -- from parents or other sources -- dropped over the same six-year period from four-fifths to one-fifth. The researchers also tracked the incidence of alcohol-related problems, including binge drinking and symptoms of alcohol abuse. At the end of the study, 25 percent of the teens given alcohol by their parents admitted to binge drinking, compared to 62 percent for those who got booze only from outside the home, such as friends or illegal purchase. Read also: Excessive alcohol consumption may cause cancer, study says The rate of self-reported binge-drinking climbed to 81 percent for teens who had procured alcohol from parents as well as other sources. At the same time, however, researchers noted that teenagers supplied with alcohol only by their parents were twice as likely to access it from additional sources in the following year. Predictably, the study shows that children who had no access to wine, beer and spirits experienced the fewest alcohol-related problems. The findings were reported in the medical journal The Lancet Public Health. The authors acknowledged that the results may not apply to other countries, especially those with lower levels of alcohol consumption, or where binge drinking is infrequent. France and other southern European countries, for example, are famously lax in restricting access to alcohol for teens, but were all deemed "least risky" in a 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) comparative assessment of alcohol-related health problems. Nor does the study distinguish between parents who encourage or tolerate heavy drinking, and those who -- in word and deed -- preach moderation. "The findings only tell us whether alcohol was supplied by parents," noted James Nicholls, director of research and policy development at Alcohol Research UK. "It can't say whether the way in which parents supply or talk about alcohol has an effect on later outcomes." 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." Read also: Google and Walmart unveil e-commerce partnership 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Sat, January 27, 2018 16:51 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2b77f0 1 National #drugabuse,#trial,#Yogyakarta Free A detainee identified as Ferdinan, 21, was pronounced dead on Thursday at the Yogyakartas Dr Sardjito Hospital after allegedly swallowing a packet of crystal methamphetamine locally known as sabu-sabu. Yogyakarta Drug Detention Center head, Erwedi Supriyatno, said Ferdinan, who was actually a detainee of Sleman District Court, had been detained at the center during his trial process. He was attending his trial on Tuesday with 16 other inmates when a police officer saw him and two other detainees allegedly receiving drugs from someone else. A police officer, who was on duty at the trial, saw one of the three inmates getting something from another person, Erwedi said, as quoted by kompas.com on Friday. Other inmates immediately returned to the detention center after the trial, but the remaining three, including Ferdinan, stayed behind to undergo further questioning. However, no evidence was found. They were then placed in an isolation room at the detention center. We put them in the isolation room to make sure, if they had hidden something, the items would not be thrown away, Erwedi said. At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the detention centers medical team was conducting a routine check-up on the inmates when they received a report that Ferdinan had come down with a fever. The doctor examined him and decided that he must be taken to the nearest hospital, he said. An hour after receiving treatment, Ferdinan threw up and a plastic packet was found in his vomit. Erwedi said his unit quickly coordinated with Sleman Polices narcotics unit who checked the packet and found 5 grams of crystal meth inside. As his condition worsened, Ferdinan was moved to Yogyakartas Dr Sardjito Hospital. He was reported to have died on Thursday. (nmn) Serious but fun: Conversing during the launch of the Indonesia Bureau of Economic Research (IBER) at the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Salemba on Friday are (from left) Australian National University (ANU) emeritus professor of economics Peter Drysdale, former tourism and creative cconomy minister Mari Elka Pangestu, National Development Planning Minister Bambang Berodjonegoro and UIs School of Economics dean Ari Kuncoro. The newly founded institution will conduct economic research and studies amid measures taken by a number of countries that have increased risks in global trade and the financial sector. (JP/Ben Latuihamallo)(IBER) at the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Salemba on Friday are (from left) Australian National University (ANU) emeritus professor of economics Peter Drysdale, former tourism and creative cconomy minister Mari Elka Pangestu, National Development Planning Minister Bambang Berodjonegoro and UIs School of Economics dean Ari Kuncoro. The newly founded institution will conduct economic research and studies amid measures taken by a number of countries that have increased risks in global trade and the financial sector. (JP/Ben Latuihamallo) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 27 2018 The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that the coastal area in North Jakarta will see tidal floods during the supermoon, expected to appear later this month. BMKG information subdivision head Hary Tirto Djatmiko said on Friday that the upcoming perigee full moon, expected to appear on Jan. 30-31, would be 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the previous phenomena, which appeared on Jan. 1 and Dec. 3 last year. Residents living in coastal areas, particularly in Jakarta, should be cautious as tidal floods are expected between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, Hary said as quoted by tribunnews.com. He added that a tidal flood in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, was likely to occur during daylight hours. The floods are also predicted to hit Pontianak, West Kalimantan. According to the United Stataes NASA, a su... Track opens for Mailung-Syabrubesi road section The track opening of a section of the shortest India-Nepal-China overland route, which will run from Thori on Nepals southern border to Rasuwagadhi on the northern border, has been completed. The 17-km Mailung-Syabrubesi section was constructed by the Nepal Army. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (thestatesman/ANN) New Delhi Sat, January 27, 2018 10:53 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2b0593 2 World #Counterterrorism,#India,#Indonesia,#Malaysia,#ASEAN Free 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 Thursdays 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 Fridays 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 Indias 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 Indias 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 27, 2018 14:16 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2b4c87 1 City #fire,#Jakarta,#firefighter Free An inferno that broke out on Saturday morning razed 10 neighborhood units (RT) on Jl. Keutamaan Dalam, Krukut, Tamansari, West Jakarta, and left over 2,000 people homeless. The fire started around 2:30 a.m., West Jakarta firefighter chief Abdul Cholik told Kompas.com. No one died or was injured in the incident, thankfully, but 2,400 people lost their homes, he said. He added that the fire burned down an area of 3,500 square meters. Thirty-eight fire trucks and 210 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze. We are still investigating the cause of the fire. We also have not calculated the total losses, Abdul Cholik said. (gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Dawn/ANN) Nusakambangan, Central Java Sat, January 27, 2018 12:32 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2b307c 2 National #DeathPenalty,#Inmates,#DeathRow,#drugs Free There is pain. Blinding on some days, a dull companion on others. I wish I had become used to it by now, but everyday it feels a little bit more fresh. The jail doctors have told me I have three months to live six if Im lucky. The cancer has left behind only a sliver of liver, despite the fact that almost $40,000 have been spent on my care so far. They tell me that there are medicines that will make things easier. But to get them I have to pay $5,000. Painkillers are luxuries that prisoners can ill afford. Perhaps they think that death row prisoners deserve the pain. I wouldnt wish this agony upon my worst enemy. Why Im going through this is beyond me. A government inquiry ordered by the former president of Indonesia found me innocent. Human rights groups all over the world are supporting me. Indonesian government officials say that the case against me is flawed, weak, and almost non-existent. I was 38 in 2004 when my flatmate was caught with 300g of heroine in Jakarta. When the police arrested me, I was in Bogor, a city almost 100km away. I had no idea why I was being arrested and when I asked, I was silenced with a punch and a kick. Perhaps they thought I was trying to evade arrest. Its easy to get confused when neither of you speak the language. My requests for a translator went unanswered for a month. Oddly enough, I have not been able to find the words to describe what happened to me after my arrest, in any language. When I say they kicked me, the verb feels inadequate. Nothing quite captures the weight of a leather shoe swiftly bashing your stomach. Theres an anger to the act, a deliberate, controlled anger which finds the spot where it hurts the most. Theres a sudden deafening of the world around you. No, it is not enough to simply say they kicked me. After a man has stood over you, telling you that he will tie you to the bumper of the car and make it race forward you are never the same. They said it would stop, the pain, if I signed on the dotted line. If I just admitted to partaking in drug trafficking, it would go away the beating, the kicking, the punching, the death threats. I was rushed into emergency kidney and liver surgery right after I gave my torture-induced, false confession. Even if my mind began to heal from the trauma of the torture, pangs from my liver and kidneys would always remind me of those three days. Its hard for your mind to forget if your body wont let you. I lived in Lahore before I moved to Indonesia in 2000 to work in a textiles factory. I thought the money would be better, my familys life would improve, and that I would bring prosperity to my home the same home that my aging mother has now had to sell to pay for my medical expenses. I left Pakistan, but in the end it is Pakistan that has kept me alive so far. In 2016, my wife, Siti, received word from the Pakistan embassy, telling her I had 72 hours to live. I had said my goodbyes. My youngest child, my son, was not yet eight-years-old, but I compressed the lessons I wanted to teach him about growing up in our last visit. I was in a room with 13 others a number that trickled down to 9. The sound of 27 bullets being fired at the same time lingers for a long time. Heavy rain did not drown it, my own pounding heart did not drown it. But back home, a media storm was brewing. A loud one, and difficult to ignore. The Pakistani prime minister then made a phone call. That call saved my life. I am now a dying man, living with cancer in a prison cell. Its laughable to think I am a danger to anyone. I have spent the last 14 years of my life in jail for something I did not do. My children have grown up without me, and I have been unable to leave anything behind for them. I want to come home, to my country, so that I can spend my last days with the people I love, not with guards in a cage. The government of Pakistan has helped me before. I could not believe my luck, that they did so much for someone who can do nothing for them. But for a man who can do nothing, that means everything. And sending me home costs less than a $5,000 painkiller Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Douglas Gillison (AFP) Washington Sat, January 27, 2018 11:42 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2b2116 2 Business Bombardier,Canada,US,Trade,aviation Free 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. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 27, 2018 10:46 1321 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c2afd08 4 National Kulonprogo,Airport,Yogyakarta,earthquake-resistant-structures,tsunami,mitigation Free Kulon Progo International Airport in Yogyakarta is designed to be resistant to earthquakes measuring up to 8.8 on the Richter magnitude scale as it was constructed in an earthquake-prone area, said Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi in Jakarta on Friday. The minister also said the airport was equipped with tsunami mitigation facilities. Dont worry about [earthquakes] and tsunamis. Java does not experience earthquakes as strong as 8.8 on the Richter scale. We have also prepared the tsunami mitigation, said Budi during a discussion at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) headquarters. State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura cooperated with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the BMKG to design the airport in the earthquake- and tsunami-prone area, he said. The minister added the Transportation Ministry had also involved engineers from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the BMKG to draft the engineering design of Kolun Progo Airport, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held in January 2017. For the tsunami mitigation, the BPPT had prepared six scenarios, with the chosen scenario consisting of three layers sand mound, green belt (mangrove and pine trees) and a trench located 200 meters from the coastline, he added. The tsunami mitigation facility needs 1.7 million cubic meters of sand and 50 hectares of green belt for the tsunami mitigation. Under the scenario, only 1.1 percent of a tsunami's impact would affect the airport. (bbn) Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) in North Jakarta has been recognized as one of Jakarta's hippest culinary districts. However, prior to PIK's existence, Pluit, a residential area located near to PIK, was known as the go-to place for those wanting Medan-style Chinese food. Although Pluit is not as hip as PIK, the area has its own charm, inviting Jakartans to continuously visit the area. Those wanting to know more about Pluit may have a look at the list below. How to get there Despite the fact that Pluit houses big shopping malls, such as Emporium Mall and Baywalk Mall, the area is not public transportation-friendly. It is recommended to take private vehicles, taxis or ride-hailing and on-demand transportation services, such as GO-JEK, Uber or Grab, to get to Pluit. However, those keen to brave the area by public transportation may hop on the TransJakarta Pinang Ranti-Pluit route. What to wear Since Pluit is a residential area, t-shirts, shorts and casual slippers are acceptable while dining in the restaurants or visiting the malls. Read also: Jakpost guide to Pantai Indah Kapuk What to do Pluit is a considerably large neighborhood. Those wanting to breathe some sea air may visit Baywalk Mall on Jl. Pluit Karang Ayu. Situated on Jakarta's waterfront, visitors can enjoy the sea view while shopping. Meanwhile, those wanting to burn some calories can check Taman Waduk Pluit (Pluit Reservoir City Park) on Jl. Pluit Timur Raya. Open 24 hours a day, the park is equipped with a jogging track and an outdoor gym, allowing visitors to exercise while enjoying the view. What to buy Pluit is a home to several shopping malls, namely Pluit Village, Pluit Junction, Emporium Mall and Baywalk Mall. A post shared by Texworld Haute Couture Fabrics (@romitexworld) on Mar 6, 2017 at 7:03pm PST Currently, Emporium Mall is the most crowded mall in the area, especially during the weekend. Amid the popular brands in Emporium Mall, the shopping center is also a home to Texworld Haute Couture Fabrics. Located on the first floor, the shop is popular among local fashion designers, as it offers haute couture fabrics. Outside the shopping malls, visitors will discover Indonesiamemancing.coms shop on Jl. Pluit Sakti Raya. As its name in Indonesian implies, the shop sells fishing equipment, varying from fishing reels, bait to fishing apparel. Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Boulevard Raya, Kelapa Gading What to eat For decades, Jl, Pluit Sakti has been recognized as a go-to place for those wanting to eat Chinese food from Medan. On the short stretch of the road, foodies will find stand-alone restaurants serving various dishes from Medan, such as bihun bebek, bakmi pangsit Siantar and kari bihun. A post shared by Bihun Bebek 75 (@bihunbebek75) on Jan 19, 2018 at 5:18am PST Bihun bebek (rice vermicelli topped with duck meat) is available at Bihun Bebek 75. Here, the dish is served with herbal soup, making it a must-try food during the rainy season or when you are feeling under the weather. Those looking for bakmi pangsit Siantar (Siantar-style noodles topped with red barbeque pork) may check Bakmi Awai. The chewy noodles are similar to those available in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra. As for kari bihun (rice vermicelli in curry soup), the dish is available at Tabona restaurant. The eatery, which originated in Medan, is popular among foodies. Indonesian novelist-slash-food writer Laksmi Pamunjtak once wrote that if time would only allow her to eat just one meal in Medan, then she would choose Tabona. Luckily, the branch on Jl. Pluit Sakit serves similar quality meals to the one in Medan. In addition to these restaurants, Jl. Pluit Sakti also has a food court that offers soto Medan udang galah (Medan-style coconut milk soup served with giant freshwater prawns) and Acehnese es campur jelly (jelly served with shaved ice and syrup). Grilled fish served with Balinese-style chopped sambal at Seafood City Bandar Djakarta restaurant. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) On the other side of Pluit, food enthusiasts can also enjoy a seaside dining experience in Seafood City Bandar Djakarta at Baywalk Mall. Offering a traditional fish market experience, the restaurant serves a myriad of seafood, including ikan bakar sambal matah (grilled fish in a Balinese-style chopped chili), calamari, crab and lobsters. Moreover, Baywalk Mall also houses other restaurants, such as Bebek Tepi Sawah and Nama Sushi by Sushi Masa. Tips: - Wear comfortable clothing as the weather is dry and humid. - During the rainy season, avoid Taman Waduk Pluit, as the park is not equipped with a shelter to keep you dry. - Since many eateries serve pork-based dishes, Muslims should check the menu prior to visiting. (asw) Posted Saturday, January 27, 2018 8:37 am Donna Ruth (Walker) Kuhlman, 79, of Savoy, died on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, at 5:26 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, beginning at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign. Morgan Memorial Home in Savoy is assisting the family. Mrs. Kuhlman was born on June 2, 1938, in Galesburg, to Floyd and Doris Walker of Galva. She married Don Kuhlman on June 24, 1962, in Galva, and he survives. She was raised on a farm in Knox County, and was an active member in 4-H, winning numerous county and state awards for sewing and cooking projects. She was awarded the 4-H Key Club Award in Knox County for her outstanding 4-H projects and activities. Mrs. Kuhlman graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb with a bachelor of science in home economics. After graduation, she was employed as an assistant home adviser in Adams County by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. She taught high school in Gillespie from 1961 to 1962. Her husband served as farm adviser in Montgomery County from 1962-1965, and then returned to college to work on his PhD in Entomology at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She gave him extraordinary encouragement and support during his research for the PhD and throughout his career at U of I as a professor of agriculture entomology. Mrs. Kuhlman was an excellent cook and seamstress, and judged sewing projects at the Illinois State Fair for several years. She also collected cookbooks and thousands of recipes, and enjoyed preparing many delicious meals for her family and friends. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign and served as a congregational care deacon, and was a member of the Circle of Joy, Prayer Ministry Team and Pakistan Study Group. Mrs. Kuhlamn served as a 4-H club leader in Montgomery County, and served as a Cub Scout leader in Champaign. She was also a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and served as an officer, the Champaign-Urbana Home Economists and served as treasurer from 2003 to 2006, the Women's Club at U of I. Mrs. Kuhlman enjoyed flowers and birds, especially cardinals. At various times, she had six to eight different types of bird feeders, including one that she fashioned herself, which proved to be very effective in protecting seed and birds from predators. She accompanied her husband to Peshawar, Pakistan, from 1992 to 1994, where he worked on a project funded by USAID entitled, "Transformation and Integration of the Provincial Agricultural Network." She enjoyed living in Pakistan and made many Pakistani friends. They also enjoyed traveling to Egypt, India, Thailand, China, Eastern Europe, Europe, Africa and many excursions throughout the United States. On a cruise to Alaska, she and her husband celebrated her 70th birthday on June 2 by flying in a ski plane around Mt. McKinley and landing on Ruth Glacier, in honor of her middle name, Ruth. She loved her sons and many friends dearly. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, David Kuhlman and Daniel Kuhlman, both of Maricopa, AZ; and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, the Alzheimer's Foundation, or the University of Illinois College of ACES. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.morganmemorialhome.com. The owners of he Grand Street Guild apartment complex announced tonight their plans to build two new 15-story residential towers. According to a press release, there will be more than 400 new rental units in a 100% affordable project. Grand Street Guild is a not-for-profit organization formed by the Archdiocese of New York. Under its auspices, three 26-story towers with 600 apartments were put in 1973 on property surrounding St. Marys Church. Rumors about the new plans have been hotly debated by the Section 8 tenants of Grand Street Guild during the past few years. The press release stated that the new buildings will be as-of-right towers, meaning that no special city approval is required beyond routine Department of Buildings permits. Heres more from the press release: Working closely on this new project with New York City Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Development Corporation, as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Grand Street Guild is proposing that one of the two new buildings be designed specifically for the needs of seniors and the other towards families and individuals. The Grand Street Guild team has begun discussing the details of the new project by reaching out for broad input, including holding meetings with elected and government officials, the Grand Street Guild Residents Association and current residents, Community Board 3, and many others. Handel Architects has been hired to come up with, a creative plan to utilize existing space in our complex. The press release did not indicate where the new towers would be built. But local District Leader Paez (a Grand Street Guild resident) tells us the proposed sites are a parking garage located at Broome and Clinton streets and a site currently housing the Little Star Daycare Center at 151 Broome St. Paez was among those briefed today on the plans. A few more details from a letter delivered to residents today: Tenants who currently park in the Clinton Street garage will be accommodated in a new garage that will be part of the new project. The new buildings will have no impact on the Section 8 subsidy guaranteed to current tenants, according to management. Subsidies through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development are locked in through 2035. Construction is currently expected to begin in the summer of 2019. At a tenant meeting in February of last year, representatives of Grand Street Guild refused to comment about their development plans, saying it would be premature. Residents expressed many concerns, saying that management had failed to maintain the existing buildings. They cited various problems with malfunctioning elevators (including a widely publicized fatal accident), gas outages and rodent infestations. Today, Grand Street Guild is talking up its dedication to affordable housing and its long-term commitment to the Lower East Side. In a statement, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, said: Day in and day out New Yorkers struggle to meet a basic human need and right a decent place to live. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York is proud that Grand Street Guild has been meeting this need for quality affordable housing for almost fifty years, and within the past five years has substantially rehabbed and upgraded the existing 600 apartments and their systems. This year will bring the installation of new windows and door frames in the three buildings, as well as security cameras in all stairwells. Now Grand Street Guilds plan to add 400 new affordable apartments for individuals, families and seniors will continue, and add to this legacy for the betterment of the Lower East Side community. More to come Egypt Independent The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has launched a national initiative to cultivate the roofs of various buildings and establishments through new and innovative models of integrated production. The main balcony of the ministrys General Directorate in Dokki was cultivated with aromatic plants and vegetables to initiate the nationwide model. The ministrys initiation saw peppermint, celery, basil, lettuce, spinach, and kale, among others, planted on the Dokki building without any pesticides or fertilizers. The ministrys initiative depends on the nutrient film technique (NFT), without need to soil or pipes made of polyvinyl chloride. The ministry said in a statement that the idea is based on environmentally-friendly integrated agriculture which allows growing both vegetables farming fish using the same model. In this model, fish are fed worms and algae, while plants are fed fish waste, and worms are fed vegetable residues, said the statement. That model does not leave any harmful residue in the surrounding environment, it added. Agriculture Minister Abdel Moneim al-Banna said that the ministry, which is represented in the Agricultural Research Center, will provide technical support and advice to all those wishing to implement such models, whether governmental or private institutions or individuals. Such models are healthy and produce crops free of pesticides and fertilizer residues, said Banna. They also provide an economic return, increasing the productivity of a unit area and maximising water usage, he added. Banna said that the expansion of these models on residential rooftops and public institutions would restore green spaces to the city, reducing air pollution and creating an atmosphere of comfort. The cultivation of 1.5 square meters of green surface meets an individuals oxygen needs for an entire year. The initiative also contributes to disposal of waste stored on rooftops. This waste distorts the aesthetic appearance of buildings, increases the chance of fire, and attracts various harmful organisms that invade the homes as a result, the statement read. Additionally, the initiative also helps residents living in top-storeys remain protected during the heated summer seasons which bring about extremely hot temperatures. TRC asks govt, parties not to meddle in war-era incidents On December 2, former prime minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed a three-point agreement on reparation with a section of victims of the Bandarmude incident in Madi in which 38 people died during the insurgency when the Maoist rebels ambushed a bus. Michael Richards, Edge Hill University; Dr. Anna Bussu, Edge Hill University, and Dr Peter Leadbetter, Edge Hill University It has been more than 70 years since the Nazi-occupied Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated. Auschwitz was the most notorious of all the concentration camps where it is believed that more than a million people were systematically exterminated via state systems of execution and torture. shutterstock The inscription on the gate to the Auschwitz concentration camp (Poland): Work makes you free. But while most people have heard of the major concentration camps Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau, and Treblinka these were not the only places Jews and other prisoners were held. Each of the 23 main camps had sub-camps there were nearly 900 of them in total. The horrors of Auschwitz and World War II led Western scholars and governments to become increasingly sensitive to the need to educate society about the dangers of exclusionary institutional structures and genocidal social policies . Which is why schools throughout Europe and beyond teach students about the Holocaust and the associated moral and ethical issues. History repeating? Young people today are growing up at a time when support for right-wing politics is on the rise across Europe. With unemployment rife and the prospects of owning a home diminishing, right-wing groups offer an alternative way for disengaged young people to see the world . This is evidenced by a surge of numbers and support for far-right parties groups across Europe including France, Sweden, The Netherlands and Austria. In these countries, outsider parties have had large increases in support for their populist and controversial political campaigns . And while most of these parties have not achieved a full grip on power, it is a cause for concern that radical right-ring candidates are getting votes and being taken seriously This is increasingly worrying given that direct intolerance of others is being advocated by powerful world leaders. Since Donald Trumps victory in the 2016 US presidential election, he has caused tensions among ethnic minority groups in the US and beyond Parallels between this growth of far-right parties can be seen in our recent history. And the political unrest, inequalities, lack of employment opportunities and fragmented societies the sort of conditions that helped the Nazis get into power all those years ago are alarmingly similar to the current situation in Europe. Importance of remembering It is therefore timely and important that young people continue to develop an understanding of the consequences of these ideologies and develop a moral compass. One way this can be done is by taking students to these historical sites and memorials to gain a full insight as to what it was like live through horrific events such as the Holocaust. This is vitally important, because we have found that some university educated students have a real lack of knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust and recent political events despite having this information at their fingertips. Educating for the future In this way then, universities and schools have an obligation to educate and develop the moral and social awareness of young people. And there is a real need to preserve Holocaust sites such as Auschwitz for future generations to learn from. Young people today are the future leaders of the world tomorrow so it is vital that we ensure these atrocities of the Holocaust are not repeated. Especially given the diminishing numbers of survivors able to tell their story. With research revealing that almost half of Brits have never visited a Scottish Castle, we thought we'd give you a run down of the best castles you should go explore... as soon as possible! In total, Scotland is thought to have around 3,000 standing castles, ruins and documented sites. Go for the classics The best castle in Scotland accolade went to Edinburgh Castle, with over a third of the votes, ahead of Stirling, Urquhart and St Andrews' castles. Kenny Lam, all rights reserved Go for the ancient Aberdour Castle in Fife and Castle Sween in Argyll are thought to be two of the oldest datable standing castles in Scotland, dating from around 1200, and the youngest castle in Scotland is thought to be Carbisdale Castle, which was built in 1907. Paul Tomkins, all rights reserved Go for the romance Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland was voted the most romantic-looking castle! with over a quarter (29%) of the votes, it was followed by Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire and popular visitor favourite Eilean Donan Castle in the Highlands. Paul Tomkins, all rights reserved Go for the spooks On the opposite side of the scale, Slains Castle in Peterhead was voted as the most likely to be haunted, followed closely by the iconic Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven and in third place, Brodick Castle on Arran. VisitScotland, all rights reserved Overall, of the total 3,000 standing castles, about 1050 are merely sites, including those where a house has been built on the site of a previous castle, and about 825 are standing ruins. At the last count, around 660 were in use (private house, hotel or wedding venue) and around 469 were open to the public - though some only for a couple of weeks each year, so you'd better act fast! Wavering policy stalls solar power project The Nepal Electricity Authoritys (NEA) plan to diversify the energy mix by launching 22 grid-connected solar projects with a total installed capacity of 61 MW is in limbo due to the governments policy inconsistency. The voice of Africas first female President was towering on January 16, 2006, when she mounted the podium to deliver her first ever inaugural address to Liberians and citizens of the world. In her address, former Head of State Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf made a solemn pledge which is reiterated in these lines: Fellow Liberians, we know that if we are to achieve our economic and income distribution goals, we must take on forcibly and effectively the debilitating cancer of corruption. Throughout my campaign, I assured our people that, if elected, we would wage war against corruption regardless of where it exists, or by whom it is practiced Today, I renew this pledge. Corruption under my Administration will be the major public enemy. We will confront it. We will fight. Any member of my administration who sees this affirmation as mere posturing or yet another attempt by another Liberian leader to play to the gallery on this grave issue should think twice. In this respect, I will lead by example These were the exact words of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Unfortunately, after 12 years of democratic rule under her hegemony, this affirmation by Madam President became a mere bluff with CORRUPTION winning the war and becoming even more entrenched in her government than ever before. Transparency and accountability became public taboos under Ellens administration. Instead of CORRUPTION becoming public enemy number one" as promised by EJS, it became public friend number one as a result of her refusal to firmly demonstrate political will and maintain an atmosphere of zero tolerance for corruption. The failure of the Sirleafs administration can be predominantly attributed to CORRUPTION and the mass looting of State resources mostly by her cronies and pseudo-patriots. Anyone can safely conclude that President Sirleafs war against corruption was feeble, cosmetic and pretentious. The unholy marriage that existed between the Sirleafs administration and corruption must be immediately divorced by President Weah. It is time for the new government to sincerely marry transparency, openness, and accountability in public service. Anything, on the contrary, Weahs proclamation of a pro-poor government would be another farce and fiasco. On January 22, 2018, Liberians felt a bit relieved from the manacles of CORRUPTION as the Nobel Laureate officially turned power over after 12 years of misrule. Liberias new President Amb. George Manneh Weah took the oath of office and was sworn in as Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Before going any further, I would like to congratulate President George M. Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor as they lead our nation by example for the next 6 years. I am wishing them SUCCESS, but this SUCCESS can only be a reality if the fight against corruption is taken seriously. In his inaugural speech, President Weah said to a jam-packed stadium of citizens and international guests: As officials of government, it is time to put the interest of our people above our own selfish interests. It is time, to be honest with our people. Though corruption is a habit amongst our people, we must end it. We must pay civil servants a living wage so that corruption is not an excuse for taking what is not theirs. Those who do not refrain from enriching themselves at the expense of the people the law will take its course. I say today that you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Like former President Sirleaf, President Weah is pledging to fight corruption head-on and he has my support in this drive if only he is sincere about these words. Yes, I agree that it is time to improve the livelihood of our people especially those who live in the slums and ghettos. We must give them a new meaning for being Liberians by adding value to their lives. This can only happen when the new President demonstrates POLITICAL WILL and ensure ZERO TOLERANCE for corruption, nepotism, cronyism and political patronage. A corruption-free government could turn Liberia into a modern paradise and an enviable nation of prosperity and equality for all. It is time for all citizens to share in Liberias wealth regardless of creed, class, ethnicity and political affiliation. As a youth activist, I have vehemently stood up against a corrupt and nepotistic system for 12 years, and my passion for a NEW LIBERIA remains unquenched. I am hopeful that this NEW LIBERIA can be achieved under President Weah if only he can appoint and commission a strong anti-graft TEAM. President Weah could massively succeed in his first year of Presidency and beyond if he has a strong and patriotic team of anti-graft crusaders and champions. President George M. Weahs primary responsibilities now should be: To set-up a robust and an uncompromising anti-corruption team. Appointing the right anti-corruption mechanics/campaigners in order to unknot or unscrew corruption is crucial To ensure all appointees of government declare their assets before they can even be confirmed by the Liberian Senate. This is in accordance with Part X Section 10:1 of the 2014 Code of Conduct Law To establish a fast-track Court to only hear cases of corruption and endeavor to prosecute/pursue all corruption cases under President Sirleaf To organize a nationwide conference on corruption and economic sabotage. This conference would develop a concrete roadmap for fighting corruption at every level and promoting public transparency through openness and community participation. In furtherance, there are 9 major public anti-corruption commissions and agencies. Therefore, I would like to recommend to our President the following integrity-driven characters who could stamp out this national danger (CORRUPTION) even in a period of 6 months: Ministry of Justice Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe Solicitor General - Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner General Auditing Commission (GAC) Hon. John S. Morlu, II. Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission Cllr. Jerome Verdier Internal Audit Agency (IAA) Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan Public Procurement Concession Commission Hon. Boima S. Kamara Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Hon. Thomas Doe Nah Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Cllr. Samuel Kofi Woods Office Of The Ombudsman Cllr. J. Aloysius Toe and Cllr. T. Dempster Brown I am confident that this Coalition of Anti-Corruption Crusaders can aggressively deal with corruption throughout Liberia. I am not suggesting either that they are the only ones who have all it takes to combat this systemic menace, but from my lenses, they are impeccable characters whose appetite for public wealth is low and anxiety for a transparent public space is high. More besides, they are qualified, competent and patriotic to subdue corruption under Weahs presidency. In addition, I would like to call for at least 15% increment in budgetary allocation to each of these anti-graft institutions. Currently (FY2017/2018), these are budgetary appropriations of anti-graft agencies which are far less than most public institutions: Ministry of Justice (SG/AG) US$36,511,697 Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission US$2,379,049 Public Procurement Concession Commission US$1,307,612 General Auditing Commission (GAC) US$US$5,415,80 Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative US$617,700 Internal Audit Agency (IAA) US$3,694,749 Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) US$827,000 Office of The Ombudsman US$250,000 Who are these anti-corruption crusaders? 1. Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe is Liberias leading human rights lawyer and pro-democracy champion. He served as Solicitor General and Minister of Labor. Gongloe holds a B.Sc. in Economics in 1981 from the University of Liberia and an LL.B from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law in 1988. He is a former fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute. Gongloe is widely known as the POOR MAN LAWYER. 2. Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner is an environmental lawyer and current Dean of Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. He holds a B.Sc. and an LL.B from the University of Liberia and an LL.M. from Cornell Law School, New York. He is the former Head of Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. 3. Hon. John Sembe Morlu, II. is a Liberian financial expert who has a solid background in auditing and financial management. He served as former Auditor General of Liberia. Morlu holds an MBA in Finance from John Hopkins, a Master in International Commerce and Policy from John Mason University, and double bachelors in Economics and International Relations from Thomas Jefferson University in Virginia. Morlu also holds several professional certifications including Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), and Certified Master in Business Administration (CMBA). 4. Hon. Jerome J. Verdier Sr. is a leading human rights activist and environmental lawyer in Liberia. He served as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee for Liberia. Verdier holds a BA Degree in Business Administration as well as an LL.B from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia. He also has a BSc. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. 5. Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan is former Budget Director, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ngafuan holds a bachelors degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Liberia and an MBA degree in Finance and Accounting from William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Rochester, USA. Ngaf has a diploma in Accounting from BWI, a certificate in democratic leadership from the African Leadership Forum and a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Sacramento in California, USA. 6. Hon. Boima S. Kamara is former Finance Minister and Deputy Governor for Economic Policy of the Central Bank of Liberia. BK, as he is affectionately called, holds a B.Sc. Degree in Economics from the University of Liberia and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Economics from the University of Ghana. He is well versed in Advanced Econometrics, International Economics, Monetary Economics, and Health Economics. 7. Hon. Thomas Doe-Nah is a longtime anti-corruption campaigner and founder of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), a subsidiary of Transparency International. Doe-Nah holds a BBA degree in Accounting and Economics and a Master of Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is the current Head of Access to Information, Carter Center and has worked for LBDI, International Bank Limited and US Embassy near Monrovia. 8. Cllr. Samuel Kofi Woods is a leading human rights advocate and lawyer who won the Reebok Human Rights Award in 1994 and received the Pope's human rights medal. Woods graduated from the University of Liberia with a Bachelors degree and LL.B from Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. He holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies, and a specialization in International Law and Organization for Development at the International Institute of Social Studies under Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague, Netherlands. Woods is the former Minister of Labor and Public Works. 9. Cllr. J. Aloysius Toe is a leading human rights activist and a lawyer by profession with a Juris Doctor (JD) in Law from the Massachusetts School of Law, USA. Toe is has a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Liberia and holds 2 masters in Sustainable International Development and Conflict and Coexistence from the Heller School for Social Policy. He has a certificate in Negotiation & Dispute Resolution from Harvard Law School and is a 2005 Reebok International Human Rights award winner, and CNN Person of the Month. Toe served as National Legal Consultant at UNDP and now is Program Officer for Africa at the International Budget Partnership based in Washington DC. 10. Cllr. Dempster Brown is a respected human rights lawyer and a vocal activist against bad governance and misuse of public resources. Brown is the Executive Director of the Center for the Protection of Human Rights and former member of the Advisory Board for the National Symbol. He is an alumnus of the University of Liberia, a graduate of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, and the former chairman of the Liberia Coalition of Human Rights Defenders. I strongly hold to the view that if this coalition of anti-corruption crusaders is entrusted to lead these anti-graft institutions, the smell of corruption will drastically minimize in government. However, I am not suggesting that they are the only ones with good morals and exemplars to fight corruption. I have no intention to usurp the function of the President, but in my opinion, this is THE INTEGRITY TEAM that President Weah needs to defeat corruption. Howbeit, it is up to the President in line with Chapter 6 Article 54 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia to appoint whoever he thinks is capable and prepared to wage an unceasing war against corruption. But in my mind, the war against corruption this time around must be genuine, aggressive, holistic and non-selective. Anything short of this, a PRO-POOR GOVERNMENT as envisaged by our new President is a DEAD DREAM. From the largest slum of West Point and the top of Ducor, I see a NEW LIBERIA rising above the African Continent. HOPE is blooming CHANGE is in sight LIBERIA will rise. About The Author: Martin K. N. Kollie is a Liberian youth and student activist, a columnist and an emerging economist who hails from Bong County. He currently studies Economics at the University of Liberia and is a Lux-in-Tenebris Scholar. Martin is the current Deputy Chief of Secretariat of the African Youth Forum and Youth Ambassador of the International Human Rights Commission. What is your take? Please post your comments below: Pierce County resident Cleo Yoder has been producing dry wall art for almost 20 years. You may not have been aware, because his art sits in many different venues and could be right here in your local bank. Yoder, a Wolford resident, has been contributing his unique style of mud art work to buildings and residences, lake communities and most large cities in North Dakota. His eclectic art style stems from his original vocation of dry wall work. He still owns and operates his business doing dry wall. In Gil and Sheila Harpers Rugby home, Yoder has adorned their dining and living room ceilings with free hand designed art- which is a medallion surrounded by a pattern of vines, leaves and roses. The living room area has designs above the entry way. Sheila remembers Yoder completing the design which she said was a much anticipated completion. They were both very happy with the outcome although a slight medical emergency delayed the completion while Yoder had minor surgery. I was so excited about getting all the work done, and then he got sick right here in our dining room. But it all got done, she said and he was fine. Merchants Bank in Rugby is home to two of Yoders larger pieces. One is a rendition of Rugbys The Geographical Center of North America monument and the Prairie Village Museum. The other art in Merchants Bank is of Bank President Craig Johnsons childhood home and farm in Wolford. Other places and towns in North Dakota which have Yoder art are found are in the new Farm Credit Services, Bottineau, Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks, as well as various residences and cabins surrounding Lake Metigoshe. The art mud process has been around for many years, Yoder said. He originally got started playing with the process in South Dakota during a winter storm and he was stuck there. Some of the designs Yoder said, pieces like tractor replicas and combine replicas, are taken from a picture and I build a model. A tractor is pretty much just a tractor. Others, he said are completely free hand, and I do one of a kinds. He works with homeowners to do their designs. Harpers design was a special medallion which required two covers of plaster. He had chiseled this design by hand. Many of his regular trades tools are used in his art along with brushes and paints. A lot of different artists have done this work, Yoder said. Its individual because each guy brings his little tricks hes learned. I have learned a lot of different tricks over the years and I like it because people enjoy my work, and tell others about it. One thing that remains quite stable, are common things, like tractors and equipment so he uses a picture sometimes for a mold. Yoder said he is still doing drywall, but definitely likes a challenge and would love to take on a special project. There are trade journals he said, and lots of places to get ideas. The one unique thing he said about doing this type of art, is that you cannot take it with you. Once its done, its pretty much there unless you take the wall with you. The entire process can be painted over just like a wall. Minor repairs can be tricky, and it might not look exactly like the first unique art piece but they are resilient and last for years. Working their way point by point through a series of 10 recommended amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, on Tuesday the Southern P Posted Friday, January 26, 2018 7:22 am A proposed bill would add harassment to a list of domestic violence crimes for which someone can have their firearm rights revoked. SB 6298, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, adds harassment crimes in a domestic violence setting to existing law. The bill was heard on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Under both existing law and the Dhingras bill, a person must be convicted of a domestic violence felony or gross misdemeanor to have their firearm rights revoked. Harassment, which is a gross misdemeanor, not a felony, would be included under the bill. Harassment includes physical threats or threats that instill reasonable fear and are likely to be carried out. We cant ignore that these threats are promises to a victim, Chris Anderson, director of the Domestic Violence Unit for the Seattle City Attorneys Office, said. Protective order cases, he said, often show patterns of domestic abuse, threats, and harassment that can be more serious than individual incidents reported in 911 calls. The most statistically significant thing we can do is remove firearms from the situation, he said. Anderson also said that because felony level domestic violence cases are sometimes hard to prove, the court might settle for a plea-bargained misdemeanor. Including misdemeanors, the bill would more accurately represent a perpetrators past history of violence. Washington state already has a law prohibiting those convicted of domestic violence from owning a gun. That includes felonies like assault, stalking, death threats, or violating a protection order. When someone is convicted of a crime, he or she must surrender any firearms to the court. In 2014, the legislature enacted a law that someone must surrender their firearms to the court when there is a protection order issued against them. He or she can, however, petition the court to restore those rights. Under Sheenas Law, passed in 2015, law enforcement must notify family members when a previously surrendered firearm is returned to that person. A 2016 law allows family members to petition courts to remove firearms from those who pose a risk to themselves or others. Implementation of these laws is challenging because, according to the Seattle City Attorney Annual Report, it requires a multi-systematic force made up of county police departments, court and prosecutors offices, and state coalitions and associations advocating for gun safety and against domestic violence. Nearly one in three women experience some sort of domestic abuse, according to a the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The same study said homicide is five times more likely when a gun is present during a domestic violence incident. Tamaso Johnson, public policy director for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said the bill addresses key gaps in the criminal justice system because the courts currently dont look too much at the past history of a perpetrator in domestic violence cases. He said the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence found, in their Domestic Violence Fatality Review, patterns of harassment were closely coordinated with homicide rates. A study from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund shows a correlation with mass shootings. The study found that in 54 percent of mass shootings in the U.S. the perpetrator also shot a family member or partner. If this legislature is committed to taking steps to end violence in communities and gun violence in general, this bill is a critical step in that direction, Johnson said. Stay up to date with First Reading, our newsletter packed with the latest on the federal election Stay up to date with First Reading, our newsletter with the latest on the federal election Sign Up Now> Honestly, these are names that we just liked, she said 1. Yes. The bus service is underfunded, and the money will ensure another route. 2. Yes. Its COVID relief money, and plenty of people depend on public transportation. 3. No. The COVID funds are a short-term fix. The city cant afford a big outlay next year. 4. No. The city isnt getting much for its money. Another transit solution is needed. 5. Unsure. Its a hard to say whether HOP ridership will validate the expenditure. Vote View Results John Lewis has launched a new personal loan, offering borrowers between 1,000 and 25,000. Rates start at 2.9 per cent on amounts in the popular 7,500 to 15,000 bracket just 0.1 percentage points above the market leader M&S Bank. There are no hidden fees and the lender wont charge you any extra if you choose to repay your unsecured loan early. Lenders are allowed to apply 58 days' interest on the remaining amount. Want a new look? Borrowers are charged as little as 2.8 per cent on personal loans How much the no-penalty perk will save you will of course depend on your remaining balance, but it does give extra flexibility. Unfortunately, unlike the lenders Partnership Rewards credit card there are no loyalty points for customers taking out a loan. The best rate John Lewis offers is 2.9 per cent on a loan of between 7,500 and 14,990. A 10,000 loan repaid over three years would cost you 290.12 per month, or a total repaying of 10,444.43. The same amount borrowed with rival M&S Bank would cost just 36p more per month and a total of 13.07 over a three year term. M&S Bank offers the same rate on a larger bracket of up to 25,000, plus it gives the option of a repayment terms of up to seven years (five to seven-year terms, however, come with higher interest of 10.9 per cent). If you borrow between 1,000 and 2,999 it charges 20.9 per cent, amounts between 3,000 and 4,999 incur 16.9 per cent interest and 5,000 to 7,499 costs 3.6 per cent. Amounts between 15,000 to 25,000 comes with interest of 5 per cent. All loans are offered with repayment terms of between one and five years at the same rates. High street giant: John Lewis Finance already offers a credit card, insurance and forex How do I apply? To apply you must have a UK bank account and earn more than 10,000 a year. John Lewis Partnership Credit Card customers can use their account number to speed up their application. Once you have signed the agreements, funds will be transferred typically within two working days. The lender offers the option of a payment holiday, this will mean it takes longer to repay your loan but gives the option of skipping repayments for one month a year. If you can settle your loan early John Lewis early without any extra interest or fees. Lenders are allowed to charge up to 58 days interest on the remaining amount if you choose to repay your loan in full before the end of the term. USE A SOFT SEARCH TOOL FIRST As with all credit card and loan products, the best rates are reserved for those with the best credit scores. Even those who are accepted may be offered a more expensive deal as only 51 per cent of successful applicants must be given the advertised rates. It is therefore a good idea to use a soft search tool before you apply. These let you see what your chances are of getting accepted and what rate you are likely to be given without running a hard search of your credit score, which leaves a mark on your credit file. Several lenders have their own, including John Lewis, as do some comparison sites including our carefully chosen partner service, MoneySupermarket. Loans Of The Week | Daily Mail top personal loans 2.7% for 7.5-25k (Nectar card deal) Over 3 years Over 3 years 3% for 15-25k Repay over 5 years Repay over 5 years 5.3% for 3-5K Best deal for small amounts Best deal for small amounts 2.8% for 7.5k-15k Top rate, repay over 7 years Top rate, repay over 7 years 6.7% for 30-50k Largest personal loan available, Largest personal loan available, > Now find and apply for the best loan for you The rate you secure depends on your personal circumstances John Lewis' personal loans vs Partnership Credit Card Depending on the reason for your loan, and how much you need to borrow it could be worth considering a credit card. The top 0 per cent interest purchase credit card means you can spread the cost of repaying over up to 31 months. There are some strict rules to follow though if you are considering this. Firstly work out how much you need to repay each month to clear the balance before a 0 per cent deal ends, and then set up a direct debit for that amount and cut up the card so you can't add more spending. If you are a loyal John Lewis shopper you could consider its Partnership Credit Card. It comes with nine months 0 per cent interest on purchases (22 months less than the leading deal from Sainsbury's Bank) but it and allows you to clock up points for spending in Waitrose and John Lewis. It also comes with 0 per cent interest on balance transfers for 18 months from account opening with a 2.9 per cent fee but you won't earn any rewards for transfers and there are far better deals out there. It's also worth noting that John Lewis offers shoppers buying furniture from the retailer costing up to 25,000, interest free credit with no set up fee. The repayment term depends on the how much you borrow. Purchases over 1,000 are offered 12 months interest fee, spend more than 3,000 and you are 24 months. It requires a 10 per cent deposit. 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. MBABANE A woman who suspects the results of a paternity test that was conducted through Philani Clinic has run to court. The first time mother, *Dudu approached the Mbabane Magistrate Court seeking an order to redo a DNA paternity test at a clinic of her choice after the results of the initial test suggested that the man she believes is the father of the baby was not. Dudu insists that *Stix, with whom they separated while she was still pregnant, is the father of the three-month-old baby. pregnancy She said when she fell pregnant her family reported the pregnancy to Stixs family as per Swazi custom when one falls pregnant for the first time before marriage. When the baby was born the father denied its paternity, something which caused friction between the two families. He even suggested that we do a DNA test whose expenses he catered for and I was not opposed to that because I have nothing to hide. Dudu said in October last year when the baby was a month old she took the baby to Philani Clinic where a certain employee (known to this publication) drew the babys blood sample and took it for testing. suppose They did not take my blood and the babys father together with the nurse went into another room where I suppose his blood was also sampled and eventually sent to South Africa for testing. She said after about three week she was called by the clinic to receive the results, which suggested that Stix was not the father of the child. MATSAPHA Turning your home or small business into a Wi-Fi hotspot now only requires Swazi MTN customers to connect, plug and play. As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the company serving the Swazi nation on matters relating to telecommunications since 1998, Swazi MTN has launched fixed wireless and broadband services to provide lightning speed internet that can connect up to 32 devices at once and Voice over IP (VoIP) on both 3G and 4G LTE technology. Head of Business Enterprise Thandazile Dlamini explained that the MTN fixed line services is a suite of products and services available from the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) platform for customers to enjoy. She said services available on IMS included Broadband, VoIP, hosted PABX, and SIP Trunking among others. Providing a brief description of the IMS innovative features, one of which Swazi MTN would consider rolling out in the not so distant future, Dlamini said there could soon be little, or no need to for PABX systems. She said small businesses would only need to buy a solution that would enable Swazi MTN to allocate different numbers which can be hosted at a different station. She pointed out that the IMS platform provides convergence for fixed access and mobile access, which is why the newly-launched device can connect to all the technologies, 2G, 3G & 4G/LTE. However, quality voice and data are best experienced over 3G and 4G / LTE. It should be emphasised that from the suit of available products in the IMS platform, Swazi MTN had decided to launch MTN broadband and VoIP (Voice over IP) service, at least for now. MBABANE Filled with guilt and remorse, a town clerk is alleged to have paid E30 000 and offered to avail a tender for his adulterous acts. This is per recordings allegedly captured on November 24, 2017 at the office of the town clerk at or about 2:30pm. The town clerk, according to the recording, offered the price tag for his deeds after he was engaged and confronted by Thokozani in the company of a close friend and a witness during the meeting. According to Thokozani, when he started to learn of his wifes alleged infidelity, he had just enrolled with a South African institution to pursue his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). This is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most countries. Following the emotional stress he suffered, Thokozani said it was then that he arranged a meeting with the man who was allegedly sleeping with his wife. He said the meeting for him was to establish why he (town clerk) was in a relationship with a married woman. Further, he noted that the meeting was to alert him (town clerk) of the havoc he had brought about into his life. He said following that, the meeting escalated into something else given the circumstances. Having been married for about eight years, Thokozani was not ready to give up easily and instead, through the mediation of his high school friend, he opted that the alleged adulterer compensates him in a deal they brokered during the course of the meeting. MBABANE True to his calling, Pastor Sikhumbuzo Shongwe, who called for the spill of blood after the murder of Thulani Mndvoti, now sings a different tune. He said let there be peace and swift arrests of the assassins who cut Victor Gamedzes life short. Interestingly, Shongwe has been visible and vocal in both murders of Mndvoti and Gamedze. Shongwe, who is a pastor at his fathers church Divine Healing Ministries at Phumlamcashi, said his days when he believed in revenge were long over. The son of Bishop Nash said both assassinated entrepreneurs were close to him. The violence that has engulfed the country in the mafia style killings should stop as spilling blood is not right. He said Mndvoti, who was shot and killed in broad daylight a few metres away from the St Georges Barracks at a bus stop near Matsapha Government Primary School, was a neighbour to his family while they resided at Fairview North. Appreciating the lifestyle Mndvoti lived, Shongwe said as a teenager, he aspired to live lavishly and own different vehicles. He noted that while growing up he became close to the Mdvoti family as he was friends with the deceased businessmans siblings and children. He appreciated the difference that was brought about by his repenting as it had made him a peaceful man. Shongwe lamented that through Gamedzes death, he had lost a possible congregant in the long run as in different instances the slain entrepreneur would tease and tell him that he wanted to visit his church. Daniel Morley MALTA -- A town man is accused of punching, kicking and choking a woman during a domestic incident on Thursday, Saratoga County sheriff's investigators said Saturday. He is also accused of violating an order of protection. Jeffrey D. Hulett, 26, of Raylinsky Road, is charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and a felony of criminal contempt, for injuring the woman, who he knows, investigators said. Daniel Morley MILTON -A man accused of cashing a check in another person's name for more than $2,000 is charged with felony grand larceny and identity theft, Saratoga County sheriff's investigators said Saturday. Jerome D. Horton, 29, of Brooklyn was stopped for a traffic infraction by New York City police on Thursday. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth So things really aren't going well, not one bit. The apocalypse has more or less happened or worse, it's in the process of happening. There's a virus going around, and three-quarters of the people on earth are infected. Most cities are destroyed. Oh, yes, and about that virus? It turns people into zombies not literally, in a textbook definition sense, but zombie-like. Anyway, this is the world of "Maze Runner: The Death Cure," the third installment in the "Maze Runner" trilogy, a kind of destitute man's impoverished cousin's answer to the "Divergent" series. New York The new, top federal prosecutor in Manhattan is a Republican, a former law partner of Rudy Giuliani and was reportedly interviewed personally by President Donald Trump before getting the job. But people who know Geoffrey Berman say he will keep politics out of a prosecutor's office that has long prided itself on independence from Washington. "He's not about politics. He's about doing the right thing and the law," said Mary Jo White, who led the office from 1993 to 2002 and was later chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Democratic President Barack Obama. Berman, 58, was appointed Jan. 3 as the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, a post that gives him oversight of more than 220 federal prosecutors who often take the lead battling wrongdoing on Wall Street and international terrorism. He had served in the office once before as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1990 to 1994. For now, his status in the job is unsettled. The president hasn't formally submitted his name to the Senate for confirmation for the permanent position. Partisans are on high alert for even a whiff of anything politically suspicious for the leader of an office whose territory includes Trump Tower in Manhattan. At least one Democrat, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, has threatened to block any nomination because of reports that the Republican president personally interviewed Berman and other U.S. attorney candidates last year. "Reports that President Trump took the unusual step of personally interviewing Berman are deeply disturbing considering the conflicts of interest inherent by his potential jurisdiction on matters that could affect the president personally," her office said in a statement. "If this meeting took place it is disqualifying." Prior to his inauguration Trump also had met with his predecessor, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who thought he'd won assurances he'd be kept in the job only to be swept aside in a purge of all prosecutors appointed by Obama, a Democrat. Several former prosecutors who worked with Berman said he had an apolitical nature. White said she remembered him as "one of the stars" of the office and someone who would always "stay on the high road and try to do the right thing and be very independent." Lorin Reisner, who was chief of the criminal division under Bharara and is now in private practice, said Berman "really cares about the history and the heritage of the office," long nicknamed the "Sovereign District of New York" for its independence from Washington. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "Knowing Geoff the way I know Geoff, I have no question about this independence and his commitment to carry out his responsibilities apolitically and completely on the merits," he said. Born in Trenton, N.J., Berman studied at the University of Pennsylvania and got his law degree at Stanford before becoming a clerk to Judge Leonard I Garth in the 3rd U.S. District Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. From 1987 to 1990 he worked for the independent counsel who investigated the administration of President Ronald Reagan in the Iran-Contra affair. William Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law School and the associate counsel for the Iran-Contra probe, said he was impressed by the rare Republican working on the investigation. "Geoff is very low key. He doesn't take himself too seriously but he takes his work seriously," Treanor said. "He's not a: 'Look at me! Look at me!' type of person." Treanor said Berman was "somebody very committed to getting the law right and deciding on questions of what's legal and illegal in a fair and apolitical way." Berman left the U.S. attorney's office in 1994 after winning guilty pleas from a group of hackers who became known as the Masters of Deception. The prosecution led one publication, "2600: The Hacker Quarterly" to feature a cover picture that included a rag doll named "BERMAN," a dagger in his chest. Washington 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. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. 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. "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. When someone is building, designing or decorating a home, there's usually a theme they're trying to fit. Have a lot of original art you like to display? You've probably got a gallery-esque view for your home. Like to keep things clean and airy? Whites, lights and breezy curtains are your dream materials. Inclined to industrial-chic? Think exposed brick, stainless steel and utilitarian furniture. Being Upstate magazine, we tried to think of what an Upstate home aesthetic would be. It's tough enough to point out exactly where upstate starts and ends on a map of the state, but surely there would be ideas of what "upstate" would look like as a home inspiration board or building theme. We asked some of the exhibitors for this year's Times Union Home Expo, which will take place at the Albany Capital Center from Friday, Feb. 9 to Sunday, Feb. 11, to answer this question: "If a customer asked me to help their home get an 'upstate' look, I'd recommend to them..." Even if an upstate aesthetic isn't your endgame when dreaming up your perfect abode, the Home Expo is one place to get a grasp of multiple styles. Madeleine Dymling of Flatbrook and Co., a build and design studio based in New Lebanon "I would recommend natural materials mixed with painted surfaces; this could be wood beams with painted kitchen cabinets. Perhaps using local sourced stones for countertops. A mix of new and old, with a nod to the area. Keeping the color palette light, with pops of color, will help during the cold winter months." Brian Seitz of Urban Industrial Designs, a custom furniture producer based in Albany "I would say (using) barn doors, accent walls and farmhouse tables, they really tie in what's trending. More importantly, the amount of barns unused and still in use I think is an important factor to the answer because it allows us to work with local, authentic reclaimed wood for our products." Patricia Beeson, University of Pittsburgh Titusvilles provost, addresses the audience about the plan for an Education and Training Campus Hub. [January 26, 2018] Xerox Plans Live Audio Webcast to Discuss Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results Xerox (NYSE:XRX) will host a live audio webcast with online presentation slides at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 31 to discuss the company's 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year results, and 2018 guidance. A news release containing this information will be issued earlier that day at 6:45 a.m. ET. WHEN: 10 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 WHAT: Review of Xerox's 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year results WHO: Jeff Jacobson, chief executive officer, Xerox Bill Osbourn, Jr., chief financial officer, Xerox AUDIO WEBCAST: https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/7ffthvi5 or https://www.news.xerox.com/investors About Xerox Xerox Corporation is a technology leader that innovates the way the world communicates, connects and works. We understand what's at the heart of sharing information - and all of the forms it can take. We embrace the integration of paper and digital, the increasing requirement for mobility, and the need for seamless integration between work and personal worlds. Every day, our innovative print technologies and intelligent work solutions help people communicate and work better. Discover more at www.xerox.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Xerox. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/xerox, http://connect.blogs.xerox.com, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, https://www.instagram.com/xerox/, http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox and Xerox and Design are trademarks of Xerox in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005544/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "Sanders, 50, entered his plea in a loud and clear voice before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. The guilty plea Friday afternoon in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to inappropriate use of campaign donations. Investigators say Sanders funneled money back to himself in a scheme in which his chief of staff, Calvin Williford, pleaded guilty to Friday. " It was also mentioned that Sanders and Williford took a trip to Las Vegas together using some of this money. "Williford, 60, appeared upbeat and was smiling as he waited for the hearing to begin. After he entered his plea and the hearing concluded, he embraced family members in the courtroom and then began weeping audibly." As the day concludes, faith in Kansas City Democracy has eroded even further in the aftermath of two power players admit to serious wrongdoing in Federal court.Check the highlights . . .Check the links . . .You decide . . . The Kansas Supreme Court upheld Friday the 'Hard 50' sentence for the woman who killed Topeka business owner, Harold Sasko, nearly four years ago. The Justices rejected nearly all of Sarah McLinn's arguments over her conviction and sentencing. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Thomas Orr III was an innocent bystander when he was caught up in a fight and shots were fired into a Californo's crowd last summer. "Thomas Orr was just at the start of a great and promising career and life in Kansas City, and that was cut short," says Antwaun Smith, an attorney at Smith Law Office. Pioneering business conglomerate Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group will be showcasing its innovative products at the upcoming Gulf Industry Fair 2018 in Bahrain. The Northern Gulfs only event dedicated to promoting industrialisation in the GCC, Gulf Industry Fair 2018, will run from February 6 to 8 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, said the event organiser Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE). The company, which has been established for over 125 years, covers the GCC (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman), as well as Africa and Europe, in a broad range of sectors. The YBA Kanoo Group will showcase its portfolio of divisions, including Industrial and Energy, Shipping and Logistics, Real Estate and Kanoo Travel. YBA Kanoos business strategy, Vision 2020, is based on four key pillars: Customer Focus, Transformation Program, Strategic Risk Management and Compliance. Gulf Industry Fair is an important statement of presence from the YBA Kanoo Group as we move from being a trading company to a solutions provider, said YBA Kanoo Group CEO Dr Patrick Chenel. "It is an ideal platform to showcase our Vision 2020 strategy and highlight the strengths of our operating divisions, and move to approach the market as One Kanoo with a full value proposition," he noted. "Our co-operation with customers and in particular our key accounts is coming into focus, with a new Key Account Management (KAM) structure in place," remarked Dr Chenel. We look forward to leveraging our 125 years of experience, ethical conduct, best-in-class partnerships, advanced business systems and cutting-edge technologies to become an leading solutions provider, he noted. Among YBA Kanoo Groups key customers are Saudi Aramco, Sabic, Maaden, Sasref, Adnoc, Bapco and Saudi Electric Company (SEC). During the Gulf Industry Fair, the YBA Kanoo Group will also showcase the restructuring of its Industrial and Energy division. It has five business units comprising Small to Medium Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC); Fabrication and Construction; Operations and Maintenance; Plant and Machinery and Drilling and Chemicals. Gulf Industry Fair will be a platform to showcase our service offerings across our five business units, remarked Industrial and Energy Executive General Manager Fergus Burke. "YBA Kanoo is one of the most trusted partners in the region, working with world class companies such as Halliburton, BASF, Saber, Grove, Hyster, Perkins and Bobcat," he stated. Our Industrial and Energy restructuring aims to deliver improved client solutions to our clients in Saudi, Bahrain and the UAE in particular. This is an ideal forum for our development teams to collaborate with Industry professionals, key clients and develop new opportunities, he added. YBA Kanoos Shipping division is seeking to expand globally, while Logistics is targeting niche markets in the region. Kanoo Travel aims to provide state of the art corporate travel solutions, including Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Events (MICE), online corporate travel tools and business intelligence. The presence of a regional giant at Gulf Industry Fair shows the B2B value, brand building and overall importance of the event, remarked Jubran Abdulrahman, the managing director of HCE. Gulf Industry Fair is strategically sponsored by Bapco, National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga), Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and Bahrain Investment Wharf. The Industrial Facilities Sector Sponsor is Majaal. Supporting organisations for Gulf Industry Fair include, AHK Saudi Arabia, the German Saudi Arabian Liaison for Economic Affairs, PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Bahrain Solar Association and the Bahrain Industrial Association. YBA Kanoo is one of the largest, independent family-owned multinational businesses in the Middle East with an extensive portfolio of complementary business units and strategic partnerships across a range of industry sectors. Established in 1890 as a family trading and shipping business in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the company has evolved into a diversified conglomerate with a physical presence across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia.-TradeArabia News Service The Bahraini city of Al Muharraq has been named the ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) 2018 Capital of Islamic Culture for the Arab region in recognition of its rich culture, heritage and historical importance to the Gulf region as a political, trading and economic centre. Located on the eastern shore of the country, Al Muharraq was formerly the capital of Bahrain until Manama rose to prominence in the early 20th century. Home to many architectural landmarks and ancient artefacts that pay testament to its heritage and historical importance, Al Muharraq is also known as an established centre for contemporary and ancient Islamic art. To mark the occasion, Islamic culture ministers and leading dignitaries will gather for a special reception on January 28 at the historic Arad Fort in Al Muharraq under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, said: The recognition of Al Muharraq for its rich heritage and contemporary and ancient Islamic art shines light on one of the many hidden cultural gems we have dotted throughout the country." "Bahrain is a welcome destination for visitors thanks to our mix of authentic culture, ancient heritage, traditions and modern infrastructure. We have an exciting diversity of attractions to offer visitors from all around the world," she stated. Landmarks and highlights include the Pearling Path, a UNESCO world heritage site and 3.5k trail which is home to numerous historical buildings, the defensive fortress Arad Fort, Shaikh Isa bin Ali House, and many other historical buildings that reflect the story of Muharraq. Cultural tourism plays an integral role in Bahrains steady path towards sustainable economic diversification and growth. The contribution of the tourism sector to Bahrains non-oil GDP increased by 37 per cent in 2016 and annual tourism revenues are estimated to reach $1.5 billion by 2020. Bahrains tradition as a regional destination will be further enhanced throughout 2018 with a year-long cultural events program that will include the hosting of the 2018 Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, was released from detention on Saturday, sources said, more than two months after he was taken into custody in the kingdom's anti-graft crackdown. The release came hours after he told Reuters in an interview at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel, where he was lodged since the detention, that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be freed within days, said a CNBC report. The terms of his release were not immediately clear. The decision to free him, and the release of several other well-known tycoons on Friday, suggested the main part of the corruption probe was winding down. "He has arrived home," one source in Prince Alwaleed's family told Reuters. Earlier this week the attorney general said 90 detainees had been released after having their charges dropped, while others had traded cash, real estate and other assets for their freedom. Authorities were still holding 95 people, he said. Saudi authorities have said they expect to raise some $100 billion for the government through settlements with businessmen accused of graft. editorial@tribune.com Ishrat S Banwait Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 27 A city-based overseas education consultant has been duped of more than Rs 32 lakh by hackers. The accused used her email ID to communicate with colleges abroad and diverted her commission on admissions to their bank accounts. The fraud was being committed since December 2016 but the 39-year-old victim, who has her office in Sector 17 here, realised it after she had lost 62,000 Canadian dollars. In her letter to the UT SSP, the complainant, Minakshi Barthwal, proprietor of MH Admission Overseas, Sector 17, stated that she worked as an education consultant and her job involved sending Indian students to the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She earned commission on admitting and enrolling students in colleges abroad. She stated that she was following up with the colleges about her commission related to admissions since mid-2016. Recently, the colleges informed her that they had already transferred her commission to her bank account. The victim checked with her bank and found that money never reached her account. Barthwals investigation revealed that her email ID was hacked in December 2016. Since then, the hackers had been communicating with the colleges using her email ID and getting the commission in another bank account. She found that there had been unusual logins and activities in her email account. The hackers had put up fake invoices and got her commission money in banks in Germany and Belarus. They made changes in the domain and used duplicate email IDs. In her letter to the SSP, Barthwal mentioned the fake email IDs and the accounts used to receive the money. The victim said she suspected that her former staff Pujitha Guttikonda and N Sunitha in connivance with the latters husband Arun Muthyala, hacked her email ID and communicated with her clients. editorial@tribune.com Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service Panchkula, January 27 The Panchkula police have arrested Manmohan Singh, an advocate by profession, along with his woman friend Monica and her brother-in-law Sandeep, for allegedly killing his wife Rajni Bala. While Monica and Sandeep were arrested on January 25 night, the advocate was arrested near Suraj Theatre, Sector 1, Panchkula, late this evening. The police said Manmohan Singh was the key conspirator while Monica executed the murder. Panchkula DCP Manbir Singh said Monica and Sandeep were sent to seven-day police remand. The victims husband was the key conspirator, he said. Rajni had gone missing on January 16. Her body is yet to be recovered. Sources said Rajni was murdered on January 16 by Monica and Sandeep. While Monica killed Rajni, Sandeep helped Monica in disposing of the body at the dumping ground in Panchkula. The sources added that after murdering Rajni, Monica had even informed the advocate. Monica wanted to marry Manmohan and they hatched a conspiracy to eliminate his wife. She executed the plan. Monica roped in Sandeep to eliminate Rajni by assuring him a sum of Rs 2 lakh. Examining the call records of the deceased, the police found that Rajni had made the last call to Monica. The lead ultimately led to the arrest of all three accused. Monica strangled Rajni bala Sources said Monica and Sandeep kept their mobile phones with one of their acquaintances in Mani Majra and reached Sector 19, Panchkula. They used the mobile phone of a vendor to call Rajni there. Later, three of them went to the dumping ground in Sector 25 in a car. Monica allegedly strangled Rajni to death in the car, the sources added. Deceaseds footwear was found near crime spot On January 20, the police had got information that the body of the missing woman, Rajni Bala, was found in the dumping ground in Sector 25. The police found the victims footwear there, which was identified by her husband. Surprisingly, after digging around three feet, the police found the carcass of a dog. Husband had lodged missing complaint Manmohan Singh had lodged a complaint with the police about his wife Rajni Bala going missing. In the complaint, he had stated that on January 16, he had left for court and at that time, his wife was at home. When the children returned from school in the afternoon, they informed him that their mother was missing. Later, he, along with other relatives, started searching for Rajni. They even looked for her at hospitals, but to no avail. TimeLine January 16: Rajni goes missing January 16: Husband Manmohan Singh lodges a missing complaint with police January 20: Police find Rajnis footwear at dumping ground in Sector 25. Carry out digging exercise but end up finding a dog carcass January 25: Monica and Sandeep arrested for Rajnis murder January 26: Both sent to seven-day police remand January 27: The victims husband Manmohan arrested editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Faridabad, January 27 Mohammad Akil, ADGP (Law and Order), has asked the district police to remain more vigilant and ensure prompt action against law breakers, especially those in connection with the Padmaavat film protest and crime against women. At a meeting held here today with police officials, including the Commissioner of Police (CP), Amitabh Singh Dhillon, Akil said the police should shun laid-back attitude while tackling situations which threatened law and order. The meeting, which took place following criticism faced by the state police force in the wake of attack on a school bus in Gurugram by the protestors against Padmaavat release, the ADGP cautioned the police officials against the repeat of any such incident. Accompanied by Anil Rao, IG, CID, Akil said the police should be sensitive towards crime against women. He said the police must listen to the complainant in cases of crime against women patiently and collect relevant evidence and ensure that action was taken without any delay. The recent incident of gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving vehicle here has brought shame not only on the part of the police, but also to the state, which resulted in the transfer of the then Commissioner of Police, Hanif Quresh, he said. He said the district police must set up more barricades and check points in the sensitive areas and take strict action against those found consuming liquor at public places. amansharma@tribunemail.com Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, January 27 Under fire for alleged attack on a school bus and torching of a roadways bus in Bhondsi, Karni Sena has not only denied its role in the incident but also blamed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for engineering the same with his associates. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Hours after the Haryana governemnt formed an SIT to probe the January 24 incident, Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said he has evidence to prove that none of their volunteers were part of the attack on the school bus in Gurugram. We are open to probe by highest of authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Let there be a CBI probe to find out who was behind the attacks be it in Gurugram or Gujarat. We are being defamed to kill our protests and spirit, Kalvi said. Blaming Bhansali and team for act, he added, We can never think of attacking innocent kids. Rajputs are not coward to vent out on children or women. Ever since the incident, rumours were doing the rounds that some Muslim youths were caught for involvement in Bhondsi chaos, but Gurugram police, who have so far arrested 33 rioters and registered 18 cases, have denied any such arrests. No member of muslim community has been arrested in connection with Padmaavat violence in Bhondsi or anywhere else. We appeal to people to not fall for such rumours, a police spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the Manohar Lal Khattar government today formed an SIT under the supervision of DCP (South) Ashok Bakshi to probe the case. Amu claims threat to life Shri Rajput Karni Sena leader Suraj Pal Amu, who was sent to judicial custody by Gurugram police on Thursday, claimed that his life was in danger and he could be killed. He said this while being taken to Bhondsi jail on Friday afternoon. Amu was produced before the DCP, headquarters, Deepak Gahlawat who sent him to judicial custody till January 29 using his magisterial powers. While getting into the police car, Amu shouted to mediapersons outside Sector 56 police station, My life is in danger and I can be murdered. editorial@tribune.com Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Rohtak, January 27 On Republic Day, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced seven railway projects for the state. In collaboration with the Railway Ministry, the state government has constituted the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation to develop rail infrastructure, he said after hoisting the Tricolour here yesterday. The proposed railway lines are Yamunanagar-Chandigarh via Naraingarh and Sadhaura, Delhi-Sohna-Nuh-Ferozepur Jhirka-Alwar, Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar-Charkhi Dadri, Jind-Hisar, Bhiwani-Loharu and Karnal-Yamunanagar. Besides, a railway sliding project for Maruti Udyog has been planned at Manesar. The corporation will prepare a feasibility report on the projects in 10 months, the Chief Minister said. Khattar claimed the BJP government had taken several significant decisions such as e-governance, e-registration and filing of e-returns. Haryanas online teacher transfer policy is being followed by 16 states in the country. Based on these achievements, the Haryana Government has received 46 awards in several areas, including education, prevention of female foeticide, information technology and e-governance, he said. Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to martyrs at the state-level War Memorial here. He said the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) would provide financial assistance to dependents of martyrs. Khattar said 340 villages in the state were being developed as horticulture villages. Five centres of excellence of fruits and vegetables have already been established with the assistance of Israel. Maharana Pratap Horticulture University is also being established, he said. Officer honoured, eyebrows raised Gurugram: The state government felicitated legal-cum-probation officer Nisha Saini (31), who had prepared a special assessment report based on which the accused in the 'Vidyalaya' murder case is being tried as an adult, during the Republic Day function here yesterday. Saini of the District Child Welfare Office was one among 15 officers felicitated by Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma. One of the counsels in the case said, The accused has still not been proven guilty by court. His father has moved a petition against a juvenile boards decision to treat him as an adult. In this scenario, Sainis felicitation is questionable. What if on father's appeal, the juvenile boards decision is reversed or the child is proven innocent? Sumedha Sharma editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ambala, January 27 Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the Tricolour at the state-level Republic Day function in the Police Lines ground here on Friday. He conferred the bravery award on Rahul Nokhwal of Fatehabads Dhabi Kalan village and Gaurav of Palwal. Rahul had safely pulled out two children who were drowning in a canal, while Gaurav had saved the lives of two children drowning in a pond. Solanki honoured freedom fighters, their families, war widows, victims of Emergency, activists of Hindi movement, sportspersons and students. He laid a wreath at the Shaheed Smarak in the Police Lines. In his address, the Governor, Today, is a great day in the history of the country as it is the day when we got the pride of being the citizen of the worlds largest republic. Some powers have been posing a challenge to us. They want to create a state of chaos in the country by rejecting the principles of democratic values. We have to thwart their intentions and, only then, celebrating Republic Day can be meaningful. To provide good governance, about 350 e-services have been started in the state, Solanki said, adding the number would touch 380 in April. Under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme, the state has made strides. At present, sex ratio in the state is 930 girls against 1,000 boys. This is a marked improvement given that sex ratio was 830 in 2011. The target is 950, the Governor added. The Republic Day was also celebrated at the headquarters of the Haryana Waqf Board in Ambala Cantonment. The Tricolour was unfurled by Rahish Khan, Punhana MLA and chairperson of the Haryana Waqf Board. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Shimla, January 27 The 69th Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety and fervour in the state. Various functions were held to mark the day. Governor Acharya Devvrat, who presided over the state-level Republic Day function on the historic Ridge Maidan in Shimla, unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at an impressive march past by the contingents of the Army, ITBP, SSB jawans, Uttarakhand Police, ex-servicemen, HP Police, Home Guards, Bharat Scouts and Guides and NCC cadets. Capt Deepak Mathpal from the 22 Rajput Rifles commanded the parade. A colourful cultural programme, representing all districts, was also presented. Tableau highlighting various development activities of different departments were also part of the celebration. Weapon display performed by ITBP jawans was the highlight of the day. Cultural troupes of Kullu, Bilaspur and Hamirpur bagged first, second and third prizes. The tableaux of the Health Department focusing on Beti Bachao bagged the first prize, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) got second and agriculture and tourism departments jointly shared the third prize. The Governor awarded the winners. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, MLAs Narender Bragta and Balbir Verma, were also present among others. Bilaspur Forest and Transport Minister Govind Singh presided over the district level function at Bilaspur. After unfurling the Tri-colour, he took the salute from the contingent of the police, Home Guards, NCC and students. A colourful function was also held. Kinnaur Presiding over the district-level function at Rekong Peo in tribal Kinnaur district, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Rajiv Saizal said the state government had taken some decisions to improve the quality of life of the people. He said that the government had decreased the age eligibility criteria of old-age pension from 80 years to 70 years, which would benefit thousands of aged people. 3 honoured for social service Nahan: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar unfurled the National flag and took the salute of an impressive march past at Nahan. The minister also awarded three persons, 102-year-old Meen Singh of Fagni Nohradhar for his outstanding contribution to afforestation activities, Sunila Gachhan from Sarahan and BB Aggarwal from Nahan for their social services. He also honoured eight police personnel for their meritorious services. State tableaux attraction in Delhi The tableaux of Kee Gompa was the main attraction of the parade in New Delhi. The tableaux depicted Kee monastery, a famous Buddhist monastery in Lahaul and Spiti district, was located at 4,166 metres. It was established in the 11th century and still houses ancient Buddhist scrolls and paintings. A large number of Buddhist monks, nuns, and lamas live in this religious training centre to receive education. Governor hosted At Home editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Shimla, January 27 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi and urged him to sanction a National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) battalion as Himachal Pradesh is disaster prone and in case of natural calamities, response teams took time to reach the spot. He also requested him for liberal financial assistance for modernisation of the police force and also for increasing the allowances for Special Protection Officers posted in the border areas of the state on a par with those posted in Jammu and Kashmir. At present, SPOs were getting only Rs 3,000 which was lesser than those of their counterparts in J&K, he added. He also urged the minister for heli-taxi services on the subsidised rates on the pattern of the Northeastern states and added that this would not only help in tackling natural disasters promptly, providing connectivity to remote areas, besides promoting tourism as well, he added. Thakur set a new precedent of holding a meeting with all IAS and IPS officers posted in Delhi with some senior officers serving in Himachal also making an appearance at the meet held at the residence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda. About 40 IAS and IPS officers on Central deputation attended the meeting at the residence of Nadda, indicating the emergence of a new power centre within the BJP. Aimed at ensuring better coordination between the state and Central functionaries, the main objective was to galvanise the babudom posted in Delhi so that the state can gain through Central assistance. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry and Director General of Police SR Mardi. Some officers posted in Shimla also attended the meeting. This included Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Finance, Srikant Baldi, ACS RD Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Health, Prabodh Saxena and Principal Secretary, Revenue, Onkar Sharma. The Chief Minister urged the officers to play a pro-active role in speeding up projects and proposals sent by the state government to the Centre so that the pace of development could be faster. He said officers were the backbone of any government and played a significant role in preparing policies and programmes as well as accelerating the implementation of development activities at the ground level. Thakur urged the officers to protect the interest of the state and play an effective role in its growth. The state government was employee-friendly and committed to protecting their interests while recognizing their valuable services. New power centre About 40 IAS and IPS officers on Central deputation attended the meeting at the residence of Nadda, indicating the emergence of a new power centre within the BJP. Aimed at ensuring better coordination between state and Central functionaries, the main objective is to galvanise the babudom posted in Delhi so that the state can gain through Central assistance. pardeepdhull@gmail.com London, January 27 Clashes erupted outside the Indian High Commission in London on Friday evening as Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan peer in the House of Lords, attempted to hold a black day protest, which was vehemently countered by many Indian and British groups. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Pakistan-backed black day campaign, which coincides with Indias Republic Day and took place outside the Indian High Commission in the heart of Central London. Hundreds of demonstrators led by Lord Nazir called for independence for Kashmir as well for Khalistan. They were met by an equal number of counter-protesters and soon scuffles broke out, leading to police intervention. The counter-protesters questioned Lord Nazir on how he was making a mockery of the British system by openly playing Pakistans game. Lord Nazir is a highly controversial figure with a string of scandals, including a conviction for dangerous driving and being ousted from the Labour Party for his anti-Semitic views as well as his perceived sympathy towards radical Islamists. ANI editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 27 A day after a teenaged girl from Pune was arrested, the J&K Police claimed there was no evidence so far to suggest that she was planning a suicide attack. However, no clean chit has been given to her yet. The police continued questioning the 18-year-old girl who was arrested in south Kashmir on the suspicion of being a suicide bomber. Her family is likely to arrive to Srinagar in a day or two. She is not a suicide bomber, Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid told The Tribune. She is, however, being questioned and her activities are being investigated, he said. The J&K Police had issued an alert three days ahead of Republic Day that one Sadiya Anwar Shaikh of Yerwada, Pune, Maharastra, who is at present in the Valley may cause a suicide bomb explosion near or inside the Republic Day venue in the Valley. The girl was arrested late Thursday in south Kashmir and the police formally announced her detention. No arms or ammunition were recovered from her. The DGP, however, maintained that she had not been given a clean chit yet. We have not given any clean chit to her, he said. Sources said the girl, identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, had told her interrogators that she arrived in Kashmir a few days ago to take admission in a nursing college. Reportedly, after she went missing from Pune, an alert was sounded. The police were looking at the girls local contacts in Kashmir and a few of them had been questioned. They said prima facia she neither was affiliated with any militant outfit nor she had any such plans. The police were also in touch with other security agencies on the issue. She was questioned by the NIAand Maharashtra ATS in the past on the basis of her being highly radicalised. After her detention, she was later made to attend a de-radicalisation course. J&K Police sources said in past she had been uploading some incriminating material on Facebook and the social media. Last year, she was in touch with a Kashmiri youth and wanted to get married. editorial@tribune.com Shyam Sood Rajouri, January 27 On Republic Day, the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked heavy mortar shelling and automatic weapon firing on Indian forward posts and civil areas in the Nowshera subdivision of Rajouri district around 5.30 pm. Immediately after Pakistan started targeting villages along the Line of Control, the Army units deployed in the forward areas sounded an alert, signalling the people to remain inside their homes or at safer places. As the community and individual bunkers are under construction, residents of Sair, Makri, Jhangar and Kalsian ran for shelter inside their houses and under the culverts, said Purshotam Lal, former sarpanch of Jhangar village. Eight members of the family of formerBSF man Tola Ram had a narrow escape in Makri village as a 120-mm mortar shell hit the roof of their concrete house minutes after they had left home following the alert by the Army. The family took shelter under an already identified culvert (converted into a bunker) but Tola Ram received splinter injuries while rushing towards the culvert. The splinters of the mortar shell that fell on the roof of our house hit me on the feet and legs. We had a narrow escape as many mortar shells fell near our house, said Tola Ram. The Army retaliated to Pakistani shelling effectively. The guns finally fell silent around 6.30 pm. After the shelling stopped, an ambulance was rushed to Makri and Tola Ram was shifted to a hospital at Nowshera. He is under treatment and is out of danger. After assessing the loss to their house, the case for relief would be forwarded to the Deputy Commissioners office, said Abdul Sattar, SDM, Nowshera. He said all lambardars and ex-sarpanches had been provided telephone numbers of the police officers and tehsil officers concerned so that people could contact them in case of any skirmish on the LoC. Chief secy, DGP meet victims Jammu: Chief Secretary BB Vyas and DGP SP Vaid on Saturday visited border areas and migrant relief camps to assess the situation arising after the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan. They extensively toured the RS Pura belt and surveyed the loss of lives and property. They also met border firing victims and assured them that soon they would get the compensation. Since the January 17-18 intervening night, when Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling, seven civilians and two BSF soldiers have died along the International Border whereas four Army men have been killed on the Line of Control. The cross-border shelling has also caused a huge loss to property and livestock in the border belt. TNS pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, January 27 Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been sued by his former Indian-American personal assistant who has alleged that she was subjected to sexual exploitation and a sexually hostile work environment while working for him. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Sandeep Rehal, who was Weinsteins personal assistant for two years from 2013 to 2015, has sought trial by jury in an 11-page lawsuit. For over two years Rehal was forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment at Weinsteins company and defined by endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss, alleges a lawsuit filed in the Southern District Court of New York on January 25. A day later, on Friday, the court issued summons to Weinstein and his company to respond to the charges within 21 days. The 65-year-old film producer has been facing a number of other sexual allegations, many of whom have been widely reported in the US media, including in the New York Times. The lawsuit alleged that Rehal had to pick up Harvey Weinsteins used Caverject shots, which he tossed on the floor in his office, hotel rooms and his apartment. She also had to pick up his used condom, and clean up rooms and semen off his couch, before housekeeping personnel would do their work, the lawsuit charges. Rehal was required to be involved in and aware of the preparations for, and clean up after, Harvey Weinsteins extremely prolific sexual encounters, it alleged. Throughout her employment with Defendants Ms Rehal was required, as a condition of her employment, to work with Harvey Weinstein when he was naked. On an almost weekly basis, she was required to take dictation of emails from him while he was naked, the lawsuit alleged. Weinstein subjected Rehal to unwelcome touching, the lawsuit alleges. Almost every time she accompanied Weinstein in his chauffeured Lexus SUV, he made her sit in the back with him and touched her thigh. After Ms Rehal started wearing pants instead of skirts, Harvey Weinstein would rub between her thighs. When Ms Rehal sat cross-legged in an attempt to prevent him from being able to touch her thigh, Harvey Weinstein would touch the back of her legs and butt, the lawsuit alleged. Among Ms Rehals responsibilities was to maintain Harvey Weinsteins list of contacts with a special asterisk that identified Harvey Weinsteins girls, his many sexual partners, the lawsuit said, adding that Weinstein also ordered Rehal to obtain and set up an apartment close to the office for him to use with one of his sexual liaisons, and purchase lingerie for the woman in that apartment as well as gifts for other women. Weinstein, who is already facing similar investigations by police in New York and Los Angeles, has denied the latest allegations. Weinstein categorically denies these claims, said his spokeswoman Holly Baird. She said Weinsteins lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue. The lawsuit also names his brother Bob Weinstein and their human resources head, Frank Gill, along with their company. Rehal said she had no choice but to leave the job that she needed to support herself. As a result of the hostile work environment caused by sexual harassment, Ms Rehal has suffered, and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem, the complaint said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 27 The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, has expressed deep condolences on behalf of the varsity fraternity on the sad demise of Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat in Chandigarh today. Remembering Dr Kalkat, Dr Dhillon said, He was a man of varied attainments, who dedicated a substantial part of his time, energy and life to the farming community. The right mix of brain, heart, talent and faith, Dr Kalkat worked with farmers at the grass-root level to solve their problems and understand their needs. Not only did Dr Kalkat have the ability to communicate a vision clearly and contagiously, he also possessed the determination for its logical transference and precise execution to reach a valid conclusion, he added. This thinker and a feeler rolled into one played an important role in the agricultural development of the country. He will be truly missed, said the VC. Dr AS Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, said, The vacuum created by the death of Dr Kalkat can never be filled. He was a man with a vision, far sightedness and a good strategist. He was a patient listener and used to adopt good points from others. He was a link between the government and farmers. He could feel pulse of farmers. As he was not linked with any political party everybody gave due respect and importance to his advice. We have lost a son and visionary today. Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Editor (retd), Centre for Communication and International Linkages, PAU, said, Dr Kalkats death is a personal loss to me as he was a good friend of mine. He was a cool headed, soft spoken and fatherly figure for many. Many people sought advise from him. During the time of Green Revolution he was given had responsibility of co-ordination between co-operatives and the Agriculture Department. He worked day and night for its success. He was a man, who worked hard in the background and brought results. He used to speak with same politeness as with a Dean and a class four employee. He will be greatly missed. Basic schooling in Sahiwal Born at village Sahora in Hoshiarpur on June 17, 1926, Dr Kalkat had his initial schooling at Sahiwal in Montgomery district, now in Pakistan. He did his BSc (Agriculture) from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now Pakistan), in 1947. He was declared the all-round best student of the year 1946-47. He did his masters in agriculture from the Panjab University, Solan, in 1956. As a Rockfeller Fellow, he joined the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (USA) in January 1957 and completed his PhD in agricultural zoology entomology in December 1958. Later, he was honoured with the Distinguished International Student Award of the Ohio State University, USA. Career as Deputy Director Dr Kalkat became Deputy Director Agriculture, Punjab (India), in 1960. He was appointed as Director Agriculture, Punjab, in 1971. His perceptive thought for successful agriculture moved him towards building a system in which transfer of technology could be supported by all the necessary inputs. System of coordination He developed a system of coordination with Punjab Agricultural University, both at the headquarters and at the field level, which ensured coordinated approach for timely flow of technical information to the agricultural field staff and farmers. Synchronising programmes He was appointed as Agriculture Commissioner/Additional Secretary Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India (1973-1978). At the national level, he coordinated various agricultural development programmes of the states with Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and National Seeds Corporation for requisite production of seeds of varieties/hybrids needed for different regions of the country. He was ex-officio Vice Chairman of Central Commodity Committees for major commodities established by the Government of India. Stint with World Bank The vast repertoire of assignments that Dr Kalkat undertook also includes working as a Senior Agriculturist with the World Bank. He was stationed at Washington DC, USA, from 1978-1989. During this period, he worked on agriculture and rural development programmes of Nigeria and Ghana. He was pioneer in introducing shallow tubewells for irrigation and hand pumps for the purpose of drinking water in Nigeria. He also supervised the implementation of World Bank assisted programmes in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia. He ably held the reins of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, as the Vice-Chancellor from April 1998 to March 2001. Member of commission Dr Kalkat worked as a member of the Steering Group of the Planning Commission, Government of India, which helped devise National Agriculture Development Programme . Chairman of farmers panel Dr Kalkat was appointed as the first Chairman of the Punjab State Farmers Commission since June 2005. He worked on this position for 12 long years. Role in Green Revolution During Dr Kalkats tenure as Director, Agriculture, Punjab, and Agriculture Commissioner/Additional Secretary, Government of India, the country witnessed Green Revolution and became self reliant in food. The chairman of the NAAS in his communication to Dr Kalkat stated, The deliberations recalled your contributions that turned food shortage to self-sufficiency in the country. I will like to once again thank you for your leadership in Green Revolution in the country and guidance over the years, he further added. Quotes ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 27 Continuing with his diplomatic engagement with ASEAN leaders, Prime Minister Modi today held delegation-level talks with Cambodian PM Samdech Hun Sen. The two sides discussed cooperation in development partnership, defence, trade and investment, energy conservation, agriculture and tourism. Four MoUs were signed, including mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The delegations discussed the possibility of extending the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway further to Cambodia and beyond and expand air connectivity. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Resonating with the Delhi Declaration issued after the ASEAN-India summit, the India-Cambodia joint statement stressed on security of sea lanes of communication to maintain peace and ensure safety and security of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. They also agreed that peace and maritime security is important for both countries. To that end, they support complete freedom of navigation and overflight and pacific resolution of maritime issues based on international law notably the 1982 UNCLOS, added the joint statement. Earlier on Friday, Modi held bilateral discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Indonesia has proposed to invite countries in the region to discuss the Indo-Pacific concept. The two sides sought to strengthen the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The Indonesian President lent his support for the concept of Indo-Pacific during his meeting with Modi, said Preeti Saran, Secretary East in MEA. Defence, security, trade and investment, counter terrorism and people-to-people links figured prominently in Narendra Modis bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Ink four pacts ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 27 Last year, those expecting a big boost in the Budget for environment and climate change were in for a surprise when the Finance Minister did not even mention the sector except the second phase of the national Solar Mission. Solar power has become Indias priority since 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Global Solar Alliance in Paris to create India as manufacturing and research hub for solar technologies. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Finance Minister is expected to make some definite announcements to tackle environment-related issues. The Paris Agreement has set the limit of global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius by the turn of the century. Global average temperature has already gone past 1 C and expected to exceed the lower limit by middle of the century. Climate actions by India to counter are expected to exceed Rs 150 lakh crore at 2014-15 prices by 2030. All of it will not come from budgetary allocations alone, say officials, while debunking the contention that last years Budget figures did not reflect the governments ambitions regarding Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. Last year, allocation for the Environment Ministry increased by Rs 300 crore to Rs 2,657 crore. The Ministry saw an increase of almost 70 per cent in three years, say environmentalists. However, most of the budgeted amount catered to administrative costs and not much was left to address the issues concerning the environment, they added. When Modi chose Varanasi for his Lok Sabha debut in 2014, he promised to turn around the fate of Ganga. Soon, his government launched Rs 20,000-crore Namami Gange plan. However, a year before General Elections, environmentalists claim rather than improving matters have worsened. Three-fourth of the waste from northern plains continues to flow into the holy river untreated. Another five years is what he (the PM) will ask when he goes to Varanasi next year, says environmentalist Himanshu Thakkar. Recently at the Global Economic Forum in Davos, Modi made a strong pitch for climate change, terming it the first challenge facing civilisation. Glaciers are melting and Arctic ice caps are retreating, he said taking on countries like the US for ditching the Paris Climate Accord of 2017. Back home environmentalists wonder about efforts his government had made to control air and river pollution in the past three years. As the BJP-led NDA approaches its last opportunity to highlight priorities on climate change and environment in the 2018 Budget, it should keep in mind some harsh realities. Air pollution/stubble-burning India may have made it to the 100 club on the World Banks ease of doing business index, but so far as environmental health is concerned it ranks a dismal 177 among 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index 2018, said the report released on the sidelines of the Davos summit. Indias low scores are influenced by poor performance in the environmental health policy objective. Pollution from solid fuels, coal and crop residue burning and emissions from motor vehicles continue to degrade the air quality, it said. Climate change Multiple strategies, programmes and announcements alone are not enough to resolve an issue it is the lesson to be learnt from the state of Ganga today. Environment and climate change are all about business and money, these are also emotional issues, requiring peoples participation. So far, whether it is river linking, commissioning of STPs, developing river fronts waterways/ river ports or the ambitious solar mission, strategies seem to be more commerce-related. amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, January 27 The Congress on Saturday released the names of its candidates for Meghalaya and Tripura Assembly elections to be held next month, with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma contesting from two seats. The party released a list of 57 candidates in Meghalaya and 56 in Tripura. The strength of the two assemblies is 60 members each. The Congress is seeking to come back to power in Meghalaya and ousting the CPI(M) in Tripura where the Left front has been in power for the last 25 years. According to the list, the Meghalaya chief minister will be contesting from Songsak and Ampathi constituencies. Tripura will go to polls on February 18, followed by Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The counting of votes will take place in three states on March three. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Suhail A Shah Anantnag, January 27 Two boys were killed and another critically injured after Army personnel opened fire at local youths who pelted an Army convoy with stones here in Shopian district, around 50 km south of Srinagar city, today. The slain youngsters have been identified as Suhail Javaid Lone, a class XII student and resident of Narpora, Shopian; and Javaid Ahmad Bhat, a BA-I student and resident of Ganawpora, Shopian. The injured civilian with a bullet injury to his head has been identified as 22-year-old Rayees Ahmad Ganaie, also a resident of Shopian district. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) As per sources, an Army convoy that was passing through Ganawpora village came under stone pelting from some youths. The Army men retaliated by firing live ammunition. The area was observing a shutdown against the killing of two local militants and a civilian on January 24. The Army maintained that its personnel fired in self-defence after a mob of more than 250 stone-throwing people attacked an isolated section of the convoy. The police have registered an FIR against the Army party that was patrolling the area. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. CM dials Nirmala Jammu: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday evening spoke to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and expressed anguish over the loss of lives. She said every civilian killing impaired the political process in the state. Sitharaman assured to seek a detailed report and impress upon the field formations that mechanisms put in place were strictly adhered to. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 27 He saw the farmers rise, then fall, and died while struggling to make governments come to their rescue. Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, one of the founding fathers of Punjabs Green Revolution, passed away today after a brief illness. He was 91. A former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Dr Kalkat was undergoing treatment at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Appointed Deputy Director of Punjab Agriculture Department in 1960, he had a gigantic task before him. Despite the fertile land, primitive agricultural practices posed an impediment. Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Commissioner, Agriculture, who had a long association with Dr Kalkat, recalls: The country imported 18,000 tonnes of dwarf wheat seed from Mexico to be distributed in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. UP said it was too late to sow, Haryana followed suit. But Kalkat accepted the challenge. Packed in small bags, he and his staff visited villages and convinced the farmers to sow the seeds. And thus began the story of the Green Revolution! Dr Kalkat also contributed to introducing apple cultivation in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Five decades down the line, experts believe that from tubewell irrigation to distributing fertilisers to installing diesel pumps and setting up grain markets, he was instrumental in building a system which ushered in the Green Revolution, says PS Rangi, who was a member of the Punjab State Farmers Commission of which Dr Kalkat was the founder chairman. In 1971, Dr Kalkat became the Director of Agriculture, Punjab. He rose to become Commissioner, Agriculture, Government of India, where he was instrumental in developing programmes for various crops. At the international level, he served as a senior agriculturist with the World Bank. Appointed Vice -Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, in 1998, he resigned after three years, citing inadequate funds for research. As chairman of the Punjab Farmers Commission, he came up with a state agriculture policy, which was never implemented. He introduced the concept of agriculture cooperative societies to help small and medium farmers and suggested a price stabilisation fund to help farmers diversify. But none paid heed. About Dr GS Kalkat ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 27 Eluding the police for over a year, notorious gangster and Nabha jailbreak mastermind Vicky Gounder and his accomplice Prema Lahoria were killed in a fierce encounter in Sriganganagars Pakki village on the Rajasthan-Punjab border on Friday evening. In the 16-minute gunfight, 40 shots were fired. Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh and ASI Kirpal Singh were grievously injured. Gounder carried a reward of Rs 7 lakh on his head. Read: A 35-member Punjab Police team led by AIG (Organised Crime Control Unit) Gurmeet Chauhan and Inspector Bikramjit Brar of the CIA, Rajpura, zeroed in on a dhani (house in the fields) owned by Lakhwinder Singh. As Lakwinder stepped out at 4.30 pm, we took him away for questioning. As soon as he confirmed that Gounder, Lahoria and their accomplice were hiding inside, we got going, said Chauhan. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Five police teams were formed, DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta said. Three kept a watch on the three entrances, one was stationed outside to cover the escape route and another on the roof of the house. Lahoria was the first to come out. Sensing trouble, he tried to scale a wall to flee, firing at the policemen. He was shot. Gounder tried to flee through the main door along with an aide, firing indiscriminately and injuring two policemen. Both were shot. Gounder died on the spot and an aide in hospital, the DGP said. The police obtained vital clues after Inderjit Sandhu was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport in December last. We found some diaries in which he had mentioned phone numbers in code language. On December 27, we got a tipoff that the suspects had been seen in Abohar moving in a Swift Dzire car with a Haryana number plate (which was later found to be fake). We tracked the vehicle and zeroed in on the hideout, explained Chauhan. Gounder alias Harjinder Bhullar (27) alias Jinder, who belonged to Sarawan Bodla village in Lambi, Bathinda, had fled the maximum-security Nabha jail on November 27, 2016. He was the prime accused in gangster Sukha Kahlwans killing. Wanted in more than 10 cases of murder, gangwar, jailbreak, extortion and smuggling, Gounder was under watch for his possible links with radicals as well as Pakistans ISI. He had recently obtained an automatic assault rifle from Pakistan through his handler Ramanjit Singh alias Romi (Hong Kong), also wanted by the Punjab Police. Romi may have had a role in the targeted killings in Ludhiana and Jalandhar in 2016-2017, top police officials said. Later in the evening, DGP Suresh Arora and DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta said three pistols two of .32 bore and one of .30 bore and a large quantity of ammunition were found at the encounter site, besides cellphones and dongles used for communication. Gounder was using the social media to issue threats to rival gangs and police officers. He was using multiple Facebook accounts operated through accomplices in various countries, including the Gulf nations, Cyprus and Germany, DGP Dinkar said, adding that the most followed account had more than one lakh followers and collectively Gounder had 4-5 lakh followers. Prem Singh alias Prema Lahoria, another A category gangster, carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head. (With inputs by Raj Sadosh in Abohar) Rajasthan SIT Abohar: The Rajasthan Police have decided to constitute a SIT to probe the encounter. Forensic experts from Bikaner have reportedly inspected the encounter site. Besides, Sriganganagar District Collector Gyana Ram has asked SDM Yash Pal Ahuja to hold an inquiry.. CHEQUERED PAST rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, January 26 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 Indias fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the countrys 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 8-km 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 Prime Minister Narendra 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. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Myanmars 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 Bruneis 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 one another 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. Indias former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister 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 Armys 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, 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 Navys Tableau showcased the theme Indian NavyCombat 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 that featured Modis 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 boys. In the childrens section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi, along with a group of schoolchildren 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 Kovind also waved to the crowd after the conclusion of the ceremony and were greeted with loud cheers. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com United Nations, January 27 Days after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ruled out any mediation effort between India and Pakistan, Islamabads top envoy to the world body raised the Kashmir issue during a UN Security Council debate on the Middle East. As usual there were no takers for Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, during the debate on the current volatile situation in the Middle East. Pakistan will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, as indeed, people living under foreign occupation elsewhere as for example in Kashmir, Lodhi said while participating in the Security Council discussion on Thursday. This esteemed body must live up to its responsibilities and ensure the implementation of its own resolutions on Palestine and other longstanding disputes such as Kashmir so that people of the world do not lose entire faith in the United Nations, she said. Earlier this week, the UN had ruled out any mediation effort on Kashmir and encouraged India and Pakistan to address all their outstanding issues through dialogue. Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained recently following a series of attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups and incidents of ceasefire violations, causing casualties on both sides. India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Our Correspondent Jaipur, January 27 Central Board of Film Certification Chairperson Prasoon Joshi has pulled out of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) in the wake of Padmaavat controversy. Joshi said he did not want the dignity of the prestigious event to be compromised. Joshis statement came following threats from the Sri Rajput Karni Sena which had attacked him for clearing Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat and had protested the JLFs invitation to him. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The CBFC chief was scheduled to be in conversation with the writer and filmmaker Anu Singh Choudhury on Sunday. I will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers, Joshi said. Karni Sena patron Lokendra Kalvi and President Mahipal Makrana said, Prasoonji must have consulted Bhansali for the treatment he met last year in Jaipur last year. He was seriously scared, but wise enough by making a statement at JLF where everyone wants to lecture on literature-art-culture-cinema. editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 27 As many as 533 gangsters and their accomplices have been nabbed in Punjab in last one year only. The police have recovered Rs 1.7 crore, 189 vehicles and 97 weapons from their possession. The development has stressed the need to deal with the menace with an iron hand. Read: With one of the most wanted Vicky Gounder and his aide Prema Lahoria killed in an encounter yesterday after evading arrest for almost 14 months, DGP Suresh Arora used this opportunity once again to raise the demand for enacting the controversial Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA). Talking about the achievement, DGP-Intelligence Dinkar Gupta said 21 of the 38 gangsters, who were listed in top two categories, based on their criminal record, potential and present activity, had been nabbed in last nine months. The police had prepared a list of 650 gangsters out of which 533 had been arrested and a few killed. That leaves 117 still absconding, including five most wanted Jaipal, Dilpreet Singh, Satnam Singh alias Rinda, Gopi Ghanshampuria and Harry Chatha. Not just that, a dangerous trend of gangsters link with terrorist groups, especially those supported by Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has also been established. The police have recently issued Red Corner Notice for a Hong Kong-based man, identified as Romi for funding and giving logistic support to terrorists (accused in targeted killings), smugglers and gangsters. The police are stressing for PCOCA for almost two years now, but the legislatures and human right activists have been worried about the chances of its misuse. Under the proposed Act, confession statement given to a senior rank officer would be admissible as evidence in the court. So far, the conviction rate of gangsters is zero. As per police records, about 50 gangsters were acquitted in 2015-16 for want of a witness against them. The present government is yet to table the Act. A committee of MLAs led by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Brahm Mohindra has been tasked to study the proposed Act, but the committee hasnt been able to meet much so far. DGP Suresh Arora, justifying the need for PCOCA, said: As a policeman, I feel a stringent law is one of the most potent ways among others to wean the youth away from the illusion of a glamorous life of a gangster. Crime never pays. It is always a matter of time before the law catches up, said Arora. He revealed that the police were trying various behind-the-scene activities to wean these misled youths away from the world of crime. We keep telling the gangsters about the futility of their life. Some of them have been saved from reaching the point of no return, he said. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 27 Eminent agricultural scientist Gurcharan Singh Kalkat passed away at PGIMER here on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 92. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Kalkat was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his work. Born in Hoshiarpur's Sahora village on June 17, 1926, Kalkat obtained his BSc Agriculture degree from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now Pakistan) in 1947. As a Rockfeller Fellow, he joined the Ohio State University in January 1957 and completed his PhD in agricultural zoology-entomology in December 1958. He was later honoured with the "Distinguished International Student Award" of the university. Kalkat also worked as a senior agriculturist with the World Bank. He was stationed at Washington DC from 1978-1989. During this period, he worked on agriculture and rural development programmes of Nigeria and Ghana and he was a pioneer in introducing shallow tubewells for irrigation and hand pumps for the purpose of drinking water in Nigeria. He also supervised the implementation of World Bank assisted programmes in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia. Kalkat also held the reins of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as its vice-chancellor from 1998 to 2001. During his tenure, he identified the priority areas to find the problems of farmers and farming in consultation with agricultural economists and farm scientists, a PAU release said. During his tenure as the director agriculture, Punjab and agriculture commissioner/additional secretary, the country witnessed Green Revolution. In his condolence message, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said Kalkat was a pioneer in bringing several exemplary reforms in the field of agriculture besides unleashing the green revolution in the state. He recalled Kalkats immense contribution to ensure overall development and phenomenal growth in the agriculture sector. Recalling his outstanding services, the CM said Kalkat worked tirelessly throughout his life for the welfare and prosperity of the farmers, besides introducing new farm practices to enhance the agriculture production, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Sharing his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family, relatives and friends of Kalkat, Captain Amarinder Singh prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul. editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, January 27 Former Congress leader and MP from Faridkot Jagmeet Singh Brar today announced his resignation as Punjab Trinamool Congress chief, fuelling speculation of his ghar wapasi to the Congress. Brar was appointed the state Trinamool Congress chief in November 2016 before elections. He had earlier burnt his fingers with the Congress by questioning the leadership of Gandhis following the partys rout in 2014 General Elections. Brar said he handed over his resignation to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata last week. He cited Mamata Banerjees lack of interest in Punjab and his own inability to meet his leader as the reason for his decision. In the letter to Banerjee, Brar stated, Despite my repeated efforts to contact you, both from Delhi as well as Kolkata, I and my supporters have been left completely disheartened. Ive invested both energy and means in our common cause, but it shows that youve lost interest in Punjab. Brar said he will tour Punjab and consult his friends before deciding the next course of action. When asked if he could return to his home party, he remained silent. TNS Party expansion plan hit Kolkata: The exit of former Congress leader and MP from Faridkot Jagmeet Singh Brar is yet another blow for the Mamata Banerjee-led partys dream of expanding beyond Bengal. Last year, the party faced similar setbacks in Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Politicians are leaving TMC because they can sense that the party has no future. Even in West Bengal, some TMC leaders have shifted allegiance to the BJP and many more are willing to do so, Rahul Sinha, BJP national secretary, said. tns editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 27 Operation Day Break was the code name for the Fridays 16-minute encounter, which took almost over 14 months for execution by a dedicated team of officers that resulted in the death of Vicky Gounder and his two accomplices. Ever since Gounders escape from the Nabha jail on November 27, 2016, the state police had been on their toes. Read: A team of 24 cops drawn from the Organised Crime Control Unit with three vehicles two Mahindra Scorpios and one Bolero travelled roughly over 1.5 lakh km across eight states in his search. The team, headed by AIG Gurmeet Chauhan and Inspector Bikramjit Brar, used intelligence, technology and ample ground work. We travelled to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Mumbai and parts of Punjab, said Brar. We were close to arrest him in Amritsar last year, but he managed to escape, while our raids in MP and UP did not yield. The travel was hectic sometimes, but motivation from the seniors kept us going, he said. Sources said the team relied on leads through phone intercepts used from inside Punjab jails and also from gangsters arrested from various parts of the country. However, nothing significant came to the fore, they said. A major lead came after the arrest of Inderjit Sandhu. Last month, we tracked a number and zeroed in on Lakwinder Singh, who was staying in a remote village, Pakki. For 10 days, we did a recce and found that ration bought by Lakhwinder had increased suddenly, which raised our suspicion since he had a small family, said Brar. Chauhan said: After we made sure that the gangsters are hiding in that house, we launched Operation Day Break, which was a success given the fact that we avoided causalities on our side. editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 27 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appealed to farmers to not resort to suicides and have faith in his government. He said his government was committed to working for the total implementation of its farm debt waiver programme by November 2018. He released benefits under a scheme aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of society. In his brief speech after taking the salute and unfurling the National Flag during the Republic Day parade at the YPS Stadium in Patiala, the Chief Minister said each of the 10.25 lakh farmers covered under the debt waiver scheme would receive its benefit by November. For the development of Patiala, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 45 crore for rural areas and Rs 5 crore for urban areas over and above Rs 100 crore already announced by him for the upgrade of infrastructure in the district. Launching the benefits under the Mahatama Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana, Amarinder said the programmes objective was to give the distressed sections of society all the help they needed, socially, economically or psychologically. The government had identified a large number of such people who had so far been deprived of pro-poor initiatives, he said, adding that of these, 2 lakh people would start getting the benefits of 20 different schemes of the government from today. Will keep raising issues: Sidhu Sangrur: Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said he was deeply hurt for not being involved in the election process of local bodies, but had moved on to focus on his work. While presiding over a Republic Day function in Sangrur, he said he would keep raising his voice for the welfare of the state. TNS No sweets offered on border Amritsar: On Republic Day, the Border Security Force skipped its practice of offering sweets to its Pakistani counterparts. The repeated ceasefire violations at the LoC and the international border in J&K leading to the loss of lives of Indian soldiers is believed to be the cause.In 2015 and 2016 too, the two forces did not exchange sweets. TNS gspannu7@gmail.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, January 26 Notorious gangster and Nabha jailbreak mastermind Vicky Gounder and his accomplice Prema Lahoriya were killed in an encounter with Punjab Police at a village in Sri Ganganagar district on the Punjab and Rajasthan border on Friday evening. Gounder was shot twice. The gangsters also fired over a dozen rounds at the police. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Another unknown accomplice of the gangsters has been rushed to Ganganagar hospital in Rajasthan where he is also reportedly critical. They were shot dead in a heavy exchange of fire. Two Punjab Police cops also sustained injuries in the abdomen and chest. The two policemen were referred to a hospital with serious injuries. A team headed by AIG Intelligence Gurmeet Chauhan and Inspector Bikramjit Brar shot dead the duo. Harjinder Bhullar (27) alias Jinder alias Vicky Gounder was the son of farmer Mehal Singh Bhullar, of Sarawan Bodla village in former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badals home turf Lambi. Gounder was one of the deadliest gangsters of the state, who broke out of maximum-security Nabha jail on November 27 in 2016. Gounder (meaning a goon in local parlance) was the prime accused in the killing of Sukha Kahlwan, a gangster. He had allegedly danced over the body and filmed the act before fleeing. His audacity and claim to fame is he once uploaded a post on Facebook and dared the then Bathinda SSP to arrest him. A 20-member police team took part in the operation in which the two gangsters were shot dead. 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. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 26, 2018 The gangsters were hiding in the village since Thursday night and the police were tracking their movement. The alleged lead came from within a jail in Punjab where a phone call was intercepted between a lodged gangster and an outsider in Delhi. Police acted on the tip off and conducted a raid. Read: Nabha jailbreak: KLF chief, 5 others freed 4 mins is all it took to flee Nabha jail Know the Nabha prison escapees Gounder's aide posed as prisoner during jailbreak Gounder killed his sporting career Gounder 'active' on FB, cops on trail Gounder may be killed in encounter, fears family The gangs of 'prosperous' Punjab Centre seeks report from Punjab Government on Nabha jailbreak Amarinder accuses Badal govt of complicity in Nabha jailbreak Punjab Govt suspends DGP Prisons; dismisses two cops Woman killed as cops fire at vehicle jumping barricade post jailbreak rchopra@tribunemail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 27 Former Congress leader and two-time MP from Faridkot Jagmeet Singh Brar on Saturday announced his resignation as Punjab Trinamool Congress chief. Brar, 59, handed over his resignation to Trinamool Congress chief and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata last week. In an exclusive conversation with The Tribune on Saturday, he said he had resigned following his failure to meet Banerjee over the past some months. He wrote the following in his resignation letter to Banerjee, Despite my repeated efforts to contact you, both from Delhi as well as Kolkata, I, along with my supporters, have been left completely disheartened. Ive invested both energy and means in our common cause, but it shows that youve lost interest in Punjab. Therefore, I hereby resign from the presidentship of the Punjab TMC with immediate effect. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Brar said he would consult his supporters and tour Punjab before announcing his next move. I have personally handed over my resignation letter as president of the Punjab Trinmool Congress to the president of the All India Trinmool Congress Mamata Banerjee at her residence in Kolkata last week. I have also thanked her for giving me an opportunity to serve as the president of the Punjab unit, Brar said, adding that in the coming few days, he would consult his friends and well-wishers across Punjab to decide the future course of action. Brar, a former Congress Working Committee member and AICC general secretary, had quit the Congress ahead of the state Assembly elections and had joined TMC which failed to create a splash in Punjab. A two-term MP from Faridkot (1991-1996) and (1999-2004), Brar rose to fame when he defeated then Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections. General secretary of the Punjab PCC during the peak period of terrorism with Beant Singh, the former CM, Brar openly criticised the Gandhis after the 2014 Lok Sabha debacle advising them to go on leave and hand over the party to someone else. Brar has been a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for 10 years, general secretary of the AICC from 2010 to 2013 and secretary, AICC, from 1999 to 2010. He was also general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress from 1983 to 1989. He lost two Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2009 by a narrow margin. Brars exit is bound to raise speculation around whether he was hoping to return to the Congress. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Patiala, January 27 Two .32 bore pitstols, one .30 bore pistol and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the possession of gangsters Vicky Gounder and Prema Lahoriya who were killed in an encounter on Friday, senior police officials said today. Mobile phones and dongles, used for communication through social media, and a Swift Dzire car with fake number plate were also recovered from the house. Many fake number plates were also recovered from their place of hiding, police said. Read: Gangsters Vicky Gounder, Prema Lahoriya shot dead Gounder, Nabha jailbreak mastermind who had a reward of Rs 7 lakh by Punjab Police and another from Rajasthan Police, was using social media as a tool to create terror and issue threats to rival gangs and police officers. He was using multiple Facebook accounts, operated through associates in various countries, including the Gulf nations, Cyprus and Germany, said DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta, adding that the most followed account had more than 1 lakh followers and collectively, Gounder had around 4-5 lakh FB followers. A proclaimed offender, wanted in 10 cases of murder, gang-war, jailbreak, extortion, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, etc., Gounder was under examination for his possible links with militant/radical elements as well as ISI. Recently, he got a delivery of an automatic assault rifle from Pakistan through his close associate and handler, Ramanjit Singh, alias Romi (Hong Kong), who is also wanted by Punjab Police and against whom a Red Corner notice has been issued. The possible role of Romi is also being examined in targeted killings in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Prem Singh alias Prema Lahoriya, another 'A' category gangster having a reward of Rs 2 lakh, was also a proclaimed offender wanted in 10 cases of murder, gang-war, jailbreak, extortion, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, etc. On the statement of Inspector Bikramjit Brar, FIR under Sections 307, 332 and 34 of the IPC and various sections of the Arms Act, was registered at Hindumal Kot police station in Ganganagar (Rajasthan). editorial@tribune.com Pushpa Girimaji I have a peculiar problem. As I do not have any parents or siblings and am a middle-aged divorcee, I contacted an online marriage bureau that claimed to specialise in matchmaking for people like me. Their charges were high and included the optional charge of Rs 25,000 for doing a thorough background check on the prospective grooms. I opted for that and paid them the sum. After about three months, they sent me the details of three men, out of whom I chose one as our interests seemed to match. First we corresponded over e-mail as he did not live in India and then met three times. We then decided to get married. Just two days before our marriage, a friend who came to attend it, saw his photo and said he was a trickster who had cheated several women. I thought my friend had mistaken him for someone else. But when I mentioned this to him over phone as a joke, he suddenly got very angry and called off the wedding! I realised my friend was right. I could not contact him ever again on his cell number. I was lucky enough to escape the clutches of this man, but I could well have been a victim. I want the man caught and punished. How do I do this? You must give his picture to the cybercell of the local police, which specialises in these kinds of cases and lodge a complaint so that he is brought to book. You may be able to file the complaint online. For all you know, they may well have this man on their radar. You can also warn others about the man through social media. You are really lucky that you escaped marrying this man and losing your money. Only recently, I read about a similar case, where the man told his wife-to-be that he had landed in Delhi and had been detained by customs as he was carrying expensive jewellery and gifts for her and needed to pay a duty of Rs 7.5 lakhs, which he did not have with him. The woman, a resident of Hyderabad, transferred the money to his account and then never heard from him. This marriage was also fixed through a matrimonial website! If you talk to the cyber police (Economic Offences Wing) in different cities or districts, you will hear about many such cases from them. Unfortunately, people do not always complain and this helps the culprits escape. I would also suggest that you look at the websites of cyber cells (www.cybercelldelhi.in for example) to understand the precautions that one needs to take against online frauds. I would suggest that you lodge a complaint against the matrimonial website too as they may well be hand in glove with this fraudster. I must mention that different kinds of cyber crimes are on the increase these days and one needs to be extra-careful. As per the National Crime Records Bureau, cyber crimes (reported cases) increased from 9,622 in 2014 to 12, 317 in 2016. The marriage bureau is saying that their checks had found him to be a decent man and that they do not believe he is a cheat. They are also saying that they have done due diligence and cannot be held liable for the cancellation of the marriage. What should I do? If he is not a cheat, let the marriage bureau produce him or get him to respond to your phone calls. The matrimonial website cannot escape liability in this case, particularly because they collected money specifically for doing a background check on the man and cleared him. Its only on the basis of their assurance that you decide to marry this man. I would suggest that you file a case against the marriage bureau before the consumer court, seeking not just refund of the money paid by you, but also compensation for the money spent by you on the wedding arrangements and the mental anguish that you suffered as a result of their negligent and deficient service. By filing this case, you are teaching the bureau a lesson and also warning others about it. I must also tell you that consumer courts are handling many such cases these days and are awarding decent compensation, costs and punitive damages, besides ordering refund of the money paid to the matrimonial websites. Harish Khare Michael Wolffs book, FIRE AND FURY Inside the Trump White House, has become a bestseller worldwide because it has all the ingredients of a potboiler an absorbing story, bracingly told, of struggle for access and influence over the mind of a man most underprepared to discharge the most powerful and most consequential office in the world. It is a vastly entertaining and, at the same time, a deeply unsettling book, primarily because it is based on inside sources and their unvarnished recollections and oven-fresh memories. The Trump White House is a thoroughly factionalised place as the crowd of hustlers and ideologues is trying to evolve a working protocol. The primary fight is between the Jarvanka faction (daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner and the Goldman Sachs executives they have tapped for the White House slots) and the Banonites (Steve Bannon, the absolutist right-winger, an ultimate anti-system man and his ideological cronies). The Bannonites see Kushner as a figure of heightened foolishness and ridicule while Bannon is portrayed as an antisocial, maladjusted, post-middle-age man who had to make a supreme effort to get along with others, an effort that did not go well. The Jarvanka clique wins, and within less than a year, Steve Bannon is disrobed and exiled (only to become the primary source for Michael Wolff). The Trump White House has turned out to be a completely family-centric arrangement. The worlds most institutionalised democracy has been reduced to a classic medieval court with family divisions morphing into factions, warring for the monarchs attention. And, what a monarch! The overall picture that emerges out of Wolffs account is one of a deeply dysfunctional President. Words which suggest themselves about the American President could include: crazy, weird, unhinged, unpredictable, erratic. He is shown as a man without any social discipline, who could not even attempt to imitate decorum. Trump is a man who has no interest in precision, or even any ability to be precise. And then, he is a man given to effortless cruelties. Not to be left out, of course, a cultivated crudeness. As the reader zips through this breezy account, a thought keeps coming back: how could America the country that boasts of evolved institutions and of foundations and universities elect this man as its President? The man, according to Wolff, offered his deeply distraught wife a solemn guarantee that there was simply no way he would win. And, yet he is voted to office. And, that invites another thought: either his rival Hillary Clinton must have run a most incompetent campaign or America has become a far more terrible a place than the impression the readers of The New York Times or The Washington Post have of the United States. Michael Wolffs book should be read by professional diplomats around the world. The United States, all said and done, is still the strongest power on earth; it still entertains a self-image of a responsible keeper of the world order; yet, in the White House sits a man who is intellectually ill-equipped and mentally deficient to discharge the obligations that go with the American global role. Certainly, the Indians ought to be wary of putting even a single egg in the Trump basket. **************** On Tuesday, we shall go through the ritual of observing the day of Mahatma Gandhis assassination at the hands of Nathu Ram Godse. Our designated functionaries would visit the Raj Ghat, ever mindful of the cameras; maybe, Richard Attenboroughs epic, Gandhi, would get screened and some in our country will get to know a bit about the greatest man the 20th century had produced. In our preoccupations with petty pursuits of power at all cost, we have denigrated the Mahatma to a chatur bania. Even otherwise, the Mahatma has been reduced to a distant inspiration, if at all; his abode in Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati Ashram, is increasingly made to do as the prop for photo-ops when this or that foreign leader drops by. It is important to remember and to remind ourselves again and again that this saint was killed, in cold blood, as he was on his way to the customary evening prayer. That was a murder, plain and simple. So un-Indian, so un-Bharatiya. Yet, he was assassinated by those who arrogated to themselves the right to represent the Hindu interests. For this bigoted crowd, this frail, saintly figure had become the greatest threat. He had been elevated to the enemy number one status because his feeble body and faltering voice still commanded a moral authority with the Indian masses; and, in the midst of all that madness and blood-thirstiness after August 15, 1947, this man was still insisting on singing a song of sanity and ahimsa. He had to be shut up, once and for all. That is why those shots rang out at the Birla House 70 years ago on January 30. Those who thought that by killing him physically, they would be able to obliterate all that he had taught us as a nation are still a disappointed bunch. The killers won a physical battle, but lost the moral and ethical war. The Gandhi killers have not given up nor, has India given up on the Mahatma. **************** It was somewhat surprising to read in the newspapers that the Punjab BJP chief, Vijay Sampla, had written to the Akal Takht authorities to take steps to curb casteism in gurdwaras. In particular, the BJP leader has expressed his disapproval of the fact that in some villages, the Dalits were not allowed in gurdwaras and were even forced to have separate cremation grounds. Mr Sampla and his party, the BJP, have been a coalition partner with the Akali Dal in Punjab for a decade; indeed, the BJP-Akali Dal alliance is a very old arrangement. It is also widely understood that it is the Akali Dal (read the Badals) that controls the Sikhs religious institutions, through its sway over the SGPC. Now, why should Mr Sampla suddenly want to make an issue of the Dalit Sikhs being discriminated against? It is not as if the discrimination began last week. Sampla has been around Punjab for some time and must be presumed to be fairly well versed in the social practices in all religious groups. Mr Sampla would not want us to believe that he has discovered these unhappy goings-on just now. In any case, sociologists and others have extensively written about this divide, which, of course, is very much contrary to what the Sikh Gurus have preached from the very beginning. Why did the BJP leadership not raise the issue when the Badals were in power in Punjab? Is this a prelude to the BJP walking out on the Akalis? Or, is the Hindutva fringe out to light up one more fire of social turmoil, all in the hope of garnering a few more votes? **************** Last Thursday, I was at Chandimandir, the Western Commands headquarters of the Indian Army, for an interaction between the media and the officers in a symposium. Despite my somewhat blunt observations about our armed forces at the symposium, Lt-Gen Surinder Singh, GOC, was very gracious in acknowledging that a contrary view was always welcome. Over lunch, the informal chat with the officers was most pleasing. There was no bragging, no bluster, no bluff, no false machoism. I found Lt-Gen Surinder Singh to be particularly level-headed, very centred. I came back reassured that the defence of our country is in the hands of intelligent, bright, and dedicated officers. I raise, in salute, my cup of coffee to the Chandimandir brass. Join me. kaffeeklatsch@tribuneindia.com Harvinder Khetal Harvinder Khetal The role of a free press is to serve the governed, not the governors. It was this dialogue that stayed with me as I walked out of the theatre after watching the movie The Post last week. In the film, it was this realisation of working for the interests of the ruled rather than the rulers that becomes the deciding factor when the publisher and editors are faced with a dilemma: whether to publish the leaked sensitive Pentagon Papers of the Vietnam war or not. The Post offers a peek into the fascinating world of journalists, publishers and journalism. And that it is based on true events of The Washington Post in 1971 makes it all the more alluring. The movies depiction of the turmoil the publishers and editors go through in the run-up to the 1971 publication of the leaked Pentagon Papers that exposed successive Presidents efforts to mislead the public about the Vietnam war, cannot be called sensational. By incorporating the real audio of President Richard Nixon villainously issuing threats at that time, the audience is served a genuine proof that facts are not sensationalised for the sake of the film's agenda. Sensationalism reminds me of another oft-used term: yellow journalism. It was coined around 1898 when Joseph Pulitzers New York World was entangled in a circulation battle with William Randolph Hearsts New York Journal. Yellow journalism is a kind of journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers. It comes from the use of yellow ink in printing Yellow Kid, a cartoon strip in the New York World. Giving the ace director, Steven Spielberg, leeway for filmmaking techniques, The Post is quite an absorbing and riveting account of the brave decision taken by The Washington Post, then facing difficult times, financially. The New York Times had broken the story but was prohibited from running the full series after the Nixon administration won a court injunction. Thats when The Washington Post got hold of some secret documents and took up the story. It was the dialogue delivered at this crucial decisively moment that stood out for its pun value. Perhaps, the pun would have hit only those associated with the publishing and printing world. In the movie, while giving the go-ahead to run the story to the Editor Ben Bradlee (played by Tom Hanks), the publisher, Katherine Graham (Meryl Streeps), resolutely declares: I am going to bed! Those in the newspaper business would know what put to bed stands for in the journalism jargon. Editors on night shifts put to bed the paper when they have finalised work on the newspaper (or magazine) so that it is ready to go to press, ie when the edition of a newspaper etc heads to press and newsroom has signed off all pages. And when the printing department people say 'put to bed', it means they have locked up the types, plates into a form before printing. This term was commonly used and prevalent before the advent of computerised printing, the days till about the mid-eighties when linotype machines with hot metallic lead types were used. The Post, depicting the Newsroom of the year 1971 is, thus, also a peek into the history of journalism, something that most of today's journalists have only read about in books in the journalism school. History of journalism reminds me of Hicky. Yes, thats how I remembered my lesson back in the university: history-Hicky. Hickeys Bengal Gazette was the first major newspaper of India. Started in January 1780, the four-page English newspaper was published from Calcutta. Its founder was James Augustus Hicky, an Irishman who had previously spent two years in jail for debt. Hicky accused the members of the East India Company, including Governor-General Warren Hastings, of corruption. In retaliation, Hastings prohibited the post office from dispatching the paper, and later sued Hicky for libel. In November 1780, the India Gazette appeared; it supported the Company government. Well, well! It seems that the newspaper industry has been accosted by the same set of problems ever since its inception. And, apparently, The Post was put together by Spielberg post haste in six months, fuelled by the turn of events in the US over the past year. The story of freedom of the press remains relevant through the ages! The Post is timely in India also today, with a message about the importance of the freedom of the press. Though, of course, it depends on which angle you are looking at it from. By the way, in journalistic language, and angle is the emphasis chosen for a story, or the perspective from which a story is written. Then there are some sacred cows in the publishing world that influence the angle. A sacred cow is news or promotional material which a publisher or editor demands be published, often for personal reasons. But The Post has the ingredients to make headlines on its own merit. Let's see if like Jason Robards who won an Oscar for playing the role of The Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in All the Presidents Men, this movie also garners Academy awards. After all, the freedom of the press is of utmost significance. As Thomas Jefferson famously said: Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. hkhetal@gmail.com Minna Zutshi in Ludhiana Minna Zutshi in Ludhiana Healers practising holistic approach to human health take into account physical, social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, rational, irrational, conscious and unconscious aspects that cannot be dealt with in isolation. It was this belief that led Deepak Dudhmande to attempt an unconventional approach towards healing. He tried to weave in diverse systems an effort that continued till his death at an early age of 52 in January this year. Condolence meetings were organized in China and Taiwan for the healer who focused on Ayurveda and the traditional Chinese medicine. He travelled extensively around India and abroad to learn more and more about various healing systems. There was no one defining moment that led him to holistic healing, says his wife Tripti (Mrinalini) Dudhmande. Instead of taking a mechanical view of treatment, Dudhmande broadened his view of the Indian folk art healing, the Chinese system, Ayurveda, medical astrology, psychological counselling and artistic methodology. What he had was a rich and effective toolkit from which you can draw elements as per a persons requirement, says Tripti, who shared her late husbands keen interest. For better health, we do not need a bagful of medicines; lifestyle management is important. Deepak Dudhmandes connection with Ludhiana was coincidental. He was working with a pharmaceutical company when he was transferred to Ludhiana in 1997. He liked the city and decided to stay back. For the last about three years, when their son shifted to Delhi for higher education, the Dudhmandes decided to shuttle between Ludhiana and Delhi. Delhi is more convenient for our trips to Beijing. But Ludhiana remains our home, says Tripti. With a diploma in pharmaceutical science and studies in alternative medicine, counselling and behaviour therapy, Deepak Dudhmande had a special interest in ancient Indian texts. He believed that effortless treatment is possible. He also studied Gandh Chikitsa and Hasta Mudra (a part of Kundalini Yoga that believes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain). It is unfortunate that many healing methods are lost to us, says Tripti. Hardly anyone knows that there is flower fragrance therapy, which should not be confused with aromatherapy. The art of preserving flower fragrance, developed by Jain saints, is over 2,500 years old. It was Deepak Dudhmandes firm belief that simple steps done the right way help in healing. He studied the healing mudras (hand gestures). He used sound therapy, basing it on the premise that each existing object has a specific frequency or a set of frequencies which could be harnessed for therapeutic use. A very interesting therapy that he frequently used was the Friend Tree Therapy. Nature is endowed with a healing power and trees can help us de-stress, thereby aiding in the treatment of lifestyle diseases. Deepak Dudhmande was a man known to spread cheer and hope around him. He pushed himself tirelessly and travelled a lot; remained occupied with the work he was doing. Perhaps, this gave him little rest, says his wife. She would be with him most of the time. Holistic healing is not a quick-fix solution. It is a way of life that has to be practised, in fact lived, to derive the best benefits from it, she said. Prateek Chauhan in New Delhi Prateek Chauhan in New Delhi Those living in north-west Delhi know Metro Vihar as a go-to place to hire labourers for cheap. Madeenas family of three disabled husband Firoze and daughter is among hundreds who trudge to the nearby Bawana Industrial Area for odd jobs. January 20 was Saturday, so Firoze had expected no work for his wife and asked her to stay back. I cant; I would earn something extra on a holiday, Madeena told Firoze. That was last the couple saw each other. That day, the industrial area saw the worst fire since the 1997 Uphaar cinema tragedy in which 59 people had died. The January 20 toll stood 17 Madeena included; and more than 30 people were seriously injured. Madeena was supposedly working with a plastic slippers factory. Factory owner Manoj Jain and his partner Lalit Goel, instead, ran a business of cold firecrackers the combustible objects used in stage shows and during Holi celebrations. The reason for a high casualty figure is attributed to the fact that the factorys gate was locked from outside. When the fire broke out, there was no exit, says Chanchal (18), Madeenas co-worker. This factory started 15 days back. The manager came to our colony and promised jobs, saying he would pay us Rs 200 for a 12-hour day, recalls Chanchal. On our first day at the factory, I and my elder sister Rakhi were told to pack a palish-yellow powder into packets. After working for a few hours, I felt breathless and irritation in my eyes, so I told the owner that I wanted to go back home. He allowed us to leave. Delhi Fire Service (DFS) director Gopal Chand Mishra says there are 16,000 small-scale industries in Bawana. The unit was built in 100 square meters, which means it does not need a no-objection certificate from the Fire Department. The DFS provides licence to units measuring over 500 square meters. All factories are legally-bound to keep fire-fighting equipment. Their inspections are done annually. Yet most factories have illegal extensions, and leave no open area, said Mishra. According to Master Plan of Delhi-2021, the municipal corporation is mandated to stop any industrial activity not permitted in the NCT of Delhi, Mishra said. And thats where Manoj Jain and Lalit Goel stand on a slippery ground. The incendiary explosives were reportedly brought from Uttar Pradesh. At the Bawana unit, the powder would be mixed with colours and packed. We have also discovered that the accused were running a similar set-up nearby before shifting to the building on January 1, says Rajneesh Gupta, deputy commissioner of police (Rohini). The findings of the Forensic Science Laboratory corroborate the police version, says the DCP. The interim report of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), which is responsible for setting up industrial areas including the one in Bawana, found that the site was being used illegally to pack and store fireworks. In Bawana, none of the factories bears a name-plate, making it difficult to identify what factory it is or what is being done inside the locked gates. Factory workers say that this is done to ward off local goons. The police presence is thin there is only one post manned by around 10 policemen. It is unsafe to operate in the area, says a factory owner. Civic body officials, who are responsible for giving necessary permits to factories in the area, say they had received an online application for licence for the factory in 2014 but it was rejected. The North (Delhi Municipal) Corporation has not issued any licence on property number F-83, Sector-5, DSIIDC, in Bawana, says a senior official. The official said it also appeared that the sale of the factory was illegal since the name of the owner in the initial application received by the North Corporation was Uma Mittal. But the present proprietor is identified as Lalit Goel. Sale of factories is not allowed as per a court order since these industries have been relocated and the land has been provided to them at a subsidized rate, said the official. Jasmine Singh in Faridkot Jasmine Singh in Faridkot Village Bazidpur, about 110 km from Faridkot, is pretty much like any other village of Malwa, except in one respect: you may come across four members of a family suffering from serious disorders. Surinder Kumar (32) was employed in a fertilizer firm; he has skin cancer, his mentally challenged brother looks much older than his age and their mother is suffering from renal failure while father has a cardiac problem. In the same village, Rai Sahib (21) is recovering after kidney transplant. This is not a one-off case. In village Churi Wala, hardly 2 km ahead, in a family of four, three children are mentally challenged; their mother died of cancer and the father somehow drags on trying to make ends meet. Around 7 km ahead of Churi Wala, at Kikar Khera many villagers are either suffering from liver failure, skin cancer or are mentally challenged. A general physician would tell you the name of the disease and recommend a treatment, but the findings of Baba Farid Centre for Special Children a registered NGO bring out alarming facts. A study conducted by the Centre for 2009-18 suggests that heavy metals may be responsible for a steady decline in sperm count, disturbed ovulation cycles, increasing menstrual disorders, sterility, spontaneous abortions, premature births and birth defects. Children have become particularly vulnerable. They are weak and prone to multiple types of diseases. The findings The latest findings say there has been a massive increase in the prevalence of autism, mental retardation and learning disabilities. To assess the damage of toxic metals, the centre sent urine samples of 200 autistic children to a German lab, Micro Trace Minerals run by Dr E Blaurock-Busch, a known authority in heavy metal testing. We sent the samples to the German lab because in India we dont have such a biomedical assessment readily available, says Dr Pritpal of Baba Farid Centre. Out of 200 children, lead was found to be as high as 300mg in 94% (maximum permissible limit is 5 mg). Nickel was found to be as high as 150mg in 96% (maximum permissible limit should be less than 3 mg). Most of the heavy metals are toxic in nature and some (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, barium, nickel, aluminum and uranium etc.) are dangerously toxic. Most of these are not biodegradable, so their levels keep increasing. Such a high body burden of dangerously toxic metals should be taken as a warning signal, says Dr Pritpal Singh, a whistleblower on the issue of increasing uranium in water. The reason Dr Pritpal and his team regularly visit villages in and around Faridkot. They believe that these heavy metals are reaching the environment in dangerous amounts from reckless human activities. Use of heavy metals in products like pesticides, herbicides, medicines, paints and cosmetics should also be curbed. Chemical farming is playing havoc with the environment. It is responsible for the rising levels of heavy metals in more than one way, says Dr Pritpal. The first findings of the centre in 2009 had sparked a controversy, following which the Punjab government ordered a probe. A report by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) found that out of the 250 samples, 147 had an extraordinary content of uranium. Prevention better than cure It is indeed a serious issue. We are spending money to prevent cancer incidences but only after the disease is detected. The answer lies in educating the people and farmers in particular, says Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Congress MLA from Faridkot. Punjab, especially the Malwa region, is reeling under the cocktail effect of heavy metals. The Green Revolution of the 60s and 70s resulted in dumping of dangerous chemicals such as endosulfan in our soil. These pesticides are still used in Punjab long after these were banned, says Dr Pritpal. Dr Navtej Singh, professor of pathology sees a rise in the number of cancer patients. These findings should not be ignored. We know pesticides, insecticide and the residue of heavy metals in soil are polluting the groundwater and the subsoil. The topic is debatable, but we are still insisting on a toxin-free food chain. The answer to the problem, if truly accepted by the government, lies in biomedical testing of the food chain and moving to better farm practices. Since the treatment, which means detoxifying the body of the metals, requires at least Rs 1-2.5 lakh, affordability is a big question. Dr JS Thakur, professor, School Of Public Health, PGI, is reviewing the studies on the presence of heavy metals in Punjab. Yet he accepts water contamination. The levels of arsenium, fluoride, inorganic pollutants, pesticides and other heavy metals are beyond permissible limts. Is this the reason of rise in cancer cases in Malwa region?, Dr Thakur calls cancer a multi-factorial disease. Chemical toxicity could be a contributing factor, he said. Heavy metal poisoning Dr Amar Singh Azad, pediatrician and chief consultant of Baba Farid Center, refers to a study conducted by the Center under the guidance of German Scientist, Dr Elenore Blaurock Busch and South African clinical metal toxicologist, Dr Carin Smit. It says leaky gut, which is caused by intake of heavy metals and toxins, can cause constipation, diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies, allergies and auto-immunity among children. Excessive fertilizers still being used since Green Revolution have led to metal toxicity. Use of chemical fertilizers has made the soil poisonous. Industries must not discharge waste directly into the soil. Excessive use of groundwater should be curbed, says Nirbhey Singh Dhudhi, president, Kirti Kisan Union. Heavy metal detoxification as a treatment of chronic poisoning is becoming popular in the West. Scientists have evolved a protocol. It includes good nutritional practices (including organic food), nutritional and herbal supplements and nature cure. Such treatments should be made a part of mainstream medical profession, experts say. The centre of professionals Baba Farid Centre for Special Children, Faridkot, is an NGO that was started in May 2003. It is an organization of dedicated professionals from various streams working for children affected by autism spectrum disorder, mental retardation, learning disorders and cerebral palsy through traditional and modern methods. It has branches in Bathinda, Patiala and Ambala. The Faridkot centre admits only 12 children at one time. The NGO does not get any support from either government or corporate bodies. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Kabul, January 27 An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul today, killing at least 95 persons and wounding 158 others, officials said, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. The Taliban-claimed assaultthe second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a weektriggered chaotic scenes as terrified survivors fled the area scattered with body parts and hospitals were overwhelmed by the large number of wounded. The casualty toll is the worst since 150 persons were killed in a truck bomb explosion near the German embassy, not far from Saturdays blast, last May, an attack that prompted a major reinforcement of security in the city. It came as both the insurgents and the Islamic State group have escalated their attacks on Kabul, one of the deadliest places in Afghanistan for civilians. An AFP reporter saw lots of dead and wounded civilians in the Jamuriate hospital, which is metres away from the blast and where medical staff struggled to treat the bloodied men, women and children lying on the floor in corridors. The latest toll has reached 63 dead and 151 wounded, Baryalai Hilali, the director of the government media centre, told reporters. He warned the death toll might rise as some of the wounded brought to hospitals were in a critical condition. The blast happened in an area where several high-profile organisations, including the European Union, have offices. Members of the EU delegation in Kabul were in their safe room and there were no casualties, an official told AFP. The force of the explosion shook windows of buildings at least two kilometres away and caused some low-rise structures in the immediate vicinity to collapse. The suicide bomber passed through at least one checkpoint in the ambulance, saying he was taking a patient to Jamuriate hospital, an interior ministry spokesman said. At the second checkpoint he was recognised and blew his explosive-laden car, Nasrat Rahimi said. Agencies Attack will add pressure on President Ghani pardeepdhull@gmail.com Vienna, January 27 The Syrian Opposition will not attend a peace conference Russia is hosting next week, a spokesman said on Saturday, dismissing the meeting as an attempt by the Syrian governments close ally to sideline the current United Nations peace process. He was speaking at the end of two days of UN-brokered talks between the Syrian government and Opposition, after which the host said the United Nations had not decided whether to attend the conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Western powers and some Arab states believe Sochi is an attempt to create a separate peace process that would undermine the United Nations efforts while laying the groundwork for a solution more suitable to Assad and his allies Russia and Iran. This whole round in Vienna was supposed to be a crucial one, a test for commitment. And we didnt see this commitment. And the UN didnt see this commitment, said Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the opposition delegation at the Vienna talks. Nine rounds of UN peace talks between the warring sides have made little progress toward ending the civil war in which hundreds of thousands have been killed and 11 million - a majority of the Syrian population - driven from their homes. Previous rounds of talks have been held sporadically in Geneva, with a mandate to discuss new elections, reformed governance, a new constitution and the fight against terrorism. Having regained the upper hand on the battlefield after nearly seven years of conflict, Assad appears unwilling to negotiate with his enemies at all, let alone step down as part of any peaceful solution as rebels and opposition groups have demanded. Its quite clear that somebody there is obstructing the whole process and wanting to sideline the importance of Geneva, the political process as a whole, al-Aridi said. As the talks dragged into Friday evening, another spokesman for the opposition said it had received a pledge from Russia that it would press the Syrian army to enforce a ceasefire in the besieged rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta, near Damascus. Syrian army and Russian jets have for the last two months been escalating their bombardment of the area, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds, rebels and aid workers say. With Aridi later announcing that the Opposition would not attend the talks, it was unclear where that left the ceasefire plan. Totally unacceptable 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. A document drawn up by the United States, Jordan, Britain, France and Saudi Arabia made recommendations to the Vienna talks host, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, for what they called a practical approach to what would be a slow UN political process. The documents recommendations included a specific and immediate focus on discussion of a reformed constitution and organization of free and fair elections, language that was echoed by the opposition delegation in Vienna. But the Syrian governments envoy to the talks, Bashar al-Jaafari, dismissed the document as totally unacceptable. Our people have not and will never accept a solution that is parachuted onto them or that is carried on tanks, he said in a statement to reporters. The goal of the conference in Sochi is to engage in a national intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference. The conference will be attended by about 1,600 participants who will reflect the various components of Syrian society, he added. Al-Aridi, however, said Sochi was aimed at giving the appearance of reconciliation among Syrians and many of those participants had been chosen by Damascus. The opposition scheduled a news conference for 0900 GMT on Saturday. De Mistura said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would decide how the United Nations would respond to the invitation to attend Sochi. He added that Russia said Sochi was aimed at supporting the UN process. I took note of the statement by the Russian Federation that the outcome of the (Sochi) congress would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the UN, he said. Reuters vinaymishra188@gmail.com The White House has released a list of requirements for immigration legislation that it said President Trump would support, offering a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million young illegal immigrants while tightening border security and clamping down on family sponsorship of immigrants. Dreamers Expand protections from deportation to 1.8 million so-called Dreamer immigrants brought illegally into the country as children, up from the 7,00,000 people currently signed up for a programme begun in 2012 to protect them from deportation and provide work permits. Trump in September rescinded the programme, effective in March. The increase would include people who were eligible for the protections but did not initially sign up. Allow Dreamers to become citizens in 10 to 12 years, with requirements yet to be determined for work and education, as long as they do not commit crimes. Border security Establish a $25 billion trust fund to pay for a wall on the US southern border with Mexico and security improvements on the northern border with Canada. The trust fund would ensure that Congress in the future could not claw back the money. Agree to spend more money to hire border guards, immigration judges and other law enforcement personnel, and overhaul the hiring system and pay grades. Trump estimated that would cost $5 billion, but the White House said it was subject to further discussion. Immediately deport illegal immigrants who cross the southern or northern border even if they are not from Mexico or Canada. That would affect Central American migrants who often arrive at the US border after crossing through Mexico. Family sponsorship Limit immigration sponsorship to spouses and minor children, ending the ability to sponsor parents, older children and siblings. That change would annually cut at least 287,700 green cards signifying legal permanent US resident status, according to the Migration Policy Institute think tank. The change would apply prospectively, meaning people caught in the backlog would still be processed by the old rules. End diversity visa lottery The hospital presents a strong and unique presence responding to the characteristics and the vernacular of the region, creating a welcoming environment and a distinct sense of place. The design has been considered holistically, developing the form and massing as a direct expression of the function of the facilities while integrating these into a whole campus development. The three primary elements of the campus; the diagnostic and treatment bar, the inpatient pavilions and the womens and childrens hospital are individually expressed to create a vibrant but ordered composition. The high quality palette of materials is designed to provide a richness of texture across the three components and convey the qualities of longevity, solidity and timelessness in a modern and contemporary vernacular. The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair held over 140 pavilions, 110 restaurants, for 80 nations (hosted by 37), 24 US states, and over 45 corporations to build exhibits or attractions at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, NY with numerous pools or fountains, and an amusement park with rides near the lake.Ran for two six-month seasons, April 22 October 18, 1964, and April 21 October 17, 1965, the fair is noted as a showcase of mid-20th-century American culture and technology. The nascent Space Age, with its vista of promise, was well represented.More than 51 million people attended the fair, though fewer than the hoped-for 70 million. It remains a touchstone for many American Baby Boomers, who visited the optimistic fair as children before the turbulent years of the Vietnam War, cultural changes, and increasing domestic violence associated with the Civil Rights Movement.Take a look at these fascinating photos from ElectroSpark to see the activities at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis walks out of 10 Downing Street in London, Jan 23, 2018. (Photo source : REUTERS/Toby Melville) Publication of the letter late Friday followed a speech by Brexit minister David Davis, in which he admitted there were "different views" within the government over Britain's departure from the bloc. Davis joined forces with finance minister Philip Hammond and business secretary Greg Clark to assert that Britain will continue to follow EU rules for a "strictly time-limited" transition period after it leaves the bloc. "During the implementation period, we are clear that the UK's and the EU's access to one another's markets should continue on current terms," the trio wrote. Pro-Brexit MPs have expressed concern at proposals to continue following European Union rules after Britain leaves in March 2019 in return for market access, while having no policymaking power. The ministers sought to allay such fears by saying the transition period of around two years was only intended to give people, businesses and public services time to get ready for the full EU exit. 'NEW ALLIES' The show of unity presented in the joint letter comes after Prime Minister Theresa May rebuked Hammond for saying Britain would stay closely aligned to the bloc. On Thursday the finance minister raised eurosceptic hackles in Davos when he expressed hope that the British and EU economies would move only "very modestly, apart". On Friday, Hammond told Sky News television that Britain needed a "middle way" to protect businesses and jobs - outside the customs union, but refusing to "sever our trade links" with the EU. Davis conceded in his speech that in politics, there were "different views", adding: "There will be arguments about the tactics but they will change, the options available to us will change throughout the course of the negotiations." In his speech on Friday, the Brexit minister said Britain would negotiate its own trade deals during the transition period and seek to sign them, even if they could not come into effect until afterwards. He laid out the ultimate prize at the end: "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." Davis conceded that Britain would continue to accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) during the transition. The ministers' joint letter also reaffirmed that as part of the transition EU citizens will continue to be able to move to Britain without restrictions, although a "registration scheme for new arrivals" will be introduced. OPPOSITION WITH WESTMINSTER Tensions are rising in the British government as the EU prepares to approve guidelines next week for talks on the terms of the transition period, intended to ease the divorce. David, Hammond and Clark said they wanted negotiations on the implementation period to be finished by the end of March, which will be followed by discussions on Britain's future trading relations. But London is yet to set out precisely what it wants and, as a survey of Conservative MPs published this week showed, there appears to be significant differences on crucial elements of the transition. Almost three-quarters oppose the continuation of freedom of movement during the transition period, according to the survey by the Mile End Institute and The UK in a Changing Europe research units. Continued ECJ jurisdiction after March 2019 is opposed by 63 per cent, the study said. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who spearheads a group of more than 50 Brexit-supporting MPs in May's Conservative Party, warned that staying closely aligned to the EU risked making Brexit a "damage limitation exercise". "The British people did not vote for that. They did not vote for the management of decline," he said in a speech Thursday, accusing ministers of being "timid". The high-level disagreements come at a difficult time for May, with several MPs criticising her for a lack of ambition in her domestic programme, and reports suggesting a growing number of Conservative MPs back the idea of a leadership challenge. The confectionery market is growing more active as the Lunar New Year approaches A competitive market The Vietnamese confectionery market is said to grow slowly. It grew by 8-10 per cent in the last two years, while it was 15-20 per cent in 2010-2015 and 35 per cent in 2006-2010. Vietnams 90-million market is attracting foreign investors. As it grows far faster than the global confectionary market (1.5 per cent), and the Southeast Asian one (3 per cent), according to statistics of Vietinbank Securities JSC. Lotte, one of South Koreas largest groups is constantly expanding its market share in Vietnam. Mondelez International, one of the leading fast food corporations spent VND8 trillion ($352.5 million) buying 80 per cent of Kidos total shares and intends to buy the remaining 20 per cent. Setting foot into the Vietnamese confectionery market, the $64-billion-capitalisation foreign giant will make this market more competitive. According to Truong Phu Chien, director general of Bibica, each country needs a flagship domestic brand to compete with global brands. Earlier, Bibica was eyed by various foreign firms. The Lotte-Bibica-PAN Group trio was a hot topic on the confectionery market. In 2008, Lotte bought over 30 per cent of Bibica and intended to raise its ownership further. However, PAN Group butted in 2015, raised its ownership in Bibica to 50.07 per cent in 2017, and became the dominant shareholder. According to BMI, the revenue of the Vietnamese confectionery market was VND27 trillion ($1.2 billion) in 2014, and is expected to reach VND40 trillion ($1.76 billion) in 2018. Thereby, domestic and foreign firms have been constantly releasing new products and competition strategies. Particularly, the Orion brand has been very successful as it suits Vietnamese taste and had good marketing campaigns. Thus, the revenue of Orion Vina Co., Ltd. hit over $174 million in 2016 through this product. Pham Nguyen Foods released Choco P&N and Phaner Pie at a low price and started distribution at 12,000 retail points. Over 17 million pieces were consumed per month. Bibica also joined the market with Mini Pie Orienko in April 2017 and targeted to capture 20 per cent of the market. Vietnamese confectionery looking for a place Despite competition with foreign products, Vietnamese consumers are paying more attention to domestic confectioneries due to their improving quality, good looks, and good marketing campaigns. Nguyen Huu Minh, a banking officer, told that he will buy Goody (a Bibica product) instead of Danisa (made in Denmark), along with some fruit jams made in Vietnam for this Lunar New Year. Many Vietnamese brands are springing up on the market, especially processed fruits, dried fruits, and jams receive attention. Experts assess that the gap between the quality of domestic and foreign confectionery is not large. According to the master plan for processed foods by 2020 with a vision to 2030, proportion of confectionery in the total processed foods is increasing. Particularly, the market will reach an output of 2.2 million tonnes, capturing 40.43 per cent of the total processed foods market. There are opportunities for all, but firms that can proactively innovate and provide suitable products for consumers will net the largest market share. Bibica becomes official PAN Food subsidiary PAN Food Manufacturing JSC (PAN Food) successfully acquired more than 50 per cent of Bibica Corporation (Bibica)s stakes, overtaking Lotte Confectionery Co., Ltd. (Lotte) as the biggest shareholder and turning Bibica into a subsidiary. Japanese fund invests in Vietnamese confectionery company A Japanese institutional investor, Mizuho ASEAN Investment LP, has invested US$9.3 million in Pham Nguyen Confectionery Company Ltd. Specifically, domestic importers like Nhon Trach 2, Bim Son Cement JSC, and Ha Tien I Cement JSC that previously applied to euro-denominated deposits and loans experienced major distress as the soaring price of euro multiplied their interest expenses from VND billions to dozens of billions. To date, a substantial number of domestic firms that imported commodities from Europe were reported to raise their commodity prices due to the volatility of the euro. In contrast, according to statistics provided by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), Vietnams total commodity export volume to the EU was estimated at over $38 billion, equivalent to 14 per cent of gross domestic export sales. Domestic export-import firms are still biased towards the USD, which saved them a pretty penny this time Nguyen Ton Quyen, vice chairman and general secretary of Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES), stated that Vietnams total exports of wood forest products achieved nearly $700 million in 2017 and is expected to escalate to around $800 million by the end of 2018. The volatility of the euro would only have a minimal impact on wood products trade as the majority of exporting agreements with EU-based companies are denominated in US dollars, Quyen added. Likewise, the exports of fisheries and aquaculture products to the EU stood at roughly $1.3 billion, leading the domestic markets in sales revenue. Exporting firms such as Vinh Hoan, Sao Ta, and Hung Vuong made vast contributions to the growth of the domestic aquaculture market by obtaining dozens of millions of dollars of sales revenue. According to recent surveys on the trade situation between domestic exporting firms and the EU, around 30 per cent of domestic firms applied the euro as the base currency in their contracts. The remaining firms denominated the US dollar as the base currency, which minimised the impact of the euro on general exporting business. The Euros global price spiraled out of control: a 2 per cent rise in the first three weeks of 2018 and a 14 per cent rise over the year of 2017. Likewise, in the domestic market, the Euro skyrocketed by 16 per cent in 2017 and 5 per cent over the first two weeks of 2018. Frederick Jahner died on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at Alomere Health in Alexandria, MN at the age of 78. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 6, 2021, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at What would happen if some Russian fighter jets Sukhoi Su 35, stationed at Zurich airport (only a ten minute flight from Milan) were to patrol the Swiss/Italian border under the pretext of protecting Switzerland from Italian agression? The entire Italian parliament in Rome would have risen to its feet, immediately requesting diplomatic and military countermeasures. Yet this Parliament, accepts the substance of and without so much as a murmur, the Nato decison to station 8 Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes at a base located at Amari, Estonia, just a ten minute flight from St Petersburg, to patrol the border with Russia on the pretext of protecting the Baltic countries from Russian aggression. Fake news with which the US-led Nato justified the increasingly dangerous military escalation against Russia in Europe. To station these eight Italian fighter bombers in Estonia, with a staff of 250 men, were spending 12.5 million euro just for the period January September. Of course this money comes from Italian public coffers. On top of this, we must also add the operational costs. So for a Eurofighter to fly for one hour, it costs 40 000 euro. This is what a worker would earn (before tax has been applied) in one year. This is only one of the 33 international military missions that Italy has committed herself to in 22 countries. On top of those that have been going one for some time now in the Balkans, Lebanon and Afghanistan, are new missions that emphasizes the Government Resolution are concentrated in the geographic region, Africa, considered as a top strategic interest for national security and defense interests. Libya, was a country thrown into chaos by the Nato war in 2011, with Italy doing its bit for Nato. How ironic that today Italy sustains the peacekeeping and stabilization action in this same country and strengthens the control and containment of illegal immigration. Another operation, with the deployment of 400 men and 130 vehicles entails an annual cost of 50 million euro, including an average compensation per mission of 5,000 euro per month paid (in addition to regular pay) to everyone participating on the mission. In Tunisia, Italy is participating in the Nato Mission supporting the Tunisian governments security forces, committed to repressing people protesting against deteriorating living standards. In 2018, Italy is beginning its mission in Niger, to support the governments security forces, in the context of a combined European and US effort to stabilize the area, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Chad, Nigeria and the Central African Republic (where Italy is participating in an EU support mission). It is one of the richest areas for strategic raw materials oil, natural gas, uranium, coltan, gold, diamonds, manganese, phosphate and others exploited by US and European multinationals, that consider their oligopoly now endangered by Chinas growing economic presence. From here, the military stabilisation of the area that Italy is participating in, sending to Niger 470 men and 130 land transport vehicles, with an annual cost of 50 million euro. In addition to these commitments, Italy assumed another one on 10 January 2018: the command of the land forces of the Nato Response Force, called to intervene in the shortest periods in any part of the world. In 2018 it is under the orders of the Multinational Command of Solbiate Olona (Varese), of which Italy is the leader nation. But the Italian Minister of Defence clarifies such a command is under the dependence of the Supreme Command of the Allied Forces in Europe. The latter is always appointed by the US President. So Italy is a leader nation but at the same time subordinated to the Pentagons chain of command. Commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day Today, Saturday the 27th January is International Holocaust Day which commemorates the day in 1945 when the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated by Allied forces at the end of the Second World War. It is a day when we can all, irrespective of our religious beliefs or race, raise awareness and reflect on what can happen when anti-semitism and racism are unchecked. Unfortunately, in the 21st century racism and genocide have not been eradicated and we must try everything possible to convey a message of tolerance towards people who seem to be in any way different. There will be a one minute silence held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but the Government of Gibraltar has been working hard in the run up to the day to ensure that the message of unity and solidarity is heard loud and clear and shared by everyone in Gibraltar. In 2016, Government decided that resources spent on receptions following the one minutes silence, would be better utilised by focusing on the educating of children on what has gone before and more importantly, how to avoid a recurrence in the future. This is why Government gives Learning From Auschwitz an annual grant to help them educate a new generation of children every year. Last December, in continuation of the Governments new focus, the Ministry of Equality funded and organised a visit by Holocaust survivor, Arek Hersh. This was the third time that Government has funded a visit by a holocaust survivor. He was joined by Holocaust Education Advisor, Mike Levy and together they presented a talk to a packed audience. The event was opened by Minister for Equality, Samantha Sacramento MP and Ms Naomi Hassan-Weisfogel from the locally registered charity Learning From Auschwitz. The event also included a short speech by Ms Melanie Trinidad, a Westside School student and also a poem by Mr Giron Asquez, a Bayside School student. These students visited Auschwitz-Birkenau with their schools as part of the Learning From Auschwitz trips organised annually through the Department of Education. The event was a full house, attended by over 130 people. Mr. Levy also met with local teachers and advised them on how best to teach lessons from the Holocaust to children of different ages. In the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day, all local schools have had specific lessons or activities prepared to commemorate this important day. Mr Hershs talk was video recorded and will be made available, with subtitles, to the general public to be enjoyed by anyone who could not attend on the night. The Minister for Equality, The Hon. Minister Samantha Sacramento, MP, said It is very important that we continue to discuss what happened in the concentration camps during World War Two and in other subsequent genocides. We need to remind ourselves, particularly the younger generations, of what can happen if we do not put a stop to racism, discrimination and anti-semitism. This is why it is important that this subject is taught to our local school children. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Learning From Auschwitz for their determination in spreading this important message and to all our local schools and teachers who have prepared lessons and activities this week for the benefit of the next generation of Gibraltarians. Alert Hammer Heads, Armie Wives, and people who think it was totally chill and cool that Armie Hammer didnt eat the peach in Call Me by Your Name: Your guy has discovered tracksuits. And boy, does he love em. Somewhere between stopping by Sundance and pulling up to France for some Call Me by Your Name events in Europe, Armie Hammer discovered the unbridled joy of those good-good Adidas tracksuits: the way they are both high- and lowbrow, luxe for less, fash-on not fash-off. Some might even call the set very baller. Whats most important is that it looks like he rightly waited at least two full days before taking it off, because why mess with a good thing? A postBest Supporting Actor snub tracksuit is a 2018 whole mood. His wife goddess divine Elizabeth Chambers has dubbed it le tracksuit. And then she went and bought him some more: These tracksuits are great. The black one is great for a daytime press appearance. The red one is great for a night out. The grey looks great for brunch. It hurts me to say this but: Billowy, youve been put on notice. Le tracksuit has arrived. To whoever gave Armie Hammer this tracksuit definitely Lil Timmy Tim thank you. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Arguably the most wowza! casting announcement of 2018 so far has been Meryl Streep returning to television for Big Little Lies second season, which will find the actress playing Perrys mother, Mary Louis Wright. (Remember Perry? Who was deservedly killed at the swanky school fundraiser?) Per the casting breakdown, Streeps mama character is concerned for the well-being of her grandchildren following her son Perrys death, and will likely be wreaking a lot of havoc upon her arrival in Monterey. Streeps prestige-TV presence is certainly welcome, as is the story about how she was ultimately cast: We can thank the miniseriess original novelist, Liane Moriarty, as well as the email-persistence of Nicole Kidman. I was about half way through [writing season two] and I was talking to the producers and I said, Ive got this role of Perrys mother and not quite believing my own audacity, Id like Meryl to play this character, Moriarty explained to Australias Daily Telegraph, noting how she created the character with Streep in mind. And the producers were laughing at me because they were saying, Youve become so Hollywood, as in, picking up the phone and saying, Get me Meryl. They were teasing me but then they were saying, its not beyond the realm of possibilities because Nicole and Meryl are friends. Soon enough, a plan was put in motion that utilized Kidmans cyberskills: Nicole sent me an email saying, Ask and you shall receive. A few weeks later, and the rest was history. As for what type of Streep well be getting with her maternal portrayal, Moriarty teased we may expect something chilly a la Devil Wears Prada. She deeply loved her son as much as any mother can love her son, Moriarty said. She had a slightly fraught relationship with her daughter-in-law, so its a very complicated, difficult time. Cosby. Photo: Pool/Getty Images Bill Cosbys lawyers filed two motions on Thursday requesting that the sexual-assault case against the comedian be tossed just months out from a retrial. Cosby is being tried again on three charges of indecent sexual assault against Andrea Constand after a first trial ended with a hung jury last June. According to the defense, the prosecution withheld and destroyed evidence they say wouldve helped prove their clients innocence. They say prosecutors notified them only last week that theyd interviewed a former colleague of Constands at Temple University last year prior to the first trial. The woman, Marguerite Jackson, had stated that Constand told her she made up the sexual-assault allegations to extort Cosby. Cosbys lawyers say they have now been told notes from that interview were destroyed. In the first trial, Judge Steven ONeill, who will preside over the retrial, did not allow Cosbys previous defense to call Jackson to the stand because Constand had testified that she did not know her, making the testimony hearsay, though Jackson told detectives last year that she and Constand had worked closely together. Cosbys lawyers now say that because prosecutors withheld this evidence, Cosby does not have any meaningful right to a fair trial. Their second motion argues that prosecutors failure to establish with absolutely certainty a date when the alleged assault occurred Constand has testified that it happened between December 2003 and January 2004 could put it outside the 12-year statute of limitations. Recently, Cosby returned to stand-up comedy for the first time since the allegations, though he did not address the case. The retrial is set to begin in April. Photo: M. Tran/Getty Images It was the unknowingly recorded tape heard around the world: Billy Bush, during his Access Hollywood years, condoned sexual assault while Donald Trump talked at length about how if you grab women by the pussy, you can do anything. Bushs involvement in the 2005 tape eventually led to him getting fired from his enviable position at NBC and Today, the circumstances of which Bush now describes as extremely humiliating and emasculating. I was ashamed and embarrassed, Bush told People about this Trump tape scandal. And then I went through stages of grieving because I lost my career. For a man, thats the ultimate degradation. He now realizes, though, the significance of how he reacted or rather, how he didnt react on that fateful bus ride with Trump. There is a term for what I did. Its called bystander abuse, he continued. It says by not doing anything you are endorsing the moment. I have to live with that. As for Bushs career, hes been laying very low since the tape surfaced in late 2016. Recently, he chose to pen an op-ed in the New York Times to confirm the tape was indeed real, after Trump reportedly began spectacularly to deny the tapes existence to his peers. 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. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 1/26/2018 12:01:35 PM (GMT -6:00) Governor Kay Ivey says she does not condone sexually-suggestive remarks posted about her by the mayor of Hanceville. Mayor Kenneth Nail is under fire for the post which he has no deleted from his facebook page. Mayor Kenneth Nail is pictured to the right of Governor Kay Ivey (the Governor's left) Mayor Kenneth Nail is pictured to the right of Governor Kay Ivey (the Governor's left) Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail's facebook profile photo Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail's facebook profile photo The controversy centers on a photo of Governor Ivey and four other people taken Wednesday in Montgomery. Nail is shown in the photo standing next to the Governors left arm. Nails right arm is not visible in the photo. In Nails post, he responded to a facebook friend who asked Nail, Where is your right hand? Nail admits that he responded, She did have a smile on her face, didnt she LOL. WAAY 31 reached out to Governor Iveys office for a response. Governor Ivey stops short of forgiving Mayor Nail. The response reads, "Ive spoken with Mayor Nail, and he has apologized for his inappropriate comments about me posted on social media, she wrote. 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 mayors comments, they will not keep me from my continued focus on governing and serving the people of Alabama." The sexually-charged post from Mayor Nail comes in the midst of a movement by women to fight back against sexual harassment. Many powerful politicians, entertainers and business leaders have been forced from their positions by the movement. Hancevilles mayor should resign, according to one state senator. Thats what Senator Paul Bussman has spelled out in a letter. Senator Bussman signed his name to the letter asking Mayor Nail to resign. Senator Bussman wants Nail gone now. I ask you to resign your position as Mayor of Hanceville immediately, Bussman writes in the letter dated January 26th. Nails sexually-inappropriate comment prompted Senator Bussman to write, I read your inappropriate and disrespectful comments regarding Gov. Kay Ivey with tremendous disbelief. Gov. Ivey has been extremely helpful to your city and this county. Making those comments, even between old friends is not acceptable. In this environment where sexual harassment has become increasingly intolerable, Senator Bussman suggests Nail crossed a line. 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, Bussman wrote. Nail stirred up the political hornets nest when he posted his original facebook response. Although, Nail has deleted that post, hes written another. In the new post, Nail writes, I made a (sic) 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. Nail writes hes not making excuses. However, he was quick to offer this excuse: I am human and make mistakes every day but I will try to do better, Nail wrote in his post. In his explanation on facebook, Nail posted, So if I offended anyone especially our governor I want to apologize. This isnt Kenneth Nails first public embarrassment. While he was a Hanceville councilman, he was charged with felony child abuse. That charge was later reduced to harassment. The Fund lifted its forecasts of global growth for this year and the next from 3.7 to 3.9 per cent. It said half of the jump was due to the Trump tax cuts. Its US 2018 US growth forecast climbed from 2.3 to 2.7 per cent and its 2019 forecast from 1.9 to 2.5 per cent . "These new global growth forecasts demonstrate yet again that the move that's been taken in the United States, but also in other countries, the United Kingdom and France and other parts of the world, to drive their economies and to see their businesses grow, is going to generate growth and jobs," he said. When the International Monetary Fund boosted its forecasts of world economic growth on the back of better prospects in the US this week, Australia's Treasurer Scott Morrison was quick to claim it as an endorsement of company tax cuts. But much of that boost wasn't due to the most impressive and expensive ($US1.3 trillion) part of the cut; the slicing of the rate from 35 to 21 per cent. It was due to another, cheaper measure: a temporary instant asset write-off. Firms that install new buildings and equipment will be able to deduct the full cost straight away without depreciating it over years. It is similar to, but larger than, capped schemes introduced in Australia by both Labor and the Coalition to boost investment after the global financial crisis and the demise of the mining boom. Like those schemes, it will be temporary, lasting for five years. Like those schemes, much of it will bring forward investment that most likely would have happened anyway, but later, meaning that when it ends US growth will slump, which is what the IMF expects and one of the reasons it is forecasting weaker US growth down the track. Australia isn't proposing such a scheme. What the Turnbull government is proposing is a cut in the headline company tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent for all companies, not just those with turnovers of up to $50 million, whose cuts to 25 per cent have already been approved by the Senate. Will the US cut to 21 per cent, and other cuts including Brtiain's cut to 18 per cent, leave Australia uncompetitive? It depends on how you calculate competitiveness. Julia Gillard and Hillary Clinton plan to work together to challenge negative stereotypes of females who aspire to be political leaders and to encourage more women to nominate for public office. The pair have discussed the impact of gender on their political careers and plan to collaborate in changing the perceptions of female leaders as unlikeable, selfish and ruthless. "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 said in an exclusive interview. "Personally, I think there's a need to deepen the evidence base about women in leadership," she added, saying there was already much research on the role of 'unconscious bias' in attitudes to female political leaders. Sao Paulo: Gunmen have killed at least 14 people in a crowded dance club in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, authorities say. At least another six people were injured and are hospitalised in Fortaleza, said Andre Costa, who heads the Ceara state security secretariat that oversees police forces. Costa told journalists that a motive was not yet known, but authorities were investigating whether the killings were part of an ongoing fight between two drug gangs. No suspects were in custody. Eyewitnesses told the Globo TV network that three cars full of armed men arrived at the dance club around 12.30am local time on Saturday and fired rounds into the front of the building for at least half-an-hour before fleeing. Boston: Joseph Kennedy III, an American politician with a very well-known name but relatively little prominence outside of his home state of Massachusetts, will deliver next week's Democratic rebuttal to US President Donald Trump's state of the union address. The speech will be the highest profile appearance of the 37-year-old Kennedy's political career, following his 2016 talk at the Democratic National Convention, where he introduced Senator Elizabeth Warren. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2013. Joseph Kennedy III attends a campaign event for the senate candidacy of Martha Coakley in 2012. Credit:ELISE AMENDOLA "The national audience will get their first opportunity to really get to know him in a way that the people of Massachusetts have come to know him," said Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College, outside Boston. The major party in opposition traditionally broadcasts a rebuttal speech following the president's annual state of the union address, which is delivered to a joint session of Congress and sums up achievements and goals. Trump had just taken office last year, so his address next Tuesday evening, January 30, will be his first state of the union speech. Kabul: A bomb hidden in an ambulance killed at least 95 people and wounded almost 160 more in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday when it blew up at a police checkpoint that was crowded with pedestrians at the time of the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide blast, a week after they claimed an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in which more than 20 people were killed. An interior ministry spokesman blamed the Haqqani network, a militant group affiliated with the Taliban that Afghan and Western officials say is behind many of the largest attacks on urban targets in Afghanistan. As medical teams struggled to handle the casualties pouring in, some of the wounded were laid out in the open, with intravenous drips set up next to them in hospital gardens. WESTPORT The Whole Foods in Westport was reopened Saturday morning following a brief closure due to a fire the night before. Customers were evacuated from the Westport Avenue grocery chain around 7 p.m. Friday night after a fire broke out atop a pizza oven, according to the Westport Fire Department. New York State Police have released more details regarding the incident on Route 5 in Oneida earlier this week that resulted in the death of a Vernon Center man after he was tased. Police say at approximately 4:21 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, the Madison County 911 Center received a call from a female driver reporting that a man was walking in the roadway along Genesee Street (Route 5) near the State Police Troop D headquarters, screaming and trying to get into passing cars. Photo courtesy of John Havener on Facebook Photo courtesy of John Havener on Facebook Oneida Police Officer Daniel Slator and Oneida Police Officer Jeffrey Barres responded to the scene and found a man, later identified as 41-year-old John Havener Jr. of Vernon Center, standing in the road holding a flashlight and screaming incoherently, according to police. Police say that officers approached Havener and tried to get him out of the road using verbal commands, but Havener allegedly refused to listen and then was physically combative when officers made physical attempts to get him out of the road. Police say that officers then used pepper spray and deployed a hand taser. Canastota Police Officer Derek Oursler then arrived on scene to assist, and after Havener continued to resist, police say a taser was used again. Members of the Madison County Sheriffs Office and New York State Police arrived on scene a short time after and secured Havener with handcuffs and restraints. Officers then requested an EMS response when they noticed Havener having a medical event and appeared to be in distress, according to police. Vineall Ambulance responded and transported Havener to Oneida Health Care Facility, which is located a half-mile from the scene, where he died shortly after. Police say autopsy results from the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office showed no anatomical cause of death, and toxicology results could take several months. But according to police, the preliminary investigation found that Havener used methamphetamine before the incident. Police say the investigation thus far found that around 3 a.m. Jan. 22, Havener and a male passenger left a residence in Munnsville in a gray 2005 Toyota Corolla and they were headed toward Walmart on Genesee Street. Haveners passenger told police that as they were driving down Genesee Street near Glenwood Plaza, Havener began driving erratically, and the passenger grabbed the steering wheel a couple times because he was afraid of crashing, and was afraid of how Havener was acting. Police say that after they passed the traffic light at Dream Catchers Plaza, Havener became very agitated and began driving backward down Route 5 for unknown reasons. Haveners vehicle then struck a curb and snowbank near the State Police Troop D headquarters, according to police. After the vehicle crashed, Haveners passenger says he grabbed the keys from the vehicle and ran down Genesee Street toward McDonalds. Police say that drivers who witnessed Havener driving erratically and witnessed his interaction with police have come forward to state that Havener was in the road acting belligerent and aggressive toward police. Witnesses have also said that Havener appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Police say the names of the two responding Oneida police officers and the responding Canastota police officer are being released at the request of the Oneida and Canastota police departments. State police say that no further details will be released until the investigation has been concluded by New York State Police and the New York State Attorney Generals Office. Its standard protocol for the Attorney Generals Office to investigate a police-involved death of an unarmed civilian. ____________________________________________ RELATED COVERAGE: NY AG's investigation into Oneida stun gun death could take months Oneida County man dies after being tased by police in Oneida The Oneida County Sheriffs Offices 2018 Ten Most Wanted list is now down to seven following another arrest on Friday. Deputies say that 24-year-old Trevon Lang, No. 1 on the list, was arrested Friday. He was wanted on a charge of criminal possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell. Around 12 p.m., task force investigators received information regarding Langs whereabouts, then located him near the Kennedy Plaza Apartments in Utica. Deputies say that as investigators approached Lang, he fled and led investigators on a foot pursuit. When a task force officer caught up with him, Lang allegedly assaulted the officer before he was taken into custody. The task force investigator was brought to a local hospital for treatment, and deputies say Lang is being held at the Utica Police Department. New criminal charges are pending. The Ten Most Wanted list was released Thursday after one of the suspects had already been arrested, and two others have been arrested since then. _____________________________ RELATED COVERAGE: No. 6 on Oneida Co. Sheriff's Office's Ten Most Wanted list arrested Oneida County Sheriff's Office releases 2018 Ten Most Wanted CASS COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) One person is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Walton. The incident happened Saturday just after 4 a.m. No officers were injured in the shooting. Police were called to the 600 block of Carol Drive where 45-year-old William Pollard was stabbing himself with a knife. An incident led to officials shooting the man. Detectives from Indiana State Police are investigating the incident. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Declaring that the conditions facing Julian Assange are untenable and unsustainable, the government of Ecuador has called for third-party mediation to allow the WikiLeaks founder to end his protracted detention without charges in the countrys embassy in London. Assange has spent five and a half years as a prisoner in the embassy, confined to a small space without access to sunlight and fresh air, cut off from his family and friends and deprived of seeing his children grow up. There have been reports that his health, not surprisingly, has suffered, leading to heart problems and chronic pneumonia. Ecuadors foreign minister, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, told reporters in Quito that Assanges physical and psychological integrity are at risk. It was reported Wednesday by an Ecuadoran daily that Quito had granted Assange a passport and national ID card, prompting speculation that he could be offered citizenship and diplomatic status, allowing him to leave the country. Whether British authorities would respect such legal niceties is far from certain, however, and any measure taken by the Ecuadoran government to end Assanges de facto imprisonment would be meaningless without guaranteeing him safe passage. The intentions of the Ecuadoran government, moreover, are far from clear. While Ecuadors President Lenin Moreno took office last May after defeating a more right-wing candidate who called openly for Assanges expulsion from the embassy, the new government itself has sought a rapprochement with big business, the political right and Washington. Moreno issued a public demand that Assange not interfere in the politics of nations that are our friends. Declared by the United Nations in 2016 to be a victim of arbitrary detention in violation of international law, Assange has been publicly charged with no crime outside of violating his conditions of bail in the UK. This occurred in June of 2012, when he sought political asylum from Ecuador, entering its London embassy to escape the conspiracy of the US, British and Swedish governments to have him extradited to Sweden on fabricated sexual assault accusations and then sent on to the US to be tried for espionage and treason, crimes carrying a potential death penalty. Swedish authorities last year formally closed their trumped-up investigation, merely confirming that there was never any case to investigate in the first place, only a dirty tricks operation aimed at discrediting and paralyzing WikiLeaks and putting Assange behind bars, or worse. Nonetheless, the statute of limitations on the allegations made against Assange in Sweden does not expire until 2020, and prosecutors have made it plain that they are prepared to renew their vendetta at the drop of a hat, or, more precisely, a call from Washington. The Conservative government of British Prime Minister Theresa May, meanwhile, made clear that it has no interest in any mediation and is determined to pursue its pound of flesh over Assanges bail violation. Were he to step one foot outside the embassy walls, he would find himself handcuffed and bundled away by the Metropolitan Police. A British government spokesperson said on Wednesday, The Government of Ecuador knows that the way to resolve this issue is for Julian Assange to leave the embassy to face justice, i.e., a British jail cell and a likely one-way ticket to federal prison in the US. The US secret grand jury investigating Assange and WikiLeaks was impaneled under the Obama administration and remains in session under Trump. Despite Trumps campaign rhetoric about his love for WikiLeaks after it released internal emails of the Democratic National Committee exposing its corrupt bid to rig the presidential nomination process to ensure the victory of Hillary Clinton, administration officials have since made clear that Assange remains Washingtons public enemy number one. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has described WikiLeaks as a non-state hostile intelligence service, vowing that his agency is working to take down that threat to the United States. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last April that Assanges arrest remains a priority, adding, Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail. And last May, former FBI director James Comey told a Senate panel that WikiLeaks is an important focus of our attention, while declining to answer why Assange had yet to be formally charged with a crime. I dont want to comment on the particular case, because I dont want to confirm whether or not there are charges pending, he said. He hasnt been apprehended because hes inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The renewed demands for Assanges head came in the wake of WikiLeaks release of nearly 8,000 web pages detailing an array of classified CIA hacking tools. The US ruling establishment, its military and intelligence apparatus and its two major parties will not forgive Assange and WikiLeaks for having exposed its criminal activities that have killed and wounded millions in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. This began with the release of the collateral murder video showing an Apache helicopters gun-sight view of the 2007 massacre of 12 Iraqi civilians, continuing with the Afghan war diary and the Iraq war logs, exposing multiple war crimes committed by the US military, and the posting of over 250,000 secret US diplomatic cables revealing Washingtons counterrevolutionary conspiracies across the planet. They not only hounded Assange, but sentenced Private Chelsea Manning to 35 years in prison for aiding the enemy by providing WikiLeaks with the documents. Manning's sentence was subsequently commuted by Obama and she has been released, but not before being subjected to abuse tantamount to torture in military prison. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency contractor who exposed the NSAs massive spying and collection of data on people in the US and around the globe has been turned into a man without a country, living in forced exile in Moscow. Assanges legal team this week reiterated its demand that London abide by the UN ruling declaring him to be unlawfully and arbitrarily detained and calling for him to be freed and compensated. The UK should not permit itself to be intimidated by the Trump administrations public threats to take down Mr Assange, it said in a statement. The intimidation, however, comes not merely from the Trump administration and the Republican right. A whole coterie of left liberals and pseudo-left organizations has provided political cover for the state vendetta against Assange, seeking to legitimize the phony sexual misconduct allegations against him, while tying him to claims of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. Through these two causes celebres of the so-called political left in the US, a whole layer of affluent ex-radicals, whose outlook and interests are reflected in publications such as the Nation, Socialist Worker, Jacobin and International Viewpoint, have consummated their turn to support for imperialism as well as social and political reaction. The demand for an end to the state persecution of Julian Assange must be taken up by the international working class. The relentless attack on Assange and WikiLeaks was and remains a spearhead in the drive by the ruling elite and capitalist governments around the world to crack down on freedom of speech and impose strict control and censorship over the Internet. Joseph Hanes, 16, was fatally shot by a deputy during a juvenile courtroom hearing on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio. Chief Deputy Rick Minerd of the Franklin County Sheriffs Department said Haynes was attending a hearing about a firearms charge when his family members and a deputy got into an altercation. At some point, the deputy shot Haynes in the abdomen. Haynes was taken to a local hospital, where he died half an hour later. According to police, the deputy involved was taken to another hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Chief Deputy Minerd said the deputy had been knocked to the ground as part of that altercation, where he came under attack from some of the folks that were involvedfamily members. Geraldine Haynes, Josephs grandmother, described the incident and said the struggle began after the deputy pushed Haynes mother against a wall when attempting to escort her out of the courtroom. Joey went over grabbed him by his shoulders and the guy slung him around and slung Joey to the ground. And then he got on top of Joey, she said. And then Joeys hands were up in the air like that and the cop with his hand down by his side and the gun went off, he pulled the trigger on my grandson. He pulled the trigger on my grandson, she said. He was trying to get his life together, now he wont have a chance. Josephs mother, Karen Haynes, told Columbus Dispatch, My son grabbed him by his shoulders and said get off my mom, youre not gonna put your hands on my mom. The cop grabbed him flipped him over and was on top of him with his gun. Karen Haynes told reporters through tears, It was so close it was like a muffled pillow shot and my sons arms were already up, so why did you have to shoot him? Haynes lawyer Jennifer Brisco told the Columbus Dispatch that Joseph Haynes was emotional during the hearing. Brisco said, Joseph was a little out of sorts because of how things went at the hearing. The officer threatened to lock him up and a scuffle broke out. Joseph was resisting, and thats when there was a scuffle. Haynes friends and family took to Facebook to mourn his death. Haynes brother David wrote, I love you Joseph Edward Haynes and I am going to miss you so much. R.I.P. His family also launched a GoFundMe to raise money for a funeral. Ohio police defended the officer involved in the shooting. Keith Ferrell, of the Columbus Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer was in a fight for his life during the altercation. Ferrell said the deputy was called into the courtroom after de-escalation tactics had failed and was violently attacked by multiple people, including other family members. He is there to protect every person in the courthouse including himself, Ferrell said, adding that countless people could have lost their lives if the suspect had taken the officers weapons. A Facebook video describing the incident shows Ferrell defending the officers actions. Let me be clear. Somewhere along the line portions of our society have decided that its okay to assault the police. That is not acceptable. We will not tolerate it, he said. According to killedbypolice.net, 68 people have been killed by police so far in 2018. Police killed over 1,100 people in 2017, averaging three people a day. According to the Washington Posts Fatal Force database, 28 people under the age of 18 were killed by police in 2017. Under the pretext of guarding Brazils October presidential election against the impact of fake news, security agencies are seeking to amass vast repressive powers that will have a lasting impact upon decaying Brazilian democracy, regardless of the immediate electoral outcome. With such measures, the Brazilian bourgeoisie is preparing itself for the inevitable eruption of class struggle in reaction to the sharp turn to the right taken by Brazilian politics since the last election in 2014 and subsequent ouster of President Dilma Rousseff from the Workers Party (PT) on trumped-up charges of budget manipulation in 2016, in favor of her vice president, Michel Temer. As in 2014, Brazil will elect, between October and November, the president, the governors of all 26 states and the autonomous capital, Brasilia, as well as all of the state parliaments, the whole 513-strong Lower House of the Federal Congress and two-thirds of the 81-strong Senate. The front-runner in the presidential polls is former PT President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, followed by the fascistic congressman and former army captain Jair Bolsonaro. A ruling by a Porto Alegre appeals court scheduled today on Lulas conviction on corruption and money laundering charges, the first in a series, may ultimately decide the fate of his candidacy. In anticipation of the election, top officials, including Defense Minister Raul Jungmann, several Supreme Court members, and the chiefs of the Federal Police (PF) and the intelligence agency, the ABIN, have made declarations affirming that the alleged threat of fake news justifies the use of a 1983 National Security Law that forbids the spread of information that may cause panic or disorder. This law, passed under the outgoing military dictatorship, was written to justify censorship and repression and, crucially, says nothing about supposedly threatening information being fake. Brazils High Electoral Court (Superior Tribunal Eleitoral, TSE) is spearheading the current censorship plans. Its outgoing president, Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes, in late December appointed a Consultant Commission made up by TSE members and representatives of the Defense and Science ministries, the Federal Police, the ABIN, the Safernet consulting firm and the Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) think tank, Brazils main government and business school. From the start, Mendes has firmly placed the fake news hysteria under a national security framework, telling the public broadcaster EBC on December 15 that our laws are only valid in Brazil, but we will have to act against websites hosted overseas. With such concerns in mind, Mendes in October summoned Google and Facebook to Brazil to guarantee they would disclose the funding of political advertisements and comply with Brazilian justices orders to bring down content. National security concerns were cited as the motivation for Defense Minister Jungmann declaring in October that the Armys Electronic Warfare Command (CCOMGEX) could be involved in the operations. Additionally, it is highly significant that in his interview with EBC, Justice Mendes declared that one of the main worries during the elections would be the attempt by organized crime to elect officials, which would place the elections as one more arena in the war on drugs, a critical ideological pretext for the integration of Latin American armies into US imperialisms regional aims. The Consultant Commissions stated goal is to research the actions of other governments against fake news, especially those of the United States, France and Germany. All of these countries are engaged in expanding imperialist interventions the world over and class war at home, in which fake news and Russian interference are treated as matters of national security and a justification for Orwellian spying and censorship. According to the Poder360 website, the Commissions second meeting on January 15 heard from Safernet that no model would be available outside Brazil, since no specific law had yet been approved in any other country targeting fake news. The chief of the Federal Police Organized Crime Division (DICOR), Eugenio Ricas, declared a week earlier that if no new law were approved by Congress before the elections, the 1983 National Security Law would be applied. While no new laws or specific measures have yet been unveiled to censor the Internet, the attitude of Brazils repressive apparatus makes clear that this will be hardly necessary, with the dictatorship-era National Security Law being embraced as a legitimate resource once again. Moreover, the Brazilian state has already called upon the vast censorship apparatus set up since April 2017 by Google, Facebook and Twitter to guarantee that dangerous information will be kept from the public. The Consultant Commissions January 15 meeting also decided that Google and Facebook representatives would be invited to all of its following bimonthly meetings. At the same time, efforts are already being unveiled to revoke Brazils law-enshrined net neutrality. Only a day after the US Federal Communications Commission announcement of the end of the net neutrality in the US, Eduardo Levy, the head of Sinditelebrasil, the federation of national telecommunications companies, declared to Globo.com that Brazils so-called Internet Constitution approved in 2014 guaranteeing net neutrality forced companies to double efforts to guarantee that different kinds of data traveled without priority, and that the concept of net neutrality has to be rethought for 5G and the Internet of Things. Joao Moreira, the president of the telecom lobby group comprised of some of Brazils largest Internet providers, also declared to Globo.com on the same day that the 2014 law was obsolete, with the Science Ministrys Telecommunications secretary adding to the same report that net neutrality guaranteed by the 2014 law doesnt take into account technical needs of the corporations, a declaration which reporter Helton Simoes Gomes recognized as echoing the justification given by the FCCs president, Ajit Pai, for revoking net neutrality in the United States. At the heart of these right-wing moves to censor the Internet are the unsubstantiated and repeatedly debunked claims that fake news, and especially Russian influence, have shaped the outcome of the 2016 US election, the 2017 French elections and the Brexit vote in the UK. These claims are being made by the security agencies and go unquestioned in the Brazilian media, from the right-wing to the nominal left, all of which have since 2016 been acting as virtual extensions of the New York Times and the Washington Post on the fake news and Russian interference hoaxes, gaining them the confidence of the security apparatus. This role has owed them the trust of security forces. A Folha de S. Paulo report from January 15 quotes the head of the Parana State Police Cyber Crime Division as telling readers, do not share fake news. It is very easy to identify what is fake news: Google it, and check if big papers have reported it, adding later, in an ominous call for the widest self-censorship: dont share it, because politicians that feel offended have every right to make a formal request to come after these people. The same report makes clear the real target of the fake news hysteria by quoting an FGV professor claiming that he had found that 20 percent of social media traffic among those in favor of a general strike last April was produced by robots. For its part, the Workers Party mouthpiece CartaCapital takes for granted the influence of fake news on the latest major political events. It introduced its own interview with DICOR chief Eugenio Ricas on January 17 stating: with the ever-increasing spread of fake news on social media, electoral periods have become moments that favor the manipulation of public opinion. The American and French examples, in the 2016 and 2017 elections won by Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, show the potential of the so-called fake news. Last but not least, it must be said that the growing ranks of small, fact-checking oriented websites such as Nexo, Agencia Publica and Lupa, a relatively new phenomenon in Brazilian politics that is chiefly inspired by American liberalism and the privileged petty-bourgeois milieu around the New York Times, as well as the so-called news satire television programs, have increasingly fallen prey to the fake news and Russian interference hoax. The political orientation of these initiatives made itself felt in the reports made by Agencia Publica at the 3i Journalism Festival held in Rio de Janeiro in early November, which gave a platform for Facebook and Google to voice their worries about assuring authoritative content and promote the collaboration of the fact-checking sites in flagging so-called low-quality content. By this they mean primarily oppositional views, especially regarding the war crimes of democratic American imperialism, which are excluded from public debate by the authoritative sources, such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. In a revealing moment at the festival, a Guatemalan journalist asked Claudia Gurfinkel, Facebooks media partnership leader for Latin America, why news feeds were being blocked for users in his country, dropping the access to some websites by 70 percent, to which she replied that this wouldnt happen in other countries. On January 11, however, this was revealed to be a complete lie, as Facebook announced precisely the opposite, that it would extend the Guatemalan experiment worldwide. It is irrelevant if Gurfinkel was consciously lying or misinformed: the whole framework of the festival was designed to promote Facebook and Google as champions of democracy, even as they collaborate intimately with every major government to impose censorship and the blacklisting of socialist and antiwar websites, chief among them the World Socialist Web Site. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has asked a UK court to relinquish the arrest warrant that is keeping him confined to the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge, London. If granted, he would be free to leave without fear of arrest, according to a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Hypothetically, yes. That would be our interpretation, he said. Assange would then be able to seek the medical treatment he urgently needs. First arrested in London in December 2010 under anti-democratic provisions of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the Swedish authorities, Assange was never charged with any crime and was only required to return to Sweden in order to answer questions regarding trumped up allegations of sexual misconduct. He skipped bail to avoid extradition to Swedenafter being denied elementary democratic rights by the British legal systemseeking asylum in the Embassy in 2012. Assange feared the Swedish authorities would immediately extradite him to the United States, which has conducted a cruel vendetta against him since WikiLeaks exposed criminal actions taken by the US during the wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan. This included a video WikiLeaks posted on the Internet showing the 2007 collateral murder of 12 Iraqi civilians from the viewpoint of an Apache helicopters gun-sight. The US administration has kept live a grand jury empowered in 2010 to bring secret, unspecified charges against Assange that could carry the death penalty. On Friday, Westminster Magistrates Court were told by Mark Summers QC that because the Swedish case had been dropped, the European Arrest Warrant had lost its purpose and its function. Assange should be able to leave the embassy without fear of arrest or extradition. Swedish authorities closed the case against Assange last year, only demonstrating it was a frame-up in the first place. The statute of limitations on some of the allegations, however, does not expire until 2020. For more than five and a half years, Assange has been confined to a small, windowless room, 15 feet by 13, without access to sunlight, fresh air or exercise. As Assange said in 2014, The United Nations minimum standard for prisoners is one hour a day of outside exercise. Even when I was in Wandsworth prison in solitary confinement [in 2010], that was respected. Even though Assange has been given an Ecuadorian passport and ID, the British authorities have vindictively refused to grant him safe passage out of the country. The UK have acted in violation of international law according to a United Nations panel, which in 2016 declared Assange to be a victim of arbitrary detention. Assanges physical and psychological health has been severely compromised due to his confinement. By as early as 2014, Assange was suffering health problems. In an article for the Daily Mail, journalist Sarah Oliver described Assanges appearance: His usually pale skin is now almost translucent and on his face it is so puffy it looks as if it is lifting off his naturally sharp cheekbones. He has a chronic cough, which the installation of a humidifier to moisten the dry, air-conditioned atmosphere has done little to ease. His eyes have navy pools of shadow beneath them, suggesting that hes shifted from nocturnal to sleep-deprived. She continued, Assange is, according to a WikiLeaks source, suffering from the potentially life-threatening heart condition arrhythmia and has a chronic lung complaint and dangerously high blood pressure. Of the conditions in his living quarters, Assange told her, I cant even keep a pot plant alive for long in here. The UK government refused an earlier demand in 2015 for Assange to access hospital treatment without the threat of arrest. Last October, Dr. Sondra Crosby, an associate professor at the Boston Universitys school of medicine and public health, and Dr. Brock Chisholm, a London-based consultant clinical psychologist, entered the Embassy to examine Assange. In a letter they co-authored with Dr. Sean Love to the Guardian January 24 they write, As clinicians with a combined experience of four decades caring for and about refugees and other traumatised populations, we recently spent 20 hours, over three days, performing a comprehensive physical and psychological evaluation of Mr. Assange ... it is our professional opinion that his continued confinement is dangerous physically and mentally to him and a clear infringement of his human right to healthcare. Though unable to go into specific details for reasons of confidentiality, the letter explains, Experience tells us that the prolonged uncertainty of indefinite detention inflicts profound psychological and physical trauma above and beyond the expected stressors of incarceration. These can include severe anxiety, pathological levels of stress, dissociation, depression, suicidal thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain, among others. Assange is thought to be suffering from a serious shoulder issue requiring an MRI scan, impossible to organise inside the embassy. He is also said to have a lung problem. Clinicians who are prepared to visit Assange are severely handicapped in the care they can provide, because At the embassy, there are none of the diagnostic tests, treatments and procedures that ... he needs urgently. The letter continues, It is unconscionable that Mr. Assange is in the position of having to decide between avoiding arrest and potentially suffering the health consequences, including death, if a life-threatening crisis such as a heart attack were to occur. The letter concludes by calling on the British Medical Association and UK clinicians to demand that Assange is granted safe access to medical care and that they oppose the ongoing violations of his human right to healthcare. The demand to end the state persecution of Assange must be adopted by the international working class. His vilification and victimisation is part and parcel of government attacks on basic democratic rights, exemplified by Google and social media censorship of left-wing, anti-war and progressive websites and the attempt to portray opposition to government austerity and war policies as foreign interference. In urging the formation of an International Coalition of Socialist, Antiwar and Progressive Websites, the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International urged as one of a specific set of principles that must be fought for: Demanding the end to the persecution of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden and the complete restoration of their personal freedom. The author also recommends: Freedom for Julian Assange! [11 January 2018] In stark contrast to freezing conditions in the northern hemisphere, southeastern Australia started the year with record-breaking heatwaves that foreshadow a severe summer fire season over the next two or three months. On January 6, Penrith, a western suburb of Sydney, experienced 47.3 degrees Celsius or 117 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest place on the planet for that dayjust below the hottest temperature ever recorded in Sydney. The scorching conditions extended across the southeastern corner, where the great majority of the Australian population live. The states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) all experienced temperatures over 40 degrees C. That heatwave was followed by another on January 1819 with similar temperatures, Many areas were subject to power outages, including on the NSW Central Coast, where more than 4,000 properties were affected. Approximately 3,000 properties were cut off in Sydney, along with thousands of homes in Melbourne. As in other heatwaves, there is likely to have been a spike in deaths, with the elderly, infirm and young children the worst affected. Fire is an ever-present danger as southeastern Australia is one of the most bushfire prone areas of the world. High temperatures, especially when accompanied with strong winds, create the perfect conditions for fire storms fuelled by highly-flammable eucalyptus vegetation. On January 6, several homes were destroyed by fires that swept through 12,100 hectares of scrub and farmland at Sherwood in South Australias southeast. In Victoria, 139 fires broke out across the state, including in Carrum Downs on the outskirts of Melbourne. One of the worst fires was fanned by 90 km/hr winds at Glenormiston in the states west. Beginning on January 19, a bushfire has burned over 59,000 hectares (about 146,000 acres) of the Pilliga State Forest in northwestern NSW. Fire crews from across the state continue to battle the blaze. These fires are a warning of the dangers ahead as high temperatures continue to dry out vegetation. Moreover, concerns are being raised that such heatwaves are becoming the new norm as a result of global warming and climate change. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) climate statement for 2017 reported that Australia experienced the third-warmest year on record, and the warmest non-El Nino year on record. El Nino, a broad weather pattern associated with shifts in ocean currents and atmosphere conditions over the Pacific, is usually accompanied by rising temperatures in Australia. According to the BOM, seven of Australias 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005. The annual mean temperature has increased by approximately 1.1C since 1910, mostly since 1950. The bureau concluded that the higher temperatures are due to anthropogenic climate changethat is, the impact of human activity on weather patterns. The rise in temperatures has been accompanied by lower than average rainfalls, leading to a long-term drying out of forest environments, making them even more flammable. The BOMs head of climate monitoring, Dr. Karl Braganza, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: We have seen that warming across the [Australian] land surface temperatures and in the ocean surrounding Australia, so they have both warmed by a similar amount and thats consistent with global warming as well odds [now] favour warmer-than-average temperatures more often than in the past. Climate change deniers have pointed to the record low temperatures in the northern hemisphere to dismiss global warming and/or the role of human activity. US President Donald Trump tweeted sarcastically in December: In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Years Eve on record Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming However, the disparity between the northern hemisphere freeze and the Australian heatwave does not contradict global warming, as average temperatures have risen across the planet. Higher mean temperatures do not have a uniform impact across the globe but disrupt longstanding weather patterns producing new extremessuch as more frequent, destructive hurricanes and cyclones, as well as the northern deep freeze. Climate Council of Australia councillor Will Steffen explained in the Sydney Morning Herald: The climate disruption we are increasingly experiencing is not natural. It is caused by the heat-trapping gases we humans are pouring into the atmosphere primarily by the burning of coal, oil and gas. This enormous increase in energy in the atmosphere is disrupting normal circulation patterns. In Australia, successive governments, Labor and Coalition, have done nothing to cut greenhouse gases. Last years emissions were the highest on record, making this the third consecutive year of increases. The BOM national bushfire outlook released last November warned that heavily-populated areas, including around Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, face an above-average fire risk. The bureau also announced the formation of a weak La Nina patternthe counterpart of an El Ninosuggesting it will be warm and dry for the next three months. At a meeting of Australian fire chiefs last September, NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the vegetation moisture levels today are considerably drier and are showing a worse situation than they were leading into the 2013 fire season. In 2013, fires swept across southern Australia. It was considered the worst fire season since 2009, when the infamous Black Saturday occurred on February 7. The Black Saturday fires in Victoria, which were the most catastrophic in recorded history, killed 173 people, including 23 children, and incinerated 300,000 hectares and 2,100 homes. The tragedy led to a royal commission that exposed major failures by emergency services officials, lack of fire warnings, the absence of fire refuges or an evacuation policy, and poor maintenance of high-voltage power lines that sparked many of the fires. Ultimately, however, the royal commission was a whitewash. It failed to indict the state Labor governments stay or go policy, which was to blame for most of the deaths. The policy shifted the responsibility for deciding whether to remain or flee onto individuals in bushfire-prone areas and relied entirely on emergency alerts that failed to occur. Two key recommendations were the burying or bundling of high-voltage power lines and a government buy-back scheme of homes in the most vulnerable areas. Both proposals were rejected by Labor Premier John Brumby as too expensive. Although the stay or go policy was abandoned, there are still only five refuges available across Victoria. Lines have been buried underground on a very limited basis. The Victorian Powerline Replacement Fund has a $200 million budget, a tiny fraction of the $7.5 billion required. The danger of fire disasters has worsened as more workers have been forced to live in semi-rural areas due to the precipitous rise in urban housing costs. In 2011, what is known as the peri-urban population of Melbourne reached 1.36 million and was expected to increase by 400,000 by 2021. A similar pattern is reflected on the fringes of all Australian major cities, where these peri-urban communities are ill equipped to cope with extreme fire conditions. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, poor urban planning, failure to implement preventative measures, inadequately equipped fire-fighting services and the lack of evacuation shelters are all combining to create the conditions for new fire tragedies. The bipartisan attack on the rights of immigrants threatens the livelihoods of millions of people. It is an assault on the democratic rights of all workers, regardless of race or immigration status, and must be urgently opposed. Through the crackdown on illegal immigration, an army of police, border guards, and immigration agents are descending on cities and towns across the country. The government is separating parents from their children, spouses from each other, and workers from their jobsites, forcing them back to countries where poverty and violence are the by-products of decades of corporate exploitation and US-led imperialist war. The Trump administrations move to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, affecting 800,000 people, and Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans (262,000), Nicaraguans (2,500), and Haitians (57,000) puts another 1.1 million people at risk of deportation. Trump and his fascist advisers, like Stephen Miller, are expanding a network of immigration detention camps to prepare for mass arrests and deportations on an unprecedented scale. Millions of people, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, are horrified by the use of Gestapo-like tactics. Mass demonstrations, school and workplace protests, and public meetings are urgently needed, but the experiences of the past 10 years make clear that any effort to defend immigrants must be completely independent of, and in opposition to, the Democratic Party. For all the Democrats cheap talk, recent negotiations over the federal budget have once again exposed the Democrats as opponents of immigrant workers and youth. The Democrats Passed the 1996 law making it harder for millions of undocumented immigrants to win legal permanent residency Launched programs to militarize border crossings in El Paso and San Diego, forcing immigrants to cross in the desert where up to 27,000 have died in the last 20 years Voted to build an expanded border wall in 2006, with the support of then-Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden, Schumer, and Kerry Deported 3 million immigrants under Obama and jailed tens of thousands of parentless children escaping violence in Central America For the past year, Democrats have worked to divert and smother the mass opposition to Trumps immigration policy, while they pursue their own reactionary and militarist agenda. Now, the two parties are negotiating over a plan to dramatically reduce family immigration petitions, end the visa lottery system, and further militarize the US-Mexico border. If some form of DACA protections are extended in ongoing negotiations, this will only come at the cost of even more right-wing, anti-immigrant measures. There is no progressive wing of the Democratic Party that can be pressured or made to fight to defend immigrants. Earlier this month, Senator Bernie Sanders declared: I dont think theres anybody who disagrees that we need strong border security. If the president wants to work with us to make sure we have strong border security, lets do that. Congressman Luis Gutierrez said he would support building a wall in exchange for protections for DACA recipients, saying, Ill build the wall myself. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) advances a socialist strategy based on the following fundamental principles: 1. Break with the Democrats and Republicans! Mobilize the working class and youth to oppose the attack on immigrants! Both the Democrats and the Republicans represent the interests of the corporate and financial oligarchy. It is the working class, the exploited majority of the worlds population that produces societys wealth, which must be mobilized to defend immigrants. As in the 1930s and 40s, the effort to pit workers against each other through the promotion of nationalist poison goes hand-in-hand with the assault on social programs, the immense growth of social inequality, the destruction of democratic rights and, above all, the drive to world war. There is hardly a workplace in America that is unaffected by the threat of deportation. A substantial portion of the US labor force works alongside an undocumented worker, whether on the assembly line, in a warehouse, or on a construction site. No worker, regardless of immigration status, stands to benefit when a coworker is dragged off the job by the government. The same is true at schools and colleges across the country, where 365,000 DACA-eligible youth are enrolled in high school and another 241,000 in college. TPS recipients from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Haiti have over 200,000 children in the US, many of whom are in school. Workers and youth must organize committees to transform their workplaces and schools into information networks, to mobilize in defense of families under threat of deportation. 2. Oppose imperialist war! The defense of immigrants means opposing the US-led wars that have forced millions to flee their homes in recent years. The US-backed dictators and death squads laid waste to countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Middle Eastern and African immigrants fleeing to the US and Europe from Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Somalia are escaping countries that have been devastated by US invasions and bombing campaigns in the last quarter century alone. The combined death tolls from these wars are in the millions as a result of the US ruling class efforts to secure the worlds resources and cheap labor for Wall Street through military plunder. 3. For open borders! For the socialist reorganization of world economy! The mass exodus of millions of people from their homelands is an expression of the contradiction between the international character of the world economy and the outdated nation-state system. The globalization of economic life, the development of the Internet and the rise of giant transnational corporations have created an unprecedented level of international integration. But under capitalism, the world economy remains trapped within the confines of the nation-state, the political instrument of the ruling class and the breeding ground for war and repression. The fight to defend immigrants must be based on a fight to bring the worlds productive forces into harmony with the needs of the international working class. This requires socialist revolution. The banks and corporations must be placed under public ownership and their wealth expropriated. The nation-state system must be abolished, and the world economy rationally reorganized on the basis of social need, not private profit. Against the militarization of borders and the persecution of immigrants, the IYSSE stands for open borders: the right of all workers to live in the country they choose, with full citizenship rights, including the right to work and travel without fear of deportation or repression. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) calls on all students, workers, and youth who agree with this program to contact us and join the IYSSE today. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus six-day visit to India last week highlighted the moves by both governments to further develop already close bilateral military-strategic and commercial ties. Netanyahus visit to India was the first ever by a sitting Israeli premier. Last July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian premier to visit the Zionist state, underscoring New Delhis determination to purge any lingering vestiges of its former non-aligned foreign policy in pursuit of closer ties with the US and its principal Middle East ally. Ties between Israel and India are burgeoning in the context of rapidly escalating global tensions. Both countries are key allies of US imperialism, Israel in Washingtons reckless drive to consolidate its hegemony in the Middle East by pushing back Iranian influence, and India in the US drive to economically, strategically and militarily isolate China. Modis BJP government has transformed India into a front line state in the US military-strategic offensive against China. Modi has also moved to develop closer bilateral and trilateral ties with Japan and Australia, Washingtons two most important Asia-Pacific allies. In November, India joined a US-led, anti-China quadrilateral strategic dialogue with Japan and Australia, which the Trump administration hopes to develop into a NATO-type alliance. India sees its closer ties with Israel as a means of pursuing New Delhis strategic interests, mainly by securing the supply of arms and advanced military technology. Modis Hindu-supremacist BJP also has very definite ideological interests in deepening ties with Israel, especially hard-right Zionists like Netanyahu. Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar championed Zionism as part of his aggressive communal opposition to Indias Muslims, whom he claimed were alien to the Indian nation and should be denied full citizenship rights. Modi, in a clear indication of his governments enthusiasm for closer ties with Israel, broke protocol by rushing to New Delhi airport to receive Netanyahu with a warm hug. Netanyahu was accompanied by a 130-member delegation, the largest business delegation ever to accompany an Israeli Premier on an overseas tour. At the beginning of Netanyahus visit, both sides rushed to declare that Indias vote with 127 other countries in favour of a UN resolution condemning US President Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, would not impact the two countries close relationship. On January 15, Vijay Gokhale, Secretary in charge of Economic Relations at Indias External Affairs Ministry, stated, Both sides agreed that our relationship is much larger and our relationship is not determined by this [vote]. Upon arrival in New Delhi, on January 14, Netanyahu himself asserted this, telling the media one negative vote would not affect the ties, even though Israel was disappointed by Indias vote. On January 15, the two countries signed nine pacts to boost cooperation in key areas, including cyber security and energy, following delegation-level talks headed by Modi and Netanyahu. In the course of discussions with Modi, Netanyahu managed to secure a $US500 million deal for New Delhi to buy 1600 anti-tank missiles from Israels state-owned defense contractor, Rafael. India had cancelled the contract just weeks before Netanyahus visit in favour of building indigenous missiles. The deal has been finalized under conditions in which war tensions between India and its arch-rival Pakistan are escalating. Indias NDTV recently reported that Pakistans soldiers may have missiles that can strike Indian tanks and bunkers at a distance of 3-4 km, while Indias equivalent missiles have a range of just 2 km. In the joint statement issued during Netanyahus visit, both prime ministers noted the readiness of Israeli companies to enter into joint ventures with Indian companies in the defence sector under the Make in India initiative. India has purchased some $10 billion worth of weapons and military equipment from Israel over the last decade, making Israel Indias third-largest supplier of weapons and weapons systems, and India Tel Avivs biggest market for arms. Just last year, India signed two new mega arms deals, spending $2 billion on Israeli missile defence systems. Another significant development was the two leaders emphasis on the importance of building comprehensive cooperation in counter- terrorism, for which they signed a memorandum of understanding. This indicates mutual support for each others militaristic policies pursuing their own strategic aimsagainst the Palestinians in the case of Israel, and against Pakistan in the case of India. In an exclusive interview to Times Now, Netanyahu expressed Israels support for any future military attack by India on Pakistani territory across the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in the name of hitting terror hideouts. His remarks will undoubtedly encourage India to repeat the surgical strikes its military carried out inside Pakistan in September 2016. Even as Netanyahu gave the interview, India and Pakistan were exchanging fire across the LoC, resulting in the deaths of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Publicly, the Modi government has peddled the transparent lie that Indias ever-deeper cooperation with Israel in no way affects its stance on Palestine. The Joint Statement said the two leaders had discussed the diplomatic situation with the Palestinians, but omitted, no doubt at Netanyahus insistence, even a standard reference to Indias support for a so-called two-state solution. Rattled by the fall in Indias growth during 2016-17, the BJP government has intensified its push for pro-investor reforms. Speaking at the India-Israel Business Innovation Forum on January 15, Ramesh Abhishek, the secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, promised New Delhi will resolve all problems and make things easier and better for Israeli companies to do business in India. Seeking unfettered access for Israeli big business, Netanyahu declared, If you want to have economic power, you must reduce taxes, simplify taxes and you must cut bureaucracy. Under Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and his Congress Party government, New Delhi opposed Israels admission to the UN in 1949, the year after the Zionist state had been founded and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians dispossessed. To bolster its phony anti-imperialist credentials, and as part of its promotion of a non-alignment policy during the Cold War, India for decades thereafter claimed to be a champion of the Palestinian cause and refused to establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel. This policy was bound up with the close relations India established with the Soviet Union during the 1950s in response to Washingtons burgeoning military-strategic partnership with Pakistan. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, New Delhi reoriented its foreign policy toward the pursuit of closer relations with the western powers, especially Washington. In 1992, Narasimha Raos Congress government established full diplomatic ties with Israel. Since then, New Delhis relations with Tel Aviv have been systematically expanded by both Congress- and BJP-led governments. Having initiated diplomatic ties with Israel and enthusiastically developed the relationship with Tel Aviv, the Congress Party has no serious differences with Modis drive to expand Indias partnership with Israel so as to pursue the Indian elites strategic interests, especially the strengthening of it military prowess. The Congress Party issued no official statement on Netanyahus visit, but did post a video on Twitter mocking Modis bear-hugs of several world leaders, including Trump and Netanyahu. The only significant dissent within the ruling elite on Netanyahus visit came from the Indian Stalinists. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, and the Communist Party of India (CPI), along with several other parties in their Left Front, held a protest in New Delhi on January 15 against the visit, criticizing Tel Aviv mainly for its brutal repression of the Palestinians. However, the Stalinists opposition is based on defending the national interests of the Indian bourgeoisie and has nothing to do with the interests of the Indian and international working class or the struggle against imperialism. An article in the CPMs English weekly Peoples Democracy on January 14 blamed the Modi government for sacrificing the countrys interests to serve the cause of countries like Israel and the US. US Park Police gunned down Bijan Ghaisar in his vehicle after he was the victim in a minor traffic incident on November 17 of last year. Ghaisar was unarmed. Police dashcam video of the incident was not made available until last Wednesday, January 24. Ghaisar was initially hit from behind by another vehicle in a minor car accident, with little property damage and no injuries. The accident occurred in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Ghaisar drove away from the accident. Police shooting of Bijan Ghaisar Approximately 10 minutes after driving away, video recorded by a Fairfax County police officers dashcam starts. In the video, Park Police are seen following Ghaisars vehicle in a marked SUV, with lights and sirens on. After Ghaisar stopped his car in the right lane, the police stopped alongside him. Immediately, an officer jumped out of the passenger side of the police vehicle with a gun drawn and reached for Ghaisars door handle. Likely frightened by an extremely over-aggressive response, Ghaisar drove off at a normal speed. As he did so, the police officer who had leapt out of his car slammed his gun against Ghaisars rear driver side window. Both the Fairfax and Park Police vehicles then followed Ghaisar for about a minute and 35 seconds before Ghaisar made a right turn at a stop sign and then stopped his vehicle a second time. Immediately, two Park Police officers approached the vehicle with guns drawn, and aimed at Ghaisar. Again, after seeing the guns drawn, Ghaisar drove off. In response, one of the Park Police officers kicked Ghaisars rear passenger side tire. Ghaisar drove for about another minute, again with both the Fairfax and Park Police in pursuit. As he stopped for a third time, the Park Police pulled up in front of Ghaisar, perpendicular to his vehicle. An officer immediately emerged with his gun raised at Ghaisars passenger side window. As Ghaisar slowly began to drive off, the officer immediately shot him four times before a second officer emerged, at which point another shot was fired. As Ghaisars car lurched forward, one of the officers fired off two more shots. Then, as the car slowly rolled into a stop sign, with Ghaisar obviously incapacitated and unable to control the vehicle, an officer fired off two more shots. After the release of the video, Thomas Connolly, one of the Ghaisar family lawyers, and a former federal prosecutor, told the Washington Post that No reasonable officer could have understood that Bijan had committed a violent act which would justify the pursuit here. After being shot four times in the head, and suffering severe brain damage, Ghaisar survived 10 days in the hospital before dying on November 27. The two Park Police officers have been on administrative leave since the shooting. Neither the US Park Police nor the FBI, which is now handling the investigation, have provided any explanation for the use of deadly force, nor why the police were chasing a car that had been rear-ended in a minor car accident. Bijans family recently issued a statement on Facebook stating, We know that Bijan was shot by U.S. Park Police on November 17th, and we know little else. We have not received any explanation from the authorities about why the reaction to a minor car accident, where Bijan was the person hit, was a police pursuit ending in Bijan's killing. We do not know the names of the police officers who killed my son. In the wake of the shooting, Ghaisars mother told the Post, Its not right that one side of this situation, the FBI and the authorities, has all the information and we dont have access to anything. Where in the world do we live? How can somebodys child be killed in this country in this century and nobody comes to talk to you? What is that? On December 7, about 1,000 people attended a vigil held for Ghaisar on the National Mall. In the wake of the release of the dashcam video, and the lack of a response from the police, Ghaisars family also organized a demonstration on Friday outside the Department of Interior, which governs the US Park Police. Los Angeles police drag and arrest Metro passenger for having foot up on a second seat On January 22, a Los Angeles police officer forcefully dragged 18-year-old Bethany Nava from a Metro subway train after she refused his command to leave the train for having her foot up on a second seat. In video of the incident, the police officer says, Youre getting off the train right now. I already told you what to do, and you disobeyed me. Come on. Get ready to walk. Los Angeles police drag 18-year-old Bethany Nava from a Metro train The police officer then pulled Navas arm, saying Come on, stand up. As he pulled her off the train, Nava looped her elbow around a handhold bar, afraid that she would lose her bag and cellphone. I paid to be on this train, asshole. Stop!, the young woman exclaimed as the officer yanked on her arm. After violently removing her from the train, the officer proceeded to arrest her. The officer then repeated, I told you what to do. Nava can be seen on the video visibly shaken by the officers extreme behavior. The police detained Nava and absurdly gave her a citation for engaging in boisterous or unruly behavior, before releasing her. Even more outrageous, police arrested and jailed 22-year-old Selina Lechuga, who can be seen in the video coming to Navas defense after she was pulled off the train. At one point, Lechuga says to the officer, Youre going to take her to jail for putting her foot on the seat? Are you fucking kidding me? You really have nothing to do. Lechuga was detained in jail for 24 hours for alleged battery of a police officer before posting $20,000 bail. The killing of Ghaisar and the arrests of Nava and Lechuga show yet again the police resorting to the most extreme measures against the population, without even the pretext of suspicion that a crime, however minor, was committed. Police in the United States see the population as a potentially hostile force, with the use of excessive, and often lethal force, the first and best option no matter the situation. In a statement released earlier this month, which was quickly buried by the corporate media, Amnesty International (AI) detailed mistreatment and abuse of youth at a detention centre in Perth, the Western Australian state capital. During a visit to the Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre, AI interviewed two inmates who said they were subjected to solitary confinement in the Intensive Support Unit for weeks on end. This occurred in cells no larger than a car parking space, with as little as 10 minutes outside the cell each day, during which time they were handcuffed. The inmates were sometimes denied showers, fed through a grill in the cell door and had limited access to psychological support. The AI statement also revealed that, according to several sources, three young people were held in solitary confinement in the unit for at least two weeks at a time between last May and August after several detainees allegedly went on a rampage. Further concerns were raised about the treatment of prisoners in the unit, including lack of proper medical treatment, excessive use of force, lack of family contact, education and exercise time and denial of access to programs or services. The mother of one of the two teenagers who spoke with AI told the Guardian they were held in solitary confinement for more than 250 days. She said: Banksia Hill has demonised him. Hes not being rehabilitated, hes being contained, and thats what we do to animals. Amnesty Internationals indigenous rights manager, Tammy Solonec, said: These are very serious allegations, which if confirmed would put the practices at the Banksia Hill Detention Centre in clear breach of international law and standards, and may amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (CIDT). Under international law, solitary confinement is defined as physical and social isolation of individuals who are confined to their cells for 22 to 24 hours a day. Short-term solitary confinement (less than 15 days) can constitute torture. More than 15 days of solitary confinement constitutes torture or CIDT and must be absolutely banned. These outrages are continuing after a series of official reports acknowledged abuses in Australian juvenile prisons, but held no governments to account for them. Last June, Western Australias Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) released a report outlining issues at Banksia Hill, such as low staff morale, incorrect records regarding cell lockdown times, the use of spit hoods and a massive increase in self-harm among inmates. Some prisoners were denied legally-required time out of cells, violating the states Young Offenders Regulations, requiring that all detainees have a minimum of one hour of exercise every six hours. Log books indicated that one young person was out of cell for 15 minutes, five minutes of which were to speak to a psychologist. According to the report, there were 196 incidents of self-harm and attempted suicide in 2016 compared to 77 in 2015 and 38 in 2014. It said changes in reporting practices did not account for the increase and there were likely many more undocumented incidents. The states Department of Corrective Services did not routinely assess young people when they are admitted to custody for mental issues and, therefore, such problems were never identified. The OICS report cited a 2009 survey in the state of New South Wales, which found that 87 percent of juvenile prisoners had at least one mental health diagnosis. Around 82 percent of the females and 68 percent of the males had behavioural disorders. The report also raised concerns about the accuracy of reporting at the centre. One inmate was logged as having spent an extra 3.5 hours in a cell when the actual time spent was 19 hours. The OICS received credible claims that some electronic records were deliberately being entered incorrectly to meet legislative requirements. The OICS requested CCTV footage to test the accuracy of the log books and electronic records, but it was informed by the department that the footage had been taped over. These accounts follow a royal commission into the Don Dale youth detention centre in the Northern Territory after video footage surfaced in 2016 showing systemic abuse and torture there. As intended, the Turnbull governments royal commission was a whitewash, with no one held to account. As a result, the abuses have continued. Last October, the New South Wales government held a review of behaviour management in the states juvenile detention centres following claims that some detainees were being locked in their cells for up to 23 hours per day. The Queensland Labor government ordered a similar review in August 2016 after concerns were raised about lack of staff and the use of excessive force. In Victoria, punitive measures by the Labor government have reached unprecedented levels. After unlawfully moving teenagers to the adult Barwon Prison in November 2016, Premier Daniel Andrewss government passed, with bipartisan support, legislation requiring any youth over the age of 16 charged with serious offences to be tried and sentenced as an adult. This is part of a broader campaign against working class youth in Australia and internationally, under conditions of high unemployment and ever-more glaring social inequality. Governments and the media are attempting to portray youth as out-of-control to justify the brutal measures to punish and intimidate them. The author also recommends: Systemic abuses in Australias juvenile prisons: The class issues [4 August 2016] As Rohingya refugees await repatriation, several hundreds of thousands are in camps in nearby Bangladesh after fleeing the violence seen in Myanmar. The conflict in southeast Asia hits close to home for one woman. Dr. Sehr Haroon works the overnight shift at the University of Nebraska Medical Center while spearheading her humanitarian relief aid organization, S.E.H.R. Mission. Since last November, her non-profit joined Projects for Humanity out of Texas and volunteers in Bangladesh to provide help by raising funds for food and medical supplies for some camps. There are 600,000 to 800,000 refugees there and that number keeps growing, she said. The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority in a mostly Buddhist country. Many of the refugees are children. Kea Huq, a Bangladesh native, is part of the effort and says what's happening overseas is genocide. "You cannot even imagine yourself in their shoes," Huq said. On a recent morning, both women stare at a phone as they view pictures and videos with an occasional smile. They're not looking at the widespread images of the Rohingya people escaping, children who are malnourished and villages burning to the ground. Instead, they're watching their help in motion more than 8,000 miles away. Roughly $10 a month can feed a family for a month, Haroon said. "I would say it was very bittersweet because the need is endless," she said. "You feed 2,500 orphans for three days and then you realize that's just a drop in the pond." Monirul Islam of Projects for Humanity said the groups are looking to carryout long-term assistance. Recently, the Myanmar government opened holding camps for the refugees as it conducts a vetting process. However, the United Nations said the country needs to make sure the Rohingya people are being protected and not further traumatized before returning. Humanitarian watch groups say Myanmar violated human rights and committed violent acts against the minority group, but the government vehemently denies those accusations. While repatriation is underway, Islam says the groups are trying to provide basic necessities. We've built bathrooms, we've built water wells and we built a pre-school to offer education to the children, he said via a Skype interview. Haroon said there's still more work to be done. We've already sent a shipping container over, but now we're trying fill up another one with medical supplies, she said. Once there, the shipping container will be used for a medical clinic, she said. "If people want to get involved, they can bring clothing, school supplies and non-perishable food items," she said. The work can be overwhelming for a small network of volunteers. "There's this urge to want to do more," she said. "But at some point, you're kind of limited." TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department says the boat dock at Fairbanks Park remains closed indefinitely. The superintendent says he's not sure when, or if, the dock will open. Ice floes heavily damaged the dock earlier this week. The city named the boat dock after former mayor Ralph Tucker. It opened in May of 1992. Nearly 26 years later, the once large dock is nearly left in ruins. On Friday, Parks crews used cables to secure the dock and ran them to large trees and metal posts. This is to keep what's left of the dock from floating downstream. Some parts of the dock already have. Jon Certain says he's frequently used the dock since it's opened. "I like to go catfishing," Jon told me. "I come here and enjoy myself on a nice day." Jon wonders what's next for the dock. Will the city repair or replace it? Will they do away with a dock here altogether. We posed those questions to Superintendent Eddie Bird. "I don't know where we'll go from here," Bird admitted. "We don't budget for things like this." According to a marker we found near the dock, it was made possible by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources through the Indiana Waters Fishing and Boating Access Program. It was dedicated during the Pete Chalos administration. After watching park crews continue their work securing what's left of the dock, Bird told me, "I would hate to put a bunch of money into this dock and the same thing happens next year." And that's a definite possibility. News 10 reached out to city engineer Chuck Ennis. He told us more ice floes are likely now that Duke Energy's Wabash Generating Station is shut down. He said when it operated, the plant used lots of river water to cool the turbines. It would, in turn, put lots of warm water back out into the river. This would prevent it from freezing, even in extreme temperatures. Now that the generating statiton is done, Ennis said the river will likely freeze every winter. That's why Bird favors buying a new dock for Fairbanks Park, one that can be removed every winter. He says they're looking into the cost of both repairing the current dock and replacing it. Jon says he just hopes to see a dock at Fairbanks Park when the weather breaks. "It makes it safer for people to get in and out of their boats," Jon said. "especially if you have a lot of gear you're transporting." INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana House voted Thursday to require sexual harassment training for lawmakers, just weeks after a top Republican leader questioned whether it was effective. The measure by Democratic Rep. Cherrish Pryor of Indianapolis would require legislators to take at least one hour of training every year. "It's just good public policy," said Pryor. "We need to go on record and show that it's important to us." The move comes after a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against powerful men in public office, Hollywood and the media, igniting the #MeToo movement. Indiana does not currently require lawmakers to take sexual harassment training and neither the House nor the Senate have specific sexual harassment policies governing legislators' conduct. Instead, codes of conduct in the House and Senate each call for legislators to behave with "high moral and ethical standards." Shortly after this year's session began, House Speaker Brian Bosma said the possibility of updating the policies had been discussed. But he was non-committal on the issue, adding that when it comes to sexual harassment training there was "a question whether it's effective." "We've been dealing with bills. I'm not opposed to it by any means," the Indianapolis Republican told reporters. On Thursday, Bosma voted in favor of Pryor's measure, which was folded into an existing bill on a 95-0 vote. The full measure is expected to receive a vote in the coming days. If approved, it will move to the Senate. It's unclear if there is support for the measure there, though Pryor added that "they'd be hard pressed not to recognize that they need to." Any training is likely to be done by video. Last week, Bosma and Senate leader David Long of Fort Wayne wrote a joint letter to the National Conference of State Legislatures, inquiring about video that is under production. Though lawmakers are not governed by specific sexual harassment policies, their staffers are. They are forbidden from unwanted whistling, touching, pinching and requests for sexual favors, along with more overt types of unwanted sexual behavior. Staffers in the Senate are required to take yearly sexual harassment training, while House aides take periodic training, according to officials. House and Senate officials said no sexual harassment complaints have been filed since 2008. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI)- The roads in Knox County have had quite a work out this winter. Many who call Knox County home like Matt Keller understand it can be difficult to keep patched up. "Yeah, they get rough. Some people get frustrated but you know that's the way it is," said Keller. Thats why the Knox County Highway Department has been putting precautions in place to reduce road damage. Benji Boyd the department's superintendent has been doing what he hopes will protect the roads. "We've got a ten-ton weight limit on hard surface roads to try and keep the heavy loads off of those roads. That will help somewhat from breaking it up and that's beyond potholes," said Boyd. Now with the approval of the county council, they will be even more prepared to fix up the roads. They got approved for $950,000 to purchase new vehicles. They will be getting six new dump trucks to replace some of their older ones. They will trade in five of them while the other will be used for simpler jobs. "But these vehicles are 20 years old. A lot of times their down and we find ourselves without a vehicle in the middle of the summer when we need to do a lot of our work," said Boyd. Even though the cost is steep it's a price that many who drive these roads say is worth it. "The trucks themselves are going to make us as well next year and the next five years as they have been now. What more can you ask for, said Keller. It still will take a while for the department to get these trucks. They are expected to get them in before Labor Day. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Vigo County 911 dispatch center is receiving a new software program that could potentially save even more lives. Dispatchers work hard every day to make sure lives are being saved. The new software will allow dispatchers to type in all information from a 911 call. Then, it will be immediately sent out on the scanner by a computer voice. Before, dispatchers would have to speak the information over the scanner themselves. "When somebody calls in they have to ask the questions, put it in the system, and then start dispatching. This new systems going to do it automatically," said Jeff Fisher, Terre Haute fire chief. This helps fire departments and EMS workers have clearer communication, and it saves time. It could save up to two minutes, which is crucial when it comes to saving someone's life. "Seconds count, especially when in a trauma, or a heart attack, or in a stroke. Seconds absolutely count," said Lucas K. Puckett, Vigo County paramedic firefighter. The program, costing around $168,000 was approved by the Vigo County commissioners this week. The money will come directly from 911 funding. "This is an expensive project but I know the fire departments are well in need of it to help them out and to help the citizens of the county," said Rob McMullen, Vigo County 911 director. McMullen says fire departments have been requesting a system like this for quite some time, and they know it's going to pay off. "It's going to get us to where we need to be quicker. It will give us our information quicker. We're excited about it too," said Fisher. EMS says it will not only help save lives, but eliminate voice traffic and confusion over the scanners. It will help them get to the person needing help even faster. "The sooner we can get there, the sooner we can get somebody to definitive care at the hospital, the better outcome we're going to have for that patient," said Puckett. The dispatch center says there are already many programs like this across the state of Indiana. The new program will be implemented by spring time. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump highlighted his tax cuts and deregulatory efforts with a salesmans 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 presidents 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 Trumps 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. Its 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 dont 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. Americas 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 years 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 Chinas 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 Barry Sherman, a Canadian billionaire and philanthropist, and his wife, Honey Sherman, died in a double homicide, Toronto Police Detective Sgt. Susan Gomes said Friday at a news conference. Gomes said the Shermans were "targeted," but she didn't offer a motive or say who might have killed them. Police have not released many details about the killings and previously had not specified if the deaths were a double suicide, a murder-suicide or a double homicide. The couple was last seen December 13. They were found dead December 15 on the swimming pool deck on the lower level of their Toronto home, Gomes said Friday. Their bodies were in a semi-seated position with belts around their necks attached to a poolside railing, she said. Both bodies were clothed. Police have said the cause of death was "ligature neck compressions" but didn't provide any details. "The circumstances of their death appear suspicious" Detectives found no signs of forced entry in the house, Gomes said. She would not say if anything had been stolen or if any suspects had been identified. The Shermans' residence was so large that detectives spent six weeks inside examining evidence, Gomes said. Investigators have, so far, collected 150 items for forensic analysis, 127 witness statements and 2,000 hours of security video, she said. Other residences, including one in the United States, have been searched. According to CTV, Barry Sherman, 75, was the chairman of generic drugmaker Apotex, which he founded in 1974. Apotex went on to become the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company. Honey Sherman, 70, was involved in many charitable activities. Apotex posted a statement about the Shermans on the company webpage: "From its humble two-employee, 5,000 square-feet beginning in Toronto, the company Dr. Sherman founded grew into a global pharmaceutical organization that today employs more than 11,000 people in research, development, manufacturing, and distribution in facilities around the world." Earlier this month, a lawyer hired by the Shermans' adult children accused Toronto police of misleading the public with their early statements about the case, CTV said. Hong Kong has barred a member of pro-democracy icon Joshua Wong's political party from standing in an upcoming by-election. Agnes Chow, a 21-year-old former student activist, was informed of the decision by the Hong Kong Island returning office Saturday, Demosisto said in a statement. By-elections will take place in Hong Kong in March They are to fill the seats of several lawmakers controversially disqualified last year The party said she was barred due to its position that Hong Kongers be allowed to decide their own future, including voting on a potential break from China. Chow had previously signed a declaration that all prospective candidates must endorse, acknowledging China's sovereignty over the city and disavowing Hong Kong independence. Critics said the move undermined Hong Kong's already narrow electoral rights and was another example of Beijing's growing grip on the city, a former British colony that was handed over to China in 1997. Chow had hoped to fill the seat of her party-mate Nathan Law, who was one of six lawmakers disqualified last year after the government argued a minor protest he staged during his official oath-taking meant it was not done "sincerely" in accordance with the law. Beijing's lawfare against dissent In a statement Saturday, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said the "constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR is very clear ... (it) is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China (PRC)." "'Self-determination' or changing the HKSAR system by referendum which includes the choice of independence is inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Basic Law, as well as the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong," the statement said, referring to Hong Kong's constitutional document. "If a person advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means, he or she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfill his or her duties as a legislator." Maya Wang, senior researcher on China, Human Rights Watch, said stopping anyone from running in elections purely because of their peaceful political stance was "a violation of their basic human rights to stand for elections, which is guaranteed under Hong Kong's functional constitution, the Basic Law." "Three years after the Umbrella Movement, in which tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong stood up for the right to universal suffrage, the Beijing and Hong Kong governments have redoubled efforts to undermine the already limited electoral rights people have in Hong Kong." "The contorted legal arguments advanced by the Hong Kong government in disqualifying Chow can barely hide the political intentions of its decision: that this is another act in Beijing's play to chip away Hong Kong's autonomy," she added. Chow is not the first to be barred from standing for office in Hong Kong. In parliamentary elections in September 2016, several pro-independence candidates were banned, including Edward Leung, who is currently on trial for charges relating to a violent protest in Mong Kok, a major shopping district, in February 2016. This week, Leung pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in that protest, but denied a string of other charges. Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie was asked during an interview in France if there were any bookshops in her country -- and her clapback was epic. "I think it reflects very poorly on French people that you have to ask me that question," she responded. The audience erupted in applause as the incredulous "Americanah," author added: "I think surely... I mean it's 2018," she said in the video of the event posted by French news channel Loopsider. Adichie was the star guest at a global ideas event hosted by the French government called "La Nuit Des Idees" (A Night of Ideas). Midway through the chat, she was asked if her books are read in Nigeria. "You'll be shocked to know that they are, yes... They are read and studied, not just in Nigeria but across the continent of Africa," she said. The interviewer then followed up by asking if there were bookshops in the country. The audience gasped and the visibly embarrassed journalist tried to back up, explaining that "not much is said about Nigeria in France." "We speak very little about Nigeria in France, certainly not enough, and when we do it's about Boko Haram and the problems of violence and security," the interviewer said. "I would like to take advantage of your presence for us to talk about other things and things that we don't know about your country." Many Nigerians on social media mistakenly thought the interviewer was asking if there were libraries in the country because of the use of the French word "librairie," which means bookstore. Watch the full video from the event Another posted that the interviewer made a "lazy and prejudiced insinuation." One French commentator said the line of questioning was a "cocktail of racism and mediocrity" that was typical of French journalism. Adichie later posted a response on her Facebook page defending the journalist Caroline Broue as "Intelligent, thoughtful and well prepared," during their wide-ranging conversation at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris. She added that she was taken aback when the question was asked as it was "far below the intellectual register of her previous questions." "I know now that she was trying to be ironic... it was a genuine, if flat, attempt at irony and I wish she would not be publicly pilloried," Adichie said. The novelist also wrote in the same post: "To be asked to 'tell French people that you have bookshops in Nigeria because they don't know' is to cater to a wilfully retrograde idea - that Africa is so apart, so pathologically 'different,' that a non-African cannot make reasonable assumptions about life there." Ahead of the event, the novelist had posted a picture of her meeting first lady Brigitte Macron in Paris on the steps of the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the French president. Adichie is an award-winning author, humanist and feminist. Her TEDxEuston speech "We Should All Be Feminists" was turned into a book and given to every 16-year-old in Sweden. Beyonc- also sampled it in her "Lemonade" album. Adichie's novel "Americanah" was also optioned by actress Lupita Nyong'o to make it into a film. PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) A shooting victim has been identified following a crash in Pontotoc County. The incident happened on Tuesday, January 23. Pontotoc County EMA Director Ricky Jaggers says a call came in to 911 of a car wreck on Highway 278 west of Highway 15 sometime near 1:45 a.m. A passing motorist later said a red SUV could be seen out in a field along the highway. When officers arrived, they found a gunshot victim. That victim has been identified as 20-year-old Jody Devon Lewis of Abbeville, Miss. Lewis was airlifted to a Jackson hospital. The persons current condition is unknown. The case is under the investigation of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. No further information was released Friday. The investigation is progressing as it should, said MBI Spokesperson Warren Strain. Agents are following leads and evidence has been submitted to the crime lab for analysis. JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - The rate of flu-like illness in Mississippi is now below 10 percent for the first time since last month. The Mississippi State Department of Health says the influenza-like illness rate for the week ending January 20 is 9.5 percent. That's down from 10.9 percent the previous week. It was more than 12 percent during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. While this is a good sign for Mississippi, the nation's overall flu outlook is not as good. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the current flu season has not yet reached its peak. ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) Troopers arrested a California man and discover more than 100 pounds of marijuana as a result of a traffic stop in Itawamba County. According to Master Sgt. Ray Hall with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a state trooper stopped 57-year-old George Herbert Stonebreaker at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Thursday on Interstate 22. Photo: MHP George Stonebreaker | Photo: MHP George Stonebreaker | Photo: MHP Photo: MHP He was stopped for a traffic violation near Fulton. After a brief investigation, the trooper found the drugs in the bed of the 2015 Ford F-150. The trooper also found 450 doses of marijuana wax. As a result, Stonebreaker was charged with trafficking marijuana. His bond was set at $50,000. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics is assisting with the investigation. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama is preparing to execute an inmate who lawyers contend has developed dementia and can no longer remember killing a police officer three decades ago. Sixty-seven-year-old Vernon Madison is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at a prison in Alabama. Madison was sentenced to death for the 1985 killing of Mobile Police Officer Julius Schulte. Schulte had responded to a domestic disturbance call involving Madison. Prosecutors have said that Madison crept up and shot Schulte in the back of the head as he sat in his police car. Madison's attorneys say the inmate has suffered several strokes and can't remember killing Schulte or understand his upcoming execution. The state attorney general's office says courts have found that Madison, though in declining health, is competent. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Shoppers can now buy fake urine to defeat drug tests, but Mississippi lawmakers are fighting back with what they call the "Urine Trouble" bill. Republican Rep. Andy Gipson said 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. He said it contains many of the same chemicals found in human urine and is packaged with instructions on how the user can keep it at body temperature. "I thought I had seen it all when I saw this," Gipson said. The Mississippi Association of Self-Insurers is pushing the bill to ban fake urine. The group's director, Dan Gibson, said it's a safety concern because drug tests should accurately reveal whether truck drivers or factory workers have dangerous chemicals in their bodies. The bill passed a committee and goes to the full House for consideration. Several states, including Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma, have already banned synthetic urine. Source: Xinhua| 2017-12-18 21:56:30|Editor: pengying Video Player Close HOHHOT, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's largest forest zone earned 400,000 yuan (60,000 U.S. dollars) from its first sale of carbon offset credits Monday. The Chuo'er forestry bureau of the Greater Hinggan Mountain forest in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said it sold 40,000 tonnes of the forest zone's total 1.39 million tonnes of offset credits to an investment management firm in Zhejiang Province. The Greater Hinggan Mountain forest zone covers an area of 106,700 square meters in Inner Mongolia with forest coverage reaching 77.44 percent. Commercial logging is banned. Yu Shiping, an official with the Chuo'er forestry bureau, said carbon offset trade has created a bright future for maintaining and growing the forest. China's carbon trade began in 2011. The market is open in seven provinces and municipalities and is expected to expand nationwide. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-23 23:09:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BELGRADE, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A research published on Tuesday by the Ministry of European Integration of Serbia showed that 52 percent of Serbians would support the country's accession to the European Union (EU) at a referendum. According to the research which interviewed more than 1,000 people in December last year, 24 percent of the people said they would vote against the membership, while 12 percent are not sure how they would answer to the question: "How would you vote if a referendum was held tomorrow asking you to declare if you support Serbia's membership or not". However, some 65 percent of the people interviewed think that the reforms required by the EU membership should be conducted regardless of the accession, "for the well-being of the citizens and creating a better and well-arranged Serbia". Asked who was the biggest donor to Serbia from the year 2000 on, 24 percent said that it was the EU, while the remaining part of the public selected Russia, China, Japan and other countries. However, the research reveals official data showing that the EU and its members donated 4.31 billion euros to Serbia since 2000, and represent biggest donors to the country. Individually, the EU Commission donated 2.96 million euros, Germany gave 357.5 million euros, Sweden allocated 232 million euros and Italy donated 191.5 million euros. Some 19 percent of people think that the membership in the EU would increase people's chances to find employment, 15 percent think it would provide better perspective to the young people, while 13 percent think that this is an opportunity to bring the country into the state of order, the ministry concludes. In comparison, more than 80 percent of citizens of neighboring Montenegro support their country's EU integration. Serbia and Montenegro lead in the process of the European integration in the Western Balkans, according to a recent research. (1 euro = 1.23 U.S. dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-26 21:53:21|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. supported free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal. "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," Trump told global business elite at the World Economic Forum. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 04:00:11|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- BNP Paribas USA, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, pleaded guilty to participating in a price-fixing conspiracy in the foreign currency market (FX), and agreed to pay a criminal fine of 90 million U.S. dollars, said the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday. BNP Paribas USA admitted to having conspired to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing prices in Central and Eastern European, Middle Eastern and African currencies from September 2011 to July 2013, violating U.S. antitrust law. "The Antitrust Division is committed to uncovering and prosecuting wrongdoing in all corners of the foreign currency exchange market, including this conspiracy affecting multiple emerging market currencies," said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. As part of its sentence, BNPP USA agreed to pay a criminal fine of 90 million dollars. The Justice Department said the BNP Paribas will not be put on probation, in light of the bank's substantial efforts relating to compliance and remediation. BNPP USA is the sixth major bank to plead guilty as a result of the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into antitrust and fraud crimes in the FX market. Citigroup, JPMorgan, Barclays, The Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS have pleaded guilty and were collectively fined 2.8 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Justice Department. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 04:35:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Honeywell, the U.S. industrial conglomerate, said Friday it would bring back seven billion U.S. dollars of overseas earnings in next two years due to the newly enacted U.S. tax reform. The company said it would use the repatriated money for acquisitions and share buybacks. "This new global mobility of our cash will allow us to...more aggressively seek out M&A," said Chief Financial Officer Tom Szlosek. Before the new tax law, U.S. companies were subject to tax on all profits, including domestic and overseas earnings. Companies had to pay income tax when they brought the profits back to the United States. Therefore, most companies chose to hoard profits overseas to avoid the tax. It's estimated that more than 2.6 trillion U.S. dollars of corporate profits have been sitting in foreign bank accounts. The new tax law allows U.S. companies to repatriate profits at reduced rates. Since the passing of the new law, U.S. companies have been rushing to repatriate overseas profits. Apple said on Jan. 17 that it would pay 38 billion dollars for a one-time tax payment to repatriate its cash holdings. JP Morgan also said it would pay 2.4 billion-dollar tax for its overseas cash. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 04:40:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Government planners have announced further cost increases and delays in the construction of the major public infrastructure project "Stuttgart 21" on Friday. According to official calculations, the total costs for the troubled railway station could reach a total of 8.2 billion euros (10.18 billion U.S. dollars). The new figure is nearly twice as high as the estimate of 4.5 billion euros presented at the start of the project. Additionally, the completion date was pushed back for a fifth time to 2025, four years later than originally anticipated. The related costs of connecting Wendlingen and Ulm as part of the wider Stuttgart 21 infrastructure drive would also rise from 3.26 billion euros to 3.7 billion euros. The new figures presented in Berlin on Friday were based on an assessment by the accountancy firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) and the engineering company Emch+Berger. Higher building costs due to a booming German construction industry and tight domestic labor market, problems concerning the building site, and a desire by the management of the German National Railway Company (Deutsche Bahn) to create a financial buffer against the risk of future price increases were given as reasons for Stuttgart 21's deteriorating financial situation. Nevertheless, the management of Deutsche Bahn had "credibly argued that a continuation of the project Stuttgart 21 is more economically sensible than its cancellation." When completed, Stuttgart 21 will substitute the existing old Stuttgart terminus railway station with a state-of-the-art underground through-station. The ambitious engineering project has been a long-standing source of controversy in German public debate and drew protests even prior to the beginning of construction in 2010. It remains unclear at this point, who will cover the additional costs created Stuttgart 21. The Stuttgart airport, Deutsche Bahn, the municipal government of Stuttgart, the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Federal Government, and the European Union (EU) had initially all agreed to contribute to the now dated 4.5 billion euros in anticipated expenses. As the largest single investor in the project (originally 1.7 billion euros) and the official developer in charge of the railway station's construction, Deutsche Bahn has since met with heavy resistance to its plan to split the unforeseen additional costs between all involved parties. Together with the heavily-delayed Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and the "Elbphilarmonie" concert hall in Hamburg, Stuttgart 21 has become one of three prominent cases of botched planning for major infrastructure projects which threaten to undermine the international reputation for efficiency and engineering skills which Germans have cultivated. As a consequence, the Green party transport spokesperson Matthias Gastel reiterated the need for strict cost management in the case of the railway station on Friday. "Financing through the federal government can no longer be a taboo", he added. Gastel argued that it was high time that the federal government in Berlin "finally took its role as the owner of Deutsche Bahn seriously and unveiled its proposed solutions to the escalating costs." Striking a similar tone, the Left party (Linke) parliamentarian and railway expert Sabine Leidig described the Stuttgart 21 project as "completely uneconomic." Leidig warned that members of the project's supervisory board which carried on regardless ultimately risked criminal prosecution for their failure to avert financial harm to the publicly-owned development company. "The Federal Government as the owner must apply the emergency breaks", Leidig demanded. (1 euro = 1.24 U.S.dollars) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 05:35:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an end to anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on Jan. 27. "Today, we honor the victims of the Holocaust, an incomparable tragedy in human history. The world has a duty to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic attempt to eliminate the Jewish people and so many others," said Guterres in a video message broadcast on UN Web TV. "It would be a dangerous error to think of the Holocaust as simply the result of the insanity of a group of criminal Nazis. On the contrary, the Holocaust was the culmination of millennia of hatred, scapegoating and discrimination targeting the Jews, what we now call anti-Semitism." "Tragically, and contrary to our resolve, anti-Semitism continues to thrive," he warned. "We are also seeing a deeply troubling rise in extremism, xenophobia, racism and anti-Muslim hatred. Irrationality and intolerance are back." He said the world should never remain silent or indifferent when human beings are suffering so much. "We must always defend the vulnerable and bring tormentors to justice." He stressed the importance of education. After the horrors of the 20th century, there should be no room for intolerance in the 21st, he said. Guterres pledged to be "in the front line" of the battle against anti-Semitism and all other forms of hatred. "Let us build a future of dignity and equality for all -- and thus honor the victims of the Holocaust who we will never allow to be forgotten." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 06:35:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Washington state in the U.S. west pacific region has passed a bill to ban modification of the trigger of automatic weapons to prevent possible massacre that occurred in a U.S. state last year, a local TV reported Friday. The bill that cleared the Washington state Thursday night will make it illegal for anyone in the state to modify the trigger devices of automatic weapons, known as bump stocks, to operate more like automatic weapons. Such modification would accelerate a firearm's rate of fire to make automatic weapons more powerful and leathal, according to a live-fire experiment shown in the footage of the local K5 News TV. The Senate's measure was seen as a response to a mass shooting in Las Vegas, a resort city in the U.S. western state of Nevada, in October last year, which killed 58 people and injured hundreds of more other revelers at a country music festival. The ban, which will take effect on July 1 this year, bans manufacturing or selling of bump stocks in the state, and in July 2019, it would become illegal for anyone to own or possess a bump stock in Washington. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 07:39:05|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close People attend a remembrance event in the Holocaust Memorial Center before International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Budapest, Hungary, on Jan. 26, 2018. In 2005, the UN General Assembly designated January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is the largest Nazi death camp, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 07:15:58|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aerospace leader Boeing company Friday expressed disappointment over a decision of a U.S. trade regulator that favors its Canadian rival in a trade dispute. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted on Friday that Canada's aircraft maker Bombardier did not harm Boeing and dropped a U.S. Commerce Department recommendation to slap a near 300-percent duty on sales of Bombardier's 110-to-130-seat C Series jets for five years. Boeing said in a statement that it's disappointed 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." Boeing accused Bombardier of selling its new C Series airliner to Delta Air Lines in the U.S. small single-aisle airplane market at "absurdly low prices" in violation of U.S. trade rules. "We are feeling the effects of those unfair business practices in the market every day," it said. The U.S. aircraft giant vowed to continue its fight against Bombardier's business practices, which it said "continue to harm American workers and the aerospace industry they support." "Global trade only works if everyone adheres to the rules we have all agreed to," it said in the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 07:31:02|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close OTTAWA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The North American Economic Alliance (NAEA), which is made up by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial of Mexico, Friday agreed to have an effective and modern North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Businesses across all of North America need an effective trade agreement that is adapted to the realities of today, according to a news release issued after an agreement signed by the NAEA Friday in the context of the sixth round of NAFTA negotiations which is under way in Montreal. The agreement signed Friday by the alliance follows the trilateral commentary released at the launch of the alliance in June. It takes into account the information and agreements gathered over the past rounds of negotiations. A renewed NAFTA must not just maintain the current benefits for our three business communities, but build upon them. Faced with burgeoning global competition, we need to strengthen the ability of North American businesses to compete and win, said the news release. "This agreement reaffirms our commitment to NAFTA and sends a clear message to our governments: preserve and modernize the agreement so we can build a North America that's more competitive, more prosperous and more successful for everyone," said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the news release. "The U.S. business community remains steadfast in our commitment to achieving a modernized NAFTA, and the U.S. Chamber will continue to work closely with our partners in Canada and Mexico to sustain and strengthen our North American trading relationships," said Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the news release. "For over two decades, we have reinforced the ties of friendship and cooperation that bound our nations. Under the umbrella of NAFTA, businesses, governments, and societies in our three countries have increased trade, jobs, investment, and integration. Now, we have to move forward. The agreement that has shaped our relation can -and must- be modernized," said Juan Pablo Castanon, President of the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial of Mexico in the news release. American, Canadian and Mexican trade officials are meeting in Montreal for the sixth round of talks to renegotiate NAFTA. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 07:51:06|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution to change the name of an international day in memory of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The new resolution changes the designation of April 7 as "the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda" from the name of "the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda" as used by a December 2003 resolution. In introducing the Rwandan-drafted resolution, Rwandan ambassador to the United Nations, Valentine Rugwabiza, told the General Assembly that the new text captures the historical facts of what happened in 1994, which is a genocide "against the Tutsi" and leaves no room for ambiguity. "Historical accuracy and words are vital while referring to the genocide. The tactics of genocide denial and revisionism are well-known and documented. Some people, mostly those who were involved by action or omission, promote the theory of double genocide in the futile belief that such suggestion might divert their own responsibility," she said. The resolution was adopted without vote. Yet it does not mean that the move was without reservations from delegates. Kelley Currie, the U.S. representative, said that changing the title of the resolution "does not fully capture the magnitude of the genocide and of the violence committed against other groups." Hutus and people from other groups were also murdered for their opposition to the atrocities against Tutsis, she noted. "We will not stand in the way of changing the title of the resolution. We believe it is important to understand that our understanding of the circumstances of the genocide has not narrowed." The EU representative at the General Assembly also regretted the lack of consultations over such an important matter. The Rwandan genocide was committed by members of the Hutu majority government. An estimated 500,000 to 1 million Rwandans were brutally murdered during 100 days from April 7 to mid-July 1994, the overwhelming majority of the victims being Tutsis. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 08:01:11|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international forward Warley was rushed to hospital on Thursday after being stabbed during a robbery, local police said. Warley was attacked at around 4am near his home in the northeastern Brazilian city of Joao Pessoa. Thieves made off with his car and mobile phone, according to police. Warley's friend, Claudio Santos, told the Globo newspaper that the 39-year-old had undergone surgery but did not provide details of his condition. Capped four times for Brazil's national team, Warley played for Sao Paulo, Udinese and Palmeiras during a career that spanned from 1997 to 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 09:01:20|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- An agreement on Lao national television channel upgrade project with Chinese sponsor has been signed in Lao capital Vientiane. The agreement was signed by the Economic Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and Bounchao Pichit, head of Lao National Television on Friday. The project includes upgrade of studio, editing system, transmission and conversion system, provision of high-definition broadcasting vehicles and portable transmission equipment, among others. The project is expected to raise the production quality standard of Lao television programs and provide technical support for better exchange of radio, film and television between China and Laos. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 09:06:22|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain have agreed to work together for peace in the war-shattered Afghanistan. Joko Widodo, who arrived in Pakistan on two-day state visit on Friday, held talks with Hussain and proposed a joint role of religious scholars of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia for peace in Afghanistan, the president office said. "Pakistan has always played an important role for peace in the neighboring country. Pakistan and Indonesia can jointly promote moderation in the world," he said. Hussain said Pakistan will welcome Indonesia's peace role in Afghanistan, the president office said. Widodo's comments came amid reports that Indonesia wants to play a role in Afghan peace. In fact in November last year Chief of Afghanistan High Peace Council Karim Khalili visited Indonesia where he held discussions with high-ranking Indonesian officials including Joko Widodo on the peace process in Afghanistan. Afghan ambassador in Qatar, Faizullah Kakar, had stated in October 2017 that Indonesia wants to help in peace. Earlier addressing the joint session of the parliament in Islamabad, the Indonesian president said economic activities will never take place if there is conflict or war. "Conflicts and wars benefit no one and people mainly women and children become most impacted in such situations," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 09:16:24|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will host top-level 73rd Executive Committee and 22nd General Assembly meetings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) next month, said a statement Friday. Vice President of SAARC Chamber's Pakistan chapter Iftikhar Ali Malik said that both meetings will be held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Feb. 6, which would be chaired by the SAARC Chamber President Suraj Vaidya separately. Vice presidents from member countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldive, Bhutan and Pakistan along with their delegations will attend the meetings. The meetings will also take up and finalize SAARC Chamber's proposed initiatives, said the official, adding that new applications from SAARC member countries for membership of SAARC Chamber will also come under discussion. He said the meetings will also discuss the forthcoming three-day SAARC Business Leaders Conclave scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal in March this year. According to the official, formation of SAARC Chamber and China Business Council will also be approved after taking all stakeholders into confidence. The SAARC Chamber has also decided to celebrate its silver jubilee in all member countries to send a message of goodwill, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and promotion of intra-trade besides fully exploiting all indigenous resources in the region, the official said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 09:31:27|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and executive vice director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, introduces the essence and achievements of the 19th National Congress of the CPC during his visit in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Jan. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) NAIROBI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese delegation introduced the essence and achievements of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to Kenya during a three-day visit to the East African country. Upon the invitation of the Jubilee Party of Kenya, the Chinese delegation led by Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and executive vice director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, visited the country from Wednesday to Friday. Wang met respectively with Uhuru Kenyatta, Chairman of the Jubilee Party of Kenya and Kenyan President, and Justin Muturi, the Speaker of the National Assembly. Wang also held talks with Raphael Tuju, Secretary General of the Jubilee Party of Kenya. During the visit, Wang attended a symposium on the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, briefing the Jubilee Party and various circles of Kenya on the essence and achievements of the key congress, interpreting Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and sharing the CPC's experience in strengthening Party governance. The Kenyan side expressed their thanks to the CPC Central Committee, saying that they hope to further intensify the friendly ties with the CPC and deepen exchange of experience in governing the party and the nation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 09:41:29|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Alison Smale (L), under-secretary general for global communications at the UN Department of Public Information, and Zhao Dong, president of Xiamen Airlines, visit the new aircraft in Charleston, the United States, Jan. 26, 2018. China's Xiamen Airlines on Friday received its first aircraft bearing the UN (United Nations) message of sustainable development, hoping to promote the message worldwide. The Boeing aircraft was painted with a UN-sanctioned livery featuring the symbol of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and inscriptions in both Chinese and English. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) CHARLESTON, the United States, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Xiamen Airlines on Friday received its first aircraft bearing the UN (United Nations) message of sustainable development, hoping to promote the message worldwide. The Boeing aircraft was painted with a UN-sanctioned livery featuring the symbol of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and inscriptions in both Chinese and English. Zhao Dong, president of Xiamen Airlines, told the delivery ceremony that his company is committed to sustainable development, especially after becoming a partner of the UN to promote the agenda in early 2017. Zhao said the newly delivered aircraft will become "the global image ambassador for sustainable development goals", and will soon carry out intercontinental flights in Asia, Europe, as well as countries of Australia and the United States. Alison Smale, under-secretary general for global communications at the UN Department of Public Information, said the UN was pleased with the support from Xiamen Airlines to push forward the agenda, and is looking forward to explore new ways to enhance cooperation with the airline. "I think it is an excellent way to illustrate that we can live a modern 21st Century life, which includes long distance air travel, but try to think about it in the most sustainable way possible," Smale said, referring to the painted plane. The Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which boasts of 20 percent less fuel consumption and emission than its predecessors, is an ideal fit to support Xiamen Airlines and the UN SDGs, said John Bruns, president of Boeing China. Xiamen Airlines was the first airline in the world to cooperate with the UN on promoting sustainable development. In February 2017, it signed a cooperation agreement with the UN to support SDGs implementation. The UN General Assembly adopted in 2015 the 17-point SDGs, which called for ending poverty, hunger and ensuring prosperity worldwide by 2030. Xiamen Airlines, founded in the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, has a fleet of 188 aircraft and 10 intercontinental flights. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 10:16:33|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BRASILIA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The lawyer of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed his client's passport over to federal police in Sao Paulo Friday, one day after a court approved its seizure. Judge Ricardo Leite from the 10th federal court in the federal capital of Brasilia ordered the seizure of Lula's passport Thursday, forcing him to cancel a trip to Ethiopia, where he was set to participate in a global meeting. Leite's decision is linked to a separate investigation in which Lula is accused of using his influence to help the Brazilian airforce buy jet fighters from Sweden. The Workers' Party (PT), founded by Lula, called the decision part of an "odious judicial persecution" of the former president. It has been a roller-coaster week for Lula, who was named the PT's candidate for the upcoming presidential elections Thursday and saw his appeal for his prison sentence rejected Wednesday. Lula and his defense lawyers have denied all the accusations. But if he loses his final appeal, Lula will be banned from standing for public office. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 10:16:33|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nation Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Friday expressed concerns over retribution killings in eastern Libya. "UNSMIL is appalled by new reports of retribution killings in Libya. On Jan. 25, three bodies were reportedly found in Derna and five in Benghazi," the Mission said later on Friday on its official Facebook page. "The brutal pattern of violence must end. Those in effective control of fighters and those ordering, committing such crimes are liable under international law," the Mission added. Local media reported that the Mujahideen Council of the eastern city of Derna, a pro-al-Qaeda organization, carried out torture and execution to three young people. A number of bodies were found in Benghazi on the side of a main roads in the city. The circumstances of the killings remain unknown. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 10:41:36|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close HELSINKI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Helsinki Court of Appeals on Friday increased the sentence by three months on a far right radical for assaulting another man, local media reported. Jesse Torniainen, 27, a founding member of the Finnish chapter of the far right Nordic Resistance Movement, now will serve two years and three months in prison over aggravated assault. However, the new sentence fell short of an imprisonment of more than five years requested by the prosecution for causing the death of a 28-year-old bystander of a demonstration in September 2016 near the central railway station in the Finnish capital. The victim was then kicked by Torniainen and hospitalized, but he left the hospital on his own before re-admission and died several days after of a head wound sustained when he fell to the ground. Both the Helsinki appeal and district courts said the assault could not be proven the direct cause of the death. The prosecution and the defense each lodged an appeal. In its Friday decision, the appeal court also described the attack motivation as an outrage towards the victim's opposition to "the racist values of the Nordic Resistance Movement," making this the grounds for an increased sentence. Previously in December 2016, the Helsinki District Court did not blame the assault on racist motivation in its decision. The appeal court on Friday also referred to a ban ordered last November by a Finnish court on the Nordic Resistance Movement, which said the neo-Nazi organization "flagrantly violated the principles of good practice." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 10:46:36|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to ask for 716 billion U.S. dollars for defense spending in the 2019 budget to be unveiled next month, local media reported Friday. The figure will represent a 7-percent increase over the 2018 budget, which has yet to be passed through the Congress, The Washington Post quoted U.S. officials as saying. Trump's request would cover the Pentagon's annual budget as well as spending on ongoing wars and the maintenance of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, said the report. The proposal would come after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis unveiled the National Defense Strategy last week, in which he proposed boosting the power of the U.S. military. Mattis said that the country's military competitive edge "has eroded in every domain of warfare" because of inconsistent funding. The increase in defense spending, as pundits say, would be critical to achieving Trump's vision for the military, including a larger Navy fleet and a bigger Army. But others warned that a long-term increase in U.S. military spending would dramatically expand the deficit. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 10:51:38|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close CANBERRA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has called for a joint referendum on indigenous recognition in the Australian Constitution and Australia becoming a republic. Anthony Albanese, former deputy prime minister and the man widely considered to be the next leader of the ALP, used a speech in his Sydney electorate of Grayndler on Friday to make the suggestion that the referendum should be held on Australia Day so as to create a "platform of unity." Under Australian law, any change to the constitution requires a national referendum to return a vote strongly in favor of doing so. The date of Australia Day, currently Jan. 26, has become increasingly contentious in recent years. Much of Australia's indigenous population consider it a national day of mourning, saying it celebrates the day that the country was stolen from the original Australians. Albanese's speech on Friday came as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Australia's major cities, protesting the date. He said that holding the referendum on Jan. 26 would mean that the date became synonymous with indigenous recognition rather than the arrival of the British First Fleet in Australia in 1788, making it a day "where we can truly say that we're together as one, as a nation." "It would mean Australia had a day which recognized our modern history of new arrivals, our continuous history of indigenous Australians dating back now some 80,000 years and a recognition of confidence of us in a modern state," he said. "Our nation needs to reconcile itself with the past as a precondition of creating a better future, one in which we embrace a common vision of what it means to be Australian in the 21st century. "Instead of emphasising our differences, let us create a platform for unity." In his own Australia Day speech, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that the overwhelming majority of Australians were celebrating the holiday which marks "a story of enormous achievement." However, Turnbull, who has strongly opposed any change to the date of Australia Day, said the day should include a focus on indigenous Australians. "Our history, Australia's history, overwhelmingly is a bright story of success," he said. "The impact of European settlement on Aboriginal Australians was tragic; of course it was. We understand that and there are many wrongs that were done in the past, which we seek to right today." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 11:46:46|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lao government has set a target of limiting the unemployment rate to only 2 percent in 2018 despite a high percentage of joblessness reported among university graduates. Local daily Vientiane Times on Saturday quoted the Ministry of Planning and Investment's report as saying that the Lao government is paying greater attention to boosting the industrial and service sectors to generate employment opportunities for local people. The move is aimed at encouraging more people to leave agriculture to work in industries and service companies. There was no report on unemployment in Laos in 2017, Vientiane Times reported. A UN-funded survey in 2010 found that new college and university graduates represent about 6 percent of the country's workforce, but the jobless rate in this group is very high. The majority of new graduates seek employment with the government as they believe this will provide them with a permanent job. But the Lao government accepts only a small number of new recruits each year. In 2018, Lao government sectors will hire only 3,000 new employees, down from the 5,000 officials recruited last year. According to the Lao government's report, 78.5 percent of the workforce was employed in agriculture and forestry in 2005, and the figure dropped to 70 percent in 2010 and to 68 percent in 2015. With so many people being employed in agriculture, industry is facing a labor shortage, with many companies deciding to hire workers from abroad. A senior economist at the National Economic Research Institute of Laos, Leeber Leebouapao, said Laos has fewer skilled workers than required and more unskilled workers than the market needs. "We produce a lot of workers each year but many of them do not meet the requirements of the private sector. The reality is that we still need a high number of workers as you see many companies advertising jobs," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 12:01:48|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Zhai Wei, Tian Dongdong, Shen Zhonghao DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The "America First" mindset, defended by U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos, penetrated the whole process of his closing speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday. For the first time in Davos this year, one had to wait in line up to two hours to get a seat before the speech started. After entering the speech room, a second security check would be awaiting despite a previous one at the gate of Congress Center, unprecedented in previous speeches. And, before the president finally took the floor, one needed to listen to a 10-minute performance of "The Landwehr of Fribourg," a historic marching band. The Trump-eted preparation, a first in this year's Davos, has never had resemblances of other speakers at the global economic gatherings this week. In a nutshell, America First was everywhere in the speech room. During his roughly 15-minute speech, Trump spent about 12 minutes picturing a prosperous and lucrative U.S. economy that flourishes in his America First policy. Packed with a "very much America First" agenda, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier this month that Trump would be "100 percent focused" on and committed to promoting policies that "promote strength for American businesses and the American worker." In the eyes of some U.S. allies in Europe sitting in the speech room, Trump's America First policy is steadily drawing Uncle Sam back to the stronghold of protectionism, populism and nationalism. Defending America First, Trump said "I will always put America First ... and will always protect the interests of our country, our companies, and our workers." A lackluster applause in the room laid bare the fact that the audience was not willing to buy his story. Disappointed by an increasingly inward-looking and self-centered Washington, Europeans are now more interested in making their own continent stronger. Meanwhile, calling himself a "cheer leader" of the United States, Trump told the world that "America is the place to do business" and "now is the time to invest in the future of America." However, Trump's boast of a "cheer leader" sounded more like a seasoned salesman. "The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America ... I am here to deliver a simple message: America is open for business and we are competitive once again," said Trump. "Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs, and your investments to the United States of America," he said. Commenting on Trump's speech, Randall Lane, an editor of Forbes Magazine, told Xinhua "He (Trump) is good at selling. He is a deal maker. He knows how to sell and is selling investment into America." Trump toned down his rhetoric of "America First" at the end of his speech, when he came to topics of his country's global leadership. "America first does not mean America alone," he said. Kevin Sneader, chairman of global management consulting firm McKinsey's Asian offices, told Xinhua after the speech "Trump's commitment that America still intends to be a part of the global trading frameworks is important," as "there is clearly a concern that trading relationships that contribute to the world's prosperity are under threat." Nevertheless, others were less optimistic. Guillermo Romo, president of the Grupo Mega, a Mexican company offering financial solutions for business sectors, said "I think Trump prepared the speech for these crowds of people ... He talked about regulation and cutting tax ... The real question is if it was fake statement. Let's see if he will continue on that." "If the U.S. really opens for business, it should be fair, not just putting borders," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 12:31:51|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Afghan security force members inspect the site of a bomb attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2018. Two police personnel were killed and one dozen people were wounded in a bomb attack in Kandahar city, capital of southern Afghan province of Kandahar Friday night, local police said on Saturday. (Xinhua/Sanaullah Seiam) KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two police personnel were killed and one dozen people were wounded in a bomb attack in Kandahar city, capital of southern Afghan province of Kandahar Friday night, local police said on Saturday. Zia Durrani, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua that "a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb when a police mobile patrol was passing by Aino Mina neighborhood in the largest southern Afghan city late Friday night, leaving the casualties." Those among the injured were four policemen and eight civilians. The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 16 years, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security situation has been improving in Kandahar province, the former stronghold of Taliban, in the last few months, as security forces have conducted search and cordon operations across the province. But the militants attack government interests in the province from time to time. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:06:55|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Xu Xingtang, Zhang Mengxi NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Booming domestic consumption, new technologies and supportive government policies are among a cocktail of "immutable" forces that continue to power China's economic growth, U.S. experts have said. TRANSITION REMARKABLE "They get government, they get capital, they get entrepreneurship...in particular, they get consumers. These forces are immutable. They are macroeconomic, they are demographically driven," said Michael Chu, global co-CEO of the private equity firm L Catterton, in his keynote speech at a recent conference themed "Next China: How China will reshape our world" in New York City. "The issue is really how much it (China's economy) is going to grow. The issue is not it will become an increase in consumer driven economy. That's not the question. The question will just be how much and how fast," said Chu. Andy Rothman, investment strategist of Matthews Asia, agreed. The shift from an investment and export-driven economy to a consumption and service model like the one in the United States, "which many thought wouldn't be possible" is happening, said Rothman in a panel discussing China's macroeconomic outlook for 2018. "I think a lot of people (who) were pessimistic maybe don't understand how much things have changed (in China) in a relatively short period of time," he said. He said when he first went to China in the 1980s, he could hardly find a privately owned restaurant. Now, he said, almost all the new job creation in China is from small private enterprises. China's official data showed its gross domestic product reached 82.7 trillion yuan (about 13 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2017, an annual increase of 6.9 percent, as it picked up pace for the first time in seven years. The contribution of consumption to economic growth increased to 58.8 percent from 51.8 percent in 2012. COCKTAIL OF FORCES Lots of capital, technologically-enabled transactions, business opportunities, increasing wealth and a supportive government are among the inputs to make the economic transformation in China a success, Chu said. China implemented a strategy of innovation-driven growth in the past five years, research and development expenditures have increased by an annual more than 11 percent and sci-tech progress has contributed more to economic development. Mobile and e-commerce markets have provided a great ecosystem for new businesses to grow in China, said Chu. Moreover, the country has more online users than the United States and Europe combined, a staggering 751 million. China saw a daily registration of 16,600 new companies in 2017. China's investment in artificial intelligence, science, and technology has paid off, Frederick Demopoulos, investor and co-founder of Qunar, said in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the conference. The BAT giants, i.e. Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, have even greater advantages, he said,"they have access to huge amount of data and info which makes them big players in China's AI development as well." "This is the best time to set up a business in China," he said, citing the massive consumer market and lots of capital and money flowing around besides talents and a big workforce in startups. China will add 850 million people to its middle income group by 2030, or 73 percent of the population, according to a recent working paper by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In contrast, Europe will add only 16 million and North America will see a decline of 16 million. According to Chu, China's venture capital investment has grown from 12 trillion dollars in 2011-2013 to 77 trillion dollars in 2014-2016. "In China, every 8 minutes there's a startup being created," Anna Fang, CEO of ZhenFund, told a technology panel. Consumption-focused startups account for about 20 percent funded by the early stage venture capital firms primarily investing in China. CHALLENGES REMAIN Stephen Roach, former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia and senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, spoke at the same panel. He noted China's transition toward a consumption-led economy is making progress but still faces challenges. Roach is the author of the 2014 book "Unbalanced: The Codependency of America and China," published by Yale University Press. "I'm always wary of the black-and-white, bull or bear (projections), I prefer to be a realist and think about both sets of considerations," Roach said. On one hand, he said, "China has done a terrific job in the industrial engineering piece of this by boosting the development of the services sector and pushing ahead aggressively on urbanization." On the other hand, although all of these raised personal income share of the Chinese economy a lot, Roach said, the consumption share of GDP still has great room to grow. The panelists also discussed China's housing market, local debt, social safety net, and the government's role in regulating those complexities. Many agree that one has to understand the difference between China's model and the Western model. "President Xi (Jinping) has obviously made some extraordinary statements of transformations that will be occurring in China over time. And some of those suggest an economy that will be more consumption led," said Merit Janow, a professor of international trade and dean at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, in an interview with Xinhua. "But these are medium-term challenges for China," Janow said, "and so today's discussion amplified both where the progress is occurring as well as where some of the challenges remain to deal with a country's complexity," she said. The one-day Next China event was co-hosted by SupChina, a digital media company focusing on China news and commentary, and China Institute, America's oldest educational institution devoted solely to Chinese culture, on Jan. 17 in New York City. (Xinhua reporters in New York Zhang Yichi, Wang Naishui also contributed to the story) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:11:56|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's advance team led by Ri Ju Thae, department director of the Ministry of Unification, visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from Tuesday to Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday. The 12-member delegation toured areas such as the Masikryong Ski Resort, Mt Kumgang area where a joint training event of skiers from the south and north sides and a joint cultural event are to be held ahead of the 23rd Winter Olympics. The visit was conducted in line with the agreement reached during the working-level talks between the two sides on Jan. 17, in which South Korea and the DPRK decided to jointly train skiers and hold the cultural event at the Masikryong Ski Resort and in Mt Kumgang from late January to early February, according to the KCNA. A field survey delegation headed by Hyon Song Wol, head of the Samjiyon Orchestra, made a two-day visit to the South Korean city of Kangrung and Seoul starting from Jan. 21 to inspect the preparation work for the performance of the DPRK's art troupe. Working-level talks between South Korea and the DPRK were held in Panmunjom on Jan.15, in which Pyongyang agreed to dispatch its art troupe comprised of more than 140 members to South Korea and give its performances in Kangrung and Seoul. High-Level talks between the two sides were held on Jan. 9. The DPRK decided to send a delegation consisting of an art troupe and other groups to South Korea after the talks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:16:57|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close HOUSTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident Friday evening at a store in the southern U.S. city of Houston, local police said. The shooting was reported Friday evening at a food store in northwest Houston, with the suspect still at large, said the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The deceased victim was confirmed as the son of the food store owner, local media said. It is unknown what provoked the shooting, and no arrests have been made so far. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:16:58|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close HELSINKI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The decline in the 2017 Nordea Bank profits has raised concerns in Finland, as the biggest bank in the Nordics is planning to move its headquarters from Stockholm to Helsinki. Nordea announced Friday that its profit in 2017 was 4 billion euros (4.97 billion U.S. dollars), a decrease from 4.4 billion euros (5.47 billion dollars) in 2016. Leading Finnish business daily Kauppalehti described the situation as a "painful change." The bank management was quoted as assuring that Nordea "is not in crisis, but a huge change is under way and a new digital bank will be born." Kauppalehti said "a lot happens in Nordea behind the scenes," but those developments are difficult to observe. From the outside "one can only see that costs went up and profits declined." Nordea CEO Casper von Koskull said earlier this week that major benefits would be seen only when "all old banking systems are closed during the final phase of the reform." Earlier reports said Nordea was introducing artificial intelligence and reducing the size of staff simultaneously. Ari Kaperi, Nordea's country manager for Finland, told Kauppalehti that operations in Finland have shown "moderate growth." Meanwhile, he said with currently 140 Nordea offices in Finland, the bank continues to close its offices. The process will continue at a previous rate, some ten percent per year, he added. Moreover, the current talks with the personnel may lead to the loss of 400 jobs in Finland. Finland recently has witnessed two national strikes, which caused the suspension of daily operation of Finnish banks for days. While the relocation enhances the role of Helsinki as a finance capital, risks may occur when the deposits by Nordea customers outside Finland are transferred to the Finnish savings protection system. The Finnish banking control authority is hiring more staff in order to keep track of Nordea. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:21:59|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close MANILA, Jan 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States Air Force wants to conduct more live-fire exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Southeast Asian country, a Philippine military statement said on Saturday. AFP chief of staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero met with U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson on Friday at the AFP's general headquarters in Quezon City where they discussed possible joint war exercises between the two-armed forces. Wilson is in the Philippines for a three-day visit which started on Thursday. Aside from Guerrero, Wilson also met with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and top Philippine Air Force (PAF) officers. "Wilson expressed interest in the mutual benefits of bilateral training, including live-fire exercises, between PAF and U.S.' Pacific Air Force," the statement read. It said in all her meetings with Philippine defense and military officers, Wilson discussed "the Philippines-U.S. military partnerships and other mutual defense interests, including air force technical cooperation and capability build-up, among others." The statement did not elaborate on the details of the discussions. Guerrero, for his part, thanked Wilson for the U.S. military's continued assistance to further develop the PAF's capabilities, the statement said. Specifically, the statement said Guerrero thanked Wilson for the U.S. support to defeat the pro-Islamic State Maute terrorists who laid siege to Marawi City in May last year, ensuring a five-month battle that ruined the southern Philippine city. Guerrero hailed the U.S. military for its "capability and technical cooperation" during the war in Marawi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:21:59|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. experts believe the successful cloning of two monkeys by Chinese scientists will help push disease research and treatment while hailing it as a technical advance. "The cloning of the monkeys is a significant advance. Others had tried in the past and failed," said Robert Desimone, director of McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge in Massachusetts state. The two cloned macaques, named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, were produced at the non-human-primate research facility under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at the end of 2017. "One potential application is in the generation of primate genetic models for disease research," Desimone told Xinhua in a written interview. "I and many other neuroscientists believe that primate genetic models will be better for understanding human brain disorders and for developing new treatments compared to mouse models, because the brains of monkeys are more similar to those of humans," he added. Autism, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease are all examples of brain disorders that "might see significant advances based on primate genetic models," he elaborated. "Of course, outside of neuroscience, there are many other diseases where research would benefit from better genetic models," he added. Jun Wu, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, described the successful cloning of monkeys as technically "a landmark work." Cloning primates have proved much harder than other animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, horses, rats and mice since scientists successfully produced Dolly the cloned sheep in Scotland in July 1996. "Monkeys are the primates closest to humans and the biggest contribution of this work is to produce non-human primate models for human diseases," said Wu, who was involved in the creation of the first human-pig chimera embryos for organ transplantation in the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:32:01|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan national security forces killed a divisional commander of Taliban so-called Special Force or Sara Qetta in northern province of Kunduz on Friday, an army source said Saturday. "Mumtaz was killed together with two of his comrades and three militants injured following a gunfight in Chahal Chinar locality, on outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city," Nastraullah Jamshidi, a press officer of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, twitted. Violence has escalated in the previously peaceful northern region over the last few years as Afghan security forces push against the militants in the south and east. The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 16 years, has yet to make comments. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:42:03|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Liangzhu relic site, Neolithic ruins in east China's Zhejiang Province, was officially recommended Friday by the National Commission of China for UNESCO as a candidate for World Heritage status in 2019, according to the weekend edition of China Daily. The site on the outskirts of Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, dates to 3300-2300 BC, roughly contemporaneous with the Old Kingdom period in ancient Egypt and the Summer civilization in Mesopotamia. It is a complex with various types of relics, including an ancient city, tombs and a dam. Archaeological work began in Liangzhu in the 1930s, and over the past eight decades understanding of the sites has grown from being merely a complex of tombs to a comprehensive large-scale heritage site, said Wang Ningyuan, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Research Institute for Cultural Relics and Archaeology. In the new edition of high school textbook on China released in September, Liangzhu is presented in detail as an important origin of Chinese civilization. In 2015, the discovery in Liangzhu of the ruins of a dam -- for flood control and irrigation -- was announced. It is the earliest known Chinese water conservancy project and was listed among China's top 10 archaeological discoveries of that year. Its contemporary counterparts overseas were built mainly in arid areas like ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, making this discovery in the humid area near the Yangtze River unusual. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage had put Liangzhu on a potential World Heritage site list several times before it officially applied for that status. Jiang Weidong, deputy director of the Liangzhu relic site's administration office, said much work has been done in preparation for its submission as a World Heritage candidate. Currently, its protection zone covers 42 square kilometers, and this is planned to expand to 111 square kilometers. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 13:47:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close OTTAWA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Canada hailed the U.S. trade body's decision that allows Bombardier to sell its newest aircraft to U.S. airlines without heavy duties. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Friday ruled that Montreal-based plane maker Bombardier did not harm the U.S. aerospace leader Boeing, and dropped a U.S. Commerce Department recommendation to slap a 292-percent duty on sales of Bombardier's 110-to-130-seat C Series jets for five years. "We are very pleased with today's vote by the ITC, which confirms Canada's position that Boeing is not commercially threatened by Bombardier's C Series aircraft," said Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland in a statement on Friday afternoon. Bombardier called the decision "a victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law." Boeing company Friday expressed disappointment in a statement 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." The U.S. aircraft giant vowed to continue its fight against Bombardier's business practices, which it said will "continue to harm American workers and the aerospace industry they support." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 14:07:08|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Two cloned macaques named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua are fed at the non-human-primate research facility under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jan. 22, 2018. China on Thursday announced it successfully cloned world's first macaques from somatic cells by method that made Dolly. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first two cloned monkeys created by Chinese researchers have recently caught much spotlight on the international stage, as experts abroad praised the study as a technical advance with the potential of furthering human disease research. "It's a landmark work," said Jun Wu, assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who had participated in the creation of the first human-pig chimera embryos and the altering of the genes of a human embryo in the United States. "Monkeys are the primates closest to humans and the biggest contribution of this work is to produce non-human primate models for human disease," noted the professor. Echoing his perspective, Darren Griffin, professor of genetics at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, called the study "very impressive technically." Griffin pointed out that cloning primates has been proven as "much harder" than cloning other species like dogs, cats, pigs, horses and so on. "So to achieve that in primates has been quite a technical advance," he said. The two genetically identical, long-tailed macaques, named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, were successfully created from somatic cells using the same technique behind Dolly the sheep, according to an article that Chinese researchers published on the scientific journal Cell. "Such cloning allows the production of genetically uniform monkeys as animal models for basic research in primate biology and for studying human disease mechanisms and therapeutic treatments," the article said. In this aspect, Griffin said that the production of such cloned animals could allow scientists to use "less animals" for their research. "If you can do experiments on a set of cloned animals that all have the same genetic background you can be sure that any intervention that you give like a drug is the effective the drug itself not the natural variation of the population," he explained. More specifically, Robert Desimone, Director of McGovern Institute of Brain Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the U.S., labeled the study as "a significant advance" for disease research, as the cloning methods may be "particularly useful for combining several disease-related mutations in the same animal." "I and many other neuroscientists believe that primate genetic models will be better for understanding human brain disorders for developing new treatments compared to mouse models, because the brains of monkeys are more similar to those of humans," Desimone elaborated. Yet, Griffin warned that the first cloning of a non-human primate would raise ethical concerns, with critics arguing that this could possibly be "one step closer to human cloning." "Careful consideration now needs to be given to the ethical framework under which such experiments can, and should, operate," he said. "Cautious optimism is my personal response to this study. The study itself is very impressive technically." Enditem (Yang Shilong and Zhang Mengxi in New York, Lin Xiaochun and Zhou Zhou in Washington contributed to the story.) Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 14:17:09|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Afghan security personnel take part in a military operation in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2018. Afghan forces have killed 15 militants and destroyed many of their hideouts during a major operation currently underway in Ghazni, eastern Afghanistan, local police said Saturday. (Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah) GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces have killed 15 militants and destroyed many of their hideouts during a major operation currently underway in Ghazni, eastern Afghanistan, local police said Saturday. "Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDFS) launched a military operation on Friday in Nani, Nawghai, Mangoor, and Qarabaghi, on outskirts of provincial capital Ghazni city," provincial police Chief Gen.Mohammad Zaman told Xinhua. Clashes broke out in a couple of villages to resist the operation, leaving 15 Taliban militants killed and 20 others injured but no member of ANDSF was hurt during the fighting, he said. The operation will continue before the areas are cleared from the presence of militants, he added. The ANDSF and U.S.-led coalition forces continued mopping-up operations across Afghanistan but the militants attack government interests in the provinces from time to time. On Friday, two policemen were killed and one dozen people injured in a Taliban suicide car bombing in southern Kandahar province. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 14:52:12|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close HOUSTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- A concert featuring traditional Chinese music on Friday kicked off celebrations for the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year at the Chinese Consulate General in the U.S. city of Houston. Dubbed "Greetings of Spring," the concert featured traditional Chinese music performed by local Chinese artists, enthralling about 100 guests, including politicians, members of the business community and leaders of social organizations. Chinese consul general in Houston and host of the event Li Qiangmin said in a speech that music is one of the best ways for cross-border communication, adding that "China will keep interacting with the world to enhance mutual understanding and friendship." Li said he believed there are more opportunities and cooperation than challenges in future China-U.S. relations. "Looking into the future, we wish to build a community with a shared future for mankind. This community should be open, inclusive and beautiful," he said. In building this future, China is committed to working with the United States and other counties, and promote a new form of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, Li said. Sheila Jackson Lee, Representative for Texas's 18th congressional district, said, "It is important for our two nations, different as they may be, to focus on the collaboration for world peace. We look forward to continue to engage with China." During the concert, the audience enjoyed solos and ensembles of traditional Chinese instruments such as the GuZheng, Erhu, Bamboo flute, Pipa and Yangqin. Audience member Huge Willey said Americans are become more acquainted with Chinese culture, including the Chinese New Year, from immigrants. "I think they began to understand more and more because we have enough Chinese people here who celebrate that holiday to educate the American people about it," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 15:47:20|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- One assailant was killed and three people injured when a suicide car bombing struck a security checkpoint in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Saturday, sources said. "The assailant died on the spot and two army soldiers and a civilian wounded after a joint security forces' checkpoint, Qari Posta, came under attack by the suicide bomber at round 11:30 a.m. local time in Nad Ali District," a provincial security source, who requested anonymity, told Xinhua. Omar Zwak, provincial governor spokesman, confirmed the incident, saying "a probe is on to find more facts about the incident and details would be made public later in the day." Several warning shots were fired by the security forces after the explosion in the district, west of provincial capital of Lashkar Gah city. Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures. The blast caused a plume of gray smoke to rise above the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. On Friday, two policemen were killed and one dozen people injured in a Taliban suicide car bombing in neighboring Kandahar province. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 16:27:29|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close RAMADI, Iraq, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed mistakenly and 10 wounded Saturday when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force clashed with local police and paramilitary tribal fighters in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said. The incident took place after midnight when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force raided a house of a terrorist suspect in the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Captain Mohammed al-Dulaimi from the provincial police told Xinhua. The local police and paramilitary tribal fighters were surprised by the raid and came to the site to identify the troops, but a clash erupted between the two sides and U.S. helicopter gunships pounded the local police and the tribal fighters, Dulaimi said. A U.S. helicopter also bombarded a convoy of Colonel Salam al-Obeidi, head of the town's police, while his convoy approached the battlefield. Some policemen, including Obeidi himself, were killed in the clash, Dulaimi added. The incident came after the Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi units fought fierce battles with Islamic State (IS) militants during the past years and reclaimed key cities and towns from the extremist group, including the provincial capital of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad. On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group. Nevertheless, remnants of small groups and individuals of IS militants are still capable of carrying out attacks from time to time. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 17:22:40|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Snow-covered walkway and boats are seen on the Donghu Lake in Wuhan City, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Ke Hao) WUHAN/NANNING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Snow continued to affect parts of China on Saturday, causing cancellations to trains and flights, and the closure of many highways. In central China's Hubei Province, sections of more than 30 highways were closed, or limited the number of passing vehicles, due to snow and ice. The three railway stations in Wuhan, Hubei's provincial capital, canceled over 100 trains. As of 11:30 a.m, the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport had seen 95 flights canceled, stranding about 1,200 passengers. Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, had canceled 30 flights as of 10:50 a.m. According to China's national observatory, 10 to 20 centimeters of snow were expected in parts of central and eastern Chinese provinces on Thursday and Friday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 17:22:41|Editor: ZD Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) called on its member states to facilitate the free movement of people on the continent in a bid to reduce riskier forms of migration, mainly to Europe. AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Amira Elfadil Mohammed said the free movement of people will help reduce dangerous migration trends, mainly to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. The free movement of people will offer potential overseas migrants, particularly those taking dangerous routes, new options and thus help their pursuit for better life and employment across Africa. "I am glad that Africa is now working for its unity and taking steps towards the abolishing or easing of the visa restrictions in many African countries," she said. Noting that more than 80 percent of African migrants commit intra-Africa migration, the commissioner said that easing visa restrictions within the continent has the potential to further reduce the current 20 percent of migration to Europe and other parts of the world mainly via dangerous routes. Commending the achievements of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the free movement of people, she also called on other African regions to take lessons from ECOWAS and create an integrated continent. The free movement of people and goods is one of the major flagship initiatives that AU member states are expected to consider during the 30th AU leaders summit, which is currently underway in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. Hundreds of thousands of African migrants have in recent years used Libya, lying on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, as a transit route to Europe. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 17:42:43|Editor: ZD Video Player Close MANILA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Philippine authorities warned on Saturday of the risks of volcanic mudflow from the slopes of Mayon volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a statement that heavy rains over the Albay province have increased the dangers of lahars flows or major channels draining the volcano's edifice that have been deposited with thick pyroclastic density current (PDC) material and ash fall. Mayon volcano, located in Albay province approximately 330 km southeast of Manila on the island of Luzon, has been spewing volcanic ashes with increasing intensity since Jan. 13. The institute said the total volume of PDC, which has been deposited on watershed areas, is already "approximately nine million cubic meters." "These deposits can be remobilized by rainwater and generate lahar (flows)," the institute said, warning the powerful lahar, which contains a large number of volcanic rocks, ash, mud, and debris, can drown or bury people as they flow from the volcano to the villages below. Lahar flow is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water that flows from a volcano's river valley. Phivolcs warned of "potential lahar and sediment-laden streamflows" on all river channels draining from the slopes of Mayon. It advised the residents near the rivers to be additionally vigilant and to move to high ground when heavy rains occur. Fears of an imminent hazardous eruption have increased, prompting authorities to widen the danger zone around the Philippines' most active volcano. Some 80,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes as a result. The displaced residents are now living in cramped classrooms and temporary shelters set up by the government. The institute placed the volcano and its surrounding 9-km radius under alert level 4, meaning that a potential "hazardous eruption is imminent." Mayon volcano, which has an elevation of 2.46 kilometers and a base diameter of 20 kilometers, last erupted in 2014. In the 1814 eruption, more than 1,200 people were killed and three towns were buried under mud and rock. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 17:52:48|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIRUT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) arrested a suspected member of Islamic State (IS) group in the Bekaa governorate, a statement from the Directorate General of the ISF reported Saturday. "On Jan. 22, the ISF arrested a Lebanese national in the town of Majdal Anjar on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organization, committing fraud, selling weapons and people smuggling," the statement said, adding "the suspect was identified as R.A., born in 1979." It pointed that "during questioning, the man confessed to smuggling militants from Syria to Lebanon and taking directives from IS to help plan terrorist attacks in Lebanon." It concluded"he also confessed to smuggling 100 wireless devices to IS fighters in Syria." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:02:51|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 27, 2018 show the blast site near Sidarat Square in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 17 people were killed and 110 others injured after a suicide car bomb blast rocked near Sidarat Square in central Kabul on Saturday, an official told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed and 110 others injured after a suicide car bomb blast rocked near Sidarat Square in central Kabul on Saturday, an official told Xinhua. "So far, 17 were killed and the 110 wounded have been admitted to Kabul hospitals from today's Kabul terror attack but the number may change," Wahid Majroh, a public health ministry spokesman, confirmed to Xinhua. The blast occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) near the Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located. Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack. Among those affected by the blast were women and children. The old building of the Afghan Interior Ministry is located at the area. Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:02:56|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's forest tourism industry yielded output of 1.15 trillion yuan (180 billion U.S. dollars) last year. About 1.39 billion trips were made to forest and wetland parks in 2017, accounting for about 28 percent of trips made in China, according to the country's top forestry authority. Visiting forests has become popular in China over the last five years,with revenue rising from 61.8 billion yuan in 2012 to 140 billion yuan in 2017. The number of forest trips grew 15.5 percent annually over the past five years to total 4.6 billion, as forest-themed tourism areas increased by about 1,000 sites. Tourists go to forest parks for relaxation, sports, health care and adventure. The booming forest tourism industry also helped alleviate poverty, adding about 3,500 yuan per household on average to about 350,000 poor families each year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:07:57|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At 8:30 a.m., Wang Suzhong arrives at Chengdu Normal University, removes his clothes, sits in front of a group of students and allows them to sketch his body. Wang, 88, lives alone in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. He began working as a figure model in 2012, when he lived on a monthly pension of about 700 yuan (110 U.S. dollars). "I can make 70 yuan a day with my clothes on, and 100 yuan naked," he said in a viral video. "This is art, and I am not ashamed." Wang recently caused a stir online, after his story was shared by Pear Video on microblogging site Sina Weibo. As of 11 a.m. Friday, the video had received around 10,000 comments and 90,000 likes. Figure modelling is still considered a "disgraceful job" by many Chinese, and conservative attitudes prevail as the "naked models" are required to remove their clothes in public. Models usually pose for students in art schools, especially those studying painting and sculpture, but the number of figure models is quite limited, partly due to traditional views about the job and the low income it earns. According to a 2012 report by Chengdu Economic Daily, up to 1,000 art students work with a group of less than 20 older models. The models receive about 20 yuan per class, almost the same they did a decade ago. Wang said he sits in class for eight hours a day, but it is better than sitting alone at home watching TV. "The students talk to me, and the teachers really care about me," he said. "They tell me to drink more water and rest well." Wang said over the years he has worked as a figure model, his children have not once visited him. "They think my job makes them lose face and they are angry about it," he said. However, Wang said he continues to pose for art, despite strong objections from his children. "I do not steal, I do not rob, and I do not cheat," Wang says. "There is nothing wrong with this job." The story also fueled a heated discussion about the situation of China's "empty nesters," parents whose children have grown up and left home. "I respect the old man for pursuing his dreams," Weibo user Zhanbushimiya commented. "What are his children thinking? Shouldn't they support him when he is so old?" said another Weibo comment. China has an aging population. Those aged over 60 made up 16.7 percent of the population at the end of 2016, and by 2030, they are expected to account for about 25 percent. The number of empty nesters is rapidly growing and being intensified by young people leaving their rural hometowns to seek opportunities in the city. In big cities, the problem is no less serious, particularly among families with well-educated children as their offspring often go abroad. According to a 2015 report released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, in a country where adult children traditionally continue to live with their elderly parents after marriage, empty nesters now account for about 50 percent of those aged over 60, with 10 percent living alone. Zhai Zhenwu from Renmin University of China, said that while the government should provide more comprehensive care for senior citizens, it is also necessary to encourage young people to maintain closer communication with their parents. "Seniors need more emotional support from their children," said Du Peng from Renmin University of China. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:13:10|Editor: ZD Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) sent a diplomatic delegation to Sweden Saturday, said the country's official media. According to a report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the delegation was led by Han Song Ryol, vice-minister of the DPRK Foreign Ministry. The delegation will have an exchange of views with the Swedish side on bilateral relations and DPRK-European Union relations, said the KCNA. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:13:11|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Song Tao (2nd L), head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), briefs the attendees on the 19th CPC National Congress during a meeting in Toronto, Canada, Jan. 25, 2018. Song visited Canada from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng) OTTAWA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), visited Canada from Wednesday to Friday. During the visit to Canada to meet leaders of the Canadian government, parliament and political parties, Song relayed the significant outcomes from the 19th CPC National Congress held in Beijing in October last year. He also expounded the details of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Song stressed that the 19th CPC National Congress has mapped out China's development blueprint until the middle of the century and declared China's desire to work with all countries toward the "building of a community with a shared future for mankind," a concept developed by President Xi on global governance and ensuring global peace. Song said that China stands ready to work with Canada to strengthen strategic communications, enhance political mutual trust and continuously advance bilateral ties. During the meetings, Canadian officials said China's future development goals were not only important to China but bear profound influence for the rest of the world. Canada values the new opportunities brought by the 19th CPC National Congress to develop Canada-China relations, and Canada is willing to deepen ties with China in various fields, said Canadian officials. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:18:13|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. real estate and casino magnate Steve Wynn has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of former and current employees at his Wynn Resorts, U.S. media reported Friday. Dozens of staff who have worked for Wynn's company shared with the Wall Street Journal their accounts of his abusive conduct, describing the mogul as a man who pressures and forces them to obey his disgraceful requests. One of the women, a married manicurist who worked at the flagship Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino, received a settlement of 7.5 million U.S. dollars from Wynn after she submitted a report of his misconduct in 2005 to the resort's human resources department, the report said. Wynn in a statement Friday denied the allegations, saying "the idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous." Wynn said that the accusations were the continued work of his ex-wife Elaine Wynn, who is seeking a revised divorce settlement with him which makes him involved "in a terrible and nasty lawsuit." On Friday, Wynn Resorts' board of directors formed a special committee to investigate the allegations. The report of Wynn's misconduct comes after a wave of powerful men in politics and the media and film industries have been accused of sexual abuse. Wynn, 76, has created some of Las Vegas' most notable casinos and resorts. Forbes magazine estimates that he has a net worth of 3.5 billion dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:18:14|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ANKARA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 394 Kurdish militia and Islamic State (IS) members have been killed and captured since the beginning of Turkey's offense into Syria's northwestern Afrin region, the Turkish military said Saturday. During the operation, the Turkish Armed Forces also destroyed 340 targets, including weapon pits, shelters and ammunition depots, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. Three Turkish soldiers have been killed and 30 others injured since the operation was launched. The Turkish military launched the cross-border Operation Olive Branch with Free Syrian Army to fight the Syrian Kurdish militia on Jan. 20, targeting the People's Protection Units (YPG) elements in the Kurdish enclave through airstrikes and land forces. YPG is the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), a group in northern Syria that Ankara has deemed a "terror group" for its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party(PKK). Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:48:21|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Participants pose for a group photo after the 35th ordinary session of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee at the headquarters of the pan-African bloc in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Jan. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Saturday highlighted the importance of solving African conflicts to world peace and development. While attending the 30th African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the global development would not have success if Africa fails to take advantage of its youth dividend. "The international community will not find peace and security if Africa is not able to manage not only its conflicts, but above all, to make prevention and find a solution to its conflicts," he said. Guterres also praised African countries for their handling of migration issues, saying that "I have always seen African countries open their doors to refugees and migrants. This is a lesson that other parts of the world should understand." Affirming UN's commitment to support Africa, Guterres said the partnership between the UN and the AU is "the most important partnership." "Cooperation with the African Union is really a fundamental strategic element for the United Nations to be able to fulfill its mandate," he said. Peace and security, development, and human rights are said to be some of the common areas of interest for the UN and the AU to strengthen their partnership. The two organizations signed an agreement on Saturday to strengthen development in Africa, it was noted. According to Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU Commission Chairperson, AU's flagship Agenda 2063 and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG) can go hand-in-hand towards the continent's development. The targets of the SDG mainly focus the economic, social and environmental aspects of development. AU's Agenda 2063 is also a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years. The Agenda 2063 seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 18:48:22|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top securities watchdog fined a WeChat blogger 200,000 yuan (31,302 U.S. dollars) for producing and spreading market-disturbing misinformation. A 200,000-yuan fine is the top punishment for such practices. A media worker surnamed Cao wrote a story on his WeChat blogging account late last November which claimed financial institutions and property developers held a private meeting in the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which caused disturbances to the stocks market. However, the meeting was just a routine gathering, and the CSRC was not involved at all, the securities regulator pointed out. The authenticity and accuracy of information communication is vital to the smooth running of the capital market and emerging media platforms such as Weibo and WeChat must also obey rules and laws, or they will be punished, according to the CSRC. Social media platforms such as Weibo and WeChat have become popular arenas for investors to exchange information, and are also a tool for misleading behavior. Tencent launched a clean-up campaign last year, disabling over 1,000 fraudulent stocks-related WeChat accounts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 19:23:34|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch were killed when a U.S. drone strike targeted their vehicle in the southeastern province of Shabwa on Saturday, a government official told Xinhua. "A four-wheel drive vehicle carrying seven al-Qaida operatives was bombed with two missiles fired from an unmanned U.S. aircraft in Shabwa," the local government official said on condition of anonymity. He said that the airstrike, which destroyed the vehicle, killed the seven al-Qaida members inside onboard. The pre-dawn airstrike took place in the former bastion of al-Qaida militants in Alsaeed area of Shabwa. Witnesses confirmed to Xinhua that the "identities of the killed militants are unknown because they were badly burned with fire." The newly-recruited southern troops backed by the United Arab Emirates recently drove scores of al-Qaida militants out of Shabwa's villages. The U.S. military has carried out several airstrikes against the extremist fighters in different provinces of the war-torn Arab country since U.S. President Donald Trump approved expanded military operations against the group. That included intensified overnight airstrikes and ground military raids against the al-Qaida hideouts in the mountainous areas of al-Bayda and southeastern province of Shabwa. The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, seen by the United States as the global terror network's most dangerous branch, has exploited years of deadly conflict between Yemen's government and Houthi rebels to expand its presence, especially in southeastern provinces. Yemen's government, allied with a Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has for years been battling Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels for control of the impoverished country. UN statistics showed that more than 8,000 people have been killed in Yemen's conflict, most of them civilians, since the Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in 2015. The impoverished Arab country is also suffering the world's largest cholera outbreak, where about 5,000 cases are reported every day. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 19:23:34|Editor: ZD Video Player Close People carry an injured man from the blast site near Sidarat Square in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2018. The death toll of a massive car bombing in Kabul on Saturday climbed to 40 with 140 others wounded, health official Wahid Majroh told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a massive car bomb blast in Kabul on Saturday climbed to 40, with 140 others wounded, a spokesman for the public health ministry said. The latest information showed more than 180 people were affected by the incident but the final figures would be shared with the media later in the day, spokesman Whahid Majroh told Xinhua. Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast occurred roughly at 12:50 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) near the Jamhoriat Hospital, where several government offices are located. The assailant had used an ambulance to reach the area, which is closed for public vehicles. Afghan security forces sealed off the scene shortly after the deadly explosion, while ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the victims to the city's hospitals. The old building of the Afghan Interior Ministry is also located at the crowded area. Shops, several buildings including Jamhoriat Hospital building and many cars were severely damaged in the blast. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 19:28:36|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) on Saturday accused the United States of issuing more unilateral sanctions against the DPRK recently, which serve to "pour cold water" on the entire Korean Peninsula. In response to a question from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), an unnamed spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the unilateral sanctions are "an extension of its hostile policy." U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that it would enforce sanctions on more than 10 individuals, several entities and vessels under the allegation that they violated U.S. Sanctions Laws, said the KCNA. The spokesperson called the U.S. sanctions "an obvious infringement upon sovereignty and a grave act of provocation." The DPRK called on the United States to give up its hostile policy against it and terminate its provocative attempts to aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula, said the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 19:33:37|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2018 shows a logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Davos, which is hosting world leaders for the Jan. 23-26 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), was also affected by heavy snow as the area was secured for the gathering that will draw political, business and cultural leaders from all around the world. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) by Xinhua writers Liu Chang, Shang Jun BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." In his keynote speech at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos one year ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted English writer Charles Dickens to describe the challenges and the opportunities the world was facing then. As this year's globalist gathering in the snowy Swiss town came to a close on Friday with U.S. leader Donald Trump touting his "America First" doctrine, the current situation worldwide has grown ever more complicated while the task of "creating a shared future" in this "fractured world" has become more demanding. Across the globe, economic globalization has been losing momentum while protectionism and populism are rising. Lone-wolf attacks have emerged as the new face of terrorism. The issue of climate change has turned worse with last year being registered the second-warmest one ever recorded. At such a trying time, leaders of the world's major powers not only bear the responsibility to foster better domestic development, but also have on their shoulders the work of building this world a better place for humankind. At Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump seems to have insisted his country should come ahead of others. There, he has envisioned a "better world," where America is at the center, and benefits would be trickled down from Washington to the rest of the globe. In his eyes, fair trade comes before free trade, and Washington holds the jurisdiction to tell fair trade deals from unfair ones. Yet a basic fact of today's increasingly interconnected world is that the well-being of one nation depends on the well-being of others. Thus, to go alone, or to come together? This is the fundamental question the world's major players need to answer. Beijing believes it is in its own interests, as well as that of others, to jointly build a community with a shared future. Thus economic globalization needs to be refashioned instead of reversed, and trade protectionism should be repudiated instead of revered. The Chinese leader has, with tremendous insight, diagnosed that many of the world's conflicts and crises are the symptoms of economic destitution and sullen social advancement. Therefore, China has been encouraging the world to join it in promoting mutually beneficial development via the Belt and Road Initiative. Xi's idea was widely echoed at this year's Davos forum by many of his global colleagues from both developed and developing nations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned the globalist assembly against isolationism and called for cooperation and rejection of protectionism while French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strong defense of globalization. With such a broad global consensus to stick together for the common good, all nations can, as Xi told the Davos conclave last year, "create a better world and deliver better lives for our peoples" as long as they "work hand in hand to fulfill our responsibilities and overcome difficulties." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 20:28:49|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CHENGDU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhai Valley is expected to reopen gradually before May after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the popular tourist destination last August, according to a political advisor. Hu Bin, a Sichuan political advisor, said at the local legislative session that the park would reopen partially and gradually. The restoration will be completed in three years. The Sichuan government issued a restoration plan last November and decided to invest 11.8 billion yuan (1.8 billion U.S. dollars) into restoration work. "The temporary closure is also a chance for the park to upgrade its development mode when the tourist destination saw decreasing foreign visitors in recent years," Hu said. Jiuzhai Valley (Jiuzhaigou National Park), located in the mountains on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is well-known for its ethnic minority communities, superb mountains and stunning scenery. Jiuzhai Valley received 7.2 million tourists, including 180,000 foreigners, in 2016, with total tourism revenue of 9 billion yuan (1.35 billion U.S. dollars). It closed on Aug. 8 last year due to the earthquake. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 20:28:50|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close TIRANA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Albania's two main opposition parties, Democratic Party (DP) led by Lulzim Basha and Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) led by Monika Kryemadhi staged Saturday a massive protest in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama's offices in Tirana's main boulevard. Opposition leaders Basha and Kryemadhi declared from their headquarters early Saturday that they decided to join forces and escalate their protests till they bring down Edi Rama's government. According to Basha, citizens here have numerous reasons to protest as they noted that the government has plunged the country into poverty, corruption, crime, narcotics, informality, etc. Basha also said that other junior parties here would join the protest while he underscored that all opposition political forces had agreed on a joint political action against current government. On her part, SMI leader said in the beginning of protest that her party would collaborate with the Democrats not only for Saturday's protest but also for a series of protests to be held afterwards that would aim to overthrow Rama. Saturday's protest was announced in late December, followed the protest that DP and SMI lawmakers held in the parliament hall the day when majority voted and elected the temporary General Prosecutor in the last session of the year. Opposition MPs threw smoke bombs while their supporters clashed with police forces outside, but they couldn't stop the voting process. Thus they warned that they would hold massive protests in January. Opposition leaders have declared that the protests would be peaceful and well-organized. On the other hand, the interior ministry has deployed around 1,300 police officers and National Guard staff in order to keep the situation under control. The protest kicked off at 11:00 a.m. while it is slated to end at 16:00 p.m. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 20:38:54|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Saturday warned South Sudan's warring factions for violating the recent peace deal. In their joint meeting on the sidelines of the 30th AU summit in Ethiopia, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU Commission Chairperson, and Hailemariam Desalegn, Current IGAD Chairperson and Ethiopian Prime Minister, called for compliance with the peace agreement. According to the statement from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three parties have agreed on possible measures against parties that violate the agreement. The South Sudanese government and opposition factions in December signed an Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The cease-fire agreement, brokered by IGAD, asked the warring parties to stop military operations, demands that forces remain in their bases and further called for release of political detainees. According to the statement, the three organizations have "strongly condemned" the violation of the agreement by the parties involved. Mahamat stressed the need to take actions on parties that violate the peace accord, according to the statement. Guterres, who praised IGAD's efforts in South Sudan's peace process, also affirmed UN's support to the East African block. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 20:38:55|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NANJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- East China's Jiangsu, the country's largest manufacturing province, saw booming foreign trade with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017, according to the province's annual government work report. The export volume to countries along the initiative exceeded 590 billion yuan in 2017 (92 billion U.S. dollars), up 16.3 percent year on year, accounting for more than 24 percent of the province's total exports, the report said. Jiangsu attracted more than 1.3 billion dollars of direct investment from these countries last year. Since 2013 when China launched the initiative, more than 1,100 companies from Jiangsu have invested in 54 countries and regions along the route, with 70 percent of investment worth over 10 million dollars. In 2017, Jiangsu invested about 3 billion dollars into these countries. By 2018, Jiangsu will launch 266 cooperation projects worth 25.6 billion dollars, and establish 10 key industrial parks in the countries. Jiangsu's economy grew 7.2 percent to 8.5 trillion yuan last year, the country's second-largest contributor to the GDP, behind the province of Guangdong. A sailing boat is seen amid sunset glow on the Nile River near Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Disagreement over the Nile, one of the world's largest river systems, could turn into win-win cooperation instead of fueling conflict, experts have said. For the past weeks, there have been media reports suggesting a mega hydro dam being built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile river could be a catalyst for a larger conflict involving Egypt and Ethiopia. Abebe Aynete, senior researcher at the Ethiopia Foreign Relations Strategic Studies (EFRSS), a local think thank, told Xinhua that ongoing tensions about Nile river usage should not divert from win-win solutions. "Both countries already agree on a range of economic and security themes, including the common threat of terrorism," he said. Egyptian companies have substantial investments in Ethiopia, estimated to be more than 1 billion U.S. dollars, while Ethiopia is working on a long-term plan to sell electricity to energy-hungry Egypt. Aynete said longstanding disagreements on the Nile river have only served to delay the inevitable consensus both nations should reach on various issues. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a 6,450-MW hydro dam project whose construction was launched in April 2011, is expected to become the largest power project in Africa. The Ethiopian government has recently said the dam project that is 63 percent complete will start test power generation in 2018. Despite being separated by thousands of miles, Ethiopia and Egypt are intertwined by the Nile river with the former being source for 86 percent of the waters and the latter depending on Nile as its major surface fresh water source. Ethiopia insists the mega hydro dam is part of its desire to equitably use Nile water to help power its economic growth. Egypt, a lower riparian nation, fears the hydro dam will cut into its water supply, potentially crippling its agricultural sector that is already facing water shortages. Alex de Waal, Executive Director of World Peace Foundation, agrees that despite occasional heated rhetoric from Egypt and Ethiopia, both countries are likely to find common ground on Nile river usage. A longtime observer of politics in Northeast Africa, he argues that both countries are run by risk-averse governments that prioritize cooperation over potential conflict. "With Egypt becoming less and less reliant on agriculture and more on manufacturing, services sector, oil and gas and the commerce that goes through Suez Canal, it's economic reliance on the Nile river is lessening," said de Waal. However, he said Egyptians and Ethiopians share a strong psychological affinity to the Nile river, and that it could be used as an emotional card in potential conflict. While tensions on Nile river has often been characterized as binary issue between Ethiopia and Egypt, recent tensions involving other Nile basin countries Eritrea and Sudan has shed light on its complexity. Sudan, a lower riparian nation that borders Egypt and Ethiopia, has in recent years positioned itself closer to the latter by publicly supporting the construction of the GERD. Relations between Egypt and Sudan have been tense over the past years on other issues, including a territorial dispute over the border region of Halayeb and Shalateen. Eritrea that has a bitter border dispute with Ethiopia has cultivated close ties with Egypt, fueling speculation in Ethiopia and Sudan that it could act as a proxy for Egypt in case major crisis erupts over Nile. Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border conflict between 1998-2000 that left an estimated 70,000 people dead from both sides. Sudan in the past also had tense relations with Eritrea over the latter's support for Sudanese rebel groups. However, Aynete dismissed the possibility of a war involving the Nile river dispute breaking out in Northeast Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 21:39:06|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close JUBA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Saturday it has arrested a number of suspects in the refugee camp in connection with the killing of three people in Juba last week. UNMISS said in a statement that the arrests were made during a search operation in the Protection of Civilians site next to its base in the capital. It said the operation was carried out to determine whether individuals allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of three people in the capital last week were located within the camp. "A number of suspects were apprehended and handed over to the South Sudan National Police Service to investigate further," UNMISS said. The UN mission said the Protection of Civilians sites exist to shelter South Sudanese people who are under imminent and ongoing threat of physical violence and those who genuinely fear for their lives. It warned that it will not tolerate people who commit crimes outside and then hide inside the camp behind women and children who need protection. "The actions of a few must not jeopardize the safety of 39,000 vulnerable people," it said. South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former chief Riek Machar led to split within the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines between the two major ethnic groups Dinka and Nuer to which the two rivals belong respectively. The 2015 peace agreement to end the conflict was weakened after outbreak of renewed fighting in July 2016 forced the Machar to flee the nation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 21:49:11|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close RABAT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The share of renewable energy in Morocco's electric power production reached 34 percent by the end of 2017, local media reported on Saturday. Citing Mustapha Bakkoury, the managing director of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, Le36.ma news site said Morocco is on track to achieve its goals of producing 42 percent of its electrical power from renewable energy by 2020 and 52 percent by 2030. After launching production in the first phase of the world's largest solar power in the southern city of Ouarzazate last year, the three other phases of this solar complex will be operational later this year, the same source revealed. The solar complex is expected to generate 580 megawatts by 2020, and provide electricity to over a million homes. In addition, Morocco will expand two other smaller solar plants in the southern cities of Laayoune and Boujdour this year as well, he noted. As for wind power production, Bakkoury said this year will witness the start of production in several farms with a total production of 300 megawatts, adding that new other projects will be launched as well to boost solar and wind capacity in the kingdom's energy mix. On Friday, Morocco's King Mohammed VI chaired a working session on the implementation of renewable energy projects, calling for accelerating the kingdom's ambitious strategy in this field. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 22:04:14|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army on Saturday started an operation to rescue two European climbers stuck on Pakistan's second highest peak in the country's northern areas, local media reported. A Polish man, Tomek Mackiewicz, and a French woman, Elisabeth Revol, were attempting to ascend Nanga Parbat when they got stuck at the level of 7,400 meters, Geo News said, adding that the duo began their expedition to scale Nanga Parbat on Jan. 8, but communication with them was severed on Thursday. The two climbers were spotted by other climbers at the base camp of the mountain on Friday at an altitude of 7,400 meters. Strong winds and freezing temperatures were making it difficult for them to climb down the mountain, said media reports. According to Pakistani authorities, a four-member team of Polish climbers and skilled pilots of the army will take part in the rescue operation and the rescue is being coordinated with the embassies of France and Poland in Pakistan. On June 27 last year, two mountaineers, Alberto Zerain, a Spanish alpinist, and Mariano Galvan, an Argentinian national, went missing while trying to climb the same peak, according to local reports. Mountaineers nicknamed Nanga Parbat as "Killer Mountain" after more than 30 climbers died trying to conquer it before the first successful summit in 1953. Turkish-backed Syrian rebels fighters take position as they stand guard near the frontline on January 26, 2018 at the Syrian town of Azaz. The Turkish military on January 20 launched operation "Olive Branch", its second major incursion into Syrian territory during the seven-year civil war. (AFP Photo) ANKARA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 394 Kurdish militia and Islamic State (IS) members have been killed and captured since the beginning of Turkey's offense into Syria's northwestern Afrin region, the Turkish military said Saturday. During the operation, the Turkish Armed Forces also destroyed 340 targets, including weapon pits, shelters and ammunition depots, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement. Three Turkish soldiers have been killed and 30 others injured since the operation was launched. The Turkish military launched the cross-border Operation Olive Branch with Free Syrian Army to fight the Syrian Kurdish militia on Jan. 20, targeting the People's Protection Units (YPG) elements in the Kurdish enclave through airstrikes and land forces. YPG is the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), a group in northern Syria that Ankara has deemed a "terror group" for its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 22:24:19|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's latest campaign against organized crime and officials who hide criminal organizations reflects President Xi Jinping's outlook on security and his people-centered governance thought, according to academics. According to a document released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council Wednesday, the fight will focus on industries and areas prone to organized crimes that prompt the "strongest public reaction" and that which is "detested" by the people. The document said China would maintain a tough stance against "all types of organized crime." The CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to national security and people's security since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. In the report delivered to the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, listed "pursuing a holistic approach to national security" as one of the 14 points underpinning China's endeavor to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. "We must put national interests first, take protecting our people's security as our mission and safeguarding political security as a fundamental task," Xi said. While addressing a seminar on national security in February last year, Xi said national security work was essential to protecting people's interests. "People's expectations on fairness, justice and security have become higher, but mafia-like gangs impact on people's sense of benefit and happiness," said Xu Hanming, a professor with Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Compared with previous campaigns, which are focused on social security, the latest one is primarily aimed at consolidating the CPC ruling foundation, strengthening political power at the grassroots level and safeguarding lasting peace and stability for the country. "The campaign effectively responds to the aspirations of the people to live a better life and is a necessary measure to combat corruption and foster a healthy atmosphere of integrity in society," said Meng Jingtao, an executive director of Youdu law firm in southwestern China's Sichuan Province. As organized crime is deeply interwoven with corruption, the latest campaign will also deal with the protective "umbrellas" of gang crime. "Issues concerning people's interests have always been the focus of the CPC Central Committee and that embodies Xi's people-centered governance thought," said Yan Xuegang, a judge from Sichuan Higher People's Court. Members of the Iraqi forces and the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation units) ride on infanty-fighting vehicles (IFV) near theIraqi-Syrian border. (AFP Photo) RAMADI, Iraq, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed mistakenly and 10 wounded Saturday when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force clashed with local police and paramilitary tribal fighters in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said. The incident took place after midnight when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force raided a house of a terrorist suspect in the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Captain Mohammed al-Dulaimi from the provincial police told Xinhua. The local police and paramilitary tribal fighters were surprised by the raid and came to the site to identify the troops, but a clash erupted between the two sides and U.S. helicopter gunships pounded the local police and the tribal fighters, Dulaimi said. A U.S. helicopter also bombarded a convoy of Colonel Salam al-Obeidi, head of the town's police, while his convoy approached the battlefield. Some policemen, including Obeidi himself, were killed in the clash, Dulaimi added. The incident came after the Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi units fought fierce battles with Islamic State (IS) militants during the past years and reclaimed key cities and towns from the extremist group, including the provincial capital of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad. On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group. Nevertheless, remnants of small groups and individuals of IS militants are still capable of carrying out attacks from time to time. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 22:44:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday lashed out at Germany and Belgium over attacks on Turkish nationals by sympathizers of Kurdish groups in both countries. "They are attacking our citizens in Germany and Belgium. What are they waiting for (before taking any actions)?" Erdogan said in Istanbul while attending the opening ceremony of a highway tunnel. "The attacks against our mosques in Germany cannot be explained by anything, we will not sit and wait," he added, criticizing German police for just looking on. Supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as well as Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), attacked Turks and vandalized two Turkish mosques in Germany last week over a Turkish military operation in Afrin in northwestern Syria, Turkish media reported. According to press reports, the demonstrators shouted anti-Turkey slogans and punched Turkish passengers at Hannover airport, while two mosques run by Turkish expatriates came under attack in two other cities. Last October, a group of PKK sympathizers reportedly assaulted a number of Turkish nationals in Belgium's Anvers province. Erdogan urged German and Belgium authorities to take actions against the attacks, adding "what if these incidents have taken place in Turkey and our police remained silent, how would the entire world respond?" Ankara outlawed the PKK for its armed struggle against the state for more than 30 years, and sees the PYD and YPG as PKK's Syrian offshoots, while the European Union and the United States have also listed the PKK as a terror group. Turkey launched a military offensive against YPG-held Afrin on Jan. 20. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 22:54:26|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The undivided love of her parents that Si Xiaoxue enjoyed in her childhood merely compounded the bitterness she felt when her father was diagnosed with cancer. China's one-child generation have no siblings from whom to seek help. Si had to take leave from her work. When more leave was no longer an option, she worked all day and tended to her sick father at night. "It's a real struggle," the 34-year-old said. "Sometimes I just want to quit my job, but now I need the money more than ever." Si pays monthly medical bills of more than 10,000 yuan (1,500 U.S. dollars). TIME TO CARE For thousands of years, the Chinese have relied on their children to take care of them in their old age. However, the Chinese have traditionally had many children. For the one-child generation like Si, the emotional, physical and financial burden they are expected to bear is a punishingly heavy one. To relieve that burden, legislation in some parts of the country now allows employees to take time off, with full pay, to care for their sick parents. In central China's Hunan Province, an only child is allowed to take up to 20 days off each year if his or her parents are over 60 and in hospital. Similar rules apply in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where 15 days off are allowed. Salaries, allowances and bonuses may not be reduced during leave. The pattern is being repeated in Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Heilongjiang, Henan and Hubei. After more than 30 years of the one-child policy, care for the elderly has become a very difficult issue for individual families and a social problem which the government must address. There were about 230 million people aged 60 or over in China at the end of 2016, close to 17 percent of the population. More than half of them were "empty-nesters," who live apart from their children. SIX WALKING STICKS When the one-child policy was in force, the "six pairs of pockets" syndrome was well documented. Each only child generally had two parents and four grandparents, all of whom put their hands in their pockets to feed, cloth, and often spoil, the child. Today the pyramid is inverted and a single child may have six elderly relatives to support, the "six walking sticks" syndrome. "The burden of elder care in a single-child family has become a widespread, and very serious, social problem in China," said Li Zhiqiang, a legal expert at Lanzhou University. "Legislation which allows them to take time off work is just one way that the government can support them." However, the idea of paid elder-care leave has triggered heated debate with more concrete action needed to avoid the leave being only a term on paper. Chinese people are often very reluctant to take time off work and employers equally unwilling to allow them to. Wang Di, a Hangzhou-based demographer, said that many details of the legislation need further discussion, such as how to ensure that all only children in China enjoy the special leave and how to guarantee that the leave is truly used to care for elderly relatives. There are also issues of grandparents to consider "The responsibility of the implementation of elder care leave lies with the employers," said Si. "The leave needs to be incorporated into the Labor Law with effective policy support." SHARING THE BURDEN "Reliance on elder-care leave alone is not enough," said Li. Only a comprehensive social welfare system can develop more, better ways to care for seniors, community-based and institutional care as well as in-home services. His view is echoed by Si whose father has lain in bed for years. "The burden is like a huge mountain on my back, but one I will never set down." Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 22:59:27|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard near a barbed wire barricade during restrictions to prevent protests against civilian killings, in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Jan. 28, 2018. At least two civilians were killed and one wounded Saturday after Indian troops fired upon protesters in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar) SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least two civilians were killed and one wounded Saturday after Indian troops fired upon protesters in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The contingent of Indian army fired upon civilian protesters at Ganowpora village of Shopian district, about 60 km south of Srinagar city. "Today two youth were killed and one wounded after being hit by bullets fired by a contingent of Indian army," a police official posted at Shopian told Xinhua. "The army contingent was on a routine patrol in the village when it came under stone pelting." Reports said the killings triggered protests in the area with hundreds of people taking to streets shouting anti-India slogans and demanding an end to New Delhi's rule. Indian army spokesman said the troops opened fire in self-defence to "prevent the lynching of a Junior Commissioned Officer by a mob." The local government meanwhile has ordered a probe into the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:04:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Saturday condemned the deadliest car bomb attack in Afghan capital of Kabul. Death toll from an explosive-laden ambulance detonated by a terrorist in Kabul on Saturday rose to 95, with 158 others wounded. "The people and the government of Pakistan condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul and extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this reprehensible act," Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Faisal said. "Terrorism is not the way forward," the spokesman said on his official Twitter. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:14:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government scored highest in a poll of 27 countries on public trust, while the United States saw a massive decline, according to the results of a global survey. About 84 percent of the Chinese general population had trust in the government, beating the rates in all other countries measured, the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer survey found In the United States, only 33 percent of the public trusted their government, down 14 percentage points from a year earlier, registering the biggest trust loss among countries. On government leadership, 68 percent people said they believed the government in China could lead the country to a better future. Only 15 percent of people expected the American government to achieve this. Edelman is an American public relations and marketing consulting firm that has been running the annual public trust poll since 2001. The latest survey polled 1,150 online respondents on average per country between October and November last year. China, the United States, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Singapore were among the countries studied. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:19:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DOHA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Qatari delegation of high-level officials will visit the United States to boost bilateral relations, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Saturday. According to QNA, the delegation will attend Qatari-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Jan. 30, aiming to enhance the relations between the two countries. During the visit, the two countries will sign agreements in various fields, especially in energy and cyber-security. The delegation, consisting of five teams from various ministries of the Qatar, will be led by Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Adbulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Minister of Energy and Industry, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, Minister of Economy and Commerce, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim al-Thani and Minister of Finance Ali Shareef al-Emadi. Accompanying the delegation will be representatives of other ministries and authorities. Qatar, the first country to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States in combating "terrorism financing," is currently facing an all-round blockade imposed by its Gulf neighbors on June 5. The Saudi-led Arab quartet demanded Qatar to end its alleged support for terrorism, cut its links with Iran and stop its intervention in other countries' affairs. But Qatar has vehemently rejected the allegations. Qatar is home to the vast Al-Udeid air base that hosts some 10,000 U.S. troops. Over the last several years, Qatar-U.S. bilateral trade has witnessed steady growth. The volume of trade exchange reached 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, making the United States become Qatar's sixth largest trading partner. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:34:43|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's banking regulator said Saturday it had fined 12 banks a total of 295 million yuan (about 46.2 million U.S. dollars) over a bill fraud case in the northwestern province of Gansu. Investigations of a Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC) sub-branch in the Wuwei city of Gansu in December found 7.9 billion yuan worth of bills involved in the fraud, according to the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). Another 3 billion yuan of wealth management funds were illegally drawn or embezzled in this case, the CBRC said. "Bank staff colluded with outsiders to carve official seals without permission, used fake papers and contracts, illicitly conducted inter-bank wealth management business and bill discounting, and illegally drew and embezzled funds," a CBRC statement said. It was a severe case involving multiple agencies and seriously damaged market order, according to the statement. The former head of the PSBC sub-branch was barred from banking for life and transferred to judicial agencies. Executives at the bank's city-level and provincial branches, as well as those from the other 11 banks involved in the case, were also punished. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-27 23:54:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GABORONE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two middle-aged Zambian women have been arrested in Botswana's capital, Gaborone, on Saturday for smuggling illegal skin-lightening products worthy 30,000 U.S. dollars, police said. Botswana Police Service (BPS) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube told Xinhua that two women -- aged 35 and 38 years -- were arrested during a police operation aimed at clearing drugs and prohibited products in Gaborone. Since early December, police here launched an indefinite operation day and night confiscating habit-forming drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin and any other illicit products being sold on the streets of Gaborone. "The two women were found in possession of 60 boxes and several tubes of skin lightening creams estimated at a street value of about 30,000 U.S. dollars (300,000 pula) during a police operation in the wee hours of Saturday morning around 4 a.m. Central African Time (CAT)," said Motube. He said the 60 boxes contained Betasol cream which is a very strong corticosteroid. Also, several tubes of Epidermic creams were confiscated. Motube said the skin-lightening creams were smuggled into the southern African nation because they are a prohibited product in Botswana. "We are still to ascertain the exact number of the Epidermic tubes of the prohibited creams and their origin," he said. He said the Zambian women are expected to appear in court for arraignment on Monday morning. The southern part of Africa has of recent seen an upsurge in the smuggling of the creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps as well as lotions that allegedly contain mercury. Unlabeled jars of mercury-laced cream are marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles. Young girls also may use these products as acne treatments. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 00:14:54|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close SHENZHEN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Six national forest city groups will be built across China by 2020, according to a meeting held by the State Forestry Bureau in Shenzhen. Nine cities on the Pearl River Delta in south China will become the country's first national forest city group demonstration zone, according to the meeting held Friday. Deputy director of the bureau Peng Youdong said over 20 provinces are involved in the building of 15 national and provincial forest city groups and the work should be completed by 2020. Besides the Pearl River Delta city group, the other five city groups are planned in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan in central Hunan Province, the central plains, as well as northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 00:50:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his first appearance to the African Union (AU) as president on Saturday reiterated Zimbabwe's full commitment to the pan-African block. Mnangagwa, who commended Zimbabwe's former President Robert Mugabe as "a true pan-Africanist," also called on AU and its member states for strengthened socioeconomic partnership. Mnangagwa made the remarks during the New Partnership for Africa's Development's (NEPAD) meeting held on the sidelines of the 30th African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. "Zimbabwe proudly belongs to this big and happy family, the AU, and it pledges its commitment and readiness to remain fully engaged in all activities of the continent," he stressed. Mnangagwa further indicated his government's readiness to work together with African countries through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. "My government has introduced new economic policies designed to resuscitate the economy by attracting local and foreign direct investment into our country as well as promoting trade and tourism," he said. "Our message for our friends and partners in Africa and beyond is that Zimbabwe is open for business," Mnangagwa added. He also noted the new administration's aspirations to reengage with Zimbabwe's partners "with a view to addressing past misunderstandings." Mnangagwa further called on the AU and NEPAD to help the realization of the southern African country's ambitions in all endeavors. With regard to Mugabe, Mnangagwa said that the former president is "very fine and well taken care of by the new dispensation." "The preservation of his legacy, which we are very proud of, is of paramount importance for us as a nation," he said. "Now that President Mugabe has joined the unique club of elder statesmen of our continent, it is my hope that Zimbabwe and the continent at large will continue to draw from his deep reservoir of wisdom and experience as we endeavor to achieve goals we set for our regional vision: Agenda 2063," Mnangagwa said. People carry a body of a victim from the blast site inKabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2018. Death toll from an explosive-laden ambulance detonated by a terrorist in Kabul on Saturday rose to 95, with 158 others wounded, according to a Public Health Ministry spokesman. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Saturday's deadly terrorist attack in central Kabul, Afghanistan, which was claimed by the Taliban, Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. "Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and can never be justified. Those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice," said the statement released in Addis Ababa, where the UN chief is attending an African Union summit. The secretary-general extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He expressed his solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan, it said. A suicide bombing has killed 95 people and injured at least 158 others in central Kabul, officials said. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, was the deadliest for months. It followed a Taliban attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul a week ago that killed 22 people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 01:20:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Libyan eastern-based army air force on Saturday attacked terrorist sites in the eastern city of Derna. "The air force targeted sites and observatories of terrorist groups in Bukhtal farms in southern Derna." Media office of the Libyan army's Omar al-Mukhtar unit said in a statement. The air strikes destroyed positions and armed vehicles of militants, the statement revealed. The coastal city of Derna is the only eastern Libyan city outside the control of the army. Derna is under control of a coalition of extremist militias called the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Derna. The coalition does not recognize any of governments rule. The army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, have been imposing a land and sea blockade on Derna since mid-2015 and allows residents to enter and exit for humanitarian and medical reasons only. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 01:55:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,000 Congolese have fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Tanzania's western region of Kigoma seeking asylum for past one week, a senior government official said on Saturday. Emmanuel Maganga, the Kigoma regional commissioner, told Xinhua on telephone that 800 of the asylum seekers were received on Friday and Saturday at the region's port town of Kibirizi. "Most of the fleeing Congolese claim that they are running away from political upheavals in the eastern part of the country," said Maganga, adding that 1,600 of them were received at Manyovu, Kigage and Nyarugusu areas in the region. "The situation is appalling as hundreds of the Congolese are flocking into the region using boats that ply along Lake Tanganyika," said the official. He said the Kigoma region defense and security committee was assessing the new arrivals to establish whether they qualified to be given the asylum status. He said after the assessment by the regional defense and security committee the asylum seekers will undergo a second scrutiny by the National Eligibility Committee that will determine whether they qualified to gain the refugees status. Maganga said the National Eligibility Committee comprised of members from the Immigration Department and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "At the moment, the UN refugees' agency and other aid agencies are providing relief supplies to the arriving Congolese, including women and children," said Maganga. He said those who will meet "the refugee status" will be sent to the Nyarugusu refugee camp. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 02:35:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BOGOTA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's national police confirmed on Saturday that four officers lost their lives in a bombing this morning at the San Jose police station in the city of Barranquilla. The four dead officers were named as Anderson Rene Cano, Freddys Echeverria, Yosimar Marquez y Freddy Lopez, while at least 17 other policemen were injured and are being treated in hospital, a police officer said at a press conference. After the attack took place at 6:00 am, one person was arrested although no further details were revealed, said Mariano Botero Coy, police commander for Barranquilla. He said the possibility of the bomb having been set up inside the police station and set off remotely is being investigated, although witnesses said they saw a man threw an object at the police officers before the explosion. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took to Twitter to express his condolences. "I utterly reject the cowardly attack against the police station in Barranquilla. We will not rest until we find those responsible. My solidarity with the families of the victims and injured," he wrote. The director of national police, General Jorge Nieto, announced a reward of 50 million pesos (around 16,000 U.S. dollars) for any information leading to those responsible. "We have visited the site of the events in the San Jose neighborhood, where investigators are moving ahead with the task of collecting evidence," said Nieto. The mayor of Barranquilla, Alejandro Char, added that the attack was likely in response to recent successes by police against crime in the city. "We have no doubt that this was in retaliation for the blows made by police to drug trafficking in Barranquilla and outside it. My message is that today we are more united than ever, we will never stop, we will not allow a few bandits to come and remove Barranquilla's dream," said Char. However, another hypothesis is that the attack was meant to distract the police since, at the same time, a group of robbers stole a large sum of money from a security van. One guard was killed and another injured in the attack. A Ukrainian soldier prepares to distribute food to residents in Slavyansk, Ukraine, July 6, 2014. (Xinhua/Alexander Ermochenko) KIEV, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine will make breakthroughs in agriculture in 2018 by increasing support for farmers, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said. The government will launch programs to provide direct financial incentives for farmers, foot the expenses for building new dairy farms, and help farmers purchase agricultural equipment, Groysman said Friday. The state programs will enable farmers increase the number of livestock and boost production. According to the cabinet's press service, the government will allocate subsidies of about 140 million U.S. dollars for livestock farmers and 10 million dollars for fruit-growers this year. In addition, it will allocate 34.8 million dollars to help grain growers buy modern farming equipment. Agriculture is one of the key sectors in the Ukrainian economy. In 2017, Ukraine's agricultural exports reached 17.9 billion dollars, the highest level since 2012. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 03:05:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- African countries should actively utilize continental justice organs to find appropriate and timely justice, an AU official said on Saturday. Speaking on the sidelines of the 30th AU Summit in Ethiopia, Richard Ssewakiryanga, Presiding Officer at the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC), said citizens of African countries should utilize justice bodies like the African Court on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) based in Arusha, Tanzania instead of often looking to justice institutions from outside Africa. Operational since 2008, ACHPR works to ensure the protection of human and peoples' rights in Africa. "Another example the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which recently successfully concluded prosecuting suspects in the 1994 genocide, shows African justice systems do work," said Ssewakiryanga. His comments were implicitly directed at the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in Hague, Netherlands and functional since 2002. The ICC has been accused of disproportionately focusing on alleged crimes committed in African countries by Africans, while failing to prosecute alleged crimes committed by western countries in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 03:45:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Saturday denounced a new Polish bill which criminalizes any suggestion that Poland participated in crimes against humanity during the Holocaust. The draft law, passed by the lower house of the Polish parliament on Friday, stipulates a maximum penalty of three years in prison for those who use phrases like "Polish death camps" to describe the killing sites operated by the Nazis in occupied Poland during World War II. Millions of people, mostly Jews, were killed in Nazi death camps in Poland during the Nazi regime. Israel was outraged at the new legislation. The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement urging the Polish government to amend the new legislation. "No law can change the historical truth and there is no place to educate the families of Holocaust survivors, who everyday live with the memory of their loved ones who perished," the ministry said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has instructed the Israeli ambassador to Poland to meet with the Polish prime minister on Saturday evening to convey Israel's "strong position against the law." "The law is baseless," Netanyahu said in a statement released on his behalf. "I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," he said. Yair Lapid, chairman of Yesh Atid party, even started a quarrel with the Polish embassy in Israel after he slammed the bill as an attempt "to deny Polish complicity in the Holocaust" on his Twitter account. "It was conceived in Germany that hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German soldier. There were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that," said Lapid, a son of a Holocaust survivor. The Polish embassy reacted by suggesting that Israelis needed to be educated about the Holocaust, saying Lapid's claims are "unsupportable" and show "how badly Holocaust education is needed, even here in Israel." Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennet has instructed schools to dedicate two hours in the upcoming week to learn about the complicity of "Europe nations, including the Poles" in the Holocaust. "It is a historical fact that many Poles helped murder Jews. It is also a historical fact that Germans initiated it," said Bennet. About six million Jews were killed by the Nazis in World War II, many of them in the death camp of Auschwitz and other death camps in Poland. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 04:00:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian security forces clashed with Islamic State (IS) militants in western Iran on Saturday, leading to the death of three Iranian forces and five IS militants, state IRIB TV reported. The clashes came after 21 IS militants were found to infiltrate into the Islamic republic through the western borders, the report said without specifying the nationality of IS militants. On Saturday, Mohammad Pakour, the commander of ground force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), confirmed the death of three IRGC members in the operation. In the daylong clash, 16 IS militants were arrested, Pakour said. A statement by the IRGC's Najaf Ashraf Base said the terrorist cell affiliated to the IS was identified through IRGC's intelligence activities, and the clashes erupted on Saturday morning, Tasnim news agency reported. On June 7, 2017, six militants attacked Iran's parliament and Imam Khomeini mausoleum in the capital Tehran, killing at least 17 and injuring 52 others. All the six assailants were killed, and the IS has claimed responsibility for the attack. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 04:30:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close HELSINKI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- With the national voting for the new president of Finland due on Sunday, a popular desire for stronger presidency power has come up again this week. DIMINISHED POWERS Finnish presidents used to have major powers, but during the last 30 years, the presidents gradually lost nearly all the powers. The president now has a co-management role in the foreign policy and is also the commander in chief of the country's defense forces. An opinion survey by the think tank EVA published earlier this week indicated that 60 percent of the people would like to at least partially restore powers of the president in areas, such as calling new elections and choosing the prime minister. Currently, the parliament itself can dissolve itself and selects prime minister designate. "Finns have traditionally had this yearning for a strong leader or father figure," Timo Soikkanen, former professor of political history at Turku University, told Xinhua. He said the measures from the 1980s on to strengthen the position of the cabinet and to weaken the powers of the president were a reaction to the huge influence that Urho Kekkonen had amassed during his multi-term presidency in 1956-1981. When social democrat Mauno Koivisto became president (in office 1982-1994), he started to push for the introduction of more distinct parliamentarism. The last case where a Finnish president clearly used his powers against the decision of the political parties was during his presidency. The then leader of the Center Party Paavo Vayrynen and conservative leader Ilkka Suominen had agreed to form a center-right majority government after the parliamentary election in 1987, but Koivisto decided to appoint a coalition of conservatives and social democrats with former conservative leader Harri Holkeri as prime minister. "So Koivisto did not apply the principle he was promoting," Soikkanen noted. The strong powers of the Finnish president were the result of a political compromise in 1919. When Finland became independent in 1917, it first chose a German prince as its king. The republican constitution was enacted only after Germany lost World War I and the would-be king abdicated. "The political right accepted a republic on condition that the president gets major powers," professor Soikkanen explained. "The Finnish presidential powers until 1994 actually resembled those enjoyed by the Swedish king according to the constitution of 1789," Soikkanen noted. DIRECT POPULAR VOTE The development of the way a Finnish president is elected has been somewhat contrary to the trend of the presidential authority. "Even though the powers of the president were reduced, Finland started to arrange the high profile presidential elections, with a direct popular vote taking place later," Soikkanen said. The earlier presidents who had huge powers were each elected by an electoral college chosen by the parties usually having a presidential candidates of their own. The electors voted for their own parties' candidates in the first round, but in the second and third rounds negotiations and horse trading started. Long time president Urho Kekkonen was elected with a one-vote majority 151-149. Conjecture continued for decades who gave the decisive ballot and in what kind of a deal. Soikkanen, who is also the official historian of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua that the reduce of powers of the president has made the management of foreign policy somewhat complex. The prime minister represents Finland in the decision-making in the European Union, and the president takes up non-EU affairs. "As the prime minister committed Finland to the sanctions against Russia during the Ukraine crisis, it was the role of the president to explain to Moscow that Finland nevertheless wants to maintain a dialogue," he explained. Until the start of the direct popular vote in 1988, the electoral colleges had chosen the presidents except twice. In 1944, the parliament elected Marshal C.G.E Mannerheim as the president as part of the effort to disengage Finland from World War II; In 1974, Kekkonen's six-year tenure was extended until 1978 through an act of the parliament, as Kekkonen wanted to continue his term without an election. A sign reading "Stop!" in German and Polish is seen at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, during the ceremonies marking the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the camp and International Holocaust Victims Remembrance Day, in Oswiecim, Poland, Jan. 27, 2018. (Reuters photo) JERUSALEM, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Saturday denounced a new Polish bill which criminalizes any suggestion that Poland participated in crimes against humanity during the Holocaust. The draft law, passed by the lower house of the Polish parliament on Friday, stipulates a maximum penalty of three years in prison for those who use phrases like "Polish death camps" to describe the killing sites operated by the Nazis in occupied Poland during World War II. Millions of people, mostly Jews, were killed in Nazi death camps in Poland during the Nazi regime. Israel was outraged at the new legislation. The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement urging the Polish government to amend the new legislation. "No law can change the historical truth and there is no place to educate the families of Holocaust survivors, who everyday live with the memory of their loved ones who perished," the ministry said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has instructed the Israeli ambassador to Poland to meet with the Polish prime minister on Saturday evening to convey Israel's "strong position against the law." "The law is baseless," Netanyahu said in a statement released on his behalf. "I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," he said. Yair Lapid, chairman of Yesh Atid party, even started a quarrel with the Polish embassy in Israel after he slammed the bill as an attempt "to deny Polish complicity in the Holocaust" on his Twitter account. "It was conceived in Germany that hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German soldier. There were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that," said Lapid, a son of a Holocaust survivor. The Polish embassy reacted by suggesting that Israelis needed to be educated about the Holocaust, saying Lapid's claims are "unsupportable" and show "how badly Holocaust education is needed, even here in Israel." Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennet has instructed schools to dedicate two hours in the upcoming week to learn about the complicity of "Europe nations, including the Poles" in the Holocaust. "It is a historical fact that many Poles helped murder Jews. It is also a historical fact that Germans initiated it," said Bennet. About six million Jews were killed by the Nazis in World War II, many of them in the death camp of Auschwitz and other death camps in Poland. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 04:35:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Paris prosecutor on Saturday reopened a preliminary investigation into allegedly rape by budget minister Gerarld Darmanin, local media reported. A new inquiry was launched in January after a 46-year-old woman, called Sophie Spatz, filed a new lawsuit against Darmanin this month. She was heard by police earlier this week, news channel BFMTV said. The prosecutor office launched an initial investigation in June 2017. The case was dropped a month after due to "lack of offense" and after the accuser did not respond to police summon for questioning. The 46-year-old woman was accusing Darmanin, then mayor of Tourcoing, north France, of raping her in a hotel room in 2009. The 35-year-old minister, rejected allegations and had filed a complaint, alleging false denunciation. Shortly after the prosecutor's decision, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's office expressed support and "all confidence" to the budget minister. "Darmanin has been completely transparent about the facts. Justice ... must be able to work independently," it said. Sexual harassment and scandals involving French politicians have been tainted the country's political scene. In 2011, a sex affair forced ex-finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn to resign as head of the International Monetary Fund, and drop eventual plan to join the French presidential race. In the wake of the movie producer Harvey Weinstein affair which emerged last October, France was mulling a law to fight sexual harassment on the streets as well as extend the statute of limitation for rape of minors. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 04:55:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government vowed on Saturday to prevent anti-corruption demonstrations planned to be organized by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni Interior Ministry threatened to use force against any gatherings, marches or protests that may call for dissolving the internationally-backed government. The announcement came just one day before the deadline the Southern Resistance Forces set for Yemeni President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to sack his Aden-based government. The STC accuses the Hadi government of rampant corruption resulting in "deteriorating economic, security and social situation never before witnessed in the history of the south." They also say the Hadi government targets southerners as the enemy rather than the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Sanaa. Despite the government warning, thousands of people in the southern provinces have started their marches toward Aden to participate in the anti-corruption uprising in the port city. The newly-recruited southern forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, promised to provide complete armed protection for protesters in Aden and elsewhere in southern Yemen. Both the Saudi-backed government and the STC have tightened security measures such as deploying snipers on high buildings. Sources told Xinhua that several members of Hadi's Presidential Guard Forces have switched their allegiance to the STC-allied forces in Aden. Earlier in the day, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr held a meeting with leaders of the Saudi-led Arab coalition operating in Aden and discussed the latest developments in the city. Sources said the prime minister asked the coalition "to intervene and abort the anti-government protests that may cause further instability or create more chaos." Observers say the internationally-backed government of Yemen is facing "an increasing public resentment after accusations of corruption and embezzlement," in fear of armed confrontations. During a meeting attended by several military leaders in Aden last Sunday, Maj. Gen. Aidarous Zubaidi, the president of the STC, vowed to overthrow the government, threatening to prevent the sessions of the parliament in Aden and elsewhere in southern Yemen. The Yemeni government, allied with the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, has been battling Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels over control of the country for about three years. The coalition began a military air campaign in March 2015 to roll back Houthi gains and reinstate exiled President Hadi and his government to the power. UN statistics show more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition intervened in the Yemeni civil war that also displaced around 3 million others. The Arab country is also suffering from the world's largest cholera epidemic since last April, with about 5,000 cases reported everyday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 05:00:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Xinhua Writers Lyu Tianran, Wang Shoubao and Chen Chen ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- National flags of African countries were flying along the Airport Road in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. The eight-lane road, built by a Chinese company, was decorated for the ongoing 30th African Union (AU) Summit held in the plateau city. Above the road, a welcome sign hanging on a viaduct of the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit was greeting participants of the summit. The electrified light rail built and operated by Chinese companies is the first light railway on the African continent with two lines of a total length of 34 km. It was 85 percent funded by China. The project is a historic accomplishment in Ethiopia and a landmark phenomenon to the country's transportation sector in particular, said Ethiopian Minister of Transport Workneh Gebeyehu on the launching ceremony in September 2015. "This is the fastest way to travel in the city," said 19-year-old student Abel Gezahgen aboard the light rail. "I like Chinese, they bring development to us," he said. Outside the window, Chinese-built skyscrapers and logos of Chinese companies came into view. The Sino-Ethiopian partnership is a comprehensive one and could be seen as "a model for the South-South cooperation," Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian told Xinhua in an interview in December. "The relationship between Ethiopia and China is based on comprehensive, strategic and cooperative partnership in all areas and at all levels," he said. China, Ethiopia's largest trading partner, is a major player in Ethiopia's investment, trade and diplomatic landscape. In the past two decades alone, Chinese companies have invested close to 4 billion U.S. dollars in Ethiopia, the Ethiopia Investment Commission revealed last month. Private Chinese firms' investment is the single largest foreign direct investment source for Ethiopia in 2017, according to the commission. "China and Africa have excellent relations, I want the relations to continue to grow for the mutual benefits for China and Africa," said former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete after attending a side event of the AU summit at the China-funded AU headquarters. The high-rise project consists of two main buildings, including a tower housing offices with a capacity of 700 people and a conference center equipped with facilities for top-level meetings. The grand hall of the conference boasts a capacity of 2,500, while another meeting hall accommodates 700. Officials from the AU and its members states are meeting at the conference center for the summit, taking place from Jan. 22 to 29, under the theme of anti-corruption. "China is one of the most important partners of Africa in all sectors, both bilaterally and multilaterally," said Abou bakr Hefny Mahmoud, Egyptian Permanent Representative to the AU, on the sidelines of the summit. As Africa is concentrating on Agenda 2063, we hope that China will "sustain and support" the agenda, said the envoy. A few meters outside the conference center, a Chinese-aided project dubbed the AU Integrated Services Center was under construction. It will encompass among others an accreditation facility, a cafeteria, and the AU Archives and Exhibition Center. "We see it as yet another step in the journey of a thousand miles that we have started with the government of China, towards mutual friendship, solidarity and prosperity for the peoples of Africa and the people of China," said former chairperson of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 05:35:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan police said it arrested on Saturday a Brazilian who was attempting to smuggle cocaine at the Casablanca airport. The 36-year-old suspect was carrying 65 capsules containing 525 grams of cocaine, the police said in a statement. He arrived in Casablanca on a flight from Sao Paulo before travelling to Paris, the statement added. The Brazilian man was transferred to a local hospital for medical examinations on suspicion of swallowing capsules of the illicit substance. The investigation, led by the judicial police under the supervision of the public prosecutor, is still underway. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-28 06:05:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ANKARA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey needs to see concrete steps by the United States to stop its support for the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday. Speaking to reporters in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, Cavusoglu also said the U.S. needs to withdraw from Manbij in northern Iraq immediately, local Hurriyet daily reported. His remarks came after U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told a Turkish presidential aide by phone on Friday evening that Washington would no longer supply the YPG with weapons. The U.S. has been providing arms for the group as a partner in fight against Islamic State despite Ankara's warning. The U.S. administration under former President Barack Obama had assured Turkey that the YPG would move to the east of the Euphrates, but the YPG never did that. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkish forces would clear the YPG militia from the Syrian border and could push all the way east to the Iraqi border. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched "Operation Olive Branch" to remove the YPG militia from Syria's northwestern district of Afrin. The YPG is the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), a group in northern Syria that Ankara sees as a terror group for its links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Turkey. DULUTH, Minn. - Paul Eugene Salonen, 70, of Bergland, Mich., passed away on Jan. 22, 2018 in Duluth, after a brief illness. Paul was born on March 17, 1947, to Ernest and Ida Salonen and attended Bergland Community Schools, graduating in the summer of 1965. He enlisted in the United States Air Force later that year, and was stationed at Loring Air Force Base in northeastern Maine for the duration of his service. He married the former Karen Worachek, a woman he long chased but could never quite catch until, as he often said, "Air Force basic training made him lean and mean," on May 25, 1968, and they made their home in Bergland after completing his service commitment in January of 1969, eventually welcoming two sons, Eric, in 1974, and Troy, in 1979. Paul was employed by the White Pine Copper Company between 1969 and 1995, as well as spending a brief period of time as a deputy in the Ontonagon County Sheriff's Department. He and Karen owned and operated Sully's Bar in Bergland from 1996 until 2010. Paul was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, (often wondering how, or why, his two sons ever became Detroit Lions fans), the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings and the University of Michigan. He enjoyed a variety of television programs, as well as feeding the various birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits that visited his backyard feeder. He had a nickname for everyone, a vernacular all his own, and an unmistakable and unforgettable laugh. He will be forever missed by his loving family. Paul is survived by his wife, Karen, and his sons, Eric (Jackie), of Blaine, Minn., and Troy (Rebecca), of Eau Claire, Wis .; his three grandchildren, Gabriel, Grayson, and Weston; his sister, Kay, of Covington, Mich., and his brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Linda) Worachek and Larry (Judy) Worachek, as well as four nieces (Debra, Penny, Diana, and Tammy) and seven nephews, (Ernest, Eugene, Ronald, William, Harold Jr., Chris, and Aaron) and great-nieces and nephews, other extended family, and many friends. He was preceded in death his parents, Ernest and Ida, his brother, Ernest, and sister-in-law, Sharon, his mother and father-in-law, Evelyn and Marcel Worachek, brothers-in-law, Harold Sikkila, Charles Worachek and Gerald Worachek, and grand-niece, Holly Sullivan. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. at the Cane Funeral Home-Bruce Crossing Chapel, officiated by Pastor Ted Trudgeon. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the start of the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Paul's life. Spring internment will be conducted at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bergland. The Cane Funeral Home is assisting the family. Paul's family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at St. Luke's Medical Center in Duluth for their wonderful and compassionate care of their husband and father. Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-26 05:19:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government expects tourists to inject 11.14 billion reals (3.52 billion U.S. dollars) in the country's economy in the Carnival holiday, the Tourism Ministry said on Thursday. According to the Ministry, 10.6 million Brazilians are expected to travel to tourist destinations inside the country, and the number of foreign tourists during Carnival was estimated at 400,000. Tourism Minister Marx Beltrao said perspectives for the sector are very good. "We expect to have the best Carnival in history for the tourism sector, as the estimates for the number of travelers and financial investments indicate. This is the result of work which has been done to better prepare Brazil's tourist destinations to receive domestic and foreign visitors, with improvements in infrastructure, services qualification and formalization of the sector," Minister Beltrao said. The Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies expect sales of Carnival packages to rise 15 percent against the same period in 2017. The cities of Rio, Salvador, Recife, Olinda, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte are expected to concentrate 65 percent of the investments in the period. Rio only is expected to receive 1.5 million people during the Carnival holiday, and a total of 6.5 million people, both local and tourists, to participate in the party. Financial transactions in Rio are expected to reach 3.5 billion reals (1.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the period, and hotel occupation is expected to reach 85 percent. Salvador is expected to raise 1.7 billion reals (537.9 million U.S. dollars) with Carnival, receiving 770,000 tourists, 70,000 of them foreigners. Local authorities expect hotel occupation to reach 100 percent in the most important tourist areas, and 98 percent average. Together, the cities of Recife and Olinda, both in Pernambuco state, are expected to host 1.7 million tourists and collect 1.2 billion reals (379 million U.S. dollars). NEW DELHI: Police on Saturday detained Gurugram Karni Sena leader Thakur Kushalpal in connection with incidents of violence in the city. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of DCP South Ashok Bakshi to probe the incident of attack on a school bus in Gurugram. On Wednesday, protesters in Gurugram's Sohna torched a bus and pelted stones in protesting against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat'. Another bus that was reportedly carrying students of GD Goenka World School was attacked by the Vandals. Teachers and staff were also travelling on the bus. The violent mob protesting against Padmaavat threw stones at their school bus. "Issued directions to field units, Additional police forces has been sent out with direction that law and order shall be maintained throughout the state. Maximum possible preventive arrangements will remain in place for tomorrow," Mohd Akil, ADGP Law & Order, Haryana had said. The school bus was reportedly behind the state-run bus that was set on fire in the afternoon. Clubs and bars in Gurugram had decided to remain shut from 7 pm on Wednesday till further order in the light of protests against the film. Meanwhile, security forces were also deployed outside INOX Gurgaon Dreamz. "Law and Order situation is under control. At some places people tried to take law in their hands, situation has been controlled promptly and action has been initiated against the hooligans," Akil had added. On Tuesday, Gurugram's District Magistrate had announced that Section 144 would be in place within a 200-meter radius around film halls till January 28. The imposition of Section 144 prohibits the presence of persons carrying firearms and others articles capable of causing injury, raising slogans and exhibiting placards. Violent protests have been reported from several parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP and Uttar Pradesh. Section 144 was also imposed in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Budh Nagar, a day earlier, which includes Noida and the order will continue to be in effect for the next two months. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had allowed a country-wide release of the controversial movie on January 25. Despite the apex court's decision, several organisations are protesting against the release and have warned exhibitors of "serious consequences" if they screen the film. Gurugram: The Haryana Police on Saturday detained 39 people, including Gurugram chief of Shri Rajput Karni Sena Thakur Kushalpal, in connection with the recent violent attack on a school bus carrying nursery students and torching of a state roadways bus here. Haryana Police also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer to probe several incidents of violence linked to the fringe group, which has been spearheading protests against controversial film Padmaavat. This was announced by Ravinder Kumar, PRO of Gurugram Police. "The SIT has ACPs, Inspectors and ASIs as its members and is headed by DCP-South Ashok Bakshi. This team will make all-out efforts to collect scientific evidence and identify the remaining hooligans," Kumar said. A total of 8 cases have been registered and 38 miscreants have been arrested. SIT has been formed to probe the cases where a school bus was attacked & another bus was torched. The remaining miscreants will soon be arrested: Ravinder Kumar, Gurugram Police PRO #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/7GWyHMDgdx ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 Protesting against the release of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial "Padmaavat", several suspected members of the Rajput Karni Sena had taken to streets at various places across the country. Led by Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the Rajput Karni Sena alleges that history had been distorted by the makers of the period drama. In Gurugram, hundreds of violent protesters took to roads, torching vehicles and destroying public property and attacked a school bus with children onboard. Kushalpal was arrested a day after Rajput Karni Sena national secretary Surajpal Amu was arrested from his residence in the posh DLF area. According to Gurugram Police, Kushalpal has been detained for questioning about his alleged role in the attack on the school bus. "So far, 38 hooligans have been arrested and sent to judicial custody in connection with the violence. Twenty-four miscreants were arrested in eight criminal cases and 14 miscreants were detained for breaching peace and tranquility in Gurugram," Kumar added. Meanwhile, some angry villagers of Bhondsi threatened to call a "Mahapanchayat" on Sunday to take legal action against the Gurugram police crackdown and alleged framing of "innocent juvenile and youths". (With Agency inputs) Hyderabad: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been entrusted with the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase II expansion plan of the Hyderabad metro rail project. "On the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that Metro Rail Phase II expansion exercise shall start immediately, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparatory work was entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)," the Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) has said. The experts of DMRC have arrived in Hyderabad and held discussions with HMRL MD NVS Reddy and others, it said. "Explaining that financial viability of Metro Phase II is far more challenging than Phase I, he (Reddy) emphasised the need for enhancement of revenues with innovative ideas and cost reduction through out-of-box solutions," the release said. After an extensive inspection of the potential corridors and a brain-storming session on the issue, Reddy advised DMRC to suggest Phase II routes on the basis of maximum travel demand, "closing of the gaps" in Phase I and integration with Metro Phase I routes (in the second phase) and also with existing rail and bus systems and connectivity to the airport, the release said. The first leg of the Hyderabad Metro rail project was inaugurated on November 28 last year. The 30-km long first phase of the project between Miyapur and Nagole has 24 stations. New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of House leaders of all political parties on Sunday, on the eve of Parliament's Budget Session. A similar meeting has been convened by the government on Sunday during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top Opposition leaders are expected to express their mind on pertinent issues, which they would like to be taken up in the session. The first leg of the session will be between January 29 and February 9, 2018, during which the government will present the economic survey on January 29 followed by the Union Budget on February 1, 2018. The budget comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold decision to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST). GDP growth surged by 6.3 percent in the September 2017 quarter compared to 7.5 percent in the corresponding period of the previous year. Indias economic growth had decelerated to a three-year low of 5.7 percent in the June 2018 quarter. The session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovind's address to a joint sitting of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In his first such address to Parliament, Kovind is expected to outline the government's thrust on development and empowerment of people, especially those from backward and weaker sections, PTI quoted official sources as saying Following a recess after February 9, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6, 2018. There will be a recess between the session so that the department-related standing committees can clear the budgetary proposals related to their respective ministries. The recommendation for the Budget Session dates were made by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The government is expected to give a fresh push for passage of the triple talaq legislation and a bill seeking constitutional status for the OBC commission during the session. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill seeking imprisonment for Muslim men convicted of practising instant triple talaq, but a united opposition had stalled it in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: BJP on Friday hit back at Congress' allegations of 'cheap politics' over seat allotted to Rahul Gandhi for the Republic Day parade at Rajpath. The party said its chiefs were not even offered seats in the VIP area when Congress was in power at the Centre. On Friday, Congress president Gandhi attended the annual Republic Day parade and was reportedly allotted a seat in the fourth row and then apparently shifted to the sixth row. This move made Congress furious, with several party members accusing BJP of 'cheap politics'. "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," Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted in Hindi. ! pic.twitter.com/8bRi017G8J Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 26, 2018 The Congress president was seen sitting in the sixth row accompanied by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. While Sonia Gandhi was allotted a front row seat for the last three years, BJP did not maintain this in the case of Rahul. "Where did Rajnath Singh ji and Nitin Gadkari ji sit as BJP chiefs at Republic Day events during the Congress-led UPA government," BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni said. "But unlike the Congress, the BJP does not stoop so low and believes in a healthy democracy," Baluni added. Rahul, however, reportedly said that he is 'not bothered' about where he is sitting. Media reports suggest Rahul was initially sitting in the fourth row. But later, he was shifted to the sixth row. New Delhi: India and Cambodia inked four pacts on Saturday, including one to improve cooperation in prevention, investigation of crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters. A pact on the line of credit from India to fund Cambodia's Stung Sva Hab water resources development project for USD 36.92 million was also signed. Comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen were held between the pacts were signed. The two agreed to further enhancing bilateral defence ties, including through exchanges of senior-level defence personnel and capacity building projects. "We are ready to further strengthen our relations with Cambodia in the coming future. Angkor Wat temple's preservation is the part of the joint cultural heritage of Cambodia and India," PM Modi said. Discussions were also held on exploring ways to intensify the development partnership and to boost ties in sectors like trade and investment, energy conservation, agriculture, and tourism and culture. India and Cambodia also signed an MoU on the prevention of human trafficking under which the two countries will seek to increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking. They also inked a pact for cultural exchanges through 2018-2020. The mutual legal assistance in criminal matters seeks to "improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes through cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters," the pact stated. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India- Cambodia relations go back to the 1st century AD when Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts of southeast Asia. Cambodians are predominantly Buddhist but retain a strong influence of Hindu rituals, idolatry and mythology. (With agency inputs) He wanted to mark India's 69th Republic Day celebrations with calls for an Azad Kashmir. Lord Nazir and his small group of people outside Indian High Commission in London though may not have expected to face a wave of Indians out to silence his unfounded claims and obnoxious demand. Born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Lord Nazir - a member of British House of Lords, attempted to mount a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on Friday. He and his supporters called it 'Black Day' campaign and came armed with placards and hoardings which accused India of 'illegally occupying' Jammu and Kashmir. The group however was countered by an even bigger group consisting of people of Indian origin. Calls of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Mataram reverberated, and placards underlining India's commitment towards peace were seen all over. According to news agency ANI, the counter-protestors questioned intentions of Lord Nazir and accused him of making a mockery of the British system by blatantly posturing Pakistan's vested interests. #WATCH Clashes erupted outside Indian High Commission in London as British Lord Nazir called for Azad Kashmir on India's Republic Day pic.twitter.com/IJQb3XajIu ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018 A controversial figure, the 60-year-old Lord Nazir has been in the centre of several scandals. He had once reportedly said that he can offer a bounty on Barack Obama if the US offers a bounty on terrorist Hafiz Saeed. He also once claimed that an attempt on Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai's life was carried out by agents close to Pakistani establishment, to discredit Taliban.. He would later admit he had no proof to back his statement with. Lord Nazir's Friday protests too, once again, appeared to be based on a complete lack of facts and proof. As his campaign was met with stiff resistance, temperatures soared and local police authorities were called in to contain the two groups once sloganeering gave way to scuffles. (With ANI inputs) Jaipur: The protests over Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat' makes fellow film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj 'sad and scared'. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, Bhardwaj refused to comment on the film itself as he hasn't seen it yet. On the protests though, he almost urged the governments to act more decisively. "It is a sad thing that Indian films are getting targeted. The scary part is that the protesters are getting away by taking law and order into their own hands. I hope the state becomes more powerful and acts against these people who are breaking the law even after the Supreme Court's intervention," he said. (Also read: Full review of Padmaavat) In allowing the film to be released in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana - four states where the governments had been in favour of banning the film - the Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra had said maintaining law and order was the state's responsibility, and a film's release could not be stopped citing risk to public order. Bhardwaj said the Supreme Court and the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) had cleared the film for release and there was no reason to give into violent protests. "Even if a billion people are there out on the streets, when the government, the Supreme Court says it (Padmaavat) isn't objectionable, we should not give into protests No one has the right to violent protests. School buses with children are being stoned, what kind of protests are these in the land of Gandhi?" In Rajasthan distributors have refused to screen the film - which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranvir Singh - citing protests across the state. Protestors shut down the Delhi-Jaipur highway on Thursday and the Chittor Fort, which provides the historical backdrop for the film, had to be shut down as members of the Karni Sena tried to enter. There were other violent protests in many areas in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh - ostensibly by the Rajput Karni Sena. They believe that the film shows the Rajput queen Padmavati in poor light and distorts history. The Multiplex Association of India has said its members would not screen the film in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. The association is said to control over 75 per cent of the multiplex screens in the country. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to Palestine, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman from February 9 to 12. This was announced by the MEA today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to Palestine, United Arab Emirates & Oman from 9-12 February: MEA ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi's second visit to UAE and the first to Oman respectively. This will be the first ever visit by an Indian PM to Palestine and PM Modi's second visit to UAE and first to Oman. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events: MEA ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events. Also, Prime Minister Modi would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit to be held in Dubai, at which India has been extended the 'Guest of Honour' status. Prime Minister Modi would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being held in Dubai at which India has been extended 'Guest of Honour' status. He will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman: MEA ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 He will also meet the Indian community in UAE and Oman respectively. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: Almost two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested to address persons with disabilities as 'divyang' (divine bodies), the Railways has decided to make changes in this regard in the concession certificates issued to such people. The national transporter has changed the nomenclature from "viklang" to "divyang" in the concession forms offered by it to people with special needs. According to an order by the railway ministry, the word 'blind' be replaced with persons with visual impairment with total absence of sight, 'deaf and dumb' be replaced with persons with hearing and speech impairment, and 'physically- challenged' as persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The ministry has asked the departments concerned to make necessary changes in the proforma for concession certificates. The order will come into being from February 1. "These words were derogatory and needed change. Now the performa is being changed," an official said. The Indian Railways offers 53 concessions to passengers in various categories like divyang, senior citizens, students, defence personnel among others, amounting to Rs 1,600 crore annually. The hearing and speech impaired get 50 per cent concession in second, sleeper and first class, while the visually impaired get 75 per cent discount in second sleeper, first class, AC chair car & AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes. Others with disability get 75 per cent concession in second, sleeper, first, AC chair car and AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes. NEW DELHI: 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. Srinagar: At least two civilians were killed and several others injured in retaliatory firing by the security forces after an army patrol party came under attack in Jammu and Kashmir`s Shopian district on Saturday. According to reports, the army had to resort to firing after hundreds of protesters attacked a patrol party with stones and shouted anti-India slogans in Ganowpora village of Shopian district in south Kashmir. The two youths who sustained bullet wounds, succumbed soon after they were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The incident has triggered tension in the area and senior civil and police officers have been rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The fresh protests in the area began two days after a youth was killed and two women were injured during a gunfight between militants holed up and the security forces in the same district. The militants were also killed in that gunfight that took place in Dairoo`s Chaigund area in Shopian on Wednesday. Their bodies were later recovered by the security forces. The slain terrorists were later identified as local residents of the area. KOLKATA: A man in Kolkata allegedly killed his wife after she forgot to cook lunch for him. Identified as Tumpa Pal, the 36-year-old wife was a 'social media addict, alleged her husband. A resident of Alipore Road at Chetla area, Surajit Pal was arrested on Thursday. As per police sources, Surajit has confessed the murder over a suspicion that Tumpa was having an extra-marital affair with someone, given the time she spent on social media. When Surajit returned home from work on January 24 for lunch he found out that Tumpa was so engrossed with her phone checking out her social networking profile that she had forgotten to prepare food. Following this, he threatened her with a knife but unfazed, she continued to fiddle with her phone. In a fit of rage, Surajit hit on her head with the knife butt several times and strangulated her with a towel. He even tried to kill himself by slashing his wrist after he realised what he had done. He, however, was unable to do so and later put a bandage on the wound on his wrist and tried to flee the city. But, he was arrested. The couple has two sons. One of them is out of the town in a marriage while the younger one, a college student, was the first one to discover his mothers lifeless body after returning from college. Neighbours confirmed that the couple fought bitterly owing to her addiction to Facebook and WhatsApp. Surajit often said that he suspected she was involved with some other man. Some also said that it could be a smokescreen as Tumpa had found out some time ago, that Surajit was having an affair with his unmarried sister-in-law. On Wednesday, Surajit was produced at a lower court, which sent him to police custody. (With DNA inputs) Congress has released its list of 57 candidates who will be contesting for the Meghalaya Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will be contesting the polls from two seats. The elections in Meghalaya will be held on February 27 and the result will be announced on March 3, 2018. Congress had on Friday announced that Rahul Gandhi will launch the party's election campaign on January 30. Gandhi will address a rally at Tpep Pale playground in Jowai, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills to drum up support for his party candidates in the seven assembly constituencies. State Congress Working President Vincent H. Pala said that Gandhi will be the "star campaigner" for the Congress in the ensuing assembly elections. "His campaign would surely create a wave for the Congress and the party will retain power in Meghalaya," he said. Gandhi's visit is significant for the Congress that has witnessed the exit of seven legislators while three other senior legislators, including four-time Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, have declared themselves "retired" from electoral politics. Of the seven legislators who quit the party, five have joined the National People`s Party. Alexander Hek, who was Health and Family Welfare Minister in the Mukul Sangma Cabinet before being sacked in 2017, joined the BJP, while Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem joined the newly-floated People`s Democratic Front. (With agency inputs) Jaipur: Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief will not be attending the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) this year. He was scheduled to take part in the session Main air Woh - Conversations with myself on Sunday, January 28. Explaining his absence in a statement released to the media, Joshi said, "Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy." Sukhdev Singh, national president of a fringe group Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, had warned that members of his outfit will wave black flags at Joshi if he arrives. Other fringe groups had threatened violent protests. But organisers at the JLF had primed security for any untoward incident. Sanjoy K Roy, the Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, which produces, the annual ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, said "we respect the stand taken by Prasoon Joshi, protests aren't a problem but violent protests are a big issue. In this place there is no space for hatred. He was very keen that this controversy doesn't drown out the ZeeJLF. Speaking of the controversy around the film Padmaavat, the censor board chief said, "I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. Its sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. Its important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues dont reach this far." The Supreme Court had cleared the film for screening on January 25, 2018 after the governments in four states of Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had called for its ban. In Rajasthan, distributors have refused to screen the film - which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranvir Singh - citing protests across the state. Protestors shut down the Delhi-Jaipur highway on Thursday and the Chittor Fort, which provides the historical backdrop for the film, had to be shut down as members of the Karni Sena tried to enter. There were other violent protests in many areas in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh - ostensibly by the Rajput Karni Sena. They believe that the film shows the Rajput queen Padmavati in poor light and distorts history. The Multiplex Association of India has said its members would not screen the film in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. The association is said to control over 75 percent of the multiplex screens in the country. Los Angeles: Disney star Adam Hicks has been arrested on the suspicion of committing multiple armed robberies, according to a statement issued by the Burbank Police Department. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 25-year-old actor and Danni Tamburro, a 23-year-old actress, were detained at 2 p.m. in Burbank, north of Los Angeles. On Wednesday, a 52-year-old man was walking in the area of Burbank Boulevard and Griffith Park Drive when he was approached by a man with a handgun, who, police said, was Hicks.The suspect demanded the man`s wallet, the police further said. The victim was unharmed. A police spokesperson said that officers arrested the two for allegedly carrying out several armed robberies in the city. No injuries of victims were reported. Bail was set at USD 350,000 for each. Police said that as officers were investigating the incident, three additional armed street robberies of pedestrians occurred within minutes of each other in Burbank. The victims all provided similar descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle-a dark-coloured Kia with at least two occupants.The 25-year-old starred in the Disney series Zeke and Luther and appeared in films such as How to Eat Fried Worms and Lemonade Mouth .The actor recently appeared on several episodes of Hulu`s zombie series Freakish. Chennai: Southern film star Kamal Hassan on Saturday exhorted students to find out what are the evils plaguing the country and how can those be eliminated. Addressing a huge gathering of students at a college in Perumalpattu, Hassan said, "It is your duty to update yourself about what is happening in the country.'' ''Please understand who is robbing you and your country," the Tamil film veteran said. The acclaimed actor also reminded the students that the youths are the harbinger of change and a transformation is possible only if the youths realise their true potential. ''If the change has to take place, it is possible only through you (youth power),'' Hassan said. Keep yourself updated about what's happening in country. It's also your duty to understand who's robbing it.Govts must put efforts in education&sanitation instead of liquor business (TASMAC).Change is possible only by you&time for it has come: Kamal Haasan in Perumalpattu,Chennai pic.twitter.com/sqLkmG9MUw ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 "I do not say I will bring the change or I can make the change. No, I cannot. I think the time has come to prove that you are 'me'," Hassan said. The veteran actor urged the students to express their anger at why other students in the state were not getting the same atmosphere that the students of this college were getting. Kamal has recently said that he will formally announce the name of his soon-to-be-launched political party in the month of February. He is currently on a state-wide tour to understand the mood and the expectations of voters across the Tamil Nadu. CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is keeping up its attack on the state government over the bus fare hike that came into effect last week. DMK leader MK Stalin said Chief Minister TN chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign from his post if he cannot roll back the increase in prices. "This protest is not going to stop today. The bus fare price hike should be rolled back at once. If it is not possible then the CM should resign and go home," MK Stalin said. The DMK had said on Thursday set up a five-member committee headed by former Union Minister TR Baalu to recommend measures to restructure the state transport corporations in Tamil Nadu. The party had said that the panel was formed on the advice of Stalin to study the functioning of such corporations in neighbouring states, hold discussions with experts and file a report. The government had jacked up bus fares to rake in around Rs 3,600 crore. The state government has been firm that the fare hike, which has been announced after a hiatus of six years, will not be rolled back. "There is no chance of that," Tamil Nadu Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar had said saying the hike was inevitable. The fare has been hiked for buses across categories viz moffusil, city, ordinary, express, deluxe, bypass-non-stop, ultra deluxe, airconditioned and Volvo modes. While the minimum hike is in moffusil ordinary category, where the fare of Rs 5 for 10 km would now be Rs 6 (20 per cent hike), the highest is in Volvo buses, where the fare of Rs 33 for 30 km will now go up to Rs 51 (54.54 per cent hike). In town buses, the fare has been hiked from a minimum of Rs 3 to Rs 5 and the maximum from Rs 12 to Rs 19. The government cited a host of factors for the hike, including increase in fuel price and maintenance, annual increment in salaries, pension and purchase of new buses to increase efficiency. New Delhi: One of the most controversial yet entertaining reality game show on Indian televisionBigg Boss has always been a headlines grabber. More so because of its peculiar contestants. A bunch of crazy lot is locked inside the house, having absolutely no contact with the outside world. Their only respite happens to be super amazing host Salman Khan, who on Weekend Ka Vaar episodes gives them a piece of his mind and also encourages the contestants to perform better. This season of the show is seen as one of the most successful ones. 'Bhabiji' Shilpa Shinde won the title leaving Hina Khan at the second spot. Now, yet another telly face, who gained huge popularity after the reality show happens to be Gautam Gulati. Gauti was the winner of Bigg Boss 8 and had a dramatic journey inside the house. His win was seen as the most deserving one and soon he had a massive fan following. Bigg Boss 11 grand finale took place on January 13, 2018, and besides fan army supporting their own favourites on social media, several celebrities too backed the ones they saw as winners. Gautam took to Twitter and posted a wonderful tweet for Shilpa. Now, days after the show got over, the BB 11 winner responded with an equally sweet tweet. Check it out here: Dil Ki Baat Hi karta Hu Main.#Shilpashinde First and Last Tweet on #BB11 Gautam Gulati (@TheGautamGulati) January 13, 2018 Sometime few words matter a lot.. Sorry @TheGautamGulati for not responding to this earlier. Thanks a lot https://t.co/WoYRGdRv8V Shilpa Shinde (@ShindeShilpaS) January 25, 2018 Both Shilpa and Gautam had more than one thing in common. Besides coming from the television background, they both had a volatile journey inside the house and more or less led a lone battle ahead of their respective wins. LUCKNOW: The law and enforcement agencies on Saturday arrested at least 49 people in connection with the violence that broke out in the Kasganj town in western Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the death of a young man. Taking adequate precautionary measures, the authorities have sealed the borders and imposed Section 144 in the violence-hit Kasganj town. A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district to prevent any untoward incident. ''All internet services have been suspended from 5 pm on January 27 to 10 pm on January 28,'' RP Singh, Kasganj District Magistrate, said. Giving more details about the security situation in Kasganj, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said, ''Police force was immediately sent to Kasganj following the violence. Few incidents of fire were reported today on the outskirts, but no major violence was reported. The situation is now under control.'' ''The Chief Minister is also monitoring the situation closely,'' he added. According to ANI, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted by the UP Police to probe the incident and nab the remaining culprits suspected to be involved in the violence. 31 KASGANJ POLICE (@kasganjpolice) January 27, 2018 The violence broke out after some unidentified men hurled stones at the 'Tiranga Yatra' being taken out by a group of youths to celebrate the Republic Day on Friday. A 16-year-old boy was killed and at least two persons were injured in the clashes. Almost a dozen of vehicles were also damaged in the violence. "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 RP Singh had said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had condoled the loss of life and told the police to sternly deal with the culprits. However, fresh violence was reported in the area today a group of people went on a rampage after the cremation of the young man who was killed yesterday. According to reports, two shops and a bus was set on fire following which fire brigade teams were rushed to the spot. A shoe shop was one of the two shops set ablaze by the miscreants in Baradwari. A shoes shop set ablaze in Baradwari; fire tenders & police present at the spot #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/Weyy29Fh4J ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2018 Following the clashes, a curfew was imposed in the city. The Uttar Pradesh Police tweeted that they have arrested at least nine people in connection with the clashes yesterday. "A complaint has been filed at Kasganj police station and nine persons involved have been arrested so far. A special team has been constituted and we are trying to arrest others involved," the police said. "It seems the (stone pelting) incident was not pre-planned, but spontaneous," 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. Meanwhile, slamming the law and order situation in UP, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today termed the violence in Kasganj as unfortunate. ''This, happening on Republic Day is unfortunate. People of Kasganj respect each other. We want action against culprits but no injustice should be done,'' Akhilesh Yadav said. A short video clip of Friday's bike rally also surfaced on the social media showing hundreds of young men, many of them holding the tricolour and saffron flag, getting ready for the bike rally. The video shows them standing on one of the streets of the Kasganj town, probably the time when they were told by the members of another community to take a different route for their rally. (With PTI inputs) Uttar Pradesh: With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has started preparations to ensure that his party - BJP - wins big in his state. According to reports, after the party's historic win in the recent civic elections, CM Yogi Adityanath is not taking any chances and wants to consolidate the gains made his party. Reacting to the BJP's massive win in the Uttar Pradesh civic polls, Yogi Adityanath had said that the victory had 'laid the foundation' for the party to win all the 80 seats in the upcoming 2019 general elections. In view of the crucial 2019 polls, the Uttar Pradesh CM has started brainstorming with BJP MPs and MLAs so as to gauge the voters' expectations from the BJP government. The saint-politician, who is supremely confident of party repeating its 2014 show in the 2019 elections, has reiterated that the upcoming polls would be a big test of his popularity in Uttar Pradesh. Taking the upcoming polls as a big challenge, the UP CM today invited MPs and MLAs of 6 districts to his office to discuss the mood of the common man. For today's meeting, the MPs and MLAs from Moradabad, Sambhal, Bandayu, Shahjahanpur and Saharanpur have been invited. The saint-politician is expected to hold a series of deliberations with all BJP MPs and MLAs to know what does the common man want and what are his aspirations from the BJP dispensation. People's response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's and CM Yogi Adityanaths policies like PM Housing Scheme and Ujjwal Gas scheme would also be discussed during the meeting. Besides, Yogi Adityanath is also expected to hold a dialogue with the public representatives on a wide range of issues like education, sanitation, drinking water, crime etc. The Chief Minister is of the view that these meetings would enable him to under the electorate's expectation and help him in chalking out a clear-cut strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha battle.1111 As per CMs media adviser, the Chief Minister has fixed one day to meet the parliamentarians, whereas he meets the MLAs twice a week. It is to be noted that UP has a total 80 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, BJP won 71 and its supporting parties won 2 seats. (With Agency inputs) KABUL: An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others, officials said, in one of the biggest blasts to rock the war-torn city in recent years. The death toll from Saturday's ambulance bomb attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul reached 95 with at least 158 people wounded, a senior Health Ministry official confirmed. ''The toll now stands at 95 and at least 158 are wounded,'' Health Ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh said. The confirmation came shortly after another official warned that an earlier death toll of 63 could rise further. The deadly attack took place after a Taliban suicide bomber exploded an ambulance laden with explosives near Sidarat Square in central Kabul where several government offices are located. The explosion occurred at around 12.50 ppm near the old building which still houses some ministry offices. #WATCH: Spot of the bomb blast in Kabul which killed 17, injuring 110 #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/jenhdgdlQI ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 Kabul Police spokesperson, Basir Mujahid, told reporters that "a suicide bomber with a car laden with explosives tried to penetrate the complex (the Interior Ministry), but detonated the vehicle as he was being identified by police at the checkpoint". The assault triggered chaotic scenes as terrified survivors fled the area scattered with body parts, blood and debris, and hospitals were overwhelmed by a large number of wounded. Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed the responsibility for the attack in a message on the social network Telegram stating that "a martyr in a car bomb reached the first checkpoint near the Interior Ministry". Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that at the time of the explosion, a large contingent of police officers was in the area. The attack comes amid a recent surge in terrorist attacks on civilian targets by the Taliban and Islamic State. Last weekend over 20 people died at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul during an assault by six armed attackers who clashed with security forces for 12 hours. On Wednesday, the IS led an attack on Save the Children's headquarters in Jalalabad killing four NGO employees, a passerby and a security force member along with the five terrorists. Although in the first nine months of 2017 the civilian death toll dropped by 6 percent - its first decline since 2012 - the toll of 2,640 dead and 5,379 wounded, remains too high, according to a UN report. India condemns Kabul attack as 'barbaric and dastardly' The Government of India today strongly condemned the "barbaric and dastardly" terrorist attack in Kabul targeting innocent civilians, and extended all possible assistance, including for treatment of the injured. "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Afghanistan at this difficult times of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. "We convey our heartfelt condolences to the next of kin of the victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery of those injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured," it said. (With Agency inputs) United Nations: Pakistan on Friday raked up the Kashmir dispute yet again during a debate at the United Nations Security Council debate on the Middle East. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, during the debate on the current volatile situation in the Middle East said: "Pakistan will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, as indeed, people living under foreign occupation elsewhere as for example in Kashmir." "This esteemed body must live up to its responsibilities and ensure the implementation of its own resolutions on Palestine and other longstanding disputes such as Kashmir so that people of the world do not lose entire faith in the United Nations," she said. As usual, there were no takers for Lodhi's statement. Her statement comes days after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had stated that the body will not mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. The world body had encouraged India and Pakistan to address all their outstanding issues through dialogue. India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences. Just last week at the UN meeting, India had lashed out at Pakistan for growing terrorism adding that the neighbouring country needs to change its "mindset" of differentiating between good and bad terrorists. Pakistan, on the other hand, had hit back raking up the issue of Indian death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav. India had urged the UN Security Council to focus on challenges posed by terrorism emanating from the safe havens from across the border. However, Lodhi raised the case of Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying. "Those who talk of changing mindset need to look within, at their own record of subversion against my country as our capture of an Indian spy has proven beyond doubt," Lodhi had said. In the recent past, the ties between India and Pakistan have suffered a further hit due to a series of ceasefire violations that have been taking place along the Line of Control and International Border. A local court on Saturday indicted the principal of a private school in Pakistan's Peshawar on charges of child abuse and pornography. The accused has been found guilty of taking advantage of minors, raping them, filming them and then blackmailing them - often with death threats. Attaullah Marwat, who is apparently the owner of the private school as well, allegedly took advantage of minors - both boys and girls - inside the premises of the educational institute. It is also alleged that he sexually exploited students and then filmed them using his mobile and hidden cameras placed all over the campus. Local police officials recovered 26 videos from his personal computer, according to a report in Pakistani newspaper Dawn. Marwat had reportedly been carrying out his criminal act for several years with many fearing to report the principal because of death threats issued by him. Law finally caught up with him when a boy mustered the courage to report him at a police station last year and a case was registered against him on July 14 of 2017. The boy in his statement accused his principal of trying to lure him into participating in sexual activities. As a result of such charges against Marwat, his bail pleas have already been rejected by Peshawar High Court in the past. Marwat though continues to claim innocence - admitting only that he brought consenting adults to the school for adultery. Police in an FIR, however, has said that two mobile phones were recovered from his house which had objectionable videos of boys from his school. The FIR further states that Marwat turned child abuse and pornography into a hobby. Recent months have seen anger against child abuse rising in Pakistan. The rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Punjab province of the country infuriated people with protests demanding strict punishment for the accused and tougher laws preventing crimes against women and children. Riyadh: Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was released on Saturday after nearly three months in detention following a "settlement" with authorities, as a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting the kingdom's elite winds down. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since November 4, including business tycoons and ministers, who were held in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel. The prince was released following an undisclosed financial agreement with the government, similar to deals that authorities struck with most other detainees in exchange for their freedom. "The attorney general this morning approved the settlement with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal," paving the way for his release, a government source told AFP without disclosing figures. When asked whether the prince was still the head of his publicly listed Kingdom Holding Company, the source who asserted he was guilty of corruption replied: "For sure." A business associate also confirmed to AFP that the tycoon had been released. Neither the prince nor the Saudi information ministry was available for comment. The prolonged detention of Prince Al-Waleed, ranked among the richest men in the world, had sent shock waves across a host of companies that count him as a major investor. Kingdom Holding -- in which the prince has a 95 percent stake -- owns The Savoy in London, the Fairmont Plaza and the famed George V hotel in Paris. The prince, who Forbes estimates is worth $18.7 billion, has also invested in Lyft and Twitter. Prince Al-Waleed is the latest in a series of high- profile detainees to be freed from the hotel, as the campaign against elite corruption launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman draws to a close. Authorities on Friday released media mogul Waleed al- Ibrahim, owner of influential Arab satellite network MBC. Ibrahim held a family gathering at his residence after his release, three MBC employees told AFP on condition of anonymity. The staff also received an official email congratulating them on his freedom. The Financial Times reported earlier Friday that authorities had ordered Ibrahim to hand over his controlling stake in MBC to secure his release. Authorities have so far not commented on his case. Another high-profile detainee, former National Guard chief Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was released recently following his "settlement" with authorities which reportedly exceeded USD 1 billion. The government said most of those detained agreed monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom, which could earn state coffers about $100 billion. Most detainees agreed on financial settlements in "cash, real estate and other assets", Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported last week. The windfall will help the government finance a package announced by King Salman this month to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told Al Arabiya in Davos on Wednesday. Crown Prince Mohammed, the 32-year-old son of the king, has spearheaded the unprecedented crackdown on corruption among members of the government and royal family, as he consolidates his grip on power. Some critics have labelled the campaign a shakedown and a power grab, but authorities insist the purge targeted endemic corruption as the kingdom -- in the midst of historic social and economic change -- prepares for a post-oil era. "Whether politically motivated or not, the Ritz Carlton arrests show a hopeful commitment to reducing top-level corruption," said Mohammed Alyahya, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. "But the level of follow through will make or break Saudi Arabia's transformation," he wrote in a blog this week titled "After the Ritz-Carlton crackdown, what's next?" The Ritz-Carlton is set to reopen for business next month, sources at the hotel have said. Its website lists rooms as available from February 14. Fighting terrorism is fast becoming not just a priority the world over but also extremely challenging - especially because of unconventional ways being used by terror organisations in carrying out unscrupulous activities. And the Taliban have been infamous for being one of the most notorious but their latest tactic left even the most seasoned and battle-hardened soldier stunned. Kabul Times reported that security forces in Afghanistan's Kunduz province found a four-month infant with explosive materials strapped to his clothes. Soldiers were absolutely shocked to discover the explosives inside the baby's clothing and later found that they were meant to be transported using the infant to Kunduz - some 330 kilometres north of Kabul - for a bomb attack here. While five terrorists were arrested when they were trying to enter Kunduz, the dastardly act of strapping an infant with explosives has left locals enraged. This may be the first time an infant was used for nefarious purposes and hence the absolute horror and rage. However, this is not the first time that the Taliban has attempted to use innocence for their selfish purposes. Earlier, a member of the organisation in Afghanistan had tried to coerce his eight-year-old sister to carry out a terror attack. The girl chose to approach security forces instead. Similarly, an attack on French Counselate was carried out by a minor. There are several such incidents from the past when children have been used to not just carry out terror strikes but to even peddle arms, ammunition and explosives across Afghanistan. International and Afghan Human Rights groups reveal that preventing children from getting themselves embroiled in terrorist activities is fast becoming a frequent part of their work here. The groups also add that they have managed to rescue many children from prying eyes of Taliban fighters. 112 Agency A mission of the International Monetary Fund can arrive in Ukraine in mid-February. This was announced on the air Channel 5 by the Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Council Bohdan Danylyshyn. "The main result of Davos forum is that Ukraine is beginning to be perceived as an active negotiator, and I think that the results of the meeting of Ukrainian president with Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, their half-hour conversation - this is evidenced by the press conference of the President of Ukraine, and Lagarde herself - has the corresponding results," he said. Danylyshyn added: "We expect the arrival of the IMF mission in the middle of February." Earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko noted that the IMF mission will arrive in Ukraine "till April". We recall that the National Bank expects to receive about 2 billion dollars from the IMF. Also on January 26, the Finance Minister Olexander Danilyuk said that Ukraine hopes to receive a tranche from the IMF in May. Among the main conditions, the head of Ministry of Finance called the adoption of the law on the anti-corruption court and the appointment of the head of the NBU. It is known that at the moment Ukraine's debt to the IMF is $12.1 billion. This amount is made up of liabilities of the National Bank ($7.2 billion) and the Ministry of Finance ($4.9 billion). Related: Death toll in terrorist attack in Kabul nears 100 people, 158 wounded Related: Second round of presidential elections in Czech Republic is over 112 Agency Ex-Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said that NATO needs to develop a plan of military action in case of a conflict with Russia. With this statement, Carter spoke at a session on cybersecurity at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "I think that we and our colleagues from NATO need to develop a plan for military action against Russia. We also need a plan in case of invasion of the 'little green men' in the Baltic states, where they (Russia) may use the national minorities", agency quotes him. According to him, the United States did not see Russia as a military adversary since the fall of the Berlin Wall, but by now the situation has changed. We recall, the US Department of Defense introduced a new National Defense Strategy, which called Russia and China the main opponents of the United States. This is the first change in the US military strategy in the last decade. The strategy is aimed at preventing aggression by China and Russia, and the use of coercion and intimidation of tools to achieve their goals and harming US interests and focuses in particular on three key theaters: Europe, Indo-Pacific region, and the Middle East. Related: Death toll in Kabul explosion increased to 40 people, another 140 wounded Related: Russia reacted to new U.S. sanctions Ukraine welcomes the extension of sanctions against the Russian Federation as an answer to aggression in Donbas and Crimea, in particular against those involved in the supply of Siemens turbines to Crimea. The corresponding post was published by the President Petro Poroshenko , as well as the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States. "I welcome the decision of the US Treasury to further expand the list of sanctions against Russia for its brutal aggression against Ukraine. My meetings with the American leadership in Davos give me confidence that the sanctions policy against Russia will only increase until Ukraine fully regains its territorial integrity," Poroshenko wrote. The embassy of Ukraine in the United States also welcomes the expansion of the sanctions list against the Russian Federation. "We welcome the decision of the US Treasury to impose additional sanctions against the Russian Federation in order to force the Kremlin to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk agreements, withdraw Russian forces from the territory of Ukraine, and end the occupation of Crimea," the report said. We recall, on January 26, the United States extended sanctions to 9 Russian companies, another 12 sanctions were clarified. In addition, 21 names have been added to the sanctions list, including Andrei Tcherezov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation. N ow Russians and companies that participated in the supply of Siemens turbines to Crimea are under the new sanctions. 112 Agency In the Czech Republic voting in the second round for the president of the country was over today at 14:00 local time. Citizens chose between the current head of the republic Milos Zeman and the scientist Jiri Dragos. This is reported by Reuters. After counting 51.06% of the votes, it turned out that Zeman is in the lead. He was supported by 54.92% of voters; Dragos - by 45.07%. However, the situation may change. It is noted that five of the seven candidates who participated in the first round of the elections supported Dragos. Milosh Zeman supports Russia and China, he took a tough position on immigration. For his part, Jiri Dragos is a pro-European and pro-Euro-Atlantic candidate. In the immigration issue, he was not so categorical. Unlike his opponent, he noted that the Czech Republic should distinguish between economic migration and refugees in war conditions, and follow existing procedures in granting asylum. As previously reported, according to the results of the first round, Milos Zeman was in the lead. Related: Poroshenko: Sanctions against Russia to be intensified until Ukraine's territorial integrity restored Related: Death toll in Kabul explosion increased to 40 people, another 140 wounded PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Music steeped in the travels and the back roads of the American countryside. SILVER CITY, NM The Mimbres Region Arts Council, in conjunction with premier sponsor Cissy McAndrew/United County Mimbres Realty, announces the 2017-18 seasons second Indie/Folk concert. The Coteries take the stage Friday, January 26, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Buckhorn Opera House, in the scenic mountain town of Pinos Altos- just a 10-minute drive from Silver City. The MRAC Indie/Folk Series showcases unique and emerging talent that reflects the ever-expanding boundaries of the Folk genre. Born out of the midst of an 11,000 mile North American road trip, The Coteries bring you Folk Rock music steeped in their travels and the back roads of the American countryside. Just two summers ago the female-fronted trio found their footing behind the wheel of their old VW Bus, Trusty Rusty. Aside for some freezing August nights in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana, it was the best decision of their lives. Since their return, they've played over 200 shows in their inaugural year bolstering their sound with acoustic guitars, mandolin, a stomp box, and harmonicas. They've gone from farmer's markets and corners of bars to playing major festivals like Divide Music Festival and Harmonium Music Fest opening for Sierra Hull and performing alongside Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Blondie, Cold War Kids, and The Fray. With a recent endorsement from GoWesty (joining the ranks of artists like Gregory Alan Isakov) they've become traveling ambassadors as they continue their momentum into 2018. On July 29, 2016 they released their debut EP, Reason in the Road, which is a reflection of all they have experienced discovering themselves and the American countryside. "Have you ever found yourself looking for music that feels real or moving? Well if you have come across The Coteries then you found the right band to do that for you! With beautiful lyrics, complimenting acoustic guitars, and female lead Emily Parasilitis melodic vocals, this band fits the criteria for an acoustic group that makes real music." WMNJ - WMNJ The Forest Dont miss out on the chance to hear The Coteries at the historic and intimate Buckhorn Opera House. For more information on The Coteries and to listen to their music please visit: https://www.thecoteries.com/about-us. MRAC members can purchase tickets for $15, non-member tickets are $20. Tickets are available online at mimbresarts.org and at the MRAC office in the Wells Fargo Bank building. 575-538-2505. frontdesk@mimbresarts.org YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Consultation was held in the Presidential Palace led by President Serzh Sargsyan on January 26 during which the participants reported on the preparation works of three major state events to be held in Armenia in 2018 the Francophonie Summit, 100th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and the May Heroic Battles, 2800th anniversary of Yerevan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The reports also included the implementation process of instructions given by the President during a consultation on October 21, 2017. At the beginning of the consultation, the President said he expects comprehensive talk both on organizational, content and financial-economic issues, since a little time is left for holding the events, and its necessary to approach them with a great responsibility and strictly follow the activity timetable. According to the President, properly holding such scale state events since Independence will be a unique maturity exam for Armenia. Edward Nalbandian - foreign minister, deputy chairman of the inter-agency commission created by the Presidents decree, reported about the preparation works of the Francophonie Summit (October 11-12, Yerevan), as well as the events scheduled on the sidelines of the Summit. Vahe Stepanyan - chief of the governments staff, secretary of the state commission established by the Presidents decree, reported on the works done so far towards the preparation of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia and the May Heroic Battles, as well as on the actions proposed by the events program dedicated to the holiday. Taron Margaryan - mayor of Yerevan, deputy chairman of the jubilee commission, presented the action plan and timetable of celebrations dedicated to the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan (September 29-30), as well as the preparation works carried out so far. The heads of concerned ministries and agencies participating in the consultation, everyone on their part, reported on the implementation process of instructions given by the President during the previous consultation. YEREVAN, JANUAR27, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address on the Day of the Army to the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The address runs as follows: "Your Excellency, Mr. President, On behalf of the Artsakh people, the authorities and on my personal behalf I extend the most heartfelt congratulations to You on the Army Day. The Armenian valorous army was born and forget itself in an unequal struggle for freedom and independence, gained cherished victories, changing the course of history by the bravery and self-commitment of our courageous sons. Today the Armenian soldiers continue to stand unwaveringly for the defense of the native country, perform new feats, carrying on the combat traditions of their heroic grandfathers and fathers. The army is dear for every other Armenian. Your Excellency Mr. President, On this festive day I congratulate You and our entire people once again and wish peace, welfare, new victories and achievements". YEREVAN, JANUAR27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime nearly 200 times on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line during the period of January 21-27, firing over 2000 bullets in the direction of Armenian border guards. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, in addition to the mentioned ceasefire violations, the Azerbaijani side undertook a sabotage attempt in the south eastern section of the contact line on January 25 at about 02:00. As a result of the preventive measures of the Defense Army units, the Azerbaijani special unit was repelled. Defense Army front line units continue to keep full control of the situation. YEREVAN, JANUAR27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan participated in the festive liturgy devoted to the memory of St. Sargis, his son Martiros and 14 soldiers at St. Sargis Church. ARMENPRESS reports the liturgy was served by Vicar of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan. By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain and his soldiers-companions is proclaimed day of blessing of the youth. Captain St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation. Together with his 14 soldiers-companions he was martyred for the sake of Christian faith. During the period of reign of the king Kostandianos the Great (285-337) St. Sarkis, being very courageous, was appointed the prince and General in chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia. When during the period of reign of the king Julianos the Betrayer (360-363) the persecutions against Christians started by Gods will St. Sarkis and his only son Martyros, came to live in Armenia, and the Armenian king Tiran, grandson of Tiridates, received them very well. From Armenia St. Sarkis and his son went to Persia, and started serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the captain of regiments. Become aware of the fact that Sarkis was Christian the king Shapouh ordered him to worship the fire and offer sacrifice to the heathen gods. But the captain immediately refused to obey the order saying, We should worship one God - the Holy Trinity, which has created the earth and the heaven. Whereas fire or idols are not gods and the human being may destroy them. After these words the saint destroyed the temple. The annoyed crowd fell on the saint and his son. First the son of the saint was martyred. The saint was put into prison and remaining unshaken in his faith was beheaded. After the martyrdom of the saint light appeared over his body. 14 soldiers-companions of the saint also were martyred for the sake of Christian faith. For the Armenian nation St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved. It isnt casual that St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region) and the Church of St. Sarkis was built over his relics. Sts. Atomians were the Armenian captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni who together with their regiments served in the Persian royal court during the period of reign of the idolater king Hazkert. Upon the excitation of archimagi king Hazkert started persecutions against Christians in order to eradicate Christian faith in Persia. Captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni received an edict from Hazkert inviting the captains together with their regiments to the royal palace with the intention of forcing them to apostasy. At first the Armenian captains obeyed the order, but being aware of the trap prepared by the king they started back home and on their way home they stopped in the province of Andzevatsyats. Becoming aware of the numerous Persian Army persecuting them soldiers of the captain Atom Gnouni, encouraged by the prophesy of a saint hermit living on the mountain preferred voluntary martyrdom. Persian Army reaching the Armenian regiment surrounded them and killed the saints by words. Whereas Manajihr Reshtouni and his soldiers reached his native land Reshtounik, where he confessed his being Christian and was martyred in 449 AD. YEREVAN, JANUAR27, ARMENPRESS. The Jewish community of Armenia feels safe. ARMENPRESS reports President of the Jewish community of Armenia Rima Varzhapetyan said during an event dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide. On January 27 the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet troops on January 27. Over 2 million people were killed in that camp. The monument to the victims of the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide was created so as that terrible history is not forgotten and is transferred to the next generations. Unfortunately, today fascist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic demonstrations are again rising, but the Jewish community feels safe in Armenia, Varzhapetyan said. MP, Head of Armenia-Israel parliamentary friendship group Gagik Minasyan is convinced that one day Israel will also condemn and recognize the Armenian Genocide. In many countries of the world the Holocaust victims are remembered and that memory is inside us. All of us live through that memory. The two words written on the monument To live, Not to forget is the slogan with which its necessary to struggle against such phenomenon. Crimes not condemned by the humanity can have great negative potential. If countries do not condemn crimes against humanity, they can be repeated. Each nation should understand that they have the debt to remember not only their grief, but also the grief of others. By sharing the grief of each other we can exempt the humanity from such crimes in the future. I am more than convinced that once the Jewish people will condemn and recognize the Armenian Genocide, Minasyan emphasized. From the Declaration and Resolves (petition to King Charles listing the colonies' grievances against the King and Parliament), the Declaration of Independence, to the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Rights adopted by the individual states, to the US Constitution, and to the US Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers looked to English history for the words and templates to navigate the colonies towards independence and then into a republic. They reflected on the abuses of the Kings and the compacts demanded by the people to check those abuses, as well as the Enlightenment era philosophy on government in building a lasting republic. It is said that our Founding Fathers were wise and extremely well-read, but moreso, they were keenly aware of England's history, which was, of course, also the history of the American colonies.The colonists certainly embraced the liberty they found in the American colonies and the chance they had to self-govern as they saw fit. They worshipped according to their conscience, they engaged in trade freely, and they established their own colonial governments. But then they began to see that new-found liberty in jeopardy. The historic abuses of the English monarchy on its subjects now turned to the colonies. The colonists were taxed without their representation in Parliament (a right listed in the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights of 1689), their trade interfered with (Tea Act), their colonial assemblies suspended (violation of their colonial charters), they had standing armies kept among them (in violation of the English Bill of Rights), they were forced to quarter troops (in violation of the Petition of Right of 1628 and English Bill of Rights), and their firearms and ammunition were confiscated (in violation of the English Bill of Rights). And when they protested and remonstrated these violations of their rights as English subjects, as those of centuries earlier had done, King Charles III ignored and mocked them. To the King, the colonists were crude, almost laughable in their simpler ways. He accused them of acting like petulant children and essentially being bothersome. He did not answer their written complaints, nor was swayed when they pleaded to him, "as loyal subjects," to please intervene on their behalf to Parliament (for such things as the Intolerable Acts). By 1774, the King had had enough of them and accused them of being in active rebellion against Great Britain. All the colonists wanted was to have their rights respected. [Watch the DVD Set "Liberty - The American Revolution" (PBS) to feel the frustration the colonists felt in the years leading up to the American Revolution].The question was this: How would the colonists respond?Well, we know how they responded. Looking at the totality of the situation ("The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States..."), the colonists, assembled in the Second Continental Congress, felt it had no other meaningful course but to seek its independence. In asserting what they believed was their natural right of self-determination and right of self-governance, they took a cue from their English roots (the Grand Remonstrance of 1640) and set forth a list of grievances against the King. In the Declaration of Independence, they listed 27 grievances - abuses of their rights - which, as the colonies declared, justified their separation from Great Britain.When the fighting began the colonies weren't seeking their independence; they were merely rebelling against tyranny. But North Carolina and then Virginia, and then others, began to call for independence, and on July 2, 1776, the resolution declaring independence was adopted and on July 4, Jefferson's formal Declaration was issued - "to a candid world. The rebellion turned into a war for independence. Luckily, trust in George Washington paid off and friendship with France paid off as well. After our victory at Saratoga, France sent troops and its naval forces. British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, VA on October 19, 1781 and on September 3, 1783, representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America signed the Treaty of Paris to officially end the American Revolutionary War. Article I of the Treaty read: "His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states..."The colonies were free.But then next question was perhaps more important: How would they secure the liberty and individual rights they had just fought for? What kind of government system would best suit that goal?Luckily our Founding Fathers were students of history and philosophy. They studied the Greek and Roman republics and knew what made them great and what led to their demise. They knew the history of England - a monarchy - and knew that although the great charters of liberty were written by the English to limit the conduct of the King and then to include Parliament, they also knew that those protections often went unnoticed. There were several attempts in England's history to limit (forever) the rights of kings to place themselves above the law, but in some cases, the king took the "Divine Right of Kings" doctrine far too seriously. The Divine Right of Kings was the political/ religious doctrine in England that asserted that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God. Indeed, the history of England was a series of repeated events - abuses of the King over his subjects followed by a charter or petition demanding that their rights be acknowledged and that the King recognize limits to his power, followed by periods where the King or Kings ignored the charter/petition and subjects were again abused, followed by another petition, etc. For example, King John (1199-1216) signed the Magna Carta in 1215 after his barons took up arms against him, but almost immediately, he broke those promises. In 1928, Parliament presented King Charles I with the Petition of Right, complaining of a series of breaches of law and the Great Charter (Magna Carta) he had committed. The violations were of four general types - unfair and illegal taxation, as well as imposing taxes without the action of Parliament, many due process violations, including imprisonment without cause, quartering of soldiers on subjects, and imposing martial law in peacetime. The remainder of his reign would be marked with such extreme abuses that he would eventually be brought to trial and executed. James II, his son, would be another abusive king. With James II, the people (and Parliament) had had finally enough. He was removed by a bloodless revolution and the new King and Queen, William and Mary (Mary being James II's daughter) signed the English Bill of Rights in 1689. Drafted by Parliament, the Bill of Rights officially set limits to the right of kings to put themselves above the law. The statute which offered the throne to William and Mary legally conditioned their rule on signing and respecting it. And subsequent kings would thus be limited as well.All of our Founding Fathers knew that history very well. Again, England's history was the history of the American colonies. But it was, after all, a monarchy. And a monarchy, as shown, was incapable of truly securing the inalienable rights of the individual. A democratic form of government would work either. True democracy is mob rule. It is always a rule by the majority. It could easily be tyranny by the majority.In drafting the Constitution, which created our system of government here in the United States, our founders decided the best form of government would be a republic. Their study of history taught them that. As James Madison, author of the Constitution, wrote in: "Hence it is that democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths ... A republic, by which I mean a government in which a scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking."Article IV Section 4, of the Constitution: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of government ... "At the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, the task of the delegates was to design the new republic as wisely as possible. like what Dr. Joe Wolverton II wrote in a 2004 article for The New American: "They believed they could find the key to inoculating America against the diseases that infected and destroyed past societies. Indeed, it has been said that the Founders were coroners examining the lifeless bodies of the republics and democracies of the past, in order to avoid succumbing to the maladies that shortened their lives."The Constitution was signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787 and then it was sent to each state to be ratified or rejected. Several of the delegates were unhappy with the final draft because it did not include a Bill of Rights and some, including the powerful George Mason from Virginia, promised to try to defeat its ratification in the state conventions. (Patrick Henry planned to help Mason do so). Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, believed strongly that a Bill of Rights needed to be added, but Madison, author of the Constitution, did not. Jefferson wrote: "A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." States like Virginia and North Carolina and Rhode Island would not ratify unless a Bill of Rights was added, and New York was up in the air. Although it may have been likely that 9 states (as required by Article VII) would have ratified so that the Constitution would have done into effect, the states couldn't imagine a union without the large powerful states of VA, NY, and NC. And so a deal was made with Madison at the VA Ratifying Convention. He would submit a Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution in the first session of the first US Congress. Madison was an honorable man. The rest is history.Before the deal was made, however, Patrick Henry got up before the Convention to make the case that a Bill of Rights was necessary to secure the blessings of liberty from a government that (as history has always shown) will eventually become too powerful. He spoke these words: "Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessing - give us that precious jewel, and you may take everything else!..... I say, the time has been when every pulse of my heart beat for American liberty, and which, I believe, had a counterpart in the breast of every true American."Madison introduced his proposed amendments to the Constitution (a Bill of Rights) to Congress on June 8, 1789, and after a committee put them in final form and Congress adopted them, they were sent to the states on September 25 for ratification. Out of the twelve proposed amendments, the states ratified ten. There are approximately 26 individual rights identified in the Bill of Rights (excluding the unenumerated possibilities in the Ninth Amendment). Of those 26 individual rights, 9 can be traced back to Magna Carta, 7 can be traced to the English Petition of Rights of 1628, and 6 can be traced to the English Bill of Rights of 1689.I used to think our Founders were divinely inspired to write some of the documents that they wrote..... the words, the themes, the ballsy language. But when you go back and study England's illustrious history and you read the great charters and documents of liberty - the 1100 Charter of Liberties, the Magna Carta (1215), the Petition of Rights (1628), the Grand Remonstrance (1641), and the English Bill of Rights of 1689 - you realize that our Founders had all the templates they needed. In many cases, they followed in the very footsteps of their forefathers - English subjects - who petitioned every hundred years or more for their rights and for the King to limit his jurisdiction over their lives. For example, the Grand Remonstrance listed a series of grievances against Charles I, from the beginning of his reign, explaining why he needed to answer for his actions. In drafting the Declarations & Resolves of Oct. 14, 1774 (series of petitions and resolutions to King Charles I and Parliament in response to the Intolerable Acts), the First Continental Congress adopted the same petition formats that the English used to their King to petition for the rights that were being violated. In drafting the formal Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson used the same format in order to condemn King Charles III and to make the case to a candid world why the people of the American colonies were seeking their political and legal separation from Great Britain. And so history lessons like this are so important because they serve to remind us that our system rests on a very distinguished history of standing up for liberty against tyranny and that the principles embedded in our documents are ones designed to withstand the abuses of those in power, in any branch. And that is why it is so important that those principles should not be taken for granted, maligned just because our fore-fathers were products of another era, or happened to own slaves or represented social norms of the day or happened to sneeze the wrong way, or "legislated" away from the bench by activist judges. Charles I was a miserable, ambitious King who, perhaps more than any other King of England, embraced the notion of the Divine Right of Kings and hid behind the artificial status it created. He quarreled with Parliament (the people's body established by the Magna Carta to give them representation when it came to taxation) over taxes. He wanted more and more to finance his endless wars. When Parliament wouldn't give him the funds he demanded, he merely dissolved the body. He did so three times from 1625-1629. When he dissolved Parliament in 1629, he resolved to rule alone and to get the money he needed. And so he raised revenue through non-Parliamentary means - including Ship Money (taxing those who lived along the coast). Most of these things helped to lead to his demise, which followed after he waged a civil war on Parliament itself, which he lost. Charles was tried, convicted, and executed for high treason by (a rump) Parliament in January 1649. He was beheaded. I point to Charles I because he was so abusive and dismissive of the rights of the people that the damage he did signaled the end of British system. After he was executed, Oliver Cromwell served as Lord Protector over England until his death in 1658. The monarchy was restored two years later, at which time, Charles II took the throne. He ruled until 1685 and when he died, his brother James II took the throne. He was deposed less than 3 years later. William and Mary were offered the throne and England got an official Bill of Rights at their coronation.But one good thing came out of Charles' reign. He cracked down quite heavily on the Puritans in England, and as a result, they emigrated (ultimately) to New England to found colonies based on religious liberty and eventually to establish the commonwealth of Massachusetts. The history of England is also one of religious tyranny and persecution, and no doubt provided the passion that certain Founders, such as Thomas Jefferson, had to secure religious freedom in the colonies.England's history is vital to our education because in her 600-year-or-so history, her people have stood up for their rights - rights they believed were fundamental and essential to their humanity and dignity - and in the end, their petitions, once merely requesting for the recognition of certain rights, became a Bill of Rights (1689), officially recognizing essential rights belonging to the individual that government was obligated to respect. While England does not have an official Constitution, per se, it considers a group of documents (including the English Bill of Rights) as being its "constitution" or governing document. But those documents, which represented the plight of the English for their rights to be free and to be free from government made it to the minds of our American Founders who then incorporated it into our nation's founding documents. Our founding documents are superior to England's because in this country, there is an "official" Constitution and an "official" Bill of Rights and both are predicated on something the English system is not - that government power originates from the individual. Those documents memorialize not only the formal recognition of inalienable individual rights, but they set important limits and boundaries on government. If you don't think the English system of protest and petition didn't work and if you don't think it SHOULD be the model we embrace here - consider this: Each time the English people petitioned for their rights, those rights were enlarged, as mentioned above. Also consider this: The ability to have and bear arms originated as a "duty" in England, under the Militia laws. But after many years of the Crown confiscating guns and leaving England's subjects undefended and vulnerable in the face of despotic Kings (willing to arrest and imprison them merely for political reasons or belonging to the wrong religion), that duty became a "right" in the English Bill of Rights. We have our Right to Have and Bear Arms (Second Amendment) because of the will and determination of the English people."English and Colonial Roots of the US Bill of Rights - http://teachingamericanhistory.org/bor/roots-chart/Virginia Ratifying Convention, Thursday, June 5, 1788 - http://www.constitution.org/rc/rat_va_04.htmFederalist No. 6 (Alexander Hamilton), Avalon Project (Yale Law School) - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed06.asp"Liberty - The American Revolution" (3 disc, DVD set), PBS - https://shop.pbs.org/The Petition of Right of 1628 - http://www.constitution.org/eng/petright.htmThe Grand Remonstrance of 1640 - http://www.constitution.org/eng/conpur043.htmThe English Bill of Rights of 1689 - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/england.aspDr. Joe Wolverton II, "The Founding Fathers & the Classics," The New American, September 20, 2004. Referenced here Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency? No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples. Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist issues. I just wrote an article explaining the doctrine of Interposition and how vital a remedy it is against federal tyranny. ( "Interposition: The Duty to Say "NO!" ). In that article, I wrote: "Our challenge is to stand up as a people, and as individual States, to the government officials, the government bodies, and yes, even federal judges who are violating, ignoring, eroding, or otherwise re-interpreting the Constitution our Bill of Rights. Each unconstitutional act usurps the powers delegated or reserved to the People and the States. Nature's Law supersedes man's law. Every failure to resist the tyranny posed by an unconstitutional act tightens the noose around freedom's neck."Explaining, I wroteSince the Tenth Amendment cannot enforce itself, interposition is one of the doctrines that allows the States and the People to stand up for the rights that are reserved to them. Right now, the federal government has a monopoly over the meaning and scope of its powers. Congress makes the laws, the president signs the laws and enforces then, and the courts review them for constitutionality. It wasn't always this way. The federal courts were originally only supposed to render an "opinion" to the other branches. They were to take that opinion under advisement and amend the particular law or alter their conduct. The "check" that the "opinion" offered was that it was public; once the States found out the opinion, as sovereigns and as the co-parties to the compact known as the US Constitution, they always had the option to nullify and refuse to enforce a law or policy that the court deemed as unconstitutional. But the judicial branch made sure that its power was much more substantial than rendering a mere opinion. The federal monopoly was established when Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the Marbury v. Madison opinion in 1803. Essentially the decision asserts that the Supreme Court is the tribunal tasked with interpreting the Constitution and as such, it's "opinions" are not really "opinions" at all but binding decisions. Whatever the men in robes decide is the meaning and the intent of the Constitution IS the meaning and intent and its decisions are final and binding.But rights and liberties are never secure when men and women have the power to interpret while also being motivated by political opinions, personal passions, etc. The Tenth Amendment MUST not be left to the federal government monopoly to ignore or re-interpret as it sees fit.The remedy always available to those who hold the reserved powers is interposition - to recognize that certain acts are unconstitutional and exceed delegated powers (and hence are null and void and legally unenforceable) and then to take the necessary steps to make sure that they are NOT enforced. To allow them to be enforced is allowing government usurpation.We saw an act of Interposition in 2010 or so when the state of Arizona took on the federal government. The Arizona state government was fed up with the fact that the Obama administration refused to enforce immigration laws. The State was being overly burdened by illegal immigration and without enforcement of federal laws or even an immigration policy, the problem was increasingly getting worse. So, the Arizona legislature passed a law giving its state law enforcement powers to determine which immigrants were undocumented and to require employers to do the same in the hiring process (e-verify). Without the ability to work in the state or to be free of law enforcement checks, perhaps the immigrants would leave. The Arizona legislature and Governor Jan Brewer interposed for the benefit of their citizens and for the proper functioning of the State. Quickly, however, Obama sued the State. How dare it interpose.And then we saw the case of Judge Roy Moore in Arkansas. He dared to stand up to judicial tyranny.It's been a sad several years in America. Several decades actually. For 8 years, we had a president whose approach to government was that if he didn't get what he wanted, "I've got a pen and I've got a phone." When he didn't get amnesty for illegals (The Dream Act), he acted by Executive Order to establish the DACA program (which is temporary amnesty for illegals, ages 18 and younger, brought to the US by their parents). It was UNCONSTITUTIONAL. He created a law which is the sole domain of the legislative branch. In fact, his action went directly against the actions of the legislature since Congress would not pass the Dream Act. He misled - no, LIED - to the American people with the Affordable Care Act, which eventually became law as a new tax. The law is UNCONSTIUTTIONAL as exceeding the bounds of the taxing power (the mandate is a "punishment" for not signing up for Obamacare and that is one of the classifications that the taxing power is not allowed to be used for). He refused to allow the federal government to enforce DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), claiming that marriage is between any two consenting people, even same-sex. The Supreme Court would rule that the States have no right or power to define marriage narrowly so as to only be between a man and a woman. In other words, the Court handed down an UNCONSTITUTIONAL opinion by usurping a traditional power reserved to the States by the Tenth Amendment. Similarly, Obama threatened and attempted to coerce the states of North Carolina over bathrooms according to biological gender. He said that civil rights law would be "interpreted" (even though there was no court history to back him up and the law includes clear definitions) to include protection for transgenders in the term "it is unlawful to discriminate against an individual because of his or her sex."The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted "To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC), and for other purposes." (intro of the bill). The Act provides that "It is unlawful to exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin."In the definition section of the Act, it provides: "(k) The terms "because of sex" or "on the basis of sex" include, but are not limited to, because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions..."Obama used the IRS to subdue the voice of Tea Party and other conservative groups by not allowing them to form into organizations and therefore participate in elections, he obstructed justice on too many matters to list here, and colluded with the DNC and Hillary Clinton and her campaign to use the full powers of the federal government to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president. His disdain for the US Constitution, for the Rule of Law, and for the rightful role of government was so palpable that the Tea Party arose. In fact, judging by the turn-out and the energy in 2016 and the election of Trump, it is abundantly clear that the American people are, at heart, Tea Partiers. They want limited government. But yet the media and the liberal left (the no-brainers) are still willing to give Obama a pass on all his acts of absolute tyranny.We have Senator Chuck Schumer who intentionally shut down the government over a matter that nothing to do with the government funding bill and over a class of individuals who have no legal recognition in this country nor claim to protection under any of our laws. We have Nancy Pelosi who admits not only that she shouldn't have to actually read a bill before signing it but that the Constitution means nothing to her. As if ignorance wasn't her only defining characteristic, she also had the absolute gall to refer to a major tax cut for middle class Americans (one that has real meaning and real tangible benefits to most Americans) as "crumbs" (because, after all, we aren't as wealthy as her - ie, we all didn't have the opportunity to enrich ourselves while serving in office, AND we don't have a government slush fund to cover our expenses) and to take all House Democrats out to a swanky Italian feast to celebrate the fact that they had just stopped paying our men and women serving in uniform, including at the dangerous Mexican border. And we have Rep. Maxine Waters who uses her office NOT to serve in the capacity she was elected to but rather to cry "racism" at every chance she gets, to continually label the president as racist, incompetent, rude, etc and to try to have him impeached on these unimpeachable claims. We have other representatives also so colossally incompetent, useless, and reckless.But Judge Moore, a man who singlehandedly stood up to judicial tyranny and tried to set the Constitution right, is vilified. A man like him was not elected to DC. Democrats want Obama back, and in fact, they wanted someone worse (more corrupt) - Hillary Clinton. But Judge Moore was not suitable.Just how did Judge Roy Moore interpose? In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was added to the US Constitution. I did not write "In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was passed" because it never did legally pass. And it wasn't an amendment as much as it was "punishment" for the Southern states. The North forced it on the subjugated southern states. In fact, the amendment is not legitimate at all under the required process outlined in Article V. But for a moment, let's suppose that it was. The amendment was intended as a codification of the Civil Rights Law at the time, the Civil Rights Act of 1866.The Civil Rights Act of 1866, enacted on April 9, 1866, was the first federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. It was mainly intended to protect the civil rights of persons of African descent born in or brought to the U.S., in the wake of the American Civil War. In other words, it was intended to over-ride the portion of the Dred Scott decision of 1857 that said that persons of African descent (all blacks) were never intended to be citizens and therefore could not be so, and as such were not entitled to the protections of the US Constitution. The Civil Rights Act was actually enacted by Congress in 1865 but was vetoed by President Andrew Johnson. In April 1866, Congress again passed the bill as a companion to, and in support of, the Thirteenth Amendment. Although President Johnson again vetoed it, a two-thirds majority in each chamber overcame the veto and the bill became law. Rep. John Bingham (R-OH) and some other congressmen argued that Congress did not yet have sufficient constitutional power to enact this law and then the idea came to memorialize the Civil Rights Act in constitutional amendment form and force the former confederate states to ratify it (as a condition to being re-admitted to the Union. Note, they had been admitted to the Union implicitly by including them in the ratification process for the Thirteenth Amendment. But then they were "kicked out" again for the sole purpose of conditioning their re- re-entry on ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment !!]So, assume the Fourteenth Amendment's purpose (stated purpose in fact) was to provide citizenship for the newly-freed slaves and to recognize that as citizens, they also have the same rights and privileges as every other US citizen and they are entitled to equal protection under the laws. When the slaves were freed, the North wanted to make sure that the South couldn't tacitly continue to treat them as slaves by denying them the rights and privileges necessary to assume an equal and meaningful place in society. Secretly, the North just wanted to make sure the freed slaves stayed in the South. The Supreme Court, however, found a way to use this amendment to usurp the original meaning of the Bill of Rights and to strip the States of their powers. Beginning in the 1920s, a series of United States Supreme Court decisions interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment to "incorporate" most portions of the Bill of Rights, making these portions, for the first time, enforceable against the state governments.Prior to the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment and the development of the "Incorporation doctrine," the Supreme Court in 1833 held in Barron v. Baltimore that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal, but not any state governments. Even years after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supreme Court in United States v. Cruikshank (1876) still held that the First and Second Amendments did not apply to state governments. [See Richard Aynes' law journal article on the meaning and intent of the Fourteenth Amendment]. But the temptation to strip the States of its ability to remain free from the constraints of the Bill of Rights was too great. And little by little, areas historically reserved to the States to regulate have been taken away by nine men in black robes.For example, with respect to the First Amendment: The guarantee against an Establishment of Religion was incorporated against the States in 1947 (- the infamous "Wall of Separation" case); the guarantee of one's Free Exercise of Religion was incorporated against the States in 1940 (); the guarantee of Freedom of Speech was incorporated in 1925 (); the guarantee of Freedom of the Press was incorporated in 1931 (); the guarantee of Freedom of Assembly was incorporated in 1937 (); and the guarantee of the Right to Petition for Redress of Grievances was incorporated against the States in 1963 (). Now, most Americans might think that it's a good thing to guarantee that the States can't infringe these essential liberty rights, but history has shown that the Supreme Court has actually stripped individuals of their rights to self-governance in their States and localities by the Incorporation Doctrine. The federal courts are using it to establish a one-size fits all model across the United States. Each state will feel, and BE the same. There used to be the notion that each state had their own "character," their own social environment and their conditions of living, as determined by those who live in that "backyard." And those who don't like the character or condition of their "backyard" are free to move to a state that is more to their liking. State borders are supposed to mean more than mere physical boundaries and confines of legal jurisdiction. For decades, Democrats in power and in opposition have traded away labor laws and rules that protected unions in order to gain short-term advantages in political horse-trades, and now, with union membership down from 26 to 10.7% since the Reagan years, districts that formed Democrats' "blue wall" have been poverty-struck and have flipped for Trump. A new NBER study quantifies the effect that union membership has on Democratic support, comparing counties that cross state lines, with one half in a 'right-to-work' state and the other in a state that protects unions, finding that the difference that unionization makes in Democratic support would have been enough to deliver the presidency to Democrats in 2016. As New York Magazine's Eric Levitz points out, Republicans know this, even if Democrats don't (his aphorism: "The GOP understands how important labor unions are to the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party, historically, has not"). 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 GOP's 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 wasn't 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 Blue's tent. But as unions have declined across the Midwest, Democrats haven't just been losing white, working-class voters to revanchist Republicans they've 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. From the Bargaining Table to the Ballot Box: Political Effects of Right to Work Laws [James Feigenbaum, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, and Vanessa Williamson/National Bureau of Economic Research] Democrats Paid a Huge Price for Letting Unions Die [Eric Levitz/New York Magazine] (via Naked Capitalism) News / Africa by Staff Reporter Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni has said he loves US President Donald Trump for being "frank" with Africans, after Trump allegedly called African countries "shitholes".Trump made the comment at an immigration meeting earlier this month, according to senators present at the White House meeting. The US president denied making the comment, saying he used "tough language"."America has got one of the best presidents ever," Museveni said on Tuesday while addressing members of the regional East African Legislative Assembly in the Ugandan capital, Kampala."I love Trump because he tells Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems. They need to be strong. In the world, you cannot survive if you are weak and it is the fault of Africans if they are weak," Museveni said.Museveni's comments came hours after the US ambassador to the East African country described Trump's controversial remark as "obviously quite disturbing and upsetting".During his State of the Nation address on January 1, Museveni, who came to power in Uganda more than three decades ago, called Trump an honest man.The African Union condemned on January 12 the US leader's comments "in the strongest terms" and demanded a retraction "as well as an apology, not only to the Africans, but to all people of African descent around the globe".Meanwhile, in Haiti, a country Trump also disparaged in the meeting, thousands took to the streets on Monday to protest the US leader's comments.In June 2017, Trump allegedly said during a meeting that all people from Haiti "have AIDS", that recent Nigerian immigrants would never "go back to their huts" in Africa, and that Afghanistan is a "terrorist haven", according to the New York Times. News / National by Stephen Jakes A political commentator Wilton Machimbira has said the attack on MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa by some critics in the party are a clear sheer malice because of his charisma to lure grassroots support.Some critics have opposed Chamisa taking over as MDC-T president in the advent of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai's ill-health. Some sections of the party especial from Matabeleland want Thokozani Khupe to take over while some suggest Elias Mudzuri as mature to lead the main opposition party."The Zimbabwean body politic is now an arena of angry minds and the visibly underutilised angry minds have upped their onslaught on the person of Chamisa. Its sheer malice and regrettable mudslinging by people of less political clout, who feel threatened by the youthful, energetic and fiery MDC-T vice-president, Machimbira said."The impression is that a "Fifth Column" is ganging up with some in the "Fourth Estate", burning midnight oil and coming up with a cocktail of strategies to besmirch the image of Chamisa and politically eliminate him. Hate him, call him all sorts of names, but you wont take his incontestable connection with the grass-roots." News / National by Staff Reporter A CLANDESTINE plan by some MDC-T MPs and top party leaders to ring-fence their constituencies during primary elections has stirred controversy, disgruntlement and conflict in the opposition party, NewsDay Weekender reported.Insiders said the elections directorate was planning to protect its sitting MPs so that they would not be subjected to primary elections, a move that is likely to face rejection from the majority of the aspiring candidates."They have also gone to the extent of barring junior party members from challenging seniors in primary elections. This is not only undemocratic, but exposes the party to defeat," a highly-placed source said.A member of the standing committee told NewsDay Weekender that the proposal was made at its meeting on Tuesday. But some vowed to put a stop to the plans, calling for the party to open up the candidate selection process to all eligible members."Some of these people have been performing badly and, therefore, can't be protected by such unfair rules. If Zanu PF can have fair primaries, who are we as the MDC not to have them?" another official queried.The plan will see top members like Jameson Timba, Murisi Zwizwai, Morgen Komichi and others sail through as party candidates without a contest.The party has indicated that it will consider holding primaries as a last resort because internal polls are divisive, instead opting to select candidates by consensus.But party spokesperson Obert Gutu quashed the claims, saying MDC-T would not impose candidates and would conduct primary elections soon."The national elections directorate will soon be meeting to put the final touches on the candidate selection template. One thing, though, is for sure," Gutu said."There will be no candidate imposition because we are a democratic political party. Wherever possible, we will encourage candidates to be chosen by consensus, but where this fails, primary elections will become inevitable." News / National by Stephen Jakes Mthwakazi Republic Party leader Mqondisi Moyo has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa to to to hell with his National Peace and Healing Commission if he does not acknowledge wrong doing through his participation in the Gukurahundi massacres which saw over 20 000 people killed in Matabeleland and Midlands.The interview on Emerson Mnangagwa in Davos on the 24th of January 2018 on Gukurahundi atrocities exposed that Mnangagwa and Robert Mugabe are birds of the same feather."In fact they are both Gangsters masquerading as leaders. If one is a leader but struggles to apologize, he is good as the devil. Mnangagwa even unnecessarily went on to dispute the 20 000 figure estimation of the people he butchered. We now expect him to tell us the actual numbers, as he was a direct perpetrator. We vividly remember that on 04 March 1983 he said our Mthwakazi people were cockroaches who needed to be sprayed with DDT and on the following morning 55 people were reported killed in Lupane alone," Moyo said."Mnangagwa stop living on denial, actually the more than 20 000 innocent people you and Robert Mugabe killed is smaller compared to the reports that we gather in our interactive outreaches through our party campaigns. Remember this is the authentic CCJP report that you and Robert Mugabe failed to report on. You collectively decided to conceal the findings of the Chihambagwe Commission of Inquiry. If you are a genuine leader, it is an opportune time for you to release it now. A sane people can not expect justice from any program led by a rewarded factional Vice President in the case of the compromised Kembo Mohadi."He said any credible Commission of Inquiry will comprise of neutral people, preferably an international judge."Anything less than that will be trash. We know that CCJP did not capture all the areas and cases that were perpetrated by you, in actual fact, some researchers put the figures to more than 20 000. It is mind boggling that both you and Robert Mugabe have never embraced Mthwakazi clergymen, opting to surround yourselves with shona clergyman who are part of 1979 satanic Grand plan and agents of its implementation. No wonder most of them have been seen praise singing you, with the recent climax of botlicking by Andrew Wutawunashe at Bulawayo, who christened you, Emerson Joseph Mnangagwa, in a glaring at of blaspheming and mocking God. Before your millitary coup the same shona pastors used to praise sing Robert Mugabe insinuating that he was God ordained and we wondered which God were these pastors referring to, unless if shonas have a different God," he said."I implore you Mnangagwa to stop shedding crocodile tears on our people, Gukurahundi was genocide and we cannot just easily forget it and you cannot just say "let by be bygones" when it is people like you and your former mentor Robert Mugabe who killed our people. Mr Mnangagwa sir, in your live interview in Davos you openly denied the possibility of having a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Practically, there will be no Gukurahundi redress without the Truth, unless there is something are you hiding? We are a new generation that will never accept piecemeal arrangements, it is now clear to the whole world that you are indicating left when turning to the right. You have proven that you are a negligent , dangerous and unqualified driver of a nation who is a threat to human life. Our lives cannot be entrusted to you. The Gukurahundi redress starts by confession, as the bible says, the cycle of sin is through confession. Wake up from your slumber Emerson and stop living in the past, you can no longer deceive the world as you did with your former boss Robert Mugabe.""We reckon that at one point you boasted and said you were trained to kill. Trained by who and to kill who? You even at one point said Gukurahundi was a closed chapter, so said that to you Gukurahundi is just a chapter. What a broken man and president you are."He said as Mthwakazi people denounce the so called Unity accord agreement of 1987 because that was a marriage of convince which failed to acknowledge Gukurahundi and how the Gukurahundi issues were to be redressed."To us, that agreement was a very empty document with nothing to offer for the people of Mthwakazi. It was a document between and for only Robert Mugabe and the late Joshua Nkomo in their capacities as leaders at the time. Decisions are made and signed for people and not for individual leaders, I put it to you Mnangagwa and your Shona ilk that Gukurahundi is still benefitting you up to this era, and indeed it has taken another form. This moment in time it takes the form of an economic genocide which only benefits your kinsmen through the implementation of the satanic 1979 Grandplan. You and your former boss have continued to treat our people as second class citizens in all spheres of life, be it political, economical or social," Moyo said."Even your delegation to Davos was reflective of your devilish status quo, with only two Ndebeles. This confirms that you are continuing from where your mentor Robert Mugabe left. Your blotted delegation was all about travelling and subsistence allowances, not to the benefit of an ordinary person on the street, I am aware that as government officials you make a lot of money through these allowances on your overseas trips, hence you have inherited your mentor's thirst for blotted joy rides, to the abuse of the taxpayer's hard earned money."He said the issue of the Gukurahundi genocide does not require a bill to be dressed."It demands logic and willingness for Justice. Perpetrators can not now create conditions and terms of references in the quest for justice on behalf of the victims. The national constitution and the relevent arms of the state are conveniently positioned to function towards giving justice to the victims of this heinous act. We perceive you as a wolf in sheep skin Mr Emerson Mnangagwa, and you can't redress the Gukurahundi issue now. The only recommended redress to Gukurahundi victims is accepting that Mthwakazi and Zimbabwe are two separate states that will never co-exist and we demand our independence now. We don't beg for it but this is our right and it will be the only long lasting solution. This will permanently close the so called chapter that Robert Mugabe, Sydeny Sekeremayi, Perence Shiri, Constantine Chiwengwa, Enos Nkala, yourself and others opened. We say no to this purported commission to be launched by you before you release to us the previous findings and results of Chihambakwe and Dumbutshena commissions. To people like Kembo Mohadi we say hands off to Gukurahundi issues and absolve yourself from being used for selfish ends," he said."Ndebeles have mostly been used to lead the national healing organ, which to me shows lack of seriousness because a victim cannot be a healer and the perpetrator cannot proffer solutions. This smells of political strategy rather than genuineness for the cause. My final and stern warnings goes to the Mthwakazi chiefs, I say hands off the Gukurahundi issue. You will be tainted if you allow yourselves to be part of this rehearsed program under the supervision of Mnangagwa, This was purely a political act and needs to be dealt with politically and holistically. Chiefs can play a pivotal role by revealing to the whole world how many people were killed in their communities. This will vindicate the estimates of 20000 victims desputed by Mnangagwa.""WE finally plead with Matabeleland chiefs to stand against Christopher Mutsvangwa's open declaration that they and the army will be used to deliver election victory for ZANU PF. You are above politics as chiefs, you are the custodians of our tradition and culture." News / National by Staff reporter The newly-created Ministry of Government Scholarships requires $10 million to enable it to run various programmes meant to equip selected Zimbabwean learners through provision of further education abroad. The Minister of State for Government Scholarships in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Christopher Mushohwe, recently told The Herald that the ministry had this year paid $1 350 335 to clear arrears with beneficiaries who had not been getting their stipends in the past two years, resulting in some students being stranded in foreign lands.Zimbabwe has students in South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Cyprus, Iran, Romania, Russia, Czech Republic, China and Cuba and Dr Mushohwe said he would institute measures to see the smooth and transparent operation of scholarships. "I think we require anything not less than $10 million if we were to send students to different universities," said Dr Mushohwe."The issue depends on the budget and the budget was announced and it has not been operationalised. So once we are certain that there is a given amount that is dedicated to the scholarships then we say how many students can be covered."But I can give you the statistics of the students that are already there at the moment. Algeria for example, has 395 students, Russia has got 133, India 31, China 109, Czech Republic two, Iran four, Cuba nine students who are still there. Most of them graduated and came back last year. In Romania we have five, in Egypt we have seven, in Tunisia we still have 11 and in South African universities, we have reduced the intake from the 15 universities that we used to send students to only five universities now because of budgetary constraints and at those five universities we have got 382 students. We have three students in Cyprus who are doing high tech engineering and we are very happy."The total number of students that we have currently before the intake for this year is 1091 scattered all over. Soon we are going to start negotiations with bilateral countries through their embassies on the numbers that we might get from these countries I have indicated," said Dr Mushohwe.The former executive director of Presidential Scholarship scheme under the previous administration, explained that he "inherited" students who were originally housed under Higher and Tertiary Education which failed to pay stipends for "some for two years or so"."It is correct that some of them had not been paid. So, we have to date paid Russia. All students in Russia, who are 133, have been paid their stipends for the year 2017 and 2018. We are busy trying to organise that this week to send money to Cuba and Iran. In Iran there are only four and in Cuba they are nine. So by the end of next week (this week) they would have received their money. For students in other universities in Algeria, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Romania, India and Cyprus, we have deposited all the money that is supposed to go there through the embassies' foreign affairs ministries."He added that students receiving their stipends would now be required to personally sign for their money and Government would receive a return of the signed schedule for transparency and accountability. News / National by Staff reporter Morgan Tsvangirai has been subject to some fake news stories, claiming he has passed away earlier this week. His family have been forced to deny the allegations, but Mr Tsvangirai is definitely struggling with his health.News reports from Zimbabwe claim that the former Prime Minister has seen his condition deteriorate whilst receiving treatment in South Africa. He was due to fly out to Germany for extentsive treatment, but local doctors believe the long flight to Europe is unsafe for his current state.Morgan Tsvangirai's healthTsvangirai has been fighting colon cancer since 2016, and recently underwent a round of chemotherapy treatment. However, rumours were circulating that he had died at the beginning of the week. Claims that just simply aren't true, as reported by Zimbabwean publication News Day, who spoke to a close family source:"Morgan is alive, but his health has deteriorated from the time he left the country. He is not feeling well and everyone is worried about his health. I saw social media messages saying he is dead, that is not correct, he is still alive"NewsDay also suggested that Tsvangirai has three months to live. They attributed that quote to medical staff, but there's no official word on just how terminal the cancer has become.The MDC leader has fought against Robert Mugabe three times in presidential elections. That includes a fierce contest in 2008 that controversially saw Bob cling to power despite allegations of vote rigging.Will Morgan Tsvangirai leave politics?During the bloodless transition that removed Mugabe in November 2017, Mr Tsvangirai was full of praise for the military, who brought a 37-year authoritarian reign to an end.However, it would now seem that the ex-Prime Minister is ready to retire from politics, as stated by News 24. We all hope that a man so instrumental in fighting against the Mugabe regime will get to participate in Zimbabwe's first fair and democratic elections in decades, later this year. News / National by Staff Reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Simon Khaya Moyo the Acting Minister of Information, Media and Publicity until further notice.In a statement to the ZBC News, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, said Khaya Moyo, who is also the Minister of Energy and Power Development, is expected to prepare targeted priorities for his new ministry for presentation within the 100 day circle.Khaya Moyo is not new to the information portfolio and was the last Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services before the new dispensation in which the new President Mnangagwa assigned him to the Energy and Power Development portfolio. News / National by Staff reporter A FIVE-YEAROLD mine wrangle between a Lebanese-born Australian businessman and a Russian working with local partners has affected operations at two chrome mines in Midlands after one of the parties applied for liquidation of the holding company, High Court papers have revealed.The wrangle, which has sucked in lawyer, Gerald Mlotshwa, has seen two mines, Gothic and Pengamesu, which belong to Aquarium Trading which is owned by the Australian, Taleb Mohamed, close down, rendering over a 100 workers jobless.Aquarium is now under judicial management after the Russian; Nikolai Varenko approached the courts through his company Tamira Overseas. However, the Russian was now pushing for the firing of the judicial manager in order to place the company under liquidation.Oliver Masomera of Obram Trust was appointed judicial manager in 2015 after an application by Tamira despite no evidence that the company was indebted, the court papers show.Aquarium has been mining chrome, antimony and gold in the Midlands province since 2004. In 2012, the company sought $400 000 recapitalisation money from Varenko who then expressed interest to invest $2 million in the business.To protect his investment, Varenko roped in local partner Heena Josh as managing director and Mlotshwa as the company secretary.After paying the $2 million through his investment arm, Tamira Overseas, Varenko then wanted to take over the company allegedly using a forged CR14 presented by Josh. The matter against Josh is still pending at the Bulawayo High Court.Josh approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking liquidation of Aquarium under case number HC2020/14. The case was however thrown out after the court realised that the appeal was done fraudulently.Varenko then sought to take over the company by reporting Mohamed to the police Serious Frauds Squad under case number 12/15 claiming he was duped of his money after misrepresentations.Mohamed was acquitted of any charges in Gweru.Another attempt by Varenko and his partners to take over the company was made when Obi Mabahwana, a former senior public prosecutor at the Harare Magistrates' Courts, reported Mohamed of alleged fraud at Borrowdale Police Station under RRB2953338.The criminal charges against Mohamed were however withdrawn by the state this year.But according to Masomera, the company was placed under judicial management due to a shareholding dispute between Aquarium and Tamira after the latter advanced $2 800 000 for shareholding.After the dispute, the Arbitration Court ruled out that Tamira's shareholding was illegally acquired because there was no consultation with the Zimbabwe Investment Authority.The money injected by Tamira for the shareholding was then turned into a loan and company paced under judicial management.Masomera ordered a forensic audit but stopped after receiving a complaint that the auditors were using a militant approach, and realised that he was being paid by Tamira.Varenko has filed several cases before the courts that include an appeal to have Masomera removed as judicial manager of Aquarium, apart from a second attempt to seek for the liquidation of the company. This is despite the company paying back the loan without defaulting.The Russian also want Mohamed to personally pay back the loan and has also asked the court to stop Aquarium shareholders from disposing of their shares in the company despite there being no such intention.The papers also show that Tamira has been refusing to pay costs of suits.Varenko insists he was duped by Mohamed and was made to pay the money after misrepresentation, charges being denied by Mohamed through his lawyer Alec Muchadehama. NBU Council Chairman says IMF mission may arrive in Ukraine in mid-Feb The major outcome of the meeting in Davos is that Ukraine is beginning to be perceived as an active negotiator. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter U.S. Ambassador to Laos Rena Bitter handed over fifteen new Toyota Landcruisers to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Program (UXO Lao) during a ceremony in Vientiane on January 12. The contribution, valued at approximately USD 490,000, included 15 sets of equipment for 15 new UXO Lao Clearance teams that are operating in Savannakhet, Khammouan and Attapeu provinces. These 15 new UXO Lao teams were recruited, trained and deployed in 2017 with financial support of the United States. The United States is supporting 51 of 96 UXO Lao Survey & Clearance teams, in addition to 3 Non-Technical Survey teams, 3 Regional Quality Management teams, the organizations provincial offices, and some operational costs of the National Office. Currently, approximately 600 of UXO Laos staff are funded by the United States Government. Approximately 940 additional Lao national staff work fulltime on the U.S.-funded national UXO survey and clearance projects implemented in partnership with the Mines Advisory Group, HALO Trust, and Norwegian Peoples Aid. Sterling International Group, a contractor of the U.S. Department of State, also provides technical advisory support to the Lao PDR National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action and to UXO Lao in the areas of Survey & Clearance Operations, Field Management, Quality Management and Information Management. Since 1995, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of States Office of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) and U.S. Embassy Vientiane have worked closely with the Government of Laos to invest more than $135 million toward risk education, support for victims of UXO accidents, surveying and clearing of UXO within Laos. This program supporting clearance of contaminated land reflects the close partnership between the United States and the Government and people of the Lao PDR for over two decades to address war legacy issues, said Ambassador Bitter. This new contribution to UXO Lao, she said, is part of the United States commitment of USD 90 million over three years to fund a national cluster munitions survey, in addition to ongoing clearance of UXO. Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) clashed with Islamic State militants in the western part of the country on Saturday, according to Sepah News, the official news site of the Guards. IRGC claims a team of 21 Islamic State fighters crossed Iran's western border and were placed under surveillance before the Guards attacked them on Saturday morning in Karmanshah province. Most of the militants have been arrested, the report said, but there was no mention of the number of people killed or wounded in the clash. The IRGC did not say exactly where the clash took place and provided no other details or any evidence of the military operation. The Islamic Republic has made similar claims numerous times before but the IS group has never taken responsibility or confirmed any incursion into Iran. Last June, Islamic State attacked the Iranian parliament in Tehran and the mausoleum of the Islamic Republics founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, killing at least 18 and wounding dozens. Irans Revolutionary Guards fired several missiles at Islamic State bases in Syria on June 18 in response to that attack. Based on reporting by Reuters, Iranian agencies The Islamic Republics Supreme Leader has criticized most of the students who took 52 US diplomats hostage in November 1979, but years later apologized for their action. In his comments made on Tuesday, January 16 but published on Friday, January 26, ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintained, Years after taking [US diplomats] hostages, most of the students involved in the event stepped forward, talked to the Americans and presented their apologies. State-run Iran Labor News Agency, ILNA cited Khamenei as saying, They apologized since their motivation was shallow. Khamenei said that he does recognize the important actions of those who overthrew an ancient regime and stormed the U.S. embassy. Nevertheless, some of them later met the Americans [hostages] and presented their apology for what they had done. The hostages spent 444 days in agonizing captivity and the U.S. severed relations with Iran, froze Iranian assets and began imposing sanctions. Their release came on the day when President Ronald Reagan took oath of office in 1980. However, there have never been any confirmed reports that the 1979 hostage takers have ever apologized for their actions. Only one of the students who participated in storming the American Embassy, Abbas Abdi met one of the former hostages, Barry Rosen, in 1998 in Paris. After meeting Abdi, Rosen who was the former US Press Attache in Tehran, said that Abdi had apologized for taking him and others hostage. Abdi immediately denied the claim and noted in an article that, regardless of interpreting such events as right or wrong, he was not in a position to personally apologize for it. Being sixty-years old now, I am not that stupid to defend what I did when I was twenty. I do not defend our action by todays measures and standards. That event happened in its own context and situation, Abdi wrote. Pro-reformist daily Etemad also reported last year that while some of the former hostage takers, including one of their leaders, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh admit that storming US embassy in Tehran was a wrong move, there are some of them, including Mohsen Mirdamadi and Abbas Abdi who still defend their actions. President Hassan Rouhanis former deputy for Environmental affairs and spokesperson of the hostage takers at the time, Massoumeh Ebtekar also said, The students who took Americans hostage, never repented for what they did. Ebtekar insisted that the hostage takers believed that storming into US embassy in Tehran was the best decision to protect the Islamic Revolution from any harm. Some of the hostage takers were later appointed to high positions. Habibollah Bitaraf occupied the post of Energy Minister in Mohammad Khatamis cabinet. Rahman Dadman served as Khatamis minister for Roads and Transportation. He later died in a plane crash. Massomeh Ebtekar, known as Sister Mary among the hostages, still serves in Rouhanis administration. But some also were targeted by security forces and persecuted. Ebrahim Asgharzadeh was put in solitary confinement in 1992 for one month, which he later said made him change some of his radical views. Abbas Abdi also experienced imprisonment when he was accused of espionage for working in an opinion research company, which collaborated with foreign companies, such as Gullup. The founder of the Islamic republic, ayatollah Ruhollah Khemeini described the hostage taking in Tehran as the second revolution, bigger than the first one. The Islamic Republic has never apologized for the incident that triggered a widespread negative reaction in the U.S. and across the world. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, George Tsereteli and the newly elected President of the Austrian Parliament, Wolfgang Sobotka, discussed the issue of protracted conflicts in the OSCE area, reads a message of the OSCE PA. During the talks that focused on challenges to the OSCE area, the sides discussed unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus, humanitarian concerns, migration and terrorism. President Tsereteli highlighted the work being done within these fields by OSCE parliamentarians, the message reads. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will gather for its 17th annual Winter Meeting on 22-23 February in the Hofburg Congress Center in Vienna, Austria. The meeting held every year in Vienna provides an opportunity for debate among parliamentarians on major topical issues, as well as for OSCE parliamentarians to be briefed by high-level OSCE officials. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China discussed the cooperation in the field of international road transport at the trilateral meeting held in Tashkent on Jan.24-25, the Uzbek Agency for Road and River Transport reported. The meeting participants focused on issues of the formation of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China automobile corridor and the further development of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, China and Uzbekistan in the field of international road transportation. The sides exchanged information on the state of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of international road transport, discussed the implementation of the signed Agreements in this area and agreed on preliminary quotas for the exchange of permission forms for the carriage of goods for 2018. There was noted that the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China transport corridor is of key importance for diversification of foreign trade routes and a substantial reduction in the terms of transportation of goods between states and transit through their territories. The agreement between the governments of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China on international road transport was signed on February 19, 1998. Currently, transportation between Uzbekistan and China is carried out mainly by rail through Kazakh-Chinese checkpoints, which entails significant costs and time lost. The new transport corridor Tashkent - Andijan (Uzbekistan) - Osh - Irkeshtam (Kyrgyzstan) - Kashgar (China) is the shortest automobile route from the Fergana Valley to China. In late October, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China successfully organized the first pilot caravan of nine cars that passed along this route. The three countries also mull the rail line, which is expected to open up access for supplies of goods to the markets of Western Asia and the countries of the Middle East. It will become one of the shortest routes for the transport of Chinese goods to the EU. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to President of South Korea Moon Jae-in. "I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and injuries as a fire broke out at a hospital in the city of Miryang," the president said in his message. "On the occasion of this tragedy, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died, and the whole people of Korea, and wish the injured swiftest possible recovery," the head of state said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: The State Security Service and the State Border Service of Azerbaijan have carried out an operation following reports on bribery cases and collection of excessive legal fees at the visa clearance and border clearance services from foreigners upon arrival in the country. The State Security Service told Trend on Jan. 27 that a number of violations have been revealed, while three officials were detained. Elton Khalilli, third secretary of the visa department of the Foreign Ministrys Consular Department, Latif Zeynalov, senior lieutenant of the State Border Service of the Air Transport Control and Border Service Department, and ensign Zaur Gasimli were detained at the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Banknotes of different countries in various denominations were found and seized from the abovementioned persons, and foreign citizens provided information about the illegal acts of these individuals. Investigation continues in the Main Investigation Department of Azerbaijans State Security Service. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey is carrying out the most difficult mission today, Samad Seyidov, vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Azerbaijani MP, said Jan. 27. He said that Turkey is fighting not only to ensure its own security, but also in the interests of the whole world and Europe. He noted that the military Operation Olive Branch is conducted against the terrorists of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG). The Operation Olive Branch carried out by Turkey is not aggression, he said. The operation is carried out to eliminate the terrorists. Commenting on the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, Samad Seyidov noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan are fraternal countries. The problems of Turkey are our problems, the MP stressed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE for supporting the Operation Olive Branch at the winter session of the structure. I express my gratitude to Azerbaijani MP Samad Seyidov for supporting the Operation Olive Branch carried out by Turkey against terrorists, Erdogan said. On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: 11:35 (GMT+4) Zahid Mahmudov, one of the victims of fire in a multi-storey residential building in the center of Baku, has been taken to the Republican Burn Center, the center told Trend Jan. 27. According to the information received, the condition of the injured is assessed as serious. The victim got burns covering 90 percent of his body, the center said. 11:07 (GMT+4) Fire broke out in a stationery store located on the first floor of the 18-story building on Dilyara Aliyeva Street in Baku, the city police told Trend Jan. 27. The fire occurred due to gas leak. Two people were injured as a result of the incident. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: Last year, Azerbaijans General Directorate for Combating Corruption under the General Prosecutors Office completed investigations into 214 criminal cases against 305 officials connected with bribery, abuse of office, authority, and other facts, sending them to the relevant courts for consideration. This information was mentioned on Jan. 27 at an expanded meeting of the board with the participation of the senior staff of the Central Office of the General Prosecutors Office, the Republican Military Prosecutors Office, the Military Prosecutors Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Baku City Prosecutors Office, district and city prosecutors, devoted to discussions of the work carried out in 2017 and the forthcoming tasks. At the stage of preliminary investigation of the damage established regarding these cases, payment of 27.575 million manats was ensured, and the property estimated at 15.381 million manats was seized for the payment of the remaining part of the damage. (1.7001 manats = 1 USD on Jan. 27) Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: Thirty-seven employees of the prosecutors office were brought to disciplinary responsibility during official checks conducted in Azerbaijan in 2017. This information was mentioned on Jan. 27 at an expanded meeting of the board with the participation of the senior staff of the Central Office of the General Prosecutors Office, the Republican Military Prosecutors Office, the Military Prosecutors Office of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Baku City Prosecutors Office, district and city prosecutors, devoted to discussions of the work carried out in 2017 and the forthcoming tasks. Twenty-six of the employees of the prosecutors office were reprimanded, one person was demoted, seven people were dismissed, and three people were dismissed from the prosecutors office. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: Residents of an apartment building in the Nasimi district of Baku, where an explosion that was followed by fire occurred this morning, will be able to return to their apartments after the investigation into the suitability of the building for further residence is completed. "Presently, we arent allowed to enter the apartments," residents of the house told Trend. The residents added that they were offered to live at their relatives place for a few days. On Jan. 27, Fire broke out in a stationery store located on the first floor of the 18-story building on Dilyara Aliyeva Street, 18, in Baku. The fire started as a result of an explosion, which occurred in the basement of the building, the first three floors of which are not residential. As a result of the explosion, the counters, frames of windows and doors of the stationery store (of 500 square meters) located on the first floor of the building were destroyed. Windows on the second and third floors of the building, as well as in the nearby houses were partially damaged. Firefighters that arrived at the scene extinguished the fire and didnt allow it to spread further. According to preliminary information, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak. As a result of the explosion, Zahid Mahmudov, a store employee, received burns of varying severity. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: The Azerbaijani-Turkish Culture Association building was attacked in The Hague city of Netherlands in the wee hours of Saturday, Turkish media reports. The incident took place at around 02:30 a.m. local time. Four masked attackers fled from the scene. Ilhan Askin, the head of the association, asserted that such incidents will not disturb the peace of Turki people in the Netherlands and added: "We will continue to serve the way we always do." Local police authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: The National Company "Food Corporation" JSC of Kazakhstan exported over 120,000 tons of grain and oilseeds to the countries of the near and far abroad in 2017. The volume of exports decreased by 70,400 tons compared to the previous year, the company reported. Particularly, more than 56,000 tons of barley were exported to Iran, over 40,000 tons of wheat and about 0,600 tons of vegetable oil were exported to China, 15,000 tons of wheat - Azerbaijan, 5,000 tons of wheat - Uzbekistan and about 3,000 tons of flax seeds - Belgium. In 2016, the corporation exported a total of 190,400 tons of grain, including about 83,000 tons to Iran, about 73,000 tons to China and over 34,000 tons to Middle Asia. Last year, more than 21 million tons of grain was harvested from the fields of Kazakhstan. Two-thirds of the harvest is high-quality varieties that meet world standards, Agriculture Minister Askar Myrzakhmetov said earlier. Kazakhstan in 2016 collected 23.7 million tons of grain crops, which is 18.5 percent more than in 2015. The International Grain Council (IGC) in the September review forecasted the volume of grain production in Kazakhstan in 2017 at 21.7 million tons ( 2016 estimate was 22.8 million tons), including wheat - 17.1 million tons (against 17.7 million tons - 2016). Annually Kazakhstan exports about 7-8 million tons of grain. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Standard & Poors Global Ratings agency (S&P) has forecast Azerbaijan's GDP growth to average 3.3 percent over the next four years, the S&P said in a report. On Jan. 26, the S&P revised its outlook on the long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Azerbaijan to stable from negative. At the same time, the agency affirmed the ratings at 'BB+/B'. S&P expects Azerbaijans economy to grow 2.7 percent in 2018 and 3.5 percent in 2019, 2020 and 2021. We expect economic dynamics to gradually shift over the next few years," the report said. "In particular, we forecast average growth of 3.3 percent through 2021. Completion is approaching for the large Shah Deniz II (SDII) gas field project which will see Azerbaijani gas delivered first to Turkey and then to Europe. Elevated investment ahead of the SDII launch and a pick up in gas exports after that should benefit economic performance. Azerbaijans nominal GDP will continue to grow and by 2021 will increase from 70 billion manats ($41 billion) to 99 billion manats ($52 billion), the report noted. According to S&P analysts, GDP per capita will be $4,600 in Azerbaijan in 2018, $4,800 in 2019, $5,000 in 2020 and $5,100 in 2021. The agency also expects inflation rate to fall in Azerbaijan to five percent by 2021. The S&P forecasts eight percent inflation in 2018 and five percent inflation in the next three years. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: The total volume of credit investments of Uzbekistan's private joint-stock bank "Trustbank" amounted to 839 billion soums in 2017. The figure was announced at an expanded meeting of the bank dedicated to the results of activities in 2017 and priority areas for 2018. As of Jan. 1, 2018, the bank's assets amounted to 1.8 billion soums, showing an increase of 396 billion soums compared to Jan.1,2017. The level of the bank's total capital is 220 billion soums, with an increase of over 56 billion soums over the year. The volume of investment loans compared to the same period last year increased 1.6 times and amounted to more than 153 billion soums. The volume of loans allocated to small businesses increased 1.3-fold compared to the previous year, and as of Jan.1, 2018, it amounted to about 450 billion soums. In turn, the volume of loans provided by the bank to support women's entrepreneurship grew by 1.2 times compared to the previous year and reached 51 billion soums as of Jan, 1,2018. In addition, during the reporting period, the total volume of deposits increased by 29 percent compared to 2016 and as of Jan. 1, 2018 amounted to 1.473 trillion soums. To date, the bank issued more than 219,000 plastic cards, which increased by 36,953 units compared to 2016. PJSB "Trustbank" was established in 1994 and presently serves 212,200 private and 19,900 corporate clients. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Shareholders of Holcim Azerbaijan OJSC (formerly Garadagh Cement Plant) will discuss changing the composition of its supervisory board, the company said in a message Jan. 27. The issue will be discussed within the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held March 15 in the conference center of the Hyatt Regency Baku hotel. At the meeting, amending the companys charter will be also discussed and the companys report on the results of 2017 will be approved. Holcim Azerbaijan OJSC is one of the largest cement and clinker producers in Azerbaijan. Around 40 percent of the cement market in Azerbaijan accounts for Holcim Azerbaijans products. Holcim Azerbaijans shareholders are: LafargeHolcim (66 percent), EBRD (10 percent), Holcim Auslandbeteiligungs GmbH (10 percent) and other individuals (14 percent). Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Huseyn Valiyev Trend: Azerbaijani engineers have developed a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle called "Dronee", Tamleyha Piriyev, manager of the mini-drones development project, told Trend. At a weight of 600 grams, the mini drone can carry a payload of 180 grams. The flight duration of the device reaches 60 minutes, and the maximum speed - 12 meters per second. "France, Australia, the US, Canada, China and countries of Africa show interest for this project," Piriyev said. "We are planning to develop a distribution network and we are negotiating with the interested parties. The project is being implemented in Estonia and we managed to commercialize it." The mini drone is sold at a price of 1,990 euros. The device is intended for civilian use and can be used for surveying the terrain. The drone can be managed by using a tablet computer running iOS. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Hungarian travel companies are showing increasing interest towards the Azerbaijani market, ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan Viktor Szederkenyi said in an interview with Trend and Azernews. "Just like in the case of Azerbaijan, Hungary wants to develop tourism as a strategic economic field. "Tourism diplomacy" became an essential part of our job, and our embassy, too, will do its best to promote it through disseminating information and organizing specific events," said he envoy. The direct budget flight operated by Hungarys WizzAir company between the capitals of the two countries obviously contributes to the tourist flow, he added. "In 2014, a cooperation agreement was signed in the field of tourism, between Hungarys National Economy Ministry and Azerbaijans Culture and Tourism Ministry. Hungarian travel companies are showing increasing interest towards the Azerbaijani market. Until recently, Azerbaijani tourism to Hungary was primarily focusing on our capital, Budapest and our Lake Balaton, but currently, the interest for combined tours (for example, Budapest-Vienna), as well as for health and wellness tours to Hungary is also increasing," noted Szederkenyi. A record high number of tourists arrived in Azerbaijan in 2017, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in a message Jan. 8. The number of foreign citizens who arrived in Azerbaijan in 2017 increased by 449,215 or 20 percent compared to 2016, and reached 2,691,998, said the ministry. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn On the basis of the Center for Standardization and Metrology under the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy, an information session on the application of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), International Standard for dried apricot DDP-15 was held, Kabar with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. At the event, the participants were presented with a story about making changes and additions to the International Standard on Minimum Requirements (quality, maturity, calibration) for dried apricots in the southern region. Moreover, information on the work implemented by the Regional Working Group of representatives of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan National Agencies on standards and businesses on creation of the Poster Information on dried apricot and the Explanatory Brochure on the Application of the DDP-15 Standard was provided. Identification of dried apricot under the new edition of the International Standard will allow business representatives to enter international markets, increase export potential and economies of Central Asian countries. In order to eliminate technical barriers to trade, issue of introducing changes and additions to the UNECE International Standard DDP-07 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of blackberry was discussed. The event was attended by representatives of business structures, ministries, departments, international organizations, universities and other interested people. The organizers of the session were the Center of Family Medicine (CFM), the GIZs project Trade Facilitation in Central Asia, the Austrian International Organization Hilfswerk Austria International and the UNDP Regional Project Wider Europe: Promoting Trade in Central Asia. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov by his order has severely reprimanded Serdar Cholukov, chairman of the State Committee for Tourism, and issued him a final warning to correct the shortcomings in the tourism sphere as soon as possible. The order was signed due to Cholukovs improper performance of official duties and his failure to ensure the fulfillment of appointed tasks. In March 2017, Berdimuhamedov expressed dissatisfaction with the results of work of the State Committee for Tourism during a government meeting. Berdimuhamedov said that tourism is one of profitable spheres in the world. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the tourism industry takes a special place in Turkmenistans strategic plans. The Great Silk Road passed through Turkmenistan. The country has a rich culture, diverse natural landscapes, unique archaeological monuments, including those in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Mammetkhan Chakyev, director of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes of Turkmenistan, delivered a report at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported Jan. 27. In order to conduct an uncompromising struggle against corruption and bribery, as well as to prevent illegal actions of some civil servants, systematic checks are carried out jointly with law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan, the report said. In particular, it was established that Nursakhed Sapardurdyev, who worked earlier as Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources (was dismissed from this post in December 2017), using official powers for mercenary purposes, damaged the legitimate interests of the heads of subordinated facilities, foreign companies and entrepreneurs by taking bribes from them in especially large amounts. He illegally purchased apartments in luxury houses, cars of various brands and golden jewelry for the money obtained by criminal means, said the report. All his property was arrested. As part of the report, information was also provided on the inspection of the activity of the State Food Industry Association of Turkmenistan. In particular, it was revealed that a number of chiefs of the Dashoguz enterprise for the production of vegetable oil stole 1,500 tons of refined cottonseed oil. Criminal cases were initiated in this regard, and the damage inflicted to the state was fully reimbursed. Information was also provided about the violations revealed during inspection at the Arkachgurlushyk Production Association of the Ashgabat administration, where theft of construction materials was carried out. It was also revealed that in different periods of time, salaries were accrued for 243 citizens who actually didnt work anywhere, and as a result, the Turkmen state suffered damage on a particularly large scale, the report noted. In this regard, criminal cases were instituted, and the damage inflicted to the state was reimbursed. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov after hearing the report reminded that civil servants will be punished for corruption and bribery in the strictest manner. If necessary, we will tighten penalties for such crimes, the president said, adding that the powers of the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes may be further expanded and its staff increased. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Fatih Karimov Trend: The latest data released by Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI), shows that over 65 percent of Iran's export was targeted to five Asian countries, including China, Iraq, the UAE, South Korea and Afghanistan during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (started March 20). China, Irans traditional trade partner from the sanctions period, has maintained its position as the Islamic Republics top trade partner in the period. Under the sanctions, the Islamic Republic shifted its trade eastward, and expanded economic ties with countries such as China and India. Over 20.6 percent of Irans non-oil exports went to China in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 20-Dec. 21). During the period, Iran exported $6.527 billion worth of goods to China, 13 percent more, compared to the same period of the preceding year. Iran also exported $4.628 billion worth of goods to Iraq, which marked 14.6 percent of Iran's total exports value. Irans exports to Iraq was almost at the same level of the last fiscal year. The UAE ($4.458 billion), South Korea (with $3.011 billion), Afghanistan ($2.004 billion), India ($1.969 billion), Turkey ($1.544 billion), Pakistan ($634 million), Thailand ($437 million), Indonesia ($398 million), Oman ($393 million), Taiwan ($358 million), Turkmenistan ($332 million), Japan($330 million), Vietnam ($299 million) Azerbaijan ($286 million) were the other top importers of Iranian goods. The value of exports to Turkey, which was fourth target of Irans non-oil exports last fiscal year, had registered a huge fall by 43 percent. The countrys exports to the UAE, Japan and Oman also registered fall of 18, 62 and 12 percent. Irans exports to India, Vietnam, Taiwan and Turkmenistan also witnessed a fall by 6, 14, 8 and 17 percent, respectively in terms of value, year on year. Meanwhile, exports to Indonesia and Thailand witnessed rise by 296 and 87 percent, respectively. Irans exports to South Korea and Afghanistan had also increased by 29 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Two European countries, Italy and Germany were the only European countries, which took place among the top 20 destinations of Irans non-oil exports. Germany imported $242 million worth of goods from Iran in the 9-month period and stood at 19th place, meanwhile Italy ranked 17th with $284 million worth of imports. Irans exports to Germany witnessed a rise by 13 percent in terms of value, however Italys imports from the Islamic Republic decreased by 26 percent. Russia was 20th commodity importer from Iran in the 9-month period. The country exported $201 million worth of goods to Russia, 54 percent more year-on-year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Italys oil giant, Eni has invited the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) to participate in its international tenders in Iraq, said Sepehr Sepehri, the NIDCs managing director. Eni has invited the NIDC to take part in three drilling tenders that the Italian company plans to hold in Iraq, Sepeheri said, the official website of the NIDC reported. The tenders includes drilling of 12, 15 and six oil wells, he said, adding that NIDC already has cooperation experience with Eni in development project of Darkhovin oil field in southern Iran. The state-controlled Eni, which entered Iran in the 1950s, was involved in the development of the Darkhovin field and the offshore South Pars gas field before the US-led sanctions. Sepehri said that besides presence in Enis tenders, the NIDC is negotiating with Iraqs national drilling company to carry out drilling operations in the countrys southern areas of Basra. He further said that the Basra region has a capacity to produce 3.5 million barrels of oil per day. "We can participate in Iraqs drilling projects in oil and gas sector, he said, adding that enjoying good neighbouring ties, the two country's access to Arvand Free Zone, and low costs of the NIDC compared to the European rivals as well as favorable crude oil production capacity in Iraq are among the advantages of cooperation between the two countries. The company's approach is to secure itself a toehold in global markets, Sepehri said. The official added that after Iraq, cooperation with Oman and Qatar also are NIDCs priority. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: During a meeting between the railways officials of Iran and Turkmenistan, the sides have agreed to increase the volume of cooperation. Under the MoU inked between the two countries, the sides will take measures to increase the volume of transit of freight through the corridors of Sarakhs-Bandar Abbas as well as Sarakhs-Tabriz, IRIB news agency reported. According to the report, the volume of goods transit between the two counties increased by 66 percent in 2017. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Fatih Karimov Trend: An armed clash has occurred between a 21-member group of the Islamic State terrorist group(IS, ISIS, ISIL) and Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in western Iran, the IRGC said. The operation against the terrorist group members, who have been entered into the country via western borders, was launched jointly with the intelligence forces on Jan. 27 morning, the Public Relations Department of IRGC Ground Forces Najaf Base said. The majority of the terrorist cell members have been arrested in the operation, the statement said, adding that the clashes are still going on. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Sever cold has purportedly killed at least three kids who survived the last years deadly earthquake in Irans western province of Kermanshah. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a 17 year-old girl who suffered from physical disabilities as well as a 1.5 year-old infant are among the victims as extreme cold has blanketed the earthquake-hit area. MP for Paveh County Shahab Naderi earlier warned against the rising number of the victims of the cold, urging the government to provide the people with shelter. However, Governor General of Kermanshah Province Houshang Bazouvand earlier denied the reports on the death of people due to cold weather. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the province last November killing about 600 and leaving more injured. The earthquake destroyed a large number of residential units in the urban and rural areas of the province. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: World media outlets are discussing comments made by the spokesman of Turkish President Erdogans government that the US should stop the armed support for the North Syrian Kurdish YPG (PYD) fighters, or face confrontation from Turkish military forces. Possible clashes between the two allies - the Turkish armed forces and the US military personnel deployed near the town of Manbij, which is, according to a statement of President Erdogan, the next target of the Turkish armed forces, are being savored with mixed sense of astonishment and pleasure. However, I bet you won't live to see it happen. Turkey and the US will remain close allies. The rest is simply rhetoric. President Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey would extend its military operation in Syria to the town of Manbij. In a day he said Turkey is prepared to take its fight against Kurdish forces in northern Syria as far east as Iraq. The Kurds control nearly the entire Northern Syria an oil-rich area that makes up at least 20 percent of the countrys entire territory. About 90 percent of the Syrian-Turkish border is under the Kurdish YPG/PYD forces control. Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, in turn, said it is time to act and Turkey will do everything to eliminate the threat of terrorism at its borders. The US has almost lost Syria as a zone of its national interests as it has not had any tangible achievements there. The country is strongly controlled by Russia and Iran, which have invested much in the Syrian conflict including millions of dollars and human lives. The Pro-Russian/Pro-Iranian President Assad, who also has an army of some sort, is in power. The free Syrian army together with numerous opposition groups did not meet the U.S. hopes to topple the Assad regime. With all this, who will listen to a US representative at future international negotiations on Syria, if the superpower has nothing at hand? But the US is not accustomed to play secondary roles and clearly stated it wasn't going to leave Syria. The US representative to the UN, Nikki Haley said in November last year that with the unity of the UN Security Council, or alone, Washington will continue to fight for justice and accountability in Syria. The US plan becomes a lot clearer if to keep in mind that Turkey is a sole American ally that is of direct relevance to Syria and might change the current unfavorable state of affairs. If we exclude the option of sending US forces to Syria, for which Washington has not even the slightest pretext (ISIS no longer an excuse), there remains only one chance for the US to largely strengthen its position in Syria with the aid of Turkey. There is no contradiction here. Turkey, even without an agreement with the US had to take measures to ensure security along its entire southern borders controlled by the Kurds from the Syrian side. The Turkish-American interests overlap. Turkey resolves its security issues, while the US needs to have assets to strengthen its position in Syria, albeit not all by itself, but by hands of a close ally. The Kurds will play the role of a bargaining chip, and Turkey instead could obtain some bonuses, for example, the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, or some other preferences, of which we have no clue. I have to reiterate it one more time Turkey and USA are close allies and members of NATO a fact that cant be ignored. It is not so important whether they have made a backroom deal or not. If the Olive branch is a success and Turkey can take control over all of the Northern Syria up to the border with Iraq, then the US will benefit from such course of events, and will have a good reason to ensure its national interests in Syria in further negotiations with Russia and the confrontation with Iran. Georgias leading internet service provider company Silknet has acquired Geocell, the second-largest mobile telecommunications operator in the country, Agenda reports. Silknet announced today the successful acquisition of Geocell for $153 million after reaching an agreement with Geocells shareholders, Telia Company and Turkcell. "The transaction combines Silknets broadband, pay TV and fixed telephone operations with Geocells mobile operations, creating a major convergent telecom company. The expected synergies will provide Georgian consumers with enhanced access to voice and data services and exclusive global content, read the press release published by Silknet today. Silknet assures Georgian consumers they can expect significant benefits from the acquisition, thanks to new planned convergent broadband, pay TV, mobile and fixed telephone offerings, including enhanced mobile access to Silknets exclusive content such as global sport competitions. "This transaction allows us to create an integrated telecommunications operator, combining fixed line and mobile technologies. The larger scale will provide the company with superior access to international capital markets, further ensuring continuous investment in new technologies, said the Chairman of Silknet George Ramishvili, who welcomed Geocells "first-class employees and its corporate culture of excellence to the Silknet team Subject to approval of the local regulatory authorities in Georgia, the acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter 2018. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez called for unity on Saturday after a bitterly disputed election last year as he was sworn in for a second term, even as police skirmished with protesters in the streets, Reuters reported. Hernandez, a conservative supported by the United States, appeared set to lose the Nov. 26 election until an abrupt halt in the vote count and a shift in the results took victory away from his center-left rival, Salvador Nasralla. Allegations of fraud sparked deadly protests that killed more than 30 people in the impoverished Central American country, which has been plagued by battles between security forces, local gangs and drug traffickers. As Hernandez spoke at a stadium at his swearing-in, supporters and troops chanted unity and waved the blue and white Honduran flag. If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand, he said, quoting the New Testament. I promise to carry out a process of reconciliation among all Hondurans. On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators clashed with troops and police, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd that had gathered a couple of miles from the stadium where Hernandez took office. North Korea strongly condemned the United States Saturday for passing its own sanctions against the North, calling the sanctions a clear and reckless violation of its sovereignty, Yonhap reported. "The so-called unilateral sanctions the United States has taken under its own sanctions law are a clear and wild violation of sovereignty under the international law that says a sovereign state can never be subject to the judicial power of another country under any circumstance and a serious provocation," an unidentified spokesperson from the North's foreign ministry said in a report carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency. The remarks came two days after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on dozens of North Korean entities, including 16 individuals and six North Korean vessels, for their alleged links to the North's nuclear and missile programs. The North Korean official claimed the sanctions posed little threat to his country, as all other previous sanctions had. "The U.S. should break away from its foolish way of thinking even now and give up its anachronistic hostile policy toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its provocative actions that intensify tension on the Korean Peninsula," the official said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: No Islamic State (IS) terrorists, who could conduct military operations, are left in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, the countrys media reported Jan. 27. The US supports and arms terrorists from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) under the cover of the fight with the IS, he added. He noted that the goal of Turkey, which conducts a military operation in Syrias Afrin city, is to ensure its security. On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Turkey on Saturday condemned the terror attack at the entrance of a government compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, Anadolu reported. "We learned with great sorrow that a terrorist attack perpetrated today in Kabul, resulted in loss of lives of many Afghan brothers and sisters and left many others wounded," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack targeting innocent civilians," the statement said. Turkey further conveyed its condolences to the government and the people of Afghanistan and wished "speedy recovery to the wounded." A powerful suicide car bombing at the entrance of the Afghan Interior Ministry in the capital Kabul on Saturday killed more than 90 people and injured scores of others, according to officials. The attack comes a week after five Taliban militants stormed the iconic Intercontinental Hotel in the city, killing more than 20 local and foreign guests staying in the capitals fortified green zone. A total of 447 PYD/PKK and IS terrorists have been "neutralized" since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Afrin region of Syria, Turkish military said on Saturday, according to Anadolu agency. The military generally uses the term "neutralize" to signify that the targets were killed. According to a statement issued by the Turkish General Staff, the army neutralized 53 PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists alone on Saturday. The statement said 22 Turkish jets safely returned to their bases after destroying 42 targets -- used as weapon pits, shelters, and ammunition depots by the PYD/PKK and Deash terrorist groups. Operation Olive Branch is "successfully continuing as planned," it added. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists. A drug for myasthenia gravis can also quickly and safely reverse complications from botulinum toxin therapy in pediatric patients, report researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in The Journal of Pediatrics Physicians at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report the first pediatric use of a treatment to reverse complications from botulinum toxin therapy. Complications from botox treatment of muscle disorders were reversed when caught early, according to the findings of a study published online ahead of print by The Journal of Pediatrics on December 22, 2017. In the study, physicians used a drug called pyridostigmine to treat one pediatric patient experiencing immediate complications from botulinum toxin therapy and another with delayed complications in distant muscles. In both cases, physicians recognized complications early and treated patients with the maximum dose of pyridostigmine appropriate for their weight. Botolinum toxin is not just a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles. It blocks the nerves that control muscle tone, causing muscles to relax, making it a useful tool for neurologists and otolaryngologists who treat a group of nerve disorders called dystonias -- problems with muscle tone -- that affect the head and neck. For example, it can reduce hypersalivation, spasms in the larynx and the muscle spasms of cerebral palsy. Yet rare but serious complications to botulinum toxin treatment can occur. When botulinum toxin is injected into a muscle, it can sometimes travel backward up nerves and cause unintended paralysis of nearby or distant muscles. In those cases, a drug called pyridostigmine can reverse the paralysis by encouraging muscles to contract. The official antidote to botulinum toxin is difficult to procure quickly and takes several days to work, while pyridostigmine begins to relieve symptoms within hours. Early treatment is critical for patients who experience complications from botulinum toxin therapy, because symptoms can progress to difficulty swallowing or breathing, according to Lucinda A. Halstead, M.D., an associate professor in the MUSC Department of Otolaryngology and senior author on the study. "We see a profound effect in people who can't swallow. We give pyridostigmine and the effect is within hours," said Halstead. "Patients are eating again within days." In the first case, physicians treated a one-year-old female patient having difficulty swallowing. The patient had a history of aspiration pneumonia, wherein food or saliva is inhaled into the lungs rather than passing into the esophagus, and she was dependent on a gastrostomy tube implanted in her abdomen for nutrition. During swallowing, one set of muscles called the pharyngeal constrictors must contract to push food toward the esophagus while another muscle called the cricopharyngeus must simultaneously relax for food to pass into the esophagus. Physicians observed a poorly relaxing cricopharyngeus and injected the muscle with botulinum toxin to force it to relax so the patient could keep food down. The next day, however, the patient was admitted to the hospital with choking, vomiting and difficulty breathing. A swallow study revealed that her cricopharyngeus had indeed relaxed, as intended, but that the pharyngeal constrictors that must contract to push food toward the esophagus had also relaxed. As a result, she was nearly unable to swallow. The patient was given pyridostigmine through her gastrostomy tube to oppose the effects of botulinum toxin, with the idea that the toxin had spread unintentionally to her neighboring pharyngeal constrictors, causing them to relax. Two days later, the patient was breathing normally, and she was released on day thirteen after admission. One month later, she had no signs of aspiration and continued to improve. Her gastrostomy tube was removed six months later. In the second case, an eight year-old female patient was given an injection of botulinum toxin into her salivary glands to treat excessive salivation. She had displayed an excellent response to the same treatment six months earlier. Seven days after the injection, however, she returned to the hospital, unable to eat or drink without choking. A swallow study showed that her pharynx was not completely clearing itself of food during swallowing. The patient was given oral pyridostigmine and began to rapidly improve. Within a week, she was eating normally again. This is the first report of physicians treating complications from botulinum toxin therapy with pyridostigmine in pediatric patients. Pyridostigmine is a widely available medication for myasthenia gravis, a disorder that causes muscle weakness. It is safe, but it can cause slowing heart rate in patients with a history of heart problems. It is not an antidote to botulinum toxin, but it does oppose its effects by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is needed for muscle contraction. In both patients, the drug was given in doses similar to those used to treat myasthenia gravis. This study emphasizes the need for physicians to be alert to complications from botulinum toxin therapy in children and adults, recognizing that such problems might not arise immediately and can appear in muscles distant from the injection site. This recognition is critical in patients who have difficulty swallowing or breathing. "When a patient has had too much botulinum toxin, there is a point when symptom management strategies are no longer beneficial to the patient," said Halstead. "Pyridostigmine is an active intervention to modulate the effects of botulinum toxin therapy." ### About MUSC Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents in six colleges (Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy), and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion, with an annual economic impact of more than $3.8 billion and annual research funding in excess of $250 million. MUSC operates a 700-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized children's hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I trauma center, Institute of Psychiatry, and the state's only transplant center. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the number one hospital in South Carolina. For more information on academic programs or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org. Census Critical Census test to start on schedule, as long as the government doesn't shut down Despite its budget ambiguity and the looming possibility of another shutdown, the Census Bureau is moving ahead with its plans to conduct its critical dress rehearsal on time. Census experts had expressed concern that a shutdown even if brief could force the bureau to push back the start of the 2018 end-to-end test. But the bureau expects to begin the dress rehearsal as scheduled. "We feel very comfortable we're on the way to a very successful 2018 end-to-end test and a very successful 2020 census," said associate director of decennial census programs directorate Al Fontenot at the Jan. 26 quarterly program management review. However, factors outside the bureau's control may influence its plans. Congress has yet to pass a budget that includes the additional $187 million in funding requested in October by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Currently, Census is operating under a budget anomaly, allowing it to spend at an accelerated rate under the continuing resolution. Deborah Stempowski, chief of the decennial census management division, said the bureau still plans to conduct its first round of questionnaire mailing March 16. However, the possibility of another government shutdown Feb. 8, just before the agency plans "peak operations" for the critical 2018 test, threatens this timeline. Stempowski noted that the current operational schedule "depends on how long" a possible shutdown would last. Gregory Hanks, Jr. of the Census's geography division said the bureau is exploring how it can use the U.S. Postal Service in "new kinds of engagements" during the 2018 test. Those include interactive kiosks at post offices that would allow customers to fill out questionnaires, a digital tool called "informed delivery" that allows consumers to preview mail arriving at their home and possibly respond to the census by internet before receiving the paper questionnaire, as well as the possible use of postal workers to conduct enumeration. In its most recent operational update, Census identified two high risks that "represent the major concerns that could affect the design or the successful implementation of the 2020 Census." Those risks are cybersecurity and the public perception of the bureau's ability to safeguard response data. Census also continues to play catch-up on its systems readiness. Atri Kalluri, chief of the bureau's Decennial Information Technology Division, said that about 24 of the 44 systems needed for 2018 peak operations are currently ready for use. In the past, the Government Accountability Office has taken issue with Census's criteria for "readiness." The bureau also provided an update on the status of its major contracts. Since the last PMR, Census awarded one of its final two major contracts the fingerprint and badging contract to IndraSoft. The ceiling value of the deal is $64.8 million. The final remaining major contract is for field IT, and is expected to be awarded in May or June. The bureau also provided some details on the decennial device as a service contract, which was originally awarded to CDW-G and protested by AT&T before an agreement between the two companies was reached. The bureau will use approximately 1,400 iPhones for enumerators and 80 iPads for field supervisors in the 2018 end-to-end test, said Luis Cano of the bureau's Decennial Contracts Execution Office. However, as the Census Bureau approaches its next major deadline, uncertainty remains as to whether a citizenship question that has raised concern among civil rights groups will appear on the 2020 census. In response to the Department of Justice's request for the bureau to include a citizenship status question on the census, Fontenot did not rule out the possibility the question could appear on the final questionnaire. "The bureau is conducting an orderly review of the Department of Justice request," said Fontenot. "Attorneys from the Department of Commerce are currently examining the justification for the data needed by the Department of Justice. Technical experts at the Census Bureau are also looking at the issue. We will keep you apprised of any development regarding the citizenship question." Additionally, Fontenot confirmed the 2018 test and the 2020 Census will ask two questions on race and ethnicity, rather than the one combined question the bureau had planned based on its own research that one question would lead to higher response rates among minority populations. The final questions that will appear on the 2020 Census are due to Congress March 31. President Donald Trump 's willingness to reconsider the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal is an encouraging development for Rabobank. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Friday, Wiebe Draijer, chairman of the executive board at the Dutch lender, told CNBC: "I was most impressed by the clear signal that Trump also gave that he is willing to renegotiate." "I think that he has really made a statement that he is for trade rather than against trade," he added.'Risky to start playing around' with TPP On Thursday, Trump told CNBC he would consider re-shaping the TPP in an effort to get a "substantially better deal." However, it is seen as almost certainly too late for Washington to negotiate a new agreement. TPP was a 12-nation agreement among the United States and Pacific rim countries. It was designed, in part, to counter China's rising dominance of the region but Trump withdrew from the deal last year, saying it would encourage companies to ship jobs to lower-wage countries. And while Trump has since said he is prepared to work with other nations to overhaul the trade deal, it seems likely to be too late. This week, the last of the remaining 11 countries that the U.S. abandoned agreed to move ahead without the United States. Japan and Australia are now the effective leaders of the revised deal, which is likely to be signed in March. Nonetheless, while Rabobank's Draijer warned it was "risky to start playing around with these trade agreements," he said Trump's openness for future discussions was a sign of "encouragement." CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. President Donald Trump 's willingness to reconsider the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal is an encouraging development for Rabobank. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Friday, Wiebe Draijer, chairman of the executive board at the Dutch lender, told CNBC: "I was most impressed by the clear signal that Trump also gave that he is willing to renegotiate." "I think that he has really made a statement that he is for trade rather than against trade," he added. 'Risky to start playing around' with TPP On Thursday, Trump told CNBC he would consider re-shaping the TPP in an effort to get a "substantially better deal." However, it is seen as almost certainly too late for Washington to negotiate a new agreement. TPP was a 12-nation agreement among the United States and Pacific rim countries. It was designed, in part, to counter China's rising dominance of the region but Trump withdrew from the deal last year, saying it would encourage companies to ship jobs to lower-wage countries. And while Trump has since said he is prepared to work with other nations to overhaul the trade deal, it seems likely to be too late. This week, the last of the remaining 11 countries that the U.S. abandoned agreed to move ahead without the United States. Japan and Australia are now the effective leaders of the revised deal, which is likely to be signed in March. Nonetheless, while Rabobank's Draijer warned it was "risky to start playing around with these trade agreements," he said Trump's openness for future discussions was a sign of "encouragement." CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. More From CNBC Joining several other prominent voices at Davos, George Soros struck out at tech giants Facebook and Google, warning of their dangers. Soros called these companies monopolistic, and accused them of deliberately engineer[ing] addiction. Due to their potential for harm, particularly for adolescents, Soros called for their regulation. Read: Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Wants to Regulate Facebook Like Cigarettes They claim they are merely distributing information, Soros said. But 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. Soros called these companies quick rise unsustainable, warning that they will likely compromise themselves to enter the Chinese market. There could be an alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data-rich IT monopolies that would bring together nascent systems of corporate surveillance with an already developed system of state-sponsored surveillance, Soros warned. This may well result in a web of totalitarian control the likes of which not even Aldous Huxley or George Orwell could have imagined. Read: What Is Davos? 4 Things to Know About the World Economic Forum The billionaire philanthropist proceeded to compare Facebook and Google to mining and oil companies, accusing them of earning their profits by exploiting their environment. Social medias exploitation of the social environment is particularly nefarious because social media companies influence how people think and behave without them even being aware of it. Soross warning follows similar remarks made by others at Davos. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff called for social media to be regulated like the tobacco industry on Tuesday, while British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday called for tech companies to do more to protect users, saying they cannot stand by while their platforms are used to facilitate child abuse, modern slavery, or the spreading of terrorist and extremist content. The Davos elite are keen now to see which version of Trump will show up -- the business-friendly tycoon or the leader who berated the rest of the world at the UN General Assembly last September The Davos elite are keen now to see which version of Trump will show up -- the business-friendly tycoon or the leader who berated the rest of the world at the UN General Assembly last September (AFP Photo/Fabrice COFFRINI) 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." Sales of Bombardier's C-Series jets are in doubt because of a 300pc trade tariff - REUTERS Thousands of UK jobs are safer after a US court overruled proposals to place huge import levies on Bombardier airliners that are partly built in Northern Ireland. Americas International Trade Commission (ITC) overturned a decision to impose 292pc trade tariffs on the C-Series jets, which are being sold to US airline Delta. The levies would have massively ramped up the cost of the 75 aircraft and likely caused Delta to cancel the contract. But, in a surprise ruling, the ITC rejected a complaint brought by Boeing, voting 4-0 in favour of Bombardier. The court rejected Boeing's claims that it suffered injury in the case. A man works on a C Series aeroplane wing in the Bombardier factory in Belfast Credit: CLODAGH KILCOYNE/Reuters The ITC had widely been expected to side with Chicago-based Boeing, the world's largest maker of jetliners, which accused Bombardier of dumping the planes, or selling them below cost, in the US market. Bombardier called the ruling a victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law. In a statement the company added: The C-Series development and production represent thousands of jobs in the US, Canada and the UK. With this matter behind us, we look forward to delivering the C-Series to the US market so that American airlines and the public can enjoy the many benefits of this remarkable aircraft. Union Unite said Bombardier staff in Northern Ireland were breathing a massive sigh of relief that the ITC had seen through Boeings baseless complaint. Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary, added:The C-Series is a world-beating aircraft made by world-class workers. There can be no backsliding from the US government on this decision. The trade dispute was highly political. President Donald Trump met with Prime Minister Theresa May at the Davos conference earlier this week and spoke about the special relationship between the two nations after a one-to-one meeting, where the Bombardier dispute was discussed. Afterwards Mr Trump said he had a great relationship with Mrs May and that trade would increase many times. Story continues The row over Bombardier stemmed from a complaint US aerospace giant Boeing made to the US Commerce Department last spring. Boeing claimed that Bombardier - which is based in Canada - received illegal state subsidies from Quebec and the UK. It was only because of these that Bombardier was able to sell the C-Series jets at $19.6m each to Delta, hugely below their $80m list price. Expert view | Why Boeing is angry about Bombardier Calling the discounted price absurdly low, Boeing accused Bombardier of trade dumping and lobbied US authorities for action. Boeing also claimed the Delta deal harmed sales of the smallest versions of its best-selling 737 jet, which could have competed with the C-Series for the Delta contract. The US giant said the dispute was not political, but legal involving a textbook case of dumping, adding that it welcomes competition. Bombardier refuted the claims, saying subsidies to support the development of new airliners are common around the world, along with heavy discounts for the first sales of new types. It also claims that Boeing does not produce an aircraft of the same size that could compete for the Delta deal. Reacting to the ruling, Boeing said it was disappointed the ITC did not recognise 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 US. The US aerospace giant said it was feeling the effects of those unfair business practices in the market every day and warned it would not stand by as Bombardiers illegal business practices continue to harm American workers and the aerospace industry they support. British aerospace and defence trade group ADS said it welcomed the decision, adding that aerospace is a competitive and growing sector, and it is important that customers should be given access to the best technology and the most innovative products. It is great to see the ITC has upheld the evidence put forward by Bombardier and by governments in the UK and Canada. The row has drawn in politicians, with British MPs arguing for multi-billion pound defence deals with Boeing to be cancelled in retaliation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had taken a much harder line, saying his country would not do business "with a company that is trying to sue us, eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and put our companies out of business". Explained | The key players involved in the Boeing vs Bombardier dispute He also cancelled a multi-billion order for F-18 fighters from Boeing and warned the company off another bigger contract for combat jets. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May addresses a speech during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday welcomed Bombardier's unexpected trade victory against U.S. planemaker Boeing Co as good news for British industry. The dispute between the two companies had put thousands of jobs at risk in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where Bombardier makes the CSeries CS100 and CS300 carbon wings. "I welcome this decision, which is good news for British industry," May said on Twitter. "Bombardier and its innovative workforce play a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy." Britain's business minister, Greg Clark, also welcomed the news, saying in a statement that the British and Canadian governments had maintained all along that the case was unjustified. "This is excellent news for the dedicated workforce in Northern Ireland and supply chain across the UK, who have a great future ahead," he said. "The decision by the International Trade Commission confirms what the UK and Canadian Governments working hand in hand has maintained from the outset, that this case is unjustified. We are pleased that the ITC have now recognised this." The U.S. International Trade Commission voted 4-0 to reject Boeing's claims that it suffered injury by Bombardier underpricing the CSeries in the U.S. market and discarded a Commerce Department recommendation to slap a near 300-percent duty on sales of the 110-to-130-seat jets for five years. (Reporting by Shalini Nagarajan in Bengaluru and Kate Holton in London; Editing by Alison Williams) Allegations against Wynn include a married manicurist who said the casino billionaire forced her to have sex not long after he opened his flagship Wynn Las Vegas hotel, shown here (AFP Photo/PAUL J.RICHARDS) New York (AFP) - Dozens of people have accused Las Vegas casino billionaire Steve Wynn of decades of sexual misconduct in which he allegedly pressured staff to perform sex acts, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The bombshell report, for which the Journal contacted more than 150 people who work or had worked for Wynn, is the first time that the US sexual harassment watershed has centered on the CEO and founder of a major publicly held company -- whose shares tumbled 7.8 percent following the report's publication. Wynn, who is a former business rival turned political ally of President Donald Trump, denied the allegations and accused his ex-wife Elaine of instigating the accusations as part of a "terrible and nasty lawsuit" seeking a revised divorce settlement. The allegations include a married manicurist who said Wynn forced her to have sex not long after he opened his flagship Wynn Las Vegas in 2005, and whom he later paid a $7.5 million settlement, the newspaper reported. "The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous," said Wynn in a statement. "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, 75, is a towering figure in the gambling world and finance chairman of the Republican National Committee. His empire includes casinos in Macau. Former employees said their awareness of Wynn's power, combined with the knowledge that they had some of the best-paying jobs in Las Vegas added up to a feeling of dependence and intimidation when he made requests, the Journal reported. One former massage therapist said he instructed her to manually stimulate his genitalia during sessions, and that she felt she had to agree because he was her boss. Another former worker said Wynn rubbed his genitals and commented about what he would like to do with her sexually, and once grabbed her waist and told her to kiss him. Wynn Resorts, which employs 23,000 people around the world, also lashed out at Elaine Wynn and said not one complaint had been made about Wynn on a company hotline. "The company requires all employees to receive annual anti-harassment training and offers an independent hotline that any employee can use anonymously, without fear of retaliation," it said. james damore Business Insider Conservatives at Google are complaining to HR when colleagues talk about diversity issues, according to a new Wired report. Employees told Wired HR is being "weaponized." The story comes a few weeks after former Google engineer James Damore said he's suing the company for discrimination against white and male conservatives. Conservative employees at Google are filing complaints to the company's HR department in attempts to shut down conversations about diversity, according to a new Wired story. The Wired story says conservatives at Google are engaging in conversations about diversity and then complaining to HR that the comments from their colleagues are offensive to white men and/or conservatives. In effect, these employees are using Google's own HR policies against it to prove a point. From the Wired story: Meanwhile, inside Google, the diversity advocates say some employees have weaponized human resources, by goading them into inflammatory statements, which are then captured and reported to HR for violating Googles mores around civility or for offending white men. The Wired story also charts how far-right groups online are exposing the identities of LGBTQ Google employees, a practice that started around the same time former engineer James Damore wrote his infamous memo on diversity at the company that led to his firing last year. Damore is suing Google for discrimination. You can read the full Wired story here. Related Video: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. NOW WATCH: People are obsessed with this Google app that finds your fine art doppelganger See Also: SEE ALSO: The HomePod seems great, but Apple missed a much bigger opportunity Bitcoin is recognised as legal tender in Japan and nearly one third of global bitcoin transactions in December were denominated in yen (AFP Photo/Toru YAMANAKA ) Cryptocurrencies fell Friday after Japan-based digital exchange Coincheck suspended client deposits and withdrawals for virtual currencies except bitcoin, saying it had been hacked. Coincheck said it was investigating "unauthorised access" of the exchange that appeared to result in a loss worth half a billion US dollars of NEM, the 10th biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation. "At 3 am (1800 GMT) today, 523 million NEMs were sent from the NEM address of Coincheck. It's worth 58 billion yen based on the calculation at the the rate when detected," said Coincheck's chief operating officer Yusuke Otsuka late Friday. "We're still examining how many of our customers are affected," he said, adding that the exchange was trying to find out whether the breach was from Japan or another country. After the exchange suspended deposits and withdrawals, NEM plunged more than 16 percent in a 24-hour period, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Major virtual currencies had rebounded slightly by late Friday but were still down, with Bitcoin dropping 2.13 percent to $10,987.70, ripple sliding more than six percent and ethereum flat. Coincheck said it had discovered the breach at 11.25 am and announced it had suspended trading for all cryptocurrencies apart from bitcoin in a series of tweets. According to its website, which proclaims it is "the leading bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange in Asia", Tokyo-based Coincheck was founded in 2012 and had 71 employees as of July last year. In 2014 major Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange MtGox collapsed after admitting that 850,000 coins -- worth around $480 million at the time -- had disappeared from its vaults. Bitcoin is recognised as legal tender in Japan and nearly one third of global bitcoin transactions in December were denominated in yen, according to specialist website jpbitcoin.com. The virtual currency is well down from record highs approaching $20,000 in late December, having rocketed 25-fold last year, before being hit by concerns about a bubble and worries about crackdowns on trading it. Billionaire investor George Soros, known for his legendarily successful currency trading, has dismissed bitcoin as a "typical bubble". But speaking Thursday at the Davos summit, he said the cryptocurrency would likely avoid a full crash because authoritarians would still use it to make secret investments abroad. better capitalism header _ Larry Fink REUTERS/Toru Hanai Larry Fink, the founder of the $6.3 trillion asset manager BlackRock, sent a letter to CEOs everywhere on January 16. A week later, it's a big topic of discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the global elite have gathered for a week of meetings, panel discussions, dinners, and parties. While the response has been broadly positive, there are certain aspects of Fink's letter that some executives have taken issue with. One person went so far as to say some are "pissed off" with it. BlackRock has committed to ramping up its investor-stewardship initiative, with the team doubling in size over the next three years. That means "Larry's letter" is going to live on as a topic of conversations in boardrooms around the world for months to come. This post is part of Business Insider's ongoing series on Better Capitalism. DAVOS, Switzerland Everyone is talking about "Larry's letter." The Larry they're referring to is Larry Fink, the founder of the $6.3 trillion asset manager BlackRock who last week sent a letter to CEOs of public companies stressing the need for a clear long-term strategy and an understanding of the societal impact of their business. "Without a sense of purpose, no company, either public or private, can achieve its full potential," Fink said in the letter. The BlackRock founder then detailed what could happen to companies lacking a sense of purpose: "It will ultimately lose the license to operate from key stakeholders. It will succumb to short-term pressures to distribute earnings, and, in the process, sacrifice investments in employee development, innovation, and capital expenditures that are necessary for long-term growth. It will remain exposed to activist campaigns that articulate a clearer goal, even if that goal serves only the shortest and narrowest of objectives." The letter seems to have reverberated around boardrooms around the world. At the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps, it has become a talking point for many of the corporate executives attending. And while the response has been broadly positive, there are certain aspects of Fink's letter that some executives have taken issue with. One person went so far as to say some are "pissed off" with it. Story continues In all of these conversations, one question keeps coming up. What counts as a sense of purpose? Long-term strategy Fink's letter can be split in two, with one portion focused on the need for a long-term strategy. And it's here that most of the people we've spoken with in Davos are in agreement. In his letter, Fink said "companies must be able to describe their strategy for long-term growth." He adds: "The statement of long-term strategy is essential to understanding a company's actions and policies, its preparation for potential challenges, and the context of its shorter-term decisions. Your company's strategy must articulate a path to achieve financial performance." The idea here is pretty straightforward, but ask around and you'll hear that the number of companies that lack this statement of a long-term vision is surprisingly high. And as one top executive told Business Insider, with no concept of the destination, every direction is the right (and wrong) way to get there. If CEOs are clear on where they're intending to take the business, in contrast, it's much easier to chart the progress, and if necessary, correct course. Social purpose But where Fink's message seems to have struck a nerve, is where it shifts to the idea that CEOs "must also understand the societal impact of your business." He said in the letter (emphasis BlackRock's): "To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society. Companies must benefit all of their stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities in which they operate." There are typically three responses to this. First, there are those who agree wholeheartedly. This is the "Larry's right" group. They see Fink's letter as making a bold statement on the need for a better version of capitalism. Then there are those who question whether there's a friction between a "positive contribution to society" and financial performance. You could call this the "Yes, but ..." group. The argument here is that these social-impact investments often take a long time to pay off, and in the meantime the CEO could lose his or her job. The last group questions whether it's BlackRock's place to tell CEOs they need to make a "positive contribution to society" and whether doing so is straying into the world of politics. This is the "Pissed off" group. BlackRock has committed to ramping up its investor-stewardship initiative, with the team doubling in size over the next three years under the new leadership of Barbara Novick, a vice chairman who helped found BlackRock. That means "Larry's letter" is going to live on as a topic of conversations in boardrooms around the world for months to come, whether CEOs like it or not. NOW WATCH: Principal Global Investors CEO: Bitcoin lacks fundamental value and it won't replace gold See Also: Coffee in California May Come With a Cancer Warning, Judge Rules Four Barrel Coffee is keeping its name after all. The popular San Francisco coffee maker announced plans to change its name to Tide just two weeks ago, a move it made in response to sexual misconduct allegations against its founder Jeremy Tooker, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The companys co-owners declared on January 8 that Four Barrel died. Now its decided to keep the name, allegedly because its what the overwhelming majority of its wholesale and retail customers, as well as its employees, wanted. Tooker had relinquished his shares of the company prior to the sexual misconduct allegations going public. The other two co-owners have announced plans to divest their shares of the brand as well and make them available to employees until the company is 100% employee-owned. Britta Leijonflycht, one of the women mentioned in the lawsuit against Tooker, says the move to keep the companys name represents the owners backtracking on promises. McKesson Corporation MCK is scheduled to release third-quarter fiscal 2018 results on Feb 1, before the market opens. Last quarter, earnings of $3.28 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.78. In the trailing four quarters, McKesson's earnings beat the same with the average being 4.9%. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues for the third quarter is pegged at $52 billion, which improved 3.7% year over year. Lets see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement. Why a Likely Positive Surprise? Our proven model shows that McKesson is likely to beat estimates because it has the perfect combination of two key ingredients. Zacks ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.16%. A favorable Zacks ESP serves as a meaningful and leading indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: McKesson currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Note that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 or 3 (Hold) have a significantly higher chance of beating earnings estimates. We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. McKesson Corporation Price and Consensus McKesson Corporation Price and Consensus | McKesson Corporation Quote Whats Driving the Better-Than-Expected Earnings? McKesson Specialty Health unit is likely to drive the companys top line in the third quarter. The unit is likely to benefit from the closing of the intraFUSION acquisition and the recent BDI Pharma buyout. The company expects to witness solid performance in its Canadian business in the third quarter. Last quarter, McKesson Canada closed the Uniprix banner acquisition and strengthened independent pharmacies. Per management, Uniprix integration activities are progressing well. Story continues Further, McKesson Prescription Technology Solutions business continues to make progress on the CoverMyMeds integration. Coming to the Technology Solutions segment, the company divested its Enterprise Information Solutions or EIS business, recently. This marks another important step in the strategic shift to realign the companys business focus on Distribution Solutions, following the creation of Change Healthcare earlier this year. McKessons strong guidance for fiscal 2018 looks encouraging. The upside is expected to be driven by market growth, acquisitions and divestitures. McKesson expects GAAP earnings per share in the range of $4.80-$6.90 for the fiscal year ending Mar 31, 2018. Adjusted earnings for the same are expected in the range of $11.80-$12.50. Recently, McKesson announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy RxCrossroads from CVS Health for $735 million. Other Stocks to Consider Here are a few other medical stocks worth considering as they also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter. Bio-Rad Laboratories BIO has an Earnings ESP of +4.45% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Luminex LMNX has an Earnings ESP of +14.29% and a Zacks Rank #3. The Cooper Companies COO has an Earnings ESP of +10.75% and a Zacks Rank #3. Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Luminex Corporation (LMNX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cooper Companies, Inc. (The) (COO) : Free Stock Analysis Report McKesson Corporation (MCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Investors in Lowe's Companies, Inc. LOW need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jan 26, 2018 $87.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today. What is Implied Volatility? Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy. What do the Analysts Think? Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Lowe's Companies shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Lowe's Companies is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Building Products - Retail industry that ranks in the Top 22% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, three analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while none have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 86 cents per share to 87 cents in that period. Given the way analysts feel about Lowe's Companies right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected. Looking to Trade Options? Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the NFLX earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Netflix's (NFLX) Earnings with Options or check out the embedded video below for more details: Story continues Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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. His plenary address, though, was largely boilerplate. Trump boasted of U.S. economic performance under his leadership and urged cooperation with the American effort to curb North Koreas nuclear and missile weapons programs and combat terrorism routine themes of his speeches, especially to international audiences. He told the audience that the U.S. still supports free trade as long as it is fair and reciprocal. The United States is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial, bilateral trade agreements with all countries, he said. But he then suggested an exception for Pacific Rim countries that were part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership he abandoned last year. The U.S. already has trade agreements with some of those 11 countries, he said, and we would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually or perhaps as a group if it is in the interests of all. Claiming Credit After taking questions from WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab, Trump plans to return home, 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. Story continues Trump was booed by some of the Davos audience after complaining about vicious and fake news organizations in response to a question from Schwab. 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. 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. Steve Wynn has denied the sexual assault allegations: Getty Billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn has resigned as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair, said RNC chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, who reportedly spoke about the situation with President Donald Trump on Saturday morning. Mr Wynn is a former business rival of Mr Trump, who once referred to the mogul as a great friend and said he values his advice. Mr Wynn became the finance chairman of the RNC following Mr Trumps election. Last weekend, Ms McDaniel and Mr Wynn hosted a fundraiser for the President at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to mark the first anniversary of Mr Trumps inauguration, according to the Washington Post. The President was originally expected to attend, but he ended up skipping the event as a government shutdown unfolded in Washington. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that Mr Wynn forced a manicurist to have sex and then paid her a $7.5m (5.2m) settlement. The 76-year-old is said to have pressured the married woman to take her clothes off and lie on the massage table he kept in his office. 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. 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. A spokesman for Mr Wynn did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment. The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, Mr Wynn said in a written statement to Politico. 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. 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. DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Oil and gas major Total (TOTF.PA) will announce "very good" 2017 results and has the means for more major acquisitions, although its main focus for 2018 will be on absorbing Maersk Oil and other deals made last year, its chief executive said. "We have the means if we wish but it is not my priority, there are still many operations that we need to absorb, so 2018 will be rather the time to digest," Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne told French TV station BFM Business at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He added, however, that if there were "great" opportunities, Total could consider them. French group Total will announce 2017 results on Feb. 8. "We are going to announce results that once again will be very good," Pouyanne said. "We should be reporting profits on the rise. Above $10 billion." Total reported net profit of $8.2 billion for 2016, with earnings helped by cost cuts made due to a prolonged downturn in the price of oil. The company is expected to report 2017 net profit of $10.5 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S estimates. "We must not lose that discipline on cost. I always say we cannot control oil prices but can only control our costs," said Pouyanne. "Today, oil is at $70 per barrel because of strong demand. However, demand also depends on price, thus, if the price goes higher we could see demand weaken. At $70, we'll see U.S. producers re-launch their machines. Output will rise again and could hit prices again," added Pouyanne. Total bought the oil and gas business of Danish company A.P. Moller Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) in a $7.45 billion deal which Total said would strengthen its operations in the North Sea and raise its output to 3 million barrels per day by 2019. The Maersk deal is set for completion by the first quarter of 2018. (Reporting by Bate Felix and Benjamin Mallet; Writing by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Gus Trompiz/Sudip Kar-Gupta) DAVOS, SwitzerlandDonald Trump is a fan of big crowds. He got a sizable one in Switzerland on Friday. The president made his debut at the World Economic Forum in Davos to a full conference hall, with a speech that touted the U.S. as open for business. Ahead of the address, the conference buzzed with speculation of how the president, elected to office on an America First platform, would play on a stage built to toast global integration. Had Trump traveled to the snowy Swiss town to thumb his nose at the global elites? Or would Trump seek to appease an audience that had, just a year ago, recoiled at his election and the era of American protectionism it seemed to usher in? In the end, the president used the platform as the White House had promised: to sell the world on investing in the U.S. Theres never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States, Trump said on stage. Heres how he made his pitch: 1.) U.S. Economic Growth Is Strong Trump heralded the U.S.s strong economic growth and pointed to the healthy stock market. Its smashing one record after another, he said. Last week, the Dow broke the 26,000 mark for the first time. Trump arrives at Davos with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Thursday. There was an upbeat air to the conference in Davos this week, thanks in part to the robust world economy. A CEO survey out Monday showed optimism among chief executives at an all-time high. But the gathering was peppered with some skepticism. On a panel that directly followed Trumps address, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde said that while U.S. tax reform may have positive effects in the short-term, farther out it might also lead to serious risks, she said. She also cited growing inequality, geopolitics, and a lack of global cooperation as problematic in the longer-term. 2.) Tax Cuts and Regulation Rollback Make the U.S. Attractive Trump, meanwhile, used the new tax law as one of his selling points. He said the reforms passed last month will help Americas working class and small businesses keep more of their hard-earned money. All week, his delegation touted the corporate response to the reforms. Walmart and Starbucks have said theyre raising worker wages as a result of the legislation. Trump name-dropped Apple and the hundreds of billions of dollars in cash it says it will now repatriate. Story continues He also boasted about his administrations efforts to reduce regulation as he maligned the unelected bureaucrats who imposed restrictions with no vote, no legislation, and no accountability. Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs, and your investment to the U.S., Trump said. 3.) Remaking Trade Policy Is a Good Thing for All Ahead of the speech, CEOs told Fortune that they wanted more clarity on Trumps stance on trade, after the administration gave mixed messages at Davos following its decision to introduce tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines earlier this week. The president touched on the issue on Friday, telling the Davos audience that his America First mantra doesnt mean America alone. He positioned his administrations attempts to reform international trading systems as a source of prosperity beyond U.S. borders. Restoring integrity to trading system, he said, will create a system that works not only for U.S. but for all nations. And Trump seemed to take a softer tone toward multilateral trade pacts. (He notably yanked the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership last year.) Trump said hes prepared to negotiate agreements with TPP countries, individually or as a broad group. Trump Stuck to the Script Ahead of Trumps speech, there were reports of plans for a walkout over the presidents earlier comment calling some countries shithole nations, but in the conference hall on Friday there were no visible signs of a coordinated protest. Trump stuck to the script too, reading from his prepared remarks and refraining from off-handed comments that have often marked his public addresses. The president on Friday predicted that his positive message to the World Economic Forum would be very well received. The crowd was largely restrained, applauding at the end of the address as is typical for the meeting of world leaders, corporate executives, and academics. But there were audible hisses and boos during a Q&A that followed, when Trumpunleashed from the teleprompterre-upped his trademark criticism of the fake press. President Donald Trumps Twitter account liked a tweet about a news article on the allegations of sexual misconduct against Republican National Committee finance chair Steve Wynn, according to the bot account @TrumpsAlert, which tracks changes to Trumps Twitter account. The reason why Trump liked the tweet of the story, which was shared on the Wall Street Journals Twitter on Friday night, is unclear. Trump, or a member of his staff, appeared to have later "unliked" the tweet, as it no longer appeared on his account as of Saturday morning. Trending: Trump-China Trade Tensions Could Hurt the Stock Market and GDP Growth This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Twitter users will either like or favorite a tweet to express their interest in the tweet. Many social media users eyebrows raised after Trump favorited the tweet. "Do likes equal endorsements @realDonaldTrump?" tweeted @calvinstowell. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "Trump liked a @WSJ tweet about sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn, a longtime friend of Trumps who heads the RNC finance operation," tweeted Wall Street Journal reporter Rebecca Ballhaus. Don't miss: Why It Matters That the Grammy 'Album of the Year' Nominees Are Dominated by Rappers (Including Kendrick Lamar) This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Trump also does not typically favorite or like tweets on his account. Out of the nearly 37,000 tweets he has posted himself, he has only liked two dozen tweets. Many of those tweets are his own. It is also not clear if Trump himself liked the tweet or a member of his staff. Dan Scavino, White House director of social media, regularly composes and manages many of Trump's tweets. Most popular: Antisemitism Is on the Rise, Germany's Leader Warns on Holocaust Remembrance Day This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Wynn was given the title of RNC finance chief following Trump's inauguration as president last year. Trump considered the casino mogul his great friend in 2016 and served as vice chairman on Trump's inaugural committee after the election. Story continues On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Wynn had been accused of sexual misconduct going back decades. The hotel mogul reportedly agreed to pay a manicurist a $7.5 million settlement at one of his resorts that accused him of pressuring her into sex. 678108754 Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images Wynn has denied the allegations and has blamed his ex-wife for instigating them. 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, he wrote in a written statement to the Journal. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek President Donald Trump is set to meet with Rwanda President Paul Kagame in Davos on Friday in a bid to "reaffirm the U.S.-Africa relationship." The two leaders are expected to meet at the World Economic Forum as part of a series of one-on-ones between world leaders. Trump and Kagame will be meeting to "reaffirm the U.S.-Africa relationship and discuss shared priorities, including trade and security," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said at a briefing earlier this week, according to CNN. Trending: Russian Hackers Cozy Bear Disrupted the U.S. ElectionsThis Is How We Know GettyImages-910249954 (1) NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Ties between the U.S. and Africa have been frayed after Trump was accused of referring to African nations and Haiti as "shithole countries." Trump reportedly made the remarks during an Oval Office meeting on immigration, questioning why the U.S. was taking in so many immigrants from "shithole countries" like Haiti and African nations. Trump has since denied using those words. Don't miss: Who Is Donald McGahn? Trump Lawyer Reportedly Threatened to Quit Rather Than Fire Robert Mueller Read more: 'I love Trump,' Ugandan leader says, praising President for speaking 'frankly' in 'shithole countries' comment The comments sparked backlash from countries and organizations around the world, including from several African leaders. Botswana's foreign ministry called the remarks "highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist." The president of Senegal, Macky Sall, said he was "shocked by the words of President Trump," adding: "I reject and condemn them vigorously." Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni has stood apart from other African leaders, however, praising Trump for speaking "frankly" to Africans and hailing the U.S. leader as "one of the best presidents ever," in the wake of the vulgar comments controversy. Story continues Most popular: Sean Hannity Suggested Story of Trump Trying to Fire Mueller Was FalseMoments Later He Admitted It Was True Kagame, who has served as Rwanda's president since 2000, is the incoming chairman of the African Union, an organization which represents the continent's 55 member states. Not unlike Trump, Kagame has been known to be a strong critic of the media who has worked to discredit journalists in the past. U.S.-based rights organization Freedom House does not recognize Rwanda as a country with a "free" press, stating that media in the country in 2017 was still "severely restricted, despite assurances by government officials of their commitment to review the situation." The African Union has previously called on Trump to apologize for his alleged vulgar remarks, asking for "a retraction of the comment as well as an apology, not only to the Africans, but to all people of African descent around the globe." The union also made clear this week that it had still not forgotten the comments, bringing up the issue at a semiannual meeting of African heads of state and government at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "At this time of the session, Africa has yet to finish digesting the statements of the president of the United States, which profoundly shocked with their messages conveying contempt, hate and desire to marginalize and exclude Africans," chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Wednesday, according to The Washington Post. Trump's meeting with Kagame will be a chance for the U.S. president to clarify his comments. It's unclear whether he intends to apologize. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek 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. (AFP Photo/NICHOLAS KAMM) Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - 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. 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. Story continues 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. FILE PHOTO - Steve Wynn, Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Picture By Steve Holland and Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn resigned as finance chairman of the Republican Party's fundraising arm on Saturday, a day after a newspaper reported that he routinely subjected women who worked for him to unwanted sexual advances. "Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair," RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement. The billionaire has denied the accusations published by the Wall Street Journal as "preposterous" and said they were instigated by his ex-wife to seek advantage in their divorce lawsuit. But he said in a statement released on Saturday evening that he was resigning to avoid unnecessary distraction. He also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the job. "The unbelievable success we have achieved must continue," the statement said. "The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this distraction." As recently as Friday night, Wynn associates were insisting he would fight the charges and remain at the RNC. Instead, he becomes the latest powerful man to pay a price for accusations of sexual misconduct in the United States. The 76-year-old founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd (WYNN.O), has been a prominent figure in the casino resort business and onetime rival of Trump. After previously seeking to appear nonpartisan, he threw his support behind Trump during the 2016 campaign and donated money to several Republican causes including the RNC. Trump called Wynn a "great friend" after he won the Nevada caucus in February 2016, and Wynn was named finance chairman of the committee after Trump became president. U.S. Representative Francis Rooney of Florida is being considered as a replacement, one Republican fundraiser said. The board of directors of Wynn Resorts said on Friday it had met to form a special committee consisting solely of independent directors to investigate the allegations reported by the Journal. Story continues The special investigation panel will be chaired by Patricia Mulroy, a member of the board's corporate governance and compliance committees and a former member of the Nevada Gaming Commission, the board said in a statement. The Wall Street Journal said former and current company staff members it interviewed had accused Wynn of creating a hostile work environment for women and of regularly pressuring employees to perform sex acts. "The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous," Wynn said in a statement on Friday. "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 spokeswoman for Elaine Wynn, 75, declined comment on Friday, but her Washington-based attorney, James Cole, told Reuters the notion that his client fomented the allegations in the Journal article "is just not true." After The New York Times revealed in October that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had paid off multiple sexual harassment accusers over decades, it unleashed a wave of accusations against the rich and powerful, leading to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements demanding an end to impunity. Weinstein was long a major donor to Democratic candidates and causes. The scandal prompted McDaniel to urge the Democrats to give back his "dirty money." After the Journal published the accusations against Wynn, Democrats in turn called on Republicans to return his donations. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Ginger Gibson, Yeganeh Torbati and Dustin Volz; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill Trott and Chris Reese) Steve Wynn, the chairman and chief executive of Wynn Resorts and the finance chairman for the Republican National Committee, is accused of repeated sexual misconduct that went on for decades, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Wynn Resorts shares sank more than 10% following the Wall Street Journal report published Friday. The Wall Street Journal contacted more than 150 people who recounted abuse by Wynn. At least one incident led to a $7.5 million settlement between Wynn and a former manicurist at his resort who said the executive pressured her to have sex with him. A lawsuit brought by Wynns ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, which seeks to to lift restrictions on the sale of her stock in Wynn Resorts, references this incident. Wynns attorneys said in a court filing that a personal payment was made. The WSJ discovered numerous accounts from staff, particularly those working in a spa Wynn frequented, who had repeated run-ins with the powerful casino magnate, including one massage therapist who was pressured to perform sex acts. Wynn has denied the allegations. The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, he told the WSJ. Wynn, who turns 76 on Saturday, is worth about $3.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Most of his worth is tied to his ownership in Wynn stock. Wynn holds nearly 12% of Wynn Resorts. Wynn, whose signature is the companys logo, is considered integral to its success. So much so, that his involvementor more aptly anything that would reduce his involvementin Wynn Resorts is cited in a securities filing as a potential risk to the business. If we lose the services of Mr. Wynn, or if he is unable to devote sufficient attention to our operations for any other reason, our business may be significantly impaired, the filing said. The consumer electronics that power public safety At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, electric cars, artificial intelligence and augmented reality took center stage, but technology for first responders -- including connected emergency vehicles, mobile apps and the internet of life saving things (IoLST) -- played a supporting role during the first public-safety CES. Even though CES primarily targets consumers, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) wanted to show how many of the capabilities developed for consumer and business are used for public safety, and how public-safety tools might have a place in consumer and business environments. The IoT "really has more of a consumer and a business focus like thermostats in homes, for example, or monitoring industrial systems or building management systems, said Bill Schrier, FirstNet senior adviser. We wanted to focus on that smaller piece of the internet of things, which specifically is public safety. Here are some highlights from FirstNets three panels at CES: Paving the Way for Connected Emergency Vehicles Panelist Cory Hohs, CEO and founder of HAAS Alert, talked about cellular vehicle-to-vehicle technology that alerts motorist and cars when emergency vehicle are approaching or on scene. The device sends data to the HAAS Alert Safety Cloud that then alerts civilian vehicles in a given area. If theres a major collision and emergency vehicles race to the scene of that collision, other vehicles that are in the area can steer clear of that particular collision, Schrier said. Jonathan Lewin, who leads the Chicago Police Departments Bureau of Technical Services, talked about its use of an acoustic gunshot detection device from SpotShotter. When that commercial product detects gunshots in a particular location, it will swing nearby video cameras around as well as alert their strategic decision support centers, Schrier said. Then that information, in turn, goes out to emergency responders in their vehicles, so [they] can rapidly get to the scene and investigate it. FirstNet Applications Ecosystem Announced last July, the applications ecosystem, run by AT&T, is intended to vet and standardize apps for public-safety use. App developers submit their solutions for review, where they are tested for security and how frugal they are with network bandwidth, for example. It has a higher level of scrutiny than the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, Schrier said. Going through the review process now is MobilePD, which worked in 2014 with the San Francisco Police Department on a two-way communications app. Available as MobilePD Connect or MobilePD Engage, the app lets consumers communicate anonymously with police offers about crime evidence. The department can send push notifications asking for tips to help solve a crime and alerting app users to emergencies in the area. The Internet of Life-Saving Things IoLST is an IoT subset that pertains to first responder technology. For example, police officers today have body-worn video cameras that connect to smartphones, but in the future the cameras might contain an LTE SIM card so they can stream data directly on the FirstNet network, Schrier said. Or police officers and firefighters might have health monitors that can alert commanders to a responder in distress. AT&T has already deployed 2,300 streetlight-mounted nodes in San Diego that create public Wi-Fi and have potential public-safety applications, such as supporting video cameras or gunshot detection devices, he said. Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS, described how his company's app can package the data streaming from IoT devices for use by police officers or 911 centers. Despite these developments, many first responder organizations continue to massage pain points in deploying new technologies. The main two challenges are inadequate budget and staff, Schrier said. Many police, fire and emergency medical services departments cant cover the cost of equipping responders with smartphones, for instance. As AT&T reaches the coverage and capacity milestones that are set under its contract to power FirstNet, Schrier said he expects more departments to get up-to-date technologically. Additionally, FirstNet officials will be holding meetings with state and regional first responders to drill down on operational obstacles and find applications and other solutions to ease them. EDIT (July'21): Heading to Wharton ('21-'23) with $$$Including some pertinent links here:Link for notes & questions: https://goo.gl/forms/kF4zVpUaSl10R1p12 If you'd like 1-1 help, then please leave me a PM to book a slot! I work with people on a monthly basis with limited slots, so please do book your slot in advance. Alternatively you can DM me on IG with your details @samiyanasim.----------------------------Hey guys,I am extremely happy to be finally done with the GMAT, and wanted to share my experiences with the forum that has been so helpful in my journey.Warning: Long post ahead!Background:Indian Engineer, Female, 22. Recently joined as at a data analyst at one of the top consulting firms.Starting Off:(October 2017) I quit my job and moved back home to take a break for a few months to work on some other engagements. The GMAT was something that had been pending for a while, so I felt there was no better time to tackle the biggest fear I had. Despite being an Indian Engineer(Stereotype!), I was absolutely terrified about Quant. I've had a mental block against Math since school (bad teachers), and have never loved the subject since then. In fact, if you take me by surprise and throw simple arithmetic at me, my brain shuts down and refuses to process any numbers!So I decided to join classes because I felt classes would help me a bit more disciplined in my approach. Especially considering that I was at home for most of the day, classes helped me get out and have some human interaction. I also needed some help brushing up my basic Quant concepts. I joined the Jamboree Classes in Chennai, Nungambakkam after hearing good things about their Quant classes. The classes were a good Quant refresher, and the materials allowed me to get in some practice. I was getting in 2-3 hours per day (combining Quant + Verbal). I attended classes for about 6 weeks, until the end of November and booked my exam for the 29th of December.I started writing some Mock tests by the end of November. I occasionally struggled with Quant timing, but was finishing Verbal with 20-30mins to spare. In Quant, I tended to struggle with Data Sufficiency and silly mistakes in PS. In Verbal, I was pretty comfortable with RC's and to some extent CR. However, I really struggled with SC as my English was "colloquial" and more about the "feel" of the sentence. I attended a couple of webinars and their meaning based approach to the sentences really helped me turn a corner in my SC preparation. The Team was super helpful, and I bought their SC course. I did not have time to finish the entire course (Mid Dec already), but it helped me get some finer points right, such as the usage of "Like" vs "As". Honestly, the Webinar made the majority of the difference. Kudos to the team for having so many free webinars with such great content.Where it all went wrong:My GMAT Mock test scores were pretty encouraging as I only scored 750 or above. One would think that I was all set for the exam. Yet, I managed to completely psych myself out for my first attempt. Not being satisfied with the GMAT Mock scores, despite reading tons of reviews about its accuracy, I started trying to find reviews that told me that actual GMAT was a lot harder than the GMAT Prep Mocks. I managed to convince myself that all the scores in the mock tests were mere flukes, and that the actual test would be a lot harder. I was targeting a 750+ score, but at the same time, I framed anything below a 750, as an absolute failure. I had nightmares about scoring a 760 which converted to a 560 in front of my eyes.My first attempt:I was extremely anxious and fidgety prior to my first attempt. I was finding it difficult to focus on my preparation without absolutely psyching myself out. In my first attempt, I chose the order of sections as: Quant, Verbal, IR and AWA.I struggled in the Quant section, especially in the beginning. The timing was a struggle and I often caught myself making a lot of silly mistakes. The verbal section went fine. I scored a 740(Q49,V44).I know it's a great score, but because I had framed anything below a 750 as an "absolute abject failure" in my head, I was devastated after the exam. I had never scored below a Q50 in the mocks, and felt that the split was quite skewed. It felt as if all my fears about my Quant abilities were well founded. All in all, it was quite upsetting. More here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/retaking-a-7 ... l#p2004508 The Recovery:Immediately after the exam, I took a holiday and tried to forget all about this disaster. I was torn between writing the GMAT again immediately, or just forgetting about it till I absolutely needed a score. My mum suggested I write it again at the earliest, as she felt I had probably made a ton of silly mistakes in Quant as I was very stressed and anxious. She wasn't very familiar with the GMAT syllabus, but knew me well enough to make the assessment. The ESR I ordered only confirmed what she said (Mom's are always right!). I had a higher accuracy in DS, compared to PS which was completely contrary to all my Mock tests. I spoke to a couple of my mentors and chose to write the exam this weekend (Jan 27 2018, in 15 days), despite the fact that I had started my new job and would not have much time to study.The Comeback:This time, I kept myself occupied with my job, but managed to get in an hour a day for a week. I mostly focused on Quant, and tried to answer sets of 37 questions so that I could improve my timing. I still often caught myself spending 5 minutes on a question, refusing to give up on an "easy" question. In the final week, I felt I had made no improvements, and resigned myself to a "wasted GMAT attempt". I considered rescheduling, but it was too late. I still decided to at least try for the sake of the 250$. I would get in an hour or two before office in the morning, before revising the mistakes before I slept in the night. My exam was in the morning, so I wanted to teach my body to be "alert" during that time.D-Day:The exam day could not have been more dramatic. I could barely sleep the previous night thanks to nightmares about failing the GMAT again (a Q37 featured in there too). On the morning of the exam, I couldn't find my passport for a good hour, and had almost resigned myself to not writing the exam. However, by some miracle, I found the passport and made it to the center on time. Because my zen had gone for a toss thanks to all these events, my mom suggested I write Verbal first because it would give me a chance to calm myself down and get into "exam mode". I started with Verbal, but my brain was incredibly restless as I had never changed the order of sections before. I would catch myself reading the RC on auto pilot whilst my brain would be trying to remember Quant formulas. I only finished the exam with 1 minute to spare, unlike my usual attempts. The questions seemed harder as well, but I thought it was all in my head as I couldn't focus.In Quant, I was extremely careful about time, and wrote down the time when I started each question. It took me 2 seconds extra per question, but it allowed me to catch myself before spending 5minutes on a question. I also tried to work neatly, and make tables for DS questions. I finished the section with a minute to spare as well. All in all, I hadn't done Quant very badly.I finished IR and AWA in a blur, but somewhere I felt that this time I had flunked Verbal. When the score flashed on the screen, I couldn't believe it. A 780 with 48 in Verbal?! What? A Q50? REDEMPTION!! I was literally shaking when I came out of the exam hall and couldn't believe my score till I held the print out in my hand. I had never expected to score so well.Key Takeaways:- Do NOT psych yourself out. I honestly felt my "knowledge" didn't change even a bit between my first attempt and second. It was all about my mental approach to the exam. There is a fine line between doing research and becoming a nervous wreck.- Be aware of your flaws and choose your order of sections carefully. Yet at the same time, I would advise against trying a new order on D Day.- Attend classes if you need discipline, but the concepts of the GMAT aren't too hard. I had a small notebook that had all the Quant and SC concepts consolidated that I used for revision (About 70pages), and that's all I frankly needed. The quant section often has a lot tricks and traps that you need to be aware of. - Be calm before the exam and keep all your paperwork and ID ready.- It's good to set targets but not good to make your goals absolutely binary. 1- celebration; 0- absolute failure.- Have someone to study with. I often had Skype study sessions with a friend just to help me focus. He would do his work and I would do mine, but having someone around helped me.- Figure out a timing strategy that works for you, and use tables for DS.- Speak to someone who has done this before. It helps to discuss your fears and thoughts with someone who has walked this path before. I was lucky enough to have a mentor who was an absolute gem and was always around to try to calm me down.Well, that's it! I'm happy to share any material you guys want, or help in any other way I can.Link for notes & questions: https://goo.gl/forms/kF4zVpUaSl10R1p12 EDIT: PS. You'll receive within 24hours as it's an automated process. I don't logon very regularly, so this is the fastest method.EDIT1:Since I've received an influx of messages on different platforms, I've decided to keep editing the post to answer some key questions and have included my ESR in the post.1. Resources used:- , esp. for Verbal. Did it at least thrice.- Jamboree Classes, esp. for Quant. I also needed classes to help regulate my day since sometimes I can get a bit lazy. If you're one of those extremely self disciplined folks, classes are not a must.- - SC. Loved their Webinar. Would highly recommend.- Official tests - I did all 6 tests. Tried taking a couple of other tests but didn't enjoy the experience.2. What do I mean by Tables for DS?Used for Yes/No questions. Put in the constraint in the columns, and the rows are S1, S2 & both. You can indicate whether or not you're able to get a definitive answer for each row. Nothing complex, but just helped me clear my thoughts and not get confused.3. Time trick for Quant.Speak about in detail here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/ur ... 8809721856 Re: Best BSchools to apply in apart from US ? [ #permalink 1 Bookmarks Hello, I took my GMAT today, and scored 740 (Q49, V41). I have completed my masters in engineering, and my UG GPA is 8.42/10, and PG GPA is 9.37/10. I have 18 months of work experience in engineering design (construction), however, I wish to change my industry, and by the time I enter b-school, I would have approx. 3 years of experience. (Age 25) I wish to work/settle in Europe (particularly Germany - No solid German language skills yet, but working on that), thus, I was aiming for following programs: 1. FSFM (MBA) : Primarily because of location 2. WHU (MBA) : Because required work experience is only 2 years, 3 years may give me little room, + Popularity 3. Manheim (MBA) : Top in Germany (also long shot, given the irrelevant and bare minimum work experience) However, through multiple blog posts and experiences, I have come to an understanding that the firms in Germany are unwilling to hire the students without relevant job experience, and without fluency in German language. But these blog posts are much older, and newer posts are difficult to find. Considering the job market as present, (and future, since I will be starting in 2019), how difficult is it to secure the job in Germany post MBA, for international student with no management experience and limited fluency in German language? Is it better for me to aim for MiM in HEC Paris or LBS, who admit students with no experience or relatively low experience (given that I do not have any management related experience, I will mostly be considered as fresher candidate), with the possibility of getting a job in general management or operation management in tech. industry? (Basically, I will try to keep myself away from IB and Consulting) 1. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll is activated by visible light, and an electron is promoted from its ground state to an excited state. In plants, this excited electron goes on to react with carbon dioxide and water, via photo induced electron transfer (PET). However, in the system devised by Cyrille Boyer and colleagues at the University of New South Wales, the excited electron is donated to a monomer, generating a radical, which then goes on to further react and generate polymers through a process known as living radical polymerization. Which of the following most effectively completes the paragraph above? A. Inspired by nature, scientists in Australia have united light and chlorophyll to generate a range of polymers that have biomedical applications. B. One of the challenges in polymer synthesis is achieving control over the length and structure of the polymers generated. C. Boyers team has addressed this using a form of living polymerization called reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer, or RAFT, polymerization, which incorporates an agent, normally a thiocarbonlythio compound, as a mediating species. D. In the absence of a proper electron donor or acceptor it is possible for such molecules to undergo ordinary fluorescence emission. E. Various architectures, including star-shaped, comb-shaped and ring-shaped polymers can be synthesized in this way. From the argument,Some of the answer choices give information which either ignore the two premises provided or are beyond the scope of the argument.A. Provides new information which is out of the scope of the argumentB. The correct answer choice supports both premises, such that, it explains the process which excited electrons goes through from the two perspectives given by stating that "one of the challenges in polymer synthesis is achieving control over the length and structure of the polymers generated"C. Choice C also presents a new statement which is unrelated to the argumentD. Though seems to be correct ignores the two premises which were presented in the argument and provides another possibility. This choice could be the runner up among the answer choices.E. We don't know for sure if the argument validates this answer choice from the paragraph given. I think the thing with inference question is its focus on the premises in the argumentI hope this helps pushpitkc wrote: In Hinduism, cows are considered sacred and are given the highest respect because they provide constant supply of milk, and their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agent preventing various diseases. A. they provide constant supply of milk, and their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agent B. they provide constant supply of milk, their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agent C. they provide constant supply of milk, and their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, and their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agent D. just as they provide constant supply of milk, their dung can be used as fertilizers for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, as well as their urine can be used as a therapeutic agent E. they provide constant supply of milk, dung as fertilizers for plants, hair for painting brushes, and urine can be used a therapeutic agent Source: Taking the conversation to a better level for everyone. Option A and Option B For Option B, Option B their Option A and they provide constant supply of milk using dung or hair or urine for something. Option A Hello guys!I was awestruck after noticing that the OA is Option A.I was spot on with Option B, with 100% accuracy. What i can interpret here is,BetweenB. they provide constant supply of milk, their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agentseemed perfect in terms of parallelism and usage ofat the relevant places. But, Alas! it is not the right answer.Moving towardsA. they provide constant supply of milk, and their dung can be used as fertilizer for plants, their hair can be used for making painting brushes, and their urine can be used as a therapeutic agentSomething i interpreted after noticing the strange OA- The conjunctionis used here to show a difference between 2 utilities. For an example:-is a provision which is made here, whereas in the latter part the sentence changes its meaning towardsThat's the exact need of putting a conjunction in the initial stage.Official Answer:-Hope this answer helped you all!Regards,Raunak Damle Psychology has reflected and contributed to the cultural bias of exalting motherhood at the expense of fatherhood. Sigmund Freud considered the mother, but not the father, to have a prominent role in infant development. Gadpaille argues that maternalism is instinctual to females, not only in the species but in mammals generally. He warns that anyone advocating male mothering may bring harm to everyone concerned. Strongly influenced by such psychological theory, our culture has been taken in by the "superiority of mother" theory. Benjamin Spock, in a six-hundred-page book on child care, devotes just three pages to the role of fathers. While he admits that a man does not sacrifice his masculinity, Spock thinks child care is something the father should do only occasionallyjust to help the mother out. Fathers who win custody of children in divorce proceedings are often advised that they should immediately hire full-time housekeepers to function as surrogate mothers. But, alas, mothers who win custody are not told to provide surrogate fathers for them. Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist, once remarked that "fathers are a biological necessity but a social accident" Throughout the nineteenth and much of the twentieth century, our culture has been quite comfortable with this stereotypical view of fathers. "Less than ten percent of the scientific studies of parents have taken the fathers role into account, in spite of the fact that half of all parents are fathers" Society has not yet changed in any major ways with regard to fathers as nonparents. However, researchers have finally realized that "the motherhood role is not an inherited behaviour pattern, but a learned set of social skills." Female children begin learning these social skills at a very early age; society makes no effort to see that boys learn these same social skills. Theories of maternal instinct and attachment or bonding as being exclusively maternal are now being called into question. Infants bond with both the mother and the father. A growing body of literature now reveals that fathers do have potential nurturance just as mothers do. Men are increasingly demanding to be accepted as nurturant parents rather than just the provider and protector. Young men are beginning to reject the models of parenting provided by their fathers and are searching for ways to become parents as well as fathers. A radical restructuring of maleness and fatherhood is currently under way. Fathering and mothering are two distinct parental roles. When a male is nurturant, he is fathering, not mothering. Both mothering and fathering are valid roles, but they are by no means identical. 1. Fathers who exhibit which of the following actions could count on the author of this passage to give them his greatest support? A. Buying educational toys for their children B. Reading bedtime stories to their children C. Leaving their children with female babysitters D. Working in order to pay for family expenses E. Being nice to their wives 2. What is the primary aim of the passage? A. To argue that women are more important than men B. To assert that men lack in maternal instinct C. To criticize men for neglecting their children D. To describe the changing role of men in modern examples of parenthood E. To decry the concept of motherhood 3. The existence of which of these findings would most strongly challenge Sigmund Freuds opinion as it is presented in the passage? A. The personality of infants is strongly influenced by their mothers B. The personality of infants is strongly influenced by their fathers C. The personality of infants is weakly influenced by their siblings D. The personality of infants is weakly influenced by their grandparents E. The personality of infants is affected by many factors 4. Based on information provided by the author in the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. The author contends that both males and females should participate in raising children. B. Gadpaille asserts that females do not have to learn about raising children. C. Benjamin Spock argues that males should not be heavily involved in raising children. D. Margaret Mead believed that males have a major role to play in raising children. E. Freud argues that women are more important than men when it comes A. Buying educational toys for their childrenB. Reading bedtime stories to their childrenC. Leaving their children with female babysittersD. Working in order to pay for family expensesE. Being nice to their wivesA. To argue that women are more important than menB. To assert that men lack in maternal instinctC. To criticize men for neglecting their childrenD. To describe the changing role of men in modern examples of parenthoodE. To decry the concept of motherhoodA. The personality of infants is strongly influenced by their mothersB. The personality of infants is strongly influenced by their fathersC. The personality of infants is weakly influenced by their siblingsD. The personality of infants is weakly influenced by their grandparentsE. The personality of infants is affected by many factorsA. The author contends that both males and females should participate in raising children.B. Gadpaille asserts that females do not have to learn about raising children.C. Benjamin Spock argues that males should not be heavily involved in raising children.D. Margaret Mead believed that males have a major role to play in raising children.E. Freud argues that women are more important than men when it comes Chandigar, Jan 27 (IBNS) : Punjabs most wanted gangster Harjinder Singh, alias Vicky Gounder, and his key aide Prema Lahoria were killed in an encounter on Friday evening near the Punjab-Rajasthan border, media reports said quoting police. A third gangster, Sukhpreet Singh, was also shot during encounter and he later succumbed to his injuries. Lakhwinder Singh, another member of the gang, was arrested. The operation was led by the State Crime Control Unit of Punjab police, assisted by the Rajasthan police. Two police officers- a sub-inspectgor and an assistant sub-inspector, were injured in the shootout. They have been admitted to hospital. Gounder, who had led the Nabha jailbreak with five other prisoners in November 2016, continued to elude police. He allegedly killed three rival gang members in April last year in Gurdaspur. He was also the prime accused in the murder of rival Sukha Kahlwan when the latter was being taken to jail from court under police escort. Gounder was wanted in at least 15 cases of murder, kidnapping and robbery in north India. Image: Hindustan Times Screenshot In this series, we intend to set the record straight and tell you the truth behind the lies. The Lie: The MEK murdered Americans in Iran during the 1970s. According to the US State Departments 2009 Country Reports on Terrorism, the MEK killed the deputy chief of the US Military Mission in Tehran (1973), two members of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group (1975), and two employees of Rockwell International (1976). In addition, the MEK claimed responsibility for killing an American Texaco executive (1979). Even Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said that he was living and working in Iran during that time and said that in his view the MEK were terrorists. This is, of course, concern for Americans and most people around the world, but there is a bigger story here. The Truth: The MEK didnt murder Americans in Iran The MEK were heavily persecuted under the Shahs Regime and by May of 1972 (the year before these killings started), all but one of the leaders had been executed and most of the key members imprisoned by the Shahs secret police (SAVAK). Massoud Rajavi, the youngest original MEK Central Committee member, was spared execution and sentenced to life in prison thanks to the advocacy of Francois Mitterrand, Jean Paul Sartre and Amnesty International. So how, if their leaders were either executed or imprisoned by the time that the killings began, could the MEK be responsible for these deaths? Simply, they cant. The truth is that a Marxist group, which went by the name Mujahidin M.L, appropriated the movements public profile and is, in fact, responsible for the murders. The Mujahidin M.L, led by Taghi Shahram, Vahid Afrakhteh, and Bahram Aram, was supposed to lead a covert war against SAVAK but instead murdered Americans and committed egregious acts of violence against key MEK members who had escaped jail- even setting fire to one of them. This is not a theory. There are tape recordings that implicate Shahram in both the takeover and ensuing violence, while Afrakhteh confessed to the murders of the six Americans. All three men were subsequently executed. Since then, Rajavi, and later his wife Maryam, has taken over leadership of the MEK once again and have reclaimed their partys good name from the terrorists of the Mujahidin M.L. Why was the MEK blamed? The Mujahidin M.L were clearly distinguishable from the MEK, through their language, tone, logo, and commemorations. There are public statements from the Mujahidin M.L taking credit for the assassinations, along with the incriminating tape recordings and the confession. Rajavi even issued statements from prison condemning the assassinations. So how did the MEK get blamed for these heinous crimes? Simply, the MOIS and Iranian regimes lobbies in the U.S and Europe are desperate to discredit the MEK in any way that they can because the MEK in the heart of the only organized and the longest standing opposition coalition in the recent history of Iran, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), signifies the true resistance movement inside Iran and the voice for the Iranian people. The MOIS is distorting the facts to present the MEK as terrorists because they know that international support for the MEK would put the mullahs Regime in grave danger. The trio had previously been involved in the Freedom/Liberation Movement, led by Medhi Bazargan, which advocated for the democratic principles of the Iranian constitution created after the 1905 revolution. The group lasted for two years before the Shah outlawed all pro-democracy groups and imprisoned their leaders, following the 1963 June Uprising, in which pro-free speech and anti-monarchy protests broke out across Iran before being violently put down by the Shahs police. Bazargan w#a#s sentenced to ten years in prison. The fight for freedom in Iran was far from over, but the MEK founders knew that they could not repeat the actions of the Freedom Movement, lest they meet the same fate. The politics of the MEK In order to cement the ideals of the MEK, the trio brought together 20 trusted friends, mostly professionals living in Tehran, to form a twice-weekly discussion group about religion, history, philosophy, and revolutionary theory. The MEK held its first meeting on September 20, 1965, just two weeks after its founding. The MEK spent the next six years formulating its political platform and creating a plan to evict the Shah and put a democratic government in its place. The founders of the MEK see Islam as democratic, peaceful, tolerant, and completely compatible with modern society, so they based their political foundation on their interpretation of Islam. Thus they prize gender equality, human rights, and free speech, which explains why the MEK is so beloved by the Iranian people. The MEK believe that this is the true message of Islam- in complete opposition to the hateful and cruel version espoused by the Regimes of the Shah and the Mullahs. Reaction to the MEK Both of these Regimes recognised the widespread public support of the MEK to be a major threat to their continued rule and have tried to eliminate the MEK via any means necessary. This ranges from fake news, which paints the MEK as terrorists and the murderers of Americans, in order to discredit the MEK on the international stage, to the criminalisation of the MEK in Iran to the murder of 120,000 members of the MEK by the Iranian Regime since its founding. Thankfully, more people in the international community are now choosing to look beyond the Regimes lies and discover the truth. The MEK has been treated woefully by both Iranian Regimes, from the Shahs secret polices (SAVAK) execution of all but one of the MEKs leaders to the Mullahs 1988 massacre, in which 30,000 MEK members and supporters were murdered in mass executions in just a few months. But despite this, the MEK is still fighting for a free, modern, pluralist, secular, and democratic Iran; providing the only true opposition to the Iranian Regime at great cost to the MEK themselves. The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC. Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More 4 hours ago Multiple Signs Point to New Highs Ahead for Kirklands Stock If you happened to hold Kirklands (NASDAQ: KIRK) stock throughout all of last year, you enjoyed a mind-blowing 1,342% return. The home decor retailer was among the top 10 U.S. stock performers in 2020 thanks to pandemic-driven shopping habits and Kirklands strengthened competitive positioning. Those that missed out on this mega retail winner need not fret. Read Article The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16 Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank AS, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets). The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO Energy Canada, XTO Energy Inc., and XTO Holdings LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. 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Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: (Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company), Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Adaptec, Alverix, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Colombia S.A.S., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. 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Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion BH 335 d.o.o. Cazin, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Germany 318 GmbH, CareFusion Iberia 308 S.L., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cubex, Cytopeia, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences, GeneOhm Sciences Canada Inc., Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Ionotophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., LifeBond, Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics, NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C.(Isialys)Societe a responsabilitie limitee(Societe a associe unique), PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med, Safety Syringes, Safety Syringes Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical, Straub Medical, Straub Medical (US) LLC, Straub Medical (United Kingdom) Ltd., Straub Medical France, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical, TVA Medical GmbH, TVA Medical Inc., Touchstone Medical Limited, Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging, TriPath Imaging Inc., Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Y-Med Inc., and Y-Med LLC. It looks like the first Chrome OS tablets without physical keyboards could be on the way soon. But whats the point? After all, Google already has an operating system that runs on tablets. Its called Android. And one of the key features of a Chromebook is that its a desktop-style operating system with support for multiple windows, the same version of Chrome that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and support for keyboard, mouse, and (occasionally) pen input. But over the past few years Chrome OS has become a much more touchscreen-friendly operating system and Android tablets have kind of stagnated. So Im actually pretty excited about the possibility of a Chrome OS tablet (which Im just going to go ahead and call a Chromepad until Google or someone else stops me). Over the past few years Google has added an on-screen keyboard and touch-friendly icons and menus to Chrome OS. The company has also built a complete Android subsystem for the operating system, allowing you to run just about any app available from the Google Play Store on supported Chromebooks and Chromeboxes. In other words, a modern Chrome OS device is effectively an Android device. It just also happens to have these features, which most Android phones and tablets lack: Support for Chrome browser extensions More advanced browser tools including developer tools, a task manager, and a powerful bookmark manager Free-floating, resizable windows Faster boot speeds 5 years of software and security updates delivered by Google rather than the PC maker The first and last items on the list are the ones that intrigue me the most. I used the Dolphin and Firefox web browsers on my Android phone for years, because Chrome for Android didnt support the LastPass password manager extension. I made the switch when LastPass finally found a way to work with Chrome for Android, but there are plenty of other Chrome extensions that still arent available on Android devices. That wont be an issue on a Chromepad. As for software updates? If you have an Android device then you probably get updates delivered by your phone maker or wireless carrier. And odds are that youll only get those updates for a few years, if at all. Ive been a long-time Google Nexus and Pixel user, so Im used to getting monthly security updates and a major operating system update every year or so. But even Google has a habit of only rolling out updates for its own phones for around 2-3 years. If you have a third-party phones, the results can be hit-or-miss. A handful of smaller phone makers have a reputation for never releasing a single update. Chromebooks, on the other hand, receive automatic over-the-air updates that are delivered by Google, not by your device maker. And Google provides at least 5 years of updates for every new Chrome OS device, starting from the day of launch (which means if you buy a 2-year-old model you only get 3 more y ears of updates, but thats still not bad). Sure, by PC standards, 5 years of updates still sounds arbitrary and short. There are plenty of people running the latest versions of Windows on computers that are more than a decade old. But 5 years of updates for a Chromepad sounds pretty great when compared with the abysmal software lifecycle for most Android phones. Keep in mind that Google and its hardware partners havent officially announced any Chromepads yet. We know that theres some Chromium code commits that suggest developers are testing some Chrome OS tablets. We know that Google has said Chrome OS is coming to new form factors. And at least one person spotted at least one Chrome OS tablet that Acer had on-hand at an educational technology trade show in London this week. But the picture he posted has since been removed, so its impossible to say whether we were looking at a prototype for a real product thats launching soon or just an idea that Acer is playing around with. But I certainly think the launch of a Chromepad would be the most exciting thing to happen in the tablet space in a while. Until that happens, the next best thing might be the convertible Chromebooks Asus, Samsung, and others are offering. At just about 2 pounds, the 10.1 inch Asus Chromebook C101 could almost be mistaken for a tablet. Share this article: Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit Pocket Tumblr Pinterest LinkedIn Email My book The Lies We Were Told published by Bristol University Press. It features key blog posts from the past, with additional commentary and context. It was a finalist for the 2019 PROSE awards January 27, 2018 14:03 New technology lets clinicians see patients internal anatomy displayed right on the body. ProjectDR is an augmented reality system that allows medical images such as CT scans and MRI data to be displayed directly on a patients body in a way that moves as the patient does. New technology is bringing the power of augmented reality into clinical practice. The system, called ProjectDR, allows medical images such as CT scans and MRI data to be displayed directly on a patients body in a way that moves as the patient does. We wanted to create a system that would show clinicians a patients internal anatomy within the context of the body, explained Ian Watts, a computing science graduate student and the developer of ProjectDR. The technology includes a motion-tracking system using infrared cameras and markers on the patients body, as well as a projector to display the images. But the really difficult part, Watts explained, is having the image track properly on the patients body even as they shift and move. The solution: custom software written by Watts that gets all of the components working together. There are lots of applications for this technology, including in teaching, physiotherapy, laparoscopic surgery and even surgical planning, said Watts, who developed the technology with fellow graduate student Michael Fiest. ProjectDR also has the capacity to present segmented imagesfor example, only the lungs or only the blood vesselsdepending on what a clinician is interested in seeing. For now, Watts is working on refining ProjectDR to improve the systems automatic calibration and to add components such as depth sensors. The next steps are testing the programs viability in a clinical setting, explained Pierre Boulanger, professor in the Department of Computing Science. Soon, well deploy ProjectDR in an operating room in a surgical simulation laboratory to test the pros and cons in real-life surgical applications, said Boulanger. "We are also doing pilot studies to test the usability of the system for teaching chiropractic and physical therapy procedures. added Greg Kawchuk, a co-supervisor on the project from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Once these pilot studies are complete, the research team expects the deployment of the system in real surgical pilot studies will quickly follow. Watts is co-supervised by Boulanger, Cisco Chair in Healthcare Solutions and professor in the Faculty of Science, and by Kawchuk, professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. ProjectDR was presented last November at the Virtual Reality Software and Technology Symposium in Gothenburg, Sweden. Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter The poor are still gentrifications victims, but in this new meaning, the harm is not rent increases and displacement its something psychic, a theft of pride. Unlike housing, poverty is a potentially endless resource: Jeff Bezos could Hoover up all the wealth that exists in the world, then do nothing but drink rainwater collected from the roof of his 79 Vanagon, and it wouldnt stop the other seven billion of us from being poor. What this metaphorical gentrification points to instead is dishonesty, carelessness and cluelessness on the part of the privileged when they clomp into unfamiliar territory. When they actually profit from their discovery and repackaging of other peoples lifestyles, its a dispiriting re-enactment of long-running inequalities. But what seems most galling isnt that theyre taking dollars off the table. Its that theyre annoying. Its not surprising that gentrification has become a more capacious idea lately: The phenomena it describes seem inescapable. But theres something in this new usage that obfuscates as much as it reveals, lending cover to the much larger forces that shape our lives. Minority communities are being dismantled as macroeconomic winds transform urban America. Researchers are now concerned that the high cost of housing is a drag on our whole economy, with young people either trapped spending too much on rent or fleeing overheated urban markets altogether for places with worse jobs but cheaper housing. Some of them, Ive heard, are even living out of vans. The word gentrification was coined almost offhandedly in 1964, by the British sociologist Ruth Glass, in an essay about postwar London. Looking around her, she saw a city becoming more modern and affluent. This came with certain ills: Commutes were getting longer, traffic worse, middle-class jobs more specialized (project engineer; system analyst) and menial ones more scarce. And something striking was happening in the working-class parts of town. They were being invaded by the middle classes upper and lower. These newcomers were buying up the shabby, modest mews and cottages and turning them into elegant, expensive residences. Once this process of gentrification starts in a district, Glass writes, it goes on rapidly until all or most of the working-class occupiers are displaced, and the whole social character of the district is changed. Her coinage contained within it an ambiguity that persists to this day. The root of gentrification gentry can refer either to those of not-quite-aristocratic birth or to those who profit from land ownership; either to the well-off in general or to the rentier class in particular. This lack of clarity is fitting: In a gentrifying neighborhood, title to the land is transferred first in the literal sense and then in the spiritual one, as local businesses and institutions change to serve the tastes of wealthier arrivals. To use gentrification to describe lifestyle trends is to focus on that second step rather than the first one to focus on class signifiers instead of class itself. Dawie Roodt, the chief economist at the Efficient Group, has warned that tech companies particularly fintech companies pose a big threat to banks and insurance providers. Tech companies will kill banks and insurance companies, Roodt told MyBroadband. He said that investing in the financial sector in South Africa at the moment was a good idea for the short term, but banks would come under pressure from tech companies in the future. Roodt said that fintechs are amazing companies, but that investors must be cautious when putting money into the sector. Another group of companies which Roodt said has great potential are tech companies working on blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. This is thanks to the technology driving this sector, which tech companies are either developing or implementing. Companies which were directly involved in mining cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin were not in the same boat, however, said Roodt. He stated that if you invest in a Bitcoin mining company, you are essentially investing in Bitcoin. While the technology behind Bitcoin is impressive, Roodt does not view the coin as an investment. Bank Zero Roodts comments come after the recent launch of Bank Zero in South Africa. The new bank, founded by Michael Jordaan and Yatin Narsai, is aimed at smartphone users and will use their devices as a primary banking tool. Bank Zero will not have physical branches, but will offer attractive savings account deposit rates, low or no banking fees, and will function as a mutual bank. Jordaan said there is a young, mobile-savvy generation in South Africa that wants to bank in the same way they use Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and these users will be drawn to Bank Zeros app and its functionality. Now read: Garmin band to make golf easier The Government of Japan opposes the immediate resumption of dialogue with North Korea only for the sake of temporarily easing tensions. This was stated by the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry Taro Kono, speaking at the opening session of the national parliament, TASS reports. According to him, North Korea needs to enter into a dialogue as soon as possible. However, dialogue without pressure cannot push this country to denuclearization, which openly declares the completion of the formation of its nuclear forces. Kono said that it is impossible to negotiate with North Korea for the temporary easing of tension, in reality agreeing with the fact of the country having nuclear weapons. The minister noted that its necessary to continue exerting powerful pressure on Pyongyang using economic sanctions. According to Kono, North Korea must understand that the regime existing there has no future if it continues to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. Dushanbe to host joint session of FMs and MODs Council and CSTO Committee of Security Councils Secretaries Two Afghan journalists beaten after providing coverage of women's protest in Kabul France urges Britain to abide by commitments on illegal migrants Karabakh President spokesperson: Resignation letter of Defense Army's Commander not signed Russian MFA: Moscow closely following peace treaty talks in Yerevan and Baku Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan introduced to grape procurement issues in Armavir Armenia PM returns to Yerevan, greeted by members of Security Council at airport again Armenia finance minister meets with Head of EU Delegation Digest: American Armenian faces 15 years in prison, more on Pashinyan's visit to Georgia Armenian National Congress political party to run in elections for Council of Elders of Armenia's Goris Turkish defense minister pledges full support to Azerbaijan Armenia citizen tries to jump off bridge Dollar loses value in Armenia Armenia ombudsman: Man continues paying loan for his animals stolen by Azerbaijanis Armenia ombudsman: Man continues paying loan for his animals stolen by Azerbaijanis Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijani army's actions are intensive due to impunity Armenia parliament head meets with Sweden colleague Police open Yerevan-Yeraskh interstate road by force Human rights defender: Azerbaijanis are creating tension in Armenian society Armenia President expresses condolences to Russian counterpart Serbian parliamentary speaker to Armenian counterpart: No alternative to peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict Remains of another fallen soldier found during Karabakh search operations Armenia Ararat Province governor resigns Armenia defense minister meets with parents of soldiers who went missing during 44-day war Armenia again in EU epidemic red zone Californian Stepanyan to plead guilty over assault in Turkish restaurant Armenia ombudsman: Process of returning of captives should not be considered over Taliban say they will give women place in government Armenia ruling power MP testifying in court in criminal case on severely beaten army officer Ombudsman: Housing issue remains one of key ones in Artsakh Karabakh opposition MP: Projects that Armenia authorities are engaged in today are implemented in Artsakh Armenia defense minister receives new commander of Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh WSJ: White House to sue Texas over abortion law UNICEFs Armenia program document is adopted Those forcibly displaced from Karabakhs Azerbaijan-occupied Hadrut protest outside Armenia government building Armen Sarkissian to Emomali Rahmon: Armenia attaches great importance to strengthening of relations with Tajikistan 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Armenias Pashinyan condoles with Russias Putin Armenia villagers block motorway, demand meeting with premier Trial over death of 18 Armenia soldiers during 44-day war is moved to Yerevan Hurricane Ida death toll rises to 82 in US 587 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia PM to head for Batumi EU provides more than $376K to Armenia social businesses World oil prices fluctuate Newspaper: Armenia parliament opposition preparing for new battle in upcoming session Newspaper: Commander of Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh instructs to destroy Azerbaijan equipment YouTube and Gmail to stop working on millions of devices Egypt diplomats in Ankara, discuss withdrawal of Turkey troops, mercenaries from Libya Body of 59-year-old female resident of Yerevan found in front of apartment building Armenia Parliament Speaker to Polish counterpart: We anticipate partners' political pressure on Azerbaijan Armenia Parliament Speaker tells Korean counterpart about current stage of Karabakh conflict settlement Pashinyan: Huge part of conversation with Georgia PM was devoted to agenda to open era of peace and development "Armenia" bloc issues statement against arrest of fellow MP and doctor Armen Charchyan Relatives of deceased Armenian servicemen demand annulling decision on holding "vivid celebration" (PHOTOS) Garibashvili: War in Karabakh was challenge for region, but it will transform into new opportunity Russian emergency situations minister dies with famous film director whom he was trying to save Turkey, Egypt agree to continue talks over normalization of ties Attorney: 12 residents of Armenia's Goris charged with egging PM's car Arrested mayor of Armenia's Goris to run in elections of local self-government through alliance Armenia, Georgia FMs discuss issues on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea international transport corridor EU may remove Armenia from safe travel list Armenia official meets with Iranian Babak Copper Company's representatives Alen Simonyan gives speech at 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments Armenian and Georgian PMs attach importance to Armenia-Georgia-Bulgaria-Greece-Iran format for cooperation Attorney: Armenian professor Armen Charchyan's health condition worsens, transferred to medical center Violinist Sergey Khachatryan performs Armenian music at InClassica International Music Festival in Dubai Digest: 2 Armenian POWs return to Yerevan from Baku, more on COVID-19 in Armenia Catholicos of All Armenians meets with outgoing Ambassador of France EU disapproves of interim Taliban government in Afghanistan Armenia PM meets with Georgia President Dollar relatively stable in Armenia Georgia PM to Armenia's Pashinyan: I congratulate you on convincing victory in elections Armenia State Supervision Service deputy head resigns, to hold other office Putin tells Michel about implementation of Nagorno-Karabakh agreements Armenia premier has private talk with Georgia counterpart Ombudsman: Some of Azerbaijan border guards on Armenias Syunik Province roads are soldiers in changed clothes Women in Afghanistan may be banned from playing cricket One of ISIS leaders caught in Libya Attorney: Azerbaijan continues concealing actual number of Armenian prisoners Vika Martirosyan: I am glad that generations are growing today and want to become Vika from 'Amaras' Nearly 12,000 people evacuated due to typhoon in Philippines Sanctions should be imposed on ruling Aliyev family of Azerbaijan, says Armenia lawyer Armenias Pashinyan arrives in Georgia on official visit Artsakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan authorities continue ethnic cleansing of Karabakh Armenians PM: Large-scale colorful celebration will take place at Republic Square in Yerevan on September 21 Armenias Gegharkunik has new provincial governor Ombudsman presents report on torture of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan Armenia ex-president Sargsyan v. MP Sukiasyan lawsuit goes to court After earthquake in Mexico, one and a half million people left without light Armenia premier underscores border delimitation, demarcation agenda with Azerbaijan The Power of One Dram to overcome childhood cancer Armenia PM: We are ready to talk with Turkey about reopening railway, roads Oil prices rise slightly IAEA says Iran increased its reserves of enriched uranium in past 3 months Indonesia jail fire leaves 40 people killed USAID director for Armenia says they strive to improve countrys business environment Armenia defense minister of receives South Caucasus Railway company chief 645 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia US Ambassador to Armenia visits Spitak Medical Center, medical equipment worth $770,000 is donated to it YEREVAN. Italy has taken over the Chairmanship of the OSCE. In an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am Italys Ambassador to Armenia H.E.Mr.Giovanni Ricciullitold about priorities of the Italian chairmanship as well as Italys position on the new deal signed between Armenia and EU. The European Union and Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. How will the signing of this agreement affect the development of relations between Italy and Armenia? Let me first say, by way of introduction, that Italy has always been supportive of closer ties between the Republic of Armenia and the European dimension in its various expressions. One might also recall that it was during the Italian chairmanship of the Council of Europe, in November 2000, that the Republic of Armenia was invited to join the Council, becoming its 42nd member State on January 2001. Accordingly, Italy has wholeheartedly welcomed the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Armenia. The CEPA is a particularly beneficial milestone, because it strives to create an environment for the development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union that will be even more effective and focussed than the one we have had before. This new agreement is in line with the renewed European Neighborhood Policy, which is geared towards tailor-made agreements with each country, and which takes into account the specific conditions of each one of the Partners. Of course, it is not only the Republic of Armenia and the European Union as such that stand to benefit from the CEPA, but also the EUs member States in their interactions with Armenia. I am confident that this will be the case for Italy too. We have a new tool, a better one, and we must strive to draw all the advantages that it is offering us by implementing it with thoroughness and commitment. Italy has taken over the Chairmanship of the OSCE. How does you see the prospects for the settlement of Karabakh conflict? What practical steps will Italian chairmanship make to advance the peace process? Since the launching of the CSCE in 1975, the OSCE has been striving to uphold contact and dialogue as a means of stability, security, and peace. Italy, which is one of the top contributors to the organizations ordinary budget, both for what concerns its institutions and its field operations, has always been strongly committed to the aims and activities of the OSCE. Therefore our current chairmanship will reflect this strong traditional commitment. As you know, among the Italian Presidencys priorities there is also OSCE's role in the protracted conflicts that unfortunately continue to blight the European area. As far as Nagorno Karabakh is concerned, the responsibility of a solution cannot come from outside because peace ultimately rests on the parties concerned. From this point of view let me remind that our chairmanship stresses Dialogue, Ownership, Responsibility. Thus, it is paramount for all parties to persuade themselves that only a peaceful settlement based on negotiation will enable a solution, and that the entire region stands to benefit from such an outcome in terms of stability, progress and prosperity. Of course, a process for promoting such a solution has been under way for quite some time, and in this regard let me stress that Italys chairmanship of OSCE fully supports both the efforts of the three Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the principles and elements that their patient and constructive action rests upon. Having said this, I shall add that Italy intends to relaunch the spirit of the OSCE. It is that same spirit that upheld the importance of contact and dialogue in 1975, while the world was dangerously divided and some flash points were putting world peace itself at risk. The Italian Foreign Minister, Mr.Alfano, stressed this very point when he recently quoted our former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in defining the Helsinki spirit as the point of passage towards the future. Indeed, there is no alternative. Italian action as the OSCEs current chair will reflect this spirit. Last year a memo was signed between Development Foundation of Armenia and Italian Shaula International consulting company to attract Italian investors to Armenia. Have the sides achieved tangible results? Can you name the areas which are prospective in terms of attracting Italian investors to Armenia? In 2017 we had several positive developments concerning economic and commercial relations. There was, as you rightly mention, the memorandum signed between the Development Foundation of Armenia and Italian Shaula International, as a consequence of which further contacts took place, in fields ranging from tourism and transportation to culture and agriculture. But I should also like to highlight the Country Presentation of Armenia held in Rome on the occasion of the first meeting of the Italo-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. It witnessed a good participation of companies from both countries, and I can confirm that, following that event, there has also been an increase in business contacts through this Embassy. Also, there was the signing of a memorandum between the Development Foundation of Armenia and the Italian Trade Agency. This too is a very important development, all the more so because the Agency has recently confirmed that it will pay increased attention to the possibilities offered by Armenia. Possibilities that also stem from its participation in the Euro-Asian Union. Which goods is Italy mainly exporting to Armenia? Has the volume of trade turnover increased? Trade turnover between our respective countries has traditionally been good, and in 2016 Italy was the Republic of Armenias second trade partner from the E.U. In 2017 we witnessed an increase in bilateral trade, with both imports from Italy and exports to Italy increasing with respect to the previous year, which of course is a positive trend. As of late, we have also seen an increased diversification of Italian exports to Armenia. In addition to clothing, furniture, food, and machinery, now we also see products such as medicaments or household appliances. In 2017 Armenia exported to Italy mostly various clothing items, aluminium foil, and raw skins. Diversification is important, in the light of the intention of many sectors of the Armenian economy to modernize and better equip themselves to tackle international competition. The Italian economy is highly diversified, and we can therefore be good partners for Armenia in every field, given also the ease of contact and interaction between our respective peoples. Italian culture and cuisine is very popular among Armenians. Are there any interesting events the Embassy is planning to hold this year? Italian culture and cuisine can only be followed closely in a country, such as Armenia, which itself cherishes culture and good food. That is why, in addition to the single cultural events that this Embassy strives to promote, especially in the field of music, we have also been holding a yearly Italian Film Festival, and, since 2016, an Italian Cuisine week as well. The film initiative has tried to break away from traditional Italian classics, which the Armenian public are already well acquainted with, and offer glimpses of present-day Italian movie-making and of modern Italian society. In 2015, for example, we offered pictures hinged on women. We are still defining our program for the current year, but we shall certainly try to offer our Armenian friends, who are well-versed in cinema, something attractive to them. As far as cuisine is concerned, the edition of the Italian Cuisine Week held last November saw ten Armenian restaurants -nine in Yerevan and one in Gyumri- offering excellent and innovative menus at quite affordable prices. We also had very good wine from Italy accompanying each menu. I really thank these restaurants for having put great effort in supporting the initiative and provided outstanding results. Although November is still far away, please jot down the Italian Food Week in your agendas, because it is worth it! Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) President Bako Sahakyan on Saturday sent a congratulatory address to President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia, on Army Day. Your Excellency, Mr. President, On behalf of the Artsakh people, the authorities and on my personal behalf, I extend the most heartfelt congratulations to you, on Army Day. The valorous Armenian army was born and it strengthened itself in an unequal fight for freedom and independence, gained cherished victories, changing the course of history by the bravery and self-commitment of our courageous sons. Today, Armenian soldiers continue to stand unwaveringly for the defense of the native country, perform new feats, carrying on the combat traditions of their heroic grandfathers and fathers. The army is dear to each and every Armenian. Your Excellency, Mr. President, On this festive day, I congratulate you and our entire people once again and wish peace, welfare, new victories and achievements, reads the address by the NKR President. Former district attorney from California David Minier wrote an article describing a trial of Gourgen Yanikian who assassinated two Turkish diplomats in Santa Barbara to avenge the genocide. Yanikian, age 78 and a former Fresno resident, was charged with murder, and I was his prosecutor, Minier wrote in the article published by Fresno Bee. The aging Armenian had lured the diplomats to a cottage at Santa Barbaras exclusive Biltmore Hotel, promising gifts of art treasures for their government. Instead, he pulled a Luger pistol from a hollowed out book and emptied it at them. He then called the reception desk, announced he had killed two evils, and sat calmly on the patio awaiting arrest. Minier says Yanikians purpose was to create an Armenian Nuremberg a show trial to call world attention to the Armenian Genocide. In contrast two Soghoman Tehlirian who murdered Talaat Pasha and was acquitted by a Germany jury, Yanikian was sentenced to life in prison. Yanikians attorneys told the judge they wanted to call as witnesses eminent historians and elderly Armenians who had survived the genocide. He commanded the witness stand for six days and described in detail, without objection, the Armenian genocide. Yanikian told how, as a boy of 8, he watched marauding Turks slit his brothers throat, and of the slaughter of 26 other family members. He testified in Armenian, translated by Aram Saroyan, former Fresno grape shipper, San Francisco attorney, and uncle of author William Saroyan. Although the jury were moved to tears, the man was sentenced. Hewas granted compassionate release to a care home in 1984, over objection of the Turkish government, and died of cancer two months later. However, former attorney regrets he had not the courage to allow such evidence. David Minier slams U.S. government for failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide, admitting that chances for genocide resolution passage are remote. The House will doubtless take the safer path, as I did in the Yanikian trial. And once again, truth will fall victim to expedience. " " A wax figure of 'Frankenstein' sits on display at Dreamland Wax Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on March 11, 2017. Fabio Teixeria/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images With non-stop news cycles and constant mobile notifications, it's easy to succumb to information overload. That's why the writers at HowStuffWorks keep things simple. Here are some of the stories you may have missed this week. Advertisement The Spooky Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" was way ahead of its time because it explored ethical dilemmas that the scientific and medical communities still face today. The central question the story poses is, "Should an experiment be done just because it can?" Shelley's masterpiece was published in 1818, and in a world where we have the atomic bomb, this a question still being debated. Two Hundred Years On, How Close Is a 'Frankenstein' Future? Well, researchers have successfully made mini-brains, kidneys and other organs in the lab. Soon, they may be able to connect these organs so that they can work together as a system. The Scorching Will the Winter Olympics soon be a thing of the past? Many scientists are trying to figure out How Global Warming Is Affecting the Winter Olympics. Daniel Scott and his team of researchers paired historical data with climate projections, and they concluded that nine of the previous locations for the Winter Games may not be cold enough to host them again. Scott's research was originally published in 2014, but it has since been updated to include this year's Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea and the next one in Beijing, China. A warmer climate will also affect athletes' ability to train. By 2050, ski and snowboard seasons may be cut as much as 50 percent and by 2090, 80 percent. The Subversive This week on a very special episode of the podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You, former hosts Cristen and Caroline join Bridget and Emilie to discuss What it means to be 'Unladylike' in 2018. On their new podcast Unladylike, Cristen and Caroline interview women who refuse to conform to the expectations society places on them. Their aim for the show is to allow other women, especially women of color and self-identified women, to share their experiences. To learn more about Unladylike and what Cristen and Caroline plan to do with their show, click the link above. Now That's Cool Head to our homepage to get the latest and greatest HowStuffWorks content, all in one spot. Sidewalk Sessions Junction 4 Skatepark with Eddie Belvedere There are few things better than cramming a car with a crew of your mates and driving out into the freezing cold, post-work darkness to a local indoor skatepark. Whilst the cultural currency of skatepark footage is hotly debated by doyles the world over in the UK, indoor sessions are the lifeblood that keeps people skating through the winter, and the key that unlocks the door to 99% of new skaters. You can convince yourself that those kids you see learning to push at the bottom of your street started off at the nearest Instagram street hotspot if you like, but it doesnt make it true. With this in mind, welcome to a new regular feature focusing on the sessions that go on during the winter months and the people involved in them. Fittingly, our journey over to Blackburns Junction 4 indoor skatepark was accompanied by snow storms and motorways with speed restrictions but that did nothing to dampen the atmosphere once everyone arrived. Music: Never Again by DRS More at Insta: @delrokski / Twitter: @mcdrs Sidewalk Sessions Junction 4 Skatepark with Eddie Belvedere saw a huge crew of Black Sheep Store related heads cross the treacherous roads between Manchester and Blackburn to meet up with us and shred Junction 4 skateparks small, but excellently thought-out lay out, in defiance of the shit weather. Death skateboards own Eddie Belvedere was commander-in-chief and invited those people who he wanted to skate with and, as expected, the session fucking went off! These Sidewalk Sessions will be happening every month from now on, and, as the weather warms up, will incorporate outdoor sessions at street spots and outdoor parks working on the same nominate a skater and let them pick their own crew principle too. Big knucks to Eddie Belvedere and Tez for making this happen, to everyone who turned up and shredded, and to Anthony and co at Junction 4 indoor skatepark for being so accommodating. The park is great check out their website at Junction 4 Skatepark and go see for yourselves. You wont regret it. 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #4 Posted on 27 January 2018 by John Hartz Skeptical Science Facebook page during the past week. A chronological listing of news articles posted on thepage during the past week. Editor's Pick Why climate change is worsening public health problems Men in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, collect water on Nov. 11, 2017. Years after Hurricane Matthew nearly devastated Haiti, its vulnerability only increases. Reuters/Martinez Casares Around the world, the health care debate often revolves around access. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, recently announced: All roads lead to universal health coverage. Discussions for how to translate this vision into a road map for action is central to the agenda of the WHOs executive board meeting this week in Geneva. Yet focusing on access is not enough. The imperative for access must be paired with a frank acknowledgment that climate change is making communities around the world more vulnerable to ill health. A 2017 commission of The Lancet, a leading health research journal, tracked the effects of climate change on health and found evidence of harms far worse that previously understood. Even as we move to close the access gap, a string of natural disasters in late 2017, including successive hurricanes and widespread forest fires, threaten to widen the vulnerability gap. As a global health professional (Sosin) and a cultural anthropologist (Kivland), we have witnessed how the global exchange of health technology, expertise and aid has contributed to dramatic gains in the delivery of health care in Haiti and other settings, especially around infectious diseases. Yet climate change threatens to undermine the health gains in vulnerable communities across the globe. As firsthand witnesses to sharp health disparities globally, we argue that world leaders need to insist that any health care strategy must address the social and environmental vulnerabilities driving poor health in the first place. Why climate change is worsening public health problems by Chelsey Kivland & Anne Sosin, The Conversation US, Jan 25, 2018 Links posted on Facebook Sun Jan 21, 2018 Mon Jan 22, 2018 Tue Jan 23, 2018 Wed Jan 24, 2018 Thu Jan 25, 2018 Fri Jan 26, 2018 Sat Jan 27, 2018 President Donald Trump is so mad about the ongoing Russia investigation that he has reportedly turned that ire toward Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The news comes shortly after the bombshell New York Times revelation that Trump reportedly tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last year shortly after he got rid of FBI Director James Comey, but White House counsel Don McGahn wouldnt sign off on the plan. Now CNN hears from four sources that Trump has been venting about Rosenstein in recent weeks and has made repeated comments about wanting to fire him. Two of those sources specifically said Trump has made comments about wanting to get rid of Rosenstein. Advertisement Lets fire him, lets get rid of him, Trump has reportedly said of Rosenstein. The presidents advisers invariably convince him such a move would be a really bad idea. When this comes upeveryone says, Thats the death march. Thats not going to accomplish anything, said one source. Rosenstein has been the one charged with overseeing the Mueller investigation since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House is denying the report, calling it part of a pattern to spread false information about the president. We do not find it to be a coincidence that there is an onslaught of false stories circulating in what appears to be a coordinated effort to distract and deflect from new revelations about already reported bias and corruption, White House attorney Ty Cobb said. We continue to cooperate with the special counsel and out of respect for that process will not weigh in further. Advertisement The Times had already reported as part of its bombshell story from earlier this week that Trump had considered firing Rosenstein in order to put the Justice Departments No. 3 official, Rachel Brand, in his place to oversee the Mueller probe. This part of the story is significant because it shows that Trumps concern was broader than any of the objections he raised against Mueller, wrote Slates William Saletan, noting that the only thing Rosenstein, Mueller, and Comey all had in common was that they werent Trumps men. Trump dismissed the Times report that he wanted to fire Mueller as fake news on Friday. Fake news. Fake news. Typical New York Times. Fake stories, Trump told reporters. Advertisement Although #MeToo began in the United States and its high-profile American proponents have garnered the most attention, the movement is spreading to other parts of the world. Less than a month after Alyssa Milano urged women in October to post the hashtag on social media in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, more than 2.3 million posts from 85 countries existed on Twitter, CNN reports. The most prolific #MeToo users reside in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, but the social media campaign had been noticeably less visible in Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. Advertisement For example, during the hashtags first month, 416 posts used #MeToo in China, a country with more than 1 billion people. The low number of posts isnt because sexual harassment is nonexistent in China, as state media like to suggest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet several recent, distinct episodes overseas show how the movement is making gains in conservative societies where talking about sexuality is still considered taboo. In Pakistan, the rape and killing this month of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari sparked national outrage in a country where sexual assault against minors was criminalized only two years ago. Local and state police rarely intervene in sexual assault cases, and many rapists go unpunished. Victims, however, can be charged with adultery and imprisoned. Advertisement Ansaris death has led to a wave of #MeToo-style declarations from sexual assault victims going public with their secrets. Among those who have spoken out are Frieha Altaf, a former model and public relations celebrity; and fashion designer Maheem Khan. Both shared stories of abuse as children and challenged the culture of shame and fear that keeps many Pakistanis silent about sexual assault. I was sexually abused by our cook at age 6. My parents took action but everyone remained silent as if it was my shame. At 34 I realised how it had impacted my life.the only shame is keeping SILENT #ChildAbuse #shame #NoMoreChildAbuse #MeToo #JusticeForZainab #HowToStopChildAbuse Frieha Altaf (@FriehaAltaf) January 14, 2018 Advertisement #childabuse #saynotochildabuse #metoo The Maulvi who came to teach me the Quran abused me sexually .I froze in fear day after day . Share in support of children subjected to the sick acts ..by so called custodians of our religion Maheen Khan (@Maheenkhanpk) January 14, 2018 Advertisement Coverage of Ansaris slaying and victims testimonies has prompted widespread discussion of sexual misconduct on daily talk shows across the country. The government, too, may have been jolted into action. Despite the absence of sex education in Pakistani schools, the minister of state for information and broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has spoken in favor of bipartisan curriculum that would teach children how to protect themselves from abusers. Advertisement Progress has also been made in Africa, where the World Bank estimates that up to 80 percent of women in some countries believe domestic abuse is OK in certain circumstances. But the #MeToo movement has inspired a segment of the population that is denouncing attitudes that say women should accept sexual harassment and assault. Advertisement On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters marched in Nairobi, Kenya, demanding a criminal investigation into Kenyatta National Hospital staff who have been accused of assaulting new mothers. The march was organized after a popular Kenyan Facebook group posted the story of a new mother who said she was nearly raped while walking down a hallway to breastfeed her baby. Other members of the group responded with similar stories of misconduct. Advertisement And in China, the #MeToo campaign took a step forward when Beihang University officials removed a professor from his post as vice president of the graduate school after a former student now living in the United States posted her story online. A subsequent investigation found multiple instances of sexual misconduct against other students. Many supporters cheered the initial victory, but the Chinese movement faces an uphill battle against the Communist Party, which has deleted posts and censored online discussion of sexual harassment to avoid social unrest. If the protests become too destabilizing, the party could suppress it through violent actionas it has in the past against citizen- and student-led demonstrations. Advertisement Although #MeToo has brought the swift downfall of high-profile offenders in the West, the movement will likely look much different in the rest of the world. Chinese advocates, to avoid a government crackdown on their speech, are calling for mild and gentle progress, but the party has already nixed seemingly harmless proposed changes, such as university seminars on improper conduct. Meanwhile, women in predominantly Muslim countries must grapple with accusations against men and religious leaders that could heighten anti-Islamic sentiment. The #MeToo phenomenon has shown that sexual harassment crosses racial, cultural, and socio-economic barriers, but if its to be a truly global campaign, the voices of victims in fledgling movements must be amplified, and the international community must work to ensure that women have the freedom to speak against their abusers. On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down a Republican-sponsored measure stripping Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of his ability to regulate the states elections. The 43 decision preserves Coopers control of the State Board of Elections, ensuring he will be able to restore voting rights throughout North Carolina in time for the 2018 election. Following Coopers election in November 2016, the GOP-dominated General Assembly passed a series of bills weakening the governorship and concentrating power in the legislature. The centerpiece of this effort was a radical overhaul of the board of elections. Previously, the board had five members, with three from the governors party. Under former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, the body authorized a dramatic rollback of early voting and a reduction in polling places, particularly in minority-heavy communities. Cooper planned to reverse these policies. But before he could, the legislature restructured the board, creating a new group with eight appointees, four Democratic and four Republican. The practical effect would be near-constant gridlock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper sued, and a state court blocked the measure in March. But the legislature promptly tweaked the law and passed it again. (Due to litigation, however, the eight-person board never actually assembled.) Once again, Cooper filed suit, alleging that the overhaul violated the North Carolina constitution. A majority of the state Supreme Courtall four of its Democratic justicesagreed with Cooper. In his opinion for the court, Justice Sam J. Ervin explained that the fundamental flaw in the act was its infringement upon the separation of powers. The North Carolina constitution contains an unusually robust separation-of-powers clause, requiring the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to be forever separate and distinct from each other. It also directs the governor to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In a previous decision, the court ruled that these provisions preserve the governors control over boards within the executive branch, including the appointment of commissioners. Advertisement The new elections board, Ervin noted, plainly runs afoul of this rule. Under the law, the governor must select four Republican commissioners from a list devised by GOP legislative leaders. Yet the board is an executive branch agency over which Cooper is constitutionally empowered to exercise significant control. Ervin thus concluded that, in creating the board, the legislature had overstepped its constitutional boundaries and encroached upon the governors. To remedy this problem, Ervin held that the legislature must allow the governor to appoint a majority of commissioners from his own party to the state board. Advertisement Fridays decision did not hand Cooper an absolute victory. The court declined to strike down measures that gave Republicans some administrative control over the state board and that equally divided county boards between Democrats and Republicans. Instead, the court adopted a wait-and-see approach: It held that these laws could violate separation of powers, but postponed final judgment until the state boards configuration is brought in line with the constitution. Cooper will likely challenge these rules separately in the near future. For now, the state Supreme Courts ruling is a qualified success for the governorand, much more importantly, a victory for North Carolina voters. Once Democrats take control, the new elections board can repeal McCrorys disenfranchisement policies and protect access to the ballot for all North Carolinians. The state wont have truly fair elections until the legislature is forced to redraw its politically and racially gerrymandered districts. But Fridays ruling is an important step forward in the states fight for the franchise. At least one attacker driving an ambulance packed with explosives detonated them near a checkpoint on a busy street on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and injuring 158 others in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, which came only a week after militants stormed a high-end hotel in Kabul and killed 22 people, including 14 foreigners. Officials expect the death toll to rise as nearby hospitals were overwhelmed with the sheer number of woundedmany of whom were in critical conditionin what was the deadliest attack in months in Afghanistan. Its a massacre, said Dejan Panic, the coordinator in Afghanistan for the Italian aid group Emergency, said. Advertisement Esplosione a #Kabul vicino allex ministero degli interni. Per ora oltre 50 feriti portati allospedale di EMERGENCY. E un massacro, dice Dejan Panic, coordinatore di Emergency in #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/5zdcMZsQIN EMERGENCY (@emergency_ong) January 27, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The busy street is one of the most guarded in the capital because many ministries have offices there and its also home to several embassies. The attacker managed to pass through one security checkpoint by saying he needed to get a patient to another checkpoint quickly. Police realized something was amiss at a second checkpoint but couldnt stop the attacker before he detonated the explosives near the old Ministry of the Interior building. Advertisement Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah took to Twitter to condemn the attack as insane, inhuman, heinous and a warcrime. The Afghanistan chapter of the International Committee of the Red Cross called the use of an ambulance in an attack harrowing, adding that it could amount to perfidy. Advertisement Terrorist attack on civilians & hospital in #Kabul is insane, inhuman, heinous and a warcrime. We will bring its perpetrators to justice & take necessary measures to avoid such barbarism in the future. Int Community must take further action against state sponsored terrorism. Dr. Abdullah (@afgexecutive) January 27, 2018 Advertisement The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing. This could amount to perfidy under IHL. Unacceptable and unjustifiable. ICRC Afghanistan (@ICRC_af) January 27, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement The International Committee of the Red Cross added that ambulances are for saving lives, not destroying them. Hillary Clinton personally protected a senior adviser on her 2008 campaign who was accused of repeated sexual harassment, according to a New York Times report on Friday. A 30-year-old campaign staffer told a higher-up in 2008 that Burns Strider, who consulted with the then-candidate on faith issues, rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent her a string of suggestive emails, including at least one during the night, the Times reported.* The accuser was reassigned to a new position. The accused, at Clintons own request, was kept on the payroll after forfeiting a few paychecks and agreeing to counseling. Advertisement These revelations are particularly damning because Clinton, who has been a conspicuous advocate for womens rights for decades, reportedly ignored her campaign managers advice to fire Strider. Clinton not only knew about Striders alleged harassmentshe took extra steps, against staff recommendations, to keep him on the team. On the continuum from bystander to accomplice, Clinton sits uncomfortably close to the latter end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, insofar as it exists, thats a good thing. If interpreted correctly, this Clinton report will function much the same as Your Fave Is Problematic, the blog that launched a popular catchphrase for beloved celebrities doing and saying dastardly (usually racist, sexist, or homophobic) things. It is, in other words, evidence that sexual harassment can thrive even in a workplace that is the cultures most on-the-nose symbol of womens empowerment. It disproves the comforting and false idea that people can be easily sorted into piles of good and bad actors when, in fact, there are a thousand degrees in between. And it is a striking reminder that women, tooto protect their own careers, friends, or self-imagesometimes help male abusers keep up their abuse. Advertisement In Striders case, Clintons support in 2008 meant he got a cushy gig five years later leading pro-Clinton superPAC Correct the Record. The Times reports that he was soon fired for workplace issues, including (you guessed it!) alleged harassment of a young woman on staff. Had Clinton fired him after the first report of sexual harassmentwhich she and her staff members clearly believed to be credible, since they imposed financial penalties and mandatory counselingStrider might have been stopped before harassing again. Advertisement There is value in this opportunity to evaluate the distance between Clintons words and actions. A culture-wide, generations-long epidemic of workplace sexual harassment and assault doesnt persist without a broad network of complicity, composed of individuals with varying degrees of knowledge and culpability. For any movement against sexual misconduct to succeed, and for observers to fully grasp the machinations of abuse, that network must be scrutinized as thoroughly as the abusers themselves. The New York Times reporting on Harvey Weinstein revealed a slew of female executives willing to lure women to meet alone with Weinstein, in addition to a whole class of female assistants employed specifically to facilitate the producers bathrobe-and-hotel scheme. Some of those women might be considered victims themselves. Thats not the case with Clinton, who appears to have willingly put her friends career and her campaigns immediate PR concerns above the safety of her female employees. Still, both Clinton and the likes of Weinsteins assistants belong somewhere in the web of non-abusers who grease the wheels of abuse. We are only starting to understand how those wheels move. Advertisement Advertisement This entry in the ongoing #MeToo saga may frustrate progressives, as did the assault allegations against former Minnesota senator Al Franken, for their illumination of the higher standards for left-leaning politicians. It would hardly be news if a Republican presidential candidate allowed a harasser to keep his job; it would be astonishing news if there wasnt rampant harassment in, say, the ranks of the Donald Trump campaign. On Friday, the Republican National Committee was silent after its finance chair, Steve Wynn, was accused by dozens of women of sexual misconduct in a Wall Street Journal report. And few were surprised to hear the allegations against Bill OReilly, Roger Ailes, and the rest of the Fox News crew, because Fox News displayed just as much contempt for women on air as its male stars did behind the scenes. Advertisement Advertisement But, as I argued when Franken resigned, holding Democrats to a higher standard is a good thing if it means fewer instances in which a woman whos harassed by a higher-up gets reassigned while her harasser gets a slap on the wrist. According to the Times, in previous months, no former Clinton campaign staffers would speak about the 2008 incident. That changed in the wake of the #MeToo movement, the piece says. Todays brighter spotlight on harassment and abuse is already encouraging progressives to point fingers at one of the most powerful figures on their side. The shame of this public showing of ethical dissonance should be enough to scare them into transforming their own workplaces, too. The Impeach-O-Meter is a wildly subjective and speculative daily estimate of the likelihood that Donald Trump leaves office before his term ends, whether by being impeached (and convicted) or by resigning under threat of same. Well, well. Well, well, well. Well! Donald Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last June, the New York Times reportedand even Fox News confirmed it, sort of. Apparently White House counsel Don McGahn stopped Trump from going through with the terminationand one of the reasons why he might have been successful is that that he and other advisers made a strong argument that firing Mueller would be politically catastrophic. Advertisement But, really, would it be? Jonathan Chait makes the case that things have changed since June 17: 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaits argument seems, uh, inarguable. Nothing improper that Trump has done yetand, when you put it all together, he and his administration have really obstructed a heck of a lot of justicehas punctured his popularity with the base or, despite some senators willingness to talk a little smack here and there, lost him support in Congress in a way that would put him anywhere near danger of being impeached. Advertisement But, but. But, but, but. But! Trumps misdeeds and shenanigans have contributed to a more or less steady decline in the Republican Partys 2018 electoral expectationsand per a CNN poll released this week, Americans still support the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation by a 5838 margin. To be speculative about it, firing Mueller seems like the exact kind of egregious impropriety that would both energize the base (for Democrats) and alienate the middle-to-upper-middle-class suburban voters whose embarrassment over Trump (and Roy Moore) fueled the GOP-to-Democrat precinct flips that helped elect Doug Jones in Alabama. A Mueller crisis could trigger a Democratic congressional landslide, and an ascendant Democratic majority crushing the GOPs legislative ambitions under an anvil of Trump investigations could cause him to lose leverage within his party. Which is to say that, as clear as it may be that LOL nothing matters in the short term, the possibility does remain that, in the distant future, something might matter. Maybe. Advertisement Todays meter is back up five points because this space courageously holds the president to account even when no one else will. Resistance! Hashtags! Lyft, the ride-share company often seen as Ubers more ethical little brother, is now facing a problem that sounds familiar: allegations that employees spied on passengers. Almost exactly two years after Uber paid a $20,000 fine to New York regulators for allowing its employees access to a God View tool that tracked rider and driver locations without their permission, there are reports alleging Lyfts employees also have a habit of snooping on customers. The Information reported on Thursday that an unidentified user of the app Blind, which employees use to anonymously complain about their companies, claimed to have worked at Lyft and noted that the staff had been using the data to spy on passengers of interest. The post alleges that employees were stalking attractive people theyve met, checking up on exes and significant others, and even collecting personal info of public figures like Mark Zuckerberg, porn stars, and film actresses. Lyft confirmed to reporters that it was looking into the anonymous tip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TechCrunch also reported a separate source who formerly worked at Lyft claimed staffers throughout the company see pretty much everything including feedback, and yes, pick up and drop off coordinates. The unnamed source also admitted to looking up friends rider history and driver feedback. There are cases in which some Lyft employees do need access to personal information, such as cases in which a passenger loses an item, but the behavior described in the allegations is far more invasive. Lyft gave TechCrunch the following statement. The company hasnt responded to a request for comment from Slate at the time of publication: Maintaining the trust of passengers and drivers is fundamental to Lyft. The specific allegations in this post would be a violation of Lyfts policies and a cause for termination, and have not been raised with our Legal or Executive teams. We are conducting an investigation into the matter. Access to data is restricted to certain teams that need it to do their jobs. For those teams, each query is logged and attributed to a specific individual. We require employees to be trained in our data privacy practices and responsible use policy, which categorically prohibit accessing and using customer data for reasons other than those required by their specific role at the company. Employees are required to sign confidentiality and responsible use agreements that bar them from accessing, using, or disclosing customer data outside the confines of their job responsibilities. In 2014, Buzzfeed caught an Uber executive tracking the location of one of the outlets reporters using the God View tool. The company later restricted use of the tool to a limited number of employees and disciplined the executive, though former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken hounded the company on its privacy policies for years afterward. The accusations against Lyft thus far are based on a few anonymous sources. Whether the company can keep its ethical image will depend on handling them properly and avoiding some of the other missteps that plagued Uber in recent years. What is wrong with Davos? What do you say we cancel next years WEF conference, save the money and redirect it somewhere else? Member of Swiss special police forces stand on the roof of a hotel next to the Congress Centre during the opening day of the the WEF meeting in Davos. (Source: AP/TASR) Font size: A - | A + Did you see picture from the World Economic Forum in Davos? The one that embodies everything that is wrong with the conference in a single image. It shows a security guard with his back turned to the camera, standing next to a sign. The sign has an arrow that alternately directs people to an exhibition called A Day in the Life of a Refugee or Private Car Pick-up, or if some place mysteriously known as The Loft. The security guard is there to keep certain people out, the exhibition makes attendees feel good as they drive by in their chauffeured car on the way to sip some Dom Perignon in the loft. Yes, it is that time of year again, where some of the worlds richest people get together to pretend they are solving global problems while wearing ski jackets. Last year, the conference was frozen and shock and horror at the prospect of Donald Trump just having become U.S. president. This year, they invited him to speak because times change and beliefs are flexible. 27. Jan 2018 at 8:30 | Benjamin Cunningham Wall Street analysts have given Global X MSCI Portugal ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Global X MSCI Portugal ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Read More Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. A large number of traffic police officers in Ho Chi Minh City have received compliments for refraining from taking bribes in 2017. The officers were praised during a meeting on the review of traffic safety last year held by the municipal department of road and railway traffic (PC67) on Thursday. The body commended 143 groups of traffic police and 3,649 fellow officers who exhibited exemplary performance and behavior. Amongst the latter, 514 officers demonstrated integrity, refusing to receive bribes which otherwise amounted to nearly VND142 million ($6,250), and 110 others bravely fought back crime, PC67 head Huynh Trung Phong said at the meeting. No information was given about the rest of the force regarding the misconduct. A police officer uses a camera to spot traffic rule violations. Photo: Tuoi Tre A multitude of traffic law violations was reported in 2017, with more than 500,000 offences recorded which corresponded to a total fine of VND260 billion ($11.45 million), and in 80,000 cases where driving licenses were confiscated. As a progressive step, cameras have been installed over streets or used by police in major cities during the past few years to detect illegal traffic acts and provide retrospective proof in case the law-breaker claims the contrary. Nearly 44.000 offences were detected with the help of this technology, resulting in the payment of over VND17 billion ($748,800). At Thursdays meeting, the police said they also plan to step up their activity to guarantee traffic safety in the coming Vietnamese Lunar New Year, or Tet, in mid-February. A suspect is on the run after an alleged gunpoint robbery that took place at an Agribank transaction office in the northern province of Bac Giang on Friday. The man broke into the bank office in the Dinh Ke Ward in the provincial capital of Bac Giang on the morning the same day and pulled out what appeared to be a gun to threaten employees there, according to Agribank staffs account. The suspect also showed the staff a plastic bag which he claimed to contain explosives, threatening them to give him money or he would detonate it. The alleged robber eventually left the bank with an amount of cash estimated from VND700 million (US$30,800) to VND1 billion ($44,000) and has since remained at large. There was no gun fire or any casualties in the robbery. Local police are gathering witnesses accounts and checking CCTV footage to identify the suspect. In November last year, an Agribank branch in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak was also targeted by an armed male robber who is still at large. Tommy Little presents the 2017 Montreal Comedy Festival on TEN, screening over two Wednesday nights. Each year the hottest comedy artists and celebrities from around the globe gather in Montreal for a week of all-star gala shows at the Place des Arts Theatre. In 2017, some of Australias finest comedians took centre stage among Hollywood icons and comedy superstars from the UK, the US and Canada to celebrate 35 years of the iconic festival. Featuring live stand up, as well as classic clips from comedic icons, the 2017 Montreal Comedy Festival includes Amy Schumer, Arj Baker, Danny Bhoy and Ryan Hamilton, plus Aussie favourites Carl Barron, Wil Anderson, Tommy Little, Ronny Chieng and many more. Tune in for side-splitting laughs, gala performances and exclusive interviews in this two-part television spectacular. Wednesday, 31 January & 7 February on TEN. In the final Foreign Correspondent in the current series, Eric Campbell returns to Greenland to see how locals are facing up to climate change. When Greenland scientist Teunis Jansen cuts open the stinking guts of a bluefin tuna, he unlocks a secret to the worlds climate. Climate change takes many surprising ways, he observes, as he delves into the big fishs belly. The tuna is full of whole mackerel, a warm water fish that is suddenly abundant in Greenlands waters, in turn attracting more tuna as well. So abundant that it now accounts for up to a quarter of the islands exports. For Greenlanders, this is a happy quirk of the warming that is gripping their formidable land. While the rest of the world fights to stop a two-degree temperature rise, its already a fact in much of Greenland. Ten years ago Eric Campbell met farmers there excited by the prospect of longer growing seasons. Now he returns to find some doing well but battling a scourge familiar to Australian farmers. Theyve had a lot of droughts Its become more or less the new normal, agronomist Kenneth Hoegh tells Campbell. Inuit photographer Adam Lyberth grieves for his land as he records its ancient glaciers crumbling, its vast ice cap melting like never before. Sandy desert sits alongside melting ice. Tundra fires, says Lyberth, are spooking reindeer and making them harder to hunt. It hurts the heart, he tells Campbell as they drive out to the ice sheet that holds eight per cent of the worlds fresh water. Greenlands melting season starts earlier and finishes later than it used to. So the speed of the melt has doubled, adding to sea levels. If you were to melt the whole Greenland ice sheet here, were talking about seven metres sea level rise, says local climate scientist Thomas Juul-Pedersen. Some Greenlanders would rather see an upside to climate change. In Greenlands only inland town Kangerlussuaq, Campbell meets 13-year-old Athena. She laments the cold and boring Arctic winters. It would be nicer to be warmer. Yeah, I could use some of that, she says. 8.30pm Monday January 29 on ABC. Plane maker Bombardier has won a legal battle in the US against import tariffs on its C-series aircraft, the company said on Friday . The decision, which could save thousands of jobs at Bombardier's Northern Ireland factory, was announced by the US International Trade Commission (ITC), with all four members voting against complainant Boeing. US President Donald Trumps administration had threatened to impose duties of 292% after Boeing had complained to US authorities that the rival jets were being sold to the US airline Delta below production cost and given illegal subsidies from the UK and Canadian governments. The ITC said Boeing was "not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of 100- to 150-seat large civil aircraft from Canada that the US Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and sold at less than fair value". "As a result of the US ITCs negative determinations, no antidumping or countervailing duty orders will be issued," added. In a statement, Bombardier said the decision was a "victory for innovation, competition, and the rule of law". "It is also a victory for Us airlines and the US traveling public. The C Series is the most innovative and efficient new aircraft in a generation. Its development and production represent thousands of jobs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom." "We are extremely proud of our employees, investors and suppliers who have worked together to bring this remarkable aircraft to the market. With this matter behind us, we are moving full speed ahead with finalizing our partnership with Airbus." "Integration planning is going well and we look forward to delivering the C Series to the US market so that US airlines and the US flying public can enjoy the many benefits of this remarkable aircraft." However, Boeing said it was not taking the decision lying down. "We are disappointed that the International Trade Commission 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 US small single-aisle airplane market," it said in a statement. "While we disagree with the ITCs conclusion today, we will review the commissions more detailed opinions in full as they are released in the coming days. Boeing remains confident in the facts of our case and will continue to document any harm to Boeing and our extensive US supply chain that results from illegal subsidies and dumped pricing." "We will not stand by as Bombardiers illegal business practices continue to harm American workers and the aerospace industry they support. Global trade only works if everyone adheres to the rules we have all agreed to. Thats a belief we will continue to defend." 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Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. 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Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Sherritt International Corporation engages in the mining, refining, and sale of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores primarily in Canada and Cuba. The company operates through Moa Joint Venture and Fort Site, Metals Other, Oil and Gas, Power, and Technologies and Corporate segments It produces and sells agriculture fertilizers in Western Canada; and provides additional fertilizer storage and administrative facilities in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Canada. The company also explores for and produces oil and gas primarily from offshore reservoirs located in the north coast of Cuba. It has interests in three production-sharing contracts in Cuba; and working-interests in various oil fields and related production platform located in the Gulf of Valencia in Spain. In addition, the company generates and sells electricity from natural gas and steam facilities with a generating capacity is 506 megawatts, as well as provides technical support, process optimization, and technology development services. It operates two combined cycle plants at Varadero and Boca de Jaruco. Sherritt International Corporation was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More As the company's cofounder and CEO, Shariq Hamid, explains, the device consists of eyeglass frames fitted with regular prescription progressive bifocal lenses. A sensing chip built into the frames detects the distance to a book, screen or other object and then communicates with the glasses nose pads. They then subtly inflate and adjust a few millimeters, just enough to lift the lens to the proper angle for the wearer to see more clearly. You dont have to look at the bottom, Hamid says. You can keep your eyes at the same level, and your glasses adjust. Hamid said that he and PH Technical Labs' chief technology officer, Ram Pattikonda, started working to make life easier for nearsighted people when they reached their 40s and started experiencing the condition themselves. Looking at the phone all day long, we felt that we needed a solution, he said. They initially considered creating eyeglasses with smart lenses that would adjust to the distance but decided that such a device would be too bulky and conspicuous. Then we thought, What about moving the lenses? Hamid recalls. The company has applied for a patent and is planning to market Dynafocals later this year, probably for around $150. BUDAPEST, Hungary The prime ministers of four Central European countries that are in the European Union reiterated their opposition to migration Friday, with Hungarys leader saying Europe needs a new blueprint to be successful. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the countries of Central Europe were making increasingly strong contributions to the EU economy, which Orban said needs to be more competitive. We are not receiving or requesting aid, Orban said during a panel discussion with the other regional leaders. We are a self-conscious community which gives to the European Union at least as much as the EU gives us. Orban said the blueprint he envisions would return Europe to the technological forefront, include a joint defense force and the goal of a work-based society meaning a clause relating to total employment, Orban said there was agreement among the Visegrad Group, which also includes Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, that it was in their interests for Europe to be strong while preserving the independence of individual countries instead of creating a United States of Europe. We are pro-European politicians, and our goal is for Europe to be stronger, he said, adding: The question is, will the European Union have enough of the good-quality leadership needed for us to achieve these aims. The meeting also included Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. They also stressed the need for more north-south ties between the countries in the form of highways, high-speed rail links and oil and gas pipelines. We have to overcome the east-west connectivity in Europe, Morawiecki said, adding that such projects would increase competitiveness of the entire region. The group also advocated for the further expansion of the EU, to add countries like Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Orban said Hungary was close to a deal to import natural gas from Romania, reducing the countrys dependence on Russian energy supplies. Orban said the migration crisis had made it more difficult to renew Europe. He called U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposals about a global agreement on migration dangerous. Its not worth it for the European Union to try to reach a common position at the U.N. because we wont be partners in this, Orban said, adding that Central European nations want to stick to our tolerant, Christian way of life. For his part, Fico said he belonged to a group of prime ministers who do not wish to see Muslim communities being created in our own countries, which have Christian roots. LOS ANGELES 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 Mansons estate and the disposition of his remains, Jason Freeman, whose father was born by Mansons first wife, echoed the frustration of several parties who have been trying to get control of the notorious criminals body since he died in November. My grandfather has been on ice over 60 days, Freeman blurted in court as he choked up. Judge David Cowan divided the two dueling Manson cases, deciding that litigation over the potentially lucrative estate should remain in Los Angeles because thats 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 Mansons 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 Mansons 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. Im 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 shouldnt have been blown up as big as it was for all these years, now that hes passed (away), I want to help bury it. So far, three parties have staked claims in court to collect Mansons 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 Mansons 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 Mansons 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 hes 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. Brunners lawyer, Daniel Mortensen, said Manson acknowledged his client as a son, but they didnt 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 doesnt want anything ghoulish to go on with the body. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump highlighted his tax cuts and deregulatory efforts with a salesmans 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 presidents 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 Trumps 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. Its 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 dont 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. Americas 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 years 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 Chinas 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 Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Officers found 43 pounds of marijuana in several trash bags at Manzano Mesa Elementary School Thursday morning, according to a police report. The discovery came just one day after a similar discovery was made at another elementary school several miles away. On Wednesday, the principal of Comanche Elementary reported finding a bag containing marijuana near a crosswalk next to the school. It is unclear how much marijuana was in that bag. Monica Armenta, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Public Schools, said the school police were called initially in both instances, but then they turned over the case to APD. They just happened to dump them on school property, she said. Its all very, very strange. Thursday morning, the principal of Manzano Mesa called police to say one of the custodians had found four bags dropped on the ground on the south end of the school property that contained a green leafy substance as well as rubber gloves, soil and paper towels, according to the report. When police arrived at the school, located near Southern and Juan Tabo SE, they confirmed it was marijuana and took the bags to the Foothills substation. The marijuana was wet and was transferred into paper sacks to help with the drying process, the officer wrote in the report. A total of seven bags were filled with a final net weight of 43 pounds. There wasnt anything in the bags to trace it to the individuals who had dropped it and the schools security camera did not capture who had discarded the bag, according to the report. Students were never around the bag or its contents, but may have noticed police presence near campus, principal Peggy Candelaria wrote in a letter to parents. Student and staff safety are of the utmost importance at Manzano Mesa Elementary, and I want to assure you that our students were never in harms way. The officers tagged the bags into evidence and notified APDs narcotic unit. An Albuquerque Police Department spokesman did not respond to questions or requests for more details. Theres a lot of talk about how robots will be replacing people and eliminating jobs. Maybe that will happen someday in the future. But, based on what just happened at one retail store, that future is still a ways off. Margiotta, a family-owned, upscale food-and-wine chain based in the United Kingdom thought it would be fun to test out a robot assistant in one of their locations. Unfortunately, the experiment didnt go very well. Fabio no, not the silky-haired model is a robot with software developed by scientists at Heriot-Watt University. The idea was to station Fabio at the door of the Edinburgh Margiotta so that he could greet shoppers with high fives, food samples and helpful directions to products. The idea seemed like a no-brainer: a friendly and fun robot with all the answers because it was connected to an unlimited amount of data online. Poor Fabio. He got fired after only a week. Why? Unfortunately, Fabio didnt perform as well as we had hoped, Luisa Margiotta, the manager of the chain told NDTV. People seemed to be actually avoiding him. So what was the problem? Mashable reports that the robot couldnt move well enough to direct customers to products and would sometimes give customers incorrect or inadequate information (thanks, internet!). More disturbingly, Fabio would unexpectedly yell out hello, gorgeous or offer up unwanted high fives and even hugs to startled shoppers. The result? A bunch of creeped-out customers. Dont worry, Fabio fans. The robot is still in its early days and its manufacturer SoftBank, a Japanese company says it already has more than 10,000 similar robots in operation at retail stores, cruise ships and even homes around the world, with plans to ship thousands more in the years to come. Regardless of SoftBanks plans, I wouldnt get too concerned about the robot revolution. If the experience at Margiotta is any indication, businesses will have a long way to go before customers prefer to engage with machines over actual humans. Unless that human is the real-life Fabio, of course. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque Public Schools will pay $75,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by former Superintendent Winston Brooks that claims his buyout agreement was breached when his immediate successor disparaged him in a Journal interview. The deal signed Oct. 30 includes $61,500 for damages, along with $13,500 to cover Brooks attorneys fees, according to documents APS released to the Journal in response to an open records request. APS also spent $22,587 for its legal fees in the case. Brooks filed the lawsuit in 2nd Judicial District Court in February 2015, seeking attorneys fees and $125,000 $25,000 for each of the five remarks made by then-interim Superintendent Brad Winter during a Journal interview. The September 2014 Journal story quoted Winter as saying, I just couldnt work with him (Brooks) anymore, because he felt Brooks was not willing to collaborate with the business community, New Mexico Public Education Department and neighborhood groups. Winter went on to say that Winston just had a profound effect on those folks. Nobody (at PED) wanted to work with him. A month before Winters interview, Brooks had stepped down as APS superintendent with a $350,000 buyout and a settlement agreement barring the board and district administration from disparaging the conduct, character, performance or ethics of Brooks or his wife, Ann. Winters comments violated that agreement, the lawsuit argued. In early 2016, the case bogged down as the court debated Brooks mental capacity. APS had sought a protection order to keep Winter from being deposed, contending that Brooks ability to proceed with the lawsuit appeared to be impaired or limited. The APS motion cited a docket sheet from a Kansas court case that appeared to show Brooks wife had been appointed guardian for her husband. The guardianship action, which occurred just months after Brooks departure from APS, was described as uncontested and included a physician evaluation, the Kansas records show. The APS motion said the Kansas court documents indicate impediments that could affect Brooks ability to proceed in the lawsuit and said APS didnt know who was pulling the levers in the case. An August 2017 plaintiffs response reveals that Brooks granted his wife power of attorney in 2009, which allowed her to sue on his behalf. Its not clear why Brooks wanted his wife to have power of attorney. Winston Brooks and Ann Brooks listed as his guardian both signed the October release and settlement agreement. An APS spokeswoman declined to comment. Brooks attorney, Maureen Sanders, could not be immediately reached Friday afternoon. Brooks led APS from 2008 to 2014, a tumultuous tenure that included conduct-related lawsuits, domestic disputes, bizarre phone calls, and in a Twitter exchange with a television reporter in 2013, Brooks compared then-Education Secretary Hanna Skandera to livestock, using the terms Moo, Moo, Oink, oink!! SANTA FE A former Santa Fe and Espanola public school teacher whos already facing over 20 charges of sexually abusing female students was indicted on two more rape counts this week. Gary Gregor, 61, was indicted on two counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13 on Tuesday for crimes that allegedly occurred while he was a fourth grade teacher at Santa Fes Agua Fria Elementary School during the 2003-2004 school year. Gregor previously was indicted on 15 counts last month for sex crimes committed against two of his female students at Agua Fria, but seven of those charges were dropped by the Attorney Generals office Wednesday. Attorney General spokesman James Hallinan said they were dismissed because they were past the time limits of the statute of limitations. Assistant Attorney General Laura Horton filed a notice to join all of the Santa Fe counts into a single case on Wednesday. In the document, Horton writes that Gregor would have the two victims sit at a table at the front of the classroom. He would keep one of the girls in the classroom on alternating days during lunch and recess and would rape them, Horton wrote. One victim was interviewed by police again earlier this month and said Gregor would rape her while she was sitting on his lap in the classroom, leading to the new indictment. Gregor is also charged with raping girls while he was a teacher at Fairview Elementary School in Espanola between 2006 and 2008, giving him 24 charges altogether. Gregor resigned from Santa Fe Public Schools in 2004 after Museum of International Folk Art employees told the district that they saw him fondling young girls on a field trip. He was given a neutral recommendation by SFPS and was later hired in Espanola. Gregors case has gained national attention as an example of passing the trash among school districts. He also faced accusations in Utah and Montana. Gregor rejected two plea deals at the last minute during court hearings in October and November while victims and their families were in attendance. That caused his private attorney, Jason Bowles, to separate ties with him and Gregor is now represented by a public defender. He was been indicted on 17 extra counts since the plea hearings. SANTA FE A Las Vegas, N.M., city councilor was arrested for his second DWI last month, according to a criminal complaint filed by State Police. A State Police officer noticed a driver, later identified as David Ulibarri, roll through a stop sign while turning onto New Mexico Avenue in Las Vegas around 10:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and pulled him over. The officer wrote that he could smell alcohol coming from the car as soon as Ulibarri, 65, rolled down his window and added that Ulibarri had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech. Ulibarri was arrested and booked into jail after breath test revealed his blood alcohol content to be .09, just above the legal driving limit of .08. He was later released on his own recognizance, according to court documents. A man who answered the phone listed in court documents for Ulibarris attorney, Luis Juarez, confirmed that the arrested man is a city councilor. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico lawmakers are once again angling to change the waning Legislative Lottery Scholarship, proposing various bills they say would improve the program that benefits about 26,000 students annually. Solvency concerns have prompted frequent attempts in recent years to tweak the 22-year-old scholarship one that has diminished in value amid rising tuition and growing demand. The scholarship currently pays 60 percent of eligible students tuition at state colleges and universities a dramatic decline from the 90 percent it covered a year ago. Funding comes from the New Mexico Lottery, which must put at least 30 percent of its gross sales into the scholarship program. Its contribution has varied through the years. It dropped to $37.8 million in 2017 from $46.3 million in 2016, a loss of 18 percent. But that came after a year that saw 13 percent growth. Lottery representatives contend that the 30 percent mandate hurts sales by limiting prize payouts, and they support legislation from Rep. Jim Smith, R-Tijeras, to lift that requirement. They point to an Oklahoma Lottery sales surge after that state lifted its 35 percent mandate and say students in New Mexico could reap any similar benefits here. The New Mexico Lottery believes mandates are arbitrary sales barriers which do not support maximization of profits for students, spokeswoman Wendy Ahlm said in a written statement. But critics argue that the 30 percent requirement, implemented in 2008, actually has meant more money for scholarships and say removing it would enable the lottery to spend more money on administration and third-party costs. Fred Nathan of Think New Mexico called the potential change a bad gamble for students. The thing that needs to be remembered is the scholarship fund has received more dollars every year since the 30 percent requirement took effect in 2008 than it did in any year before that, he said. Nathans organization highlights the difference between lottery scholarship contributions in 2003 and 2012. The lotterys gross revenues were almost identical both years nearly $134 million but $33.1 million went to scholarships in 2003, compared with $41.3 in 2012, according to documents the lottery provided to the Legislature last year. Student government leaders from the University of New Mexico, the states largest school, have objected to Smiths bill as currently written and are recommending changes. Smiths bill, House Bill 147, would reinstate the 30 percent mandate if the lottery fails to contribute at least $38 million to the scholarship in any given year. But the Associated Students of UNM say they want a $40 million guarantee and a reversion to a 35 percent mandate if it falls below that. They also want all unclaimed prize money funneled into the scholarship fund, as well as 50 percent of any new lottery revenue. Were going to continue to push against this and try to make sure its fair for students, said Noah Michelsohn, ASUNM spokesman. Smith indicated this week hes open to working with the students, but said some of the proposed amendments could be problematic. Meanwhile, other new scholarship proposals aim to change how officials determine its value. Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, and Sen. William Soules, D-Las Cruces, each have introduced so-called decoupling bills that would untether the scholarships value from the cost of tuition. Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron said her office supports the concept of decoupling, though it does not favor one particular bill. Soules bill, Senate Bill 140, sets base rates: $1,400 per semester for students at the states three research institutions including the University of New Mexico $950 for other four-year institutions, and $350 for community colleges. It still allows HED to make adjustments depending on available funding and Soules said he expects it to wind up higher but he wanted to at least provide more certainty for families. It makes it a whole lot simpler for students and families and, quite frankly, universities to plan each year, Soules said. Some have argued that schools more readily raised tuition in the past because they knew the lottery scholarship would cover it. Soules said he did not know if that was true, but this just totally takes it away from the tuition discussion. Larranagas proposal, House Bill 178, sets flat rates $1,500/$1,000/$750 which change the proportion of money that goes to each kind of school, significantly raising the value of community college scholarships. HED could adjust downward in lean years or offer supplemental scholarships if the fund balance permits. Soules bill has the support of the Council of University Presidents, which represents New Mexicos four-year institutions. Executive Director Marc Saavedra said the councils ultimate goal is finding new revenue to bolster the scholarship fund, but decoupling at least helps students know what to expect. Saavedra said Soules bill sets worst-case scenario rates, and that available funding should permit HED to raise the value. The scholarship currently pays $1,721 per semester at research institutions. Soules legislation just allows that as a starting point, Saavedra said, and at a very conservative level. Currently, university students have to maintain a 2.5 GPA and take at least 15 credit hours per semester to qualify for the lottery scholarship. SANTA FE The latest attempt to earmark more money for early childhood programs from one of New Mexicos permanent funds is headed to the House floor. The proposal, House Joint Resolution 1, passed the House Judiciary Committee on a 7-4 vote after several hours of debate today. Previous proposals to increase the annual distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund for home-visitation, pre-Kindergarten and other programs have stalled in the Senate in recent years due to concern about undermining the $17 billion funds longterm viability. Opponents of the idea raised similar concerns during todays hearing. Its just not good fiscal management, said Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, who instead suggested a tax could be levied on the renewable energy industry to generate more money for early childhood programs. However, backers say a cash infusion is needed now with New Mexico struggling with chronically high poverty rates and lower graduation rates than the national average. We are last in everything, said Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, during todays debate. We know what the solutions are, lets get to it. The proposal to increase the distribution from 5 percent to 6 percent would require not only approval by lawmakers but also ratification from state voters, as it would involve amending New Mexicos Constitution. A man wanted in at least two Albuquerque bank robberies killed himself in his northeast Albuquerque home during a standoff with authorities on Friday, according to the FBI. Spokesman Frank Fisher said 44-year-old Christopher Schlarb was found dead after apparently shooting himself inside his home on the the 1500 block of Calle Sonrisa NE. He said at the time, FBI agents and Albuquerque Police were trying to arrest Schlarb for two bank robberiescommitted on Dec. 5 and Jan. 11but he refused to come out of the house. After efforts by law enforcement to negotiate his surrender, a single gunshot inside the house was heard, Fisher said. No law enforcement officers fired their weapons, and Schlarb was alone at the time. He said an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Every single day our correctional officers are on the front lines of keeping New Mexicans safe. They play a large role in making sure that dangerous, violent criminals stay behind bars, where they belong. Making sure they are supported is extremely important. Gov. Susana Martinez made this very clear in her executive budget and legislative proposals. First, the governor recommends a 5 percent $14.4 million increase in the Corrections Departments budget. This money will help us overcome a challenge our department is facing retaining and recruiting correctional officers. The governors proposal would provide about $6.8 million for a $2-per-hour pay increase to nearly 1,300 correctional, probation and parole officers. It would also increase the starting salary for new correctional officers from $16.44 per hour to $18.44 per hour. With this money we could recruit and retain correctional officers. These are the officers who are cracking down on dangerous criminals who are running from the law and keeping offenders behind bars, where they cant hurt our families. The funds will also help us acquire and pay for the tools that will help our officers do their jobs and ensure that our prison facilities are operated safely. Additionally, we stand behind the governors call to crack down on fugitives who are running from the law. We also support her call to reinstate the death penalty if someone kills a correctional officer. We must send a message to criminals who are terrorizing our prisons and communities that we will not stand for it. That is exactly what the governors proposals do. Under the governors proposals our communities and officers will be safer. We will also be able to meet most pressing needs were facing at the Corrections Department. And we cannot continue to risk losing good officers and candidates who want to serve as correctional officers in our prisons because we cant offer them a competitive salary. In all the #MeToo talk about sexual harassment, assault and rape, it dawns on me that one category of victim remains undiscussed, almost taboo to talk about. The victims of childhood incest. Meet Elizabeth Spalter. Buoyed by todays open conversation about sexual crimes, Elizabeth wants the world to know her story. Elizabeth had what looked like a privileged childhood. The youngest of four children growing up in a luxury New York City apartment, she and her brothers attended private schools. They had a country home in Connecticut. Their mother, Josie, was a homemaker and their father, Harold Spalter, was a former Air Force captain and a prominent eye doctor in Manhattan. Respectable on the outside but a monster on the inside, having sexually abused his daughter from the time she was 6 until she left for college. Dr. Spalter also psychologically and physically tortured his sons. One of Elizabeths brothers would later reveal that he saw his father naked in his 12-year-old sisters bed and that they lived in a house of terror. Another brother said when he returned home from school it seemed as though the life had gone out (of Elizabeth) and never came back. In truth, Elizabeths only escape was to pour out her loneliness, shame and anger into her private journal. Sadly, so many people in my life knew about the abuse, Elizabeth told me, but (they) didnt stand up to my father. After she went away to college at 17, Elizabeth never lived with her parents again. She and her mother were very close, but Elizabeth kept the ugly truth from her to protect the family structure. At 23, Elizabeth entered much needed therapy as she struggled with post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. Josie Spalter was diagnosed with cervical cancer in April 1995, and within 10 months she died at home. The night before she passed away, my father became irate at me and screamed at me, Elizabeth told me in an e-mail from her home in Vienna, Austria. He said, You killed your mother! She read your journals! I shouted in response, You are blaming moms death on the sexual abuse YOU did to me?! And there it was. In 1996 the vile family secret was fully out in the open, but still no one came to Elizabeths aid. No one dared to confront the domineering Dr. Spalter. To protect my mother, I sacrificed so much, and what he said was devastating to me. Elizabeth wrote. I sacrificed innocence, honesty and intimacy with my family, keeping this secret was lonely and a heavy burden to bear, especially as a child. About two years after Josies death, Spalter married his secretary, Diane Rogers, a woman not much older than Elizabeth. Its probably no coincidence that Elizabeth chose to live as far away as possible from her father. She earned a degree in psychotherapy, taking out student loans for her education, and today she operates her own practice in Vienna. She is happily married and has beautiful twin daughters. It was in that protective cocoon, and following the 2014 death of her 84-year-old father, that Elizabeth found the courage to file suit against Dr. Spalters sizeable estate. Last Spring, Elizabeth won whats believed to be the largest sexual abuse settlement ever recorded in the state of Connecticut. Each of her brothers offered testimony on their little sisters behalf. Elizabeths complaint to the court asked for $8 million. After an emotional and contentious month-long trial, during which it was revealed that Dr. Spalter had told relatives that he sometimes got confused and mistook Elizabeth for his wife, the jurors decided $8 million was not enough. They more than doubled the amount, awarding Elizabeth $20 million. Stepmom and estate executrix Diane Rogers Spalter has appealed the decision. Elizabeths case got scant media attention last year, and now she wants to make sure that the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements include dialogue about childhood incest victims. Elizabeth told me she was especially moved when actress Mira Sorvino recently issued a public apology to Dylan Farrow for not believing her story of childhood molestation at the hands of her adoptive father, director Woody Allen. Sorvino said she now regrets ever working with the director. Allen has long denied the charge. If the current movements are to make a measurable difference, it seems clear they need to concentrate on helping those most egregiously victimized and to draw a firm line between them and women who were merely made to feel uncomfortable on the job or stayed too long on a bad date. Incest is a crime and the #MeToo and #TimesUp groups would do well to embrace its victims and help them pursue convictions. The stigma, shame and fear silences us, and Im hoping with this dialogue, Elizabeth wrote me, with more stories in the press, (survivors) will feel emboldened and safe to come forward. Elizabeth is more than a survivor in my book. She is a warrior. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. Its a tug of war that has played out at the Roundhouse since Gov. Susana Martinez was elected. And, like clockwork, the battle has resurfaced. The governor and state Public Education Department want lawmakers to sign off on a new merit pay plan that rewards exemplary teachers with bonuses of up to $10,000. Exemplary is the highest rating possible for a teacher in this state. The budget also proposes 2 percent pay raises for all New Mexico teachers. PED Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski says keeping top-performing teachers in the classroom is important because on average their students show the equivalent of 25 months of learning in a single year. He says the bonuses are a way to retain the best teachers. The governors budget proposal calls for any teacher rated exemplary to receive a $5,000 bonus, while exemplary middle and high school science, math and technology teachers would qualify for another $5,000, or $10,000 total. Meanwhile, all exemplary teachers in the states lowest-performing schools would also get $10,000. Teacher unions oppose the merit pay plan, arguing its unfair and fundamentally flawed because it relies heavily on student test score improvement. We dont believe the evaluation system underlying the so-called merit pay program is fair, so therefore the granting of any bonuses based on that evaluation system has huge problems, says Betty Patterson, president of National Education Association New Mexico. Ruszkowski and Patterson each have a point. New Mexicos best teachers deserve to be rewarded, and its in our states best interest to keep those teachers because the impact they have on our states future is immeasurable. But we should also acknowledge that theres an element of unfairness to the bonuses in that not every great teacher has an equal opportunity to be rated as exemplary. A teacher who has a highly disruptive student in a given year is going to have a hard time overcoming that challenge for the good of the rest of the classroom. Similarly, a teacher who works at a dysfunctional school or district and gets no support is going to have a harder time achieving exemplary status compared to a teacher of similar abilities who works at a school and district that provide the tools needed to get the job done. Make no mistake, the teacher merit pay being proposed by the governor and PED is not perfect, and if it makes it through the Legislature there will be many deserving teachers who dont qualify. But New Mexico has to start somewhere when it comes to honoring great teachers who get our kids on track, and ahead, academically. If the teacher unions have better suggestions for how to fairly reward New Mexicos great teachers, they should speak up and put forth their own proposal. Otherwise, this is a strong effort that rewards at least some teachers who are making a difference for both their students and our state. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. With tens of thousands of patients flocking to hospitals and at least 37 children dead, this years flu season is shaping up to be the worst in nearly a decade and its not over yet. At a time when experts hoped new cases would start tapering off, federal health officials said Friday that the number of patients seeking care for flulike symptoms continues to rise sharply. Nearly 12,000 people have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of flu, an increase of 3,000 in just one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest report, for the week ending Jan. 20, shows the rate of people seeking care now rivals that of the swine-flu pandemic of 2009. In Florida, West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton has seen a surge of patients. We think it may be peaking, said Adam Leisy, head of the emergency room, but who knows what the next few weeks will bring. Leisy said his hospital has been flooded with elderly snowbirds often already dealing with chronic conditions and now wheezing from coughs and struggling with fever. In California, some hospitals have pitched tents outside their ERs to cope with the crush of patients; some facilities there have flown in nurses from out of state. Doctors have worked double and triple shifts. In Chicago, a shortage of patient beds has left ambulances idling outside hospitals. In New York, state leaders this week issued an emergency order allowing pharmacists to give vaccines to children. The toll on children has been especially severe. CDC officials said the pediatric death count is likely to approach, if not exceed, the 148 deaths reported during the especially severe flu season of 2014 and 2015. That season ended with 56,000 flu-related deaths, 710,000 people hospitalized and 16 million who sought care from a clinician or hospital. This years intensity has been driven by a particularly nasty strain of the virus known as H3N2. Another strain has also begun showing up, hitting baby boomers especially hard, CDC officials said Friday, although experts have not figured out exactly why. CDC says the number of pediatric deaths is probably more than the 37 reported, because if often takes longer for deaths outside hospitals to be reported to authorities. The real number may be twice as high, officials said. You hear people talking about how serious it can get, but you never think its going to happen to you, Anne LaMontagne, 41, said by phone as she sat by her son in Childrens Minnesota in Minneapolis. In the space of five days, 9-year-old Grant went from having a sore throat to being rushed to the hospital, with doctors struggling to force more oxygen into his lungs to keep him alive. The flu led to pneumonia. Her sons lungs filled with mucus, preventing him from breathing. Doctors put the boy on a ventilator and stuck a probe down his throat to suction out vinelike threads of mucus from his lungs. But his condition got worse. Last week, LaMontagne and her husband looked on with horror as doctors inserted a large tube into an unconscious Grants neck and connected him to a lung-bypass machine to give his body the oxygen his lungs could not. The sight sent the couple fleeing to the hospital cafeteria. We just cried and tried to breathe and talk each other through what was happening, she said. The treatment worked. Last Friday her son had recovered to the point that doctors woke him from sedation. It all happened so fast, his mother said Friday. Hes a healthy boy. He swims. Hes never had any major illnesses. Two differences with this years flu is that it hit almost all states at the same time and has stayed at that high level nationally for three consecutive weeks, said Daniel Jernigan, who heads the CDCs influenza division. In past years, the flu more commonly appeared in different parts of the country at different times. The current season began in October, but there was a rapid ramp-up in January right after the holidays, probably triggered by children returning to school and spreading the virus, Jernigan said. In Florida and Texas, entire school districts have closed to stop further spread. The burden of so many cases on hospitals, experts say, underscores the fragility of the countrys health-care system. Some hospitals are already strained to capacity on a normal day and could be overrun if a pandemic hits. The concern is that with an emergency, we could get to a tipping point, where the demands of community exceeds our capacity as a country, said James Blumenstock, chief program officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The length and severity of a flu season is always notoriously hard to predict. Experts often look for clues in past seasons when the same strains of flu have dominated. In previous H3N2 seasons, flu activity remained active for an average of about 16 weeks but in some cases continued as long as 20 weeks. By that measure, we are about halfway there, Jernigan said. But it means we have several more weeks of flu to go. Already, this season has offered its share of surprises. People over 65 are usually the ones with the highest hospitalization rates, with the second most affected group being children under 4. But officials have been taken aback in recent weeks to see that individuals with the second-highest hospitalization rate are between 50 to 64 years old. Baby boomers have higher rates of hospitalization than their grandchildren right now, Jernigan noted with surprise. Its not clear why this is happening. Officials say one possibility may be the mix of viruses circulating this season and the different levels of immunity that people have developed to those viruses over time. In addition, vaccination rates for adults under 65 are lower than those for seniors. These are folks who would really benefit from higher vaccination rates, Jernigan said. Theyre usually at the peak of their careers, or managing a lot of business, and them missing work because of flu would have a huge impact. It is not too late to get a flu shot, experts continue to stress. The current vaccine protects against all three of the most prevalent strains. It is least effective against the H3N2 strain, but its effectiveness against the other two strains that are now appearing H1N1 and an influenza B strain is much higher. The CDC recommends an injectable flu vaccine for everyone 6 months or older as soon as possible because the body takes about two weeks to produce a full immune response. The one upside to the severity of this years season is that suddenly everyone wants to know how to avoid getting sick. I have friends calling me, family asking me, Is it too late to get a shot? said Blumenstock, a health official in Arlington, Va. I tell them: Hurry up. Go! Get your shot. Hopefully, this year is a chance for people to learn. The Washington Posts Julie Tate contributed to this report. Look at that face, those eyes as blue as robins eggs, the baby teeth of her smile, and imagine forgetting her. Listen to her chatter, the way she stretched the word puppy her favorite animal like it was two words, and imagine forgetting her. Watch how she always seemed in such a hurry, as if she knew time was short, and imagine forgetting her. On a summer day in Portales when temperatures hovered around 91 degrees, imagine forgetting her strapped to her car seat, trapped inside an SUV-turned-oven until its too late to remember, too late to save her. Thats what happened to Maliyah Faith Jones, a 22-month-old girl who died July 25 when authorities say a child-care worker in Portales forgot to remove her and a 1-year-old girl from a black GMC Acadia for more than an hour after returning from an outing at a park. This is what Maliyahs mother wants you to remember that no matter how sure you might be that your child is out of the car, dont be. Look before you lock. I just want people to double check, said Erika Tafoya, who now lives in Albuquerque. I know people can get thrown off. People have busy days. Its just something, its, I dont know, how this could happen? How anybody can forget a child? Tafoya will never forget. Maliyah was her only child, a beautiful baby girl born Sept. 15, 2015. Her name means beloved, but Tafoya said all she knows is that it sounded pretty. Tafoya, who is from Tucumcari, attended school to become a dental assistant, graduating when she was already pregnant with Maliyah. She enrolled in the New Mexico Christian Childrens Homes single parent program to provide Maliyah with a stable home environment and a faith-based support system. Maliyah had just turned 1 when mother and daughter moved to Portales, where the program is based. It was just me and my daughter, Tafoya, 23, said. I have an aunt and my cousin there, but it mostly was just me and her. Her cousin knew Sandi Taylor, who ran Taylor Tots childcare center from her home along with her mother, Mary Taylor. That, Tafoya said, gave her some confidence that the Taylors would take good care of her child while she was at work. Until that day in July, they apparently had. That day, the Taylors transported 12 kids to a park for lunch and back to the child-care center. Sandi Taylor had taken six of the children, including Maliyah and the 1-year-old, in the black Acadia. According to an affidavit filed by Portales police, Taylor brought four of the children inside the center but forgot two of them. Taylor could not explain why she forgot the children, why she forgot to do a head count, why she hadnt noticed two were missing even as she put the other 10 children down for a nap. Only after she returned to the Acadia to run an errand did she remember. The 1-year-old suffered catastrophic brain damage. Maliyah did not survive. The temperature in the Acadia was estimated to have reached 135 degrees. Heat stroke can occur at a body temperature of 104 degrees; death can occur at 107 degrees. The Taylors are each charged with child abuse resulting in death and child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. Each count carries a mandatory sentence of 18 years in prison. Trial for both women has been postponed from March until September. The license for Taylor Tots has been revoked. Were mourning, too, a relative of the Taylors told the Eastern New Mexico News. Its just a horrible accident and I dont know where we go from here. Tafoya does. After Maliyahs death, she moved away from Portales, unable to bear remaining in the apartment they shared. She handed out wristbands with the words Look Before You Lock, created a Facebook page called Justice for Maliyah, scattered stones painted and decorated and bearing the hashtag #justiceformaliyah that directs those who find the stones to the Facebook page. She tells people about the dangers of leaving a child in a car, even for a moment how an average of 37 children die each year in hot cars, according to the safety organization Kids and Cars. How in 2017, 42 children across the country died, including one in New Mexico Maliyah. How the temperature in a car can climb 20 degrees in 10 minutes, even when the car is in shade, windows down, outside temperatures as low as 57 degrees, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. She tells people about Maliyah, the little girl with the big blue eyes who learned to walk and talk earlier than most children. She picked up everything so fast, Tafoya said. My grandma tells me Maliyah did everything so quick because she knew she wasnt going to be here long. She hopes you cant imagine forgetting her now. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Hundreds of charter school students, parents, teachers and activists gathered at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Friday to celebrate National School Choice Week the worlds largest annual celebration of opportunity in education. Organized by the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, the event included a variety of speakers, along with dance performances and live music from local students. Matthew Pahl, the coalitions executive director, touted the progress the states charter school sector has seen over the years. New Mexicos list of top 10 schools includes five charters, with the Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science ranked number one. In total, there are 97 public charter schools in New Mexico, authorized by local districts or the state Public Education Commission. Each one (of the charter schools) offers a unique education, Pahl said. Ivonne Orozco, 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, noted that school choice creates buy in for families. A Spanish teacher at the Public Academy for the Performing Arts high, Orozco said she is happy to work at a charter because she can offer more individualized learning. PAPAs students receive intensive education in dance, music and theater, with many going on to prestigious performing arts colleges. For Adamaris Michel, a senior at Mission Achievement and Success, attending a charter school has pushed her to attend college something she hadnt considered earlier in her life. The teens previous traditional public schools never felt like home, and dyslexia made coursework a struggle. I hated school; I never wanted to go, Michel said. MAS offered a second chance at life. I am so thankful for this school of choice, Michel said. Omar Hernandez, a MAS senior, said it makes sense to give families the freedom to pick a school that fits their child. As people, we all differ in the ways we think and the ways we act, he said. If we dont think the same and we dont act the same, why should we be forced to go to a designated school? Launched in 2013, MAS has earned three straight A grades from PED despite serving a high percentage of low-income and minority students. It currently enrolls roughly 750 students in kindergarten through third grades, as well as middle school and high school grades. In August 2018, MAS will open a second location. Charter schools are booming across New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona, according to a recent article from EducationNext. Relatively liberal charter laws in the Four Corners states have produced a broader distribution of charter schools there relative to the nation as a whole, the article states. Northern New Mexicos outdoor recreation industry is bracing for a dismal year due to a record-breaking lack of snowpack this winter. This is scary, says Ivan Valdez of The Reel Life fly shop in Santa Fe. The health of our lakes, rivers, wildlife, the tourism economy, they all depend on that runoff. Snowpack in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado is at record low amounts and not expected to improve any time soon, says Chris Romero, snow survey hydrological technician with the United States Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service in Albuquerque. Romeros January statewide report shows snowpack at just 4 percent of median compared with 98 percent at the same time last year. Wed need twice as much snow as we normally receive to make up for what we havent gotten so far, Romero said. A snowstorm that hit northern New Mexico the weekend of Jan. 20-21 was welcome but did little to alleviate the situation, he noted. River rafting guides have ridden out droughts like this before and are prepared for low water conditions, says Steve Miller of New Wave Rafting in Embudo and president of the New Mexico River Outfitters Association. You can run the racecourse at any level and still have plenty of fun, he says. River rafting companies have adapted over the years to repeated drought-related low water conditions by offering funyak rentals and guided float and fishing trips on the lower river. The industry saw a banner year of hair-raising and lucrative runs through the Rio Grandes Taos Box last year due to great high water conditions. But this year could be another story, as the ski industry has already learned. Were open but considering the lack of snow and limited terrain, business is a little slow, says Candy DeJoia at Ski Santa Fe. The ski area averages 225 inches of snow a year but has only seen 24 inches so far this season, she said. So instead the resort has been busy making man-made snow to apply to their most popular trails, she said. Those who venture up the mountain will find discounted prices, great weather and plenty of room to ski, she says. Other ski areas around the state are suffering the same fate with overall business down by about 30 percent this year, says George Brooks, executive director of Ski New Mexico, an industry association. Brooks stressed that most resorts have good snowmaking capabilities and are applying snow to their most heavily used runs to keep customers happy. Weve still got a couple months of winter left and are hoping for snow, he says. Taos Ski Valley declined to provide ticket or employment figures, though a statement from spokesperson Skylar Kraatz stated that the 88 percent decrease in total snowfall last month caused a decline in overall visits. One ski town thats remaining confident is Red River. Because our snowmaking is so exceptional we maybe have taken business away from some of our surrounding areas, said Jenna Grubbs, the towns tourism and economic development director. She estimated Decembers reported lodgers tax revenue will be on track with the about $96,000 for the same month in 2016. Besides the snow-making ability, Grubbs said, a good mix of other of tourism-based businesses have helped Red River get through the dry winter. For example, she said ATV and horseback tour companies that usually switch over to snowmobiling by now have instead continued their summer and fall activities. Journal North reporter Megan Bennett contributed to this story. KABUL, Afghanistan A suicide bomber drove an ambulance into a commercial area by pretending to be carrying a patient to a hospital and then detonated his explosives at a checkpoint near the European Union consulate, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 more in an attack claimed by the Taliban, authorities said. Saturdays powerful explosion, which came a week after Taliban militants killed 22 people at an international hotel in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, was felt throughout the city and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. Dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed, and several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were decimated. Windows at the nearby Jamhuriat government hospital were shattered, and its walls were damaged. People ran out to help, and ambulances arrived to transport dozens of wounded people to hospitals. The attacker used the ambulance to coast through one security checkpoint in central Kabul by telling police he was transporting a patient and then detonated his explosives at a second checkpoint, the Interior Ministry said. Four suspects in the deadly bombing, which occurred near the European Union and Indian consulates, had been arrested and were being questioned, the ministry said, but it didnt elaborate. The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well, ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said. A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from a site near the governments former Interior Ministry building. It has been a month of relentless attacks across Afghanistan, with the Taliban and an Islamic State group affiliate making alternate claims of responsibility. The brutality and frequency of the attacks, including one in December at a Shiite cultural center, has shattered Afghanistans usually quiet winter, when fighting normally slows down. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres quickly condemned Saturdays attack, saying through a spokesman that Indiscriminate attacks against civilians can never be justified. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass called the attack senseless and cowardly. And the International Committee of the Red Cross seethed that the ambulance attack was unacceptable and unjustifiable, saying in a tweet: The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Talibans use of an ambulance as a weapon to target civilians represents inhumane disregard for the people of Afghanistan and is a violation of the most basic international norms. It was the second Taliban attack in a week on high-security targets in the city. Last weekend, six Taliban militants attacked Kabuls Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people, including 14 foreigners, dead. About 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by climbing down bedsheets tied to balconies. The U.S. Department of State said American citizens were killed and injured in that attack. The hotel attack prompted the United States to repeat its demand that Pakistan expel Taliban members who have found sanctuary on its soil, with particular reference to the Haqqani network. On Wednesday a U.S. drone slammed into Pakistani tribal territory that borders Afghanistan, killing two Haqqani commanders, said Pakistani officials, who deny providing organized camps for their safety. Pakistan says the Taliban cross the porous border that separates the countries along with the estimated 1.5 million Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan. The recent attacks have infuriated Afghans, frustrated by the worsening security after 16 years of war. The Afghans have expressed their anger with neighbor Pakistan for harboring insurgents and with the U.S.-led coalition for its inability to suppress the insurgency. They also have blamed the deteriorating security situation on a deeply divided government embroiled in political feuding that has paralyzed Parliament. After Saturdays attacks Pakistan issued a statement that condemned the bombing, saying, No cause or ends justify acts of terrorism against innocent people. Afghan security forces, whose competency has been uneven, have struggled to fight the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014. U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a plan that involves sending thousands more troops to Afghanistan and envisions shifting away from a time-based approach to one that more explicitly links U.S. assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government. The Republican presidents U.N. envoy, Nikki Haley, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that his policy was working and that peace talks between the government and the Taliban are closer than ever before. ___ Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad contributed to this report. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A bipartisan budget proposal that would boost pay for police, teachers and other state employees began to take shape Saturday at the Roundhouse. The $6.32 billion spending plan a 3.9 percent increase over this years budget is made possible by sharp increases in state revenue, especially from oil production. Its expected to hit the House of Representatives for final action on Wednesday, then move over to the Senate. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has veto and line-item veto authority over the budget. But the spending plan assembled Saturday picked up bipartisan support. Members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted without opposition on the budget piece by piece during a meeting Saturday morning. Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, a Gallup Democrat and chairwoman of the committee, said the proposal includes about $90 million for pay increases 2 percent raises for all employees and higher raises in hard-to-fill positions, such as prison guards and police officers. Teachers would get 2.5 percent, Lundstrom said, though there are increases on top of that for teachers who are at the minimum of a certain salary range. I feel good about this budget, Lundstrom said in an interview. Its a very good compensation package, and its fair. And not one dime comes from a tax increase, she said. That was a sticking point last year when Martinez vetoed tax increases approved by the Legislature. Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, described Saturdays budget plan as a good proposal that addresses public safety, roads, education and other services. Weve tried to address the biggest priorities we have, he said. The proposed spending increase comes after a budget crisis triggered spending cuts last year and led to a tense standoff between Martinez and the Democratic majorities in the Legislature. New Mexico, at one point, exhausted its reserves and endured damage to its credit rating. But a rebound in the oil and gas industry a critical source of revenue for the state has improved the budget picture. The plan assembled Saturday would leave the state with reserves of about 10 percent of spending, or roughly the target lawmakers have been shooting for. The budget proposal discussed Saturday would also: n Boost spending on the judiciary, including prosecutors and public defenders, by 3.2 percent. The district attorneys office in Albuquerque would get at least $3.2 million extra, with some of the money earmarked for reducing a backlog of cases, establishing a crime strategy data warehouse and prosecuting three people charged with killing 10-year old Victoria Martens in 2016. n Raise employee pay across the board by at least 2 percent. There would be enough money to give state police, prison guards, parole officers and district attorney staff raises of about 6.5 percent. Court personnel, social workers and nurses would get 4.5 percent. The governor and other statewide elected officials could get 10 percent increases in pay their first since 2002 but only if separate legislation is approved. Most state employees have not received raises since 2014. n Give about $15 million extra to public schools to expand pre-kindergarten services and K-3 Plus programs that extend the school year strategies that have been shown to boost student achievement when carried out effectively, according to legislative analysts. Advertising world grieves the loss of its incredible leader- Ranjan Kapur, Chairman WPP India and former Managing Director Ogilvy India who breathed his last yesterday, 27th January, on the Saturday afternoon of a massive cardiac arrest. He was 75 years old at the time of his death. The advertising veteran- Ranjan's passing away is considered a huge loss to the industry. Considered a visionary and a leader, he had contributed to the greater causes in collaboration with the companies he has been associated with. Not only in advertising, his contributions also extend in the CSR activities of the groups he worked with. A passionate writer and painter, Ranjan Kapur was a living legend and his passing away marks an end to an era when the companies progressed under his guiding light. As per the message extended by Ogilvy India in paying its condolences, it was expressed that the company has lost an outstanding champion and an incredible leader. His presence shall be missed but his teachings will always remain as the guiding light for the industry to grow in the right direction. Industry observers also took to social media to express their condolences. His cremation will be held today in Mumbai. May his soul rest in peace! For more news on WPP visit here. For more news on Ogilvy India visit here. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. As Iraq heads for parliamentary elections on May 12, the rift between the opposition and other forces governing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is growing increasingly wider. In this vein, a tripartite alliance was put in place Jan. 10, between the Movement for Change (Gorran), the Kurdistan Islamic Group and the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, led by Barham Salih. The new tripartite National Alliance was built with the objective of running in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Baghdad, and winning in the disputed areas. The Independent High Electoral Commission approved Jan. 16 the National Alliances List. Former Kurdish parliamentary speaker Yusuf Mohammed Sadiq, who represented Gorran and was prevented from returning to the Kurdish parliament due to worsened relations between Gorran and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) over the Kurdistan presidential term, was selected to lead the alliance. This was followed by the registration of the Kurdistan Peace List, which is an alliance between the KDP, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) the traditional partners in the government and the Communist Party of Kurdistan. Nevertheless, given the confusion surrounding the Kurdish political parties in regard to their participation in the electoral race, Khosro Goran, who is in charge of the KDPs electoral institution, said that the alliance is no longer in place, as the party announced its unwillingness to take part in the elections in the disputed areas, considering said areas to be under the military occupations authority, in reference to the Iraqi armys unilateral return to those areas on Oct. 17, 2017, following the Kurdish referendum for independence Sept. 25. Kader Qachagh, the head of the KDPs Ninevah branch, announced Jan. 18 the partys participation in the eastern part of the Kurdistan Region, such as Mosul, Sinjar and Makhmur. Such a decision has questioned the partys contradicting stance when it comes to running in the elections in Kirkuk and Mosul. Surprisingly, the Kurdistan Islamic Union withdrew Jan. 16 from the KRG in protest against the non-implementation of Article 24 of a memorandum it had previously submitted to the KRG. Such a withdrawal would cast a shadow on the fate of the coalition government, particularly following Gorran and the Kurdistan Islamic Groups departure earlier. Observers raised speculations on the possibility that the Kurdistan Islamic Union would join the National Alliance, led by Yusuf Mohammed. Al-Monitor communicated with a KDP official who spoke on condition of anonymity of this alliance. He stated, We hoped that the Kurdish parties were brought together under one alliance to preserve the Kurds dominance in the occupied areas. Yet all political parties, including the KDP, are responsible for the confusion. He added, It was better for the Kurdish political parties to be unified at the present time, as our people face hard conditions. Commenting on the tripartite National Alliances strategy, spokesman for the Coalition for Democracy and Justice Rebwar Karim said Jan. 11, We seek to form a national alliance and pursue a new Kurdish policy that differs from the style of politics adopted in the past. Mohammed Ali, coordinator of Gorrans political bureau, told Al-Monitor, Our strategy involves turning the political system into a parliamentary system, turning the armed forces into a national force, the impartiality of the judiciary and restoring ties with Baghdad based on mutual interests. He pointed out, We seek to win the citizens trust to be able to peacefully lead the next government and carry out our projects. Spokesman for Kurdistan Islamic Group Rebwar Hamad told Al-Monitor, This alliance is an opportunity for the Kurds to have their image restored following the Oct. 16 events and objectionable consequences of the referendum. Commenting on the plans of the alliance after the elections, he noted, We are focusing on the disputed areas and the formation of a coalition covering these areas in order to win the citizens votes. This is due to the insecurity and presence of more than 5,000 displaced people. We are also trying to establish a joint administration to resolve all crucial issues, because the governments in Baghdad and Erbil are blamed for the unresolved situation of these areas. Commenting on the disputed areas, Rebwar Karim said, We joined this alliance upon the request of the citizens in these areas who are tired of the erroneous policies pursued there. Thus we hope to gain the peoples votes to be able to pursue new policies, namely restoring justice and involving everyone in building their future. He added, Our efforts focus on two key issues: First is to halt the policy of driving the citizens out and vandalizing their houses in areas subject to Article 140, and second is to handle the fate of said areas in accordance with constitutional Article 140. In a meeting bringing together his partys members in Erbil Jan. 16, Mullah Bakhtiar, administrative official at the PUK political bureau, said the electoral period is witnessing the worst of times in Iraqi-Kurdish relations. We have failed to form a unified Kurdish list [to run in the elections] in the disputed areas and Iraq. Unfortunately, the Kurds are divided while Arabs are concurrent. Based on that, the PUK, the second strongest Kurdish party, seems to be running independently in the Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas. All of these signs indicate that the Kurdish political parties in the Kurdistan Region will independently run in the electoral race, with the exception of the tripartite National Alliance that perceives itself to be the strongest Kurdish coalition. As casualties rise on both sides in Turkey's offensive in Syria, Ankara is pursuing a plan that goes beyond putting an end to the domination of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan incessantly refers to a project to settle "the real owners of the area" in Afrin province. He has two groups in mind: the band of militias that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) employs in the field called the Free Syrian Army (FSA), and the crush of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Explaining his plans for Afrin at a Jan. 24 meeting at the presidential complex, Erdogan said, First, we will wipe out the terrorists and then make the place livable. For whom? For 3.5 million Syrians who are our guests. We cannot forever house them in tents. Erdogan claimed, In Afrin, 55% are Arabs, 35% are Kurds and the rest are Turkmens. But Afrin has always been a Kurdish-dominated area. Although reliable figures aren't available, local sources insist that the Kurds constitute 70-90% of the population. In Afrin and its rural periphery, where Kurds make up the overwhelming majority, there are some Arabs, small groups of Turkmens in the northern rural area, Alawite Kurds in Mabata, Yazidi Kurds in Kastel Cindo and Ezaze and minor groups of Armenians and Circassians. With its longstanding relative stability, Afrin became a refuge for people escaping the Islamic State from Raqqa, Manbij, al-Bab and Jarablus. Local officials told Al-Monitor that the population in Afrins seven townships and 365 villages once stood at 400,000 but has nearly doubled with the refugees. In other words, until now Afrin has not been a source of refugees, but a recipient. In addition to Turkey's ruling party, there are other quarters who support the idea of settling more refugees in Afrin. For example, former Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug told Hurriyet news, If Afrin is cleared of YPG and the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party, which Turkey considers a terrorist group], we can easily settle some of those who had escaped to Turkey. His comments drew broad interest. Erdogans blatant misinformation and desire to settle refugees there raises the disturbing question of whether this is a plan to modify the demographic structure of this heavily Kurdish-populated area. Such schemes have often been used as a means to eliminate social restlessness against the government since the Ottoman days. The plan to settle in Afrin the anti-Syrian government FSA elements as was done after Operation Euphrates Shield ended in March is also disturbing The TSK says it has 25,000 FSA elements fighting alongside it. Erdogan recently said, We will succeed in this operation with Gods blessing, together with our nation and the Free Syrian Army. Erdogan then detailed his FSA thinking: The opposition elements believing in Turkey will participate in this operation, this struggle is for their benefit. We are helping our brothers to own their own land. In response to Kurdish claims that this approach could put Turkey in the position of an occupier, Erdogan replied, Who is an occupier? All those who massacred more than a million Syrian women and children are the occupiers. Can there be a worse occupier than those who massacred nearly a million Syrians? On Thursday, Kurdish authorities asked Damascus to send troops to protect its borders with Turkey from attacks by the Turkish occupier. It worries many people that even as Erdogan claims to be ridding Afrin of "terrorists," that's how Syria describes some of the groups he wants to move into the area. Many have backgrounds, ideologies and attitudes that are unfavorable to Kurds. Those groups include former al-Qaeda members, Salafi jihadis, a variety of Islamists such as the Muslim Brotherhood, mercenaries and some volunteers controlled by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). Among the groups besieging Afrin and participating in the operations under TSK and MIT guidance are Faylaq al-Sham, Jaish al-Nasr, Jabhat al-Shamiya, Ahrar al-Sham, Nureddin Zengi Brigades, Suqour al-Jaber, Sultan Murad Brigade, Samarkand Brigade, Muntasir Billah Brigade, Sultan Mourad Division, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Brigade, Hamza Company, Northern Storm, Turkistan Islamic Party and Salahaddin Brigade. Abu Muslim, a commander of Jabhat al-Shamiya, said, Our first goal is to expel the separatist parties from Arab villages. These groups are attacking from all directions. Some Kurds who oppose the YPG also are taking part in the operation against Afrin. To illustrate that this is not a war against Kurds, Turkey plays up the participation of Jaish al-Nihbe, which has Kurds in its ranks. Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency quoted the commander of that group, Azad Shabo, as saying, We are Kurds. Not all people of Afrin are Kurds. Everyone there is waiting to be liberated from the PKK. Afrins Kurds do not support the PKK. We fought against the regime and [the Islamic State] and now we are fighting the brutality of the PKK. We started from Afrin and God willing, we will go as far as Qamishli. After Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkey began training and equipping some of these groups in camps set up near the Turkish border. Military sources told Anadolu that FSA militants were trained in combat skills including firing mortars, rockets and machine guns. Under Turkeys guidance, 30 of these groups were organized as three corps and labeled the Syrian National Army. Turkey encouraged Syrian refugees in Turkey to join the Afrin operation. About 70 refugees from the Suruc tent city enrolled in the FSA. About 200 Turkmen refugees living in Osmaniye went to the Turkish army recruitment office to sign up for the FSA. Salafist and jihadi leaders have expressed their support for the Afrin operation, above all Saudi Sheikh Abdullah al-Muhaysini. Also, Ali al-Karadagi, secretary-general of the Global Union of Muslim Thinkers, declared, I am standing against the US-Zionist project that wants to seed sedition among Muslims. We support Turkeys right to defend its people and borders with legitimate tools. Turkey faces abundant risks by intervening in Afrin. Ankara's actions especially concocting plans to change the demographic structure of the area and resorting to the use of problematic groups deemed terrorists by Damascus warn of a dead end ahead. BLUBOO has just released a teaser for the upcoming BLUBOO S2 handset. As you can see in the provided image above, the BLUBOO S2 will be announced at this years Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. This phone will be announced on February 26, according to BLUBOOs invitation, and the device will sport a rather interesting camera. This phone will utilize its main snapper as a selfie camera as well, as were looking at a rotatable camera here, read on. The BLUBOO S2 will not be the first phone to sport a camera like this, we have seen such tech before, but not many companies utilized it. OPPO is actually a good example, that company released the very first smartphone with a rotatable camera back in September of 2013. The OPPO N1 had not only a rotatable camera, but a dual LED flash as well, which was placed next to its 13-megapixel snapper. BLUBOO says that deploying such a camera allows companies to trim down bezels on the front even further, and the company says that the BLUBOO S2 will be a full screen smartphone, which essentially means it will have really thin bezels. The aforementioned teaser actually shows off a huge camera, it actually looks a bit too big for the body of the phone, so well just have to wait for a real life image in order to check out its design. That being said, the OPPO N1 is not the only smartphone to sport such a camera, Honor actually threw its very own offering to the ring as well, the Honor 7i, which was announced back in August of 2015. That phone sported a slightly different mechanism than the OPPO N1, with its flip-up camera. DOOGEE is actually planning to release something like that as well, the DOOGEE Mix 3, which will sport a camera mechanism similar to what Honor 7i had to offer. BLUBOO says that its employees have been working on the BLUBOO S2 for a while now, and according to the info that weve received, the device will probably be fueled by one of Qualcomms processors, while it may also ship with an in-display fingerprint scanner, and camera tech verified by Carl Zeiss. This part is actually a bit confusing, as were not sure if Carl Zeiss tech will actually be incorporated here, or did the company only help BLUBOO out with whatever tech theyre planning to deploy. Well find all that out on February 26, so stay tuned. Ford is doubling down on its digital strategy for future vehicles and is restructuring its Mobility unit with the goal of doing a better job at adapting to the latest industry trends and evolving its business model alongside them. Earlier this week, the company reiterated its promise to deliver 100 percent connectivity in all of its future models set to be released in the United States starting next year. The industry giant is also aiming to have 90 percent of its new international releases offer full connectivity suites as of 2020. Fords near-term vision of mobility revolves around Internet-enabled vehicles with highly personalized digital services, with the firm being adamant to fully transition to such solutions, starting with its home country. The companys Mobility division will deliver new platforms specifically targeting personal vehicle owners over the course of this year, in addition to trying to innovate in the fleet management segment. The firm is also placing a large bet on the continued growth of the Ford Commercial Solutions unit which it established last year with the goal of creating a branch thats solely dedicated to advancing various data services and fleet optimization solutions by relying on vehicle connectivity. The division will hence be serving the enterprise segment going forward and will begin its international expansion later this year, trying to promote its offerings based on the vehicle-management-as-a-service concept. Connectivity will also play an important role in the upcoming platforms being developed by the companys product solutions team, as will the FordPass platform, the automaker said. Ford has been in the process of trying to evolve its business for a while now and made significant advancements in its efforts to do so in recent months. The Dearborn, Michigan-based vehicle manufacturer just inked a major technology partnership with Qualcomm, having announced it at the latest iteration of the Consumer Electronics Show as an initiative meant to innovate in the vehicle-based communications segment. Besides its Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything system, the company is also working on self-driving solutions and recently made some major commitments to the field; after its $1 billion acquisition of Argo AI in early 2017, Ford agreed to a new autonomous driving collaboration with ride-hailing service provider Lyft and is also presently pursuing such technologies in China. A recently published patent application by Ford (first applied for in 2016 ) highlights what could be one example of how technology will impact on policing in the future in the US. The patent application relates to migrating autonomous car technology over to policing with a view to creating what is fully autonomous police vehicles which can also act as fully autonomous police officers. This is due to the patent application describing how this autonomous vehicle type will not only be able to do the now-basic autonomous vehicle actions (such as driving itself) but also act as a police officer when it comes to more minor traffic violations. For example, when another car is spotted jumping a red light, or speeding, the autonomous police vehicle will be able to take direct action. This is best summed up in the first mage below which highlights that when a traffic violation has been lodged by the police vehicle, the police vehicle will not only be able to register a violation ticket to the driver (the owner by presumably cross-referencing against an accessed database) but will even be able to connect to the car in question and determine whether the car is being driven autonomously, or by a human driver. To add to that, the police vehicle will be able to communicate to the car (and the driver) the infringement and the issuing of a violation ticket. Other images in the patent application go on to further highlight how this connected car will likely be able to go well beyond registering infringements based on its own sensors. As this is essentially a connected device, it will likely be able to connect to other smart city-enabled devices to further identify when and how infringements occur. A speed or traffic light camera being two such examples. Therefore the car itself is unlikely to need to actually be in the vicinity of an infringement when it occurs, to be aware of the infringement and/or act upon it. Whether nearby or not, the police vehicle will be able to actively pursue the infringing vehicle if deemed necessary. It is worth keeping in mind this is at present just a patent application, so not only has it seemingly not been approved yet, but even after approval, there is no guarantee the technology detailed will become a reality. Although it does highlight the type of thinking companies are employing to how smart cities will look and work in the future. Hands-on images have leaked online which allegedly show a piece of yet another smartphone currently being worked on by the Chinese manufacturer Vivo. In fact, there are two images in total and both are said to be of a glass panel for a previously unknown device called the Vivo X30. Both are also watermarked as having come from a post on the Chinese social network Weibo. As to the images themselves, they appear to hint at a device that would feature the now commonly used 18:9 wide aspect ratio and a nearly bezel-free design. That, of course, means that there is a notch along the top of the screen, which reveals placement for both a front-facing speaker and a camera. The notch itself doesnt cut too far down into the screen real-estate and only seems to extend across around a quarter of the screen horizontally. Meanwhile, it isnt possible to make anything like a precise estimate as to what the exact dimensions of the device would be from the images alone. With that said, if the images turn out to be accurate and this is a brand new Vivo-branded device, the X30 definitely seems as though it would not fall in among the smaller Android devices that are available. Unfortunately, with no prior leaks or rumors about any such Vivo-branded device under the model name X30, theres no way to know what other specifications or features the device might arrive with. Another device from the company, the Vivo X20 Plus UD, has been hitting the headlines thanks to its unexpected inclusion of a screen-embedded fingerprint scanner. If this is a followup to that other recently unveiled device than the device pictured here could feature a display-bound fingerprint scanner as well. However, it is quite clear that other devices display is not what is pictured in the leaked images and it doesnt seem to match up with other Vivo or known handsets, either. So, while it may be a good idea to take the provided details of the images with a grain of salt until further notice, the images do appear at least to hint at a new handset. A lawsuit claiming Uber co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick defrauded the companys investors was officially dismissed earlier this week, with a competent Delaware judge concluding the arbitration process nearly half a year after the litigation was initiated by Benchmark Capital. Both parties will pay their own arbitration costs and all claims related to the case have been pulled, said Judge Sam Glasscock III of the Delaware Court of Chancery. Benchmark one of Ubers first investors sued Mr. Kalanick in August and insisted on a public trial but the 41-year-old managed to push the case into private arbitration by the end of the same month. The company that was among the investors who demanded Mr. Kalanick resign from his CEO role in late June was already being pressured to drop the lawsuit by SoftBank, Ubers newest investor who recently purchased an approximately 15 percent stake in the firm. The Japanese tech giant insisted on guarantees that the matter will be settled outside of a courtroom before agreeing to invest more than $10 billion in the ride-hailing service provider, industry sources said last year. Benchmark originally claimed Mr. Kalanick broke his fiduciary duty to Ubers investors by adding three seats to its board in mid-2016 in an effort to maintain a tight grip on the worlds most valuable startup at the expense of its backers. The entrepreneurs representatives deemed the lawsuit filled with lies and accused Benchmark of trying to destabilize the firm and gain more voting rights in the process of doing so. The power struggle lasted for months and continued after the appointment of Mr. Kalanicks successor, former head of travel service provider Expedia Dara Khosrowshahi. With Benchmarks lawsuit now officially meeting its end and SoftBanks investment being completed as part of the largest private stock sale in the history of trading, Uber largely managed to stabilize, with its new CEO shifting his focus to damage control and repairing previously deteriorated relations with regulators around the world. The startup is presently targeting an initial public offering in 2019 and is aiming to become profitable within three years, according to Mr. Khosrowshahis previous statements. This week Lenovo introduced its latest addition to the virtual reality (VR) market, the Lenovo Virtual Reality Classroom. As the name suggests this is a VR-focused offering designed for education and allows teachers to take students on virtual excursions powered by the Mirage Solo with Daydream VR headset first announced at CES 2018 along with Google Expeditions. As the Classroom version of the headset comes pre-loaded with over 700 Google Expeditions experiences, enough Lenovo suggests to account for nearly every subject. Each experience will also include what Lenovo refers to as stopping points that allow teachers to temporarily break from the experience to answer questions, explain things, or just talk through what the students have just seen and heard. Lenovos Mirage Solo with Daydream, not only runs on Googles Daydream VR platform but does so without the need for any additional devices such as a smartphone. Resulting in what is essentially an all-in-one (or standalone) VR headset solution. Although these particular classroom-focused packages do also come bundled with Lenovos Tab 4 Plus 10-inch tablet. This is purposely included for the teacher as a means to control the overall experience for the students, essentially acting as a remote dashboard as well as an informational portal. Adding to that, Lenovo also includes a Ruckus R510 wireless router, a number of resources (including introductory videos, consultation with an expert, and monthly webinars for best practice sharing), customized lesson plans, and an extended (18-month) warranty. Whats more, each package will also include a storage/transportation case for the headsets, while those opting for larger packages will be eligible for a cart. This is certainly being positioned as more of a professional and/or commercial purchase and therefore the baseline package will cost educational institutes $2,899 in the US (no word on whether this product is becoming available outside of the US at the moment with the exception of Canada where it is due to launch in the second half of the year). That price includes all of the mentioned accessories and software, along with three headsets and the storage case. The more comprehensive packages will be available with either 10 headsets or 24, although pricing for these have yet to be announced. Lenovo Virtual Reality Classroom is scheduled to become available in the US in April. Samsung is the most popular smartphone maker on Twitter, whereas OnePlus is the most engaged original equipment manufacturer on the microblogging platform, recent data collected by Locowise reveals. The South Korean tech giant has a Twitter following thats 12.4 million strong, putting it ahead of any other member of the industry. In terms of smartphone sales and shipments, Samsung is most closely rivaled by Apple, but the iPhone maker has yet to record a single tweet on its main account and is only present on Twitter via its customer support profile. Despite Samsungs popularity in terms of pure numbers, Locowise awarded the top two brand spots on its list to OnePlus and Xiaomi, in that order. The social media analytics firm said that Samsungs low user engagement rates and general reluctance to post in a consistent manner both hurt its overall score. Last December, Samsung sent out only ten tweets, accounting for only three percent of all proactive posts created by the seven largest smartphone brands on Twitter over that period. The top of the mobile industry has just over 18.3 million followers on the social network, with Samsung taking nearly 70 percent of that user base. Samsungs customer engagement is also behind that of its rivals, with the company recording 2,449 interactions in January. Over the same period, OnePluss community management team had 108,300 interactions, whereas Xiaomi placed second with 30,225 engagements. Social media networks and Twitter in particular have been an important part of OnePluss PR strategy, not just in regards to the firms main Twitter profile but also those belonging to its top executives such as co-founders Pete Lau and Carl Pei, both of whom often use online media to communicate directly with consumers. That approach allowed the company to promote its offerings in a relatively cost-effective manner and grow to significant heights relative to the size of its operations. Last year, OnePlus recorded approximately $1.4 billion in revenue with healthy profits, Mr. Lau recently revealed. Samsungs social media dominance in terms of followers is still unlikely to be challenged anytime soon, primarily because the OEM continues putting out best-selling devices. The upcoming Galaxy S9 lineup is widely expected to be the most commercially successful Android smartphone series in 2018 and may only be outsold by Apples new iPhones. A new sketch allegedly showing off two possible rear-panel designs for the as-yet-unannounced Nokia 10 has now appeared online. The origin of the image has not been named, unfortunately, and the only watermark on the image is for Baidu while the only mention of the images designer is that they are known for accurate smartphone predictions. So it goes without saying that all of this information surrounding the rumored Nokia 10 and especially the images themselves is sketchy at best. This is not an official rendering or drawing from the company itself, so whether or not it is accurate should certainly be considered with a healthy dose of skepticism. As to the image itself, and as mentioned above, it portrays two separate rear designs for the Nokia 10. The design language is said to reflect prior rumors about the smartphone and its possible camera setup, as well as a patent for a Zeiss camera expected to be linked to the device. The right-hand image shows the more standard design expected to arrive on the Nokia 9. Thats a dual-camera array in a vertical orientation at the top-center of the phone in the sketch. A fingerprint scanner resides below that, while an LED flash sits to the right. The image is presumably intended to give an overall idea of size, proportion, and differences between both devices although neither has been officially unveiled yet. Meanwhile, the camera embedded in the second image is a bit less conventional. According to the source, that will be similar to a standard dual-sensor array with the central camera acting as the main sensor, accompanied by an LED flash on the left. However, the user will also be able to adjust the focal length of a given shot more freely simply by twisting the circular module the circular module containing those cameras. Thats thanks to what looks like two separate lenses on that module in addition to the central main camera. It bears repeating that these images have not been verified and that the source is unknown, so there is currently no way to gauge the accuracy of the news until Nokia comes forward about new handsets it may be working on. Bearing that in mind, the purported leak also included a couple of other details for the Nokia 10. According to the source, the flagship will arrive with both back and front fully covered in glass and a display ratio of 18:9. Moreover, among the internal specifications, users can expect the Nokia 10 to ship with a Snapdragon 845 SoC inside. Uber will become profitable in three years time, Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a recent interview with Bloomberg. While speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held earlier this week in Davos, Switzerland, the head of the worlds largest ride-hailing company outlined his ambitious plans for the firm which he acknowledged has to start making money at some point. While Mr. Khosrowshahi specifically said turning a profit is only one part of Ubers medium-term strategy, he estimated the companys ride-hailing unit will become profitable before 2022. Even though its core business may begin generating an income in the coming years, Uber is adamant to continue with its aggressive investments in various segments, particularly autonomous vehicles which its CEO deemed a terrific opportunity that the startup must continue exploring. The highly diversified and ever-expanding state of Ubers operations will hence still impact its ability to make money for the time being, Mr. Khosrowshahi said, implying that even if the San Francisco, California-based startup manages to start posting profits within the next three years, its bottom line isnt likely to be particularly high. Autonomous driving technologies and new products and services they have the potential to create are still Ubers main focus and one that will lead to long-term growth and major income, the CEO said. Uber lost around $4 billion in 2017 and raised approximately $22.2 billion since its Series A funding round in 2011, with some investors jumping at the opportunity to cash out once SoftBank approached the firm with an intention to invest last year. Even Ubers co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick sold a portion of his stake in the firm for the first time ever, using SoftBanks proposal as means to becoming a real billionaire. While the investment came in the form of the largest private stock sale in the history of trading, it was also made at a significant, 30 percent discount on Ubers earlier valuation of $68.5 billion, raising some concerns in regards to the companys ability to actually make money in the long term. Due to that state of affairs, Mr. Khosrowshahi is seeking to balance the startups profits going forward, especially as Uber is now preparing for an initial public offering meant to take place next year. Samsung confirmed earlier this week that it would be unveiling its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S9, at Mobile World Congress which happens at the end of next month. During Samsungs press conference, better known as Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung will be officially announcing the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, the follow up to last years Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. There isnt a lot known about either version of the new phone yet but Samsung has made one thing very clear its focusing on the camera with this device, as evidenced by its invitation that went out to members of the press yesterday with a message that states The camera. Reimagined. This doesnt give much detail, but this taken into account alongside recent rumors suggests that Samsung is looking to outfit the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ with new imaging sensors and camera software features. Though its not immediately clear what the exact frames per second will be, a rumor pegs the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ as having a super slow-mo video capture feature. There are actually multiple rumors surrounding this with one suggesting that it will be at 1,000 frames per second, while another one thats tied to the landing page for new ISOCELL sensors on the Samsung Semidconductor website suggests it will be at 480 frames per second. Theres also the recently leaked image of what appears to be the outside sleeve of the Galaxy S9 packaging which does mention a super slow-mo video capture option, so it would certainly appear that Samsung plans to incorporate this into both versions of the upcoming device. Naturally, as the first major flagships of the year Samsungs upcoming devices will come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, at least for the U.S. versions of the phone as the international models will no doubt come powered by the latest Exynos CPU from Samsung. Samsung has also recently been rumored to have focused on better gaming performance while on the go with this new device, so those that enjoy mobile gaming will surely have a good experience with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Are you excited for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+? A Honda HR-V dressed up for the occasion, the CDX is a commercial hit for Acura in The Middle Kingdom. 4,496 millimeters long and with a wheelbase of 2,660 millimeters, the premium crossover tips the scales at 1,494 kilograms and offers a little more than 400 liters of trunk capacity.One engine is available, and thats the 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo found in other models such as the Civic, CR-V, and Accord. In this application, the four-cylinder direct-injected plant develops 182 PS (180 horsepower) and 240 Nm (177 pound-feet) of torque between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm, adequate figures for a vehicle of this size and heft. Be it front- or all-wheel-drive, the CDX comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.Performance isnt something to write home about (8.6 seconds to 100 km/h for the front-wheel-drive CDX), nor are the dynamic capabilities of the platform. After all, bear in mind the MacPherson strut independent suspension up front is paired with a torsion-beam rear axle.From an official standpoint, Acura doesnt comment on the matter of U.S. availability for very, very obvious reasons. But the United States Patent And Trademark Office clarifies the matter with design patent number D804,996 S.Filed on December 12, 2017, the patent lays the groundwork for whats to come, whenever Acura decides to bring the CDX to this part of the world. Other than the generic-looking alloy wheels, the rest of the design mirrors that of the China-spec CDX.Make no mistake about it, but this fellow might boost Acuras market share by a significant margin if marketed to the right audience. Over in China, the CDX is responsible for doubling the brands sales volume in a single year. The Automated Vehicles Readiness Index (AVRI) , released by auditing firm KPMG does just that. It ranks countries depending on their autonomous vehicle readiness based on four different criteria. And the results are a bit surprising.The criteria based on which countries were judged are policy and legislation, technology and innovation, infrastructure and consumer acceptance. Twenty countries were included in the index based on economic size and progress in adopting autonomous vehicles.According to the data compiled by KPGM, the country that is most prepared for the rise of the self-driving machine is The Netherlands. It is followed closely by Singapore (ranked first in policy and consumer acceptance), the U.S. (listed first in technology and innovation) and Sweden. At the opposite side of the index are India, Mexico, Russia, and Brazil.The Netherlands provides an AV readiness model for other countries to follow, with excellent road infrastructure, a highly supportive government and enthusiastic adoption of electric vehicles, says KPMG in its report.It is within the top four of each of the four pillars and ranked number one on infrastructure, most likely due to its heavily-used, well-maintained road network, rated as being among the worlds best by the World Economic Forum and the World Bank.KPMG encourages governments to support automakers developing autonomous vehicles, citing economic and social benefits. Some $50 billion have been invested worldwide over the last five years to develop autonomous technology, mostly from outside the automotive industry.The most significant gain, however, would be saving possibly millions of lives. Statistics show that about 95% of car accidents are caused by human error, generating over a million deaths worldwide per year. By Trend In 2017, Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA) revealed facts of embezzlement of budgetary funds worth almost 7.4 million manats, the Finance Ministry said. The embezzlement facts were revealed as a result of the monitoring in various schools, medical institutions, executive power authorities, diplomatic missions and other agencies. Over the past year, FIMSA managed to return 6.67 million manats of this to the budget; another 81,800 manats were returned this year. Cases regarding funds worth 2.33 million manats, involving 10 budget organizations, were sent to the General Prosecutors Office in connection with suspicions of embezzlement. In 2017, over 260 complaints from citizens were considered. The majority of the complaints proved to be justified and the rights of citizens were restored. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan has turned into an important transport hub in the region, Kestutis Jankauskas, head of the EU delegation to Azerbaijan, said. Jankauskas made the remarks at a meeting with head of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Rauf Valiyev in Baku, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company said Jan. 26. Jankauskas updated the management of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company about the forthcoming visit of the European Commission's Director General for Mobility and Transport Henrik Hololei to Azerbaijan. The EU is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan in all spheres, including the transport sector. It was also noted that Azerbaijan has turned into an important transport hub in the region. Valiyev spoke about short-term, medium-term and long-term goals of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company. He also touched on the transit opportunities of Azerbaijan and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend: The Committee for Agrarian Policy of the Azerbaijani parliament will view the draft law "On Stimulation of Agricultural Insurance" in May 2018. This is stipulated by the plan of legislative work of the committee for the spring session of 2018, approved on Jan. 26 at the parliaments meeting. Chairman of the parliamentary committee Eldar Ibrahimov said that currently, the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan continues work on the draft law. The project was to be submitted to the parliament during the autumn session last year, but it was not fully developed. We hope that at the spring session the drafting of the bill will be completed, noted Ibrahimov. The average tariff for agricultural insurance is about 1,500 manats per year (five percent per one hectare), and the average profit per hectare is about 25,000 manat per year in Azerbaijan. According to the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA), premiums in the agricultural insurance market amounted to 4.33 million manats, and payments totaled 1.51 million manats in 2017. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado. I extend my sincere congratulations to you on the occasion of your re-election as President of the Republic of Honduras, President Aliyev said in his congratulatory letter. It is my hope that we will continue making joint efforts to ensure the development of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Honduras, noted the president. I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your activities for the prosperity of the friendly people of Honduras, added the head of state. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend: Positive changes taking place in Uzbekistan increase the interest to the country in the international arena, serve to strengthening of the republics status in the world community, Mahamadjon Botraliev, counselor, charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan, said at a press briefing in the embassy Jan. 26. He noted that in 2017, Uzbekistans economic growth rate amounted to 5.5 percent, and the volume of exports grew 15 percent. The countrys foreign trade surplus reached $854 million, Botraliev said. As many as 161 big industrial facilities were commissioned in Uzbekistan in 2017. Unrestricted exchange of the Uzbek national currency to foreign currencies was started. Since the liberalization of the monetary policy, the value of transactions on the purchase and sale of foreign currency has grown 1.5 times and amounted to about $1.3 billion. At the same time, the countrys gold and foreign currency reserves grew $1.1 billion. The counselor added that in 2017, activity of 12 free economic and 45 industrial zones was established in Uzbekistan. This contributes to the accelerated development of the countrys regions, and the work to organize another 50 new industrial zones in the near future is underway, he said. On Dec. 22, 2017, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Parliament for the first time, Botraliev noted. Members of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament, the leadership of the Cabinet of Ministers, ministries and departments, representatives of diplomatic corps and offices of international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, activists of non-governmental non-profit organizations took part in the event, the counselor added. The Uzbek presidents appeal summarized the work done in the country in 2017, which marked the beginning of a new stage of Uzbekistans development, and identified the priorities for 2018, Botraliev said. In this context, it was noted that 2017 became the year of creation of a new system of direct dialogue with the Uzbek people, effective solution of the peoples problems, he noted. The peoples and virtual reception offices of the Uzbek president are a unique democratic institution for dealing with citizens appeals, ensuring transparency and accountability of the work of state agencies. With their help, more than 1.5 million Uzbek citizens managed to solve their problems accumulated over the years. Regarding Uzbekistans foreign policy, the presidents appeal says that 21 visits at the highest level, meetings with leaders and representatives of more than 60 states and international organizations were held in 2017, the counselor said. Over 400 agreements, contracts worth almost $60 billion were signed in 2017, he noted, adding that for their timely implementation, 40 road maps were developed. Implementation of the Main Priority - Central Asia principle was launched in 2017, he said. Completely new political atmosphere emerged in the region, and relationships based on mutual trust are being strengthened. Cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan has become of strategic partnership nature. Cooperation with Tajikistan is also strengthening. Flights between Tashkent and Dushanbe were established. The signing of the Agreement on the State Border with Kyrgyzstan became a serious step in ensuring security and stability in Central Asia. Botraliyev also said that important agreements on mutually beneficial cooperation with the neighboring Afghanistan were concluded, practical work on new economic projects has started. He also noted that agreements were reached with Russia, China, South Korea, Turkey, the US, the EU member countries and Muslim countries. Uzbekistan is developing cooperation with such international organizations as the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States at a new level, he said. Cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was restored, and partnership ties were established with the European Investment Bank. Interaction with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is acquiring dynamic nature. He noted that at the suggestion of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 2018 in Uzbekistan was declared as the Year of supporting active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed in phone talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Friday the preparations for the upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Congress, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, Sputnik reported. "The Russian minister reiterated the special importance of this event for the success of the political settlement of the Syrian crisis in full accordance with the parameters set forth by UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the ministry said in a statement. As UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has commented on the preparations, he himself will decide whether to attend the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi after the conclusion of negotiations in Vienna. The event will be held in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 29-30, with invitations to participate sent to UN representatives and observers from Great Britain, China, the United States and France as permanent member of the UN Security Council, as well as to Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. All the invitations were sent by a special representative of the Russian president for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev on behalf of states peace guarantors in Syria: Russia, Iran and Turkey. The US side has confirmed the receipt of the invitation, but not yet verified the attendance. Previously, the Syrian settlement process was ensured by the efforts of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), chaired by Russia and the United States. However, after the change of the US administration in early 2017, US President Donald Trump did not show any definite intention to be particularly involved in the Syrian issue. The three states which have a strong interest in and influence on Syria Russia, Turkey, and Iran decided to use this window of opportunity by taking the settlement process into their own hands. Thus, a new negotiations platform in the Kazakh capital, Astana in early 2017, with Russia, Turkey, and Iran taking on the roles of guarantors of the peace settlement in the war-torn country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Friday said Turkey will not "overlook" cross-border rockets fired by PYD/PKK from Syria, Anadolu reported. Speaking at a meeting organized by Beyoglu Municipality in Istanbul, Yildirim said Turkey fought hard against Daesh in the 2,000-kilometer (1,242 miles) area during the Operation Euphrates Shield. The prime minister touched upon recent rocket attacks fired from Syria by the PYD/PKK terror organization and implied any attacks against Turkey will be responded. "In [southern] Hatay, Kilis [provinces], rockets are falling, bombs are being fired; constant harassment. What will we do now, will we overlook this?" said Yildirim. In his remarks, Yildirim also criticized the U.S. for its arming the terror group. A big country like the U.S. has a huge army and potential, does it need terrorist organizations [for its operations in the region]? the premier questioned. He recalled the announcement by the U.S.-led international coalition against Daesh of establishing a 30,000-strong new border security force with the SDF/PKK -- a group largely controlled and manned by the PYD/PKK terrorist organization. This is clear hostility. Turkey will not allow this no matter who is behind it, regardless of its power and whatever the name it may have, Yildirim said. No new entity on Turkey's southern border is acceptable. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The boss of Kilroot power station has blamed Northern Irelands energy regulator and system operator for the firms hugely disappointing decision to shut the plant, which will see 270 jobs go. The facility, which is owned and run by AES, will close in May after its bid to supply electricity here was passed over. Around 30 jobs will also go at its Ballylumford plant. Read More AES boss Ian Luney said staff will now enter a 90-day process ahead of redundancies in April. Asked who he and the staff should blame for the closure of the plant, he said: Our staff know the arrangements... they know its the process of the auction, and the design of it, and the decisions made by the regulator and TSOs (System Operator for Northern Ireland/SONI and Eirgrid) have led to this decision. They are crystal clear. Kilroot failed to be selected for a large chunk of energy provision as part of the new all-island integrated single electricity market (I-SEM), which kicks in later this year. Its imminent shutdown has prompted concerns of wide-reaching implications for the region amid claims the lights could go out in Northern Ireland. Mr Luney (below) said people are obviously devastated that jobs are being lost. We are starting that statutory consultation with unions on Monday. It will last 90 days, and then we will move into a period of redundancy for those people. They will leave the business on May 23, or shortly thereafter. The firm has submitted a closure notice for Kilroot on May 23. The power plant was not selected in the auction because of the cost of AESs bid. Mr Luney claimed the absence of an Executive had made the process more difficult. He said, despite reassurances from SONI and the Utility Regular, that there was no clarity where the replacement energy will come from following Kilroots closure. The job losses at Ballylumford will come on stream in December. He said staff were briefed yesterday morning about the hugely disappointing news. But he added it wasnt a shock that closure had been coming down the line. He explained that in June statutory maintenance meant the plants main units were out of service. As a result you lose all your market revenue, he said. Our bids, our fixed costs... were higher than they would ordinarily be. You have to cover those costs. He said following that AES was granted an exemption from the Utility Regulator to bid above the normal price cap for supply contracts. SONI general manager Robin McCormick dismissed concerns that there could be insufficient electricity generation for the province as a result of Kilroots closure. We are confident that the generators who have been successful in that auction process will provide sufficient and secure generation for Northern Ireland at the lowest possible cost, he said. He added that the Utility Regulator had estimated the latest auction would save customers on both sides of the border 175m. The auction reflects the diversity of generation participating in the single electricity market, he said. Jenny Pyper, chief executive of the Utility Regular, said as part of the auction process it was not only concerned with security of supply, but also that consumers only pay for generation that is actually required. She said the outcome would see savings of 50m a year for Northern Ireland households. AES have only just notified us that they are seeking early closure of some of their Kilroot plant which was unsuccessful in the auction, she added. Asked is there was any way the plant could be saved, Mr Luney said: That is a question that needs to be assessed. We are in solution finding... we are absolutely focused on treating our staff with the clarity and certainty that they need in this terrible time. If someone says there is a need for a service or product, because Kilroot is closing, over the longer term... we are willing to play a role in finding that solution. But no one has raised that with us. North Antrim DUP MP Ian Paisley welcomed the opportunity for the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to investigate issues surrounding the closure of Kilroot. Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan called on AES to lift the closure threat, and said it had an obligation to give three years notice of a closedown. AES has made substantial profits from their contracts selling electricity here and they have a responsibility to their workforce and suppliers, which they must honour rather than seeking to abandon them, he argued. But Mr Luney said, with a new annual auction, that was no longer realistic. Consumer Council chief executive John French said: Assurances will need to be provided to Northern Ireland consumers about the long and medium-term cost and reliability of electricity. There was jubilation last night after a US industrial court unanimously backed plane manufacturer Bombardier against US rivals Boeing in a long running trade dispute. Bombardier won its case against United States proposals to impose tariffs of 292% on its imports to America - a result which could safeguard thousands of jobs in Belfast. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that rival manufacturer Boeing did not suffer injury from Atlanta-based Delta Airlines' order of Bombardier's C Series passenger jets. Boeing has not yet indicated whether it will lodge an appeal against the ruling. Decisions made by the USITC (and by the Department of Commerce) under this law can be appealed to the Court of International Trade in New York City; that decision can be further appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The C Series wings are produced in Belfast, and workers reacted with jubilation to the news. Bombardier said in a statement: "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 travelling public. The C Series is the most innovative and efficient new aircraft in a generation. Its development and production represent thousands of jobs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom." Politicians from across the spectrum welcomed the ruling. Prime Minister Teresa May said: "I welcome this decision, which is good news for British industry. Bombardier and its innovative workforce play a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy," while NI Secretary of State Karen Bradley tweeted: "Today's unanimous decision in favour of Bombardier is great news for the company, the workforce, their families and NI - a really bright future ahead." DUP Arlene Foster tweeted: "Delighted for all the workers in Bombardier. Thank you to all those who helped in any way fighting this case. It was a team effort... The C-Series is now ready for take-off." East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson praised the 'tireless' Bombardier workforce in Belfast. "This is fantastic news for Bombardier and particularly for the firm's 4,000 workers in Northern Ireland and the many more who form part of the supply chain here," he said. "This has been a very difficult time for those staff who faced an uncertain future. Even in recent days there some pessimism had grown, but Bombardier's greatest strength here in Belfast is the quality of those workers and the product they deliver. Right from the outset management have worked tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome and I would pay tribute to their fortitude throughout this process." Alliance leader and East Belfast MLA Naomi Long said the ruling was great news for the city and Northern Ireland. "We welcome this ruling and that the ITC has rightly accepted Bombardier's position, recognising the assistance given to the company by the Canadian Government for the C-Series wings, was entirely legitimate," she said. "It is a tribute to the workers and trade unions, and all those who applied pressure throughout this period. I hope it is the end of the matter, which has been highly disruptive to Bombardier and extremely stressful for local employees of the company and those working in the supply chain." Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen welcomed the ruling as "common sense". "This ruling is testament to the unwavering campaign by all, It will come as a huge relief to Bombardier and the thousands of workers and their families." Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said she hoped the decision meant that the matter was now closed. "I have worked with the company and union representatives over the past year to resist the economic threat posed to jobs at the Bombardier Belfast operation, and by extension to our local economy. I hope that the matter is now closed and that the company can secure the future of the C-Series, and by extension the workforce in their new partnership with Airbus." Trade union leaders were also celebrating but urged caution. TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This is great news for thousands of Bombardier workers, as well as workers in their supply chain. But we must not be complacent. The Trump administration has shown it wants to shut down Britain's ability to support good jobs in strategic industries." Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: "Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland and throughout the supply chain in UK will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that the International Trade Commission has seen through Boeing's baseless complaint. The C Series is a world beating aircraft made by world class workers. There can be no backsliding from the US government on this decision," he said. Bombardier has won a trade dispute with the US (Brian Lawless/PA) Thousands of workers will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after aircraft manufacturer Bombardier won a major trade dispute with the United States, unions have said. Politicians have also welcomed the ruling which will stop the US imposing 292% duties on the import of the firms jets to America. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) said rival manufacturer Boeing did not suffer injury from Atlanta-based Delta Airlines order of Bombardiers C Series passenger jets. The decision could safeguard thousands of jobs in Belfast, where the C Series wings are produced. Prime Minister Theresa May, who raised the issue with US president Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said: I welcome this decision, which is good news for British industry. Bombardier and its innovative workforce play a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy. Expand Close File photo dated 08/07/17 of Prime Minister Theresa May holding talks with US President Donald Trump PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp File photo dated 08/07/17 of Prime Minister Theresa May holding talks with US President Donald Trump Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said it was excellent news and that Bombardier would continue to play a hugely important role in the countrys economy. She added: I know Bombardier workers and their families have been waiting some time for this and I wish them well as we welcome this news together. The UK Government has been working tirelessly to safeguard Bombardier jobs and argued from the very start this case was wholly unjustified. DUP MP for East Belfast Gavin Robinson said it had been a very difficult time for the firms 4,000 worker in Northern Ireland who had faced an uncertain future, adding: Bombardiers greatest strength here in Belfast is the quality of those workers and the product they deliver. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: Very pleased that Bombardier won its case to stop US trade trade tariffs at the ITC. Many jobs in Belfast more secure tonight. Very pleased that Bombardier won its case to stop US trade trade tariffs at the ITC. Many jobs in Belfast more secure tonight Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 26, 2018 Bombardier, which is headquartered in Canada, said in a statement: Todays decision is a victory for innovation, competition, and the rule of law. It is also a victory for US airlines and the US travelling public. The C Series is the most innovative and efficient new aircraft in a generation. Its development and production represent thousands of jobs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It added: With this matter behind us, we are moving full speed ahead with finalising our partnership with Airbus. Integration planning is going well and we look forward to delivering the C Series to the US market so that US airlines and the US flying public can enjoy the many benefits of this remarkable aircraft. Union leaders reacted with jubilation to the news but urged Bombardier to reiterate its commitment to protecting Northern Irish jobs. Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland and throughout the supply chain in UK will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that the International Trade Commission has seen through Boeings baseless complaint There can be no backsliding from the US government on this decision. When the chips were down Unite members and shop stewards in Bombardier didnat throw the towel in. They kept fighting against Boeingas baseless complaint which would have crushed jobs. The US govt must stand by trade commissionas decision. pic.twitter.com/gPCEXhJ8xH Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) January 26, 2018 Susan Fitzgerald, Unite regional officer for the unions membership at Bombardier in Northern Ireland, dismissed efforts by the Prime Minister to resolve the dispute and said it was a victory for workers. When the story is told of this dispute it will be one of how, in the absence of a genuine effort by politicians and the UK Government, workers themselves had to take the fight on, she said. Bombardier itself now must reiterate its commitment to the Northern Ireland workforce and end the outsourcing of jobs to low-cost centres. GMB organiser Michael Mulholland added: This whole Bombardier saga must act as a warning to the UK Government about the kind of battles it faces to defend UK jobs and industries as we leave the EU and face the increasingly hostile territory of trade wars on our own. Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith said: This should be a signal to Theresa May that investing in manufacturing and supporting areas like Northern Ireland should be a priority for her Government. The ITCs role was to determine whether the aircraft manufacture industry in America was damaged by imports that the US administration believed were being sold too cheaply. Bombardier has received large sums from government administrations in the UK and Canada as part of the development of the C Series. It had argued the Commerce Departments tariff threat ignores long-standing business practices in the aerospace industry, including launch pricing and the financing of multibillion-dollar aircraft programmes. But Boeing said its business was damaged because Bombardier received illegal government subsidies, dumping the C Series in the US through the cut-price 2016 Delta sale of 75 jets. However, the ITC said: 100 to 150 seat large civil aircraft from Canada do not injure US industry. Seeing the light: a ray of sunlight hits what is traditionally believed to be the tomb of Jesus Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem You may be surprised to know that this years Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ended on Thursday. Anything to do with Christian unity is indeed worthy, but to many people it is boring. They argue that if the churches and their members were following their calling properly, there would be no need for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Sadly, however, there are still many examples of disputes within churches and also strong differences in doctrine between denominations. This clearly underlines the need for an annual reminder about the need to emphasise a unity of purpose among the churches, but not necessarily an organic unity. It would be a mistake to aim for this. There are infinite varieties of Christian belief, and each has its own adherents and attractions. Sadly, however, this rich variety of worship is damaged by those who believe only they are on the right path, and that for others the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Lord must have infinite patience to overlook such sectarian nonsense, and one of the central points of New Testament teaching is the importance of how we treat other people in the light of what we believe. By their fruits shall you know them. In other words, what we do is more important than what we say we believe. Irrespective of all this delightful diversity, it is important to be reminded about a broad unity of purpose. However, there seems to be less emphasis locally on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity than in the past. Not so long ago, I remember reporting for this newspaper on high-profile pulpit exchanges by Protestant and Catholic leaders, but this seems to have lessened of late, although there were cross-community services at a local level in a number of places. However, in the past week, there seemed to be nothing of note through the media from the leaders of the Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic churches, though the Lay Leader of the Methodist Church delivered a challenging sermon at Darling Street Church in Enniskillen on the opening night of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Tellingly, Dr Fergus OFerrall said: Each denomination in the now divided Church of Jesus Christ has a clear and urgent responsibility to examine whether or how aspects of their theologies, traditions or practices contribute to sectarian divisions. It is these very sectarian divisions which, we must confess, in greater part underpin the divided identities and loyalties within the population of Northern Ireland. The Methodist Lay Leader quoted Frank McGuinness, who wrote the deeply thoughtful and moving drama Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. McGuinness said: It was an eye-opener for a Catholic republican as I am, to have to examine the complexity, diversity, disturbance and integrity of the other side, the Protestant people. Dr OFerrall said, bluntly: We must encounter those who differ from us to break down the enmity. That is our challenge. If we are to have a shared and flourishing future together on this island, we must rise to this challenge of learning the stories of those who differ from us, and seeing how God is working in those who differ from us. As I often state in this column, we in Northern Ireland pray for peace, but at the ballot box we seem to abandon our religious insights to care for one another and blindly vote for people who will immediately lock horns in political confrontation. We cannot have it both ways. The success or failure of the last-ditch Stormont talks also reflects our choice of the people we choose to represent us, so we are not blameless. Dr Fergus OFerrall has done us all a service by reminding us how far we still have to go. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is also a welcome and timely reminder that if we continue to ignore the wise and challenging teachings of the worlds largest religion which still is Christianity we do so at our peril. Men only: The Dorchester hotel in London hosted the charity dinner organised by the Presidents Club The saddest part about this Presidents Club dinner that caused such trouble is it must have been the dullest evening possible. Because every guest who's been asked says they left early and therefore didn't see a thing. The event must have been an absolute disaster, completely deserted by 8.20pm. The poor organisers must have been devastated, weeping, "We were going to auction a space station, but there's no one left", because all the bankers were determined to get home in time to put their kids to bed. Some businesspeople and columnists have dismissed the complaints that hostesses were groped and grabbed, saying: "They must have known what sort of event they were attending." This makes it a strange and magical evening, in which the women should have known all along what sort of things would happen, while the men doing the things that were happening had no idea any of these things were happening. It's a good job none of the men asked any of the women beforehand, "What am I likely to do to you?", or they'd have been appalled at themselves and left in disgust before they started, wasting their dinner. The most likely explanation for why no guests saw any of the things everyone accepts took place is that all the people grabbing women were highly trained close-up magicians. Now they're being moaned at, but this takes years of practice. One ex-Presidents Club guest, Cabinet member Nadhim Zahawi, said this week that he will "never attend a men-only function, ever". This seems fair enough - he clearly didn't notice this was a men-only function. There's a little clue this sort of behaviour was anticipated, perhaps even encouraged, which is the reported instruction to hostesses to wear underwear that matched their skirts. Why would the colour of your underwear matter? It must be because when a CEO from an arms company sneaks up behind a woman and pulls up her skirt, he doesn't want to see knickers that clash with her top, as that's a fundamental breach of his human rights. But the Presidents Club may not have been all that confident in their arguments, since they insisted all the hostesses sign a non-disclosure agreement promising to report nothing they saw or heard to anyone, not even their family. If you were paranoid, you might wonder whether this indicates they were slightly aware they didn't want their guests' behaviour to become public. More likely is they didn't want the hostesses to reveal how much the guests were giving to charity, as they're all a bit shy. This is the main defence for those present: it was all for charity. And the fact that when told about a sick child, their first thought is, "I'd like to contribute so they can get better", shows how deeply they care. Some people might wonder why any event would insist on barring women, other than hostesses selected for their looks and matching underwear. Because to exclude women entirely makes these bankers and CEOs, politicians and board members, who are symbols of success, the figures we're asked to admire and aspire to, more sexist than lap-dancing clubs, the MCC, the General Synod of the Church of England and the front bench of Ukip. The explanation must be: when you're trying to raise funds for a children's hospital ward, the last thing you need is a woman distracting you by giving it all that about her nails. What can possibly be sexist about that? But there may be a more fundamental reason why the Presidents Club will be missed. Insisting that women should be absent, except for nameless figures, chosen and decorated to the demand of men, was a bold move by our business community to show to the people of Isis that our cultures are not as far apart as we sometimes imagine. It was an attempt by British business to seek a dialogue with the jihadists - and now their work is in ruins. I hope the feminists are pleased with themselves. After interviewing Saddam Hussein, entering the secret world of the Mafia and reporting from war zones, you'd think nothing would shock Sir Trevor McDonald anymore. And yet, upon returning to Indiana State Prison's death row for his latest documentary, that was far from the case. "I found the place more awful this time," he says, sadly, before explaining: "The prison was on lockdown, for five weeks. The concomitant of all that is the place is very grubby and dirty and they're shouting and screaming, because they don't want to be locked in for 24 hours a day. "I did leave there desperately needing a drink." It's five years since the news veteran first visited the maximum security facility - one of America's most dangerous. The follow-up, ITV's Death Row 2018 With Trevor McDonald, sees him talk to both new arrivals at the prison, and some familiar faces. "I couldn't get these people quite out of my mind," the former newsreader confesses quietly, when asked why he wanted to go back. "I think this is probably my last visit. They're getting on and I'm getting on and, in another five years, a lot of them wouldn't be there." The programme shows how the future of the death penalty in the state of Indiana remains uncertain. While there have been no executions at the prison since Sir Trevor last visited, he arrives to find a new death chamber has been built. But, the Trinidad and Tobago-born presenter explains, the Europeans have stopped supplying the "killer drugs" needed for the executions - and so the prisoners are just left awaiting their fate. It's clear how much meeting these men has impacted Sir Trevor, especially as he discusses the plight of one inmate, Paul McManus, at great length. Once sentenced to death for killing his wife and children, McManus has now been given life without parole and so must spend the rest of his life inside. "Before, although he didn't particularly want to die, he knew that he would, at some stage," remarks Sir Trevor. "So, adjusting his mind to that difference was becoming a great psychological problem for him. "We talked on a nice, sunny day and you could see the barbed wire fences all around and he was looking and thinking, 'Is this where I'm going to spend the rest of my life?' And he's not 50 yet. "That's a new kind of storyline for us really and a new take on the last adventure." While all the inmates' stories are undeniably shocking, William Gibson is a particularly memorable face featured in the hour-long documentary. Convicted of killing and mutilating three women, he had never spoken publicly about his crimes before. And, during his interview, he gloats that there might yet be more victims to be found. How did Sir Trevor feel listening to him talk so candidly? "I mean, dirty," he muses. "Somebody boasting about killing people like that and saying, 'I may have killed even more', it's out of my mental range. "I think shame is a very important part of the human condition; you must be ashamed, you must regret, you must have remorse," he continues. "At one or two o'clock in the morning, when he's lying in his cell, what does he think?" With a soft, bemused chuckle, he adds: "I thought he was very, very strange - and that's using a very kind word." It seems there's a real hunger for programmes about crimes and prisons, particularly American ones, in the UK. Asked why, Sir Trevor, who has three grown-up children and lives with his wife in London, says: "There is, in all our lives, a normality to which we all aspire. A civilised, dignified kind of life where you get up and go to work and you make money, you go home, you see your kids. "Some of these people are just off the scale and I think we get fascinated by the lives of these people. And we keep trying to find out why, why, why do they do this?" The affable Sir Trevor has never shied away from asking difficult questions, having conducted some of the highest-profile television interviews of all time - including Nelson Mandela days after his release from prison. His iconic career, which started in the West Indies, before moving to the UK in 1969, has spanned over 50 years - he became ITN's first ever black reporter in 1973 and, later, was made the first sole reporter of News At Ten. And on the topic of the ever-changing world of journalism, the award-winning broadcaster says: "I would be a little bit more bold about fake news. Sometimes, fake news is something which is said about somebody which they don't like, and so they call it fake news. We used to call it propaganda, or misinformation, in my day." But, having stepped down from News At Ten in 2008, he admits the issues his colleagues have to deal with are a "little more complex these days". "And the other thing is, I wouldn't go to Syria," he adds. "I was in the Middle East and I went to Beirut. "I would not go to Aleppo today. I don't know whether that's because I've got older, and, I hope, a little wiser. "I think it's become much, much more dangerous and I admire the courage of people who do that now." Death Row 2018 With Trevor McDonald, ITV, Thursday, 9pm Annabel Scholey is starring in new historical drama Britannia - and finally getting to enjoy her honeymoon to Fermanagh-born actor Ciaran McMenamin. She talks to Davina Gordon about her dreamy wedding on Lusty Beg, putting down roots in her new husband's homeland and why she loves her role as the formidable and manipulative queen-in-waiting. Annabel Scholey ran across Enniskillen actor Ciaran McMenamin at just the right time. "He was performing at the National Theatre and I was in the audience, and I thought 'he's nice'," the Britannia actress says. "Some time later, I was moaning about my love life and my friend suggested Ciaran. I thought, 'yeah I like him... I'm a big fan of the Irish accent like so many other women'. So, we had a semi-blind date, and then we just dated, which is quite rare but nice." Their romance went from strength to strength and the couple were married in May last year. Speaking in 2016, Ciaran spoke of his excitement at their forthcoming nuptials. "Well, I turned 40 this year and I like where I have gotten to in myself and in my career," he said. "I have no regrets about anything in my life to date - regrets are pointless. Next year I marry an amazing woman and - touch wood - we will be blessed with little folk. I can't wait to be a dad." When we meet, it emerges that having a family is something that Annabel is equally keen to pursue one day. "Absolutely," she enthuses. "We've not started yet, but I'd love to be a mother." Annabel (34), from Yorkshire, and Ciaran (42) currently live in Hastings, on the southeast coast of England. "We moved out of the city as Ciaran was going insane," she says. "There's a good train line, the house prices are lower and you're close to the sea and countryside. It's healthy. It's good to separate work from your home life." The striking couple visit Northern Ireland three or four times a year. "Ciaran gets very homesick and is totally in love with the place," says Annabel. "Actually, Belfast is quite similar to Wakefield, where I'm from. It has the same vibe, it's fantastic." Ciaran and Annabel married on a sunny day on Lusty Beg, Fermanagh. "The weather was beautiful and we all fell in love with the place," she says. Indeed, they are hoping to buy a cottage somewhere in the beautiful Northern Ireland countryside and spend more time exploring - Annabel confesses she has a wish list of places to visit. "I loved the Mac theatre in Belfast when Ciaran was performing in After Miss Julie, but I didn't get to see a lot of the place. I'd love to go to the Titanic Quarter and I absolutely want to go on a black cab tour - some of my bridesmaids have been on one, which is unacceptable," she laughs. "We had dinner and cocktails in Botanic though." Annabel says that Ciaran is steadfastly supportive of her career - and gives a straight answer when she asks for his opinion of her work. "He has impeccable taste," she muses. "He's a perfectionist and will tell me what he thinks about my performances. He's quite forthright and will give an honest answer. "He's still acting but he is focusing more on writing." While Ciaran currently has a number of projects in post-production, including the films Heretiks and Grace & Goliath, he is also writing a screenplay for his 2017 book, Skintown, which is plugged as the Enniskillen version of Trainspotting. Annabel, meanwhile, plays formidable queen-in-waiting Amena in Britannia, a sumptuous historical period drama set in 43AD. Her co-stars include Kelly Reilly, David Morrissey, Zoe Wanamaker and Mackenzie Crook. It's been a natural career path for Annabel, who displayed a talent for performing from an early age. "I was told I was a very hyperactive child and a show-off," she says. "I was sent to dance class to burn off energy. I really loved dancing and singing, drama, particularly Shakespeare. My dad, a fireman, and my sister, who's a teacher, advised me to go to theatre school and so I went to the Oxford School of Drama. I guess I've always known." Annabel's previous high-profile work includes playing Lauren Drake in Being Human, Maddie in Walking on Sunshine and Contessina de Medici in Medici: Masters of Florence. Impressively, she didn't audition for her Britannia role. "It was a very lovely surprise," she smiles. "I've worked with Vertigo Films before, on Walking on Sunshine and Britannia's writer and co-creator Jez Butterworth - who I'm a big fan of - suggested me. It's a case of being in the right place at the right time. I got a call from my agent and was asked to read the script. I was obviously thrilled, the script was fantastic." Britannia was filmed in Wales and Prague, which Annabel remembers as a 'beautiful, quiet city'. "We filmed in nature reservoirs not open to the public," she says. "We were in the middle of nowhere in full costumes and wigs, it was spectacular." Speaking of her resourceful and manipulative character, Amena, Annabel says: "She's not necessarily likeable. She gets called a snake quite often. She's part of the Cantii tribe and is married to male heir, Phelan, played by Julian Rhind-Tutt. She is loyal but will do anything to achieve her own ends. "She is very determined and manipulates from the shadows. Her other husband is warrior Lyndon, played by Stanley Weber, an alliance the druids sought in an attempt to strengthen bonds between their nations. She is very disapproving of both and spends much of her time trying to manipulate them." In the opening episode, Amena delights in being callous, gently goading Phelan with lips curled in a wicked smile, saying: "Trust me husband, you don't know what a man is." Does Annabel share any personality traits with Amena? "I hope I'm not a snake," she laughs. "Like her, if I want something, I'll focus and work hard. I'm a strong and feisty woman - something my husband will agree with. But, I'm not conniving or manipulative, although I found it easy to tap into her, which is a bit disconcerting," she grins. Annabel stars opposite Kelly Reilly, who co-starred with Vince Vaughn in True Detective and Denzel Washington in Flight. "I saw her in After Miss Julie in second year and have been a fan ever since. We got on really well. We're allies in the Cantii tribe, she is the king's daughter, but we hate each other. Amena doesn't trust her because she has Roman blood." Annabel says her role was physically demanding. "I had to undergo fight training, as I fight my husband, which was great fun, although it gets tiring after doing it about a million times," she says. "I also got to do horse riding which I really enjoy. The characters are so bold, it was a savage time to be alive. It uses all of your physical energy." Britannia is steeped in magic and mystery although Annabel wouldn't quite describe it as supernatural. "It's not supernatural per se, it's not based on anything historical. But there is voodoo and black magic. Amena casts a couple of spells. It's a bit weird and psychedelic, there somewhat of a Sixties feel. There are warped camera angles, tricks of the mind and a nod to the underworld, which is what Jez and Tom (Butterworth, Jez's brother and co-creator and writer) wanted." It is a story where women hold the power - and in the current climate of female actresses fighting for equal footing with their male counterparts, it's especially relevant. In a recent interview with Variety, actress Keira Knightley spoke about how important it is to create strong, layered roles for women. It's a sentiment Annabel echoes. "It's so important. Women are at the very heart of the script which was a deliberate thing. Jez wanted the female characters to dominate the action and they are right at the heart of the story. Everything passes through them. In a Celtic tribe, there was gender equality, women were allowed to rule and it's set up in that way. "There are five really strong women - Kelly, Zoe, Eleanor, Lianna and me. They are all intelligent, amazing characters and I think it's happening more and more for actresses. I've recently finished working on The Split which had an all-female team. "The industry is changing. Britannia was a great project. You could fight and ride horses, not sit in the corner sipping tea Jane Austen-style." Despite Britannia already being compared to its American neighbour on Sky Atlantic, Game of Thrones, Annabel says the shows are very different. "It's flattering that it's being compared to Game of Thrones, but it's not trying to be. Game of Thrones is very unique, and the two are very different in tone. I hope Game of Throne fans will give it a go and fall in love with it," she adds. Annabel is due to appear in six-part drama The Split on BBC One in the spring, which has a completely different setting to Britannia. "It was a lovely job," she says. "It's about a family of female divorce lawyers. Nicola Walker, who I think is one of the best actresses to come out of the UK, plays my sister." How does she feel about watching herself on screen? "I've got better. It's a useful way to critique yourself and I can do it in a way that I don't reduce myself to rubble. It lets me see how I can improve. I'll think, 'that wasn't bad, but I can do it better', or 'oh my goodness, I look so tired, what was I doing the night before?'. I'm still learning though and I'm responsible for making myself better." However, while she is delightful company, and willing to chat at length about her career, Annabel reveals that she is getting ready for an important trip - her honeymoon, no less - and she and Ciaran are heading off the very day after our interview. "We thought January would be a great time to get away," she says. "I'm ready for the heat. We were both ill at Christmas." What kind of activities will the pair get up to? "Ciaran is quite the fisherman and will be bringing along his tackle while I'll be lying down with a book," she says. "And we love seafood, so we'll be having plenty of curries with fish." Before she rushes off, Annabel adds excitedly: "Oh do let me know when the interview appears so I can let all my in-laws know." And, after exchanging a few more friendly niceties, she is off to prepare for a well-earned rest in the sun. All episodes of Britannia are available on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV Unofficial transfer tests are still growing in popularity - 10 years after the abolition of the 11-plus. Just over half of P7 pupils in Northern Ireland sit tests each year in the hope of attaining a place at an academically selective grammar school. In the 2016/17 academic year 11,570 applications were made for the 8,743 available places at our 63 selective grammars. This is out of a total of 21,763 pupils who obtained Year 8 places at Northern Ireland's 199 post-primary schools in September 2017. Today the Belfast Telegraph can reveal what grades or scores it took to get into each of our selective grammars last year. This exclusive data was obtained over several months by sending Freedom of Information Act requests to each of the selective grammars. Currently there are no official figures provided by the Department of Education, because both the Post Primary Transfer Consortium's GL assessment and the Association of Quality Education's (AQE) Common Entrance Assessment are unofficial tests. Our data for tests sat in the 2016/17 academic year reveal: Five schools which use the AQE system did not accept a score below 100 in September 2017. Five schools which use the GL system did not accept a grade below an A in September 2017. 30 schools accepted AQE scores, while 26 accepted GL scores, and seven took either. Lagan College, which is partially selective, was the most popular first choice by far, with 456 applications for 200 places. Friends School Lisburn was one of the toughest schools to get into last September - the lowest score it accepted was 106 (AQE). Three of the 63 selective grammar schools were not oversubscribed. The AQE and GL tests received a total number of 14,491 entries in the 2016/17 academic year - 7,725 sat the AQEs and 6,766 sat the GL tests. An unknown number of pupils sat both tests. There are 199 post-primary schools in Northern Ireland, of which 63 are grammars that use academic selection for all or some of their Year 8 intake. Leaders in the AQE and GL organisations told the Belfast Telegraph that their entry rates have been steadily increasing over the last decade following the abolition of the old Department of Education-administered 11-plus by former Education Minister Caitriona Ruane in 2008. AQE chief executive Stephen Connolly said the number of entrants to the test is continuing to rise, with 8,169 pupils registered for the 2017 AQE tests, a rise of almost 6% on 2016 (7,725). Mr Connolly said he can only speculate on the increase, but said he believed it may partly follow a decision by former Education Minister Peter Weir to allow primary schools to prepare pupils to sit transfer tests. That reversed a ruling by his predecessor John O'Dowd, which saw schools receive warning letters from the department over preparing pupils for tests within school hours. "That reflects a number of things, that is the steadily increasing primary school age population, also a backwash from the former minister taking the shackles off primary schools and allowing them to openly prepare pupils for transfer tests, and also word of mouth from parent to parent," he said. There was also an increase in the number of pupils who sat the PPTC's GL test, from 6,766 in the 2016/17 academic year to 7,150 in 2017/18. Carol McCann from the PPTC said parents remained very supportive of the tests. "More than 30 schools use the GL test and it is used by a variety of types of school, including grammar and bilateral," she said. "A number of PPTC schools also register pupils for the AQE test. Regarding the increase in the number of pupils sitting the test in 2017 for entry to post-primary in 2018, it is most likely as a result of a rising primary school population in a number of areas. "It is very evident that the transfer test continues to be supported by parents in Northern Ireland who believe in educational choice." Meanwhile, talks between the two transfer test providers to create a single system of assessment remain "ongoing and positive". The AQE and PPTC aim to have a common test in place by November 2019. Mr Connolly said that talks are continuing but the end goal is very complex, and they want to ensure any new single system is robust, will have the confidence of parents, and is of an international standard. "The two negotiating teams made a very good decision at the outset to keep it confidential to not raise expectation or increase pressures and making sure the goodwill between us in this difficult process is maintained," he said. "Trying to put together a single system is very difficult. "I think it is very important that both groups think it is a matter of principle there should be one system. "That principle has been agreed, but getting there is tricky simply because of the complexity of the two systems. People need to have confidence in schools, but also in the testing system. "It needs to be reliable, robust and meet international standards. It isn't just a race to cobble together any old compromise, we are engaging in careful negotiation." Results for both tests are due to be released to pupils this Saturday. How the figures are compiled Under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) legislation we asked the grammar schools in Northern Ireland which use academic selection to determine their Year 8 intake to provide the breakdown of the AQE/GL grades/scores achieved by the pupils they admitted in September 2017. The data gives schools name, location, the highest grade/score/quintile/band it accepted and the lowest grade/score/quintile/band it accepted. Other information included is the number of first preference choices it received and total applications (which includes first, second, third choices etc). Several schools have provided bands for the lowest and highest scores they accepted, as this is the method they used to select pupils. Some schools accept both AQE and GL scores. Not all schools use academic selection to determine their entire intake. Wallace High School in Lisburn admits around 90% of its Year 8 intake on test results; Campbell College in Belfast admits 70%, while Lagan College in Belfast and Slemish College in Ballymena select 35% of their pupils using test scores. Some other schools also use additional criteria to separate students with the same score vying for the final places. Two voluntary grammar schools, Loreto College in Coleraine and St Patricks Grammar in Armagh, no longer use academic selection. Total pupil figures do not tally for a number of reasons, which can include pupils with a statement of special educational needs not being included in enrolment figures, and some pupils being accepted through special circumstances or on appeal. In some schools pupils were admitted without using academic selection and some schools were undersubscribed. When comparing schools, the size should be taken into account. For example Glenlola Collegiate in Bangor has an annual Year 8 intake of 157 pupils. Its principal Mr W E Thompson pointed out that the 157th pupil they accepted in September 2017 scored 85 in the AQE test, but in the North Down area there are smaller selective grammars which accepted only 100 pupils. He has asked us to point out that the 100th pupil Glenlola accepted scored 98 in the AQE tests. Eleven people in Northern Ireland have now died from flu, the Public Health Agency has said Eleven people in Northern Ireland have now died from flu, the Public Health Agency has said. Officials also recorded 64 flu-related admissions to intensive care. The figures come as thousands across the UK have been hospitalised by flu, with four strains of the killer virus identified, including the 'Aussie' and 'Japanese' strains. Japanese flu is believed to be responsible for nearly half the hospitalisations recorded, while the dreaded H3N2 strain that rocked Australia caused a sixth of them. New data shows that the number of flu cases being presented in the first three weeks of 2018 in Northern Ireland was double the number from last year, but figures are now said to be declining. A PHA spokeswoman said that while "flu activity decreased last week", it still "remains at moderate levels". "Flu can be a serious disease every year, however, to date, the current flu viruses circulating are not causing more serious disease than in previous years," she said. "Up to January 21, there have been 64 cases of flu requiring admission to the intensive care unit, and a total of 11 deaths in ICU with confirmed influenza." Seasonal flu activity in Northern Ireland is monitored throughout the year to inform public health action and to prevent spread of the infection. Dr Lucy Jessop, a consultant at the PHA, called for caution, adding: "People are still falling ill with flu, so we should all take steps to prevent its spread". Police at the scene in the Fraser Avenue area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police at the scene in the Fraser Avenue area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2018 Police at the scene in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 27th January 2018 Police at the scene in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police at the scene in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police at the scene in the Fraser Avenue area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Police at the scene in the Fraser Avenue area of east Belfast where there was a report of an explosion on Friday evening. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A man, arrested by police investigating an explosion in Belfast is being held under the Terrorism Act, police have said. Police remained at the scene for most of Saturday following a reported explosion in the east of the city on Friday evening. A loud bang was heard around 8pm in the Fraser Pass area off the Ballymacarrett Road. On Saturday morning police forensics officers combed the area close to the railway underpass for clues. No one is thought to have been injured and a man has been arrested on possession of explosive material. The 32-year-old was later re-arrested by police on Saturday evening under the Terrorism act. A a shed was destroyed and a wall demolished in the explosion. The windows of a home were also blown out. Police have yet to say what the cause was. PUP councillor John Kyle was at the police cordon at around 10pm after news spread around the local community. He said that residents in the area had reported seeing the Army bomb squad but he saw no sign of the unit. A number of homes were also thought to have been evacuated. "It was dark at the time and there was a lot of police tape cordoning off parts of the area," Councillor Kyle told the Belfast Telegraph. "It was a very confusing scene." He continued: "Neighbours reported hearing an explosion. It shook their windows and there was a lot of confusion as to whether it was maybe a gas explosion or an explosive device. "People are not sure if it was an explosion in a house or a shed or in some other area. There is a lot of confusion. "It was very unsettling for the residents I would say they were sanguine surprised. Explosions are not a part of the scene any longer compared to what they once were and certainly the people were reminded of those bad days." Mr Kyle said it was important for police to work quickly to get the correct information out to the public as to what actually happened. Police are appealing for information. Detective Sergeant Ricky Thompson said: Detectives investigating the report of an explosion in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast around 8.15pm last night, Friday 26 January have re-arrested a 32 year old man, under the Terrorism Act. He is currently in custody, assisting us with our enquiries. We are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the Ballymacarrett area last night between 7pm and 8.30pm to get in touch with detectives on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1302 of 26/1/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. Belfast will always hold a special place in Rachel Levy's heart. The grandmother was just 15 when she first arrived in Northern Ireland in 1946 - less than a year after being freed from Auschwitz, the death camp in the then Nazi-occupied Poland, that saw her mother and all her younger siblings murdered under the notorious regime. "Coming to Belfast saved my life," said Rachel, now 87. "I came with my older brother, the only other member of my family still alive. The people were so kind to us we finally felt we had a future." After an unimaginable ordeal at the hands of the Nazis, Rachel and her brother Chaskel were part of a group of around 35 young Holocaust survivors flown to Belfast in February 1946. They were welcomed to the country and taken to a farm run by the Jewish community in Millisle, Co Down, to recuperate and get ready for life in the outside world. "My memories of my time in Millisle are so warm," said Rachel. "None of us spoke the language, we didn't understand what people said, but we knew they were kind. They came to entertain us with music and singing. They were very warm. For all of us the farm was wonderful. We'd lost everything already, our homes, our families. Going so far away brought no sense of loss, it was only good." Before the outbreak of war, Rachel's life had been idyllic. The second of five children, her family lived happily, nestled in a village in the Carpathian Mountains in the then Czechoslovakia. But in March 1939, the Germans invaded. Three years later, Rachel's father Solomon Slomovic was taken from his home. The whole family followed in 1944, when Rachel was just 14. Along with her mother Shlima (37), brothers Chaskel (16), and three-year-old Ben-Zvi, sisters Rivka (10), and eight-year-old Eta and 100 Jewish neighbours, she was forced onto a train destined for Auschwitz. "The train was horrific," she said. "We were huddled into carriages with no air, no food, no sanitation. Babies were crying, children were screaming and people were so distressed they were collapsing around us. In that sort of horror time was a blur. I have no idea how long the journey took. But after that, I never saw my mother or my younger siblings again. "Chaskel and I were older, so we were seen as fit for work. The little ones weren't, and with a baby in her arms my mother wasn't either. I didn't know it at the time but I later learned they were sent straight to the gas chambers." During her time at the camp, where 1.1 million people were killed by the Nazis, Rachel was selected by 'Angel of Death' Dr Josef Mengele for the gas chamber - but miraculously escaped. "I knew what was beyond the gates, but somehow I managed to get behind people carrying soup and escaped back to the camp." It was soon after this that the fighting in the war grew closer, and in January 1945 the Soviet Army pushed the Germans out of Poland. "It was hellish," said Rachel, who now lives in supported living in north London. "We walked for 21 days to Belsen in Germany. It became known as the Death March because so many perished along the way." Conditions were even worse when they got there, with bodies piled up in heaps, said Rachel. Salvation finally came in April 1945 when the British Army liberated Belsen and eventually Rachel made it to Prague, where her older brother tracked her down. The siblings spent some time with their uncle before he and his family went to Palestine. It was then their journey to Belfast began. "He found out about a group taking young people to Britain," said Rachel. "Through them we flew to Belfast where we were X-rayed. My brother had TB and was sent to England but I stayed in Millisle and had a happy summer getting ready to start my life. I'll always think so fondly of it." Until Thursday, Rachel hadn't set foot in Northern Ireland since she left for London late in 1946, where she married and trained as a dressmaker. She returned with her daughter Shelley to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and said the welcome this time has been just as warm as she remembered. "I heard last year the people of Millisle mark this date and I got in touch to say how moved I was. The organisers invited me to Bangor and I'm honoured to be here." A man who suffered serious head injuries in a New Year's Day attack remains in hospital. Police have renewed their appeal for help from the public to help with their investigation. They are keen to hear from those that helped the man after the attack and a woman who was seen in the area carrying balloons. The incident happened in the Union Street area of the town between 1am and 2am on January 1. Detective Constable Sara Clements said: A 40-year-old man is still receiving treatment in hospital for injuries he sustained in the attack in the Union Street area during the early hours of January 1. "We know that he received assistance from four males to the rear of the college at Kitchen Hill sometime between 1am and 2am on the morning of the assault and we are keen to speak to those witnesses. We would also like to hear from a number of other people who were walking in the area between midnight and 1am, including a woman carrying a bunch of balloons and a male with a large sports/gym bag. I would ask these individuals or anyone else with information to contact detectives at Lurgan Criminal Investigation Branch on 101, quoting reference number 269 01/01/18. Anyone who may have captured the assault on their phone or dashcam is also asked to contact detectives. The chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland remains under pressure to step down after he hit out at a "high level of dependency" on public grants. John Edmund, a marketing and media professional, faced calls to go this week after he made a speech urging arts organisations to improve their business skills. The backlash came as an 8% cut to Northern Ireland's arts budget was announced. Mr Edmund and the other board members of the Arts Council were contacted for a response yesterday but have declined to address the fallout so far. A spokesperson for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: "There will be no comment at this time until the chair and the board have a chance to discuss the views expressed." Adam Turkington, head of the Seedhead Arts and Events company, continued his calls for Mr Edmund to step down as his views appeared to be out of step the Arts Council's Executive. On his Twitter page, Mr Turkington posted the Executive's response to Northern Ireland's budgetary outlook alongside an apparently contradictory extract from a draft of Mr Edmund's speech. The Executive statement said arts funding had been slashed by 30% in six years, adding: "The historic pattern of funding cuts threatens the very fabric of our cultural infrastructure and we urge a rethink on further reductions in arts funding." The draft of Mr Edmund's speech, however, said: "The current funding model for the arts has created a high level of dependency and, frankly, has not been a sustainable one for some time." Mr Turkington went on to ask "which view actually represents the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, does the chair speak for the Board (and) if not why is he offering his views as Chair?" Yesterday, Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir also hit out at the reduction in arts funding. "Such a cut would be devastating and could plunge many groups and organisations into crisis. Artists and arts groups are an engine for progress, diversity and community cohesion with a real and important contribution to make in our efforts to promote a future with a place for all and where difference is celebrated," he said. "Artists and art groups deserve consistent, mainstream funding. That is why, when I was Finance Minister, I brought forward three initiatives to boost the sector: providing funds to buy the work of local artists, allocating 1m from dormant funds. The arts should not be the target of austerity budget cuts and I will continue to lobby the Department of Communities to seek proper investment in the sector." A search operation is underway for a walker missing on Lochnagar (Andrew Milligan/PA) A search is under way for a walker missing on Lochnagar. Police Scotland said the 65-year-old male hiker was reported missing at 7.30pm last night after failing to return from a walk on the mountain near Braemar, Aberdeenshire. CALLOUT update. Rescue helicopter beaten back by blizzards and cloud. Team members continuing to deploy on foot. @AberdeenMRT now deploying too. pic.twitter.com/XRWOdN9vOP BraemarMRT (@BraemarMRT) January 26, 2018 Braemar Mountain Rescue said a rescue helicopter had been hampered by blizzards and cloud. Team members carried out a search on foot overnight alongside Aberdeen Mountain Rescue. Tasked to assist @BraemarMRT for a search at #Lochnagar. Refuel completed at #Braemar and now waiting at #Ballater for the weather to clear #Rescue951 pic.twitter.com/Bam7lcXpZY Rob Glendinning (@glendog74) January 27, 2018 They reconvened at 7am on Saturday to continue the search at first light. Khaleda Zia (left), former prime minister and leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, leaves court in Dhaka, Jan. 25, 2018. Khaleda Zia, chairwoman of the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP), is to return to a courtroom on Feb. 8 to hear the verdict in a corruption trial that could keep her from contesting the 2019 general election. Zia, a former three-time prime minister, could be disqualified from seeking to lead her country again, if convicted. Her son, Tarique Rahman, who is BNPs second in command but lives in exile abroad, is a codefendant in the case. Political tensions are high in Bangladesh, with BNP leaders complaining that the ruling Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is using charges against Zia to intimidate the opposition. Zia and her son, her presumed successor, have been charged in more than 100 combined criminal cases ranging from money-laundering to arson. In the case that will be decided on Feb. 8, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed charges against Zia, her son and four others for allegedly misappropriating 21.71 million taka (U.S. $260,800) from the Zia Orphanage Trust. Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman announced the verdict date on Thursday after the prosecution and defense completed their arguments. Zia could face five years in prison, if found guilty. The verdict would be the first one facing Zia. People will respond if injustice is done to Khaleda Zia, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told BenarNews. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said authorities would be prepared to maintain peace and order when the verdict was announced. Police will respond if anyone tries to riot after the verdict, he told journalists on Friday. Meanwhile, BNP and Awami League leaders were arguing over the decision weeks ahead of the verdict. The government has already written the judgment. The verdict will reflect the desire of the prime minister, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a press conference at the partys central office in Dhaka on Thursday. In response, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader asked, Who told Mirza Fakhrul about sentencing Zia in the case? Polls in 2019 Political analyst Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a professor of government and journalism department at Jahangirnagar University, said the courtroom decision will affect the next general election. The verdict will determine the course of Bangladesh politics. Political programs will be different if the verdict goes in favor of BNP or it goes against BNP, he told BenarNews. Voting must occur within 90 days of Jan. 28, 2019, according to Bangladeshs Election Commission. The government wants to keep BNP away from the upcoming election by any means, BNPs Rizvi said, adding BNP will not participate in the next general election if the government arranges it under a blueprint to ensure exclusion of BNP Chairwoman Zia from it. Meanwhile, Awami League leaders have been working with activists to field a strong slate of candidates. Hasina will start her campaign on Jan. 30 after offering prayers at the Hazrat Shahjalal shrine in northeastern Sylhet, which political leaders traditionally visit to kick off their efforts. We have been working relentlessly to contest the upcoming parliamentary election, Awami League General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said. Outstanding charges Zia faces charges in 34 criminal cases while her son, who lives in London, faces charges in 76 cases. He fled to the Britain in 2008 following his conviction and sentencing to seven years in prison in a money-laundering case. On New Years Day, prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty against Tarique Rahman in two cases related to a grenade attack that targeted Hasina in August 2004. A day later, authorities in Comilla district issued a warrant for the arrest of Zia and 48 other opposition leaders over an arson charge stemming from a deadly fire-bombing of a bus during anti-government protests in early 2015. On Jan. 5, 2015, her party led protests and strikes to mark the first anniversary of the 2014 election, leading to the deaths of nearly 200 people over the following weeks. The BNP boycotted the 2014 general election in protest of the refusal by Hasinas government to allow a neutral caretaker government to run the country during the electoral season. A constitutional clause had stipulated such an arrangement, but the ruling party abolished it ahead of the polls four years ago. A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agent arrests six suspects during a raid in the northern city of Dagupan, Dec. 19, 2017. Philippine authorities said Thursday they killed five suspects and arrested 95 others in the first anti-narcotics raids of 2018, a month after President Rodrigo Duterte put police back on the frontline of his governments much-criticized drug war. The suspects were killed during more than 50 sting operations spread across 12 hours in Bulacan, a suburban area north of the capital Manila, ending before midnight Wednesday, local police chief Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat said. Twenty-three police stations in Bulacan participated in the operations, which included intelligence operatives and quick-response mobile units, Caramat said in a police report. The arrested suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to Bulacan crime laboratory office for appropriate examination, a statement issued by Caramats office said, adding that appropriate criminal complaints were being read in court against those taken into custody. Despite the number of arrests and deaths, the drug haul yielded about 171 grams (6 ounces) of methamphetamine and 21 grams (three-quarter ounce) of marijuana. Also seized were nine weapons, including a grenade. Philippine media reported two suspects were killed in San Jose del Monte city and one each in Malolos city and the towns of Calumpit and Santa Maria. In August 2017, Bulacan police carried out what was called then a one time, big time anti-drug operation resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 suspects. Among those killed was 17-year-old student Kian Loyd delos Santos. Two other teenagers died in later round-ups, triggering massive street protests and criticism from local and international rights groups, and eventually forcing Duterte to remove police from the lead role in drug operations. In December, Duterte announced that he was reviving an active role for police, arguing he had promised the electorate that he would rid the country of the drug menace by the time his six-year term ended. Police place the number of alleged drug dealers and addicts killed since Duterte took power in 2016 to about 4,000, a number far less than estimates by Filipino rights groups, who claim that as many as 12,000 people have died. Crackdown The roundup came the same week that Interior Undersecretary Martin Dino, a close Duterte appointee, ordered the countrys nearly 50,000 village chiefs to submit a list of drug dealers and addicts in their respective areas or resign. Rights groups slammed the order, arguing it was dangerous because any village chief could put the names of anyone, including political enemies, on a list without proper vetting. A village chief is the highest elected public official at the grassroots level. While they control the countrys smallest administrative political and administration divisions in the country, village chiefs traditionally are courted by higher public officials for their ability to deliver votes during elections. Earlier, Dino was removed as head of a freeport zone north of Manila, amid reports of alleged abuse of powers. Despite that, Duterte recently named him as an undersecretary at the Interior Department, giving him direct control over the national police force. On Tuesday, Dino vowed to make sure that all barangays (local term for villages) all over the Philippines will be fighting against illegal drugs. He said those who failed to submit a list faced being sacked from their posts. Previously, Duterte said that nearly half of all village chiefs in the country were involved in the illegal drug trade and actively lobbied to have elections for new village officials canceled last year. On Thursday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque did not directly answer whether Dinos directive was backed by Duterte, a former long-time mayor in the south supported by many village chiefs. Those that are being asked are only required to submit names. I am sure there would be investigations to follow, Roque told a local television station, based on a transcript of an interview his office had released. He downplayed fears by rights groups that the lists could lead to another round of killings, noting that the names Dino was asking for would be verified by the authorities. First, there needs to be an investigation. And if there was truth to the allegation, there are ways to remove a local official from office. Secondly, if there really is evidence they are involved in drugs, a case can be filed in courts, Roque said. Felipe Villamor in Manila contributed to this report. Indonesian couple Darius Samao, 57, and Morella Samao, 55, fish from their small boat off Glan, a township in the far southern Philippine province of Sarangani, Jan. 11, 2018. In Pangyan, a remote village at the southern tip of Mindanao island in the Philippines, Kere Tahidaki may soon realize his dream of reuniting one day with his relatives in Indonesia. Nearly one-half century ago, Tahidaki and his family crossed the sea border from Sangir island in Indonesias North Sulawesi province, seeking greener pastures. He is one of thousands of people of Indonesian heritage who migrated to this region from the neighboring country over the years but live as undocumented and stateless residents of the southern Philippines. Now that the Philippines and Indonesia are working together to identify and document illegal migrants, Tahidaki is hopeful he might finally have another opportunity to return to Indonesia to see family members who stayed behind. I had lost communication with them. I miss my parents and I wish I was there beside them when they needed me, Tahidiki told BenarNews. Memories of the sea voyage remain seared in the 68-year-olds mind. Back then, he and other young men crammed into a wooden boat for a journey that ended four days later in Pangyan, which lies on the coast in Glan, a municipality in Mindanao, the largest of the islands in the southern Philippines. When Tahidiki arrived here as a young man, he said he started out working as a fisherman and hand on a coconut farm. He later met the woman who would become his wife, a fellow Indonesian, Aisyah, who bore him 10 children. Tahidaki says he still understands Bahasa Indonesia, but, today, he largely speaks the local dialect in place of his native tongue. The Filipino people treated us well. We did not have any problems with our neighbors and we are following the law of the land, he said in Filipino. Since arriving here decades ago, he never had an opportunity to see his parents and 10 siblings. Life was hard, and crossing the strait again, he said, would cost money that he didnt have. Another concern was that he may reach Indonesia, but would not be allowed back to Mindanao because he didnt have the proper papers. Kere Tahidaki, 68, speaks during a meeting in Pangyan village in Glan, in Sarangani province in the southern Philippines, as a fellow Indonesian and fellow resident of the area, Martin Ampager, 64, looks on, Jan. 11, 2018. [Mark Navales/BenarNews] Tahidakis neighbor, Martin Ampager, 64, also came here from Sangir Island. He arrived in Glan, in 1973, for the same reasons. He said he wanted a better life, but like Tahidaki, he was not prepared for a Muslim separatist rebellion that erupted in the southern Philippines. The fighting spread like wildfire, and it complicated efforts to reconnect with their families back in Indonesia. The Indonesian migrants largely kept to themselves, officials said. However, the Philippine military has said that those who were born in the south were known to have joined a Muslim separatist movement, which would last for the next four decades. For Ampanger, he no longer intends to return to Indonesia, saying he is content with the life he has made here. Still, to possess official travel documents identifying him as an Indonesian is something he says he wants. His five children all born in the south already have their own families and have assimilated well to local life, he said. I am old and anytime I might die. I dont have any legal documents but if the Indonesian government will give me a passport, I am very much grateful, Ampanger told BenarNews. Kere Tahidaki (right), and Martin Ampager, work on a coconut farm in Pangyan village in Glan, a township in Sarangani province, southern Philippines, Jan. 11, 2018. [Mark Navales/BenarNews] As Filipino as the next person Local village chief Osman Salisilan said there were about 100 Indonesian migrants families in their village. Many have imbibed the local culture and are as Filipino as the next person, unless they introduced themselves, he said. We are providing them benefits like health insurance, Salisilan said. You would not recognize them as Indonesians unless they introduce themselves. Most of the Indonesians have become fishermen, though some were farmers who dispersed as employees for local firms. They largely have no criminal records, Salisilan said. Earlier this month, Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted 300 passports to their people in Mindanao to address their statelessness. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said around 2,425 passports had so far been issued to pure Indonesians living in the southern Philippines. Another 2,074 were found out to have mixed Filipino-Indonesian blood, and they could be granted official travel documents, she said. Its a very basic right of every person to get their status of nationality, Retno told reporters when she visited southern Davao city and met with President Rodrigo Duterte in early January. Being stateless always brings risks because they do not know who will protect them, Marsudi said. In 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees conducted a mapping of Indonesians in Mindanao, and found that nearly 9,000 people were registered as persons of Indonesian heritage. Tahidaki said he was grateful for the intervention of the Indonesian consulate and hoped that they would soon be given passports. I wanted to return to our homeland to find my relatives, he said. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High around 80F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Cooler. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Given how many pizza restaurants already operate in the Wheat City, those entering the marketplace need to offer something new to secure their share of patrons. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Given how many pizza restaurants already operate in the Wheat City, those entering the marketplace need to offer something new to secure their share of patrons. Adopting the Subway restaurant model, Fast Fired by Carbone owners Benjamin Nasberg and Joe Paletta believe they have found just the thing to stick out. SUBMITTED Fast Fired by Carbone owners Benjamin Nasberg, left, and Joe Palette, from left, are seen at one of their four Carbones Coal Fired Pizza locations in Winnipeg. The duo are opening a pizza joint at Brandons Corral Centre within the next couple weeks. The upcoming restaurant in the Corral Centre will offer a customer experience very much like at Subway. Customers will list which toppings they would like on their pizza, and it will be made right in front of them. The pizza will go into an oven for 180 seconds, then can be enjoyed in the restaurant or taken home. Fast Fired by Carbone will offer unlimited toppings for one price. This straightforward, streamlined concept is bolstered by the restaurants uniquely Italian flair. Paletta studied culinary arts in Italy for two years, and brought this experience back to Canada. Although Nasberg said they source as many ingredients locally as they can, there are certain things that just dont cut it in retaining their Italian links. "To have a pizza made the right way, it starts with the sauce, and those tomatoes have to come from Italy," Nasberg said, adding that they want to stay true to certain traditions. Accompanying the restaurants pizza offerings will be a salad bar and unique drink options, which will include craft beers. Although this restaurant will be the first of its kind, Nasberg and Paletta already own and operate four traditional pizza restaurants in Winnipeg, called Carbones Coal Fired Pizza. Its a business enterprise that picked up quickly after their first restaurant opened in 2011, which Nasberg said set the stage for their expansion outside the provincial capital. Brandon seemed like an obvious next step, Nasberg said, adding that he sees great potential in their Corral Centre location, which is expected to open sometime during the second week of February. Adding a uniquely Brandon flair to the restaurant, theyre accepting submissions throughout their first month of operations for patrons to design a pizza theyll call The Wheat King. Brandons restaurant scene has gone through a number of changes in recent months. On the pizza front, Brandon has seen Papa Johns Pizza open at 99 18th St. and Fired Pizza reopen at 2430 Victoria Ave. These are in addition to several other pizza restaurants that are operating in the city. Pretty well all markets are saturated with pizza joints, Nasberg said, adding that the number of restaurants sprinkled throughout Brandon doesnt concern him too greatly. "I always feel theres room, the reason being that the pizza industry is very saturated wherever you look," he said, adding that he believes they have something unique to offer local pizza fans, which will help them etch out their share of the market. "We feel that stepping into an area that has multiple offerings, we feel that theres room to share that market and also be able to show people a different way to experience it." tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Nearly 80% of voters think we should stay in the EU even if Brexit results in a hard border. Todays Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll shows just one in 10 believe Ireland would be better off leaving. The body of a 21-year-old Meath man has been recovered from a canal in Vienna. Ross Hanlon from Athboy went missing a week ago, after getting separated from his friends during a night out in the Austrian capital. A television appeal was screened in the Austrian capital last weekend in an effort to find Ross, while a picture of him was circulated on Facebook. In a post on Facebook, Rosss brother Craig has thanked everyone for their support over the past week, adding that they will now bring Ross home. However, searchers found his body in the Danube canal at around 5pm yesterday. His post read: "We are going to bring Ross home and give him what he deserves. We all love you so much and we will see you soon. "Stay strong brother." Vienna Police spokesperson Harald Soros says an autopsy has been scheduled. He said: "We were sure he was the one who was missing. "Now there will be research and we will see what the exact cause of death was." - Digital Desk A Waterford councillor says it is only by "an act of God" that a local family were not killed in a petrol bomb attack at their home last night. There was one man in the house during the attack at around 3:20am this morning. Elderly survivors are gathering at the former Auschwitz death camp as political leaders warned that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning while the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Warsaw, Poland, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Mr Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. The head of Warsaws Jewish community read a prayer and Mr Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. "On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil," Mr Tillerson said. "The western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to the assuring the security of all, that this would never happen again," he said. "As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again." His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultra-nationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while in Austria the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is in the government. Both parties have had issues with members making anti-Semitic remarks. Even Poland - which was occupied and terrorised by Hitlers regime - was convulsed this week by revelations of a fringe neo-Nazi group that honours Hitler. Other ultra-nationalist parties that espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem increasingly emboldened as well. In Europe, that support is partially a backlash to the large influx of mostly Muslim migrants to Europe that peaked in 2015. Some of those migrants, especially from Arab countries, have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism - both from native far-right groups and from Arabs - and Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been the target of German far-right attacks or threats. German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day by addressing the rising anti-Semitism in her weekly Saturday podcast. She said that schools, which already teach about the countrys Nazi past, will need to work harder at that especially so immigrant students from Arab countries will not "exercise anti-Semitism." She called it "incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security -whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue." Commemorations are set to take place on Saturday after dusk, after the end of the Jewish Sabbath, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, located in southern Poland. The United Nations recognised January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. - PA Ting described Bowers as the centre's "spiritual leader" and "probably the most experienced vaginoplasty surgeon in the United States". When she demurred, he asked how many of the operations she had performed. "That's 1700 lives you've saved," he said. Christopher at Monroe Community College in New York state, October 2011. Two years ago, Ting was "a regular plastic surgeon", and he retains an evangelical devotion to his new vocation. "I'm frequently on the verge of tears talking to patients," he told me. "Our oldest patient was 77 years old. She came in for a post-op check, we gave her a mirror, she saw herself for the first time and she cried. She said she had waited since she was five years old for this operation and it finally felt like she was herself." 'I'm frequently on the verge of tears talking to patients': Jess Ting at Mount Sinai Hospital's Centre for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in Manhattan. For Natalie, early manhood was the hardest time. She was an overtly masculine adolescent: a lifeguard and Eagle Scout who enjoyed hang-gliding and rock climbing. Alone at home, she dressed in her mother's clothes. "It was as if I was trying to fill this void with something that wasn't fitting I suppressed it all. It was like knowing something but actively trying to ignore it," she said. At State University of New York at Geneseo, in her early 20s, she began to "present" as a woman for the first time. To summon up the nerve to tell her parents, and help them understand, she filled an encrypted USB flash drive with information about transgenderism and links to parental support groups, then wrote the password on a Post-it note and handed it to her dad. No going back. Christopher in the Adirondack Mountains, August 2012. An endocrinologist prescribed testosterone blockers and oestrogen injections, and although she cried every time she inserted the needle deep into a muscle, after three months she could feel her body starting to change. The Centre for Transgender Medicine and Surgery opened in March 2016, in response to new regulations requiring medical insurance plans to cover gender reassignment in New York. As this included Medicaid, the state-run program for the most needy, hundreds of people who could not previously afford the operations were suddenly eligible. Zil Goldstein, a nurse specialising in HIV treatment and hormone therapy who is herself transgender, was appointed director. "I had patients who were forcing themselves to live in poverty so they could save up the money to get these surgeries," she told me. Although the centre didn't advertise, within two months there were 100 people on the waiting list (there are now more than 400). Penile inversion vaginoplasty was pioneered by Dr Georges Burou in 1958, but until fairly recently in the USA, it was only offered by a handful of surgeons, for cash. "If you didn't have the means, then you didn't have the surgery," Ting said. "You would go to an unlicensed provider and have them inject your body full of silicone to maybe make yourself a little more feminine, and suffer the consequences of those botched operations." These days, 19 US states require insurers to cover the operation and most corporations include it in their health plans. It is still far from easy to get. In New York, patients qualify once they have been receiving hormone therapy and "presenting" in their preferred gender for a year, and must provide letters from two mental health professionals confirming a "persistent and well-documented case of gender dysphoria" - the official term from the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. The previous edition of DSM referred to "gender identity disorder", a term many found pathologising, and it remains controversial that the distress felt by people who feel trapped in the wrong body is listed as a disorder at all. "Does this thing called gender dysphoria exist? The question is ongoing in the community right now," Goldstein said, "but we do know that 40 per cent of transgender people attempt suicide. It's not a stretch that these are life-saving procedures." Mahogany Phillips at home in Brooklyn. Credit:Andrew Purcell Mahogany Phillips, a former male model who had a vaginoplasty and breast augmentation at 47, described gender dysphoria as "a trial and a tragedy, every day You feel so incomplete. It's a struggle just to get dressed. Physically, you're trying to tuck and you're trying to bind all these parts into smaller undergarments, and then you have to go out and face the rest of the world that wants to put you down." In December 2016, she successfully sued New York state, winning the right to get facial feminisation surgery to remove a masculine bump on her forehead, a procedure Medicaid administrators had deemed cosmetic. "People say 'wasn't having the surgery a lot of pain?'. It can never amount to the pain that a transgender person feels every day," she told me. Reborn in the USA The next time I saw Natalie, she was unconscious in the operating theatre, on her back with her legs in stirrups, like a woman about to give birth. It occurred to me that she was being reborn: the chill and the bright lights reminded me of when I last wore hospital scrubs, to see my youngest son delivered by caesarean section. Bowers took the lead, assisted by Ting, Avanessian and two other surgeons. To create a vagina, the shaft of the penis is inverted and used to line the cavity created in the perineum. The urethra is shortened and repositioned. A clitoris is fashioned from the glans of the penis, and the foreskin becomes the labia. Natalie's gender reassignment surgery in progress at the Mount Sinai Hospital Centre for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. Credit:Justin Gunn Ting spent a long time trimming fat from the scrotum, then sewing the skin into the shape of a windsock, to become the deepest part of the vagina. He advised the surgeon working up top to use the 470-cubic-centimetre Natrelle breast implants - "not too big, not too small" being Natalie's request. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, as surgeons cauterised blood vessels and made laser incisions. Pop hits played from a speaker in the corner, occasionally causing the nurses to shuffle as they worked. When "My Humps" by The Black Eyed Peas came on - "my lovely lady lumps" - I laughed out loud into my surgical mask. Mostly, I was awestruck by what modern medical science is capable of, and by the transformation being wrought. After a little over three hours, Bowers and Ting left the junior surgeons to put in the final sutures. A hospital videographer was filming the procedure, for a clip to accompany this article, and Avanessian wondered if the footage would be too graphic, even now the skin had been sewn up and most of the blood drained and wiped away. "It's a vagina," she pointed out. Since the procedure was made available on Medicaid in New York, in March 2015, there has been an explosion of interest from surgeons and clinics seeking a share of the profits. A vaginoplasty that used to cost $11,000 in cash runs to around $29,000 now insurers are on the hook. The smell of burning flesh filled the room as surgeons cauterised blood vessels and made laser incisions. Credit:Justin Gunn "Every week I hear about hospital X, hospital Y, everybody wants to start a transgender surgery program. And having been through it myself, learning these operations, I know how difficult they are," Ting said. "So many people are jumping on the block with little or no training, knowing that they're going to get paid, but leaving the patients basically experimented upon," added Bowers. "We're seeing a decline in the quality of the outcomes overall. And then for those of us who are qualified, the waiting lists are so long." Jaco Erasmus, head of the Gender Clinic at Monash Health in Melbourne, says that there are two surgeons performing vaginoplasty in Australia, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. "Because the surgery occurs in the private system, there is no process in place to collect data about how many surgeries are being performed," he says. "My understanding is that about 8 to 10 vaginoplasty surgeries are performed per month." People seeking vaginoplasty in Australia need private health insurance for a minimum of 12 months, with surgeons recommending a further 12 months of insurance after surgery. Erasmus put the out-of-pocket costs for the procedure, covering surgeon's and anaesthetist's fees, at $12,000. Natalie was lucky: her surgery was booked for September 2019, and only happened sooner because it could double as a masterclass while Bowers was in New York. Natalie Turner hugs Dr Marci Bowers before the surgery. Credit:Justin Gunn Ting has recently developed a new phalloplasty technique that he says has the potential to revolutionise female-to-male transitions, creating a fully-functional penis, something that hasn't been possible until now, but having only performed three of the operations, he remains cautious about the long-term results. Earlier this year, researchers at the Mayo Clinic surveyed 400 endocrinologists, and discovered that only one in five had received training in how to treat transgender patients. In a National Center for Transgender Equality poll, 24 per cent of trans respondents said they sometimes have to educate their own doctor (and 23 per cent said they avoid seeking health care at all, because of ignorance and prejudice they have encountered). Goldstein noted that when surgeons replace a mitral heart valve, there is an acceptable rate of complications. For the relatively untested operations required for gender reassignment, there is no agreed-upon quality metric yet. "There are also more trans people than there used to be, and the medical industry, right now, doesn't have the capacity to take care of everyone," she said. Surgeons working on gender reassignment in Australia follow guidelines published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Two approval letters are required from mental health professionals with expertise in the field, and patients seeking genital surgery must have a well documented history of gender dysphoria and be able to show that they have 12 continuous months of living in "a gender role congruent with their gender identity" and receiving hormone therapy appropriate to their gender goals. New resources, old divides Today's trans teenagers have vastly more resources at their disposal than Natalie did a decade ago. There are transgender characters in several major television shows, and countless YouTube channels following the transition process (including Natalie's). But there is also fierce cultural resistance to transgender rights, particularly in red states: in a recent Pew poll, eight in 10 Republicans said whether someone is a man or woman is determined at birth. "There's much more acceptance. There's much more integration. People are much less likely to be fired from their jobs," Bowers said. "So in that sense, there's been a bit of an emancipation. But there are places where violence is essentially sanctioned against transgender persons." At least 28 trans people were violently killed in the US in 2017, the most on record. At college, Natalie was raped in an alley by a gay man she thought was her friend, and later chased by a pack of drunk male students intent on making her "prove" she was a woman, after a barman at a Halloween party questioned her gender for laughs. Whether she uses the gents' or the ladies' toilets, she is liable to be told "you can't be here" - prejudice she will still encounter despite her newly feminine appearance. Sometimes, strangers congratulate her on her transition "to prove their own openness", and although it feels a lot better than being hated or ostracised, that can grate a bit too. "I try not to view myself as transgender," she said. "By scientific definition, I guess, I would be considered a trans woman, but in my own identity, I just consider myself a woman." In the weeks leading up to her surgery, she often dreamed about it, so vividly she would check her body when she woke up. Regaining consciousness as the anaesthetic wore off, she knew this time was different. "When I looked down at my body I felt as if it was all completed. As if everything was done. It was a sense of relief," she said. 'It's not just a dream - it's reality': Natalie Turner ahead of her gender reassignment surgery. Credit:Justin Gunn Eleven days after the operation, she was still getting used to having a vagina. "It's a new apparatus. I joke about wanting a user's manual, because I keep running into new, unseen territory and sensations," she told me, adding that her clitoris felt "fricking amazing" but she was wary of touching it. When it comes to beer, "hazy" is no longer just a word you might use to describe the way you feel after drinking a few pints. It's also how craft beer connoisseurs refer to a style of India pale ale growing in popularity among Aussies, according to an annual poll. The Balter XPA (centre) topped the national poll. Credit:Bradley Kanaris Seven beers in the "hazy" or New England IPA style - which began on the east coast of the US and is often likened to a cloudy fruit juice - are among 24 new drinks in the GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers for 2017. One of them, Hop Nation's 'Jedi Juice' New England IPA, has even made the top 10, settling in eighth place. The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art enjoyed their busiest calendar year in 2017, with more than 2 million visitors walking through the doors. Credit for the record year has been given to GOMA's 10th anniversary celebrations as well as the blockbuster Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition, which has been described as the biggest exhibition in the past seven years by the director of the two galleries. Visitors marvel at the Marvel exhibition, which arrived at the Gallery of Modern Art in South Bank last year. Credit:Fairfax Media - Lisa Maree Williams Exhibitions by two of the worlds most renowned living artists, Gerhard Richter and Yayoi Kusama, have also received recognition for the outstanding year. The previous attendance record in a calendar year was back in 2010 when 1.8 million visitors flocked to the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). The minister outlined various priorities from a state government point of view such as Cross River Rail, which complements our north coast fast rail proposal. Stockland, the company that designed and is building the new 50,000-strong community of Aura, is part of the planning team for the fast rail concept. They have joined consultants Urbis, SMEC and KPMG. The trains would run at 150 km/h and services between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane would take about 45 minutes. Mr O'Brien said the ballpark cost, before it was studied in detail, would be about $5 billion. The general time frame, if all went to plan, then you would see fast rail to Nambour in five years and to Maroochydore within 10, Mr OBrien said. A decision on whether the concept gets business case funding will be made next month, with $20 million made available from the Turnbull government to test new ideas. That business case would investigate whether a fast rail idea would use standard rail gauge, or specialised high speed rail, or a mix of both. And that business case, if the Sunshine Coast project gets to that point, would need 18 months to flesh out if whether it was possible to use existing rail, where new track would be needed, how much it might cost, and whether specialised high-speed rail locos and carriages were required. For example, could Queensland's much-maligned New Generation Rollingstock, which has come at a cost of $4.4 billion, operate as fast rail? Queenslands Department of Transport doubts it. It says the top speed for NGR is 140 km/h. Plenty of other questions come up. Getting rid of rail crossings? Traffic signal systems? These are questions that should have already been asked. After all, more than a decade ago, a previous Labor government promised $480 million for high speed rail on the Sunshine Coast. We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015, and up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast, then-transport minister Paul Lucas said in 2005. The $480 million was part of $1 billion the Beattie government expected to put into Sunshine Coast rail in 2005, but nothing ever happened. Nothing. The Sunshine Coast's population is now growing by 2.55 per cent per year. That adds an extra 40,000 households with 66,450 people, boosting the population to 369,839 by 2026. Duplicating the 39-kilometre Beerburrum to Nambour project alone would now cost $780 million alone. Its business case in December went to Infrastructure Australia for a share of funds. This will eradicate a section of single lane track. Otherwise, freight services would be forced off the rail line by 2023 and on to the Bruce Highway. And that is one problem which the current proposal cant fix, because the trains are for passengers, not freight. Also, there was the issue of Cross River Rail. If a funding model for that $5 billion rail project could not be agreed, how could a Sunshine Coast fast rail be added to the mix? Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says we all need to breathe because Cross River Rail is necessary to allow the extra train capacity if the federal governments fast rail idea ever comes to fruition. Annastacia Palaszczuk and deputy premier Jackie Trad on the Gold Coast with new trains. Credit:AAP I think everyone would love to have a fast train but the reality is fast trains cost billions and billions and billions of dollars, and we have not seen any detailed proposal in relation to this project, she said. Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington pointed out the LNP had, at successive state elections, committed to duplicating the Beerburrum to Nambour rail line. But the LNP lost both elections. What the fast train case is about planning for the future and that's what we need to be looking at as well, Ms Frecklington said. Mr OBrien, who admits he is not a rail engineer, said the plan was to build a fast tfrom Brisbane to Beerburrum and then on to Nambour in the first stage. Second-stage destinations, Caloundra and Maroochydore, were 10 years away. Mr OBrien said existing rail projects now ready to go could be leveraged and the federal LNP would not use fast rail as an excuse not to fund Cross River Rail, he said. My understanding is that the two complement each other very well, Mr OBrien said. Where Cross River Rail has received some pushback from Infrastructure Australia and elsewhere is one of timing and ensuring there is sufficient capacity to justify the investment. A man remains in a serious condition in Sunshine Coast University Hospital after he opened the front door of his Sunshine Coast home on Thursday night to a serious attack, police will allege. Detectives have charged two men, who were known to the victim, with attempted murder and burglary after the alleged attack. Police said the 53-year-old victim was found with serious stab wounds to his chest and neck at his Low Street home in Yandina after officers were called to the address about 11.40pm. On Australia Day, police searched a caravan park and arrested two men. A 35-year-old Conondale man and a 51-year-old Yandina man were both been charged with attempted murder and burglary. They were scheduled to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Saturday. Authorities fear Victoria's extreme heat could claim more lives this weekend, with dangerous rips expected on the state's coast and a "turning point" in the state's bushfire risk likely. On Saturday, Melbourne is expected to hit 33 degrees, before the temperature rises to 39 degrees on Sunday, with some suburbs climbing into the 40s. Significantly, the weekend will also be extremely humid, which will make the temperature feel much hotter. High humidity also cuts the bodys ability to cool itself by sweating, making things worse. "Those conditions can be even potentially deadly in terms of heat stroke because that sweat mechanism is what allows the body to cool down," said Chris Godfred, a senior Bureau of Meteorology forecaster. Australia Day punters have described their fear when a firework at Bunbury's skyshow malfunctioned and shot into the crowd, injuring five people. It is the second time in less than a month that fireworks in Bunbury misfired after a woman suffered life-threatening injuries when a firework blew up in her face at New years celebrations at Bunbury's Trotting Club. Paula Sayer captured the moment a firework shot into the onlooking crowd at Bunbury's Australia Day skyshow. Credit:Paul Sayer Bunbury Police Sergeant Laurie Stubbs said one of the projectiles from the fireworks display at the annual SkyFest, held at the Bicentennial Square, failed to detonate and landed in the crowd. "Luckily police were right behind the crowd and rushed to the injured people to give first aid," Sergeant Stubbs said. Donald Trump declared the US "open for business" at Davos as he reassured global business leaders that "America First does not mean America alone". Face to face with some of his harshest critics, in the temple of globalisation, the US president turned on the charm in a speech delivered in unusually conciliatory tones. "As President of the United States, I will always put America first. Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first also. But America First does not mean America alone," he told the World Economic Forum (WEF). Mr Trump at times offered a message of obligation that was - on the surface - not far removed the "stakeholder" philosophy of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum, the doctrine that first inspired the WEF gathering. He reminded the business and political elites in the room of their "duty" to the ordinary working people who made them rich and put them in there. He launched into a paean to the "forgotten voices", embellished with claims that African-American and Hispanic unemployment rates in America have touched the lowest in history. Hillary Clinton (left) and Julia Gillard at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, in Brazil in 2012. Credit:Victor R. Caivano "What I am absolutely confident of is it will be easier for the next woman and the woman after that and the woman after that, and I'm proud of that," Ms Gillard declared in that final prime ministerial address. Her fervent hope was that the nation would reflect "in a sophisticated way" about the part gender played in her rise and fall, and factor in the conclusions when the next woman came along. Then opposition leader Tony Abbott speaks flanked by party colleagues including Bronwyn Bishop and Sophie Mirabella at the infamous no carbon tax rally outside Parliament House in Canberra in 2011. Credit:Unknown The same goes for Ms Clinton, who believes her two presidential campaigns have helped pave the way for that country's first female president; though she is not sure it will be any time soon, saying: "I hope I'll be around to vote for her assuming I agree with her agenda." Recently, Ms Gillard and Ms Clinton have discussed how they can work together to change perceptions and encourage more women to put themselves forward. Then prime minister Julia Gillard delivers the "misogyny speech" in October 2012, a moment that gave her global attention. Credit:Andrew Meares "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 says. "I knew when she was writing the book that she was working through these things and thinking about them very deeply. And one of the things I think she can continue to do, is be a voice for change when it comes to gender and politics." Former prime minister Julia Gillard says she is hopeful of helping make the path for women easier in the future. Credit:Justin McManus Ms Gillard agreed to be interviewed about being the first woman prime minister and other aspects of political leadership as she prepares to join John Howard, another former prime minister, and others in judging what may well be Australia's first national award for political leadership, the McKinnon Prize. Two recipients, an established politician and one with less than five years' experience, will be announced in March. "We're in an era of change for women's equality and, like all eras of change, it's not a linear progression." Credit:Justin McManus Four-and-a-half years after she was torn down by Kevin Rudd before the Labor Party was thrown out of office, Ms Gillard says her conviction about it being easier for the next woman has only strengthened. "I feel that in Australia and increasingly around the world, that we're in an era of change for women's equality and, like all eras of change, it's not a linear progression of a step forward followed by a step forward followed by a step forward," she says. "There are plenty of days where you look at the news media and feel like we've gone backwards. But the overall direction of travel is a good one. And I think the fact I served here as the first female [prime minister], everybody's had a bit of time to reflect on the experience now, and I think those reflections would come to the fore the next time we had a woman PM." The likely result, she believes, is that there will be far less of an obsessive interest in appearance and in personal life and much less resort to the kind of gender-based use of images that characterised much of the coverage of her prime ministership. One obvious sign of progress is across the Tasman, where New Zealand's third female prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, recently announced she will become the first leader of a Western nation in modern times to give birth whilst in office. This tweet from Ben Kepes captured the national mood of progress: "Proud to live in a country where the prime minister can reconcile starting a family with being in charge." Asked how the perceptions that make it harder for women to rise to leadership positions will change, Ms Gillard says there will be a shift only when the information about bias is known, popularised and understood. "There's plenty of research now that people tend to correlate likeability and leadership in men, but tend to think of female leaders as pretty hard-boiled, and must've scratched and clawed to get there and so they're not very nice." says Ms Gillard. "That certainly played out hard against Hillary. "In our world, in our culture, we do have whispering in the back of our brains these sexist stereotypes and one of them is that women leaders aren't likeable," she says. Ms Gillard says one sign that perceptions have changed will come when there is a new female leader, and that leader's performance is being discussed on one of the political panel shows on TV where journalists interview each other. "If one of them says, 'I think a problem for this new leader is she is not viewed as very likeable', [I hope] that someone else on the panel says, 'Why do you really think that? Or 'Is that a bit of unconscious bias at work?' And then the panel talks it through, when we've reached that moment, we will be unpacking all of this in a way that is really healthy." The contrast, she adds, is with how the question of likeability played out for Ms Clinton during controversies over her use of her family's private email server for official communications when she was Secretary of State and Ms Clinton's response to the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. "You imagine a male secretary of state who had the email problems, had the Benghazi issue, what would people say about him? Well, they might have a variety of views about how competent he is. They might have a variety of views about whether he handled those scandals well or badly," says Ms Gillard. "But I doubt people would be saying 'You know what his trouble is, he's not very likeable'. I really think that shows us just how gender was at work for Hillary." In her memoir, My Story, Ms Gillard implored women and men in all spheres of Australian life to point out sexism when they see it. She now says she is buoyed by the thousands of women sharing their personal stories using the #MeToo hashtag. "The flashpoint that the internet can provide of bringing people together and empowering the next woman and the next woman to speak up is a truly astonishing thing," she says. "I also know that #MeToo needs to end up inclusive of everyone and I think it is overwhelmingly true to say, at the moment, that the power of #MeToo has been at its strongest when allegations of sexual harassment have been in industries where people are famous. "At the moment, I don't think #MeToo can say it changed the circumstance for a cleaner who might be a recently arrived migrant, she might not speak much English, and she is being harassed by the head cleaning contractor but she desperately needs that job. I don't think there's much about #MeToo that is reaching into her world." Ms Gillard began her memoir by recalling how she felt during the walk from her office to deliver her final speech as prime minister after being voted out by her Labor colleagues, and how she was determined not to stand before the nation and cry for herself. "I was not going to let anyone conclude that a woman could not take it," she wrote. "I was not going to give any bastard the satisfaction. I was going to be resilient one more time." So, I ask in a roundabout way, will the next female prime minister feel so compelled to avoid showing any sign of weakness for fear of confirming the sexist stereotype? "It's a bit complicated," Ms Gillard replies. "One of the things I wanted to do was to show that women can thrive, indeed dominate, in adversarial climates and I know that not every feminist is of my view. "Some feminist writers and thinkers put forward the view that if leadership positions were more equitably shared between men and women, then women would bring a different style to the leadership and it would be a more consensual, more collaborative world. "I've never believed that. I believe that there are some adversarial places in our society for good reasons. Parliament House is one of them. It's a clash of values. "But I would hope that we're in a world where a woman shedding tears because she's moved by an event doesn't lead to commentary that says 'I knew she'd never be tough enough'." Ms Gillard was prime minister for three years and three days and, for most of that time, she led a minority government. Her formula for getting things done, she says, was exactly the same as when Labor had a majority and when she was a minister. "You have got to be crystal clear about what it is you have come to do and the big picture policies you want to pursue," she says. "If you are not crystal clear about what it is you have come to do, you'll just end up weaving across all issues and never getting profound change done in any of them." An example was Ms Gillard's approach to education. "I wanted to make a real difference for Australian children and I believe we did do that and we have changed the Australian education debate profoundly," she says. "Now political parties in Canberra contest as to who has got the best needs-based school funding policy and who is best catering for the disadvantaged. That wasn't the debate we were having when I started being education minister and took the school funding needs formula through the Parliament as prime minister." Ms Gillard says she hopes the McKinnon Prize will not only recognise those who display visionary, courageous and collaborative leadership, but will prompt a discussion about what the best political leadership can look like. She was also drawn to the story of Susan McKinnon, a woman who overcame all manner of adversity and hardship to instil in her two children a sense of social justice, a hunger for knowledge and a commitment to give back when the opportunity arose. Paris: Brawls broke out in French supermarkets as shoppers brawled to get their hands on discounted pots of Nutella. Hysterical scenes were filmed in several supermarkets across the country operated by the Intermarche chain, which offered massive discounts on pots of the chocolate and hazelnut spread. In this image taken from video a customer carries away pots of Nutella as others congregate around display of the product in a supermarket in Toulon, southern France. Credit:AP More than a million 950-gram pots had been slashed in price by 70 per cent. Police had to intervene in a brawl in the northern town of Ostricourt, Le Parisien newspaper reported. An employee at one store in Forbach, near the border with Germany, likened the scenes to an orgy, telling Le Monde newspaper that shoppers had broken items in their rush for the treat. Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC Hes crying cover up! The city is protecting a private-carting company with a history of fatal accidents after its employee hit and killed a 27-year-old cyclist in Greenpoint last July while driving a massive garbage truck he was not licensed to operate, the lawyer representing the victims family told the Brooklyn Paper. The company has been involved in five separate fatalities in the past few years. It has a big contract with the city of New York millions of dollars and it seems it gets special protection from the city and police, said Michael Kremins, an attorney with the Manhattan-based personal-injury firm Raskin and Kremins. He did not have a valid license, and should not have been behind the wheel of that truck. District Attorney Eric Gonzalez let the driver whom Kremins identified as 63-year-old Jose Nunez after law enforcement refused to release his name off the hook on Jan. 9 because his prosecutors said they lacked enough evidence to arrest him after a police probe determined the man didnt know he hit Neftaly Ramirez near Noble and Franklin streets while the cyclist was pedaling home from work on July 22. Cops confirmed the motorist had a valid New York State license to drive a car, but not the kind needed to get behind the wheel of a commercial garbage truck, which led them to slap him with a summons. But Gonzalezs rep maintained prosecutors did not have enough evidence to charge the driver. There were no criminal charges that could have been brought in this case, said Oren Yaniv. Kremins isnt giving the motorist or his employer the same special treatment he claimed they received from the city, however. The Ramirez family plans to file a civil suit against the allegedly well-connected, New Jersey-based Action Carting, he said, which will hopefully shed light on its years of negligence and force the business to shape up. What the family wants to do is change that attitude, so other citizens dont have the same fate as Neftaly, said the 35-year-plus lawyer. Hopefully this lawsuit will be the catalyst that changes the conduct and behavior. Investigators claimed theres no video of the actual collision, and Kremins didnt see the camera footage cops have from before or after the crash, the lawyer said. But reps from the district attorneys suggested he file a Freedom of Information Request to get the footage, he said. Kremins said he submitted a request the day after Gonzalez closed the case, and has yet to receive any evidence. This newspaper submitted its own request on Jan. 17, and is also still waiting for a response. And the attorney said that the information law enforcement did share with him doesnt quite add up. Police only interviewed the driver by phone 17 hours after the fatal crash, and did not test his blood for alcohol or drugs, he said. And Kremins said the district attorneys reps told him the video clip from moments before the collision shows the drivers colleague riding on the back of the truck, allegedly above the same tires that hit Ramirez, but that footage from after the incident shows the co-worker inside the vehicle. A block before this stop occurred theres video that shows the helper on the back of the truck, on the same side where the wheels of the truck supposedly hit him, he said. The next video they have, about a minute after the impact, the helper is now sitting in the front seat next to the driver. We find that troublesome. But authorities said an eyewitness told them that the motorists colleague was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Ramirezs death likely was not a calculated murder, but someone still should be held accountable, Kremins said. No one is claiming that they intentionally went out to run over a biker and kill him but you really have to use due care, he said. If this is the first time that it occurred or the first time the company was involved, then okay, maybe things like this happen. But when it happens over and over and over again, then you start thinking somethings not right. Something smells. The Hong Kong stock exchange, which recently proposed new rules to allow unprofitable biotech companies to list there, has been wooing the large number of innovative biotech companies that have sprung up in China over the past two years. Photo: IC The Hong Kong stock exchanges new rules on initial public offerings (IPOs) by biotech companies could lead many in the sector to seriously consider a Hong Kong listing, a top investment manager told Caixin. Zhang Leidi, managing director of China Life Private Equity Investment Company, a subsidiary of insurance giant China Life, recently spoke to Caixin about how the bourses plan to lift revenue and profit restrictions could affect the booming sector. The Hong Kong stock exchange announced in December that it intended to allow pre-revenue biotech companies to list, a move that aims to attract more Chinese companies from an industry where profits are usually achieved only after long years of research and development. This decision to relax the rules is not a sudden move, Zhang said. It is an opportunity brought about by the greater circumstances. A large number of innovative biotech companies have sprung up in China over the past two years with the encouragement of the China Food and Drug Administration policies, Zhang said. However, because they dont meet the profit requirements to list on the Chinese mainland stock exchanges, newer biotech companies only option is a U.S. IPO. However, Zhang said, this isnt in line with the Chinese governments wish to see homegrown businesses develop on Chinese stock markets. In light of this, Hong Kong has been enthusiastically wooing biotech companies in recent months. In June, the bourse proposed setting up an over-the-counter stock exchange for new-economy companies, a plan it later pushed aside in favor of rule changes on its main board. And, in December, the exchange sent representatives to Taiwan in an effort to engage medical and biotech firms there. Under the proposed new rules, biotech companies that arent making a profit must still fulfill a number of requirements, including a minimum expected market capitalization of HK$1.5 billion ($191.9 million). This wont be a significant barrier for Chinese companies that have entered their B round of funding, because many are already valued at $200 million or more, Zhang said. Without the help of a price-earnings ratio, investors will have to rely on nontraditional indicators to judge these companies, Zhang told Caixin. First of all, she said, investors must evaluate the companys products and technical capabilities. Additionally, they should understand their products commercial potential, taking into account factors like target population. This requires investors to have a deep understanding of the medical industry, since biotech companies research and product breakthroughs have a big impact on their share prices, Zhang said. For example, when Hong Kong-listed Genscript Biotech Corp. announced on Dec. 11 that its subsidiary had received permission to conduct cancer immunotherapy trials, the companys share price rose by over 20% that day, and continued to rise for the next month by nearly 140%. After the Hong Kong stock exchanges listing rules are relaxed, U.S. stock markets will remain enticing to biotech firms because the industrys most advanced companies and most experienced investors are concentrated in the U.S. an advantage that Hong Kong will need time to match, Zhang said. Some biotech companies able to meet the old requirements have already listed in Hong Kong, including Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc., which raised around HK$4.6 billion in its 2017 IPO. Zhang said this was one of the most successful IPOs ever on the Hong Kong stock exchange, giving a big boost to the performance of other biotech stocks in the city. But, Zhang pointed out, Wuxis parent company Wuxi Biologics is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and international fund management companies are more familiar with it so it remains to be seen whether other biotech companies listing in Hong Kong will be as sought after. Nevertheless, Chinese biotech companies could be swayed by the higher proportion of mainland capital in Hong Kong, Zhang said. Its easier for such firms to get recognition from other Chinese companies, so they may be able to achieve a higher valuation in Hong Kong. Contact reporter Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com) Airport crews remove snow from an airplane at Changzhou airport, in Jiangsu province, on Thursday. A blizzard caused flight and train delays Thursday and Friday across much of central and eastern China. Photo: VCG A blizzard sweeping across central and eastern China since Thursday has led to cancellations and delays of dozens of flights and high-speed train services. Up to 20 centimeters (7.87 inches) of snow had fallen by 5 a.m. Friday on southern parts of Henan province, northwest Hubei, southwestern parts of Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang province and Shanghai, according to Chinas Central Meteorological Administration. In Shanghai, the first heavy snow to hit the metropolis this winter forced the citys two airports, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, to cancel 138 flights nearly 12% of scheduled flights by 6 p.m on Thursday, according to the citys airport authority. Seven more were delayed by at least two hours. Another 70 flights out of Shanghai had been canceled by midday Friday. Extra time was needed to remove snow and ice from planes, as required by aviation safety regulations, Sun Yi, an official overseeing air traffic control at the Civil Aviation Administration of Chinas (CAAC) East Regional Administration, told local news outlet Wenhui Daily. Air traffic controllers and airline companies rushed to reschedule flights or reassign passengers from different flights into one to avoid large numbers of travelers being stranded in Shanghai. Employees of the Nanchang Railway Bureau, in Jiangxi province, clean snow from the tracks on Thursday. Photo: VCG The heavy snowfall also coincided with a fire on a bullet train en route from the eastern port city of Qingdao to Hangzhou, just before noon Thursday. This resulted in a suspension of high-speed train services on several lines running through the Yangtze River Delta area. All high-speed trains bound for Beijing and Nanjing, and services from Nanjing to Chengdu, and Nanjing to Hangzhou, were suspended Thursday, according to China Railway Shanghai Group. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The Meteorological Administration issued a yellow alert for blizzards on Wednesday morning and extended it on Friday, warning that up to another 12 centimeters of snow could fall on much of central and eastern China by 8 a.m. Saturday. Shanghai saw light snowfall early Friday and 40 bullet trains in and out of the Yangtze River Delta region had been delayed by 10:20 a.m. Friday, China Railway Shanghai Group said. Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com) Regulators grew concerned last year that some financial-holding companies were using complicated ownership structures to benefit people and third-parties affiliated with them. Photo: Visual China Chinas banking regulator has a long to-do list for 2018: clean up financial holding groups, reduce excessive leverage and contain shadow banking, or potentially risky lending outside the formal banking system. The banking sector and regulatory departments must keep a clear mind and should not be blindly optimistic and realize that the risks and challenges facing the banking sector are still severe and complicated, the China Banking Regulatory Commission said in a statement Friday after a two-day meeting to set policy goals for the year. High on the regulators agenda is coming up with rules to supervise fast-expanding financial-holding groups. These companies emerged in China in recent years to offer a wide range of financial services through subsidiaries. Major players include both private players, such as Tomorrow Holdings Group and Anbang Insurance Group, and state-owned groups, such as China Citic Group and China Everbright Group. Regulators grew alarmed last year over these companies alleged use of complicated ownership structures to aid connected-party transactions in which connected persons or third parties may benefit through their interests in the entities involved in the transactions. Regulators were also concerned about highly-leveraged investments through the non-bank shadow banking system. Meanwhile, some in the sector were also accused of taking advantage of regulatory vacuums to conduct risky business. In a recent interview with the official Peoples Daily, CBRC Chairman Guo Shuqing said a small number of criminals have created large financial groups with complex shareholding structures, fraudulent investments and murky capital flows. Such entities have become severe obstacles for further financial reforms, Guo said. One of the financial-holding groups in the spotlight is Tomorrow Holdings, controlled by tycoon Xiao Jianhua. The billionaire was seen last January being escorted in a wheelchair out of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, according to media reports, and is believed to be assisting mainland authorities with unspecified investigations. Tomorrow Holdings controlled at least nine listed companies, and controlled or owned shares in 30 financial institutions including banks, securities firms, trust companies and insurance firms, business registration documents show. Sources close to the matter told Caixin that Tomorrow Holdings has been seeking to offload some of its financial assets amid tightening regulatory scrutiny. Anbang Insurance, which controls Minsheng Bank and Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank, has also become a target of regulators. In May, Anbangs life-insurance unit was banned from selling some products for three months that violated industry rules. The CBRC also ordered commercial banks to assess their exposure to Anbang and several other companies with significant overseas merger and acquisition activity. Tougher oversight pledged In November, the central bank vowed stricter oversight of financial-holding companies, targeting their market access, sources of funding, corporate governance, capital adequacy and related party transactions. Earlier this month, the CBRC issued new rules of banks shareholding structure to curb financial risks caused by regulation-dodging major shareholders. Amid tightening regulations, some financial institutions may encounter capital challenges and default risks. The CBRC will closely monitor institutions with high risks and work out solutions to deal with the risks in an orderly way, the banking regulator said in its Friday statement. The commission also highlighted efforts to continue reducing the economys leverage, especially in the property sector. The CBRC said it will work to rein in household credit risks, such as credit-card fraud, risky borrowing of consumers loans and violations in mortgage loans. The commission will also closely scrutinize irregular fundraising activities in the property sector. According to a report by TF Securities, the overall leverage ratio of Chinese residents has increased from 11% in 2006 to 45% in 2016. In 2016, Chinese homebuyers average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio which measures the leverage of asset purchase of reached 50%. When the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis broke out in 2007, the LTV ratio approached 60%. A report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences warned that the leverage ratio of Chinese households has been rising. Some borrowers have used short-term consumer loans to finance mortgage payments after regulators tightened mortgage lending rules early last year to cool market speculations, it said. Concerns about property market Since the beginning of this year, the banking regulator has fortified its efforts to curb the buildup of bubbles in the real estate market. On Jan. 13, the commission issued a notice to crack down on violations in lending to the property sector, including household mortgage loans. Excessive leverage of property developers is also under scrutiny as regulators step up supervision of the shadow-banking sector, which has provided capital sources to developers. Research by UBSs chief China economist Wang Tao found that Chinese banks exposure to the property sector totaled between 54 trillion yuan ($8.5 billion) and 72 trillion yuan in 2016, including 10.5 trillion yuan funded by the off-balance sheet shadow-banking channels. Chinas battle against the rampant shadow-banking business will continue to deepen this year, according to the CBRC statement. In 2017, top financial regulators moved aggressively to curb financial institutions off-balance sheet business, which has largely fallen outside oversight. That includes a sweeping rule proposed in November to regulate all types of asset management products and a crackdown on entrusted loans. A year of effort has yielded positive changes wanted by regulators. According to the CBRC, although commercial banks off-balance sheet wealth-management business continued growing in 2017, it grew by a smaller monetary amount that it had in the previous year about 5 trillion yuan less in 2017 amid tightening regulations. Banks off-balance sheet investments through channels like asset-management products offered by trust and securities firms and privately offered asset-backed securities also saw growth last year, but the amount of the year-on-year increase was 10 trillion yuan less in 2017 than in the previous year, the regulator said. Regulators have blamed such channels for directing capital to fund debt-ridden property sector, local governments and industries with overcapacity. In 2017, the banking industry saw its first contraction of assets in the interbank market since 2010, with a decline of 3.4 trillion yuan from the end of 2016. The interbank market has become a main source of short-term funding for banks and nonbank financial institutions that borrow money to invest in higher-yielding assets. The CBRC said Friday that it will continue to press banks to improve their asset quality and will put both the on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet business under proper oversight. The commission will firmly stop the chaos and heal the lingering illness of the banking sector, said the statement, citing Chairman Guo. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) Updates previous story to clarify that figure in fifth paragraph from bottom refers to growth in the amount of commercial banks off-balance sheet wealth-management business in 2017 Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. A nuclear-armed North Korea is a danger to the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. Because there are so few foreign policy options to correct the situation, the U.S. and other world powers have been relying on financial and economic sanctions to bring the Kim regime back into denuclearization discussions. In addition, world governments have put sanctions in place to punish the nation for human rights violations, cyber-attacks, and money laundering. Some countries, however, arent complying with the sanctions, according to secret information. Keep reading to find out which countries are supposedly helping North Korea with supplies and money and decide for yourself if the information is true. 1. Russia is a culprit According to Reuters, two senior Western European security sources have confirmed that in the last few months, Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea at least three times. Providing an economic lifeline to the Communist state is strictly against sanctions set by the United Nations. Next: Secret transfers 2. This is how Russia delivered fuel to the North Koreans In September, Reuters reported that North Korean ships were sailing directly from Russia back to North Korea. Cut to October and November, when the smuggling took place. According to Reuters, an anonymous source told it that Russian tankers were transferring the fuel to North Korean ships at sea to avoid detection. Another source told Reuters that, There is no evidence that this is backed by the Russian state but these Russian vessels are giving a lifeline to the North Koreans. Next: Lie and deny 3. Russia denies claims Russias state news agency, RIA Novosti reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed it was absolutely observing sanctions against North Korea. Two sources told Reuters that there were vessels operating out of Russian ports but that they couldnt give any more details because the information was classified. When Reuters asked the Russian Customs Service if Russian tankers had transferred fuel to North Korean ships it declined to comment and one owner of a vessel suspected to have smuggled oil totally denied it, according to Reuters. Next: A reminder from the U.S. State Department 4. The U.S. State Department issues a warning According to Reuters, after the secret activity was revealed, the U.S. State Department urged U.N. members and called on Russia to strictly implement the North Korean sanctions. In addition it urged members to work more closely together to shut down U.N.-prohibited activities, including ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum and the transport of coal from North Korea. Next: China enters the mix 5. China is also breaking the rules In December 2017, Donald Trump accused China of supplying oil to the North Koreans, saying he was very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea and that it would prevent a friendly solution to the issue regarding the nations nuclear program. Trump tweeted, Caught RED HANDED. Very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen! China, according to Reuters, completely denied Trumps accusation. Next: Its all in the timing 6. Chinas denial came at a weird time Chinas denial that it was engaging in illicit trade with North Korea came at an odd time. The rebuttal came just one day after the nation blocked the U.S. from convincing the United Nations to black list six ships rumored to have gone against economic sanctions and traded with North Korea, according to what a U.N. Security Council diplomat told Reuters. Next: Some proof 7. North Korean ships left Russia with fuel According to Reuters, at least eight North Korean ships left Russias eastern ports in Vladivostok and Nakhodk and traveled home with a cargo of fuel. All eight, however, had declared other final destinations. Reuters tracked the eight ships, which all reported South Korea or China as their destinations, but instead went to North Korean ports. Next: More proof 8. Russia caught in the act Russian port control documents revealed that the Vityaz left Slavyanka, a port near Vladivostok, on Oct. 15 with 1,600 tons of oil aboard. Its original destination was a fishing fleet in the Japan Sea, but the vessel turned off its transponder for a few days while it was in open sea. According to Reuters, European security sources confirmed that the Russian ship Vityaz made a ship-to-ship transfer in that open sea with the North Korean vessel Sam Ma 2. Read more: Kim Jong Un Sips Hennessy While the North Korean People Starve Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! If youre looking for a trade-war headline, Donald Trumps 30% tariff on solar imports will do the job. At a glance, the administrations move appears to favor U.S. companies over foreign ones that produce panels at cheaper prices. Trump used a similar pitch to get elected. However, the story is far more complicated. We saw a similar thing happen in January 2018 with the high volume of layoffs following the GOP tax plans passing. But big corporations loved the concept of that law. In the case of the solar panel tax, opposition from the industry (and both political parties) came swiftly. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Trumps move could cost tens of thousands of jobs many of them in manufacturing in a single year. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress joined their Democratic colleagues in denouncing the move. Heres what the Trump administration did and why things look bad for a rapidly growing U.S. industry. 1. Trumps tariff The move by the Trump administration followed a complaint file by two failed manufacturers of solar panel both of which have their headquarters in foreign countries. These companies, which claimed cheap imported materials used in assembly hurt their U.S. operations, hoped to level the playing field by taxing foreign goods. Once the decision was announced, one of the two companies behind the complaint did not sound convinced it would work. We are still reviewing these remedies, and are hopeful they will be enough to address the import surge and to rebuild solar manufacturing in the U.S., said Juergen Stein, president of Germanys SolarWorld America. Next: But 23,000 American workers could lose their jobs in 2018. 2. SEIA estimates 23,000 U.S. jobs could be lost. Because U.S. solar companies source inexpensive materials from abroad, the majority of the business comes in service and installation. Breaking up the supply chain would will result in the delay or cancellation of billions of dollars in solar investments, SEIA said. In terms of hard employment figures, the number was staggering. The decision effectively will cause the loss of roughly 23,000 American jobs this year, SEIA said in a statement. Next: Job losses would be devastating because manufacturing is not Americas strength in solar. 3. Trumps move protects only 2,000 U.S. workers. Only a tiny fraction of the workforce actually manufactures the cells and panels. According to data from trade groups, there are currently 260,000 Americans employed in the solar industry. (That number is higher than coal and natural gas workers.) Yet only 2,000 of those jobs involve the manufacturing of cells and panels. So the move by the Trump administration protects a small minority of workers. Next: Solar industry CEOs responded in largely negative terms. 4. Theres no doubt this decision will hurt U.S. manufacturing. What about the American companies the Trump administration hoped to protect? Right off the bat, SunPower said it would halt its $20 million factory expansion and put plans to hire hundreds of people on hold. Other industry executives denounced the move just as forcefully. It boggles my mind that this president any president, really would voluntarily choose to damage one of the fastest-growing segments of our economy, said Tony Clifford, chief development officer at Standard Solar. Clifford described the move as a taxpayer bailout [of] foreign, bankrupt companies. Theres no doubt this decision will hurt U.S. manufacturing, not help it, said Bill Vietas, president of RBI Solar in Cincinnati. Costa Nicolaou, president and CEO of PanelClaw, a Massachusetts-based racking company, also questioned Trumps support for foreign corporations. Whats most disappointing is that the president sided with two foreign-owned companies and didnt listen to Americans from across the country and political spectrum. Next: Even higher tariffs on washing machines 5. Trump approved 50% tariffs on washing machines, too. Along with the solar panel tariff, the Trump administration approved 50% tariffs on imported washing machines and parts, the Los Angeles Times reported. This move was seen by some as a giveaway to Whirlpool. Chairman Jeff M. Fettig said it would result in new manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee. Yet Whirlpool committed to add just 200 jobs. Meanwhile, Samsung and LG employees in South Carolina and Tennessee braced themselves for what could be layoffs in the near future. Todays announcement is a great loss for American consumers and workers, Samsung said in a statement. Next: Heres how consumers will take the hit. 6. Higher prices for consumers If a few thousand workers get protection, is it worth losing thousands of other jobs and raising prices for consumers? The tariffs could very well make all that happen. Samsung officials described the move as a tax on every consumer who wants to buy a washing machine. Everyone will pay more, with fewer choices, the Times reported. LG said it would immediately raise prices. As a result of the trade situation, we will be initiating pricing actions, Thomas Yoon, executive vice president at LG, told retailers on January 24. Higher prices on solar panels will also force companies to hike installation costs for consumers. Next: Democrats and Republicans alike questioned the move. 7. Bipartisan opposition to the tariff Republicans and Democrats have a hard time agreeing these days, but news of Trump tariff brought both sides together. The conservative Heritage Foundation released a statement saying, We believe that trade policy should not be about tipping the scale toward one American industry or interest group over another, The Washington Post reported. Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), was more blunt. Heres something Republicans used to understand: Tariffs are taxes on families, Sasse said. Moms and dads shopping on a budget for a new washing machine will pay for this not big companies. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) saw equal losses for the economy and environment, the Times reported. Higher-priced panels will dramatically reduce the pace of new solar energy installations, increase climate-changing emissions, and lead to significant job losses nationwide, an NRDC statement said. Next: Financial analysts also say it wont help U.S. manufacturing. 8. Anyone expecting a manufacturing renaissance [will] be disappointed. Hugh Bromley, a solar industry analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, also had little positive to say on the topic. Anyone expecting a U.S. manufacturing renaissance as a result of these tariffs is set to be disappointed, Bromley said, the Post reported. Chad Bown, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute, also expressed reservations. Theres a real chance that this opens the floodgates, Brown said. What he meant was, Trump is officially crowning winners and losers. If you happen to know someone in the White House, you might become a winner. Those who dont could end up on the losing end of the next tariff. Follow The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Fairway Village affordable housing project will not move forward Housing Trust Group, the developers of the proposed Fairway Village, couldn't amend the parcel's zoning in time to apply for state tax credits. In the early 1960s M.910 arrived at New York Citys Morgan Library, but later this month, the contents of its pages may finally be legible. The research team conducting the process of uncovering the manuscript is anxious to find out what other work is speculated to be sandwiched in with the Book of Acts. CBN News reported that up until present day technology allowed, there was no way for researchers to decipher the contents of the book. The manuscript was damaged by fire and water and researchers have only now been able to use x-ray imagery to analyze the text. The collaborative team of researchers, computer scientist Brent Seales of the University of Kentucky, philologist and religious scholar Paul Dilley of the University of Iowa, and book conservator Maria Fredericks of Pierpont Morgan Library, were documented by a TV news crew last month. The New York Times reported, Having lain in obscurity for half a century, M.910s day in the limelight has finally arrived. The same technique responsible for the decoding of a Dead Sea Scroll in 2016, has led the team to hope for readable pages later this month.Melville House stated that Seales has worked for over a decade to develop the CT scanning technology to peer inside written materials. The Museum acquired the ancient writings, titled Acts of the Apostles, in Egypt, where the Morgan Library states they were written. The Coptic language is, according to Wikipedia,the latest state of the Egyptian language. Egyptian began to be written in the Coptic alphabet, an adaptation of the Greek alphabet with the addition of six or seven signs to represent Egyptian sounds the Greek language did not have, in the first century AD. The Sahidic dialect of the Coptic language that the ancient text is written in is the mostprominent. Britannica states that it is one of the best-documented and well-known dialects. The New York Times reported the document to be written sometime between 400 and 600 A.D., before the Arab conquest in 642 A.D. Historian Melissa Moreton of the University of Iowa writes that the Copts are Egyptian Christians. The seminar she ran at the University, Cultural and Textual Exchanges: The Manuscript Across Premodern Eurasia, sparked the very meetings that began the collaboration to uncover more about manuscript M.910, and Moreton assisted in a recent recreation of the manuscript. Dilley told Newsweek,We cant be sure [whats in it], but every bit of evidence is precious, especially from a book this old- there arent many witnesses of the Bible from this period. He went to comment, Every one of these ancient Biblical manuscripts is a little bit different, so there are bound to be some interesting textual variants. Its not out of the question that theres another writing in the codex that we cant see. Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ on her blog, http://sunnyand80.org. Mom is the most important calling on her life, next to encouraging others to seek Him first authentically. A writer, dance mom, substitute teacher, youth worship leader/teacher and Bible Study leader, she can often be found having some kind of an adventure in the small little lake town where she resides with her husband of ten years, two daughters, and their Golden-doodle. Publication date: January 26, 2018 Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment According to the Barna Group, only three out of 10 Americans are church attenders. Of the remaining seven who are not in church, four used to attend church. We call these individuals dropout believers. They have disconnected themselves from any meaningful relationship with the church. They still profess a degree of belief in Jesus Christ, but for the most part, their love has "grown cold." We have now reached a tipping point in America: There are more dropout believers than those who are actively engaged in the church today. If all of the dropout believers in the U.S. were restored to the church, the church would double in size. Imagine Easter Sunday-level attendance or more, every week of the year, as the new normal. The stats are just as bad or worse in Canada and western Europe. This problem is unique in the Western Hemisphere. Outside the West, the church has problemsbut they mostly involve persecution, not apathy. Yes, dropout believers are everywherewe all know some. Some are family members, friends, neighbors, work associates, etc. And the rest are strangers whom we encounter almost every day. So, why should we care? This "falling away" phenomenon in this post-Christian age has greatly exacerbated our cultural and societal problems. For the most part, dropouts "buy in" to the secular culture of today. And we know the direct result of this cultural decay: broken families, divorce, abortion, crime, hatred, racism, increased poverty, greed and a superfluous abundance of laws restricting freedoms in every arena. Dropout believers shortchange themselves and their families because they are not around to receive the help, support and encouragement the church provides during tough times. And dropout believers also shortchanging the church. The local church, the body of Christ, will remain incomplete, lacking vital ministries and gifts, until those missing parts of the body come home again. So, why not just invite the dropout believer to church? A great question! After several different people and attempts, you may see that this typically does not work. Why not? Dropouts have developed strongholds in their minds that respond to church invitations with thoughts like: Already been there, done that. The church is just a bunch of hypocriteswhy bother? The church hurt me beforethey won't get another chance. All I need is Jesus. I don't need to go to church. Nature is my church. I have other priorities. And so on ... Generally speaking, you are not going to get most dropouts back into church just by asking them. It's the strongholdthe false belief system they have bought intothat is preventing them. This is one of the central elements of Hunters of the Harvest's strategy: to learn how address strongholds as you begin to engage with dropouts you already know in your own sphere of influence. Hunters of the Harvest Hunters of the Harvest is specifically focused on dropout believers and is based on a scriptural strategy for identifying, engaging, restoring and reconnecting dropout believers in the latter days. The foundation Scripture for this latter days' harvest is found in Jeremiah 16:16: "Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen," declares the Lord, "and they will fish for them; and afterwards I shall send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill, and from the clefts of the rocks." This latter days' harvest is twofold: the gathering of the lost in the nations (John 21:11), by the "fishermen" and the "net"; and the return and restoration of the dropout believer, by the "hunter" who tracks down each, one by one (Matt. 18:12). Hunters of the Harvest is a biblically sound and effective approach for restoring dropout believers. The Hunters strategy is based on 1 Samuel 30, when David successfully recovered and restored his wives and family from the Amalekites. It was a highly practical and spiritual approach to regain what the Enemy stoleour brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as God desires the unsaved to turn to the kingdom, he desires the dropout believer to return to the kingdom. Fishers fish for the lost. Hunters hunt for the dropout believer. A Divine Strategy In 1 Samuel 30, a divine strategy is revealed to David to enable him to restore his wives and children from the Amalekites who had kidnapped them from his camp. The five steps David took: Strengthen yourself in the Lord. Inquire. Pursue. Locate the stronghold. Recover all by warfare. These steps were not only effective for Davidhe recovered every last person unharmedbut they are effective today for the church family, the body of Christ. Satan has come into our camp, the body of Christ, and through deceit has taken our brothers and sisters in Christ back to the world. Now they are being held captive in a stronghold of the Enemy. Where are they? How can we find them? What can we do when we find them? Are we strong enough to recover and restore them? These are the questions we must answer to understand the strategy for restoration of the dropout believer to the church. The Hunters of the Harveststrategy book goes into detail on each of the five steps and describes how they apply to restoring the dropout believer today. And that's only part of the problemgetting them back in church. Connection to the Local Church The other critical part of the problem is connecting every believer, including dropouts, to the church. Unless a believer is connected to the church, he or she is likely to become a dropout when the storms of life come. Connection to the church is the key to closing the "back door." Connection involves a "three-stranded cord" that is "not easily broken" (Eccl. 4:12). These cords of connection are: Heart for the pastor and vision of the local church. Personal relationships in the local church. Area of ministry in the local church. Without each of these three "cords" of connectivity, any believer is likely to become disconnecteda dropout believerwhen the storms and issues of life come. As an active believer you can turn this trend around for good. Hunters of the Harvest addresses both of the two critical aspects of the dropout-believer crisis in the church in America. By becoming hunters of the harvest of the dropout believer, active believers and the local church can turn this trend around. If you are an active Christian, you can become a hunter of the harvest. Order the ministry book at HuntersOfTheHarvest.org, or take the new online course and begin engaging with dropouts in your own sphere of influence, and see God begin changing their hearts! If you are a pastor or church leader, go to https://huntersoftheharvest.org/to-pastors/ to learn about how your church can incorporate this initiative. Hunters of the Harvest is a divine strategy, not a program. It is intended to become incorporated as part of the lifestyle of the church and its active members. We have a desire and a vision of God to see Hunters of the Harvest-type ministries all across America, through active believers who are Spirit-led and through churches that actively promote and deploy this initiative to their congregations. We pray that God will raise up a mighty army of hunters of the harvest who will reach every dropout believerfirst in America, then across the West. Louis Posthauer is the executive director of Hunters of the Harvest Ministry. He has been actively involved in the local church for 38 years and currently serves as a lay leader and teacher at Living Word Church of the Nazarene in Houston. For more information: HuntersOfTheHarvest.org Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Another prophetically highlighted event in the Bible, that is often overlooked, is the rebirth of a literal Babylon (formerly called Babel, Genesis 10:10) foretold to be involved in one of the leading roles in the end-time fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17- 18). The Scriptures speak of two Babylons: Ancient Babylon and Mystery Babylon. The ancient city of Babylon began shortly after the Flood, as a direct act of rebellion against God. The city of Babylon has sunk beneath the sands of time during the past seventeen hundred years, but never has it been subject to catastrophic destruction. However, Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, and Revelation chapters 17 and 18, both deal with the destruction of Babylon, and in order to be the city those prophecies require, it must be rebuilt on a grand scale like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar. The prophecy of Mystery Babylon, found in Revelation 17:3-5, must be referring to a future Babylon! A mystery is something secret or hidden a thing that some understand while others do not. There are five prophecies concerning the destruction of Babylon that are yet to be fulfilled, confirming the identity of Mystery Babylon as a future Babylon: 1. The destruction will "...utterly destroy her" (Jer. 50:26). This has not yet been fulfilled because the Persians took ancient Babylon in a relatively peaceful conquest. Babylon was not "utterly destroyed." 2. "...it will never again be inhabited" (Jer. 50:39). This has not yet been fulfilled because history records the city has never been without some degree of habitation. 3. "...Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there..." (Isaiah 13:20). This has not yet been fulfilled because Arab villages have been documented at Babylon. 4. "And they will not take from you even a stone for a corner Nor a stone for foundations, But you will be desolate forever," (Jeremiah 51:26). This has not yet been fulfilled because history records Babylon's ancient stones have been reused for centuries. 5. "The oracle concerning Babylon... nations gathered together... the farthest horizons ...for the day of the Lord is near..." (Isaiah 13). Isaiah 13 clearly tells that Babylon will be destroyed in "the day of the Lord". Not one of these prophecies have ever been fulfilled. Therefore, Mystery Babylon is a future Babylon that must be rebuilt. The Bible not only shows that a literal Babylon will exist at the end of our age, but it will be resurrected in the same location as its ancient predecessor in the Middle East: "And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base." (Zechariah 5:11) It is going to reemerge in the land of Shinar known today as Iraq (Zechariah 5:11; Isaiah 13). The city of Babylon is in the country of Iraq. Up until now, any talk of a literal Babylon being rebuilt has been met with mostly sarcasm or cries of ignorance. Why? Simply because, for nearly two thousand years, Babylon and Iraq have always been sparsely inhabited regions mainly recognized for the enormous deserts that take up few fertile areas. For this, and other reasons, it has been looked upon by most people as a complete impossibility for these areas to ever come back into world power. However, this seems no longer to be the case. Plans for the rebuilding of the City of Babylon have been in the making for over 200 years! Look at what has happened in the last few years. In 1971, UNESCO declared to assist Iraq in fully rebuilding the ancient city of Babylon. Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, was required to supervise the reconstruction. In 1978, there was a vast highway, within Babylon, consisting of numerous brick factories along it forming bricks for this enormous reconstruction project. Interestingly, one end of the brick showed the name Nebuchadnezzar, while Saddam Hussein's name was on the opposite end. Saddam Hussein, back then, actually envisioned himself as a modern Nebuchadnezzar (and he still did until he died), to restore the glory that was once Babylon's. In total, Saddam Hussein spent over 20 years rebuilding the city of Babylon, and probably got about half of it rebuilt before he was taken out in the war with Iraq. There are continuing efforts to rebuild the ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's palace complex, headed up by The World Monuments Fund. Today, with Saddam's regime overthrown, the international community is discussing how to rebuild Iraq... The enormous amounts of petroleum that interlace the whole region around Babylon, including the whole eastern part of the Middle East, make them one of the largest oil suppliers in the world, and Iran has it in abundance. In 1974, Iran, and other countries of the Middle East, practically caused the big world powers, America and Europe (the rest of the world), to get on their knees when those countries exported their oil. It has even been said that the Middle East may well control much of the economics of the world in the years ahead. The government of Iraq has already made plans to rebuild the city to its ancient splendor, and funds from America are said to be used to accomplish it. The United Nations have already discussed moving their headquarters to Babylon: "Triggered by the Iraq War, informed sources say that the international Quartet of world powers (the US, UN, European Union and Russia) has drafted a proposal to transfer the seat of the United Nations to Baghdad (ancient Babel or Babylon)! The move would relieve the space constraints of the New York headquarters while also freeing it from the physical jurisdiction of the US. Though it's only a draft of the Quartet, plans appear to be in the works to establish a third and perhaps final worldwide organization." (Israel Today, December 2003) (Pre-Trib Perspectives, March 2004) Christian Evidence was created to enable Christians to defend their faith, and to open their eyes up to the overwhelming evidence for Christianity. We hope to answer many common questions people have regarding Christianity, as well as displaying the overwhelming evidence for creation, evidence against evolution, the amazing end time prophecies that have unfolded before our eyes, and the incredible proofs of God. Any questions you have, feel free to ask. Signs are all around of the end times, which should encourage us to spread the gospel! Find out more at www.christianevidence.net The only people shocked at the Presidents Club debacle are the ones who don't read their Bibles The surprising thing about the reaction to the appalling behaviour reported from The Presidents Club fundraiser is that people are so surprised by it. The reaction to the revelation by undercover journalists that rich men groped and harrassed pretty young female hostesses reflects the public triumph of a certain liberal narrative: that we're basically good people, that the world is getting better and that we are learning to behave ourselves thanks to hashtags and the Twitter-shaming of people who step out of line. Unsurprising, however, is the number of men who were there, but claim to have 'left early'. Among them were children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi, who claims he didn't see anything, and David Walliams, the host. Perhaps they didn't, but it would be interesting to know how many of those who were there told their wives they too had left early. I'm as revolted as anyone by the thought of so many rich men abusing women 'bought as bait', in Labour MP Jess Phillips' resounding phrase. But surprised? No. Get enough people together in a place where social norms are suspended and they have permission to behave badly, and the chances are that they will. Think Abu Ghraib during the Iraq war, where generally decent people committed atrocities because they could. Add alcohol, which removes inhibitions, and it's a virtual certainty; think a Blackpool hen night. Our codes of conduct and public conventions are, as CP Snow put it, just a coat of varnish. Underneath, all the old instincts are alive and well. The idea that we can declare particular language or behaviour unacceptable and somehow change people only works up to a point. It shames people into public compliance, and it might make life a bit easier for people usually women who would otherwise be forced to accept Presidents Club stuff as normal. Good: but let's not pretend anything has really, at a fundamental level, changed in human hearts. If we believe that, we'll be led into a fatal complacency. When attitudes and opinions can't be expressed in public, they'll go underground. The liberal niceness project will be increasingly hollowed out, with a veneer of civilised discourse disguising the resentment and contempt of those who feel they aren't being heard. (This, among other things, is one of the drivers of the extraordinary reaction to Cathy Newman's drubbing at the hands of Jordan Peterson in the now-famous Channel 4 interview: a series of slogans disguised as questions were exposed as groundless posturing.) Does this mean we shouldn't try to improve standards of public behaviour? Of course not. Nothing like the Presidents Club debacle should be allowed to happen. But it will, of course, and no amount of finger-wagging will stop it. The Christian take on this is rather different. We are, if we have read our Bibles, more clear-eyed about human nature. We believe in original sin, and that the heart of man usually men, though not invariably as well as having extraordinary traces of residual goodness, is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Change begins when we acknowledge the strength of our instinct for doing wrong. It isn't as simple as complying with an edict from a company HR department. One of the seminal novels of the 20th century was William Golding's Lord of the Flies. It portrays the breakdown of civilisation among a group of British schoolboys stranded on a desert island during the war, their descent into tribalism and savagery. In its most disturbing scene, a chaotic, primitive feast results in the frenzied killing of one of the boys as their primal instincts are unleashed. Afterwards, there's a corporate denial of what they've seen and done: 'Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively. '"We left early."' It's a profoundly disturbing novel, because it's true: take away the structures that govern how we interact and what we believe about right and wrong, leave us to our own devices, and see just how much of our vaunted civilisation is left. We can achieve a fair bit by changing the public discourse. But to change a human heart requires a far deeper transformation. That's where the gospel comes in another disturbing idea for a society that has decided it has no need of God. And in the light of the gospel, 'We left early' doesn't cut it: we're all responsible for what we do. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods The Scot who gave her life at Auschwitz: Christian martyr honoured at new heritage centre The legacy of a Scottish Christian who gave her life to protect Jewish schoolgirls in World War Two will be kept 'alive' in a heritage centre honouring her life and martyrdom, opening in Scotland today. The heroic sacrifice of Jane Haining, who died in Auschwitz concentration camp, is being honoured and celebrated at Dunscore Church in Dumfries and Galloway, the Church of Scotland has revealed. The centre opens today, on Holocaust Memorial Day. The occasion marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz (January 27, 1945), remembering the millions who suffered Nazi oppression in the Holocaust, and those persecuted in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Haining's heritage centre is being opened by Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Fiona Armstrong. She said: 'Here in Dumfriesshire, we are very proud to honour the memory of such a brave and selfless woman. 'This new heritage centre will help to keep Jane Haining's memory alive and it is all tribute to those in Dunscore who have made it possible.' Haining, a Kirk missionary, worked with children at the Scottish Mission School in Budapest, Hungary in the 1930s and 40s. When war broke out, she refused to return home out of commitment to the children who she said needed her. She was arrested in 1944 for working with Jews and was taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, Poland; she died there age 47. She is the only Scot to be honoured at Yad Vasehm, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Israel, and the UK government has honoured her for 'preserving life in the face of persecution'. 'When instructed by the Church to return home for her own safety, she wrote back "if these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?"' explained the Rev Iain Cunningham, convener of the Church of Scotland's World Mission Council. He added: 'Jane's words live on like a light shining in the dark places of today's world.' Haining's niece, Deirdre McDowell, will unveil a Historic Environment Scotland plaque in memory of her aunt. 'It is a fitting tribute to Jane's memory that a heritage centre has been opened in the village where she was born,' she said. 'The people of Dunscore have been wonderful in getting this centre up and running so there is a comprehensive, lasting memorial to her life. I am excited about the prospect of visiting the village where I was born and it will be lovely to be able to walk around a room in the church and look at memorabilia.' The heritage centre at the A-listed church building will feature various personal effects, artefacts and testimonies relating to Haining's life. A secial service at Dunscore Church will today celebrate Haining's life and the opening of the centre. A special poem about the Scottish martyr, written by BBC Scotland Poet in Residence Stuart Paterson, will be read aloud at the service. For more information about the centre, click here. My editor recently asked me to imagine Apple's 20-year vision. I can't read Tim Cook's mind. But if I were the CEO of Apple, my vision would be just that it would, literally, be my vision. Many people see the future of technology as a world where we are surrounded by technological devices, overwhelmed with wearables, robots and holograms. But if I were Apple, I would want to cut through that noise and create a device designed so seamlessly that it fades to invisibility. Like a contact lens. There are a ton of reasons why an iLens could fit with Apple's brand. Apple is all about supporting individual creativity and advancing the beauty in the world and the eye is not only unique to each person, but widely considered one of our most alluring and evocative features. Many applications of creativity are ways to express how the way we see the world differs from everyone else. A smart contact lens could combine many of Apple's current initiatives as well, such as augmented reality, content, photography, navigation and health monitoring. One can imagine them pairing nicely with bone conduction or AirPod audio. There's no indication that any technology close to this will become available in the next 20 years, nor is there evidence that Apple is working at it. The wafers and prisms used in augmented reality are still clunky, for the most part. And while the iPhone X and Apple Watch have made strides toward more voice, face, and gesture-based controls, eye-tracking and eye-driven interfaces are still in the nascent stages of development. While contact lenses have become much more comfortable over time, some people do still find them uncomfortable and invasive, and the regulatory process for a contact lens would be unprecedented for a company like Apple. Still, there are some cool precursors on the horizon. Foldable displays made of very thin glass are already a possibility, and most big technology companies are likely working on augmented reality glasses or headsets. Contact lenses with glucose monitoring and LED displays have already been created by researchers. The idea of smart contact lenses has been the stuff of sci-fi for years, and at least a couple big technology companies have filed patents on ideas, with little visible impact. But if I were to bet on a company to do it well and wow us with the unexpected, I think I would bet on Apple. Here's a roundup of the most important deals in venture capital from the past week. Exits Source: Getty Images Facebook acquired Confirm.io, a Boston-based start-up that helps businesses run identity authentication checks on government issued ID's. If Facebook fully integrates Confirm.io's "biometric identity authentication" APIs into its own platform, it may become easier for users to regain access to their accounts in extenuating circumstances by scanning in a drivers license. Today, Facebook's billions of users can send the company a copy of their photo ID by snail mail to regain access. The tech could also help Facebook create a digital passport. Amazon's cloud business acquired Sqrrl, a cybersecurity start-up that spun out of the National Security Agency. The deal comes as Amazon Web Services aims to pick up more business from U.S. intelligence agencies. In November AWS announced the formation of a "secret" region of data centers meant to handle computing and data storage jobs from those clients. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Sqrrl had raised $26.5 million in funding from Spring Lake Equity Partners, Matrix Partners, Rally Ventures and Accomplice. SoftBank Vision Fund led an $865 million series D investment in Katerra, a construction tech start-up that is making buildings in a factory. The deal valued the start-up at just over $3 billion, Katerra chairman and co-founder Michael Marks told CNBC. Marks was previously the interim CEO of Tesla and CEO of Flextronics (now known as Flex). An e-mail management firm called Front raised $66 million in series B funding to topple Microsoft Outlook and Gmail. Sequoia led the deal joined by Draper Fisher Jurvetson and the company's earlier backers. CEO Mathilde Collins, in an interview with TechCrunch, said fifty percent of her company's daily active users rely on the service exclusively to manage their e-mail, and never open their other inboxes. Chicken breasts and parsley-pecan pesto with roasted beets and oranges from SunBasket Sarah Whitten | CNBC Meal kit companies in the U.S. may have a hard time raising venture funding, especially after Blue Apron tanked in its first year as a public company. However, SunBasket raised $57.8 million in fresh funding in a round led by August Capital. SunBasket puts a "clean eating" twist on its meal kits, offering subscribers gluten-free, paleo and vegetarian options. Recipes are created by Executive Chef Justine Kelly, best known for her work at Slanted Door and appearances on Iron Chef. Funds and firms With a weak dollar pushing oil prices higher than they've been in months, CNBC's Jim Cramer checked in on one oil stock that has become the trade of the town on Wall Street. "As the price of crude has come roaring back to the mid-$60s ... thanks to surging worldwide demand and instability in major petroleum-producing countries like Nigeria and the failed state of Venezuela, Diamondback [Energy] has become one of the hottest stocks around," the "Mad Money" host said. Trading under the ticker symbol FANG, Diamondback's stock has climbed 57 percent since its lows in the fall of 2017, nearly doubling over the last two years. But its recent positive action made Cramer wonder if Diamondback was truly deserving of Wall Street's accolades, or if the oil play would soon run out of juice. An oil and gas company focused on energy exploration and production, Diamondback mainly does business in Texas' Permian Basin, an area flooded with cheap oil. The strategic location has paid off for Diamondback over the years; it is cheaper to drill in the Permian than in other oil-rich areas of the United States, so the company has been able to profit during oil's downtrends. That's why, when oil peaked in 2014 (less than two years after Diamondback came public), the company was partially insulated from the drastic declines that followed. From the 2014 peak to the 2016 lows, the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF lost 74 percent of its value. In comparison, shares of Diamondback, a pure play on the lucrative Permian, only sank 40 percent. Now at 130 a share, Diamondback is trading far above where it was when crude oil prices were at $100, even though they were only at $66.11 as of Friday's close, Cramer noted. "You might think that's patently insane, but the truth is that Diamondback hasn't been sitting still for these past few years," the "Mad Money" host said. "If you only learn one thing about Diamondback Energy tonight, learn this: with oil prices once again on the rise, this company's earnings are poised to explode higher," he added. Over the years, Diamondback has taken advantage of oil's boom-and-bust cycle. During the latest bust, the company raised cash via secondary stock offerings, then spent $3.5 billion to buy more acreage in the Permian and acquire Brigham Energy. "Thanks in part to these deals, Diamondback's production is now 18 times greater than when the company came public a little over five years ago," Cramer said. Now that oil prices are climbing, virtually all of Diamondback's acreage is profitable. As such, the company is ramping up its rig count and boosting production, driving bottom-line growth. And the company is beloved on Wall Street because it is easy to understand, Cramer said. "One of the simplest oil and gas exploration plays on earth," it only operates in six key areas of one region the Permian in stark contrast to its cross-continental, multinational competitors, he said. Better yet, the company has the lowest cash costs and, therefore, the highest cash margins than any other Permian-based operator. Best of all, its stock is still cheap, trading at only 19 times 2018 earnings estimates despite its 63 percent long-term growth rate, Cramer said. Compared to Apache and EOG Resources' 40 times price-to-earnings multiples, Diamondback's stock remains a bargain vis-a-vis its rivals, the "Mad Money" host said. "The bottom line? Sometimes the stock market actually makes some sense. Diamondback Energy has caught fire because it makes a killing from higher oil prices, and as long as crude stays in the $60s, this company will be in great shape," Cramer concluded. "It's not for everybody. This is a wild one. But if you want to bet on a strong oil market, there's only one company worth doing it with and that's Diamondback." A general view of Christ the Redeemer, a statue of Jesus Christ, through the dark clouds during the Netherlands training session at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil held at the Estadio Jose Bastos Padilha Gavea on June 19, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A recent Google Home blunder highlights one of the search giant's next big challenges with its smart speaker device. Anger broke out on social media Thursday afternoon when people started creating videos that showed that Google's smart speaker, Home, couldn't answer the question "Who is Jesus?" but could provide responses for Buddha, Muhammad, and Satan. People hypothesized that it was "political correctness" or a lack of respect that kept the device from talking about Jesus or God. Then Google issued a statement on Friday explaining the problem and barring Home from answering questions about other religious figures, too. Home pulls some of its answers directly from the web and certain topics (like religion) "can be more vulnerable to vandalism and spam," the company explained via tweet. Tweet (If you ask Home who Jesus Christ or Satan is now, it will respond, "Religion can be complicated and I'm still learning.") What's going on here? The problem lies with Google's so-called "featured snippets." Whether or not you have a smart speaker, you've likely seen this product in action: Ask a question and Google will often serve up a box at the top of search highlighting what its algorithms have determined to be the best answer. A doctor demonstrates an app on an iPad to review medical tests of one of his patients at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida. House calls from doctors may be a throwback idea, but this year health-care firms are making a hard push to engage patients more where they live: On their mobile phones. It's a matter of savings and building customer loyalty. "Our health clients are now talking a lot about [digital] technologies that can enable customer experience," said Gurpreet Singh, U.S. health services sector leader at consulting firm PwC, noting that more than half of health systems have beefed up investments in digital tools to communicate with patients on an ongoing basis. "The more virtual touchpoints we create, the more engagement we get," said Mario Schlosser, CEO Oscar Health, the five-year-old health insurance start-up based in New York. This year's flu epidemic is resulting in a surge of consumers turning to telemedicine appointments for doctor visits, but Oscar has been working on building virtual engagement with its members year round. Last year, the insurer engaged in virtual interactions with nearly two-thirds of its members, ranging from telemedicine visits and phone consultations, to scheduling visits with in-network doctors. That's up from less than half in 2016. Those virtual interactions have meant greater utilization, but Schlosser said it has also helped to drive down overall medical costs for conditions like asthma. "The cost of care for an asthma episode without telemedicine is about $946," Schlosser explained. That's because it often involves more than one in-office visit. "The cost of care for an asthma encounter all-in with telemedicine is only about $260, because we can make sure you don't end up in the wrong outlet of care like the ER." Oscar is looking to ramp up its digital engagement even more this year, as it faces a surge in enrollment. The insurer has signed up 255,000 members in six states, a 150 percent increase over 2017, after expanding coverage on the Obamacare exchanges. For hospitals, which are seeing greater competition from urgent care providers and retail clinics, virtual engagement is a priority not just to reduce costs but to keep patients engaged with their health system. Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation's largest integrated hospital and health insurance systems, has seen digital patient interactions top in-office visits. Last year, Kaiser did more than 140,000 video visits and 8.4 million telephone visits with its members, which now number nearly 12 million. "We're rapidly expanding our patient use of secure messaging and scheduled telephone visits and video visits," said Dr. Pat Conolly, executive vice president of information technology and chief information officer of the Permanente Federation. "What it does is support greater engagement between the patient and the doctor," she explained. "Every opportunity to connect and reinforce recommendations or answer questions adds up to hopefully better adherence and hopefully better outcomes." According to PwC, this year nearly two-thirds of health systems will have an executive in charge of boosting patient experience. Many are also looking at how they use digital tools internally, as a way to retain staff and reduce turnover. "We're seeing a number of our clients invest in 'how do I create a positive experience for the nurses' so they can spend time with patients," said Singh. Analysts say the trend began long before the threat of new health care entrants like tech giant Amazon, which touts itself as "building the earth's more customer-centric company." But when it comes to being more customer-friendly, health care firms have a long way to play catch up with consumer companies. (Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Dr. Pat Conolly's title and affiliation.) As more people seek to find out more about their ancestry, genetic test sales have become a growing businesses for companies like Amazon. But it's not just humans who can search for the code to their past. Dog DNA tests have emerged on the market as a way to find out about more about your furry companion and where they came from. It might seem silly to run a genetic test on your pets after all, they're not going to care about the results but when you adopt a dog, you're often left wondering about the life they led before they became a permanent member of your family. Ancestry tests can also help you anticipate health concerns typical of certain dog breeds. The DNA subjects My husband and I have a 9-year-old dog named Roscoe Jenkins and a (probably) 1-year-old dog named Amy Ruth. In 2010, I moved into my first solo apartment, and to keep up with the adulting process I wanted to get a dog. After looking on rescue sites and shelters, I stumbled across a Craigslist post from an owner in the Bronx who was looking to get rid of her 2-year-old dog. Not only did he look like he fit the bill, his name was Roscoe. Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles was my favorite restaurant when I went to college in Los Angeles, so I took it as a sign. Despite his quirks and medical maladies he can't eat grains, beef or chicken without scratching off his fur, he went blind because of a genetic disease about a year after I got him, and he's had to get many of his teeth removed I quickly fell in love. More than seven years later, he's still by our side. I tracked down the original owner who told me he's a Yorkipoo. But no one else believed it -- the average Yorkipoo ranges from 3 to 14 pounds, much lighter than Roscoe's 18 pounds. Roscoe doesn't shed so we always thought he was some kind of poodle mix. He loves to take toys and shake them to death, which we were told was terrier behavior. People on the street most often think he's a West Highland Terrier-poodle mixt. We wanted to add another dog, so in October 2017, we started fostering a skinny 12-pound rescue dog with the original name of Lil' Booger. She was between 1 and 2 and had just given birth to a litter of puppies. She also came with the note "REALLY shy but adorable. Needs help with confidence." She had never walked on a leash, and didn't know how to play with toys. After fostering her for a few weeks, we decided to keep her and rename her Amy Ruth after my favorite fried chicken and waffles place in Harlem. We thought she looked like a Chihuahua, but she's definitely much larger than the average 3 to 7 pounds. She also has ridiculously long legs for her size and is an incredible jumper, so maybe she had rat terrier in her. We then saw a Xoloitzcuintli but with hair (otherwise known as a Mexican hairless dog), and decided that was the closest to what she looked like. Amy Ruth (left) and Roscoe Jenkins the day they met. The test I purchased the Wisdom Panel 4.0 online from the website, which usually costs $84.99. (I got a Black Friday discount.) It claims to be able to identify more than 250 dog breeds and track your dog's ancestry up to three generations. The test itself was pretty easy. You rip the box open, register the ID online, fill out basic information on the box with a pen, use two swabs to swab the inside of your dog's cheek and gums, let it dry, pack everything up, seal it up with pre-placed adhesive, and mail it out with the pre-paid postage. The company notifies you when it receives the test via email. You then get a link to a website where you can check the test's progress. It took about three weeks. The results The results include a page with a snippet of your dog's unique DNA code. The next section then shows you your dog's ancestry, followed by a little description of the breeds that make up your dog. The final section, titled "health and traits," shows you if your dog has the genetic markers for multidrug sensitivity, exercise-induced collapse, and approximates your dog's weight based on its breeds, and what the genetic trait markers show your dog looks like. Roscoe Jenkins We learned that Roscoe was actually a Yorkipoo, for the most part! He was 50 percent Yorkshire terrier, 25 percent miniature poodle and 25 percent mixed-breed terrier and sporting dogs. The test can only go back three generations, so for dogs that may have a ton of other breeds mixed in the results give you a "mixed-breed" category and tell you which kinds of dogs are in their ancestry. He was predicted to be about 8 to 17 pounds, so it was pretty accurate. Amy Ruth Amy was a quarter Chihuahua, a quarter Rat Terrier, a quarter Australian Cattle Dog (a total surprise) and a quarter of "mixed-breeds" from terrier, companion and herding backgrounds. In other words, she's got a little bit of everything. She was predicted to be between 19 and 33 pounds. While she's definitely gaining weight, I don't know if she'll hit that range. The one thing I did find strange is some of reported traits did not line up with what my dogs looked like, especially Roscoe. For example, his ears flop down but according to the genetic test they "could be prick or upright." He also was supposed to have a saddle tan pattern of dark pigment on his back, but he's pretty much beige. Wisdom Panel lead researcher Angela Hughes pointed out Roscoe's miniature poodle breed often carries the "prick" allele, but doesn't always express it. It usually results in "base-erect" ears, which stand up at some point then flop over, instead of fully dropped ears. (That's exactly what he has.) She also said that the test showed Roscoe would be mostly tan, and have black parts like his nose and pads. When Yorkies age they can "lighten" or "grey," which can make darker colors stand out. Roscoe's coat has become darker over the years. Hughes, who ran the test on her own rescue, said the test could give me insights into how to train my dogs. Her adopted dog was driving her nuts barking out all the windows until the DNA test revealed she was part terrier. She was able to find proper terrier training techniques to help calm her dog down. Do the results change how I feel about my dogs? Not a single bit. But at least now when someone asks me what kind of dog I have, I'll be able to answer the question. Steve Wynn's reputation will likely not recover if sexual harassment allegations check out, said veteran Las Vegas reporter Jon Ralston. "There is no bigger name in the casino business than Steve Wynn," said Ralston, who has been covering business and politics in Nevada for 30 years and has interviewed Wynn himself multiple times over the years. "His name is synonymous, not just because that casino says 'Wynn' on top of it," Ralston told CNBC Friday night on "Fast Money." "Steve Wynn is the biggest name in the history of Nevada gaming." "He is the man behind that [empire] and it's hard to believe that it would not take a hit if something happens to him," Ralston said. However, the reporter, who is also the founder and editor of the independent news site The Nevada Independent and a regular contributor to Politico, admitted he doesn't know enough about the "internal workings" of Wynn Las Vegas resorts and whether the company would be able to survive if Wynn's reputation was damaged. Stocks of Wynn Resorts fell 10 percent on Friday after The Wall Street Journal broke the story earlier that day about the 76-year-old billionaire casino mogul and CEO of Wynn Las Vegas. The story reported multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from Wynn that may span decades. Wynn Resorts released a statement saying, "The Board of Directors of Wynn Resorts met today and formed a Special Committee of the Board comprised solely of independent directors to investigate allegations contained in the January 26, 2018 Wall Street Journal article. The Special Committee will be chaired by Ms. Patricia Mulroy, a member of the Board's Corporate Governance and Compliance Committees and a former member of the Nevada Gaming Commission. The Board is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of the Company's employees and to operating with the highest ethical standards." Earlier on Friday, Wynn also released a statement saying, "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. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation." Wynn blamed his ex-wife Elaine for stirring up trouble. The couple is currently in the middle of a lawsuit. But Ralston said the Journal more likely began an investigation because of the current political environment and things like the #MeToo movement. "The divorce certainly is nasty," Ralston said. "There certainly is no love lost between the two of them. But here is what I do know: In this new atmosphere of sexual harassment being a big deal in the political, social consciousness of this country, the Wall Street Journal started working on pieces just as we have and many other news organizations have. There have always been rumors about sexual harassment in the context of the casino business. My guess is they started working on this story based on that. Not based on being fed information by Elaine Wynn." The Journal did not respond to a request for comment. In its story, the Journal said it contacted more than 150 past and present employees and found dozens of people who told stories of sexual misconduct. Many people who spoke said they were worried that talking to the media would hurt future job prospects because Wynn is so well-connected in Las Vegas. "Some of these kinds of rumors or allegations have been out there before," Ralston said, referencing the Nevada Independent columnist John L. Smith's book that alluded to "some of this stuff." "It's going to be very, very difficult for him to get away from that [Wall Street Journal article] even though he has said he never assaulted a woman," Ralston said. It was the second night of Nusr-Et's grand opening in Manhattan. The rapper Fat Joe, who was dining at the restaurant, leaned back in his chair to catch a better view as chef and owner Nusret Gokce better known as Salt Bae began his routine. Salt Bae admiring an Ottoman steak. Mel Yu Wearing a fitted white t-shirt, dark trousers and gold-rimmed sunglasses at 6:30 in the evening, Salt Bae, the "internet's sexiest butcher," strutted to a table. With his left hand he grabbed a $130 ribeye by its bone, and with his right, sliced off the medium-rare meat in a single swipe. He cut the steak into strips, his hips moving in rhythm with his knife. Then, the moment everyone had been waiting for he sent a flourish of salt cascading from the palm of his hand, down the length of his arm and onto the perfectly seared steak. (And the guests laps.) "All of my feelings are coming from inside of the meat down to when I put the salt onto the meat," Gokce once explained to NBC News. Gokce turned on his heel and, without saying a word, moved on to the next table. The whole thing lasted about 45 seconds; the perfect length for an Instagram video. Salt Bae with CNBC senior producer Nate Skid and friends Nate Skid It didn't matter that Gokce repeated the exact same Salt Bae number for everyone who ordered the pricey tomahawk chop. No one appeared disappointed. In fact, the shtick seemed to be the draw. It's clear what attracts the masses, people willing to spend half a month's rent on dinner, and it's not the food. As Joshua David Stein put it in GQ: "Is the steak transcendent? No, the steak is mundane, somewhat tough and rather bland. The hamburger is overcooked. The tartare is over-chopped.... Does that matter? It does not matter. One does not visit Salt Bae for steak alone any more than one goes to Mass for the wafers." So who is the man who has charmed even the likes of Leonardo Di Carpio, who sat captivated by Gokce's routine at the Nusr-Et Dubai in 2017? Nusret Gokce's rise to Salt Bae stardom began on January 7, 2017, the day he posted a 36-second video to Instagram titled, "Ottoman Steak." In the clip, Gokce performs his signature moves, slicing a bone-in steak and ending with his patented sprinkling of salt. According to Bustle, within moments, the Twitter universe discovered the video and ran with it. The next day, Bruno Mars tweeted a picture of Salt Bae with the caption "Annndddd I'm out," and a meme was born. Within 48 hours, the post had 2.4 million views. To date, the post has 16,154,893 views. That is Salt Bae. As for the man behind the meme, Gokce was born just outside of Istanbul in 1983. His education ended a few years later when he was 5 years old, according to the Wall Street Journal. Gokce grew up the son of a miner with four siblings. At 13, he began working long hours as an apprentice to a local butcher. He spent the next decade working at Turkish steakhouses, NBC News reports. Then in 2009, Gokce headed to Buenos Aires a city of carnivores on a mission to learn more about the meat industry. He worked at a restaurant there, but his heart was set on bringing his love of meat to America. The Ottoman steak is a mustard-marinated bone-in ribeye for $130. Nate Skid "I was always wishing and wishing to open up a restaurant," Gokce told NBC News. By 2010, Gokce, then 27, had done just that. He opened his first Nusr-Et steakhouse in the Etiler neighborhood of Istanbul. It had eight tables and 10 employees. One day a Turkish businessman named Ferit Sahenk ate at the restaurant. Sahenk was so impressed, he invested in the nascent business, reports the Journal. With his financing secure, Gokce was able to open more locations around the Middle East including in Ankara, Doha and Dubai. Then internet fame struck. Barely a year after that day in January, Gokce now has 13 restaurants around the world, from Abu Dhabi to Miami, and over 600 employees. The names of those who have eaten at his restaurants read like a who's who of pop culture: from Drake and DJ Khaled to Odell Beckham Jr. and P Diddy. He has been featured in dozens of articles, fawned over on late night television, and in Melbourne, Australia, there is even a mural of him Gokce is pictured, frozen mid-salt, in his cobra-style pose. To others, Gokce's life might seem a far cry from being a butcher's apprentice, but not for him: "My life hasn't changed now," he told NBC News. "I still keep going to work from the morning until midnight." Don't miss: This $25,000 taco is the most expensive in the worldhere's what you get President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, marking the end to a turbulent first year of his presidency, but one that has seen U.S. markets ascend to new heights. The theme of Trump's address will be "building a safe, strong and proud America," a senior administration official told reporters on Friday. According to the White House, the speech will focus on five main policy areas: jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade and national security. As part of his economic message, Trump will review the country's economic growth over the past year, with a focus on how the administration's massive tax cuts, and its regulatory rollback, have contributed to the economy. On infrastructure, the White House official said Trump would strike a bipartisan tone -- a nod to the many Democrats in Congress who would likely support an infrastructure bill. "He's going to try to get the country excited about the urgency of rebuilding our infrastructure," the official said. Trump will also address the immigration framework the White House previewed earlier this week, which offers a path to citizenship for nearly 2 million undocumented young people in exchange for $25 billion in funding for border security and draconian cuts to current legal immigration levels. On trade, the White House official pointed to Trump's speech Friday in Davos, Switzerland, where he called for "fair and reciprocal" trade practices. The administration would not say whether Trump intends to bring up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal the president has long dismissed as "terrible," but which he seemed to warm to, slightly, in Davos. The fifth pillar of the speech will be national security, the White House official said. There, the president will emphasize "peace through strength," a phrase made popular during the Reagan administration. Asked about the president's speech writing process, the official said that the specific wording needs to be coordinated across a wide range of agencies and stakeholders. But he added, "the process begins and ends with the president." Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Attendees waiting in line at the Blockchain Connect Conference in San Francisco Ari Levy | CNBC Near the entrance to the Palace of Fine Arts, a woman was handing out fliers promoting the initial coin offering for RecordGram, a project that's aiming to put song rights on the blockchain. She was pitching to dozens of people who were trying to get into the Blockchain Connect Conference, but were held up because they first had to download the Eventbrite app to access their digital tickets. That was just to get a temporary badge to get them in the door. From there, they had to stand in another long line on Friday morning and wait for their actual nametag. Welcome to blockchain 2018, a chaotic mishmash of hardcore developers with wild ideas, nouveau investors with money to blow and overcrowded conferences with at least in some cases lousy logistical sense. Blockchain Connect described itself as the "first U.S.-China blockchain conference," and an event that would bring together "over 1,000 scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and developers from all over the world for a day of blockchain discussion." The problem for paying attendees is that they numbered well over 1,000. According to the website for the Palace of Fine Arts, the theatre holds 962 people. As of about 10:30 a.m., according to a person working the door, there were over 1,500 people on hand, with most paying between $500 and $1,000 for a ticket. The exhibition hall doubled as a spillover room, where conferencegoers could watch sessions on a big-screen TV, though they were unlikely to hear much over the loud surrounding chatter. There was a curtained off VIP lounge for speakers and the press, but nobody was checking badges so anyone could enter. Inside, there were two TVs and equally bad acoustics. VIP Lounge at the Blockchain Connect Conference in San Francisco Ari Levy | CNBC Lunch was served before 11 a.m. You could choose boxed up sandwiches, with either ham and cheese, eggplant or "rare roast beef." And then there was perhaps the most bizarre thing this reporter has seen in 12 years attending tech conferences as a journalist. A line of people had formed inside the exhibit hall. They weren't waiting to get into the theatre, which had long since reached capacity, but just wanted to enter the lobby and many just needed to exit the building. The only other way out was an exit door near the rear of the exhibit hall that, by all appearances, wasn't supposed to be in use. People were angry. Some just needed to retrieve their belongings from another room. Among those in line to the lobby was Sanjay Parihar, the co-founder and CEO of ParentRound, a site that's designed to help parents connect and discuss things like homework and safety topics. Parihar was in town from Houston to meet blockchain experts as he prepares to launch an ICO later this year. ParentRound's virtual currency will let people earn tokens for activities like volunteer work, he said. Decentralized everything "I'm here to connect and to learn," said Parihar, adding that he attends on average two blockchain events a month. "[San Francisco] is the place for the blockchain." The event's featured speakers included Litecoin founder Charlie Lee, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and venture capitalists from General Catalyst Partners, Institutional Venture Partners and Foundation Capital. Aaron Cai, the general manager of Tencent Blockchain, gave a presentation on the Chinese internet giant's various projects. Inside the exhibition hall, there were booths for teams working on decentralized autonomous video content, decentralized online marketplaces, blockchain-based cloud computing, a peer-to-peer electricity exchange and a cryptocurrency mining pool. Exhibition hall at the Blockchain Connect Conference in San Francisco Ari Levy | CNBC Addy Crezee was there to promote another blockchain conference called BlockShow, and he was offering $99 tickets (an 80 percent discount) for attendees of Blockchain Connect. Crezee, who said he's based in Singapore and Russia, witnessed firsthand the spike in conference attendance. At the BlockShow in Singapore two months ago, there were 1,500 people. He said he's expecting 5,000 people to attend the Las Vegas show in August, and about the same number in Singapore this year. "There are lots of investors now because you can invest any amount of money," said Crezee, BlockShow's CEO. "They're looking for interesting products." Crezee said he's also seeing more lawyers exploring the market as well as banks and big corporations. Events in France, Israel and Mexico According to the website Brave New Coin, there are 35 notable blockchain conferences around the world between now and the end of February. They include this weekend's World Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Summit in Moscow, next week's Paris Fintech Forum, and the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit in Jerusalem on Feb. 1. Two days after the Israel conference, enthusiasts will travel to the beaches of Tulum, Mexico, for the CryptoPsychedelic Summit, an event that promises to "bring together leaders in blockchain and psychedelic science to discuss new possibilities in research, innovation, and community building." Tim Siwula was at Blockchain Connect on Friday, volunteering at the booth for ConsenSys, a company that provides infrastructure for developers and businesses building on the ethereum blockchain. Siwula, who recently graduated from the University of San Francisco with a computer science degree, has attended a number of more technical events and meetups. Yet he said the crowd at the Palace of Fine Arts was "more general" and seemed to include more business people and investors. Still, he was impressed by the size of the audience and how many attendees were there from a variety of industries and backgrounds. "It's pretty vibrant," he said. "This one seems pretty big. You can't get inside the theatre. And there's only one bathroom." There were actually at least two, but the security guard he asked gave him incorrect information. WATCH: How bitcoin can transform music Tesla owners driving between San Francisco and Los Angeles can now take a break while recharging their cars. CNBC took a drive down to Kettleman City, California, to check out Tesla's first charging station with a lounge. The Kettleman City location has 40 high-speed chargers and the rest area is open 24/7. To get in, you need a code that is displayed on the car's navigation system, so lounge access is restricted to Tesla owners. During business hours, visitors can recharge with a coffee from Tesla's espresso bar or grab a snack from the vending machines. Options include Ludicrous Mode (double espresso shot) and Autopilot (barista's choice). Visitors can also purchase Tesla merchandise including t-shirts, hats, jackets and even a Tesla Supercharger phone charger. A glass wall separates the coffee bar from another room with sofa chairs, little cubbies and rest rooms. Free Wifi is available throughout the building. In a tweet earlier this month, Elon Musk talked about building another station in LA with a restaurant attached: Tweet here Tesla currently has 1,130 charging stations worldwide. If the company keeps latching on amenities, perhaps the stations could become a destination rather than just a pit stop. Brexit 1) May cancels Brexit speech over fears of Cabinet splits Chancellor begs mutinous Conservatives to back the Prime Minister The Sun Hunt rounds on Mays Tory critics Daily Telegraph Mays allies fear humiliating confidence vote The Sun Theresa May has abandoned preparations for a third high-profile speech on Brexit for fear of widening cabinet splits over Britains future relationship with the EU. The prime minister had planned to provide more detail of the so-called end state in an address next month on the same scale as those given at Lancaster House and in Florence. Downing Street has called a halt to the preparations, however, fuelling fears that differences in her cabinet are irreconcilable. One senior figure warned that the concrete is setting David Davis, the Brexit secretary, played down cabinet rifts over Europe, insisting that there was no difference between him, the chancellor and Mrs May on the subject. He used a speech in Teesport, Redcar and Cleveland, to try to quell Tory unease The Times Comment: One well-aimed speech could topple May Matthew Parris, The Times May must be strong and lead ministers through the crisis James Forsyth, The Sun Can the Prime Minister survive? George Parker and Laura Hughes, FT Editorial: Too-timid Cabinet must show more ambition The Sun >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Why May should make it clear that she will not lead the Conservatives into the next election Brexit 2) British officials in secret negotiations about extending transition British officials are in discussions with Brussels about extending the Brexit transition period to almost three years, The Telegraph has learnt. The official Government target for transition is around two years but many senior Whitehall officials remain privately concerned about the practicality of such a short transition, given potentially massive changes that would be required by a hard Brexit. The Telegraph understands that although it is not formally Government policy, Britain has discreetly begun sounding out senior EU figures over whether transition could be extended amid growing disarray within the Cabinet over the ultimate terms of a long-term deal with the EU. Daily Telegraph Davis warns Brussels not to impose new laws on London The Sun as he seeks transition deal in March FT Brexit Secretary admits migration wont be limited until 2021 The Sun Carney predicts conscious recoupling with the world economy after Brexit Daily Mail Rees-Mogg warns May against soft Brexit Daily Telegraph Peers plot to block no deal Daily Express Comment: Brexit may need time, but Remainers will exploit the slightest delay Asa Bennett, Daily Telegraph A Brexit bonus for the civil service Sue Cameron, FT >Yesterday: MPs Etc.: David Davis: A strictly time limited implementation period. Speech at Teesport full text Brexit 3) Hammond launches outspoken attack on Brexiteers Paterson urges the Prime Minister to sack the Chancellor Daily Telegraph Furious MPs demand Hammond be given final warning The Sun Cabinet seeks to present united front after spat The Guardian Poll shows support for second referendum Daily Mail Philip Hammond has launched an outspoken attack on Eurosceptics who he accused of wanting to sever trade links with Europe after Brexit and insisted: We have got to stick to the middle way. The Chancellor did not resile from comments he made on Thursday when he suggested that Brexit would only result in very modest changes to the UKs relationship with the European Union. Instead, Mr Hammond doubled down and said that the smaller the changes to the UKs access to the European market the better. Mr Hammonds original characterisation of what he wants the UKs new relationship with Brussels to look like sparked a fierce backlash among Brexiteers. Daily Telegraph Comment: I regret being so polite about Hammond, hes utterly unsuited to his job Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph On Brexit there are Tory grownups and the wild bunch Rafael Behr, The Guardian >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Hammonds indiscipline shows why May should have moved him and why she must stop dithering over Brexit Golden era of UK-Chinese trade thrown into doubt A mutually proclaimed golden era in bilateral ties between China and the UK has been thrown into jeopardy ahead of Theresa Mays visit to Beijing next week amid disagreements over Chinas overseas investment drive, according to government officials. The UK prime minister was due to hold roundtable discussions with British and Chinese business executives during the visit to discuss the investment programme, known as the Belt and Road Initiative. But the events are now at risk of being scrapped after Mrs May resisted giving a formal endorsement to the programme, the officials said. FT Rush to Calais after Prime Ministers asylum promise to take more migrants. The Times Theresa Mays promise to fast-track the asylum claims of migrants in Calais has led to an increase in the number of people trying to reach Britain. Charities say they have registered about 200 new arrivals since the prime minister announced the accelerated procedure after talks with President Macron of France at Sandhurst, Berkshire, on January 18. There are now said to be between 800 and 900 migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and elsewhere in Calais. The French interior ministry says that about 100 migrants, mainly children, have arrived since the pledge. When the Sandhurst Treaty was signed, Downing Street denied that it would encourage more people to try to reach the UK. The treaty was drawn up after intense lobbying by Mr Macron for Britain Ministers 1) Defence Secretary accused of scaremongering over Russia Experts have accused the UK defence secretary of scaremongering by claiming a Russian disruption of Britains electricity interconnectors to Europe would cause chaos and kill thousands of people. Gavin Williamson told the Daily Telegraph that Moscow was looking at energy cables and pipelines between the UK and the EU, and sabotage could come by a cyber-attack, missile or undersea activity. 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? the defence secretary told the newspaper. Experts said the lights were unlikely to go out if the electricity interconnectors, which supply about 5% of UK power, were somehow cut off. The Guardian Williamson accused of plotting as colleagues dispute account of affair Daily Mail Profile: Ruthless, brilliant a little bit Alan Partridge Robert Booth, The Guardian >Today: ToryDiary: Voters need to take defence spending seriously then the Government will Ministers 2) Chancellor accused of misleading Parliament over savers tax Philip Hammond was today accused of misleading Parliament over a Stealth Savers Tax first revealed by the Sun. Campaigners revealed letters from the Treasury officials where they admit customers WILL lose money because of a Budget Day decision to end tax relief on a range of saving plans. The admission is in stark contrast to the Treasurys insistence in November that there would be no impact on individuals or households. Former Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb insists the tax raid will cost 11 million Brits a combined 250 million. Mr Webb now director of policy at insurance giant Royal London: There is no doubt that the Chancellor has misled Parliament over this stealth tax. The Sun >Today: Festus Akinbusoye in Comment: We should be the party of small businesses not big multinationals Islamist groups lead campaign against new anti-extremism czar The backlash against the appointment of Sara Khan as the Governments 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 UKs leading Muslim female voices on countering Islamist extremism and promoting human rights. Daily Mail I hear my critics but Ill listen to victims too Sara Khan, The Guardian Labour 1) Pro-Momentum medics seek to end doctors union neutrality Labour suspends activist in transgender row The Times Three women vying to become first deputy leader in Wales Wales Online A hard-left plot to drag the professional body for junior doctors into party politics for the first time in its 185-year history can be exposed today. Labour activists with links to Jeremy Corbyns Momentum group have taken up key roles on the British Medical Associations junior doctors committee. Leaked emails, obtained by the Daily Mail, reveal how they are attempting to ditch the committees apolitical stance. The messages show how the Left-wingers are using their positions in a bid to mobilise thousands of junior doctors to join anti-Tory NHS protests. Daily Mail Comment: Corbyn should attack the Government, not his own side Alastair Campbell, FT Labour 2) McDonnell says Venezuela failed because it wasnt socialist enough The hard-left regime in Venezuela collapsed because it wasnt socialist enough, John McDonnell said today. The Shadow Chancellor used an appearance in Davos today to say that their system only didnt work because they didnt mobilise their oil resources and invest long-term. He told a panel discussing free markets that former leader Hugo Chavezs policies had helped to tackle inequality and invest in education. And that they would have worked if they had only mobilised the oil resources and invested for their futures. Speaking to business leaders and world leaders in the Swiss ski resort today, Mr McDonnell bizarrely claimed: Its not that the issue is socialism vs capitalism. The Sun Shadow Chancellor wants rich to publish tax returns The Times Trump declares America open for business Thousands of Ulster jobs safe as Bombardier wins trade dispute with the US Belfast Telegraph President Donald Trump told world leaders and bigwigs gathered in Davos the U.S. was now open for business then promised his America First agenda didnt mean the U.S. would go it alone. But after an invest-in-America pitch that had lines that could have been cribbed from a governors trade mission, Trump drew audible gasps from the crowd when he reached for his fake news broadside against the press. Trump vented in a brief question-and-answer session about how fake the press can be then observed the cameras start going off in the back. The line lead to gasps, oohs, and even some boos from the crowd, who otherwise listened quietly to his remarks. Daily Mail Comment: Davos is just Britains latest humiliation Marina Hyde, The Guardian Editorial: Trumps speech was a tonic. May, take note Daily Telegraph Dealmaker in Davos The Times >Today: Book Reviews: Liberal Americans are no nearer working out how to cope with Trump Policing investigating four cases of expenses abuse 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. Former sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham said it was wrong that voters were being denied crucial information about their elected representatives. Daily Mail Teachers hit out at flagship SNP reform Scottish Government challenged to give teachers a ten per cent pay rise The Scotsman John Swinneys flagship teaching reform to give more power to headteachers could result in an increasing attainment gap between Scottish schools, teachers have claimed. The warning comes in a document outlining teachers and headteachers concerns about the education secretarys plans to overhaul the Scottish schools system. The dossier, to be considered by MSPs at Holyrood next week, reveals teachers fears that the reforms will increase their workload and could lead to a hire and fire culture for headteachers. Dissatisfaction with pay and conditions as well as problems with teacher recruitment were listed in the document, which is based on a series of focus groups held by the Scottish Parliaments education committee earlier this month. The Scotsman >Yesterday: John Bald in Local Government: Greening is not to blame for our unpopularity with teachers News in Brief: Daniel Kawczynski is MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland. The EU and others have been swift to criticise the Polish Governments judicial reform agenda. But is this really justified? The 2015 Parliamentary elections gave Polands Law and Justice Party (PiS) a strong democratic mandate and an majority in the Sejm, a feat that had eluded any party since Communism ended a quarter of a century previously. PiS was elected on a mandate to reform Polands judicial system to rid it of corruption and 63 per cent of Poles agree their judicial system needs reform. With a 17-point lead in the polls, PiS is uniquely placed to take forward important systemic reforms and should not shy away from this opportunity. However, this move is not without criticism. For example Donald Tusk, former Polish Prime Minister and President of the European Council, has been particularly vocal in his disapproval of this reform agenda. Is he right? The first criticism surrounds a perceived erosion of the separation of powers. Montesquieu, the originator of the separation of powers, stated that judges must be no more than the mouth that pronounces the words of the law. Herein lies the problem for Poland. Polands judiciary remains a hangover from the Communist era; many of its judges were the very same who handed down long prison sentences to Solidarity activists. It is composed of an established elite, appointing and promoting its own, defending oligarchs and an old way of life, slow to react to cases of judicial corruption, quick to exercise judicial activism and a good deal removed from being simply the mouth that pronounces the law. It pursues an anti-reform agenda, supporting and protecting its own. Refusal to allow Freedom of Information requests for disclosure of expenses of judges incurred on taxpayer-funded credit cards, or requests pertaining to monopolies over procurement contracts, are recent examples of the shadows of corruption that lurk in the system and leave the judiciary far from Montesquieus vision. Second, critics seem to imply that the PiS reforms are extreme, something that no sane democracy could advocate. Indeed, the reforms are not dissimilar to existing arrangements in other countries. The United States constitution, the embodiment of the philosophy of the separation of powers, has appointments to the Supreme Court made by the Executive, and ratified by the Senate. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has recently publicly criticised the PiSs reforms, but politicians in her own country have been described by experts as having a great amount of influence when it comes to appointing and promoting judges. Judges for the constitutional court are chosen by a closed panel of 12 parliamentarians. The system for selecting federal judges has been described as as transparent as a black hole. The EU has also criticised the measures, suggesting that they are in some way an anathema to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as envisioned by EU treaties and by the European Convention on Human Rights. However, this fails to take account of Article 4.2 of the Maastricht Treaty, which states that the EU shall respect the national identity of the member states and their basic political and constitutional structures, and contradicts the fundamental principle of the EU and its motto united in diversity. The PiS vision is a stricter adherence to Polish constitutional traditions, not the reverse, and we should welcome and support this improvement to existing judicial structures. Finally, the reforms are criticised for being authoritarian. But is this fair? Isnt it the case that a difference of opinion between government and opposition is a clear example of healthy democratic debate? Shouldnt we be supportive of a Poland where all political parties are free to express themselves and present their points of view? As recent events show, people are free to protest against measures they disagree with. A diverse press provides commentary on the debate and presents different perspectives. This is not a violation of democracy but a demonstration of democracy in action. The measures will strengthen due process and the free and fair application of the rule of law in Poland by reinforcing the independence of the judiciary, increasing transparency and accountability in the judicial process, and meeting public demands for reform. These are all worthy and long-overdue objectives in a nation still grappling with the authoritarian legacies of a communist past imposed on Poland by the traumatic events of World War II and its aftermath. Reform is always risky in newer democracies, but that is not in of itself a reason to reject it. For democracy to flourish and develop further in Poland, it needs an effective judiciary that reflects where Polish society is now and not the vested interests of 30 years ago. If the necessary changes to the judicial elite are to be made, they cannot be made from within by the vested interests that seek to preserve their power and privilege. Modernising Polands judiciary must be undertaken by the other branches of government, as has happened in other countries the world over. PiS have the mandate to carry forward these reforms, and have made assurances to do so with safety valves and checks appropriate for a modern judicial system. The Opposition can oppose happily that is their right in a democracy but Poland should not be dissuaded from modernising and supporting its developing democracy by disingenuous cries of authoritarianism. In Wednesdays Daily Telegraph, two more Tory heavyweights weighed into the Partys brewing battle over the parlous state of the defence budget, which our editor has discussed. Each approaches the same theme Britains role in the world and the Armed Forces contribution to it from a different angle. First Michael Fallon, so recently holder of the defence brief himself, sets out in blunt terms the sheer breadth of the security threats facing the UK, which he outlined at greater length in a speech to the Defence and Security Forum on Monday. Not only is Russia overhauling its armed forces and clearly willing to use them, but: The Middle East and North Africa remain launch pads for further extremist attacks on our cities. In the Pacific, a nuclear North Korea threatens Japan and the United States even London is within range. Then theres cyber, a threat from anywhere, any time. Our enemies can steal our information, disrupt our energy supplies, even our government systems. This diversity of danger is important because it robs ministers of the defence that what look like cuts are simply adaptations to twenty-first century warfare. Yes, we need new cyber-security investment on top of an army which can make a meaningful contribution to Europes defence and a globally-capable blue-water navy. Elsewhere William Hague puts the defence debate in its broader context. Brexit has put the UKs global position in the spotlight, he argues, and allies and enemies alike are watching carefully for signs of how a post-EU Britain will conduct itself on the world stage. Cuts to the Armed Forces, compounded by a reduced diplomatic presence in Africa and Asia as the Foreign Office redeploys resources to Europe, all serve to undercut the idea of global Britain and suggest that our departure from the European Union really might be the retreat from the world that Remainers always said it was. The row over defence has been brewing for years we wrote about the need for an independent Britain to rebuild an independent military in the summer of 2016 but the Government has been so consumed by Brexit that little has been done to change course. Now the Prime Minister faces only hard choices. To continue to neglect the defence budget not only puts the security of the nation at risk, it could push this Tory revolt into something which might threaten her fragile premiership. Yet fixing it would mean either more borrowing or higher taxes, each of which present new opportunities for Jeremy Corbyns revivified Opposition and then diverting any funds raised away from the Partys retail offer to voters in 2022. Perhaps the best hope of those overseeing the Kingdoms security is that the numerous threats outlined by Fallon have a political effect, and make being strong on defence the potent vote-winner it was during the Cold War. Until then it seems doomed to be one of those issues where duty pulls one way, and expediency the other. CORNWALL, Ontario Cornwall police confirm that on Saturday, Jan. 13 they found a 19-year-old man in the construction site across from St. Lawrence College. Police responded to the call at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, and said that the man had been in the site since Friday night. Friday, Jan. 12 saw a flash freeze in Cornwall overnight as well as over 20 cm of snowfall. He was 19-years-old, from Cornwall and was transported by police to the Cornwall Hospital, said Cst. Dan Cloutier of the Cornwall Community Police Service, who explained that when found by police, the man was suffering from hypothermia. He was transferred to Ottawa. Police are still investigating how the man got into the construction site on Montreal Rd., which is surrounded by a high wooden fence. Seaway News spoke with Gary Soules of Durbacon, the construction company developing the site, who said that he had been informed of the incident. They just told me someone got inside the site, but I dont know how he got in, said Soules. Soules said that he had been informed of the incident by the City of Cornwall and that he was told that some parts of the site and the fence were damaged, but did not know if that was done by the man or by emergency responders who tried to extract him from the construction zone. The site located on the corner of Montreal Rd. and Belmont St. next to Taverne La Maison used to be the home of a gas station, but Soules is endeavouring to construct a new apartment building. The joint ASEAN Declaration on Cruise Tourism led by Singapore, the ASEAN lead coordinator for cruise development, was officially endorsed at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on January 25. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, its official adoption marks a milestone in ASEANs ongoing efforts to transform Southeast Asia into a vibrant cruising destination. A prepared statement said that the declaration outlines ASEANs commitment to further develop cruise tourism in the region by improving the clarity of cruise policies and regulations, efficiency in administration processes, as well as refining business practices to be fairer and more responsible. Singapore is proud to announce that the ASEAN states collective efforts to develop the ASEAN Declaration for Cruise Tourism have borne fruit. This builds on our previous work such as the inaugural ATF Cruise Dialogue last year and the launch of the Cruise Southeast Asia brand in 2016. It also marks the first major economic deliverable undertaken by Singapore since we assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2018. This will deepen regional connectivity and position ASEAN as a region for seamless economic activity and growing opportunities. We look forward to bringing meaningful benefits to ASEAN businesses and citizens, said Sim Ann, senior minister of state, ministry of trade and industry. A rise in cruise tourism is expected to further advance ship deployment, port and destination infrastructure development and spin off benefits for local tourism industries and stakeholders across the region. Singapore has much to gain from the increased visitors and spending. The city-state has already built up a reputation among travelers as a leading cruising gateway due to its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and air connectivity to Asia-Pacific and the world. The future of cruise tourism for both Singapore and the South-east Asian region is bright, with strong potential Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau helped coordinate a unified trash collection contract for 14 towns. Easy stuff, he said, compared with the bigger nut, shared services. And to that end, hes working with neighboring Westport to open a single, merged emergency communications center on the campus of Sacred Heart University. So far its going well, Tetreau said but it involves negotiating with three different managements and three sets of employees police and fire in Westport and a combined operation in Fairfield. We have a long way to go and the devil is in the details, said Tetreau, a Democrat. Now lets imagine Fairfield, or any other Connecticut town, looking to combine whole departments say, public works or even fire or police with one or more surrounding towns. Thats almost impossible, not only because of the false and seductive siren of local control, but because existing rules stack up against shared municipal services. Unions, for example, have the right to insist that each town bargaining unit negotiate merged services separately. Each of those negotiations could take six months to a year, Tetreau said, potentially killing the idea. Another barrier to cities and towns working together: Some municipalities have charters that spell out, for example, the fire chief reports to the first selectman. And yet another: Some towns allow a ban on shared services in collectively bargained contracts. These sorts of barriers along with old-style zoning rules are starting to matter more as Connecticut works to right itself on many fronts in the quest for efficiency and economic growth. Amid a lot of lip service, a handful of sincere regional efforts and some state incentives that are badly underfunded, towns have done very little in the way of shared services and smart, cluster development. Now would be a fine time to not only talk about it, but actually change a few state laws that get in the way. As you might expect when the entire state structure is in emergency surgery for paralysis and anemia, shared municipal services are part of the grand discussions of 2018 on the campaign trail and inside the Capitol in Hartford. When towns try to collaborate on municipal services, unions should be required, under state law, to bargain as a coalition, Joe DeLong, executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, told a commission working to fix the state budget and economy on Tuesday. Right now that isnt the case, DeLong said, and the state wont address that issue. The conference, known as CCM, also wants lawmakers to bar towns from bargaining away shared services rights; supersede town charters when shared services come together; and allow town governments to outmuscle local school boards when it comes to sharing municipal and school services within a town. This has the potential of decaying into the sort of union-bashing thats all too popular these days, as Republicans and even a lot of Democrats blame public employees for Connecticuts fiscal woes. That shouldnt be our mind-set, as the state employees, for example, have taken seven of the last 11 years without raises and weve seen two new tiers of employees launched with lower benefits. But yes, theres room for more adjustment and this is part of that. If were going to organize, lets do it, said Lori Pelletier, president of the state AFL-CIO. Lets not just go after the unions. Shes right. If towns end up less independent, so be it. The idea that Darien and New Canaan are altogether different places is not reality, its part of the comfort zone of our parochial minds. And while were talking about smart municipal planning, many towns still have zoning laws that thwart dense housing development around train stations especially in Fairfield and New Haven counties, along Metro-North railroad. Thats a bugaboo of Jim Redeker, the state transportation commissioner. Redeker told the same panel the commission on fiscal stability and economic growth that inflexible zoning rules are giving up a great opportunity for smart growth. The state owns acres and acres of parking lots at just about every train station, Redeker said, and those can be developed to include parking as well as apartments but for zoning laws with large-lot requirements. Thats the nature of the towns we live in, Redeker said. Often they envision themselves as who they are and not what they might be. Redeker oversaw transit-oriented development in New Jersey, which, he said, is well ahead of Connecticut. And make no mistake, New Jersey is our competition. Theres a reason beyond bumbling inertia why weve seen little progress. People like hyper-local control, they like knowing the cop on the street corner and they like jawboning with the board of education member at the supermarket. All good stuff. But at what cost, as a broke and broken state foists more costs onto towns, which raise property taxes? The savings is a matter of debate. DeLong and Waterbury Mayor Neil OLeary, the CCM president this year, say Connecticut actually falls at No. 41 among states in the number of state and municipal employees per capita. Groups such as the Yankee Institute for Policy Studies, which decries government spending, say the savings might not amount to much. Thats true on the margins, when were talking about two towns sharing one dog catcher, or maybe a health department. But if eight or ten towns combine big-ticket departments, now you could be talking about real money and real improvement in services. Thats the view of Tetreau in Fairfield, whos on the CCM board and chairs MetroCOG, the Bridgeport area council of governments. For example, right now his towns emergency communications center where 9-1-1 calls come in sits in the basement of a building in a flood zone. Dare I call this move regionalization? Nope. Thats a dirty word, as we saw at the Jan. 10 Republican debate when candidates for governor climbed over each other to decry what several said was adding new levels of government. Thats the whole point of changing the laws. Without barriers, all the half-measures that leave too much administration in place could give way to real progress. dhaar@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT City police prepared for the worst Friday evening as supporters gathered after the states attorney released her report on the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Jayson Negron. Officers were issued riot gear and neighboring towns and Metro-North Railroad were alerted the city was expecting a large number of protesters. About 350 family, friends and members of activist organizations gathered at Negrons memorial on Fairfield Avenue around 5 p.m. The gathering was expected to run until around 8 p.m. But Perez said those gathered didnt incite violence or cause any issues that required police intervention. We prepared as we normally prepare for a large-scale event that could go wrong. And nothing went wrong tonight, said police Chief Armando Perez around 9 p.m. Friday. In a report released Friday afternoon, Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay was cleared by Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt of criminal charges in the fatal shooting death of Negron. On May 9, Negron was driving a stolen 2012 Subaru Forester in Bridgeport accompanied by Julian Fyffe, then 21, when the vehicle was spotted by an undercover Bridgeport Police Gang Task Force Officer. Negron led the officers on a brief pursuit, eventually striking Boulay with the vehicle door. Boulay fired into the car fatally wounding Negron and injuring Fyffe. Officer James Boulay reasonably believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself from the use of deadly force that being the Subaru operated by Jayson Negron, Platts report states. The report includes statements from Boulay, Fyffe, police officers on the scene and other witnesses. Platt, who oversaw the Connecticut State Police investigation into the fatal shooting, also included videos, photos, medical records and Negrons autopsy results, which show he was shot four times. This was a tragic event where a police officer made a split-second decision, Perez said in a statement. I want to express my deepest sympathies to Jayson Negrons family and to the community as we work through this terrible incident. Negrons family was brought to the courthouse ahead of the public release of the report to hear Platts decision. When the elevator doors opened in the lobby of the Waterbury courthouse after the Friday afternoon meeting, Negrons half sister, Jazmarie Melendez, fell sobbing into the arms of friends. He got off, she cried. They are not going to prosecute him. Once outside the courthouse, Melendez huddled with other family, all sobbing loudly. As a throng of news media moved in, protesters bearing placards formed a barrier around the crying family. Boulays account On June 14, 2017, Boulay gave his statement to State Police about the shooting, accompanied by a lawyer. In his written report of the shooting, Boulay said he was the passenger in a marked patrol car with his partner, Mario Pecirep, that followed a stolen Subaru Forester into the Walgreens parking lot at 1000 Park Ave. In the parking lot Boulay said Pecirep turned on the patrol cars lights and sirens, but the driver later identified as Negron did not stop and instead turned left onto Fairfield Avenue the wrong way on a one-way street, his statement said. Boulay said he got out of the patrol car, approached Negron, gun drawn, on the drivers side and told him to stop the car and get out. At this point the operator, attempting to escape, accelerated the car past me striking the motor vehicle in front of him, the statement said. I believe I fired fired two rounds at the vehicles left rear tire, Boulay said, then he opened the drivers door and told Negron to get out of the car. When Negron didnt comply, Boulay said he tried to pull him out of the car, but Negron pulled away until he was sitting on the center console. From the center console, Boulay said Negron put the car in reverse and hit the gas pedal. Boulay said he grabbed hold of something in the motor vehicle to keep upright but could feel himself being pulled under the car. I feared for my own life, Boulay said. I decided to fire my service weapon multiple times into the front driver side, aiming at the operator of the motor vehicle. According to the report, Pecirep called in shots fired and the police code for officer in need of assistance." Within seconds, other officers had arrived. Boulay, in his statment, said he and another officer grabbed Negrons legs and pulled him out of the vehicle and turned him on his stomach before Boulay handcuffed him. Before ambulances arrived, the report said, a patrol officer put Boulay into his cruiser and drove him to St. Vincent's Medical Center where he was treated for injuries to his left hip, left shin and left ankle. In audio included in the report, over the seven minutes after the shooting, officers at the scene called for medics to step it up at least five times as Negron lay in the street. The first medic arrived on the scene at 5:09 p.m. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m., 13 minutes after Pecireps call of shots fired. Witness statements Fyffes recollection of the events of May 9, matched up with the statement given by Boulay. He was interviewed by State Police at Bridgeport Hospital the evening of the shooting. He had been shot twice. In the interview, Fyffe told police he didnt know Negron very well, but State Police review of the cell phone interaction between the two found that their relationship was closer than Fyffe indicated in his initial report with authorities. Fyffe spoke to Hearst Connecticut Media on May 17 and referred to Negron as little brother. Five other city cops gave statements on what they saw and heard; their statements supported Boulays account. Eyewitness accounts of the shooting and what led up to it matched up with Boulay's statement as well. A calm scene in Bridgeport Friday, family, friends and members of activist organizations started at the site of Negrons memorial around 5 p.m. with a symbolic sage burning before the protest made its way to the government center on Broad Street, amid shouts of Justice for Jayson, and then returned to the memorial. As the sign-carrying group walked down the middle of the streets, they were protected by Bridgeport Police vehicles which followed about a block behind. Additional units were parked across intersections during the nearly four blocks between the shooting site and the government center. Theres always the chance that one or two or three individuals decide to do something that incites a riot. You have to be ready, Perez said. Were peaceful as long as theyre peaceful. Some of the people gathered for Negron in Bridgeport held signs, claiming Platt, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other officials were complicit in police terror. Kerry Ellington, one of the people gathered to protest, addressed the group outside the government center saying Platts decision was not the end. Were going to Rocky Hill thats where Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane is. ... We want them to reopen the investigation and order the prosecution of Killer Cop James Boulay. Jazmarie Melendez said to the group of protestors, I want to be hugging my brother. I want to be home but we have to fight because I dont want another brother, I dont want another sister, I dont want my friends, I dont want the people who are here to have to deal with this anymore. There has to be change to the system. Ganim released a statement Friday evening stating the last eight months have been difficult for the community and Negrons family. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Jayson Negron and all those effected by this terrible tragedy. I stand in solidarity with the community in peaceful and constructive means to express our feelings and emotions through this difficult healing process, the statement said. Rose garden established in memory of Sept. 11 A 15-acre garden sanctuary near the Flight 93 Memorial on Old Lincoln Highway (Route 30) as "beauty from ashes." Last year, the powerful Arab quartet of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly announced a diplomatic and economic blockade against another regional pseudo-ally the state of Qatar. The four countries led the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in accusing Qatar of supporting and funding terrorism and manipulating internal affairs of its neighbouring states. Widely regarded as the most-advanced Arab state for human development by the UN, 85 per cent of the countrys population comprises expatriates, set against just 313,000 Qatari citizens in a population of 2.6 million. Qatar is also a high-income economy, with the worlds third-largest natural-gas reserves and oil reserves. Qatar, which was abruptly shunned by its immediate neighbours, and had little or no indication of the crisis that began as an extension of the Qatar-Saudi proxy conflict. The involvement of the other regional GCC nations, including Bahrain, Egypt and UAE in the blockade further complicated the position to negotiate, as the quartet had a unified and unwavering stance in dedicating the terms for appeasement. An aerial view of Doha's diplomatic area. The countries cited Qatar's alleged support for terrorism as the main reason for their action, insisting that Qatar has violated a 2014 agreement with the members of the GCC. The GCC also felt threatened by the media arm of Qatar - Al Jazeera - for engaging in what they termed as a "media conspiracy" against the nations, and also for the countrys proximity with Iran. Now entering its eight month, the blockade by the GCC nations effectively amounts to economic sanctions on Qatar, which has rendered airspace, travel, trade and diplomatic restrictions. The effect of these sanctions has been widespread, crippling several companies operating out of the country, and including its citizens and expatriates. The abrupt notice and enforcement of the sanctions had also meant the country was put in a limbo, freezing several of its regional assets and disrupting everyday operations. As a small gas-rich nation, Qatar has been balancing its trade with heavy dependence on its oil and gas exports for subsidising its food and industrial imports. With its land border with Saudi Arabia closed, Qatars food imports initially dropped substantially, before recovering via expensive alternatives. While the allegations against Qatars supposed terror-funding has been the prime focal point, in reality, it is also an extension of the regional differences, especially manifested after the networks coverage since the 2011 Arab Spring. Al Jazeera, the state-funded broadcaster in Doha, was one of the significant nerve-points in the diplomatic blockade, as the GCC members have over the past continued to express distrust over the networks coverage of the Arab Spring and for negatively portraying the local governments. In fact, the complete shutdown of Al Jazeera was one of the terms put forward jointly by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to even commence negotiations. Legal ramifications The direct losses incurred by Qatar, along with the indirect losses, would amount to several billion dollars, and the country is already exploring legal avenues to claim compensation from the GCC countries. Several senior ministers have also indicated that Qatar has contracted a specialised legal team to study the actions taken by the blockading countries against it. The country has also been clear in its position on backing Al Jazeera, effectively ruling out any calls for its shutdown. While the blockade imposed by the GCC is geo-political, efforts by the members in calling for a wider global support, including from the UN is far-fetched. The issue was momentarily complicated when US President Donald Trump took credit for the Saudi-led actions (which was initiated shortly after his visit to the region), but nevertheless it did not gain any traction as international consensus, including from the European Union and the United Nations, among other nations, had called for the resolution of the diplomatic crisis through dialogue. The gas-rich nation has virtually been cornered over its movements - both financially (for its current instruments/investments in the GCC countries) and physically, having to re-rout its land and sea movements via Iran. Surprisingly, despite all the extreme measures by the GCC quartet to arm-wrestle Qatar, countries, including the UAE and Oman, continue to depend on Qatars gas pipeline to power their infrastructure. Qatar continues to pump around two billion cubic feet of gas per day to the UAE, showing no signs of impact from the sanctions. Also read: It'll pay for India to keep ties strong with Qatar amid Gulf crisis Respected Modiji, This letter might take you by surprise. But since you believe only in one-sided conversations - like your Mann Ki Baat - and giving scripted interviews to select TV channels, I have no other option. Modiji, as you enjoyed the snowy winters in Davos, the law and order situation back home had collapsed. I am sure you were aware of it. Over the release of Padmaavat, the Karni Sena first targeted your home state of Gujarat. The violence then spilled over into Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In Gurgaon, the outfit crossed all limits and attacked a school bus. Thankfully, the kids survived. All of these states are ruled by your party and I find it unbelievable, Modiji, that the chief ministers of the concerned states could not control these terrorists. On the contrary, members of your party are egging on the Karni Sena and you have been a mute spectator to it. Your supporters might point out that Karni Sena leader, who is also a BJP media coordinator, Suraj Pal Amu, has been put in house arrest. But it reminds of the time when Pakistan had put Hafiz Saeed in house arrest last year. Instead of such laughable tokenism, remind yourself of the overreaction of your state government in Uttar Pradesh to the Bhim Sena and juxtapose the action against Amu. Modiji, it begs the question whether you indeed intend to stop the violence. Why cant you show the same resolve you showed while rightly standing behind Taslima Nasrin? Or are you and the Congress, by remaining in the pushpak mode, trying to electorally capitalise on the polarisation? Image: PTI photo You may ask, Modiji, that if the Congress too is guilty of silence, why are you being solely targeted. After all, right from the time of the Emergency to banning Salman Rushdie or James Lanes books, the Congress faltered badly. But that is exactly why you are in power. Even today, leaders like Digvijaya Singh are being apologists of the Karni Sena. But then he is not the prime minister, Modji, you are. Your silence has merely validated their grotesque actions. And the peace-loving citizens of the country would demand an explanation. Which parent would remain quiet after his/her child is subjected to physical assault over a film? Also, the developments back home have only ruined your speech in Davos. Who would want to invest in India when a mob can successfully hold state after state to ransom over a movie? Modiji, Padmaavat protests are only a representation of the wider malice perpetuated under your rule in the society. The larger question is of the Constitution. The film could be a snooze fest, but freedom of expression gives one the right to be a bad filmmaker. If the film has a green signal from the CBFC and the Supreme Court, it is your duty to ensure its smooth release. Your state chief ministers did not uphold the Constitution. And your silence means you are okay with it. If you wont stand by the Constitution, who are we supposed to look up to? Do you remember the time when you stepped into Parliament for the first time as prime minister? You had bowed down and kissed the steps to show your respect for the temple of democracy. It was indeed a moving gesture. But now I wonder if it was just another act played to the gallery. The havoc caused by the Karni Sena is a big blot on your regime. However, Modiji, it isnt the first one. After you came to power, the first casualty was Mohsin Sheikh in Pune. Then Mohammad Akhlaq, Junaid How many names should I recollect? The "gun" then turned towards the Dalits. Your saffron goons did not leave a single chance to persecute the most-deprived section of the society. Student activists were labelled seditious, Rohith Vemula had to commit suicide even as innocent workers were flogged in Una. How am I supposed to have faith in your belief in the Constitution? Or is it a planned move towards a Hindu Rashtra? Time has come for you to answer this question because you came to power saying sabka saath, sabka vikas. I genuinely believe, Modiji, that you could have stopped the disruption if you wanted to. Just like the British government protected Rushdie, or Ashok Chavan ensured a smooth release of My Name Is Khan, you had the chance to reassure the artists and citizens of India. It is a matter of will. And you have failed the test of will till date. It is still not late, Modiji. But you dont have a lot of time left to undo what you have already unleashed. We just celebrated our 69th Republic Day. I hope you have sworn by the Constitution with all your heart. Else, history wont be kind to you. A concerned citizen with faith in the Constitution Also read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat is actually about 'good Hindus' and 'bad Muslims' 5 hours ago Multiple Signs Point to New Highs Ahead for Kirklands Stock If you happened to hold Kirklands (NASDAQ: KIRK) stock throughout all of last year, you enjoyed a mind-blowing 1,342% return. The home decor retailer was among the top 10 U.S. stock performers in 2020 thanks to pandemic-driven shopping habits and Kirklands strengthened competitive positioning. Those that missed out on this mega retail winner need not fret. Read Article Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA engages in the traditional banking businesses of retail banking, asset management, private banking, and wholesale banking. It operates through the following segments: Spain, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and Rest of Eurasia. The Spain segment includes mainly the banking and insurance business that the group carries out in Spain. 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Productions for the 56th season of Tent Theatre include Cry-Baby, Peter and the Starcatcher and The Drowsy Chaperone. HOW TO AUDITION Audition times can be reserved online. Audition applications, requirements and character breakdowns are also available at tenttheatre.com. Auditions will also be held at United Professional Theatre Auditions in Memphis Feb. 2-5 and at Ripley-Grier Studios in New York City March 8. A number of technical positions are also available, including carpenters, electricians, sound technicians, wardrobe crew, marketing assistants, front-of-house personnel, assistant stage managers, props crew, paint crew and assistant technical director. Those applying for a technical position should download the online application and submit it by Feb. 2. Work runs May 21-July 27. DISCOVER TENT THEATRE BENEFITS Company members will be awarded full- or part-time contracts and may need to qualify for enrollment at Missouri State. The Tent Theatre rehearsal period begins May 28 with the final performance on July 21. All company members will receive a stipend based on their individual experience, time commitment and ability. Housing may also be provided for some members based on need. Tent Theatre operates as a professional theatre company under the U/RTA Agreement with Actors Equity. Actors and stage managers are eligible to earn Equity Membership Candidacy Program points. For more information, contact Mark Templeton, managing director, at 417-836-4644. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in global investment banking, securities, and investment management, which provides financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. The Investment Banking segment serves public and private sector clients around the world and provides financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. The Global Markets segment serves its clients who buy and sell financial products, funding and manage risk. The Asset Management segment provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. The Consumer & Wealth Management segment helps clients to achieve their individual financial goals by providing a wealth advisory and banking services. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device and accessory financing, wireless home phone, device protection, text messaging, e-mail, global voice and data roaming, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device delivery services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands to approximately 10.9 million subscribers. It also provides Internet and WiFi services; smart home monitoring services, such as monitoring, security, automation, energy efficiency, and smart control through a smartphone app. In addition, the company offers local and network TV; on-demand television; cloud-based digital video recorders; voice-activated remote controls, and integrated apps; personal video recorders; linear and time-shifted programming; digital specialty channels; 4K television programming; and televised content on smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, as well as operates Ignite TV and Ignite TV app. Further, it provides residential and small business local telephony services; calling features, such as voicemail, call waiting, and long distance; voice, data networking, Internet protocol, and Ethernet services; private networking, Internet, IP voice, and cloud solutions; optical wave and multi-protocol label switching services; IT and network technologies; and cable access network services. The company also owns Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre event venue; and operates Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, Citytv, OMNI, FX (Canada), FXX (Canada), and OLN television networks, as well as 55 AM and FM radio stations. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More The election Friday of Morocco to the African Unions Peace and Security Council was hailed by several African officials as an additional asset to this body, which is tasked with conflict prevention, management and resolution, and peacekeeping in Africa. The election of Morocco to this supreme decision-making body on peace and security issues, took place in Addis Ababa Friday, at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the continental Organization, held on the eve of the 30th AU Summit convening in the Ethiopian capital this January 28-29. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita told the media in Addis Ababa after the election announcement that this is 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 translates, if need be, the support and confidence enjoyed by King Mohammed VI among his African peers, he said. 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. Actually, over 60,000 Moroccan peacekeepers have participated within five UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. Besides, Morocco deployed 11 Medical and Surgical Field Hospitals in 10 African countries, where more than 530,000 people benefited from medical services. Several other African officials attending the AU meetings hailed Moroccos election to the Council, stressing that this new member will play a role of paramount importance in consolidating peace and stability in Africa. In this vein, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama hailed Morocco for its ceaseless and commendable efforts in the areas of peace and security on the continent. Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Augustine Mahiga, on her part stressed that Moroccos presence in the Council will provide the kingdom a platform to upgrade its valuable contribution to peace and security in the continent, recalling that Morocco has played a key role in peacekeeping in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity, the AUs 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. He said the Kingdoms commitment to humanitarian causes in Africa is highlighted every time King Mohammed VI visits African countries. Morocco, the unique candidate from the North-African region, was elected to the Peace and Security Council for a renewable two-year term (2018-2020) by 39 votes, while the minimum of votes required is 36. 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. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. 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The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Yext, Inc. is an emerging growth company engages in software development. It offers a cloud-based digital knowledge platform, which allows businesses manage their digital knowledge in the cloud such as financial information, resources and performance of these resources on a consolidated basis and sync it to other application such as Apple Maps, Bing, Cortana, Facebook, Google, Google Maps, Instagram, Siri and Yelp. It offers the Yext Knowledge Engine package on subscription basis, which has an access to Listings, Pages, Reviews and other features. The Listing feature provides customers with control over their digital presence, including their location and other related attributes published on the used third-party applications. The Pages feature allows customers to establish landing pages on their own websites and to manage digital content on those sites, including calls to action. The Reviews presence enables customers to encourage and facilitate reviews from end consumers. The company was founded by Howard Lerman, Brent Metz, and Brian Distelburger in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of General Dynamics: 42SIX LLC, ARMA Global Corporation, Advanced Technical Products, Aeromil (Australia) Pty Ltd, Aeromil Aircraft Engineering Pty Ltd, Aeromil Aviation Services Pty Ltd, Aeromil IT Services Pty Ltd, Aeromil Marine Pty Ltd, Aeromil Pacific Pty Ltd, American Overseas Marine Company LLC, Anteon International Corporation, Applied Physical Sciences, Applied Physical Sciences Corp., Ascend Intelligence, Australian Avionics Pty Ltd, Autonomic Resources LLC, Avion Logistics Limited, Avjet Corporation, AxleTech International, Axsys, BATH IRON WORKS CORPORATION, BP-HP Pte Limited, Bath Iron Works, Bath Iron Works Australia Corporation, Bath Iron Works Canada LLC, Bluefin Robotics Corporation, Blueprint Technologies Inc., Braintree I Maritime Corp., Braintree II Maritime Corp., Braintree III Maritime Corp., Braintree IV Maritime Corp., Braintree V Maritime Corp., Buccaneer Computer Systems & Service Inc., CSC Computer Sciences Venezuela S.A., CSRA, CSRA (Costa Rica) S.A., CSRA (Guyana) Inc., CSRA (Middle East) LLC, CSRA Argentina S.R.L., CSRA BH d.o.o., CSRA Bahamas Limited, CSRA Bahrain S.P.C., CSRA Belgium SPRL, CSRA Bolivia S.R.L., CSRA Brazil Servicos de Tecnologia Ltda., CSRA Canada Inc., CSRA Caribbean Inc., CSRA Chile SpA, CSRA Colombia SAS, CSRA Commerce 2010 LLC, CSRA Consular Services Holding Company LLC, CSRA Consular Services Inc., CSRA France SARL, CSRA Guatemala Solutions Sociedad Anonima, CSRA Honduras Sociedad Anonima, CSRA Inc., CSRA Information Systems LLC, CSRA Information Technology Spain SL, CSRA Ireland Limited, CSRA Italy S.R.L, CSRA Kosovo L.L.C., CSRA LATAM LLC, CSRA LLC, CSRA Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., CSRA Netherlands B.V., CSRA Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CSRA Panama Inc., CSRA Peru S.R.L., CSRA Senegal SARL, CSRA South Africa (Pty) Ltd, CSRA State and Local Solutions LLC, CSRA Systems & Solutions LLC, CSRA Trinidad & Tobago Limited, CSRA Turkey Bilisim Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, CSRA Uruguay S.R.L, CSRA Visa Services Israel Ltd., CSRAIT - Information Services Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Centauri Solutions LLC, Command System, Computing Devices International, Concord I Maritime Corporation, Concord II Maritime Corporation, Concord III Maritime Corporation, Concord IV Maritime Corporation, Concord V Maritime Corporation, Convair Aircraft Corporation, Convair Corporation, Creative Technology, Customer Services Ecuador CSRA S.A., Devcor, Diamond Fortress Technologies, DynPort Vaccine Company LLC, EB Groton Engineering Inc., EBV Explosives Environmental, ELCS-CZ s.r.o., Eagle Enterprise Inc., Earl Industries - Ship Repair and Coatings Division, Ebv Explosives Environmental Company, Electric Boat - Australia LLC, Electric Boat - UK LLC, Electric Boat Canada LLC, Electric Boat Corporation, Electric Boat France LLC, Electrocom Inc., Engineering Technology, Expro Finance Inc., FBD Fahrzeug und Bremsendienst GmbH, FC Business Systems, Fidelis Cybersecurity, Force Protection, Force Protection Europe Limited, Force Protection Inc., ForeSight Technology Services LLC, Freeman United Coal Mining Company LLC, GD Brazil Holdings LLC, GD European Land Systems - Steyr GmbH, GD European Land Systems Holding GmbH, GDOTS Services Corporation, GM GDLS Defense Group L.L.C., GPS Source Inc., GTE Government Systems, GWA-Datatrac FAST LLC, Galaxy Aerospace Company, Gayston Corporation - Defense Operations, General Dynamics - OTS (Global) Inc., General Dynamics AIS Australia Pty Ltd, General Dynamics Canadian Finance Inc., General Dynamics Canadian Holdings Inc., General Dynamics Commercial Cyber Services LLC, General Dynamics European Finance Limited, General Dynamics European Land Systems - Austria GmbH, General Dynamics European Land Systems - Bridge Systems GmbH, General Dynamics European Land Systems - Czech s.r.o., General Dynamics European Land Systems - Denmark ApS, General Dynamics European Land Systems - Deutschland GmbH, General Dynamics European Land Systems - FWW GmbH, General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag GmbH, General Dynamics European Land Systems Romania S.R.L., General Dynamics European Land Systems S.L., General Dynamics Global Force LLC, General Dynamics Global Holdings Limited, General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies Inc., General Dynamics Government Satellite Services LLC, General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Government Systems Overseas Corporation, General Dynamics Information Technology Canada Limited, General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., General Dynamics Information Technology Limited, General Dynamics Installation Services LLC, General Dynamics International Corporation, General Dynamics Itronix LLC, General Dynamics Land Systems - Australia Pty. Ltd., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada Services Inc., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canadian Services Limited, General Dynamics Land Systems - Force Protection Inc., General Dynamics Land Systems Customer Service & Support Company, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., General Dynamics Limited, General Dynamics Marine Systems Inc., General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc., General Dynamics Mission Systems International Limited, General Dynamics Mission Systems Overseas Company LLC, General Dynamics Motion Control LLC, General Dynamics OTS (Aerospace) Inc., General Dynamics OTS (California) Inc., General Dynamics OTS (DRI) Inc., General Dynamics OTS (Niceville) Inc., General Dynamics OTS (Pennsylvania) Inc., General Dynamics One Source LLC, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada Inc., General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada Valleyfield Inc., General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Simunition Operations Inc., General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., General Dynamics Overseas Systems and Services Corporation, General Dynamics Properties Inc., General Dynamics Robotic Systems Inc., General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies Inc., General Dynamics Satcom Technologies Asia Private Limited, General Dynamics Satellite Communication Services LLC, General Dynamics Saudi Holdings S.L., General Dynamics Shared Resources LLC, General Dynamics Support Services Company, General Dynamics Swiss Financial Management Limited, General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited, General Dynamics Worldwide Holdings Inc., General Dynamics-OTS Inc., General Motors Defense, Gulfstream 100 Holdings LLC, Gulfstream Aerospace, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (CA), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (DE), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (GA), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (OK), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of Texas, Gulfstream Aerospace Hong Kong Limited, Gulfstream Aerospace LLC, Gulfstream Aerospace LP, Gulfstream Aerospace Ltd., Gulfstream Aerospace Services Corporation, Gulfstream Aerospace Sociedad de Responssabilidad Limitada de CapitalVariable (S. de R.L. de C.V.), Gulfstream Do Brasil Servicos De Suporte E Manutencao A Aeronaves Ltda., Gulfstream International Corporation, Gulfstream Leasing LLC, Gulfstream Product Support Corporation, Gulfstream Services Corporation, Gulfstream Tennessee Corporation, Gulfstream-California Inc., Hawker Pacific (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Hawker Pacific Aircraft Management Pte Ltd, Hawker Pacific Airservices Limited, Hawker Pacific Airservices Pvt Ltd, Hawker Pacific Asia Holdings Pte Ltd, Hawker Pacific Asia Pte Ltd, Hawker Pacific Australia Pty Ltd, Hawker Pacific Aviation Services Pty Ltd, Hawker Pacific NZ Limited, Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd, IPWireless, IPWireless PTE. Limited, Information Services Consulting Limited, Interiores Aereos S.A. de C.V., International Manufacturing Technologies Inc., Itronix, Janteq Australia PTY Limited, Janteq Corp., Jet Aviation, Jet Aviation (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd., Jet Aviation (Bermuda) Ltd., Jet Aviation (Hong Kong) Ltd., Jet Aviation (Malaysia) SDN BHD, Jet Aviation 125 Services LLC, Jet Aviation AG, Jet Aviation Brazil Holdings Inc., Jet Aviation Business Jets (Hong Kong) Limited, Jet Aviation Business Jets AG, Jet Aviation Business Jets FZCO, Jet Aviation California LLC, Jet Aviation Dulles LLC, Jet Aviation Flight Services Inc., Jet Aviation France SAS, Jet Aviation Holding GmbH, Jet Aviation Holdings USA Inc., Jet Aviation Houston Inc., Jet Aviation International Inc., Jet Aviation Malaga SA, Jet Aviation Management AG, Jet Aviation Netherlands B.V., Jet Aviation Savannah Holding LLC, Jet Aviation Services GmbH, Jet Aviation St. Louis Inc., Jet Aviation Teterboro LP, Jet Aviation Texas Inc., Jet Aviation of America Inc., Jet Aviation/Palm Beach Inc., Jet Professionals LLC, Kylmar, Longreach Energy LLC, MAYA Viz, Maricom Systems Incorporated, Material Service Resources Company LLC, Matthews Land Company, Mediaware International, Mediaware International Pty Ltd, Metro Machine, Metro Machine co, Midwest Properties Sales LLC, NASSCO, NASSCO Holdings Incorporated, NES Associates LLC, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, Network Connectivity Solutions Corp., Newberry Holdings LLC, OOO Jet Aviation Vnukovo, Open Kernel Labs, Page Europa Srl, Patriot I Shipping Corp., Patriot II Shipping Corp., Patriot IV Shipping Corp., Plane 79 LLC, Praxis Engineering Technologies LLC, PrimeX Technologies, Prodelin India Private Limited, Proyectos Prohumane Mexico S.A. de C.V., Quincy Maritime Corporation III, Raven Acquisitions LLC, SENTECH INC., SRA International Inc., Saco Defense, Santa Barbara Sistemas S.A., Savannah Air Center LLC, Signal Solutions LLC, Southern Illinois Recovery Inc., Spectrum Astro, St. Marks Powder Inc., Stabilo Pty Ltd, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug AG & Co KG, Sydney Jet Charter Pty Ltd, Tadpole Computer, Tecnologias Internacionales de Manufactura S.A. de C.V., Tenacity Solutions Incorporated, The Depth of Ideas for General Trading LLC, TriPoint Global Communications, Vangent, Vangent Servicios de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Veridian, Vertex Antennentechnik GmbH, ViPS, Vulnerability Research Labs LLC, and Weco LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. ITV plc, an integrated producer broadcaster, creates, owns, and distributes content on various platforms worldwide. It operates through Broadcast, and ITV Studios segments. The Broadcast segment broadcasts various contents on its family of free-to-air channels, including ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, ITVBe, ITV Encore, CITV, ITV Breakfast, CITV Breakfast, and various related +1 and HD equivalents; and offers television advertising services. It also delivers content through linear television broadcasting; ITV Hub, an over-the-top service on 28 platforms, including itv.com Website; and pay providers, such as Virgin and Sky, as well as through direct content deals with services comprising Amazon, Apple, and Netflix. In addition, this segment offers online advertising, HD digital channel on pay platform, and ITV Choice subscription services, as well as licenses DTT Multiplex A. The ITV Studios segment creates and produces programs and formats that include drama, entertainment, and factual entertainment for its own channels and other broadcasters, such as the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky. It also operates as an unscripted independent producer of content in the United States; and produces content for local broadcasters in Australia, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. In addition, this segment's distribution business licenses finished programs and formats, and third-party content internationally, as well as finances productions. The company also engages in the development of platform, broadband, transactional, and mobile services; operation of Freeview Multiplex A; rights ownership and distribution of television programs and films; and scheduling and commissioning of television programs. ITV plc was founded in 1955 is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, AppliChem Inc., Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument, Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Cetram Pty Limited, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Densit Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Airport Ground Equipment (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components LLC, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments LLC, ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings LP, ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW International Intellectual Property LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Marking & Coding (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Medical Group de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., ITW haubold Paslode GmbH, Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. 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Ltd., Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company. It provides financial and investment banking services. The firm offers a range of investment banking products and services in all capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, market making in cash securities and derivative instruments, and brokerage and research. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking, Corporate and Investment Bank, Commercial Banking, and Asset and Wealth Management. The Consumer and Community Banking segment serves consumers and businesses through personal service at bank branches and through automated teller machine, online, mobile, and telephone banking. The Corporate and Investment Bank segment offers a suite of investment banking, market-making, prime brokerage, and treasury and securities products and services to a global client base of corporations, investors, financial institutions, government and municipal entities. The Commercial Banking segment delivers services to U.S. and its multinational clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions, and non profit Read More @newsbysmiley @alextdaugherty Maybe Marco Rubio cant win on immigration. Five years ago, as a first-term U.S. senator, the Miami Republican helped carry a doomed immigration overhaul bill and suffered politically as a result. Now, in 2018, hes kept a low profile amid a fever-pitch debate over immigration and its beginning to rankle some of his former political allies in Miami. Rubio is taking heat on the home front for not being out front as Congress works to pass new immigration legislation in time to avoid another government shutdown next month. Business groups and immigration activists such as billionaire Coral Gables healthcare magnate Mike Fernandez are calling the Cuban-American senator out for doing too little to support one of the largest immigrant communities in the country. Fernandez, despite being a former GOP donor, supported Rubios Democratic opponent in 2016. And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday blasted his one-time mentee for lacking the political courage to on a risky issue. God forbid you actually took on something that was controversial and paid a political price, Bush told USA Today. Thats the attitude in D.C. right now. Certainly Sen. Rubio is no different in that regard. Marco is a talented guy and he understands this issue really well, and maybe behind the scenes hes working hard. But at some point, his leadership would be really helpful. Rubios office did not respond to a request for comment. Local leaders, including Miami Dade College President Eduardo Pardon, say they have been contacting Rubios office to talk about immigration. Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Julio Fuentes said Rubios office told him the senator is not the right person to be that champion on immigration after his efforts failed in 2013. Sen. Rubio is so important because of what he represents: His father came here to this country [from Cuba] in the pursuit of the American Dream. This is something that should be near and dear to his heart, said Felice Gorordo, a board member of the bipartisan Immigration Partnership and Coalition (IMPAC) Fund that Fernandez established last year to help pay for the defense of undocumented immigrants. And yet we see him absent in this debate. Rubio has remained in the background as other members of South Floridas delegation, particularly Republican Miami Reps. Carlos Curbelo and Mario-Diaz Balart, have been vocal leaders for immigration legislation. In Diaz-Balarts case, he said he chose to be criticized for staying silent about Trumps reported shithole comments about nations where citizens have temporary protected status in the U.S. in order to preserve his ability to talk immigration. Rubios low profile on the topic comes as a group of senators try to craft an immigration bill that could win some Democratic support in the Senate while remaining conservative enough to win support from the House of Representatives and President Donald Trump. And lately, Rubio has opened up a little about his strategy, telling the Miami Herald Thursday that legislation crafted by a small group of senators in secret has little chance of producing a bill that will pass a conservative, Republican-controlled Congress. I just don't think that you can produce an immigration bill that five, 10, 12 people behind closed doors drafts and then brings to the floor and basically says our job is to pass this bill and fight off everybodys amendments, Rubio said. I dont think that will work. In fact, I think that would implode in the current environment and with the current realities. Read more here. Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Scientists have spent years trying to work out what makes a relationship tick, and what make them work. (Photo: Pixabay) There are certain traits that one looks for in a man, from kindness to intelligence and humility. There are aspects of your personality could be a deal-breaker for someone to fall in love with you. Scientists have spent years trying to work out what makes a relationship tick, and what make them work, and now with advent of dating apps, where everything happens over the swipe of a smart screen. According to a story published in The Independent, here are a few pointers which might tell you whether your man is worth holding on to. Hes smart: 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. He makes you laugh: Finding a partner who can make you laugh is of utmost importance. A study using Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices has shown that men are more likely to have mating success if they have a good sense of humour. He actively supports your career: A study conducted at the Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York 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. He makes effort with your friends and family: 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. Hes emotionally intelligent: 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. So if you find a man who does the same, he is a keeper. He respects your opinions and listens: 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. Hes willing to put the work in: 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. He celebrates your achievements: Its important to have a partner who celebrates your achievements. A study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who celebrated each others achievements were more satisfied with their relationships than those who reacted negatively or were indifferent. He shares your values: Having a similar outlook in life could be crucial to a successful relationship, according to a study. The special team had gone to Rajasthan to nab Nathuram and his gang in connection with a burglary in Chennai. CHENNAI: Nathuram Jat, one of the suspects in the murder of inspector Periya Pandian and prime accused in Kolathur burglary case was brought to Chennai and remanded in Puzhal central prison, on Friday. Nathuram Jat had earned notoriety after city police inspector Periya Pandian was killed in Rajasthan last month. Although the police first accused Nathuram of Periya Pandians murder, later it was found that misfire by one of the police officers in the special team proved fatal. The special team had gone to Rajasthan to nab Nathuram and his gang in connection with a burglary in Chennai. According to a police officer, Nathuram is the prime accused in a burglary case registered in November. Meanwhile, Rajasthan police arrested Nathuram and his aides Dinesh Choudhury and Buddaram recently. Chennai police had taken custody of the trio and brought them to the city on early hours of Friday and remanded them in judicial custody. 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. In an act of bravery, a police constable posted in Kushaiguda saved the life of a vegetable vendor during a firing incident on Friday evening. Hyderabad: In an act of bravery, a police constable posted in Kushaiguda saved the life of a vegetable vendor during a firing incident on Friday evening. The incident occurred after a suspect, Gajaraj Singh, 52, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, entered into a fight with one D. Tulasi Babu, 26. Passersby noticed the duo fighting and alerted the police. Gajraj meanwhile pulled out his country-made weapon and aimed at Tulasi Babu. Constable Chakrapani Reddy, who had rushed to the spot by then, swooped and caught Gajraj. Gajraj, who was not prepared for this, fired at Tulasi but missed him. Rachak-onda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat appreciated Chakrapanis effort in saving a life and gave him a cash reward of Rs 10,000. He said that Chakrapani rushed to the spot and found Gajraj aiming his weapon at Tulasi Babu. Gajraj has been detained and the weapon and four live bullets were seized from his possession, the commissioner said, adding that he is booked under charges of attempt to murder and Arms Act. Police said somebody from the crowd dialed 100 at around 6.30 pm to inform cops about a fight at EC Nagar in Cherlapally. The move is believed to be a first in India, where men usually lead the Jumu'ah prayers on Friday. (Photo: YouTube/Screengrab) Malappuram: In a first, a Muslim woman Imam led the Friday prayers in Kerala's Malappuram district. 34-year-old Jamida Teacher, state general secretary of Quran Sunnat Society led the Jumu'ah prayers at the society headquarters at Cherukode in Malappuram district. The move is believed to be a first in India, where men usually lead the Jumu'ah prayers on Friday. Jamida Teacher said the move would not be tolerated by some men who do not want women taking over such positions and being empowered. "I have been criticised a lot by elders of various factions for taking this step. There are men who will not like women taking these positions and being empowered. But the Quran is clear - there is no discrimination between man and woman. They have equal rights," Imam Jamida Teacher told NDTV. Jamida said there was no discrimination in any of these religious acts according to Quran. The discrimination was introduced by male Muslim scholars, Jamida was quoted as saying by News18. The journey till Friday hasn't been easy for Jamida. She was boycotted by some people in Thiruvanthapuram years back, and was also given death threats for the questioning the practices in Islam. She was forced to leave the city in 2016 and take shelter at a relative's place. It was the Quran Sunnat Society which accepted her and welcomed her. Quran Sunnat Society believed that Islam was not owned by men and that men and women had equal rights to the religion according to the Quran. Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed all speculation that his government was planning another bandh on Sunday to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state. The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters after flagging off the mobile Indira Canteens here on Friday. Our party is not so petty minded as to obstruct the Prime Minister's function. Politically, we need to respect even the opposition's voice. But we will not respect the lies told by them, he asserted, clearly referring to the Bharatiya Janata Partys allegation that the bandh over the Mahadayi dispute was stage managed by the Congress government to steal the thunder from its party president, Amit Shahs visit to Karnataka on Thursday. Reacting sharply to Mr Shahs statement in Mysuru that the Bharatiya Janata Party would release a chargesheet against him, Mr Siddaramaiah contended that both he and state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa were former jail birds, who people did not trust. I should have committed some offense for a chargesheet to be filed against me. Mr Yeddyurappa has been singing the same tune. But no snake has come out of his basket. The people of Karnataka have appreciated my good work during a recent opinion poll. As a matter of fact, law and order collapsed in BJP-ruled states during release of Padmaavat. Instead of comforting the victims of the violence in these states, Mr Shah came to Mysuru to tell lies to the people of Karnataka. If he goes on telling lies, will people not be angry with him as he is from Gujarat and I am from their state? he demanded. As for the government withdrawing cases booked against people of the minority communities during the recent communal riots, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the state government was also planning to drop cases against pro-Kannada activists, farmers and others. In what comes as a surprising news, popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has been sued by Coolpad for infringing on their patents. Coolpad has demanded to halt the production for all those Xiaomi products that are developed using Coolpads patents. According to a report form ITHome, Xiaomi has developed products and sold them in the market illegally infringing on Coolpads various patents. The patent infringement relates to app icon management, notifications and system UI on Xiaomi products that Coolpad had originally developed. The company has also demanded Xiaomi to pay for all the losses that Coolpad has faced because of this infringement. The case hasnt been heard yet but Coolpad says that they are actively looking to recover losses from the patent infringements that Xiaomi did; they have also demanded to compensate for the legal fees and all other related financial loses. Clearly, the patent infringement relates to Xiaomis MIUI OS that is used on a majority of their smartphones and tablets. MIUI is based on Googles latest version of Android and a new version of their proprietary OS is rolled out every year. The company had not long ago unveiled MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat with improvements in performance and slight UI overhaul. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Washington: Indian American Nikki Haley, the top US diplomat to the UN, has described rumours about her having an affair with President Donald Trump as highly offensive and disgusting. It is absolutely not true, she said, of the allegation made in the controversial book Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff. Haley the first ever In-dian-American Cabinet-ranking official in any presidential administration told Politico in an interview: I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there. He (Wolff) says that Ive been talking a lot with the President in the Oval (office) about my political future. Ive never talked once to the President about my future and I am never alone with him, she said. So, the idea that these things come out, that's a problem, she said expressing her frustration on such rumours. 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, Haley, 46, said during her interview. In politics for over a decade now, the former South Carolina governor said she has faced similar allegations earlier too. 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. And the thing is, when women work, they prioritise, they focus, and they believe if you're gonna do something, do it right, she said. London: A British Sikh girl who converted to Islam as a teenager and tried to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (ISIS) was 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 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. 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. Samras 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. SALT LAKE CITY Salt Lake City lost a force in the dance, theater and arts community when beloved dance instructor Janet Gray passed away Jan. 20, after a long battle with cancer. A 66-year-old dancer, entrepreneur, choreographer, mentor, mother and second mother to thousands of students, Gray wore many hats but primarily owned and artistically directed Janet Gray Studios for 40 years, leaving an immeasurable mark on the community and the lives of those she touched. Its been overwhelming to see all these hundreds and hundreds of letters that keep pouring in, said Janet Gray's son, Josh Gray. Shes touched so many lives. A 'second mom' Janet Gray loved dance from a young age, determined to make it her career, even if her parents didn't approve. My grandparents were terrified back in 78 when she said she wanted to open a dance studio instead of go into psychology, Josh Gray said. They literally cried. They said, People dont need dance. Its not a necessity, but she just hard-nosed it. She found a mentor and teacher in tap legend Eddie Brown, who she met through another well-known name in the tap world, dancer Gregory Hines. As a young dancer training in California in the late 1970s, Janet Gray attended one of Hines' performances, and afterwards, with her typical self-confidence, she walked up to Hines and declared, "I need a tap teacher." He introduced her to Brown, who himself was discovered by tap legend Bill Bojangles Robinson, and the two became friends. She made several trips to California to work with Brown until she finally brought him out to teach a master class to her students. Known for her grit, determination and tough-as-nails expectations for both dance instruction and professional behavior, Janet Gray was often intimidating but for all the right reasons. She really did yell because she cared, said Stephanie Thomas, former student and current faculty member of 29 years. The dance instructor was famous for wearing a bedazzled shirt with the saying, "I Yell Because I Care," as a gentle reminder to her dancers. Were going to frame that and hang it in the studio, Im sure, Thomas said. That toughness is what I fell in love with my first day as a student. If shes not paying attention and youre not getting critiqued, then theres a problem, she said. I loved the challenge of earning her respect. One thing about Janet was she was consistent with her demands, said former student Jenny Barlow. A lot of people are afraid of that, but I thrive under that kind of pressure. Barlow went on to dance professionally with Ballet West, Guangzho Ballet in China and became a Radio City Rockette. Now back in Salt Lake City, Barlow choreographs locally. She produced wonderful students and dancers," Barlow said. "I can always tell when I teach dance combinations during auditions which students were Janets especially if its a tap sequence. But for every pirouette, split leap and shuffle-ball-change coming out of Janet Grays studio, youre just as likely to see many 4.0 students, college graduates and students with perfect attendance. Most dancers are not going to dance professionally, Thomas said. But Janet knew dance was a vehicle to learn loyalty, commitment, hard work and determination. Janet knew that the people who get the jobs any job are the ones who show up on time, work hard, are kind and respectful. Youll see on Facebook everyone called her a second mom and thats really true, Thomas continued. She emphasized education; all of us faculty members have college degrees. She was very protective of her students she wanted to meet who they were dating. Shed say, A man is not a retirement plan, make sure youve got your own path. She wanted them to achieve their full potential. A dance family That potential was often a nudge from Janet Gray towards an audition, tackling choreography and helping many students conquer fears. When she told me I should audition for Cats, I didnt sleep! I was terrified. But she knew I could do it, Thomas said. Janet kept up on all of her students, Thomas said. She was the embodiment of service. At the pinnacle of her career, when she was so busy, Id see these amazing moments where she was doing something for one of her students visiting them at the hospital, seeing their shows, taking kids on a road trip. Its extraordinary how shed reach out and made sure their personal life was going well. Those students were her family, Josh Gray said. She supported them. She followed through, and it was really important to her. I want people to know how hard she worked. She was a single mom, and she did all this without any help, Josh Gray said. We ate boiled chicken and frozen peas, and we were totally fine. But she had two others jobs teaching at the University of Utah and the Interlochen Arts Academy and none of it was easy. She was so smart about her studio. She so aggressively paid off the land and the lease that we have no overhead. Shes created such a stable foundation that well be here for decades. Janet Gray left the studio to her son who also runs two of his own companies, including an animatronic robotics company. Im a little bit removed because Im not a dancer, he said. But I grew up in the studio. Ive been around my dance my whole life. Every time the studio has been remodeled or upgraded, Ive been a part of it. I know the bones and the core. And I still feel her presence in there. Josh Gray, along with the studio faculty, plans to stay the course keeping his moms vision for quality, tastefulness, professionalism and classical training. There are no immediate plans for a service, but Josh Gray encourages friends and students to leave messages on his moms Facebook page. We will likely have some type of gathering in the spring," Josh Gray said. "But its business as usual. Can you imagine the specific yelling Id get if we didnt keep going? The studio is important, and we havent skipped a beat. She called me the Silverback, Josh Gray added. Its my job now to protect Janet Gray Studios. Her last gift to me was a stainless steel travel mug with a silverback etched in JGS Protector. Im honored, and now in the studio we ask ourselves, What Would Janet Gray Do? And thats what were going to do. SALT LAKE CITY Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable leaders adopted a new approach this year when planning their annual interfaith month. Rather than worry about the amount of events offered, they stayed focused on a key message: Faith inspires service to others. This shift produced an event lineup that's shorter than last year's, but no less meaningful, said Janet Healy, chair of the roundtable's planning committee. Participants will discover how religiously motivated generosity makes Utah a better place. "So many services are being provided to the community that we don't know about. This is an opportunity to learn," she said. At the Generosity of Faith Fair on Feb. 19, attendees will meet with leaders of local service organizations and faith communities. They'll also hear a discussion of religious teachings that call for caring for the underprivileged. Later that week, Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable has arranged for a group service project at UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Both events are family-friendly and meant to nurture a lifelong interest in lending a helping hand. These are two of the handful of events bringing a generous spirit to Interfaith Month 2018, Healy said, noting that this year's focus on giving still allows religious diversity to shine. Religion and generosity In surveys and other research, people of faith stand out from other Americans for their willingness to help people in need. Religion promotes generosity in many forms, including donations of money and time. "Charitable effort correlates strongly with the frequency with which a person attends religious services," reports "The Almanac of American Philanthropy," published in 2016. In Utah, faith-based service organizations and houses of worship lead clothing drives, distribute food and help settle new immigrants and refugees. Interfaith Month's Generosity of Faith Fair is designed to celebrate this work, Healy said. "We're getting congregations together to showcase what services they offer," she said. So far, nearly 20 groups will be represented at the fair, such as Catholic Community Services of Utah, the Sikh Temple of Utah and Calvary Baptist Church. Organization or church leaders will be on hand to discuss recent outreach programs and explain how their faith inspires their service. The event on Feb. 19 starts with a panel discussion at 4 p.m. and then transitions to an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to support Hildegard's Food Pantry, a service run by the Cathedral Church of St. Mark. Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable's young adult members will set the tone for the fair earlier in the month when they lead a conversation on "the generosity of time." The goal is to reflect on how faith affects people's relationship to their daily schedule, pulling them toward one activity or another. Although not every faith-based service organization will be on display during Interfaith Month 2018, attendees will have a chance to discuss their own religious communities in conversations with other participants, said Josie Stone, chair of Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable. "We can promote our own faith out in the community by going to other houses of worship. It creates an opportunity to talk," she said. Additional events Although Interfaith Month 2018 features fewer events than last year, the schedule still includes offerings from a variety of faiths. Participants can visit a local Hindu temple or attend a discussion on the similarities between the teachings of Islam and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The annual interfaith bus tour will take place Feb. 27 and includes presentations at Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, which is a Jewish synagogue, and the Islamic Society of Bosniaks in Utah, a mosque that got a makeover in 2016. This tour, like the month in general, was designed to push members of Utah's majority Christian population to explore something new, Healy said. "It's an opportunity to hear presentations and get out of your bubble," she said. For non-Christians hosting open houses, Interfaith Month is a chance to form new friendships with neighbors, said Prit Palsingh, a member of the Sikh Temple of Utah. Members of minority faiths are sometimes met with suspicion or fear, he said, noting that upcoming events are a reminder that "curiosity is better." Following tradition, Interfaith Month 2018 will conclude with an interfaith concert at the Tabernacle on Temple Square on March 18. Performers from a variety of local faith communities will sing, dance and drum, celebrating the role music plays in religious practice. Interfaith Month 2018 begins Feb. 3. For a full calendar of events, visit interfaithroundtable.org. If you go ... Here are several Interfaith Month events. For updates and additional information, see interfaithroundtable.org. "Two Faiths, One Common Base: LDS & Islam" by George Cannon and Ayse Durmus, Feb. 3, 3-5 p.m., Salt Lake Main Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South Aristides de Sousa Mendes: the Portuguese Schindler,Feb 4, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Congregation Kol Ami, 2425 E. Heritage Way Salt Lake Interfaith Rountable Young Adults: Generosity of Time, Feb 10, 4-6 p.m., Church & State, 370 S. 300 East Generosity of Faith Fair, Feb. 19, 4-7 p.m., panel at 4 p.m., fair at 5 p.m., 332 Bugatti Ave., South Salt Lake Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple, Feb. 22, 6-8 p.m., 1142 W. So. Jordan Parkway, South Jordan United Methodist Committee on Relief Generosity of Service Project, Feb 23, 9 a.m.4 p.m., 1479 S. 700 West Heritage Musical, Feb. 25, 5 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 S. State St. Interfaith Bus Tour, Chabad Lubavitch of Utah (Jewish) and Islamic Bosnian Mosque, Feb 27, 6-9 p.m., Park at Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, 1760 S. 1100 East; reservations are required Sacred Music Evening, March 18, 6 p.m., Tabernacle on Temple Square, tickets are free and required SALT LAKE CITY The last phone call Hannah Warburton ever made went unanswered. The 16-year-old Weber High School student took her life shortly after not being able to get through to her psychologist in 2014. Recovering from the effects of a car accident the year before, the severe emotional stress began to take a toll on her, even though she was receiving neuropsychiatric and physical therapy. Utah lawmakers want to ensure that calls for help never go unanswered, specifically when it comes to the 20 suicide prevention hotlines around the state, only one of which was found to be staffed by trained crisis intervention workers 24/7, 365 days a year. Crisis lines receive about 10,000 calls a year in the state. "Can you imagine if you called 911 and received voice mail or a busy signal or a router to a phone tree?" asked Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy. After hearing emotional and personal stories from several lawmakers, the Utah House on Friday unanimously passed Eliason's bill requiring crisis lines in the state to be available at all hours of the day year-round or have the capacity to roll over to other lines. HB41 also calls for $2.3 million in ongoing funding for the crisis lines. Eliason said he's "optimistic" that the Legislature would allocate the money. The bill now goes to the Senate. Hannah Warburton's mother, Laura Warburton, said she was "so thrilled and I'm so grateful" for the House passing what Eliason calls "Hannah's Bill." "She was an amazing girl, and she had one too many concussions, and the last concussion she got they didn't even catch until it was too late," said Warburton, who the House honored for her tireless work on suicide prevention and anti-bullying legislation. "She was one strong girl. She was almost a black belt. She hated to lose when she fought. She was tough. She was beautiful and tough, so the idea that only the weak take their own lives is absolutely not true," Warburton said. During discussion of the bill, Rep. Susan Duckworth, D-Magna, shed tears talking about her own struggles with suicidal thoughts. Counseling and therapy, she said, helped her enjoy life again. "Don't judge," she said. "Please, please watch and listen to those you love." Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, said people need to be "hypervigilant" and not be afraid to ask someone if they're thinking about suicide and what plans they have. "It's easy to be disconnected as families," she said. Suicide is the leading cause of death of among young people in Utah. The majority of victims shot themselves with guns that were not properly stored, Eliason said. Earlier this month, Gov. Gary Herbert appointed a group of business, religious education and health care leaders to work with the Suicide Prevention Coalition to see what can be done to better prevent suicide in Utah. He charged them with bringing him a plan by Feb. 15 that he can take to the Legislature. In his State of the State speech Wednesday, Herbert promised to find solutions this legislative session. He said far too many young people experience discouragement and hopelessness so severely that they consider taking their own lives. "The fact that any of them actually do this is tragic beyond words," the governor said. The House also passed HB42 calling for the Utah Department of Health to seek a federal waiver allowing counties to use Medicaid funds for a mobile crisis outreach team made up of mental health and medical professionals. Eliason described the team as a "mental health ambulance" that goes to the house of a person in crisis to determine how to help, refer them for treatment or arrange for a ride to the hospital. The service is currently only available in Salt Lake County. Rural counties where mental health resources are more scarce would benefit from a outreach team, he said. It was Tuesday afternoon, and I was completing a 6-mile run after what was a difficult day. Just the evening before, there was a shooting a block away from my home where two men exchanged gunfire. In an altercation that is still being investigated, 15 to 20 gunshots were exchanged, with both men being sent to the hospital with serious injuries. As a new member of the community, having only lived here a couple of months, I worried about where we lived. I feared for the safety of my family. I thought back to earlier in the day when I had found out about the shooting. My eighth-grade son texted me from school, telling me what had happened. And, sure enough, when I went to the local news site, there it was: a picture of my neighborhood, front and center as the top news story. As I picked him up from the junior high and my other kids from the elementary school, I decided to walk rather than drive because the street from the junior high to the elementary is where the shooting took place. I wanted my children to walk past where the altercation happened so they could see and feel the devastation, but also so they could see and feel that, just hours afterward, everything was OK. I wanted to replace their fear with love. As we walked, we talked about how sad things happen in happy places, and our neighborhood had brought our family so much happiness. After our walk, we went to our favorite trampoline place and out for ice cream. I felt I had handled the situation the best I could, but as I neared the end of my run, I was feeling uneasy myself. Were we really safe? Did we choose the right place to move our family? Rather than continuing straight home, I decided to turn down the street past the school where the shooting took place. As I did, I noticed a car stopped in front of the house where the altercation began, which by this time had orange police paint marking where each bullet had been. As I looked at the car, I noticed a kind older woman from my block. In fact, she was the first person to welcome us to the neighborhood with a warm plate of dinner from the church Christmas party. I wanted to wave to catch her attention, but I noticed a somber look on her face. Rather than getting out of the car right away, she sat in a thoughtful, almost prayerlike way, motionless for several seconds. I passed her car without saying a word or giving a wave, but, as I turned the corner, I looked over my shoulder to see that she was walking toward the doorstep, carrying a gift for the family. As I returned home, all fear left me, and I was filled with love love for the families of both men involved and love for my own family. More than that, at that very moment, I was filled with love, gratitude and hope for the people and community of Payson, Utah. And I'm proud to call this town my home. Arianne Brown is a mother of eight who loves hearing and sharing stories. For more of her writings, search A Mothers Write on Facebook. She can be contacted at ariannebrown1@gmail.com. Twitter: A_Mothers_Write Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. Google on Thursday announced a new feature that will let users mute so-called "reminder ads" in third-party apps and websites that are powered by its ad engine. It plans to expand this feature to its own services, including Gmail, YouTube and Google Search, in the coming months. The new tool is the latest addition to Google's dashboard for ad controls, first launched as Ads Preferences Manager back in 2009. The addition of Ad Settings and Mute This Ad will allow users essentially to block certain ads on Google, on websites and in apps. This new capability is meant to address a common experience after users have viewed products on some e-commerce sites. Even after having purchased a similar or even identical product on another site, users often receive reminder ads based on their past browsing activity. Now users will be able to mute those ads across devices, so that blocking an ad on a smartphone, for example, will result in blocking it on all other devices tied to their accounts. How to Mute To mute an ad, users need only pull up the Ads Settings dashboard on Google and scroll down to Your Reminder Ads. From there, a simple click is all it takes to stop an ad from appearing. Muted ads will not appear again for at least 90 days. However, this feature currently works only on non-Google websites -- and if a site is serving ads that aren't controlled by Google, using the mute option will have no effect. "Google is taking brave steps into the politics of advertising these days," said Josh Crandall, principal analyst at Netpop Research "They are releasing their Chrome based Adblock Plus and now have announced ad controls," he told the E-Commerce Times. "On the surface these moves might be seen as contradictory with their business model, but Google is slowly changing the rules to protect the long-term strength of online advertising," added Crandall. The ad mute function is just a tweak to Google's longstanding policy, suggested Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research. "Google had already let consumers block specific ads," he explained. "The new features give consumers more control over what types of ads they see, let consumers block specific advertisers, and implement these features across devices and platforms," Teich told the E-Commerce Times. "So, consumer ad preferences will follow them from PC to smartphone to smart speakers, smart TVs, etc.," he added. "The cross-platform bit is key, because consumer preferences are now stored in Google's cloud." Win-Win Proposition It would seem that users will benefit from this change, but Google wouldn't be making it if it were not beneficial to its ad business. Users may be able to mute reminder ads, but that won't make advertising go away. "Any time users can signal their interests in what they want to see, and what they don't, it is beneficial to the ad industry," noted Netpop's Crandall. "It means Google will find it easier to track individual preferences and correlate preferences across vast numbers of consumers." This will give Google better insights into their ad customers' company and product brand perception, as well as advertising strategy effectiveness Tirias' Teich observed. "All of this will help advertisers and publishers increase ad effectiveness, while Google's advertising supply chain will get better at reaching individual consumers with ads for brands and products they are more likely to relate to and click-through," he said. For Google, more relevant and contextual advertising ultimately could result in a higher yield. "Users who take control of what makes it to their screens are more likely to be interested in the messages that are presented to them," said Crandall. "The relationship between user and advertiser will evolve over time from one that sees advertising as a necessary evil to another way of perceiving advertising messages as a valuable component of the online experience." Peter Suciu has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2012. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile phones, displays, streaming media, pay TV and autonomous vehicles. He has written and edited for numerous publications and websites, including Newsweek, Wired and FoxNews.com. Email Peter. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. A renowned Linux innovator has developed a new mobile operating system, called "Project eelo," in an effort to provide a level of data privacy that traditional Android and iOS devices fail to offer. The new eelo system will allow mobile phone users to regain control over their personal information at a price they can afford, said Gael Duval, who created Mandrake Linux back in 1998. Apple has become too expensive, too boring and is "going crazy with its products," he said, while Google has "become too big" and is capturing too much information about what we do. "They want to know us as much as possible to sell advertising," Duval wrote in a post introducing eelo's Kickstarter campaign, which has more than doubled its goal with 14 days remaining. "People are free to do what they want," Duval wrote. "They can choose to be voluntary slaves. "But I do not want this situation for me anymore." After deciding to leave Google and Apple for eelo, Duval received more than 6,000 reads from a couple of articles he posted detailing his plans, he told LinuxInsider. The eelo project on Kickstarter reached more than 200 percent of goal after only 15 days. More than 2,000 people have registered at eelo.io since December 20 in response to his posted updates, Duval added. eelo's Lineage The new eelo project is a fork of the LineageOS, which is an open source system that runs mainstream Android applications. Open source modules are layered on top of that, which help create a consistent mobile and Web system, Duval said. The project, which calls for the developers to sell preloaded eelo smartphones and provide some premium services, will run as a nonprofit. As a community project, it will welcome contributors. The developers will release privacy-enabled smartphone ROMs, as well as smartphones for ordinary users, with associated Web services. They have been testing custom builds of LineageOS/eelo on the LeEcho Le2 -- a 5.5-inch smartphone with a 1080 x 1920 pixel screen, 3G RAM, 32 GB storage, a finger sensor on the back and a 4K camera -- for about Pounds130, and on a Xiaomi Mi5S. The developers plan to have downloadable ROMs for a range of devices by 2018, Duval said, as well as a limited number of post-market Flashed devices. He also plans to discuss partnerships with Fairphone, Essential phone or similar devices, and plans to industrialize the phone by 2019. Privacy Tradeoffs Many consumers have expressed a desire for greater control over their experience with mobile devices, but there has to be a balance between the value proposition and customers' willingness to share on a personal level. "Information is currency, and people are going to want more control over who has information on their behaviors and habits on a mobile device," said Ryan Spanier, director of research at Kudelski Security. "Eelo is focused on maintaining privacy," he told LinuxInsider, "preventing tracking and monetization of your actions without your consent." There is growing consumer interest in a potentially less-intrusive operating system for mobile devices, but the task of establishing one in the market is daunting, said independent analyst Jeff Kagan. Though there have been some prior efforts, no alternative mobile OS has been able to compete with iOS and Android, he told LinuxInsider. Even if privacy is a concern, the majority of consumers don't understand the relationship between privacy and the mechanics of their personal technology well enough to persuade them to make the shift to eelo, suggested Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research. "Success will be made on social media stickiness and whether enough consumers or organizations think they can get 'more privacy' -- whatever that means to them -- than stock Google Android or Apple iOS products," he told LinuxInsider. Developing leading products like the iPhone and other devices involves the willingness to make tradeoffs, noted Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen. Companies must invest substantial resources to make their products appeal to the specific needs of their customers, he told LinuxInsider. "Google spends a lot of time and effort to make [products] easy to use," Nguyen said, "to keep you within their ecosystem." David Jones is a freelance writer based in Essex County, New Jersey. He has written for Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. By Araz Hachadourian When Chinyere Oteh welcomed her first child in 2009, she found herself in a predicament familiar to many new stay-at-home mothers: Stress was high, but money and time were short. "I thought to myself, I can't be the only person trying to figure out how to have a healthy family life as well as make ends meet," Oteh said. That's when she remembered an article she had read on time-banking. Time-banking is a model for trading skills, goods and labor instead of moneya sort of barter system where members "deposit" hours doing things like teaching, cooking or repairing things, and "withdraw" hours of other members' services. It's been around in the U.S. since the 1980s, and there are close to 500 such banks across the country today. Oteh started small in 2010. She invited 10 friends in St. Louis to meet and gauge whether there was enough interest to start exchanging. Those who liked the idea invited more friends, and the group quickly grew to 25 people swapping things like lawn-mowing (Oteh's first ask) for casseroles, mural-painting for help with cleaning. The goal was to improve their quality of life and show that neighbors can meet some needs without moneyand that everyone has something to offer. Oteh named the group Cowry Collective after the cowry shells once used as currency in Africa, China and North America (and a throwback to her own West African and Ojibwe heritage). Each hour earned and exchanged is a "cowry": You can use one cowry to get an hour of service from anyone else in the time bank. The collective has 236 members, and more than 2,000 cowries have been exchanged (though Oteh estimates many more hours have gone unlogged). Mary Densmore has been a member for three years and relies on other members to help farm her two small plots of urban land. Over the years, she's exchanged services such as bike repairs and beekeeping lessons, but these days she usually sends helpers home with fresh food. Cowry Collective has helped her connect with new people and even changed the way she thinks. "Often I'm [thinking], How much money am I making? That's real, because I have bills to pay," Densmore said. "But it's not really about moneyit's cool to be able to produce something that is able to help me meet my needs." Reposted with permission from our media associate YES! Magazine. Manx Gov U Turn after Scottish Revolt over Fishing Rules The Manx Government has made an embarrassing U-turn over proposed rules on fishing in Manx waters. More changes to how fishing vessels report king scallop catches are coming in from Monday. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has announced it's scrapping the requirement for vessels to report to a Manx port for catch inspection - a measure which was brought in earlier this month. It comes after the Scottish Government threatened action under dispute resolution procedures. Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, held talks with the Island's Chief Minister Howard Quayle and said that Scotland would oppose the new rules. DEFA had brought in measures forcing vessels to report their catches at a Manx Port - a move the Scottish Government said was too onerous. Fisheries Officials are warning that any skipper or vessel owner who is found to underreport their catch, will have their licences suspended. Minister Geoffrey Boot hopes skippers will take their obligation to accurately record their catch more seriously knowing they could lose access to Manx waters. DEFA will also consider suspending licences for other breaches of regulations. An award-winning team of researchers at the University of Arizona and partnering universities is working to develop buildings that will not collapse under the force of major earthquakes, such as last year's 7.1-magnitude quake in central Mexico and 7.3-magnitude quake near the Iran-Iraq border. The two earthquakes were the deadliest of 2017, killing approximately 900 people combined, flattening hundreds of buildings and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. The UA-led research team is turning its attention from vertical to horizontal transfer of forces by examining a less-explored, but critically important, piece of the seismic puzzle: steel collectors. These reinforcements in concrete floor slabs, or in special beams below them, are responsible for horizontally transferring earthquake forces. Downward Path for Seismic Energy Research into seismic building safety has traditionally focused on walls and braces, which form a downward load path to transfer seismic forces through a building's foundation and into the ground. "You can't out-strength an earthquake, so you actually put fuses -- the equivalent of a fuse in your fuse box, a structural fuse -- in your frame or wall," explained Robert Fleischman, UA professor of civil engineering and engineering mechanics, and principal investigator for the project. The network of structural fuses is responsible for vertical force transfer. But, as anyone who's ever stood in the middle of a room during an earthquake knows, the frames and walls of a building aren't the only parts of a building affected by seismic forces: the floor is also affected. Forces cannot be transferred vertically from walls and braces to the earth unless the steel collectors first transfer those forces horizontally from the floor to the fuses in the walls and braces. "It would be like if you live a mile from the train station and your train is on time, but you hadn't scheduled a cab to get you to the train station," Fleischman said. "It doesn't matter that the train is going to get there on time - you're going to miss the train." Power Trio Is Perfect Mix for Project This is the third collaboration for the University of Arizona, Lehigh University and the University of California, San Diego. The first project, which was completed in 2010, won multiple awards for its development of safe designs for floor diaphragms in precast concrete buildings, and it led to changes in the federal building code. The second project examined how to connect floors and walls in a way that lets them separate slightly during an earthquake -- "to kind of do a dance," Fleischman said -- rather than build up large forces. The research resulted in a new method for designing earthquake-resistant buildings. Chia-Ming Uang of UCSD and James Ricles and Richard Sause of Lehigh are co-PIs on the project, "Advancing Knowledge on the Performance of Seismic Collectors in Steel Building Structures." The multi-university team was awarded a National Science Foundation grant of approximately $800,000 in August 2017 to fund the research. Preparing for the Big Shake Test There's a reason the three universities have continued working together. Lehigh has the largest structures lab in the United States, and UCSD is home to an outdoor shake table, the nation's largest. The shake table, with a movable platform driven by pressurized oil, simulates earthquake conditions on structures. But running a test on a shake platform costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's impractical to simply build a structure on the shake table and see what happens. Instead, UA researchers, including structural engineering students, run computer simulations to develop the best possible model for the actual shake table test. This provides trial-and-error benefits without the cost of testing physical structures. "Every day, our students can do a quarter-of-a-million-dollar test," Fleischman said. "Arizona is leading it. We are making the decisions on scope, we are driving the main intellectual thrust, and we are doing the computer simulations." The shake table test will either confirm the validity of researchers' models or help the team calibrate future models. When computer simulations match results of shake table tests, industry leaders become more confident in models as a source of data for building safer structures. Student Simulations Key to Success Doctoral student Anshul Agarwal said he runs up to 50 simulations in a day, adjusting variables such as building height, foundation shape and beam size to create a structure where collectors can do their job most effectively. Undergraduate engineering students Yen Do, Gilberto Duran and Joseph Moya are set to join the team as undergraduate researchers soon as well. Added master's student Daniel Lizarraga, who worked on the project with the "dancing" floors and walls during his undergrad years at the UA, "When there's an earthquake, you have these systems that are designed to resist the lateral forces. The steel collector has to be strong enough to transfer those forces to these systems." Agarwal completed his undergraduate degree in India. In 2001, the Bhuj earthquake hit, killing more than 20,000 people and destroying approximately 339,000 buildings. Seeing the aftermath of the tragedy inspired him to come to the UA to study structural engineering. Aside from gaining experience with high-end computer software, students working on the project have had opportunities to travel and meet with leading earthquake engineers, design consultants and steel industry representatives. Their research isn't confined to the theoretical or the abstract. In fact, they hope to see the same successes as past UA/UCSD/Lehigh collaborations, which have led to improved building code. "I am really proud to be working on this project, because we are not just doing something that is going to be our thesis or papers," Agarwal said. "This is something that will make people's lives better." ### January 26, 2018 - A report of two young children with burns of the esophagus caused by swallowed button batteries from "fidget spinners" highlights a risk of severe injuries involving these popular toys, according to a series of reports in the January/February Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN). Official journal of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, JPGN is published by Wolters Kluwer. The reports add to previous safety hazards from fidget spinners, especially in the hands of toddlers and preschoolers. In an accompanying editorial, Drs. Athos Bousvaros and Paul Rufo of Boston Children's Hospital write, "Having an unlabeled button battery in a toy or product that children can handle and break poses a potential danger to children." Swallowed Batteries from Fad Toy Lead to Internal Burns Fidget spinners are a simple but popular toy, consisting of a plastic piece that easily spins around a central bearing. Fidget spinners are sometimes marketed as anxiety-reducing devices for people with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, although those claims have not been researched. Amid last year's fidget spinner fad, reports of young children swallowing fidget spinner parts have appeared. Some but not all fidget spinners have batteries, enabling lights to shine when the toy is spinning. One of the new articles reports on two children--a three-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl--with severe esophageal injuries caused by swallowed lithium batteries from fidget spinners. The lead authors were Dr. Racha Khalaf of Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, and Dr. Yoseph Gurevich of Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y. One child swallowed the central disk cap of a broken fidget spinner, including a small button battery, while the other swallowed a battery released from a damaged disk. When batteries come into contact with body fluids, they can cause severe burns in a short time. In the hospital, both children were found to have deep burns of the esophagus. One child required emergency endoscopy to remove an impacted piece of the broken toy, including a one-inch button battery. He remained in the hospital for nearly three weeks due to concern about a possible fistula (connection) between the esophagus and aorta--a life-threatening complication that may develop days to weeks after the battery is removed. (The National Capital Poison Center has more information on the devastating injuries caused by swallowed batteries.) Two other JPGN reports describe injuries in children who swallowed broken fidget spinner parts, but not batteries. In both cases, the objects were removed from the esophagus by emergency endoscopy, following NASPGHAN guidelines for swallowed objects (PDF link). Swallowed fidget spinner discs "should be presumed to contain a button battery until proven otherwise," Drs. Gurevich and Khalaf and colleagues note. Button batteries are present in a wide range of household devices, including cameras, watches, and remote controls. While batteries in children's toys are usually well-secured, this may not be the case in devices not specifically designed for children. Drs. Bousvaros and Rufo encourage pediatricians to report swallowed button batteries to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has already recognized this along with other potential hazards of fidget spinners. The editorial authors note that NASPGHAN's advocacy efforts were instrumental in prompting regulatory action in response to swallowing hazards posed by high-powered magnets a few years ago. ### Click here to read "Button Battery Powered Fidget Spinners: A Potentially Deadly New Ingestion Hazard for Children." DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001892 Click here to read "Fidget Spinner Ingestion." DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001893 Click here to read "Commentary: Button Batteries in Fidget Spinners Is It Time to Push the "Panic Button"?" DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001891 About The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition provides a forum for original papers and reviews dealing with pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, including normal and abnormal functions of the alimentary tract and its associated organs, including the salivary glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. Particular emphasis is on development and its relation to infant and childhood nutrition. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of information and point of care solutions for the healthcare industry. For more information about our products and the organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com/, follow @WKHealth or @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn, or follow WoltersKluwerComms on YouTube. For more information about Wolters Kluwer's solutions and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. A Russian gulag historian was on Thursday acquitted of child pornography charges and released in a move supporters hailed as a rare victory for the country's embattled rights activists. Dmitriyev, whose trial sparked an outcry from rights activists and liberals, spent decades locating and exhuming mass graves of people killed under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalins rule. Activists have said the case against him was an attempt by authorities to muzzle the outspoken historian who has called attention to one of the darkest chapters in Russias history. I am free, shouted historian Yury Dmitriyev after he was released in the courtroom following a closed-door hearing in the northwestern city of Petrozavodsk. His controversial trial prompted an outcry from rights activists and liberals. One of his daughters, Yekaterina, greeted her father in tears as supporters shouted hurray. Dmitriyev, who had spent more than a year in pre-trial detention, was however found guilty of firearm possession and released on conditions that will limit his freedom for the next three months. He was handed a sentence of two-and-a-half years restricted freedom but he only has three months left due to the time he spent in pre-trial detention, defence lawyer Viktor Anufriyev told reporters. The 62-year-old, who is the head of rights group Memorials branch in the northwestern Karelia region, called the ruling just. -Just verdict Because nothing bad had happened, he said. He said the authorities could not simply let him walk free after the high-profile trial, describing the firearm he was convicted of possessing as a fragment of scrap metal he had found some 20 years ago. Prosecutors had requested nine years in a harsh regime colony for the outspoken activist. The case centred on naked photographs of Dmitriyevs then pre-teen adopted daughter Natalya seized during a search of his home after an anonymous tip-off to police. Dmitriyevs defence said the photographs were taken to track the girls improvement as she recovered from malnutrition. Observers had expected the verdict to serve as a barometer for the countrys direction under the fourth Kremlin term of President Vladimir Putin, who extended his rule until 2024 in an election last month. Many had not expected an acquittal. Colossal efforts Oleg Orlov, a senior director at Memorial, hailed the ruling as a rare victory for civil society. In Russia, society needs to make colossal efforts to achieve a just verdict, he told AFP. Anatoly Razumov, a historian who researched Soviet-era purges, said the ruling would send a clear signal to those who had wanted to muzzle the historian. Those who were behind this will understand that its not that easy to overpower us. he said. It was a complicated, far-reaching case and weve won. In a statement released before the announcement of the verdict, top rights activists including Lyudmila Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, pointed to multiple procedural violations. Dmitriyevs actions did not exceed the scope of normal parental care over his childs development and health, they said. Dmitriyev was arrested in late 2016 and spent more than a year in pre-trial detention before being released in January after calls from prominent figures for him to be freed. Experts who last examined the pictures of Dmitriyevs adopted daughter concluded that they were not pornographic but the prosecution disagreed, his defence team said. Dear dad, I miss you Instead of making a speech in his defence last week, Dmitriyev read out in court a letter Natalya, 12, sent to him while he was in pre-trial detention. Dear dad, I miss you very much. I am hoping that you will be released soon, said the handwritten letter, a copy of which was published by Novaya Gazeta. Love you with all my heart, said the letter decorated with red hearts. The girl now lives with her grandmother, who originally sent the child to an orphanage before the historian adopted her. Dmitriyev helped open the Sandarmokh memorial in a pine forest in Karelia in memory of thousands of victims including many foreigners executed in 1937 and 1938. He was released from pre-trial detention in January after prominent figures including Natalia Solzhenitsyna, the widow of the Nobel Prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, urged that he be freed. Rights groups have accused Putin of seeking to whitewash Stalins crimes amid patriotic fervour whipped up by state propaganda. Historians estimate about one million people perished in Stalins Great Purge in the 1930s, out of around 20 million who died under his three-decade rule before his death in 1953. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. 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 Trumps 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. Todays 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. Britains 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 commissions 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 Deltas business. 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 Houses 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. Friday, January 26, 2018 Over the past week, Ive seen some interesting news stories and opinion pieces on death, cleaning up after lonely deaths in Japan, what cremated remains mean to us, clutter clearing, dementia-specific advance directives, and the top 10 funeral blogs to follow (The Family Plot is one of them!). Click on the headlines to read each story. The Top 10 Funeral Blogs You Should Be Following on the CRaKN blog for funeral professionals January 10, 2018 by Kim Sykes The Family Plot Blog is in good company! Death: The Greatest TeacherLions Roar January 12, 2018 by Judy Leif The Buddha said the greatest of all teachings is impermanence. Its final expression is death. Buddhist teacher Judy Lief explains why our awareness of death is the secret of life. Its the ultimate twist. Psychic funeral celebrant claims dead people contact her from beyond the grave to arrange their own send offsDaily Mail.com January 17, 2018 by Siofra Brennan This celebrant gets text messages from angels on her mobile phone and visits from the Dearly Departed. She knows about specific music and readings before the family contacts her to do a service. I was getting buried in clutter. Heres how I finally got free. Washington Post January 17, 2018 by Valerie Peterson People who need help with downsizing and fans of Marie Kondo and The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning will appreciate the tips in this article. One Day Your Mind May Fade. At Least Youll Have a Plan. New York Times January 19, 2018 by Paula Span If you are concerned about your mind going before your body does, this article on dementia-specific advance medical directives which change at each phase of mild, moderate to severe dementia, is well worth your consideration. Cleaning Up After The Dead: So many Japanese people die alone theres a whole industry devoted to cleaning up after them. Washington Post January 24, 2018 by Anna Fifield For those who fear dying alone at home and not being discovered for months, you might want to skip this story. What Do Our Ashes Mean to Us?New York Times January 24, 2018 by Jennifer Finney Bolyan An opinion piece that shows how ambivalent so many Americans can be about cremated remains. This TED Talk by Michelle Knox, Talk About Your Death While Youre Still Healthy, resonates with my motto: Just like talking about sex wont make you pregnant, talking about funerals and end-of-life issues wont make you dead. Watch now and share! Share this: The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said 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. 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. Its 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. 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 Mountains 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 companys previous safety record. There have been cases in the past, but I think the record shows certainly in the last few years weve 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 boards 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 states workers compensation law, allowing workers and their families to sue energy companies when theyre injured or killed. 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 Place Your Advert Thousands of Active jobseekers are looking for new agricultural positions in 2020. Call us now to discuss the options for advertising your vacancy in our job section. Bill Gates has pledged more than 28 million funding for "cutting-edge" agriculture research projects in Edinburgh. The Microsoft founder visited Edinburgh University to see how communities worldwide are being helped by innovative British agricultural research. Mr Gates, who is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed with the UK's International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt how projects based in Edinburgh are improving the health and productivity of people and farm animals at home and abroad. During their visit, they took part in a discussion event with staff and students to highlight how UK innovations are improving the prosperity of farmers in developing countries. Mr Gates heard how science and research led by British agricultural innovation is making strides in improving the health and productivity of livestock. They unveiled a plaque to formally launch the Universitys Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, a 35 million research and teaching initiative focused on safeguarding the future of the worlds food supplies. New funding In her speech, Ms Mordaunt unveiled a package of investments in research to improve the resilience of farmers crops and livestock to natural disasters and protect them from diseases. This included 4m for the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, which is based in the Universitys Roslin Institute at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary studies. The British aid research will not only stop diseases from destroying the livelihoods of African farmers, it will also help control livestock diseases on British farms. Bill Gates also announced $40m (28m) funding for the Edinburgh-based charity the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), which works to improve the accessibility and affordability of livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics in developing countries Banning the live exports of farm animals would be "completely unworkable" for the farming industry, according to a union. The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) comments come in in advance of the second reading of the Live Animal Exports (Prohibition) Bill in the House of Commons scheduled for Friday 2nd February. It follows news of the Live Animal Exports (Prohibition) Bill passing its first hurdle in Parliament in October last year. Alongside this, a petition to ban live exports has gained 65,000 signatories, enough to trigger a debate in Parliament surrounding the matter. However, the farming industry are concerned surrounding the trade aspects a ban would bring. The live export of cattle and sheep forms an integral part of the Northern Ireland livestock sector, for example. It injects in excess of 70 million into local farm businesses per year. Over 50,000 cattle and 500,000 sheep are exported live annually for further production or slaughter in other regions of the United Kingdom and to EU Member States such as the Republic of Ireland and Spain. 'Complete non-starter' UFU president Barclay Bell said: The fact that the vast majority of this trade is with the Republic of Ireland and Spain demonstrates how essential it will be post-Brexit to maintain competitive, uninterrupted free trade with the EU. The idea that a ban or added restrictions is being considered in the House of Commons is a complete non-starter for the Northern Ireland farming industry and must be strongly opposed by our elected representatives. With Brexit on the horizon and discussions underway about future UK agricultural policy, the UFU continues to argue that farmers place in the supply chain must be strengthened. Mr Bell added: We want to see competition and transparency in the market place. A thriving live export trade, which has fair and proportionate regulation based on sound science must play a key role in this. To prohibit or heavily restrict live exports will badly damage primary production in Northern Ireland. It will be detrimental to all hopes of having a holistic local livestock sector that can deliver for the economy, environment and rural communities. 'As close as practicable' The government said it has a Manifesto commitment to take steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter, as the UK leaves the EU, and will be considering options in this context. It responded: "The Government believes animals should be slaughtered as close as practicable to their point of production. A trade in meat and meat products is preferable to the long distance transport of animals to slaughter. "Once we leave the European Union, and in line with our manifesto commitment, we can take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter. "We have made clear in Brussels that we support improvements being made to enforcement across the EU of existing rules on the long distance transport of livestock. We have also supported calls for the European Commission to make improvements to the existing EU Regulation on protecting animal welfare in transport." Aishwarya Joined My College Late "I studied for a year at Jaihind College, Mumbai, in the science stream. Aishwarya joined the college later, as she had initially joined KC College.'' Guys Would Stand Outside Our College Gates For Aishwarya 'Since KC College was quite close to my college, guys struck by her beauty in that college would come and stand outside our college gates.'' Aishwarya Would Travel By Train "She was strikingly beautiful even then. She would travel by train, and would board at Khar station. If we happened to be together, we would walk to college, which is a few minutes from Churchgate. Boys (and girls) would just stop to look at her in awe.'' She Would Always Sit On The Last Bench "She had a big group of friends and they would enter class at the last moment and would always sit on the last bench.'' Aishwarya Wanted To Impress Teachers 'But they would sit in the first bench for the Physics lectures because we had a very strict teacher, and because Aishwarya wanted to impress the teacher.'' She Was Teachers' Favourite "She was the apple of all the teachers' eyes, especially the Physics lecturer who was the one to encourage her to appear in the college magazines, I think.'' In College Too, Aishwarya Was Known As The Most Beautiful Girl 'She was very down-to-earth and good at her studies. Everyone called her the most beautiful girl in college, and soon she proved to be the most beautiful girl in the world," Aishwarya's college mate wrote. When Aishwarya Talked About Her College Days In an interview to TOI, Aishwarya had revealed, 'While I was born in Mangalore, I lived my entire life in Mumbai. I went to Arya Vidya Mandir (Santacruz) and then to junior college at Jai Hind and Ruparel College. My Professor Had Cancer & She Requested Me... 'While I wanted to do my medicine and all my best friends are doctors, last minute I switched to architecture as I thought I was also artistically inclined. One of my professors in college who had cancer was also a photojournalist, so she requested me to do a photoshoot for her.'' It Spread Like Wildfire 'I actually did it just for her, given her situation but the professionals who were there on set saw me and word spread like wildfire and the whole business was constantly asking me to join it.'' I Was Meant To Come Here 'Having lived in Bandra, everyone was around there so there were so many people after me and they all thought that I was meant to come here.'' When I Participated In Miss World 'I participated in Miss India in 1994 and then took a break for a year to go to 'Miss World'. By this time, top filmmakers had started talking to me, including Yash Chopraji and Shekhar Kapur. Shekhar told me, 'Look, I have also done my chartered accountancy and I know what you are thinking, but this is going to be your reality.'' Life Was Going To Change 'Complete your degree if this is what you think is the natural course of your life, but this is where you will be.' Instinctively, I just felt that life was going to change just like I had felt when I first modelled.'' I Was Out Of My Course For One Year 'It's not that oh I am going to make it, but it was just that life was going to change. So, I just went with the flow. I became 'Miss World' and I was out of my course for a year.'' When I Went Back To My College 'When I returned to college for felicitation, I realised that it would never ever be the same again for me. I could not have remained a normal student anymore. I had already done my first commercial with Aamir Khan and the energy around me had been very strong for a while.'' He Doesn't Want To Take Away The Credit While talking to Film Companion, Ranveer said, "Everybody is a part of the same film. I am not into one-upmanship at all." Ranveer Is Not Into Unhealthy Competition "I have done a two-hero film, I have done an ensemble film. I am not into all this at all. I have a theatre background, so for me it is all about collaborating. It is a very collaborative process," the actor added. He Feels His Co-Stars Bring Out The Best In Him He quipped, "You are only as good as your co-actor. Take Jim Sarbh for instance, he enhances my performance. Alia Bhatt in Gully Boy, I feel like I don't have to do anything, she is doing it for me. I just have to be there and react. This is the type of collaborative approach I have." He Isn't Into Rivalry "I am not into I am going to do my thing and let's see what he got'. I am not into the competitive vibe. I feel it harms. It's rooted in negativity and I am not that definitely." He Is In A Happy Phase Speaking about his upcoming projects, Ranveer said, "Right now, I am in a very good phase. I have got Gully Boy, then Simmba after that and then 1983. Sometimes, for months on end, no exciting film is coming your way. But, I am really blessed and thankful that I had such a period where such wonderful films were offered to me and I am doing them. So, I am damn happy and really looking forward to my upcoming slate." Is Hollywood Next On His Mind Like Lady Love Deepika Padukone? To this, he replied, "I really want to do something in the English language, because I went to a school where the medium of instruction was English. It is one of my main languages. I studied in the United States and I really want to do something in my other language which is English. There have been some opportunities that for some reason didn't happen. But, I think the right thing will happen at the right time. I want to explore that and I think I'll do good." The head of Minecraft department, Matt Booty has now been promoted to the post of Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Studios. He has been the head of the Minecraft department for a long time now and now has taken up a part of the position of Mark Spencer, head of Xbox division. Mark Spencer previously held both the positions and cycled between them, now the position of Corporate vice president is held by Matt Booty while Mark stays as the Vice president of Microsoft Studios. The corporate vice presidents role is to oversee the Xboxs first and third part game development whereas Spencers role is to oversee the whole Xbox division. The different leads of projects report to Matt Booty, and then he reports to Mark Spencer. Spencer in an interview with GamesBeat said, I wanted to make sure we had the right organization in place to deliver on our content goals, With that, I made the decision that I wanted to anoint a leader of our Microsoft Studios organization, which if youve tracked it, Ive had the leaders of our individual franchises reporting to me for the last three and a half years. Ive worked as a peer with Bonnie [Ross, 343] and Shannon [Loftis, global publishing] and Rod [Ferguson, The Coalition] and Craig [Duncan, Rare], and obviously very close with Helen [Chiang] as the No. two person on the Minecraft franchise in Redmond, Booty added. Its a group I have a huge amount of respect for. Its a world-class group of leaders and a world-class collection of studios. Its a privilege to get in and help provide a layer of unification and collaboration across the studios, as we go forward helping drive the initiatives Phil talked about, getting behind the companys vision for gaming. Apple adds AML support and is now bringing health records to iPhone News oi-Samden Sherpa Apple is now adding new useful features and update to iOS 11.3 version. Apple iOS 11.3 update now supports Advanced Mobile Location (AML) that automatically sends a user's location to emergency services when the user calls. The feature activates GPS and Wi-Fi services when someone calls any emergency number and then sends a text along with the caller's precise location to responders. "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. 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. Apple today introduced a significant update to the Health app with the iOS 11.3 beta, debuting a feature for customers to see their medical records right on their iPhone. The updated Health Records section within the Health app brings together hospitals, clinics, and the existing Health app to make it easy for consumers to see their available medical data from multiple providers whenever they choose. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge vs Apple iPhone 7: And the Winner is.... - GIZBOT In the past, patients' medical records were held in multiple locations, requiring patients to log into each care provider's website and piece together the information manually. Apple worked with the healthcare community to take a consumer-friendly approach, creating Health Records based on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a standard for transferring electronic medical records. Now, consumers will have medical information from various institutions organized into one view covering allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals, and will receive notifications when their data is updated. Health Records data is encrypted and protected with the user's iPhone passcode. "Our goal is to help consumers live a better day. We've worked closely with the health community to create an experience everyone has wanted for years - to view medical records easily and securely right on your iPhone," said Jeff Williams, Apple's COO. "By empowering customers to see their overall health, we hope to help consumers better understand their health and help them lead healthier lives." Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications India's best-selling smartphones from Oppo, Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo and more Features oi-Harish Kumar Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, Vivo and others are the bestselling smartphone brands in the Indian market. Xiaomi has become the leading smartphone brand in India surpassing Samsung that has been the market leader since years. According to the market research firm Counterpoint, Xiaomi has managed to surpass Samsung and grab the position of the market leader in Q4 2017 with a share of 25%. Xiaomi has been able to do so with the launch of its aggressively-priced offerings that expand over a broad portfolio making its products successful in India that is a price conscious market. Having said that, not only Xiaomi but also other Chinese brands such as Oppo and Vivo are gaining traction in the Indian market. Other players in the segment those have gained enough success are Nokia (HMD Global), Reliance Jio, and itel. Cool smartphones with 16 MP camera under Rs 15,000 for better photography While Xiaomi captured the 4G smartphone market segment, Reliance Jio captured the feature phone market with the 4G VolTE capable JioPhone. Take a look at all the bestselling smartphone brands in India and their successful smartphones from below. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Review - GIZBOT Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Buy At Price of Rs 8,999 Check out the Key Features of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD 2.5D curved glass display, up to 72% NTSC color gamut, 1000:1 contrast ratio 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 14nm processor with Adreno 506 GPU 2GB / 3GB RAM with 32GB storage 4GB RAM with 64GB storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Hybrid Dual SIM (micro + nano/microSD) 13MP rear camera with PDAF 5MP front-facing camera 4G VoLTE 4000mAh (minimum) / 4100mAh (typical) battery Xiaomi Redmi 4 Buy At Price of Rs 6,999 Key Features 5 Inch HD IPS Touchscreen Display Octa-Core Snapdragon 435 Processor 2/3/4GB RAM With 16/32/64GB ROM Hybrid Dual SIM 13MP PDAF Autofocus Camera With Dual-Tone LED Flash 5MP Front Camera 4G WiFi A/B/G/N Bluetooth 4.1 4100 MAh Battery Samsung Galaxy J2 Buy At Price of Rs 6,900 Key Features 4.7-inch (960 x 540 Pixels) qHD Super AMOLED display 1.3 GHz quad-core Exynos 3475 processor 1GB RAM 8GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with microSD Android 5MP auto focus rear camera with LED Flash 2MP front-facing camera, f/2.4 aperture Dual SIM 4G VoLTE 2000mAh battery Oppo A37 Buy At Price of Rs 8,800 Key Features 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS 2.5D curved glass display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection 1.2 GHz Quad-Core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with Adreno 306 GPU 2GB LPDDR3 RAM 16GB internal memory expandable memory up to 128GB with micro SD ColorOS 3.0 based on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) Dual SIM 8MP rear camera with LED Flash 5MP front camera 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+ 2630mAh built-in battery Xiaomi Redmi 4A Buy At Price of Rs 5,999 Key Features 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display with 1000:1 contrast ratio, 72% NTSC color gamut 1.4GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425 processor with 500MHz Adreno 308 GPU 2GB RAM with 16GB storage / 3GB RAM with 32GB storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Hybrid Dual SIM (micro + nano / microSD) 13MP rear camera with PDAF 5MP front-facing camera 4G VoLTE 3030mAh (minimum) / 3120mAh (typical) Samsung Galaxy J7 NXT Buy At Price of Rs 10,270 Key Features 5.5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD Super AMOLED display 1.6GHz Octa-Core Exynos 7870 processor with Mali T830 GPU 2GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 256GB with microSD Android 7.0 (Nougat) Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED flash 5MP front camera with LED flash 4G VoLTE 3000mAh battery Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime Buy At Price of Rs 11,890 Key Features 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD TFT display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection 1.6GHz Octa-Core Exynos 7870 processor 3GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 256GB with microSD Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture 8MP front-facing camera with f/1.9 aperture 4G LTE 3300mAh battery Samsung Galaxy J2 2016 Buy At Price of Rs 7,997 Key Features 5 Inch Super AMOLED HD Display 1.5 GHz Quad-Core Spreadtrum SC8830 Processor 1.5GB RAM With 8GB ROM Dual SIM 8MP Camera With LED Flash 5 MP Front Camera 4G/WiFi Bluetooth 2600mAh Battery Vivo Y55L Buy At Price of Rs 9,990 Key Features 5.2-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS 2.5D curved-edge display Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 with 64-bit processor with Adreno 505 GPU 2GB LPDDR3 RAM with 16GB internal storage expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Funtouch OS 2.6 based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Dual SIM (micro + nano) 8MP rear camera with LED Flash 5MP front-facing camera 4G VoLTE 2650mAh battery Vivo Y53 Buy At Price of Rs 8,500 Key Features 5-inch (960 x 540 pixels) qHD IPS display 1.4GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425 processor with Adreno 308 GPU 2GB RAM 16GB internal storage expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Funtouch OS 3.0 based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) Dual SIM 8MP rear camera with LED Flash, f/2.0 aperture 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture 4G VoLTE 2500mAh battery source: counterpointresearch Best Mobiles in India Nokia 7 Plus visits Geekbench with Snapdragon 660, Android Oreo News oi-Chandrika Nokia 7 Plus along with other Nokia smartphones have a high chance of getting unveiled by HMD Global at the MWC 2018. Nokia 7 was introduced back in October last year, but the smartphone is yet reach other markets out of China. Looking at HMD Global's past launch patterns, the global launch of the smartphone is expected to take place at MWC 2018 in February. While we still have about a month's time left for that, it seems Nokia 7 may get a sibling soon. Dubbed as Nokia 7 Plus, the smartphone has now visited the Geekbench website. We already knew the existence of the Nokia 7 Plus as it had appeared on the leaked APK file of the Nokia Camera app. However, the previous leak didn't shed any light on the phone's features and specifications. Thankfully, the Geekbench listing has revealed some of the key specs like the processor, RAM configuration, and the operating system it runs. Turns out, the Nokia 7 Plus won't just be a larger variant of the Nokia 7, it will also differ with the latter in terms of specs. Detailing on the specs, the Nokia 7 Plus will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, an upgrade over the Snapdragon 630 SoC used by the Nokia 7. When it comes to the RAM, the smartphone will retain the same 4GB of RAM. On the software front, the Nokia 7 Plus is listed on the benchmarking site with Android 8.0 Oreo operating system right out of the box. Well, this is all we have come to know from the Geekbench listing and rest of the specifications remain unknown. Google Pixel XL: 5 Killer Tips and Tricks That Most People Are Not Aware of - GIZBOT Now that the Nokia 7 Plus has appeared on Geekbench, it means the smartphone's launch is not far. Presumably HMD Global will announce the smartphone at MWC 2018 next month. The Finnish company has already sent invites for a launch event scheduled for February 25, one day before the commencement of MWC. So there are high chances that HMD will unveil the Nokia 7 Plus along with other Nokia smartphones. Rumors have it, the company will unveil the flagship Nokia 9, Android Oreo (Go Edition) based Nokia 1, Nokia 3310 4G variant. That being said, our speculations could go wrong as we have got no official confirmation about the smartphones yet. Via Best Mobiles in India Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ new render leaked: Don't be surprised to see this News oi-Samden Sherpa After all the leaks of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9/S9 +, this seems to give the clearest idea about Samsungs hyped flagship duo. Samsung is pretty bad at keeping secrets especially when it comes to smartphone launches. Well, last year if you remember just before launching the Galaxy S8 and S8+ a lot of leaks about the devices happened and there was hardly anything left for us to imagine. We had a good idea of what the devices looked like and what they were bringing much ahead of the launch. And this time the same phenomenon is basically repeating. Samsung loves the hype we believe. Besides, Samsung's 2018 flagships Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ have already been subject to several leaks and rumors in the past few weeks. As a result, we yet again have a fair idea of what the smartphones feature and in fact, we know when they will be launched. Samsung's much anticipated next-gen flagship phones are said to be launched at an Unpacked event on February 25th a bit ahead of MWC 2018. Having said that we have come across yet another leak of the upcoming smartphones just ahead of the launch. Interestingly, the new alleged leaked renders of Galaxy S9 and S9+ gives us a clear look of the front of Samsung's flagship duo. Further, the renders have been leaked by popular and reliable tipster Evan Blass who writes for VentureBeat. So it is worth mentioning that this image could very well be the real picture of Samsung smartphones and that we will see the devices with this design on February 25th. Talking about the images, in brief, it looks like the device bears great similarity to Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ with the same infinity design. Samsung's Galaxy S9 will seemingly be an iterative upgrade rather than being a completely new innovation. A slight difference though, the image shows the front bezels are slimmer than before. As for differences between Galaxy S9 and S9 + this year, apart from the screen size, both the smartphones will differ in terms of the camera sensors used and the RAM + Storage configurations. Reportedly Samsung Galaxy S9 will come with 4GB + 64GB properties whereas the bigger model will come with the 6GB + 128GB variation. Moreover, Samsung Galaxy S9 + will reportedly sport dual rear cameras. Blass and previous rumor reports have stated that both devices will feature a special 12 MP primary shooter with variable aperture where the lens can be shifted between the industry lowest f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture. Slow-mo is highly expected to be present on both the phones. Both phones are rumored to have an 8 MP front-facing camera as well as stereo speakers on the bottom. Samsung Galaxy A8+ First Impressions Some of the other rumors and leaks have also suggested that the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ would have an improved iris scanner, fingerprint sensor below its primary camera, be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC or Samsung Exynos 9810 SoC and run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. Samsung Galaxy S9 is said to feature a 5.77-inch screen whereas the Galaxy S9 will arrive with a larger 6.22-inch screen. The reports further reveal that the Galaxy S9 will be backed up by a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S9+ will be powered by a 3,500mAh. Both the Galaxy S models will most likely come with a 3.5mm headphone jack and other exciting features. Meanwhile, Blass has said that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will likely begin shipping and selling through retail starting March 16. Quite bizarrely this is further evidenced by that date given on the "official" press images. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Sony Xperia XZ Pro schematics leak ahead of MWC 2018 launch News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Sony Xperia XZ Pro is all set to be unveiled at the MWC 2018 tech show in Barcelona next month. The MWC 2018 tech show is slated to happen from February 26 to March 1 in Barcelona. At the tech show, Sony is expected to come up with its flagship smartphone - the Sony Xperia XZ Pro that is hitting the rumor mills from time to time. Now, the schematics of a yet-to-be-announced Sony smartphone have surfaced online showing the front and rear panels. And, it is believed to be that of the upcoming flagship smartphone. The schematics of the alleged Sony Xperia XZ Pro revealed by PhoneCorridor shows that the rear panel houses a dual camera setup with the two lenses positioned horizontally at the top left corner and the LED flash sitting beside the camera module. There is the Xperia branding with the NFC logo as well. There appears to be no fingerprint sensor on both the front and rear panels, tipping that it could be embedded under the home button that is at the side of the device as seen in the Xperia XZ. When it comes to the front design, the leaked schematics show that there is an edge-to-edge display with minimal bezels at the top and bottom of the smartphone. There appears to be a single selfie camera and a receiver grill at the top and another grill at the bottom. As it is expected to be an upcoming flagship smartphone, we can expect the device to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack for a USB Type-C port. Sony Xperia XZ Review - GIZBOT While the schematics image does not reveal any further detail about the alleged Sony Xperia XZ Pro, we have already come across several details from the previous leaks and speculations. The Sony flagship smartphone slated for an MWC 2018 launch is expected to bestow a 5.7-inch 4K OLED edge-to-edge display with the 18:9 aspect ratio. Under its hood, the Sony smartphone is believed to make use of a Snapdragon 845 SoC paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage space. The selfie camera is said to be a 13MP sensor. The dual camera setup at the rear is said to comprise of a 18MP primary sensor and a 12MP secondary sensor. However, these are just speculations and we need to get an official confirmation from Sony regarding the same. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi Mi 7 pricing leaked: Will be expensive but worth the money News oi-Samden Sherpa The hike in price may be due to the fact that the company is making use of top-of-the-line specs and hardware with Xiaomi Mi 7. Xiaomi Mi 7 has been doing rounds on the rumor mill for the past couple of days. Recently we saw alleged press renders of the said device where the design of the smartphone appeared similar to that of Mi Mix 2. And now reports coming out of China state that Xiaomi Mi 7 will be the most expensive Mi series smartphone from the company yet. It will also be the first smartphone in the three thousand range from the Chinese handset maker. Xiaomi Mi 7 price will reportedly start at CNY3,000 or around Rs. 30,202 for the base variant and it will likely go up for the higher variant which will come with higher RAM and storage configurations. However, the hike in price may be due to the fact that Xiaomi is making use of top-of-the-line specs and hardware. We will likely be seeing Snapdragon 845 chipset, 8 GB RAM, OLED displays with the upcoming device. Interestingly, reports from China also state that Mi 7 would be arriving in two models which will include Mi 7 and Mi 7 Plus. According to the source, Mi 7 will come with a 5.65-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio whereas the Plus variant is touted to feature a 6.01-inch OLED screen by Samsung. Further, the Mi 7 duo are expected to arrive with facial recognition feature and AI technology integrated dual rear cameras. It has also been stated that Mi 7 could be the first Mi series phone to come with wireless charging. Meanwhile, Xiaomi's Mi series flagship phones till now have had a low pricing of 1,999 Yuan (roughly Rs. 20,124). But it started changing last year. Xiaomi launched the Mi 6 with a price tag of 2,499 Yuan (roughly Rs. 25,158) and its premium ceramic variant was tagged at 2,999 Yuan (roughly Rs. 30,192). And this year it looks like Mi 7 will be arriving with a more expensive price tag compared to the Mi 6. Notably, even if rumors are suggesting Mi 7 will be coming with a higher price tag, it seems the smartphone will be a good deal and value for money phone because of what it has to offer. Talking about the launch, while reports have been conflicting speculations suggest that Xiaomi may or may not unveil the devices at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018. The company, on the other hand, is said to launch Redmi Note 5 in February. Via Best Mobiles in India Convicted Chinese spy loses appeal against extended detention ROC Central News Agency 2018/01/26 18:26:18 Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) A convicted Chinese spy's appeal against his extended detention was rejected Friday by Taiwan's Supreme Court. The 30-year-old Zhou Hongxu () was given a 14-month sentence by the Taipei District Court Sept. 15, 2017 for violating the National Security Act after being found guilty of attempting to develop spy networks in Taiwan. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official who he attempted to bribe in exchange for classified information reported his actions to the authorities, leading to Zhou's arrest and indictment in March last year. Both Zhou and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office appealed the ruling. While Zhou appealed for bail, the Taiwan High Court decided in December 2017 to extend his detention by two more months until Feb. 27 this year, prompting Zhou to appeal to the Supreme Court. Now that the Supreme Court has handed down its verdict, Zhou, who has been detained since March 10, 2017, has no further course of appeal. Zhou first came to Taiwan in 2012 to enroll in a National Chengchi University MBA program. He returned to China in September 2016 before traveling back to Taiwan in February 2017 under the guise of a management investor. Meanwhile, another case involving several members of the pro- unification New Party who are suspected of colliding with Zhou in establishing spy networks for China in Taiwan is also being investigated by the High Court. (By Hsiao Po-wen and Flor Wang) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks delivered at the World Economic Forum George Soros Davos, Switzerland, January 25, 2018 The current moment in history Good evening. It has become something of an annual Davos tradition for me to give an overview of the current state of the world. I was planning half an hour for my remarks and half an hour for questions, but my speech has turned out to be closer to an hour. I attribute this to the severity of the problems confronting us. After Ive finished, Ill open it up for your comments and questions. So prepare yourselves. I find the current moment in history rather painful. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of dictatorships and mafia states, exemplified by Putins Russia, are on the rise. In the United States, President Trump would like to establish a mafia state but he cant, because the Constitution, other institutions, and a vibrant civil society wont allow it. Whether we like it or not, my foundations, most of our grantees and myself personally are fighting an uphill battle, protecting the democratic achievements of the past. My foundations used to focus on the so-called developing world, but now that the open society is also endangered in the United States and Europe, we are spending more than half our budget closer to home because what is happening here is having a negative impact on the whole world. But protecting the democratic achievements of the past is not enough; we must also safeguard the values of open society so that they will better withstand future onslaughts. Open society will always have its enemies, and each generation has to reaffirm its commitment to open society for it to survive. The best defense is a principled counterattack. The enemies of open society feel victorious and this induces them to push their repressive efforts too far, this generates resentment and offers opportunities to push back. That is what is happening in places like Hungary today. I used to define the goals of my foundations as defending open societies from their enemies, making governments accountable and fostering a critical mode of thinking. But the situation has deteriorated. Not only the survival of open society, but the survival of our entire civilization is at stake. The rise of leaders such as Kim Jong-Un in North Korea and Donald Trump in the US have much to do with this. Both seem willing to risk a nuclear war in order to keep themselves in power. But the root cause goes even deeper. 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 it is now at a low ebb. The threat of nuclear war is so horrendous that we are inclined to ignore it. But it is real. Indeed, the United States is set on a course toward 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 preemptively; in effect to start a nuclear war in order to prevent nuclear war an obviously self-contradictory strategy. The fact is, North Korea has become a nuclear power and there is no military action that can prevent what has already happened. The only sensible strategy is to accept reality, however unpleasant it is, and to come to terms with North Korea as a nuclear power. This requires the United States to cooperate with all the interested parties, China foremost among them. Beijing holds most of the levers of power against North Korea, but is reluctant to use them. If it came down on Pyongyang too hard, the regime could collapse and China would be flooded by North Korean refugees. What is more, Beijing is reluctant to do any favors for the United States, South Korea or Japan against each of which it harbors a variety of grudges. Achieving cooperation will require extensive negotiations, but once it is attained, the alliance would be able to confront North Korea with both carrots and sticks. The sticks could be used to force it to enter into good faith negotiations and the carrots to reward it for verifiably suspending further development of nuclear weapons. The sooner a so-called freeze-for-freeze agreement can be reached, the more successful the policy will be. Success can be measured by the amount of time it would take for North Korea to make its nuclear arsenal fully operational. Id like to draw your attention to two seminal reports just published by Crisis Group on the prospects of nuclear war in North Korea. The other major threat to the survival of our civilization is climate change, which is also a growing cause of forced migration. I have dealt with the problems of migration at great length elsewhere, but I must emphasize how severe and intractable those problems are. I dont want to go into details on climate change either because it is well known what needs to be done. We have the scientific knowledge; it is the political will that is missing, particularly in the Trump administration. Clearly, 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. I give President Trump credit for motivating his core supporters brilliantly, but for every core supporter, he has created a greater number of core opponents who are equally strongly motivated. That is why I expect a Democratic landslide in 2018. My personal goal in the United States is to help reestablish a functioning two-party system. 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. The IT monopolies I want to spend the bulk of my remaining time on another global problem: the rise and monopolistic behavior of the giant IT platform companies. These companies have often played an innovative and liberating role. But as Facebook and Google have grown into ever more powerful monopolies, they have become obstacles to innovation, and they have caused a variety of problems of which we are only now beginning to become aware. Companies earn their profits by exploiting their environment. Mining and oil companies exploit the physical environment; social media companies exploit the social environment. This is particularly nefarious because social media companies influence how people think and behave without them even being aware of it. This has far-reaching adverse consequences on the functioning of democracy, particularly on the integrity of elections. 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 3 years. Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue. To maintain their dominance, they need to expand their networks and increase their share of users attention. Currently they do this by providing users with a convenient platform. The more time users spend on the platform, the more valuable they become to the companies. Content providers also contribute to the profitability of social media companies because they cannot avoid using the platforms and they have to accept whatever terms they are offered. The exceptional profitability of these companies is largely a function of their avoiding responsibility for and avoiding paying for the content on their platforms. They claim they are merely distributing information. But 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 business model of social media companies is based on advertising. Their true customers are the advertisers. But gradually a new business model is emerging, based not only on advertising but on selling products and services directly to users. They exploit the data they control, bundle the services they offer and use discriminatory pricing to keep for themselves more of the benefits that otherwise they would have to share with consumers. This enhances their profitability even further but the bundling of services and discriminatory pricing undermine the efficiency of the market economy. Social media companies deceive their users by manipulating their attention and directing it towards their own commercial purposes. They deliberately engineer addiction to the services they provide. This can be very harmful, particularly for adolescents. There is a similarity between internet platforms and gambling companies. Casinos have developed techniques to hook gamblers to the point where they gamble away all their money, even money they dont have. Something very harmful and maybe irreversible is happening to human attention in our digital age. Not just distraction or addiction; social media companies are inducing people to give up their autonomy. The power to shape peoples attention is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies. 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. This may have far-reaching political consequences. 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. But there is an even more alarming prospect on the horizon. There could be an alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data-rich IT monopolies that would bring together nascent systems of corporate surveillance with an already developed system of state-sponsored surveillance. This may well result in a web of totalitarian control the likes of which not even Aldous Huxley or George Orwell could have imagined. The countries in which such unholy marriages are likely to occur first are Russia and China. The Chinese IT companies in particular are fully equal to the American ones. They also enjoy the full support and protection of the Xi Jingping regime. The government of China is strong enough to protect its national champions, at least within its borders. US-based IT monopolies are already tempted to compromise themselves in order to gain entrance to these vast and fast growing markets. The dictatorial leaders in these countries may be only too happy to collaborate with them since they want to improve their methods of control over their own populations and expand their power and influence in the United States and the rest of the world. The owners of the platform giants consider themselves the masters of the universe, but in fact they are slaves to preserving their dominant position. It is only a matter of time before the global dominance of the US IT monopolies is broken. Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered. Regulation and taxation will be their undoing and EU Competition Commissioner Vestager will be their nemesis. There is also a growing recognition of a connection between the dominance of the platform monopolies and the rising level of inequality. The concentration of share ownership in the hands of a few private individuals plays some role but the peculiar position occupied by the IT giants is even more important. They have achieved monopoly power but at the same time they are also competing against each other. They are big enough to swallow start-ups that could develop into competitors, but only the giants have the resources to invade each others territory. They are poised to dominate the new growth areas that artificial intelligence is opening up, like driverless cars. The impact of innovations on unemployment depends on government policies. The European Union and particularly the Nordic countries are much more farsighted in their social policies than the United States. They protect the workers, not the jobs. They are willing to pay for re-training or retiring displaced workers. This gives workers in Nordic countries a greater sense of security and makes them more supportive of technological innovations than workers in the US. The internet monopolies have neither the will nor the inclination to protect society against the consequences of their actions. That turns them into a menace and it falls to the regulatory authorities to protect society against them. In the US, the regulators are not strong enough to stand up against their political influence. The European Union is better situated because it doesnt have any platform giants of its own. The European Union uses a different definition of monopoly power from the United States. US law enforcement focuses primarily on monopolies created by acquisitions, whereas EU law prohibits the abuse of monopoly power irrespective of how it is achieved. Europe has much stronger privacy and data protection laws than America. Moreover, US law has adopted a strange doctrine: it measures harm as an increase in the price paid by customers for services received and that is almost impossible to prove when most services are provided for free. This leaves out of consideration the valuable data platform companies collect from their users. Commissioner Vestager is the champion of the European approach. It took the EU seven years to build a case against Google, but as a result of her success the process has been greatly accelerated. Due to her proselytizing, the European approach has begun to affect attitudes in the United States as well. The rise of nationalism and how to reverse it I have mentioned some of the most pressing and important problems confronting us today. In conclusion, let me point out that we are living in a revolutionary period. All our established institutions are in a state of flux and in these circumstances both fallibility and reflexivity are operating at full force. I lived through similar conditions in my life, most recently some thirty years ago. That is when I set up my network of foundations in the former Soviet empire. The main difference between the two periods is that thirty years ago the dominant creed was international governance and cooperation. The European Union was the rising power and the Soviet Union the declining one. Today, however, the motivating force is nationalism. Russia is resurgent and the European Union is in danger of abandoning its values. As you will recall, the previous experience didnt turn out well for the Soviet Union. The Soviet empire collapsed and Russia has become a mafia state that has adopted a nationalist ideology. My foundations did quite well: the more advanced members of the Soviet empire joined the European Union. Now our aim is to help save the European Union in order to radically reinvent it. The EU used to enjoy the enthusiastic support of the people of my generation, but that changed after the financial crisis of 2008. The EU lost its way because it was governed by outdated treaties and a mistaken belief in austerity policies. What had been a voluntary association of equal states was converted into a relationship between creditors and debtors where the debtors couldnt meet their obligations and the creditors set the conditions that the debtors had to meet. That association was neither voluntary nor equal. As a consequence, a large proportion of the current generation has come to regard the European Union as its enemy. One important country, Britain, is in the process of leaving the EU and at least two countries, Poland and Hungary, are ruled by governments that are adamantly opposed to the values on which the European Union is based. They are in acute conflict with various European institutions and those institutions are trying to discipline them. In several other countries anti-European parties are on the rise. In Austria, they are in the governing coalition and the fate of Italy will be decided by the elections in March. How can we prevent the European Union from abandoning its values? We need to reform it at every level: at the level of the Union itself, at the level of the member states and the level of the electorate. We are in a revolutionary period; everything is subject to change. The decisions taken now will determine the shape of the future. At the Union level, the main question is what to do about the euro. Should every member state be required to eventually adopt the euro or should the current situation be allowed to continue indefinitely? The Maastricht Treaty prescribed the first alternative but the euro has developed some defects that the Maastricht Treaty didnt foresee and still await resolution. Should the problems of the euro be allowed to endanger the future of the European Union? I would strongly argue against it. The fact is that the countries that dont qualify, are eager to join, but those that do qualify have decided against it, with the exception of Bulgaria. In addition, I would like to see Britain remain a member of the EU or eventually rejoin it and that couldnt happen if it meant adopting the euro. The choice confronting the EU could be better formulated as one between a multi-speed and a multi-track approach. In a multi-speed approach, member states have to agree in advance on the ultimate outcome; in a multi-track approach, member states are free to form coalitions of the willing to pursue particular goals on which they agree. The multi-track approach is obviously more flexible but the European bureaucracy favored the multi-speed approach. That was an important contributor to the rigidity of the EUs structure. At the level of the member states, their political parties are largely outdated. The old distinction between left and right is overshadowed by being either pro or anti-European. This manifests itself differently in different countries. In Germany, the Siamese twin arrangement between the CDU and the CSU has been rendered unsustainable by the results of the recent elections. There is another party, the AfD further to the right than the CSU in Bavaria. This has forced the CSU to move further to the right in anticipation of next years local elections in Bavaria so that the gap between the CSU and the CDU has become too great. This has rendered the German party system largely dysfunctional until the CDU and CSU break up. In Britain, the Conservatives are clearly the party of the right and Labor the party of the left, but each party is internally divided in its attitude toward Brexit. This complicates the Brexit negotiations immensely, and makes it extremely difficult for Britain as a country to decide and modify its position towards Europe. Other European countries can be expected to undergo similar realignments with the exception of France, which has already undergone its internal revolution. At the level of the electorate the top-down initiative started by a small group of visionaries led by Jean Monnet carried the process of integration a long way but it has lost its momentum. Now we need a combination of the top-down approach of the European authorities with the bottom-up initiatives started by an engaged electorate. Fortunately, there are many such bottom-up initiatives; it remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to them. So far President Macron has shown himself most responsive. He campaigned for the French presidency on a pro-European platform and his current strategy focuses on the elections for the European Parliament in 2019 and that requires engaging the electorate. While I have analyzed Europe in greater detail, from a historical perspective what happens in Asia is ultimately much more important. China is the rising power. There were many fervent believers in the open society in China who were sent to be re-educated in rural areas during Maos Revolution. Those who survived returned to occupy positions of power in the government. So the future direction of China used to be open-ended; but no more. The promoters of open society have reached retirement age and Xi Jinping, who has more in common with Putin than with the so-called West, has begun to establish a new system of party patronage. Im afraid that the outlook for the next twenty years is rather bleak. Nevertheless, it is important to embed China in institutions of global governance. This may help to avoid a world war that would destroy our entire civilization. That leaves the local battlegrounds in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. My foundations are actively engaged in all of them. We are particularly focused on Africa, where would-be dictators in Kenya, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo have perpetrated electoral fraud on an unprecedented scale and citizens are literally risking their lives to resist the slide into dictatorship. 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. This will leave us plenty to do well beyond my lifetime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIR Officials Report Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 26, 2018 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria between Jan. 19-25, conducting 60 strikes consisting of 93 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. CJTF-OIR officials reported that a significant precision strike involving exhaustive intelligence and observation to confirm ISIS concentrations and ensure no civilian casualties killed 145-150 ISIS terrorists in Iraq's Middle Euphrates Valley Jan. 20. In addition, officials reported details of the most recent strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Yesterday in Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 12 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS supply routes, four fighting positions, a front-end loader, a road grader and an ISIS line of communication. On Jan. 24, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 15 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader, two ISIS supply routes, four fighting positions and an ISIS line of communication. On Jan. 23, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 10 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three pieces of ISIS construction equipment, three fighting positions and two ISIS supply routes. On Jan. 22, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed two ISIS supply routes, a command-and-control center and an ISIS-held building. On Jan. 21, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 13 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed a staging facility, two ISIS supply routes, a munitions storage site, an ISIS-held building, an ammunition truck and a fighting position. On Jan. 20, coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 19 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a staging facility, a vehicle-borne bomb, three weapons caches, two ISIS headquarters, an ISIS motorcycle, an ISIS construction vehicle and an ISIS-held building. On Jan. 19, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 13 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes destroyed two ISIS supply routes, three ISIS equipment vehicles, six fighting positions, two ISIS vehicles and a command-and-control center. Strikes in Iraq There were no reported strikes in Iraq Jan. 23-25. On Jan. 22, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Qara Tapa. The strike destroyed an ISIS weapons cache. On Jan. 21, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Hawija, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position and an ISIS command-and-control center. -- Near Rutbah, a strike destroyed two ISIS tactical vehicles. On Jan. 20, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Qayyarah. The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit. There were no reported strikes in Iraq on Jan. 19. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said. The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said. The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army secretary talks focus, funding, future By Ms. Lisa Simunaci (AMC) January 26, 2018 REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Army's top leader called for continued focus amidst looming budget uncertainty and provided a glimpse of the service's largest reorganization in more than 30 years. Making his way around the world to review the Army's most critical components, Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper checked in on Redstone Arsenal Jan. 24. Along with the Army Materiel Command, Esper also toured U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and the Aviation Missile Research Development and Engineering Center during his daylong visit. On the heels of a three-day government shutdown, Esper said his message to the Redstone Arsenal community was to stay focused. Redstone Arsenal organizations, he said, were critical to the Army. "We have an important job to do in defense of our country," Esper said. "Congress and the executive branch will sort out funding issues." Esper said he and other Army leaders are doing everything they can to get the message out about the need for a sustained, predictable and increased budget as well as the detriment of continuing resolutions. "Leadership at the Department of Defense and myself continue to carry that message to Congress and key players," he said. In a media opportunity with local reporters, Esper addressed questions about a new Futures Command, noting the idea was still conceptual, but would materialize at a swift pace. The new command, representing the largest reorganization since the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, should have initial operating capabilities this summer, with full capabilities by next year. Esper said his visit to Redstone Arsenal was an opportunity for him to discuss his priorities of readiness, modernization and reform. "I had good discussions with commanders and I'm pleased how they are executing each of those priorities," Esper said. The visit to Redstone Arsenal comes after Esper's tours of the National Training Center, Forces Command, Afghanistan and South Korea. He also had the opportunity to visit Army Materiel Command-managed Army Prepositioned Stocks. Esper said the leaders he encountered at each location had nothing but great things to say about AMC. "I hear about your responsiveness to supporting units. They are singing your praises, unprompted," Esper told Army Materiel Command's Gen. Gus Perna and a gathering of the organization's top staff. Esper noted the military is transitioning from current wars to prepare to face a near-peer adversary. "After 17 years of war, we've not used our heavy equipment, our Abrams Tanks, our Bradley Fighting Vehicles," he said. "Now as we pivot to prepare for a high-end fight and are training for it, we're putting a lot more miles on those vehicles and they are breaking down -- and that's good." While some may say the breakdowns are bad, Esper said it is just the opposite. "That's an indicator that we're using them. We are exercising; we are training. But what that has done is placed an incredible demand on the supply system that Army Materiel Command is responsible for. It hasn't been exercised like that in a dozen plus years," Esper said. "General Perna and his team have done a great job engaging industry, catching up and looking at innovative ways to get those parts and supplies on time, and at a good price for taxpayers too, so our troops are ready to go." Even if the Army's troops are well trained and well-supplied, Esper said that doesn't equal readiness. "If you can't get the tank out of the motor pool, you're just not ready for the fight," he said. Esper said his overall strategy is to focus on outcomes, not processes. "Process is a guide, but it can't be an obstacle to speed. We can't let process get in the way of good ideas," he told AMC's commanders and staff. "That's what Korea and 8th Army are really patting you on the back for." Esper said his discussions with Perna also included how additive manufacturing -- or 3-D printing -- might be incorporated onto the battlefield. "Rather than run a supply requisition all the way back to a depot, maybe we just print parts on the spot," Esper said. "At this time of great challenge, I see great opportunity. Can we think of leap-ahead ways to do supply differently? That's what General Perna and his team are looking for." Perna said the Army Materiel Command conveyed to the Army secretary that the command is looking through a new lens and taking a comprehensive but also a common-sense approach to addressing its challenges. "Our goal is a responsive supply chain that accurately forecasts and delivers what the warfighters need, when and where they need it," Perna said. During his visit to U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson briefed Esper on how the command is focused on supporting theater operations for combatant commands and the future fight. The command's technical center director Tom Webber also presented an overview of the center's role as an Army Science and Technology Laboratory focused on providing technologies in directed energy, space, cyberspace, hypersonics, and integrated air and missile defense. "Being able to tell the secretary what we do across our three lines of effort (operations, capability development and material development), and the uniqueness of SMDC/ARSTRAT is a tremendous benefit to the command because it reaffirms the relevance of the command and its mission," Webber said. "Anytime you have the opportunity to brief the secretary of the Army and other Army senior leaders on the role SMDC/ARSTRAT plays for our Army and the nation, it ensures our most senior leaders are fully aware of the command and what we contribute to the fight." Esper is expected to return to Huntsville during the Association of the U.S. Army's Global Force Symposium set for March 26-28 at the Von Braun Center. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fast, lethal, and flexible: Operation Diamond Torrent enhances interoperability By Staff Sgt. Tina Villalobos January 26, 2018 CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - In the chill, pre-dawn hours, Kansas National Guard troops of Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, 35th Infantry Division worked tirelessly alongside a team of U.S. Airmen to load two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and one HMMWV aboard a C-17 aircraft, en-route to the United Arab Emirates, Jan. 21. for Operation Diamond Torrent. The team of Soldiers and Airmen worked seamlessly to secure more than 54,000 pounds of payload in less than 30 minutes, as they began the first leg of Operation Diamond Torrent. "The Air Force has worked with us hand-in-hand throughout this entire exercise to get it planned and resourced and everything," said Capt. Michael Sprigg, Alpha Battery commander. The HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) exercise, an element of Operation Diamond Torrent, demonstrates the capabilities of the C-17 and the HIMARS as an operational strategic strike package that can rapidly deploy and infiltrate to deliver a fast, flexible and lethal combination wherever needed. "The 'HI-RAIN' exercise allows us to put a HIMARS up on a C-17 or C-130, and fly into an area, giving us an extended range for what the rockets already have," said Sprigg. "We can fly in, shoot the mission, and fly back out before they even know we were there." Operation Diamond Torrent demonstrated multi-level interoperability, as the U.S. Army and Air Force worked together as a team in conjunction with Soldiers from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. "This exercise improved interoperability by allowing us to work together and build relationships through shared hardship and shared systems," said Maj. Steven Redmon, brigade fire support officer, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, U.S. Army. "Together we can accomplish a lot more. Going face-to-face and talking with our joint partners and our combined partners we can solve a lot of problems together." The exercise provided an opportunity for 'HI-RAIN' capabilities to prove successful as a viable rapid response solution among partner nations and joint forces. "We've been planning this for about a month and a half," said Sprigg. "This is the first time we have ever done this. We've talked about it and trained on it, but we've never had the actual resources to complete the mission. The most gratifying thing was that we were able to come to the UAE and complete our mission within our time frame and return to Kuwait on time." The unit's 1st Sgt. appreciated the experience of broadening shared operational perspectives and opportunities. "Some of the best things we can take away from this are working with the Air Force, coming to the UAE and working with the Emiratis and working with the Kuwaitis," said 1st Sgt. Gerald Gibson, A Battery, 2-130th. "It provides a total security package and allows everyone to see our joint capabilities. Hopefully it gives our partner nations a good feeling knowing that we're here and able to do what is necessary." Aside from its inherent interoperability characteristics, the exercise demonstrated that multiple HIMARS could be loaded, transported, unloaded, and put to use within a specified timeframe. "I know all of my crew has gotten a lot out of this," said Gibson. "You couldn't ask for a better training scenario. As National Guard Soldiers, we don't get opportunities like this to work with the Air Force and do these kinds of things. This is pretty much a once in a career training opportunity." The 35th Inf. Div.'s A Battery encompasses many sections that have come together over the past 9 months to tackle a number of notable achievements. The unit previously demonstrated its capabilities during Exercise Angel Strike last October by becoming the first Kansas National Guard unit since WWII to shoot actual fire missions in a forward-deployed environment. "The Operation Diamond Torrent HI-RAIN exercise was a great display of a culmination of training and operations for a battery to execute well within a brigade commander's intent," said Redmon. Alpha Battery, 2-130th is located in rural Holton, Kansas, 35 miles north of Topeka. Most of the battery's 119 soldiers live in areas that span the state of Kansas with some in Missouri. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reserve Marines test their limits in exercise Nordic Frost 18 US Marine Corps News By Pfc. Samantha Schwoch | Marine Corps Forces Reserves | January 26, 2018 In the mountainous terrain of northern Vermont, where temperatures drop below freezing and the snow covers the landscape, Marines were pushed to their limits as they battled against the extreme winter weather. Marines with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, pushed through frigid conditions as they participated in the two-week exercise Nordic Frost on Camp Ethan Allen, Jan. 13-27, 2018. The goal was to improve the unit's environmental capabilities by testing their squad and fire team level of defensive tactics in a winter environment. "These Marines were in the deserts of Morocco last year," said Capt. John A. Faucette, the weapons company commander of 1st Bn., 24th Marines, 4th MarDiv. "This year, up here in northern Vermont, in very mountainous, snow covered terrain, they have done very well. We exposed the Marines to the cold weather by conducting live fire ranges, and various other exercises to include small unit leadership. They took the training that was given to them, wore gear properly, stayed warm, and were able to fight." This cold environment adds additional training to the operations the Marines would otherwise not see in warmer weather conditions. Leadership at all levels must ensure that all training was conducted in a safe manner. The Marines conducted exercises such as land navigation, marksmanship training, demolitions, call-for-fire training and other core competencies. "Ultimately, our success was defined by safety," said Maj. Husein N. Yaghnam, the battalion operations officer with 1st Bn., 24th Marines, 4th MarDiv. "Marines are only effective if they are safe and capable, and we have the health in the field to complete the mission. So my guidance, down to the company commanders, was to be taking care of the Marines." Safety is accomplished by knowing how to properly operate in the weather. The Marines were able to safely train and stay warm after instruction on how to properly employ their cold weather gear. "It's was down in the negatives some nights, and the Marines had to stay out in the field," said Faucette. "Utilizing the gear and the training that was given to them shows that we can still function and fight as a battalion, no matter what the conditions are. My company spent a couple nights out in the field without issue. The Marines continued to perform like they would if they were in a warm environment, or something that may have been a little more comfortable than the extreme cold." Experiencing the cold weather training gave the Marines the confidence to trust that no matter what the conditions are, their equipment and gear, from weapons to warming layers, are effective in any clime and place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General visits Portugal NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Jan. 2018 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Lisbon on Friday (26 January 2018) to meet President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, and Defence Minister Jose Azeredo Lopes. He also visited NATO education, cyber and maritime facilities. To prepare for NATO Summit in Brussels in July, the Secretary General and the Portuguese leadership addressed the Alliance's continuing adaptation to security challenges. They discussed the importance of the Atlantic, as well as the need to step up efforts to project stability in NATO's neighbourhood by training local forces, and improving burden-sharing among Allies. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Portugal for its contributions to the Alliance, including troops in the multinational brigade in Romania, forces in the Resolute Support in Afghanistan, and maritime deployments. The Secretary General began his visit at the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) in Monsanto, accompanied by Portuguese Minister of Defence Jose Azeredo Lopes. The JALLC is NATO's lead agency for the analysis of operations and training, and deploys project teams worldwide to help NATO Allies develop best practices. NATO's defence spending metrics are also based on proposals made by the Centre. Thanking the staff, Mr. Stoltenberg told them: "NATO cannot adapt effectively without the valuable work you do". The Secretary General also visited the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Academy, which is being built in Oeiras. Once up and running, the Academy will train thousands of personnel a year, and make a major contribution to NATO's cyber defences. Also in Oeiras, Mr. Stoltenberg visited the Portuguese Armed Forces Joint Operations Command, as well as Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO). STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable maritime headquarters, staffed by personnel from 12 NATO Allies. It is the Alliance's primary point of contact for integrating US maritime forces into NATO operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Defence of Portugal, Jose Azeredo Lopes - Secretary General's opening remarks NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Jan. 2018 (As delivered) Thank you so much. And it's a great honour to be here and to once again meet with you. We have met many many times, but this is actually our first meeting in Lisbon. And for me it is a great honour to be here because Portugal is such a key Ally in our Alliance. Portugal makes NATO more secure - on land, at sea, in the air and also in cyber-space. We are very grateful for your many contributions. On land, your troops serve with NATO's multinational brigade in Romania. In the air, your jets have kept the skies secure over the Black Sea region. At sea, you are contributing to NATO maritime operations again and again. And in cyberspace, NATO's state of the art cyber academy is being built here in Portugal. And we just visited the site where the new Academy for communications, information and cyber is now going to be built. When this Academy is finished, thousands of students will attend courses there every year, which just strengthens the position of Portugal as a key Ally in our Alliance. Let me also say that we are grateful for the way Portugal is supporting and contributing to different NATO missions and operations, also beyond our borders, not least by the fact that you are supporting our Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. And also the fact that you have decided to increase your presence in Afghanistan And it's important to remember that the reason why NATO is present in Afghanistan is that we are fighting terrorism; we have to prevent that Afghanistan once again becomes a safe haven for international terrorism. NATO is also fighting terrorism in other ways. We support the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. NATO is a full member and we provide support to the Global Coalition by training Iraqi soldiers and officers. And also with our AWACS surveillance planes supporting the air operations of the Global Coalition. The Atlantic Ocean is what binds our Alliance together. We are a transatlantic Alliance North America and Europe and therefore we also focus on the importance of burden sharing within the Alliance. Burden sharing is not only about spending, but it's also about providing modern military capabilities and contributing personnel, soldiers, to our operations. But it's also about investing in our defenses. So at our NATO Summit in 2014 in Wales, all Allies made a pledge to stop the cuts in defence spending, gradually increase and move towards spending 2% of GDP on defence. I welcome that Portugal has stopped the cuts in defence spending and also that we have started to increase. But I also expect that you will continue because we need more investments from many NATO Allies to make sure that we are delivering on the promise and the pledge we made back in 2014. So once again, thank you for an excellent day here in Lisbon, where we have had many important discussions and where we have addressed how we together, as an Alliance, can continue to respond and adapt to a new and more demanding security environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address America Amphibious Ready Group Departs Hawaii Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180126-02 Release Date: 1/26/2018 9:05:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Pastor, USS America (LHA 6) Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, after a scheduled port visit, Jan. 24-25. The amphibious task force consists of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), and the amphibious dock-landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). They are currently heading across the Pacific toward their homeport after wrapping up a 7-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Horn of Africa and Mediterranean. "I remember prepping for our first exercise (Sustainment Exercise) in Hawaii, and now we are back, but we have all grown so much since the beginning of deployment," said Cpl. Cody Morton, a Light-Armored Vehicle technician for the 15th MEU Command Element aboard San Diego. "This is an exciting stop because we are so close to home." While in Hawaii, the ARG/MEU Sailors and Marines had an opportunity to see some of the island of Oahu, conduct scheduled maintenance, and on-load food and supplies. For many of the Sailors and Marines this was their first time visiting the island of Oahu. "I'm glad we had the chance to experience Hawaii," said Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Dakota Harris, assigned to the San Diego. "We all had a great time going to the beach and eating some authentic Hawaiian food." The crews were also greeted by family and friends in Hawaii who will ride the ships as "tigers" during the transit to their homeport of Naval Base San Diego. "I'm looking forward to my kids coming aboard the ship since they have never been underway before," said Lt. Cmdr. Elise Brandon, assigned to Fleet Surgical Team 1 aboard America. "We haven't seen each other in seven months, and I can't wait for us to spend the tiger cruise together." Tigers aboard the ships will participate in a number of events that cover the spectrum of the ARG/MEU's operations and daily functions. From damage control and flight-ops demonstrations to movie nights and ice cream socials, the tigers will get a glimpse of what it is to be a Sailor or Marine underway. "At the end of it all, the tigers will have an opportunity to earn a special qualification for having completed the cruise with us," said Chief Navy Counselor Eric Torra, America's tiger cruise coordinator. "This is a great experience to be a part of because it brings us and our loved ones just a little bit closer by having them see where we live and work while away for all of those months, and hopefully gives them a whole new appreciation for the military." Under the operational control of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3, additional units deployed with the Amphibious Task Force consisted of the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1 and Tactical Air Control Squadron 11. America, along with Pearl Harbor and San Diego, are comprised of more than 1,800 Sailors and 2,600 Marines. The 15th MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force comprised of a ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; an aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced); and a combat logistics element, Combat Logistics Battalion 15. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy and constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions that promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Navy Set to Survey Downed C-2A Greyhound Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180126-03 Release Date: 1/26/2018 9:10:00 AM From Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet Public Affairs YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy contracted Research Vessel (RV) Petrel to survey the location of a C-2A Greyhound aircraft that crashed into the Philippine Sea en route to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Nov. 22. Embarked with U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) personnel, the vessel will depart from the Philippines in the coming days and proceed to the C-2A's location at sea. Once on station, salvage experts will deploy a side-scan-sonar and remote operated vehicle to survey and map the ocean floor. After the survey is complete, SUPSALV will analyze the data and assign an appropriate vessel, equipment, and personnel for recovery efforts. The aircraft, located at a depth of 18,500 feet, was discovered Dec. 29, by a SUPSALV team using a towed pinger locator (TPL-25) system. The TPL-25 used passive sensors to "listen" for the C-2A pinger's frequency. Salvage of an aircraft at this depth is unprecedented and the condition of the C-2A is unknown, making recovery very challenging. Every effort will be made to recover the aircraft and our fallen Sailors. RV Petrel is a 250-foot research and exploration vessel with advanced underwater equipment and technology, making it capable of exploring to 6,000 meters deep (more than 3.5 miles). Assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC 30) forward deployed to Japan, the C-2A aircraft was carrying 11 crew and passengers when it crashed. Eight personnel were recovered immediately by U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 12). For the next three days, USS Ronald Reagan led combined search and rescue for three Sailors with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), covering nearly 1,000 square nautical miles before ending the search. An investigation is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NAVFAC Marianas Awards $19.9 Million Contract to Guam-Based Small Business for Construction on Andersen Air Force Base Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180126-04 Release Date: 1/26/2018 9:11:00 AM By Catherine Cruz Norton Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs PITI, Guam (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas awarded a $19.9 million contract Jan. 24, to Guam-based small business Reliable Builders Inc., to construct a critical facility on Andersen Air Force Base. The contract award is for construction of a hardened installation control center to support the Air Power Resiliency (APR) initiative. "The Navy is pleased to partner with one of our locally-based small businesses for this contract," said NAVFAC Marianas Commanding Officer Capt. Stephanie Jones. "This represents a significant milestone in delivering mission-essential facilities to the warfighter." The work includes construction of a facility consisting of reinforced concrete footings, foundations, floor slabs, walls and roof deck with membrane covering. The project also entails electrical, mechanical, water, communication, fire suppression and detection, air-conditioning system with humidity environmental controls, utilities, pavements, parking, associated site improvements and all necessary supporting facilities. Work will be performed in Yigo, Guam and is expected to be completed by November 2019. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with four proposals received. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Wyoming Arrives at NNSY for an Engineered Refueling Overhaul Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180126-08 Release Date: 1/26/2018 11:10:00 AM By Michael Brayshaw, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Wyoming (SSBN-742) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Jan. 9 for its 27-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO). As a critical piece in the country's nuclear deterrence strategy, the submarine will be refueled and upgraded during this major availability. In a first for NNSY, Enlisted Women at Sea ship alterations will be performed onboard, modifying the layout of berthing areas. For the other work, the availability is highly similar to the shipyard's ERO currently being conducted on USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740), allowing the Wyoming project to leverage off record-setting successes and valuable experience gained during that overhaul. "Apples to apples, it's pretty much the same," said Project Superintendent John Walker of the two EROs. "We're looking to get at least 70 percent of the employees who worked on the Rhode Island to roll over to the Wyoming." The project team is already off to a strong start with completing the Resource Constrained Schedule (RCS) 14 days early. This schedule provides an overarching integrated plan on the number of personnel needed to conduct work throughout the overhaul. "With the RCS, you're leveling the shipyard's resources across the whole 27-month availability. Now we don't have to focus on that as we move into the actual execution phase. It's a huge deal to get it done," said Walker. Walker said the team already has a new record in its sights for this ERO. In February 2017, Rhode Island finished refueling in 217 days, setting a new record at NNSY thanks to safety, effective planning and timely execution of quality of work. NNSY's former refueling record was on USS Alaska's ERO, which completed its availability on schedule in March 2009. "We're scheduled to complete refueling in 213 days," said Walker. "It is both aggressive and achievable. We're taking the lessons learned from the Rhode Island and we're utilizing much of the same team." Rhode Island also raised the bar with undocking two days early in July 2017. Walker points out that sharing lessons learned is essential when it comes to setting new standards for Ohio-class EROs at NNSY. "I was there for most of that availability [as Deputy Project Superintendent] before I transitioned over to Wyoming, and I'm still in contact with that project team every single day." Reflecting on the extensive overhaul that lays ahead, Walker said, "Everything we do is a challenge, but the ship is on our side and ready to help us out in achieving our goal. The captain is excited and motivated to make 27 months or less. For the shipyard, we have a lot of experience and knowledge moving into this project. I think we've got a winning team!" Wyoming is one of the United States' most vital strategic assets, and combined with the other Ohio-class submarines, makes up one leg of the nuclear triad. During a visit last year commending the Rhode Island team, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Director Admiral James F. Caldwell challenged the shipyard to continue pushing itself for even greater successes on EROs. "I want more of that," he said. "You have my incredible admiration and my greatest respect for the work you do. You are America's Shipyard because you fuel America's Navy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni snipers kill three Saudi troopers in retaliatory attacks Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 05:51PM Yemeni army soldiers, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have shot dead three Saudi soldiers in the kingdom's southwestern border region of Jizan, in retaliation for the Riyadh regime's military campaign against the crisis-hit country. An unnamed military source told Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that Yemeni forces and their allies shot and killed the soldiers in al-Ghawi village as well as al-Shabakeh and al-Dokhan military camps in the region, located 967 kilometers southwest of the capital Riyadh, on Friday evening. Earlier in the day, Yemeni snipers fatally shot nine Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to Yemen's resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi across Yemen. Local sources, requesting anonymity, said four Saudi mercenaries were killed in the Sirwah district of Yemen's central province of Ma'rib, while three others were shot and killed in the Nihm district of the western-central Yemeni province of Sana'a. Yemeni army soldiers and Popular Committees fighters also killed two Saudi-backed militiamen in the Khabb wa ash Sha'af district of al-Jawf province. Furthermore, Yemeni forces fired a solid propellant Zelzal-2 (Earthquake-2) missile at a position of Saudi mercenaries in the Mawza district of Yemen's southern province of Ta'izz, leaving scores of them dead and injured. At least 13,600 people have been killed since the onset of Saudi Arabia's military campaign against Yemen in 2015. Much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war. The Saudi-led war has also triggered a deadly cholera epidemic across Yemen. According to the World Health Organization's latest tally, the cholera outbreak has killed 2,167 people since the end of April 2017 and is suspected to have infected 841,906. In November 2017, the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, said more than 11 million children in Yemen were in acute need of aid, stressing that it was estimated that every 10 minutes a child died of a preventable disease there. Additionally, the UN has described the current level of hunger in Yemen as "unprecedented," emphasizing that 17 million people were food insecure in the country. The world body says that 6.8 million, meaning almost one in four people, do not have enough food and rely entirely on external assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 7,000 flee Congo to Burundi in just three days Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 06:01PM Thousands of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have fled to Burundi in the past three days over fierce fighting in the eastern parts of the country, Burundi police say. 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. Burundi police said on Friday a total of 6,692 refugees had registered in just three days to escape fighting between the army and the Yakutumba militia, although the flow appeared to have since slowed. "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. Congo's President Joseph Kabila told a press conference that the security situation in the east, much of which is in the hands of rival militias, was "worrying." The UN refugee agency or the Burundian authorities have not made any immediate comment about the situation yet. The Congolese government said last week it was waging "war" against two militias in the east, the Yakutumba and the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) rebel groups. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had one of the most brutal colonial rules before undergoing decades of corrupt dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars that left the mineral-rich country poor and politically unstable. Dozens of armed groups have been active in the eastern DR Congo, long after the official end of a 1998-2003 war during which millions of people died, mostly of hunger and disease. The United Nations in January warned that the Democratic Republic of the Congo was at a "breaking point," saying this year it will seek more than $1.5 billion to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. "The size of the crisis in the Congo is really challenging our collective ability to respond", said the UN migration agency's chief envoy to the country, Jean-Philippe Chauzy. The escalating violence in Congo's center and east this year comes amid a political crisis in the country due to President Kabila's refusal to leave office after his term expired in December 2016. In 2006, the UN mission helped carry out Congo's first free and fair elections in 46 years, paving the way for President Joseph Kabila to be elected for a five-year term. His second term in office ended in 2016. Under the DR Congo's constitution, Kabila is banned from seeking a third term. However, Kabila is authorized to stay in office until his successor is elected but he decided to remain in power. This prompted the UN to urge the Congolese authorities "to respect the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Congolese Constitution." The delay in holding an election has flared up violence in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain appeals Puigdemont's candidacy to lead Catalonia Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 05:12PM Spain has challenged the candidacy of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to lead Catalonia in the Constitutional Court. Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium after Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia following a unilateral declaration of independence in October last year. He is facing imprisonment in Spain if he returns home for his role in the region's independence bid. "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 and his allies say that he could govern from abroad, winning him the nickname the hologram president. "They are panicking in the face of the will of the people," Puigdemont tweeted in an immediate reaction to the appeal. The Catalan parliament on Monday nominated Puigdemont to rule the region in defiance to Madrid. It will vote on his candidacy on January 30. Spain's deputy prime minister said that if the court agreed with the government, Puigdemont's candidacy would be invalidated and the vote could be suspended. But, the Catalan separatists last year defied the court's decision banning a referendum on Catalonia's secession and held it anyway. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Poland won't give in to EU's demands, PiS party says Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 03:37PM The leader of Poland's ruling party has played down pressure exerted by the European Union on Warsaw in an ongoing conflict over an overhaul of the nation's judiciary. The European Commission last month denounced Polish laws giving the ruling party greater power over the judiciary, saying they violate fundamental European values. The European Commission's Deputy Chief Frans Timmermans had also warned in July that Poland was "perilously close" to facing sanctions. Brussels is threatening that continuation of judicial reforms could lead to sanctions against Poland. In response to the threats, Poland's Law and Justice party (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Friday that the country would stay on course with its reform plans and will not give in to Brussels' threats. Kaczynski was quoted by Gazeta Polska as saying in an interview that "the program of deep changes of our country will not be stopped, just the opposite." The party leader claimed that Brussels had exploited Poland for years, adding that it was impossible to get along with the "forces" in Brussels. PiS insists that its reforms to the judiciary were necessary to speed-up courts in the country which are slow, inefficient, and impacted by a communist-era mentality. Critics say the reforms in the judiciary would grant the PiS-controlled legislature de facto control over the selection of judges. The Council of Europe, which is responsible for the EU's human rights policy, has compared the PiS reforms to stringent measures taken by the former Soviet Union to control its judiciary. Ties between Warsaw and Brussels has turned sour ever since the PiS gained power in Poland in late 2015. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU urges Venezuela to reverse decision on Spanish envoy expulsion Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 01:51PM The European Union has lashed out at Venezuela for expelling Spain's ambassador, urging Caracas to reverse the decision and retain diplomatic relations. "The EU firmly condemns the decision by the Venezuelan authorities to declare the Spanish ambassador in Caracas a persona non grata," European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray said at a regular news conference on Friday. She added, "We call for the decision to be reversed as it goes against the need to keep diplomatic channels open." Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza announced on Thursday that his country is expelling the Spanish ambassador, Jesus Silva Fernandez, following a move by Madrid and other European Union countries to impose sanctions on Venezuelan officials over alleged human rights violations. His expulsion came in response to Spain's "continual aggressions and repeated meddling in the internal affairs of our country," said the minister. Venezuela acted three days after the 28-nation bloc decided to include some senior Venezuelan officials in its sanctions blacklist over an ongoing political conflict in the country. Diplomatic sources said Thursday that new sanctions would be imposed on seven senior Venezuela officials over their alleged role in rights abuses committed against opponents since a new wave of anti-government protests erupted in the South American country last year. Venezuela believes that Spain has played a leading role in imposing the EU restrictions. The Commission spokeswoman also said, "We recall that the decisions taken by the EU in matters of foreign affairs are taken unanimously by all member states." In December, the Venezuelan government decided to expel the top diplomats of Brazil and Canada over accusations of meddling in Venezuela's domestic affairs. Venezuela's Constituent Assembly decided to expel Brazil's Ambassador Ruy Pereira and Canadian charge d'affaires, Craig Kowalik, on December 23, declaring them "personae non gratae." Venezuela has been gripped by political bickering in recent months. There has also been political violence in the country, where the opposition has led street protests against Maduro in the past months over an acute economic crisis that has led to a fall in living standards in the oil-rich country. Maduro's government maintains the protests, which cost the lives of 125 people last year, are meant to undermine the rule of law in the country and are backed by some foreign powers. Maduro accuses the opposition of capitalizing on economic woes of Venezuela, which he says are directly linked to a slump in the global oil prices, to topple his government. The Venezuelan president sent his government representatives to a new round of talks with the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable in the Dominican Republic on Thursday, in a bid to find a negotiated settlement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China 'has no objection' to US warship visit to Vietnam Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 09:57AM China says it has no objection to a planned visit in March by a US aircraft career to Vietnam if the visit benefits regional peace and stability. The US and Vietnam have agreed for the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to make a visit to the central port of Danang in March. Danang is the port to which the first US combat unit was deployed in the Vietnam War. The visit in March could bring the most US forces to Vietnam for the first time since the war ended in 1975. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Beijing had no objection to the visit. "As long as this kind of military exchange between Vietnam and the United States is beneficial to regional peace and stability, then, of course, we have no objection," said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. She said Beijing was always happy to see countries developing friendly, cooperative relations. China is involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where several countries, including Vietnam, have overlapping claims. The US, which is an extra-regional country, has been taking the side of China's rival claimants in the regional disputes. Washington has so far sent several of its warships to the South China Sea to protect what it calls "freedom of navigation" there, but Beijing often accuses Washington of interfering in the regional issues and deliberately stirring up tensions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinians feel 'backstabbed' after Trump's Jerusalem al-Quds decision Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 05:53AM US President Donald Trump "backstabbed" Palestine by recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital," says the Palestinian envoy to Washington, accusing the American head of state of breaking his promise to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Husam Zomlot said Wednesday that Trump's December declaration took everyone by surprise and killed the hope he had created by pledging to be a "fair mediator" who would help the two sides strike "the ultimate deal." "All our statements toward the administration until December 6th [the day Trump made his announcement] were positive. Despite all our concerns, we saw this administration as an opportunity," Zomlot said, noting that his side was willing to compromise despite having doubts about Trump's support for the so-called two-state solution. More than a year into his presidency, Trump has yet to make a clear stance on the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In fact, the Republican president's statements have always been tainted by a relatively high amount of bias towards Israel. In a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of his tenure, Trump made a U-turn on decades of US policy in supporting a two-state solution by saying that he would not insist on it if it seemed too out of reach. The Republican president's lax stance on Israel's settlement activities has further put the so-called peace process at risk. Seemingly undisturbed by the consequences of his policies, Trump delivered on yet another one of his controversial campaign policies by announcing that he would move the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, the eastern parts of which Palestinians hope would someday become the capital of a fully sovereign and independent Palestine. Abbas' snub to Pence The decision drew condemnation from world leaders and prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to snub US Vice President Mike Pence during his recent trip to the occupied Palestinian territories by going abroad. The move did not go down well with Trump, who reacted by repeating an earlier threat to pull aid to Palestine. "When they disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them, and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support, tremendous numbers, numbers that nobody understands - that money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace," Trump said at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Zomlot, who was posted as ambassador to Washington in mid-2017, said Trump had to propose a deal first before accusing Palestinian leaders of undermining it. "What negotiations are they talking about? When was there an invitation that we rejected?" responded Zomlot, was posted as ambassador to Washington in mid-2017. "Our rights are not for sale," he said. "The world must understand this equation...Financial pressure doesn't work when it comes to national and human rights." The diplomat said "there was no table to sit at" because Trump had basically taken it away with his decisions. 'You don't meet with your oppressor' Palestinians have defended Abbas' refusal to meet Pence, with one spokesman for the president making it clear that they would not meet with the Trump administration unless the Jerusalem al-Quds decision was reversed. Hanan Ashrawi, another senior Palestinian official, said "not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect; it is a sign of self-respect." In Davos, Trump doubled down on his decision but also tried hard to project himself as an honest broker. "We have a proposal for peace. It is a great proposal for the Palestinians," Trump claimed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Condemns Russian Military Deal With Georgian Breakaway Region RFE/RL January 26, 2018 The United States has condemned an agreement between Russia and the leaders of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia concerning a joint military force. In a statement issued on January 26, the U.S. State Department said the agreement, which Russia ratified a day earlier, was not a valid treaty. "The United States condemns the Russian Federation's ratification of an agreement with the de facto leaders in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia regarding a joint military force. We do not recognize the legitimacy of this so-called 'treaty,' which does not constitute a valid international agreement," the statement said. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian-backed separatist regions that have declared independence from Georgia. Russia recognized the regions as independent states following a short war with Georgia in August 2008. Only a few countries followed Russia's lead in recognizing the entities' independence. Russia has said the agreement allows for the formation of a "common defense space" with the breakaway region "and will undoubtedly serve as another factor to ensure that what happened in 2008 will not be repeated." Georgia, which has expressed hopes of joining NATO, and Russia broke off diplomatic relations following the 2008 war. Moscow keeps troops in both regions. "The United States' position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering: The United States fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," the U.S. State Department said. "The United States views ratification of this agreement as inconsistent with the principles underlying the Geneva International Discussions, to which Russia is a participant. The United States urges Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions per the 2008 cease-fire agreement and reverse its recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-condemns-russian-ossetia- military-deal-georgia/29000754.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'America First' Is Not 'America Alone,' Trump Tells Davos Gathering RFE/RL January 26, 2018 President Donald Trump has told the global business elite at the World Economic Forum that his America First slogan does not mean he wants an isolationist United States. In a keynote address, Trump told the gathering in Davos, Switzerland, on January 26 that the United States was resurgent and "open for business" with the rest of the world. "As president of the United States, I will always put America First. Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first also," he said. "But America First 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 far healthier lives," he added. "America is open for business and we are competitive once again," he said in the speech, which came a little over a year after he took office championing an "America First" agenda. U.S. 'Resurgence' In his first address as U.S. president at the annual Davos meeting, Trump said, "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," he said. Trump argued in the address that a prosperous U.S. was good for the world, saying that as "the United States grows, so does the world." He said that trade must be "fair and reciprocal" and that Washington would enforce trade rules. 'Unfair Trade Practices' Trump warned trading partners that Washington would no longer tolerate unfair trade, saying predatory practices were distorting markets. "The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair trade practices," Trump said. "We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others." Turning to geopolitical matters, Trump said that the United States would continue to call on partners to "block Iran's path" to developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. He said that the United States is committed to ensuring Afghanistan "never again" becomes a haven for terrorists, and spoke of progress toward defeating the extremist group Islamic State (IS). The coalition to defeat [IS] has retaken almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria," he said. "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," Trump said. 'Exciting' Forum Hinting at Russia's clout as an exporter of oil and gas, Trump said that nobody should have to depend on a single country for energy. Trump is the first sitting president to attend the annual gathering in Davos since Bill Clinton did so in 2000. Trump said that his two-day visit to Davos, which also included meetings with leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, had been "exciting" and that he was bringing "good will" back to the United States. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and CNN Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-davos-united -states-resurgence/29000216.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Czechs Face Stark Choice In Presidential Runoff RFE/RL January 26, 2018 PRAGUE -- Czech voters will choose a president in a two-day runoff election that pits pro-European academic Jiri Drahos against ex-communist incumbent Milos Zeman. Opinion surveys in the EU and NATO member state pointed to a tight race in the voting, which ends on January 27. A poll by the Kantar TNS and Median agencies showed Zeman scoring 45.5 percent of the vote against 45 percent for Drahos. Zeman, 73, has held the largely ceremonial post since 2013. He has courted controversy by voicing antimigrant views, denigrating Muslims, and warming up to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when many in Europe fear that Moscow is meddling in Western elections and affairs. He also seeks closer ties with China. Drahos, 68, the former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences, is seen as a pro-European liberal. A political newcomer with no political party affiliation, Drahos says he is worried about the rise of extremism and populism. In their final TV debate on January 25, Drahos and Zeman both spoke in favor of deeper EU cooperation and against refugee quotas. Drahos called Zeman "a representative of the past political era...a symbol of division." Drahos also said he saw Russia as a security threat because Moscow sees NATO as its adversary. Zeman attacked Drahos's inexperience in politics, saying he "has no idea" about the "craft you have to learn for a long time." Around 8.4 million Czechs were eligible to vote in the runoff, which was mandated after no candidate won a majority in the January 12-13 first round. Zeman was first with 38.6 percent of the vote, followed by Drahos with 26.6 per cent. With reporting by AFP, dpa, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-republic-presidential- runoff-election-zeman-drahos/28999950.htmll Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indonesia Proposes 3-Nation Panel of Islamic Scholars to Promote Afghan Peace By Ayaz Gul January 26, 2018 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. "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. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Envoy to UN Calls South Sudan Government 'Unfit Partner' By Dimo Silva, Ayen Bior January 26, 2018 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. Baak Valentino Wol, Undersecretary of South Sudan's Foreign Affairs Ministry, criticized Haley's remarks. "Ambassador Nikki made many undue defamatory and inflammatory remarks on the situation in South Sudan including her uncalled for arms embargo. Ambassador Nikki's 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 Haley's 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 doesn't. That is why we called the representative of the U.S. administration to tell him that we are not happy," Wol added. South Sudan's civil war, now in its fifth year, has displaced some four million people and created a humanitarian crisis in the world's youngest country. 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 doesn't 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, 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 don't, Haley said, the Security Council should work with the region to find a new path to peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Defends 'America First' Policy at Davos Forum By Peter Heinlein January 26, 2018 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. "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 government's effects on the economy, said Trump's moves to cut taxes while imposing tariffs send a contradictory message to America's trading partners. "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. "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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Comments Overshadow Annual Summit of African Leaders By Anita Powell January 26, 2018 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. "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. 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. 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Croatia, Israel Inch Closer to F-16 Deal Sputnik News 01:03 27.01.2018 The Croatian military is on the verge of selecting Israel's used F-16 jets to take the place of its dwindling supply of Soviet MiG-21s, just six of which are estimated to be operational. The fleet of 21 60-year-old MiG-21s is in dire need of replacement. Croatia invited the US, Israel, South Korea, Sweden and Greece to participate in the competition to supply the next wave of fighter aircraft last July. Zagreb has eyed new or used F-16 Fighting Falcons from Israel, the US or Greece, South Korea's FA-50s and Saab's JAS-39 Gripens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic reached an agreement "to push forward" on the deal, signaling Netanyahu's F-16s may be close to winning the contract, the Jerusalem Post reported Friday. "This development is another expression of the deep ties between the two countries," Netanyahu's office said in a statement. The deal could be worth up to $500 million, but its potential terms have not been finalized. The Israeli Air Force retired its F-16A/B fleet in late 2016 but still flies heavily modified F-16C/D aircraft. It's not clear what composition of planes Netanyahu has offered to sell to Zagreb, but Croatian media reported that Sweden had sweetened its deal by offering to provide the more advanced F-16C/D jets. Speaking with Stars and Stripes, a Croatian military analyst said no more than six of the MiG-21s are airworthy. "It was a great plane during Croatia's war of independence" from 1991 to 1995, but "it really can't hold its own against modern fighters or anti-aircraft defenses," analyst Denis Kuljist told the military news outlet January 18. The MiG-21, NATO reporting name Fishbed, has been one of the most widely used fighter jets in military history and achieved the mark of being the most-produced supersonic aircraft in history. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military rebuts "China military threat" People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online) 14:23, January 26, 2018 China's 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 China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at MND's press conference on Thursday. Wu's 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 latter's 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia helping North Korea export coal, Western sources claim Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 07:58AM Western European intelligence sources claim that Russia is helping North Korea bypass sanctions pushed primarily by the United States by acting as an intermediary to transfer North Korean coal to South Korea and Japan. In an exclusive report on Thursday, Reuters cited three Western European intelligence sources as claiming that Pyongyang which is banned by the United Nations Security Council from exporting coal managed to send coal to two Russian ports last year. Cargoes of coal were unloaded at the ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk and then reloaded onto other ships, which took them to South Korea or Japan, the sources claimed. The Council banned Pyongyang exports of coal last August as part of a new round of sanctions to cut off an important source of foreign currency for Pyongyang. But, according to Reuters, Pyongyang has at least three times since then shipped coal to Russian ports. It did not clarify which companies profited from the alleged shipments. It separately cited a Western shipping source as saying that some of the cargoes reached Japan and South Korea in October last year. A US security source also confirmed the coal trade via Russia and said it was continuing. "Russia's port of Nakhodka is becoming a transshipping hub for North Korean coal," Reuters quoted one of the European security sources as alleging. Russia denies report Later on Friday, the Russian Embassy to North Korea denied that Russia has re-exported North Korean coal despite UN sanctions, Interfax news agency reported. "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." Japan did not immediately comment on the report, but South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Seoul was "monitoring any sanctions-evading activities by North Korea." Russia's mission to the UN informed the Security Council sanctions committee on November 3 last year that Moscow was complying with the sanctions. The United States, which has led the sanctions effort at the Security Council, put the owner of one of the ships, the UAL Ji Bong 6, under sanctions on Wednesday for allegedly delivering North Korean coal to Kholmsk on September 5, 2017. The UN has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Pyongyang, mostly under US pressure, to put a halt on its nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang, however, defends its military program as being defensive in nature and a deterrent against hostility by foreign powers. If confirmed, the report of shipments suggest that some UN member states disregard aggressive US attempts to put a stranglehold on North Korea, continuing to trade with the country. In another report last month, Reuters claimed that Russian tankers had supplied fuel to North Korea at sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Said To Have Helped North Korea Export Coal, Despite Sanctions RFE/RL January 26, 2018 North Korea has exported coal to Japan and South Korea via Russian ports in a probable violation of UN sanctions, Reuters is reporting. In its January 25 report, Reuters cited three Western European intelligence sources it did not identify. The UN Security Council in August banned North Korean exports of coal, one of the secretive state's few sources of foreign cash, in response to ballistic-missile tests that violated existing sanctions. However, the Reuters report cited the sources as saying that North Korea has shipped coal to the Russian ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk at least three times since then. The cargoes were then reportedly unloaded at docks at the Russian ports and reloaded onto ships that delivered them to South Korea or Japan. The news agency cited an unidentified Western shipping source as saying that some of the cargoes reached Japan and South Korea in October 2017. A U.S. security source confirmed the North Korean coal trade via Russia and it said it was continuing, Reuters reported. It cited a European security source as saying Nakhodka "is becoming a transshipping hub for North Korean coal." Reuters said that the Foreign Ministry of Russia, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, did not respond to a request for comment sent on January 18. Russia's UN mission informed the Security Council sanctions committee in November that Moscow was complying with the sanctions. Russian lawmakers criticized the Reuters report. Pro-Kremlin legislator Frants Klintsevich called it a "conspiracy theory" and part of an "information war" against Russia. North Korean authorities "have assured us thatthey are exporting nothing and are suffering terribly because of that, so I rule out this possibility," said another Russian lawmaker, Anton Morozov. With reporting by Reuters and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-north-korea-coal-shipments -sanctions-reuters/29000035.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We call on partners to block 'Iran's path to nuclear weapon': Trump Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 04:16PM US President Donald Trump has once again accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons despite confirmations by the United Nations' atomic agency that Tehran complies with the 2015 nuclear deal. Trump made the remarks on Friday in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he declared "America is open for business" despite his railing against "globalism" and free trade in the past. "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," he said. Trump also called on world countries to block what he called Iran's "path to a nuclear weapon." "We continue to call on partners to confront Iran's support for terrorists and block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon," he continued. Trump, whose country has thousands of nuclear weapons, has often made unfounded accusations that Iran has been seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran has strongly denied the allegations. Trump has repeatedly denounced the landmark nuclear accord. During his presidential election campaign, he threatened to shred the deal. He has been desperately trying to undo the nuclear agreement with Iran, which restricts his ability to pursue harsher policies against the Islamic Republic. Trump's anti-Iran rhetoric comes as the longstanding Western dispute over Tehran's nuclear program was settled after the conclusion of a landmark nuclear agreement in 2015. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 also endorsed the nuclear deal, which went into effect in January 2016. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also confirmed Iran's commitment to the terms of the nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China -- plus Germany started implementing the JCPOA on January 16, 2016. Trump has recently undermined the multilateral deal by introducing new rounds of sanctions against Iran. 'America is open for business' Elsewhere in his remarks in Davos, Trump said, "America is open for business and we are competitive once again." "As president of the United States I will always put America first," he said. "But America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world." "America is open for business and we are competitive once again," he also said. Trump, however, criticized China for its alleged theft of intellectual property and practice of forcing American companies to turn over their intellectual property to do business there. "We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others," he said. "We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal." 'Almost 100% of territory regained from Daesh' Trump also claimed that US-led coalition forces had regained almost 100 percent of territory occupied by the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. "The coalition to defeat ISIS (Daesh) has retaken almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria," he said. "There is still more fighting and work to be done and to consolidate our gains," he added. On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US and Saudi Arabia cannot alter the facts on the ground about their sponsorship of Daesh and Iran's role in defeating the terrorist group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Leader Said Eyeing Ways To Muzzle 'Mad Dog' Internet RFE/RL January 26, 2018 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met recently with "cyberspace experts" to discuss challenges that the Internet poses to Iran's leadership, the head of the powerful Guardians Council said. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati did not specify when Khamenei's meeting took place, but many Iranian officials have blamed social media for fomenting unrest that erupted in December and January before curbs on mobile networks and apps and thousands of arrests helped authorities put down street protests in dozens of cities. In remarks published on January 26 by the hard-line Tasnim news agency, which has links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Jannati went on to describe the Internet as a "pain in the neck" for Iran, whose authorities routinely block news and information websites and social media in addition to foreign television and radio broadcasts. The Guardians Council that the 91-year-old Jannati chairs has broad powers to interpret the constitution and vet legislation and candidates for office. Jannati warned vaguely that measures "should be taken" in connection with the threat from cyberspace. "I'm not saying it has to be fully blocked," Jannati added, "That's impossible. But we have to reduce it." He cited Chinese and Japanese efforts to rein in access to the Internet, although it was not immediately clear what steps in Japan he was referring to. Iranian officials in the past have explored options ranging from a system to steer local IP addresses to a domestic Internet -- dubbed a "National Data Network" -- to routine blocks on messaging apps and other digital tools. But such tactics have left Iranians relatively savvy in the ways of avoiding web filters. Provisional Friday Prayers leader in Tehran Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said on January 26 that the recent protests were led by "cyberspace seditionists." "Cyberspace as a platform for foreigners is a mad dog," he said, adding, "If left alone, it will bite again." Iran temporarily blocked Telegram and the photo sharing app Instagram in the early days of the protests, which Khamenei blamed on "foreign enemies." Hundreds of Iranians are still believed to be in detention over the protests, which were the country's biggest since millions of people took to the streets after a disputed presidential election in 2009. The United States on January 12 announced new, targeted sanctions on 14 Iranian individuals and organizations for "serious human rights abuses," censorship, and nonnuclear weapons issues, a Treasury Department spokesperson said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, irinews, and ISNA Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-mad-dog-internet-muzzle -guardians-council-/29000127.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council to View Alleged Iranian Missile Parts By Margaret Besheer January 26, 2018 The U.N. Security Council will visit Washington on Monday for a working lunch with U.S. President Donald Trump and to conduct a visit to examine alleged Iranian missile parts. Council members will have the opportunity to view the large pieces of short-range missile debris that Ambassador Nikki Haley unveiled at a news conference in December at a military base in Washington. qAt the time, Haley said the military equipment was "undeniable" evidence that Iran was illegally arming Houthi rebels in Yemen. "It was made in Iran, then sent to Houthi militants in Yemen, from there it was fired at a civilian airport, with the potential to kill hundreds of innocent civilians in Saudi Arabia," Haley said in December. The Americans have indicated that they plan to hold Iran accountable at the United Nations for violations of an international arms embargo on the Yemeni rebels. It is part of the Trump administration's larger strategy of remaining in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but trying to bring consequences against Tehran for its other negative behavior in the region, including supporting groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 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." The missile debris is on loan from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are leading a coalition against the Houthis. The coalition's nearly three-year-long air war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen. President Trump has invited Security Council members to a working lunch, something he did last year as well. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster will accompany council members to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.According to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, they will visit an exhibition on the Syrian conflict entitled Syria: Please Don't Forget Us. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan's F-35A Makes First Deployment to Spy, Defend Airspace Sputnik News 22:24 26.01.2018 The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's first F-35A aircraft has deployed to northeastern Japan "at a time when neighboring countries have been quickly building up their air force capabilities," the island nation's defense minister told reporters Friday. The aircraft will monitor Japanese airspace and conduct surveillance over North Korea from Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, Kyodo News reported, where the Japanese air fleet will eventually station 10 F-35As. In total, Japan has ordered 42 fifth-generation F-35A stealth fighters the aircraft's traditional runway-based variant from Lockheed Martin, but the company has been slow to deliver the orders. In 2019, the Japanese Defense Ministry plans to acquire long-range joint strike missiles, a weapon tailored to the F-35. However, Tokyo's procurement of these missiles has not been without controversy, since they provide an offensive capability for the "self-defense" force. Japan's military capabilities are limited by the country's constitution to self-defense, not offensive operations. According to Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, "the introduction of the missiles is not aimed at targeting enemy military bases. We rely on US strike capabilities for attacking enemy bases and this will remain unchanged." Lockheed Martin has teamed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build the jets for Japan. Japan's first four F-35A aircraft were produced in Lockheed's Fort Worth, Texas, facility and the other 38 are slated to come off the production line from a Mitsubishi plant in Japan. The F-35A that landed at Misawa Air Base for deployment was built in the Mitsubishi facility, Kyodo News noted. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan Deploys First of Ten F-35A Jets Purchased From US - Defense Minister Sputnik News 14:25 26.01.2018(updated 14:27 26.01.2018) TOKYO (Sputnik) - The first of the F-35A fighters Japan had purchased from the United States has been deployed at the Misawa Air Force Base in the north-east of the island of Honshu, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said at a press conference on Friday. "The deployment of the F-35 fighters with high-performance capabilities is of great importance for ensuring the security of Japan at a time when neighboring countries have been rapidly increasing the capabilities of their military aviation in recent years," he said. Japan has been enhancing its military capabilities since last year, approving the largest budget in the country's history for the next fiscal year (starting from April 1, 2018) in the amount of 97.7 trillion yen ($897 billion). The country's defense spending has increased 1.17 percent year-on-year to 5.19 trillion yen ($47.6 billion) due to North Korea's growing activity in the development of its nuclear and missile programs, as well as Tokyo's intention to improve its anti-missile defense. The tensions on the Korean Peninsula have further escalated last year, as Pyongyang continued to pursue its nuclear and missile programs despite the warnings of the international community. As a part of the efforts to appeal to North Korea, the UN Security Council imposed several rounds of sanctions on the country on December 22, 2017, in particular forbidding oil sales to North Korea and the buying textiles from the country. The purchased by Japan F-35A aircraft is the most lightweight and low-cost version of the F-35 fighter jet. During the next financial year, which will begin on April 1, 2018, the government of Japan plans to deploy another nine such fighters. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian lawmaker says Moscow will act in retaliation for new US sanctions Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 06:53PM A senior lawmaker at Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, says Moscow will retaliate in the wake of the latest sanctions imposed by the United States. Earlier on Friday, the United States expanded its sanctions against Russia by adding 21 people, including Russian Deputy Energy Minister Andrey Cherezov, and nine companies to the sanctions list because of what Washington called Moscow's continued interference in Ukraine. Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, said that Moscow would retaliate. The United States and its allies had already levied broad economic sanctions against Russia over its alleged support for pro-Russia separatist forces in eastern Ukraine and Crimea's reunification with Russia after a referendum in 2014. The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, which was initiated by Kiev after it deployed forces to crack down on pro-democracy autonomy-seekers in the Russian-speaking region, has left more than 10,000 people dead. The US has also imposed a series of sanctions against Russia as punishment over Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The US intelligence community believes Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered a cyber campaign to help Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential race and defeat his main rival Hillary Clinton. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the accusation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Imposes New Sanctions Over Ukraine Conflict As U.S., Russian Envoys Set To Meet Mike Eckel January 26, 2018 WASHINGTON -- The United States hit 21 people and nine companies linked to the Russia-backed conflict in eastern Ukraine with new economic sanctions, the latest effort by Washington to put pressure on groups most actively involved in the nearly 4-year-old conflict. The measures announced on January 26 by the Treasury Department came on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Davos, Switzerland. They also came as the U.S. special envoy for the Ukrainian conflict, Kurt Volker, met with his Kremlin counterpart, Vladislav Surkov, to discuss ways to resolve the fighting. Since Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and the outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have imposed asset freezes, travel bans, and related financial restrictions on a number of Russian people and companies, as well as separatist leaders in the region. Several Russian Officials Targeted In this latest round, the Treasury Department targeted 11 people identified as top separatist officials in eastern Ukraine. "This action underscores the U.S. government's opposition to Russia's occupation of Crimea and firm refusal to recognize its attempted annexation of the peninsula," the department said in a statement. The sanctions also target several Russian officials, including deputy energy minister Andrei Cherezov, who had been hit earlier by European Union measures for his role in a scheme to ship power turbines to Crimea. Those turbines were built by German engineering giant Siemens for Russia but instead ended up in Crimea. Siemens itself has not been targeted by the United States, and the company has said it was suing a Russian state-owned energy company. Multiple subsidiaries of the Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz were also listed, the Treasury Department said. So were subsidiaries of Power Machines, a major manufacturer of heavy industrial equipment and machinery. 'Trade War' In Moscow, Russian lawmakers responded defiantly. "This is a policy of maximum containment of a growing Russia. The Americans have declared a trade war against us," Vladimir Dzhabaraov, a member of the lower house of parliament, was quoted as saying. The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, threatened retaliation, and again asserted that it was Washington which was behind the 2014 popular protests in Kyiv that led to the ouster of then-President Viktor Yanukovych. This "absurd sanctions campaign has not succeeded and will not lead to any results," the ministry said in a statement. "If the U.S. authorities prefer to break economic and other ties with Russia, it is their right, just as it is our right to respond." There was no immedate statement from the State Department following Tillerson's meeting with Poroshenko. But the Ukrainian president said in a tweet that the two discussed defense and security cooperation. "Grateful for the full support of the United States in the UN Security Council and continuation of the policy of sanctions against the Russian Federation," Poroshenko wrote in the post. Nor was there any public announcement about the outcome of the meeting between Volker and Surkov, held in the Gulf city of Dubai. However, an unnamed Russian official told the Interfax news agency that the two discussed a new law recently passed by Ukraine's parliament, aimed at "reintegrating" the two eastern Ukrainian regions that are controlled by separatists. "The two sides still have different approaches to this matter. Acommonvision has not been achieved," the official was quoted as saying. "The sides have agreed to continue the dialogue." The announcement came just days before the release of another set of economic restrictions that is expected to target Kremlin insiders and a wider array of Russia companies. Those sanctions were mandated under a law passed last year by Congress that sought to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other matters. Anticipation over the wider Russian sanctions has been building for weeks now, with influential businessmen and Kremlin-connected insiders worried about being included in what is being known in Washington as the "oligarchs list." Earlier this week, the head of VTB, the state-owned bank that is also Russia's second largest, Andrei Kostin, said any new sanctions that targeted Russian lenders would be tantamount to economic war. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-new-u-s-sanctions -ukraine/29000684.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jailed Ex-Governor Belykh Asks Russian Court To Acquit Him Of Bribery RFE/RL January 26, 2018 Jailed former Russian regional Governor Nikita Belykh maintained his innocence as his bribery trial drew to a close, calling the case against him the result of a "police provocation" and asked the court to acquit him. In an hour-long final statement to the court on January 26, Belykh said his guilt had not been proven during the investigation or the trial, which began in September. He said he wants to go home to his wife and four children, and hopes the court will make "a just decision." Before starting his final statement, the liberal former Kirov region governor felt unwell and medical personnel gave him an injection for high blood pressure. Investigators detained Belykh in June 2016, claiming they caught him accepting a 400,000-euro bribe at a Moscow restaurant. At the time, he was the highest-level official to be arrested in office since President Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000. Once a leader of a liberal opposition party, the Union of Right Forces, he was one of the few provincial governors in Russia not to be closely allied with Putin. He was chosen as governor of the region northeast of Moscow by President Dmitry Medvedev, who was steered into the Kremlin by Putin in 2008 and pursued more liberal policies that were rolled back when Putin returned in 2012. Putin fired Belykh in July 2016, after his arrest. As his trial opened, Belykh dismissed the charge as "absurd" and pleaded not guilty. On January 24 the state prosecutor asked the Presnya District court in Moscow to sentence Belykh to 10 years in prison and fine him 100 million rubles ($1.8 million). That hearing and several others were held at Matrosskaya Tishina, the Moscow jail where Belykh is in custody, due to his poor health. Judge Tatyana Vasyuchenko announced a break after Belykh's final statement and said that the verdict would be pronounced on February 1. With reporting by Mediazona, TASS, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-belykh-ex-governor -bribery-acquittal-acquittal/29000347.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Supreme Court Denies Navalny's Appeal To Run For President January 26, 2018 Russia's Supreme Court has declined opposition leader Aleksey Navalny's appeal to be allowed to run for president in the March election, the court told the media on January 26. A staunch opponent of longtime President Vladimir Putin, anticorruption crusader Navalny has exhausted his appeals for the case within the Russian justice system. "On January 22, the judge decided against sending the appeal for consideration in a judicial hearing," the court told the Interfax news agency on January 26. Russian electoral authorities had earlier ruled that Navalny cannot run in the election because of a previous conviction for financial crimes, for which he received a suspended sentence. Navalny contends that the case against him was fabricated to punish him for his opposition activity and keep him out of elections. He has called for a boycott of the election, and supporters have planned protests throughout the country on January 28. His grassroots campaign team said on January 2 that members were recently detained in four cities around the country. "Our boycott has become a real nightmare for the Kremlin," the organization said on Twitter. Moscow city authorities have emphasized that such a demonstration in the Russian capital had not been approved and threatened legal action against Navalny, according to comments carried by state media. Police have repeatedly cracked down on demonstrations organized by Navalny in the past. More than 1,000 people were detained in Moscow alone on March 26, 2017, when Navalny organized protests in some 100 cities nationwide. Law enforcement authorities also cracked down hard at a protest in May 2012, the day before Putin -- who has been president or prime minister since 1999 -- returned to the Kremlin for his current term after a stint as head of the government. Navalny has dismissed the election as the "reappointment" of President Vladimir Putin and is urging Russians not to vote. With the Kremlin controlling the levers of political power nationwide after years of steps to suppress dissent and marginalize political opponents, it is virtually certain that the election will hand Putin a new six-year term. Based on reporting by dpa and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-navalny-appeal-denied- supreme-court-presidency/29000865.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Additional Individuals and Entities in Connection with the Conflict in Ukraine and Russia's Occupation of Crimea U.S. Department of the Treasury January 26, 2018 WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated 21 individuals and 9 entities under four Executive Orders (E.O.s) related to Russia and Ukraine, including three individuals and two entities related to Russia's transfer of four turbines made by a Russian-German joint venture to Crimea. Today's action is part of Treasury's continued commitment to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia until it fully implements its commitments under the Minsk agreements. This action underscores the U.S. government's opposition to Russia's occupation of Crimea and firm refusal to recognize its attempted annexation of the peninsula. These sanctions follow the European Union's recent extension of sanctions and reinforce our continued unity in supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a result of today's action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked. Additionally, transactions by U.S. persons involving these persons are generally prohibited. "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 agreements," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "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 U.S. sanctions." Today, OFAC also identified 12 subsidiaries that are owned 50 percent or more by previously sanctioned Russian companies to provide additional information to assist the private sector with sanctions compliance. Designations of Ukrainian Separatists and for Misappropriation of Ukrainian State Assets (E.O. 13660) Today's action targets 11 Ukrainian separatists pursuant to E.O. 13660 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; or for asserting governmental authority over a part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine. This action is part of an ongoing effort to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Igor Antipov is the "Minister of Information" of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)." Antipov is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Aleksey Granovsky is the "Minister of Industry and Trade" of the so-called DPR. Granovsky is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine and for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Ekaterina Matyushchenko is the "Minister of Finance" of the so-called DPR. Matyushchenko is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine and for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Natalya Nikonorova is the "Minister of Foreign Affairs" of the so-called DPR. Nikonorova is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine and for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Vladimir Pavlenko is the "Minister of State Security" of the so-called DPR. Pavlenko is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Elena Radomskaya is the "Minister of Justice" of the so-called DPR. Radomskaya is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine and for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Aleksandr Timofeev is the "Minister of Taxes and Revenues" of the so-called DPR. Timofeev is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR. Elena Kostenko is the "Acting Economic Development Minister" of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)." Kostenko is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine. Svetlana Malakhova is the "Minister of Labor and Social Policy" of the so-called LPR. Malakhova is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine. Pavel Malgin is the "Acting Minister of Fuel, Energy, and Coal Industry" of the so-called LPR. Malgin is being designated for having asserted governmental authority over any part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine. Dmitry Ovsyannikov was purportedly elected "Governor of Sevastopol" in an election organized by Russia. He was previously appointed by President Putin as the so-called "Acting Governor of the City of Sevastopol." Ovsyannikov is being designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine. OFAC is also designating pursuant to E.O. 13660 three individuals and four entities who have supported the illicit coal trade from the so-called DPR or LPR. In the spring of 2017, the so-called DPR and LPR put Ukrainian enterprises, including coal mines, located on their territory under the control of ZAO Vneshtorgservis, a company based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia. ZAO Vneshtorgservis has worked with the company Gaz-Alyans, OOO, which is controlled by Sergey Kurchenko, to export coal from the separatist-controlled regions to Europe. In addition, the brothers Oleksandr and Serhiy Melnychuk have used several companies, including Doncoaltrade Sp. Z O O and Ugolnye Tekhnologii, OOO, to export coal from the so-called DPR and LPR to Russia and other countries. ZAO Vneshtorgservis is being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf or, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR and the so-called LPR. Vladimir Pashkov is the general director of ZAO Vneshtorgservis. Pashkov is being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the so-called DPR and the so-called LPR. Gaz-Alyans, OOO is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ZAO Vneshtorgservis, the so-called DPR, and the so-called LPR. Oleksandr Melnychuk is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the so-called LPR. Doncoaltrade Sp. Z O O is being designated for being owned or controlled by Oleksandr Melnychuk. Serhiy Melnychuk is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the so-called LPR. Ugolnye Tekhnologii, OOO is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the so-called LPR and DPR. Designations Regarding Russian Officials and their Supporters (E.O. 13661) Today's action targets four individuals and two entities pursuant to E.O. 13661, which authorizes sanctions against, among others, officials of the Government of the Russian Federation as well as any individual or entity that has acted for or on behalf of, or supported, an individual or entity previously designated under this E.O. Andrey Cherezov is the Russian Deputy Minister of Energy in the Department of Operational Control and Management in the Electric Power Industry. Cherezov was designated by the EU for the delivery of turbines to annexed Crimea on August 4, 2017. OFAC is designating Cherezov for being an official of the Government of the Russian Federation. Evgeniy Grabchak is the Head of the Department for the Russian Energy Ministry's Department of Operational Control and Management in the Electric Power Industry. He is responsible within the Russian Ministry of Energy for the development of electro-energetic projects in Crimea. Grabchak was designated by the EU for the delivery of turbines to annexed Crimea on August 4, 2017. OFAC is designating Grabchak for being an official of the Government of the Russian Federation. Aleksandr Pentya is a Vice President with ABR Management, which was designated pursuant to E.O. 13661 in September 2016 for acting for on behalf of Bank Rossiya. Pentya is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, ABR Management. Evro Polis Ltd. is a Russian company that has contracted with the Government of Syria to protect Syrian oil fields in exchange for a 25 percent share in oil and gas production from the fields. Evro Polis Ltd. is being designated for being owned or controlled by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who was designated pursuant to E.O. 13661 in December 2016 for providing support to senior officials of the Russian Federation. In late 2017, Bogdan Kolosov, who is the Department Manager for Customer Service at the Russian-based transportation services company Instar Logistics, coordinated a shipment of weapons with previously designated Kalashnikov Concern International Business Development Director Vakhtang Karamyan. Instar Logistics is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kalashnikov Concern. Kolosov is being designated for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Kalashnikov Concern. Designations Regarding Crimea (E.O. 13685) Today's action targets one construction entity and two associated individuals pursuant to E.O. 13685, which authorizes sanctions against, among others, any person determined to operate in the Crimea region of Ukraine. VAD, AO is the St. Petersburg, Russia-based construction company responsible for the construction of the Tavrida Highway in Crimea. This federal highway is expected to provide transportation access and economic development to Crimea through a system of newly constructed roadways that serve as primary connection to the Kerch Bridge and to cities in Crimea. VAD, AO's largest government contract is for the construction of the Tavrida Highway. VAD, AO and the so-called "Republic of Crimea" signed a contract for the highway's construction and the projected cost is about $2.92 billion. VAD, AO is being designated because it operates in the Crimea region of Ukraine. Valeri Abramov is the co-founder and General Director of VAD, AO. Abramov is being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, VAD, AO. Viktor Perevalov is the co-founder and First Deputy General Director of VAD, AO. Perevalov is being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, VAD, AO. OFAC is also designating one individual and two entities related to Russia's transfer of four turbines made by a Russian-German joint venture to Crimea. In July 2017, four turbines produced by a joint venture between a German company and PJSC Power Machines were transferred to Crimea. The transfer occurred despite clear contractual provisions prohibiting the use of the turbines in Crimea and repeated assurances that no such transfer would take place. If successfully installed, these turbines will further support Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea by providing an independent power supply to Crimea and Sevastopol. Four of the individuals and entities involved in the transfer were designated by the EU in August 2017. Limited Liability Company Foreign Economic Association Technopromexport (Technopromexport LLC) is one of the entities responsible for the transfer of the turbines to Crimea. Technopromexport LLC is being designated for operating in Crimea. Sergey Topor-Gilka is the General Director of Technopromexport LLC and OAO Technopromexport, which was designated in December 2015 pursuant to E.O. 13685 for operating in Crimea. Topor-Gilka is being designated for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Technopromexport LLC and OAO Technopromexport. PJSC Power Machines is the Russian co-owner of the joint venture that produced the turbines, and its director has publicly stated his support for Crimean infrastructure projects. Power Machines is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services to or in support of, OAO Technopromexport and Technopromexport LLC. Identifications Under the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List (E.O. 13662) Today, OFAC also identified 12 subsidiaries of Surgutneftegaz as being 50 percent or more owned by Surgutneftegaz, which was added to the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List (SSI List) in September 2014 under Directive 4. The subsidiaries identified today were already subject to the same restrictions as their parent entity per OFAC's Revised Guidance on Entities Owned by Persons Whose Property and Interests in Property Are Blocked ("50 percent rule guidance"), which can be found here [link]. These identifications will help the public more effectively comply with the sanctions on Surgutneftegaz. #### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Slaps New Sanctions on Russian, Ukrainian Separatist Officials By VOA News January 26, 2018 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. 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. This story includes reporting from VOA's Russian Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Kurds call for Damascus help in face of Turkish operation Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 07:26AM Kurdish authorities in Syria's Afrin district have called on the Syrian government to send troops to help defend them from a Turkish incursion in line with protecting the country's sovereignty. "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," they said in a statement Thursday. The Syrian government has given a degree of authority to the Kurdish regions to run their own affairs in the face of a foreign-backed militancy. The US, however, has used the vacuum to establish a foothold in those regions with the help of militants. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday the United States was "discouraging the Kurds from dialogue" with the Syrian government and "fomenting separatist sentiment" among them. Earlier this month, the US announced that it would work with militants of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to set up a new 30,000-strong "border security" force in Syria. Turkey pounced on the announcement to launch a military incursion into Afrin last Friday with the purported aim of cleansing the areas near its southern borders of YPG militants which are affiliated to SDF. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has described US-sponsored Kurdish armed elements as "traitors" to the nation but has also denounced Turkish incursions as an act of aggression. President Donald Trump spoke with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Wednesday, hinting that Turkey's operation against US-backed militants in Syria "might risk conflict" between the two allies. In Ankara, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag urged the United States on Thursday to halt its support for Kurdish militants or risk confronting Turkish forces on the ground in Syria. The Pentagon, however, later said on Thursday that it was in talks with Turkey about the possibility of creating a "security zone" in northwest Syria. "Clearly we continue to talk to the Turks about a possibility of a secure zone, whatever you want to call it," Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, joint staff director, told reporters. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said Thursday that member state Turkey had a right to act in self-defense, adding that Ankara had briefed the Western military alliance on its Syria mission. Turkey views SDF/YPD militants as allies of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) group, which has been fighting a separatist war against Ankara for decades. Amid the convoluted situation and the increasingly complex theater of war in northern Syria, co-chair of Afrin's executive council Othman al-Sheikh Issa reiterated the region's appeal for help from the Syrian government. "If the Syrian state has a real position, with the capabilities it has, it should stand in the face of this aggression and say that it will not allow Turkish planes to fly in Syrian airspace," he told the French news agency AFP. "We consider Afrin an inseparable part of Syrian territory. Any attack on Afrin is an attack on all the region's people and on the sovereignty of the Syrian state," al-Sheikh Issa said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hidden Forces: Israeli Ambassador Claims Iran has 82,000-Strong Army in Syria Sputnik News 01:08 27.01.2018 On Tuesday, Israel's envoy to the UN Danny Danon said that Iran controls a force of 82,000 fighters in Syria: 60,000 Syrian troops; 10,000 Shiite militiamen from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan; 9,000 members of the Lebanese Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah; and 3,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Danon said Iran had spent $35 billion on training and equipping this force. He went on to claim that the Islamic Republic was building missile bases in Syria, with the ultimate goal of turning Israel's war-torn neighbor "into the largest military base in the world." He claimed that Israeli intelligence had garnered this secret information and was now sharing it with the world. "We are releasing this classified information because it is vital for the world to understand that if we turn a blind eye in Syria, the Iranian threat will only grow," said Danon. "The Shi'ite crescent is on our doorstep. Iran is ready to strike at a moment's notice," he said, referring to the crescent-shaped region of the Middle East that has a Shia-majority population. As a Shia state, Tehran often styles itself as protector of the global Shia community. The ambassador added that Iran's intention was to destabilize the region and threaten both Israel and the West. "Why does Iran keep recruiting these extremists to be killed in the battlefields of Syria?" he asked. "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." While Israel has had minimal involvement with the Syrian Civil War, they have acted in the past to attack Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups that strayed too close to the de facto Israeli-Syrian border. Tel Aviv has made no bones about their refusal to tolerate a permanent Iranian military presence by their border and has conducted airstrikes in Syria to that effect. The most recent strike occurred on January 9, targeting Hezbollah and Syrian army positions with missiles and airstrikes. Syria claims that most of the missiles were intercepted, but some damage was done to materiel by the missiles that did get through. Iran in turn has made no secret of their presence in Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad asked for Tehran's help in 2011 and Iran has supported his government with Revolutionary Guardsmen and Shiite militiamen since at least 2013. An estimated 2,000 Revolutionary Guardsmen have died in Syria since the civil war began. Danon also brought up his country's continued opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear weapons deal between Iran, the members of the UN Security Council and Germany. While most of the UN supported the plan, Israel has strongly opposed it. "Since the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, Iran has only increased its military spending," said Danon, adding that this was only made possible by the sanctions relief that Iran got in exchange for slowing their nuclear program. "In 2014, 17 percent of Iran's government spending went to its military expenditure. This past year, in 2017, this number ballooned to 22 percent. That's $23 billion spent on missiles, arms and other weapons of war." He also urged the international community not to "allow Iran to continue funding worldwide terror, pursue its dangerous internal arms buildup, and grow its military presence abroad." "The money the [Iranian] regime earns from your economic deals will be spent on ballistic missile testing, nuclear development and promoting worldwide terror while you are making a profit; Iran is building an empire," he warned European countries who have taken the slackened sanctions as an opportunity to establish stronger business ties with Iran. "Iran starts with Israel; it is you who are next." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. reiterates commitment to Taiwan, despite flag removal ROC Central News Agency 2018/01/26 16:04:17 Washington, Jan. 25 (CNA) The United States said Thursday that its policy and commitment toward Taiwan remains unchanged, despite the recent removal of the Republic of China (Taiwan) national flag from two U.S. government websites. The United States remains committed to its one-China policy based on the three joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert when answering questions at the Foreign Press Centers in Washington. "We consider Taiwan to be a vital partner, a democratic success story, and a force for good in the world. Taiwan shares our values and has earned our respect and continues to merit our strong support," she said. Despite her words, there was no explanation as to why the U.S. reached its decision. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesman Sidney Lin () called the U.S. the most important partner of Taiwan in the international community and said that the longstanding good relations between the two countries are of great importance to Northeast Asia. Lin also expressed appreciation for U.S. support of Taiwan in all fields, stressing that as a constructive member of the global village, Taiwan will continue to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region. Taiwanese media reported Jan. 24 that the ROC flag had been removed from the official websites of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), provoking Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to protest against the unexpected move. MOFA spokesman Andrew Lee () said Taiwan is "disappointed" over the removal of its national flag from the websites, and called such a move "unthinkable" and "unacceptable." According to Lee, Taiwan has expressed its grave concern over the matter to Washington. Lee said that over the past few months, Taiwan's government has held talks with the U.S. over its decision to remove the ROC national flag from the State Department website in September 2017. (By Leaf Jiang, Flor Wang and Christie Chen) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan: Syria offensive could expand as far as Iraq border Iran Press TV Fri Jan 26, 2018 10:37AM President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey may extend its operation against the Afrin region in Syria to other cities as far east as the Iraqi border. Addressing provincial leaders from his ruling Justice and Development Party on Friday, the Turkish leader vowed to "clean up" the city of Manbij, east of Afrin, also held by US-backed YPG militants. "We will continue our fight until there is no terrorist on our border leading to Iraq," Erdogan said. Erdogan held phone talks with US President Donald Trump late on Wednesday. The US 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. On Friday, the Turkish leader criticized Washington's call for the operation to be "short" and "limited" in scope. "How long has Afghanistan lasted? Nearly 20 years. How long has it lasted in Iraq? Nearly 18 years!" Erdogan said. Turkey views Syrian Kurdish militants as allies of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group, which has been fighting a separatist war against Ankara for decades. The offensive began days after the US said it will work with Kurdish militants to set up a 30,000-strong force inside Syria near the Turkish border. Ankara first deployed troops to northern Syria in August 2016 after Kurdish militants refused to withdraw from the Syrian territory they had seized from Daesh. Amid the increasingly complex theater of war in northern Syria, the Kurds on Thursday pleaded with Damascus to deploy troops to secure the borders of the Afrin area in the face of the Turkish invasion. Damascus has decried both the American and Turkish presence on its soil as infringement on its territorial sovereignty. Vienna talks On Friday, Vienna was hosting the second day of UN-sponsored talks on Syria, with warring factions discussing key issues like governance, drawing up a new constitution and holding elections. The first day saw UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura holding separate talks with delegations from both sides which he said were "very very critical moment". The negotiations are meant to find a peaceful way out of the violence plaguing Syria since 2011. A tandem process has also been underway since early 2017, with Turkey, Iran, and Russia as mediators. Turkey sides with anti-Damascus militants in the parallel talks, while the other two countries represent the Syrian government. The talks began in the Kazakh capital of Astana, leading to establishment of four de-escalation zones across the Arab country. They are to continue later in the month in the Russian resort city of Sochi. The UN has described the Astana negotiations as contributory to the mechanism monitored by the world body. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Olive Branch Op: Battle to 'Continue Till Victorious End for the Turkish People' Sputnik News 20:07 26.01.2018 Deputy of the Turkish ruling AKP party, Metin Kulunk, in an interview with Sputnik Turkey said that the operation in Manjib will continue until the complete destruction of the Kurdish YPG forces. Metin Kulunk said that Turkey's goal in the course of the military operations in Syria is to destroy terrorist elements in Afrin and Manbij and until that goal is achieved, the operation cannot be considered successful. "We consider the approach taken by the United States on Syrian territory to be absolutely unacceptable, protecting and assisting a terrorist organization threatening Turkey's national security, and as an excuse to cover up the struggle with another terrorist structure," Kulunk said. He further said that the US does not realize the response of the Turkish people, if they continue to threaten the stability of the Turkish state by using the assistance of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK which is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara) in the region. "The Turkish border must be completely cleared of the threat to our territorial integrity. And we are sure that the Olive Branch operation launched in Afrin will continue till the victorious end and will justify the expectations of the Turkish people, who know firsthand what the struggle for protecting national interests is like," the deputy told Sputnik Turkey. Further, looking at the US interests in the region, Kulunk said that the country should abandon the attempt to create an army of terrorists from the "monsters that they trained and armed". "We are already fed up with their [US] statements and unfulfilled promises. The US is trying to sabotage the efforts made by the trilateral alliance of Turkey, Russia and Iran to stabilize the situation in Syria within the framework of the Astana and Sochi processes," according to the deputy. He added that both Turkey and Iran possess the necessary state wisdom and perspicacity, which will allow them to notice and oppose these attempts by the US to create a drift between the countries. According to the deputy, "the only right step that the US can take in this situation is to put an end to its support of the PKK terrorist organization and Daesh, acting in conjunction with it." The US must also allow the transfer of Afrin to the residents of Afrin and Manbij to its residents in order to preserve the demographic structure existing in the region and to ensure the peaceful coexistence in Syria of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens and other peoples. "The US should follow a path of clearing the region of terrorism, while they must give up the desire to teach Turkey," Kulunk concluded. Turkey launched a military operation called Olive Branch on January 20 in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian city of Afrin. The city is controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The latter is considered to be connected to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group in Turkey and several other countries. Despite opposition to the operation by many members of the international community, Ankara has stressed that the advance is not aimed against the Syrian government, calling the territorial integrity of Syria its mutual goal with Damascus. The Syrian government has, however, denounced the operation as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. For its part, Russia has called upon all parties involved to exercise restraint and respect Syria's territorial integrity. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Not to Limit Anti-Terrorist Op to Syria, Ready to Fight in Iraq - Ankara Sputnik News 20:03 26.01.2018 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey is not going to limit its military operation to the Syrian Afrin region, and is ready to fight in Iraq, if necessary, in its effort to destroy terrorism, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday. "We will be in Syria until we destroy terrorism and then will hand these territories to their true owners. The calls to limit our operation to Afrin have no influence on us. Wherever the terrorist threat comes from Sinjar, Qandil, Manbij, east of Euphrates we will fight and destroy it," Cavusoglu said while aired by the NTV broadcaster. The statement was made after on January 21, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a resolution on the situation in northwestern Syria, calling on Turkey "to exercise restraint and ensure that its military operations remain limited in scope and duration and scrupulous to avoid civilian casualties." Despite Washington's calls and assertions that the US had been providing "mission-specific" weapons to the Syrian Democratic Forces for use in Raqqa, Syria and not "providing anything to any other groups in the area", Turkey launched the military operation on January 20, dubbed Olive Branch, in Syrian Kurdish-populated city of Afrin. However, Ankara stressed that its military advance in the region wasn't aimed against the country's sovereignty. As Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim explained the goal of the offensive, Turkey seeks to ensure the security of its borders and "is targeting only terrorists". In his previous statements on the issue, Cavusoglu assured that Ankara was informing Russia and other states about the progress of the operation, including US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SDF Forces Claim 308 Turkish Soldiers Have Died During Olive Branch Op in Afrin Sputnik News 11:57 26.01.2018(updated 13:27 26.01.2018) ANKARA (Sputnik) The Syrian Defense Forces' press service reported of 308 Turkish servicemen killed since the start of the Olive Branch operation in Afrin. This number contradicts Ankara's reports. "We have 43 victims among our fighters, including eight women from the YPJ (women's self-defense forces). 134 civilians were wounded and 59 are dead," the statement said. According to the Syrian Defense Forces, since January 20, the Turkish Air Forces have carried out 191 sorties and dropped 699 shells on the territory in the north of Syria. During the operation, there have been 136 clashes between the SDF and the advancing forces. The SDF even mentions seven more clashes, "the results of which have not been not confirmed." "Turkish aggression led to the deaths of 308 members of various offensive troops, with four officers and a general among them," the SDF stated. However, the Turkish Health Ministry has refuted the number of its servicemen killed, claiming that only three have died since the start of the operation. "Three Turkish servicemen were killed during the country's operation in Syria's Afrin and 16 remain hospitalized, a spokesperson of the Turkish Health Ministry told Sputnik on Friday. "To date, three Turkish servicemen have been killed during the operation in Afrin Several dozen have been injured, most of them received medical assistance on site. As many as 16 are in the hospital, their condition is not critical," the spokesperson said. According to the latest data released by the Turkish military, a total of 343 "terrorists" have been eliminated since the beginning of the Olive Branch operation, which was launched on January 20. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed that Ankara could extend its third military advance in Syria all the way east to the border with Iraq, emphasizing that the country would "completely clear the region of terrorists, beginning with Manbij and throughout our entire border [with Syria]." The Olive Branch offensive was launched on January 20 in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian city of Afrin, controlled by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The latter is considered to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist group in Turkey and some other countries. Despite Moscow and Washington's opposition to the operation, Ankara stresses that the advance is not aimed against the Syrian government, calling the territorial integrity of Syria its common goal with Damascus. The operation hasn't come as a surprise, as Turkey has been mulling it over since the US announcement of plans to train a 30,000-strong border force in northern Syria mostly from YPG fighters, which was strongly criticized by Turkey. Within a week after the plans had been declared, Ankara launched an offensive in Syria's Kurdish enclave of Afrin code-named Olive Branch and aimed at eliminating terrorists in the region. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan: Turkey's Battles to Continue Until No Terrorist is Left on Iraqi Border Sputnik News 11:43 26.01.2018(updated 14:45 26.01.2018) Friday marks the seventh day of Turkey's third military operation in Syria, dubbed the Olive Branch. According to Turkish military, a total of "343 terrorists" have been neutralized in the course of the campaign. "We will be clearing our borders of terrorists up to the territory of Iraq. Manbij will be also cleared of terrorists, as we promised. I am addressing those who urge us to stop the operation as soon as possible if you were hit by missiles, what would you do?" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the meeting with leaders of the regional branches of the ruling Justice and Development Party. According to Erdogan, Turkey will rid Syria's Manbij of terrorists after Afrin and nobody should be bothered by this. US forces are currently deployed in Manbij alongside Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters, considered by Ankara affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey and several other countries. Previously, the Turkish president stated that Ankara would "thwart games of different powers who seek to implement their plans in our region" and "completely clear the region of terrorists, beginning with Manbij and throughout our entire border [with Syria]." According to the latest data released by the Turkish military, a total of 343 "terrorists" have been eliminated since the beginning of the Olive Branch operation, which was launched on January 20. Ankara has emphasized that its operation is not aimed against the Syrian government, saying that the preservation of the territorial integrity of Syria is the common goal of Ankara and Damascus. According to the Turkish foreign minister, "Damascus knows that the YPG militias [People's Protection Units] want to divide Syria." Turkey has been mulling its military operation since the US announced its plans to train a 30,000-strong border force in northern Syria mostly from YPG fighters, which are considered as terrorists by Ankara. Washington's move was harshly criticized by Turkey, with President Erdogan threatening to "strangle" the forming "terrorist army." Within a week after the announcement, Ankara launched an offensive in Syria's Kurdish enclave of Afrin code-named Olive Branch and aimed at eliminating terrorists in the region. Moscow has also voiced opposition to Washington's plans, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying on Thursday that the US strategy in Syria seeks to divide the country. Turkey regards the YPG militias (People's Protection Units), which are fighting Daesh in Syria, as a terrorist group since Ankara suspects them of ties with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), which has been waging an armed conflict in Turkey seeking autonomy and equal rights for the Kurds in the country. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dynamic security threats and the British Army: Chief of the General Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen Speech given at The Royal United Services Institute Monday 22 January 2018 Delivered on: 22 January 2018 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Malcolm, thank you for those kind words of introduction and good evening everybody, it's good to be with you and it's particularly good to see so many friendly faces in the audience. In Parliament last week the Defence Secretary explained that the analysis of threats in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review remained sound, but he did observe that these threats have diversified and become more serious, and at a faster pace than we expected. Hence the Government initiated the National Security Capability Review last July - which for Defence, remains ongoing, and contrary to speculation, no decisions have yet been made. I am very grateful, therefore, to be given the chance this evening to elaborate on the threats and what I believe we should be doing about it, and hopefully to create some debate. And a particular thanks to RUSI for hosting us this evening. Now in terms of threats, I shall start with international terrorism. It seems to me that significant progress has been made against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, and the prospects of a Caliphate on the ground have been defeated. The threat from international terrorism though has diversified and is more dispersed, and we see the phenomenon that Daesh represents emerging in other parts of the world. And of course we've learned, sadly, over the last few years, that anyone can become a terrorist these days simply by renting a vehicle or wielding a machete. Terrorism is clearly a very significant threat to our country. In the short term it is vital that we protect our population, while recognising that the long-term solution is to fix the causes of it - which are invariably a lack of education, a lack of opportunity and a growing feeling of exclusion and isolation often, I suspect, coupled with a lack of opportunity and therefore a sense of impotence. This is a worry in many European countries, but in the Middle East and North Africa, when local politics, regional dynamics and the geopolitical situation are overlaid, it becomes a wicked problem. Resulting, I suspect, in a complicated tapestry of factors with extremist groups exploiting the chaos to seize territory and carve out an even larger foothold for themselves whence to launch attacks, including recruiting and inspiring our own citizens to acts of terror. The next threat I would touch on, I think, are the longer-term implications of population movement and how that might affect the stability and the cohesion of our society. Looking specifically at Africa; according to the United Nations, Africa is expected to account for more than half the world's population growth between 2015 and 2050. Nearly all of this growth will be among the 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa - some 2 billion people by 2045. By then more than half of Africans will be living in cities - and this group will be mostly young people connected through mobile devices. Without economic growth matching population growth it is inevitable that we will see more movement. But, I think it is the rising threat from states and the consequences that stem from this for the military that is of most immediate concern. And particularly to me as the head of the Army. We now live in a much more competitive, multi-polar world and the complex nature of the global system has created the conditions in which states are able to compete in new ways short of what we would have defined as 'war' in the past. It is what US Defense Secretary Mattis described last week as 'great power competition.' I quote: "We will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we're engaged in today, but great-power competition - not terrorism - is now the primary focus of US national security" And I think, viewed from this perspective: with increasing competition in the South China Sea; the potential grave consequences of North Korea's nuclear programme; the arms race and proxy wars that you see playing out in Yemen and Syria, that perhaps stem from Iran's regional aspirations. With Russia the most complex and capable security challenge we have faced since the Cold War superimposed on much of this, it would be difficult I think, on that basis, not to agree with Jim Mattis's assessment. Worrying though, all of these states have become masters at exploiting the seams between peace and war. What constitutes a weapon in this grey area no longer has to go 'bang'. Energy, cash - as bribes - corrupt business practices, cyber-attacks, assassination, fake news, propaganda and indeed military intimidation are all examples of the weapons used to gain advantage in this era of 'constant competition,' And the rules-based international architecture that has assured our stability and prosperity since 1945 is, I suggest therefore, threatened. Now this is not a crisis, or series of crises, which we face. Rather it is a strategic challenge. And I think it requires a strategic response. The deduction we should draw from this is that there is no longer two clear and distinct states of 'peace' and 'war'; we now have several forms. Indeed the character of war and peace is different for each of the contexts in which these 'weapon systems' are applied. And the risk we run in not defining this clearly, and acting accordingly, is that rather like a chronic contagious disease, it will creep up on us, and our ability to act will be markedly constrained; and we'll be the losers of this competition. The arch exponent of this is Russia, as described by the Prime Minister in her Mansion House speech last autumn. I said earlier I believe it represents the most complex and capable state-based threat to our country since the end of the Cold War. And my fellow Chiefs of Staff from the United States, France and Germany shared this view at last year's RUSI Land Warfare Conference. In the military we analyse threats on the basis of capability and intent. So let us just examine Russian capability at the moment and how they are applying it. Of course we must not interpret what we see as a revival of Russian Cold War practice, nor look at the Crimean operation alone. They have no single model for conflict with NATO, they use a multi-model approach utilising conventional, unconventional and nuclear domains. A hybrid version that might involve little green men, big green tanks and huge green missiles. Their thinking is very flexible. Their General Staff is able to change, evolve, and learn lessons with agility. For example: they know that demography is not on their side, so they are developing capability that needs fewer men - for example missiles, drones and two man tanks. They have developed coherent concepts for equipment and training that are focused on our vulnerabilities, for example: our dependency on communications and IT; our lack of massed fires; and, perhaps, our lack of investment in air defence. They apply a ruthless focus on defeating their opponents - not seizing ground for the sake of it - but making sure that our vital ground is denied to us. I shall return to missile capability in a moment. Since 2016 we have seen a marked shift to cyber, to subversion and to coercion as well as sophisticated use of smear campaigns and fake news. Whether you believe in interference in the US democratic process, or the attempted coup in Montenegro, they are very easily examples of this. Chris Donnelly at the Institute for Statecraft suggests that they are creating new strategic conditions. Their current influence and disinformation campaign is a form of 'system' warfare that seeks to de-legitimise the political and social system on which our military strength is based. And this undermines our centre of gravity which they rightly assess as our political cohesion; and Russian overtures to Turkey are a clear indication of this. Now this 'system warfare' has to be defeated. One has to recognise the importance of messaging one's intent; and the importance of deterrence. Their doctrine for war utilises all of the instruments of national power - not just the military. They believe that any shooting war must be finished quickly if it is to be successful. Their instinct will be to escalate and to speed up the tempo of operations. To avoid being surprised, they believe in pre-emption without long mobilization, and they will do something that their opponent least expects. They have used Syria to develop an expeditionary capability, to give very large numbers of their officers the high-end war-fighting experience they had not been able to get in Ukraine; and to combat-test their long range strike missiles and over 150 different new weapons and items of equipment. Their conventional military posture gives them a calculable military advantage. They operate on interior lines with a very capable rail and transportation network. We saw that during last year's ZAPAD exercise and how effective it is. They believe in connecting their strategic zones - the West, the Arctic, the Black Sea and the Far East - and rapidly switching forces between them. In the last five years the number of air, maritime and land based platforms for long range missiles has increased by a factor of twelve. That's in the last five years. And Gerasimov spoke last November about how they had increased the number of missiles with a range of up to 4,000 km by a factor of thirty. This gives them the capability to create mobile 'missile domes' - shields in which they can assure their freedom to manoeuvre and deny us the ability to act. This is what we call Anti Access Area Denial and we have seen this in Syria with their capacity to seal airspace over significant distances. They use electronic warfare at scale to cue precise targeting by large numbers of drones that enable very accurate and instantaneous fires - including thermobaric warheads - to destroy an opponent's forces; and we have seen this in Ukraine. During last year's ZAPAD exercises they used the opportunity to suppress and, more worryingly, to distort, the GPS signal across much of Scandinavia. Now, a vivid indication of the scale of their modernization is clear from the three minute video clip I am now going to show you. This was run on Russian TV a couple of years ago. You don't need to understand the Russian, just simply listen to the tone of the commentary. But the key point is that what you will see is all new stuff, and the 2017 State Armaments Plan shows that even more has followed since this. Now of course we have to accept that this is information warfare at its best, but I think you would agree it's an eye-watering quantity of capability. Now, the other part of the threat is how one assesses intent. Now I am not in any way going to suggest that Russia wants to go to war in the traditional definition of the term, but there are factors that bear on the question of intent and one needs to understand Russian psyche, their culture and their philosophy of pre-emption. Russia, I think, could initiate hostilities sooner than we expect, and a lot earlier than we would in similar circumstances. Most likely they will use nefarious sub-NATO Article 5 Treaty actions to erode the capability of NATO and threaten the very structure that provides our own defence and security. This is the divide and rule which the international order is designed to prevent. I don't think it will start with little green men. It will start with something we don't expect. We should not take what we've seen so far as a template for the future. And there will be some who might ask if Russia sees itself in decline, and more able now to go to war than in the future, does this encourage them to think of war? Perhaps compare the situation today to 1912 when the Russian Imperial Cabinet assessed that it would be better to fight now, because by 1925 Russia would be too weak in comparison to a modernised Germany; and Japan, of course, drew similar conclusions in 1941. And Russia worries, I think, that the West will achieve a technological offset in the next decade. I suspect, though, the greatest risk is the risk of miscalculation. The recent false alert in Hawaii that warned of an incoming missile is an indication of how easy it would be to miscalculate; particularly when the level of militarization is significant. And we saw this only too vividly with the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014. Speaking recently, William Perry, Secretary of Defense under Bill Clinton, who is all too familiar with false alerts, having been awakened by a call from a night watch officer in 1979 and thought he was "about to experience the holocaust". And, of course, he also presided over the dismantlement of nuclear weapons in the 1990s. He warned that the threat is back. I quote: "Because the US and Russia today are confronting each other with a hostility that's recreating the geopolitical dangers of the Cold War and because the US and Russia are rebuilding their nuclear arsenals that's recreating the military dangers of the Cold War." Now you can argue about the extent to which the Kremlin's disinformation efforts have influenced various western countries. But the main impact has been to convince ordinary Russians that the West is a threat. We have been made to appear as the enemy, whether we like it or not, and whatever the real situation. Moreover, we, on our side, don't have the same level of understanding that we had of each other in the Cold War, and the tried and tested systems and diplomatic instruments are not what they once were - confidence building measures, arms reduction negotiations, public monitoring and inspection of each other's military activity etc. So when the ante was upped following the Russian intervention in Ukraine, conversation became difficult. Now of course it does not have to be like that. We now have to worry, not about a symmetric playing field as one saw in the Cold War, but an asymmetric one in which there are far more players. So we should not assume that events in the Pacific wouldn't draw more US attention than those in Europe, and we, I think, should be careful of complacency. The parallels with 1914 are stark. Our generation has become used to wars of choice since the end of the Cold War - but we may not have a choice about conflict with Russia - and we should remember Trotsky's dictum, that: "you may not be interested in war but war is interested in you." So, what should we be doing differently? First of all, I think we should recognize that Russia respects strength and people who stand up to them. The original plan for Ukraine had been to acquire significantly more terrain. However, Russia was surprised by Ukrainian resistance and had to settle for less. We should Identify Russian weaknesses and then manoeuvre asymmetrically against them. First and foremost, perhaps we should be in the business of building real institutional capacity in neighbouring states so that they have the strength and confidence to stand up to Russia and the internal resilience to withstand pressures designed to bring them down from within. We should be making more progress on reducing energy dependency on Russia. We should be telling the Russian population what's really going on. We should be protecting our critical capabilities; hence the importance of cyber. And we should be looking to identify our own vulnerabilities to Russian malign influence and disinformation, and act to reduce them. Next, I think, we need to demonstrate our preparedness to commit. 'Boots on ground' is not a positive term at the moment, but our allies on NATO's eastern flank absolutely appreciate that a platoon of infantry is worth a squadron of F-16s when it comes to commitment. The importance we attach to alliance cohesion - that is vital to us - that is our centre of gravity. And hence, I think, the words that were in SDSR 15 about 'international by design' are absolutely right. And everything the British Army is doing at the moment is to work out how it can implement 'international by design'. We recognise that our communication systems have to be extrovert so that our allies can plug in to them; hence the vital importance of interoperability. And by interoperability our priorities are to be able to communicate securely, but at a NATO Mission Secret level, not at UK [Eyes] only level. It's important to have shared situational awareness and to be able to control fires digitally in support of each other. For me, therefore, the ability to bring into service a new form of Land Environment tactical communications is vital. And our relationship with the UK IT sector to deliver this is also vital. But it's also vital that our human relationships are maximised. And, for example, the combined engineering regiment that we share with the Bundeswehr, based in Minden in Germany, is a very good example of how you can burden share and deliver more capability through a pairing and a partnership like that. As indeed we do with our French allies through the CJEF Next, I think, we've got to continue to work at improving NATO. We have to recognise that readiness is about speed of recognition, speed of decision making and speed of assembly. I'll say that again: it's about speed of recognition, it's about speed of decision making and it's about speed of assembly. Now, our contributions to the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) in NATO and the enhanced Forward Presence deployed, in our case partly in Poland but more in Estonia, are starting points. And they are good ways, also, of multinational development in terms of our French and Danish involvement. Now, they are a starting point because I would suggest that we need the ability to reinforce them rapidly and, to be able to outmanoeuvre the potential Anti Access Area Denial 'missile dome' that will be put in place as we seek to reinforce them. We therefore need, I would suggest, to be able to deploy overland by road and by rail. And our Strike concept seeks to project land capability over distances of up to some 2,000 km. It brings with it good questions about logistic sustainability and communications, as well as combat and combat service support. However, we are testing it at the moment through a programme of experimentation and we are learning very good lessons. For example, we are copying what the Germans did very well in 1940 when all of their prime movers, in terms of their tanks and armoured vehicles, had trailers; and by doing that, it reduces your logistic tail. Those sorts of old-fashioned lessons, brought forward, are definitely improving our ability to deploy. And we will test this concept by driving to the NATO Exercise Trident Juncture which is taking place in Norway this autumn. It's also important, I think, to stress the needs for a forward mounting base and, therefore, we are actively examining the retention of: our infrastructure in Germany where we store our vehicles in Ayrshire Barracks in Rheindahlen; and our training facilities in Sennelager. As well as our Heavy Equipment Transporters that are based there and our stock-piling and ammunition storage. Next, I think, it's important - go back to my point on speed of recognition and speed of decision making - that we give policy makers the opportunity to exercise with military leaders, as we did during the Cold War. This goes to the heart of speed of recognition. It goes back to the point about it won't be 'little green men' next time. And when you think about how difficult it is, in this era of constant competition, where there is this grey area between peace and war, the first hostile act is going to be very difficult to recognise. And when as a young officer, I sat in my trench on the West German plain, it was very clear to me what that first hostile act would have looked like and I always imagined a soldier from the Soviet Union with wire cutters, cutting the fence before his tank drove through it. It's not going to be like that next time, so how we educate and train our policy makers in making the decision that they might need to make is vital. And I think, to do all of this, we need to return to an annual or biennial NATO exercise rhythm in which all levels play from the grand strategic level to the tactical level. This would allow for our resources to be properly targeted and for front line countries to practice mobilization and, indeed, allow us to exercise and train on private land, and understand some of the constraints associated with choke points and bridges and railway traffic and all that goes with it. Next, I think, we need to prepare ourselves to fight the war we might have to fight. I think it's an important point. Because in being prepared to fight the war we might have to fight, there's a sporting chance that we will prevent it from happening. And I think the hundredth anniversary of World War One gives us a great chance to actually think about what that war might look like. Therefore in the Army, at the moment, we have a project underway styled as 'Project Henry Wilson'. For the historians amongst you, you will know that Henry Wilson was the Major General who was the Director of Military Operations in 1914, who was able to pull a mobilization plan off the shelf and send the British Expeditionary Force to Flanders. Now, being able to do that again, I think, is important. It's important so that we understand what our equipment can do and it's important to understand where we maximize the potential of all of our manpower. And that's why we have invested significant effort in the Reserve component, but increasingly, also, in a Regular Reserve component. Now I hasten to add that our Reserve component is not a substitute for the Regular component, but it's the means to augment it with, particularly specialists, and there is much that we're doing in drawing that talent from the medical area, from cyber, and from information warfare. But it's also, of course, about augmenting with mass; and that recognises that the Regular component has never been as small as this, probably since Napoleonic times. And what it also does for us, is to provide the basis for regeneration and reconstitution. I've been very impressed with the talent that's come forward to join the Army Reserve, particularly on what we call 'Group B' terms of service. In our 77 Brigade, which I shall come back to, we have got some remarkable talent when it comes to social media, production design, and indeed Arabic poetry. Those sorts of skills we can't afford to retain in the Regular component but they are the means of us delivering capability in a much more imaginative way than we might have been able to do in the past. We now have over 30,000 on the books in terms of the Reserve and they are available to deploy with the Regular Component, if they have got the time and if their employers can release them, whenever they want to. Now turning to the Regular Reserve; potentially, we have some 25,000 to 30,000 who would make up the Regular Reserve. This recognises that 50% of the Army leaves before age of 30; hence, much of them are young and well qualified with, of course, a statutory liability to be available for mobilization. The trick is in retaining contact with this force and we are working, at the moment, through the Data Protection issues, to make sure that we reinforce that. The goal, I think, will be to build on a pilot that we ran last year and to conduct a full-blown mobilization exercise, for all of the Reserve, and the Regular Reserve, just like we used to do in the Cold War, sometime in the middle of next year. Now, as part of this, we will clearly place a priority in the Regular Reserve on scarce capabilities like, for example, attack helicopter pilots. But it is definitely a means of maximising the potential of all of the manpower that we have and it would, potentially, deliver a total armed force of nearer 140,000 post-mobilization. Now quite clearly if we're going to do this we need to have support from the policy level, through employers, to the general public as a whole. But I think people can understand that, perhaps for a day a year, it is logical to be able to retain this capability. The next observation I'd make is that we need to be able to fight differently against the sorts of threats I've set out there. First of all, we need reversionary skills to counter the threat against our software and our communication systems; and, potentially, having the GPS system taken down. Good old night navigation and map reading that I was brought up doing ahould clearly be a feature of what we are talking about here. Next, we've got to be able to fight more dispersed with the ability to concentrate rapidly to achieve the mass you need. Next, we've got to invest in junior leadership; hence I talk much about maximising talent. I talk about our command philosophy that enables initiative and tactical adaptation at the lowest levels and, absent further orders, enables people to seize the initiative. It's why we are investing in a brains-based General Staff to challenge, to think flexibly, and to place a premium on adaptability. Recognising, of course, that when we go to war, we definitely won't get it right on day one and it is that sense of adaptability and agility which will give us the chance to prevail. And finally in terms of fighting differently, we need to recognise that how and where we train, and who we train with, should be a surrogate for warfare as well, given the nature of messaging that comes in this era of constant competition that I described. And then last, in terms of how we do things differently, we need to acknowledge that we have some capability issues that have to be addressed. I think first that we have to recognise that deterrence needs a set of graduated responses to enable escalation. And that means that for me as the CGS it's important that I recapitalise much of the Army's equipment. You have to go back to 1985 and the era of General Bagnall for the last time that we had a major recapitalisation programme. And the capabilities that we see now: the Challenger tank, the Warrior armoured fighting vehicle, the attack helicopter, multi-launch rocket systems, the AS90 self-propelled artillery system were all systems that came in under him and under his thinking, with his concepts at the front end of it. And of course what has happened over the last fifteen years is we've been focused on counter-insurgency and stabilisation. And by the end of the Afghan campaign of combat operations we were a very well equipped army for that particular task. Our challenge now is to leap forward to what we need, given the threats that I have described. Now I sense that involves upgrading our armoured infantry capability. We are looking at active protection, more lethality, and greater range for our Challenger tank. We are looking at upgrading our Warrior armoured fighting vehicle. We are looking at maximizing the potential of the Ajax vehicle - it looks like a medium tank that's entering service at the moment; and, in due course, bringing into service a mechanised infantry vehicle to complement it. This will be transformational for the British Army and will get us to manoeuvre in a very different way and to project power over land in a different way. We need to improve our ISTAR capability - Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance - to be able to target deep fires. Because we have got to revert to an era where we are able to focus on the enemy's uncommitted forces; the so-called 'deep battle', that we soldiers talk about. But whilst we are doing that, to protect ourselves from the air and from inbound missiles. And I touched on connectivity. We must invest in our ability to communicate and to share information through a new Land Environment Tactical CIS system. We also, though, need to continue to improve our ability to fight on this new battlefield, and I think it's important that we build on the excellent foundation we've created for Information Warfare through our 77 Brigade which is now giving us the capability to compete in the war of narratives at the tactical level. And as David Patrikarakos put it in his recently published book 'War in 140 Characters', in which he observes on the war in Ukraine: " I was caught up in two wars: one fought on the ground with tanks and artillery, and an information war fought largely, though not exclusively, through social media. And counter intuitively, it mattered more who won the war of words and narratives than who had the most potent weaponry." He also observed that: "social media is throwing up digital supermen: hyper-connected and hyper-empowered online individuals" and I'd like a few of those in 77 Brigade, please. So, in sum, I have inevitably looked at this through a Land prism, but you should recognise that what I am describing is part of a Joint Force. So to conclude, I believe that our ability to pre-empt or respond to these threats will be eroded if we don't match up to them now. They represent a clear and present danger. They are not thousands of miles away, they are now on Europe's doorstep. And the character of warfare is making it much harder for us to recognise true intentions and thus distinguish between what is peace and what is war. Of course, it doesn't have to be like this, but we cannot afford to sit back. We need to recognise that credible deterrence must be underpinned by genuine capability and genuine commitment that earns the respect of potential opponents. Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian MoD on UK Defense Minister's Claims: 'Beyond Common Sense' Sputnik News 14:31 26.01.2018(updated 21:45 26.01.2018) UK's new Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson claimed a potential Russian "attack" on the nation's critical infrastructure could kill thousands. The Russian Defense Ministry described Friday the claims of UK's new Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson that a potential Russian "attack" on the nation's critical infrastructure could kill thousand as "beyond common sense." "The head of the UK Defense Ministry has gone beyond any sense in his fiery fight for the defense budget increase," spokesman of the Russian Defense ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. "Just for the record, all information about the locations of British electric power plants and pipelines is as 'secret' as photos or the location of the Westminster Abbey or Big Ben," Konashenkov added. According to the spokesman, Williamson is not the first UK minister of defense, who is trying to gain political points by frightening Britains by an alleged Russian threat. The top minister told the Telegraph earlier that Moscow was researching the UK's infrastructure connections to energy supplies for opportunities to create "chaos." "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," the minister said. The statement of UK's top official comes just days after the call of UK Chief of General Staff Gen. Nick Carter to increase military spending to keep up with "UK adversaries," such as Russia, North Korea, Iran and China, to protect the country from hybrid warfare allegedly practiced by these hostile states. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom noted on Friday the growth of London's "aggressive rhetoric" toward Moscow. "We are concerned about the growth of aggressive rhetoric spread by UK officials in relation to Russia. The latest examples confirming this dangerous tendency are the words of Gavin Williamson. The question is what the purpose of such statements is and whether the UK side understands their true price," the spokesman for the embassy said in a statement. Russia, already accused of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, has also been fiercely criticized by UK Prime Minister Theresa May for "weaponizing information," claiming that Russian state-run media was used to "plant fake stories" in order to "sow discord in the West." She accused Russia of interfering in foreign elections, citing cases of alleged Russian hacking of the Danish Defense Ministry and German parliament. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called May's accusations "irresponsible and groundless," noting that the United Kingdom was also seeking global leadership on the issue of deterring Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in his turn, has dismissed claims of Russian interference in the Brexit vote, saying that such allegations were illustrative of a lack of professionalism among politicians, who were trying to replace the absence of real action or political success with such claims. In addition to fake news allegations, Moscow was accused by Ciaran Martin, the chief executive of National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), in November of attacking the UK power supply on the day of the parliamentary election. In December, the NCSC said it had identified 100 hacking groups, most of which were allegedly funded by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, that had attempted to steal sensitive information. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Protesters Disrupt Kyiv Court As It Imposes Curfew On Saakashvili RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 26, 2018 KYIV -- Protesters have disrupted a crowded Kyiv courtroom as it imposed a curfew on Ukrainian opposition figure Mikheil Saakashvili by placing him under house arrest every night from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Cries of "Shame! Shame!" rang out during the pronouncement of the ruling by the Kyiv City Court of Appeals on January 26, which came after the Prosecutor-General's appeal against the Pechera District Court's refusal to place the former Georgian president and ex-governor of Ukraine's Odesa region under house arrest in December. "This is not a court! These are corrupt beasts!" Saakashvili shouted as the ruling was read out, walking toward the judges and pointing his finger at them. "What they have just declared is an attempt to restrain my political activity!" Ukrainian authorities have accused Saakashvili of abetting an alleged "criminal group" led by former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia after his ouster in February 2014. They also claim that protests led by Saakashvili in Ukraine are part of a Russian plot against the government in Kyiv. Saakashvili, who has strongly denied all the charges, said in the court that, while the ruling keeps him from visiting other regions of the country, antigovernment protests and marches should continue. "We will continue marching," he said to cheers from his supporters inside the court. Ukrainian police on December 5 attempted to arrest Saakashvili, but his supporters surrounded the police van where he had been kept and managed to set him free. He was again detained three days later, but a judge on December 11 turned down a request by prosecutors to place him under house arrest. Saakashvili was president of Georgia from 2004 to 2013. He lost his Georgian citizenship in 2015 when he accepted Ukrainian citizenship and took the post of Odesa governor. He resigned that position in November 2016, complaining of rampant corruption, and has since become an ardent opponent of Poroshenko. In an interview with Current Time TV, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, Saakashvili said on December 12 that corruption inflicted far greater damage on Ukraine than Russia had. Saakashvili also faces government anger in Georgia. On January 5, the Tbilisi City Court found him guilty of abuse of power by allegedly trying to cover up evidence about a 2006 murder case and sentenced him in absentia to three years in prison. He has also denied those charges and said they were politically motivated as well. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-saakashvili-night -house-arrest-10pm/29000420.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow Accuses US of Deliberately Delaying Scrapping Own Chemical Weapons Sputnik News 07:02 26.01.2018(updated 09:03 26.01.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States ia deliberately pushing back the deadline for the complete destruction of its own chemical arsenals, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Thursday in a commentary on the January 23 Paris meeting of the so-called International Partnership Against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons. "It was at the insistence of the United States that the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [CWC] once established an unrealistically ambitious deadline for the global destruction of chemical weapons arsenals by 2007. It is clear now that this goal has not been achieved. But more than a decade has passed since then, and the majority of the signatories, including us, have managed to fulfill their obligations," Ryabkov said. However, the United States, which undoubtedly possess all the necessary financial, production and scientific and technical resources to complete this task, continues to delay the destruction of its own chemical weapons arsenals, Ryabkov stressed. "Now it turns out that it is Washington that remains the owner of the world's largest stockpile of chemical weapons more than 2,500 metric tons of the most dangerous weaponized toxic agents. Therefore, the United States is carefully preserving the type of weapons of mass destruction that is forbidden for anyone else. Apparently, the Americans need them for some purpose," the diplomat stressed. Ryabkov also said that the sanctions decisions taken at the Paris anti-chemical weapons meeting pose a threat to the international non-proliferation regime. On Tuesday, Paris hosted the so-called International Partnership Against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, in which Russia and China did not take part due to the lack of an invitation. Participants of the meeting from over 24 countries accused Damascus of being responsible for chemical attacks in Syria and Russia of trying to cover up the alleged crimes of Syrian government troops. Russia has persistently refuted the allegations, saying that such accusations are aimed at discrediting the Syrian government. "In fact, it is, of course, an attempt to de facto substitute the functions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the UN Security Council. There is a real threat of erosion to the international non-proliferation regime, which has been formed over decades," Ryabkov stressed. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The plot thickens regarding the eagerly-anticipated Nokia 10 and its alleged penta-camera setup. To be clear, beyond a leaked Snapdragon 845 future device list and a few crude schematics, at this point, no concrete evidence has been brought forward to prove HMD is even working on a Nokia 10, let alone one with a revolutionary camera. That being said, however, the various bits and pieces do seem to be aligning suspiciously well, forming an overall picture. The latest development comes in the form of a rather detailed sketch of the back side of the alleged Nokia 10. Its source is an industry insider, apparently basing the drawing on information, as well as an interesting ZEISS patent for a mobile multi-lens camera solution. ZEISS multi-lens mobile camera technology As described by the paper, the technology employs an array of additional lenses (7), with different focal lengths, mounted on a rotating lens base (10), which sits between the camera sensor (9) and a normal fixed lens (6). According to the sketch artist, this setup is placed within the round camera module on the back, with the lenses themselves rotating around and repositioning above the main camera in the middle of the module. The Nokia 10 is also said to feature a secondary camera, on the very top of said module. Its supplementary features (wider field of view, bokeh, etc.) are still unclear. As for the rest of the Nokia 10 hardware, as previously mentioned, it will likely be powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset and could feature an 18:9 display. Design-wise, the source claims it will share many of the traits of the Nokia 9 - also unannounced. Most notably, a 3D glass back and front. The device featured on the sketch on the right of the Nokia 10 does match up with earlier back plate and case leaks attributed to the Nokia 9, giving even more merit to the insider info. Nokia smartphones to feature ZEISS optics. Together, we look forward to an exciting journey into the future of smartphone imaging. pic.twitter.com/GNWwuMAveK ZEISS Camera Lenses (@ZEISSLenses) July 6, 2017 Sources suggest the Nokia 10 could arrive as early as IFA 2018 in Berlin this September. Meaning, there is still some waiting to be done and likely more info on the horizon. Even so, there might very well be a Nokia 7 Plus to look forward to at MWC 2018 in just a few days. Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 It's been a little over a year since Meizu officially took the wrapper off Flyme OS 6, so the timing is right for the next major iteration of the company's custom Android UI. In fact, Flyme 7 appears to be right around the corner, as teased by a freshly leaked banner. It cites a February 24 release date and is more or less the first credible piece of info we have seen on the ROM. While a month, or so, is plenty of time for new information to surface, thankfully, the leak also features what appears to be a screen grab from the change highlights on a Flyme7v982.BETA281 update. Our Chinese is a bit rusty, but from what we can gather, Flyme 7 will bring about UI improvements, something called the "mQuick button", as well as version 2.0 of the company's OneMind AI. No surprises there. After all, AI is the buzz word of the day. That being said, we expect battery endurance and efficiency improvements in process management from the updated OneMind platform, rather than a voice assistant, or anything along those lines. Cloud backup is also mentioned in the log and will clearly be a part of Flyme 7. We couldn't really make out whether Flyme 7 will be built on top of Android 7 Nougat, or Android 8 Oreo. The latter definitely sounds more viable and our bet is on that. As per the rumor mill, Meizu is currently gearing up for at least two handset announcements next month - the Meizu 15 and the Meizu 15 Plus. So, we clearly have a viable release date for the pair as well, given that the company is apparently already organizing an event on February 24. Both the hardware and software announcements at the venue could likely set the tome for future Meizu designs language. As far as we can currently gather, the Meizu 15 Plus will likely use the control layout introduced with the M6s. Namely, a side-mounted fingerprint rearer and no multi-functional home button. However, the renders for the regular Meizu 15 seem to show a s single circular button underneath the panel. We can't wait to see how the new "mQuick button", whatever it may be, plays into this control scheme chaos as well. Source HMD Global's ambitious revival of the Nokia smartphone brand has been going strong at an impressive pace these past few months. Nokia has already promised an "awesome" MWC 2018 press event and leaks are flying left and right, so there are no real signs of slowdown either. In a new potential development, a rather interesting GeekBench listing has popped up online, originating from what appears to be a Nokia 7 Plus. Now, it is important to note that spoofing data for GeekBench and other benchmarks to pick up is not a difficult or uncommon process. Still, given the benefit of the doubt, the Nokia 7 Plus actually sounds pretty exciting. As per the report, it runs of a Snapdragon 660 chipset, along with 4GB of RAM. The provided performance scores and frequencies match up with the chip in question, but, unfortunately, that's all the hardware information available. The only other small and predictable bit of info, being an Android 8.0.0 ROM. If the Nokia 7 Plus does come into existence at some point, it would slot quite nicely in between the flagship, Snapdragon 835, Nokia 8 and the regular, Snapdragon 630, Nokia 7. While both the SD630 and SD660 are fairly new, efficient 14nm chips, the difference between the pair is not insignificant, including things like Kryo 260 cores, instead of Cortex-A53 ones and notably better Adreno 512 GPU and Hexagon 680 DSP. Definitely enough of a middle ground for a viable new upper-midrange offer. Beyond that, some display size and resolution numbers would have been greatly appreciated in the leak, as well as camera setup info. Hopefully, we won't have to guess for much longer, since MWC 2018 is right around the corner and a recent FCC filing did reveal HMD is bringing two mysterious new devices to the US soon. Perhaps one of them could very well be the Nokia 7 Plus. Thanks for the tip Mohd Hafiz Source 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 A civil servant who sold on the personal details of hundreds of people has been sentenced to one year in prison. Rory Lenihan received almost 22,000 over a three-year period from private investigators while he was based at the Department of Social Protection in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Lenihan (50), originally from Dublin, had pleaded guilty to 12 sample charges of receiving payments for information. Details of how Lenihan, a clerical officer in the treatments benefits section, stayed behind during his lunch break to access details and to make phone calls were given earlier this week at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Judge John Aylmer sentenced Lenihan to two years on each of the 12 sample charges but suspended the final 12 months of each sentence and ordered all charges to run concurrently. Lenihan, who was accompanied to court by family and friends, closed his eyes as the sentence was delivered. The father-of-five pleaded guilty to 12 sample charges of stealing information from social welfare recipients and selling them to two private investigators. The court was told that this information, including the location of those involved as well as their loans, were then passed on to various banks and solicitor's offices. Senior counsel Alex Owens, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that in total Lenihan was accused of 41 charges amounting to a total amount of 21,898. Lenihan, whose address was given as Ballaghderg, Letterkenny, was paid the money by two private investigators, John Buckley, based on the Navan Road, and Brian Foy, with a business address in Leixlip. Detective Garda Peter Cullen said the investigation was a complex one which he had been working on for between three and four years. Defence barrister Peter Nolan said his client was the only one before the court despite the fact that two others were directly involved and the information had been passed on to various financial institutions. INDUCEMENT "It seems to me that Mr Lenihan is the one carrying the can for the actions of two other people who were at least aiders and abetters. He would not have given the information if he was not called and financial inducement offered," he said. "These two other gentlemen, for some reason best known to the DPP, were not. I hope they're not ringing some other poor unfortunate civil servant looking for information." Welcoming the court outcome, Assistant Data Protection Commissioner Tony Delaney said: "[This] should serve as a very clear warning to employees in all sectors against snooping through, or disclosing to, unauthorised third parties personal data that may be at their disposal in their workplace for the performance of their duties." A paedophile who sexually exploited girls as young as nine and distributed thousands of child porn images has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years. Matthew Horan (26) admitted to coercing the young children into sending him sexually graphic images and was described as an "inadequate" individual by the presiding judge. He used social media apps including Instagram, Kik and Snapchat to target the young girls, as well as to communicate with other depraved individuals. His imprisonment comes as the Herald can reveal fears he may have had other victims. Gardai are expected to bring further charges after detectives recently uncovered more material during a search of Horan's home. The property, in St John's estate, Clondalkin, was searched three times as part of the lengthy garda investigation and led to the recovery of thousands of child porn images. Expand Close Det Superintendant Declan Daly speaking outside court / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Det Superintendant Declan Daly speaking outside court ATTACKED It is understood the new evidence had not yet reached gardai by the time Horan's case was brought before the courts, but officers are expected to prefer further charges. It also emerged Horan's home in west Dublin was attacked on Monday night after his sordid crimes were detailed in court. Defence counsel for the paedophile said a window and front door of the home were smashed by "persons unknown". The house belongs to Horan's father, who had no involvement in his son's crimes. Detectives were so concerned that Horan would continue to prey on vulnerable girls after being charged that officers presented a wealth of evidence at his bail hearing to ensure he was off the streets. The paedophile has been in custody since last June when his bail was revoked, and his prison term was backdated to that date. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Horan to nine-and-a-half years in prison, and suspended the last two years on condition he abides by a number of post-release terms. Nine of the young children targeted by Horan are based in Ireland, while a further six were living abroad, including in the US. A spokeswoman for the FBI said they could not comment when queried if they were carrying out investigations into Horan. One of Horan's victims described how she was terrified the sex offender would "go after" her after finding out where she lived. "I want to prevent this happening to anyone else. I thought chatting to strangers online was safe. It was like making a new friend. It didn't make me feel good. It made me feel ashamed, alone and mostly scared. I'm still sad, angry and disappointed in myself," she said. She added she did not really want to go to court but she would if it helped anyone else. "I felt scared because I told him where I lived and I was afraid he was going to come and get me," the victim impact statement read out in court said. GRAPHIC A forensic examination of Horan's computer uncovered recorded Skype calls between him and two nine year-old-girls, both individually and together. The recordings included footage of these girls engaging in graphic sexual acts. Horan also took part in sexually explicit text conversations with the girls, during which there would be an exchange of photos. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Horan would use Kik to share child porn images and videos with unidentified users from around the world, most of whom claimed to be young teenagers. He threatened to share an 11-year-old girl's nude images to her social media if she didn't send him more graphic photos. In the text exchange between them, this little girl repeatedly told Horan she would kill herself. He then continued to coerce her to send more images, the court heard. All the offences occurred between April 1, 2014, and July 2016. Judge Nolan said Horan had a very unhealthy, insidious and debased sexual interest in children. He said the crimes were all committed for Horan's indulgence and pleasure and the 26-year-old had exploited children in a most horrible way. He said Horan's actions would have long-term effects on the victims. He noted a medical report which stated that child porn became Horan's autistic fixated interest. This interest serves as a source of pleasure and relaxation for those on the autistic spectrum. "He knew what he was doing was wrong," Judge Nolan said. "He understood the damage and yet he didn't stop what he was doing." Judge Nolan also ordered a report from the Probation Service into what interventions and services the Prison Service could provide to reform Horan. "If there are such interventions, he has to partake of those meaningfully. It is important for society and him that he is given certain interventions that will change him," he said. Det Supt Declan Daly, of the Garda Protective Services Bureau, said that Horan's acts served as a "timely reminder" of the dangers the internet poses to young children. On Monday, Detective Garda David Connolly gave evidence that the parents of the then nine-year-old girls from the Skype recordings expressed their "absolute shock" when they found out about the exchanges with Horan. They said they "felt sick to the pit of our stomachs" and felt they failed to protect their daughters from the online predator. Det Gda Connolly said that American authorities contacted gardai about a gmail account being used to share child porn. Investigators eventually tracked the gmail account to Horan and gardai searched his address. DEVICES They seized a number of devices and got him to disclose all of the passwords to his online applications. In a forensic investigation that took over a year, gardai discovered thousands of images and videos of child porn, some involving babies. Horan also engaged in graphic text exchanges with the child abusers in which he would describe violent sexual acts. Det Gda Connolly said Horan would copy and paste the same descriptions of sexual acts he would like to perform and send them to multiple message recipients. Derek Cooling, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of a shop in Bawnogue Shopping Centre. (Stock photo) A MAN who robbed a convenience shop while in possession of an air gun and was in the process of burning 2,200 in cash when gardai arrived, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Derek Cooling (29) and another man entered the More For Less store and pointed the air gun at a female employee standing behind the counter, shouting: "Open the till or I'll blow your head off." SHOP Cooling, of Old Church Crescent, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of the shop in Bawnogue Shopping Centre, Dublin 22, on July 18, 2016. Sentencing him, Judge Patricia Ryan said it was a crime of violence that was planned and pre-meditated. She noted a weapon was used and the victims feared for their lives during the robbery. She handed down a sentence of five years, but suspended the final two-and-a-half years. Garda Barry O'Shea previously told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, that the cashier opened the till and handed over 2,200 in the drawer. A manager was hit on the head with the gun during the robbery. Gda O'Shea said gardai followed a bloody trail left by one of the raiders who injured himself during the robbery. The court heard gardai entered the house and found Cooling and another man burning items of clothing and the cash. Kitty Perle BL, defending, said Cooling was heavily intoxicated at the time of the robbery. "The fact that the men were burning the cash when gardai arrived at the house defies all logic," she said. A man (62) who fraudulently claimed more than 40,000 of Jobseeker's Allowance in his brother's name and was caught as a result of facial imaging technology has had his sentence adjourned. Owen McKeever pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the name of Brendan McKeever, between 2009 and 2013. McKeever, of Durrow Road, Crumlin, Dublin, had been sent forward from the District Court on signed guilty pleas to 50 sample counts of social welfare fraud. The total loss to the Exchequer was 41,871. McKeever was also making a legitimate social welfare claim in his own name at the time. SENTENCE Judge Karen O'Connor adjourned the sentence for six months to see if McKeever is eligible for community service. She said she would consider a suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence if McKeever is deemed suitable and if he can repay the State 3,000 every six months, as suggested. Judge O'Connor acknowledged that his signed guilty pleas saved considerable court time and were a "particularly powerful form of mitigation". A farmer was held with a noose around his neck as robbers raided his rural home for cash A rural farmer has described the terrifying moments he was held at knifepoint with a noose tied around his neck as robbers raided his home for cash. The farmer (48) was dragged around his home in the area of Clonaycavan, just outside Ballivor, Co Meath. The brave man managed to loosen the grip one of the thugs had on him before escaping out of his back door and into a neighbour's house. Speaking to the Herald from his home, the man - who did not wish to be identified - said he was still shaken from the ordeal, which took place just over a week ago. He said the thugs - both wearing balaclavas - were waiting in his kitchen when he arrived back at the house with turf at around 7pm on January 17. ACCENT "One lad was a bit thin and the other was bigger. He spoke with an English accent. 'Get down on the ground and put your hands behind your head'," he said. The man, armed with a handgun, then wrapped a noose (a slim belt0 around his neck, with the other burglar holding a knife to his head. After scouring the upstairs and downstairs of the home, taking the man with them everywhere, the thugs found around 200 which was left in the sitting room, a birthday gift. The man gave them his bank card and pin but they proceeded to ask him for bank statements and ransacked the kitchen. However, they became distracted when his phone rang. "I kept telling them I've no money, only what's in my bank account," he said. "The phone rang, it was my son. The lad that was holding me said, 'You said you lived on your f**king own'. "I said that I do, he lives with his mother, he's coming up to get a lend of that van (outside). The English fella was no length gone out the door, I could hear him talking to someone [outside], so I said to myself I've to get out of here. "I just turned, made a run out the door in my stocking feet with my hand here pulling the belt and I said to myself 'you're going to come with me or you're going to lose grip' [with one of the burglars holding on to him]," he said. "I nearly ran through the car [out the back]. He lost his balance there somewhere and I got out in front of the garage and burst through the laurel hedge into another field," he added. ESCAPE The terrified man said the phone call which prompted his escape took place at around 7.55pm, but he only reached his neighbour's at around 8.15pm as he tried to evade the robbers. "I was nervous, but I was so happy to see my neighbours," he said. The first suspect has been described as being between 5ft 11in to 6ft, stocky and with a English accent. The second man was around 5ft 7in with a Dublin accent. The accusation by a nightclub manager that a young student stole a handbag had such a devastating effect on her life that she lost interest in socialising, a judge said. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, who awarded Chloe O'Toole 30,000 damages for defamation against the nightclub owner, said it had been a dangerous allegation to make and there had been no attempt to justify it. Ms O'Toole, of Ballymun Road, Glasnevin, Dublin, who is now studying to become a special effects make-up artist, told the court that when she attended Play Nightclub in D'Olier Street, Dublin, with friends in May 2016 a bouncer approached her and said: "The manager wants you to leave right now." She said this had been followed by the remark: "You were in here last week robbing handbags." Barrister Jack Tchrakian, who appeared for Ms O'Toole, told the Circuit Civil Court that his client had only recently been able to return to a normal life. GROUNDLESS Ms O'Toole said in evidence she had lost all her friends because of the groundless remarks made about her in the nightclub. On the night that she had to leave the club she had been told they had her on camera. "I asked the head bouncer to show me any CCTV recording they might have to substantiate the allegations they were making against me but this was refused," she said. "There were a lot of people, including my friends, staring at me, judging me." She said the bouncer had told her in front of her friends that she was a robber and that she had to leave and was no longer welcome in the nightclub. She had felt humiliated, embarrassed, uncomfortable and distressed and thought her friends might believe what she was being accused of on the night. Mr Tchrakian said no-one had turned up in court to meet Ms O'Toole's claim. The nightclub company was currently in liquidation and the court simply had to assess damages. Judge Groarke said Ms O'Toole had suffered extraordinarily in the circumstances and awarded her 30,000 damages for defamation of character together with her legal costs. Nicole Fox Fenlon was the victim of online bullying before her death The family of a young Dublin woman who died by suicide say they're determined to bring her bullies to justice. Nicole Fox Fenlon (21), from Clondalkin, died in Tallaght Hospital last Thursday after being subjected to years of torment from people she knew. After hitting out at the bullies who repeatedly targeted Nicole, her mother Jackie is now working with gardai to find those responsible. "Jackie wants this sorted legally because she wants these people punished," said the 21-year-old's uncle Gavin Coventry. Expand Close Nicole Fox Fenlon with her mum Jackie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicole Fox Fenlon with her mum Jackie "We're not going to let them get away with what they've done to Nicole - absolutely not. We want to let everyone know that this type of behaviour will not be accepted." Mr Coventry said his family are gathering as much evidence as possible for gardai. However, they're unable to gain access to Nicole's phone. "Nicole took screenshots of everything on her iPhone, but we just can't get into it," he said. "I even went to the hospital last Friday and tried to open it using her fingerprints, but she also has a password." The caring uncle added that gardai are also unable to bypass the password due to the iPhone's strict security settings. "We've heard of a certain way we can do it but there's a chance everything will be erased so we don't want to risk it. However, we're not giving up hope and are determined to find a way to safely acquire the evidence." Expand Close Jackie Fox Fenton holds a picture of her daughter Nicola who took her own life. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jackie Fox Fenton holds a picture of her daughter Nicola who took her own life. A spokesperson from Apple told the Herald it will do everything it can to help the family and will be happy to assist gardai if contacted. Nicole, who was known affectionately by all her family as Coco, was known as a bright, intelligent, beautiful girl who just wanted to have fun with her friends. Mr Coventry said that gardai had been "absolutely amazing" to his grieving family. "I firmly believe that they are 100pc committed in helping us find Nicole's bullies. They're giving us a bit of space now because it's still very raw, but I'll be giving the guards I've been dealing with a ring soon enough to ask him what they're doing," he said. BULLYING "We know a number of people that were involved in bullying her and are able to provide the gardai with names. "Now we just have to prove everything. We're trying to do as much as we can to build up a case." The grieving family member said that a fake Facebook account was made to ridicule his niece, but has since been taken down. He's now appealing to the social media site to pass on the creator's IP address to the guards. "We know Facebook can get that page back and send whatever was said about Nicole to the Irish authorities," he said. "Anonymous trolls are hiding behind their computer screens and saying atrocious things about whoever they want. They can then take it down whenever it suits them. "We want this to stop once and for all because otherwise it's just going to keep on happening." Mr Coventry believes social media sites should be held accountable if an individual is being cyber-bullied on their platform. "If people are being bullied and intimidated on their site they should have a duty of care to that person. "A bank has a duty of care to protect their customers and the same should apply to social media platforms." If you or someone you know is affected by topics in this story, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247. While the Supreme Court examines the constitutional validity of Aadhaar, we reflect on Aadhaars early promise of enabling easier access to bank accounts and payments, particularly welfare entitlements. Elsewhere we write about Aadhaars potential for financial inclusion and note the progress made in recent years. In this column, we look at the experience of the financial sector when using Aadhaar in various implementation processes and flag areas for improvement. We believe this kind of implementation surveillance is critical to realising the full potential of Aadhaar in a service delivery context. First, it is our understanding that the Aadhaar project was designed for online authentication of biometrics and not for physical, Aadhaar card-based identification. The Aadhaar Act does not recognise the Aadhaar card, which was issued for convenience. Over time the card has been misinterpreted as an ID, much to the users detriment. Service providers often insist on consumers Aadhaar card as a pre-requisite for availing services despite it having the weaknesses of physical ID, particularly ease of falsification and susceptibility to making unauthorised copies. Second, financial institutions often ask for Aadhaar along with another ID such as Voter ID. When demographic details on the two documents dont match, the burden is on the customer to reconcile these differences. We recall a recent experience of a microfinance customer who was denied a loan because the date of birth on her Aadhaar card was different from that on her Voter ID. Though she got her Aadhaar updated in eight days, it was needless. This business process is useless to the financial institution and poses an unnecessary hardship on the consumers. Such practices need to be discontinued. Due to similar linkage issues, 16 out of 100 randomly surveyed pension beneficiaries were reported as not receiving pension entitlements in Ranchi, according to the EPW. Third, the issue of proof of address has been an enduring challenge to financial inclusion in India. Recognising this challenge, the Reserve Bank of India amended its KYC Guidelines in 2016, to state that a customer shall not be required to furnish separate proof of current address if it is different from the address recorded in the Officially Valid Document (OVD). In such cases, the Regulated Entity (RE) shall merely obtain a declaration from the customer indicating the address to which all correspondence will be made by the RE. This is specifically emphasised in the case of migrant workers and transferred employees who may not have proof of current address. Aadhaar being an OVD is subject to this guideline. However, customers continue to be denied accounts on this ground. Financial institutions need to monitor this violation of RBI guidelines without delay. Instances of denial of services by banks should be reported to banking ombudsmen. During a recent field research, we met Sujata (not her real name) who hails from West Bengal and works in Gurgaon as a domestic help. She has been denied a bank account in Gurgaon because her Aadhaar card is linked to her address in Bengal, even though her employer is willing to certify her current address. Helpless, Sujata uses her brothers bank account to transfer money to her son in Bengal. She understands the precariousness of this arrangement but to resolve this, she has to forego a weeks wages and travel to Bengal or obtain a new OVD for her address in Gurgaon. UIDAIs provisions for updating an address online are often inaccessible to people such as Sujata. These avoidable implementation challenges on account of Aadhaar can be significantly resolved by a clear legal articulation of permissible uses of Aadhaar through suitable amendments to Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act. It is also crucial that the RBI and other regulators address instances where providers cite Aadhaar to create self-styled, exclusionary practices. (This is the sixth in a series of by-invitation opinion pieces on Aadhaar) Bindu Ananth and Beni Chugh are with Dvara Research. The views are personal Madhya Pradesh police have arrested three people for allegedly raising what seemed to be a black version of the Pakistan flag during a Republic Day rally in Shajapur district. The trio Sadaab Khan, Adil Khan and Samir Khan were booked under provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act-1971, and later remanded in judicial custody. The law prohibits any form of desecration or insult to Indias national symbols, such as the Tricolour and the national anthem. The accused raised a black flag with a crescent and a star during a two-wheeler rally taken out by members of the Muslim community on Republic Day. The others were all carrying the Tricolour. This created a law-and-order problem in the area for some time, said Dinesh Prajapati, Shujalpur police station in-charge. Soon afterwards, local right-wing activists picketed the Shujalpur police station and demanded that the trio be booked under the National Security Act. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (Shujalpur) president Sunil Dethal even alleged that around 350-400 members of the minority community were involved in the act, and submitted a memorandum demanding strict action against them. A Pakistan flag was raised at the Republic Day rally, Dethal said. An investigation is on. The nation has gone mad, said a furious Asha Parekh, the veteran actor who saw Padmaavat a few days back at a special screening organised by the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Believe me, I havent been able to sleep. I am in a trance after watching the film, said Asha, an unabashed fan of Bhansalis work. The work he extracts from his actors... I wish I could become 30 years younger to play a Bhansali heroine. But having said that, I would like to congratulate Deepika Padukone for her performance. If today I had to make a film on Rani Padmavati, I would cast none other than Deepika, she said. Asha watched the special screening on Thursday. Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor in Padmaavat. Her grace, when she dances or acts is simply commendable. Ranveer Singh is the epitome of evil... Every frame in the film is bewitching. And the Ghoomar dance that theyve objected to is so beautiful! the veteran actress said. I wonder what the Karni Sena is shouting and raging about! There is nothing against the Rajputs in the film. Bhansali glorifies the community like no other film before. History will remember what Bhansali has achieved in Padmaavat. History will also remember what we allowed some sections to do to him for mistakes that he never made... Haan ek ghalti unhone zaror kee (Yes, there is one mistake that he definitely committed). He dared to make a film that can rival Mughal-e-Azam in vision and scale, she added. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali sees a lot of Waheeda Rehman in Deepika Padukone. And Waheeda just cannot stop raving about Padmaavat. Main kya kahoon? (What can I say?) I am short of words. This is a film that will be remembered forever. Every frame is perfect. Lagta hi nahin ke koi cheez asli nahin hai (It all appears so real that you forget its fiction). The way he lights every shot... As though he used no artificial light but only the sun, the moon and the torched flames that were used in those days. Waheeda is specially enamoured by the songs and dances. Weve a rich tradition of dancing and singing in our country. We sing and we dance on every occasion. Ive done some dancing myself that were well appreciated in films like Guide. In the West, people in love head straight for the bed. In our cinema songs are a means to show love and romance. Sadly we dont have that much singing and dancing in our movies any more. All the music is put in the background. Its very reassuring to see the semi-classical heritage revived in Bhansalis films. Far from causing hurt or insult to any community, Padmaavat makes us proud as Indians. We should be showering flowers on Bhansali, not pelting him and his film with stones, she added. Deepika Padukone helps Hema Malini with a cake during the launch of latters biography Beyond the Dream Girl in Mumbai. (PTI) Hema Malini, who is a member of the ruling government, exercises all her self control from speaking out. But she cannot help saying: What is happening with Bhansali is not right at all. But I cant say too much. Or it will become a headline. But Id like to say that all those who are stopping us Indians from watching this beautiful Indian film should be taken to task. The Dream Girl calls Padmaavat a dream come true. Every frame is a work of art, every scene a labour of love, every performance so pitch-perfect. Bhansali has paid such attention to details... The way Ranveer Singhs eyes are lit to convey evil... The peace and silence in Deepikas eyes. She is so beautiful and regal, Hema said. Ive played Rajput princesses in Vijay Anands Rajput and Gulzars Meera. But Deepika is a class apart. I fell in love with the film. I hope and pray every Indian gets to see this masterpiece, she added. Follow @htshowbiz for more Indian mainstream cinema has often been criticised for being stuck in that rut of overly mushy, melodramatic, and hypersexualised films. But of late at a time when films on varied subjects have been doing much better than predictable potboilers sci-fi (science fiction) has emerged as exciting category. Films in the genre are being fronted by superstars such as Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar (and perhaps even Shah Rukh Khan). The reason why sci-fi has not been explored much in India might have something to do with the high cost and resultant risk. Such films invariably have to be mounted on a large scale, with loads of special effects, which means a lot of money has to be pumped in. While we had brushes with sci-fi subjects in Koi Mil Gaya (2003) and PK (2014) both were about aliens coming to Earth full-fledged films have been almost non-existent. 2.0 stars Akshay Kumar as the antagonist. Rajinikanth reprises his role as a robot from Enthiran (2010). However, thats set to change. A slew of Hindi and regional films in the making have sci-fi subjects. Theres 2.0 (starring Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth), the sequel to the 2010 film Enthiran, which had a humanoid robot as the protagonist. It is set to release on April 14 this year. Cargo is another sci-fi film (starring Vikrant Massey and Shweta Tripathi).Then there are films set in the outer space, too. The Tamil film, Tik Tik Tik, is said to be the first Indian space film. The Tamil film, Tik Tik Tik, whose release date has been pushed back, is said to be Indias first space film. Then, Sushant Singh Rajput will portray the role of an astronaut in Chanda Mama Door Ke, the shooting for which has apparently been put on hold, speculated to be because of the mounting costs. Anubhav Sinha, who had directed the 2011 film Ra.One, about video game characters coming to life, says, Sci-fi is an unexplored space in India, and theres a lot of intrigue around subjects such as outer space. Filmmakers today are getting comfortable with technology, and theres a certain degree of confidence about what one can visualise and create. A lot of people have been wanting to (make such films), but the economy doesnt work out. I wouldnt have been able to make a film like Ra.One without Shah Rukh Khan (actor and producer of the film), adds Anubhav. Sushant Singh Rajput stars in the film Chanda Mama Door Ke, which has apparently been put on hold. Trade expert Atul Mohan jokes, We have explored everything, ab Mars aur Moon pe jaake film banani padhegi (well have to go and base our films on Mars and the Moon!). On a serious note, he says, The audience wants something different, stuff that has never been seen before. Even actors want to push themselves to the limit. Akshay Kumar, who plays the antagonist in 2.0, had earlier said, Ive never done a role like this in my entire career, and Ive never seen anyone doing a character like this. It was a whole new experience to play an anti-hero. Rumour mills have been working overtime ever since reports emerged about Shah Rukh Khan playing the role of astronaut Rakesh Sharma. There has also been strong buzz about Shah Rukh Khan stepping into the role of astronaut Rakesh Sharma in his biopic, earlier slated to star Aamir Khan. Explaining the economics, trade analyst Komal Nahta says, Satellite and digital (mediums) have opened up huge avenues, and they sometimes pay more than half the cost. Producers are willing to bankroll such (expensive) films now. Interact with the author at Twitter/ @RishabhSuri02 In August 1941, Adolf Hitler received opioids for the first time. Germany was invading the Soviet Union, and Hitlers generals wanted to send troops towards Moscow. The Fuhrer, however, wanted to divide his army and send them towards Leningrad to capture oil. In between all this, Hitler suffered from a terrible flu, and he asked his physician Theodor Morell to give him something stronger than vitamin injections. This was the making of a super junkie, said Norman Ohler, author of the book Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany. For Jaipur Literature Festival full coverage, click here At a session titled Hitler and His Times featuring author Anna Funder, Norman Ohler and Rakshanda Jalil on Saturday, Ohler, who has extensively studied Morells notes, said that at first, like everyone else, he had believed the Nazi propaganda of Hitler being a man of abstinence; that the fascist leader did not consume alcohol or drugs, and was a vegetarian. But Morells notes give a completely different picture of the 20th centurys arch anti Semite, who ordered 6 million Jews to their deaths. Hitler always knew better on this artificial high, Ohler said. He pointed out the irony of Nazi Germany introducing strict drug laws even as big companies like Bayer and Temmler legally sold methamphetamines as medicines. The author and filmmaker stressed that his book did not absolve Hitler and Nazi Germany of its actions. His (Hitlers) actions dont originate from his drug-induced mind Drugs didnt make him evil, they helped him sustain his racist ideology, Ohler said, expressing surprise that Hitlers terrible autobiography Mein Kampf was readily sold in India though it is still banned in Germany. When asked if drugs could have been responsible for Hitlers tactical errors during World War II, Ohler said that Hitlers stupid decision in 1944 to withdraw troops from the East and deploy them in The Battle of The Bulge, effectively allowing an opening for the Russians to attack Germany, was based on a drug craze that came out of cocaine euphoria. Ohler says cocaine was added to the long list of drugs given to Hitler after he was injured in Operation Valkyrie, an assassination attempt on July 20, 1944. Blitzed evoked a mixed reaction after its release in 2016. A review by British historian, Richard J Evans, strongly refuted inferences in Ohlers book, saying that the book involved massive exaggeration based on spurious interpretations of the evidence. Germans, the author hints, were not really responsible for the support they gave to the Nazi regime, still less for their failure to rise up against it. This can only be explained by the fact that they were drugged up to the eyeballs, Evans wrote in The Guardian. Another review in The New York Times by Dagmar Herzog conceded that Ohlers proposition that Hitler used drugs regularly should be taken seriously but also warned the book was pieced together from a mix of hard evidence and complete speculation. However, noted author of books on the Second World War, Antony Beevor, said in The New York Review of Books that Blitzed was very well researched although it might irritate some historians. Whatever the critical verdict, the session based largely on Ohlers book was remarkably interesting. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more A great debut could make a career in any creative field. While writers will tell you that the writing process never becomes easy, the first book is always a major accomplishment. Four authors Diksha Basu (The Windfall), Prayaag Akbar (Leila), Sandip Roy (Dont Let Him Know) and Lucy Hughes-Hallett (Peculiar Ground), who have all recently published their first works of fiction, discussed the challenges of writing, finding their voices and writing spaces at a session On First Novels moderated by poet Tishani Doshi. For Jaipur Literature Festival full coverage, click here Talking about the genesis of her social satire, The Windfall, Diksha Basu said she had initially started the book, about a middle-class Delhi family that suddenly comes into wealth, as a collection of short stories. I was sick of reading books about women in their 20s and 30s. So I started writing from the perspective of a middle-aged man and found my voice, she said. She later decided to convert it into a novel. But her breakthrough moment, said Basu, was when she realised she should write what she wanted to write and not as commonly advised write from what she knew. Journalist Sandip Roy, who is a qualified software engineer, said he began writing while studying in the USA, because writing was fun. He too worked on a series of short stories that later became Dont Let Him Know. First novels are also said to be the most autobiographical. Prayaag Akbar and Sandip Roy agreed that there were some elements and lived experiences that inadvertently made their way into a writers work, but that not all of it was autobiographical. Novelists are like magpies, said Roy We steal, and the nearest brightest objects are our families. British biographer Lucy Hughes-Halletts experience was similar. While working on Peculiar Ground, she realised she could not write from the perspective of a certain character because she had based him on her late father and felt it impertinent to try to get inside his head. But, she said, a fiction writer is all of the characters she creates. One has an odd relationship with ones characters, she said. They are all figments of my imagination. They are all me. Often it is also hard for writers to find their writing space and defend it from the demands of routine and the outside world. At some level, people think you do nothing, said Roy. Neighbours wonder why you dont go to office and are at home all day. But writing demands persistence. Basu, who had a baby four weeks ahead of the release of her book, said writers had to make time. The excuses not to write always existed even before marriage and a baby. It is all up to me, she said. The ordeal, however, does not end with the first novel, which, if it is successful, creates the expectations of another. Hughes-Hallett cautioned against writing just for the sake of it. I dont embark on a book unless I have something to say. You dont have to keep writing novels because youre a writer, she said. What writers do is difficult and solitary, she said adding that it was good for writers to have a day job and be connected to the outside world. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Prasoon Joshi pulled out of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) after threats by Rajput organisation Karni Sena who is leading protests against the controversial film Padmaavat. The Shree Rajput Karni Sena welcomed Joshis decision, saying that possibly the CBFC chief was repenting for his mistake at how he had hurt the sentiments of Rajputs and attempting to make amends. Joshi, who was scheduled to attend a session on Sunday titled Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself, had cleared the Sanjay Leela Bhansali period drama with U/A certificate and a set of five modifications. Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy, Joshi said in a statement mailed by the public relations agency of JLF. Karni Sena spokesperson Vijendra Singh said: This comes as good news for us. We are glad that he respected the request of Karni Sena and cancelled his scheduled visit. For Jaipur Literature Festival full coverage, click here Joshi also tried to clarify his stance on Padmaavat. The issue around the film Padmaavat - I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. Its sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. Its important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues dont reach this far. Padmaavat ran into controversy as Hindu right-wing groups protested against its release, saying the film distorts history and presents the Rajput community in a poor light. Protesters have issued death threats against Bhansali and Deepika Padukone, alleging that the queen is shown romancing Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji in the movie a charge the filmmakers have denied. On January 19, a day after Supreme Court had cleared the all-India release of Padmaavat, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had warned that Joshi would not be allowed to enter Rajasthan and attend the JLF. We dont want to hear his lecture. He has put the pride of Rajasthan at stake. How can he deliver a lecture here after humiliating us? People of Rajasthan dont want such lectures. We will protest against him, president of the group Mahipal Singh Makrana had said. On the same day, Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, leader of Rashtriya Karni Sena, another fringe group, had said in a video that Joshi has misguided the Supreme Court, who has ordered to stay the ban on the release of the controversial film Padmavaat in the four states - Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Gogamedi had also demanded the resignation of Union information and broadcasting minister Smirti Irani. In Rajasthan, the film distributors and multiplex association have declared that they will not screen the movie, which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles. The film, based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a 13th century Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Avadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540, has been facing protests from various groups, for allegedly tampering with historical facts. A noted lyricist, screenwriter and poet, Joshi has received the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award three times, in 2007 and 2008 and again in 2014 (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag). He has also received the National Film Award for Best Lyrics twice, for his work in Taare Zameen Par(2007), and Chittagong (2013). He was awarded the Padma Shri, Indias fourth highest civilian award, in 2015, for his contribution in the field of Arts, Literature and Advertising. This is not the first time that a speaker has decided to stay away from the festival in view of threats by fringe groups. In 2012, acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie had not attended the festival in view of security threats against him as hundreds of Muslim activists appeared in Diggi Palace, stating that they would not let Rushdie appear nor allow a video footage to be played. The organisers as well as the Jaipur police had made appropriate arrangements for security and had earlier assured that nothing untoward would take place at the festival. (With inputs from IANS) Follow @htlifeandstyle for more A few months before Lakme Fashion Weeks (LFW) Winter Festive 2017 edition scheduled for August, I got a call from designer Sanjay Garg. Would you agree that Kareena Kapoor Khan as the showstopper would add nothing to my brand, its definition or its influence at least in the way I wish to evolve my signature? he asked. As always, he was restless and direct. Being offered a finale (or the opening show) is just the kind of homage to his work that would interest Garg. But accepting it with the existent formula Kapoor Khan as the Lakme Absolut brand ambassador is the de rigueur showstopper for all finales didnt appeal to him. I dont see my brand that way. I dont want the visual or associative messaging to get mixed up, he said. I have checked into a remote forest resort and am going to think it through in the next two days, he said. Keeping it real LFW opened in August with Sanjay Gargs collection Cloud People at the newly refurbished Royal Opera House in Mumbai. It was a Lakme Absolut sponsored show a finale repackaged as an opening show. It did not star Kareena Kapoor Khan. That evening, Royal Opera House throbbed with the expectant excitement of Gargs guests the whos who, whos new and whos knew were all there. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sanjay Gargs hand-woven sari label Raw Mango that brought him attention and fame (Shovan Gandhi) If the underlying context was about his branding, Garg got it right. His dissonance with the celebrity fixated ways of fashion weeks was the best untold story of LFW that season. In an era of clever, me-too marketing, lingering buzz still emanates from unusual choices. Besides, a majority of his female guests wore Raw Mango hand-woven saris or Sanjay Garg ready-to-wear woven garments. A recognisable subculture stamped with his design DNA was evident. Cloud People revisited chikankari on white mul without gluttonous excess and included androgynous silhouettes in weaves like gold brocade that are primarily associated with ostentation in India. Fit and anti-fit, plainness and prettiness, emerald greens and jewelled maroons, sheer and opaque, lehngas, short and long jackets and mens kurtas on female models, midnight blue brogues, sleek hair and dark eye make-up on models were some contours of the show. This was just Gargs fourth participation at a fashion week. Sanjay Garg, the designers eponymous label of ready-to-wear (woven on specially re-set looms, not tailored on machines) is just four years old. But this year marks the 10th anniversary of his hand-woven sari label that brought Garg attention and fame. That rekindled interest in his handloom saris through their texture and fall, designs and motifs, parrots, cows or simple blue borders. Gargs seductively reimagined grammar of colour that danced between his saris and boxy blouses (no bustiers, no plunging cholis with strings at the back) brought him clientele that ranges from 20 to 70 years old and beyond. It also changed the fortunes of the Chanderi village weavers in Madhya Pradesh. He was not the first to visit or rediscover Chanderi, but he certainly revitalised the weave with freshness design intervention and saleability. Models showcasing Sanjay Gargs creations at fashion shows (Getty Images) In 2008, the year he launched Raw Mango, Gargs annual turnover was Rs 90,000. It crossed Rs 10 crore in the 2012-13 financial year, he said in an interview in 2013. This year, all he says is that it has increased fourfold in the last four years. While Good Earth, the well-known design store, has been stocking Raw Mango since 2011, Garg now has three standalone stores the first big proper shop as he calls it in Mumbais Colaba, a riveting space, a small one in Bengaluru, and the oldest and the quaintest in a farmhouse in Chhattarpur off Delhi. Far from any mall or market and a rather long drive from the city, it attracts more than 500 clients a month and about 98 per cent of the visits turn into sales, says Garg. The brand now employs around 120 people in its city offices and owns 500 looms that provide work to 1,500 weavers and other workers in different weaving clusters across India. Out of Gargs three standalone stores, the oldest and the quaintest is in a farmhouse in Chhattarpur off Delhi (Shovan Gandhi) Out of the box Those are only some of the reasons why it is time to observe Gargs work and influence in a manner that pries itself free from the rubber stamps it has gathered so far. Profiles (include one written by me in 2013) that betray amazement about a small town boy from Mubarakpur who was educated in the Hindi medium and is today a household name in textile fashion need to be archived. The story turns now. I dont want textiles to be my design yardstick; I want to be able to design perfumes, puppets and much more, says Garg. This 10th year will see a more layered design focus with announcements about new products. I like to prove myself wrong. I am in a dialogue, in fact many dialogues with myself. I am not sure if handloom makes sense just because so many designers are working with it, he says. I dont want textiles to be my design yardstick; I want to be able to design perfumes, puppets and much more His words, ideas, imaginations and perplexities topple over each other to create an intense, stream of consciousness conversation. I ask him why he has recently become incredibly fond of English as a language. He instantly switches to idiom-peppered Hindi to describe the furniture and fabric of his mind. And his head. Gargs mind-head is a stormy, restive place. It is lashed by winds of talent, ambition, unapologetic rebellion punctuated by uncertainty and debate. The three angel-demons that preside here are named Chanderi, Mashru and The Brocade Lehnga. The first is his flagship imprint of arrival, survival and success. The second is a weave he brought unusual interventions to. The third, his ready-to-wear best seller also created in Banaras that became after the debut of the Sanjay Garg label in 2014 a trend. So much a trend that it spurred half a dozen other designers to introduce brocade lehngas. It is a bride magnet after all. Pieces from Sanjay Gargs antique collection at his store-cum-studio in Chhattarpur (Shovan Gandhi) But the way his ideas have been ruthlessly plagiarised by fellow designers and well-known stores makes him fume. Its taken me time to digest my work being so copied; I will never understand how designers can source from weavers who work with us or replicate designs. Changing the size of a motif or the colour is not enough our engineered panel lehngas took months to develop. All of us who are widely copied say that this gives employment to a large copycat economy. I understand this impact but it does not justify intellectual property theft, he says. Independence movement Garg suffers from chronic Karmic discontent. It is his quest to do things in his own way: his campaigns have all been shot by photographers out of the fashion domain, his Colaba store is managed by a PhD scholar, he served chooran in a brass box instead of chocolates at one of his shows, he doesnt want to duck behind nationalism through handlooms to exploit workers or be spartan with his own money. These days he is gripped with the thought of writing a newspaper column on politics and about design through poetry. I am not sure if handloom makes sense just because so many designers are working with it Garg says he is viscerally spurred to elevate any idea that is socially looked down upon. It is because the sari was seen as an inferior, non-modern garment in the years I was growing up, that I took to it with a vengeance, he says. He disliked school unlike his two siblings and admits when prodded that neither does he always agree with his mother nor do his parents really understand his work. All the same, he takes professional criticism well even when it needles him beyond comfort. One of the reasons why no publicist can never really represent Garg is because he has his own vocabulary; his expressions sit at intersections of questioning, creativity, puns and folkloric analogies. He is original. He cant be pinned down to a press release. He wants to make brocades for khadi wearers, but only he can explain why. Sanjay Garg is getting ready for a show at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in Ahmedabad next month (Shovan Gandhi) Unlike his mind, Gargs surroundings are quiet. His Chhattarpur store has a white noise about it and clothes are stocked inside generous closets with his personally designed brass hangers. His work space is a white painted small house in another farm that stands at the end of the same street. While the media was crowing about his saris, he has turned into an ardent collector of antiques textiles, unsewn fabrics, craft creations, brass, wood work and jewelled objects anything that unravels Indian artisanal legacies, has a point of view through the name of the previous collector, or is an object of bygone whimsy. Like an Indian currency note from 1932 stamped with Queen Victorias face. I design all the furniture in my stores and my office... I have identified my carpenters and ironsmiths These artefacts sit adroitly in his store as well as his office he has 450 pieces so far. An antique brocade sari from his private collection was chosen as part of Items: Is Fashion Modern? at the MoMA in New York. The exhibition that opened on October 1 ends today. Gargs wooden work desk is a large, wide arresting piece in the colour of ground cinnamon that he designed himself. I design all the furniture in my stores and my office I have identified my carpenters and ironsmiths, he explains. Across us sits a charpoy with some very old (and incredibly soft) handwoven saris. I collect these as samples to show weavers; it is a piece of proof which is hard to communicate through books. If someone could do it hundred years back, surely a weaver can do it now, he says. He is readying for a show at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in Ahmedabad next month. Now bearded and beginning to bald at 37, Garg who is dressed in wintry layers of deep indigo-dyed blue Himalayan wool stitched into a jacket and trousers, and an indigo khes (thick indigenously woven textile) ) around his neck looks like an artist in residence in his farmhouse studio. The E Class Mercedes parked outside is an industrial foil to his artisanal philosophy. I ask him if he wants to be on the cover of GQ. Time magazine, he says. From HT Brunch, January 28, 2018 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Corporate honchos, including Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Dilip Sanghvi and physician Naresh Trehan, will be part of over 4,800 delegates from across the world in the first ever global investors summit to be organised in Assam. The summit Advantage Assam, being organised on February 3-4 at a total expenditure of Rs 32 crore, will also witness participation of business leaders and ministers from 20 countries such as the Asean nations, the US, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, the UAE and Israel. It has a unique advantage of being at a strategic geographic location with a strong connectivity network, making it an ideal destination for business with the Asean countries. That is why, the objective of the summit is to position Assam as Indias expressway to Asean, Assams commerce and industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conference. Advantage Assam will be the largest investment promotion and facilitation initiative by the state government and it will showcase the opportunities offered by the state in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to Asean and other countries, he added. A total of 14 international and domestic roadshows were organised as a part of the pre-summit preparations. High powered delegation of the state government, many of which were led by the chief minister, engaged in more than 200 one-on-one meetings with corporate houses in these roadshows. We have seen over 4,800 delegate registrations, Patowary said. With these, the state government has been able to draw attention of industry leaders like Tata Groups Ratan Tata, Reliances Mukesh Ambani, Dilip Shanghvi from Sun Pharmaceuticals, Daburs Anand Burman and Harshavardhan Neotia from Ambuja Neotia Cements, who have confirmed their presence in the summit, he added. The minister informed that Amar Abrol from Air Asia India, Welspun Groups Balakrishan Goenka, Subhash Chandra of Essel Group, Emamis Sushil Goenka, Rashesh Shah of Edelweiss and Sanjiv Puri from ITC have also registered for the event. Besides, Naresh Trehan from Medanta - The Medicity, and filmmaker Subhash Ghai have confirmed to be a part of the summit deliberations, among others, he added. Patowary informed that the government has identified 12 focus sectors for the summit, including agriculture and food processing, handloom-textile-handicrafts, logistics, river transport-port township, IT-ITeS, pharmaceutical-medical equipment, plastics-petrochemicals and power. Tourism-hospitality-wellness, civil aviation, petroleum - natural gas and startups-innovation are the other focus areas for the business tycoons, he added. Talking about incentives for investment, Patowary said the state government has come out with the Assam Industries (Tax Reimbursement for Eligible Units) Scheme, 2017, under which tax exemptions will be given up to 200 per cent on the fixed capital for the units set up till December 31, 2022. Besides, to strengthen the investment scenario, the state has instituted some very attractive sectoral policies. We will also introduce an overall state industrial policy. The central government policy for industrial development of North East is also coming soon, he added. On the poor power scenario, Patowary accepted that Assam is an electricity-deficient state, but said it will source the same from the National Power Grid for upcoming industries. During the last one year, we could bring investment to the tune of Rs 6,500 crore in various sectors. It is a big achievement. Besides, we also got sanction for developing nine port townships across Assam for an investment of Rs 1,100 crore, he added. These townships will come up at Bogibeel, Neematighat, Kamalabari, Silghat, Pandu, Silchar, Karimganj, Jogighopa and Dhubri, the minister informed. Besides, dredging work at Brahmaputra is going on with two dredgers, while more are on the way, to create an effective waterway through the river, he added. Its been raining this past week in Delhi, and it felt awful to think of those parts of the land which the rain has cheated with a no-show, to the despair of our endlessly toiling farmers. Its an old Indian belief that there exist certain holy men who can make the rain come, and also make it stop, by appealing to the Gods. In the Ramayana, the sage Rishyashringa is said to have made the rain fall on parched land just by his presence. As recently as the 20th century, C Rajgopalachari and MG Ramachandran besought a luminous local sage revered across the South to save Tamil Nadu from drought, and the rains did come. Nothing will shake the belief of the people in this miracle. But then, rainmakers or no, some sages are the real thing. They can make you believe, feel, dream, aspire. What is that, if not a miracle. Undeterred by the pseudo-swamis of the Kalyug, the Indian belief in the holy mans abilities has persisted. And its not just Indians. Legends around the world weave entrancing tales about seers. When the Vedas, revered as Gods Breath, are chanted with sincerity, the good vibrations benefit everybody, is the Indian belief. It is expressed thus: Samastha loka sukhino bhavantu or May all people everywhere live well and be happy. The ancient Jews had a similar belief, as reflected in the story of the scholar known as Honi, the Circle-Drawer of Galilee, who lived in the 1st century BCE. It says in the Mishnah, which is a Jewish work of priestly literature, that Honi drew a circle, stood within it and said before God, O Lord of the world, your children have turned their faces to me, for I am like a son of the house before you. I swear by your great name that I will not stir from here until you have pity on your children. Rain began falling in a half-hearted smatter. Honi said, Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill the cisterns, pits, and caverns. It began to rain with tremendous force. Honi said, Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of goodwill, blessing, and graciousness. Then it rained in moderation, until the Israelites had to go up from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount because of the rain. They told Honi, Just as you prayed for the rain to come, so pray that it may go away. Honi, like Jesus after him, spoke to God as a son to his father. He was later ordered by powerful people to pray for the destruction of their political rivals. But Honi did not want God to hurt either the Jews or their enemies and was stoned to death for his peaceful non-cooperation. The most appalling storm then broke out, goes the legend, destroying the wheat crop of the whole country. They say that Honi returned in spirit seventy years after he was killed. Greek commentators who otherwise scoffed at miracle men as deceivers, notably held up Onias (Greek for Honi) as righteous and genuine. Such unforgettable seers give us a personal standard of behaviour, a present reminder that good thoughts and good deeds enable the well-being of a land and its people. shebaba09@gmail.com (The views expressed are personal) A builder was booked on Saturday by the special investigation team (SIT), probing the NH 74 scam, on the charges of money trailing along with her business partner, police said. Compensations in crores of rupees were given to farmers for agricultural land, acquired for NH 74 expansion in Udham Singh Nagar, at commercial rates. Officials changed the nature of land from agricultural to commercial and got shares from the compensations, showed the SIT report on the NH 74 scam , estimated to be worth Rs 400 crore. Urban development minister Madan Kaushik had honoured the builder, Priya Sharma, in Dehardun on Wednesday for providing better services in real estate sector in Uttarakhand. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was present on the occasion. Sharma is the managing director of Allied Plus Infra and Others Pvt Ltd, which is involved in developing housing colonies under the Panchvati brand in Udham Singh Nagar district. Her name cropped up during the SIT probe after Jeeshan, a stamp vendor from Kashipur, was arrested for his role as a broker in the compensation scam. During questioning, the probe team knew that Jeeshan had purchased a piece of land on Rampur road in Rudrapur from Priyas company for Rs 3.62 crore. He paid the builder Rs 1.50 crore as advance from his bank account in Kashipur, and Rs 40 lakh as cash. Sharma made an agreement with Jeeshan for the land sale on a stamp paper of Rs 100 instead of a registered deal as per the law. Rudrapur police circle officer Swantra Kumar lodged an FIR on the land sale. When the probe progressed, it came to light that the land was not in the name of Sharma or her company. It was Jagsharan Singh who had the power of attorney on behalf of the land owner, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; a case relating to the ownership is pending in the high court at Nainital. The FIR reads, Illegal procedure was adopted in the entire deal because the amount belonged to commission for hefty compensation which was distributed by officers to farmers. Jeeshan played a broker between farmers and officers involved in the scam and wanted to hand over the amount to the officers through Allied Plus Infra Police registered the case against Sharma and her business partner for fraudulence and tempering with the documents; Jeeshan has already been in jail. Refuting the allegations Sharma said in a statement, This is a conspiracy against me. When a buyer comes to any company or builder, his source of income or money is never asked by the seller. Saurabh Narang, a resident of Awas-vikas colony of Rudrapur, also lodged a case of fraud last week against Sharma for breach of a deal. Sharma filed a petition in the high court seeking quashing of Narangs FIR, but the HC dismissed her plea four days back. A drunk man allegedly vandalised two idols at a temple in Raipur area of Dehradun on Saturday, prompting heated demands from locals to arrest the culprit. As the news spread in the state capital, a number of locals led by right wing activists rushed to the spot demanding immediate police action against the culprit. Police force was rushed to the area. Cops later said the incident appeared to have been committed by an unknown person under the influence of liquor. According to police, a person who was present on the temple premises on the intervening night of January 26-27 saw a drunk man making his way into the temple. As per the eyewitness, the man began shouting in front of the idols, blaming the gods for not helping him and his family despite religiously praying to them. He then hurled stones at the idols and ran away when an alarm was raised (by the eyewitness), circle officer (Dalanwala) Jaya Baluni said. Agitated locals, however, were not satisfied. We want a detailed investigation into the matter so that it can be established that no anti-social elements were involved (in the act). Even if it was an act of a drunkard, the police should arrest the culprit soon, Vineet Dobhal, a local leader from Raipur, said. No formal complaint had been filed with the police by the time of filing this report. Police, however, were carrying out investigation. No complaint has been lodged so far officially but we are trying to get footage from CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras installed in nearby areas to trace the person, Baluni said. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Saturday launched an Online Registration System (ORS) under which patients, even from remote areas, would be able to register themselves for outpatient departments of empanelled state run hospitals through an official website or app. Rawat also announced, that all citizens in the state, would be provided health insurance cover within the current financial year itself. I am happy to announce that out of 140 hospitals in the country that are linked with ORS, 47 are in our state, he said, while launching the ORS system along with two other online medical services e-medicine and e-blood bank. Rawat said all 35 bland banks in the state have now been linked online with online facility. Similarly, 52 state-run hospitals have been linked with online e-medicine facility. Chief secretary Utpal Singh said, that all three online medical services were meant for the citizens. Through the online registration system (ors.gov.in), patients, even in remote areas, will be able to have themselves registered for treatment with state-run hospitals, he said. Once the system is refined, all registered patients under ORS would be communicated the time and dates of their appointments with doctors on their mobile phones along with their (doctors) names, Singh said. He added that it would take some time to introduce the system. It will start functioning once we have doctors in almost all the hospitals,he said. Director general, health and family welfare, Archana Srivstava said, ORS would save time besides sparing people the inconvenience of standing in long queues to get appointments with doctors. We will be able to create a database of the number of patients visiting hospitals through the system , she said. If that record shows increasing footfalls of patients in some state-run hospitals, the supply of medicines to those hospitals will be increased accordingly and more doctors will be appointed there, Srivstava said. Singh dubbed the e-blood bank service as very crucial for the hill state that witnesses frequent accidents owing to its geographical conditions. Once we have e-blood bank service functional, those in need of blood transfusion would be able to locate blood blanks online. The online facility will also help in keeping a database of blood donors, Srivastava said. It (online facility) will also have details of blood groups available in blood banks. The online system would necessitate that those running blood bank units reject the infected blood in advance, she said. The online system will also give us a prior idea of medicines running out of stock, so that they can be procured well in advance, she added. Health secretary Nitesh Jha said the online medical system will also help facilitate the human resource management of doctors and paramedic staff in a smooth way. The chief secretary, however, cautioned, that despite the online systems being in place, a lot is yet to be done to improve the health sector. Echoing the sentiment, Rawat said that several steps have been initiated to improve the system since he took over about a year ago. He said that tackling paucity of doctors in the hills was one of the top priorities of his government. For instance,156 dentists have been appointed in different remote hill areas, he said. The process was also on to appoint around 712 medical specialists in the state. Besides, steps are also being taken to bring down the maternal mortality and infant mortality. People driving in central Delhi should expect traffic restrictions, detours and diversions due to the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vjiay Chowk on Monday, officials said. Motorists would do well to avoid many roads in the area over the next two days, police said. The suggestion to avoid central Delhi comes from Delhi Traffic Polices apprehension that a large number of people could gather around India Gate on Sunday and Monday to spend the weekend as well as to see the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan. Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (traffic), said that the Vijay Chowk will remain closed for general traffic from 3.30pm to 9.30pm on Monday. She said that movement of vehicles on parts of Rafi Marg, Raisina Road, Krishna Menon Marg and Dara Shikoh Road too will be restricted during that period. Since Monday is a working day, the traffic police have arranged for buses to avoid taking the C-Hexagon and some nearby roads from afternoon till evening. Earlier, Dependra Pathak, Delhi Traffic Police chief, had said that if the need arises, cabs and auto-rickshaws too would be required to take a diversion. The gathering expected around India Gate too is expected to pose a problem, but the traffic police said they will not only divert buses, cabs and autos, they would also seek Googles help to not suggest the C-Hexagon route for commuters on their maps from Friday to Monday. According to the traffic police, routes to be avoided until Monday include Akbar Road, Ashoka Road, Tilak Marg, KG Marg, Prithvi Raj Road, Mathura Road, Shahjahan Road, Sher Shah Suri Marg, Bhairon Marg, Purana Qila Road and Subramania Bharti Marg. On the New Year Day, a large gathering around India Gate had led to massive traffic snarls. Pathak said this time a large number of traffic and local policemen had been deployed around India Gate to assess the strength of the gathering. We will be closely coordinating with the metro officials. As soon as we sense that the crowd is increasing, we may ask the metro authorities to not allow passengers to exit the train at stations near India Gate, said Pathak. Last month, an employee working at Delhi airport was apprehended near the smoking room of Terminal 3 (T3) for allegedly helping a gold smuggler. Investigation revealed that he was not authorised to enter the area from where he was caught. The incident prompted an audit by customs department, which revealed that there are nine exit points at T3 that were being used by the staffs to sneak out smuggled items. Apart from this, auditors noted that the area near the aerobridge is used for reversed entry (for unauthorised entry or exit). Following the audit, customs department has decided to have its own personnel man the exit gates. If possible, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel will frisk employees leaving the building, customs officials said. During the interrogation, the arrested employee told us that he had entered through the aerobridge area, which is not adequately manned. He had an entry permit for the runway side, but he was not authorised in the arrival hall. The gate where aircraft connect with aerobridge was not working properly and staff used that point to make a reverse entry, said a customs officer. Although the gates require biometric access, customs officials said that sometimes staff that have access to the area let others enter. Customs has seized 214 kg gold this year worth 59.92 crore in 2017. In the past three years, customs has arrested 22 airport staff for helping smugglers. This include employees working with airlines, ground handling company, immigration, and even telecom companies having its office inside the terminal building. Repeated cases involving airport staffers prompted a detailed audit by the customs department to plug the loopholes that are used by the smugglers. There are nine exit gates meant for employees working at the terminal. We can certainly bring down this number by shutting some of them as it is impossible to keep a close watch on every gate. CISF is posted at every gate to stop reverse entry, but when staff exits, they just check the identity card. They do not check the staff to see if they are trying to smuggle something, the officer added. A CISF officer said that they randomly frisk employees at the exit gates. Customs officials said that they also have a staff crunch and cannot post personnel at every gate to frisk employees while exiting. We also cannot just let one exit point, the area from where passengers exit. This will be chaotic and lead to long queues. We have had several round of meetings to try and find a solution to this issue, said another customs officer posted at the Delhi airport. The state government has started a massive reclamation drive in south Delhis Asola village, where illegal sale of prime gram sabha plots by the land mafia was rampant, senior government officials said. The drive comes after Hindustan Times had reported last November that 13 government plots, worth over R600 crore and measuring a total of 120 bighas (about 30 acres), had been fraudulently grabbed by private individuals in collusion with local government officials. At least three of these properties in Asola village were then sold at less than one-twentieth of their market rates by people who had no rights over them. A large British-era canvass map, the only physical representation of how land in Asola is distributed that was stored in the sub-divisional magistrates office in Saket, was slashed as part of the conspiracy. Following the report, the south district administration started mapping all gram sabha land under its jurisdiction. About 220 bighas of land has been identified. The whole of December, we prepared maps for each of these plots and now the process is complete, said Amjad Tak, district magistrate (south). While doing this, the district administration discovered that another 28 bighas had been encroached upon by the followers of a spiritual group. This plot has now been reclaimed by the Delhi government and has been allotted to the education department to build a school, according to a report filed by the south district administration to Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal and revenue minister Kailash Gahlot. The work of rectifying the canvass map (Sizra) is almost finalised. After completing this work, it would be of great help in getting a clear picture on encroachment in Asola village, the report says. Tak said that the process of taking possession of the rest of the land, including the plots that HT had written about, would begin after Republic Day. There are only those 13 cases where land was transferred by fudging government records. All other cases are primarily that of encroachment, he said. The scam was discovered when the governments annual survey of property in 2016 revealed that plot (Khasra) number 1354 a 2-acre land in Asola worth over Rs 40 crore was transferred and sold for just Rs 2 crore the previous year. The Khatauni (the government record showing the lands original owner) of the plot showed the land was transferred to one Mahesh under court order 144/RA/85 in December 1986. When officials checked the records, Mahesh was mentioned as the owner only since April 2015. The records prior to 2015 showed that the land belonged to the gram sabha. The government gave the people mentioned in the records a chance to show proof of ownership, but no come forward, officials said. How the fraud was done Delhiites will soon be able to spot dark stretches of the city on their mobile phones and flag alerts to the civic agencies with the help of Delhi Polices soon-to-be-launched mobile application. This application called Delhi Dark Spots App will help users, specially women, to avoid such vulnerable and dark routes. Senior Delhi Police officials said a pilot project in coordination with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will be launched in central Delhi areas by mid-February. Officials said that through this new mobile application, people can register complaints about defunct or partially-lit street lamps and receive status alerts directly from the civic agencies concerned. Special commissioner of police (operations and women safety) Sanjay Baniwal said the objective behind this initiative is to make the city safe and curb crimes against women. This will also allow our police personnel to keep a tab on faulty street lights across the city and take steps to turn identified dark stretches into properly lit public spaces, said Baniwal. After the Delhi gang-rape in 2012, the Delhi Police had conducted a survey of the citys roads and identified dark spots vulnerable to street crimes. An independent survey conducted by NGO Safetipin also showed that Delhi had 7,438 dark spots. After the surveys, police control room vans were asked to send reports of such dark stretches in their areas every week. A senior police officer associated with the project said the Delhi Police have integrated a map of all street lamps, provided by the NDMC, in the mobile application. Since all street lamps in the territorial jurisdiction of the NDMC are earmarked and their geofencing has already been done, the lamps will automatically reflect on the map in the application. Sharing details about the application, the officer said that after downloading the app, the mobile users will have to register with it by feeding personal details. The user will receive a one-time password (OTP) on his/her registered mobile application. The registration is mandatory to avoid any possible mischief. After the log-in, the user will see a Google map on the mobile screen on which street lamps available in a radius of one kilometre will be reflected. By clicking on any lamp, the user will be able to see if it is functional, partially or properly lit, said the officer. By moving the location pointer on the map according to their choice, users will be able to see status of street lamps in their desired stretches as well. The application will also allow the users to click photographs of dark spots and stretches and post comments. Once submitted, the alerts, photographs and comments will directly reach the junior engineer (JE) of the zone of the civic agency concerned through SMS and email, said Devendra Arya, deputy commissioner of police (operartions). Arya said the JE would respond to the alert and rectify the problem. The engineer concerned would then send the updated status, which will automatically reach the central administrator and the person who raised the issue, Arya said. The Delhi Police is developing the mobile application with the help of the ministry of electronics and information technology. After the successful trial run in NDMC areas, the facility will be launched officially and even in areas under the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) in a phase-wise manner, said Arya. Popular wholesale and retail markets across the city are likely to remain closed on February 2 and 3 in a protest against the ongoing sealing drive in the national Capital. The bandh call has been given by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and several traders associations have decided to support it. This would be the second time when the traders would observe a shutdown against sealing, which commenced in the city on December 22 under the SC-appointed monitoring committee. Earlier on January 23, thousands of shops remained shut in markets such as Khan Market, Greater Kailash 1 and 2, South Extension, Defence Colony, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar and Krishna Nagar. All major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is power in the three municipal corporations, had supported the traders demands. As no concrete reply or assurance has come from the Centre on sealing issue despite the bandh on January 23, we have decided to go on a 48-hour trade strike on February 2-3 to pressure on the government, said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, CAIT. The decision was taken in a joint meeting of 500 traders organisations at the Constitution Club on Saturday. We want the Union government to bring a bill in the next Parliament session, which will start from January 29, to protect businesses and traders in Delhi. The bandh will be supported by all trade leaders from all over country, said Khandelwal. Praveen Shankar Kapoor, secretary, Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, said the shops and markets in Old Delhi will remain shut on February 2 and 3. We are also supporting CAIT in this cause, said Kapoor, who is also Delhi BJPs spokesperson. During the shutdown, traders will hold protest march in their respective markets. A delegation of traders will also meet all seven Lok Sabha MPs and the 70 MLAs of Delhi and submit a memorandum. The sealing is being held in a dictatorial manner without giving any reason and ignoring the fundamental provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act,1957. This is unacceptable. The traders are being harassed, said Vijay Kumar, president of South Extension I market association. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), which claims to be associated with over 400 traders associations, has decided to call a joint meeting on January 31 to decide their course of action. We have given time till January 31 to the Centre to bring an ordinance or a bill to grant relief to traders so we will wait till then. After that, we will take a decision on the future course of action, said Brijesh Goel, convenor CTI. Nine years after it was launched, the anti-ragging helpline recorded the highest number of complaints in 2017, thanks to better outreach with students. The helpline recorded 901 complaints in 2017, 74% more than 2016. The main reason for this change is that we have started tapping students in rural parts of the country, which is encouraging more and more to register a complaint, said Rajendra Kachroo, who founded Aman Satya Kachroo Trust in the memory of his son who died in March 2009 after being ragged at a medical college in Himachal Pradesh. Kushal Banerjee, from Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), Kolkata said another reason for higher complaints was that the students can now register their complaints anonymously through emails. Over the years, maximum complaints consistently come from technical and medical institutes in five statesUttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In Madhya Pradesh, the authorities claimed that most complaints were because of personal enmity between student groups. Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) public relation officer Ajay Verma said, In most of the complaints, the probe committee found that the complaint was lodged by a group of students to settle scores ... In Uttar Pradesh, the officials said in most cases action has been taken against erring students. Such is the intensity of ragging in these states, especially UP and West Bengal that we have also received complaints from first-year post graduate students, which is very rare. The high density of students in these states, and lack of proper awareness, adds to the trouble, said Banerjee. Prof Manoj Dixit, vice-chancellor, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University in Faizabad, suggested that the rise could be because students are not afraid of repercussions. There is no fear of getting severely punished for involvement in ragging... most often, the accused get away for want of evidence, Dixit said. Institutes play a much bigger role in curbing this menace. The public outrage after Amans death brought to the forefront the problem of ragging at educational institutions. The UGC was the first to issue guidelines in 2009 followed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Medical Council of India (MCI). Experts say many institutes, especially in rural areas, failed to implement these norms that include separate hostel buildings for freshers, setting up of an anti-ragging cells on campus and creating awareness among students. The rules put an equal, if not more, responsibility on the institute in case of delay in registering a case. Therefore, many institutes prefer hushing up the issue, added Banerjee. Institutes need to stop considering ragging as a complaint against their institute, and instead treat it as a case of human rights violation. Only then will we see a bigger change in the society, said Kachroo. In September 2017, 22 students of the IIT Kanpur were suspended for sexually harassing a group of first-year students. The case made headlines after a professor from the institute talked about the case publically. While 16 students were suspended for three years, six were suspended for one year. For the first time, their punishment also includes compulsory community work for the accused. These students will work with NGOs for a period of time, so they can see for themselves the toll ragging takes. Some of these students will be under our supervision... said Banerjee. Most students go through a phase of wanting to be a teacher, usually inspired by a particularly wonderful instructor or professor. A fair slice do stick with the dream. Nearly 40,000 students signed up for the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in 2017, in Maharashtra alone. This allows you to teach at school level; you must pass the National Eligibility Test in your chosen subject in order to become a college professor. In a time of rapidly changing methods of teaching and learning around the world, however, these fresh graduates and teachers-in-training can feel stuck in courses that havent changed much in decades. There is little or no reference to technology in the classroom, contemporary methods, evolving student demographics and psychologies. New options are emerging, though. The 15-year-old Teacher Foundation in Bangalore offers two courses that act as alternatives to the BEd for some schools The New Teacher, a 16-month full-time course that is accepted as a BEd-equivalent degree; and Teach-Now, a nine-month, eight-module course built on internationally recognised InTASC standards and allows certificate holders to teach in all schools around the world and in India that accept InTASC. There are also courses to help teachers add to their skills after a BEd, programmes like Oxford University Presss Online Teacher Training and Train 2 Transform Workshops, which adds to their qualification and are valued by schools. For those looking to build a career and stay updated with international standards, the CENTA certification programme becomes an attestation of additional skill. LESSONS LEARNT After teaching maths and physics for 20 years, Jaipriya Balaji, National Public School, Indiranagar, Bangalore, applied to the Centre for Teacher Accreditation (CENTA) last year. Students who had gone abroad to study would return with tales of how different their classroom experiences had been. How much creative thinking and application were emphasized, Balaji says. Though we had worked on our teaching methods at school over the years, it still made me wonder if we matched up, and where we might be falling short. The Bangalore-based CENTA, launched three years ago, offers certifications of competency for teachers based on theoretical tests and the practical application of techniques learnt over a month. There are three certificates available New Teacher, for those in the early stages of their career or yet to begin teaching; Experienced Teacher, for those with 3 to 10 years of experience; and Senior Teacher for those with more than 10 years of experience. A CENTA certificate implies that a teachers knowledge and methods are up-to-date and that they may assume the role of a specialist teacher in their chosen field. In the short period since its launch, a CENTA certificate already ensures that a teachers application will be granted priority in institutions run by education companies such as Podar and GEMS. The truth is that, in a world where most professionals are constantly updating, adding to and honing their skills, teachers do not want to remain stagnant, says Mala Palani, who trains teachers at the Oxford University Press programme. Our education system is largely oriented towards finishing the syllabus and less towards actually teaching a child, she says. But the business of education is changing, and amid growing competition, churn and job uncertainty, teachers want to add to their degrees and certifications. Where there was once little space for innovation, teachers are beginning to ask themselves questions like, how can I develop and encourage creative thinking? Palani says. NEW APPROACHES OUP India conducts nearly 1,500 teacher training workshops annually, and has two formal teacher development programmes to impart additional or add-on skill upgrades. Creativity, collaboration and innovation are key modules. Even with use of modern tools there is a lot of miscommunication, Mala Palani explains. People think using technology in classrooms means teaching with PowerPoint presentations and using smartboards. But its also about thinking differently, creating and collaborating. So our modules use exercises to explain this difference by asking teachers to, for instance, set up an online module for their class or create an interactive questionnaire. A teacher needs to create historians, writers and storytellers. Not just people with a lot of memorised facts, as Palani puts it. This belief is shared by the Bangalore-based Teacher Foundation, which offers two diploma programmes for educators. For instance, we tell our teachers, when you are teaching say Panchayati Raj in a class, instead of teaching it as a series of facts and numbers, present a civic problem and ask the students to suggest how it could be addressed by an administrative body, says Rosama Francis, senior coordinator at Teacher Foundation. David Singh has taught English at the Metro Delhi International School for four years, and he signed up for the Teach Now course for just such instruction in how to make his classes more interactive and international. Considering that I am teaching in an international school, the expectations are of an international approach. Something like ways of identifying a childs problems in learning without being judgmental, teaching subjects in unconventional and contemporary ways, he says. Asha Narayanan, principal at Lodha World School, Thane, says she took the CENTA certificate course herself because since her MEd degree in 1990, she had had little opportunity to evaluate where she stood. At her school, she adds, she now prioritises applications from teachers who have CENTA, OUP, British Council or other add-on certifications. In a fast changing environment for teaching and learning, that is the best way to stay relevant, she says. New Delhi Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday that the HRD ministry had made an effective plan to give a push to the education 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 education sector in the state every month. He said he will visit J&K for a review soon. Under the Maitreyi Yatra programme, nearly 500 students from class 9 to12 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 was an integral part of India and the state had to be given all facilities. I have observed that in the state, there is dedication towards education 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 and 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,also present on the occasion , applauded the J&K students as he said they were able to spread the message of love, peace and harmony. J&K education minister Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed his gratitude for the exchange programme, saying it will strengthen the social fabric of the country. Davos When it comes to gender equality at work, it is a moral imperative to get more women into technology, Indian-born Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at Davos recently. On a question whether Google would be prepared to pay more tax, Pichai said that tax is a big question. We pay close to 20 per cent in tax, were happy to pay a higher amount, whatever the world agrees on. Its not an issue of what tax you pay, its how you divide it, Pichai said during a discussion during the World Economic Forum (WEF) here. Pichai says he is an optimist for the future of Internet, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think of it as something more profound than electricity or fire, he said. Born in Chennai and educated at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur and then Stanford University, Pichai took the helm at Google two years ago. Pichai said last week he does not regret firing James Damore, a former employee who was ousted from the company last year for criticising the tech giant for its diversity policy. Asked about Googles decision to fire Damore during an interview with MSNBC, Pichai said. I dont regret it. It was the right decision. Damore, who was ousted for writing a 10-page anti-diversity memo last year, filed a class-action lawsuit against Google this month, claiming that it discriminates against white men. Pichai had earlier described Damores memo as offensive. Shri Rajput Karni Sena on Saturday once again said that they were not involved in the January 24 Gurugram school bus attack. Addressing a press conference here, Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said he had evidence to prove that none of their volunteers were part of the attack on the school bus in Gurugram and cinema halls in Ahmedabad and other parts of the country. We are open to probe by highest of authorities, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Let there be a CBI probe to find out who was behind the attacks, Kalvi said. He, however, said that the ongoing protest would be intensified and continued till the movie Padmaavat was banned. Even on Thursday, Kalvi had said they had no role in the Gurugram bus attack and instead blamed Sanjay Leela Bhansali -- the maker of Padmaavat -- and his team for the heinous act. Speaking to the media in Jaipur, Kalvi had said: Our image is being tarnished by levelling false allegations... We are ready to face any kind of probe in this incident, be it judicial or CBI. We can never think of attacking innocent, sweet-looking kids. I repeat that Rajputs can never make such an attack, neither can any Hindu, as our religion never teaches us to do such cowardly acts, he asserted. He stressed that the attack was engineered by Bhansali and his associates. No prizes for guessing the state of mind of director Guillermo del Toro, following the 13 Oscar nominations for his film, The Shape of Water. He is so thankful and over the moon. In a telephonic chat with us from Romania, the 53-year-old filmmaker says that he never expected the dark, fantasy romance, which releases in India in February, to connect with people on such a personal level. In my experience of 25 years as a filmmaker, its very rare that a story connects with the audience, and is released at the right time. Sometimes, films are not able to connect with the audiences because its not the right time. So, for it to connect with the audiences is an incredible feeling for a filmmaker. Getting 13 nominations at the Oscars is an incredible feeling, and I am so thankful, and grateful for it to receive so many nominations, says Del Toro, who has made popular films such as Hellboy (2004), Pans Labyrinth (2006), and Pacific Rim (2013). A still from the film, The Shape of Water, which has got 13 nominations at the Oscars 2018. The Mexican-born filmmaker feels that its very important for any filmmaker to stick to their roots even when making films in the West. Del Toro adds that he is a big fan of films by Satyajit Ray and Vishal Bharadwaj. I am a big cinephile, he says, and I love watching all kind of films. I think the best way to be an international filmmaker is to stick to your roots and culture, and make films that reflect your culture. You look at Satyajit Ray and [how] his films like The Apu Trilogy (1955-59) reflected the Indian culture, and thats why, rightly so, he is regarded as one of the best filmmakers in the world. Same with the current director Vishal Bharadwaj, says Del Toro. He makes similar kind of movies. I know he has worked with writer Matthew Robbins (of Crimson Peak, 2015), and the kind of cinema hes making is really great. I think thats the most important thing, when someone is looking to work in international cinema, he says. Del Toro has roped in Indian animators and VFX artists for Pacifim Rim 2. India has some serious prodigious talent in animation. Those people are doing some incredibly talented work, and its only about time that their work started getting recognised globally, he says. Interact with the author on Twitter/@sammysamarth In August 2017, Tom Cruise broke his ankle while filming an action scene for Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Because of his injury, production had to shut down while he healed. In a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Cruise, along with his MI 6 co-stars Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson and Simon Pegg, revealed the title of the movie and some footage. Along with the footage Cruise brought, there was also a short clip of the star filming that unfortunate action scene. Cruise said while his ankle is still not fully healed, theyre completing filming on the action sequel to meet its July 27 release. In the footage, we can see Cruise leaping off a building and crashing into a wall. He said he was supposed to crash into the wall, but the impact turned out to be heavier than expected. Everyone thought that was the stunt; I was going to run across and hit the side of the wall and pull myself over, he said. The clip even shows the exact moment Cruises ankle collided with the wall, forcing the others to cringe. I cant watch this, Simon Pegg said. Norton played the footage from three angles, with increasing intensity. The audience let out gasps of shock each time, but before the third and final angle was played, Norton warned everyone that if theyre squeamish, they should turn away. Pegg obliged. Here is why Tom Cruise gets paid the big bucks, Norton finished. Cruise is known to perform his own stunts, and has consistently pushed the boundaries in the Mission: Impossible movies. In Ghost Protocol, he jumped off the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and in Rogue Nation, he was harnessed to a large plane as it took off. Follow @htshowbiz for more Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of House leaders of all political parties Sunday, on the eve of Parliaments Budget Session during which the government and the opposition are likely to clash over a host of issues, including the triple talaq bill. A similar meeting has been convened by the government Sunday during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top opposition leaders are expected to express their mind on pertinent issues, which they would like to be taken up in the session. The first leg of the session will be between January 29 and February 9 during which the government will present the economic survey on January 29 followed by the Union Budget on February 1. The session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovinds address to a joint sitting of members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In his first such address to Parliament, Kovind is expected to outline the governments thrust on development and empowerment of people, especially those from backward and weaker sections, official sources said. With the BJP-led NDA government presenting its last full fledged budget before the next Lok Sabha polls scheduled for 2019, there is expectation that it will have a strong political overtone. Following a recess after February 9, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6. The government is expected to give a fresh push for passage of the triple talaq legislation and a bill seeking constitutional status for the OBC commission during the session. Both bills carry political significance for the BJP which is strong votary of the abolition of instant triple talaq among Muslims, a practice declared void by the Supreme Court last year. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill seeking imprisonment for Muslim men convicted of practising instant triple talaq, but a united opposition had stalled it in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks a majority. The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by according constitutional status to the OBC commission, which will make it more powerful. At least 1,100 train passengers were stranded at New Haflong railway station in Assams Dima Hasao district since Friday as protests continued on Saturday against police firing that killed two persons. The curfew continued in Maibong and some adjoining areas on Saturday. Dima Hasao deputy commissioner, Deva Jyoti Hazarika said they have failed to send the stranded passengers to their destinations as the picketers have damaged the railway tracks. The agitating organisations have also called a 48-hour bandh since the police firing on Thursday morning. The protesters stopped the Guwahati-bound Silchar-Guwahati fast passenger train at New Haflong station on Friday. The passengers have been stranded since then. There are close to 1,100 passengers who are stranded. The picketers have damaged the tracks at many places and removed the fish plates. It will take time to repair them and resume the movement of trains, Hazarika said. We have requisitioned 25 buses from Guwahati to send the stranded passengers to their destinations by road. However, the picketers did not allow the buses to proceed to New Haflong, the deputy commissioner told IANS. He said the district administration has arranged food, drinking water, medicines and other basic amenities for the stranded passengers. Security has been arranged for the safety of the stranded passengers at the railway stations, he said. Curfew is continuing in Maibong. We have relaxed the curfew for two hours on Saturday from 2 to 4 pm but will continue after 4 pm, Hazarika said. He added although there were no reports of any violence, some stray incidents of protests were reported from some places. Several social organisations in Dima Hasao district have been agitating for more than last one week after rumours spread that the Central government has agreed to set up satellite councils for the Nagas in the district as part of the talk process between NSCN-IM and the Central government. One such protest rally turned violent in Maibong on Thursday when the mob attacked the security forces and the railway station, forcing the security forces to open fire, leading to injury to nine protesters and some policemen. Two of the injured protesters died on Friday, which has further fuelled the protests. At least 13 persons were killed as a minibus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, police said Saturday. The incident took place at around 11.45pm on Friday when the vehicle carrying three families was returning from Ganpatipule, a picnic destination of coastal Konkan, an official said. The deceased include three men, three women and seven children, including a nine month baby, he said. The speeding minibus was on the Shivaji Bridge of Panchganga river when its driver lost control of the vehicle. The bus later fell into the river, the official said. Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot as an onlooker alerted the Kolhapur police about the incident. Rescue and search operations were launched immediately, he said. The rescue teams managed to trace 16 passengers of the ill-fated bus, wherein 13 had died. Three are admitted to a hospital for treatment, the official said. All the passengers hailed from Balewadi in Pune, police said, adding the rescue operation is underway. More than 110,000 people are killed annually on Indias roads. Most crashes are attributed to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. Convicted former Bahujan Samaj Party MP Narendra Kashyap and his wife Devendri Devi were awarded simple imprisonment of three and a half years each in the dowry death case of their daughter-in-law Himani Kashyap in 2016. Additional district judge Shashi Bhushan Pandey pronounced the sentence along with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. The court ordered another three-month simple imprisonment in case the penalty was not paid. Defence lawyer Ram Autar Gupta urged for minimum punishment since the former member of Parliament was a lawyer and said his conduct was good. However, the court disagreed and jailed the former Rajya Sabha member. The defence had also asked for three-year jail for Kashyaps wife on medical grounds but the court rejected the plea. On January 24, the court had held Kashyap, his wife, and their son guilty in the case. On January 25, the judge had awarded seven-year imprisonment to Sagar Kashyap, the former MPs son and husband of deceased Himani, and fined him Rs 50,000. Narendra Kashyap and his wife were sent to judicial custody at that time. A case was registered against Kashyap and his family members for killing Himani, 29, after her uncle Om Prakash alleged that she was shot dead for not bringing enough dowry. The Kashyap family was allegedly demanding an SUV since the wedding. Om Prakash named Kashyap, his wife Devendri Devi, son Sagar, younger son Siddharth, and sister-in-laws Sarita and Shobha as accused. Himani was found dead with a gunshot injury in the bathroom of her home in Sector 23 in Sanjay Nagar in Ghaziabad. Himani was the daughter of Hira Lal Kashyap, a former minister in the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh. She was the mother of a year-old son. A pistol licensed in her husbands name was found alongside her body. The family rushed her to a hospital where she was declared dead. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh met Cambodias Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen here on Saturday and discussed the close ties the two countries share since the time of Indias first premier Jawaharlal Nehru. The meeting lasted for over half-an-hour. India and Cambodia share a special relationship which is rooted in history, India being the first country which recognised the Independence of Cambodia in 1953. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as the Indian Prime Minister, was the first world leader to congratulate Cambodia...that is something which is very fondly remembered and recalled by Prime Minister Hun Sen, Congress leader Anand Sharma, who was a part of the Congress delegation, said. Sharma said that the Cambodian PM also referred to the role of Indira Gandhi, after she returned to power in 1980, in recognising the regime change in Cambodia and to assist in the restoration of peace and in rehabilitation work. The Cambodian PM also reminisced about the close friendship he enjoyed with the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi as well as former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Samdech Hun Sen is in the country to participate in the ASEAN- Indian Commemorative Summit and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today. Read more: India, Cambodia sign 4 pacts, agree to enhance defence, IT, cultural ties The Congress released the names of its candidates on Saturday for the Meghalaya and Tripura assembly elections to be held next month, with Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma contesting from two seats. The party released a list of 57 candidates in Meghalaya and 56 in Tripura. The strength of the two assemblies is 60 members each. The Congress is seeking to come back to power in Meghalaya and ousting the CPI(M) in Tripura where the Left front has been in power for the last 25 years. According to the list, the Meghalaya chief minister will be contesting from Songsak and Ampathi constituencies. Tripura will go to polls on February 18, followed by Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. Counting of votes will take place in three states on March 3. A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped and threatened by her teenage neighbour in a village in West Bengal, the police have said. The 19-year-old Bapi Hazra was apprehended Friday night and booked under POCSO Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the police in Berhampore, in central Bengal, said. According to the police complaint of the girls parents, Hazra allegedly lured her with chocolates when she was playing with her friends outside her house. She followed him to his house where he allegedly tortured and raped her Wednesday afternoon. He was produced in Berhampore court Saturday afternoon and was remanded in police custody. The girls family said his parents slapped him and told him not to do it again when they confronted them before filing the police complaint. The girls family even alleged that the villagers offered them money to settle the issue amicably, but they went ahead with the complaint. The boy and his parents live barely 50 metres away. He used to call my daughter sister. He raped her and threatened her with dire consequences if she opened her mouth. But she was in severe pain and told me everything, said the girls mother. The police took the girl to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for an examination. In another incident, a six-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a youth in east Kolkata Saturday morning. The youth lured her with chocolates and tried to take her to a desolate place when she was returning from school. He was caught by local people who handed him over to the police. On January 23, when the Supreme Court ruled out further investigations into Hadiyas marriage, her father KM Ashokan went through a series of reactions. You cannot investigate the marital aspect...you cannot investigate whether she married a good person or a bad person, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said. At first, Ashokan didnt believe what the bench was saying, then told himself he would believe the words when he saw them spelled out in a court order, and finally decided that he was going to file a fresh petition at the court. Ashokan doesnt like to give up. I am a fauji (military man). I am ready to fight 24 hours, he said, hunched under the shade of a palm grove outside his house in Kottayam. A driver with the Indian Army for 19 years, he went wherever he was sent on duty, from Ladakh to Assam. Now retired to the scenic, peaceful village where he was born, the 56- year-old retains the spirit of a fighter. Since 2016, he has been battling to pull his daughter back from Islam. In August 2010, an 18-year-old Akhila Ashokan boarded a train to join a Bachelors programme at the well-known Sivaraj Homeopathy Medical College in Salem, Tamil Nadu. On January 6, 2016, the 24- year-old showed up at college wearing a headscarf a development her father was informed about on the same day. Since then, she and her father have been locked in a tug-of-war in which every word and action has had an equal and opposite reaction. She goes to live with the family of her Muslim friends, he files a court petition reporting illegal confinement; she marries a Muslim man, he files a petition to annul the marriage; she tells the court she wants to live with her husband, he convinces the court to send her back home. Now, after the order from the Supreme Court (SC), she may be able to live with her husband. Ashokan is preparing to file a petition that she not be allowed to leave the country. The fighter The short and gaunt Ashokan, who dresses in shirt-and-mundu, lives in a compact house, uses a feature phone, and can easily be taken for a simple man who would avoid police stations and courts. He says he was one until he heard about his daughters conversion. I was visiting a local government office and shared my situation with a man I met there. He explained to me the concept of habeas corpus and suggested that I go for it. The father and the daughter rarely confront each other directly. What is the point of talking? She hasnt been in her right mind. said Ashokan, glowering into the distance. On November 26, 2017, when the father and the daughter travelled to Delhi from their home in Kottayam, where she had been living after a May 2017 order by the Kerala high court, to appear at the Supreme Court where her husband had filed an appeal against it, he did say a few words to her. I told her before we entered the Supreme Court, say anything you want, become violent if suits you, I dont care. All he cares about, he says, is saving his daughter. For a self-professed atheist who lives in a middle-class neighbourhood with no Muslims and has no Muslim friend, Ashokans views on Islam are mainly borrowed. With every day he spends fighting this battle, Hadiyas father seeks further validation of his notions, from reading posts about the ISIS recruitment from India to exchanging notes with Hindutva groups fighting love jihad. In interview after interview, he has spoken of the dangerous path his daughter has chosen. He has also been worried about her association with members of the Popular Front of India, a Kerala-based Muslim organisation being investigated for Islamist fundamentalism and forced religions conversions. As he said in reaction to the SCs remarks on Tuesday, no father would like his daughter turning into a human bomb in an alien country. The man in the middle Shafin Jahan happens to be the embodiment of all of Ashokans fears. A 27-year-old graduate of Islamic studies from south Keralas Kollam who works as a manager in Muscat, Jahan says he met Hadiya on a matrimonial website for Muslims. They got married at the house of Sainaba, a social worker and a leader of the Popular Front of India. In the wedding photo he put up on Facebook, Jahan, tall and muscular, poses earnestly next to Hadiya, who stands smiling in a pink-and-gold wedding outfit. A member of the Social Democratic Party of India, the political front of the PFI, Jahan first crossed Ashokan by marrying her daughter on December 19, 2016, two days before the court was supposed to settle a place for her to stay while she pursued Islamic studies. If she wasnt going to be sent back home, he wanted her dispatched to her college hostel in Salem. Equally suspicious of the circumstances of their wedding, the Kerala high court annulled the marriage and sent Hadiya home with her father, where she would remain for almost a year, until her husband reached out to the Supreme Court. After the apex court ordered the NIA in August 2017 to investigate what the high court had called a case of love jihad, and the agency claimed Shafi Jahan had been in touch with individuals accused of having IS links, Ashokan became more convinced of an organised plot to take his daughter to Syria. Asked if he ever feels tired of fighting the battle, he said: If I am tired, I smoke a cigarette, or I have two pegs (of alcohol) and fall asleep. Like father, like daughter Like Ashokan, Hadiya isnt known to change her mind once she decides something. She looks small, but she is very strong, said G Kannan, principal of her college in Salem, where she was sent by the SC to finish her studies, and her legal guardian. She has concrete ideas, no one can change that, he added. Unlike Ashokan, Hadiya hasnt fully narrated her version of the story yet. All she has said since the case was first reported is that she had been following Islam for a long time before she appeared in public in a hijab, that she was attracted to the religion after becoming friends with two Muslim girls in her college and noting their good character, and that she married Jahan of her own will through a matrimonial website. She has also stated, clearly and firmly, her demand for freedom and her desire to live with her husband, the person she loves the most. I am demanding basic rights that every Indian citizen has. It has nothing to do with politics or caste. All I want is to talk to people I like, she had said after the SC granted her freedom from her parents custody but only to put her under the control of her college. Back in Salem, she sticks to a routine. I wake up, pray, wash... the usual. On the campus, where she moves between the lab and the library, Hadiya is hard to tell apart from the hundreds of other young women except for her hijab and the shy yet determined smile you see in her wedding photo. Asked how she felt about her half freedom, she fixed her gaze on the notebook in her lap and said she felt normal. She went on to spend another two months at her college before SC asked the NIA to no longer look into the marriage aspect of the case. She was attending a class when she heard about it. I went and told her what the court had said. She said she was happy, said Kannan. So was Jahan, who described his struggle as harrowing. I feel we can lead a normal husband-wife life now, he said. Allah is supreme. Truth will prevail, always. Ashokan will continue to fight. He last spoke to his daughter two days before the latest Supreme Court hearing. It was a usual phone call. I asked her if she was doing fine. Asked weeks before the January 23 court date how he would react if he loses in the end, he had said there wasnt a chance. I cant lose. Truth doesnt lose. (Inputs from Ramesh Babu) It has been the site of brutal lynchings, vigilante raids on those allegedly smuggling cows, and divisive rhetoric. Its a site that has left Muslims scared, and sparked a debate within the community. Some believe that in the new India, freedom is being curtailed and everyone should be left to eat what they want. Others believe it was miscreants and smugglers from neighbouring Haryana who broke law and traded in cattle and deserve punishment. But they all agree that the BJP sought to capitalise on it, and defame Muslims. Yet, despite bypolls on January 29, one would not know that this very site Alwar is home to such debates and churning within a section of its electorate sparked by cow vigilantism. For the BJP, it remains an issue to consolidate Hindus, along with other tools. For the Congress, inspired by its recent tactics in Gujarat where party president Rahul Gandhi visibly wooed Hindus with his temple-hopping while remaining distant from Muslim shrines or issues specific to the community, it is a trap that must not be entered. And in that lies the story of how one bypoll shows how the terms of the political debate have shifted across western India. BJPs calculation The BJP election office is buzzing; a roadshow for chief minister Vasundhara Raje is to be organised. District president Dharamveer Sharma is directing heads of the SC, Mahila, Intellectual fronts to mobilise people. In the middle, he gives an interview to a TV channel. And keeps track of where BJP candidate Jaswant Yadav, a minister in the state government, is campaigning. Sharma says the party is confident because of its robust organisation, a dynamic candidate, Congress factionalism, and a wide social coalition. The BJP is relying on a section of the Yadav and Brahmin vote; the majority of the Bania, Rajput, Saini, Punjabi vote; and a slice of the Meena and Dalit vote. Another senior BJP leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, says: We are in government in Delhi and in Jaipur. We are telling voters it is a waste to go with the Congress when it will have no impact on power dynamics. Why antagonise us? Work with us instead. The BJP is also relying on the election acquiring a Hindu-Muslim shade. Gyandev Ahuja, an MLA from the district, said last month: If you smuggle and slaughter cows, you will be killed. Banwari Lal Singhal, another MLA from the district, wrote in a Facebook post: The way Muslim population is increasing, the existence of Hindus is in danger ... Hindus will become secondary citizens if Muslims become lawmakers. And Jaswant Yadav, the candidate himself, is reported to have remarked: If you are a Hindu, vote for me. If you are a Muslim, vote for the Congress. When asked about these remarks, BJP district president Sharma shot back: What is wrong? Their people are increasing. It is not a lie. No one except Muslims will be bothered if this truth is spoken. And before the election, they are dividing people. Congress Muslim leader, Zubair Khan, said that if the BJP comes to power, minorities will be attacked. But what about instances of cow vigilantism? When cows are stolen, these leftists and Congress leaders dont speak. When cows are smuggled, they dont speak. But when people try to protect the cow, they start speaking against it. This is sin. They will pay a price for it, Sharma says. Congress response The Congress appears to have evolved a careful multi-pronged response, all of which avoids publicly courting Muslims. For one, it is sticking to the development card and anti-incumbency. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, a close associate of the Congress president, is the partys tallest leader in the region. A former MP, he has decided to sit out this by-election. The ticket has gone to Karan Singh Yadav, a doctor who has served as an MP from the constituency and was an MLA too. But Singh is campaigning hard. At a public meeting in Rajgarh, he says: Dr Yadav is my candidate. This is my election. Do I even need to ask for votes here? Someone in the crowd assures him of 80% votes. He says: Only 80. I want more. The crowd shouts: 99%. In his car, on the campaign trail, Singh says the partys primary plank is development projects he had brought as an MP, which the BJP government had allegedly stalled. We got a Sainik school here, a medical college, a high-speed train connecting Delhi and Alwar, and many more projects. This government has stalled them all. People feel cheated. In four years, the chief minister visited Alwar seven times, all brief tours in a chopper, he alleges. Now she is roaming around, making promises. Wouldnt the fact that the BJP will remain in power give it an advantage? No. I see it the other way round. People are angry and want to give the government a wake-up call. Two, the Congress is hoping that its selection of candidates can generate a broad social coalition, including several Hindu castes. Yadav has been given the ticket because we know this will divide the Yadav vote completely, and bring a large section to us We hope to get Brahmin votes since the community is angry that the BJP did not give a ticket to a Brahmin leader. And then we have Gujjars and Malis, who we hope will vote for us because Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot are from these communities. And Dalits and Meenas are our traditional vote anyway, says a Congress leader. And three, while quietly consolidating the Muslims, the Congress is also avoiding responding to the BJPs aspersions that only Muslims vote for the party. We wont fall into the trap. We have told our Muslim leaders that they just need to mobilise quietly. That is the way to beat the BJP, says a Rajasthan Congress leader. The communitys voice may not be publicly articulated but Muslims of Alwar are invested in the contest. In the Tijara assembly segment, Rashid Khan says: We want to teach the BJP a lesson Dont defame us, and stop targeting us. The Alwar outcome will show if the BJPs hold in Rajasthan and strategy to polarise on religious lines will be enough or if the Congresss tactic of publicly wooing Hindu castes and remaining silent on Muslim issues while consolidating their vote will work. India and Cambodia on Saturday inked four pacts, including one to improve cooperation in prevention, investigation of crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters , besides a line of credit from India to fund Cambodias Stung Sva Hab water resources development project for $ 36.92 million. The pacts were signed after comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen, who agreed to further enhance bilateral defence ties, including through exchanges of senior-level defence personnel and capacity building projects. The two leaders also discussed exploring ways to intensify the development partnership and boost ties in key sectors, including trade and investment, energy conservation, agriculture, and tourism and culture. India and Cambodia also signed an MoU on the prevention of human trafficking under which the two countries will seek to increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking. They also inked a pact for cultural exchanges through 2018-2020. The mutual legal assistance in criminal matters seeks to improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes through cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters, the pact stated. According to the ministry of external affairs, India- Cambodia relations go back to the 1st century AD when Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts of southeast Asia. Cambodians are predominantly Buddhist but retain a strong influence of Hindu rituals, idolatry and mythology. India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with 10 leaders of Asean countries taking a look at the countrys military might and cultural diversity. America first does not mean America alone, said President Donald Trump at the Davos summit, insisting that this was the best time to invest in his country. These stories made news on Friday. Here is more about them. India celebrates Republic Day, Asean leaders watch parade India showcased its military might and cultural heritage with a parade before 10 Southeast Asian leaders as it celebrated Republic Day in Delhi. Marching bands, floats, military hardware and camels were paraded from the presidents palace through the tree-lined roads of central Delhi. The highlight of the event was women personnel of the Border Security Force doing stunts on motorbikes. Donald Trump says America first does not mean America alone Playing the role of economic cheerleader, President Donald Trump told an annual gathering of political and business elites on Friday that America is open for business and that economic growth in the US under his America first agenda could benefit the globe. The businessman-turned-president used the World Economic Forum in Davos to sell the US as a prime place to conduct business, noting the recent passage of a sweeping tax overhaul. Woman from Pune arrested in Kashmir for planning suicide bomb attack An 18-year-old woman from Pune was detained in South Kashmir Thursday night on suspicion that she had contacted Islamic State operatives and might cause a suicide bomb explosion on Republic Day, police said. The Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad had questioned her in 2015 after allegations that she had been radicalised after coming in contact with Islamic State supporters abroad. Dont change status quo in Doklam: Indian envoy to China The military stand-off at Doklam was a momentary hurdle in Sino-Indian ties but maintaining status quo at the borders is essential for both countries, Indias Ambassador to China has said. I look at the Doklam stand-off from such a long-term perspective. When you do so, the Doklam stand-off is just one event in a much longer-term history, Gautam Bambawale told Global Times, the English daily of the Communist Party of China. Central Assam district tense, 2 protesters die in police firing Maibang town in central Assams Dima Hasao district continued under curfew after two persons who were injured in police firing on protesters enforcing a 48-hour shutdown Thursday died. Dima Hasao has had violent protests after a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activists report that the district is part of Nagalim in the draft plan for the Naga Accord. In Tinsukia district, suspected ULFA (Independent) insurgents triggered three blasts near a police station. There were no casualties. Mobs clash in UP town over Republic Day celebrations Clashes erupted between two communities in Kasganj town in Uttar Pradesh over celebrating Republic Day. Over 36 people 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. RSS chief Bhagwat hoists tricolour in Kerala school after controversy Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the national flag at a private school in Palakkad town after the Kerala government said only heads of educational institutes could do so. The district collector had warned the government-aided school it would not be proper for a political leader to hoist the national flag in a government-aided school. Getting tatkal passport easier as govt scraps need for Class 1 officers nod The external affairs ministry will do away with the mandatory requirement of a so-called Class 1 officers recommendation on the application for a passport under the tatkal or instant category. The decision could see an increase in the number of applicants under the category and also make it easier for those who urgently require a passport. Saina Nehwal earns dominant victory against PV Sindhu Shuttler Saina Nehwal got the better of compatriot P V Sindhu in straight games to enter the semi-finals of $350,000 Indonesia Masters World Tour Super 500 in Jakarta. It took the unseeded Saina only 37 minutes to move past World No 3 Sindhu 21-13, 21-19 to better her career record against the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist to 2-1. Oldest human fossil outside Africa found in Israel A partial jawbone bearing seven teeth unearthed in a cave in Israel represents what scientists are calling the oldest-known Homo sapiens remains outside Africa, showing that our species trekked out of that continent far earlier than previously known. Senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal said on Saturday that jauhar, an ancient practice of mass self- immolation by Rajput women to avoid being captured by foreign invaders, was a form of resistance and not a discriminatory practice against women. At a seminar on Stree-Shakti, or women empowerment, at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication here, Gopal said the practice was a part of the tradition of Jauhar-Shakha in which women offered the supreme sacrifice than be conquered by victorious armies to be a part of their large harems. He said jauhar was a form of resistance and not a discriminatory practice. The remarks came as fringe Rajput groups violently protested the release of controversial film Padmaavat, based on the saga of the 13th-century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. The groups allege that the film shows Rani Padmavati in poor light. The queen is said to have committed jauhar in 1303, preferring to die than be captured by Sultan Khilji. Historians, however, are divided whether she actually existed, and the filmmakers have denied the allegations. But Gopal said scholars, who speak about equality between men and women, should consider the fact that the Indian thought was not geared towards dichotomies, but is rather a unifying thought. He said the Indian society must introspect why almost 40 per cent women in the country were bereft of educational opportunities and suffer from debilitating diseases such as anaemia. The RSS leader also talked on the declining sex-ratio during the seminar, and insisted that women empowerment cannot happen without improving the conditions of women in society. Gopal has previously spoken about untouchability. In September last year, he had claimed that the practice of untouchability didnt exist in ancient India and it reached the country from outside over the past a thousand years. This (practice of) discrimination came in the last thousand years. There was no such thing as untouchability in this country (before that). Our Vedic rishis never mentioned this. Where did it come from? It came from outside, Gopal had told Sangh volunteers during an address in Hyderabad on Vijayadashmi Utsav. Jauhar was a Hindu custom of mass self-immolation by women to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by foreign invaders, when facing a certain defeat in a war. Karnataka is ready for talks with Goa on the Mahadayi river water sharing issue to meet the drinking needs of the states four drought-prone districts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday. We are ready for talks if Goa Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar) convenes a meeting to amicably negotiate the sharing of river water, Siddarmaiah told reporters after an all-party meeting on the issue failed to reach a consensus here. The four districts are Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag in Karnatakas north-west region, 400-550 km from state capital Bengaluru. As the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disagreed with the ruling Congress and other parties that the Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervene to resolve the issue, the Chief Minister said he would convince his partys leaders in Goa to urge their state government to share water to meet the drinking needs of people in the region. Barring the BJP, other parties, including the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), also sought Prime Ministers intervention in the inter-state river water dispute instead of waiting for a judicial verdict, Siddaramaiah said. A BJP leader, however, told IANS that Modis intervention was unwarranted, as Parrikar had offered to discuss the issue with Karnataka if the Congress leaders in Goa agreed to the sharing of river water. As the inter-state issue is before the Supreme Court and the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal and hence sub judice, how can the Prime Minister intervene when it was the then Congress government in Goa which went to the apex court and got a tribunal set up to resolve the issue, asked the BJP leader. The 77-km-long Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district and flows into the neighbouring Goa and joins the Arabian Sea off the West Coast. Though the river flows for 29 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032 km in the southern state as against 1,580 km in Goa. Karnataka has been asking Goa since 2001 to release 7.6 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to meet drinking and irrigation needs of people in its drought-prone districts. Karnataka plans to build two canals across Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of the river in the state to divert and supply water to the four districts. The Tribunal, headed by J.N. Panchal, on July 28, 2016, rejected the states petition for releasing the water, citing various grounds, including ecological damage the twin canal projects may cause. Though I have written many letters to the Prime Minister and Parrikar for an out-of-court or outside-Tribunal settlement, there has been no response from either till date, Siddaramaiah rued. Appealing to the BJP for seeking Modis intervention, the Chief Minister said he was ready to lead an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister in New Delhi and convince him to resolve the issue at the earliest. The Chief Minister also objected to Parrikar writing to BJP state unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa last month rather than him to discuss the issue. Yeddyurappa is a former BJP Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is the BJP state unit President and a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga in Malnad (region). Parrikars offer letter is personal and not official as not even a copy of it was marked or sent to my office, Siddaramaiah said. BJPs central Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda from the state, its opposition leaders in state Assembly Jagadish Shettar and Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa, former JD-S Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and JD-S lawmaker in the Council Basavaraj Horatti and farmer representatives from the affected region participated in the three-hour meeting at the states Secretariat in the city centre. A Muslim woman who led Friday prayers in a mosque for the first time defying the age-old customs is now facing the heat. Fundamentalists have threatened to eliminate Jamida, 34, a school teacher, who led Jumuah, the congregational prayer service of Muslims held every Friday, at a mosque in Wandoor in Malappuram district. According to them, she defiled the religion. Jamida, the general secretary of Quran Sunnath Society, an organisation striving hard for reforms in the religion, led a group of believers at a mosque donning the role of an Imam, and has claimed to be the first woman to do so in the countrys history. Around 80 people, including women, gathered to attend the prayers, led by the woman Imam, the Society sources said. Her action initially drew praise as everyone lauded her for the good beginning but soon threats started coming in. Worried, Jamida has now sought police protection. The Society was founded by reformist preacher Chekanur Moulavi who was allegedly murdered by extremists in 1993 for questioning some of the customs and practices in the religion. I have received many threatening calls. On social media, too, people are openly speaking against my decision, Jamida said, adding that she will do it again if she gets an opportunity. Its written nowhere in Islam that women will be barred from leading prayers. We have to wean the religion from the hands of a patriarchal band of Imams and preachers, she said. She said Quran has been interpreted differently for the convenience of men so that they hold the reins of power and discriminate against women. Quran is not discriminatory against women. People who interpret it do this. There is nothing in the holy book that prevents a woman from being an Imam, she said, adding that change will come in the religion gradually and she has made a beginning for this. Jamida, a staunch critic of triple talaaq, says she is a huge fan of US-based scholar Amina Wadud who is the first Muslim woman to lead Friday prayers. Changes are visible in the community. Women will have to come forward to end the dominance of the clergy who interpret religion as per their own way to enjoy an upper hand, she said. Law is not the solution to social problems, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has said, claiming that triple talaq bill was a ploy to send Muslim men to jail. Will triple talaq stop after the law is brought? a release from the AIMIM quoted Owaisi as saying at Tahafuzz e Shariayat (Save Sharia) public meeting here late last night. Dowry deaths and other crimes against women did not stop even when specific laws were made against these practises, he said. Between 2005-2015, there were more than 80,000 dowry deaths in India. Twenty-two women die daily on account of dowry, and even after the Nirbhaya incident, there was a rapid increase in number of rape cases. Law is not the answer, he said. Further, triple talaq bill is a conspiracy against the minority community, Owaisi alleged. It is a ploy to bring the women of the community on road and send the men to prison, he alleged. The BJP-led NDA government tried to push the bill through Parliament without consulting Muslim clerics, he alleged. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Lok Sabha, but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding that it be sent to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny. According to the draft law, instant triple talaq will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti spoke to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday and expressed anguish over the death of two civilians in an Army firing in Shopian district in the state. The two civilians were killed when Army personnel fired on a group of violent protesters, who pelted stones on a security force convoy passing through Ganovpora village. The situation in the village is tense after the deaths. The chief minister said every civilian killing, notwithstanding how erroneously made, impairs the political process in the state, which has been put on track after hard work by all political parties, an official spokesman said. Sitharaman assured Mufti she would seek a detailed report in connection with the incident. The defence minister said she would impress upon the field formations that mechanisms put in place were strictly adhered to so that such incidents do not recur, the spokesman said. A guest list that includes a former President, a former Prime Minister, an ex-deputy PM, a Marxist leader and a dissident BJP politician for the launch of a pictorial biography of the late Biju Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Saturday has sparked speculations about chief minister Naveen Patnaik anti-BJP strategy ahead of next years assembly poll. Among those invited are former President Pranab Mukherjee, former PM Deve Gowda, ex-deputy PM LK Advani and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. The BJD insists that the release of the book The Tall Man Biju Patnaik written by noted researcher Sundar Ganesan and published by Biju Patnaik Birth Centenary Committee is just an event where the former CMs contemporaries would mark their presence. But senior party leaders pointed out to the political significance of presence of Advani and CPI on the same platform. Many of them were contemporaries of Biju Patnaik, who was more of a statesman than politician. Its nothing unusual for them to turn up at book release event, said senior BJD leader AU Singh Deo. But other BJD leaders feel the event is an attempt to create a bulwark of anti-BJP forces using the Biju legacy to checkmate a likely resurgence of BJP before next years assembly polls. The BJP which is riding high on its success in panchayat polls last year is getting aggressive after party chief Amit Shah unveiled the Mission 120 campaign (winning 120 of the 147 assembly seats) in September 2017. The chief minister probably wants the BJP to know that if necessary he can be part of an anti-BJP coalition before next years polls and at the same time be in a position to bargain if the BJP falls short of majority, said a BJD leader requesting anonymity. Others in the party feel that Naveen Patnaik could leverage the book release function to limit any possible damage to his image after he ordered the suspension of BJD Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda two days ago. The well-networked Panda is widely believed to be biding his time before joining the BJP. Though Naveen had stepped out of his fathers shadow almost a decade ago, his invoking Biju legacy could be a strategy to counter Panda in Kendrapara Lok Sabha where Biju Patnaik is still an icon, said political analyst Rabi Das. A canny Patnaik has also sent an invitation to dissident BJP leader Bijoy Mahapatra to attend the book release function. Mahapatra, who was unceremoniously denied a party ticket in 2000 assembly election, is highly critical of the BJPs CM hopeful and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and may serve Patnaik in more than one way. If Patnaik gets Mahapatra to join the BJD he would deal a blow to BJP in Odisha while checkmating Baijayant Panda in Kendrapara, where Mahapatra is a significant player. While invoking Biju legacy, Patnaik has quietly aligned himself anti-RSS forces in the State. Early this month, he attended a function where 50000 students sang Vande Mataram and Vande Utkala Janani in Bhubaneswar organised by Bharatiya Siksha Vikash Sansthan, a breakaway RSS group that runs around 1000 schools. Last year, Odishas school and mass education department ordered free supply of text books to these schools which was viewed as the government promoting the schools as a parallel to the Saraswati Shishu Mandir network of the RSS. The Opposition is gearing up to launch a joint offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming days with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar calling a meeting of all like-minded parties in Delhi on Monday. The opposition parties will not only discuss the steps to take forward their Save the Constitution campaign but also thrash out a strategy to take on the saffron party in upcoming assembly elections as well as the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The proposal by the Maratha strongman came during the oppositions Save the Constitution march in Mumbai on Republic Day. Pawar, rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D Raja, Patidar leader from Gujarat Hardik Patel, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference working president Omar Abdullah, Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress and Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan, Sanjay Nirupam and Alpesh Thakor had all gathered for the march. Pawars initiative is not only being seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP forces ahead of the 2019 elections but also sets to rest speculation about him being soft towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party. Leaders from the Congress and the NCP were of the view that Pawar is inclined to renewing the alliance between the two parties, which jointly ruled Maharashtra for 15 years from 1999 to 2014 when they snapped their ties. Prior to Mondays meeting, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha is all set to launch a non-political front likely to be named Rashtriya Manch on January 30, the 70th anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Members of the front willinclude senior Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tewari, Ashutosh and Ashish Khaitan from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Pavan Kumar Varma of the Janata Dal (United). The government announced the Padma awards, one of the highest civilian recognitions in the country, on Friday to honour people who have made an exceptional contribution in their respective fields of work. From West Bengal, two persons were recognised with Padma Shri for their efforts in social work. Subhasini Mistry, a woman who lost her husband due to poverty, went on to build a charitable hospital that never refuses treatment to the poor. Sudhanshu Biswas, a freedom fighter-turned-social worker, has worked for the emancipation of the poor, the orphaned and the old, and now aims to build a temple where all religions will find unity. Here is more about them: Subhasini Mistry Padma Shri for Social Work At the age of 23, Subhasini Mistry lost her husband. The family was poor and she could not afford treatment for him. Thrust with the responsibility of bringing up her four children all by herself, the world seemed to have collapsed around her. To keep her head above water, Mistry began working as a brick layer at construction sites and as a domestic help before finally settling as a vegetable seller at a local market in Hanskhali of Nadia district where she lived. She brought up her children fighting the grind of poverty, but the scar of watching her husband die without proper treatment propelled her to build something that would offer treatment to poor people. With whatever she earned by selling vegetable, Mistry ensured that her children got education. But every month she kept aside a small amount from her meagre income that she put together to build a small charitable hospital at Hanskhali village near Kolkata. Started in 1996, the two-storied hospital with 25 beds and about a dozen doctors provides treatment to the poor, including basic surgeries. Christened Humanity Hospital, it is run with donations from well wishers. Its guiding principle: no refusal of admission for poor patients. Ajay, Mistrys younger son, who grew up to be a doctor is the man who is the guiding spirit behind this hospital. Ajay struggled through his childhood, initially studying in an orphanage and then doing odd jobs to fund his medical studies. Her first dream achieved, Subhashini, now 70, hopes to add more services to her hospital such as adding an ICU. She is short of funds, but hopes that there are people who would come forward to help. With the country recognising her incredible effort, Mistry hopes that the state would come forward with help to make her hospital modern. I am delighted to get the recognition. But I take this opportunity to appeal to all hospital authorities not to refuse any patient. My husband died after being refused admission 47 years ago and I dont want any life to end in this manner, Mistry told the media on Friday. Subhasini now runs two hospitals one in her native Hanskhali village and the other in the Sunderbans. Sudhanshu Biswas Padma Shri for Social Work A freedom-fighter and staunch believer in Swami Vivekanandas philosophy, Sudhanshu Biswas is a one-man army. He set up as many as 18 charitable primary schools, an old-age home, a childrens home and a free dispensary in the remote areas of the Sunderbans in West Bengal. After being actively involved in the freedom movement during which he was also detained by the police, Biswass life took a new turn after Independence. He left for the Himalayas and spent almost a decade and half there, interacting with different sages. During the course of his interactions, he realised that real contribution to society constitutes in working relentlessly for the poorest, oppressed and most backward sections of the society. The realisation prompted him to return to Kolkata in the late sixties. He began by setting up two ashrams in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. In 1973, he set up Ramakrishna Sevashram at Baruipur, the headquarters of the district. But the urge to do more for the oppressed sections always troubled him, and so, he left for remote villages in the Sunderbans. In the next 23 years, by 1996, Biswas set up a string of charitable schools, an old-age home, a childrens home and a free dispensary in the region. Now a year short of 100, he is toiling to set up a temple with a difference in the region. The proposed temple will have its doors open for the people of all religion and celebrate festivals of different religions under one roof. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and opened indiscriminate fire at forward Indian posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati and Mankote sectors in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Saturday, a police official said. The Pakistani troops opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire in the afternoon after a few days of lull, prompting Indian forces to retaliate, the official said. He said there was no casualty or injury to anyone in the firing incidents. The firing in Krishna Ghati sector took place around 4.55pm and in Mankote sector around 5.35pm. The firing ended around 6.20pm at both places, the official said. Thirteen people, including seven civilians, have been killed and over 70 others injured in intense shelling by Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts, and the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22, leading to the displacement of thousands of border residents. Officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting along the IB in Suchetgarh in Jammu on Friday during which India registered its strong protest on the recent spate of firing from Pakistan, asserting that such provocative acts would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B B Vyas and director general of police SP Vaid visited RS Pura, Joura Chakrohi and Sai Khurd along the IB in Jammu on Saturday and met families of the people who were killed in firing from across the border. They also interacted with border migrants in camps and took stock of relief measures in a meeting with local officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day state visit to Palestine, Oman and the UAE on February 9, during which he will hold talks with the leadership in the countries on matters of mutual interest, the external affairs ministry announced here on Saturday. This will be the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Modis second visit to UAE and first to Oman. During the visit, the prime minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in other events, the ministry said in a release. During his Palestine visit, the prime minister will hold a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who had visited India last May during which Modi had reassured him of Indias unwavering support towards the Palestinian cause. Significantly, Modis visit to Palestine comes less than a month after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus India trip. The two leaders had discussed the Palestine issue. After the Modi-Netanyahu talks, Vijay Gokhale, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, had said, What the two sides agreed, that our relationship was much larger than any single issue...that we need to look at it holistically and while we continue to talk to each other, our relationship is not determined by a single issue. He was asked whether the long-pending issue of Palestine figured in the talks between the two prime ministers. During his UAE visit, apart from holding talks with the leadership on key issues of defence, security and trade, the prime minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit. The summit is being held in Dubai and India has been extended Guest of Honour status, the ministry said. In Oman, Modis focus would be on intensifying cooperation in key sectors such as trade and defence. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the bilateral trade and investment between India and Oman remain robust and buoyant. Bilateral trade, which saw a decline during 2014-15 and 2015-16, has resumed its upward trend with an increase of 3.6 per cent from USD 3.8 billion in 2015-16 to USD 4 billion in 2016-17, the ministry said. Modi will also meet the Indian community in the UAE and Oman, the release added. Its been over 10 months since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) lifted the ban on camping along the Ganges in Uttarakhand but there has been no activity on the 36-km stretch between Kaudiyala and Rishikesh yet. While campers and private operators are eager to make a return, lack of coordination among government departments ensure they dont. The stretch used to be famous for rafting and camping activities till the green court banned camping in December 2015 based on a petition by a Noida-based NGO that claimed loud music, littering, and river pollution were affecting the ecosystem. The white water rafting industry, pegged at an annual Rs 70 Rs 90 crore and open for nine months barring the monsoon (July-September), took a hit. It employed 5,000-7,000 people, including guides, cooks, instructors and drivers. The business has two components: rafting and camping. Rafters would camp on beaches with lush green hilly forests forming the background. To run this, a rafting operator, after getting an outdoor activity licence, seeks space along the beaches. But the land comes under either the forest or the revenue department. Dinesh Kaithait, 42, a veteran operator, has been shuffling between the departments but to no avail. Around 200 operators like him are clueless about reviving their business. Kaithait told HT that with no camping, rafters are slowly shifting to other rivers such as Tons in Dehradun district. Before the ban, 3.41 lakh sqm area was available to pitch 1,364 camps in 38 beaches. Based on a study by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, the NGT in March last year approved camping in 25 beaches, but 100m away from the middle of the river. Besides some other riders, the tribunal also ordered for bio-digester toilets in the beaches. Ratan Aswal, who used to run Camp 5 Elements, says operators are ready to follow norms but officials are not responding. The beaches fall under the jurisdiction of Tehri and Pauri Garhwal districts. Divisional forest officer of Narendranagar (Tehri), Rahul (who goes only by his first name), says there are certain policy issues. As per the NGTs order, the forest land has to be transferred to Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (that conducts eco-tourism activity), he said, adding that permission was awaited from the Centre. Secretary (tourism), Dileep Jawalkar, underlined they are worried about the impact on tourism and have asked concerned officials to expedite with the ministry. However, Sushil Kumar, district magistrate of Pauri Garhwal, said his office was yet to receive applications (for beach camping). Meanwhile, a few camp operators have moved a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the NGT order. Police in Ankleshwar town of Gujarat arrested two persons on Saturday for allegedly thrashing a man for saying that despite being a Rajput, he planned to watch the Bollywood film Padmaavat. According to complainant Upendrasingh Jadhav, a resident of Vadodara, the incident took place on January 24 when he was visiting Ankleshwar. Sitting in a hotel, he was speaking on phone with a friend in Vadodara, asking him about the situation ahead of Padmaavats release. He told his friend that as the film wont be released in Gujarat, he planned to travel to Mumbai to watch it. The accused, identified as Bhargavgsinh Padhiyar and Ranjit Fuvad, overheard him, and assaulted him saying how could he dare to watch the film, despite being a Rajput and despite the Karni Senas appeal for the films boycott, Jadhav told police. The accused also shot a video of the assault and forced Jadhav to write an apology. After the video went viral on social media, Jadhav, feeling all the more humiliated, decided to approach police, he said in the complaint. We have arrested Padhiyar and Fuvad under IPC sections 323 (assault) and 342 (wrongful confinement). They will be produced in a court later, said an officer from GIDC Ankleshwar police station. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama Padmaavat, facing stiff opposition from some Rajput groups for alleged distortion of history, released nationwide on January 25. However, theatre owners in Gujarat have decided not to screen it as of now, fearing violence. Scores of diplomats including ambassadors of four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France and Britain - attended one of the largest Republic Day receptions outside India at the UN headquarters, besides events across the US as well. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, was the only P-5 country envoy not to attend the impressive Republic Day reception hosted jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York. Haley, who was not in town, sent one of her top diplomats to the event, which was attended by several hundred Indian Americans, officials of the UN and envoys of scores of countries at the UN. Prominent among those were the President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, and the Deputy UN secretary general Amina J Mohammed. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, surprised many by her presence at Indias Republic Day celebrations at the UN, which was marked by an impressive dance performance at the UN Delegates Dining Room. Though far from Indias shores, the young sing about the land that nourished and nurtured as we celebrate Indias #Republicday2018@IndiaUNNewYork, Syed Akbaruddin, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, said in a tweet. We are grateful this evening that several distinguished officials as well as representatives have joined us. I am grateful to the President of the General Assembly who is here with us, also to the Lt Governor of New York, who is with us and the deputy secretary general, who is with us, Akbaruddin said as he was joined by other dignitaries in lighting the lamp. For many UN observers, it was one of the largest gatherings of ambassadors at a public event at the UN. Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid floral tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Embassy in Washington before unfurling the national flag, in the presence of embassy staff and members of the Indian American community. Akbaruddin unfurled the national flag at the UN mission in New York, with Indias other diplomatic missions in the US - in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta - also hosting events. Diego Gomez Pickering, the consul general of Mexico in New York was the guest of honour at the Indian consulate celebrations in the city. Honored to participate in the celebrations of the 69th #RepublicDay at @IndiainNewYork along with Consul General Chakravorty and the vibrant Indian community of #NYC. #Mexico and #India partners, friends and allies, he tweeted. Sanjeev Tripathi from Boston wrote a special poem in Hindi on the occasion. Illinois Lt Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and joined the Republic Day celebrations in Chicago along with a large number of Indian Americans. Officials of the Indian Consulate in Houston posted a special video on twitter Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day. Congressman Pete Olson appeared in a traditional kurta at the Consulate and joined Indian-Americans in the Republic day celebrations in the Indian Consulate in Houston. Great to celebrate the 69th India Republic Day at the Consulate General of India this morning! he said. #OTD in 1950, the largest democracy on earth was born when the Indian constitution was adopted. I look forward to many more years of friendship between our two great countries! Olson tweeted. A number of Republic Day celebrations have been scheduled by Indian-Americans across the country over the weekend. The day was also marked in the South African city of Johannesburg. 2018 is a wonderful year for us because it commemorates various important occasions for India and South Africa, consul general K J Srinivasa said. It commemorates the 125th anniversary of the incident at Pietermaritzburg when Mahatma Gandhiji was evicted from the train that led to his involvement in the struggle against discrimination and which in turn led to the independence of India and many other nations. 2018 also marks the centenary of Madibas (Nelson Mandelas) birth, the 25th year of resumption of formal diplomatic relations with South Africa, and the 20th year of a strategic relationship between South Africa and India, he said. Srinivasa said the Indian mission had many events lined up in this year to encourage the building of an even stronger relationship with South Africa. Indias high commissioner Ruchira Kamboj reminded the audience of expatriates and South Africans, most of them from the local Indian community, that India was the worlds largest democracy, the worlds fastest growing major economy, and one of the most liberal economies in the world for foreign direct investment. India Means Business was the clear message emanating from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Davos 2018, she said. Importantly, as India journeys ahead, it is in our ethos to contribute to building a better composite and cohesive world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. These are the principles which we bring to the international community and which we bring to South Africa, a country which is very close to our heart; with which we share very special ties and with which we have a shared future, Kamboj said. Two civilians were killed when the Army allegedly opened fire at protesters in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Saturday, prompting chief minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident. Shopian superintendent of police Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar confirmed the two deaths. A convoy was passing through Ganaupora village when protesters started pelting stones at them. The casualties occurred when the Army retaliated, said Dinkar, adding that a third person has been admitted to a Srinagar hospital. The deceased were identified as Javed Bhat and Suhail Lone, both in their twenties. A Srinagar-based Army spokesperson said security personnel opened fire at protesters only after taking the extreme gravity of the situation into account. According to him, a large group of 200-250 people targeted a convoy at Ganaupura Chowk in the afternoon and tried to set the vehicles on fire. A junior commissioned officer was allegedly hit in the head, after which some of the attackers tried to snatch his weapon and lynch him. As many as seven Army personnel were injured and eleven vehicles damaged in the attack, the spokesperson said. Although Shopian chief medical officer Dr Abdul Rashid Najar had earlier pegged the number of casualties at three, he later clarified that a 23-year-old man shifted to the Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar was alive. A medical superintendent at the institute said any comment on the mans condition can be made only after a surgery. The Valleys joint separatist leadership announced a Kashmir shutdown on Sunday to condemn the incident. Restrictions are likely to be imposed on some areas of Srinagar in anticipation of repercussions. Meanwhile, Mehbooba called up defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to express anguish over the civilian deaths. The chief minister said every civilian killing, notwithstanding how erroneously made, impairs a political process that has been put on track through hard work by all political parties in the state, a government press statement read. Sitharaman assured the chief minister that she would seek a detailed report on the matter and ensure that such incidents do not recur. The chief minister conveyed her condolences to the deceaseds families, and directed the district administration to conduct a probe into the incident. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah also expressed his anguish over the civilian deaths. 2 civilians dead & many others injured. The first month of 2018 has been a terrible one for J&K, death has cast its ugly shadow far too often already, he tweeted. Amid strains in ties with the BJP, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said his TDP is ready to chart its own course if the former is not keen to continue with the alliance. Reacting for the first time to mounting criticism of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) by state leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said it was for the BJPs central leadership to control them. Talking to reporters, the TDP chief said he was adhering to coalition dharma by reining in his party leaders from reacting to their statements. Because of coalition dharma, we are keeping quiet, said Naidu. If they dont want us, we will do the namaskaram and chart our own course, remarked Naidu. The TDP is coalition partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, and the BJP is sharing power with the TDP in the state. The state leaders of the BJP have been criticising the TDP on various issues. Some of them have even indicated that they were ready to work with the opposition YSR Congress Party. Naidus remarks also come close on the heels of YSR Congress party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddys statement that he would support the BJP if Andhra Pradesh was given special status. Churu police busted an interstate human trafficking gang on Saturday and arrested five people allegedly involved in the activity. Police also freed three women who were victims of the racket. The police on Thursday were tipped off that a woman who was brought by the gang to Chhajusar village, has escaped from the place and was roaming homeless in the city, a press note from the Churu superintendent of police (SP) Barhat Rahul Manhardan said. With the help of Aapni Sakhi, the mobile team of women personnel, police reached the trafficked woman, who confirmed that she was brought to the district by the gang. A team of senior police officials was formed by the SP to look into the matter. The woman, who hailed from Jharkhand, said that it was an interstate gang that targeted poor and helpless women. The gang would abduct them and then they would be trafficked to various parts of the country. Police raided places in Churu and Jhunjhunu leading to the arrest of five- Rajkumar Meghwal (30), Jhabar Meghwal (40), Sintu Swami (26), Vijay Singh (25) and Sher Singh (26). While Rajkumar and Jhabar were part of the gang, the other three had bought the women from them for Rs 1.5-2 lakh, said additional SP Keshar Singh. The main members of the gang were in Delhi and would supply women to Rajkumar and Jhabar, who in turn would supply them to people in Rajasthan, he added. Two other women from Delhi and Punjab, were also freed. Churu police will send a team to Delhi to scout for others involved in the racket. Karauli zila pramukh (district council chief) Abhay Kumar Meena was booked by the Kotwali police for allegedly submitting fake educational certificates while contesting the election, police said. Meena was booked by the Kotwali police on the complaint of Karauli district council chief executive officer (CEO) Surendra Maheshwari, the police said. Bharatpur divisional commissioner Suvir Kumar had received a complaint that zila pramukh Abhay Meena Meena had submitted fake educational certificates for contesting the district council elections. The divisional commissioner had forwarded the complaint to the Karauli CEO asking him to inquire into the charges. After the investigation, Maheshwari prima facie found the charges true and filed a complaint with the Kotwali police, which are probing the matter. Karauli superintendent of police (SP) Anil Kayal said an FIR has been registered in the matter and investigations are on. However, Abhay Meenas brother and Congress legislator from Sapotra, Ramesh Chand Meena alleged that the charges against the Karauli zila pramukh were politically motivated. He said the issue is being raised three years after the district council election and Kirori Lal Meena joined the BJP. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje, along with Kirori Lal Meena, are trying to implicate my brother, alleged the Congress legislator. All documents submitted during the election were authentic and my brother is ready to face any inquiry, he said. Abhay Meena was accused of submitting Class 8 pass certificate from Vinoba Vidhya Niketan school in 1990-91. The school was not in existence at that time. The land certificate he allegedly presented as his own during the district council member election on January 19, 2015, is in the name of his another brother, Raghuvir Meena. Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot, partys Uttar Pradesh unit chief Raj Babbar and film actress Nagma along with thousands of party workers on Saturday held a roadshow in support of party candidate Raghu Sharma on the last day campaigning for the Ajmer Lok Shaba by-polls. Pilot, Babbar and Nagma, got down when their cavalcade reached Ajmer dargah and paid homage to Khwaza Moinuddin Hassan Chisty and prayed for the partys victory. The cavalcade was greeted by people, including women and children who thronged rooftops to cheer the Congress leaders and shower flowers. Party workers in caps with party symbol and party scarf were greeted by a musical band. The road show begun from Foy Sagar neighbourhood of the city and ended near the Mayo College traversing through city neighbourhoods, including Ganj, Dargah Bazaar, Madar Gate, Padav and station road. Asked about the expenses for the show, Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said: People have come out on their own for a change. The response to the Congress road show was unprecedented as people came out in large numbers to bless the party, he said. A clash between the supporters of the Congress and the BJP was averted near the Delhi gate neighbourhood of the city where workers of the two rival parties came face to face, minutes before the Congress roadshow was to pass from the spot but police managed to convince the BJP workers to take another route. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje held a roadshow in the city in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ramswaroop Lamba on Saturday, the last day of campaigning for by-elections for the Ajmer Lok Sabha seat. The roadshow begun from the Rajacycle churaha, traversed through the city before concluding at the Bajarangarh circle. The BJP cavalcade was greeted by a large number of people present who had gathered along the route. People showered flowers on the open jeep Raje and party candidate Lamba were travelling in. Senior party workers and members of Rajes cabinet participated in the roadshow. Earlier, Raje addressed party workers and asked them to ensure that no party voter is left out from voting on January 29, the day of the polling . Raje asked booth presidents to reach out to as many people as they can before the poll day and ask them to vote in favour of the party. BJP party workers in caps, party scarf sported the lotus symbol on both their cheeks. Hundreds of party workers on two-wheelers painted in the party colours, flying party flags preceded the chief ministers cavalcade. Welcome gates were erected along the route. At Bajarangarh circle, Raje addressing the crowds, appealed to people to vote for the party candidate in keeping in view of the development projects undertaken by her government during the last four years. Later, Raje visited the Ajmer Dargah and the Jain temple in Nareli to pray for the partys victory. Now that Ive done it, I know why it hasnt been done before. Its technically challenging and very expensive eight to 10 times the usual cost. Im asking women to buy something where the value is something they cant see. They can see we use the best materials, but what they cant see is the value of the insoles. With a wry grin, she added, I dont know if my father would be happy or kill me for doing this. Im asking women to buy something where the value is something they cant see. They can see we use the best materials, but what they cant see is the value of the insoles. She first tried making her shoe in Los Angeles, but they were so far off, I had to search further for someone to make them. You need really good shoemakers; these are not easy shoes to make. So I went to Italy. Still, there are challenges. Italy is a machismo society, and here I was, an American, a female, telling men, You are making shoes the wrong way. The last is the shape on which the shoe is made, she explained, and the lasts for womens shoes were not shaped like a foot. The Italian shoemakers had to create new lasts for Oloffs shoes. They label them anatomic, she said. In a joint operation, the police and army Intelligence agencies have caught three people including two Saudi nationals for possessing a satellite phone, which is banned in the border areas. They were caught from a hotel in Pokhran town of Jaisalmer district on Friday, police said. The police said that intelligence agencies, who were on high alert on the occasion of Republic Day, intercepted a satellite phone near Pokhran, after which a search operation was launched. During the search, police detained two Saudi Nationals from a hotel in Pokhran, identified as Alsabhan Talal Mohammad and Alsamra Mauzid Mohammad. A resident of Telangana, Saiyad Mohsin, was also detained. Apart from the satellite phone, 10 mobile phones were also recovered from them, the police said. Intelligence agencies are jointly interrogating the three suspects, as the use of satellite phone in the border areas is a serious matter, they said. In a real life incident resembling a reel life story, a woman is waiting for her son at the Sangam where she lost him during the annual Magh Mela in 2006. Twelve years ago, Leelawati (46), a resident of Mumfordganj in Allahabad, had opened a tea shop in the tent city during Magh Mela. On January 16, 2006, she went to take a dip in the Ganga but when she returned, she found her son Kishan (then 12) missing from the shop. She searched for Kishan and got repeated announcements made across the tent city by mela officials but he could not be traced. Since then, Leelawati returns to the fair every year and sets up her tea stall with her husband Vinod Gupta at the same spot near Triveni Road pontoon bridge in the hope of her sons return. As she prepares tea for customers, a poster with the picture of her son hangs over her head. I rue the fateful day when I left my son alone at the shop. I had never imagined that a brief visit to the Sangam to seek gods blessings could deprive me of my son. But I have not given up hope. I still feel I will get my son back with the blessings of the holy Ganga at the same place where I lost him, said Leelawati with tears in her eyes. Every year, she puts up her tea shop at Netram crossing for 10 months and returns to Magh Mela area to sell tea to pilgrims and seers. All this while, she keeps searching for her son hoping that some customer would give her clue about her son. Many customers see Kishans photograph at the stall and inquire about it. Leelawati tells them her tragic tale in the hope that the word of mouth would spread and lend support to her search. He was 12 when I lost him and today he must be 24. Had he been there with me, I would have been searching a bride for him. He had a birthmark on his chest and a cut over his left eyebrow, she added. Though earning just a few hundred rupees a day, she saves every extra rupee. I had announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for anyone who helps me reunite with my son. Now I have met the police and raised the amount to Rs 50,000, she said. Colorothon Lucknow Season 9 was launched by the vice-chairman of Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) at Shaheed Path flyover wall near Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Gomti Nagar here on Wednesday. Artists from Delhi have arrived to paint the walls of Shaheed Path. The project has been launched in collaboration with the LDA and Delhi Street Artists. The wall art is a part of an effort to beautify the city by showcasing the art, heritage and culture of Lucknow. Colorothon is an initiative that rekindles the lost joy of drawing & painting while bringing everyone together to express their heart out. This platform is created for people to make them pick-up art tools and express themselves. Speaking on the occasion, LDA V-C PN Singh said, With the colours of unity and diversity, Colorothon has taken the initiative to paint the walls in Lucknow and is bringing the ninth rendition of the event to beautify the city on the Republic Day. The painted wall of Shaheed Path will also be showcased to the delegates of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit which will be held next month. The painting started in presence of LDA V-C PN Singh, founder of Colorothon Ahmed Shariff, marketing head of Colorothon India Shams Warsi, founder of Delhi Street Artist Yogesh Saini, horticulture officer of LDA SP Sisodia and chief engineer of LDA Indu Shekhar Singh. The artists painted Awadhs rich nawabi culture and also showcased the lifestyle of a common man of Lucknow. An IPS officer was attacked by other police officials on Saturday for resisting illegal recovery money from trucks carrying sand in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, police said. Superintendent of police Shalini said two policemen have been suspended in connection with the incident in Girwa police station area. Senior IPS officers Himanshu Kumar and Mohit Gupta reached Girwa police station this morning following complaints of illegal recovery from trucks carrying sand, Shalini said. They caught station in-charge and a constable red-handed taking recovery (money) from the trucks. The cops attacked the police officers, the SP said. In the attack, Himanshu Kumar was injured. The police superintendent said a case has been registered against four persons, including Girwa police station in-charge Vivek Pratap Singh, and a constable. A major fire gutted around 25 small shops in Kama industrial estate, in Mumbais western suburb of Goregaon, on Saturday morning. No injuries have been reported. The fire started around 8am in the ground floor of the two-storey building. The fire brigade sent five fire engines to the spot. The building has shop-like structures, but they were being used as a factory, said chief fire officer P Rahangdale. As it was early morning, there were no people in the building. Rahangdale said several of the shops had combustible material such as scrap, because of which the fire spread rapidly. It was a minor fire initially, but then it turned into a major fire. It took us an hour to bring it under control, he said. Fire-fighters were able to confine the blaze to 25 shops, each admeasuring about 100 sqm. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire began because of a short circuit, but detailed investigations are underway. Five fire brigade personnel and four employees of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) were admitted to hospital, and residents of five buildings near a civic filtration plant in Bhayander were evacuated on Friday, after chlorine gas leak was reported at a water tank used by the fire-fighting department. The leak was reported after 11pm on Thursday at the MBMCs water filtration plant in Kamala Park area the 163kg cylinder contained around 100kg of chlorine gas when the leakage was detected. The firemen inhaled too much of the toxic gas when they tried to plug the leak with soap, as the gas discharge pressure was very high, said Prakash Borade, chief fire officer, MBMC. Five buildings in Kamala Park with nearly 200 families were evacuated after residents complained of nausea, vomiting and uneasiness following the gas leak,Borade said. The night was breezy so the gas spread to the nearby localities. We contacted the contractor and they were on the way to the plant, but we did not want to wait, so two fire brigade personnel wearing oxygen masks cut the supply of the cylinder. We then put the cylinder in a closed MBMC vehicle and threw it into Bhayander creek around 3am, said Borade. Once there was daylight, we inspected the creek to ensure that the cylinder was submerged properly. The injured include sub fire officer Jagdish Patil, firemen Rohit Patil, Santosh Mashal, Sanjay Mhatre, MBMC driver Harshad Adhikari, junior engineer Uttam Randive, foreman Vithal Dhogde and valve man Uttarayan Dorairaj, and security guard Nikhilesh Tiwari. They were all admitted to Bhayanders Tembha civic hospital. The two MBMC water department employees were given first aid and discharged, while Dorairaj was shifted to Shatabdi hospital in Kandivli later, he added. Two firemen were released on Friday evening, and the remaining will be discharged on Saturday evening, Borade said. We are investigating the cause of the leak, he said. The Mumbai-based aqua filter contractor, who supplies the chlorine cylinder to the plant, is now under the scanner. The MBMC fire brigade has already submitted a report to the Bhayander police blaming the contractor for negligence. A 46-year-old man strangled his 70-year-old father to death, at the latters house in Borivli, owing to a personal dispute. The accused, Purshottam Beradiya, was arrested on Friday for killing his father, Bhima, who had been living alone for nearly two decades. Bhimas wife used to live with Purshottam, his wife and children at Malad. Bhima suspected his wife had been having a decade-long affair with Babar, the 50-year-old auto-rickshaw driver who assisted Purshottam in murdering Bhima. He even confronted her about the affair. Purshottam had taken up Bhimas job as a sweeper. Bhima and he often had clashes which escalated since Bhima started suspecting his wife. Around a week ago, Purshottam and Babar showed up at Bhimas apartment in Vishal Cooperative Housing Society and allegedly tied him. After they tied his hands and legs, Purshottam strangled Bhima with his hands. They wrapped his body in a bedsheet and left it in the room, said an official from the Borivli police station. A building resident saw the duo leaving the house. The duo showed up two days ago in a bid to dispose the body but were unable to do so as there was a function going on in the society. Meanwhile, the Borivli police, learnt that there was a murder in their jurisdiction. On Friday, investigators landed at Bhimas society, and one of Bhimas neighbours said there had been a foul smell. The residents said there had been a foul smell for the past few days but dismissed it thinking it was a dead rat. It was only after we went there that residents found something amiss, said an officer. The Bombay high court dissolved the marriage of a couple who lived together for three months, but fought a legal battle for more than a decade. A division bench of justices RM Savant and Sandeep Shinde confirmed a June 2009 order of the Pune family court order, which dissolved the marriage on the grounds that the woman and her family harassed the husband and his family continuously, making their lives miserable. The couple got married on April 20, 2006 and started living together at their Pune home. On June 5, the woman left for her parents house in Agra and returned on September 2. She lived with her husband for a fortnight and then went back to her parents. She returned to the Pune house in January 2007 by breaking the lock. She left for parents house 20 days later. A year later, her husband approached the family court seeking a divorce. He said his wife fought with him and his parents, lodged false complaints against them and made their life miserable. The woman, however, said her husband and his family made unlawful demands and harassed her as she could not fulfil them. The trial court granted the man a divorce, saying his wife and her parents treated him with cruelty. The woman appealed to the high court, but failed to secure relief. The high court noted that soon after the man approached the family court, his wifes father asked the Agra police to file a case against him, his parents and younger brothers, The wifes father secured warrants for the arrest of all accused and brought the Agra police to Pune in a private jeep. The police arrested the husbands father and the brothers, taking them to Agra. They could not arrest the husband as he was not in Pune at the time. His mother was also spared for lack of a woman police constable. A 24-year-old man was killed by four men on Thursday in Borivli (East), over a longstanding dispute. The Kasturba Marg police registered a case of attempt to murder and added murder charges after the victim succumbed to his injuries on Friday. The victim, Ghulam Waris, was standing outside Devipada chawl when the group showed up. Waris had a criminal history, said police sources. Waris had fought with the accused multiple times and was also arrested once. On the night of the incident, there was yet another fight, said an officer. One of the accused was armed with a chopper while another carried a tile. As the fight turned ugly, the accused attacked him with the weapons, officials said. They then fled. An acquaintance cheated a 36-year-old Ghatkopar businessman of Rs37.24 lakh in cash, which he borrowed on the pretext of buying diamonds for business purposes. Daiwat Bajaria asked the police to register a case against the accused on Thursday. He said the man threatened him with dire consequences if he spoke up about the crime. Bajaria and the accused have known each other for years. We registered a case based on the businessmans allegation. We will verify the facts and arrest the accused soon, said V B Patil, senior inspector, Ghatkopar police station. The accused deals in gold and diamond. He approached Bajaria and his friend Bharat in May 2016 in New Maniklal, Ghatkopar, and put forth his business proposal. They gave him the money in instalments, from May 2016 to December 2017. He, however, failed to return the sum. When Bajaria asked for his cash back, the accused initially assured him that he would return the money soon. However, when he asked him once again recently , the accused threatened to kill him, said the police. It appears that the two had conducted business deals in the past. We will record their statements and check their bank transactions to collect evidence in the case, said a police officer. I dont charge for these classes for I think learning how to meditate should be available to everyone. Its my gift. Kids are now learning to meditate and become mindful in school, office personnel, the military and the justice system are likewise offered classes, so that is why Ive established these classes specifically for seniors. A famous lama once said, Meditating is treating your mind as your best friend. Id like to add: What senior doesnt need a best friend? Thank you, Dr Keolker. No wonder your classes at Rianda House are so popular. Dr Keolkers class will be held at Rianda House, St. Helena, on Main St., next door to the Post Office on Friday 9:30-10:30 a.m. Youll want to reserve your space soon as these classes are always very well attended and fill up quickly. Please call 963-8555, ext. 101. While these are free classes, Rianda House welcomes donations. I hope Ill see many of you on Feb. 9 at Rianda House. I think we could all treat ourselves to Dr. Keolkers Sweet Mindfulness Meditation for Seniors. Oh, a little birdie told me that there might be a few Valentine sweets handed out as well. Kindness and generosity must be a product of learning to meditate, at least in Dr. Keolkers class. Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale on Friday transferred the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of Turbhe division, Kiran Patil, to the control room, punishing the latter for his shoddy investigation in an illegal arrest and extortion case. Amol Zende has been made the new ACP of Turbhe division after Patils transfer. Senior police inspector of Turbhe police station, Ramchandra Deshmukh, and sub-inspector, Sanjay Yadav, were both suspended in the same case earlier this week. On October 17, a realtor Ketan Chug had lodged a complaint at the Turbhe police station against Metro Developer and Others for using forged documents in relation to a plot in Nerul. Based on this, sub-inspector Sanjay Yadav arrested developer Suresh Jain. Yadav, Chug and two other accomplices also wrongly confined Jain and his son and demanded Rs5 crore from them, Nagrale said. Once out on bail, Jain filed an application alleging that a false offence had been registered against him. It was revealed that ACP Kiran Patil did not supervise the case well, and hence transferred him, Nagrale said. Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, 71, accused of money laundering in the Maharashtra Sadan scam, has moved the Bombay HC seeking bail after the declaration of section 45 of the Prevention of Money Lau-ndering Act (PMLA) as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Section 45 of PMLA restricts the granting of bail to any person booked for the offence. Earlier, a PMLA court rejected his bail plea after the enforcement directorate (ED) opposed Bhujbals bail plea, claiming that he was influential and had already been alleged for threatening two co-accused for showing willingness to turn approver in the case. In the fresh plea, Bhujbals lawyer Salabh Saxena has claimed that after the apex courts order, several accused have been granted bail by the respective courts. Bhujbal has cited the case of Yogesh Mittal, booked for his role in a money laundering case in Delhi, and meat exporter Moin Qureshi, booked for having connection with hawala racket. Bhujbal has also made an emotional appeal over his age and health, claiming he is unable to defend his case effectively or seek legal opinion. Bhujbal was arrested in March 2016 by the ED for money laundering. The agency claimed that the total money laundered was Rs857 crore but has managed to attach properties worth Rs156 crore only. The ED, which is probing the case, said that Bhujbal and his associates misused their positions of power to cause governmental financial losses by sanctioning development projects. The money has been laundered through the companies of Sameer Bhujbal and Pankaj Bhujbal as well as through other Bhujbal-controlled companies, said the agency. After Koli and Malvani food festivals, those centred around Misal pav seem to be catching on in Mumbai. Misal is a popular Maharashtrian snack comprising sprouts, moth beans, farsan, tomatoes, onions, boiled potatoes, lemon and coriander. A plate ranges from Rs40 to Rs70. The first Misal pav festival was organised at Vile Parle in December. It was a massive hit, with serpentine queues of patrons. Cyrus Ghaswalla ,who stood in line for half-an-hour, returned without tasting the dishes. It would have taken me at least two hours to get inside. It was chaotic as the organisers had not anticipated such a huge turnout, he said. Now, politicians are inviting well-known brands from across the state to participate in such fests. People are tired of Malvani and Koli festivals. Misal pav events are now a novelty, said state minister and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar, who organised a two-day festival at his Jogeshwari constituency. The response was so great, 14,000 people attended on the first day. The Maharashtra Navnirman Senas (MNS) Misal Mahatsova festival at Mahim began on January 26 and will continue till January 28. As many as 20 stalls are serving up 40 flavours of Misal. MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said popular brands such as Mamledar from Thane, Aaswad from Mumbai, Mule Misal from Sangmeshwar, Marutirao from Ahmednagar and Wadeshwar from Pune set up stalls at the fest. Politicians said such festivals help them connect with the masses. It is part of symbolic politics and helps to form a connect with voters. It is an image building exercise and soft political propaganda, said political analyst Surendra Jondhale. With opposition leaders taking to the streets in Mumbai on Republic Day, there is an increasing chorus to form an anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance during the Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday led a march to save the Constitution, which he said is under attack. The Congress and the NCP are looking to take smaller like-minded parties on board before the Assembly polls, expected to be held in the second half of 2019 or along with the Lok Sabha elections early in 2019. Leaders of the Congress, NCP, Samajwadi Party and Left parties are scheduled to meet again in New Delhi on Monday to draw up a strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sunil Tatkare, state chief of the NCP, said his party and Congress will meet in February to discuss the roadmap for the Maharashtra election. We are exploring the option of coming together. In fact, the state leadership of both the parties (NCP and Congress) is meeting on February 6 to discuss the plan for Maharashtra. A pre-poll alliance is on the agenda because it is key to take on the current government, Tatkare said. The Congress and the NCP contested against each other in the 1999 state Assembly elections and entered into a post-poll alliance to form the Democratic Front government, which ruled the state for 15 years until October 2014. Issues have been sorted out and a pre-poll alliance is on the cards. The sense we get from the cadre of both parties is that there should be a pre-poll alliance, said Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, senior Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in state Assembly. Meanwhile, smaller parties such as the Peasants and Workers Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (S) and Swabhimani Paksha are likely to join hands with a non-BJP front, preventing a split in Opposition votes. Though we have not discussed any alliance so far, we feel that non-BJP parties should come together to root out the saffron party, said Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi. As the Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India continues to be a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the Opposition may approach Bharatiya Republican Paksha-Bahujan Mahasangh chief Prakash Ambedkar, who has emerged a political force in the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon incident in the state. Recently, BJPs ally in the state, Shiv Sena, decided to contest solo in the upcoming elections. Their core agenda (Sena and BJP) is Hindutva. If Sena contests alone, it will definitely help the Opposition, Vikhe Patil said. Prakash Bal, a political analyst, said, In the state, there is an awareness that a fractured Opposition will not help. It would be a three-cornered contest. With the Sena contesting alone, BJP may get fewer seats in the next elections. A year on, the Audi Q7 crash incident that killed four in Ghaziabad has thrown up questions that remain unanswered as in the chargesheet, the Ghaziabad crime branch has charged the main accused, Dr Manish Rawat, of rash driving and causing death by negligence but not for the conspiracy to commit impersonation. Family members of the accident victims and the person who was impersonated said the chargesheet has been diluted and they have been pressured several times to settle the case. Audi owner Rawat, Syed Imtiyaz Qadri and his case pursuer Raj Kumar have been named as accused in the case. The framing of charges in the case is yet to come up in the court. On the intervening night of January 27 and 28, 2017, the Audi Q7, owned by Rawat, collided head-on with an autorickshaw near Hindon canal in Indirapuram. The crash killed Kanpur-based businessman Yajuvendra Singh, 40, his engineer cousin Vishal Singh and their family friend Rinku Yadav, who was working with HCL, Noida. Vishal had come to attend a job interview arranged by Rinku. The three were from the same locality in Kanpur and met with the accident when they were heading to Noida after dinner at a relatives place in Vasundhara. The autorickshaw driver Sanjeev Kumar was also killed. At the time, his wife was seven months pregnant and he also had a minor daughter. The first responders to the incident, the Indirapuram police, found four bodies, a damaged autorickshaw and an abandoned Audi at the accident site. An interesting sequence of events unfolded over the next few days. On January 31, 2017, a man who called himself Ishaq Ahmad, of Bareilly, surrendered before a Ghaziabad court and claimed to be the driver of the Audi. He was released on bail. However, teams of Hindustan Times in Ghaziabad and Bareilly found that the man who surrendered in the court was, in fact, one Syed Imtiyaz Qadri, who was a tempo driver in Bareilly. Qadri had misused the documents of his former co-tenant and truck driver, Ishaq Ahmad, and impersonated him in the court. Qadris case pursuer Raj Kumar, another Bareilly resident, had accompanied him to the Ghaziabad court to provide surety. Kumar is also an accused in this case. It was found that Ahmad was transporting goods in Gujarat when the incident took place. My husband (Qadri) was paid 7,000 by a Bareilly-based lawyer for appearing in the court. He was never in Ghaziabad and had never been the driver of the doctors car, as claimed. He was lured due to our poor financial condition. When he returned from the court and told me about the surrender, I scolded him for what he had done, Ayesha, Qadris wife, who is now working as a daily wager in Maharashtra to feed her two minor children, said. There is a lot of pressure on Qadri to admit that he was driving the car, but he has said that he will not repeat the mistakes and will tell the truth in the court, she said. After Qadris impersonation was discovered, the Ghaziabad police followed him but he fled Bareilly along with his family. Two months later, in April, Qadri surfaced again. This time, he was arrested by Maharashtra police in connection with petty robberies. Qadri is still in jail for the alleged crimes he had committed in Maharashtra. Following Qadris surrender at Ghaziabad court in January, Rawat, a neurosurgeon, appeared before the police on February 6, 2017, for the first time since the accident and claimed that his driver Ishaq Ahmad was driving the car. Rawat had also told police that Ahmad had worked as his driver for a couple of months during Rawats posting in Bareilly. The doctor said the same Ahmad was employed by him again a fortnight before the accident. The chargesheet, however, states that it was Dr Rawat who was driving the Audi on the night of the accident. The doctor has been chargesheeted by the crime branch for rash driving and causing death by negligence. The chargesheet, however, puts the entire blame of the impersonation and forgery of documents on co-accused Raj Kumar and Qadri. Rawats lawyer, Subodh Tyagi, said, We are not in agreement with the chargesheet filed and we will challenge it. It is mentioned in the chargesheet that as per the call detail records, neither Qadri nor Ishaq Ahmad was found at the location of the accident site. Only Rawats location was found at the site, it states. The chargesheet has failed to reveal the conspiracy behind Qadris surrender at the Ghaziabad court. Qadri would not suddenly come out of nowhere and claim that he drove the car that killed my three children and the auto driver. The chargesheet has laid the entire blame on Qadri, who was just brought into the picture as a scapegoat, Sunita Sengar, the mother of Yajuvendra Singh, said. This conspiracy is the backbone of the case. It has made the case complicated. I went to meet chief minister Yogi in Lucknow, wrote a letter to the Prime Ministers Office and repeatedly asked the Ghaziabad police to nab the conspirator but no one paid heed. The chargesheet has let us down. During the course of the investigation, we were approached by lawyers and influential people to settle the case but I did not do so, she said. Superintendent of police (crime), Ghaziabad, declined to comment on the issue on the basis that the case was before his posting in Ghaziabad. The police chief of Ghaziabad said the victim families have a remedy available under the law. If the families of the victims find the chargesheet unconvincing or lacking, they can file objections in the appropriate court. The court has the power to order a reinvestigation or to take appropriate action in the matter, HN Singh, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad, said. The police chargesheet has also left out Jaipal Singh and Ishaq Ahmad from the list of witnesses in the case. Singh was the first investigation officer (IO) of the crime branch who had conducted the majority of the investigation in Ghaziabad and Bareilly before he retired and a new IO filed the chargesheet. The chargesheet has also ignored the role of two persons who appeared as sureties for Qadri when he surrendered in Ghaziabad. The two are residents of Olive County high-rise in Ghaziabad where Dr Rawat was also residing. It is surprising that my documents were misused and Qadri told me how he was lured and offered money to surrender in the case, Ishaq Ahmad, the truck driver from Bareilly, said. My name does not figure among the list of witnesses. I even filed a complaint with Bareilly police but they routed me to Ghaziabad and the complaint was finally made a part of the investigation by IO Jaipal Singh, Ahmad said. It is 10am on Saturday and 40-year-old Mahmood, a rickshaw puller from Khoda, Ghaziabad, is sitting quietly on a wooden bench facing the class teacher of his eight-year-old daughter at Model Primary School in Noida Sector 12. His daughter Mona is sitting beside him, nervously glancing at her father as her class teacher makes an assessment of her yearly progress report. However, her father appears more nervous than her for this is his first time at a parent-teacher meeting. The teacher explains to Mahmood that his daughter needs to work on her mathematics, to which Mahmood nods and then leaves. In another class, Munni Sharma, a Sector 20-based single mother, is listening to the progress report of her nine-year-old son Monu Sharma who studies in class 4. Five minutes later, she exits the classroom, beaming from ear to ear. The class teacher said my son is really good in mathematics. But he is irregular in attending school and I got to know about it only today, Sharma said. Saturday was the first large scale parent-teacher meeting (PTM) organised by the district administration and education department at the Model Primary School (classes 1-5) and Junior High School (classes 6-8) at Noida Sector 12. The meetings took place from 10am to 3pm. The PTM was organised after a recent directive from district magistrate BN Singh asking all primary and junior government schools to hold such meetings every three months. The decision is aimed at increasing the government school students focus on academics and improving their overall performance Of the 944 students registered at the Model Primary School, parents of only 406 students attended the PTM. Of the 481 registered students at the Junior High School, parents of 350 students attended the PTM. There are 11 teachers and three shiksha mitras in the Model Primary School and 19 teachers in the Junior High School. The idea is to bridge the communication gap between parents and teachers regarding a childs performance. If a guardian is aware of the progress of his ward, they are more likely to be alert and play an active part in their childrens overall education. Most parents belong to the underprivileged sections and they are not able to pay much attention to the childrens studies, said Bal Mukund Prasad, basic education officer, Gautam Budh Nagar. At the PTM, every classroom had a class teacher, one assistant teacher and one shiksha mitra ready with the critical assessment of each child in their class. Our class 5 has 93 students and we keep a track of each child. We make a complete assessment of each child, including his/her academic performance, social behaviour, interest towards extra-curricular activities, discipline and overall growth. I explained to a mother about how her daughter keeps quiet in class. We believe every parent should be made to understand about the needs of their child, said Sudha, class 5 teacher, Model Primary School. Manju Bhatnagar, who is in charge of the Model Primary School, said such efforts help in bringing parents and teachers together in an effort to help children. Earlier, many parents never used to come for our monthly PTMs. This time, we requested them to come to the school with their kids. An effort is also needed from the parents side if we are aiming at the overall progress of students. Many parents were not even aware that their kids dont come to school. I hope that the situation changes after this meeting, said Manju Bhatnagar, head teacher, Model Primary School, Noida Sector 12. Manisha Joshi, principal of the Junior High School, shared similar feelings. PTMs will ensure that there is regularity in the academical and school life of students. These children are talented people, no doubt, but parents also need to chip in for their overall development, Joshi said. Parents also commented that they look forward to more such PTMs as it provides them an insight into their childs progress. I have two daughters in the Model Primary School and the Junior High School and I have received positive feedback from both their teachers. I want them to study further and achieve whatever ambitions they have. Such meetings should be held more often, said Nagendra Gupta, a resident of Sector 10 slum area. The daily attendance at the Model Primary School is mentioned on a plastic slate fixed to the entry gate of the school. Saturdays attendance was 406 of 944 students. This, in a nutshell, was the major issue of concern at the parent-teacher meeting (PTM) on Saturday. Children often left home for school but never reported to their classes. Teachers at the Model Primary School and the Junior High School in Sector 12 said low or irregular attendance is a problem that they have to deal with every day. It was the first time that the district administration had organised a parent-teacher meeting on a large scale with the intent to improve the academic performance and overall growth of children enrolled in the two schools. The parents were invited for a five-minute interaction with the class teacher and other teachers of the school and they were given a complete assessment of their childs academic performance and overall growth. At the PTM, of the 1,425 registered students in the two schools, only 756 parents attended the meeting, about 53.4%. The low attendance of parents in the PTM reiterates the problem of low attendance of students in schools. We have had PTMs in the past as well but it is for the first time that we have personally called parents and requested them to attend this meet, said Manju Bhatnagar, teacher in charge, the Model Primary School, Sector 12, Noida. Usually, the children in our school ask for a days leave and then they end up going on a 15-day vacation. The parents dont realise the damage this does to the academic performance of the child as they lag behind in the syllabus. The children in our school dont go for extra tuitions and we are their only teachers, Bhatnagar said. Sapna Mishra, assistant teacher, the Junior High School, said, Getting children to attend school is a major challenge. Often, parents who belong to underprivileged sections of society, leave their house by 8am for work and they believe their child is in school. In reality, children never come to school. There is no way these parents can keep a check on their children if not for such meetings. Pratibha Srivastava, a Hindi teacher at the Junior High School, believes that parents must realise the potential of their children in extracurricular activities as well. Apart from teaching Hindi, I also teach fine arts and we use handicraft items, paper and other items to make paintings and posters. The children are excellent in fine arts and they can do really well if they pursue it. It will help them be independent in the future, Srivastava said. Parents said that low attendance is an issue which needs to be addressed soon. I used to believe that my child goes to school at 8am as I too have to leave for work by 9am. But he hangs around with his friends outside school and his attendance his low. That will not happen again, said Ali Ahmed, a resident of Khoda, Ghaziabad. Bal Mukund Prasad, basic education officer, said more such meetings are required so that parents and teachers can work together for the betterment of children. We are all aware of the problem of low attendance in government schools and this meeting was held to address this issue. Parents will now know that their son or daughter is not going to school on a daily basis. Guardians will also have to be serious towards their wards education, Prasad said. The International Astronomical Union has an interesting naming convention for craters on Venus: women whove made fundamental and outstanding contributions to their fields. Three such craters are named for Indian women. Medhavi Crater: Ramabai Medhavi, womens rights activist Ramabai was born to a Sanskrit scholar in 1858 in Gangamoola, Karnataka. She was tutored by her father and gained a reputation of her own as a Sanskrit lecturer. Her family attempted to make Sanskrit works more accessible to people who would otherwise not be allowed to or couldnt afford to study them. They toured the country to deliver lectures. In 1878, Rama was invited to speak at the University of Calcutta and was bestowed the scholarly title of pandita. During her travels, Ramabai became keenly aware of discriminations imposed by caste and the sufferings of women throughout the country. She found the reality of social differences difficult to reconcile with brahminical teachings of kindness. Chancing upon the Gospel of St. Luke, she became curious about Christian teachings. However, her spiritual journey was interrupted by the untimely death of her husband, Bipin Medhavi. She then moved to Pune and founded the Arya Mahila Samaj to promote womens education and the campaign against child marriage. Her fame helped her travel to England where she converted to Christianity and taught Sanskrit to missionaries-in-training in exchange for staying at Cheltenham Ladies College until 1886. She wrote The Upper Caste Hindu Woman, a book that spoke about the oppression of women, even among upper castes in the country. Proficient in seven languages, she also translated the Bible into Marathi from Hebrew and Greek. She passed away in 1922 from bronchitis, leaving a legacy of institutions that fostered widows, child brides, and womens education. Joshee Crater: Anandibai Joshi, first Indian female physician Born in 1865 in Kalyan, a nine-year old Anandi was married to 29-year old Gopalrao Joshi. Despite his progressive views on womens education and widow remarriage, Anandi was often beaten if caught cooking instead of studying. A fast learner, at the age of 14, she lost her infant son. This was a turning point in her life and pivoted her studies towards medicine for better natal care. Gopalrao took great efforts to enrol her in the Womens Medical College of Pennsylvania. She was the first Indian woman to travel to America and she went there in 1883. At 21, she graduated with an MD and a thesis on obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos, becoming the first Indian woman to study western medicine abroad. Her graduation was attended by Ramabai. She came back to India to much fanfare, sharing her fame with Kadambini Ganguly, who had become the first Indian woman to be granted a medical degree in India the same year. Unfortunately, in 1887, less than a year later and just shy of 22, Anandi succumbed to tuberculosis. Jhirad Crater: Jerusha Jhirad, transformative physician Jerusha was born in Mysore in 1891 when the nation was still mourning Anandi. She graduated from Grant Medical College in Mumbai to set up her own general practice in 1912. Two years later, she became the first Indian woman to study abroad on an Indian government scholarship. She enrolled in the University of London and graduated with an M.D. in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1919. Upon her return to India, she practised in Delhi and Bangalore. In 1925, she was appointed honorary surgeon in Cama Hospital in Bombay, and in 1928, became the chief medical officer. Her Bene Israel communitys women were among the first to enter the medical field en masse. Jerusha was a founding member of the Bombay Obstetric and Gynaecological Society, and its president in 1948. She campaigned for the rigorous development of medical and academic standards in Indian gynaecology. In 1950, she became the first president of Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India. She has to her credit a history of transforming prenatal, postnatal, sterility and obstetric care in Bombay. She also opened the first female hostel for postgraduates in medical studies in the country. Her efforts to improve medical education in India and advance the cause of female physicians earned her the Member of the British Empire by the Crown in 1949, and the Padma Shri in 1966. Sandhya Ramesh is a science writer based in Bengaluru The views expressed are personal Im baffled by Satyapal Singh. Hes not just the junior minister for human resource development (which, in effect, is education) but also a former Mumbai Police commissioner. Such men are usually rational, cautious and carefully ensure what they say is supported by facts. Yet Satyapal Singh has publicly refuted Darwins theory of evolution. He said: Darwins theory is scientifically wrong nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral, have said they saw an ape turning into a man. Hes added we need to change school and college curriculum and wants to hold an international event to prove Darwin wrong. So outraged are Indias three top science academies (the Indian National Science Academy, the National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Academy of Science) that they have in a joint statement said, There is no scientific basis for the ministers statements. Evolution theory, to which Darwin made seminal contributions, is well established. There is no scientific dispute about the basic facts of evolution. This is a scientific theory. Although his senior minister has admonished him, Singh has dug his feet in. Claiming hes a man of science (and) a Ph.D. in Chemistry he insists Darwins theory is being challenged the world over. Darwinism is a myth. A separate statement on the internet, signed by over 2000 scientists, says: Its factually incorrect to state that the evolutionary principle has been rejected by the scientific community. On the contrary every new discovery adds support to Darwins insights. I have five key points to make about Singhs pronouncement on Darwins theory. First, though he may be a man of science, a Ph.D in chemistry does not qualify him to dispute Darwin. His position is the equivalent of a geologist proclaiming genetics is sophistry. He simply lacks the necessary scientific credentials. Second, the minister has clearly misunderstood Darwins theory. When he says: Nobody has said they saw an ape turning into a man hes assuming Darwin spoke of instant metamorphosis and not an evolutionary process stretching over millions of years. And when the minister says our grandparents tales never mentioned this hes overlooking the fact it would be miraculous if they had! Third, the minister seems to have misunderstood the questions that have been raised about Darwins theory. These do not refute Darwin but simply claim his theory does not fully explain all of the complexity of life. In other words, evolution is not disputed but it doesnt provide answers to everything. Fourth, its bizarre that an education minister should have spoken in this manner. As the statement by scientists says it harms the scientific communitys efforts to propagate scientific thoughts and rationality it also diminishes the image of the country at the global level and reduces faith in genuine research by Indian researchers. Finally, the minister is also in breach of his constitutional duty. Article 51A (h) states its the duty of every citizen to develop a scientific temper. Clearly Satyapal Singh is in breach of this requirement, not just as education minister and an MP but also as a citizen. So, should he continue in government? At the very least, should he be moved from the education portfolio? Im confident that in any other major democracy a man who calls Darwinism a myth would be laughed out of office. If that doesnt happen in India what would it say of our democracy, our respect for science and the credibility of those who govern us? The views expressed are personal Eminent agricultural scientist Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, 92, passed away at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on Saturday after a brief illness. He was a part of the team of scientists that steered the adoption of high-yielding Mexican wheat varieties by Punjab farmers in the mid-60s. This sowed the seeds of the Green Revolution. As the country commemorated the golden jubilee of the Green Revolution on November 27, 2015, a central government communication to Dr Kalkat said, We thank you for the leadership provided in Green Revolution in the country and guidance over the years. He was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 1981 and the Padma Bhushan in March 2007. Born on June 17, 1926, at Sahora village in Hoshiarpur, he did his schooling in district Montgomery (Sahiwal) Pakistan and obtained his BSc Agriculture from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now in Pakistan) in 1947. After his Masters degree, he joined Ohio State University in the US as a Rockefeller Fellow for his PhD. The university honoured him with the Distinguished International Student Award. He went on to become the agriculture commissioner in the Union ministry of agriculture in 1977. After a stint with the World Bank in Washington DC as a senior agriculturist and working on agriculture and rural development programmes of Nigeria and Ghana, he devoted his remaining years to Punjab. As Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vice-chancellor from April 1988 to March 2001, he identified priority areas and problems of farmers through consultations with farm scientists. A champion of diversification A champion of diversifying from the wheat-paddy cycle, he was the voice of farmers in the government. As the founder chairman of the Punjab Farmers Commission in 2005 a post he occupied for 12 years till 2017 he became the think-tank of the state government on all agrarian issues. As the head of the committee on agricultural reforms formed by the previous Parkash Singh Badal regime, he did not shy away from recommending the end of the poll sop of free power to farmers and replacing it with metered power supply. He called for market reforms by amending the Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act and roping in the private sector to promote contract farming. To tackle rural indebtedness, he suggested regularising the informal money-lending system, judicious use of water, a regulatory authority and a law to stop burning of paddy straw. The law, though implemented, has been scuttled by politics. Recalling his association with Dr Kalkat, Central University, Bathinda, chancellor SS Johal said he was an honest and bright professional. When Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, he rose to the position of the agriculture commissioner of India. Dr Kalkat was frank in his views and expressed it independently in a civil manner. Never colleagues, I have cherished memories of our trip to Pakistan to attend a wedding, he added. Noted agriculture analyst Devinder Sharma credits him as one of the pioneers of agricultural research in Punjab. During his tenure, the PAU focused on output, he said. PAU V-C Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon remembers him as the right mix of brain, heart, talent and faith. Not only did he have the ability to communicate a vision clearly and contagiously, he also possessed the determination to ensure it was executed. A thinker and a feeler rolled into one, he played an important role in the agricultural development of the country, he said. Condoling the death, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said Dr Kalkat was a pioneer in bringing several reforms in the field of agriculture besides bringing the Green Revolution in the state. The CM also recalled his contribution to the phenomenal growth in the agriculture sector. And nothing better illustrates the administrations Mideast muddle than Pences religion-infused pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The vice presidents effusive speech to the Israeli Knesset (parliament) was filled with so many biblical references some Israeli journalists called it a sermon. Its exposition of faith as the link between America and Israel thrilled Israeli leaders and parties of the religious right. So did Pences announcement that U.S. Embassy functions would be moved to Jerusalem by the end of 2019, after Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. But the speech did nothing to make Israel more secure. By recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital with no reference to the citys Arab sectors, whose final status Israel and the United States had pledged to negotiate the Trump team already doomed its peace efforts. If the fate of Arab East Jerusalem is off the (negotiating) table, as the president has tweeted, neither Palestinians, nor Sunni Arab leaders can endorse any peace proposal by Trump. It was the sustained interrogation of old and present friends and foes of Vicky Gounder that led to the Punjab police to finally zero in on the gangster in a Rajasthan village next to the inter-state border. With continuous activity of Gangster on Facebook becoming a major embarrassment for the state police, the operation, said police officials, was started five months ago when DGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta had a special meeting with the Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU) led by IG-rank officer Nirlabh Kishore. With five years of experience of serving the CBI, Kishore, sources said, made case studies of all friends and enemies of Gounder. And the team led by AIG, OCCU, Gurmeet Chauhan and inspector Bikram Brar, an officer posted as CIA in-charge at Rajpura, started picking up persons for investigations. Since Chauhan was SSP of Patiala at the time of the Nabha jailbreak in 2016, I gave the responsibility to nab Gounder and his aides to him, said DGP Suresh Arora, the state police chief. Sources said the biggest clue about possible hideouts of Gounder was provided by a close friend of the gangster who recently returned from a foreign country. We investigated more than 100 persons and finally found a key man who knew Gounders possible hideouts and of a few men helping him, an officer privy to the developments said. The OCCU also got some mobile numbers from gangster Harsimrandeep Singh, alias Simma Behbal, who was arrested from Dehradun on January 13 and was accompanying Gounder for a few days while he was on the run. The official said Behbal was caught on a tip-off about his location by his accomplice Gaurav Kumar Miglani, who was arrested for sheltering gangsters in neighbouring Haryana on December 23. Though the police have not revealed the identity of a person then accompanying the two gangsters, sources said the mobile phon location of this man helped the police team. Corroborating various technical and other information that resulted in the knowledge that Gounder was in the states border areas, on January 16 the operation was planned at the police headquarters in which the DGP (law and order) was asked to provide additional force to the districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Muktsar, said another officer. On January 24, a team headed by AIG Gurmeet Chauhan and inspector Bikram Brar was sent to a specific location after getting information that both the gangsters were hiding in Panjawa village of Fazilka district in the house of a liquor smuggler named Lakhwinder Singh Lakha. Since they were not using mobile phones, it was very tough to locate them. Lakhas house was the usual, but when we analysed the activity near his hamlet near the canal in the area, we found movement of some suspects, said Around 11 am on Friday, DGP (intelligence) ordered the operation and 35 cops were sent to assist the OCCU team, including four NSG-trained commandoes from the special operations group. The operation started at 5.30 pm and lasted 20 minutes. Gounder and his most trusted aide Prema Lahoriya were shot dead at a house in the hamlet, while another gangster died later at a hospital. Noted agricultural scientist Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, who was known for his role in bringing Green Revolution to Punjab, passed away in Chandigarh Saturday afternoon after a brief illness. Kalkat (92) was admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here, said an official release. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh condoled his death. The chief minister described Kalkat as a pioneer who brought several exemplary reforms in agriculture besides green revolution to the state. He said Kalkats contribution had ensured overall development and a phenomenal growth in the agriculture sector. Singh recalled his services as the founder-chairman of the Punjab State Farmers Commission, former vice-chancellor of PAU, Ludhiana, and said that Kalkat worked tirelessly throughout his life for the welfare and prosperity of farmers. Kalkat was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his work. Born in Hoshiarpurs Sahora village on June 17, 1926, Kalkat obtained his BSc Agriculture degree from Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now Pakistan) in 1947. As a Rockfeller Fellow, he joined the Ohio State University in January 1957 and completed his PhD in agricultural zoology-entomology in December 1958. He was later honored with the Distinguished International Student Award of the university. Kalkat also worked as a senior agriculturist with the World Bank. He was stationed at Washington DC from 1978-1989. During this period, he worked on agriculture and rural development programmes of Nigeria and Ghana and he was a pioneer in introducing shallow tubewells for irrigation and hand pumps for the purpose of drinking water in Nigeria. He also supervised the implementation of World Bank assisted programmes in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia. Kalkat also held the reins of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana as its vice chancellor from 1998 to 2001. During his tenure, he identified the priority areas to find the problems of farmers and farming in consultation with agricultural economists and farm scientists, a PAU release said. During his tenure as the director agriculture, Punjab and agriculture commissioner/additional secretary, the country witnessed Green Revolution. Fourteen Malian soldiers were killed and 18 wounded on Saturday in an attack on their camp in Malis restive north, the army said, while military sources told AFP jihadists were responsible. Malis deteriorating security situation is of growing concern as Al-Qaeda-linked groups mount increasingly deadly attacks on domestic and foreign forces, and the countrys president on Saturday cancelled his visit to an African summit. The Malian armed forces were attacked early this morning, around 4am, in Soumpi (Timbuktu region). We have recorded 14 dead, 18 wounded and material damage, a statement from the military posted on social media said. A military source based in Bamako had told AFP the men were killed during a cowardly terrorist attack on the Soumpi camp. The local official confirmed the death toll, and said five wounded men were transferred to the town of Niafunke for medical treatment. The Soumpi incident comes two days after 26 civilians including mothers and babies were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, according to a UN death toll. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had cancelled planned travel to the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit Boni on Saturday, he said in a tweet. The UN Security Council said it condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack, referring to Thursdays incident. - Armed groups under scrutiny - Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out in a French-led military operation launched in January 2013. In June 2015, Malis government signed a peace agreement with coalitions of non-jihadist armed groups. But Islamist insurgents remain active, and large tracts of the country are lawless. The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a French-drafted statement giving parties to the 2015 peace deal until the end of March to show progress or face sanctions. The council said there was a pressing need to deliver tangible and visible peace dividends to the population in the North and other parts of Mali ahead of elections scheduled for this year. Mali is one of a string of poor, fragile nations in the Sahel region that have been battered by terror attacks. The country has joined the so-called G5 Sahel force with Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, pooling military efforts to fight the jihadists. China is developing a new surveillance plane designed to be launched from its aircraft carrier and fitted with a radar system to spot enemy stealth jets. State media have confirmed for the first time that China was building its first carrier-borne early-warning plane called the KJ-600, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Saturday. The announcement comes as the US has deployed F-35 stealth jets to bases in Japan and other parts of the Asia-Pacific over the last year, challenging Chinas air defences in the region, the report said. Chinese military observers said the KJ-600 would be fitted with an advanced active electronically scanned array, or AESA, radar which could enable it to spot stealth aircraft such as Americas F-22s and F-35s. Beijing-based military expert Li Jie said the new surveillance plane could also become a command centre in the air. AESA can detect stealth fighters at a very long range, Li said. He said the aircraft would fill a critical weapons gap with the US and improve the combat effectiveness of Chinese carrier battle groups. Li said the KJ-600 would likely be used on Chinas third aircraft carrier under construction in Shanghai and be compatible with its advanced electromagnetic launch system (EMALS). EMALS can launch jets more quickly and effectively than the ski-jump ramps used on Chinas first two aircraft carriers. China currently has operationalised its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made vessel in 2012. It launched its second aircraft carrier in April 2017 which was expected to begin sea trials next month and it announced plans to build a third one in Shanghai. Earlier reports said China plans to have four aircraft carriers in by 2030 to operate from the disputed South China Sea as well as Indian Ocean. French prison guards launched a nationwide strike on Monday in a showdown with President Emmanuel Macrons government over staffing levels and violence which they say is spiralling out of control in overcrowded jails. The strike, which kicked off with pre-dawn pickets, marked an escalation in protests after unions this weekend rejected a government proposal to recruit 100 extra prison warders this year and a further 1,000 before the end of Macrons mandate in 2022. Guards burned tyres and pallets outside several of the 188 jails in France ahead of talks hastily convened by Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet. By midday, police had been sent into four jails to replace absent guards, a prison services spokesman told Reuters. Unions said the authorities would have to deploy additional officers as other guards came off shift. Prison wardens block the Maubeuge jail during a nationwide protest, France, January 24, 2018. (REUTERS) We will not be used as cannon fodder. We wont give an inch, Yoan Karar, an official for the Force Ouvriere union told CNews. His union wants higher wages and rapid hiring of 2,400 staff. Macron is under pressure to address the unrest among prison staff after several recent attacks on guards by inmates. On Friday, riot police clashed with guards manning a picket outside the Fleury Merogis prison, where protests first erupted after an Islamist militant jailed over the killing of 21 people in Tunisia in 2000 slashed guards on the head and torso with a pair of scissors in northern France. Prison wardens face off with French gendarmes as they block the Maubeuge jail during a nationwide protest, France, January 24, 2018. (REUTERS) The ministry has offered to meet another demand and separate the most violent inmates from the rest of the 70,000 prison population, one of Europes largest. Macron said before protests snowballed that a plan would be presented in February and go beyond existing pledges to build thousands of new prison cells. A prison officer wears an Anonymous mask during a protest in front of the Lyon Corbas prison as part of a nationwide movement by prison staff calling for better safety and wages on January 25, 2018. (AFP) Frances prison population has more than doubled since the 1970s. The guards say they no longer have enough staff or equipment to handle violent inmates, notably convicted Islamists and petty criminals who become radicalised while in prison. They are also demanding improvement on salaries which start at around 1,400 ($1,715.56) a month before tax. Prison guards block access to the Marseille prison, on January 24, 2018, during a demonstration as part of a nationwide movement to call for better safety and wages. (AFP) Union representative Karar, a guard for 13 years at Fresnes prison on the edge of Paris, said records put the number of attacks on security staff at 4,000 a year. You cannot put a guard in charge of 100 or 150 prisoners and just give him a whistle, said Karar, calling for guards to be armed with taser guns. A leader of the Gorkhaland movement, Sanjay Thulung, has reportedly been abducted from his relatives home in Kathmandu, with Nepal Police saying a formal complaint has been lodged regarding the matter. According to The Kathmandu Post, a leading English language newspaper, Thulung, a board member of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and member of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) youth organization, was whisked away by a group of unidentified persons from the home of his relative at Basundhara on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Tuesday. After a prolonged period of unrest in Darjeeling, Thulung fled to Nepal some two months ago and started living with another relative in Dharan, an eastern city. He had arrived in Katmandu last week. The current whereabouts of Thulung is not known, the news report said. The Post quoted Thulungs Kathmandu-based relatives as saying that some unidentified persons had called his aunt-in-law, Sabita Rai Mukhiya, and arranged a meeting on the pretext of handing over some items purportedly sent from Qatar by her brother. However, when Mukhiya reached the rendezvous site, the persons took hold of her and demanded that she call Thulung. The persons forced Mukhiya into a car and pressured her to take them to the house where Thulung was staying. They also told her that they belonged to security agencies but did not identify themselves, the report said. Mukhiya told police the persons were armed with modern weapons and drove her through various parts of the city until she agreed to take them to Thulung. They then threw her out of the car and abducted Thulung, she told the police in a complaint. Police said a formal complaint has been registered and officials denied Nepal Police was in any way involved in the alleged abduction. Thulungs relatives have approached Nepal Police and other security agencies for help and held meetings with top political leaders. Indian authorities had been looking for Thulung following the arrest of two persons with a cache of weapons at Dimapur in Nagaland in November 2014. The arrested persons had given a statement that the weapons allegedly belonged to Thulung. Indian police have accused Thulung of trying to launch an armed movement and sending 15 people for arms training with a militant group in Nagaland. A suicide bomber driving an ambulance killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 more in an attack claimed by the Taliban in the Afghan capital Kabul, authorities said. The bombing Saturday came just a week after Taliban militants killed 22 at an international hotel in the city. It has been a month of relentless attacks in Afghanistan, with the Taliban and the Islamic State affiliate making alternate claims of responsibility. The brutality and frequency of the attacks, including one in December at a Shiite cultural centre has shattered Afghanistans usually quiet winter fighting season. The attacks have infuriated Afghans, frustrated by the worsening security after 16 years of war. They have expressed their anger with neighbour Pakistan for harbouring insurgents and with the US-led coalition for its inability to suppress the insurgency. They have also blamed the deteriorating security situation on a deeply divided government embroiled in political feuding that has paralysed Parliament. The attacker on Saturday used the ambulance to get through a security checkpoint in central Kabul, telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the interior ministry. He then detonated his explosives at a second checkpoint, Rahimi said. The health ministry said 95 were killed and 158 wounded. The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well, Rahimi said. He said four suspects had been arrested and were being questioned but he didnt elaborate. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from the site near the governments former interior ministry building. Also nearby are the European Union and Indian consulates. The blast occurred in an area in Kabul where foreign embassies and government buildings are located. (TOLOnews) In a statement, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the deadly attack in Kabul. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians ... can never be justified, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. US Ambassador to Afghanistan John R Bass condemned the attack as senseless and cowardly. The powerful explosion was felt throughout the capital and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. At the scene, dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were also destroyed. Windows at the nearby Jamhuriat government hospital were shattered and its walls damaged. People ran out to help and ambulances arrived to transport dozens of wounded to area hospitals. The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the attack in a tweet, saying: The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing ... Unacceptable and unjustifiable. Afghan medical staff treat the wounded at Jamhuriat Hospital in Kabul on Saturday. (AFP) It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on high security targets in the city. Last Saturday, six Taliban militants attacked Kabuls Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by climbing down bedsheets tied to balconies. The US State Department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. The hotel attack prompted the United States to repeat its demand that Pakistan expel Taliban who have found sanctuaries on its soil, with particular reference to the Haqqani network. On Wednesday a US drone slammed into Pakistani tribal territory that borders Afghanistan killing two Haqqani commanders, according to Pakistani officials, who deny providing organized camps for their safety. Pakistan says the Taliban cross the porous border that separates the two countries along with the estimated 1.5 million Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan. After Saturdays attacks Pakistan issued a statement condemning the bombing. No cause or ends justify acts of terrorism against innocent people, the statement said. Afghan security forces, whose competency has been uneven, have struggled to fight the Taliban since the US and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014. President Donald Trump has pursued a plan that involves sending thousands more US troops to Afghanistan and envisions shifting away from a time-based approach to one that more explicitly links US assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government. Trumps UN envoy, Nikki Haley, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that Trumps policy was working and that peace talks between the government and the Taliban are closer than ever before. On December 28 a suicide bomber and other explosions at a Shiite cultural centre in Kabul killed at least 41 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group that may have been aimed at a pro-Iran news outlet based in the building. On Wednesday, IS militants stormed the offices of Save the Children in eastern Afghanistan killing four and triggering a standoff with police that lasted almost 10 hours. The Islamic State group was involved in at least 10 fatal attacks in Afghanistan last year. India and the United States are expected to hold the inaugural edition of the simultaneous meetings of their defence and external affairs ministers called two-by-two here in Washington DC in April, according to officials involved in its planning and organisation. Though the agenda for the meetings was still under construction not pinned down yet, as an official said in Washington the broad focus will be, as described in the original White House announcement last August to enhance peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region, a term used increasingly for China-related threats in the area. Also, the announcement issued after a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Tump on the eve of the Indian Independence Day had said establishing a new 2-by-2 ministerial dialogue will elevate their (the two countries) strategic consultations. The inaugural edition of the ministerial dialogue was expected earlier to take place soon after the announcement, and probably in New Delhi, but did not because of scheduling issues, officials from both countries had said then. The tentative dates, as first reported by Hindustan Times, are April 18 or 19, but an official announcement of the schedule and the venue is awaited. Secretary of defense James Mattis, one of the two members of the 2-by-2 dialogue, went to India late September and met his newly appointed counterpart defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman; and called on the prime minister and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson, who couldnt join Mattis, followed a month later in October, to meet his counterpart external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj their second, they had their first meeting on the sidelines of the UN general assembly meetings in New York in September. He also met Modi and Doval. These meetings might have served the purpose of a 2-by-2 ministerial dialogue but did not strictly, when the four would meet together with their respective delegations. Apart from the Indo-Pacific region, fefense minister Sitharaman will, it is expected, discuss with her counterpart Mattis ongoing, and growing, defense ties including joint military exercises and defense trade, which would cover co-development and co-production of defense equipment. On foreign policy, Swaraj and Tillerson (if he lasts that long, till April), are strongly expected to discuss China, which is a country of mutual concern as reflected in the last few joint statements coming out of summit-level meetings between the two countries, and terrorism, also called Pakistan. The big question being asked by officials and observers: will President Trump, who is stacking up a reputation for surprises, swing by, walk-in on these meetings? US presidents are known for this, but only at White House meetings. Would he, then, call Sitharaman and Swaraj over for dinner? The Trump administration has signed a contract with Boeing to replace two refrigerators aboard Air Force One, the Presidents plane, at a cost of nearly $24 million. The US Air Force awarded Boeing a $23.6 million contract in December to replace two of the five cold chiller units aboard the aircraft used by President Donald Trump, CNN reported. The coolers on the presidential aircraft need to have the capacity to store 3,000 meals onboard and two out of the five are in need of replacement, according to military specifications. The refrigerators have been on the plane since 1990 when Boeing first gave the Air Force the customised aircraft. Before taking office, Trump complained about the high costs of Air Force One, tweeting that the Air Force should cancel order! Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told CNN that some of the equipment on board was in need of replacement because of decreasing performance. The upgrades are expected to be completed by October 2019. Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage, she said. The engineering required to design, manufacture, conduct environmental testing and obtain Federal Aviation Administration certification are included in the cost, she added. A consultant told Defence One that the plane was expensive not because Boeing was gouging the government but because military requirements for the craft were expensive to fulfil. Its not a contractor issue, it is a requirements issue, said Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of analysis at the Teal Group consulting firm. Its not getting people rich. Former senior adviser to President Barack Obama Eric Schultz mocked the high price tag in a tweet on Friday, saying, we would have been impeached over it. In recent weeks, a narrative has gained traction in Washington questioning whether Donald Trump is capable of being the president. Michael Wolff's gossip-filled book portrayed Trump as a "child," a "dope" and an "idiot" incapable of processing basic information or having a substantive conversation with his advisers. Despite Wolff's credibility issues, the story line has had an impact: A Post-ABC News poll found that 47 percent of Americans now question Trump's mental fitness. So this week, I asked CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who personally briefs the president almost every day, to take us inside how Trump receives his most highly classified briefing: the president's daily brief, or PDB. "We present the president with the most exquisite information any policymaker would ever have the privilege of having a chance to read," Pompeo said during a conversation at the American Enterprise Institute. "The president asks hard questions. He's deeply engaged. We'll have rambunctious back and forth, all aimed at making sure we're delivering him the truth as best we understand it. He'll ask questions from time to time that we frankly don't have the answer to. ... We'll go back and, within a couple of hours, deliver that information as best we can." Nationwide protests at the police killing of a young ethnic Pashtun man in Pakistans largest city have shone a spotlight on allegations of persecution by the authorities against refugees from the countrys conflict-ridden northwest. The countrys Supreme Court launched an inquiry on Jan. 19 into the death of 27-year-old aspiring fashion model Naqibullah Mehsud. He was one of four men killed six days earlier in what police initially said was a shoot-out with suspected Islamist militants. The Supreme Court plans to begin hearings on the case on Saturday. The police team that killed Mehsud was under the command of senior superintendent Anwar Ahmed Khan, who has been suspended since Jan. 20 on the recommendation of a police inquiry committee. The committee was set up after Mehsuds father, Muhammad Khan Mehsud, who denies his son had any militant links, filed a kidnapping and killing complaint against him. Anwar told Reuters he had done nothing wrong and said the investigation into his officers actions could allow the Taliban to regain a foothold in ethnic Pashtun parts of the city. I had no knowledge of Naqibullah Mehsud. My staff told me that he is a militant with a criminal history, he said. People chant slogans and hold signs as they condemn the death of Naqibullah Mehsud, whose family said he was killed by police in a so-called "encounter killing", during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan January 21, 2018. (REUTERS) Police data from 2011 reviewed by Reuters shows that in the seven years Anwar has been in charge of Karachis Malir district, which has a large Pashtun population, at least 450 people have been killed in 200 clashes with police that involved weapons. The data does not give details of the circumstances of the shootings. A senior police official, who asked not to be identified, said that the majority of those killed were ethnic Pashtuns. Pakistans ethnic Pashtun borderlands have been a hotbed of Islamist militancy in recent decades. Militant Policy Pakistani police refer to any armed clash with suspects as an encounter. Some human rights activists and families of victims have for years alleged that such incidents are often staged to cover up extrajudicial killings. Anwar told Reuters that armed operations to kill suspects were official police policy in Sindh Province, of which Karachi is the capital, to combat the threat from militants. There was an on-going official policy ... for carrying out encounters to take out criminals and I have broken no law, he said. The provincial police chief denied there was such a policy. I dont need to respond to irresponsible allegations, Inspector General of Sindh police Allah Dino Khawaja said in a brief text message in reply to Reuters questions. He has to appear before the investigation to defend and prove his claims. Sindh police said in a statement on Jan. 20 it had launched an inquiry to ascertain the facts regarding the police encounter in which Naqibullah Mehsud was killed. Muhammad Khan Mehsud (C), the father of Naqibullah Mehsud, whose family said was killed by police in a so-called "encounter killing", speaks to grand jirga (tribal assembly or public meeting) in Karachi, Pakistan January 22, 2018. (REUTERS) Some campaigners among the sprawling citys Pashtun community say the story is not unusual. But it is the first to receive nationwide attention - in part because Mehsud, known as Naqib, does not fit the image of the militant from Pakistans lawless northern heartlands. He had a passion for wearing good clothes ... even in the picture of his body circulating on social media, he is seen wearing good clothes, his cousin Noor Rehman told Reuters, while holding back tears. Another senior police officer said no evidence linking Naqib to militancy had been found. His particulars were checked in all the criminal databases of police and nothing came up, the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Pakistans chief justice on Tuesday summoned Anwar to appear for questioning at its first hearing this weekend. Earlier that day, he was not allowed to board a flight leaving Pakistan for Dubai, Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency said. Anwar told Reuters he does not plan to appear before the court. He said his children are studying in Dubai and he frequently visits. Target Group Pashtuns are Pakistans second largest ethnic group, and many have moved to the countrys big cities to escape violence along the Afghan border. But since the emergence of the Pakistani Taliban, whose leadership also comes from the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan, Pashtuns who spoke to Reuters in Karachi say they are all now seen as potential militants. This is not just about the fact that police are killing people, it is about racial profiling, Jibran Nasir, a human rights lawyer who said he was filing a petition with the Senates human rights committee, told Reuters. Naqib had a very public profile. Looking at pictures of Naqib modelling ... no one is willing to believe he had anything to do with Taliban. The problem here is not every Pashtun killed and profiled here is a model. Figures posted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on its website show 1,226 people were killed in 784 police encounters nationwide in the past two years. People wave black flags as they gather to condemn the death of Naqibullah Mehsud, whose family said was killed by police in a so-called "encounter killing", during a grand jirga (tribal assembly or public meeting) in Karachi, Pakistan January 22, 2018. (REUTERS) In the days after Mehsud was killed, thousands of activists and Pashtun students staged protests in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta. In Sohrab Goth, the majority Pashtun suburb of Karachi where Naqibs family live, three families told Reuters they had lost relatives in such incidents. Reuters was shown death certificates and newspaper clippings, but was not able to independently confirm the circumstances of their deaths. Sohail Anwer Sial, home minister in the Sindh provincial government whose department is responsible for the police, said the authorities were taking action over the Mehsud case, but that one or two incidents did not mean the entire police force was corrupt. The same police force ... eradicated violence from the city during Karachi operation, which began in 2013 against militants, he said. One persons actions cannot be allowed to malign the system. An Indian-origin family who colluded with a property agent to let out their four-bedroom house in north London to more than 40 immigrants have been found guilty of overcrowding by a court in London. Harsha Shah, 53, her daughter Chandni, 27, and her brother-in-law Sanjay, 54, worked with agent Jaydipkumar Valand, 42, to illegally undertake multiple tenancies at the 1920s property which they also let fall into a state of disrepair, a UK court was told this week. The house, described as a slum, was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week, the Harrow Crown Court was told. The occupants had just two bathrooms to share between them and the fire exits were all blocked, causing a safety hazard. While the Shah family and Valand were convicted in May last year, they are now fighting against having to hand over nearly 360,000 pounds obtained as rent during the course of the tenancy at a confiscation hearing at the Court. Edmund Robb, appearing on behalf of the local Brent Borough Council, told Judge Stephen Rubin that besides claiming back any housing benefits paid out by the authority, the rent paid can also be seized under the UKs proceeds of crime act. Receiving rent was in breach of a selective licence. If they had complied with the regulations the money would not have come into their hands. There was a minimum of 25 people living in the house and there could at any one time be up to 40 people living in the house, he said. However, the defence argued that taking the rent from the migrants was not an offence, and therefore, a confiscation order was not enforceable. We say that receiving the rent is not a criminal offence and neither is continuing the tenancy. They are clearly in breach of the law, but the receiving of rent was not illegal, said lawyer Cameron Scott. Judge Rubin will reserve his judgment on whether a proceeds of crime order can be enforced. Meanwhile, following a trial at Willesden Magistrates Court last year, the Shah family were found guilty of failing to have the proper licence and will be sentenced at a later date. Russias foreign ministry on Friday condemned the United States new economic sanctions against Moscow, labelling them absurd and reserving the right to a response. This absurd sanctions campaign has not succeeded and will not lead to any results, the ministry said in a statement. If the American authorities prefer to break economic ties... with Russia, it is their right, as it is ours to reserve the right to a response. The fresh sanctions, which were announced by the US Treasury earlier on Friday, target Russian officials who supplied turbines to a power plant in annexed Crimea, as well as several ministers from the breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. A total of 21 people and nine companies were hit with the sanctions, some of them over the turbines, which were built by German engineering giant Siemens for delivery to Russia but were later sent on to Crimea -- which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014. Moscow said the new sanctions were imposed under the pretext of inventing Russias involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, adding that the US is merely showing the whole world its own powerlessness. Washington cannot shed the illusion that it is possible to scare us by refusing US visas or by trade bans, the statement said. Three people have been arrested in connection with the suspected kidnapping and murder of jeweller Ramniklal Jogiya in the east Midlands city of Leicester, the police said on Saturday, as the incident sent shock waves in the Asian business community. The police said that three men, aged 19, 20 and 23, all from Leicester, were arrested and were being questioned. The arrests followed the discovery of Jogiyas body about 12 km away from his jewellery shop in Belgrave Road, which has a large number of such shops. The officer leading the investigation into the death of Jogiya, 74, appealed for more people to contact the Leicestershire police with information. DCI David Swift-Rollinson, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: He was a family man, who left work fully expecting to arrive home to spend time with his wife and sons. His family are shocked and devastated by whats happened. There have been several burglaries in shops in Belgrave Road, also known as the Golden Mile, prompting the police and the business community to upgrade security. Jewellery shops in the area have close links with the industry in Gujarat. 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. It's been a major week for A$AP Rocky. After a memorable Yams Day event last Thursday, Rocky kicked off the roll out for his forthcoming album which no one really knows what the title is exactly. This week, he dropped three songs back to back with "5ive $tar$," "Above" and last night's effort, "Money Bag Freestyle." While doing all of this, he's prepping to premiere "Monster," an film he stars in. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and during a recent interview, he revealed what the most memorable moment of shooting it was. Rocky, alongside his co-star, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and director Anthony Mandler recently sat down with Collider for an interview at Sundance. They were asked about the most memorable part of shooting the film which caused Rocky to start laughing before he allowed Mandler to tell the story about how he broke his nose while he was on set. "Because were making a small movie and because we have method actors, they did the robbery and all their stunts, which is like a vicious fight scene." Mandler said, "So the gentleman who plays the bodega owner who gets murdered is a very big, tough guy. Like a Spanish, uptown, 260-pound [man]. So [Rocky] and John David come in and we just go, and its a full-bore wrestling fight with a gun flying all over the place, and actually on one of the takes Rocky broke his nose. Right in the middle of the scene." While his nose was busted, the rapper also had a shoot with Vogue two days later. However, he admitted it took his a few hours to feel the pain of his busted nose and Mandler said Rocky was trying to get right back into shooting it. "I really applaud him because the energy in the room was incredible and these guys were like jumping over the counter, and he was like, Lets go again, Im good. Im good. And Im sitting there looking at his nose and its clearly broken, and hes like, Im ready, Im ready, and Im like, Yeah, no. Were gonna take 20 and lets call a doctor" he said. You could watch the full interview here. Black Thought is working on an EP with seasoned producer 9th Wonder, reports OkayPlayer. At a Friday night event called Black Thought Cinema Presents, the rapper is said to have announced a new project with 9th, which sounds like it will be the first of a few new releases from Thought. While the moment in which he made the announcement was not captured on video, the camera was rolling just a moment later: "It's the first of a series of joints that I'm gonna be putting out called Streaming Thought. Be on the lookout for the music that we're about to hit y'all with," says Thought in a clip posted by Nodfactor. 9th Wonder hinted at the authenticity of the report in a tweet. In June of last year, Black Thought revealed that 9th Wonder, as well as Salaam Remi, would be working on The Roots forthcoming 12th studio album End Game. "Last October we had a writers retreat at Electric Lady Studios in New York City for about a week or so, he said. Within that time we got about a good deal of the groundwork of whats to come for the record, End Game. Ive been working, writing and recording on it since then." In 2016, Thought and 9th worked together on "Making A Murderer," a single featuring Styles P of The Lox. 9th Wonder has released many collaborative projects over the course of his career, including efforts with Talib Kweli, Wale, Murs, Pete Rock, and Jean Grae, not to mention his run as the producer in Little Brother. Last year, he revealed he had recorded the equivalent of a 12-track album with TDE artist SiR. No word on a release date for the EP or the long-awaited Roots album. Stay tuned for further details. Pittsburgh native DJ Afterthought is getting ready to release his debut album soon called Cool Blue Jewels, which is set to drop February 9th. The 12-track effort will feature guest appearances from Riff Raff, Wiz Khalifa, Young Buck, Chevy Woods, blackbear, Jimmy Wopo, and more. Available now for pre-order on iTunes, those of you who take advantage of the early purchase will receive this new song for free as an instant download called Long Night featuring Wiz Khalifa, Mozzy & Gary Clark Jr. Over production from E Dan of ID Labs, Wiz & company bring the title to life & rap about a long night of partying in this follow up single to Waiting with John Sisco. Take a listen to the new collab and let us know what you think! (Single available on iTunes) Quotable Lyrics: Champagne, paper planes this gon' be a long night Bad bitches good weed this gon be a long night Bombay, lemonade this gon be a long night 30 girls at my place this gon be a long night - Wiz Khalifa Kodak Black was having a pretty good start to 2018 up until last week. At the top of the year, the rapper managed to settle two pending lawsuits and was dropping a heap of new music and videos including one for "Roll In Peace" featuring fellow Floridian, XXXTENTACION. However, things went south a little over a week a go after the rapper was arrested on gun and drug charges after police raided his home. Since then, there's been a handful of updates but there hasn't been anything indicating that the rapper will be free any time soon. However, having a good lawyer could sometimes get you out of situations like that and that seems to be the case with Kodak's legal representative. According to TMZ, Kodak Black's lawyer, Bradford Cohen, thinks his recent arrest was suspicious and is ready to question the police officers on what happened that evening. According to their sources, Cohen is particularly curious as to why there hasn't been any body cam footage of the arrest for child neglect, weed possession and grand theft of firearms. Apparently, he's also wondering why there was a gang task force assigned to conduct the arrest. Cohen has reportedly filed legal documents to have the three officers that were involved with Kodak Black's arrest deposed to make sure that his arrest was done properly. Shortly after Kodak's arrest, it was reported the Florida rapper was arrested after an Instagram live broadcast showed him and the people at his home rolling blunts and toting guns while a child was around. We'll keep you updated on more information pertaining to Kodak's legal situation. Since Meek Mill's sentencing back in November, everyone from athletes to artists to fans have been trying to get him out of jail. The rapper and his lawyer have claimed the judge had it out for him and was even sentenced despite the prosecutors and his probation officer suggesting otherwise. Meek claimed the judge had it out for him and had some odd requests for him. While there's yet to be solid evidence pertaining to it, Meek Mill is inches away from possibly confirming his claims. A judge has reportedly ordered the release of documents that might be able to prove Judge Genece Brinkley held some sort of bias against Meek Mill during his probation violation case, TMZ reports. Following the wildly unjust two to four year sentence he received for probation violation, his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, suggested that she had a bias against the Philly rapper. In addition, Tacopina says the hearing within chambers was recorded and that specific conversation is the necessary evidence needed to prove her bias during Meek's trial. Some of the misconduct she's accused of is asking Meek to fire Roc Nation as his management in order to hire a local promoter, Charlie Mack, who was claimed to be a friend of Brinkley, although Mack he doesn't know her. Meek also claimed the judge tried to make him re-record Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" and give her a shout out on the song. Meek denied it and said that her failed career as an actress played a factor in her dislike towards him. Once the transcript of the hearing in chambers comes through and if it proves his claims, Meek Mill is likely to be released from jail. We'll keep you updated. It's not often that an album features twenty-four tracks, but Migos clearly aimed to make a statement Culture 2. With a run-time of nearly two-hours, the new Migos project is hardly one for the album purists who prefer to consume music in one uninterrupted sitting. I'm willing to bet there are some fans who haven't even made it through the entire project, opting to take a "skim-and-judge" approach. Granted, that's fair, as sitting through twenty-four tracks is no easy feat; you damn near need a home cooked meal to get through that. Maybe you don't have time to do a full listen through, and are simply looking to catch the highlights. If so, this one's for you. Here are seven essential Culture 2 tracks for your listening pleasure. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Narcos Produced by: DJ Durel & Quavo It may be one of Culture 2s opening tracks, but the DJ Durel/Quavo produced track stands as an immediate highlight. As the title might suggest, Narcos is heavily influenced by Spanish culture, and Offset and Quavos back and forth chorus captures the brilliant simplicity of peak Migos. While it might have been nice to hear Quavo really going in, both Offset and Takeoff turn in some excellent verses. Takeoff holds it down as the tracks MVP, relishing in a rich tapestry of Cartel-style violence. Poke his eyes out, ain't no tellin' what he saw, I'ma wire his jaw, raps Takeoff. I don't know if he will talk, get the chainsaw and I'ma saw his legs off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gang Gang Produced by: Murda Beatz Migos are no stranger to commercial success, and Quavo in particular has occasionally crossed-over into the realm of pop-music. And while its hard to imagine Migos ever going pop, Gang Gang finds the trio treading into new territory, showcasing a near unparalleled ear for melody. Murda Beatz holds it down with a hypnotic instrumental, driven by crisp, accessible production; theres a tropical sensuality about it, with lyrics that verge on true sentimentality. The winter may still be upon us, but expect Gang Gang to come back in a big way come summer. Once again, Migos have showcased a versatility that some might have trouble admitting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flooded Produced by: DJ Durel & Earl While the modern trap-sound has often come to be associated with dark, minor key bangers, Migos have tended to stray away from that vibe. On the DJ Durel/Earl produced Flooded, however, the trio slide through on their most sinister sounding instrumental yet. Driven by haunting, Dr. Dre-esque piano chords, Offset spits lines like rockabye baby, give feds to the sharks and the gators. Its one of the albums more straightforward bangers, but the unusually ominous nature help elevate this one above the rest. Flooded is Migos at their most villainous, a sharp contrast from the previous highlight Gang Gang. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Open It Up Produced by: Cardo Got Wings The Cardo produced Open It Up harkens back to Culture standout Deadz, bringing back the much-loved AH-OU. For that reason alone, it deserves a spot on this list, but there are plenty of benefits to this second-half banger. With some cinematic synth strings and aggressive percussion, Open It Up plays an integral role, adding some proverbial balls to Culture 2s lush and futuristic aesthetic. Like Deadz, this spiritual successor finds each Migos rapper laying down solid verses, and the energy alone is guaranteed to make this one a live staple for years to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Too Playa ft. 2 Chainz Produced by: DJ Durel & Quavo When you hear the saxophone, you already know its about to be lit. Plus, 2 Chainz has been murdering featured verses for a minute now, and Too Playa is no exception. Donatella on the bootstrap, whole crew got a Tru tat, raps 2 Chainz, whole crew got a Tru chain, lay it back, now I move same, hundred thousand in a blue flame, cross a n***a like a spiritual. In what has deservedly emerged as a dominant Culture 2 narrative, Takeoff once again comes through with an excellent performance. In a Breakfast Club interview, Charlamagne claimed that Culture 2 was Takeoffs album, and there may very well be some truth to that. Throw in some crazy production from DJ Durel and budding beatmaker Quavo, and Too Playa is a certified banger. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Made Men Produced by: Cassius J Made Men is Migos like youve never heard them before. Cassius Js production is smooth, guided by a jazzy piano chord progression, staying true to the titles implied mafioso themes. This feels like grown-ass Migos, with each rapper sounding equal parts confident and relaxed; while they often profess to be spokespeople for the culture, the subdued bravado of Made Men proves a convincing affirmation. While some might knock Migos versatility, this one proves that the group is more than mere trap-bangers. While this one might fall under the radar due to a late-game tracklist position, Made Men is one of Culture 2s definitive tracks, and a promising sign of things to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Culture National Anthem (Outro) Produced by: Figure Made It & 808 Godz Long before the album dropped, a petition surfaced attempting to get Quavo to remake the United States National Anthem. Therefore, when people first saw Migos closing out the album with Culture National Anthem, some might have written it off as mere meme-fuel. Luckily, Migos seemed to have approached the subject with a fair degree of respect, coming through with their most emotional song to date. The production compliments the motivational subject matter; as the track reaches a crescendo, Quavos vocals blend with strings and piano, culminating in a powerful, experimental conclusion. Its cool to hear the group dabbling with some new sounds, and the final minute of Culture National Anthem is reminiscent of Kanye Wests My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Vic Mensa is back with a new freestyle, going in over Drake's Scary Hours highlight "Diplomatic Immunity." The Chicago rapper is in fine form, sliding in clever references to 8 Mile, The Legend Of Zelda, and V For Vendetta, but there are a few lines sure to stir up controversy. While Vic's notorious "Everyday Struggle" feud seemed exclusively targeted at Akademiks, it seems as he's decided to follow in Drizzy's footsteps and set his sight on the now-retired Joe Budden. And while Vic claims it's "not a diss record," the Budden centric lines are what some might consider "fightin' words." "Fake like its all love and hip-hop til they push the Joe button and you get punched in the face as a consequence," raps Vince, "and jump right back on live, cappin with confidence / famous for putting your hands on women, you cant be proud of it / dont try to fuck wit me shorty, just stay monogamous." Quotable Lyrics I see the future like I was at the shelter Raise wars like Helter Skelter, white addicts like Griselda That's why my lyrics be blacker than Idris Elba I feel like I'm the Link just like the Legend Of Zelda 13:26 Scores of diplomats including ambassadors of four of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Russia, China, France and Britain -- attended one of the largest Republic Day receptions outside India at the UN headquarters, besides events across the United States as well. The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, was the only P-5 country envoy not to attend the impressive Republic Day reception hosted jointly by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York. Haley, who was not in town, sent one of her top diplomats to the event, which was attended by several hundred Indian Americans, officials of the UN and envoys of scores of countries at the UN. Prominent among those were the President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, and the Deputy UN Secretary General Amina J Mohammed. Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, surprised many by her presence at India's Republic Day celebrations at the UN, which was marked by an impressive dance performance at the UN Delegates Dining Room. 'Though far from India's shores, the young sing about the 'land that nourished and nurtured' as we celebrate India's #Republicday2018@IndiaUNNewYork,' Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, said in a tweet. 'We are grateful this evening that several distinguished officials as well as representatives have joined us. I am grateful to the President of the General Assembly who is here with us, also to the Lt Governor of New York, who is with us and the Deputy Secretary General, who is with us,' Akbaruddin said as he was joined by other dignitaries in lighting the lamp. For many UN observers, it was one of the largest gatherings of ambassadors at a public event at the UN. Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid floral tributes to statues of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Embassy in Washington before unfurling the national flag, in the presence of embassy staff and members of the Indian American community. Akbaruddin unfurled the national flag at the UN mission in New York, with India's other diplomatic missions in the US -- in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta -- also hosting events. Diego Gomez Pickering, the Consul General of Mexico in New York was the guest of honor at the Indian consulate celebrations in the city. 'Honored to participate in the celebrations of the 69th #RepublicDay at @IndiainNewYork along with Consul General Chakravorty and the vibrant Indian community of #NYC. #Mexico and #India partners, friends and allies,' he tweeted. Sanjeev Tripathi from Boston wrote a special poem in Hindi on the occasion. Illinois Lt Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and joined the Republic Day celebrations in Chicago along with a large number of Indian Americans. Officials of the Indian Consulate in Houston posted a special video on twitter 'Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day'. Congressman Pete Olson appeared in a traditional kurta at the Consulate and joined Indian Americans in the Republic day celebrations in the Indian Consulate in Houston. 'Great to celebrate the 69th India Republic Day at the Consulate General of India this morning!' he said. '#OTD in 1950, the largest democracy on earth was born when the Indian constitution was adopted. I look forward to many more years of friendship between our two great countries!' Olson tweeted. A number of Republic Day celebrations have been scheduled by Indian Americans across the country over the weekend. -- PTI Image only for representation. 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. At least thirteen persons were killed and as many injured when a mini-bus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra. The mishap occurred at around 11.45 pm on Shivaji bridge when the driver lost control over the vehicle while traveling from Ganpatipule to Pune, an official of Kolhapur police said. Police and fire brigade was alerted by some onlookers following which a search and rescue operation was launched, he said. All the commuters hailed from Balewadi in Pune. Source : DD News In-N-Out has been rated the most-loved place to work in the fast-food industry. Now, a new study shows a pretty compelling reason why. Writing in the California Sun, editor Mike McPhate says the average annual salary of an In-N-Out manager is now $160,000. That's a lot of money, especially considering that it's a path to a six-figure paycheck that's open to people who don't have a high school diploma--never mind a college degree. Compare it to the average adult in the United States who does not have a high school diploma, and earns just over $20,000. (If you don't want to work in fast-food, maybe check out this recent ranking of the 50 best jobs in America.) These In-N-Out managers make more than the average salaries of lawyers, software engineers, and architects in California (about $115,000 for the first two professions; $112,000 for the architects). "In-N-Out is just eons above everybody else. On wages and benefits, they really are the best large chain," Saru Jayaraman, of the Food Labor Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley, told the Sun. With only 329 restaurants, In-N-Out is small. Compare it to about 37,000 McDonald's locations. Even Five Guys has 1,500. It's also focused squarely in the Southwest and the Pacific. This despite signs that people on the East Coast (especially former California residents like yours truly) would welcome its arrival. A fake "In-N-Out Coming Soon" sign was once called the "cruelest April Fool's joke ever" when it was posted in New York. But there's reason to believe that In-N-Out's size, structure, and regional focus are some of the reasons why it's able to offer higher-than-average salaries in the first place. It's a private company. Big public companies that have to answer to shareholders will always have an incentive to pay the lowest salaries they can get away with--assuming acceptable levels of turnover, product quality, customer satisfaction and the like. In-N-Out however, isn't public; it's still controlled by Lynsi Snyder, the 34-year-old granddaughter of its founders, Harry and Esther Snyder. If she and her team think paying higher salaries makes sense (clearly, they do), they're free to do so. It's (mostly) in California. Both wages and the cost of living are higher in California than most other places in the country. In-N-Out workers get a starting salary of at least $13, including benefits. That starting pay can't help but affect the salaries of people who hold positions of greater responsibility. The company's entry-level workers will be getting pay raises soon, too: the state's minimum wage is $11 an hour currently, but it's set to go to $15 by 2022. It pays off. Here's the bottom line: In-N-Out pays more because it works for them. A managerial job at the burger chain is hard work, requiring long hours. Nevertheless, as McPhate points out, 90 percent of employees on the career site Glassdoor.com said they'd recommend the company to a friend. The Irish government is preparing contingency plans in case the UK crashes out of the EU without striking a Brexit deal. Each department has been ordered to become 'Brexit-ready' as assessments are under way to figure out how best to reduce the impact of this "doomsday scenario", including hiring and retraining of staff. A report from every department detailing requirements and the scale of resources needed is due at the end of the week. The ramifications of a 'no deal' scenario cannot be overstated as the impact would be felt in all aspects of business, politics, economy, travel and daily life in Ireland. Initially, several customs borders and checkpoints would have to be erected on the island of Ireland because there would be no way of monitoring what's passing from Northern Ireland into the EU. Trading with the UK would immediately fall under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, meaning officials from Ireland would be obliged to slap steep tariffs and examine regulatory standards on UK goods entering the EU through Ireland. The UK would similarly apply costly tariffs which would be disastrous for Irish exporters as Britain is Ireland's largest trading partner within the EU. It would be particularly destructive for the Irish agriculture industry, as tariffs in the agri-food sector under WTO rules are as high as 44 to 60pc. In addition, 40,000 Irish jobs would be directly hit, according to the ESRI, which also pointed out that every major sector would be affected. In aviation, planes would not be able to land or take off in the UK because Britain would no longer be in the EU single market for aviation. This has to be negotiated as part of Britain's future relationship either within the single market or through a bilateral aviation transport agreement. Irish fishermen would lose access to UK jurisdiction waters, where they collect most of their haul. There would also be huge delays in ports and channels. The deal thrashed out between the EU and UK before Christmas, which dealt with avoiding a hard border in Ireland, has somewhat reduced the likelihood of this happening. However, the British government mantra is that "no deal is better than a bad deal". Meanwhile, UK Brexit secretary David Davis indicated the British government is willing to accept Europe's conditions for a two-year transitional period after it leaves the EU in March 2019. The EU's guidelines demand Britain becomes a "rule-taker" as opposed to a "rule-maker" for this period. During this time, it will no longer have a say in making EU rules and laws, but will have to accept and apply all of them including regulations and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. We've compiled a list of bonus schemes that are being offered to beef farmers by meat processing companies and cattle societies and how they can significantly boost your income. Belted Galloway Owners of Belted Galloway cattle are being offered a bonus of 20c/kg by Euro Farm Food through their plant in Duleek, Co Meath. The plant requires a minimum of four to five finished Belted Galloways per week and is offering farmers a bonus of of 20c/kg for cattle under 30 months above base on the grid, plus Quality Assurance (QA) provided they meet the usual QA criteria. They are also offering cattle over 30 months 10c/kg above base . Those with under fleshed carcase or outside the payment structure will be at market valuation on the day. Farmers are paid for on the day of slaughter at Euro Farm Foods. Farmers are being advised that cattle must have strong Belted Galloway breeding in them with a least three quarter bred cattle preferred. Angus According to the Irish Angus Producers Group a Standard Premium is paid out on all qualifying and certified Angus cattle. It is based on the weekly fixed price in conjunction with the carcass grading. Expand Close Angus Cow / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Angus Cow Premiums include a QA Bonus of 12c per kg and an Angus Premium of 10c per kg. A deduction of 6 per animal will be made at slaughter time. Weight for steers should range between 230-380kg carcass and heifers 220kg-380kg carcass. Both steers and heifers must be under 30 months and farmers must be a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme to avail of bonuses offered by Ashbourne Meats, ABP and Kepak. Limousin and Ashbourne Meats Limousin Cattle owners can receive a quality assurance bonus of 12c/kg on bullocks under 30 months from Ashbourne Meats. Certified cows in the E grade can earn 385c/per kg while stock bulls of U grade can expect to make 305c/kg. Hereford During the year a standard bonus of 12/kg is offered to farmers of prime Hereford cattle, while an all year round conformation grade top up applies to all qualifying Herefords as follows: All R- and R= grades will receive plus 2c/kg on top of Irish Hereford Bonus, while all R+ grades will receive plus 4c/kg on top of the Irish Hereford Bonus and all U grades 6c. Expand Close Eddie Flanagan with his Hereford cattle at his farm in Tulsk, Co Roscommon; (below) his son Edward with purebred Texel sheep Photo: Declan Gilmore. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eddie Flanagan with his Hereford cattle at his farm in Tulsk, Co Roscommon; (below) his son Edward with purebred Texel sheep Photo: Declan Gilmore. In order to qualify farmers must ensure that carcase weights range from 220kg to 380kg, conformation should be O or better and O- for heifers only, while fat scores should range from 2+ to 4 +. Farmers who provide cattle during the off-season period can expect to earn prices of up to 20c per kg. Charolais A bonus scheme exists for Charolais cull cows and heifers in conjunction with the Irish Charolais Society and Slaney Foods. The bonus payment of 10c/kg is eligible for pedigree Charolais cows and 5c/kg for crossbred cows with CH or CHX on their passport. Pedigree Charolais heifers with a copy of their pedigree cert under the age of 36 months are eligible for the 12c/kg bonus and will be subject to the national quality assurance grid and the weekly base price. To avail of the scheme farmers must ensure that all cows are Quality Assured and it is only applicable to cows of fat scores of 2, 3 and 4 in excess of 270kg deadweight. Meanwhile, all heifers must be Quality Assured to receive the bonus and no weight limit applies. Belgian Blue Ashbourne Meats offer a 5c/kg bonus for Belgian Blue bulls of a minimum of U and E grade with an upper limit of 500kg carcass and a fat score of 2+. Belgian Blue Heifers should be a minimum of R+ to E grade with an ideal carcass weight of 360kg-400kg and a fat score of 3. A sign for Ballivor, Co. Meath, where a farmer was assaulted and robbed in the local area. Picture credit; Damien Eagers A RURAL farmer has described the terrifying moments he was held at gunpoint with a noose tied around his neck as burglars raided his home for cash. The dairy farmer (48) was dragged around his home in the area of Clonycavan, just outside Ballivor, Co Meath. The brave man managed to loosen the grip one of the thugs had on him before escaping out his back door and into a neighbours home. Speaking to the Irish Independent from his home, the man who did not wish to be identified said he was still shaken from the ordeal, which happened just over a week ago. He said the thugs both wearing balaclavas had been waiting in his kitchen, when he arrived back into the house with turf at around 7pm on January 17. One lad was a bit thin and the other was bigger. He spoke with an English accent, get down on the ground and put your hands behind your head, he said. They then wrapped a noose a slim belt around his neck, as one burglar held a knife to his head. Expand Close A rural road near Ballivor, Co. Meath where a farmer was assaulted and robbed. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A rural road near Ballivor, Co. Meath where a farmer was assaulted and robbed. Picture credit; Damien Eagers After scouring both the upstairs and downstairs of the home, taking the man with them everywhere, the thugs found around 200 which was left in the sitting room, and was a birthday gift. The man gave them his bank card and pin details but they proceeded to ask him to provide bank statements and ransacked the kitchen, going through his cupboards. However, it was when his phone rang they became distracted. They had everything pulled out of every place at this stage, you couldnt see a tile on the floor, he said. I kept telling them Ive no money, only whats in my bank account. The phone rang, it was my son and the lad that was holding me said you said you lived on your f***ing own. I said that I do, he lives with his mother, hes coming up to get a lend of that van (outside). The English fella was no length gone out the door, I could hear him talking to someone (outside), so I said to myself Ive to get out of here, he added. The victim said he needed to escape before his son arrived to the house, and fled as the second burglar returned. I just turned, made a run out the door in my stocking feet with my hand here pulling the belt and I said to myself youre going to come with me or youre gonna lose grip, he said. I nearly ran through the car, because of the relief, he lost his balance there somewhere and I just got out in front of the garage and burst through the laurel hedge (into another field), he added. The terrified man said the phone call that prompted his escape took place at around 7.55pm, but he didnt reach his neighbours home until around 8.15pm as he attempted to evade the burglars. I was nervous, but I was so happy to see them (the neighbours), he said. I wouldnt like another man, woman or child (to go through this), he added. The first suspect has been described as being between 5ft 11in to 6ft in height, stocky, with and English accent, and he was wearing a dark coat and black trousers. The second man was around 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in, slim, and had a Dublin accent. Braving Storm Eleanor and eating dried food on Christmas Day was the reality for one young Irish dairy farmer who was a member of a team of rowers who recently became the fastest Irish team to cross the Atlantic. Pat O Connor, who juggles his full-time job as a doctor at Cork University Hospital with part-time farming in his native Castletownroche, Co Cork, crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge along with his three friends in a record time of 32 days, 22 hours and four minutes, smashing the world record of 35 days. The former Feirme Factor winner told FarmIreland that the adventure was a world away from his regular farming routine, with the team enduring near-death experiences and deadly Atlantic storm conditions on a daily basis. One of the most valuable lessons learned from this trip, was the power of the ocean. I was told that there are two parts to sea sickness- thinking you are going to die followed by wanting to die. Unfortunately I experienced both in the first seven days, he said. The scariest part of the trip was finding Tommy and myself in the water in the pitch dark from a partial capsize of the boat we named Saoirse and being saved only by the harnesses we were wearing and thankfully our fast reaction times which flabbergasted us both. The young farmer said that he was grateful to the support of the farming community in North Cork and added that his family jokingly messaged him during the race to hurry home in time for calving season. Expand Close Pat O' Connor during the Talisker Whiskey Race. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pat O' Connor during the Talisker Whiskey Race. Knowing how many people were backing us at home, was a huge help. I was sent a message from my two brothers Kevin and David and sister Annemarie, to hurry in from the row for the calving season which starts soon, so I have to get my priorities right. I am really looking forward to getting back to the farm to be honest, he said. The team which also consisted of Thomas Browne, Patrick OConnor, Eoin OFarrell, and Sean Underwood raised 22,000 for Cork University Hospital and Pieta House . The quartet, who are nicknamed Relentless, managed to finish sixth overall in the 3,000 mile race and left the Spanish port of La Gomera on December 14 before arriving in the Caribbeans on January 16.. Having cycled from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizen Head in Cork in 2012, Pat is no stranger to taking on a challenge but explained that for now he is happy to continue his work as a part-time farmer and doctor before beginning any more gruelling tasks. Im not sure I will do another row like this again but certainly there will be more challenges to come, but they may not be sporting ones though. I actually have missed doing the few hours work on the farm every early morning before I go into work at the hospital. Former DAA boss Kevin Toland took over as chief executive of Aryzta last September Another share slide at embattled Swiss-Irish baked goods firm Aryzta yesterday has seen as much as 1bn wiped off its market capitalisation following its latest profit warning. The Cuisine de France owner's shares were as much as 12pc lower in Zurich yesterday, following a more than 20pc slump on Thursday. The latest decline pushed the shares to a more than a year low, even lower than they were following a profit warning issued by the group in January last year. Its market capitalisation is now just over 2bn. Yesterday's continuing run on the shares was sparked by downgrades by analysts at firms including Kepler Cheuvreux, Societe Generale and Mirabaud. Kepler Cheuvreux analyst John Cox said the latest profit warning from the group was "particularly painful" for the new executive team. Former DAA boss Kevin Toland took over as chief executive of Aryzta last September, charged with leading a multi-year mission to turn the company's fortunes around. The former Glanbia executive has drafted in a new team to lead the business, including a former Kraft executive, as well as a former senior colleague from the DAA, which operates Dublin and Cork airports. The group has set a four-year target of achieving a 1bn deleveraging programme, which will include the sale of non-core assets including its 49pc stake in French food firm Picard, as well as its Cloverhill business in the United States. Aryzta expects to generate 450m from the sale of non-core assets by the end of July. Societe Generale has reduced its rating on Aryzta shares to 'sell'. The latest profit warning will heap pressure on the management team to deliver results. Aryzta said on Thursday that its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the 12 months to the end of July, excluding currency movements and disposals, are now likely to be 15pc below the 420m reported in the previous financial year. The figure will be 20pc lower on a reported basis. It had expected the current year's number to be broadly in line with that of 2017. It noted that EBITDA weakened in the three months to the end of December in both Europe and the United States "with this trend not expected to reverse for the remainder of full-year 2018". Mr Toland said this week that Aryzta's revamped senior executive team is "fully focused" on meeting the challenges facing the business. "We are progressing the disposal of non-core assets and deleveraging programme which is a key component of our multi-year turnaround programme and delivery of the 1bn cash generation target," he said. Central Bank Governor Philip Lane and his deputy, Sharon Donnery, are well regarded in Europe THE Governor of the Central Bank, Philip Lane, will be pitched against his Deputy Governor, Sharon Donnery, in a nomination battle for Ireland's first ever seat on the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB). On Tuesday, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will update the Cabinet on the Government's proposed nominee for the role of vice-president of the ECB's executive board. ECB vice-president Vitor Constancio steps down in May after serving a non-renewable eight-year term and nominations for his replacement must be submitted by February 7. Spain, the currency bloc's fourth-largest economy, has already made its case to regain the board seat it lost six years ago, with Economy Minister Luis de Guindos likely to be a frontrunner to succeed Mr Constancio. However Mr Donohoe, a European People's Party colleague of Mr de Guindos, said Ireland is likely to seek at least one of the ECB's top posts. Ireland is expected to nominate for the VP role, despite Mr de Guindos' frontrunner status, as a mark of the country's intent to secure a seat on the board. In a Bloomberg Television interview yesterday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Mr Donohoe said Ireland wants to be represented in the ECB's executive ranks. "As these roles become available, I will make a decision on what we will do," said Mr Donohoe, adding that the Government will make a decision "imminently" on whether to put forward a candidate for any of the roles. Ireland is the only founding member of the euro that has never had a seat on the Frankfurt-based bank's powerful executive board. Mr Lane and Ms Donnerty are the lead Irish candidates for ECB board vacancies. Both central bankers are also highly regarded in Frankfurt where they preside over key ECB committees. Mr Lane, a member of the ECB governing council, is chair of the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) taskforce on safe assets which launches a major report on Monday. The former professor of international macroeconomics at Trinity College Dublin also chairs the ESRB Advisory Technical Committee. Ms Donnery, an economist who is an alternate member of the governing council and a member of the ESRB, is chair of the ECB's non-performing loans (NPLs) task force and also chairs its budget committee. Gender could prove critical as the ECB is under pressure to increase female representation on its executive board. Only one woman, Germany's Sabine Lautenschlager, serves on the board. The December 2012 appointment of Luxembourg's Yves Mersch was held up due to the lack of female candidates at that time. Should Mr Lane be successfully nominated, it could pave the way for Ms Donnery to succeed him in what would be Ireland's first ever female governor of the Central Bank. Between mid-2018 and the end of 2020, five of the six current members of the ECB will need to be replaced, including President Mario Draghi. The six members of the executive board are appointed by the European Council. The six have permanent voting rights while the 19 national central bank governors rotate 15 votes among themselves each month. Next week marks the 75th anniversary of the Central Bank of Ireland. It will be marked by a special symposium in Dublin on financial globalisation and Mr Lane and Ms Donnery will deliver keynote addresses. (Additional reporting Bloomberg) Thousands of UK jobs - including 1,000 in Belfast - are safer after a US court overruled proposals to place huge import levies on Bombardier airliners that are partly built in Northern Ireland. America's International Trade Commission (ITC) overturned a decision to impose 292pc trade tariffs on the C-Series jets, which are being sold to US airline Delta. The levies would have massively ramped up the cost of the 75 aircraft and likely caused Delta to cancel the contract. But, in a surprise ruling, the ITC rejected a complaint brought by Boeing, voting 4-0 in favour of Bombardier. The court rejected Boeing's claims that it suffered injury in the case. The ITC had widely been expected to side with Chicago-based Boeing, the world's largest maker of jet airliners, which accused Bombardier of dumping the planes, or selling them below cost, in the US market. Bombardier called the ruling a "victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law". In a statement, the company added: "The C-Series development and production represent thousands of jobs in the US, Canada and the UK. With this matter behind us, we look forward to delivering the C-Series to the US market so that American airlines and the public can enjoy the many benefits of this remarkable aircraft." The Unite union said Bombardier staff in Northern Ireland were "breathing a massive sigh of relief that the ITC had seen through Boeing's baseless complaint". Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary, said:"The C-Series is a world-beating aircraft made by world-class workers. There can be no backsliding from the US government on this decision." Boeing said it was "disappointed the ITC did not recognise 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 US". The US aerospace giant warned it would not "stand by as Bombardier's illegal business practices continue to harm American workers and the aerospace industry they support". Workers who retire after 2020 could lose out on up to 60pc of their expected pension under proposed changes to the payment system. A massive reform of how pensions are calculated has sparked fears that significant numbers of older people will lose out financially. The Government plans to move to a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) - which will base pension entitlements on how much a person pays in PRSI over their lifetime. At the moment, pensions are based on 'yearly averages' of contributions made by a person during their time working. The exact type of TCA system to be adopted is still being finalised, but this week the Department of Social Protection released an early model in a bid to fix an existing anomaly that led to 40,000 pensioners losing out on up to 40 a week. The fix, along with a HomeCaring Credit, is expected to enable around 30,000 people benefit from higher pensions. Overhaul However, in this special case, those who would not be better off have the option to remain on their current rate. This will not be the case following the full pensions overhaul. Illustrative examples provided by the department included a man, 'William (67)', who moved to Ireland aged 50 and has 16 years of contributions. Under current rules, he gets 238.30 per week but when TCA is applied this drops to just 95.30. Other examples provided by officials saw pensioners lose out with drops of 14pc and 32pc. Speaking this week, Minster Regina Doherty said the TCA approach "will ensure that a person's pension payments reflect more fully and fairly a person's lifetime contributions history". However, Fianna Fail's welfare spokesman, Willie O'Dea, said that if the incoming TCA model was an expanded version of what was announced this week, many people would be "worse off than they would be if no changes were made". "It [the model] could be adapted or it could be a different type of TCA but we have no clarity on that," he told the Irish Independent. He plans to raise the matter directly with Ms Doherty in the coming days, adding that there are legitimate questions to be asked about the incoming changes and whether people are facing a retirement on less money than they are expecting. The Government is planning to carry out a public consultation on the changes to the pension system - including an auto-enrolment policy that automatically move workers onto a scheme when their income reaches a certain level. In a statement, the Department of Social Protection said the full TCA model was currently being developed. "This will include engaging in a public consultation exercise later this year. "Thereafter the Department will finalise a proposal for consideration by Government taking into accounts all the views expressed during the consultation. "Accordingly, the interim TCA model that was announced this week should not be used as a basis for calculating pensions that people may get when the full TCA model is introduced from around 2020. "The examples provided only apply to post 2012 pensioners that will be assessed under this interim TCA model." A luxury Irish linen brand is exhibiting its range as part of a week-long pop-up installation in the heart of London's Soho. Derry-based Earthed showcases its scatter cushion collection in the Houzz of 2018 until January 31. The leading platform for home renovation and design, Houzz connects millions of homeowners and home design enthusiasts around the world Earthed's parent company William Clark has a 300-year history in luxury fabrics, and has worked with global brands such as Savile Row tailors. The brand has launched three collections to date - The Upperlands, Sub Surface and Helix - and recently scooped the Best fabric award at the 2017 Boutique Design New York (BDNY) awards. Creative Director at Earthed Duncan Neil said that the partnership with William Clark helped him overcome the mammoth investment stumbling block when he wanted to set up his own production unit. "I needed about 250,000 but I couldn't find an investor. Then I was introduced to Paul Callan who was Managing Director of William Clark in 2016," he told Independent.ie. The Scottish native said that his return to Ireland from Lancashire after working in textiles for over a decade was "a lovely, serendipitous story". "There was an energy I lacked in the UK that I had while I was in Ireland," he said. "I also realised how difficult it was for new brands to start up - the costs were very high. I was passionate about playing a part in retaining and growing the industry. "As older members of the industry leave, we are losing more of a technical skillset as the focus these days is all about design." Houzz - a community which has more than 40 million monthly unique users - approached Earthed last year about the listed products on their website and Neil said he was "hugely excited" about the project. For the week, the five-storey townhouse in London will be transformed from a blank canvas into a beautiful flat, complete with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, home office and childrens room. The pop-up will be open to the public every day between 11am - 6pm, from January 26-31, at 19 Greek Street. Earthed will be releasing two collections this year and will be focusing on building the availability of the brand globally. A MERGER between Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad would be the "most logical" solution to Etihad's financial and strategic woes, a report from Davy Stockbrokers has claimed. Under its previous chief executive, James Hogan, Etihad pursued a strategy of strategic investments - an equity alliance - in airlines in Europe and elsewhere. But the strategy has proved a failure. Etihad invested in airlines including Alitalia and Air Berlin, both of which collapsed. Etihad used to own a small stake in Aer Lingus. The report published by Davy Stockbrokers, in conjunction with consultants Aviation Strategy, questions if Abu Dhabi-based Etihad should now be considering selling its investments in Virgin Australia and Jet Airways. "Abu Dhabi has a specific financial problem, which illustrates the difficulty of unwinding its airline investments," suggested the Davy report. The report also suggested that a tie-up between Etihad and neighbouring Qatar Airways is not a realistic option given that the United Arab Emirates is among the regions that has ostracised Qatar. "That leaves exploring links with the far larger Emirates - where there may be strategic rationale to create a dual-hub network a la Air France KLM," it added. "However, there would be significant political issues, complicated by the relationships, rivalries and relative wealth of the ruling Al Maktoum and Al Nahyan cousins." Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways all have a strong presence at Dublin Airport, serving their respective hubs in the Gulf twice a day from the capital. Other options that could be explored by Etihad, according to Davy's report, include cancelling its aircraft orders. But Davy warned that such a move "would probably destroy" relationships with Airbus and Boeing and undermine Etihad's attempts to counter claims that it benefits from unfair subsidies. A full government bailout of Etihad would be an "aeropolitical nightmare", the broker added. "This is the situation facing the new CEO (Tony Douglas): a fundamentally unprofitable airline, complex and questionable financial transactions, failure of its equity alliance strategy and heavy capex commitments. "A radical solution will be needed; the Emirates merger option would appear the most logical," said Davy. The body of a young Irishman has been found in an Austrian canal, with his death being treated as a tragic accident, his family have confirmed. Ross Hanlon (21), from Athboy, Co Meath, went missing in the Austrian capital Vienna seven days ago and was found by police yesterday evening. The Dundalk IT business student had been away on a city-break with two of his friends after completing Christmas exams and went missing some time after 2am last Friday. His body was found in the Danube canal at around 5pm yesterday. Speaking to the Irish Independent, his heartbroken older brother Craig said Ross will get the send-off he deserves when they bring him home. "We want to thank everyone back home, the police in Vienna, the people of Vienna, the Irish community in Vienna and the ambassador in Vienna," he said. "We're all still here for Ross and we're going to bring him home and give him the send-off he deserves. "He was incredibly loved by everyone as you can see by the support from all his friends, those who came over to help search, his family and his girlfriend. "We all love him so much and we're glad that we have found him and we can bring him home. "We all love you so much Ross and there's no need to be afraid anymore," he added. A massive social media campaign had been ongoing over the past week in an attempt to find the young man. Almost 15,000 has been raised by friends of Ross in order to assist the family, with 450 people making donations. Ross was very popular in Athboy. He was an avid Dublin Gaa and Conor McGregor fan. He had been to a number of his UFC fights in Las Vegas. Ross celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this month. A Health and Safety officer has admitted groping a woman by putting his hand up her skirt as she walked home from work in Dublin city centre. Bryan Doherty (36) was caught after the quick-thinking victim photographed him and gave the pictures to gardai. Doherty had "a lot of drink taken" and did not know the woman who was walking through Temple Bar with headphones on when he attacked her in a "moment of madness". Judge Brian O'Shea adjourned sentencing at Dublin District Court and remanded Doherty in custody. The accused, originally from Co Mayo but with an address at Ashington Close, Navan Road, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman at Cope Street on June 22 last year. Judge O'Shea lifted earlier reporting restrictions on identifying Doherty. Detective Garda Brendan Nolan said that the young woman was walking home alone from work through Temple Bar. The victim told gardai the accused "reached under skirt and grabbed inside her underwear". But the quick-thinking victim managed to photograph the groper. A print-out of a photo was handed to the judge who noted it was "clearly and undeniably" the accused. Doherty was identified from the photos by a previous employer who assisted gardai in their inquiries. The incident was also captured on CCTV. A written victim impact statement said the woman was now continually looking over her shoulder and had experienced moments of anxiety and panic, the judge said. The assault left her "violated, vulnerable and angry". Doherty had not come to Garda attention since the incident. He had six previous convictions for motoring offences. Defence solicitor Brian Kennan told Judge O'Shea he was instructed to convey his client's sincerest apology and said it had been "a moment of madness". He said Doherty had an alcohol addiction and was attending counselling. An accusation of handbag robbing by a night club manager against a young student had such a devastating effect on her life that she lost interest in socialising, a judge said Friday. Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, awarding Chloe OToole 30,000 damages for defamation against the night club owner, said it had been a dangerous allegation to make and there had been no attempt to justify it. Ms OToole, of Ballymun Road, Glasnevin, Dublin, who is now studying to become a a special effects make-up artist, told the court that when she attended Play Nightclub in DOlier Street, Dublin, with friends in May 2016 a bouncer approached her and said: The manager wants you to leave right now. She said this had been followed by the remark: You were in here last week robbing handbags. Barrister Jack Tchrakian, who appeared with Robinson ONeill solicitors for Chloe, told the Circuit Civil Court that Ms OToole had only been able to return to a normal life just recently. Ms OToole said in evidence that she had lost all her friends because of the groundless remarks made about her in the nightclub. On the night that she had to leave the club she had been told they had her on camera. I asked the head bouncer to show me any CCTV recording they might have to substantiate the allegations they were making against me but this was refused, she said. There were a lot of people, including my friends, staring at me, judging me. She said the bouncer had told her in front of her friends that she was a robber and that she had to leave and was no longer welcome in the nightclub. She had felt humiliated, embarrassed, uncomfortable and distressed and thought her friends might believe what she was being accused of. I no longer have any relationship with those friends because of the incident. I had a social life but this has only recently been getting back to normal, she told Mr Tchrakian. Ms OToole said she had found it very difficult afterwards to leave her home to go out and rebuild some sort of social life. She had stayed in and got a job in her fathers shop. She was now studying at the special effects make-up college in Dame Street, Dublin. My social life is still not great but I am slowly getting over it. I thought it was time I tried to push past it, she said. Solicitor Georgina Robinson, principal partner in Robinson ONeill solicitors, told the court there had been no response from Ctp Bars Limited, Main Street, Finglas, owner of the Play Nightclub in DOlier Street, and her firm had obtained judgment against them in default of appearance on behalf of Ms OToole. Mr Tchrakian said no-one had turned up in court to meet Ms OTooles claim. The nightclub company was currently in liquidation and the court simply had to assess damages. Judge Groarke, who said Ms OTooles honesty was not in question, said bouncers wielded a considerable amount of authority over the ordinary citizen and it was an authority that had to be exercised with great care. He said Ms OToole had suffered extraordinarily in the circumstances and awarded her 30,000 damages for defamation of character together with her legal costs. Alexandria Byrne (centre) who won the Easter Bonnet competition, with runners up, from left, Alexa Wall, Meabh and Roisin O Curraidhin and Cosette Desmond JP McManus's daughter-in-law Anne-Marie McManus (left) with injured Kate Harrington, who had a fall last week at the Point to Points. Peter Casey, trainer of 'Flemenstar' with his wife Junie, after winning the Powers Gold Cup yesterday IT was the horse that everyone had come to see -- and of course the diminutive trainer and internet sensation might have added to the attraction. Even the crowd were aware of what might now be in store for grandfather Peter Casey (77) from north Co Dublin, when the hotly-touted Flemenstar romped home to a decisive win in the Powers Gold Cup, on the first day of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse in Co Meath. "You'll have sex tonight and everything," quipped a cheekily smiling racegoer, leaning over the winner's enclosure, in a reference to his now infamous interview with RTE's Tracy Piggott after the horse won at Leopardstown. "At 12 o'clock tonight you know where I'll be," joked the frisky pensioner, who was celebrating his golden wedding anniversary with his wife Junie at Easter. Saucy "That was not good for my heart," quipped the man who had a triple bypass at Christmas, clutching his chest, as delighted jockey Andrew Lynch unsaddled the stable's star. "Now be careful what you say," Ms Piggott warned with a laugh as she once again went live on air with the saucy septuagenarian. "There'll be some sex tonight if I'm able for it. I can tell you that," Mr Casey later quipped. "The wife wouldn't come -- she's waiting on me getting the bed ready," he chirped at the stables outside Stamullen on the Meath/Dublin border, where they also farm sheep. "We're on our way now to Cheltenham, next year please God. I might not be here, but someone will be here to bring him." The seven-year-old horse will now have a well-deserved break with his owner, builder Stephen Curran, from Dunsany, Co Meath. Mr Curran, who was planning celebrations in the County Club in Dunshaughlin last night, has already turned down a six figure sum for a half-share in the horse. The competition was also fierce in the Easter Bonnet stakes, won by four-and-a-half year old Alexandria Byrne, from nearby Ratoath, a granddaughter of Fairyhouse chairman and former Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne. Her parents, Detective Garda Michael Byrne and Moldova native Natalia, who runs the firm Accord Translations, revealed they married after meeting in the unlikely setting of Dublin's Store Street garda station when she was called in as an interpreter. "It was love at first sight," quipped the Immigration Bureau officer, "(but) if she misbehaves she's going home." Amid jokes of a fix, he laughed: "We're told it was 100pc independent." It was a good omen for the punters as the first race of the day went to the favourite, the Dessie Hughes-trained Simon Gray, with AP McCoy aboard in the famous colours of JP McManus. "We're happy to get the two winners," said Kieran McManus, JP's son who was representing the famous businessman, after their colours were once again carried to victory with the Jessica Harrington-trained Jenari in the Coolmore Novice Hurdle. Success JP's daughter-in-law, Anne-Marie McManus, dressed in a fuchsia pink LK Bennett dress, was chatting with the trainer's daughter Kate Harrington, who was sporting 30 stitches across her right eye following a fall the previous weekend. "I was riding Rescue Man; it was his first time out. I'm grand," she said. "I hope to be back riding shortly." It was the turn of lesser-known colours to grace the winner's enclosure after the Mares Novices Hurdle when Westmeath County Council engineer Sean Reilly's Shadow Eile nabbed the race, under newly engaged jockey Andrew McNamara, who popped the question to Rhona Healy last week. "I'm speechless. It is our biggest success so far since I'd sold the previous horse. He went to Cheltenham," said Sean, from Glascorn, just outside Mullingar. "I bred her myself. We'd a few pound on her, too." "I've been speaking to Met Eireann more than my wife," quipped Fairyhouse general manager Peter Roe, who has been watering the track in the run-in to the festival. Racegoers splurged 520,000 at the on-track bookies compared with 639,000 last year, and a further 195,000 at the Tote, up from 187,000 last year. More than 7,860 attended yesterday with more than 15,000 expected to enjoy the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National today. Gardai have arrested three men following the armed robbery of a pharmacy in Dublin. According to gardai three men entered the pharmacy on Greendale Road in Kilbarrack, Dublin 17 at 6pm on Friday January 26, wearing balaclavas. Gardai say the raiders threatened staff with knives and demanded that they hand over money and drugs. Gardai responded to the incident and arrested two men at the scene and a third man a short distance away as he was attempting to flee along with property, which was recovered along with the weapons used. The three men, two in their 30s and one in their 20s have been detained at Raheny and Clontarf garda stations under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. 'Overcrowding in hospitals remained at a high level yesterday with 534 people on trolleys waiting for a bed' (stock photo) Hospitals battling the flu and trolley crisis have also been hit with outbreaks of a dangerous superbug in recent weeks. There have been 21 cases of the potentially lethal superbug CPE - described as the "nightmare bacteria" by doctors because of the difficulty in treating it. A Department of Health-led expert group set up late last year to draw up plans to combat the growing threat faced by hospitals from the infection was told there were 11 cases detected in the past week. The emergence of cases of the lethal infection heaps more pressure on hospitals because of the need to isolate patients at a time when these facilities are already needed to prevent the spread of flu. Overcrowding in hospitals remained at a high level yesterday with 534 people on trolleys waiting for a bed, including 52 in University Hospital Limerick and 32 at Naas General Hospital. CPE is a superbug that is carried in the bowel and can cause blood stream infections in people who are vulnerable, such as the elderly and those with low immunity. It can be resistant to most, and sometimes all, available antibiotics. More than half of all patients who develop blood stream infections with CPE die as a result of their infection. Ireland has suffered a rise in cases of CPE year on year. Numbers almost doubled in 2016 and there was a further surge last year. There were 401 newly detected patients with CPE in the period from January to November 2017, compared with 282 in 2016. This marks a 42pc increase in the number of new patients detected. The spread of this superbug in hospitals can lead to the closure of scarce beds, wards and units. It comes at a time when it has been revealed the flu is to continue circulating for around four to five more weeks. Prescribed Meanwhile, the newest advice to doctors is they should tell patients that most sore throats do not need antibiotics. The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and Public Health England (PHE) have finalised their recommendations for treating sore throats. The evidence reviewed by Nice found most sore throats are triggered by a viral infection. Most people will get better without antibiotics, usually experiencing symptoms for up to a week. However, research suggests antibiotics are prescribed in 60pc of cases. Nice says healthcare professionals should help people to manage their symptoms with pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Some adults may wish to try medicated lozenges containing either a local anaesthetic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or an antiseptic. However, they should be told these may only help to reduce pain by a small amount, according to the guidelines. 'Doctors have the right to conscientious objection to be involved. The HSE has previously been warned also of the resource pressures faced by mental health services' (stock photo) The HSE said it has issued "clear guidance" to the heads of mental health services "detailing and clarifying" the roles and responsibilities of psychiatrists in cases where a pregnant woman is seeking an abortion on grounds of suicide risk. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act allows for abortion where a woman is assessed as suicidal on the opinion of two psychiatrists and an obstetrician. But an internal HSE document, overseen by Philip Crowley, the HSE national director for quality improvement, warned of the failure to always secure a psychiatrist locally to give the necessary second opinion. In some cases this stage is having to be bypassed and the woman must go before a review panel to assess her case. Doctors have the right to conscientious objection to be involved. The HSE has previously been warned also of the resource pressures faced by mental health services. A HSE spokeswoman said the guidelines on the role of psychiatrists were issued to executive clinical directors and heads of mental health services in regions across the country. Just seven abortions under the risk of suicide clause have been carried out since the legislation came into effect in 2014. However, the difficulty in always obtaining a second opinion highlights some of the hurdles to be faced in implementing any potential future legislation widening the grounds for abortion, including permitting medical abortions to take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It is envisaged that this could be GP-led. But many family doctors' practices are already swamped with patients and some have closed their lists. Women seeking abortion will need to be counselled and also undergo a scan to date their pregnancy. Draft proposals by the department envisage that a woman seeking a medical abortion would have to make an initial appointment with a GP to assess the request for an abortion. There must be extensive counselling and also consent obtained. She would have to wait another three days before returning again for an abortion pill, which would block the pregnancy hormone necessary for the pregnancy to continue. One or two days later the woman would need to return to the doctor again for a second pill which causes a form of miscarriage. This form of abortion is free in the NHS in the UK but costs more than 700 if a woman attends a private clinic. The President of Dundalk Institute of Technology has expressed his sympathies on the loss of student Ross Hanlon (21) from Athboy in Meath. Mr Hanlons body was found in a canal in Vienna yesterday by police, nearly one week after he had gone missing. The business student had gone to the Austrian city with friends and was not seen after the early hours of Friday January 19. In a statement this morning, Dr, Michael Mulvey, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology said: "We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of our student, Ross Hanlon." A vigil was held on campus last week for him and Dr Mulvey said, "On behalf of the entire Institute, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. He said: "Ross will be missed by all at the Institute and will be remembered as a popular, outgoing and dedicated student." Mr Mulvey said "Ross passing is felt by all on campus, in particular his classmates. We are here to help our students and connect them with resources and support services on campus." He said the Institutes confidential counselling service is open to all students and "the Institutes Chaplaincy and Students Union are also on hand to provide pastoral support." Mr Hanlons brother Craig thanked everybody for their help and support in the last week. On Facebook he said "Like to thank everyone for the support. We are going to bring Ross home and give him what he deserves we all love you so much and we will see you soon stay strong brother." A hacker who posed as a missionary brother stole money saved by a 92-year-old Wexford priest to fund a Kenyan school. Wexford man Jim Staples said he was devastated when he found out that more than 2,500 has been stolen from his uncle Fr Leo Staples account. The money, which Staples had sent his uncle, was stolen by someone who had claimed to be a 'Brother Patrick' from the Bobleo Home in Kapenguria, Kenya. The Western Union money order was in fact cashed hundreds of miles away in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, with the fraudster pretending to be Brother Patrick, even emailing Jim to tell him the funds had arrived safely. Jim said the money had been intended for a school for children with disabilities being built at the Bobleo Home, which Fr Leo established with the help of a 10,000 bequest from his brother, the late Bob Staples. The Fr Bob Staples Trust provides accommodation and schooling for youngsters with disabilities who would normally be kept at home by their families. "We transfer money every so often so they can build the school. This normally takes up to a couple of months. I got an email from Brother Patrick saying he was desperate to pay his builders and could the money be sent more quickly," Jim told the Wexford People. "The brothers are building four new classrooms and as normal they asked me to send on the funds to pay for this. "I normally request a breakdown of how and where they are spending the money which they had sent on to me. I would then give the money to St Patricks Missionary Society in Kiltegan in Wicklow to give to their office in Nairobi. This could take up to six weeks before the Brothers get the money. "I went to Anne Street Post office in Wexford town and paid in 2,591, giving Br Patricks details. I then emailed Br Patrick the details. "Early the following morning I got a text to say the funds had been collected. I rang Br Patrick but could not get through. "Later he rang me back and asked me to send on the details. I told him I had already done that and I told him about the text." Jim said they subsequently realised Br Patricks email had been hacked and some of the emails he got were from the hackers and not from the real Br Patrick. "I contacted Western Union who are investigating our claim and this will take 20 days. They confirmed the money had been collected in Nairobi not in Kitale as was to be the collection point," Jim told the Wexford People. "I was absolutely devastated, we all are," said Jim. He said members of Fr Leos family have since reimbursed the priest, who has worked with the poor of Kenya for 66 years. Enniscorthy-based accountant, Eugene Doyle, who was visiting Fr Leo in Kenya, had arranged to provide some cash to the builders, which solved the short-term problem. Eugene and his wife Louise had arranged a coffee morning in Enniscorthy where people had been very generous. Luckily, Eugene had brought some of that money with him. "The rest of that money was lodged in the account for the school here in Wexford. This will be sent to St Patricks in Kiltegan for them to transfer to Kenya as normal," said Jim. A PAEDOPHILE who sexually exploited girls as young as nine, and distributed thousands of child porn images, is expected to face further charges after more material was found during a search of his home. Matthew Horan (26) admitted coercing the young children into sending him sexually graphic images and was described as an inadequate individual by the presiding judge. He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting to using social media apps including Instagram, Kik and Snapchat to target the young girls as well as communicate with other depraved individuals. One of Horans victims described how she was terrified that the sex offender would go after her after finding out where she lived. The Irish Independent has learned that detectives are expected to bring further charges, after recently uncovering further incriminating material during a search of Horans home. The property in St Johns estate, Clondalkin, Dublin, was searched three times as part of the lengthy Garda investigation and led to the recovery of thousands of child porn images. It is understood that the new evidence had not yet reached law officers by the time Horans case was brought before the courts, but gardai are expected to prefer further charges. Sources last night said that this evidence was of similar nature to material previously seized from him. Horan created, distributed and was in possession of child porn. He is a dangerous individual who will now spend a lengthy time in jail, they said. Nine of the young children targeted by Horan are based in Ireland, while a further six were living abroad including the US. A spokeswoman for the FBI said they could not comment. It also emerged that his home in west Dublin was attacked on Monday night after his sordid crimes were detailed in court. Defence counsel for the paedophile said that a window and front door of the home were smashed by persons unknown. The house belongs to Horans father, who had no involvement in his sons crimes. Detectives were so concerned that Horan would continue to prey on vulnerable girls after being charged that officers presented a wealth of evidence at his bail hearing last summer to ensure that he was kept off the streets. The paedophile has been in custody since last June when his bail was revoked. Yesterday Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Matthew Horan to nine-and-a-half years imprisonment, and suspended the last two years on condition that he abides by a number of post release terms. Det Supt Declan Daly, of the Garda Protective Services Bureau, said that the case had starkly demonstrated the dangers the internet can pose for young children. It serves a reminder for us all, parents in particular, to be vigilant of the internet use regarding their children. It serves a reminder for children themselves to be aware of the dangers that are on the internet, Det Supt Daly said. A forensic examination of Horans computer uncovered recorded Skype calls between him and two nine-year-old girls, both individually and together. The recordings included footage of these girls engaging in graphic sexual acts. Horan also took part in sexually explicit text conversations with the girls, during which there would be an exchange of photos. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Horan would use Kik to share child porn images and videos with unidentified users from around the world, most of whom claimed to be young teenagers. The lengthy Garda probe, which uncovered material from April 2014 onwards, also led to the identification of other suspected sex offenders including one man who expressed sexual fantasies about his nine-year-old daughter. A Venetian restaurant which charged four tourists 1,100 for lunch has been slapped with a 20,000 fine. Four Japanese students, who are studying in Bologna, took a short trip to Venice where they decided to have lunch at the Osteria Da Luca near St Mark's Square. The bill for their lunch of steak, fish and water came to a whopping 1,143 and they were not furnished with a receipt. However they paid by credit card so they had evidence of the payment. According to The Telegraph, they made the complaint in Bologna and the restaurant owners were questioned by police and local health authorities. Embarrassed by the negative publicity for the area, the Venetian Hoteliers Association have offered the students a free break of two nights in a four or five star hotel after their "unfortunate experience". The own-door appeal of a cottage is something that attracts buyers who would much prefer not to live in an impersonal apartment building and deal with noise from neighbours above and below as well as side to side. Because of their tight dimensions, cottages also remain some of Dublin's most affordable homes, depending on where you find them. These two compact homes within walking distance of the city centre offer a real alternative to common areas, service charges and the like and contrast at either end of the affordability spectrum. No 21 Gray Square is the smaller and cheaper of the two, and likely to appeal to first-time buyers and downsizers, as well as to investors and those based outside Dublin looking for a pied-a-terre in the capital. Expand Close The exterior of St Magdelan Terrace / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The exterior of St Magdelan Terrace It would also make fine term-time lodgings for a student, with the possibility of renting it out on short lets during college holidays to subsidise that cost. Gray Square is tucked away off Meath Street in the Liberties, and is one of those cute inner-city enclaves that you can spend years being blissfully unaware of until you find it by chance. The location is close to the Digital Hub, St James's and The Coombe University Hospitals, DIT, NCAD, Trinity College and RCSI, and is also near to the new National Children's Hospital, currently under construction. It is just across the river from the Four Courts. With the proposed redevelopment of part of the Guinness site at St James's Gate, likely to include apartments, hotels and a concert venue, the area will continue to become ever more desirable. There's 505 sq ft of living space, that includes one bedroom and one bathroom, and the nature of the interior layout means that it is a space designed for a single person or a couple rather than two room-mates. At entrance level there's a large, open-plan living/dining/kitchen space with an open fireplace. Off this main living space, there is a utility room and bathroom. Stairs lead to a loft conversion which is used as a bedroom and is fitted with Velux windows and under-eaves storage. No 21 has been renovated and features include Rationel doors and windows, maple hardwood flooring, and underfloor heating, and the little house has a respectable C3 BER. There is an Ariane fitted kitchen and the house is wired for a multi-room speaker system. The area around Meath Street still has some small independent retailers, but there is also a branch of Lidl on Thomas Street. The Luncheonette cafeteria in NCAD, also on Thomas Street, serves one of the best - and best value - lunches in the city and is open to non-students. Also nearby are Legit Coffee Co on Meath Street, and Vicar Street, and the weekend markets up at Newmarket Square, as well as a plethora of upmarket antique shops on Francis Street. Over in Irishtown, 67 St Magdalen Terrace is significantly larger than 21 Gray Square, with close to 810 sq ft of living space. The double-fronted terraced cottage is just off Oliver Plunkett Avenue in the heart of Ringsend/Irishtown, and will be of interest to investors and first-time buyers, or those trading up from an apartment. No 67 has been extended and renovated and the property now has three bedrooms as well as a converted attic. At entrance level, there is an open plan living room with double doors to the kitchen/dining room, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Upstairs there is a large converted attic with its original floorboards which is currently being used as a bedroom. There is a small east-facing yard accessed by double doors from one of the bedrooms, and on-street parking outside. The location is most convenient for anyone working in the city centre or IFSC, and within a few minutes' walk of Grand Canal Dock. The area is home to numerous companies in the tech, financial and legal fields, including Google, AirBnB, Twitter, McCann Fitzgerald, Matheson, Mason Hayes & Curran, State Street International, and William Fry. Trinity College is also close by and the house would be ideally located for students. The leisure amenities of the Grand Canal Dock include the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and numerous restaurants, including Charlotte Quay and Herbstreet. The Five Star Marker Hotel has a magnificent rooftop terrace which comes into its own in the summer months, while head chef Gareth Mullins serves a mean steak - and a lot more besides - in The Brasserie downstairs. Heading in the other direction, up Bath Avenue, you'll find a good selection of casual places to eat including Junior's, Paulie's Pizza, Farmer Brown's, The Chophouse and The Old Spot, while Slattery's and The Bath are two perennially popular pubs. On South Lotts Road, Lotts & Co is an upmarket grocer's with in-house fish and meat counters that caters to the needs of local gourmands. The nearest large supermarket is in Sandymount, but there is a Tesco Extra in Ringsend. In terms of public transport, St Magdalen Terrace is handy for the DART stations at Barrow Street and Sandymount, and well served by local bus routes. Ringsend Park and Sandymount Strand are much used, and the Aviva Stadium is so close that residents have no excuse ever to be late for kick-off; the local Clannna Gael Fontenoy GAA on Sean Moore Road has active junior and senior programmes. 21 Gray Sq Christchurch, Dublin 8; 67 St Magdelan Terrace Stella Gardens, Irish Town, Dublin 4 Asking price: 250,000; 450,000 Agent: Kelly Bradshaw Dalton (01) 8040500 Talk of ending partition paled into insignificance when we came up against the "real Irish question" - just where can you get a drink on Good Friday? Now our lawmakers have come up with the answer: in any licensed premises from Malin to Mizen and from Howth to Inis Mor. They may or may not be "taking a lot of the Good out of the Friday". But, yep, our politics, like so much else in Irish life, are for better or worse suffused with the demon drink. When senior politicians hit the rewind button and tell their favourite shaggy dog stories, over a nice pint of course, nine times out 10 there will be "drink involved". Those of us who like our politics all have favourite anecdotes, and this writer's best loved tale involves the late Jackie Healy-Rae. It was the late 1960s and he was heavily involved in a series of by-election campaigns under the tutelage of that great political bruiser, Neil Blaney. On the night of November 10, 1967, the Fianna Fail team had clocked up a famous by-election win in Limerick West as Gerry Collins was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Jimmy. The new Deputy Collins was making slow progress towards his home town of Abbeyfeale, just at the border with Kerry. It was right on closing time when he and the victory party arrived. But undaunted, and acting on the instructions of then-justice minister Brian Lenihan, Healy-Rae teamed up with a man called Maurice Galvin. "Maurice and I took a side of the street each, directing all publicans to stay open. I had a small bit of an argument with a lady publican who had an American accent. But she too saw the light when I pointed out that Brian Lenihan said everything would be all right," the man himself recalled for Donal Hickey's uproarious biography 'The Mighty Healy-Rae'. Where were An Garda Siochana? Well, let's recall one of the late Brian Lenihan's tales was how he told a garda raiding an after-hours pub in which he was imbibing, to choose between "a pint or a transfer". In that same biography cited above, Healy-Rae also recalls brushing aside warnings from a senior garda against his own favourite pastime of setting victory bonfires. Healy-Rae asked the senior garda whether he knew of a spot in Kerry renowned as a punishment station for politically unco-operative gardai. That night bonfires blazed until dawn in Abbeyfeale, pints were given a sudden death, and gardai were scarce. Brian Lenihan was on the back of the lorry to lead the singing of that great old number: 'Abbeyfeale, Abbeyfeale, Abbeyfeale/ Abbeyfeale, Knocknagoshel and Duagh'. By his own admission, Jackie Healy-Rae was not always able to call the shots in this way. He also recalled how, having become a publican almost by accident in 1969, he was later convicted and fined for giving neighbours a free drink on his premises on Christmas Day. Last Thursday night, our TDs voted to end the ban on Good Friday pub opening, leaving Christmas Day the sole closed day in the year. But that did not happen before we heard a re-run of chunks of Dail debates on the issue which date back to the State's foundation, which in turn have echoes from the British regime. Dublin Central Independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan raised concerns about alcohol abuse, and how hefty alcohol consumption is imbued in every and any facet of Irish social life. Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath spoke of the welfare of bar staff and publicans. Advocating the change, Minister David Stanton said the measure dated from 1927 and a very different Ireland. He argued that tourists need a drink on Good Friday. This writer rather likes a pint. But on the question of tourists' needs, he sides with the scepticism expressed by Ms O'Sullivan on that one. The pubs will not be full of tourists this Good Friday. Odds are they will be full with our own crowd "necking it back". But the measure is another small milestone on slow changes to our most conservative laws regulating alcohol sales. Back in the 1920s then-justice minister, the ill-fated Kevin O'Higgins, said the drink laws created offences and also provided ingenious means of escape. German writer Heinrich Boll, writing in the 1950s, ridiculed Irish licensing laws, as pubs on Sundays opened from noon to 2pm, and again from 6pm to 8pm. There were big queues at 10 minutes to the witching hour as people drank in anticipation of a thirst that might strike them later. Others resorted to posing as bona fide travellers, entitled to buy drink at a bar three miles from their residence. Sean Lemass changed the laws in the early 1960s, facing down Catholic Church and temperance campaigners' pressure. In response to the disapproval of Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid, Lemass noted: "Drunkenness is a sin for which men are responsible to a higher court than ours." Indeed. And that sin may now be compounded - by being committed on a Good Friday of all days. Cheers! 'Like everyone else, members of Garda management were shocked and dumbfounded by the depth and severity of the criticism the force received in the wake of a series of crises' (stock photo) Hopefully the coming year will see the appointment of a new Garda commissioner to lead and manage the force into the next decade and beyond. The speculation by self-appointed and mostly unqualified police analysts will be intense, all espousing their views as to whether the new incumbent should be a so-called 'outsider', 'insider', 'civilian' or someone from another jurisdiction. Like everyone else, members of Garda management were shocked and dumbfounded by the depth and severity of the criticism the force received in the wake of a series of crises. The repeated calls for accountability added to the problem. This has resulted in the authorities perceiving themselves - rightly or wrongly, and it is mostly wrong - as operating in a hostile environment. The natural tendency for an organisation that sees itself in such a situation is firstly to strike out with varying degrees of rationality, and then to adapt a bunker mentality. This is precisely what occurred. However, there is one solid reason for abandoning this mentality. It is a waste of effort. On the basis of the current situation in An Garda Siochana in terms of performance, perhaps Acting Commissioner Donall O Cualain should reconsider his retirement plans and contest the top job. With the number of so-called gangland criminals being taken out of circulation, the significant inroads in combating rural crime, the decrease in road deaths and recent huge drugs seizures, it is questionable if another leader will do any better. 'Mobile phone apps are posing an enormous threat to the mental health and well-being of our young people' (stock photo) Every parent's worst nightmare used to be a phrase encompassing the horrific idea of a child being abducted. In the era of what can be described as 'anti-social networks', it now extends to the internet, where a child can be targeted anywhere by a predator who they may never come into physical contact with. The horrific case of Matthew Horan will send a shiver down the spine of many parents who are concerned about protecting their children. This paedophile sexually exploited girls as young as nine, and distributed thousands of child porn images. He admitted coercing the young children into sending him sexually graphic images and was described as an inadequate individual by a judge. Horan was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting to using social media apps including Instagram, Kik and Snapchat to target the young girls, as well as communicate with other depraved individuals. Mobile phone apps are posing an enormous threat to the mental health and well-being of our young people. As the base for the European headquarters of many of the social media, internet and technology giants, Ireland is on the frontline of the battle against the abuse of technology. Our Government though is dodging the fight, cowed into subservience by its multinational masters. Ireland Inc appears happy to pick up the cheque from PAYE and corporation tax, but does little to muzzle these vehiles. The influence of the technology giants is evident in the level of access they have to the corridors of power. Once again, the Government is spinning that a digital media watchdog in charge of child protection is on the way. Any day now... Struggling minister with a hodge-podge solution Struggling Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty appears to have replaced one can of worms with another in her tinkering with the State pensions system. In an effort to close off the so-called 'bonkers' pension anomaly that saw tens of thousands of pensioners lose out on payment, she is bringing in a new system. The Total Contributions Approach (TCA) will base pension entitlements on how much a person pays in PRSI over their lifetime. At the moment, pensions are based on 'yearly averages' of contributions made by a person during their time working. But now it seems workers who retire after 2020 will lose out on their expected pension as a result of the proposed changes to the payment system. Speaking this week, Ms Doherty said the TCA approach "will ensure that a person's pension payments reflect more fully and fairly a person's lifetime contributions history". The approach suggests there will be winners and losers as a result of the change. The Government will argue the proposals are not finalised and there will be a period of consultation before any reforms are made. The reforms have sparked fears that significant numbers of older people will lose out financially. Fianna Fail's welfare spokesman Willie O'Dea is right to seek some clarification in a bid to assuage the confusion. The minister has put out a hodge-podge of a solution that throws up more questions than answers. So the Good Friday alcohol ban is to be lifted. Cue great jubilation and party planning nationwide. For 91 years we have suffered and suffered greatly. Not being able to buy alcohol on one Friday of the year? Dear God (who the Licensed Vintners Association, or LVA, quite obviously fears not), how have we survived until now? I say all of this with tongue firmly in cheek. I am so saddened to see yet another sacred, solemn day flushed down the toilet into the annals of history. Was there anything wrong with having two days out of 365, regardless of religious beliefs, where one cannot buy alcohol? This country is fast becoming a vacuous hole packed with 'celebrities' advising us on what to wear, eat and think, and politicians who lose their way ethically faster than a baby Guinness downed on Good Friday 2018. There is now the implication that as a nation our tongues are literally hanging out for "the drink". We should be rightly insulted at such insinuations. I'm trying to raise my children to have some sense of integrity and spirituality and connection with this beautiful world. Yet it is proving difficult. My five-year-old daughter asked me recently, "Mammy, why is everybody looking at their phones?" I couldn't answer her. "Because they're zombies?!" may have sufficed. We have sold out - our children's right to not have their innocence robbed by social networking sites and 'celebrities' telling them what to think and feel and follow; buying into a culture where a very young child 'needs' internet access on their own phone; where five-year-olds are being brought 'tablets' from Santa. What's happening? Are we losing the run of ourselves? When they're old enough, they will be adults in a country with no identity, no beliefs, no depth, no backbone, a hollow shell which once housed something real but now echoes of emptiness. Which brings me back to the lifting of the Good Friday alcohol ban, another sell-out. It is lazy and sad of the LVA to imply that this lifting of the ban is for the greater good of our country, and for the many tourists who apparently find themselves forlorn on that particular Friday night due to the lack of alcohol for sale. And it's nothing to do with keeping people happy - it's all about the money. We have become the soft targets of consumerism and materialism. So Good Friday has now become a great Friday for anyone who stands to make money from the sale of alcohol and emptiness. Roisin Conroy Castlebar, Co Mayo Amnesty's role is to challenge law Martina Devlin questions Amnesty International's position regarding a donation we received from the Open Society Foundations, a US-based human rights foundation (The Week, Irish Independent, January 13). In November, we received correspondence from the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo)instructing us to return the grant, despite it previously (in August 2016) accepting the work covered by this grant was not for a "political purpose" and therefore does not fall within the remit of the Electoral Act. Ms Devlin is incorrect that our concerns relate to countries prohibiting foreign funding for influencing elections and referendums. On the contrary, we object to laws which target wider human rights advocacy. The Electoral Act goes far beyond prohibiting foreign donations to groups involved in elections or referendums. Its 'third party' provisions are so broadly drawn that they capture any advocacy work undertaken at any time by a wide range of civil society organisations. Sipo itself has stated this concern. The Act doesn't just ban overseas funding for important and legitimate advocacy, it imposes near-impossible restrictions on domestic funding sources. We do not object to restriction or regulation of funding for civil society groups where it is fair and reasonable. This law is neither. So we are not "flouting Irish law". We believe Sipo's decision is not only unjust, but illustrates the serious threat to civil society rights and freedoms posed by this law. We are not above the law, but we cannot comply with Sipo's instruction without first challenging what we believe is an unjust decision based on a bad law. We have a responsibility to challenge a law which violates civil society's human rights such as freedom of association and expression. This threat is not imagined. Just this week, the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU found civil society is under threat across the EU, and identified Ireland's Electoral Act as one such threat. This law also conflicts with the values Ireland promotes in the UN and internationally on the important role of civil society and its funding. Ireland leads resolutions on 'civil society space' at the UN Human Rights Council. The 2016 resolution states "the ability to seek, secure and use resources is essential to the existence and sustainable operation of civil society actors, and restrictions on funding to civil society actors may constitute a violation of the right to freedom of association". It "underlines the importance of the ability to solicit, receive and utilise resources for their work". It calls on states to "ensure domestic provisions on funding to civil society actors are in compliance with their international human rights obligations". This is what we are asking the Irish Government to live up to. Colm O'Gorman Executive director, Amnesty International Ireland Don't count on Eighth repeal We hear commentators say that we need to have a respectful and dignified debate around the upcoming referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. But as I watch the debate, you can't help but notice the attitude and body language of the pro-choice people. They cannot understand how anyone could hold a different view to theirs. For my part, I think we should have a referendum on the matter and let the people decide. It is undoubtedly a very complex and emotive issue. I also know there are people who would understand why a termination might take place in certain circumstances, such as fatal foetal abnormality. But I also recognise many people are uncomfortable with suggestions that terminations might be allowed at up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Even though there is, in my opinion, a general media bias in favour of repeal, it wouldn't surprise me if the referendum was defeated. Eamonn Kitt Tuam, Co Galway Let's bin nuclear Armageddon A recent news item informed me that one fully armed nuclear submarine contains the destructive power of seven World War IIs. Yes, seven. Think about how much more 'defensive' damage all of these combined submarines can cause when contemplating the fallacy of unintentional man-made global warming and the 'dangers' of plastic, which is also down to the citizens of the world, and not the fault of plastic manufacturers who appear blameless in the reports we are bombarded with. Stop making plastic perhaps - and those lovely nuclear weapons? Robert Sullivan Bantry, Co Cork On Saturday night I headed for the Carrickdale Hotel where the finals of the De La Salle Strictly Come Dancing was taking place. The venue was completely sold out for the event where 13 different couples did battle to become the 1st winner of this event that is a fundraiser for the school. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with my old friends Thomas, Sandra and Colin O'Connor from Blackrock who were there to cheer on Sharon who was teamed up with Thomas Campbell and wanted to wish them all the best on their big performance. Two men who were definitely up for making the best of the occasion were Jackie Callan from Balregan and Declan Woods from Rassan who were there to support Declan's daughter Sinead and told me that it was going to be a quiet night. Not too long later I then got a word with a group who included Mary McArdle, Claire Murtagh and Caroline Woods all from Hackballscross who were also there for Sinead and wanted to wish her all the best on her big night. Seated in the best seats in the house were Joan McGahon and Art Murtagh both from Blackrock who told me their son James is at the school and they were there to support the fundraiser. Best seats? Just the right distance from the stage and just close enough to the bar to get served, yes, they certainly got that one right. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Leone and Conor Ewings from Stabannon. Leone is part of the Parents Committee and said she'd be working later on, didn't worry who won, just to make sure everyone had a fantastic time. One of the proudest men in the place on the night had to be Maurice Harrison from Quality Street who was there with daughters Orlaith and Rachel. The reason for his pride? His delightful wife Paula was taking part in the competition and as well as being the secretary of the De La Salle primary school, she is secretary of the Clans and they were all out in force to support the extremely popular lady. Maurice was joined on the night by Niall and Linda O'Donnell from Belfry Drive (and not O'Connell as I put in when I met them on NYE, sorry about that one!), Fiona Begley from Balregan, Paula's sister Fiona and Ollie Traynor from Rossmakeagh with their kids Eryn and Alanah and her mum Alice Kirk from Castletown Road and told me that there were more to come from the Clans ladies team as well. After this I headed over for a chat with Carol Thornton from Haggardstown Mary Gray from Carrick Road, Katriona Cosgrove from Ard Easmuinn and Bridie Carolan from Louth Village with daughters Christine and Catherine who told me they too were there for Paula because the ladies work with her in the De La Salle Primary school. Not too long later I then got talking to Aine Mackin from Darver who was with husband Declan, son Jordan who was taking part, daughter Aoife Duffy, Jordan's godmother Edel Sloane from Redbarns Road, his granny Catherine McKeown from Knockbridge and his favourite aunty Orla Murphy from Louth Village who were all in rare form and ready to party the night away. After this I headed over for a chat with Justine Smythe from Blackwater Court ad Roisin Maguire from Omeath who were looking forward to the night and yes, they'd be shouting for Paula too. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to Anne and Fra Murphy from Blackrock who told me they would be cheering on Darren, Pamela and Robbie and wanted to wish them all the best on the big night. Not too long later I met up with Pat McKeon from Castleknock who told me his son and his wife Darragh and Pam McKeon are both teachers in the school and are both taking part and wanted to wish them all the best then their time for glory comes. I then headed over for a quick word with Aidan Kieran from Killincoole, Ciaran O'Neill from Darver and David Rogers from Hackballscross who were there to cheer on Brendan Mackin who was taking party in the show. Finally, before I departed I got talking to Andrea Duffy from Point Road who was there to support Gavin Coleman and she was with her husband Brian Tuite, Gavin's brother Gerry as well as Aoife Coleman from Lordship, Kevin and Caroline Barry from Blackrock. Andrea was standing having a laugh with one of the judges Pat O'Shaughnessy from Castletown Road who told me he was really looking forward to the show. On Friday night I headed for the Mutipurpose Centre in the DkIT for the St. Vincents School Fashionably Talented night which saw some of the up and coming talent from the 1st and 2nd year students in action followed by the Transition Year fashion show. On Friday night I headed for the Mutipurpose Centre in the DkIT for the St. Vincents School Fashionably Talented night which saw some of the up and coming talent from the 1st and 2nd year students in action followed by the Transition Year fashion show. The place was completely packed for this action packed night and I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with Fiona Sheehy from Castlebellingham with her husband Kieran and mum Eileen Crilly from Muirhevna who were there to see daughters Cara who was performing with 2 Yeats and Jessica who was helping pout to make sure the night was a smooth running success. Not too far away I then got a word with Fergal and Diane Cassidy from Blackrock who told me they couldn't wait to see daughter Niamh in action with 1 Plunkett later on. After this I headed over to talk to Ian and Emma McCaffrey from Dunleer who were with sons Callum and Tommy who were up for making the best of the night and really couldn't wait to see Erin and the rest of the crew from 1 Connolly who were going to be appearing as St. Trinian's on the night. Making my way through a huge crowd I then got talking to Geraldine and David Luckie from Castlebellingham who told me they were there to cheer on Jessica Luckie who was performing with 2 Ledwidge later on. I then met up with my old friend Elizabeth Kearney from Cedarwood Park who was accompanied by her daughters Elizabeth Coleman from Glenwood, Catriona Kearney from Lios Dubh and Leah Kearney from Manydown Close who were there to see Chloe Kearney and Hannah Coleman who are both in 2 Kavanagh and were definitely going to be stars of the show. Making my way over to one of the other stands I then got a word with Kevin and Orla Boyle from Dromiskin who told me his daughter Caoimhe was in with 2 Yeats and he was sitting talking to Mark McNamee from Castlebellingham whose daughter Maeve is also in 2 Yeats and he was with wife Maeve, son Charlie and Caoimhe's granny Margaret McNamee who had travelled all the way from Tyrone to see her in action. Kevin and Orla were also enjoying the company of Julie McLoughlin and Tara Dolan both from Dromiskin too. Seated close by were Vincent and Liz Kieran from Waterville Crescent and sister Hazel Murphy from St. Marys Road who were there to shout and cheer for Holly Kieran who was going to be modelling in the TY section of the night. They were enjoying the company of Anabel Isiguzo from Lios Dubh whose daughter Chanyse who was performing during the show. Not too far away I then met up with Caroline Wilson from Point Road with daughter Rebecca and they were with Eileen McDonnell from Dublin Road whose daughter Lucy was responsible for designing one of the exceptional dresses on show during the TY section of the night. Another dress designer whose work was eagerly anticipated on the night was that of Aoife Lawrence from Dunmahon and waiting to see it in all its refinery were parents Ned and Lucy Laurence and Frances Watters from Blackrock who were in great form when I caught up with them. Finally, as the house lights went down and the evening got under way I met up with Conor and Martina Poole from Knockbridge with Martina's mum Briege Lennon from Thomastown who told me their daughter Kim is a TY dress designer and daughter Ella is also on show with 1 McDermott so they really couldn't wait to see them in action. Local artists gathered in Creative Spark recently to take part in an event held as part of the First Fortnight Mental Health initiative. The 'Inside Out' day was organised in conjunction with Inspire Well, which opened its first service in Republic of Ireland in July 2016 in Creative Spark, having been established in Northern Ireland since 1959. Inspire Wellbeing is a registered charity which supports individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism and those in need of mental health services. A number of local artists, including several based in Creative Spark, attended the Inside Out event which was devised to encourage art practitioners to get out of their studios. There were several exhibitions, activities, and talks throughout the day, such as our 'selfie wall' where everyone was invited to paint their own selfie and then share it on social media. Another activity which drew a lot of attention was the 'Perpetual Drawing' - a collaborative artwork by Bernhard Gaul. Sarah Daly of Creative Spark welcomed everyone to the day, and speakers included Dee Brannigan of Inspire, and Heather Cassidy, also of Creative Spark. Artist Rachel Burke coordinated an Inside Out treasure hunt to get people moving around and talking to each other about their art. Other contributers were Barry Finnegan (Thinking Cap), and Una Curley (The Emotional Artist). Liam Quigley, Director of Inspire Wellbeing gave an overview of the services they provide. A group of artists and performers from Belfast provided the activities for the afternoon, including photographer Billy Smallwood, writer Natalie Smyth, poets David Davies, Tracy Chan, Janice Pollock, Rosie Moore, and Robert Sozi. 'It was wonderful to hear presentations from all of the artists/performers - people were so open and willing to share their stories, it made it a very meaningful event for all,' says Sarah Daly of Creative Spark. ICA return: Blackrock ICA have resumed activities after the Christmas break. The ladies were busy in the lead up to Christmas, making seasonal decorations during November and December. Adrienne McEnteggart Boyle also hosted a Christmas floral arranging evening which members much enjoyed. The guild also had a Christmas outing for lunch at The Rum House in Dundalk and over twenty members enjoyed a lovely meal and atmosphere. During the next few weeks the guild shall prepare for International Women's Day on March 8th. The ICA organisation in Louth shall celebrate it once again by yarn bombing Dundalk's Market Square. This is a collaborative effort of all eleven Guilds in the county. The organisation was thrilled to have featured in the last edition of the ICA magazine Home and Living. Many of the activities of the local guild can be seen on their Facebook page blackrocklouthica There is still availability for membership in Blackrock Guild. Anyone interested should come along to the Community Centre on a Wednesday evening at 8pm. " Saint Fursey The Parish Pastoral Council has published an informational leaflet on the life of Saint Fursey after whom Haggardstown Church is named. This has filled a gap in knowledge about Saint Fursey of whom very little is known in the parish and with which he has strong connections. His feast day was on Tuesday last (January 16) and a special Mass was celebrated in his honour in Saint Fursey's Church. Pupils from the local Saint Fursey's School took part in the celebration, at which the leaflet was presented. Saint Fursey was a very important 7th century Irish Missionary, who travelled to England and France. Inter denominational service To mark the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity' an inter-denominational Prayer Service will take place in Saint Oliver Plunkett Church on this Thursday, January 25 at 7.30pm. As this is the Year of the Family, the theme of the Prayer Service is celebrating the Diversity of Faith in Our Families. The Week of Prayer ends on Thursday, having run from last Thursday. CPR course Want to learn how to do CPR and maybe go on and help the local First Responder Group to help save lives. If the answer is in the affirmative to the first question, there is an opportunity to gain training in CPR and it's for free. It will only take a few hours to do, and it could prove vital some time at home, work if someone suffers a turn Your early intervention could make all the difference and in acute cases save a life. In any event this Thursday, January 25 a short one night course will be conducted in CPR in Saint Fursey's School. It's in how to administer CPR to both adults and children, and also how to use your local defibrillator. Also qualified instructors will guide you in how to deal with incidents of choking and strokes. It will take approximately three hours. Anybody who is interested in taking part is asked to contact Emily Magee (0868390666) or Valerie Mernagh 0868174119. Gers lottery The jackpot was not won and now stands at 17,200 in the Geraldines lottery. There were three winners, two joint players, of the match three prize of 200. They were: Frank Scott-Lennon c/o John Pepper, Michelle & Deirdre Myles 9 Caislean, Heynesown and Brian & Pat Sweeney c/o Sextons Bar. The numbers drawn were: 4, 5, 9, and 24 Next Draw is this Tuesday. Blood transfusion service The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) would like to thank all 56 Donors who attended the Blackrock clinic recently held in the St Francis School, Rock Road, Blackrock, Dundalk. A breakdown of the total figures show that ten first time donors and two former donors attended the clinic. It is essential that we maintain this level of support on our next visit to Blackrock. A special thank you to our local voluntary organiser Linda Meehan for her help and support prior to the holding of the clinic. About 70,000 patients are transfused with blood each year in Irish Hospitals. To do this we must collect approximately 3,000 donations of blood each and every week from voluntary donors like you. Please remember that Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda required 2,466 units alone in 2016. Finally on behalf of all the patients in hospital who benefit from your generosity a heartfelt thank you to all who attended and helped with the Blackrock clinic in any way. A new vision for Dundalk Bay will be the focus of a special meeting taking place in the Blackrock Haggardstown Community Centre, Sandy Lane, on February 1st at 8pm. The initiative which is being led by the Local Authority Water and Communities Office is liaising with Dundalk Bay coastal communities, getting input from them as to what vision they have for Dundalk Bay into the future. 'As a Special Area of Conservation, it is economically important for shellfish and has a long-standing tourism heritage but what do local residents wish to see happen to protect and develop their coastal area into the future?' said Gretta McCarron, Community Water Officer. Some of the actions needed which have already been called for include the need for cleaner water, and better access to rivers. Calls for no raw sewage or industrial discharge going into rivers have been made, along with the need for better management of septic tanks. But these are only some of the issues raised to date, and organisers are hoping for further contributions. 'If you have a contribution to make on this topic please do come along on the evening,' said Gretta. 'This is a free event and all are welcome. Pass on the invitation to anyone who you think would be interested in coming along.' Plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Dundalk will begin with a public meeting in the County Museum on February 1st. The meeting, which is being organised by family members of those involved in the tragedy will set out plans to mark the centenary of the sinking in October. Anne Howard, whose grandfather died in the sinking said that the torpedoing of the S.S Dundalk was one of the most significant events to affect the town during the First World War.' She added: 'We hope that this meeting will allow us to mark the centenary in a meaningful way. We know that the County Museum is aleeady planning an exhibition, and I am sure this will compliment our own plans as they develop and take shape.' THE SS Dundalk, a twin screw steamer, was built for the Dundalk and Newry Steampacket Company in Ardcrossan in 1899 for the handsome sum of 40,000. The SS Dundalk's sleek outline soon became a familiar sight on both sides of the Irish Sea, as she plied her trade. The SS Dundalk had its first hostile encounter with a German sub on December 16th 1917 when on a regular sailing to England, it was attacked in the war zone. But fate continued to stalk the SS Dundalk and on a cold October 14th 1918 night as she sailed from Liverpool out into the Irish Sea, tragedy struck. The torpedo struck the ship fair amidships, exploding in the engine room and blowing away the whole centre part of the vessel, practically breaking her in two. Immediately the ship was struck, the men on deck instinctively rushed to the lifeboats, and it appears that two of these boats were successfully launched. Two men got into one of the boats and picked up five others from the water, and the second boat got away with four or five men. Both lifeboats remained in the vicinity for some time hoping to pick up other survivors, but it was apparent that all the others on board had perished. For 17 gruelling hours, they barely kept afloat, rowing constantly and continuously bailing out their damaged boat which repeatedly filled with water. A special stained glass window and plaque in memory of those who died in the disaster was erected by the Steampacket Company and is in St Patrick's Cathedral. The following people lost their lives: Edward Bennett, Patrick Hughes, Vincent Morgan, Samuel Cocks, Edward Johnston, John Muckian, Margaret Creegan, Francis Kieran, Hugh O'Neill (captain), Joseph Fox, William McKeown, Peter Sloan, Joesph Halpenny, Peter Matthews, John Stacks, James Hernon, Patrick Melia, Daniel Stowell and Thomas Tuite. More information about the meeting can be obtained by contacting ssdundalk@hotmail.com. The meeting will take place on Thursday 1st February at pm in the County Museum. All are welcome. Tea and coffee refreshments will be served. Eighty-three women from Louth travelled to the UK to have an abortion, Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail last week. As politicians considered the report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Minister Harris listed the numbers of what he called 'real women' who had travelled to the UK for an abortion last year. Louth emerged as the sixth highest in the country behind Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Galway and Meath. Minister Harris said: 'These are not faceless women. It might be convenient for us sometimes to think that they are. They are our friends, neighbours, sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts, and wives. ' Each woman is dealing with her own personal situation and making what is a deeply difficult decision because this time around - let us be honest about this - this is not a decision or a procedure that anyone undertakes lightly. Women agonise about it and consider every possibility for dealing with the particular crisis facing them, and sometimes they arrive at the conclusion that there is no other option for them but to terminate their pregnancy. When they arrive at that difficult decision, the country we live in, which we hope has come a long way from the dark events that continue to haunt this Chamber, tells them to go and get their care elsewhere - go to another country or head off somewhere else.' He revealed that of the 3,265 Irish women travelled to the UK in 2016, more than 1,200 were aged between 30 and 39; more than 1,500 were aged between 20 and 29; 255 were aged 40 or over; ten were girls under the age of 16; and 230 were teenagers. More than half of the women who travelled were married, in a civil partnership, or in a relationship while 85% of them were between three and 12 weeks' pregnant. It is estimated that at least 170,000 Irish women have travelled to other countries for abortions since 1980. Saving that his own views on the issue had changed after listening to women and doctors, he believed that they were 'at the commencement of what I genuinely believe in time could be seen as an historic debate.' Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick, who was a member of the Joint Committee on the Eight Amendment said he had found the experience 'very testing and, I have to be honest, sometimes very troubling.' He took the view that 'the committee spent most of its time simply undermining and attacking the eighth amendment and spent no time at all looking at the good the eighth amendment has done in saving lives.' He said he found it was 'totally unacceptable' that pro-abortion groups were invited to make representations at the committee but that 'not one person to represent the lives of children saved by the eighth amendment was asked to tell a story of hope against the odds and how the eighth amendment played a central role in the reason a child is alive today.' 'I am saddened at the way some of the Members of the House have attacked the motivations of pro-life people in recent days. Some of the comments were truly appalling and were made without any justification,' he continued. He expressed concerns that if abortion becomes legal in Ireland, it would lead to a situation like England where one in five pregnancies end in abortion. Having listened to evidence at the Committee as to how abortions are performed, he found it 'frightening the way in which the gruesome and horrific procedure of abortion is being dressed up as something compassionate and liberal when every single abortion ends the life of a defenceless baby.' He said he wanted to live in a country 'where every human being matters. If the eighth amendment is repealed, we will end up living in a very different country where our abortion rate will increase significantly and respect for life will diminish. The way to ensure this does not happen is to speak up for life now before it is too late. Sinn Fein President and TD for Louth, Deputy Gerry Adams said: 'I have my own position on abortion. As a legislator, I have no right to impose that view on anyone. It is not for any of us here to cast judgment on anybody for doing what they feel they need to do. It is for women to make that judgment. I believe they are fully capable of doing so and are entitled to do so. Those who are opposed to abortion are entitled to their opinions. They are equally and fully entitled not to have terminations. Everyone has the right to choose. Those who subscribe to a particular faith can heed the guidance of their religious leaders if they so choose. My strongly held opinion is that it is not appropriate for anyone to foist their views on anyone else.' He said that: 'Sinn Fein accepts the need for abortion to be available where a woman's life, health or mental health is at serious risk or in danger and in cases of rape or sexual abuse. This has been our policy for a long time. He said that the party had recently discussed the issue of fatal foetal abnormality at an Ard-Fheis. 'We listened to compassionate people explaining how they or their partners, sisters or friends decided to carry a fatal foetal abnormality to full term while others could not do so. We changed our position accordingly. I think that is what we have to do. The first step we need to take is to allow women the right to make a choice on these deeply distressing matters. It is their business, it is their right and it is their choice. Sinn Fein will fully support the repeal of the eighth amendment.' The parents of a baby boy who died just hours after his birth in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital have spoken of the grief they have suffered in the years since the tragic death of their son, Evan. Addressing the media outside the High Court last week, Ivan Murphy, who was accompanied by Evan Tuite's mother, Fiona, said he wished he could turn back the clock in order to help save his son. 'Our son Evan was born on June 14th 2012 at 6.20am. He passed away in his mother's arms at 7.15pm. 'In this day and age, this should not have happened to Evan or any other child. 'Every day I wish and pray we could have that day back again and I would have said stop. I would never have let him go ahead and deliver Evan by force. If only he had sent Fiona for a section our baby would have been here today. He would now be going to school and playing with friends and had the same life and love as any other child,' Mr Murphy said on behalf of the family. He said they were still waiting for an inquest into Evan's death and want to know why it hasn't happened and when will it take place. 'I am publicly appealing for a date to be confirmed for an inquest into our son's death,' Ivan stated. He also asked why had it taken five and a half years for the hospital to admit liability. 'Why did the hospital choose to deliberately prolong our suffering?' 'We are meant to put our confidence and trust into these people but they let us down in the worst possible way with the loss of our son.' Baby Evan was delivered by a junior doctor with forceps after a number of attempts. Evan suffered 'horrific' injuries, the court was told. He had a fractured skull and brain injuries. Lawyers for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, apologised for the baby's death and expressed heartfelt sympathy on Evan's death. Evan's family settled their actions against the HSE. Ms Yamamitsu, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission from the Japanese Embassy was welcomed to County Hall by the Chathaoirleach of the Dundalk Municipal District Cllr. John McGahon The huge turnout of people from Dundalk and surrounding areas at the vigil for Yosuke Sasaki, the young Japanese man who was fatally stabbed as he walked along the Avenue Road, made such an impression on the Japanese Embassy, that an official visited Dundalk last week to convey their gratitude. Ms Yamamitsu, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission from the Japanese Embassy was welcomed to County Hall by the Chathaoirleach of the Dundalk Municipal District Cllr. John McGahon when she visited Dundalk last Monday. Ms. Yamamitsu was in Dundalk to meet with both Cllr. McGahon and the staff of National Pen on the aftermath of the death of Yosuke Sasaki. Her first port of call wasto County Hall and where she met with Cllr. McGahon for 45 minutes before she travelled to National Pen where she met with staff and friends of Yosuke. Commenting on the visit Cllr. McGahon said: 'Ms. Yamamitsu spent the morning in Dundalk to show the Japanese Embassy's appreciation and thanks for the show of support that Dundalk provided after the tragic death of Yosuke.' Ms. Yamamitsu mentioned that the huge turnout at the vigil surpassed all their expectations and they wanted to convey their gratitude to everyone who turned out that evening. She also said that the family of Mr. Sasaki were extremely grateful for the warmth and generosity that Dundalk has shown to Yosuke and his family in recent weeks. Dundalk company Gecko Governance has got a $1million investment which will allow it to increase its workforce and grow globally. Co founder and chief executive Shane Brett said that the funding from by tech investors COSIMO Ventures is a major boost for the company which has its headquarters in the Regional Development Centre on the DkIT campus. This investment will allow the company, which specialises in developing software to enable fund managers and banks to meet regulatory and compliance requirements, to expand to meet growing demand. Shane had worked in hedge funds and asset management for 20 years and realised that there was a market for software technology which would give pension fund managers a live oversight of all their funds regulation and compliance requirements. A graduate of Dundalk Institute of Technology, he paid tribute to the support which he has received from the Regional Development Centre, the Local Employment Office and Enterprise Ireland. 'Dundalk is our main headquarters and it's where our technical team and managers are based,' he explained. 'We also have sales people based in financial centres in London, New York and Hong Kong.' GECKO was a recipient of the 2016 'Seedcorn Competition,' Europe's largest start-up prize, and placed 10th in 2017 in the RegTech 100, a list of the most influential RegTech companies worldwide. It employs around a dozen people in Dundalk and Shane said this funding will allow them to grow that employment to 35 plus. 'Every single member of our staff came out of DkIT and the college's technology for business course is really excellent.' ''Our Blockchain solution is agile and fully customizable, allowing us to integrate with each financial services firm's systems and set of best practices,' he said, describing blockchain as 'the future for regulatory and compliance in financial services, and we are pleased to have COSIMO Ventures' support as we expand to meet growing demand in this sector.' 'We want to be able to offer cutting edge, new tech jobs based in Dundalk,' he continued.'We have been able to employ a very high calibre of people from DkIT and are delighted to be able to offer them the opportunity of work in Dundalk. People living in rural parts of Louth could face a five year delay for full access to broadband services, Louth County Councillors heard last week. Thomas McEvoy, Head of Enterprise at the Louth Local Enterprise Office (LEO) gave an update to the council on the progress being made in broadband roll out across the county. He said that Louth was 'ahead of the curve', and was the first county in Ireland to publish its strategy in response to the National Broadband Plan. 'By June 2018, a minimum 86% of County Louth premises, potentially 89% will have access to high speed broadband. 'Outside of Dublin this is the highest level of broadband penetration of all counties in Ireland.' He explained that as of November 2017 over 49,000 out of 60,000 premises in Louth had access to high speed broadband. An additional 2,541 premises will have access by June this year. He added that the timeline for full broadband access across Louth had stretched to 2023, which was 'not ideal' for the 14% of people currently without it. 'But it does mean that there is a plan, said Mr.McEvoy.' He said that an interactive map which can provide 'street and premises level detail' on broadband coverage was available through the website www.dccae.gov.ie Three providers were currently extending their fibre optic network service in Louth, OpenEir, Virgin Media and E-Net. Cllr. Mark Dearey noted that Louth was ahead of other counties, but added that the 14% of people who do not have access 'will obviously not be happy about the delay.' 'But there is a clear timeline for when this will happen.' Cllr. Emma Coffey highlighted the 'great disparity' between urban and rural access, which she said would 'impact on pressurised urban areas.' The LEO spokesman admitted that there would not be full access across the country until 2023. Cllr. Oliver Tully added that people who do not have broadband feel 'very much disenfranchised' and he was sorry to hear it would take until 2023 for full service. Cllr. Antoin Watters asked if there might be a focus on particular areas. He highlighted the post office in Jenkinstown and areas of Omeath which were in need of broadband service. Mr. McEvoy encouraged people to check the interactive map for areas that are being added to the network. 'We do encourage people to check the map as OpenEir in particular are telling us it is ahead of schedule. 'It will indicate right down to street level and premises level the up to date connections made.' He added that the 86% highlighted may well have already extended to 89% when current connections are taken into account. Representatives from Louth Comhairle na nOg presented the results of their work on mental health awareness to councillors at the January meeting. The junior council had worked on producing a poster entitled 'Breathe' highlighting steps to take to protect mental health, from mindfulness to talking about how they felt. They are hoping to produce around 10,000 of the posters, which can be made available to schools and youth groups. They had also worked to raise awareness about the impact of bullying. The students also spoke about their visit to Brussels where they met Louth MEP Mariead McGuinness, and presented a Brexit 'action plan' to the parliament' along with other junior councillors from Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. Cllr. Maeve Yore said she had attended their annual conference in Dundalk last year, and was 'blown away by the energy in the room' She congratulated them on a busy year. Cllr. Maria Doyle also added her own tributes, particularly in relation to the mental health awareness they had carried out. She said that as a primary school teacher she found that pupils in 5th and 6th class could also benefit from resources such as the poster Comhairle na nOg had produced, along with those they were planning to send to secondary schools. Cllr Johanna Byrne agreed, saying that the poster should be made available to a wide range of young people. Cllr. John McGahon added that the topic was very relevant, given the current debate over 'influencers' on social media. He said that although social media was a very popular and useful tool for young people, they should be made aware also of the potential pitfalls, such as the facility on Snapchat which might automatically give away the users current location to hundreds of people. Cllr. McGahon said it was a 'very digital age' which young people were growing up in. He congratulated the students, adding that if they found they had enjoyed making a contribution they should consider political life. Cllr. Marianne Butler agreed, adding that the negative aspects of social media are emerging. Cllr. Ruairi O'Mhurchu congratulated them on producing 'a really fantastic resource.' Cllr. Edel Corrigan added that the poster was a particularly useful resource 'as it can be very hard to talk about mental health. This should help to break down barriers.' Cllr. Tom Cunningham said that as a father of three daughters he found it a very useful way for young people to get advice from their peers. February is set to be a very musical month at the Courthouse Arts Centre. The Tinahely venue will welcome three wonderful acts to raise the roof with their mix of jazz, folk and trad music. First up on Saturday, February 3, is 'An Exploration of the Words and Music of Bob Dylan'. This tribute evening will explore the words and music of this great poet and musician in the Courthouse Cafe. Regular cafe musicians will be joined by local performers to guarantee a special night. The line-up of musicians and spoken word artists includes Frank Gallagher, Brian Whelan, Deirdre Starr, Rory Adams band, Pat Dixon and Damian Murphy, as cafe regulars are joined by local performers for a special evening. This is a fundraising event for The Courthouse Arts Centre and admission is 10. The Carole Nelson Trio will visit the courthouse on Saturday, February 17, as part of jazz season. Carole Nelson is one of Ireland's most regarded jazz pianists and composers and her trio's debut CD, 'One Day in Winter', was inspired by the landscape of south Carlow where she lives. Completing the trio will be Cormac O'Brien on bass and Dominic Mullan on drums and admission will be 14/12. Kila have been a mainstay of Irish trad and folk music for decades, thanks to ten critically acclaimed albums and a reputation for lively and engaging shows. The group will bring their innovative sound to Tinahely on Saturday, February 24. Having performed and recorded with the likes of Ronnie Drew, U2, The Dubliners and Glen Hansard, Kila boast a broad repertoire with something to suit all tastes. Tickets cost 24/22. All shows begin at 8.30 p.m. Tickets can be booked online at courthousearts.ie or by calling 0402 38529. One of the artworks which will feature in the exhibition The residents of Kinvara Nursing home will present their works of art at the exhibition 'A Day in the Life' in Signal Arts Centre in Bray. The collection of art will portray the vast and exciting talents of the artist. The exhibition will take place from Monday, April 16, until Sunday, April 29. This group of artworks capture significant memories that each individual resident has come to experience growing up in Ireland. The inspiration reminisces on moments such as climbing Nelson's Pillar, long evenings strolling through Delgany wood, screaming to their hearts content on the dodgems, ploughing season in Wexford, ladies at the flower stalls in Dublin city, James Joyce and the hustle and bustle along Bray promenade - these are among the many happy recollections. Once a week the residents attend art classes where they engage in a multitude of exciting and creative exercises, some familiar, majority not, which brings elements of enthusiasm and curiosity that can be seen in the pieces in this exhibition. The work evokes a sense of nostalgia whilst accompanying contemporary ideas and methods through a variety of mediums. An opening reception will take place on Sunday, April 22, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Purple House Cancer Support needs your help for their annual Purple Heart Appeal. Purple Heart Day takes place on Wednesday, February 14, and the campaign involves volunteers selling Purple Heart pin badges for 2 at various locations. They are looking for volunteers to help to support families affected by cancer in Wicklow by volunteering an hour or two on the day. Veronica O'Leary, director of services at Purple House Cancer Support, said: 'The Purple Heart is a sign of support for anyone who is affected by cancer and we are asking the public to buy our Purple Heart for a friend or loved one who is living with cancer or In memory of someone who has passed away. We are indebted to the community for your continued support, we could not keep up with the demand on our services without you.'. Members of the public can also support the Purple Heart Appeal by holding a coffee morning in their home, workplace, club or school. They will give you everything you need including a box of Purple Heart badges and balloons. In 2017, Purple House Cancer Support provided over 5,000 Cancer Support Sessions, including 257 Counselling sessions, 478 hospital transport trips and supported 191 new families. To register your event or to volunteer, please contact Purple House Cancer Support at 01 2866966 or email info@purplehouse.ie or visit purplehouse.ie. Eighty-five woman from County Wicklow travelled to Britain for abortions in 2016, Health Minister Simon Harris revealed during the Dail debate on the report of the joint committee on the Eighth Amendment. 'In 2016, 3,265 Irish women travelled to the UK alone and we know that Irish women travel to other countries like the Netherlands too,' said the Minister. 'Over 1,200 of the women who went to the UK were aged between 30 and 39 and over 1,500 were aged between 20 and 29. 255 were aged 40 or over. Ten were girls under the age of 16. '230 were teenagers. Over half of the women who travelled were married, in a civil partnership, or in a relationship. 85 per cent of the women were between three and 12 weeks pregnant.' Minister Harris said it is estimated that at least 170,000 Irish women had travelled to other countries for abortions since 1980. The three-and-a-half hour debate saw TDs give their opinions on the report, which recommends that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution should be repealed. The article deals with the right to life of a pregnant mother and her unborn child and its place in the Constitution effectively bans abortion from taking place legally in most scenarios in Ireland. Minister Harris said we need to acknowledge all those who made deeply difficult decisions to travel for abortions. 'These are not faceless women. They are our friends and neighbours, sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts, wives. Each woman is dealing with her own personal situation and making what is a deeply difficult decision,' said the minister. Millions of people passed through Bray's town centre over the past two years, according to research carried out by Wicklow County Council. An average of almost 2,000 were measured daily at one point on the Main Street. Bray Chamber president Pat O Suilleabhain said: 'This puts a lie to assertions that Bray is a town that is dying.' He said that the report has proved good, positive data. 'The council deserve to be applauded for doing this, but the applause won't last long if we as businesses take data and use it to give us advantages moving forward.' The study, prepared to show prospective Florentine Centre developers, revealed a footfall of over 2.2 million on the Main Street in Bray (pictured) in the period from December 28, 2015, to December 31, 2017. 'This shows that people are there, they are walking around, and it gives an indication that Bray is busy,' said District Administrator David Forde. He explained that the council needed figures to present to interested parties as they prepared to select a developer for the forthcoming Florentine Centre. 'It's a snapshot in time,' said Mr Forde. The council acquired counting machines which were set up at various locations. He said that any of the traders in the town can have access to the data. Regular footfall reports will be generated by the machines. The counters stop functioning if the crowd is particularly large, so days such as the air show or St Patrick's Day won't have skewed the figures. There was traffic of over a million on the prom in the same period, according to a footfall report carried out by Wicklow County Council over the two-year period. The report found that the total traffic on the cliff walk was 561,477, with a monthly average of 23,299, a weekly average of 5,347 and a daily average of 764. The busiest day was July 5, 2017, the busiest day was Sunday and 1 p.m. was the busiest hour of the day overall. On the promenade, the total traffic for the period was 1,024,102, with a monthly average of 42,497, weekly average of 9,753, and a daily average of 1,393. As with the cliff walk, July 5 was the busiest day of the year in 2017, Sunday was the busiest day of the week, and the busiest hour was from midday. Bray Main street at Dunnes had total traffic of 1,449,916 for the period, with a monthly average of 60,167, weekly of 13,809, and a daily average of 1,973. The busiest day was December 22, 2017. Elsewhere on the Main Street, between Quinsboro Road and Florence Road, there was total traffic for the period of 2,283,357, with a monthly average of 94,752, weekly average of 21,746, and daily average of 3,107. The busiest day was November 23, 2016. Friday was the busiest day of the week, and 3 p.m. the busiest hour. At Quinsboro Road, the total footfall for the period was 1,470,210, with a monthly average of 61,009, weekly average of 14,002, and daily average of 2,000. The busiest day was July 23, 2017. Cllr Shay Cullen, cathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District; Tony Keohane, Ervia Chairman; Minister Andrew Doyle; Mike Quinn, CEO of Ervia; and Jerry Grant, Managing Director of Irish Water, turning sods for the new pipeline from Vartry to Callowhill on Monday morning On Monday morning, Irish Water turned the sod on the construction of a new pipeline from the Vartry Water Treatment Plant to Callowhill. The new pipeline, once operational, will replace the 157-year-old tunnel, which runs under Callowhill and currently delivers water to the supply area. The new pipeline and the upgrade to the Vartry Water Treatment Plant, which was given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala earlier this month, are part of the Vartry Water Supply Upgrade Project which will see a 200 million investment in the water supply for 200,000 consumers in Wicklow and South Dublin. The Vartry Water Supply Upgrade Project, once completed, will provide a safer, more secure water supply and will facilitate removal of the scheme from the Remedial Action List maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency. Among those in attendance at the sod-turning were Ervia chairman Tony Keohane, Ervia CEO Mike Quinn, the Managing Director of Irish Water, Jerry Grant, Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle and Cathaoirleach of Wicklow Municipal District, Cllr Shay Cullen. Mike Quinn, said: 'Ireland's water and wastewater infrastructure is in need of major investment due to decades of underinvestment. The Vartry to Callowhill tunnel is 150 years old which highlights not only the urgent need to upgrade this critical infrastructure but the size and scale of the challenge faced by Irish Water.' Planning permission for the link was granted in February of last year and the contract was awarded to Roadbridge. The overall project will cost 29 million. Minister Andrew Doyle said that 'having a strategic view of the requirements and investment that will allow growth of homes and businesses is vital to our social and economic success.' 'The vision that built Vartry 150 years ago is echoed now as we continue to invest in the future,' said Minister Doyle. Cllr Cullen described the pipeline as 'a great project for the district'. 'As a local of Roundwood as well as cathaoirleach of the Wicklow Municipal District, I am delighted to be associated with this important day and with the commencement of the replacement of this vital piece of infrastructure. This is a milestone in the life of the Vartry Water Supply,' he said. The Vartry Water Supply Scheme was constructed in the 1860s and was a great feat of engineering for its time. The scheme included a four kilometre long tunnel under Callowhill to deliver water to north Wicklow and south Dublin. The scheme includes two reservoirs on the Vartry (upper and lower), a water treatment plant comprising primarily of slow sand filters, 40km of trunk mains that deliver water to open storage reservoirs at Stillorgan in Dublin. In addition to upgrades at the Vartry Water Treatment Plant, the Vartry Water Supply Upgrade Project will also see work carried out at the Stillorgan reservoir. It is expected that work on the Callowhill pipeline and Vartry Treatment Plant will begin later this year. Martina O Leary and Maureen O Leary, Glash, with Carmel OFlaherty, Newmarket and Sean O Riordan, Freemount, at the fundraiser for the Cork Down Syndrome Centre in Newmarket Bingo with a difference attracted a large crowd to the High Street Bar in Newmarket last Saturday night where well known tracks were played and punters were asked to guess the name of the song and artist instead of the usual numbers system. The 'Rock & Roll Bingo' event was organised by local woman Marie Goggin as a fundraiser for the recently established Cork Down Syndrome Centre which her son, Paudric, attends on a weekly basis. Speaking to Marie found out about the centre on Facebook and subsequently attended a meeting where she got to know lots of other parents with Down syndrome children. As the centre is not state funded those involved organise various events to raise the basic running costs of 150,000 per year. "I attended a 'Rock & Roll Bingo' event in Cork, and I thought it would go down well here in Newmarket. All proceeds from tonight will go to the centre," Marie said. Founding member Joanne O' Hegarty from Ballynoe, who's three year old daughter Olivia also attends the centre, told The Corkman that as parents of a Down syndrome child she and her husband felt that there was little support available in Cork. "Early intervention is key and we just wanted more support for parents, so a few of us met up in Ballygarvan in 2016 and we started the group. We are up and running with the past year and moved into the building at Forgehill in Cork last March," she said. "Parents with a newborn Down syndrome baby coming out of Cork University Maternity Hospital are now aware the centre exists. They can get in contact with us and we visit them or they can come in to us," Joanne explained. There are coffee mornings every two weeks and the centre is open to parents from any part of the country. The Cork centre, which is affiliated with the already established branch in Dublin, provides early intervention services for children aged under seven years. This exciting new centre provides speech and language therapy, a new SKIP programme, parent and baby classes and a networking community of support for parents. Early intervention is vital to enhance the quality of life of Down Syndrome children, ensuring that they thrive and have a successful and happy future just like any other child. Readers can get in touch with the centre by phone, at 021 4915616, by email; info@dscork.ie and Facebook; The Down Syndrome Centre Cork. Donoughmores Brian Buckley and Tim Kelleher are joined by John OConnell and John Mullane at the Millstreet Spring Farm Machinery Show. Picture John Tarrant Munster's largest Spring Farm Machinery Show attracted huge numbers after a successful return to the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet. In excess of 10,000 farmers and contractors from across Ireland and the UK viewed the latest machinery, gather technical information and network with the industry. Exhibitors reported favourable reaction, again, confirming, the pre spring hosting is extremely popular annual event showcasing all the latest and best agricultural equipment and machinery the industry has to offer, from tractors to fencing tools and feeder wagons to tillage equipment. Since its launch, the Millstreet trade show has built up a favourable reputation, pleasing and interesting for visitors, and appropriate for exhibitors to be able to present their goods, ideas or services completely and effectively within a spacious venue added to the occasion. Extended opening hours satisfied patrons and the show looks to return in 2019. At a recent function in Aras an Uachtaran, the actor Liam Neeson admitted that his greatest fear in life was speaking in public. It seems surprising that a hugely successful actor would have such a fear. Yet, there is something quite reassuring in learning that the fear of speaking in public can effect people from all walks of life , regardless of their career success. If you feel like Liam Neeson about speaking before an audience,Speakeasy Toastmasters can help you. Through their meetings, you can acquire the art of communication with ease and confidence and most importantly this can be achieved in an enjoyable,effective,self placed programme. Speech delivery is an integral part of a Toastmasters Meeting. At each meeting,different members present speeches to gain experience on organising their ideas and to feel comfortable in front of an audience. Speech subject matter is chosen by the speaker and usually reflects personal interests and viewpoints. As a result, Speakeasy meetings have hosted subjects as diverse as the legalising of marijuana to the art of thatching. At their last meeting, a broad range of subjects were presented with historical events as a dominant theme. John Brennan presented a fascinating dissertation on Legal Tender entitled "Pounds,Shillings and Bitcoin -a brief history of money'. John took his audience back to a time before money was in use and bartering was in vogue. The Chinese were the first to introduce the unit of exchange in the form of IOU and now there is virtual currency in the form of Bitcoin.We live in an era of Contactless Payment and customers paying for mundane purchases with their watches. History of a different kind was the theme of Verna Byrne's speech. 'Spike- from past to present' was an absorbing and fascinating look at Spike Island, a 104 acres Island at the mouth of Cork Harbour. APart from the rich history, Verna spoke of living on the Island as a young child, which brought a strong personal angle to her speech. More up to date history formed the bedrock of Pat Sexton's speech - '1968 Apocalypse'. Pat detailed the reasons why 1968 was an "Annus Horribilis".This was a year of uprisings, suppressions, blood on the streets, the end of dreams - a year when hope turned to despair and idealism for a better future became an orphan. It was the year when Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were murdered, thus disenfranchising an entire younger generation of American voters. In 1967 The Beatles sang "All you need is Love" and The Rolling Stones sang "We Love You". One year later they sang "Revolution" and "Street Fighting Man". So why such a change in such a short time? Youth turned angry and frustrated at the perceived injustices perpetrated by 'The Establishment'. Rioting in the streets of American Cities and all over the World seemed to rock the system but failed to overthrow it. Conflict of a different nature was articulated by Liam Flynn with an interpretative reading from 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. Jean Dominique Bauby, a French magazine editor, suffered a massive stroke which left him completely paralysed and speechless. Able to use one eyelid, he managed to "dictate" an extraordinary memoir. Liam brought to life the writer's lonely existence and his flights of imagination that helped him rise above his circumstances. This interpretative piece rounded out an exciting programme of speeches. A key aspect of each Toastmasters Meeting is the Evaluation section. Each speaker is assigned an Evaluator whose role is to provide positive and detailed feedback. This reinforces the mutually supportive environment at meetings - people building people. Michael Cronin, Marie Fitzpatrick, Noel O'Connor and Don McSweeney provided insightful, thoughtful and constructive recommendations to all the speakers. At the meeting's conclusion, awards were presented for outstanding contributions, including John Brennan, Best Speaker and Marie Fitzpatrick, Best Evaluator. In other news, Speakeasy participated in The Davis College Model United Nations which took place over four days last week in City Hall, Cork. This is the brainchild of Jose Horte of Davis College. Since 2014 this project has grown spectacularly to involve schools from all over Ireland and beyond. Each student plays the role of a Delegate to the UN and debating important motions on important issues like AIDS, the refugee crisis, weapons stockpiling and disabilities. At the event's closing ceremony, Pat Sexton was Guest Speaker and Club President Helsa Giles presented awards to various participants for outstanding Leadership and Communication. Speakeasy is privileged to be involved in such a worthy event and congratulate Jose and the staff at Davis College for their achievements. The next Speakeasy Toastmasters meeting takes place in The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on Thursday, January 25 commencing at 8pm. Check out speakeasytoastmasters.com or follow on Facebook. In September 2017 the Senior Musical Theatre class (ranging in age from 15 to 18 years) at Centre Stage School began developing a play inspired by the music of Broadway hit 'Dear Evan Hansen'. It culminated in a sold out musical spectacle called 'For Forever' at the Cork Arts Theatre on Sunday last and was received by the audience with tears, laughter and standing ovations. The music and lyrics of the Tony Award winning show centre on the themes of mental health, and the students were anxious from the beginning that their play would deal with these issues in their own personal way. Facilitated by playwright Katie Holly, the students created a story line with characters their own age central to the plot facing issues that many Irish young adults deal with on a daily basis: isolation, bullying and grief. They also portrayed the parents, friends and teachers of these young people dealing with these difficult topics. The process of writing this play was a collaborative one, with writer Katie Holly, Director Aideen McAuliffe and Choreographer David O'Connor assisting the students in telling a funny, sad and true-to-life tale of a young person's struggle with mental health issues. The creative team and teachers involved all agreed that in their story and their portrayal of the characters, the students brought a passion and a sensitivity to the project that was beyond their teenage years. Nicole McDonagh was Musical Director conducting musicians Christine Cusack, Louise Luddy and Luke Tai in stunning renditions of the musical score. Tellingly, the only question on any audience members lips at the end of the show was 'when will this be on again?'. Watch this space An artist's impression of the planned new playgrounds in Dromahane An ambitious plan to develop a community playground in Dromahane was this week given a massive boost after a funding package of almost 100,000 was announced for the project. In 2014 Cork County Council purchased a 6.4 acre site in the heart of village from the Sisters of Nazareth for an undisclosed sum and subsequently agreed to lease it out to the Dromahane Community Park Group on a 20-year lease. The following year the group was granted planning permission to develop the site into an amenity park, incorporating a playing pitch, multi-use games area and playground with associate, lighting, walkways and pedestrian/vehicular access points. The make up of the proposed park came about as the result of a community-wide consultation process in which locals were asked to submit their ideas for the facility. At the time local county councillor John Paul O'Shea said the project would make Dromahane "the envy of communities from across the entire county." He said there was a recognition that Dromahane, like many other villages across north Cork, had been left behind in terms of amenities to cater for their growing populations. "This new park will go a lot way to addressing the deficient in local amenities and will, I'm sure, become a blueprint for other villages to follow," he said. The playing pitch element of the project was developed last on foot of a grant from Cork County Council. Now the group can begin planning in earnest for the playground, after being awarded a grant of 97,000 for the facility by the North Cork Local action Group (LAG) through its implementation partner the Avondhu Blackwater partnership under the LEADER programme (2014-2020). The grant was given a warm welcome by Cllr O'Shea, an LAG committee member, who described it as "wonderful news for the local community." "Dromahane has grown considerably in recent years with a significant number of young families choosing to live in the area. The creation of a community playground will enhance the community life of the village and will also help to address the current identified needs of the area," he said. Mary Manning, chair of the Community Park Group, said the community was now commencing on a "very busy but interesting journey". "There will also be a significant amount of local matching funds spent on the new playground bring the total expenditure to approx 130,000. I want to thank everyone who has helped us and sponsored us on this journey to date," she said. Avondhu Blackwater CEO Valerie Murphy said the partnership as "delighted" to be able to support the project. Locals can view a short video showing an artists impression of the planned new playground by following the link at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B669INXZT0mbWFpZRkNjZzhwYms/view. The Green Party has said it has learned that the government expects to have the Cork boundary extension enacted by in law by this summer. The information was provided by Minister of State John Paul Phelan in answer to a series of questions by Green Party deputy Catherine Martin. The proposed new boundary for the city includes Ballincollig, Cork Airport, Glanmire, Tower and Blarney but excludes the Monard strategic development zone. Little Island and Carrigtwohill will remain in the county, as will settlements including Glounthane, Killumney, Ovens, Ballinora and Waterfall. It will see the city's population almost double from 100,000 to just under 210,000, to include almost 70% of the population of the Metropolitan Cork region. The compromise emerged before Christmas following weeks of negotiation between Cork City and County Councils. However, Cork County Council has yet to fully ratify the proposals and concerns remain about the moves among residents in several areas of the county which are to be affected. Separately, last week, the government began the process of defining new local election constituencies nationally. Cork city and county will initially be left out of this process but are expected to be added 'in due course' once the boundary extension has been finalised. All new local constituencies in the 2019 local elections will have a maximum of seven councillors, down from ten at present. Once Cork is added to the process, Cork constituencies in 2019 will elect a minimum of five councillors. Speaking about the boundary changes, Oliver Moran, the Green Party spokesperson on political reform and representative in Cork North Central said: "The end of the boundary issue is now clearly mapped out, but it's not just about the expanded city boundary. The next 12 months are going to be crucial for Cork," said Moran. "New democratic structures for the entire metropolitan area are on the cards, including harbour areas like Cobh, Carrigaline and Ringaskiddy." "A lot of people were unhappy that the boundary extension didn't go as far as the whole metropolitan area. That would have allowed for integrated transport and economic planning for the whole of the city and its surrounding areas. So the possibility of a metropolitan tier of government in Cork is to be welcomed." The report on metropolitan governance for Ireland's cities will be submitted to the government in the near future after which it will be presented to the Oireachtas for consideration. Friends of the Mitchelstown man who has gone missing while on holiday in Thailand have been urged to lend their support to a social media appeal to trace his whereabouts. Anthony O'Sullivan (54), from O'Neill Crowley Terrace in Mitchelstown has not been seen since he disappeared from his hotel room in Bangkok last week. His brother, Martin Patrick, has travelled to Bangkok to help co-ordinate the search for Martin, a self-employed electrician and a former pupil at St Fanahan's College in Mitchelstown. The Department of Foreign Affairs have said they are aware of Mr O'Sullivan's disappearance and are providing consular assistance to his family in Bangkok. On Sunday Martin Patrick posted on his Facebook page thanking people for enquiring about his brother. He said that Thai police had found Anthony's passport and bank card in his hotel room and were "pretty confident" they would find him. Another post on Martin Patrick's Facebook page had indicated that Anthony may have been spotted at a Bangkok supermarket on Sunday afternoon. "If you see him (Anthony) please take him to the police station or Irish Embassy," read the message which was posted by a Thai friend of Anthony. The message also included a picture of Anthony with an appeal for people in Thailand to share it across social media. Anthony's nephew, Sean O'Sullivan, also posted on social media asking anyone who may have seen his uncle to contact him or Martin Patrick through Facebook. It is understood that Anthony is a seasoned traveller who has trekked in the Himalayas and visited Cambodia in recent years. "Anthony has travelled widely - he would save up and head off for a few weeks and then come back to Mitchelstown where he is well known. He's a very decent fellow and popular too," said one local. That sentiment was echoed by Mitchelstown-based Cork county councillor June Murphy who said she had been in contact with members of Anthony's family in Mitchelstown over recent days. "As people can image they are very worried and concerned for Anthony. The O'Sullivan's are a well-liked and respected family and Anthony is a lovely guy," said Cllr Murphy. "The family are very keen to get as much online support for their appeal as possible and want people to share Anthony's picture through social media in the hope that he will be found soon," she added. Ireland has changed a lot in the last three decades and we have seen a sea change in Irish society's attitudes and social mores. People can get divorced. Not only is homosexuality legal, we have a gay Taoiseach. There is peace, if not quite political harmony, in the North. The Catholic Church has lost its oppressive stranglehold on our communities. Yet, despite all these most welcome changes, in the last week it has felt very much like Ireland as a nation still has a long way to go. To draw a few comparisons with the Ireland of the early 1980's we are, this week, once again investigating the Kerry Babies case and examining Irish attitudes to women; debating abortion; preparing for a Papal visit and discussing corruption, cover-ups and collusion at the very highest levels of the Gardai and the State. In addition - while the same may not be the case in Dublin and the major cities - the country also finds itself still mired in economic doom and gloom with many thousands of people and families all over rural Ireland barely scraping by every day. We Irish have most certainly made a lot of progress in our efforts to become a truly modern, inclusive society. However, the unfortunate truth is that we, as a society, started from a very low base and there's still a lot of ground to be made up before, to paraphrase a famous old Kerry slogan, we can rise and take our place among the truly enlightened nations. This is starkly illustrated by two Garda related scandals that have been the topic of much discussion across the country this week. We refer, of course, to the reopening of the Kerry Babies case and the continuing revelations coming from the tribunal investigating the smearing of Garda Maurice McCabe. Last week - 34 years after the horrific events in Kerry that shocked and divided the country - the gardai issued an unprecedented apology to Joanne Hayes for the treatment she and her family received during the garda's botched investigation into the notorious Kerry Babies case. The apology is welcome - as are the suggestions that the State is prepared, apparently without a fight, to offer significant redress to the Hayes family - however, for many, it is simply far too little and far too late. The Gardai, for reasons that remain unclear, have decided after three decades to try and draw a line under one of the very darkest periods in the force's history. That too is to be welcomed but it shouldn't distract people from what is unfolding at Dublin Castle where the investigation into the smearing of Sgt Maurice McCabe is revealing disturbing new details about the culture of the Gardai and the Department of Justice on a daily basis. Three decades ago the Gardai, the legal system and the State utterly failed Joanne Hayes and 'Baby John', the murdered five-day-old, the discovery of whose remains triggered the appalling Kerry Babies saga. Decades on, the McCabe scandal suggests that the State - or at least some elements in it - remains entirely willing and capable of using its considerable resources to destroy the life of a citizen in order to hide its own dirty little secrets. When you look at it like that, has Ireland really changed all that much? St. Peter's Male Voice Choir returned to rehearsal with Musical Director Edward Holly last week in preparation for its forthcoming St. Patrick's weekend concerts in the Droichead Arts Centre on the 16th and 18th March next, riding high on an amazing 2017 and its abundance of inimitable musical memories. In March, the members performed two hugely entertaining Irish concerts in the Droichead Arts Centre and in May sang with international soprano Celine Byrne at her sold out "Gala Concert" in Drogheda. Before breaking up for the summer the choir had some amazing recording sessions in Windmill Lane for its third CD, due for release this year. September saw it perform on its own for the first time in the Barbican Centre, with an incredibly enthusiastic audience clapping and dancing the night away to many of their favourite songs. That concert, the aptly-named 'Songbook', was a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed "Decades" and as always had a wonderful live band. There followed three sold-out Christmas concerts before the choir participated in the Christmas Mass celebrations in its home church of St. Peter's, West Street. PRO Anthony Moore said:- "The choir and its Musical Director Edward Holly wish to thank sincerely all our family, friends and supporters for making 2017 such a successful year for us. We had a wonderful 12 months and got a great reception for our St. Patrick's day concerts in the Droichead Arts Centre, the Gala with Celine Byrne, our "Songbook" show in September and, last but not least, our three sold out Christmas concerts. "With regard to our Christmas shows we would also like to thank Archdeacon Carroll for hosting our first Christmas concert in St. Peter's Church, West Street. It was an absolutely magical night with amazing performances from the choir, our guest soloists and musicians, and it set the standard for our subsequent two concerts in the Arts Centre and the Westcourt Hotel, to whom we are also so grateful for all their help. The Westcourt concert was staged due to huge demand and brought the total amount of concert goers to over 1,100 for our three sold-out festive shows!' On a poignant note, before the third concert there was a moving presentation from Rescue 116 Airman Derek Everitt and Mayor of Drogheda Pio Smith as Edward, Chairman Paul Delaney and members of St. Peter's Male Voice Choir were given a very special presentation to mark the choir's singing at the Requiem Mass of Captain Mark Duffy who so sadly lost his life in the Rescue 116 tragedy. Derek told the choir that this was one of only six such presentations in the country. The presentation is inscribed "in recognition of your compassion, professionalism and the most beautiful music performed during the funeral Mass of Captain Mark Duffy, from the rescue crewmen, pilots, engineers and staff of Rescue 116." On behalf of the choir, chairman Paul Delaney said that it was "most humbled and grateful" to have received this tribute and that it would occupy pride of place in their rehearsal rooms from now on. Members of Drogheda's stunning Youth Orchestra are off to the Concert Hall in Dublin on February 10 for a glittering performance in the capital. They were selected to take part in the national event that will see a number of other young performers take to the stage. The members range in age from 7-17 years and will perform a great piece of new music by Michael Holohan. It is based on St Peter's Church of Ireland and The Thosel. The group have been building up for the event with a workshop, hosted by David Brophy from RTE. The Drogheda orchestra is made up of young people from the entire region. They are always on the lookout for new members and those interested can make contact with Helen Leahy at 0872305635 for more details on the orchestra. As he chatted with old pals about past days in the Joey's, of trying to buy 'spitting polish' in Barney Macs, lining out with the Wolfe Tones hurlers and obeying Michael Bell's drill instructions in the old FCA hall, it was a million miles away from his days when his words and actions were paramount in trying to broker peace in the former war torn Yugoslavia in the early 90s. Now retired, Colonel Colm Doyle was the man who acted as envoy to Lord Carrington as he tried to bring peace to an infamous conflict between warring Serb, Croat and Muslim factions. Time and time again, he addressed the world's media, a calm, reassuring voice in a time of horror and rage all around him. Colm Doyle spent his early life at 23 Chord Road and completed his Leaving Cert in St Joseph's CBS at Sunday's Gate and then headed to Irish Army Cadet School. He went on to serve with the UN in Cyprus in 1968 and then the Lebanon and the Middle East when he was appointed as a UN observer. Life would then bring him to perhaps one of the most imfamous battlefields since the Second World War - the Balkans. He was head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Bosnia from October 1991 to April 1992 and returned to Bosnia for another year as personal representative of Peter Carrington, chair of the International Peace Conference on Yugoslavia. Colm has now written a book about his life and times, with the Bosnian war paramount in it. 'I spent 18 months getting it together,' he stated. 'My kids said I should get it published and I'm delighted that I have now signed a publishing deal and it will be out in June. It's entitled 'Witness to War Crimes - The memoir of a peacekeeper in Bosnia.' He says it's a factual story of what he saw back then when he was serving as a middle rank Irish officer at the centre of a conflict. The former BBC correspondent Martin Bell has written the forward for it. It will be interesting to see what he says. Bell wrote a book back in the 90s - 'In Harm's Way' - and described their first meeting. 'I did not so much meet him as harangue him (Doyle), even as he was trying to check into the hotel, with a breathless account of the ethnic cleansing and a demand that he have it stopped.' According to Bell, Doyle was 'a bit taken aback by this outburst from a total stranger, and pointed out that he had just arrived, but he would certainly do what he could.' He took it up with the Bosnian leadership the next day, including some of the detail that Bell had given him, 'and was met by the usual tactic of brazen denial. In the Balkans, as Misha Glenny memorably pointed out, the only truth is a lie.' And Bell goes on, 'Colm was not new to Sarajevo. In the Winter before the war began, when the Muslims were preparing for independence and the Serbs for war, he led the small team of European Community monitors who were trying to keep the peace between them. 'A man of inexhaustible patience and energy, he was recruited after the outbreak of war by Lord Carrington to be his eyes and ears on the ground and to broker local ceasefires wherever possible. It was an impossible task for these agreements were broken almost as soon as they were reached, and at one of the signing ceremonies at the airport, everyone had to take cover under the table on which the ceasefire had been signed.' 'Both sides were set on a collision course at a terrible cost to their people, and the war had taken on such a momentum that the most gifted of mediators would have been powerless to prevent it. But that did not mean that they should stop trying, or that we as journalists stood neutrally between those who wished to intensify the conflict and those who wished to end it. 'There were two chief peacemakers in the field and both became friends and allies. One was Colm Doyle for the European Community, and the other was Lew MacKenzie for the United Nations.' the BBC man wrote. Due to his work in the Balkans war, the UN appointed Col Doyle chief of staff of the UN Military Division in New York from 2004 to 2006. 20 years and more after the conflict, Colm Doyle ended the story of the Bosnian war and perhaps answered Martin Bell's appeal that day when they met in a Sarajevo hotel. He testified at the trials of the men behind the mass murders, the genocide and the horror, at The Hague, Serb general Ratko Mladic, who was tried for his role in the slaughter of more than 8,000 men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995, as well as Radovan Karadzic and President Slobodan Milosevic. 'It was never ending since the war,' Colm states. 'I knew I'd be asked to give evidence and I told the trials of what I saw as a witness. 'The question people ask is if the war could have been avoided but there were groups that were determined that there was going to be a war, how it was handled was the question.' To this day he still gets recognised, his peacekeeing role in those torrid days likely to always be with him. 'I was lucky enough to have that recognition and sometimes it came with a burden because a lot was expected of you.' He still harbours a great interest in international affairs and appears on national media from time to time when the need arises. The AGM of Dunleer Tidy Towns takes place on Monday 29th January 2018 at 8pm. The Market House on Main Street is the location for the meeting. They will be reviewing the accomplishments of Tidy Towns during the last 12 months with a picture slide show. The group welcome new people and all who are interested in the improvements they have been making. Dunleer healthy library To celebrate the launch of 'Healthy Ireland at your Library', Dunleer Library will host 2 events in February with FooDee Nutrition & Relax Kids. Joanne Callan from Relax Kids will be speaking with an invited school group about Mindfullness & Relaxation for Children on February 20th. Denise Wogan from FooDee Nutrition will present a talk on Tuesday evening February 6th at 6pm, titled 'The Impact of Stress on Digestive health'. This is a free event & all are welcome but booking is essential. (041-6859016) The Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration at Silverstream Priory in Stamullen hosted a very special event recently. Brother Cassian Maria Aylward (28), a native of Sydney, Australia, pronounced his first vows as a Benedictine monk at the Priory. The profession took place during Holy Mass in the Oratory of the Priory. Dom Mark Kirby, O.S.B., Conventual Prior, received, for a period of three years, Brother Cassian's vows of stability, conversion of manners, and obedience, as set forth in the Rule of Saint Benedict. Brother Cassian, the son of Diane and Paul Aylward, and the brother of Matthew and Luke, is the great-grandson of the noted Australian classicist, Catholic apologist, poet, and Papal Knight, Dr Frank J. H. Letters. Brother Cassian, a 2007 graduate of St Paul's Catholic College, Manly, holds a degree in education from Notre Dame University, Sydney. Before embracing the monastic life in 2016, Brother Cassian was an avid body-boarder in the Australian surf and taught primary school in Sydney. Brother Cassian currently serves as the monastery's guestmaster. In his homily for the occasion, Dom Kirby said: 'Why did you leave your father and your mother, and your brothers, Matt and Luke, and your dear grandparents, and your all mates in Australia? 'Why did you leave the sunshine and sparkling waves of the beaches of Sydney for this darkling east coast of Ireland? 'Why did you forsake the opportunities offered you by the world to travel the globe to this place, coming to this day, and to this hour? 'You did it because, like John the Baptist in today's Gospel, you saw Jesus coming towards you. "John saw Jesus coming towards him" (John 1:29). To those who ask you, "But why a monk?" you can answer only this: "I saw Jesus coming towards me". There is no other explanation for the profession of the three vows of stability, conversion of manners, and obedience that you are about to make. . . . In making your monastic profession today, know this: in the hours, and days, and months, and years that lie ahead of you, there will not be a single moment when Jesus is not coming towards you. 'And should anyone, intrigued, or bewildered, or fascinated by the choice you have made, ask you why you became a monk, give them the only answer possible, the one answer intelligible, even to the littlest souls: "I saw Jesus coming towards me". Eighty-three women from Louth travelled to the UK to have an abortion, Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail last week. As politicians considered the report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Minister Harris listed the numbers of what he called 'real women' who had travelled to the UK for an abortion last year. Louth emerged as the sixth highest in the country behind Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Galway and Meath. Minister Harris said: 'These are not faceless women. It might be convenient for us sometimes to think that they are. They are our friends, neighbours, sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts, and wives. ' Each woman is dealing with her own personal situation and making what is a deeply difficult decision because this time around - let us be honest about this - this is not a decision or a procedure that anyone undertakes lightly. Women agonise about it and consider every possibility for dealing with the particular crisis facing them, and sometimes they arrive at the conclusion that there is no other option for them but to terminate their pregnancy. When they arrive at that difficult decision, the country we live in, which we hope has come a long way from the dark events that continue to haunt this Chamber, tells them to go and get their care elsewhere - go to another country or head off somewhere else.' He revealed that of the 3,265 Irish women travelled to the UK in 2016, more than 1,200 were aged between 30 and 39; more than 1,500 were aged between 20 and 29; 255 were aged 40 or over; ten were girls under the age of 16; and 230 were teenagers. More than half of the women who travelled were married, in a civil partnership, or in a relationship while 85% of them were between three and 12 weeks' pregnant. It is estimated that at least 170,000 Irish women have travelled to other countries for abortions since 1980. Saving that his own views on the issue had changed after listening to women and doctors, he believed that they were 'at the commencement of what I genuinely believe in time could be seen as an historic debate, I am fully aware of the sensitivities and complexities of this issue. I want to acknowledge the deeply held, genuine views on all sides of the House and throughout the country.' Sinn Fein President and TD for Louth, Deputy Gerry Adams said: 'I have my own position on abortion. As a legislator, I have no right to impose that view on anyone. It is not for any of us here to cast judgment on anybody for doing what they feel they need to do. It is for women to make that judgment. I believe they are fully capable of doing so and are entitled to do so. Those who are opposed to abortion are entitled to their opinions. They are equally and fully entitled not to have terminations. Everyone has the right to choose. Those who subscribe to a particular faith can heed the guidance of their religious leaders if they so choose. My strongly held opinion is that it is not appropriate for anyone to foist their views on anyone else.' It's not often that a school gets to celebrate a milestone - but having two - on the same night - was no problem to the crew at St Joseph's Secondary School last week. The school was honoured to officially unveil the Whitaker Collection and at the same time launch the St Joseph's CBS Whitaker Alumni. TK Whitaker (pictured) - one of the greatest economists that Ireland has ever produced - was a very student at the school and during his lifetime built up an extraordinary amount of honours. Now they are on display at the school, courtesy of the Whitaker family. Three generations of the family joined staff, students, past students and retired teachers at the event and heard principal David Madden speak of the great links that endured down the years between the former pupil and the establishment, now on the Newfoundwell Road, but in the centre of town when Ken attended. Chairman of the Board of Management, John McEneaney, said the night was the celebration of a rich past but was a reflection of how far the school had come and like TK Whitaker, hoped the young men of today would use it as a seed for their future. He praised the staff for their efforts, stating that they were the inspiration for a future generation. As part of the night, Third Year student JP Hughes and teacher, Michelle Foy, combined with a poem in Irish and a stunning piece on the violin to recall TK's great love of his native language. Fifth Year, Neil Holdcroft, also spoke of the legacy Ken Whitaker had left, telling how he used to come to school half an hour early for French lessons from Peadar McCann. Some years later, he met Charles de Gualle and spoke perfect French to him! Deputy Principal Paul Savage outlined the idea behind the Whitaker Alumni, taking on the role of the Past Pupils Union, and designed to bring former students together. He said he hoped that establishing closer bonds to past pupils would help the school secure work placements for students, something vital in the present curriculum. He praised the role of the union, established 60 years ago, and what they had achieved down the years. A special presentation of a lamp, made by Cyril Gillen from a walnut tree that fell at the Oldbridge estate, was made to the family before Ken Whitaker, TK's son, told of the pride the family had in the collection now on display and the fact that they were seeing it all together for the first time. 'It was very important to us that these documents were not dispersed or allowed rot in an attic because they were a lifetime's accumulation,' he remarked. 'The family have great memories of Drogheda and holidays here and how a walk of the town would end at Paradise Cottage on William Street.' He said his father would often say that the school played a big part in his life and they were proud to be back in Drogheda to see his vast array of awards on display. Students from Meanscoil Gharman proudly flew the flag for Enniscorthy at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS in Dublin. The school was the only Irish-medium school in the County and the only school in Wexford to send two groups, a great achievement for a school of 207 students. Conn Caomhanach Muiris and Conn O Meachair were highly commended for the project on the effects of E.M. probiotics. The students investigated the effects of Effective Micro-organisms (E.M.) on Agriculture, on Aquaculture, on Greenhouse gas emissions and on E.M. as a cleaning agent and examined E.M. as a natural and sustainable solution in the treatment of soil, water, air and in domestic use. The pair were extremely grateful for the support of Dr Karen Daly, a research officer at Teagasc in Johnstown Castle and the pair are due to share their findings there on February 2. Conor De Ruit and Robbie Mac Giolla De researched the Effects of Gender Quotas on Dail Eireann. Gender quotas mean that any Political Party would lose 50% of their state funding if their General Election Candidates weren't 30% male and 30% female. The boys concluded that there should be more support for women entering politics and that gender quotas should be introduced at local Government level. They have been invited to the Dail to share their research with current elected representatives. In the coming weeks, Meanscoil students are looking forward to competing in a range of national competitions such as Scifest, Junk Kouture, Mini-Company and the South East Science Festival. Parish Priest for the Ballymurn area Fr Jim Finn has condemned the actions of those responsible for the daring raid on Doyle's Daybreak in the village on Monday of last week. In an elaborate raid between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., thieves broke into the shop before making off with a large amount of cash and cigarettes, as well as causing thousands of euro of damage. Fr Finn says that the people of the community were disgusted by the actions of the thieves and has asked that anyone with any information, no matter how small, make themselves known to gardai. 'Really, it's an attack on a way of life,' he said. 'It's an attack on the local community down here. That shop is very busy and is used by everyone in the area. It's a great source of local employment. I would encourage people to come forward with even the smallest bit of information that may help gardai in their investigations.' Anyone with any information or who may have noticed anything suspicious in the early hours of Monday, January 15, is asked to call Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580 or on the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666111. Nobody was interpreting the operation as an act of irredentism or violation of Syria's territorial integrity. Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight. The government did not sign the agreement, said opposition adviser Omar Kouch. Turkey's war on terrorism is indisputably legitimate, and its only aim is to ensure the tranquility and peace of the Syrian people in a unitary and democratic Syrian state. 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 almost 400,000 people trapped inside. The UN reported in November that child malnutrition in eastern Ghouta was at the worst ever recorded throughout the seven years of civil war. This is significant because as lately as in early 2016, despite Turkey's strong opposition, Russian Federation was insisting that the YPG be included in any negotiation that takes place between the Assad regime and the rebels. Rebels have responded with waves of shelling on Damascus. "How long has Afghanistan lasted?" Turkish 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 U.S. forces allied to the Kurds. While Turkey has "legitimate security concerns about elements of" the Kurdish forces in Syria, Erdogan "is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member and I think he's going to remain committed to that as he sits back and thinks about the implications of his decisions", he said. Turkey's state-run news agency says Syrian Kurdish fighters have fired shots into a Turkish-controlled region of northern Syria as a group of journalists from Turkey were being shown around the area. Turkey launched its military operation dubbed "Olive Branch" against the YPG on Saturday, supporting Syrian rebels with ground troops, air strikes and artillery fire. US President Donald plans to raise concerns with Turkish President in a phone call expected on Wednesday about Ankara's offensive against US-backed, a senior US official said. "Their presence has been to ensure the stability in Manbij", he said of U.S. troops. Clashes meanwhile continued around Afrin on the seventh day of the Turkish campaign, though fighting has been less intense because of bad weather. He said the United States helped Kurdish fighters to liberate Manbij and has promised to keep defending it. 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. Some 130 others were wounded. With Europe also concerned, Germany has asked for talks at North Atlantic Treaty Organisation over the campaign and also put a temporary halt on arms deals with Turkey, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. In addition, 134 civilians had been wounded and at least 66 killed, it said. Turkey views the PYD as the Syrian extension of the PKK. Redur Xelil also said in an interview that he was sure the US-led coalition against Islamic State, which has backed the SDF in its battle against the jihadists, was trying to put pressure on Turkey to limit its offensive. "Our greatest sadness is to see these terrorist organizations run wild holding USA flags in this region", Erdogan said. Erdogan's chief diplomatic adviser said Turkey's military action in Syria should prompt Washington to rethink its policy. "Okay", said Erdogan, citing what he allegedly told Trump in the conversation. "How can a strategic partner do this to its partner?" Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to "foil games along our borders starting from Manbij". The Russian resort town of Sochi is hosting a Putin-led summit on Syria's future at the end of January. The Russian military says Syrian troops have killed five US -trained rebels what is says was a subversive mission. Let Malahide Lions help banish those winter blues with Le Grand Tour Quiz in The Grand Hotel on Thursday, February 1 at 7.45pm. This novel travel-themed quiz will bring a ray of springtime sunshine to you all. Paddy Courtney, the well-known actor, writer and Radio Nova host, will guide you on your travels and test your knowledge with his inimitable mix of sharp wit, spice and plain good fun. Every single penny raised goes to Malahide Lions charities. These include St Francis Hospice, Hugh's House, St Michael's House, Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Parkinsons Association of Ireland. The group works tirelessly to raise much needed funds for these very worthy causes.Table of four will cost you 50 and there are great prizes to be won - join us on this exciting trip. The Irish Cancer Society has launched the latest round of We Can Quit, its free smoking cessation course. Women from the Donabate area are invited to sign up for the programme which supports women in joining forces to quit smoking together. Participants in the We Can Quit programme attend weekly group sessions and will receive one-to-one support. They will also be offered 12 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Research has shown that smokers who use a combination of group support and two NRT products for a 12 week period are four times more likely to quit and stay smoke-free for good. Recent analysis shows that around half of all the We Can Quit participants had quit smoking at the end of the 12 week course. Joanne Vance, Community Programmes Manager at the Irish Cancer Society said: 'We Can Quit has gone from strength to strength since it was set up in 2013. 'Over the last five years, 250 women from Dublin have completed the 12 week course and, more importantly, many women who have managed to successfully quit smoking as a result of the initiative come back and tell us how they are doing, so we know that the format works. 'Giving up smoking is extremely difficult and a huge challenge for people, but We Can Quit offers women support and encouragement to get through it. 'Women today often lead very busy lives with many commitments but through the programme, they can access a friendly network of like-minded women, knowing that they have the full support of their community and the Irish Cancer Society behind them. 'We look forward to welcoming more women to our courses, and seeing them graduate at the end of it!' We Can Quit is open to all female smokers living in the Donabate area who are over the age of 18 years and are interested in quitting smoking. The programme commences in Donabate Portrane Community Centre on January 23 from 10am-12pm. We Can Quit is run in partnership with the HSE and Blanchardstown Area Partnership. For more information on We Can Quit or to sign up for your free place on the programme, contact Joanne Vance on 01 231 0532 / jvance@irishcancer.ie or register online at www.cancer.ie/we-can-quit. Prosper Fingal has benefited from a new charity initiative by Lidl Ireland who recently handed the local charity a cheque for 1,000. Lidl Ireland was delighted to donate 1,000 to Prosper Fingal, as its chosen Charity of the Week - a new initiative in the Lidl Community Works programme. Charity of the Week sees Lidl donate 1,000 every week for a year to local charities and groups across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and will run alongside existing support programmes already in place at each of Lidl's four regional sales offices. These worthy causes are selected by store teams in recognition of their excellent work in the local community. The Lidl store teams are best placed to choose these groups as they see first-hand, the positive impact that is made in the areas in which they operate. Having first begun their service in 1978, Prosper Fingal now supports the needs of over 250 adults with intellectual disabilities in North County Dublin. With support from parents, carers and the local community, Prosper Fingal continues to deliver services that support individuals to live the life they choose in the same ways and places as everyone else. 'Myself and my team in Balbriggan are proud to have selected Prosper Fingal as our Charity of the Week. Supporting and investing in local communities is something that Lidl are committed to and we are delighted to be able to make this contribution,' said store manager, Kristina Kreimeriene. Council officials have met with the estate management company at Ridgewood Grove to discuss parking problems in the area. At the request of councillors on the Swords/Balbriggan Area Committee, council officials met with the management company to 'attempt to address the parking issues in the vicinity of the Tesco Express, Tigers Childcare and Ridgewood Grove'. According to a council report on the issue: 'Motorists are parking on the run-on areas to the roundabout, the double yellow lines and footpath outside the childcare premises and nose to kerb in the set down area in front of the Tesco store that was designed as a parallel set down area for deliveries, which reduces the road width in the area,' Outlining some of the measures agreed at the meeting, the council reported: 'Hatching will be placed on the run-on areas to advise the motorists of the prohibition of parking at these locations. Parking on the footpath and double yellow lines is a matter of enforcement for An Garda Siochana. 'The management company confirmed at the meeting that they have advised Tesco Express to only use the designated delivery area to the southern side of the shops for deliveries and have asked them to use smaller delivery vehicles in the future. 'It is their intention to resurface the set down area to the front of Tesco and place road markings to delineate the area as parallel parking bays. This should prevent the nose to tail parking outside the shops at this location.' The council report on the issue added: 'The Operations Department noted that nearly all the parking bays in this area were full with very little movement of cars. The management company advised that the only way to control all day parking was with an enforced pay and display parking system. 'The Operations Department asked that the management company review the parking arrangements for the staff of the shops with a view to freeing up some parking bays. The management company agreed to review this parking.' The report concluded that an alternative entrance to the shops was not practical, stating: 'An alternative entrance/exit to create a one-way system was reviewed on site. The addition of an exit at the end of Ridgewood Grove is not possible due to the difference in level between Ridgewood Grove and the Forest Road.' Fingal County Council is building 74 social houses under construction in a 9.2million scheme, the largest social housing construction site in the country Debate raged in the council chamber last week on whether prioritising the homeless in housing was leading to some applicants 'gaming the system' in a bid to skip the queue. Cllr Jimmy Guerin (NP) sparked the debate when he echoed controversial comments by the head of the Housing Agency on the issue. Cllr Guerin said: 'Conor Skehan talked about people gaming the system and he's right.' Speaking at this month's meeting of the full council, he said that landlords and some applicants were 'gaming the system' and that the policy of allocating half of social housing to the homeless had resulted in 'unintended consequences'. 'People on housing lists that have been there for years need to be taken into account and need to be considered,' Cllr Guerin said. 'We need a system that assists people who become homeless and not one that rewards people who abuse it,' he added. The comments sparked huge debate in the chamber, with Cllr Paul Donnelly saying that anyone presenting as homeless to the council 'had to go through hoops' to prove it and it was not an 'easy' way to get a home. Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) said that debate should be allowed on the issue but he had seen people with full-time jobs falling into homelessness and going into emergency accommodation and they 'didn't do so for any other reason than they needed to'. Cllr Keith Redmond (Ren) supported Cllr Guerin and said that 'nobody has anything to fear about an honest conversation' on the issue. But Cllr Eugene Coppinger (SOL) said that the council's own figures show that 72 per cent of the homeless cases in the county were for economic reasons and there was 'no evidence, widespread of even minimal' in the figures of 'people milking the system'. He said that when people present as homeless, they are not 'assumed' to be homeless. 'They are checked up on - they are grilled,' he said. Cllr Coppinger and Cllr Paul Mulville (SD) accused those suggesting that people were 'gaming the system' of 'victim blaming'. Conor Skehan made headlines when he suggested in a national newspaper that some homeless families may be 'gaming the system' by presenting as homeless in order to jump up the social housing waiting list. Mr Skehan was referring to a policy introduced by the Government in 2015 under which 50% of all social housing allocations in Dublin were to go to homeless people. He came in for strong criticism from opposition politicians and charity officials over the comments, who said there was no evidence to back up the statement. Skehan has also come under fire in the past for suggesting that homelessness was 'a normal thing'. A man who stole groceries from a North County Dublin supermarket told gardai when he was arrested he worked for Enda Kenny. James Carey (34), who suffers from mental health issues, said he was a Government worker and at the time claimed he worked for Enda Kenny, who was An Taoiseach at the time. Balbriggan District Court heard the defendant went into Tesco at Millfield Shopping Centre in Balbriggan and filled a trolley up with 45 worth of groceries. He then went past all points of payment and left the store with the stolen property. The property was recovered. When Carey was arrested he stated he was a Government worker and worked with the Taoiseach, Inspector Declan Yates told Balbriggan District Court. Carey, of Preston in Stamullen, Co Meath pleaded guilty to the theft of the groceries from the supermarket on October 6, 2016. He has 15 previous convictions, including two for Section 3 Assault Causing Harm and a theft conviction. Defence barrister Patrick Jackson told the court the defendant is on disability allowance and handed into Judge Dermot Dempsey a note regarding a medical condition. 'He has gone through periods of not coping very well,' said Mr Jackson. 'His answers to the gardai were at during the period he was unwell,' he said, adding that when the defendant's health was good he did a lot of charity work and raised a lot of money. 'After that time he became unwell and this offence is the result of that. It's clear he is a lot better now,' said Mr Jackson, asking Judge Dempsey to consider putting the case back for medical evidence to verify his improvement. A positive Probation Report was handed into court and Judge Dempsey placed him on a Probation Bond for 12 months. He also ordered the defendant complete offence victim focus work, attend his GP to address his medical issues and attend all appointments with the Probation Service. In 2009 the defendant stood as an independent candidate in the Meath County Council elections in the Slane Electoral Area polling 734 first preference votes before being eliminated on the seventh count. It is understood the defendant has never worked for Fine Gael nor Enda Kenny. Rush man, Jock Jordan has been announced as the new president of the Fingal Dublin Chamber. Jock, who is group sales director with the Swords-based One4All was appointed as president of the chamber at a recent meeting where Bill Kearney, director of the IBM Campus in Mulhuddart was appointed as his vice president. Jock takes the mantle from Guy Thompson, General Manager of Castleknock Hotel, who was President for the past two years. Accepting the chain of office, Jock said: 'It is a great honour to become President of Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce, representing the business voice for the region. One4all Gift Cards has been a member of the Chamber since 2003 so we are acutely aware of its importance to our business and the wider community. 'I want to thank Guy Thompson for his personal commitment, dedication and service to the Chamber over the past two years. I am looking forward to working closely with Chamber CEO, Anthony Cooney to further strengthen our business voice in the region through increased membership and consolidation with other business groups. 'ith serious issues such as Brexit and Metro North on our horizon and the continued importance of Dublin Airport and its economic impact for the region it is imperative we have a strong and growing Chamber.' Outgoing president, Guy Thompson said he was delighted to represent the chamber for the past two years and wished his successor well. Fingal Dublin Chamber CEO, Anthony Cooney said he is looking forward to working with the new president in implementing the Chamber strategy for the coming year. He said: 'As the economy continues to grow we need to build resilience and prepare for key challenges facing our business. 'This happens when we establish common areas of challenge and work through these together as a strong Chamber. We will continue to work closely with Fingal County Council CEO, Paul Reid and his team to do our best for businesses in the region.' A Rush native whose family presented as homeless to Fingal County Council this month is appealing for her case to be reviewed after she, her husband and six children were not only denied homeless priority by the council but removed from the social housing waiting list in the county. Clodagh and her six children, along with husband, James have been packed into the family home of a cousin in Lusk for the last year since being forced to leave their home in the Dublin City Council area after a neighbour waged a campaign of intimidation against them, ending in a serious assault on Clodagh. The family took flight from the property in the middle of the night when Clodagh's cousin, Debbie came to their rescue. They all expected their stay in the Lusk home to be a short-term one, but a year later, the family of eight, along with Debbie's family of four have been squeezed into the overcrowded semi-detached home in Lusk. Clodagh and her family were initially accepted onto the Fingal County Council social housing list and began to look for rented properties in the Rush and Lusk area through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. They have made well over 100 enquiries to landlords under the scheme but none have been willing to take on a family of eight. Failure to secure a HAP place and with continued life for the two families packed into the Lusk home becoming unsustainable, Clodagh and James were forced to declare themselves homeless to Fingal County Council and that is when their problems became even worse. A couple of days later, the couple received a letter from the council's housing department which not only denied them homeless priority on the Fingal list but shocked them by removing their names from the social housing waiting list in Fingal, advising them to go back to Dublin City Council with whom they had their original tenancy in North Dublin. Clodagh told the Fingal Independent: 'I have to say we were in shock, we couldn't believe it. We were expecting to go on the homeless list and be told we had to go to a hotel or something and now this?' It is a measure of the family's desperation that they were prepared to celebrate getting into emergency accommodation. Clodagh is very reluctant to begin their search for housing on the city side of the border again. She is nervous of being allocated a place in or near the home they fled and suffering from depression and anxiety, which has been aggravated by all that the family has been through in the last year or two, she feels safest around the area she grew up and wants to live in the Rush/Lusk area. 'I suffer with depression and anxiety and feeling safe is the issue,' Clodagh explained. The family had been helped to get their original tenancy by HAIL which specialises in sourcing housing for people struggling with mental health issues. The family say HAIL was unable to move the couple on during the period they were under attack from their neighbour and the family had already made a break from the property by the time that case came to court. When asked by the Fingal Independent to respond to the couple's pleas, Fingal County Council issued a statement, saying: 'Fingal County Council has a policy of not commenting on individual cases.' But the local authority said: 'The client has the right to appeal any decision made in relation to their case.' The council added: 'Fingal County Council can confirm that this client has been receiving ongoing advice in relation to their Social Housing Support options from the Council's HAP and Homeless Support Teams in conjunction with their colleagues in Dublin City Council.' The Fingal Independent understands that the council's Housing Department has agreed to have a meeting with Clodagh and James over the next couple of weeks to advise them on their next move. It is likely the council will insist the couple start their search for a home or emergency accommodation in Dublin City but it is understood, they may be able to nominate areas in Fingal to be placed, through that route. The couple remain reluctant go that route and feel the council are 'trying to get rid of us' but have agreed to meet council officials to thrash the issue out. Meanwhile, they remain in Clodagh's cousin's house where they had agreed to move out by the end of this month. With that date looming, the couple are desperate to get the situation resolved and James said his simple message to the council would be 'please, help us'. Their six children, ranges in age two to 14, sleep in a makeshift dormitory in the front room of the house, sleeping on sofas and a blow-up bed on the floor, with the two younger ones sharing a cot. James and Clodagh sleep in a small sitting room off the kitchen. A number of the children suffer from various medical conditions including dyspraxia and asthma and the family's continuing difficulties have take their toll on the children's mental well-being. Brendan Ryan TD has made representations on the couple's behalf and Clodagh and James have taken up their case with the Government's Housing Department. It is understood that Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council are in discussions about the case. Creagh College students raise 2,513 for the Irish Wheelchair Association. Student Sinead Barnes presents the cheque to Mary OConnor, IWA programme assistant More than 40 generous transition year students from Creagh College in Gorey have raised some vital and much-needed funds for the Irish Wheelchair Association. The students raised a total of 2,513 for the organisation during the month of November. They went out and about in the town of Gorey and sold pins and pens for the Irish Wheelchair Association Angel Day campaign. Mary O'Connor from the Irish Wheelchair Association said she is very thankful to the students and staff at Creagh College for the money they raised for the organisation. 'It is much-needed,' added Mary. The transition year students went to Gorey for two days on Thursday, November 9, and Friday, November 10, selling the items for Angel Day. When all the money was collected, the students invited Mary to Creagh College last week and presented her with the cheque. 'They raised vital funds for us and I am very thankful,' said Mary. The Angel Day campaign takes place every year in November. Angels is Irish Wheelchair Association's national fundraising campaign in which they seek to raise money to ensure that the organisation can continue to provide essential services to their members. Transition year students from Creagh College volunteered this year to sell the products. The Times of London newspaper reported that French President Emmanuel Macron will announce the loan of the artwork on Thursday when he meets British Prime Minister Theresa May for talks on Brexit, security and border issues. The money would be on top of more than 100 million already paid by Britain. A MASTERCHEF victor cooked for May and Macron as the PM took the French leader to a gastro-pub. This week's summit will focus on migration and shared defense responsibilities. Great meetings with French counterparts today'. Funding for overseas operations will rise from the current level of 450 million euros (552 million dollars) to 1.1 billion euros in 2020, Macron said. "But I believe that it is actually in the interest not only of the United Kingdom, but also the European Union as it goes forward, to continue to have a good economic relationship and partnership with the UK and I believe that should cover both goods and services". The French president wants to be perceived as a hardliner in the context of Brexit talks, because he has repeatedly said that giving Britain "the better of the two worlds would simply send the wrong message to the rest of Europe", Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, a researcher at the German Marshall Fund, told Bloomberg. They earlier visited the Michelin-star Royal Oak pub in May's Maidenhead constituency, where they had a "convivial" lunch together according to a British source. The French president told Theresa May that the UK's options were participation in the single market and full access to the European Union, like Norway, or quitting the single market and settling for a more limited trade deal covering only goods, like Canada. Otherwise, Britain would have to pay into the European Union budget. "There must be no hypocrisy in this respect, otherwise it will not work or we would destroy the single market and its coherence", said Macron. Still hundreds of people camp out there, hoping to stow away on trucks heading for the UK. The new treaty signed at Thursday's summit was meant to complement the 2003 deal, according to French officials. Macron has now said the financial effort was "unprecedented". Three RAF Chinook helicopters and around 50 non-combat troops will be deployed to Mali to provide logistical support to French forces attempting to stabilise the Sahel region of Africa where extremists like Islamic State and al Qaida have gained a foothold. It is seen as particularly significant as France is lacking in such capabilities and Britain's commitment could mark the start of a longer-term deployment in the region. In return, France will send troops to join a UK-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation battle group in Estonia in 2019, aimed at countering an increasingly assertive Russian Federation. Conservative British lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, who heads Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said the loan was a "fantastic gesture of goodwill" by France. The Spurling family who run Movies@Gorey on the Courtown Road have taking control of two Dublin cinema multiplexes. Two of the country's busiest cinema complexes, Movies@Dundrum and Movies@Swords, are now under sole control of the Spurling family after they bought out their fellow shareholders in the venues. The multiplexes opened more than a decade ago in a joint venture between the Spurling and O'Gorman families, both who have been involved in the cinema business for at least two generations. The O'Gorman family decided to sell their stakes as the family retires from the cinema business. Speaking about Movies@Gorey, owner Graham Spurling said it will not affect Gorey cinema at all. 'I want to assure our customers that Gorey will not end up with Dublin city centre prices at all,' added Mr Spurling. 'The only benefit Gorey will see in the future is all vouchers will be usable in the other two properties in Dublin.' Mr Spurling said the property in Gorey is still a separate business from the other two in Dublin, but they are in the middle of bringing all three Movies@ cinemas under the one umbrella. 'My mother and father opened Gorey cinema in 2010 and 2017 was the best 12 months since then,' said Mr Spurling. 'Numbers are up since 2016, and it is the best we have seen in the seven years.' Looking ahead to 2018, Mr Spurling said the year looks great in terms of screenings that they are planning for Gorey. 'Three Billboards has been a great success, and we now have The Post out as well,' said Mr Spurling. 'I think the highest grossing film for this summer will be Mamma Mia 2.' He said the coming year looks a lot stronger than last year in terms of blockbusters for adults. 'We are always striving and we will always be the best value for money,' said Mr Spurling. 'We were the first in the county for the Monday meal deal.' He reported that the screenings of opera, ballets, concerts and plays are doing very well in Gorey. Mr Spurling has been in the cinema business for more than 40 years, after his mother and father started a cinema in Greystones in 1976. Money saved by a 92-year-old priest and Wexford native for a school for disabled children in Kenya has been stolen by a heartless hacker who pretended to be a missionary brother the cash was intended for. Wexford man Jim Staples said he was devastated when he found out the 2,500 he sent from his uncle Fr Leo Staples' account had been stolen by someone who had claimed to be a Brother Patrick from the Bobleo Home in Kapenguria in Kenya. The Western Union money order was in fact cashed hundreds of miles away in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, with the fraudster pretending to be Brother Patrick even emailing Jim to tell him the funds had arrived safely. Jim said the money had been intended for a school for disabled children being built at the Bobleo Home, which former Wygram and Piercestown resident Fr Leo established with the help of a 10,000 bequest from his brother, the late Bob Staples. Enniscorthy accountant, Eugene Doyle, who was visiting Fr Leo in Kenya, had arranged to provide some cash to the builders, which solved the short-term problem. Eugene and his wife Louise had arranged a coffee morning in Enniscorthy where people had been very generous. Luckily, Eugene had brought some of that money with him. 'The rest of that money was lodged in the account for the school here in Wexford. This will be sent to St Patricks in Kiltegan for them to transfer to Kenya as normal,' said Jim. The Fr Bob Staples Trust provides accommodation and schooling for disabled youngsters who would normally be kept at home by their families. 'We transfer money every so often so they can build a school for the handicapped. This normally takes up to a couple of months. I got an email from Brother Patrick saying he was desperate to pay his builders and could the money be sent more quickly,' said Jim. 'The brothers are building four new classrooms and as normal they asked me to send on the funds to pay for this. I normally request a breakdown of how and where they are spending the money which they had sent on to me. I would then give the money to St Patrick's in Kiltegan to give to their office in Nairobi. This could take up to six weeks before the Brothers get the money. 'I went to Anne Street Post office and paid in 2,591, giving Br Patrick's details. I then emailed Br Patrick the details. Early the following morning I got a text to say the funds had been collected. I rang Br Patrick but could not get through. Later he rang me back and asked me to send on the details. I told him I had already done that and I told him about the text.' Jim said they subsequently realised Br Patrick's email had been hacked and some of the emails he got were from the hackers and not from the real Br Patrick. 'I contacted Western Union who are investigating our claim and this will take 20 days. They confirmed the money had been collected in Nairobi not in Kitale as was to be the collection point,' said Jim. 'I was absolutely devastated, we all are,' said Jim. He said members of Fr Leo's family have since reimbursed Fr Leo. He said it was unclear what, if any, identity documents the man who cashed the money order had been asked to provide in Nairobi, but he could only surmise that he had pretended to be Brother Patrick. 'Whoever got the money is supposed to provide identification, this obviously didn't happen,' said Jim. Fr Leo has worked with the poor of Kenya for 66 years. Run long, run strong - the 80 Tralee parkrunners who set off from Farranfore Airport on Friday evening to take part in the Bushy Park run on Saturday morning. Over 80 park runners from all over Kerry enjoyed a fantastic trip to London, where they were welcomed with open arms by their UK counterparts last weekend. Bushy Park in London, the home of parkrun, was the destination of the travelling Tralee parkrun group and organiser, Caroline Lynch, said that the trip couldn't have gone better - even getting to meet the founder of parkrun, Paul Sinton-Hewitt. "What an absolutely brilliant trip it was. When we first had this idea back in October to take runners over there, I thought we might get maybe five or six people who were interested. We never thought in our wildest dreams that we'd have 80!" said Caroline. "We had 80 runners who travelled over with us and because of people having family and friends living in London, we had over 100 people representing the Tralee parkrun on the day. It was amazing," she added. This was the Tralee group's first ever trip abroad and, apart from the huge success of the run itself, getting to meet parkrun founder Paul Sinton Hewitt was the icing on the cake. "We were just in awe of this man," she laughed. "This man is like God to us! He was so down to earth, chatting to everybody, posing for pictures and even signing a few shirts. He even mentioned about making a trip over to the Tralee parkrun in the future, which would be just brilliant," she said. The dream-come-true weekend did not end there though, with two of the groups youngest parkrunners, Zack Walsh and Rachel Mulgrew, coming home first in the Junior parkrun on Sunday morning. A trip to Berlin and its Christmas Markets in November is the next trip on the list for the running group and it seems that they've set a precedent with their London trip. "A number of parkrun groups from all over Ireland have been in contact with us asking us about how we organised it all. We've set the trend now," she finished. Castlemaine born INM Editor in Chief Stephen Rae who has been appointed to the European Commission's High Level Expert Group on Fake News. A Kerry man has been appointed to the European Commission's High Level Group (HLG) to examine the ways 'fake news' impacts on traditional and social media forums. Castlemaine native Stephen Rae is the group Editor-in-Chief of Independent News & Media and he was invited to participate in the group by Roberto Viola, who is the Director General of the 'European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology' in November 2017. HLG consists of 39 information organisations representing civil society, social media platforms, news media organisations, journalists and academia. The consortium will advise the Commission on 'scoping the phenomenon of fake news' and the implications of false information, its distribution and impact. Mr Rae attended his first meeting in Brussels this week. The Commission stated that fake news is more pervasive and impactful than ever, due to the ease at which news is posted and shared on social media, the speed at which such news spreads, and the global reach it can attain. "We have seen the widespread damage that can be done by the wilful dissemination of false information on social media platforms," said Mr Rae. "I look forward to meeting and exchanging views with my colleagues on the expert group as we advise the European Commission on dealing with this complex challenge, which has major social and political consequences for citizens," he added. The term 'fake news' was seized on by US President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign in what many believed was a deflective measure against mainstream media analysis. In November 2017 'fake news' was named as Collins' Dictionary's 'Word of the Year' after a proliferation in the term's use was recorded. Pupils and staff of CBS Primary School in Tralee had a very special visitor last Wednesday, when past pupil, Ultan Dillane came to visit for the day. Ultan, who graduated from the school in 2006, returned with a crew of videographers and rugby officials who are producing an advertisement about Ultan for the upcoming Irish rugby campaign. In the week in which he was named on the Six Nations squad, Ultan returned to the CBS where he led a light rugby session with boys and girls from fourth class. He spoke to former teachers, who enjoyed sharing his old school reports and photographs with him. He mingled with the children, before having a questions and answers session in the school hall with some of the students. Ultan spoke very fondly of his primary school years at CBS Primary and advised the children that they are indeed "the best days of your life". He told how his first taste of rugby was on the school yard in fifth class. Ultan was asked what he would be doing if he wasn't playing rugby and he said he always wanted to be a vet, and may even pursue this in the future. And on an appropriately veterinary theme, Ultan got the chance for a little animal husbandry on the visit. "The school is currently incubating eggs as part of an educational initiative and coincidentally the first egg hatched during Ultan's visit. The children voted unanimously that the chick would have to be named Ultan in his honour!" teacher Michelle Culloty explained. School principal, Denis Coleman meanwhile spoke about how immensely proud the school is to have such an outstanding role model in Ultan. The devastated family of Tralee kayaker David Higgins - who lost his life in a tragic accident in south America on Saturday - have expressed their deep grief at the loss of the 'vibrant' young man who 'lived life to the full'. Mr Higgins - who was a skilled and highly experienced kayaker - was part of a group of five friends who had journeyed into a remote part of Ecuador as part of a dream kayaking holiday. The group were kayaking on the Abanico river when, it appears, they were suddenly swamped by a flash flood that turned the river into a raging torrent in a matter of seconds. Following an intensive two day search operation, Mr Higgins' remains were recovered at 10pm Irish time on Monday, the Morona Santiago local government announced. His remains were found on the banks of the Upano River, a tributary about 30km south of the Abanico. Fellow Irishman Alex McGourty (19), from Sligo, also tragically died in the flash flood while a British man is still missing. Ecuadorian athlete Joaquin Meneses - a well known local kayaker who was part of the group and who survived the flood - described the harrowing incident. "The flow of that river was so strong that getting out of the kayak was practically facing death," he said. "In the canyons there were rapids with waves and hollows several metres high. Being there was a horror," said Mr Meneses. The Higgins family issued a statement about the tragedy on Tuesday evening. "David was a vibrant and special person who filled our lives with joy during his life. He always had a smile and always had a positive outlook on life. He packed more living and experiences into his 26 years than many people do in 80 years. He excelled in his studies and qualified as an Engineer from UCG but it was the lure of the white water that attracted him more than anything," said the family. "Having gained extensive experience and qualifications as a kayak instructor, David was lucky enough to have been able to follow his dream and work and travel doing what he loved best - kayaking white water. David touched the hearts and minds of all of those who had the chance to have met with him and it is these memories that will remain with us all in the future," they said. "All of his family and wide circle of friends are joined together in remembering him and honouring his life at this tragic time. While his life was all too short, we can only express our pride at all David did and achieved in his time and while we are devastated at the loss of our shining light, we take comfort from knowing that he lived his life to the full," said the Higgins family. The family have also extended their deepest sympathy to the families of the others caught up in the tragedy and said their "thoughts and prayers are with them at this extremely difficult time". "We would also like to express our sincerest thanks to all of those on the ground in Ecuador who helped in the search for David and who are now helping to bring him back home. We also thank all of those who are assisting with ensuring David is brought home as soon as possible," they said. "The family would like to thank all of those who have offered their sympathy and condolences to them and they respectfully ask for privacy over the coming days as they wait to get David back home." Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Coco carries a message of the importance of passing down memories to the next generation. Family values resonate far beyond the land of the living in Disney Pixar's uplifting computer-animated coming of age story. Sensitively scripted by Alfred Molina and Matthew Aldrich, Coco is a visually sumptuous valentine to Mexican culture and the importance of passing down memories to the next generation lest they be lost forever in the mists of time. Co-director Lee Unkrich, who deservedly collected an Oscar for Toy Story three, strikes a joyous universal chord with an all-Latino voice cast and an irresistible blend of heart-tugging emotion, uproarious comedy and toe-tapping musicality. You can feel the love in every jaw-dropping frame, which shimmers with vibrant colour and exquisite attention to detail. It's a ravishing feast for the senses. Coco nimbly addresses thorny issues of mortality and reminiscence for audiences of all ages, skilfully employing a goofy stray dog called Dante as the broad comic relief to keep little ones gurgling with glee in between poignant and painful lessons on the natural cycle of life. Tears flow freely - and genuinely - throughout the briskly paced narrative that conceals a couple of delightful surprises. Twelve-year-old dimple-cheeked Miguel Rivera (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) lives in the bustling Mexican village of Santa Cecilia, where his family have worked as shoemakers for generations. His grandmother Abuelita (Renee Victor) rules the roost and she strictly enforces a ban on music, which dates back to a doomed romance between Miguel's great-great-grandmother Mama Imelda (Alanna Ubach) and a fame-seeking guitarist. 'Being part of this family means being here for this family,' Abuelita warns her grandson, who secretly yearns to be a musician like his hero, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). To this end, on Dia de los Muertos - the day of the Dead - when Miguel is supposed to be honouring his ancestors, the boy sneaks into the ornate burial tomb of his idol to 'borrow' a guitar so he can perform at the village talent show. One strum of the instrument magically transports the youngster to an alternate plane, where he can communicate with long-lost skeletal relatives. They shepherd Miguel over a bridge of fluttering marigold petals to the Land of the Dead. 'I thought it was one of those made-up things that adults tell kids - like vitamins.' gasps Miguel. In this wondrous realm, the boy joins forces with a charming trickster called Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal) to uncover a dark secret from his family's past. Coco stands shoulder-to-shoulder with WALL-E and Inside Out as a heartfelt modern classic from the Disney Pixar stable. Michael Giacchino's orchestral score accentuates the script's emotional high notes and also provides its own elegiac crescendo with the tender ballad Remember Me. Safe to say, we'll be fondly recalling Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina's film for a very long time. US President Donald Trump (right) speaks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 25, 2018. The official noted that the European nations' own frustration with Trump's position notwithstanding, "they all want to work with the U.S., despite the Palestinian reaction". Mr Netanyahu said under any peace deal the capital of Israel would be Jerusalem, and the status quo of the Temple Mount would be maintained. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital. On Dec 6 a year ago, Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and that he meant to move his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to the city. Donald Trump ignited a firestorm on his arrival in the Swiss resort of Davos on Thursday, issuing a threat to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority unless it shows it wants to negotiate a peace deal. "I didn't set it back, I helped it just by taking it off the table, that was the toughest issue", he said. In New York, the USA ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, gave a speech that hinted the timetable for talks might not be anytime soon and contained a clear ultimatum. Playing to the president's obsession with a certain former political opponent, Blankfein threw in that he "think [s] the market would be lower" if the ex-Miss Universe owner weren't president: "I'd say the animal spirits are out there and a little bit more vital than they would have been otherwise", he added. "If Jerusalem is off the table, America will be off the table as well". "When I made a decision to come to Davos, I didn't think in terms of elitist or globalist, I thought in terms of lots people that want to invest lots of money and they're all coming back to the United States", he said in an interview with CNBC. Zomlot said the Palestinians still seek a two-state solution, but dedicated the majority of his speech to why the U.S. can no longer help facilitate that outcome. Trump will be the first USA president to attend Davos in 20 years, giving him a chance to mingle with the same elite "globalists" that he bashed in his 2016 presidential run. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to sit down with Pence during his visit to Israel after Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital and said he would relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the Holy City. The Palestinians, he said, "disrespected us" by not "allowing our great vice president to see them, and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid support". He called for suspending recognition of Israel. Trump may be able to "buy many things with his money, but he won't be able to buy the dignity of our nation", he said. He also hosted a dinner with European business leaders and will meet with other world leaders, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, during his two-day stop. A former Wexford resident has admitted providing funding from his County Waterford base to the Islamic State terrorist organisation. Hassan Bal, 26, formerly of O'Connell Street in Waterford but in custody since being arrested at his home in April last year, pleaded guilty at the city's Circuit Court on Friday to two counts relating to the funding and attempting funding of ISIS. His case was adjourned by Judge Eugene O'Kelly to April 10, when a date will be fixed for the case to be finalised and for Bal to be sentenced. Bal was in court wearing a blue and white check shirt, green jacket and grey trousers. He was only called upon to speak when asked to confirm his identity, telling the court: 'I am, yes.' He also said 'guilty' in reply to each of the two charges put to him. Bal is originally from the UK and moved to Ireland with his family when he was 12, living initially in Wexford and in Waterford for the past 10 years . He holds an Irish passport and was training to be an electrician. After he was arrested in April, the district court heard that his wife, who was also born in the UK, was pregnant with the couple's first child. Bal pleaded guilty last Friday to unlawfully providing 400 in funds, using an An Post/Western Union money transfer, in Co Waterford on October 2, 2015 to a Stevo Maksimovic. It was sent to the city of Brako in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the charge reading that he intended or knew that the funds would be used in whole or in part for the benefit or purposes of the terrorist group known as Islamic State or Daesh. This offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, on indictment. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully and wilfully attempting to collect or receive cash from a person known to him as Omar Abu Aziz, by means of telephonic communications and an intermediary at an address at 2 Geron Way, London NW2 6GJ , knowing that the funds would be used in whole or in part for the benefit or purposes of Islamic State. That offence was committed on October 23, 2015. The offences are contrary to section 13 (3)(a) and section 13 (4) of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act of 2005. Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending, said it was a 'very unusual case' and said the sentencing hearing will take up to two hours when it goes ahead. He handed in a document in relation to a request for an expert on radicalisation, Dr Daniel Koelher of the German Institute of Radicalisation and De-Radicalisaion Studies, to carry out a report in relation to Bal. He asked that Mr Koelher be given access to interviews with Bal and any associated documents including the Book of Evidence; that the expert provide a report on why Bal became "associated with such activities" and if has since been de-radicalised and whether he does not appear to support "terrorist organisations like Islamic State" any more. 'He has made it clear he would be providing an expert opinion to the court and is very well aware of his obligations as an expert witness to be fair and clear and to report on the basis of his primary obligations to the court,' senior counsel said. Judge O'Kelly agreed to extend the legal aid certificate for the defence to enable 'an expert, independent report on radicalisation,' pending the defence furnishing the qualifications of the expert they had put forward. The judge also ordered that the expert report be made available to the prosecution not less than a week before the sentencing hearing. This was agreed by Alex Owens SC, for the State. The legend of Loftus Hall is told in a new booklet published by a folklore researcher. Kerry based historian Janet Murphy heard the story of Loftus Hall at a dinner party recently and was fascinated by it. Janet said: 'My son carries out paranormal investigations at various locations in Ireland with GhostEire and I mentioned Loftus Hall to him, and he told me a little more about it having visited last year. I produced the book because I am interested in folklore.' The booklet is just 12 pages, with a note on Rev Reade, who left a fascinating account of the Tottenhams of Loftus Hall and the hauntings. It is almost 250 years since the legend about Anne Tottenham playing cards with the devil at Loftus Hall emerged, but the story of her strange encounter with this uninvited guest, persists, in the form of a Murphy's book called 'The Haunting of Loftus Hall: A Folk Tale from Co Wexford'. Loftus Hall is a 22-bedroom period mansion on Hook Peninsula. The isolated house, which is owned by Aidan Quigley, is set on 60 acres, overlooking a lonely stretch of the South East coast and was abandoned over three decades ago. The mansion numbers among the most haunted buildings in Ireland. 'The devil seems also to have played a hand in the affairs of Wexford-born Rev George Reade, who left a detailed account of Anne Tottenham and the disturbances at Loftus Hall. ' So spooky is the atmosphere that it comes as no surprise that Loftus Hall was the filming location for this terrifying gothic horror film, 'The Lodgers' which is due out later this year. Murphy's recent productions include Buarach Bhais The Spancel Of Death: A Folk Tale From Co Mayo; The Seandraoi: Three Folk Tales From Cork and The Magic Salt Mill: A Folk Tale From Dingle. All are available from www.lulu.com. The Dunbrody Famine Ship made a triumphant return on Tuesday morning to its moorings on the quayside in New Ross. The 120ft long, 28ft wide vessel ship spent six weeks from early December to Tuesday last having vital repair and refurbishment work carried out in dry dock in the New Ross Boat Yard across The Barrow River. The ship also received a complete painting job. The works were carried out by the skilled staff of the New Ross Boat Yard under the expert supervision of Michael and Stephen Kehoe, owners of the Boat Yard and Des Tyrell, the experienced marine surveyor. The works are part of a five to ten year programme of refurbishment and upgrade which the Dunbrody will undergo over the coming years, Dunbrody CEO Sean Connick said: 'The future-proofing of the vessel will be an ongoing process for the foreseeable future. These plans and works will include future possible options for the presentation of the ship. It is our plan to put a 100 year plan in place for the protection and preservation of the vessel.' The difficult job of moving the ship was carried out - on the most suitable high tide - under the expert guidance of Captain Luke Foley and using the tow boat facilities of Billy Culleton. Work on the ship was carried out every single day of the six week dry dock period except Christmas Day. Works included cleaning above and below decks, replacement of defective timbers and caulking or sealing of the top deck to prevent future water damage below decks. The hull was also thoroughly inspected and apart from some minor repairs was found to be in excellent condition. Once those repairs were completed the workers set about painting the hull with two coats of primer and three topcoats. Internally the boat was completely cleaned out and repainted. All the surfaces were treated with fungicide and insecticide before painting A new staircase for ease of access was installed. Preparations have also been made for the installation of a new elevator. A new heating system was installed which will help to combat damp and condensation. All the electrical works were reviewed and updated and a new lighting system was installed. All the ships rigging was examined and made good. 14 local people worked on the ship once, including Irish, Romanian, Lithuanian and Polish and all the materials used in the repairs and renovations were sourced locally, apart from some specialised fixings that had to come from the UK. 'These works will make the Dunbrody Famine Ship an even better visitor experience. If the dry dock in New Ross was no longer in use the Dunbrody would have to be towed to another dry dock, possibly to Cork or even to the UK. The cost of those tugs could be as much as what is being spent on this short refit. The Dunbrody will periodically have to be dry docked as she is no different from any other ship. Even the biggest ships sailing the ocean will visit a dry dock every two to five years,' Mr Connick said. Tom Enright, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, visited the Dunbrody whilst in dry dock and commented that the standard of workmanship carried out to the ship was of the highest quality and that he looked forward to the restoration of the magnificent Dunbrody alongside the quays in New Ross. Seventy five years ago three men were killed when their plane crashed in Ballycullane. Their lives are being remembered with a memorial which is being organised by local men Sean Egan and Billy Downes who have a deep interest in the crash, having grown up hearing stories about it from their parents and grandparents. The twin engine RAF medium range bomber, a Lockheed Hudson with serial number AM885 was on a fuel consumption test over the south of Ireland on Thursday, September 16, 1943. The crew comprised of three men from three different countries: F/Sgt. Pryce Owen (navigator) from Penygroes, Wales, F/Sgt. John Colhoun (pilot), from Paisley, Scotland and F/Sgt. A.J. Chabarra (wireless operator), from Alberta in Canada. The plane, which had been 'heard' from look out points at Cork, Ballycotton and Hook Head, came aground at Kinnagh, Ballycullane and the three men were killed instantly. It is believed the aircraft developed engine trouble and had a lot of fuel on board. The plane was completely destroyed and burned out within a few hours. Local gardai and members of the Local Defence Force (LDF) were first to the scene and they reported back to the Irish Army coastal fort at Duncannon. The military party from the 1st Field Company based at Duncannon gathered up the wreckage and returned it to the fort for disposal. Sean said many people in the area would have collected 'souvenirs' at the time from the crash including his late grandfather Nicky who had a piece of the plane kept on his mantelpiece. 'It was lost when the house burned down. I also remember hearing stories from my father John Egan.' The crash was one of 200 to occur in Ireland during the war. Sean and Billy are planning a special commemoration event in September where a memorial is being erected to mark the three quarters of a century since Mr Owen, Mr Chabarra and Mr Colhoun died. Sean said: 'We would love to hear from people who may have some piece of memorabilia from the plane, or even some of the older generation that may have photos of LDF members serving at the time who witnessed the incident.' Sean can be contacted at 087 9687092. Two talented County Wexford artists, Jackie Edwards and Dave Duffy, are featured in the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition, presented by Frank Skinner and Joan Bakewell which is broadcasting on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. Jackie, who lives in Rosslare Harbour, and Dave, from Enniscorthy, were both selected from thousands of entrants for the filmed heats of the high-profile competition after submitting photographs of self-portraits as well as with other examples of their artwork and impressing the programme makers during personal interviews. The overall winner of the competition will receive a 10,000 commission from a major British institution and 500 of art materials. Jackie and Dave travelled on different dates to London for the heat stages of the 2018 competition which were filmed last spring. They had four hours over a six-hour period to paint a well-known person in a live sitting at the Wallace Collection building in Hertford House. Jackie, an experienced artist who grew up in London, and Dave, a former graphic designer and self-taught artist who specialises in portraits using coloured pencil, both said the pressure of performing in front of cameras was intense. 'I really didn't think I'd get anywhere. It was a complete surprise. I hadn't entered it before because of the time pressure. It's very difficult for an artist to do that, especially in oils but you just have to go in with an attitude of enjoying it and painting a good picture,' said Jackie, who regularly appears as an extra in the Vikings programme on television. She is currently working on a solo exhibition at the Pigyard Gallery in Wexford for the Opera Festival. 'You were surrounded by people, there were cameras at all angles. I had no face make-up on. I was nervous and there was a little shake at the beginning but after a while I managed to focus on the work. It helped that I'm used to cameras from Vikings,' she said. 'Painting is a solitary exercise, that's why I didn't go for the competition but as an artist you must throw yourself out of your comfort zone. Also, it's great exposure for your career.' 'The experience was scary but exhilarating,' said Jackie, who was sworn to secrecy on the outcome of the competition and her progress in it. 'It was filmed last year but I had to keep schtum. We couldn't tell anyone until now that we are in it. I would love to tell you what happens but I can't', she laughed. Jackie, who usually paints alone in her studio, practised for the event by timing herself and inviting friends down to watch while she worked and she would advise other artists thinking of entering the competition in future to do the same. The self-portrait which won her entry to the competition was previously shown at the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition at Piano Nobel in Kings Cross, London, in 2015 and is now at Gormley Fine Art Gallery in Belfast. Jackie said that as a native Londoner, it was an honour be recognised by such a prestigious gallery and also by the Sky Arts programme in the city where she grew up. Dave Duffy was contacted by representatives of the show and invited to enter. He didn't have a self-portrait and was given a short period of time in which to paint one. 'It was a bit of a rush job,' he said modestly, although the result was clearly good enough to get him shortlisted for the filmed heats, from a large number of entries, following a brief interview over the phone. Dave, who has been working as a full-time artist for just over a year, is due to appear in episode six of the programme on February 20. 'I was up against it time-wise because painting a portrait with coloured pencils is a slow process' he said. 'It was pressure from start to finish. I'm hoping it will be good publicity, even though the work is not something I would say I'm proud of. My work usually takes 30 to 50 hours to complete. It's pressure with the TV cameras on you, it's never going to be a masterpiece in those circumstances.' Dave is busy working on a national ICA commission of a portrait of Anita Lett, the founder of the organisation, which will be unveiled at ICA headquarters in An Grianan in Co. Louth in mid-February. He will be teaching portrait classes in Gorey during the Easter holidays with more information available on the workshops at the Different Strokes Art Shop in St Michael's Court. Jackie will appear on the show on Sky Arts on Tuesday, February 6, at 8 p.m. and Dave appears on Tuesday, February 20, at 8 p.m. The fundraising event 'Support for Sophie' at the Brandon House Hotel recently was a huge success with around 300 people supporting the auction. The auction was hosted by local auctioneer Des Maloney, who gave his time freely, and through his expertise added a fantastic deal of excitement to an already action-packed evening. While there were many items donated from the town auctioned on the night, some of the items which produced the most 'bidding-wars' included a 1950s Wexford senior winning team signed hurley donated by South East Radio and a Connemara painting by local artist, Danny Brennan, who kindly donated this work towards supporting the fundraiser. Door prizes and spot prizes were donated by people and businesses of the town and surrounding areas. The evening played out against the backdrop of many local talents performing for the event such as Tommy Murphy, D.J. Jim Fitzgibbon, ceili musicians and Irish dancers, and various other bands who all gave their time freely including Ten Miles High. Des Redmond entertained the crowd as M.C on the night for local girl Sophie Walsh who is battling a rare form of cancer. A committee spokesperson said: 'Without the community spirit in New Ross and surrounding areas the "Support for Sophie" fundraising event would not have been such a success. Once again thank you to all the kind people in the community, who donated money and prizes, had fundraising events in their place of work and thank you to those whom gave up their time to sell lines and tickets and to all people who generously bought them.' The fundraising committee would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who has supported this worthy cause including the hotel, local media and C&R Print. I encountered a Short-eared Owl while on a coastal walk. It heard me coming before I saw it. Its mottled brown body stood on the ground, its large head slowly turning on its short neck for it to stare at me with large, piercing, yellow eyes set in a foil of jet black before it jumped into flight drifting leisurely and floppily away on long, broad wings and showing its pale underparts. Some scientists argue that the seat of human emotion is in the musculature of the face. In his studies of evolution, Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that facial expressions are universal rather than culture-specific. Whether it is right or wrong to ascribe human traits to animals, the facial expression of the Short-eared Owl is often described as 'mean'. The Short-eared Owl is a scarce winter visitor to Ireland. It rarely stays to breed. There is an annual influx of birds from Scandinavia, Russia and Iceland seeking to feed in our milder climes. The number that arrives each year varies greatly depending on the weather in its home range. The Barn Owl is a pale brown and white owl that normally hunts at night. In contrast, the larger Short-eared Owl is dark, tawny, mottled brown and hunts small mammals. frogs and birds during the hours of daylight greatly increasing the chances of one being spotted. A bird's ear is a hole on the side of its head covered by feathers. It doesn't have an ear flap like we have so the ear cannot normally be seen. In the Short-eared Owl, the 'ear' refers to is a tuft of feathers that sometimes sticks up on top of its head giving the impression that the bird has ears like a mammal. The descriptive 'short' addition to the bird's supposed auricular appendages is meant to distinguish it from a related species: the Long-eared Owl. However, since the 'ear' tufts may or may not be visible in either species they are not the best field mark for separating the pair of so-called eared owls. At close range, iris colour separates the pair: bright yellow in the Short-eared Owl, and dark orange in the Long-eared Owl. If the 'ear' tufts are erect, they are small and indistinct in the Short-eared Owl as its name states but large and distinct in the Long-eared Owl. The Long-eared Owl is a common breeder in Ireland in conifer plantations. Like the Barn Owl, it hunts by night. The recent death occurred in her 98th year of Mary Ellen Lundy (nee Walsh), late of Rhue, Tubbercurry. Born and reared in Rhue, one of six children of John Thomas and Ellie Walsh, Mary Ellen proved herself a formidable individual from an early age. After attending Drimina Primary School in the 1920's and '30's, Mary Ellen won a hard earned scholarship to attend Secondary School at the Marist Convent in Tubbercurry. There was no free education in those days. From there she went to England to train as a nurse and was in England for the first few years of World War 2. After returning from England, she met her future husband, Eneas Lundy at a fundraising event in the newly opened St. Brigid's Hall, Tubbercurry in 1944, and they married in 1946. Little did this young couple realise that their marriage would run for 67 happy years, as Eneas only passed away in 2013. Their first child Patricia was born in Cloongoonagh during the infamous snow blizzard of spring 1947, and Mary Ellen often told the story of sending her husband walking miles through the deep snow to seek medical help when she started labour. Like all young couples of that era, life was tough rearing a young and expanding family in the 1950's and '60's, but Mary Ellen was an exceptional worker and thrifty housewife. They managed to purchase their farm at Rhue within a half mile of Mary Ellen's home place and after building their house, they were to live there for the rest of their lives. Mary Ellen was highly enterprising and had many small type cottage industries to help make ends meet. She kept her hand in with nursing for much of her working life both as a private nurse and a mid-wife. She was a leading activist in the local Guild of the ICA - Irish Countrywomen's Association, and often attended meetings and conferences at the ICA HQ "An Greanan" in Co. Louth. Back in the 1950, '60's and '70's, many local ICA women cured sheep skins to make and sell sheep skin rungs and local butcher Paddy McCarrick was continually putting aside good skins with tight wool for these women's enterprises. Mary Ellen helped on the family farm at Rhue and one of their enterprises was the growing and selling of strawberries. Located as they were along the main Sligo-Galway road within 2 miles of Tubbercurry, there was always passing traffic. As well as selling strawberries, she also displayed her sheep skin rugs for sale and she attracted some interesting characters off the road. Some of the more interesting clients she entertained in her house included Ronnie Drew and The Dubliners, and The Wolfe Tones Band. She served them homemade bread and country butter which went down a treat. The ICA ladies were also knitting Aran Jumpers and cardigans, and many products of Mary Ellen were exported all over the world. She was also involved with the Western Show Committee, helping out in the farm products section and was a regular winner with her homemade butter, jams and baking. The Western Drama Festival Committee also benefited from her help in the first quarter century of its existence mid 1940's - '70's. Mary Ellen was a very devoted Christian and she had three brothers Priests who served in foreign lands. Fr. Bertie, Fr. James and Fr. Pake. As well as leading a fully active working and community life, she also worked quietly on the upkeep and improvement of Rhue graveyard which was located just 200 metres from her home. When new gates to the Cemetery were needed she lead a fundraising drive to provide same, and her idea of a Pieta Statue for the graveyard to mark the new Millennium came to fruition in time for the arrival of the new millennium 18 years ago. In her later years, she enjoyed retirement, prayed for those in need with prayer groups and enjoyed music and singing up to her death. She was the last of her family to die, her priest brothers and brother John and sister Josie having passed at various stage over the last 25 years. Mary Ellen had a refreshing attitude to life, her glass was always half full rather than empty, and she always had a smile on her face. A chance meeting with her on any given day never failed to raise the spirits. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her daughter Patricia, sons Robert, Brendan, Seamus, Jerry, Kieran and Paul, in-laws, nephews and nieces, all to whom sympathy is extended. She is buried in her beloved Rhue graveyard where she will rest gently in peace. Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken has appealed to the public to be vigilant and call in on their elderly neighbours in the wake of a recent spate of targeted break-ins in the area. He told The Sligo Champion that Gardai prevented what they believe was an armed robbery in a town in North Leitrim just days ago when they disrupted intruders who may have used firearms. The investigation is ongoing. "These gangs are indiscriminate, they are organised, some of them are coming down from West Dublin. "Some are using children to access bathroom windows, and they are happening in the middle of the day. They are operating in groups targeting isolated area in Sligo and Leitrim," he said. He paid tribute to the work of local Garda patrols on the ground and asked people to report any suspicious activity they may come across. Scientists of the Shanghai Neuroscience Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences were the first in the world to clone two genetically identical long-tailed macaques using the somatic cell nuclear transfer method - the so-called "therapeutic cloning". The names given to this cloned monkeys, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, also have a meaning in China, if one syllable of each name is separated and put together into one, you get the Mandarin word Zhonghua, which is an ancient name for China, as it serves as a tribute to the nation that brought life to these cloned monkeys. The scientists have previously emphasised the "very strict ethical standards" required for performing cloning research on primates. In 1999, a rhesus monkey embryo was split in two in order to create two identical twins. The result is an embryo with genetic material identical to the donor cell. Cloning primates have proved much harder than other animals, including dogs, cats, pigs, horses, rats and mice since scientists successfully produced Dolly the cloned sheep in Scotland in July 1996. This is where scientists reconstruct an unfertilized egg. This involves transferring DNA from the nucleus of a cell to a donated egg cell, which has had its own DNA removed. Only 22 surrogate monkey mothers became pregnant. That same cell cluster can make more genetically matched animals. "The first report of cloning of a non-human primate will undoubtedly raise a series of ethical concerns, with critics evoking the slippery slope argument of this being one step closer to human cloning", he said. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is different. The team spent three years perfecting the delicate procedure. The research team attempted to clone monkeys from adult cells as well as cells taken from fetal connective tissue. Only two live births resulted. They hope more monkey babies will be born soon from these embryos. Even then, the success rate was low. Darren Griffin, a professor of genetics at the University of Kent, said "careful consideration now needs to be given to the ethical framework under which such experiments can, and should, operate". "Monkeys are the primates closest to humans and the biggest contribution of this work is to produce non-human primate models for human disease", Xinhua quoted the professor as saying. However, Griffin said he thinks the benefits of this approach are clear and "cautious optimism is my personal response to this study". Zhong Zhong was born eight weeks ago and Hua Hua six weeks ago. Poo said that the Chinese government intends to dramatically increase the size of the lab and the project. Dolly made history 20 years ago after being cloned at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh. Researchers want to use additional clones to study genetic diseases such as autism, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's. "It's a landmark work", said Jun Wu, assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, who had participated in the creation of the first human-pig chimera embryos and the altering of the genes of a human embryo in the US. "It's the first time that primates have been born using the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer, which is the technique that was used to produce Dolly the sheep, gosh, nearly 22 years ago now", he said. A 32-year-old man broke into the Bishop of Elphins home, cooked a meal, threw tomato soup all over the walls as well as writing graffiti on them before making off with silver cutlery. Bishop Kevin Doran wasnt at his Temple Street home on the night of December 1st 2015 when Darren Kirwan, a native of Carlow broke in after smashing a front window with a stone around 1am. After entering the home on Temple Street, Kirwan took a brush and struck the alarm control box disabling it and knocking it off the wall in the utility room. He then cooked a meal before covering the walls with it and then wrote graffiti on them. Kirwan made off with a sterling silver cutlery set worth in the region of 500 along with a gift voucher. The Sligo Champion understands that Kirwan wrote graffiti on walls in various downstairs rooms, hallway and a stairway leading to the landing. It was of an anti-Garda and anti-British sentiment. Tomato soup was thrown at the kitchen walls and ceiling. The Champion also understands that the alarm company had made a call after receiving notification of the alarm going off but it was confined to just one zone in the house and could not be heard so the Gardai were not contacted. On the afternoon before the burglary the defendant had called to the home of the Bishop and was told he was away after asking to speak with him. He had stated that he was homeless and was looking for accommodation. Taken from the home was a Newbridge cutlery set while a number of items had been removed and placed on the lawn. Various documents were also moved around the Bishops office. The damage was confined to the downstairs of the Bishops home. A front window had to be replaced at a cost of 200 while the internal walls had to be repainted. At the outset of the hearing at Sligo District Court last Thursday, the defendants solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern said he wished to have the matters finalised. The defendant was now back in Kilkenny where he was an in-patient at St Lukes Hospital. Judge Kevin Kilrane asked if the defendant was fit to plead and Mr McGovern confirmed that he was. He is very sensible and easy to talk to now, said Mr McGovern. The case had been adjourned from a previous sitting to see how the defendants treatment progressed. Kirwan had pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage at the Bishops Palace. Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told the court that the defendant had 48 previous convictions though some of these were disputed by the defendant. Mr McGovern said it was a bizarre situation. Kirwan had been living rough and had ben in touch with clergy and was suffering from a severe illness. Mr McGovern said that when the defendant first appeared in court he wished to fight the case and was speaking about bizarre circumstances and was querying who the clergy were. It was off the wall stuff but he has since received treatment in hospital. Who we see today is a totally different person. He is coherent, said Mr McGovern. Judge Kilrane asked the defendant if he recalled the incident. Kirwan replied that he did. He stated that he was upset, angry, cold and hungry. He was aware that the Bishop wasnt at home that night. He had been staying outside the nearby cathedral. Under no circumstances did I deliberately set out to do it, he said. Kirwan told the Judge that he was taking his medication at present, was living in St Lukes and was good. He had been in the hospital for the past year and a member of staff had accompanied him to the court. The long term plan was for him to move out into a hostel in Carlow. Id be delighted with that, he said. The staff nurse who was with the defendant was asked to come forward and he told the judge that the defendant was doing very well. He was a voluntary patient in St Lukes and went out each day. There wasnt any problem with the defendant taking his medication. Judge Kilrane said the defendant was clearly suffering at the time from mental health issues. In the circumstances I will apply the Probatiion Act, he said. At the same court Kirwan pleaded guilty to forging a cheque in the amount of 400 at Sligo General Post Office on March 31st 2014. The social welfare cheque was made out to the defendant and he cashed it. The original cheque had been made out for 100. Kirwan told the Judge that he collected the amount but that he never gave any of it back. He stated that he was on a disability allowance. Inspector Kilcoyne said the Post Office was out of funds as a result of the forgery. Judge Kilrane said he would also apply the Probation Act in this case too. A care worker who stole 1,710 from a 72-year-old wheelchair bound woman she was looking after was fined 300 at Sligo District Court. Sarah Scanlon (29) of 2 Station Road, Tubbercurry admitted three sample charges out of 40 theft offences committed between December 2016 and March 2017. The court was told Scanlon worked for Homecare Independent Living, a private firm at the time and was a carer for the woman. She was trusted with the woman's ATM card and made the withdrawals in various sums. Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told the court that Scanlon paid back 638 during that period and that all of the money had now been returned to the injured party who had severe arthritis and other ailments and who had a leg amputated in 2014 and was subsequently wheelchair bound and reliant on the company. Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) said the defendant, a single parent, had co-operated with the investigation since the outset and was very remorseful and ashamed. She had also written a letter of apology to the victim with whom she had a very good relationship. The woman had also forgiven the defendant. Mr McGovern said the defendant has had her own difficulties in her past and he didn't wish to go into this in open court but he said that she did suffer a very severe trauma herself. "It was life changing what happened to her," pleaded Mr McGovern saying he didn't think anyone would be in their right mind for life if it happened to them. "However, she does know that what she did was wrong. She saw it as borrowing money over time with a view to repaying it. She did enjoy taking care and looking after this woman," said Mr McGovern. Judge Kevin Kilrane said the offence was extremely serious as the victim was vulnerable and was dependant on the defendant completely to do chores and work for which she was employed to do. The Judge noted that apart from any sanction the court would impose the defendant would also be subjected to public criticism and perhaps odium when details of the case were published in the press. In mitigation, she had pleaded guilty, was a single mother of a ten-year-old child and had been strapped for money. She had also suffered her own injustice in the past, said Judge Kilrane. Mr McGovern confirmed that the defendant had lost her job while he also agreed she had lost her standing in the community. "She will not get back to that position again and will suffer for the rest of her life," he said. Judge Kilrane said he would have to record a conviction as the matters were too serious and he fined the defendant 100 on each of the three charges relating to the theft of 20 on December 17th 2016, 80 on the same date and 20 on February 23rd 2017. "The fines do not remotely reflect the seriousness of the offences but the orders meet the justice of the situation," said Judge Kilrane. Sligos new Superintendent Ray McMahon at his desk at the Garda Station on Pearse Road. Pic: Donal Hackett A complete changing of the guard at Sligo Garda Station was remarked upon at the District Court last Thursday as the city's new Superintendent was warmly welcomed. Supt Ray McMahon replaces the recently retired Supt Mary Murray while the station also has a new Chief Superintendent, Aidan Glackin who took up the position from Chief Supt Michael Clancy who had been in the role since 2012. Welcoming Supt McMahon on behalf of the Sligo Solicitors' Association, Mr Gerard McGovern said he had dealings with the new Superintendent since he came to work in Sligo in another role. "He has been a Superintendent since 2013 and my colleagues and I have met him on occasions and he has been a pleasure to deal with. I've always found him to be a decent and honourable individual man and he has always been fair to deal with," said Mr McGovern, saying the new Superintendent had a lot of Leitrim connections being a native of Carrick-on-Shannon. Mr McGovern added: "I can assure you that you will have the full co-operation of the solicitors. We have always had a very good working relationship with An Garda Siochana." Judge Kevin Kilrane welcomed Supt McMahon to his permanent role in Sligo and remarked how his predecessor had run a tight and efficient operation and that she had a harmonious relationship with the legal profession. "There has been a complete changing of the guard in Sligo with the appointment of a new Chief Superintendent and Superintendent," said the Judge, adding that Chief Supt Glackin had yet to show himself in court but that he probably would soon. Judge Kilrane said Supt McMahon was a very experienced officer having served in many areas during his various promotions including in the border which was probably both exciting and challenging for him. "Sligo is largely a law abiding area. It has its difficulties from time to time but you'll find that your time here will not be unhappy," he said. He added that everyone was committed to a smooth running of the judicial system and criminal procedures and that he would receive nothing but the co-operation and efficiency from the local Bar. Ms Loretta Kearins, on behalf of the Courts Service, also welcomed Supt McMahon and assured him of office's support. Supt McMahon thanked everyone for their kind remarks. He said he wasn't coming a stranger to Sligo and joked that he hoped his status as a Leitrim man working in Sligo would not be held against him. A social media campaign to find the Irish family of a man said to be dying "virtually alone" in a UK hospital has led to the door of a man living in Gurteen. Patrick Mulligan (88), a bachelor who spent most of his life in America, was contacted last week by Finders International. They were searching for any relatives of Patrick 'John' Mulligan, a man seriously ill in hospital in the UK. The man's neighbour, Dave, put up an appeal on Facebook trying to trace his family. After the call went out, his post was shared almost 30,000 times. It was picked up by the Finders International Ireland branch which traces heirs and works on adoption cases. They used a genealogist who traced John Mulligan's parents marriage certificate and checked for children of that marriage. They discovered his father died not long before he was born and his mother re-married and had three children from her second marriage. They also traced John Mulligan's father's family to Gurteen in South Sligo, where they found a first cousin, named Patrick Mulligan and contacted him. Speaking to The Sligo Champion about his long lost relative from his home in the village, Patrick confirmed John's father was his uncle from Gurteen. "I saw that lad when he was small, when his father died in 1944. He was from Blarney in Cork, that's where his father was working when he died. He was a Garda," said Patrick. "His father would be an uncle to me. He had lived in Limerick and then in Cork. He died answering the phone in the barracks," he said. None of his family (from Monasteraden area also) could attend his funeral in Cork because it was during the Emergency (World War 2) and they had no petrol to drive down from Sligo. Patrick said after John's mother re-married, he only came up to Sligo once when he was brought up by cousins and after he left for England he never returned. "I wondered how come that lad didn't make an appearance and find out his relatives," said Patrick, who is the eldest of five children but two of his brothers are deceased and his two sisters live in America. John's father had other siblings in Gurteen and Patrick says he would have other first cousins still alive in south Sligo. Pauric Grennan of Finders International told this newspaper that John also had half-siblings from his mother's second marriage still alive in Munster. "We normally trace heirs but when we heard about John Mulligan we decided to get in touch to help him out," Pauric said. When the late John O'Hara walked down the street, he always had a book of fundraising tickets in his pocket and was never afraid to produce it. "No body could refuse him. He knew everyone. He was a great man for the chats, a real people person," recalls wife Margaret from Ballisodare. The Collooney native who sadly passed away from Cancer in 2014 was instrumental in setting up and running the North West Stroke Group. Himself a stroke survivor, John helped to establish the support group for victims and their families in 2003. Now the Irish Heart Foundation is to honour the dedicated campaigner by naming an award in his memory. The John O'Hara Local Heart Hero Award will be given annually to a group or person who has worked on behalf of the Irish Heart Foundation. Spokeswoman Martina Greene explains: "This is a fitting tribute to John's legacy and his outstanding achievements. He helped to raise awreness of Stroke in the community and much needed funds for Stroke survivors all over the North West Region. "He was a larger than life character who was determined that stroke victims should be encouraged to enjoy activities and not be afraid to go out and socialise as often people affected by stroke are very conscious of their disability. And the late John O'Hara knew only too well the difficulty of living with the aftermath of a stroke. At the young age of 46, the father-of-five was out fishing at Ballisodare Falls when his first stroke struck. His wife Margaret recalls: "He lost his vision, was totally disorientated and was alone. After a while he came around and somehow managed to drive home. When he came in the back door, I knew immediately that something was wrong. I asked him had he been in the pub as he couldn't walk properly." John went on to develop a second stroke that night and the next morning was admitted to hospital. Everything changed for both him and his young family. John would never be the same person again. The stroke stole his independence. "His outlook on life totally changed. It was a massive shock. He had no memory of how to do his job as a computer manager with Sligo Heritage. Physically and mentally he was a changed man. He lost the power of speech and power on his right side," says Margaret. Years of speech therapy helped to restore John's speech but he never regained full power to his right side. At first it seemed impossible but his love of nature helped him to recover. The WDR will continue from Kevinsfort to link with Caltragh from the Ballydoogan junction. Pic: D Hackett The New Year couldn't have got off to a better start to Sligo with significant progress being made on long awaited road projects while AbbVie has announced a major expansion with the creation of 100 new jobs at its Ballytivnan site. The announcements lend an air of optimism for the capital of the North West and a chance to drive Sligo in the months ahead. Apart from 11 million being allocated to the Western Distributor Road, it's also full steam ahead for the long awaited N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin scheme. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross has been informed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland that the 15km N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin road widening project, with an overall investment value of 105 million, could now commence construction in 2018 but it is more likely the project will go to tender this year and a contractor appointed with work starting in 2019. And, Minister Ross's good news for Sligo didn't stop there. He has also revealed that some 11 million has been allocated to the Western Distributor Road under the national road investment programme for 2018 to 2021. The announcement follows the conclusion of the Capital Plan Review process from October and Sligo County Council says work should begin in July. Minister Ross said: "I was delighted to secure such an increased allocation during the Capital review process, the largest at the time. With this increase we are able to commence additional roads projects, such as the Sligo Western Distributor Road." The proposed Western Distributor road was first included in the Development Plan as far back as 1971 and links the N4 dual carriageway at the Caltragh Interchange to the R292 Strandhill Road at Ballydoogan, west of Sligo City. The WDR comprises 3.0 km of 2-lane urban distributor road, two traffic signal controlled junctions, one roundabout junction, one railway overbridge, sustainable drainage and attenuation works, and accommodation works. The scheme was divided into two phases for construction with phase one from the Ballydoogan Road to the Strandhill Road completed early in 2010. This new road was recently named Roger Eames Road. Phase two from the Caltragh Interchange on the N4 to the Ballydoogan Road is required to access the IDA Business Park. It involves the construction of this road from the Caltragh Interchange west to the proposed IDA Business Park at Oakfield, including the link road into the Business Park, and north to the junction of Phase 1 with the Ballydoogan Road. Phase 2 consists of 1.9km of main roadway, 400m of IDA link road, 1km of minor roads and tie-ins and a railway overbridge at Maugheraboy. It will also take traffic heading for Dublin on the Strandhill side away from Larkhill Road, Oakfield Road and Ballyfree. Sligo Chamber has warmly welcomed the 11 million investment for the Western Distributor Road with an additional 5 million coming from the IDA. Mr Tom Kilfeather Director of Services Sligo County Council and Aidan Doyle CEO of Sligo Chamber of Commerce attended a meeting in Leinster House last August with Minister Ross at the invitation of Cllr Marie Casserly to press the case for funding for the route. Also in attendance were Cllr Michael Clarke and MEP Marian Harkin. The critical nature of the scheme in terms of job creation in the North West was outlined to the Minister by Chamber CEO Aidan Doyle and Mr Kilfeather. The Minister spoke very positively towards the scheme acknowledging its critical importance in offering the IDA the opportunity to market the North West for Foreign Direct Investment. He also recognised that the work done to date by the IDA and Sligo County Council to progress the Scheme and to secure part of the overall funding package to deliver the Scheme was very helpful. Chamber President Des Faul stated: "We are delighted additional investment has been secured in order to advance this project and enable IDA attract investment and employment to the Sligo region". Deputy Tony McLoughlin said the allocation of 16 Million funding for a new approach road into Sligo was excellent news for the town and its environs. He said: "Fine Gael in government is committed to strengthening our communities and building a sustainable future in Sligo going forward. "Enhancing our infrastructure here in Sligo will help improve people's day to day lives as well as making the area even more accessible and attractive. "The second phase of the Sligo Western Distributor road was kick started by the IDA this year who have contributed 5million towards the project. "This will create a high quality transport corridor to the Oakfield IDA site which should make Sligo even more appealing for Foreign Direct Investment. I am further advised by Sligo County Council this morning that work will commence on this new road in July of this year. "I have been lobbying very hard for the need and importance of this road for a long time now so it is great to see it included in this revised plan. "I am also delighted to see that the 100 Million N4 project and the 20 million Eastern Bridge slipway all remain in the plan for development between now and 2021." Councillor Marie Casserly said it was following an invitation from Minister Ross that a delegation met with him at Leinster last August. She said: "We spoke about the need for urgent investment in the development of this project to enable the IDA site to be developed to attract vital jobs to the area. "I am delighted to announce an investment of 11 million for this development. This is on top of the 17 million roads allocation for county Sligo in December, an increase of 8 million on last year's figures. "I wish to sincerely thank Minister Ross for this investment and pay tribute to Sligo County Council Director of Services Tom Kilfeather and all the staff in the Roads Department, Aidan Doyle, Des Faul and staff of Sligo Chamber, John Nugent and staff of the IDA North West." Cllr Tom MacSharry who has also pressed the case for the WDR said it could kick start significant investment in Sligo. The road and job announcements have eased the pressure on Government TD McLoughlin in the wake of recent job losses. Union Food Distributors at Ballisodare, which had been set up in 1979, closed before Christmas while last week ProMinent Fluid Controls based in Finisklin stated it will close this year with the loss of 24 jobs. On the AbbVie news Deputy McLoughlin said: "I have been raising the problem with the lack of job creation in my constituency at every opportunity I have had in the Dail since being elected and I am absolutely delighted with the announcement." Fianna Fail TD Eamon Scanlon says it is a vote of confidence in the workforce in Sligo and the greater North-West region and was particularly welcome following a series of job losses and plant closures in recent times. "The expansion of the Ballytivnan site comes at a very welcome time and will provide a huge boost to the local economy. AbbVie has been a success story in Sligo but we need to ensure more investment in the region through a strategic economic and social plan," he said. Irish Water say the job is nearly done as concerns about the timing and intensity of the work is raised at a meeting of the County Council. Access for pedestrians to city centre streets, night time works in residential areas and the effects on businesses have been brought up in recent weeks. Residents have complained about pipe laying and excavation works taking place during night time hours and have queried how permission was granted in such circumstances. At last Monday's meeting of the Council, Cllr Chris MacManus said he had received reports of children not being able to stay awake in school because they got no sleep the night before. He raised the issue of private contractors receiving road opening licenses and the conditions attached to them. "In particular, I highlighted the lack of consultation with residents or groups such as the taxi-drivers when the taxi-rank at Quay Street was closed. "Of concern is the granting of road opening licenses allowing contractors to work through the night in residential areas," said Cllr MacManus. He was informed that all road opening applications in Sligo are applied for via a MapRoad Roadworks Licensing system which was a new, national application process. Applications could only be made by pre-approved contractors to the website. When an application is received, the relevant council engineer is assigned it for processing. The engineer carries out an inspection and assigns fees and conditions including any specific points to the area involved and these must be agreed to by the applicant . The road opening licence is granted when all fees have been paid by the applicant. Irish Water says over 86 per cent of the 6.8m Sligo Water Mains and Sewer Rehabilitation project is complete. All pipe laying works were ahead of schedule and forecast to finish by end of March 2018 in advance of the original contract dates. Irish Water, working in partnership with Sligo County Council and Contractors Ward & Burke Ltd, again thanked the businesses, residents and shoppers in Sligo City for their continued patience and co-operation while the project progresses. Over November and December pipe laying works were completed in Old Market St, Connelly St, Union St, Lower Quay St, Holborn Hill, Cemetery Rd., Bridge St., Stephen St. and Quay St was completed in the first weeks of January. Pipe laying works are currently progressing along Fatima Avenue, Wine St (night works), Hyde Bridge and Lower Knox Street (programmed for completion by mid-February). Pipe laying works on Stephen St car park are expected to be completed by February. This will bring to a conclusion all pipe laying works under the Ward & Burke contract. Between now and end of March minor works will be ongoing across the city and resurfacing works will begin mid-February to the end of March, weather dependant, on Wine St (night works), Stephen St (night works) and Fatima Ave. Road closures will be in place for resurfacing works. Sligo County Council along with the contractor will continue to liaise with An Garda Siochana to implement traffic management plans so as to minimise traffic disruption. The overall project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of approximately 8.7km of ageing water mains, the installation of 1.5km of foul and storm sewers in the Pearse Road area and the replacement of all service connections including any lead services encountered. Irish Water says the separate O'Connell St Sewer Re-Lining project, being undertaken by Carty Contractors Ltd, is completed. Works have begun by contractors McGovern Plant Ltd. in the Ballytivnan/Holborn Hill area to replace a defective 1km stretch of ageing water main along which there have been frequent bursts over the last couple of years. Source Civil Ltd has been appointed as contractor for the Kilsellagh to Ballinode Cast Iron Watermains Replacement project which is programmed to commence in February and will continue until July. The works represent a further 1.1 million investment by Irish Water and will ensure an improved supply to all customers by improving water quality. The dispute over 750,000 allegedly promised to Sligo County Council in 2015 is now up to Sligo's four Dail deputies to sort out. That was the majority view of council members after a heated debate on the matter at this month's Council meeting. First to respond to statements from the management team back up Ciaran Hayes version of events was Councillor Michael Clarke. He said the whole row was the result of "political failings far more than management failures." "Ministers and TDs could have given the 750,000 if enough pressure was put on them. Fine Gael, and Fianna Fail (who support them) should be insisting on the 750,000," he said. "The political parties should hang their heads in shame at the way Sligo County Council is being treated by the Department," he added. Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon told members he raised the issue with Deputy Marc MacSharry who wrote to Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy asking for a meeting. Councillor Tom MacSharry said Fianna Fail councillors had been "very vocal" with Deputies Eamon Scanlon and Marc MacSharry about securing a meeting with Minister Murphy. "We all have to unite behind the Executive. Let our Oireachtas members in Dublin deal with this," he said. Councillor Joe Queenan, who was Cathaoirleach of the Council in 2015, said he met Paul Lemass in February 2015, when Ciaran Hayes alleges he was promised they'd get the 750,000 back eventually. "He never said we wouldn't get it. He said 'get your plan in place, I'll go back to the Minister and hopefully we'll get it over the line'. Paul Lemass doesn't put anything in writing," said Cllr Queenan. Councillor Hubert Keaney repeated his assertions that Paul Lemass "never gave any commitment to us." "He said if the Financial Plan was in place he would make a commitment that he would make a recommendation to the Minister about it. That to me was not a commitment to give it back," he said. "Do I think it was right to take the 750,000 away from us? No I don't. Do I think we should get it back? Yes I do," he said. Councillor Sinead Maguire said the row was "disturbing, unfortunate and incredibly negative." "For me it harks back to the old way of negativity and I will not be part of it," she said. Councillor Thomas Healy said talks between Paul Lemass and Ciaran Hayes had broken down: "Let's get another meeting with Paul Lemass. If we're entitled to the money we should get it. No one else is going to stand up for us other than ourselves," he said. Councillor Keith Henry said he wouldn't like to see a tone set that the Department punish Sligo for not accepting their line of events, which would be "like Penal Times." Councillor Margaret Gormley said "if it's to be left to the Dail Deputies let them get on their bikes." She was supported by Councillor Chris MacManus who said the issue was "being flogged to death" and urged all parties to move on. Councillor Dara Mulvey called for positivity to move things forward. Cllr Kilgannon urged the Sligo Oireachtas members in Dail Eireann to "earn their money" and get a meeting with Minister Murphy. "It's time to put clear blue water between the 750,000 and this Council. Whatever the outcome, even if we don't get this money, we should draw a line and move forward," he said. Mr Hayes pointed out that there had been no lack of communication on the Council's part in their dealings with the Department. Cllr Queenan echoed Cllr Healy's view: "The key to all of this is a working relationship between Paul Lemass and Ciaran Hayes and that's what the Dail Deputies have to sort out." Councillor Martin Baker asked that everyone would "pull together and ensure we get what's due to this Council." Councillor Paul Taylor said: "We're over and back in a battle between the Executive and a councillor." Sligo was stunned and saddened by the loss of a young kayaker who was described as 'living the dream' as a kayak instructor in Ecuador Calry native Alex McGourty lost his life in a flash flood while kayaking with others on the Abanico river near the Sangay national park in the Morona Santiago province of Ecuador. Another young Irish man David Higgins from Galway was also on the expedition and is currently missing as well as an Ecuadorian, Joaquin Meneses and Adam Nicholas Vaughan from England. Their empty kayaks have been found. One member of the expedition survived. Alex left Summerhill College while in fifth year to pursue his life long ambition of a being a top kayak instructor. Last week Alex and his group had hiked six hours in the jungle into the "hidden Upper abanico" to go kayaking. He had spent two months kayaking in Nepal in late 2017 before returning to Ireland for Christmas and then travelling on to Ecuador. In a tribute, Sligo Kayak Club said Alex tragically died while fulfilling his dream of kayaking in Ecuador. "The club would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Alex's parents Frankie and Eilish, his family and his friends. "Alex will be greatly missed by all in Sligo Kayak Club. He was one of the finest young men we had the honour of knowing and paddling with."There have been dozens of messages of sympathy posted on the club's Facebook page since news emerged of the tragedy on Sunday. Sligo Kayak Tours described Alex as having "a passion for life which was infectious" and who was "kind and hardworking". "Let his passing be a reminder to us to chase our dreams, to live passionately and to seize each day as if it were our last," wrote the tour company. Alex was awarded a scholarship into the World Class Kayak Academy in Washington for 2016/2017 which is a travelling highschool that will provide an education and also to kayak some of the best rivers in the world to become a highly trained whitewater kayaker. Alex fundraised for his tuition and travel costs including a memorable paddle from Dublin to Lough Key in Roscommon.The World Class Kayak Academy went kayaking in Ottowa and British Columbia Canada, Nepal, Ecuador and the West Coast of America. Funding workshops will be run by Wicklow County Council in the next few weeks to raise awareness about funding schemes that are aimed at the revitalisation of rural areas. Schemes such as the Town and Village Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Scheme, CLAR and the Community Facilities Scheme are a package of funding opportunities that communities can access to fund projects in their areas. These schemes are an initiative under the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development and are part of national and local support measures to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, said: 'Often the funding schemes have very tight deadlines which can be onerous on volunteers. It is the communities that are prepared, have got buy-in from the wider community and have started any planning or procurement requirements that will be successful in accessing this funding for their area.' The types of projects which can be funded include: projects that support entrepreneurship (for example, the development of enterprise hubs, hot desk facilities, digital hubs, creative hubs, training facilities). Projects with integrated approaches to developing individual sectors within the town and/or its environs (such as artisan food hubs, craft hubs) will also be considered. Projects which demonstrate collaboration between town centre businesses and the surrounding area to produce economic benefit are viable, as are tourism initiatives. Other projects which can be funded include the enhancement of heritage and/or other community assets; town safety and accessibility enhancements; provision/enhancement of leisure facilities (e.g. town parks, walking trails); social and community enterprises and, finally, the development of quality marks, such as Purple Flag, Heritage Town, etc. This is the third year that these grants have been available. Town and Village funding is aimed at those towns and villages with a population under 10,000. CLAR is targeted at very specific areas that are suffering from depopulation. Full details of the schemes will not be made available until March or April. However, it is important that communities are ready to apply when the schemes are announced. The information sessions take place in Lawless's Hotel, Aughrim on Wednesday, January 31, Hollywood Community Centre on Tuesday, February 6, and the Glenview Hotel on Thursday, February 8. Plans to upgrade the N81 from Hollywood Cross to Tallaght, bypassing Blessington, have been suspended indefinitely. Confirmation was received from Transport Infrastructure Ireland that the road improvement scheme is not included in the Government's Capital Investment Plan (CIP), which provides the financial and strategic framework for Transport Infrastructure Ireland's activities until 2021. The scheme, which has been the subject of intense work by Wicklow County Council, Kildare County Council and South Dublin County Council since 2008, will now not go ahead in the foreseeable future, leaving road users without any indication on when this dangerous route may be made safer. Sinn Fein TD John Brady has expressed anger at the decision and said that it appears that west Wicklow has been 'forgotten by the Government'. 'I have been lobbying Minister Shane Ross on the urgent need for works to take place on the N81. Locals and those familiar with the N81 will know it is one of the deadliest roads in the county. According to a briefing report which was released by the Kildare National Roads Office, the current N81 between Tallaght and Hollywood Cross has up to seven times the national average of head-on collisions, and two times the national average of single-vehicle crashes,' he said. Correspondence sent to Deputy Brady from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) confirmed the decision. 'The funding available to TII for investment in the network of national roads during the period of the Capital Investment Plan is limited and the focus of our activities is being centred on the progression of the major national roads improvement schemes that were identified for development during the period. The proposed N81 Tallaght to Hollywood Cross road improvement scheme is currently suspended, following the completion of the route selection, and the scheme is not included amongst those projects which were identified for further development during the period of the CIP. The advancement of the proposed scheme cannot, therefore, be accommodated in the national roads programme at present,' the letter stated. Meanwhile, former TD and west Wicklow man Billy Timmins has claimed that Wicklow TDs were made aware of this late last year and that it is 'a bit late' for it to be addressed now. 'I have spent a number of years trying to get the preferred route for the N81 and to get it on the agenda. I feel like, over the last few years, no one has been pushing it forward at national level. Fifty-six other projects, along with the N81, have also been suspended since last year. This didn't happen today or yesterday so it is a bit late for people to start coming to the table now,' said Mr Timmins. 'I am aware that local councillors are working on this issue but we need the support of all the TDs to get this back on the agenda,' he said. Mr Timmins said that traffic flow on the N81 is back to 'Celtic Tiger levels'. 'The accident statistics on the N81 are also far higher than most of the other suspended projects,' he said. Two brothers have won a High Court legal challenge after they were refused permission to build on lands in Ballylug which were gifted to them by their father. The direction by Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan means applications by Paul and Tony Porter must be reconsidered by An Bord Pleanala. Their sister, Stephanie Power, had previously secured permission for a house on the lands. In January of 2016, an application by Paul and Tony Porter to construct their own homes on the lands were refused by Wicklow County Council. The local authority planning section felt the development would present a traffic hazard, had intrusive features and that no housing need was demonstrated in line with the Rural Housing Guidelines. An Bord Pleanala rejected the brothers appeal in June 2016, leading to an appeal to the High Court. Justice Miriam O'Regan's judgement, which was published last week, found that An Bord Pleanala's refusals were irrational as, on appeal, it had granted permission to their sister Stephanie for a house on the same Ballylug lands. The brothers were born in Laragh and subsequently moved as a family with their parents to Trooperstown. The Trooperstown property was subsequently sold in or about 2008 and the family moved to their existing home in Ballylug. This property was in the name of Mr Porter senior, who applied for planning permission but was refused because he had an alternate dwelling. Ultimately an application for retention permission was successfully made by the applicant's sister Stephanie Power, in 2010, following a prior unsuccessful application by her. The judge also felt An Bord Pleanala had failed to properly consider, in accordance with objectives of the Wicklow County Council Development Plan 2010-2016, whether the brothers had demonstrated a 'need' to live in the immediate vicinity of the family business, Porter's Christmas Tree Farms. The situation of these lands is comprised within a parcel of a 350-acre holding used for forestry, a portion of that holding is situated in Ballylug, however there are two more parcels situated in counties outside County Wicklow. It has been a busy start to the New Year for Wicklow's two mountain rescue teams with five call-outs already this month. The most recent incident occurred on Sunday after a woman suffered an ankle injury while walking in Glendalough. The Glen of Imaal and Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Teams were contacted by the gardai at 2.53 p.m. after the walker twisted her ankle on the Spinc as she tried to help a lost and injured dog. The casualty was making her way slowly towards the Miner's Village assisted by another walker when mountain rescue personnel met them. She was checked by an advanced paramedic before being assisted form the hill. The dog was also carried down from the hill and was reunited with its owner. The teams were stood down at 5 p.m. On Sunday, January 14, as both the Dublin Wicklow Mountains Rescue Team and the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team responded to five walkers in difficulty at Lugnaquilla. The walkers aged in their 20s became disoriented while descending Leinster's highest peak. The alert was out at 4.20 p.m. When the group was reached by a mountain rescue hill party, one of the walkers had to be assessed by medics having sustained a lower leg injury. The group were escorted off the mountain via Art's Lough and were picked up on the nearest mountain track by mountain rescue vehicles before being safely transported off the hill. The rescue operation was stood down at 8.33 p.m.. On Friday, January 12, a female runner got into difficulty in the Glendalough area at around 5.19 p.m.. Both of Wicklow's Mountain Rescue teams deployed vehicles to search the track systems and the woman was finally located in the Mullacor area. She was transported to the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team base where she was treated by medics for a lower leg injury. The incident was stood down at 6.01 p.m. The first and second call-out of the year occurred on the same day, Saturday, January 6. At 2.41 p.m., both teams were tasked to assist a male walker who had slipped while descending the Fraughan Rock Glen. The man, who had injured his lower leg, was located and assessed by medics, then stretchered to a mountain rescue vehicle and brought to a waiting ambulance to be transported to hospital. The teams were stood down at 4.29 p.m. but were called out again at 8.04 p.m. when a male walker required assistance on the Brockaghs. Crews accessed the area via the forest tracks and located the walker who was then assessed by medics. He had sustained a lower leg injury and was stretchered to a waiting ambulance and taken to hospital. The incident was stood down just before 10 p.m. Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 17: Jesy Nelson of "Little Mix" performs on NBC's "Today" show on June 17, 2014 in New York, New York. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show at Earls Court on December 2, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes attends the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes walks the runway during the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes attends the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Jasmine Tookes attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) Victoria's Secret have released un-retouched photos of their newest 'it' girl Jasmine Tookes following her Fantasy Bra photoshoot. In an unprecedented move by the lingerie brand, who have been in hot water for heavy handing airbrushing in the past, released the images showing supermodels are just like us - well, sort of. Eagle eyed fans noticed that stretch marks can be seen on the 24-year-old American model's upper thigh in the official images, a welcome change to their traditionally overly Photoshopped bodies - including decreasing the size of their waists and sometimes accidentally removing limbs in the process. While Victoria's Secret Angels are largely considered to be members of modelling's most elite club, the lingerie brand has been changing tactics to boost sales in recent months. Expand Close Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) They recently pulled back on all swimwear, clothing, shoes and accessories from its stores and online. They will instead be focusing on lingerie, beauty and their popular PINK range. The news comes after VS introduced a much-hyped Swim Special on CBS, the same network that airs their annual fashion show, in 2015 in a bid to boost sales. Brands have been introducing a more honest approach to their campaigns and it's benefiting their bank balances - American Eagle stopped Photoshopping images in 2014 and sales jumped by 20%. Tookes' figure is still out of reach for most women whose life doesn't revolve around the gym or a sugar-free life, but it's a step in the right direction. Expand Close Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Model Jasmine Tookes poses in the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra on October 8, 2016 in Gladstone, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret) One of two bodies is removed from the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex. Photo: Reuters The mysterious deaths of a Canadian billionaire and his wife shortly before Christmas are now being treated as murder, Toronto police announced yesterday. Barry (75) and Honey (70) Sherman were found dead in their home on December 15. Mr Sherman was the founder of Canadian pharmaceutical giant Apotex, and both he and his wife have been recognised internationally for their philanthropic work. The socially active couple were believed to have amassed a fortune of some $3.65bn (2.9bn) before their deaths. An estate agent found them in the basement hanging by belts to a railing near their indoor pool in seated positions. The police did not find any signs of forced entry into the home. An autopsy found the cause of death to be "ligature neck compression", meaning strangulation. Detective Sergeant Susan Gomes said yesterday afternoon that police made the determination after six weeks of collecting evidence at the billionaire couple's Toronto home. Expand Close Barry Sherman and his wife Honey who were found dead in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Barry Sherman and his wife Honey who were found dead in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo: AP Police say the couple were targeted, but investigators did not identify any potential suspects, though Det-Sgt Gomes said there is an "extensive list" of people that police intend to interview. "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 Gomes said. She said they were last seen alive in the evening of Wednesday, December 13 and were not heard from again until their bodies were found late Friday morning. 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 yesterday 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 Sherman family has hired a team of experts - which includes a number of former Toronto homicide detectives - to conduct a separate, independent investigation. Mr Sherman 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 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." Friends and family say the couple had been making plans for the future. They had recently put their home in Toronto up for sale for $6.9m (4.5m) and they were building a new home in the city. ( Daily Telegraph, London) A fire raced through a small South Korean hospital with no sprinkler system yesterday, killing 37 people, many of them elderly, and injuring more than 140 others in the country's deadliest blaze in about a decade. Sejong Hospital, in the southeastern city of Miryang, has a separate nursing ward where 94 elderly patients were being treated, but all of them were safely evacuated, fire officials said. Most of the victims were on the first and second floors of the hospital's six-storey general ward, where its emergency room and intensive-care unit were located. Officials believe the fire started in the emergency room. Miryang police official Kim Han-su said 34 of the dead were women and 26 were in their 80s or older. Expand Close Heavy grey smoke rises into the air from a fire at a hospital in South Korea. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Heavy grey smoke rises into the air from a fire at a hospital in South Korea. Photo: Getty Images He said police may be able to announce the cause of the fire today. Police and forensic investigators dressed in white clothes, masks and helmets examined burnt equipment in the blackened emergency room. Dark smoke and flames were pouring from the emergency room when firefighters arrived, so they used ladders to enter second-floor windows. Some carried patients on their backs to other rescuers below, who moved them on stretchers to ambulances. Several fabric escape chutes were hanging from the building's sixth-floor windows after being used to evacuate patients and hospital staff. Dozens of fire trucks and two helicopters were sent to the hospital as thick smoke blanketed nearby streets. The blaze was extinguished in about three hours. Three of the dead worked at the hospital - an emergency room doctor and a nurse and nurse assistant on the second floor - said Son Kyung-cheol, head of the foundation that operates the facility. The National Fire Agency said officials were trying to identify other victims. Most of the deaths appeared to be due to suffocation, with only one victim suffering burns, a National Fire Agency official said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. Authorities said 143 people were injured, including seven who were in serious condition. Mr Son said the hospital did not have sprinklers because they were not required by law. Fire officials said the hospital wasn't big enough to require them. Fire official Choi Man-wu said authorities were investigating whether the hospital had missed any mandatory safety inspections, although Mr Son said it had not. If safety issues were involved in the fire, hospital and local authorities are likely to receive harsh public criticism. In 2014, South Korea grappled with the aftermath of a ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people and exposed serious shortcomings in public safety. Officials blamed crew members' negligence, overloaded cargo, improper storage, unprofessional rescue work and corruption by the ship's owners. President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting with senior advisers and ordered officials to provide necessary medical treatment to those rescued, find the exact cause of the fire and work out measures to prevent future fires, spokesman Park Su-hyun said. A wounded man is assisted at the site of an explosion (Massoud Hossaini/AP) A suicide car bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul has left at least 70 people wounded, an official from the Interior Ministry has said. Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed the Saturday morning attack. #BREAKING: #Kabul suicide blast today happened 400 metres away from Indian Consulate in the city. Staff seems to be okay. EU and Swedish missions also in the area. Tragic news of at least 19 killed and more than 60 injured in the latest terror attack. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/VpuxwuabtD Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 27, 2018 Thick, dark smoke could be seen rising from the site of the explosion near the old Interior Ministry building. Kabul has been the site of numerous bombing attacks claimed by the Islamic State group and the Taliban over the last year. Mrs Clinton declined to say why she did not dismiss her colleague Hillary Clinton has said she was dismayed by sexual harassment accusations made against a senior adviser to her 2008 presidential campaign. Mrs Clinton tweeted that on Friday she called the former campaign worker who reported the harassment to tell her she was proud she came forward. I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 27, 2018 The former US secretary of state said she wanted to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard. Mrs Clintons tweets came after a New York Times report that she declined to sack the adviser, Burns Strider, despite her campaign managers recommendations. Mrs Clinton has not addressed why Mr Strider remained on her 2008 Democratic campaign. The Times reported that Mr Strider was docked several weeks pay and ordered to undergo counselling, but declined to attend. The site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul(Massoud Hossaini/AP) A suicide bomber driving an ambulance has killed at least 63 people and wounded 151 more in an attack claimed by the Taliban in the Afghan capital Kabul, authorities said. The bombing on Saturday came just a week after Taliban militants killed 22 at an international hotel in the city. The attacker used the ambulance to get through a security checkpoint in central Kabul, telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry. He then detonated his explosives at a second checkpoint. The Health Ministry said 63 were killed and 151 wounded. The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well, Mr Rahimi said. He said four suspects had been arrested and were being questioned but he didnt elaborate. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from the site near the governments former Interior Ministry building. Also nearby are the European Union and Indian consulates. The powerful explosion was felt throughout the capital and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. At the scene, dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were also destroyed. Windows at nearby Jamhuriat government hospital were shattered and its walls damaged. People ran out to help and ambulances arrived to transport dozens of wounded to area hospitals. A tragic and senseless attack. Ambulances are for saving lives, not destroying them. https://t.co/YY26Rl1xAx ICRC (@ICRC) January 27, 2018 The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the attack in a tweet, saying: The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing. This could amount to perfidy under IHL. Unacceptable and unjustifiable. It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on high security targets in the city. Last Saturday, six Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by climbing down bedsheets from the upper floors. The US State Department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. Afghan security forces have struggled to fight the Taliban since the US and Nato formally ended their combat mission in 2014. At least 95 people have been killed and another 158 were injured after a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul. The attacker used an ambulance to get through a security checkpoint in central Kabul, telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital, said Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the interior ministry. Once the driver reached a second checkpoint, he detonated the explosives. The Taliban have claimed the attack. Mr Rahimi said: "The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well." He added that four suspects have been arrested and are being questioned. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the organisation was behind the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from the site near the government's former interior ministry building. The European Union and Indian consulates are also nearby. The powerful explosion was felt throughout the capital and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. At the scene, dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were also destroyed. The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the attack in a tweet, saying: "The use of an ambulance in today's attack in #Kabul is harrowing. This could amount to perfidy under IHL. Unacceptable and unjustifiable." It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on high security targets in the city. Last Saturday, six Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the subsequent gun battle and fire by using bedsheets to climb down from the upper floors. The US state department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. Empty shells are seen next to a Turkish army howitzer on the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey. Photo: Reuters Turkey's military operation to sweep Kurdish militants from its southern borders could soon be expanded as far east as Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. 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 yesterday. US soldiers are currently stationed in Manbij alongside members of the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia. An expansion of Turkey's ground and aerial assault on the YPG to Manbij could result in conflict with US troops. Mr Erdogan's 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. 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. The issue of the YPG has emerged as a particular wedge, with neither country apparently willing to back down from its position. Turkey's 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. ( Daily Telegraph, London) The Hong Kong government has barred a young pro-democracy activist from an upcoming election over her partys political platform that it said violates electoral laws. An official statement said the nomination of a female candidate, who was not identified, was ruled invalid. Agnes Chow, a 21-year-old member of democracy activist Joshua Wongs Demosisto party, confirmed it was her. Weave just received official notice from the #HongKong government that our @chowtingagnes has been barred from standing in the upcoming LegCo by-election, on the grounds that advocating self-determination contradicts aOne Country, Two Systemsa. DemosistoI eca (@demosisto) January 27, 2018 Ms Chow is the latest to fall victim to the Beijing-backed governments tightening restrictions on opposition candidates, including a new wave of young activists who emerged from huge 2014 Umbrella Movement demonstrations against Chinas plans to restrict elections for Hong Kongs top leader. She was planning to stand in a March by-election, but the government said the returning officer decided she could not be a candidate because of Demosistos platform, which advocates self-determination or independence for Hong Kong in violation of the citys Basic Law constitution. Ms Chow intended to replace fellow Demosisto member Nathan Law, who was among six opposition politicians removed from office after the government won a legal battle over their swearing-in ceremonies. Mr Wong was prevented from running because he was given a prison sentence in a case related to the 2014 protests, in which all three played prominent roles as student leaders. If a person advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means, he or she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfil his or her duties as a legislator, the government said. Ms Chow told reporters the disqualification was political screening. Hong Kong is not even ruled by rule of law, its just ruled by the Beijing government, Ms Chow said. The decision to disqualify my candidacy is no less than a declaration to the city that our political rights are handicapped. US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said rumours she is having an affair with Donald Trump are "highly offensive" and "disgusting". Ms Haley said the reports were symptomatic of the attacks powerful women frequently encounter. Rumours of a tryst between Ms Haley and the US president followed comments by Michael Wolff, the author of an explosive book on life within the White House, who said he was "absolutely sure" Mr Trump was having an affair. The comments led to speculation that he was referring to Ms Haley, who, he wrote, spends a "notable amount of private time" with Mr Trump on Air Force One. Ms Haley responded angrily to the claims, saying they are "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 said. "I've never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him." The president of the Philippine has said he pities Burma leader Aung San Suu Kyi for being in the storm of international criticism over her handling of the Rohingya refugee crisis. President Rodrigo Duterte says he told Ms Suu Kyi to ignore the human right activists, describing them as a noisy bunch. The two met in New Delhi this week at a summit of south-east Asian leaders on the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India ties. Over half a million Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh. Rohingya refugee children are in peril. Here's how you can help: https://t.co/Ws7JLo6i7Q https://t.co/VcFkDDskmA United Nations (@UN) November 12, 2017 President Duterte was speaking at a meeting of the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled persecution by Burmas military and attacks by Buddhist mobs into Bangladesh. US and UN officials have described Burmas actions as ethnic cleansing, while Ms Suu Kyi once regarded as a democracy icon has been assailed as ineffective. Though Ms Suu Kyi has been the de facto head of Burmas civilian government since her party swept elections in 2015, she is constitutionally limited in her control of the country and the military is in charge of the operations in Rakhine. Still, Ms Suu Kyi has faced widespread international criticism for not speaking out in defence of the Rohingya, especially given her history as a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Former New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an advisory panel on the crisis this week, calling it a whitewash and a cheerleading operation for Ms Suu Kyi. I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this, Mr Duterte said. We are talking about our country, the interest of our country, our own country, and I said, Do not mind human rights (activists). Theyre just a noisy bunch, he added. President Duterte is a regular target of criticism for his deadly war on drugs, which has left thousands dead over the past 18 months amid allegations of extrajudicial killings by police and other rights abuses. President Donald Trump has sent a new letter to African leaders, saying he deeply respects the people of the continent. The letter also says that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an extended visit to Africa in March. The letter, dated Thursday, is addressed to African leaders as they gather for an African Union summit this weekend in Ethiopias capital Addis Ababa. US diplomats have been working for days to address shock and condemnation after President Trumps reported comparison of African nations to a dirty toilet. President Trump has said he did not use such language, while others present say he did. The president met Rwandas leader and new African Union chair Paul Kagame on Friday at the World Economic Forum, calling Mr Kagame a friend. The 55-nation continental bodys summit is expected to respond to Mr Trumps vulgar remark. An AU spokeswoman has said the organisation was frankly alarmed by the comments, and a number of African nations have spoken out or summoned US diplomats to explain. Mr Trumps letter, seen by The Associated Press and confirmed by two US officials, says the US profoundly respects the partnerships and values shared by the US and Africans and that the presidents commitment to strong relationships with African nations is firm. The letter offers President Trumps deepest compliments to the African leaders as they gather. It notes that US soldiers are fighting side by side against extremism on the continent and that the US is working to increase free, fair and reciprocal trade with African countries and partnering to safeguard legal immigration. The letter gives no details on Mr Tillersons upcoming visit. Elderly survivors are gathering at the former Auschwitz death camp as political leaders warned that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning while the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Warsaw, Poland, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Mr Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. Secretary Tillerson spoke with Jewish community members and two Holocaust survivors at the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument #InternationalHolocaustRememberanceDay @statedept pic.twitter.com/pzsCCfclWl US Embassy Warsaw (@USEmbassyWarsaw) January 27, 2018 The head of Warsaws Jewish community read a prayer and Mr Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil, Mr Tillerson said. The western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to the assuring the security of all, that this would never happen again, he said. As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again. His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultra-nationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. The Holocaust began with words -- and in the era of the internet & social media, the power of propaganda is more devastating than ever. But education & knowledge can help prevent genocide. https://t.co/qSJxYWsvuJ #HolocaustRemembrance pic.twitter.com/gnEqllUpEW United Nations (@UN) January 27, 2018 In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while in Austria the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is in the government. Both parties have had issues with members making anti-Semitic remarks. Even Poland which was occupied and terrorised by Hitlers regime was convulsed this week by revelations of a fringe neo-Nazi group that honours Hitler. Other ultra-nationalist parties that espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem increasingly emboldened as well. In Europe, that support is partially a backlash to the large influx of mostly Muslim migrants to Europe that peaked in 2015. Some of those migrants, especially from Arab countries, have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism both from native far-right groups and from Arabs and Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been the target of German far-right attacks or threats. German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day by addressing the rising anti-Semitism in her weekly Saturday podcast. She said that schools, which already teach about the countrys Nazi past, will need to work harder at that especially so immigrant students from Arab countries will not exercise anti-Semitism. She called it incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue. Commemorations are set to take place on Saturday after dusk, after the end of the Jewish Sabbath, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, located in southern Poland. The United Nations recognised January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. Patna, Jan 27 (TheBiharPost/IBNS): Abductors killed a class six student in Bihar as his father failed to pay a ransom of Rs 30,000. Victims father runs a tea stall, earning little over Rs 150 a day. The shocking incident took place in Purnia district of Bihar on Thursday. Reports said 12-year-old boy identified as Rahul Kumar was playing near Maranga locality of the district on Thursday evening when motorcycle-borne criminals kidnapped him. Soon after kidnapping, the gangsters sought a ransom of Rs30,000 from victims father but as he expressed his incapability to pay the money soon, the abductors strangulated the boy to death. Today, his body was recovered from under a roadside bridge. We recovered the body of the victim packed in a gunny bag from under a bridge. Apparently he was strangulated to death, a local senior police official Raj Kumar Sah told the media on Friday. The police have arrested two persons in this connection and have announced to speedily try the case. On Wednesday, the criminals killed a two-year-old child in Begusarai district after his father failed to pay an extortion of Rs50,000 to them. (thebiharpost.com) Image: Wikimedia Commons 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. Pune, Jan 27 (IBNS): Over 10 people were killed as a bus carrying them fell in Panchganga river at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra on Saturday, media reports said, The incident left three people injured. The commuters of the us hailed from Balewadi in Pune. The mishap occurred at around 11.45 pm on Shivaji bridge when the driver lost control over the vehicle while travelling from Ganpatipule to Pune, an official of Kolhapur police was quoted as saying by DNA. The driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle which led to the mishap. The injured people are currently undergoing treatment. Search and rescue operation is still going on. Lucknow, Jan 27 (IBNS) : Fresh violence broke out in Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj on Saturday after five shops were torched by a mob a day after one person died in communal clashes between two groups, media reports said. Section 144 continues to be in place in the area since Friday night. The Saturday's violence took place when some people were returning from the cremation of Chandan Gupta who died in firing between two groups on Friday. The communal clash had erupted over a rally taken out by the VHP and ABVP to mark the Republic Day leading to incidents of firing and stone-pelting. According to local residents and witnesses, a group of bikers participating in the had allegedly raised slogans targeting a community, which led to further provocations and firing. Several vehicles were damaged in the clash. Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday said on Twitter that at least nine persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. Along with the local police, 5 Company PAC and 1 RAF has been pressed into action as well. New Delhi, Jan 27 (IBNS): India and Cambodia inked four Memorandums of Understanding on Saturday following the bilateral talks between the prime ministers of both countries, Narendra Modi and Hun Sen, according to media reports. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, is on state visit to India. India and Cambodia have historic relations and India is committed to take the relation to a newer level, the media quoted PM Modi as saying. PM Modi also said that he hoped bilateral trade will be more in coming times between India and Cambodia. "We are committed to deepen our relationship with Cambodia," said PM Modi. The Cambodian PM reciprocated by saying that his country from India's Act East Policy, media reported. "I invite Indian investors to my country," he said. Image: IndiainCambodia/Twitter Guwahati, Jan 27 (IBNS) : A hardcore militant belonging to the anti-talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) was killed in a gun fight with security forces in Assams Kokrajhar district on Saturday morning, officials said. Based on intelligence inputs about presence of an armed group in the Ripu reserve forest, police and army jointly launched an operation near Rangapara village under Gossaigaon police station. When the troops reached the jungle area, the armed militants started firing prompting security personnel to retaliate. One militant was killed on the spot while the others managed to escape in thick jungles, Assam police IGP (BTAD) Anurag Agarwala said. The slain militant was identified as Ricardo Hazuary alias Rekhai. Security personnel recovered one 9mm pistol with magazine, four rounds of live ammunition, two mobile handsets with two SIM cards, extortion letters, three blank NDFB letter heads and incriminating documents from the possession of the slain militant. Additional forces have rushed to the area and launched a massive combing operation. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, Jan 27 (IBNS): Over 3000 passengers are stranded at New Haflong railway station in Assams Dima Hasao district since Jan 26 as protest continued against police firing incident where two protesters were killed and several others were injured. According to the reports, the passengers of Barka Valley in Assam and Tripura are stranded at New Haflong, Lumding, Hojai and few other railway stations since past 48 hours. On Saturday, some angry passengers damaged some infrastructure at New Haflong railway station after the railway department didnt arranged any adequate measures for the stranded passengers. The stranded passengers also alleged they were not provided any food or drinking water by the railway authorities. Meanwhile, the Northeastern Frontier railway cancelled four Silchar and Agartala bound passenger trains following tense situation in Dima Hasao. A top official of NF Railway said due to 48-hour bandh called from 5 am of Jan 26 to 5 am of Jan 28 by several organisations in Dima Hasao district, the railway authorities cancelled the 55615 UP Guwahati-Silchar passenger, 55616 Silchar-Guwahati passenger, 05631 UP Guwahati-Silchar special trains and 20502 UP Aandbihar-Agartala Rajdhani Express is short terminated at Guwahati and partially cancel in between Guwahati-Agartala. The 20501 Down Rajdhani Express will remain cancel in between Agartala-Guwahati, the railway official said. On the other hand, the Dima Hasao district administration has called at least 25 buses from Guwahati to send the stranded passengers to their destinations. Two protesters were killed and several others injured in police firing at Maibong on January 25 last, while the situation turned more violent as a mob had damaged railway tracks and vehicles of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dima Hasao district. Over thousand protesters blockade the railway tracks at Maibong during the 12-hour band called by Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, (JNH), the Dimasa Apex Body, All Dimasa Students Union, (ADSU), Dimasa Students Union (DSU), Dimasa Mothers Association (DMA) protest against inclusion of Dima Hasao in the draft agreement of Naga Accord published in media. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Srinagar, Jan 27 (IBNS): At least two civilians were killed and nine others were injured after security forces opened fire on protesters in Shopian district of South Kashmir on Saturday, police said. According to reports, some youth pelted stones on forces vehicles in Ganowpora village of Shopian district, which was responded by forces as they allegedly resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters, resulting in the death of two civilians. "Injured persons were shifted to nearby hospital for advanced treatment. Some of them are in critical condition," an official told IBNS. Medical Superintendent District Hospital Pulwama Dr Rashid Parra confirmed the death. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Shopian also confirmed the death of two civilians in the incident. Armys Srinagar based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said: The details of the incident are being ascertained (Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri) Kabul/New Delhi, Jan 27 (IBNS): India on Saturday 'strongly condemned' the 'barbaric and dastardly' terrorist attacks in Kabul city of Afghanistan which left at least 40 people killed. "India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today that targeted innocent civilians and the wounded under treatment. This follows the cowardly terror attack on the children and civilians in Jalalabad on 24 January," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," it said. "India stands in solidarity with the Government and the people of Afghanistan at this difficult times of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the next of kins of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured," the Indian government said. At least 40 people were killed and 140 others were hurt as heavy bomb explosion hit Afghanistan capital Kabul city on Saturday, media reports said. The incident occurred close to the Jamuriat Hospital in the capital city. Nasrat Rahimi, Interior Ministry spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosion took place at a police checkpoint near the ministrys old building, police headquarters and a High Peace Council office. The Taliban group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Irans Press TV. Reports said the ambulance approached the checkpoint, close to an office of the High Peace Council and several foreign embassies, and blew up. The injured people were rushed to hospital for treatment. The blast occurred at12:45 p.m. local time. The fresh attack took place just days after the country witnessed a massive terrorist attack in Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel. The attack left 22 people killed. In another terror attack incident, at least four people were killed when Save the Children NGO was targeted in Jalalabad city of the country. The attack left dozens others injured. New Delhi, Jan 27 (IBNS): Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia called on President of India Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 27, 2018). During the conversation, the President said that India was honoured by the presence of the Cambodian Prime Minister at its Republic Day celebrations and the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. The President thanked him for his support for the successful ASEAN-India Summit. The President said that India and Cambodia share close civilisational and cultural links. Our relations have stood the test of time. India is proud of having stood by Cambodia during a difficult period in its post-colonial history. In the context of Indias Act East policy, Cambodia remains a key partner, he said. The President appreciated the remarkable economic development of Cambodia in recent years, with a GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent consistently year after year. He emphasised that India is committed to its development cooperation partnership with Cambodia. India wants to do more for capacity building and financial support in keeping with Cambodias priorities. The President thanked the Cambodian Prime Minister for Cambodias support for India in various UN bodies and international fora. He also appreciated the decision of Cambodia to join the International Solar Alliance. New Delhi, Jan 27 (IBNS): Reacting to the terrorist attack in Kabul, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its neighbouring country Afghanistan. Kovind took to Twitter to say: "Shocked at news of the terrorist attack in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people and government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil." Shocked at news of the terrorist attack in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people and government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil #PresidentKovind President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 27, 2018 A bomb hidden in an ambulance exploded in Afghanistan's capital Kabul city on Saturday, killing at least 63 people and injuring 150 others, media reports said. The ambulance blew up at a police checkpoint in an area of the Kabul city which is located close to foreign embassies and government buildings. TOLOnews reported extensive damage has been caused to buildings in the area. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment. Public healthy ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismayeel Kawosi confirmed to Tolo News the casualty figures and said the wounded have been taken to different hospitals across the city. The intensity of the blast was high enough to shake buildings located kilometers away. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Both India and Pakistan have condemned the blast which caused heavy loss of lives in the terror-hit nation. Jammu, Jan 27 (IBNS): Reacting to the killing of civilians in Shopian district of south Kashmir, the Army on Saturday said they had to open fire in self-defence to prevent the lynching of a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) by a mob. An army spokesman, in a statement, said that an army administrative convoy was passing through Ganaupura Chowk in Shopian when it came under unprovoked and intense stone pelting by a group of 100-120 stone pelters at around 3 p.m.. Within no time, their numbers swelled to 200-250 persons. The crowd surrounded an isolated portion of the convoy consisting of four vehicles. They caused extensive damage to these vehicles and tried to set them on fire, said the statement. It said a junior commissioned officer accompanying the convoy got hit on the head and fell unconscious suffering serious injury. The mob tried to lynch the individual and snatch his weapon. The violent crowd further closed in towards the vehicles and attempted to set them on fire. Considering the extreme gravity of the situation the army was constrained to open fire in self defence to prevent lynching of the JCO and burning of Government vehicle by the mob." The statement said that seven army men suffered injuries and extensive damage was caused to eleven vehicles. In the process two civilians succumbed to the bullet injuries, it added. Meanwhile, the Joint Resistance Leadership has called for valley wide shutdown against these killings on Sunday. Opposition leader Omar Abdullah asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to condemn the civilian killings in Shopian as well when she has been condemning the suicide bombing attack in Kabul. The violence in Kabul is tragic. Its even more unfortunate when you can find words here & have none for the civilians killed in Shopian today @MehboobaMufti. You need to sort out the people managing your account, Omar Abdullah tweeted. (Reporting by Saleem Qadri) New York, Jan 27 (JEN): At least 30 refugees and migrants drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Aden, Yemen, the United Nations reported on Friday, saying the overcrowded vessel was believed to have been operated by unscrupulous smugglers who were trying to extort money from the passengers. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed outrage and sadness over the incident, which occurred Tuesday. As we have been saying for almost five years now, the preservation of human life is our utmost priority everywhere, IOM Director William Lacy Swing said Friday in Davos, Switzerland, where he has been part of the UN agency delegation attending the 2018 World Economic Forum. Yemen is no exception, he added Survivors of the incident have reported to the UN and partners that an overcrowded boat, packed with 101 Ethiopians and 51 Somalis, departed 23 January from the Al Buraiqa coast in Aden, headed across the Gulf of Aden towards Djibouti. At least 30 people have died in this tragic incident. There have also been reports that gunfire was used against passengers. We are deeply troubled by reports of this latest incident, Swing stressed. IOM and partners are working with the Yemeni Coast Guard to further understand the incident and provide emergency assistance to survivors, including medicine, food, water and psycho-social support services. IOM and the Un refugee agency have long been warning that prolonged conflict and insecurity in Yemen exposes vulnerable refugees and migrants to a heightened risk of human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrest, detention, trafficking and deportation. Yemen is a traditional transitory and migratory hub in the region. Despite prevailing conflict and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions more than 87,000 migrants and refugees risked their lives on the high seas in 2017 seeking to reach Yemen from the Horn of Africa by boat. To raise awareness about the horrendous risks and dangers in Yemen, UNHCR launched a Dangerous Crossings regional awareness campaign last year to inform those contemplating the journey. IOM, UNHCR and their partners are members of the Mixed Migration Working Group in Yemen, which has been responding to the needs of migrants and refugees there. The Group is appealing for more urgent support to respond to the needs of those most vulnerable in Yemen and to actively pursue solutions for refugees and migrants. Photo: UNHCR/R. Nuri New York, Jan 27 (JEN): Calling on the world to stand together against the normalization of hate, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed in his message for the International Day dedicated to honouring Holocaust victims that everyone has a responsibility to quickly and decisively resist racism and violence. Guterres recalled that the International Day, marked annually on 27 January, was created to honour the memory of six million Jewish men, women and children that perished in the Holocaust and countless others lost their lives as cruelty convulsed the world. Yet, decades since the Second World War, there is still the persistence of anti Semitism and an increase in other forms of prejudice. Citing Neo-Nazis and white supremacy groups as among the main purveyors of extreme hatred, the UN chief said that too often, vile views are moving from the margins to the mainstream of societies and politics. Whenever and wherever humanitys values are abandoned, we are all at risk, stressed the Secretary-General. All of us have a responsibility to quickly, clearly and decisively resist racism and violence, he state, adding: Through education and understanding, we can build a future of dignity, human rights and peaceful coexistence for all. For his part, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein held the painful day of remembrance for Holocaust the victims as forcing us to contemplate the horrors to which bigotry, racism and ultimately lead. The sadistic brutality of the atrocities inflicted by the Nazi regime on Jews, Roma, Slavs, disabled people, political dissidents, homosexuals and others was nourished by layer upon layer of propaganda, falsifications and incitement to hatred, he stated, adding how they were denigrated and smeared, one after another, their rights were refused, and finally, even their humanity was denied. Zeid pointed to the statement of Primo Levi, who survived the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp: It happened, therefore it can happen again. As we honour the victims of the Holocaust, Zeid continued, we must also acknowledge the need to prevent the recurrence of anti-Semitism and all forms of racial and religious hatred and discrimination on Friday. He specified the importance of upholding independent rule of law institutions and a free press; maintaining respect for human rights; and education, which must be at the core of all efforts to combat anti-Semitism, racism, and all forms of discrimination. In honouring the victims of the Holocaust, we must recognise that only if we regard each other as fully equal in dignity and rights will we be able to come together to overcome the many challenges facing humanity, he concluded. At the same time, Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citied the Day as a call to strengthen nations commitment to peace. Recalling the possibility of the worst, also carries a memory that must be forward-looking, she said, adding that combating anti-Semitism, in whatever form, is at the heart of this fight in which everyone has a role to play. We can build up awareness against forgetting, denial, historical revisionism, relativization of crimes and the return of stereotypes that fuel hatred. We can oppose the manipulation of facts by speaking the truth, she asserted. Among a series of events taking place across the UN system, the annual United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony hosted by Ms. Alison Smale, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, will take place on Wednesday 31 January. The Secretary-General, President of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly, Representatives of Israel, Germany and the United States, will deliver remarks. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine Kabul, Jan 27 (IBNS): At least 40 people were killed and 140 others were hurt as heavy bomb explosion hit Afghanistan capital Kabul city on Saturday, media reports said. The incident occurred close to the Jamuriat Hospital in the capital city. Nasrat Rahimi, Interior Ministry spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosion took place at a police checkpoint near the ministrys old building, police headquarters and a High Peace Council office. The Taliban group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Irans Press TV. Reports said the ambulance approached the checkpoint, close to an office of the High Peace Council and several foreign embassies, and blew up. The injured people were rushed to hospital for treatment. The blast occurred at12:45 p.m. local time. The fresh attack took place just days after the country witnessed a massive terrorist attack in Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel. The attack left 22 people killed. In another terror attack incident, at least four people were killed when Save the Children NGO was targeted in Jalalabad city of the country. The attack left dozens others injured. Image: Sourced from Twitter Kabul, Jan 27 (IBNS): A bomb hidden in an ambulance exploded in Afghanistan's capital Kabul city on Saturday, killing 93 people and injuring 158 others, media reports said. The ambulance blew up at a police checkpoint in an area of the Kabul city which is located close to foreign embassies and government buildings. TOLOnews reported extensive damage has been caused to buildings in the area. The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment. Public healthy ministry spokesman Mohammad Ismayeel Kawosi confirmed to Tolo News the casualty figures and said the wounded have been taken to different hospitals across the city. The intensity of the blast was high enough to shake buildings located kilometers away. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Neighbours Condemn: Both India and Pakistan have condemned the blast which caused heavy loss of lives in the terror-hit nation. India 'strongly condemned' the 'barbaric and dastardly' terrorist attacks in Kabul city. "India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today that targeted innocent civilians and the wounded under treatment. This follows the cowardly terror attack on the children and civilians in Jalalabad on 24 January," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," it said. "India stands in solidarity with the Government and the people of Afghanistan at this difficult times of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. We convey our heartfelt condolences to the next of kins of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured," the Indian government said. Condemning the attack, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said terrorism was not the way forward. In a tweet, he said: "The people and government of Pakistan condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul and extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this reprehensible act. Terrorism is not the way forward." Blood-stained Afghanistan: January- the first month of 2018- has witnessed Afghanistan witnessing several massive terrorists attack which claimed several lives. Apart from Saturday's attack, two more terrorists attacks shocked the Asian nation in the past few days. A massive terrorist attack in Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel on Jan 20 left at least 22 people killed. In another terror attack incident on Jan 24, at least four people were killed when Save the Children NGO was targeted in Jalalabad city of the country. The attack left dozens others injured. Militant group ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Photo UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Toronto, Jan 27 (IBNS): #MeToo campaign which flooded social media recently in the wake of sexual harassment cases by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, Canada has witnessed a similar development. Bell Media has suspended reporter Paul Bliss due to the ongoing investigation on his sexual harassment case. Bliss, who was Bell's Vice President of communications, also works as CTV's bureau in Ontario legislature. The allegations were hurled on Bliss in an email by Bridget Brown, who claims to be a former CTV employee. In a blog post tilted as "MeToo in Canada Broadcasting", Brown explained how she was sexually harassed by Bliss in the spring of 2006. Brown said after joining CTV News, she went up to a reporter whom she had met at a party and asked to go out for coffee at a cafeteria. Bliss, however, asked her to come to the office. Then Bliss showed her the entire building, the accuser said. He started to kiss me despite a blunt disapproval, she added. Brown said she kept quiet about the entire incident for years but she was thinking of revealing it of late. #MeToo campaign which was launched on social media in the wake of the reports of sexual harassment of actresses by powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. American actress Alyssa Milano, on October 15, wrote a post on Twitter and asked her followers to retweet it with a reply 'me too' if they were sexually harassed or assaulted , to imply the "magnitude of the problem". The urge to retweet by Milano hds sparked the hashtag as several women started to write on social networking sites #MeToo and some of them even shared their own experiences. (Reporting by Suman Das) "Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors." | "KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary." | "No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. On Thursday, Haryana Police detained BJP leader Kunwar Surajpal Singh Ammu who announced a Rs 10 crore award to behead actress Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for their role in Padmaavat. Talking to IANS, a police officer said, "Ammu was detained from his house in the upscale area of DLF." Youtube Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Yadav said Ammu, also the General Secretary of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, was detained as precaution following the ongoing agitation by the Rajput community against the Bollywood movie. In November, Ammu announced the bounty in protest against the release of the movie which the Rajput community claims distort history. ALSO READ: Jauhar Scene In Padmaavat By Far My Most Special And Challenging Scene, Admits Deepika Padukone He also threatened to break the legs of actor Ranveer Singh, who plays the role of Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in the movie. Agencies On November 21, he was booked under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint by Pawan Kumar, a fan of Deepika and Bhansali. Youtube After the case was registered, Ammu dared the Haryana Police to arrest him. He said he stood firmly by his statement whether he remained in the BJP or not. On November 29, Ammu sent his resignation to Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Subhash Barala in which he wrote that he was upset with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's "attitude towards the Rajput community". His resignation was not accepted. Ahead of his resignation, a delegation of Rajput leaders, led by Ammu, visited Haryana Bhawan in Delhi to meet Khattar and request him to ban the movie in the state but the Chief Minister refused to meet them. ALSO READ: With No Threat From Karni Sena, 'Padmaavat' Will Be Screened In Pakistan And Other Major Stories Parineeti also shared a picture on Instagram and for once, a celebrity is not seen hiding her stretch marks. While some pointed it out and had some crassy comments to make, there were a few, who appreciated Pari. Viacom Now, to achieve what he did was no easy feat. He revealed that to get into the skin of Khilji he went to a dark place emotionally. Talking about the same with Indian Express, he said, I took 21 days and locked myself up in my Goregaon house. I was completely isolated. We all know that Aryan is studying in California, USA but little did we know that he's interested in film-making. SRK's son Aryan is currently assisting filmmakers and looks like he has already taken his first step into the magnanimous world of films. Instead of entering as an actor, Aryan announced the news on his Instagram account, where he revealed that he is assisting a filmmaker. Making the most out of their long weekend, the couple chose to spend some family time together in Goa and looks like they're indeed having a great time. The family is holidaying in Goa and looks like they are having a great time. She captioned the picture as, "Trapping golden sunlight within the pores of your skin, hair salty from the hazy blue sea, the blazing red of the Recheado mackerel going down the throat- the colors and flavors of my beloved Goa..". She said, I have been looking at scripts again for the past one and a half year. I think I am ready to commit six months of my life to a film. But, just because I am ready, doesnt mean the perfect script is ready for me. We had a Gandhi who immortalised our freedom struggle with his ways of truth and non-violence. He lost his life trying to bring this country together, and today cannot see the unfortunate circumstances that his fellow freedom fighters are surviving in. One such freedom fighter from Chennai struggled not only for the independence of the country but also to get his pension for four decades. 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. Image: The Hindu 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, reported PTI. "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. Madras High Court. Image: Wikipedia 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. reuters "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 not have 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 doorsteps" 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. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified three highway stretches in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu) regions for emergency landing of fighter aircraft, reports Dipak Dash. The NHAI, which has called for tenders for converting five-km stretches on each of these three highways as airstrips, has planned to complete the construction in the next one year. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had earlier cleared 12 NH stretches that can be developed as emergency landing airstrips for rescue operation teams to reach affected areas easily. The first three highway stretches for emergency landing of fighter aircraft will come up in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu) regions. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has called tenders for converting five-km stretch of each of the three highway stretches as airstrips and the agency targets to complete the construction in the next one year. ANI All these projects will be funded by the government and would cost at least 150 crore. Sources said the identified locations will be strengthened and widened so that aircraft can land easily and safely in case of an emergency. The contractors constructing these stretches will be responsible for their maintenance for four years and they will be responsible for fixing any defect for that period. "The scope of work will broadly include construction of emergency landing facility with construction of new pavement, construction of major and minor bridges, culverts, road intersections, interchanges, drains, etc and maintenance of the project during the defect liability period, which shall be four years," an NHAI tender document said. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had earlier cleared 12 NH stretches that can be developed as emergency landing airstrips for rescue operation teams to reach affected areas easily. These stretches fall in states including Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. ANI As per the plan, the highway stretches will be blocked in case of an emergency and will be put to use exclusively for aircraft landing. Besides using them for strategic purpose, the airstrips can also be used in case of natural calamities, sources said. For the first time, fighter jets had landed on Yamuna Expressway near Delhi in May 2016. In November 2016, eight fighter jets landed on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway during its inauguration ceremony. Last October, 16 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) had landed on a stretch of the expressway and had then taken off as part of the IAF's plan to use highways as landing strips during emergencies. The "doomsday" seed vault on the Arctic island of Svalbard was designed to preserve the worlds crops and plants in the event of global disaster. But it seems like global warming did not spare the wrath. Reuters What is the 'Doomsday' Seed Vault? Thee Global Seed Vault, built to preserve food in the event of man-made catasrophe, has been flooded by melting ice or permafrost from the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. The vault is built in an abandoned Arctic coal mine, deep inside a mountain and the structure contains seeds from all over the world, making it the most diverse collection of food crop seeds. Reuters It contains seed samples for foods like potatoes, sorghum, rice, barley, chickpeas, lentil, and wheat, whih are all stored at minus 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The storage facility The vault is buried 1300 kilometres (over 800 miles) beyond the Arctic circle, and the thick permafrost was supposed to give it 'impregnable protection.' As the seed banks website says, "it was built underneath the permafrost so it could be a fail-safe seed storage facility, built to stand the test of time and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters." Reuters But global warming have caused rain as a result of which permafrost has been melting. The threat of global warming According to reports the water hasnt flooded the vault itself, the water reached the entrance of the tunnel, where it froze. But the possibility has raised questions about the the vaults ability to survive disasters. It was not in our plans to think that the permafrost would not be there and that it would experience extreme weather like that, Hege Njaa Aschim, from the Norwegian government, which owns the vault, told The Guardian. Reuters Soaring temperatures seen at the end of 2016 is also a contributing factor for the permafrost melt. The vault managers are now waterproofing the facility and digging trenches to drain away the water, according to The Guardian. We have to find solutions. It is a big responsibility and we take it very seriously. We are doing this for the world.Asmund Asdal at the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre, which operates the seed vault, told The Guardian. In his words, this is supposed to last for eternity. Women are leading the way in every field and profession in India, and breaking many records by being 'firsts' in various occupations. In one such first, a Muslim woman led the Friday prayers in Kerala's Malappuram district. The Holy Quran asks Muslims to perform prayers, Haj, zakat meaning charity, and fasting, addressing them as believers. According to Quran, there is no gender discrimination in any of its worships and beliefs. representational image / reuters Jamida Teacher, state general secretary of Quran and Sunnat society, was the imam for Juma prayers held at Quran and Sunnat society headquarters at Cherukode in Malappuram district. Jamida also led the Khutba, the speech during Juma prayers. Through this decision patriarchy is being questioned, says Jamida. representational image / reuters Usually, men lead Friday prayers everywhere in India. However, according to Jamida, discrimination was introduced by male Muslim scholars, reported News 18. Twitter/AdityaRajKaul There is no end to violence in Afghanistan and every day, it seems, the violent armed groups are growing stronger. In yet another attack on peace and order in the country, a bomb hidden in an ambulance killed at least 17 people and wounded about 110 at a police checkpoint in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday, in an area near foreign embassies and government buildings, officials said. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Dr Matthew Varghese Who Dedicated His Life To Fight Polio Is Bill Gates' Real-Life Hero Meaww With a hammer in his hands to check the limb reflexes, a tape to measure the length of hands and legs and a goniometer to ensure precise measurement of angles, he looks more like a carpenter than a doctor. Read more 2) We Are Very Close To Nuclear War As Doomsday Clock Stands 2 Minutes To Midnight; Thanks To Trump, Kim Jong-Un AP Scientists moved ahead by half a minute the symbolic Doomsday Clock, saying the world was at its closest to annihilation since the height of the Cold War due to world leaders' poor response to threats of nuclear war. Read more 3) Swachh Bharat: After Building Toilets, Govt To Now Focus On Clean Water Availability PTI/Representational Image The government's Swachhta survey across 355 districts in rural areas will identify what share of toilets have got water supply or whether water is available for use in the toilets. Read more 4) Breaking All Traditional Barriers, Muslim Woman Leads Friday Prayers In Kerala representational image / reuters In one such first, a Muslim woman led the Friday prayers in Kerala's Malappuram district. The Holy Quran asks Muslims to perform prayers, Haj, zakat meaning charity, and fasting, addressing them as believers. Read more 5) DU's Law Faculty Website Hacked By Bangladeshi Cyber Attackers, Students Unable To Login Representational Image Delhi University's Law Faculty website was hacked on Friday allegedly by Bangladeshi hackers. The faculty's Law Centre-II website was not accessible when students attempted to login. Read more Devika Rotawan was only nine-years-old when she saw Pakistan backed terrorist Ajmal Kasab firing indiscriminately at people in Mumbai's CST railway station On November 26, 2008 the little girl, along with her father and brother Jayesh, was waiting to board a train to Pune to meet her eldest brother Bharat, when the terrorist's bullet struck her in the right leg. Twitter "We first thought some Haj pilgrims were celebrating by bursting crackers. When we saw blood and people dying, it was nothing less than a nightmare," Devika said, recalling the horror of that fateful day. She later recovered from the bullet wound after undergo six operations. But identifying Kasab as main perpetrator of 26/11 attacks during the trial changed her and her family's life completely. The testimony had filled her with a sense of pride but this act of hers made their friends and relatives virtually ostracize them as they feared a backlash from terror outfits. Even her eldest brother refused to invite his father and siblings to his wedding. Devika's father Natwarlal, who had a flourishing business of dry fruits in Mumbai's Colaba area had to shut his shop after the attacks as no trader was ready to do business with him. His profits dipped and he had to shift his house from Bandra to Borivali as it was more affordable. There, he was given a job at a general store by one of his community members. Reuters Helping Devika go to school was another struggle for the family, as no school was ready to admit her. However, after many protests when she was accepted by a school, she was boycotted by her friends and teachers who used to call her names. "I was called Kasab's daughter, Kasab wali and other such names. But I ignored everyone and did what was right," said Devika, who is in class 10 now and aims to become an IPS officer. She along with her father and brother arrived in the city on Thursday and will host the national flag at Regal Square on Republic Day. They say that home is where the heart is. But is it right to have your heart set in a place that you do not even own? Something like this happened in Gujarat where a landlord run from pillar to post to get his house back because tenant did not leave it for 52-long-years. reuters The tenant's run of luck of stopping court orders finally ended on Thursday when the Supreme Court brought curtains down on what it described as a "game" good enough to "shock" the judges, reported News 18. Back in 1965, a court in Gujarat decided in favour of BM Patel, who had let out his house to MK Barot. Patel had sublet the house and wanted the possession back. A bench of two judges made ure the landlord got back the possession 52 years after he had obtained an order in his favour. But Barot challenged the decree by filing a petition and successfully stalled the execution proceedings until last year when the High Court asked Barot to vacate the premises. Barot appealed against the HC order in the top court and when the matter was taken up, the judges were "shocked" to see how Barot could defy a court order for more than fifty years. The judges gave Barot's lawyer six days to inform the court of only one thing when will he vacate the house? On Thursday, the lawyer requested the court for a time of six months, but the bench turned down the plea and gave Barot one month to leave the house. It ordered Barot to file an undertaking too. The judges also involved the police this time, asking them to throw out the tenant if he does not comply with the undertaking, or this would be executed with the help of the police. It also asked the HC should decide the amount that should be paid as damages by the tenant to the landlord for wrongful possession all these years. We are close to apocalypse as we've even been before, thanks to US President Donald Trump tweets. Scientists moved ahead by half a minute the symbolic Doomsday Clock, saying the world was at its closest to annihilation since the height of the Cold War due to world leaders' poor response to threats of nuclear war. It was the second occasion the timepiece, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as an indicator of the world's susceptibility to cataclysm, was moved forward since the 2016 election of US president Donald Trump. AP At two minutes to midnight, the clock is at its closest to catastrophe since 1953, due to dangers of a nuclear holocaust from North Korea's weapons program, US Russian entanglements, South China Sea tensions, and other factors, the Chicago-based group said in a statement. "Hyperbolic rhetoric and provocative actions on both sides have increased the possibility of nuclear war by accident or miscalculation," the group said of North Korea's nuclear program and the Trump administration's response to it. AP Unchecked dangers linked to climate change were another factor scientists cited for moving the clock forward. An overarching concern was what scientists described as the demise of diplomacy under the Trump administration. "International diplomacy has been reduced to name-calling, giving it a surrealistic sense of unreality that makes the world security situation ever more threatening," they said. Turn back the clock To rewind the clock, scientists recommended Trump refrain from provocative rhetoric regarding North Korea, the two countries open multiple communication channels and the world community seek a cessation of North Korea's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile tests. The bulletin was founded by scientists who helped develop the United States' first atomic weapons. Its Science and Security Board decides on the clock's hands in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 15 Nobel laureates. AP When the clock was created in 1947, it was set at 7 minutes to midnight. Last year the clock's hands were pushed forward 30 seconds to their second closest point to midnight - two minutes and 30 seconds - after Trump's statements regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the prospect of actually using them. In 2016, the clock remained unmoved, its hands staying at three minutes to midnight. As great a place as it is to work, it seems not everyone is happy with how Google carries on these days. A veteran engineer who exited the company this Wednesday has published a scathing blogpost against the tech giant, saying its fallen far below the standards of the great innovator it once was. Steve Yegge has been an engineer with Google for the past 13 years. Now, hes finally upped and left the company for Singapore-based Uber competitor Grab. In a Medium post, he goes on to list all the many reasons why he finally left the nest, all of which he says lead to the fact that the company can no longer innovate. For one, Yegge believes Google has become to conservative. They are so focused on protecting what theyve got, that they fear risk-taking and real innovation. Gatekeeping and risk aversion at Google are the norm rather the exception. He also blames internal politics for some of the problems at Google, though he does believe thats inevitable in large organisations. Yegge also goes on to call Google arrogant. He believes that though individual employees may be humble, the company has been so successful over the years its inherited a sense of invincibility. Coupled with that is his main point, that Google is more focused on competitors rather than its customers. The problem is that their incentive structure isnt aligned for focusing on their customers, so they wind up being too busy and it always gets deprioritised. You can look at Googles entire portfolio of launches over the past decade, and trace nearly all of them to copying a competitor: Google+ (Facebook), Google Cloud (AWS), Google Home (Amazon Echo), Allo (WhatsApp), Android Instant Apps (Facebook, WeChat), Google Assistant (Apple/Siri), and on and on and on. Yegge does concede that, despite 20 years in action, he believes Google may still be one of the best places to work, period. It just wasnt pushing him to greater heights. Google just isnt a very inspiring place to work anymore. I love being fired up by my work, but Google had gradually beaten it out of me. After Ida, small businesses face uncertainty on many fronts AP - 13 minutes ago NEW YORK (AP) A week or more after Ida, business owners from Louisiana to Connecticut are still adding up the financial losses and assessing the physical and emotional toll, grappling to find a way... $SPX : 4,511.80 (-0.05%) $DOWI : 35,016.96 (-0.04%) $IUXX : 15,624.51 (+0.02%) Digihost ($HSSHF $DGHI) Resuming The Cycle Higher ElliottWave-Forecast - 22 minutes ago Digihost Bitcoin Miner touts itself as a clean bitcoin miner who's electricity usage is 90% green energy. The chart looks pretty clean, but lets take a look at more details on the company:Digihost... HSSHF : 1.8000 (+4.65%) Weekly U.S. Ethanol Production Expands for the First Time in 8 Weeks Renewable Fuels Association - 23 minutes ago Report on U.S. ethanol production, usage, and stocks for the week ending September 3, 2021. USDCAD Bouncing off Weekly Chart Prior Downchannel Resistance Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago The USDCAD is edging higher going into todays European morning, trying to form a 4th straight green daily candle. Significantly, the USDCAD is back above the psychologically key 1.27 whole figure level,... FXC : 77.54 (+0.31%) ^CADUSD : 0.79086 (+0.41%) Retreating Bears and Dollar Struggles Monica Kingsley - 1 hour ago S&P 500 decline leaves something to be desired conviction of the bears. Credit markets and the dollar have sent not so subtle signs that were in the latter innings of this weeks corrective move,... What Is Cross-Listing? Cross-listing is the listing of a company's common shares on a different exchange than its primary and original stock exchange. To be approved for cross-listing, the company in question must meet the same requirements as any other listed member of the exchange with regard to accounting policies. These requirements include the initial filing and ongoing filings with regulators, a minimum number of shareholders, and minimum capitalization. Key Takeaways Cross-listing is the listing of a company's common shares on a different exchange than its primary and original stock exchange. Companies must meet the exchange's listing requirements in order to be cross-listed. Advantages to cross-listing include having shares trade in multiple time zones, boosting liquidity and providing access to fresh capital. Alibaba Group is an example of a cross-listing since the e-commerce giant is listed on the NYSE and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Understanding Cross-Listings The term cross-listing is often in reference to foreign-based companies that choose to list their shares on U.S.-based exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). But firms based in the U.S. may choose to cross-list on European or Asian exchanges to gain more access to an overseas investor base. Multinational corporations tend to list on more than one exchange. These companies may list their shares on both their domestic exchange and the major ones in other countries. For example, the multinational corporation BP (BP)formerly British Petroleumtrades on the London Stock Exchange and the NYSE. Benefits to Cross-Listing Although many companies opt to list only on their local exchange in their home country, there are benefits to cross-listing on multiple exchanges. Access to Capital Some of the advantages to cross-listing include having shares trade in multiple time zones and multiple currencies. The international exposure provides companies with more liquidity, meaning there's a healthy amount of buyers and sellers in the market. The added liquidity provides companies with a greater ability to raise capital or new money to invest in the future of the company. Companies can raise money by issuing new shares of stock or corporate bonds, which are debt instruments that pay interest to investors in exchange for cash. Enhances a Company's Image Companies that cross-list on international exchanges often do so, in part, to bolster a company's brand. By listing on multiple exchanges, any positive news will likely be carried by international media outlets. A company with an international brand tends to be seen as a major player in an industry. Companies can use that brand name to boost sales and garner more media attention in the local foreign markets. Also, some companies may perceive a higher corporate standing of having its shares listed on two or more exchanges. This can be particularly true for foreign companies that cross-list in the U.S. Those who gain listings in the U.S. do so via American depositary receipts (ADRs). The ADR list is long, with many familiar names such as Baidu Inc. of China, Sanofi of France, Siemens of Germany, Toyota and Honda of Japan, and Royal Dutch Shell of the U.K. For example, companies that are headquartered in developing countries could cross-list on major exchanges in the U.S. or London to enhance the company's image, particularly since the major exchanges have more stringent listing requirements. Local Presence A cross-listing can help companies that have offices or manufacturing facilities overseas by enhancing their image with the local people. As a result, the company might not be seen as a foreign corporation. As an active participant in the local markets, companies can better recruit talented workers. Requirements and Hurdles with Cross-Listing A company's stock must meet the exchange's listing requirements for any exchange they're listed on as well as pay all of the fees to be listed. The adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements in 2002 made cross-listing on U.S. exchanges more challenging due to the requirements regarding accounting, auditing, and internal controls, which places an emphasis on corporate governance and accountability. There are also variations of the required accounting standards for financial reporting between international markets. U.S. companies, for example, must adhere to GAAP or generally accepted accounting principles, which might be a challenging hurdle for some companies whose home exchange may have laxer standards. Real World Example of Cross-Listing Although the U.S. has traditionally had tougher listing requirements, there was a notable exception in 2014 with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKG). Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. (BABA), the Chinese e-commerce behemoth, sought listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange but was turned away due to corporate governance practices. Alibaba's dual-class structure allowed too much power in the hands of a small number of individuals at the company when it came time to elect board members. As a result, Alibaba proceeded with its initial public offering (IPO) on the NYSE in September of 2014, which became the largest IPO in U.S. history at that time. The company stated that it preferred to list in Hong Kong, but it ended up in the U.S. with an eager and deep base of institutional investors to support its equity. In November of 2019, Alibaba finally got cross-listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with an offering of 500,000,000 new equity shares. What Is Private Equity? Private equity is an alternative investment class and consists of capital that is not listed on a public exchange. Private equity is composed of funds and investors that directly invest in private companies, or that engage in buyouts of public companies, resulting in the delisting of public equity. Institutional and retail investors provide the capital for private equity, and the capital can be utilized to fund new technology, make acquisitions, expand working capital, and to bolster and solidify a balance sheet. A private equity fund has Limited Partners (LP), who typically own 99 percent of shares in a fund and have limited liability, and General Partners (GP), who own 1 percent of shares and have full liability. The latter are also responsible for executing and operating the investment. Key Takeaways Private equity is an alternative form of private financing, away from public markets, in which funds and investors directly invest in companies or engage in buyouts of such companies. Private equity firms make money by charging management and performance fees from investors in a fund. Among the advantages of private equity are easy access to alternate forms of capital for entrepreneurs and company founders and less stress of quarterly performance. Those advantages are offset by the fact that private equity valuations are not set by market forces. Private equity can take on various forms, from complex leveraged buyouts to venture capital. Understanding Private Equity Private equity investment comes primarily from institutional investors and accredited investors, who can dedicate substantial sums of money for extended time periods. In most cases, considerably long holding periods are often required for private equity investments in order to ensure a turnaround for distressed companies or to enable liquidity events such as an initial public offering (IPO) or a sale to a public company. Image by Sabrina Jiang Investopedia 2020 Advantages of Private Equity Private equity offers several advantages to companies and startups. It is favored by companies because it allows them access to liquidity as an alternative to conventional financial mechanisms, such as high interest bank loans or listing on public markets. Certain forms of private equity, such as venture capital, also finance ideas and early stage companies. In the case of companies that are de-listed, private equity financing can help such companies attempt unorthodox growth strategies away from the glare of public markets. Otherwise, the pressure of quarterly earnings dramatically reduces the time frame available to senior management to turn a company around or experiment with new ways to cut losses or make money. Disadvantages of Private Equity Private equity has unique challenges. First, it can be difficult to liquidate holdings in private equity because, unlike public markets, a ready-made order book that matches buyers with sellers is not available. A firm has to undertake a search for a buyer in order to make a sale of its investment or company. Second, pricing of shares for a company in private equity is determined through negotiations between buyers and sellers and not by market forces, as is generally the case for publicly-listed companies. Third, the rights of private equity shareholders are generally decided on a case-by-case basis through negotiations instead of a broad governance framework that typically dictates rights for their counterparts in public markets. History of Private Equity While private equity has garnered mainstream spotlight only in the last three decades, tactics used in the industry have been honed since the beginning of last century. Banking magnate JP Morgan is said to have conducted the first leveraged buyout of Carnegie Steel Corporation, then among the largest producers of steel in the country, for $480 million in 1901. He merged it with other large steel companies of that time, such as Federal Steel Company and National Tube, to create United States Steel the worlds biggest company. It had a market capitalization of $1.4 billion. However, the Glass Steagall Act of 1933 put an end to such mega-consolidations engineered by banks. Private equity firms mostly remained on the sidelines of the financial ecosystem after World War II until the 1970s when venture capital began bankrolling Americas technological revolution. Todays technology behemoths, including Apple and Intel, got the necessary funds to scale their business from Silicon Valleys emerging venture capital ecosystem at the time of their founding. During the 1970s and 1980s, private equity firms became a popular avenue for struggling companies to raise funds away from public markets. Their deals generated headlines and scandals. With greater awareness of the industry, the amount of capital available for funds also multiplied and the size of an average transaction in private equity increased. When it took place in 1988, conglomerate RJR Nabiscos purchase by Kohlberg, Kravis & Roberts (KKR) for $25.1 billion was the biggest transaction in private equity history. It was eclipsed 19 years later by the $45 billion buyout of coal plant operator TXU Energy. Goldman Sachs and TPG Capital joined KKR in raising the required debt to purchase the company during private equitys boom years between 2005 and 2007. Even Warren Buffett bought $2 billion worth of bonds from the new company. The purchase turned into a bankruptcy seven years later and Buffett called his investment a big mistake. The boom years for private equity occurred just before the financial crisis and coincided with an increase in their debt levels. According to a Harvard study, global private equity groups raised $2 trillion in the years between 2006 and 2008 and each dollar was leveraged by more than two dollars in debt. But the study found that companies backed by private equity performed better than their counterparts in the public markets. This was primarily evident in companies with limited capital at their disposal and companies whose investors had access to networks and capital that helped grow their market share. In the years since the financial crisis, private credit funds have accounted for an increasing share of business at private equity firms. Such funds raise money from institutional investors, like pension funds, to provide a line of credit for companies that are unable to tap the corporate bond markets. The funds have shorter time periods and terms as compared to typical PE funds and are among the less regulated parts of the financial services industry. The funds, which charge high interest rates, are also less affected by geopolitical concerns, unlike the bond market. How Does Private Equity Work? Private equity firms raise money from institutional investors and accredited investors for funds that invest in different types of assets. The most popular types of private equity funding are listed below. Distressed funding: Also known as vulture financing, money in this type of funding is invested in troubled companies with underperforming business units or assets. The intention is to turn them around by making necessary changes to their management or operations or make a sale of their assets for a profit. Assets in the latter case can range from physical machinery and real estate to intellectual property, such as patents. Companies that have filed under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States are often candidates for this type of financing. There was an increase in distressed funding by private equity firms after the 2008 financial crisis. Leveraged Buyouts: This is the most popular form of private equity funding and involves buying out a company completely with the intention of improving its business and financial health and reselling it for a profit to an interested party or conducting an IPO. Up until 2004, sale of non-core business units of publicly listed companies comprised the largest category of leveraged buyouts for private equity. The leveraged buyout process works as follows. A private equity firm identifies a potential target and creates a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for funding the takeover. Typically, firms use a combination of debt and equity to finance the transaction. Debt financing may account for as much as 90 percent of the overall funds and is transferred to the acquired companys balance sheet for tax benefits. Private equity firms employ a variety of strategies, from slashing employee count to replacing entire management teams, to turn around a company. Real Estate Private Equity: There was a surge in this type of funding after the 2008 financial crisis crashed real estate prices. Typical areas where funds are deployed are commercial real estate and real estate investment trusts (REIT). Real estate funds require higher minimum capital for investment as compared to other funding categories in private equity. Investor funds are also locked away for several years at a time in this type of funding. According to research firm Preqin, real estate funds in private equity are expected to clock in a 50 percent growth by 2023 to reach a market size of $1.2 trillion. Fund of funds: As the name denotes, this type of funding primarily focuses on investing in other funds, primarily mutual funds and hedge funds. They offer a backdoor entry to an investor who cannot afford minimum capital requirements in such funds. But critics of such funds point to their higher management fees (because they are rolled up from multiple funds) and the fact that unfettered diversification may not always result in an optimal strategy to multiply returns. Venture Capital: Venture capital funding is a form of private equity, in which investors (also known as angels) provide capital to entrepreneurs. Depending on the stage at which it is provided, venture capital can take several forms. Seed financing refers to the capital provided by an investor to scale an idea from a prototype to a product or service. On the other hand, early stage financing can help an entrepreneur grow a company further while a Series A financing enables them to actively compete in a market or create one. How Do Private Equity Firms Make Money? The primary source of revenue for private equity firms is management fees. The fee structure for private equity firms typically varies but usually includes a management fee and a performance fee. Certain firms charge a 2-percent management fee annually on managed assets and require 20 percent of the profits gained from the sale of a company. Positions in a private equity firm are highly sought after and for good reason. For example, consider a firm has $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). This firm, like the majority of private equity firms, is likely to have no more than two dozen investment professionals. The 20 percent of gross profits generates millions in firm fees; as a result, some of the leading players in the investment industry are attracted to positions in such firms. At a mid-market level of $50 to $500 million in deal values, associate positions are likely to bring salaries in the low six figures. A vice president at such a firm could potentially earn close to $500,000, whereas a principal could earn more than $1 million. Concerns Around Private Equity Beginning in 2015, a call was issued for more transparency in the private equity industry due largely to the amount of income, earnings, and sky-high salaries earned by employees at nearly all private equity firms. As of 2016, a limited number of states have pushed for bills and regulations allowing for a bigger window into the inner workings of private equity firms. However, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing back, asking for limitations on the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) access to information. Robots designed and built by secondary school students using LEGO will be trying to solve the worlds water problems in Dublin today. Leinsters FIRST LEGO League finals are taking place at Dublin City University. It is part of a global competition which spans over 80 different countries. FIRST is an acronym for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and seven teams from Dublin and Wicklow schools are due to compete in todays Leinster FIRST LEGO League finals. The teams had to design, build and programme their robots from scratch - around this years hydro-dynamics theme - to improve how people find, transport, use or dispose of water. Ross Maguire of Irish education specialists Learnit, says the League encourages children to think like scientists and engineers, developing practical solutions to real world issues. He said: "They have to go and develop a research project, find a problem in the world with how we use water or waste it and then come up with a solution." The Irish teams in this years Leinster final have been developing apps to help people measure their water use (If you measure it, you treasure it), writing songs to inspire responsible water use (Let it Flow) and even examining products that might convert urine back into drinking water! - Digital Desk Campaign groups say urgent action is needed to address the trolley crisis. They are gathering in Dublins Liberty Hall today to call for radical reform to the health system, including more staff and capacity in hospitals. The Health Capacity Review published earlier this week said 2,600 new beds are needed in the next 15 years - but that could rise to 7,000 if the HSE is not reformed. The Health Minister has promised more investment and changes to the system. But Cyril Brennan from the Still Waiting campaign says the government has not done enough to tackle the problem so far. He said: "There is no real signal of anything coming from the Government to actually end the trolley crisis. "They put money in last year and the year before and it doesnt seem to be having any positive effect - the numbers keep going up and now we see children waiting on trolleys as well which is totally unacceptable. - Digital Desk Shes on TV3 in Red Rock, but switch over to RTE or BBC and shes there again, this time in Eastenders. Liz OBrien meets soap queen Denise McCormack ACTOR Denise McCormack is a wanted woman in the best possible way, of course. This week shes back on our TV screens, as hit series Red Rock returned to TV3. Denise plays Bridget Kiely, matriarch of the much-loved, be it troubled, Kiely family. Flick over to RTE One or BBC and Denise is smack bang in the midst of all the action on Albert Square; she plays Ciara Maguire in Eastenders. Currently, shes on location, filming in Wicklow for a film to be released just in time for the Christmas market. But, while shes busy now, Denise says she wasnt always so sought after. That didnt happen until she got her big break on gangland drama, Love/Hate. With Eastenders its such a big leap, going on to a BBC show. I suppose I am in demand, but it was Love/Hate opened a lot of doors for me, she said. Denise McCormack Before that I found it very difficult, so that wasnt always the case at all. Because Love/Hate was so critically acclaimed and everybody watched it and I won the IFTA (Irish Film and Television Award) for it all of a sudden I was able to get into the casting, whereas before that it was very difficult. Before Christmas she started working on Eastenders; that means a commute to London from her family home in Bray where she lives with her fiance, Barry, and sons, Sidney aged four and Harvey, almost six. She catches a 3am flight to the UK; sometimes she makes it home at night just in time to kiss her boys goodnight, sometimes she doesnt. Shes not sure how long her role in Eastenders will last scripts are distributed week to week but shes hoping she wont be found under a bus anytime soon. Ive watched Eastenders over the years, I dont think anyone hasnt. Its a fantastic show, I mean how long has it been going, 30-something years? And its still as formidable and as strong as it was back then. Theres a real strength to it and a real strength of writing and its great that John York has come back as creative producer to put his stamp back on it; I think we will see changes with Eastenders and really positive changes. Recently, on RTE Ones Today show with Maura and Daithi, Denise told the presenters how she had worked with York on Red Rock. When writing the part of Ciara Maguire for Eastenders, York phoned Denise and asked her if shed like to audition. She did she loved the part, she got it and now shes working alongside Patrick Bergin best known for his role as Julia Roberts menacing husband in Sleeping with the Enemy. Bergin plays Aidan Maguire in Eastenders, and Ciara, new to Albert Square, is his estranged ex-wife. Patricks from Drimnagh as well, where Im from, hes a stones throw from where I grew up. We didnt know each other; I had met him on Red Rock, but Id never worked with him. Hes a lovely guy and a really fun person to be around. I remember myself and Barry (her fiance) sitting talking to him about his castle he has a castle! At the time we were planning our wedding... never happened, but potentially might down the road...when I have a bit of time. Free time is something she doesnt have in abundance; its one of the reasons why she doesnt watch much television. However, she admits tuning in to the new season of Irelands Dancing With The Stars this time last year she was one of the stars, not only that, but she and professional dance partner Ryan McShane was one of the bookies favourites. It was such a huge part of my life for four months last year, so Im making sure to watch it on catch-up. I know all the dancers, theyre fantastic people and they do a great job, you know; theyre so positive so, Im watching it for that and I know some of the cast. Deirdre OKane Id know very well and Im rooting for her! And Erin (McGregor) and Ryan are doing a great job, too. Denise hasnt danced since appearing on the show, but thats not to say she wont get back into it at some stage. She knows well its a handy skill to have as an actor in the past shes been asked to dance while auditioning. I had to twerk for Red Rock! It was in the script for the audition, so I gave it a bash. It is really hard... I can kind of get it for a couple of seconds and then I start doing something that just looks weird. The scene was in the pub, where I have a stand-off with Patricia Hennessy, but before that Im quite drunk and Im twerking up against Adam Weafer who plays David; that was hilarious when I was doing it. Red Rock is one week into series three. The show set in and around a Garda station in a Dublin seaside town - heavily features two feuding families, the Hennessys and the Kielys. The Kielys are notorious for getting themselves into trouble and, if this weeks episodes are anything to go by theres no respite in sight. Itd be a miracle if the Kielys got a break and I dont know what theyd do with it if they did, Denise said. Now in hiatus, Red Rock first aired in 2015; Denise has been part of the cast since the start; working closely Paul Roe (Vincent Kiely), Stephen Cromwell (Keith Kiely) and India Mullen (Katie Kiely). We never had a bad day; I always went to work with a smile on my face, which is kind of rare. She hopes production will continue, in time. It is something that Ireland needs; I think there was a gap in the market and Red Rock filled it. Its a continuing drama and I think the 20-something episodes that weve done really show what the show is and the potential it has. Denise has been acting since she was 16. Her on screen credits include Kitty in the fourth installment of the Inspector Jury series Old Fox Deceived; Echoes for Channel 4; a role in the Irish Film Board funded short film Time Traveller; she played Suzanne in Darren Thorntons award-winning debut feature film A Date for Mad Mary; Hozzin Nicky Larkins short Too Shall Pass; Becks in RTE drama Raw; and she was the original Farrah Phelan in RTEs soap drama Fair City. Her career in acting however, certainly hasnt been an easy ride. Over the years shes tried her hand at every sort of job to supplement her income and try to make ends meet. I did everything! I worked in call centres, Ive cleaned the university, I worked in a pub I think everybodys bartended doing acting, if they havent waited tables, theres something wrong, because its the nature of the business really. I went to university in Wales and while I was studying I cleaned the university. I also did work in a laundrette and I had to go through peoples pockets once I found a set of dentures; that wasnt very nice! Through all those jobs being an actor and meeting people from all walks of life I made great friends and have great stories from those times, so its almost like research really. If she could work with anyone in the film industry, top of the list would be Frances McDormand one of the few performers who have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting: an Academy Award for Fargo (1996), a Tony Award for the Broadway play Good People (2011), and an Emmy for HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge in (2014). At the moment Im loving everything Frances McDormand does, and I kind of watch her like a hawk. Shes a superb actress and Ive always been impressed by her since Fargo, which is a film I absolutely adored; so if I could work with anyone Id emulate her, Id look up to her and follow her around. This week Denise started filming in Wicklow for a co-production - between LA Studio Marvista and Irelands own MK1 productions. Produced by Julie Ryan also the producer of The Young Offenders the film, directed by David Jackson, is aimed at the US market. Christmas Perfection will see Denise play the supporting role of Sylvia, mother to the protagonist daughter Darcy. Red Rock returned to TV3 on Monday, January 22. The series is also broadcast on BBC Television and Amazon Prime. EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays on RTE One. 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 today. 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. 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. Showing an unlicensed film is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 rubles (about 1,400) 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". If you cannot see the Facebook post above, click here. Morocco, which has an arable land of 8 million hectares and great agro-climatic wealth, generates a diversified agricultural production, says the Euro Med Invest Business Guide. The share of agriculture in the GDP varies from 10 to 15 pc from one year to another to which adds about 4 pc for agro-industry, says the document. It also says that 15 pc of cropland is irrigated in private vegetable farms dedicated to export, while rain-fed crops encompass cereals, olive, legumes and breeding. In 2016, Moroccan agribusiness exports to Europe reached 3.1 billion (seafood products, fruits and vegetables essentially), while imports from the Union amounted to 2 billion. With the ambitious Green Morocco Plan, the government has since 2008 been supporting the structuring of large high added value poles as well as small-scale agriculture, to develop local productions in the best possible way, explains the Guide. The plan encourages the sectors of olive, citrus fruits, grapes, milk and exotic fruits. To ensure its food security, Morocco bets on irrigation (550,000 hectares equipped with drip irrigation from 2008 to 2020) and diversification of crops: several public and private projects are for instance about introducing quinoa, which withstands drought well. According to the Euro Invest Business Guide, the Moroccan government has also been supporting agro-industry since 2009, the latter being promoted to the level of global business of Morocco by the National Pact for Industrial Emergence, alongside fishing, with the Halieutis plan. Under the Green Morocco Plan, foreign businesses can target agricultural projects (through land leases or equity participation), processing projects or else selling agro-industrial equipment and agri-food products. Leading sectors include dairy products, oilseeds, cereals, dried fruits and nuts, confectionery, seafood products and canned goods, aromatic and medicinal plants, organic production and home produce. Thus, 43 products qualified in 2017 for the protected geographical indication label: dates, olive and argan oils, honey, almonds, saffron, figs The most interesting segments for exporters include processed fruits, juice, sauces and condiments, ready-made dishes as well as confectionery and snacks, says the Guide destined for businesses wishing to know southern Mediterranean countries better. This publication has been produced within the framework of the EU-ROMED Invest Business Intelligence with the financial assistance of the European Union. Five British men and five other foreign nationals, including two women, have been arrested by Cambodian police for what officials describe as "pornographic dancing" after a raid on a party in the popular tourist destination Siem Reap. A member of the group, whose ages range from 19 to 35, told the Press Association from their cell, under condition of strict anonymity, that they were confused over their arrest. A Cambodian Police website published photographs online, appearing to show clothed and laughing tourists demonstrating sex positions. The prisoner claimed none of those arrested were in the photographs. Most of the group were described by police as expats - but some were travellers, including a British tourist who claimed to have been in the country just two weeks when he was arrested. The prisoner said they were manning the barbecue at a villa party on Thursday at 4pm local time when police arrived and began picking out revellers from the crowd. "Honestly, it was really confusing. Everyone was confused. They raided, rounded us up - there was about 80 to 100 people at this party, some of them were tourists. There were about 30 of them [police officers.]" They said they did not understand why they were being arrested, saying they saw one of the men vomiting in shock. The group arrested confirmed their identities, They include five British men; Vincent Harley Robert Hook, 35, Daniel Richard Leeming Jones, 30, Thomas Alexander Jeffries, 22, Billy Stevens, 21, and Paul Francis Harris, 32. Job Robertus van der Wel, from The Netherlands, 22, Canadians Jessica Drolet, of Ottawa, 25, and Eden Koazoleas, 19, of Alberta, were also arrested, along with David Nikolaus Aleksandr Ballovarre, of Oslo, Norway, 22, and Paul Martin Brasch, 32, of New Zealand. They said they had been assigned a Cambodian lawyer, and were due in court on Sunday. The police website pictured a group line-up, which the prisoner confirmed to be the detained group. A Cambodian Tourist Police officer was unable to confirm any further details at the time, when contacted by the Press Association, mentioning only that the British ambassador had called. The Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with British nationals in Cambodia, this evening. "We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families," a statement said. The group confirmed during the call that all of their embassies had been in contact, and were helping the foreign nationals and their families. They said their lawyer told them they could face up to a year in prison, and that they could be detained on a six-month waiting period if the case went to trial. The prisoner said from their makeshift cell on Saturday that their families were "worried sick". "Our parents are doing what they can. Its really just trying to keep a good vibe until we know the outcome." They said they have been sleeping on the floor of an office at a police station in Siem Reap for three days, and emphasised they had been treated well by their captors - saying officers were friendly and had brought them pizza. An official Cambodian Police statement posted online on Saturday afternoon (GMT) referenced pornography and dancing in publicising the arrests, naming 10 suspects, who had been charged following an investigation by the Office Combating Human Trafficking and Protection of Juveniles. The prisoner said the group believed the investigation was targeting foreign expats in the south-east Asian country over foreign tourists and expats wearing bikinis in public, and in relation to expat-run pub crawls in Siem Reap. "Were innocent," they said. "We dont know why weve been arrested - were getting different stories from different people." - PA The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Dave Barry had worked for the organisation as an information technology instructor since 1985. He was interviewed for the position of assistant manager in the Limerick Training Centre on April 14, 2014. Mr Barry, who was aged 60 at the time, said one of the interview panel, Ms C a member of Limerick Clare Education and Training Board asked him: Do you think, at this stage, that you should be taking it easier? He said the question deflated him, as he interpreted it as a reference to his age. He had previously acted up as an assistant manager for two periods and this enhanced his budget-management experience. He also had helped other assistant managers with budgets. Financial accounting was a module in his degree in IT. Mr Barry also said that, in summarising his educational qualifications on the interview assessment sheet, the panel only noted his oldest third-level qualification a BA in maths and education but did not acknowledge a subsequent postgraduate qualification in computer systems and a degree in information technology (NFQ Level 8). Instead, the form said he had completed various CPD courses. Solas denied the question was asked and said what was asked was what motivates you to take on this role, at this stage in your career? It also said the marking was based on his performance at interview, not his application form. Orlaith Mannion, the WRCs equality officer, said she accepted Mr Barrys evidence that the question was asked in the way he suggested. She said it was a discriminatory question, on the ground of age. Ms Mannion also said it was her experience, when assessing whether promotion competitions are conducted in a discriminatory way or not, that interview panels tend to minimise qualifications and work history of candidates they perceive to be also-rans. This appears to be the case here, she said. She said that Solas, as the State organisation responsible for funding, planning, and co-ordinating further education and training in Ireland, should be more conscious of avoiding age-discriminatory practices. A Dublin man who possessed thousands of child porn images and coerced young girls to send him sexually graphic pictures and videos of themselves has been jailed for seven and a half years. Matthew Horan, aged 26, used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, and Kik, an anonymous instant messaging application, to send and receive child porn images from six identified child users in Ireland and nine unknown users around the world. A forensic examination of Horans computer uncovered recorded Skype calls between him and two nine year-old-girls, both individually and together. The recordings included footage of these girls engaging in graphic sexual acts. Horan also took part in sexually explicit text conversations with the girls, during which there would be an exchange of photos. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Horan would use Kik to share child porn images and videos with unidentified users from around the world, most of whom claimed to be young teenagers. He threatened to share an 11-year-old girls nude images to her social media if she didnt send him more graphic photos. In the text exchange between them, this little girl repeatedly told Horan that she would kill herself. He then continued to coerce her to send more images, the court heard. Horan, of St Johns Crescent, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to a count each of sexually exploiting two girls within the State on dates between April 1 and November 23, 2014. He pleaded guilty to two more counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of distributing child porn on dates in 2015. He further pleaded guilty to possessing child porn at his address on July 11, 2015. He pleaded guilty to three further counts of sexually exploiting female children through Snapchat and Instagram in the State on dates between May 21, 2015 and July 7, 2016. He also pleaded guilty to possessing child porn on a Sony mobile phone at his home on July 7, 2016. He has no previous convictions. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last two years of the nine-and-a-half-year sentence. He said Horan had a very unhealthy, insidious, and debased sexual interest in children. He said the crimes were all committed for Horans indulgence and pleasure and Horan had exploited children in a most horrible way. He said Horans actions would have long-term effects on the victims. He noted a medical report which stated that child porn became Horans autistic fixated interest. He knew what he was doing was wrong. He understood the damage and yet he didnt stop what he was doing, he said. Judge Nolan backdated the sentence to June last year, when Horan went into custody. He ordered a report from the Probation Service into what interventions and services the prison service could provide to reform Horan. If there are such interventions, he has to partake of those meaningfully. It is important for society and him that he is given certain interventions that will change him, he said. Detective Superintendent Declan Daly addresses the media at Dublin Circuit Court. Pic: Collins Courts Outside court, Detective Superintendent Declan Daly said this case was a timely reminder of the dangers that can occur on the internet and the need for parents to be vigilant of their childrens internet use. He said it was exceptionally dangerous for children to share images online, and that children should never agree to meet any person on the internet. He said if images were shared already, gardai recommended that children should not share any more images, stop all communication and tell a parent or an appropriate adult. They should preserve the evidence and not delete anything and they should report the matter to gardai, he said. Lawyers for Horan told the court that his fathers home in Clondalkin was attacked on Monday night, with the front door and windows smashed. ==========How the gardai caught him It was the authorities in America who first contacted the gardai about a Gmail account being used to share child porn. Investigators tracked the account to Horan and gardai searched his address. They seized a number of devices and got him to disclose all of the passwords to his online applications. In a forensic investigation that took over a year, gardai discovered thousands of images and videos of child porn. Some of these involved babies. Horan also engaged in graphic text exchanges with the child users. He would describe violent sexual acts to them. Detective Garda David Connolly told Lorcan Staines, prosecuting, that Horan would copy and paste the same descriptions of sexual acts he would like to do and send them to multiple message recipients. He would also send Kik messages to users, opening with the question: Yo, wanna see some child porn? before sending graphic images. Det Gda Connolly told Mr Staines that forensic experts also found Skype conversations between Horan and an individual who is currently under investigation and who has a nine-year-old daughter. Through the conversations, Horan and this man shared fantasies about the young girl. Horan told the man: Were just two sick fucks who are totally cool with being sick fucks. Det Gda Connolly agreed with Patrick Gageby SC, defending, that his client had a closed existence of incessant activity on the internet. He further agreed that Horan had never established physical contact with any of the children and there was no evidence of commercial gain through sharing the images. Mr Gageby said his client was a perpetual loner who was on the autism spectrum. He said the death of his mother, when he was aged three, left his father adrift. He said that a psychological report stated that the fixated interests of people on the autism spectrum often function as a way of reducing stress. He added that there were no other interests in Horans life. He said Horan lived a dingy existence and that, since completing his Leaving Cert in 2009, he had done nothing except be at home. The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) described the actions of Rory Lenihan, a 50-year-old father-of-five, as shocking and said his sentence was a warning to other employees with access to personal data that misusing it has severe consequences. Mr Lenihan, from Ballaghderg, Letterkenny, received 22,000 in corrupt payments from private investigators, over a three-year period, while he was based at the Department of Social Protection offices in Co Donegal. Mr Lenihan pleaded guilty to 12 sample charges of receiving payments, in exchange for information, and was yesterday sentenced to two years on each charge, the terms to run concurrently, with the second year to be suspended. Tony Delaney, assistant data-protection commissioner, welcomed the outcome of the case, which was linked to a DPC investigation of three insurance companies, following a tip-off from the Department of Social Protection. Zurich, FBD, and Travelers Insurance were successfully prosecuted in 2012 for using information improperly obtained by private investigators. Tracking the information back, the DPC found it had been disclosed by Mr Lenihan. Letterkenny Circuit Court heard evidence, earlier this week, that the defendant, a clerical officer in the treatments benefits section, stayed behind during his lunch break to access details and to make phone calls. He was paid 23 for information on each person and the money was paid periodically, in lump sums, to his bank account in Donegal town. He earned 21,898 in this way, between January, 2008 and October, 2010. In September, 2010, his supervisor, Paul Bradley, became suspicious of his behaviour and an internal investigation was launched. The computer system in use in the office recorded the files he had accessed and these were cross-referenced with phone calls he had made. The breaches were revealed. He admitted what he had done, when confronted. The court heard he was in financial difficulties at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions, and had lost his marriage and reputation, as a result of his actions. But Mr Delaney said there was no excuse. This case stands out as one of the most serious data breaches ever uncovered in this State, he said. That a civil servant, who had ready access, for the performance of his official duties, to the social welfare records of every customer of the Department, abused his position and trawled through those records, and passed on personal information from them to private investigators, in exchange for corrupt payments, is scandalous and appalling. Todays court outcome should serve as a very clear warning to employees in all sectors, he said. This expensive form of inquiry, which many thought was consigned to history, may actually be the result of a typo. Or maybe not. Last February Maurice and Lorraine McCabe issued a public statement through their solicitors, demanding a public inquiry into alleged attempts to smear Maurices character. They wanted a public inquiry on the basis of what they believed had transpired at a private inquiry in 2015. This was the OHiggins commission into Sergeant McCabes complaints of malpractice. Therein, the McCabes believed there was an attempt to accuse Maurice of what a tribunal lawyer has characterised as blackmail in a document referred to here as The Letter. This alleged attempted was thwarted, they believed, only when McCabe produced a recording from a disputed meeting in Mullingar dating from 2008. In February 2017, the Government had announced the establishment of a commission of investigation the same model used in the OHiggins commission to investigate alleged attempts to smear McCabes character. Then a story broke about a false allegation of child rape against the sergeant that had been generated in Tusla, the child and family agency. There was political and public outrage. The Government intended to place that matter in the commission of investigation until the McCabes issued their statement setting out why they would not be happy with another private inquiry. They said in the statement: Our experience of the OHiggins commission of investigation is too fresh in our minds to allow for a repetition. Although that commission investigated a number of serious instances of malpractice in the policing function in Bailieboro and upheld Maurices complaints in respect of all of them, the public has never been made aware that, throughout the proceedings before that commission, Maurice, at the hands of the legal team representing the current commissioner, was cast in the role of culprit and/or defendant, and as a person making those complaints in bad faith and without cause. When challenged in that respect, that legal team sought and obtained confirmation from the present commissioner that they did so on her personal instructions. Under the circumstances, the Government had little choice but to accede to their request. Quite obviously the couple and presumably their advisers were under the impression that there had been an attempt to target McCabe at OHiggins which had never fully been explained. Roll forward to the opening of the current module of the tribunal into what happened at OHiggins. On January 8, the tribunal was told that The Letter contained an error. This error led Sgt McCabe to believe he was being accused of blackmailing his district officer at the time, Michael Clancy. How could such an error have occurred at a statutory inquiry? And how could the perception that it hadnt been corrected persist right up to recent weeks? The letter detailed some history between Sgt McCabe and three senior officers in the Cavan area. It dealt with the fallout after the daughter of a colleague of Sgt McCabe whom he had reported for ill-discipline made a historic allegation. The DPP found the allegation had no credibility nor was even of a criminal nature. Sgt McCabe wanted the DPP directions to be given to the girls father. In a meeting about the matter, according to The Letter, he told Superintendent Noel Cunningham that he had made complaints against his district officer, Superintendent Mick Clancy, to get the DPP directions given to the girls family in order to clear up the matter. This was the blackmail referenced at the tribunal. In fact, Sgt McCabe had referenced making complaints to Supt Clancy, which put a whole different complexion on the matter. Sgt McCabe produced a recording of the meeting which coincided with a report of it done by Supt Cunningham at the time. This version was in conflict with The Letter submitted to the OHiggins commission. Sgt McCabe believed they were out to get him. Following questioning of Supt Cunningham after the production of the recording, he said he disagreed with The Letter and that it should have read to rather than against. So who made the error? During Supt Cunninghams examination he was asked had he seen The Letter. No, I havent seen any letter of the 18th May as it has been referred to, he said. Yet, he had been one of three senior gardai who provided the factual detail for The Letter, according to the State solicitor acting for them, Annmarie Ryan. She told the tribunal that she sent him a draft of The Letter on Saturday, May 16, 2015 to check it for factual accuracy. The lawyer who drafted the letter said that accuracy was of the utmost importance. Supt Cunningham has told the tribunal he didnt print out the draft and didnt have his glasses with him when he read it on his phone. He has poor eyesight. Ms Ryan also said she got Supt Cunningham to sign off on the letter the following Monday morning but says he wasnt given a chance to read it then. The senior counsel acting for the officers and the Garda commissioner, Colm Smyth, told the tribunal that the error was not made by lawyers. It was not a mistake of counsel, he said. As far as Im concerned we did what we did within the instructions. He was responding to a question from Sgt McCabes lawyer, Michael McDowell, who said he wouldnt call it an error but a mis-statement. This error or mis-statement was compounded a few weeks later by a submission to OHiggins that repeated the effective charge of blackmail against Sgt McCabe. Attention was drawn to it at the next sitting of OHiggins when Supt Cunningham gave evidence. So who made this devastating error and how could it have been made? Supts Cunningham and Clancy are both claiming privilege on their legal advice, which is their right. However, the situation means it will be nearly impossible to find out who was responsible and how it could have happened. We do know from the McCabes statement last February that the correction was certainly never resolved as far as they were concerned. Whatever the answer, it has led all the way to Dublin Castle and the kind of tribunal that was supposed to have been largely consigned to history. All departments have been given until next week to outline what legislative and policy changes might be needed in the event of what is being called a managed disorderly Brexit. The hope is an orderly Brexit can be agreed but the Governments focus is to prepare for a cliff-edge scenario where there would be no new trade deal between the UK and the EU. Contingency plans to counter potential damage to the agriculture, fishery and aviation sectors are being drawn up and departments must submit a priority agenda by next week. Existing predictions by the ERSI among others for a no deal where the UK would crash out of the bloc are guiding the review. These include World Trade Organisation tariffs of up to 60% being slapped on Irish produce, particularly damaging to the beef sector. Economic growth could fall by up to 7% in years ahead while 40,000 jobs might be lost. On top of significant uncertainty and disruption to the economy, a disorderly Brexit would have huge legal, resource and budget implications. Officials are putting together plans to expand Irish ports and increase the numbers of staff operating them because of increased EU checks if the UK crashes out of the customs union, while flights temporarily going to and from the UK would be stopped without an aviation framework agreed between London and the bloc. Emergency legislation is being looked at while signs of a pending bad Brexit would also be hardwired into next years budget. Officials are awaiting an outline from UK prime minister Theresa Mays priorities for future relations with the EU, needed for a summit in March if an October deadline for a draft withdrawal deal is to be met. Irish priorities for this future deal include fisheries, competition issues, produce standards, justice matters and aviation. Officials want to ensure the economy is as resilient as possible but are hopeful Ireland can walk back from a worst-case scenario. Emergency Oireachtas legislation this year is not being ruled out if there were signs of a no-deal scenario by March 2019, when Brexit begins under a transition pact. On Monday, the EU will publish guidelines for negotiations on the transition period after Brexit. A man aged 23 and a woman, aged 30 and with a British address, appeared in court yesterday in connection with the seizure, which was made as part of Operation Thor by members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in Dublin. The pair were arrested on suspicion of handling property suspected to be stolen in the course of a number of burglaries. The majority of services on the Cork-Dublin route have a dedicated quiet carriage but, as of this week, they are being phased out. Its a trend internationally, this move away from quiet zones, and its based on the ubiquitous use of phones, Barry Kenny of Irish Rail told the Irish Examiner. The decision was made this week. It was something we have kept an eye on. On eight-carriage trains, one carriage normally had a dedicated quiet zone. Now, as each train is brought in for standard maintenance, the markers that indicate a carriage as a quiet zone, will be removed. There has been some criticism of the decision, as public transport, it was indicated, can be a very challenging experience for people with autism. It is very disappointing that Irish Rail has taken this measure with no consultation with the autism community, said Adam Harris, founder of AsIAm, an autism charity. It is very important that the sensory process needs of people with autism are recognised as accessibility needs and considered by public services such as Irish Rail. A key challenge we experience frequently is that those with autism do not recognise what sensory overload means. Mr Harris said the levels of day-to-day conversations or general background noise may cause extreme discomfort and pain for people with autism. For a person with autism, routine and a calm sensory environment can often be very important; as a result, any measure put in place by such services to support autistic people should be built upon, not reduced. Mr Harris said isolation and unemployment often affect people with autism. Having accessible public transport is a key tool in addressing this, he said. Irish Rail, meanwhile, said it is rolling out the provision of customer services officers on trains in 2018, in light of the phasing out of quiet carriages. Mr Harris has requested a meeting with them. A 2016 report found that one in 65 schoolchildren have a diagnosis of autism. The National Council for Special Educations report showed a far higher number than a 2013 study, where it was thought it was only one in 100. Mr Harris estimates if there were one in 65 students with a diagnosis, the figure would then play out in the general population, in the absence of verified data or a general register. Confirmation of the delay was confirmed by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. The reason given to Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan was owing to the complexity of the project and recent changes in international forensic laboratory standards, it will be necessary to add further material to the tender documentation. Mr OCallaghan pointed out the Government had in October 2016 signalled the project would begin construction in 2017. Director of Forensic Science Ireland, Dr Shelia Willis has previously highlighted the need for a new laboratory to assist their work, he said. The existing facility is unsuitable for modern science practices and cannot support the developments in pattern drug use, he said. On Thursday, a scientist from Forensic Science Ireland provided on-site guidance and advice to gardai in securing evidence and identifying toxic materials located at the scene of a crystal meth laboratory in Walkinstown, Dublin. Drugs with a street value estimated to be over 450,000 were also recovered along with other paraphernalia. A 50-year-old man was arrested at the scene and held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act. Mr OCallaghan said it was his understanding that the discovery was the first of its kind in the State. Given the discovery, I urge the Government to extend its full support to the crucial work carried out by Forensic Ireland and ensure that they are allocated resources to respond to emerging synthetic drug trends such as crystal meth, he said. Mr OCallaghan described crystal meth as one of the most insidious, synthetic street drugs. Details of its emergence onto the illicit drug market in Ireland is deeply concerning, he said. The highly addictive drug is proven to have devastating side effects which are potentially dangerous to the individual themselves but also to those around them. This makes those taking meth a threat to the public and to the emergency first responders that are often called on to treat the drug user. He said that the toxic chemicals involved in cooking crystal meth are potentially explosive and therefore producing the drug can endanger those nearby. The importance of the work of the Garda Drugs Squad across the country cannot be overstated and the Government must ensure that they are consistently provided with adequate resources to prevent a spread of this synthetic drug and others like it, he said. The commissioning ceremony, which took place at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh, consisted of 68 new army officers and two in the Air Corps. The Defence Forces also trained eight Maltese officers who graduated yesterday. RACO, the organisation which represents officers across the Defence Forces, said it welcomed the new personnel but was quick to point out that recruitment still isnt impacting on the numbers of officers leaving because of poor pay and conditions. Even with the latest appointments, there are 200 fewer officers serving in the Defence Forces than in 2007. RACO expressed alarm after it had been informed officers would not be getting pay restoration agreed in public service pay agreements (Lansdowne Road 1 and 2) in their pay packets this month, despite the fact civilian workers in the Department of Defence would. The Department of Defence initially said the delay was due to late endorsement by RACO members of the Landsdowne Road 2 agreement. RACO deputy general secretary Lieutenant Colonel Derek Priestly said his organisation totally rejected this explanation, saying it had clearly identified to the department the associations acceptance of the Landsdowne Road 2 proposal on December 12, well in advance of any required adjustments for the January 2018 payroll. RACO further informed the official side that RACO had posed this question to the Department of Defence two months in advance of the December 2017 deadline in order that they were in a position to facilitate any adjustments that were likely to be required, he said. Lieut Col Priestly said that while officers werent being paid the increases, they noted with interest that civilian staff in the department were. RACO expressed our complete alarm with the approach by management and our dissatisfaction with the lack of any prior communication alerting our association on the matter, he said. The RACO professional staff find the situation where management are not in a position to either pay the due increases quite inconceivable, particularly where the Minister (Paul Kehoe) has stated that levels of low pay are being addressed through the national pay deals. PDFORRA, which represents enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces, said it had also made representations about the delayed payments. Its general secretary, Ger Guinan, said he was concerned about the delay and had been informed it was still being processed and should be paid out in the next couple of weeks. Mr Kehoe and vice-admiral Mark Mellett, the chief of staff, attended the historic passing out ceremony yesterday. The 93rd Cadet Class comprised eight officers who had previously served in the Defence Forces as enlisted personnel and 31 university graduates with a range of qualifications including law, history, animal science, multimedia studies, music composition, and English literature. A further 17 officers were in third-level education prior to joining the Defence Forces. The twice-accused-of-sexual-harassment faith-values guru to the Democratic Party was probably peddling snake oil. Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP/REX/Shutterstock The reckoning over sexual misconduct in public life reached a destination many Democrats had long feared: Hillary Clintons two presidential campaigns. But the misconduct in question, as it happens, did not involve her husband or anyone in his immediate circle. Instead, it is ensnaring her 2008 faith adviser, who later headed up a Hillaryland auxiliary group in 2016 a man with the B-movie name of Burns Strider. According to a report from the New York Times, Strider was disciplined (but not fired) by HRCs first presidential campaign over one sexual-harassment allegation, and then fired from Correct the Record in 2016 for another. The Times offers some details from the 2008 incident, but none about the more recent allegations. The evidence about Striders alleged misconduct (it sounds like he admitted the 2008 allegations, at least enough to accept punishment) will eventually sort itself out. But what I want to know is what kind of advice this man was offering, and whether it was worth the apparent collateral damage to his female subordinates and co-workers. Burns Strider is famously a charter member of what progressive pastor Daniel Schultz dubbed the religious-industrial complex, a distinctly 21st-century development whereby a set of ministers, writers, and consultants set themselves up as sherpas guiding the Democratic Party through the unfamiliar landscape of Christian Believers or, more specifically, conservative Evangelical believers. Strider hit political gold early on in convincing Nancy Pelosi to set up a Faith Working Group in 2005 that encouraged God talk among House Democrats. The 2008 campaign was a watershed for the religious-industrial complex, as Barack Obama submitted himself to questioning by conservative Evangelical megapastor Rick Warren and did reasonably well among people of faith (and, of course, among so many other elements of the electorate). These advisers to the presumably godless Donkey Party took a lot of credit for the Democratic victory in 2008, and began, well, cashing in. With no one knowing about Burns Striders 2008 campaign misconduct, he was in a position to Go Big, setting up a firm called the Eleison Group, which did faith consulting for Democrats. Sarah Posner had this to say about Striders advice in 2010: Eleisons clients have tended to be conservative and anti-choice Democrats. Parker Griffith, the Alabama congressman who switched to the Republican Party, and Bobby Bright, another Alabaman who votes more Republican than Democratic, were Eleison clients. Both Bright and Griffith, as well as Mississippis Travis Childers and North Carolinas Heath Shuler, also Eleison clients, voted for the Stupak amendment [an anti-abortion rider] but against the health care bill last November, and against the final bill in March. Perhaps the Democratic Party understandably hasnt detected all the benefits of Eleisons faith messaging? It sure looks like Strider represented the South end of a North-bound dinosaur, urging Democrats to make the right noises (and compromises) to hang onto an ever-shrinking segment of conservative white voters. Aside from the diminishing returns morally and politically from such a strategy, it arguably sacrificed appeals to genuinely progressive people of faith who were either taken for granted or written off. As a politically active and religiously observant Southerner by birth, I have to say that whatever he did or didnt do in the way of sexual misconduct in 2008 and 2016, Burns Striker seems to have been invested in a career-development practice that annoys me profoundly: trading on Southern cultural stereotypes to sucker the secular Yankee liberals into keeping him around as a sort of amulet and symbol. His tributes to the folk wisdom of his late father, long-time Mississippi sheriff Big Daddy Striker, are presumably heart-felt, but are just a bit lower on the gag-me scale than political consultant Catfish Saunderss Southern populist prescriptions for NASCAR sponsorship, huntin and fishin enthusiasm, and other elements of a Bubba Strategy. Playing the fool for company is indeed a Southern tradition, but not one progressive Southerners should take much pride in. I can only hope that Striders latest notoriety doesnt make Democratic politicians allergic to religious outreach. But they might want to draw on their own spiritual experiences, or if they dont have any, their own dealings with people of faith, instead of hiring consultants. Youd think the authentically Christian Hillary Clinton would have known that. Childrens charities have urged the jailing of paedophile Matthew Horan to become a watershed in societys response to the scourge of online child sexual abuse. As the 26-year-old Dubliner began a nine-and-a-half year sentence for preying on children as young as nine, campaigners said politicians, parents and educators needed to use the momentum to make real changes towards child protection. The focus is also turning on tech companies behind the social media apps used to target the victims with calls for them to face enforceable obligations to restrict and monitor their usage. In the meantime, gardai at the frontline of the battle against online predators have appealed to parents and children to act fast and decisively on any suspicious approach or encounter. Detective Supt Declan Daly of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau said all communication should stop immediately, all records of conversations and images should be preserved, and the matter reported to gardai without delay: Today serves as a timely reminder of the potential dangers that can occur on the internet. Families can go through significant hurt and pain when images are shared online and wed like to prevent that happening to any further families. Evidence from Horans court hearing caused outrage as details emerged of how he contacted children through smartphone apps and pressured them into sending him sexually explicit photos of themselves. He then threatened to show the pictures to family and friends if they did not send him ever more graphic images. He continued threatening one 11-year-old girl even when she sent him increasingly distressed pleas, telling him she wanted to kill herself. The ease with which he unleashed his terror on children through popular sharing apps has caused alarm and anger. The court heard yesterday that his family home had been attacked and windows broken since details of the abuses came to light. Mary Flaherty, chief executive of Children at Risk in Ireland, said parents should discuss the Horan case with their children: This will have knocked out any complacency that people had. Its a real call to action and it is multifaceted what we need to happen. At a minimum, parents should be using the opportunity to ask their children, have you heard of anything like this, do you think this could happen to you, do you know what you would do if anything like this did happen, and to stress you can always come to the parent, that theyll always be there to support you, she said. In terms of what the State can do, we need urgency on the proposed new digital watchdog and to revisit the digital age of consent. As for the industry itself, it is a bit of a wild west out there and its about time they brought in the sheriff. They are making a fortune out of it and they need to have responsibility to make it as safe as possible. The Childrens Rights Alliance and the ISPCC also urged parents to learn lessons from what Matthew Horan was able to do. Its a very distressing case, said Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward. It shows the need to educate children from a young age of the dangers of social media. Grainia Long, chief executive of the ISPCC, said a joint approach to the dangers was needed: We need a national cyber-safety strategy. We need everybody around the table. She also appealed to parents to stop feeling powerless. This weekend, if you havent done it already, figure out what devices your child is using and what controls you have in place, sit down with your child and have that conversation with them, and then set boundaries and controls, she said. Six children in Ireland were identified as victims of Horan along with nine as yet unidentified children overseas. The loner, who did not work and spent almost all his time indoors and online, also had thousands of child pornography images in his possession. Campaigners broadly welcomed the sentence handed down to Horan but as it was backdated to last June, with the last two years suspended and a quarter of the term likely to be shaved off as standard remission, he is expected out of jail in just under five years. He has provided additional so-called release days from next September for the 60% of primary principals who also have classes. Their schools will have substitution cover paid for between 17 and 29 days a year, up from 15 to 25 days currently, depending on the size of a school. However, Mr Bruton left the conference of the Irish Primary Principals Network with the clear message that further increasing this to one release day a week is the most pressing need of those running the countrys 3,300 primary schools. Our top priority is to have one release day per week for principals, just like our colleagues in Northern Ireland. We hope you achieve this in the next two budgets, its the best value for money youll ever get. Full-time teaching principals are the unsung heroes of our education system; they are miracle workers, in my view, said IPPN president David Ruddy. In later remarks to delegates, Mr Bruton said he cannot give commitments on such a target or a timeframe, as the budgetary system only allows for ministers to look at priorities and available funding from year to year. The minister said not enough attention has been paid to the importance of developing leadership in our schools, but he is conscious of the need to consider the timing of important reforms being rolled out and the capacity of schools and principals to implement them. The conference heard from the Centre for School Leadership, a Department of Education-supported initiative of IPPN and the second-level National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, of supports for more incremental routes for teachers to become principals. The education minister was responding to the proposal to re-establish supply panels, under which teachers are employed to be available to local primary schools to cover illness or other short-term absences. The suggestion came from primary principals and teachers, who rejected Brutons idea that curbing of career breaks would solve a crisis in shorter-term substitutions. A survey of the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) shows that nearly one third of schools were unable to find a substitute teacher on more than 10 days since September and that the situation has been worsening since Christmas. IPPN chief executive, Pairic Clerkin, said he was not aware of any schools having problems recruiting teachers to cover the absence of staff on career breaks. Rather, he said, it was for short-notice substitution, or short contracts, that schools were finding it hard to fill gaps. Boards of management have always had a responsibility to ensure they had a replacement teacher available, if they were granting a career break, he said. If we had a panel of teachers employed on a yearly basis in each area, we could have them available to our schools for those other absences. The number of teachers on career break from primary and second-level schools is up from 1,500 to 2,264 in five years, including 1,600 primary teachers. Despite the views expressed by IPPN, the minister said schools were reporting difficulties filling those positions. On the idea of supply panels, suggested by Mr Clerkin and by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Mr Bruton said such a system was piloted, but was found to have been expensive and ineffective: This dates back to the previous governments time, in 2010, when that system was withdrawn. The evaluation available to the department, at the time, was that they were proving expensive and an ineffective use of resources. Obviously, these issues can be re-evaluated by the teacher-supply steering group [I am setting up], but we do come from the experience of having used it and there are certainly some questions around it, so those would have to be considered, if it was to be examined for the future. He confirmed he would be asking colleges to double the number of places on second-level teacher-training courses that are open to students after Leaving Certificate, and he wants the increase in numbers on those undergraduate education degrees to begin this year. Subject to details to be worked out by the steering group involving his department, third-level colleges, and others he will also be directing that set numbers of places be provided for those who want to become teachers of subjects in which there are shortages. These will also be linked to areas where there are shortages of graduates for the economy, such as science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, and languages. Mr Bruton was unable to say when the additional output of teachers in these subjects would be evident to schools. The INTO described the ministers attempt to restrict career-break opportunities as a solution to a problem that does not exist, and said it would result in a different group of teachers going abroad to seek work. INTO general secretary, Sheila Nunan, said panels of supply teachers would guarantee regular employment for those being offered work overseas. This and an end to pay inequality are needed, she said, to provide cover for teachers on short-term unplanned absences. Health Minister Simon Harris is likely to recommend replacing the Eighth Amendment with another clause as opposed to a simple repeal when the Cabinet meets on Monday. The Irish Examiner understands that Mr Harris, in consultation with the Attorney General, is leaning toward the option of adding enabling legislation to affirm the right of the Oireachtas to set laws. However, Government sources have stressed that his proposal will not go as far as what was recommended by the Citizens Assembly, which would have firmly excluded the courts from a role. On Monday Mr Harris is set to seek formal approval from the Cabinet to hold a referendum, outline his position on the wording of that referendum as well as outlining his approach to what legislation would exist, should the people decide to remove the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution. The Pro Life Campaign say they are confident the polls will change once more information about abortion gets through to people. The comments were in response to an Irish Times poll which said only 29% of people are against repealing the Eighth Amendment and bringing in more liberal abortion laws. A majority (56% of voters) said they were in favour of the change, with 15% undecided. Cora Sherlock from the Pro Life Campaign says she is confident that view will shift ahead of the vote. When we hear more about families who have children saved by the Eighth because it is just something we havent seen in the debate so far. I know from my own work with the Pro Life Movement, when the public become aware of those things it can be a message for them. When they see that there are children who are alive thanks to the Eighth Amendment which is the reality then they have no interest in dismantling it. Meanwhile, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger TD said campaigners cannot get complacent after the latest opinion poll. It shows 56% of people are in favour of scrapping the Eighth Amendment and legislating for abortion without restriction up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy. The poll found 29% of voters were against repeal. Ms Coppinger said they need to build on the figures revealed by The Irish Times. There is no room for complacency because the poll shows the absolute necessity to get young people out (to vote), and those in urban areas, to guarantee the referendum is passed, said Coppinger. For that to happen, May is the optimal time for maximum youth and student involvement. A majority of people are in favour of repealing the Eighth and allowing abortion without restriction for up to 12 weeks, according to a new poll. The irish Times/MRBI poll showed 56% would be in favour of the move, with just 29% against. The poll suggests there is a clear majority of people in favour of repeal, with an almost 2-1 lead when undecided voters are discounted. Support for repeal is strongest among younger voters, women and people living in Dublin. Almost one in five people said their views had changed on the matter in the last year and moved towards a more liberal system. Reasons like thinking a woman has the right to choose, the news media and becoming more informed were cited for the changes of opinion. Communication has been transformed by the digital age and the pace of change. is such that even the most tech-savvy parents find it hard to stay abreast of whats hot and whats not when it comes to their kids use of social media. Just when youve got one App figured, another comes along, and the process of staying one step ahead begins all over again. Its no wonder parents are feeling overwhelmed, says John Sharry, founder of charity Parents Plus. Dr Sharry, a social worker and child and family psychotherapist, says the best approach for parents considering letting their children set up a social media profile is to be in there from the start, even though its very easy to just let things slide. You need to be in there early. And you should try to focus on core positive rules, he says. The first thing to recognise is that technology is not all bad. It offers plenty of educational and leisure opportunities. It can be a forum for parents to connect with children through playing games together or watching movies. But equally, there are dangers, Dr Sharry says. They include inappropriate access to the internet, over-sharing personal information online, including intimate images, and the danger of being contacted inappropriately while online. Theres also the risk of overuse of technology leading to addictive behaviour a survey by market research company iReach Insights, published this week, found almost two-thirds of those whose kids had a smartphone believe their child is addicted to it. More than four in five feel smartphones should offer more settings to protect children and teens. The clamour for added protection grew this week against the backdrop of a court case that would strike terror in the heart of any parent whose child is active online. The case of Matthew Horan, the 26-year-old Dubliner who pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children online, using Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, musical.ly and Kik to send and receive child porn images from six identified child users in Ireland, is the stuff of parental nightmare. A forensic examination of Horans computer uncovered recorded Skype calls between him and two nine-year-old girls, which included footage of the girls engaging in sexual acts. Horan also engaged in sexually explicit text conversations with the girls, during which there would be an exchange of photos. Horan, of St Johns Crescent, Clondalkin, also threatened to share an 11-year-old girls nude images to her social media if she didnt send him more graphic photos. Even though the girl threatened to kill herself, Horan continued to coerce her to send more images. Yesterday, he was given a nine-and-a-half year prison sentence, with the final two years suspended. The details of the Horan case are shocking, particularly the revelation that a child threatened to kill herself because she didnt have the tools to cope with a sexual predator. What child does? But what the case also highlights is how easy it seems for strangers to make contact with our children, and how unaware we can remain. Horans activities did not come to light on foot of parental vigilance. It was thanks to US authorities that Horan was eventually picked up. They contacted gardai about an email account being used to share child porn and investigators tracked the account to Horan. The case raises many questions. How does a stranger manoeuvre himself into a position where he is able to persuade/ coerce young girls to engage in sexual acts on his behalf? How does he get in contact with them in the first place? How does he get them to share inappropriate photos? How does he get them to take inappropriate photos? Why did these children not confide in their parents? How are kids able to engage in this kind of online activity in the first place? How do we protect our own children from similar online predators? What are the tech companies doing to ensure their safety? The social media giants behind the apps mentioned in this court case argue that they take online safety very seriously. Kik said it does this by constant improvements to the product and by encouraging users to report content they believe violates the Kik terms of service. Kik said users are able to block those they dont wish to chat with. It says it has invested 8m over 18 months and has a safety advisory board to help shape our safety strategy. At the end of the day though, Kik is basically a chat room where users can send anonymous messages via user names. And even though the lower age limit to create an account is 17, there is no age verification system. So if a child lies about their age, who will know? And because the lower age limit is 17, there are no parental control features. Microsoft, who designed the Skype software, said its Skype websites and software are not intended for or designed to attract users under the age of 13. It says it has measures in place to help protect children from being contacted by strangers, including only allowing people in the childs contact list to contact the child using Skype, and hiding the age, date of birth and gender of children on profile pages. However, as the security measures are based on the date of birth provided by the person creating a profile, all a child has to do is create a fake date of birth to circumvent these measures. A spokesperson for Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, said they have zero tolerance for child exploitation. When detected, our teams ensure that any offending content is immediately removed and reported to the relevant authorities. We also work closely with An Garda Siochana, in particular the Cybercrime Unit. In addition, we work with safety experts to develop powerful tools to combat this kind of activity and we have a global team responding around the clock to reports from our community. Snapchat says it has a dedicated trust and safety team that works around the clock to review abuse reports and take action when they become aware of a violation. However, like Kik, Skype and Instagram, while they say no one under 13 is allowed to create an account or use the services, and new users are required to provide an age when they register there doesnt appear to be an age-verification system when you register initially. At any rate, research shows that children are getting around the age requirements. A 2015 Dublin Institute of Technology study found that just under 40% of 11 and 12-year-olds have a social networking profile, despite age restrictions. Its not possible to police our childrens online behaviour all of the time, but we can lay some ground rules, Dr Sharry says. These can include limiting screen time; banning screens at mealtime, often the only time families sit down together; no technology in the bedroom, phones collected and left downstairs. Lots of parents say we dont have any rules and its got really bad and out of hand and how do we get back control? Well you can. Its just about taking a gradual, clear approach. Have a family meeting, tell them technology is disrupting family life and consult them about what needs to be done. You dont have to agree everything with them first time, Dr Sharry says. Once you check things with them, once you educate and inform they can see the sense in not using phones at mealtimes, and recognise that maybe it does affect sleep at night. Much of the conflict is avoidable if rules are in place ahead of the technology. Dr Sharry says the trick is dont give them everything at once. At first, the parent should keep the password to themselves so that the child has to come to them in order to use the technology. Once theyve shown themselves to be responsible, the password can be shared with the child, but with the caveat that the parent has permission to check their online activity. And thats the agreement from the start. It takes out all the issues of risk, Dr Sharry says. Ultimately, never give access to technology unless youve explored all the safety issues with them, he says. Its important to discuss what they would do if contacted inappropriately, either by peers or a stranger. Aine Lynch, CEO of the National Parents Council Primary, says children are sometimes afraid of going to their parent about things that concern them online for fear of the repercussions, principally that their parents would ban them from using the internet. In an interview on webwise.ie, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, based at Dublin City University, Ms Lynch says the key is to not just talk to your children about the internet, but to also listen to them, what they enjoy about it, what their concerns are. The parent can then introduce their own concerns and they can agree rules which give clarity to both sides. The bottom line is, the internet is now a big part of childrens lives, Ms Lynch says. And as Dr Sharry says: You cant say no forever. You dont want your kids to feel excluded. You need to learn about the technology with them. You need to have that safety conversation. Parents should have regard to their childs age, however, when granting access. Dr Sharry says parents would never leave an 11-year-old child wander into the city centre at night, but they do let them wander around YouTube and Skype. Cyberpsychologist, Mary Aiken, adviser to Europols Cyber Crime Centre, has questioned why the digital age of consent in Ireland is set to be so much lower than the age a young person must be to make decisions about their physical health. The age of consent for medical procedures is 16. Yet from May 25, when the EU General Data Protection Regulation comes into effect, the digital age of consent will be 13 the age from which it will be legal for data controllers to hold data name, address, screen name, phone number, geolocation data, video and audio files gathered from minors. Parental consent will be required up to the age of 13. If an Irish child cannot make a decision on something that could impact on their physical health, how could they possibly make a decision on something that could impact on their mental health? she said. Dr Aiken has described the internet as an adult environment there is no shallow end of the swimming pool online. As Stephen Balkam, founder and CEO of the UKs Family Online Safety Institute said in a previous interview, parents should remember that they own their childrens devices, so they can dictate terms of use, such as knowing passwords, setting time limits, and setting curfews. He also emphasises the importance of communication: Having the tech talk now is almost more difficult than having the sex talk with your kids. The birds and the bees talk is one and done. The tech talk needs to happen almost once a year because of new technology and new apps. For more information on internet safety, see webwise.ie For more information on Parents Plus see solutiontalk.ie Dateline Yangons Challenges Looking Forward The Irrawaddy discusses how the regional government should proceed to improve the lives of locals in 2018. Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, well discuss to what extent the Yangon government and regional lawmakers have improved the life of residents in Yangon, Myanmars biggest city, over the past two years, as well as future challenges and how they will be handled in 2018. Yangon regional lawmakers U Kyaw Zeya and Ma Kyi Pyar join me for the discussion. Im Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe. Yangons Challenges Looking Forward Yangons Challenges Looking ForwardThe Irrawaddy discusses how the regional government should proceed to improve the lives of locals in 2018. Posted by The Irrawaddy English Edition on Friday, January 26, 2018 It is fair to say that Yangon has a lot of problems. The population is large. It has almost been a dead town for the past several decades. As far as Im concerned, todays Yangon has a lot of problems such as traffic congestion, transportation and municipal laws, recovery of public spaces, capacity of the government, development projects, and so on. What is the most pressing issue that should be handled in 2018? Kyaw Zeya: The government tried to solve the traffic problem soon after it took office. We raised objection to two flyover projects, respectively at North Okkalapa and Parami, which were initiated by the previous government, because we believed that they would not ease the traffic congestion. A new public transportation system along with a traffic control tower was then introduced. It has been more than one year since then, but the system has barely solved the traffic congestion. In my township, street vendors have faced a lot of difficulty, and it is worse for street vendors in downtown areas like Kyauktada, Lanmadaw and Pabedan. These are only a few of many problems. KZM: Ma Kyi Pyar, what do you think are the most pressing issues to handle for the interests of the people? Kyi Pyar: We have worked for the interests of the people over the past two years. But there might have been some weakness in the procedures. The issue that must be handled in 2018 is municipality, because Yangons city municipality is responsible for 33 out of 45 townships in the Yangon Region. There is also the Yangon Region municipality. We have two municipal laws. We are going to change the municipal law concerning 33 townships in Parliament. This law is critically important. It will be a milestone for the NLD [National League for Democracy]. If the law is flawed, it will be a milestone marking the poor reputation of the NLD. And if the law serves the interests of the people, it will be the milestone marking its good reputation. There are two parts even if the law is good, well have to see if the capacity is strong enough to effectively enforce it, and to what extent the public interests will be taken into consideration. If it can serve the interests of the people smoothly, most of the problems facing Yangon will be solved. KZM: What are those problems? KP: All the problems in Yangon are related to municipal law. From birth to death, it is all concerned with the municipality. We used to have the feeling when we saw someone in municipal uniform that they would not provide good service. But working with them now, I have noticed that many of them are cooperative. But they are still far from serving the interests of the people. The top leadership is mainly responsible for this, I think. KZM: What do you mean by the top leadership? KP: I mean the Yangon mayor and four appointees along with those elected to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). There are more than 20 departments in the YCDC. If they can work well with the heads of those departments and those departments can effectively enforce the law and manage staff at different levels, this will help fight corruption. It is also important that individual officials take initiative. The most important thing is in regards to grease money. We must change the public perception that municipal officials need to be paid to get things done. If this can be changed, this will give the party [NLD] some credit, and also please the people in 2018. So, this is very important. KZM: U Kyaw Zeya, you are the secretary of Yangons finance, planning and economic parliamentary committee. There are high-rise projects and historical and cultural heritage sites that need to be conserved as well as public spaces that need to be reclaimed. Under the previous government, public spaces were confiscated by the government, the Tatmadaw and some private companies close to the government. There were many public spaces rented for business purposes rather than for public recreation. What will be done about that this year? KZY: There have been delays in amending the municipal act. Previously, Singapore copied the municipal act of Yangon, and I heard that we will now copy the municipal act of Singapore. [Foreign] experts came and asked the YCDC if they wanted to turn Yangon into a cultural heritage town or a real commercial capital. The population of Yangon is expected to increase to 10 million in the future. There is a lot of vacant land in Yangon. They asked the YCDC how they would like to utilize those lands and public spaces and said they would give recommendations based on their ideas. Authorities still cant answer that question, I think. KZM: The municipal law is the most important one. But what else can be done before the law is amended? KP: There are certain things that are being done at the moment. We lawmakers were allowed to ask questions and submit proposals as of the second regular session of the regional Parliament. The first proposals we submitted were about garbage disposal and traffic congestion. The regional government is handling both of these. Garbage is one of the major problems in Yangon. Lawmakers of all of the six downtown townships signed and submitted a letter to the Yangon mayor about the garbage problem. We also discussed it in Parliament. The Yangon municipality as well as the people and the NLD party are undertaking garbage cleanup campaigns. We lawmakers also cooperate with them to systematize the disposal of garbage. But as you know, it is difficult to change a habit that is entrenched. Also, the human waste collection system in Yangon has problems. I asked a question about this during a previous session of Parliament. The government said it was trying to change the whole system with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). So, these works are in progress, which is good for the people. But as Ive said, the government fails to solve the problem of street vendors. I submitted a proposal about it to Parliament. I didnt mean that they should be removed, but I said authorities should take the time to systematize street vending. Our term is five years, and it may take three years or more. But, my proposal was approved at once and street vendors were moved to the new place immediately. Some of the procedures were quite unsystematic. YCDC, as a government department, will do whatever it is instructed to do by its upper level, and they may not bother to think about how to make adjustments to plans. As I foresaw this, I had had intense debate about it. If you ask me if the plan works, it doesnt. And I am sorry about the 1.8 billion kyats that were spent to move the vendors of four townships [to the new night market]. I feel bad because it is fair to say this project was not successful. At the same time, I am thankful for the successful cases. The Yangon mayor and municipal officials mostly fulfill our requests for help. But to initiate projects without long-term plans is just wasting public funds. It is we lawmakers who have to directly engage with people on the ground. Both street vendors and people complain to us about their troubles. KZM: Ma Kyi Pyar, you are a member of the regional governments guarantees, pledges and undertakings vetting committee in Parliament. How is the committee monitoring the pledges and guarantees of the regional government regarding these examples? Do you think they can do it? Do they take full responsibility? KP: Mainly, our committee vets whether the regional government fulfills the lawmakers proposals. We found that the government can fulfill most of the proposals because most of them are about building roads and bridges. So, the regional government fulfills them. It simply asks for a budget [from the Union government] for those things and builds them. But I want the government to put more emphasis on policies. Roads are easy to give, and the government just needs to allocate the budget for them. Our government has three years before its term expires. After three years, there may be a new government. We may remain as lawmakers or there may be new lawmakers. Anyway, if a firm policy is in place, no matter who comes to power, people have nothing to worry about. Speaking of proposals, lets talk about public spaces, since that might interest the people. It is important to note that the government has granted permits to use public spaces for other purposes even after the regional Parliament approved a proposal about [maintaining] public spaces. Weve received a lot of complaints about it. Looking at the dates of the permits, they were issued in 2017, under the NLD government. Permits were issued to use lakes and sportsgrounds for other purposes. Even if we cant solve the old cases, we should not issue new land grants. We have to handle these complaints. KZM: Why has that happened? KP: Our committee members take trips to investigate complaints, and take back some public spaces. It is unacceptable that such things happen to the extent that people file complaints. Another thing is that we still cant handle permits for 232 land plots, more or less, that were issued during the power transfer. I have asked a question about it in Parliament in order to check their legality. We want to solve this through government-parliament cooperation. But, we still cant do that. KZM: By that you mean the government is less responsive? KP: We lawmakers very much want to change, and I believe they also do. But they have a lot more difficulty than us, and we understand their difficulties. They have to operate within the existing bureaucracy. And in certain cases in which they need to cooperate with the Union government, the minister gives one order, the director, another, and the permanent secretary, a completely different one. However, Id like to urge the regional government to push through certain things when possible. KZM: At the NLDs central executive committee meeting last year, the partys senior leader U Aung Kyi Nyunt said the NLD was facing three major dangers, and one of them was bribery. He meant that there was a danger of NLD members being bribed by rich and privileged elites, especially businesspeople. He warned of that. Are there links [between government officials and businesspeople] to grant land permits for public spaces? KP: It is mainly about the land use policy in the municipal laws. KZY: The Yangon mayor said at Parliament that the Yangon municipality has to consider social relations [regarding land grants]. This speaks for itself. You can draw various conclusions from this remark. If the opposition party draws conclusions from it, it will have even more meanings. In fact, we made a proposal about public spaces and it has been approved by Parliament. But, the government fails to fulfill its pledge. KZM: How many land use permits were granted? KP: Weve mainly received complaints from Thaketa and Mayangone. And were handling them. We dont know about what is happening in other places. We only know the cases when someone files a complaint with us. KZM: Speaking of U Aung Kyi Nyunts remark, he warned NLD party members about the danger of being bribed. He also talked about the haughtiness of some party members. Will you comment on this? KP: We inevitably have to engage with businesspeople to a certain extent. Most of the countrys money is in the hands of so-called cronies. We need to work together with them as best as we can. Given the current situation in Myanmar, it is impossible to improve the economy without them. Businesspeople tend to see things through their business eyes. So, those holding political posts need to consider this wisely. The government might have a lot of difficulties and a lot of things to consider. Well cooperate with them, and the government should also talk to us about its difficulties. We are close like brothers and sisters. Only when the government and Parliament push together, will we be able to achieve success in most of these areas. KZM: There must be checks and balances between Parliament and the government, but at the same time, they should support each other. Speaking of national politics, things are not very encouraging. There are conflicts in Rakhine State and clashes in Shan State. Overall, developments are not good. What is your assessment of Yangon politics? KP: Looking at Yangon alone, it is far from the issues you have mentioned. If you ask Yangon residents, they dont know much about it. They know a little bit about Rakhine State because there are Rakhine people as well as a high number of Muslims in Yangon. But speaking of the peace process, Yangon is far from the conflict areas, and Yangons politics are not as bad as that of those areas. But then, problems arose as undemocratic things emerged in Yangons politics. For example, the ban on protesting in downtown areas has drawn criticism from the media. We should rely on the media as the Fourth Estate of the country. And at the same time, the media should have ethics. Yangons economy is important. If Yangons economy collapsed, the national economy might also collapse. Politically, there are not many complications in Yangon. But its politics are largely connected with the economy. Another thing is that Yangon should set the example of democratic norms for the whole country. Taking a look at the whole country, there is a lot of cause for concerns. But were trying as much as we can. We dont expect the worst scenarios because we are doing the best we can. KZM: U Kyaw Zeya, how do you assess Yangons politics including the Yangon regional government, Parliament, major political parties and businesspeople? KZY: Grassroots people make up the majority in Yangon. There are better job opportunities in Yangon than other regions and states. So people from other areas including Irrawaddy and Bago regions come to Yangon. Politics is about public affairs. The grassroots people are not that interested in the Rakhine issue. What they are interested in is the squatter problem. We took the office, stating that we would accommodate the squatters. Our election declaration also adopted a policy to provide decent housing, in consideration of their human dignity for those who dont have houses because of natural disasters or economic hardship. It is almost two years now, and we still cant implement this. If we could solve the squatter problem as we have targeted, this would earn credit for both the government and Parliament. Id like to urge the government to do it. KZM: How would you envision Yangon city and Yangon Region as the regional lawmakers? KZY: Id like to see it as a boomtown without compromising our religious and cultural identity. I have been to Shanghai and Taiwan. They use rivers well. At night, rivers are illuminated with lights and are quite beautiful, and people cruise. We still cant do that on the Yangon River. We have Shwedagon Pagoda, which is in Phayagyi Ward. There is a square in front of the pagoda. The Yangon regional government has organized New Years Dhamma talks at the square. But then, I saw foreigners drinking beer and gazing at the Dhamma talks from the restaurants in the adjacent area of the square. I feel bitter about it. I have talked about it in Parliament. This is the cost of development. I told the government that though [foreign-imported] liquor is banned in Yangon, you can buy wine or liquor or anything else. I dont want our cultural identity to be compromised. KP: I would like to keep Yangon as the commercial hub. But Yangon has a lot of things of great historical value, so it is also important to maintain it from that perspective. For example, there are a lot of historic places in Kyauktada and Pabedan. Those must be conserved. We would like to welcome new satellite town projects but there must be transparency. Those projects must provide job opportunities for residents. Yangon Region needs big activity that can result in an economic boom. This is also connected with the national economy of Myanmar. We want Yangon to be expanded in a transparent manner in the interests of the people. Another important thing is Yangon residents should be able to earn their livelihoods with peace of mind. I dont mean everybody should be well off. But, they should all be free from hassle in earning their livelihoods. For example, street vendors should have places to sell conveniently and do good business. For taxi and bus drivers, I no longer want to hear them complaining about traffic congestion. Even if Yangon cant become very rich, I really want to see people leading a fairly easy life in Yangon. KZM: Ma Kyi Pyar, U Kyaw Zeya, thank you for your contributions. From the Archive A Year after U Ko Nis Assassination, Still No Answers A woman carries a portrait of slain lawyer U Ko Ni at his funeral in Rangoon on Jan. 30. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy Nearly a year on, we are no closer to finding out whose orders Kyi Lin was following when he gunned down U Ko Ni, a prominent legal adviser to National League for Democracy leader and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at Yangon International Airport on Jan. 29, 2017. To mark the anniversary, The Irrawaddy revisits this article from February 2017 reflecting on the political implications of the killing. The brazen killing of prominent legal advisor to the National League for Democracy and its leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi not only sent shock waves through the country, but also a signal: you could be next. Will we find out who really killed U Ko Ni? The assassin, Kyi Lin, who was caught just minutes after the killing, has a long criminal record and is believed to be a hired gunman. Under former President Thein Seins government, thousands of criminals were released from prisons under several amnesties and Kyi Lin was one of them. Since last week, a manhunt has been underway and several unidentified people have been summoned and interrogated by law enforcement regarding potential connections to U Ko Nis killing. Some suspects have been put under surveillance, but police have remained tight lipped. The public has unleashed criticism and anger toward the authorities; this is a high profile case and security forces will be held accountable if they cannot find any hard evidence linking suspects to the murder. The Presidents Office announced on Friday that police had apprehended another reported conspirator, Aung Win Zaw, in Hpa-an, Karen State, on Monday after he had fled from Rangoon. Myanmar Now reported that he is a former military officer who was kicked out of the army for breaking martial laws. He was also involved in the smuggling of Buddha statues and spent a jail term with Kyi Lin in Mandalays Obo Prison. Sources said that police are still hunting for a 50-year-old man named Myint Swe, who may have allegedly hired Kyi Lin to shoot the lawyer.Conspiracy theories abound, but if powerful figures were involved in the killing, some speculate that the mastermind behind the murder will never be brought to justice. On Monday, Jan. 30, the office of the Burmese President, U Htin Kyaw, said in a statement that the attack had been carried out to undermine the countrys stability, suggesting a political motive. Lawyer U Ko Ni had been trying to write a new Constitution to replace Burmas existing military-drafted one. It is not certain whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was in agreement with his proposal. But political observers have said that it was U Ko Ni who came up with the bold proposition to create the position of State Counselor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was barred from the Presidency. It remains worrying that more than one week after U Ko Nis killing, neither police and security forces nor the governmentwhich has strongly advocated for adherence to the rule of lawhas held a press briefing on the incident. The army published a brief press release on Jan. 30 and sent a Rangoon regional commander to meet U Ko Nis family members. But public criticism and frustration have mounted as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has refrained from making any public statement, let alone from sending condolences to the lawyers bereaved family. Inside sources have said that she was shocked by U Ko Nis death and has instructed her aides, as well as officials in the home affairs ministry, to investigate the killing and bring the culprit to justice. Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who has visited Burma twice in recent months in his capacity as head of the Arakan State Advisory Commission, urged authorities to carry out an investigation as quickly as is possible. It is now known that U Ko Ni received death threats before he was killed. It is likely that his assassins followed him and studied his social media page, where he often posted pictures from his overseas visits. As U Ko Ni and a government delegation returned from a two-week trip to Indonesia, Kyi Lin was believed to have been tipped off as the delegation disembarked the plane. He was waiting at the gate as U Ko Ni arrived to see his family. So it is assumed that the assassin was told minutes in advance of U Ko Nis movementspassing through immigration, the baggage claim and the arrivals gate. Kyi Lin then executed his deadly mission. It is very unlikely that he could have acted alone. It is still unknown how Kyi Lin acquired the nine-millimeter pistol used to kill U Ko Ni. News reports have said that an ex-convict was approached by Aung Win Zaw to kill a foreign diplomat, but no details further details on this point are currently known. The ex-prisoner told local media that he had turned down the offer. Political pundits have speculated that assassins were told to kill U Ko Ni in broad daylight so as to create fear and to send a message. Some extreme elements with vested interests in the country and its politics have been mentioned as suspects. But if they are themselves powerful figures or have close ties to other such individuals in the country, then history suggests that the family of U Ko Ni will not likely see the mastermind of the murder apprehended and sentenced in accordance with the law. In this fragile transition, justice is not guaranteed. Aung Zaw is the founding editor-in-chief of The Irrawaddy. News Despite clash, Richardson says Suu Kyi remains Myanmar's best hope Richardson: Board had become a cheerleading squad for government policy. / Reuters Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains Myanmars best hope for change, veteran U.S. mediator Bill Richardson said on Friday, days after he got into a fight with the Nobel laureate and quit an international panel advising her government on the Rohingya crisis. Richardson said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whom he described as a long-time friend had developed a siege mentality in her position as Myanmars State Counselor, the countrys civilian leader, but added that Western governments should continue to engage with her. The relationship with the West, with human rights groups, with the United Nations, with the international media is terrible, he told Reuters by phone from New Mexico on Friday. And I think Aung San Suu Kyi has brought this upon herself, the constant disparagement of the international community, which I think can be helpful to her She seems isolated. She doesnt travel much into the country. I think shes developed a classic bubble. Richardson said he resigned from the advisory board on Wednesday, during its first visit to troubled Rakhine State, saying it was conducting a whitewash. Suu Kyis office said on Thursday her government had asked Richardson to step down and accused him of pursuing his own agenda. Myanmar government said on Friday it did not want discuss the details of the exchange between Suu Kyi and Richardson any further. Around 688,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to Bangladesh in recent months to escape an army crackdown following insurgent attacks on security forces. I think the Myanmar military is to blame a lot and the only person that can turn them around, I believe, is Aung San Suu Kyi, and she should start doing that, said Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton who has also worked as a mediator with North Korea. Richardson said he had informed the U.S. ambassador in Yangon and the State Department of his intention to resign but had not sought their guidance. Richardson said that before his trip to Myanmar, he spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who visited the country in November. He called me and gave me a briefing on his visit and that was all, he told Reuters in a separate television interview. A State Department spokesman said he could not immediately confirm details of Richardsons contacts. FURIOUS ARGUMENT A statement on Thursday from the nine remaining members of the advisory board said they met this week with open minds and rejected Richardsons criticism that he feared the panel would be used as a cheerleading squad. Richardson said Suu Kyis response at a Monday night dinner was furious when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters, who were arrested on Dec. 12 on suspicion of violating Myanmars Official Secrets Act. She was very angry with me when I raised releasing the journalists, giving them a fair trial, he said. She was upset when I said there should be an investigation of the mass-graves issue, that they had to increase their international support for the treatment of the Rohingyas, the terrible refugee crisis. She exploded. She was very unhappy, and it shows that she didnt want to hear frank advice. Her office said it would not be commenting further on the exchange. We already published a statement and also the advisory board published a statement. The judge will decide whether the journalists committed the crime or not. It is Contempt of Court. Even in America, they wouldnt involve themselves in a case while the case is ongoing in a court hearing, said U Zaw Htay, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis spokesman. Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine. Richardson said it was important for Western governments, the United Nations and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to enter into a new dialogue to try to help each other, not to keep fighting each other before any thoughts of new sanctions on Myanmar. What we dont want is to have Aung San Suu Kyi just listen to ASEAN countries, China or Russia. They need engagement with the West. Were all former friends. She needs to change, and perhaps the West needs to give her another chance and not impose sanctions. Myanmars armed forces have been accused by Rohingya witnesses and human rights activists of carrying out killings, rapes and arson in Rakhine in a campaign senior officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar rejects that label and has denied nearly all the allegations. Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed earlier this month to complete the voluntary repatriation of all the refugees. The remaining members of the advisory board on Wednesday toured temporary camps the government has set up for returnees. Richardson said he did not believe conditions were yet right for the repatriation process to begin. I believe that the Myanmar government has emphasised speed instead of systems, he said. Theres been too much emphasis on quick results rather than assuring that safety is guaranteed. Specials A Look Back at the Murder Trial of U Ko Ni Mourners carry U Ko Ni's coffin, draped in the NLD flag, through a crowd of people at the lawyer's funeral at Yayway Cemetery in Yangon on Jan. 30, 2017. / The Irrawaddy Ahead of Mondays first anniversary of NLD lawyer U Ko Nis death, The Irrawaddy has compiled several of its past stories about his murder trial along with related editorials, commentaries and more. Govt Investigates U Ko Nis Assassination Burmas government says it is investigating the assassination of prominent Muslim lawyer and NLD legal advisor U Ko Ni. Third Suspect Named in U Ko Ni Assassination Plot The Presidents Office says suspect Aung Win Khaing, a former army Lt-Col, allegedly offered to pay his brother 100 million kyats to murder U Ko Ni. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Breaks Silence on Assassination of Legal Advisor U Ko Ni Losing someone like U Ko Ni is such a deep loss for the National League for Democracy says the State Counselor in a rare public appearance. Police Chief: Assassination of U Ko Ni Was Driven by Personal Grudge At authorities press conference, home affairs minister Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe says that it is highly possible that extreme nationalism fueled the grudge. Burma Army Denies Involvement in U Ko Nis Assassination The Burma Army was not involved in the murder, even though ex-military officers are suspected of being behind the conspiracy, says Gen Mya Tun Oo. New Suspect Revealed in U Ko Ni Murder as Case Goes to Court Aung Win Tun is accused of harboring one of the alleged co-conspirators following the shooting of the NLD legal adviser. Trial Begins for Men Charged in Prominent NLD Lawyers Assassination Rangoons Northern District Court commences examination of the assassination of lawyer U Ko Ni. Examination of Murder Charges Begins in U Ko Ni Assassination Trial The gunman and three alleged co-perpetrators are being charged in Rangoon under Article 302 of the Penal Code for homicide. Lawyer in U Ko Ni Murder Calls for Naypyidaw Arrest Warrant in Search for Fugitive In Rangoons High Court, U Nay La requests an arrest warrant for suspect Aung Win Khaing be issued in Naypyidaw, where he was last seen. Court Rejects New Arrest Warrant in U Ko Ni Murder Trial Rangoons High Court refuses to issue a new arrest warrant in Naypyidaw for fugitive Aung Win Khaing, where he was last seen. Court Orders Police to Re-Examine Fugitive in Ko Ni Murder Trial Police will renew a search for a key figure in the high-profile murder of the NLD legal adviser, last seen in Naypyidaw. Police: No New Leads in Locating Fugitive in U Ko Ni Murder Investigation Police tell Rangoons northern district court that they are no closer to finding suspect Aung Win Khaing and do not anticipate an arrest soon. Conspirator in U Ko Ni Killing Still At Large Aung Win Khaing, one of the main suspects in U Ko Nis assassination, is still at large with police staying silent about progress in their search for him. Daughter of Assassinated Lawyer Testifies A Yangon court examines the 20th witness in the murder trial: U Ko Nis eldest daughter. Court Accepts CCTV Footage in U Ko Ni Murder Trial A total of 73 photos, along with the footage captured by 196 security cameras, is presented to the judges. Court Accepts News Article as Evidence at U Ko Ni Murder Trial The defense objected to the inclusion of the article, about a 2017 press conference by the Home Affairs Ministry on the findings of its investigation into the prominent lawyers assassination. Brother Defends Accused Mastermind of NLD Lawyer Assassination in Court Fugitive Aung Win Khaing will emerge to clear his name, co-conspirator Aung Win Zaw says. A Hero to Remember U Ko Ni was a fearless fighter who spoke up for his views, and he was a strong force in the democratic movement. Almost a Year After NLD Advisers Murder, Key Suspect Still at Large Friends and colleagues of U Ko Ni say the Constitution may be hindering the arrest of his assassinations suspected mastermind. Where are the Assassins? Rumors and questions around the death of U Ko Ni continue to run rampant as the authorities fail to bring his killers to justice. News This Week in Parliament (Jan. 22-26) Newly appointed Construction Minister U Han Zaw / U Ko Ko / Facebook Monday (Jan. 22) In the Lower House, Mawkmai Township lawmaker U Sai Ngao Hseng Hein asked the government if it planned to adopt a universal and systematic garbage disposal and collection system for the country. U Aung Myint Tun, a member of the Naypyitaw Council, replied that municipalities lacked the funds to establish proper waste management systems. The council member added that the government should treat waste management as a national health issue and cooperate with municipalities. The Upper House voted down a proposal from Daw Htoot May of Rakhine Constituency (11) to teach four key English-language skills beginning from Grade 9 at government schools. Though English is a compulsory subject for students from primary to matriculation levels at government schools, students general English skills are still low, argued the lawmaker. The Union education minister responded that his ministry has been reforming its teaching methods and designing new English textbooks so that students can acquire all four skills to an acceptable level. Tuesday (Jan. 23) The Upper House agreed to debate a proposal by U Pe Chit urging the government to recognize the conservation of Myanmars shrinking natural resources as a national duty. The lawmaker alleged that the Mines Ministry doesnt even know how many rubies from the gem-rich town of Mongshu are being smuggled out of the country, and that it is failing to take action against mining companies that dont pay taxes. Wednesday (Jan. 24) U Han Zaw was sworn in as the new construction minister by the Union Parliament, which also approved the presidents proposal to obtain a 5 million euro package of soft loans and grants from Unicredit Bank of Austria to fund public projects. The package has a term of 25 years. Of the total, 15 per cent is a grant and 85 per cent is to be reimbursed with no interest, according to lawmakers. Thursday (Jan. 25) In the Lower House, lawmakers debated and approved a proposal from Dr. Aye Min, a lawmaker from Yangons Kayan Township, to recognize civil servants with a record of outstanding performance with awards and entitlements such as overseas trips for recreation and study. Friday (Jan. 26) In the Lower House, lawmaker U Sai Thiha Kyaw of Mongyai Township asked whether Parliament would cover the cost of constructing offices for lawmakers in their constituencies, along with providing funds to run the offices (paying for clerks, furniture, utilities, etc.). Dr. Hla Moe, secretary of the Parliamentary Rights Committee, replied that lawmakers may fund new offices out of their own pockets as the Parliament still cannot finance this. Dr. Hla Moe added that most lawmakers open offices on their own. Due to the budget deficit, the Parliament for the time being is unable to fund offices for lawmakers in 330 constituencies, he said. An ICE agent. Photo: LM Otero/AP/REX/Shutterstock The U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency will gain access to a massive license-plate database, the Verge reported on Friday, raising fears that it will harness the data to advance its already emboldened crackdown on illegal immigrants. An ICE representative told the Verge that the agency has contracted with Vigilant Solutions, which operates a database of over 2 billion license-plate numbers that it has gathered in partnership with private firms, like vehicle-repossession agencies, as well as local law enforcement. The Verge explains how ICE could use its newfound information: A historical search would turn up every place a given license plate has been spotted in the last five years, a detailed record of the targets movements. That data could be used to find a given subjects residence or even identify associates if a given car is regularly spotted in a specific parking lot. Agents could also get instantaneous email alerts whenever a plate theyre searching for is found. Like most other law enforcement agencies, ICE uses information obtained from license plate readers as one tool in support of its investigations, agency spokesperson Dani Bennett said in a statement. ICE is not seeking to build a license plate reader database, and will not collect nor contribute any data to a national public or private database through this contract. ICE has mulled using Vigilants data before, but Jeh Johnson, who headed the agency under President Obama, canceled an agency-wide contract in 2014 amid privacy concerns. Since President Trump took office, ICE has been granted new latitude to arrest and deport people who pose little criminal threat. The agency has made headlines for detaining, and in some cases deporting, residents who have lived in the United States for decades. It has also been accused of targeting immigrants rights leaders, prompting fears of political retaliation. Apple likes to change the world. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the launch of the iPad in 2010 mainstreamed touchscreen phones and tablets, respectively. That was world-changing. This change took place via products Apple makes computers, if you will. Apple changed the world of computers. More impressively, Apple once changed a world outside the computer industry: the music business, through iPod and iTunes, in the early 2000s. Apple ripped music lovers away from CDs (pun intended) and got them to download their music instead. (Apple and iTunes later changed the world again by introducing podcasts.) Transforming the music business was made possible by a single inconvenient truth: iTunes was cross-platform. When Apple introduced the Windows version of iTunes in April 2003, the iPod and iTunes really took off. (In fact, for many years, a majority of iPod owners and iTunes users were Windows users.) Cross-platform support was a necessary condition for Apple to change the music business. Had Apple kept iPods and iTunes exclusively within the Apple ecosystem, the company would have never gained the user numbers and clout to change the world. Fast forward to today: Android is the biggest operating system in the world, and streaming music (as with Apple Music) is the listening experience du jour. And guess what? Apple makes an Apple Music app for Android. Apple Music for Android is Apples only real Android app. (Technically, it has two other Android apps: a tool for migrating users from Android to iOS, and a Beats Pill app thats left over from Apples acquisition of Beats.) To fuel Apples need for continued growth, the company will need to disrupt and dominate other industries external to the computer business, just as it did with the music industry. The most promising business for Apple to disrupt is e-commerce. The future of buying stuff When the chatbot phenomenon picked up steam two or three years ago, a consensus formed that individuals might use messaging apps to interact with bots or agents that provide personal assistance. Since then, virtual assistant appliances such as Amazon Echo and Google Home have driven that usage model to virtual assistants rather than chatbots. While the personal assistant use case is fading on messaging platforms, the B2C communication space is succeeding. Consumers apparently dont want to talk to a personal assistant via chat, but they do want to interact with businesses that way. Trends in China suggest that a B2C chat platform that also supports commerce evolves into a major way that consumers buy things. The chat medium is proved to authenticate the business and provide secure means for e-commerce that also comes with an element of hand-holding customer service. A messaging app that supports B2C communication is a gateway drug to a new world of e-commerce. Much of the world, including and especially the U.S., lags behind China in messaging app e-commerce, but the rest of the world is catching up fast. [ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ] Facebook claims that more than 330 million users of its Messenger app communicated with businesses on that platform and that people prefer to interact with businesses via messaging app rather than by phone. Apple wants to compete with Facebook in this realm, and so it announced in June. around the time of the companys WWDC developers conference, a new feature of iMessage called Business Chat. This week, Apple announced that Business Chat will show up as a feature of the forthcoming iOS 11.3, which was released this week for developers only and which should be made available to the public in spring. Business Chat enables customers to start live chat conversations. These can be centered on customer service, appointment scheduling or tech support. Apple says it will test Business Chat first with partners Discover, Hilton, Lowes and Wells Fargo. Apples Business Chat enables customers to chat with a customer service or other company representative, make payments (via Apple Pay) and schedule appointments. Crucially, Business Chat enables interaction with businesses without giving the users identity to those businesses. While this may vex businesses, it could thrill privacy-conscious customers. An alarming number of media outlets are misleadingly reporting that Business Chat will be available directly from the iMessage app. Unfortunately, iMessage isnt an app. iMessage is a cloud-based messaging service based on the proprietary Apple Push Notification Service protocol. Messages is the name of the app that Apple makes that is designed to access the iMessage service. Messages is available on macOS, iOS and watchOS operating systems. Messages supports both iMessage and SMS. Apple needs to create Messages for Android. And it also needs an Apple Pay app for Android. Why? Because without Android customers, Apple wont change the world of e-commerce. Instead, Facebook will. Just last week Facebooks WhatsApp launched an Android app called WhatsApp Business, which is dedicated to enabling businesses to provide various kinds of chat-based customer service. Only businesses actually use the WhatsApp Business app directly; customers interacting with WhatsApp Business-using companies do so with the regular WhatsApp app. The app identifies companies as businesses and even authenticates those businesses, presenting authenticated businesses to the public as Confirmed Accounts. The app can auto-reply to customers with quick reply information about the business, as well as answer frequently asked questions. Behind the scenes, WhatsApp Business can generate reports about the effectiveness of different kinds of chat communication, and other metrics. WhatsApp Business is available in the U.S., the U.K., Mexico, Italy and Indonesia, and Facebook promises to make it available around the world in the coming weeks. WhatsApp Business is aimed at small businesses. But Facebooks monetization scheme is to charge large enterprises for special tools that automate and optimize chat communication. Its also inevitable that Facebook will introduce a payment method for use with the context of WhatsApp Business. All that comes later. The current version of WhatsApp Business runs on Android, but the company did promise support on other platforms in the future, no doubt including iOS. Facebook has some serious advantages over Apple. WhatsApp is used by some 1.3 billion people worldwide and is the de facto messaging app in many major markets. Facebooks other messaging app, Facebook Messenger, also boasts around 1.3 billion users. Apple and Facebook arent the only players. Tencents WeChat has nearly a billion users, mostly in China. WeChat is the leading chat application for e-commerce. Customers can use the companys WeChat Pay system for buying things online. WeChat pay has more than 300 million users. Even Twitter offers tools for businesses to provide customer service. Twitters Customer Service settings page for businesses enables automated Direct Message conversations, called quick replies, and other options. Its possible that Apple may have the most elegant solution. And its likely that it will have the most secure one. But Apple wont change the e-commerce world the way it did the music world unless it goes cross-platform the way it did with iTunes. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat and Twitter all support (or will support) both iOS and Android. Only Apples Business Chat is not cross-platform. And thats a problem. Businesses and enterprises wishing to chat with customers around the world on all platforms should choose Facebooks solution, not Apples. They could choose both, and many companies will. But many other companies will focus their energies on the biggest platform, which will come from Facebook. If Apple wants to dominate and change the coming world of messaging app-based e-commerce, it will have to follow the iTunes and Apple Music playbook and go cross-platform. Apple needs Android versions of both Messages and Apple Pay, or e-commerce will remain little more than a hobby for it. School of Music to Host Annual Jazz Festival Jan. 26, 2018 BLOOMINGTON, Ill.Illinois Wesleyan Universitys School of Music will host its 43rd annual Jazz Festival from Friday, Feb. 2 to Saturday, Feb. 3. All festival events are free and open to the public. The festival will begin with two concerts on Friday at the Bloom Community School (1100 N. Beech St., Normal) at 1:30 p.m. and the Western Avenue Community Center (600 N. Western Ave., Bloomington) at 4 p.m. The concerts will feature IWU Jazz Festival All-Stars: trumpeter Todd Kelly from Bradley University, drummer Tom Marko from Illinois State University, saxophonist Chip McNeill and trombonist Jim Pugh from the University of Illinois, pianist Michael Stryker from Western Illinois University, and Chicago-based jazz vocalist Alyssa Allgood. Professor Glenn Wilson, director of Illinois Wesleyans Jazz Program, will be performing in various sections. On Saturday, the festival will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Presser Hall, featuring 19 high school and junior high jazz and vocal jazz ensembles. At 1 p.m., IWU's Jazz Ensemble and vocal jazz ensemble Unlicensed Syncopation , along with all other adjudicators for the festival, will present a concert. From 2:15-3 p.m., the judges will offer individual masterclasses, also free and open to the public, to showcase various jazz instruments. Contributions from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity and The Music Shoppe helped make this festival possible. The Music Shoppe, the Jazz Fests corporate sponsor, has donated music equipment for all performers as well as prizes for some of the top ensembles. For more information, please contact the School of Music at (309) 556-3061. By Rachel McCarthy '21 Reddit Email 68 Shares By Frederic Simon | EURACTIV.com | Renewables are becoming the energy source of choice for corporate electricity users, according to a new report by The Climate Group published in Davos on Tuesday (23 January), which shows a growing number of multinationals lining up to meet 100% of their power needs from green power. Marks & Spencer, Sky PLC and Elopak Inc, were among the European companies that hit a target of sourcing 100% of their electricity from renewables in 2016, according to the report, presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In France, the bank Credit Agricole was celebrated for hitting its 100% target while Commerzbank continued to source all of its power from renewables in Germany, according to the report, Approaching the tipping point: how corporate users are redefining global electricity markets. The report, led by The Climate Group, tracks progress made in 2016-17 by companies committed to 100% renewable power. It was produced in partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as part of the RE100 campaign, which commits its members to 100% renewable power through corporate purchasing power agreements (PPAs). Corporate giants urge EU to back 35% renewables target A coalition comprising some of the worlds biggest companies has urged EU energy ministers to back a 35% target for renewable energy when they meet in Brussels next Monday (18 December). Progress far slower in Europe On a global level, the biggest achievers in 2016 included Bank of America, Astra Zeneca and Coca Cola Enterprises Inc., whose share of renewable electricity increased more than threefold, RE100 said in a statement. But growth across the world is uneven, with data showing a strong uptake for corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the US compared to other regions. This is increasingly the case in Europe, but the rate of progress is far slower, with considerable regional variation by country because of the diverse range of legislative frameworks, said Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100. Countries such as the UK, Netherlands and Ireland are seeing rapid growth in corporate PPAs, while renewables-friendly territories such Scandinavia are also doing well. But policy barriers in other European countries are hampering investment, Kimmins said. In fact, 63% of the electricity purchased through PPAs in Europe was in the UK alone. We hope EU policymakers and European governments will create policy environments that attract higher levels of investments following the adoption of the Commissions new renewable energy directive, Kimmins told EURACTIV in e-mailed comments. On a global level, policy barriers represent the most common challenge for RE100 companies, rather than financial barriers, alongside a lack of availability of suitable contracts or certificates in some markets. Still, more companies are joining the movement, with French food giant Danone and British consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser announcing today their commitment to source 100% of their power needs from renewable electricity by 2030. Reckitt Benckiser owns famous brands such as Durex, Air Wick and Dettol. Corporate PPAs: A game changer for clean energy Companies like Google, Norsk Hydro and Facebook are increasingly turning to corporate renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) as a secure, reliable and competitive source of power from clean energy sources, writes Malgosia Bartosik. Reform underway in Europe Corporate PPAs are championed by trade associations SolarPower Europe and WindEurope, which describe them as a potential game changer for clean energy. Together, they have partnered with RE100 and other business groups to launch a dedicated European association, the RE-Source Platform. But corporate PPAs also have their detractors because they rely on a certification system so-called Guarantees of Origin (GO) which critics say is flawed and can lead to double counting. Guarantees of origin for renewable power set for (overdue) scrutiny A complex and misleading system of guarantees of origin for electricity generated from renewable energy sources is getting increased attention in Brussels, writes Ole Lofsnaes. In Europe, the system is currently being reformed as part of the revision of the EUs renewable energy directive, which was recently voted on in the European Parliament. Final talks with EU member states are now expected to open soon. The Parliament has made important steps towards unlocking the potential of corporate renewable sourcing in Europe, said Aurelie Beauvais, Policy Director of SolarPower Europe, citing a headline objective for Europe to source 35% of its energy from renewables. This sends a strong signal to companies all over Europe to invest in corporate renewables Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Beauvais told EURACTIV, welcoming a requirement for national authorities to report regularly on progress made towards removing barriers to PPAs. Beauvais said the Parliament has also made improvements to the reform of Guarantees of Origin (GOs), removing reference to central auctioning of GOs and suggesting instead that companies entering a PPA deal should be entitled to receive the GOs associated with the purchased electricity. This is a significant change, and should increase the appetite of corporates to source renewable energy, Beauvais told EURACTIV. The reform of the Guarantees of Origin (GOs) system is now entering the home straight, as talks on the revision of the renewable energy directive are expected to conclude in the coming months. We urge members of the European Council to ensure there is a supportive policy framework across the whole of the union to enable this investment potential while ensuring the goals of the Paris Agreement are met, RE100 said in a statement. Via Euractiv.com Bonus video added by Informed Comment: The Climate Group from last summer: World first as 100 multinationals target 100% renewable electricity Casino magnate Steve Wynn. Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Billionaire Steve Wynn, the flamboyant casino mogul and finance chair for the Republican National Committee, has engaged in a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. In interviews with dozens of people who worked at Wynns casinos over the years, the Journal learned that the 75-year-old has a well-known reputation for making sexual advances on salon and spa employees from whom he received massages and manicures. Former employees said they sometimes entered fake appointments in the books to help other female workers get around a request for services in Mr. Wynns office or arranged for others to pose as assistants so they wouldnt be alone with him. They told of female employees hiding in the bathroom or back rooms when they learned he was on the way to the salon. One former massage therapist told the Journal that Wynn pressured her into masturbating him during massages. When he tried to get her to perform oral sex, she refused. Others said Wynn would regularly get pedicures in short shorts that exposed his genitals. These services often took place in confined spaces, where Wynn isolated female employees with him and one or more of his German shepherds, trained to respond to commands in German. The most striking story the Journal heard was about a manicurist who said Wynn forced her to have sex with him. Wynn later paid her a $7.5 million settlement. The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, Wynn 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 allegations against Wynn come less than a week after he and Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the RNC, threw a $100,000-a-head bash at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate the first anniversary of President Trumps inauguration. Wynn became the RNCs finance chair last January at Trumps request, despite their history of feuding. In Trumps 1987 book The Art of the Deal, he wrote, Wynn is very slick and smooth, but hes also a very strange guy. But they subsequently buried the hatchet. Reddit Email 193 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | In the course of Trumps softball interview with his friend Piers Morgan, he said hed be willing to apologize for retweeting three tweets by a member of a British far right racist group, Britain First, which has about 1,000 members. But he defended the content of the tweets, which were attempts to smear all Muslims by depicting some particular Muslim committing an outrage. The videos Trump retweeted are suspect (one perpetrator was identified as an immigrant but was not), with at least one being a fraud. Very unfortunately, a lot of the press fell for this non-apology, with NPR putting up the headline Trump Offers Apology For Retweeting Anti-Muslim Videos From British Far-Right Party. Have they become Pravda? Trump had also incorrectly alleged that Muslim immigration to the UK has caused a crime wave. Over the past 20 years, annual victims of violent crime in the UK have fallen from 5 in every hundred to 2 in every hundred, at a time with the number of Muslims has about doubled. The crime wave in the UK is a big rise in the number of hate crimes, including against Muslims, for which Trump is partially responsible. No apology for this false allegation is forthcoming from Trump, and he told Morgan that he is tough on immigration, by which we know he means he is an unreconstructed racist. I take it what is going on is that the British upper crust is pressuring Trump to dissociate himself from Britain First but doesnt care as much if he remains associated with anti-Muslim hate speech. 265 Shares Share College I went to a fairly expensive college, George Washington University. I think at the time (1998) it actually was one of the, if not the most expensive schools. Why did I decide to go there? Well, my brother was attending the school and living in Washington, DC seemed amazing to a suburban boy from Tennessee. Sure, I had gotten into University of Tennessee with a scholarship, but adventure won over finances. Through a combination of high school AP classes and smart planning, I was able to meet all of my medical school and major (BA in religion) requirements in three years. That move alone saved me over $30,000 between tuition and room and board. I also worked throughout school and was an RA for a year and a half. All of this led me to graduate with less than $30,000 in debt or a third of what my education cost. Medical school Then medical school came along. I had applied to an early selection program and was accepted into the George Washington University School of Medicine without having to take the MCATs at the end of my freshman year. It was a sweet deal, and one many people would kill for. I was grateful for the opportunity and switched my major from biology to religion. Who needs all that science when I was going to get it in medical school anyway? That should have been the end of the story, but then I got to thinking. I was coming out of college with $30,000 in debt already. If I went to George Washington for four years, tuition alone would cost me $120,000 (I recall it being around $30,000 to 35,000 a year) plus the cost of living in Washington, DC which could probably add to another $20,000 a year. I would be looking at an additional $200,000 to $220,000 in debt on top of my college loans. That sounded crazy to me. So I made a plan. I would take the MCATs, and I would apply to my state school, the University of Tennessee. If I got in it would be great. I would save money and move in with my brother. (He had started medical school there after my freshman year.) If I did not get in, well then I still was going to be a doctor, just at a higher cost. The cost of medical school at the University of Tennessee was around $10,000 a year when I started, and it increased to $16,000 by the time I graduated in 2005. This led to a tuition bill of approximately $52,000. The cost of living was also much cheaper in Memphis compared to Washington, DC. Living with my brother made it even cheaper. I did, however, play hard and so I took all the loans I could get. I think I maxed out at about $15,000 a year. This led to a total loan amount of approximately $112,000 for those four years as opposed to $220,000 for living in DC. So one smart mistake (going to public school) countered one young mans mistake (maxing out loans). Loans I checked my consolidated loans on writing this article. It states that I started with a loan value of $152,477 when I consolidated college and medical school debt in 2005. When I started paying my loans back after years of deferment and hardship forbearance in 2011, the amount had ballooned to over $180,000. On top of this, I took another $10,000 loan in my last year of medical school because I could. This was just plain stupid, but at least I had been smart enough to go to public school. Cost of private school Lets consider if I had gone to GW and taken out $250,000 by the time I graduated medical school (College plus medical school debt). At 3% (my consolidated rate) this loan would balloon to $308,417 compounded daily over seven years as opposed to $188,106 for my public school debt. That one decision to go to University of Tennessee saved me $120,311 total of which approximately $98,000 was tuition and another $20,000 was interest over the course of the seven years I was not making payments. The cost of private school for me would have been $120,311. That is a lot of cash and basically the amount of my four years of medical school. Not deferring payments for 7 years Lets also imagine I had started paying off my debt as soon as 2005 rolled around, then I could have easily saved an additional $30k that had compounded in interest over the seven years I waited to pay back my debt. So what is the lesson here? Public schools are great and can save you a lot of money. If you can afford to go to private school and believe the networking will make a difference to your future, then go for it. As far as the education, it is what you make of it. If you are smart and a hard worker, a public school will provide just as strong of an education. Dont take out more loans then you need and start paying them off as soon as you can. Live within your means and dont use loan money as an excuse to spend. Dads Dollars Debts is a cardiologist who blogs at his self-titled site, Dads Dollars Debts. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Islamic terror attacks in the West are far less common since 2017 Wynn. Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic When Harvey Weinstein was accused of decades of sexual misconduct in October, Republicans gleefully went on the attack. Weinstein was a prominent Democratic donor. How, they wondered, in high moral dudgeon, could liberal lawmakers live with themselves knowing that theyd profited from such ill-gotten gains? If the DNC truly stands up for women like they say they do, then returning Weinstein's dirty money should be a no-brainer. Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 6, 2017 Considering Weinsteins limited role in Democratic politics plus the inconvenient fact that a confessed sexual harasser of the Republican persuasion currently sits in the Oval Office this was a transparently bad-faith argument from the beginning. But the GOP, as is its wont, pushed it vigorously enough to entice the usual doltish members of the mainstream media to take notice. And Democrats eventually did, too; many returned their donations from Weinstein. Flash forward to Friday. In a long and thorough investigative piece, The Wall Street Journal reported that Las Vegas casino magnate and finance chair of the Republican National Committee, Steve Wynn, has been accused of sexual misconduct by many employees over the course of decades. The allegations are Weinstein-esque: They include Wynn forcing a manicurist to have sex with him, requesting sexual contact during massage sessions, and more. The Republican response so far: almost total radio silence. Wynn did step down from his finance-chair position on Saturday afternoon, but under unclear circumstances. This is the RNC statement on Steve Wynn: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel: "Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee Finance Chair." It makes no mention of: - all the money he donated to the RNC - the sexual assault allegations against him Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) January 27, 2018 Wynn, unlike Weinstein, is a serious power player on the political stage. A Democrat for many years as Fox News gallingly pointed out on Sunday he switched party allegiance during the Obama administration, partly in response to the passage of the stimulus package and Affordable Care Act. Since then, he has exerted considerable influence over Republican state-level races and national politics alike. When Nevada senator Dean Heller initially opposed GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare last summer, Wynn and fellow mogul and Republican Sheldon Adelson gave him an earful, and Heller eventually got onboard with a later version of the bill. He has donated more than $2.5 million to the Republican Governors Association since 2012 and more than $200,000 to Republicans in 2017 alone. Just last week, as Democrats are happy to point out, Wynn and RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel hosted a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate the one-year anniversary of President Trumps inauguration. Will Republicans who demanded Democrats give back all of Harvey Weinsteins money follow their own advice when it comes to actual insider Steve Wynn? The partys silence on the story a full day after it broke is an indication that nobody should be holding their breath. (Presumably one reason for the muted response is a hesitance to cross their leader. President Trump considers Wynn a friend and may plausibly leap to his defense or, just as conceivably, stab him in the back.) The entire story illustrates, once again, that warfare between the parties is asymmetric. Because the Democratic Party positions itself as an entity trying, however haltingly, to do the right thing, it is held to reasonably high standards by both its voters and society at large. Republicans, meanwhile, have waltzed so far down the path of moral degradation in recent years that they are no longer expected to maintain the appearance of propriety. Democrats (rightly) feel pressure to clean their house of sullied lawmakers from John Conyers to Al Franken; Republicans can grudgingly come to terms with the idea of an accused child molester in the Senate. Because the GOP has adopted a mantra of shamelessness, it can continue to claim the virtuous high ground while simultaneously contradicting its own words at every turn. Yet much of the political class and media has internalized this strange dichotomy as a fact of life, to the point that it is hardly questioned anymore. It really isnt clear to me why the RNC, the White House, and Republican politicians are not being pressured to respond to the Wynn allegations Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) January 27, 2018 This is why a public shoving match about, say, returning money from disgraced donors is a lose-lose proposition for Democrats. If trying to cut a deal with President Trump is like negotiating with Jello, arguing ethics with Republicans is like debating a feces-throwing monkey. As the reckoning of sexual harassment sweeps across the broader culture, its inevitable that more Democrats, and more associates of Democrats, will be proven to have acted badly. On Friday, the New York Times reported that Hillary Clinton shielded Burns Strider, a faith adviser who had been accused of sexual harassment, from being fired from her campaign in 2008. Her explanation was not exactly convincing. (And this is to say nothing of her husbands past.) Democrats, like the broader culture, have a lot of soul-searching to do. But, as Steve Wynn and his millions of dollars show, the party should reform itself on its own terms, not because Republicans pressure them to. The GOP forfeited that privilege a long time ago. Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Deputy Eamon Scanlon, has expressed concern over the low level of interest across Sligo and Leitrim in accessing government grants to upgrade homes insulation and energy performance. New figures released to Fianna Fail reveal particularly low take up across the two counties, when compared with other areas across the country. Deputy Scanlon explained, These figures show massive disparities across the country in terms of the number of homes that are accessing funding to upgrade their homes. Getting a grant to insulate your home or install a better boiler is not only good for the environment; it can help struggling families save money on their energy costs and makes the home a more comfortable place to live, particularly for older people or people with certain respiratory and health conditions. I was disappointed to learn that in 2017; just 46 houses in Leitrim accessed funding under the Better Energy Homes scheme, as compared to 4,791 in Dublin. Sligo did not do much better, with only 108 houses drawing down funding under this scheme. These figures should be triggering alarm bells in Government Buildings- what is the point of having these grant schemes if most people are not aware of them and a result, miss out on them? I am calling on the government to start a major awareness campaign, so that people can become familiar with the different grants and upgrades their homes might be eligible for. Saturday, November 20, members of Leitrim Macra travelled to the Sligo Park hotel to support Leitrim representations Conor Banks and Paula Kiernan. Paula, a 21-year-old music student was paired off with Donegal's Luke McClintock (22). They had to compete against the other couples in different tasks and activities during the day. Paula told the Leitrim observer that it wasnt that we were winning all activities during the day we just worked as a team we valued each others opinions which is so important in Macra. That night they went to a banquet and all the couples were interviewed in front of the judges and supporters. Then the top four couples were chosen to go head to head in a question and answer round, then it was eliminated to two couples, Paula was satisfied to get that far but didnt expect to win it out. I was happy to be in top two their was two options at that stage we were leaving in second place which we were happy with or as North West king and queen which was a dream I think we all taught of through out the day," said Paula. "Our Carrigallen club was set up in 2015 Ive been there from the first meeting, we have a fantastic club and we are planning lots for the future. In the run up to the competition the people of Carrigallen, Aughavas and surrounding areas were so supportive thats what make even nicer to bring back a title to them. The good wishes from people did work and I cant thank them enough. I also want to thank every single member in our county and the organisers of North west Kings and Queens and I'm looking forward to the year ahead. Some of the recovered munitions More unexploded ordnances are being uncovered by rampant bushfires across northern Uganda. Security officials in Wol sub-county, Agago district on Wednesday this week, detonated three mortar bombs suspected to have been left by Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) combatants. They had all been uncovered by bushfires in the area. Last week, two pupils of Otwee primary school in Amuru district were critically injured when an anti-tank bomb exploded as they played with it. The two boys, Ivan Kidega and his brother Joel Oweri received treatment at St. Mary's hospital Lacor for the injuries, according to Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River police spokesperson. Okema says unexploded ordnances still pose a big threat to residents several years after Lord's Resistance Army war ended in 2006. Michael Ojok, the Wol sub-county speaker says one of the three bombs was detonated at the foot of Ogili hill in Mura parish while another was found in Toroma West village in Kal Agum parish and the other in Atut parish in Wol sub-county. In neighbouring Kitgum district, a cache of more than 10 ammunition was recovered after a bushfire swept through the jungles of Tumangu village in Labongo Akwang sub-county. Kitgum resident district commissioner William Komakech says bushfires also exposed a rusty submachine gun hidden under an abandoned culvert in Ocet Toke village, in Labongo Layamo sub-county, few kilometres from Kitgum town. Komakech says it is the seventh weapon recovered in the district since the beginning of the dry season. A young person, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had his case for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Cartown, Carrick-on-Shannon on March 16, 2017 adjourned until June with Judge Kilrane commenting, then hes in the adults club. Insp Donal Sweeney said Gardai received a call from security at Cartown in relation to an aggressive youth. When Gardai arrived the youth was being removed from the premises and was observed being abusive. Insp Sweeney said the defendant was then conveyed to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station where he spent a number of hours in custody before his identity was established. The Court heard the youth would not cooperate with Gardai. The defendants parents were contacted at 12.30pm after his identity was established and his father, who had to travel from a neighbouring county, collected him at 3am. Defending solicitor Dara Callaghan said the defendant, who is 17, suffers from ADHD. He added, I cant offer an excuse for his behaviour which was outrageous. The defendants mother addressed the Court saying, He went to the disco that night, he seemed ok when I spoke to him at 8.30pm. I dont know what happened after. Its not his nature. Having heard the evidence Judge Kilrane opted to adjourn matters until June commenting, If he keeps this up hell end up in prison. Hell be 18 in May, I'll adjourn matters until June, then hes in the adults club. Judge Kilrane granted liberty for matters to be re-entered if there is any allegation of re-offending. Healthy Ireland, a Government-led initiative, is the national strategy for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation by placing a focus on prevention, individual awareness and keeping people healthy for longer. Leitrim County Library is currently delivering a new and exciting programme entitled "Healthy Ireland at your Library", that will establish your local library as a valuable source within the community for health information. The launch of this new initiative took place on January 20 in Mohill Library where Irelands Fittest Family 2017, the Beirne family from Mohill, were on hand to support the initiative. Michael, Dearbhaile, Jonathan and Keith Beirne are exceptional role models and hope to encourage everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle by fostering better eating habits, introducing physical activity and making time to look after our mental health. As a family, they illustrate the value of developing healthy habits from a young age, which will bring lifelong benefits. Primary school teacher, Jonathan, believes in keeping things positive celebrate successes and help children and teens develop a good self-image. Through the countrywide library network, the Healthy Ireland at Your Library initiative will provide a range of resources, services and supports to users and communities to help them make healthy choices for a healthier lifestyle at all stages of their lives. The programme will enhance current health information in public libraries by providing new books, e-books, e-audiobooks and e-magazines on health and wellbeing and a wider selection of health information for all users. Leitrim Libraries also have an exciting schedule of events planned across all nine libraries, featuring talks, discussions and workshops for all ages, with a focus on physical health, mental health and health literacy. Yoga for children, healthy eating tips during exam-time, and art therapy workshops are among the events planned. All events are open to the public and are free of charge. The programme kicks off this week with the following events: - Thursday 25th, New Year Wish List, Drumshanbo library, 11.30am - 071-9641258; This exciting approach combines the use of a vision board, art making along with the use of colour to bring about positive health and well-being. - Friday 26th, Mindfulness Yoga, Drumshanbo library, 11.30am- 071-9641258; This activity not only offers physical benefits, but can also help to quiet the mind, reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall wellbeing - Friday 26th, No ExcusesGentle Workout, Ballinamore Library, 3-4pm -071-9645566; Simple ways to keep fit and healthy - suitable for all ages and abilities. For details of upcoming events, please follow the Leitrim County Council Facebook page (www.facebook.com/leitrimcoco/) and check out the website (www.leitrimlibrary.ie). MINISTER Kevin Boxer Moran has told the Dail he received an awful lot of angry exchanges about the plight of the Roches in Abbeyfeale whose home is threatened by riverbank erosion on the Feale. His comments came when Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins questioned the minister on the matter last week, pointing out that the Roches were in a really perilous situation. Everybody seems to be running for cover and meanwhile the mans house is literally going to be washed down the river, Deputy Collins said. But Minister Moran was adamant the matter was outside his responsibility. This is not a flooding issue. This issue lies solely with the local authority and the developer in question. It is not a flooding matter. The house was not flooded, he told Deputy Collins. Instead, the minister said, the embankment or gabion wall supporting the house had fallen or been taken by the river. I myself received an awful lot of angry exchanges over the Christmas period from certain quarters within that area, the Minister continued. I am not responsible in relation to that area. It is a matter for the local authority in question and the Department of Housing. Speaking to the Limerick Leader afterwards, Deputy Collins said Limerick City and County Council must now step up to the plate. They already have gotten an engineers report on what is required. In the interests of fairness to Eamon Roche and his family, the council should step forward and to the necessary work and avoid the situation where his house is going to be washed away. Last week the council threw a big, lavish ceremony to celebrate the signing of the 85m EIB loan when they had already had another ceremony to celebrate another signing just weeks ago. What was the cost of hosting those?, he demanded. On the wider issue of the erosion, Deputy Collins said the problem was there was no over-arching body responsible for erosion, flooding, fish life and wildlife along our rivers. But that, he said, was a different conversation that needed to take place nationally. THE COST of insurance to Limerick City and County Council has risen by 2 million in just one year, a Freedom of Information Request reveals. IPB insurance was paid 6,077,009 in 2017 compared to 4,031,057 in 2016. It was 3,440,799 in 2014 IPB, who the council pay for ground-up cover, say there are currently 621 active claims with a gross value of over 30m. The vast majority, 232, are footpath related. Slipping / tripping accounts for 107, premises, 35, and potholes, 34. The FOI request shows that over 2.7m has been paid out by IPB since the end of 2014 on footpath claims; 1.185m on slips / trips; 964,905 on unknown circumstances; 725,788 on roads and 461,140 on potholes. Mayor Stephen Keary said the 6m figure the council pays for insurance is huge. It could be much better spent in other areas. This is not unique to Limerick. It is a countrywide issue where insurance companies have hiked up the premiums over the last 12 months or so. The figures are exorbitant. The extra premium could be much better used for utilities and repair of defective roads and potholes. It is money that is badly needed, said Mayor Keary. He says 6m is a huge figure in terms of a council budget of 155m. We havent much choice only to pay out and that next year when the time comes for the renewal of the premium there may be a slightly different culture and the cost of insurance may hopefully take a downward tilt, said Mayor Keary. Sean Coughlan, acting director of support services, and Maura Murray, administrative officer, say the council is taking a hard line on claims. Were certainly taking on claims and defending as many claims as we can. We are also putting in systems to be better prepared to defend these claims, said Ms Murray, who urged people who are aware another person has made a fraudulent claim to contact Insurance Confidential. IPB has a special investigation unit (SIU). If someone submits more than one claim it would be referred to that unit. If there are multiple claims coming from the same household, or if you find that there are two or three incidents at the same locus it goes to SIU, said Ms Murray. She says, A lot of claims can turn out to be the work of third parties but they just happened to be on a road or footpath. To combat this a technician was hired last month to travel around and ask third parties for a special licence they should have. If they dont have it they will stop the work, said Ms Murray. An engineer is also employed to investigate claims and report potential defects to the maintenance department. Mr Coughlan said 1m was ringfenced to repair accident blackspots in 2017 and a further 1m will be spent this year. There are genuine cases which we have no problem with but there are ones we want to filter out, he said. A MAN man has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison, with 12 months suspended, after pleading guilty to a savage and unprovoked assault on a well-known city centre doctor at his clinic. Jeffrey Morey, aged 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to recklessly or intentionally causing serious harm to Dr Seamus Kilby at Barrington Street in the city on February 29, 2016. During a sentencing hearing Garda Brian Prendiville said the incident happened at around 3.30pm after the 57-year-old GP was alerted to a male who was being threatening and abusive towards the practice nurse while in the waiting room of the doctors practice. Dr Kilby asked him to leave the clinic and he was concerned for the safety of his patients. Garda Prendiville said having been pushed down the stairs, Dr Kilby was dragged out the front door before being repeatedly kicked and punched. Morey, who had initially attended at the clinic with a patient of Dr Kilbys, fled in the direction of the Peoples Park. When gardai arrived at the scene, they found Dr Kilby in a bloodied, bruised and extremely shocked condition. He was subsequently taken to University Hospital Limerick where he was detained for a number of days for observation. At a previous sitting in December, Judge Tom ODonnell was told Dr Kilby sustained various bruises, a deep laceration above one of his eyes and that he had to undergo surgery for a fractured jawbone which resulted in metal implants being inserted. According to a medical report received by the court, Dr Kilby has a slight permanent scar on his face. Limerick Circuit Court heard last Friday afternoon that the victim did not know the accused. The incident was described as a brutal attack on a defenceless doctor. After receiving a psychology report, the court was told that Morey had a very difficult childhood with a lack of any real structure while growing up. The court was told that the accused was in and out of foster care and had later developed a heroin addiction. Mark Nicholas SC, defending, told Judge Tom ODonnell that since being in custody since June 2016, Morey has become completely clean. The court heard that mitigating factors included Moreys early guilty plea and his expression of remorse over the attack. Judge ODonnell said: This was a very serious, savage and unprovoked assault, adding that it was a terrifying experience for the victim, staff and patients. He imposed a prison sentence of five and a half years, with the last 12 months suspended on the condition that the 27-year-old is on good behaviour. The sentence was also backdated to June 29, 2016. THE National Lottery is to sponsor this years Local Ireland Media Awards which recognise and reward the talents of those working in the provincial and local press. Local Ireland is the voice and representative association for 45 weekly titles, including the Limerick Leader, which offer local news, sport and information to 1.5million readers in print and online. The awards, now in their third year, will feature 14 categories spanning all areas and disciplines of modern journalism including news, sport, features, advertising, design and online. The Limerick Leader took home three awards last year for best news story, best designed newspaper and best digital content for its website www.limerickleader.ie. The past year has seen some extraordinary developments in terms of the credibility of news sources. It is against this context that we can authoritatively state local newspaper readers know that they can rely on and trust the content in their local paper, said Frank Mulrennan, President, Local Ireland, at the launch of this years awards, which, for the first time, will include a special award for the reporter or newspaper that has given the best coverage to a Good Cause beneficiary. Dermot Griffin, chief executive of Premier Lotteries Ireland, operator of the National Lottery, said he was delighted to be supporting the Local Ireland Media Awards. Regional papers hold a very special place in the heart of communities all over Ireland. They are the longest serving news medium in the country and despite the fact that the print media is going through challenging times it is good to see local newspapers holding their own, he said. This years awards will be presented at a gala event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone on May 24. The independent judging panel will be chaired by Kevin Rafter, Professor of Political Communication and Head of the School of Communications at DCU. Other judges include journalist and broadcaster Caroline Murphy; award-winning photographer and picture editor Frank Miller; broadcaster and author Valerie Cox; Andrew Sinclair, deputy managing director, OMD and Anthony Quigley, Digital Marketing Institute. SUPERMACS founder Pat McDonagh has said that the rising price of insurance premiums on the back of claims and settlements is causing companies to go out of business. The Galway businessman, who also owns the Castletroy Park Hotel, has long been vocal about compo culture, which he said is definitely on the increase. There are a number of reasons. One thing is that theres no penalty if you take a claim and its found to be fraudulent. The act is there, the Civil Liability Act, but it isnt being used. Therefore, theres no penalty whatsoever for anyone who wants to take a claim, Mr McDonagh told the Limerick Leader. Insurance companies are then settling claims without consulting with the insured party. So theyre settling them on nuisance value and thats encouraging further claims. That suits them because theyre making a lot of money out of it - all they have to do is increase premiums, so theyre not at a loss. So you could say that theres no one representing the policyholders whatsoever. They are left isolated, because if you look at whos making money on it, its the insurance companies, its the brokers, certain legal firms that specialise in it, and then the claimants, he said. The successful entrepreneur, who also owns a chain of Claddagh Irish pubs in the US and a number of other hotels around Ireland, is involved in a new pressure group, the Alliance for Insurance Reform. He said that he has had calls from companies that have gone out of business, unable to pay for a high insurance premium. Some businesses are more liable to claims than others. Im certainly spending a lot more time dealing with claims than what I was. But we believe in fighting them, and we are reasonably successful at it, he said. In fact, Mr McDonagh feels as though he must take the issue of avoiding bogus claims into his own hands, saying he often doesnt trust insurance companies who may be settling without consultation. He has implemented a number of measures to help safeguard against exaggerated claims. One of these is the installation of CCTV cameras in Supermacs bathrooms throughout the country. We had a CCTV camera in Limerick a couple of months ago, showing a guy coming in and putting the water on the floor. Then he took out the phone, took out the sim card, left the phone on the ground, put a few coins down on the ground and wet the back of his pants and jacket. Then he came down and claimed he broke his phone. It was all on CCTV, said Mr McDonagh. The man in question later withdrew his claim. The new insurance pressure group has been set up to represent the policyholders and to highlight whats happening, he said. Of course, the judiciary have a role to play as well, because theyve been pretty generous with their payouts, and the PIAB (Personal Injuries Assessment Board) likewise. Its like winning the lotto for some of these claimants. DANCE Limerick wants people to dive in and discover the fruits of its new festival taking place in February. What Next is the city dance resource organisations - and Irelands - newest dance festival and takes place from February 9-10. Inspired by the impressive talent of rising dance artists from Ireland and abroad, Dance Limerick say it promotes dance discovery through live performances and encourages audiences to sample something different in the form of a thrilling, innovative and engaging line up of events. A brimming festival programme has something for everyone, festival director Jenny Traynor says. I am delighted to announce our brand-new dance festival What Next, where we will present the work of early career artists from Limerick and beyond, she said. I am very much looking forward to having our festival artists in residence with us for a week of creative exchange led by the festivals Creative Exchange Curator and Facilitator Fearghus O Conchuir before seeing their performances on February 9 and 10. We are particularly excited to welcome Aerowaves artists Daniele Ninarello and Zigan Krajncan and Gasper Kunsek, aka Alien Express. Aerowaves is a European dance network of presenters who select the most exciting emerging dance artists in Europe and promotes them for a year. We were happy to be invited to be one of the partners earlier in 2017. At What Next audiences will experience a programme of fresh and evocative interactions and performances with a new generation of artists on the cusp of establishing their choreographic voices, added Ms Traynor. What Next features an exciting line up of choreographers, dance artists, musicians and visual artists from across the world. Highlights include performances and choreography by Ninarello, from Italy, and Dan Kinzelman from USA, locally based Mary Wycherley, Justine Cooper, Ireland and New Zealand, Tanin Torabi, Ireland and Iran, and Laura Murphy, Ireland. It will showcase stimulating contemporary dance in three programmes spread across two days with a Closing Party by VJ and visual art curator Padraic E. Moore. See www.dancelimerick.ie. As marijuana legalization spreads across the U.S., questions about the drug's effects on public health become more relevant. But in at least one area heart health there's just not enough scientific evidence to reach firm conclusions about the effects of regular marijuana use, a new review suggests. After reviewing two dozen studies that weighed the benefits and risks of marijuana use in adults, the researchers determined that there was too little information to evaluate the drug's effects on the development of heart-related problems as well as risk factors for heart disease, according to the findings, which were published Jan. 22 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. "The review found insufficient evidence to draw meaningful conclusions that marijuana use is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes," said lead author Dr. Divya Ravi, a resident in internal medicine at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania. [25 Odd Facts About Marijuana] A few studies have suggested that marijuana use has positive effects on heart health; however, these studies were cross-sectional, meaning they collected data at a single point in time, Ravi said. But more-robust long-term studies have contradicted such findings of marijuana's possible benefits, reporting potential harmful effects for the drug, she noted. This isn't the first analysis to suggest that scientists aren't sure how marijuana use affects heart health. A large report published in 2017 from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reviewed the health effects of marijuana and concluded that "more research is needed to determine whether and how cannabis use is associated with heart attack, stroke and diabetes." That report also found some evidence to suggest that smoking pot may trigger a heart attack. In the new review, researchers looked at data collected from 13 studies on marijuana use and the drug's effects on various risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, high blood pressure and levels of fat in the blood. The researchers also analyzed data from 11 studies investigating the link between marijuana use and heart-disease outcomes, such as stroke, heart attacks and deaths from heart-related causes. The studies' participants ranged in age from 18 to 84, and they may have smoked marijuana, consumed it as an edible or used the drug as a pharmaceutical treatment. Challenges of researching marijuana The analysis found that there was not enough evidence that a person's marijuana use either increases or decreases most risk factors for heart disease. And the researchers also concluded there was a lack of information on the link between pot use and negative cardiovascular outcomes. For example, although smoking pot is believed to trigger an increase in appetite, the researchers found no evidence that marijuana use is associated with weight gain or obesity. Some problems with the reviewed studies were that many of the participants were younger, and heart disease and stroke typically occur in middle-age and older people, the researchers said. In addition, researchers in the reviewed studies often relied on people's memories, asking them to recall their marijuana use, which can be unreliable. And participants may have used different varieties and strengths of the drug, which could complicate comparisons. Designing studies to understand the health effects of marijuana can be complicated: Marijuana has been an illegal substance, and therefore, researching it has been challenging, Ravi told Live Science. One reason for the difficulty is that conducting observational studies involves asking people about the frequency and intensity of their drug use, she said. In the past, study participants may have felt uncomfortable disclosing their use of an illegal substance to researchers, Ravi said. She also noted that researchers have to follow large groups of marijuana users and nonusers for long periods of time to observe the effects of daily use on heart health. At this point, there's too little data on the potential harms or benefits of regular marijuana use for doctors to advise people about the drug's effects on heart health, Ravi said. Originally published on Live Science. It doesn't take a whole lot of brain to ride a bicycle. In fact, it takes just two neurons or, to be precise, two nodes on a digital neural network. Matthew Cook, a researcher at the Institute for Neuroinformatics in Zurich, showed this in a self-published report from 2004, written when he was a professor at the California Institute of Technology. Cook studies thinking how it works, how it's structured and how it evolves in response to the outside world. Building simple "neural networks" designed to solve specific problems can help researchers model the process of thinking in the brain or move toward smarter artificial intelligence. To be clear: These neural networks don't involve stringing together any actual neurons. Instead, they're clusters of simulated nodes, or model neurons, on a computer that can interact with one another by strengthening and weakening their connections. These networks have proved remarkably talented at tackling, understanding and solving complex problems even without any information programmed into them in advance. [History of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (Infographic)] When Cook built a stripped-down two-node network, he found that, compared with human beings or a sophisticated, dedicated algorithm, it was more talented at piloting a bicycle in a little physics simulator despite getting no direct information in advance about how to pull it off. Everyone algorithm, human or neural network who tried to pilot the bicycle got the same information and means of control. They could watch the bike's speed, its direction, its position in space, the angle of its handlebars and how far it leaned to one side or another. And they could push and pull on the handlebars and apply a torque to the back wheel that simulated pedaling. First, the algorithm got its turn. Cook built it to choose a "move" moment by moment in "what if" terms, by studying every possible outcome of every possible move: What move will keep the bike upright? What move will keep it moving in a straight line? Moving fast? But the algorithm was bad at trying to do more than one thing at once. When told to focus on staying upright, Cook wrote, it would do weird "tricks," turning the handle in circles and not making forward progress. When told to move in a straight line, it would pedal forward for a moment before toppling. And when told to focus on speed, it would "swoop" the bicycle from side to side to generate little jumps in speed. Anyway, Cook wrote, such an algorithm would be useless in the real world, where it couldn't predict the future well enough to make good judgments. Next, humans got a turn, controlling the bike's motion with a keyboard and watching it on a screen. "I had thought that, knowing perfectly well how to ride a bicycle in real life, it would be no problem in simulation," Cook wrote. But he found that, without the physical sensations of riding a bike in the real world, the task was much more counterintuitive and complicated than he expected. "I even thought at first that there must be a bug in the simulator, since to turn right I found I had to push the handlebars to the left," he wrote. "Of course, if you stop to think about it, that is exactly correct. To turn right, the bicycle has to lean to the right, and the only way to make that happen is to shift the point of contact with the ground to the left, which requires an initial push to the left." The paths of an un-steered bicycle after 800 pushes. (Image credit: Matthew Cook) Still, Cook was able to learn to pilot the bike around reasonably well. And other people who tried the program figured it out as well. Based on his own experience and the descriptions other players gave him of their strategies, Cook built a simple two-node network that he felt could successfully learn to ride a bike. The first neuron in the network senses the world of the bike and where it's been instructed to take the bike. It also decides how far it wants the bike to lean and in what direction. The neuron then sends that information to the second neuron in the network, which has direct control over the bike and decides what to do with those controls to make that lean happen. [Inside the Brain: A Photo Journey Through Time] Immediately, this simple system picked up the task and worked out the parameters it needed to get the bike where it was told to go. At very slow speeds, it became unstable, but as long as the bike had a good head of steam going, it could pilot along some very complex paths. The path, from waypoint to waypoint, that Cook trained the neural network to follow. He notes that any handwriting issues are his, and "not the fault of the bicycle." (Image credit: Matthew Cook) The next step for this kind of project, Cook wrote, would be to build networks that don't just respond to stimuli, but develop and refine "beliefs" ideas about why they need to do certain things to pull off their tasks, not just simple reflexes that let them do so. Originally published on Live Science. President Museveni says Uganda is too democratic that its citizens should be teaching the world about democracy President Yoweri Museveni has restated that no one should teach Ugandans about democracy because their country is the most democratic in the world. Addressing the nation at the 32nd National Resistance Movement/Army power takeover anniversary in Arua yesterday, Museveni said Ugandans need not to get any lecture from anyone on democracy. He said to the contrary, Ugandans should be the ones lecturing the world about democracy. Museveni said democracy is now ingrained in Ugandans, citing elections of representatives in parliament and district, sub-county and village councils, as well as the election of representatives of special interest groups like the youth, women, army, workers, disabled and elderly. Museveni's remarks will not go down well with the opposition who accuse him of increasing presiding over an authoritarian government. Pundits say although the country goes through cycles of elections, like a ritual, the processes and outcomes are tilted in favour of the ruling party. The president's comments come in the wake of the removal of the presidential age limit that paves way for him to run for at least two more times. The presidential age limit of 75 was the only stumbling block on his way for re-election for the sixth time. Meanwhile, the undisciplined nature of many Ugandans, especially motorists, prompted Museveni to call for a culture of discipline in the citizens in order to project a good image of the country. Museveni said although Uganda is growing steadily, one negative aspect is the indiscipline exhibited by especially motorists, particularly boda-boda's and taxis. The president cited Kampala were motorists disrespect traffic regulations, like driving on road shoulders, pedestrian walkways and speeding. He said Uganda is peaceful and the people have the reputation of being welcoming and hospitable, indiscipline will scare off foreigners, particularly investors and tourists. He said being disciplined would make Uganda attractive for tourists, whose numbers, he said, have increased from negligible in 1986 to now 1.5 million, bringing in over $1.5 billion. Tourism is the biggest foreign exchange earner for Uganda, ahead of diaspora remittances, coffee and others. The president said many foreigners have complained to him especially about recklessness on Kampala's roads, a habit he appealed to Ugandans to stop. He ordered the police to insist on adherence to proper road usage and regulations, asserting that no one must abuse the road by driving on the pedestrian walkways. WEST NILE CONTRIBUTION In a life-threatening accident, a Maryland teenager fell while building a tree house and wound up with a 6-inch screw lodged in his skull, according to news reports. The boy, 13-year-old Darius Foreman, fell down and knocked over a wooden board, which then came crashing down on his head, according to CNN. An X-ray showed that a screw had become lodged between the two halves of his brain, CNN reported. The main concern with a "foreign body" injury like this is that the object (in this case, a screw) could have damaged a brain area called the superior sagittal sinus, said Dr. Justin Thomas, a neurosurgeon at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, New York, who was not involved in the boy's case. This area is one of the main vein channels that drains blood from the brain, and damage to it could "result in massive hemorrhage," Thomas told Live Science. [12 Amazing Images in Medicine] When Darius Foreman arrived at the hospital, a wooden board needed to be removed from his head before doctors could operate. (Image credit: Dr. Alan Cohen/Johns Hopkins Medicine) Surviving an injury like this depends on the degree to which the superior sagittal sinus is damaged, and the amount of bleeding, Thomas told Live Science. In Darius' case, the screw came close, but did not tear into the sinus, according to CNN. The boy "was a millimeter away from having himself bleed to death," Dr. Alan Cohen, the neurosurgeon who operated on Darius at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, told CNN. However, there's still a risk of bleeding when surgeons try to remove the object, Thomas said. But with careful surgical techniques, an object in this area can be removed, he said. Thomas noted that the object needs to be removed under controlled circumstances, and that's why first responders could not simply pull the screw out before transporting Darius to the hospital. But even getting Darius to the hospital proved challenging, because there was a 5-foot wooden board attached to the screw, which was too big to fit in the ambulance, CNN reported. A fire rescue crew had to use the family's saw to cut the board down to 2 feet, CNN said. Surgeons successfully removed the screw from Darius' skull on Sunday (Jan. 21), and the teen was released from the hospital yesterday (Jan. 25). He was allowed to keep the screw as a memento of his close call, CNN said. Original article on Live Science. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Predicting when a volcano is going to explode is a very difficult task. Every volcano has its own unique and complex maze of tunnels that feed magma to the surface. So even when we detect volcanic activity, it's very hard to know when the magma will make its way through these tunnels and erupt. But there's now a way to assess this process using crystals that grow inside volcanoes and act like a record of its eruption. Our latest study on crystals from Mount Etna in Italy has shown that if new magma arrives in chambers 10 km below Etna's surface, an eruption can follow within two weeks. No wonder the Roman poet Lucretius said Etna "rages with flames from th' lowest pit of Hell." Geologists used to think of the magma below volcanoes as being in a large single chamber, but modern research shows that feeding systems contain many connected compartments with complex transport routes. We also know what when new magma recharges these volcanic feeding systems it can trigger an eruption. Read more: Why can't we predict when a volcano will erupt? As it moves towards the surface, the newly stirred magma pushes apart the rock, building up pressure beneath the volcano. This produces earthquakes and inflates the volcano's cone-shaped edifice, effects that can be monitored at the surface or from space with satellites. What's difficult is knowing if a particular magma recharge will actually translate into an eruption and how much time it will take for the eruption to start. This is where the crystals can come in. These minerals are called antecrysts ("ante" meaning before) because they often start growing from early magmas thousands of years before the volcano erupts. They grow layer by layer, recording changes in the surrounding magma, like tree rings registering variations in the climate. Laser technology now means we can look into the antecrysts to create maps of the trace chemical elements inside them. This essentially involves firing a grid of laser lines over the antecryst and then using what's known as a mass spectrometer to analyse the aerosol that is given off and work out what it contains. This can be used to create a 2D image of the crystal's composition that can tell us something about its history. For example, when old antecryst cores are transported to the surface by newly stirred magma, it generates a distinctive rim on the crystal. The challenge is to extract meaning from these records. Mapping Etna Using crystal chemical maps from the last 40 years of volcanic activity at Mount Etna, we've been able to determine the depth at which the crystals grow but also when new magma began invading the underground volcanic system. We found that this started occurring in the 1970s, coinciding with when the volcano began to erupt more often, with faster-moving magma and more explosiveness and seismic activity. The type of contact between the crystal cores and the rims and thickness of the rims hold information on how much time elapses between the arrival of batches of magma and when an eruption started. This means we can better predict when an eruption is likely to occur after magma is detected at certain points beneath the volcano (in this case, two weeks after arrival at depth). In this way, carrying out laser surveys of antecrysts from around the world could help volcanologists better understand how magma recharge acts as a trigger for eruptions, and how to interpret monitoring data from active volcanoes. This could create a more accurate process for spotting warning signs and predicting imminent eruptions. Balz Kamber, Chair of Geology and Mineralogy, Trinity College Dublin and Teresa Ubide, Lecturer in Igneous Petrology/Volcanology, The University of Queensland This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates and become part of the discussion on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science. 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. The xiphoid process is a small extension of bone just below the sternum. Discomfort in the xiphoid process can be painful as it can affect the lower ribcage, breastbone, and several major muscles located around the abdomen and diaphragm. The name xiphoid derives from the Greek word for straight sword as the structure has a sharp tip, resembling a sword. It is also known by other names including the metasternum, xiphisternum, and xiphoid cartilage. In this article, we discuss symptoms, causes, and treatment options for xiphoid process pain. What is the xiphoid process? Share on Pinterest This diagram shows the xiphoid process in red. Image credit: Anatomography, November 3, 2012 The xiphoid process is a tiny bone structure located at the center of the chest, just below the lower part of the sternum. At birth, the xiphoid process is formed from cartilage that eventually develops into bone. During a persons early life, the xiphoid process rarely causes any discomfort given its soft cartilage structure. However, as it hardens, it can cause some discomfort in later life for many reasons. Symptoms of xiphoid process pain Discomfort can range from mild to severe. A person may feel pain in muscle groups connected to the xiphoid process around the abdomen and chest. Symptoms tend to come and go, making it a challenge to diagnose. It is also possible for the area to become inflamed, causing a lump to develop around the lower sternum. This lump is a result of inflammation but can often be mistaken for a more serious medical condition, such as a tumor. Causes of xiphoid process pain Share on Pinterest Lifting heavy objects may cause xiphoid process pain. A common cause of xiphoid process pain is acute chest trauma that has damaged the structure. The xiphoid process is not protected or supported by surrounding structures, making it vulnerable to damage. This damage can occur during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when a person applies too much pressure to the lower sternum. Less common causes of xiphoid process pain can include: overeating acid reflux lifting heavy objects or weights repetitive strain on the torso Diagnosis People who have felt pain in their lower sternum for more than 1 week should see a doctor for assessment. Diagnosing xiphoid process pain can be challenging given the transient nature of symptoms and its proximity to several major organs and bone structures. For example, it can be initially mistaken for a broken rib. The presence of inflammation forming a lump can also be mistaken for a tumor or a hernia. Given the difficulty in confirming xiphoid process pain, doctors may recommend an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography (CT) scan. With the help of these images, it is possible to assess any damage to the structure and the extent of any inflammation. Treatment Share on Pinterest A doctor may recommend avoiding high-intensity exercises that strain the xiphoid process. Treatment for xiphoid process pain depends on its cause. A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain. They may also recommend that a person experiencing pain from xiphoid process avoids high-intensity exercise or activities that put a strain on the area. Damage to the xiphoid process itself is not severe. However, if the xiphoid process breaks or fractures, it is possible for bone fragments to cause damage surrounding vital organs. For example, it is possible for a bone fragment to puncture the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Removal In such cases, surgical interventions may be a necessary precaution against internal damage. The xiphoid process can be removed using an electrosurgical dissection of the lower sternum. The procedure is considered safe, with a low risk of complications. The area can feel tender for several weeks post-surgery until the wound has healed. Years back, the film called 'Enemy at the Gates' hit theatres and gave us an insight into the life of a sniper who survives in a war-affected area. Through the film we got to know the immense difficulties faced by snipers in a war zone, and how with their sharp mind and skills, they manage to keep enemies at bay. At various times, their tales of valor and grit have inspired filmmakers to highlight their hidden stories. Today we bring to you an informative piece about some of the most well known snipers in the history of world wars. 1. Zhang Taofang Twitter Zhang Taofang was a Chinese sniper during the Korean War. He is believed to be one of the most deadly snipers of all time, and is said to have 214 confirmed kills in 32 days. More interesting is the fact that he didn't take the help of any sort of telescope or binoculars for killing people. During the 1950s, Zhang remained a part of the Chinese Army and he was then assigned to the Triangle Hill. He didn't carry any PU Scope and was equipped with an old Mosin-Nagant. Once, he waited at his position for 18 days and then fired shots which resulted in a deadly combat. After having failed in his attempt, he figured out a new technique and improved his shooting ability. In the days which followed later, he hit 7 enemies with 9 rounds, that was more than the ratio of many experienced snipers. It is believed that he killed around 214 enemies in a time period of 32 days. 2. Chris Kyle Twitter Also popular by the name of 'American Sniper', Christopher Scott Kyle is arguably one of the most daredevil combat snipers in the United States Navy SEAL. He served four times in the Iraq war and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009. Kyle later published his bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, in 2012 which has also been adapted into a film of the same name later. Kyle took his longest successful shot: in 2008, outside Sadr City where he killed an insurgent sniper aiming at other members of the US military. Kyle was shot and killed by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range in Erath County. 3. William Sing Twitter William Edward "Billy" Sing was one of the best-known snipers during World War I. It is believed that during the Gallipoli Campaign, he killed almost 200 people. He was often dubbed as 'The Assassin' or 'The Murderer' by his comrades. He died during the World War II due to extreme poverty and bad health. Sing's life was recounted in a chapter of Laws and Stewart's book, 'There's always more to the story' and in greater depth by Hamilton in his book, 'Gallipoli Sniper: The life of Billy Sing'. 4. Josef Allerberger Twitter Josef Allerberger was an Austrian sniper assigned to the II Battalion 144, credited with 257 deaths in his military career. Allerberger used a different technique to camouflage where he replaced his umbrella cloth with a leaf tissue. In 2005, Josef's life and his performance on the Eastern Front were immortalized in the book written by Albert Wacker. 5. Craig Harrison Twitter Craig Harrison, former Corporal of Horse (CoH) in the Blues and Royals, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, famous for his military service in Afghanistan as a sniper but he also served in the British army in Iraq and the Balkans. While firing a Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD) on a firing range near a British military base in Croatia, Craig discovered his skills. His autobiography is known as 'The Longest Kill', in which Harrison has described rifle SVD as looking like 'an elongated AK' and after firing at a tree he says it 'practically split the tree in half'. 600,000 residents of Wakiso are set receive over a million mosquito nets as part of a countrywide national malaria prevention initiative undertaken by ministry of Health. Under a partnership with Buganda kingdom, the ministry will distribute 1,650,000 mosquito nets to Wakiso residents on Saturday and Sunday according to Dr Henry Stanley Katamba, the monitoring and evaluation specialist at Malaria Control Program. The kingdom will provide mass sensitization during the distribution. The distribution exercise will be conducted by Local Council (LC) 1 chairpersons and Village Health Teams (VHTs), supervised by teams from the ministry of Health. Households that were registered for the exercise in December 2017 are required to come with valid identity cards to collect their nets. At the distribution point, we are going to have demonstration on how to use and how to handle the net will be carried, Katamba noted. Katamba applauded Bugandas Bulungi Bwansi program promoted by the kingdom which addresses household and environmental sanitation which helps to rid 90 per cent of the causes of malaria. Dr Ben Kiwanuka Mukwaya, the Buganda minister of Health appreciated the efforts of the government in its fight against malaria. Malaria brings poverty in homes, it makes students to miss school, Mukwaya said. Buganda will coordinate and support the health efforts with Amasaza and Gombolola chiefs to train households that will receive the nets on how to use the nets received to protect themselves. The Malaria Control Program has distributed over 25 million mosquito nets in 109 out of the 116 districts in Uganda providing a 95 per cent countrywide coverage. The program is tasked with providing quality assured services for malaria prevention and treatment to all people in Uganda. Katamba revealed that malaria prevalence in the country had decreased from 42 per cent in 2009 to 19 per cent in 2015 with the burden of malaria over the last 5 years reducing by 50 per cent. Dr Katamba urged the public to call on the ministrys toll free number 0800100066 in the event they are asked to pay money to receive the mosquito nets by the distribution teams because the nets are for free. The program cost $125 million with funding contributed from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Against Malaria Foundation, Presidents Malaria Initiative and Department for International Development (DFID). ayebeanthony@gmail.com Every now and then we come across someone quitting their job to live out their ultimate dream of travelling all over the place. I think that is quite an achievement in itself and they are living their dreams. For many of us, quitting our jobs is not that simple but should that be the end of your story? Here are 7 stories of people who achieved their dream of travelling the world despite working at a demanding job. Here is your chance to learn from them as they have been there and done that. They are the modern globetrotters who are defining their paths in life. 1. Sudeep Shukla, 31, Assistant brand manager Sudeep at the Maldives Facebook/Sudeep Shukla During his college days, Sudeep explored pretty much all of south India. He knows his life has liabilities and loans which still did not restrict him from planning his destinations according to his budget. Working for a flexible organization is a perk. Sudeep says, "I plan most of my travel in advance. I try to club long weekends or the holiday season to get the best deals. Since I don't take many regular leaves, it becomes easier for me to get travel leaves. Also since my organization is understanding and flexible about my travel, it also makes life a bit easier for me." Get your boss' confidence. "My traveling inspires him. Since he knows beforehand that I travel, he is quite supportive. If work is getting done on time, it isn't a problem. It is important to have your boss on your side to be able to travel while being employed," adds Sudeep. 2. Shreyas Panduranga, 27, Computer Engineer Facebook/Shreyas Goes Shreyas fell in love with travelling after spending his formative years in a village known for its beauty. He says the only thing that really matters is the attitude with which he travels even if he goes to a popular place, he keeps an open mind. Your vehicle is your freedom Shreyas says, "The freedom that a motorcycle gives me, makes travelling easier. On a motorcycle, I can go anywhere, take any turn I find interesting in a new city or on a highway in the middle of nowhere." He's not a full-time traveler. Shreyas adds, "Quitting your job is not a good choice until I have found ways to make a living out of travel. I am not even sure I want to make a living out of it. Sure, I love to travel, take pictures and document it in a bit of writing, but being a full-time traveller isn't everybody's cup of tea. But who knows what the future holds!" 3. Madhuri Mukherjee, 25, Market risk analyst Madhuri in Spain imgrum/@MUKHERJEEMADHURI It was Madhuri's first solo work trip to Switzerland that changed everything. She came to the realization that travelling can even change someone's perspective on life. She is already bitten by the travel bug. Can she stop? Life and family responsibilities. Madhuri says, "I personally find it quite utopian when people quit their jobs and travel and there are so many pre-conditions that need to be satisfied that for someone from an average middle-class family it's much harder than it seems in the blog entries," Mukherjee says about when asked why she didn't quit her job to travel. Her secret to managing office leaves. Madhuri explains, "I undertake 2 long holidays in a year and utilize the public holidays for shorter getaways. I do sometimes work on public holidays if I don't have any trips planned. We get compensatory days off for it, which I then use later for travel." 4. Makrand Lowalekar, 32, Software engineer Makrand at Horton National Park, Sri Lanka Facebook/makrandtraveldiary A cancelled trip to Spain, due to visa rejection was Makrand's one unfulfilled dream. Being fortunate enough, he joined his friends for a trip to Langkawi in Malaysia, and then took a trip to Ladakh and the rest, as they say, is history. . Like many other globetrotters why did he not quit his job? Makrand explains, "I love the comfort of cubicles, which most people hate or pretend to hate. I like to be in a routine and as a change, I travel. Travel motivates me to work with dedication because my pay cheque will fund my future travels." He is dedicated to travel and a pre-planner. "I check the holiday calendar at the beginning of the year and try to find slots where I can travel. I will utilize most of the long weekends. You can ask me any day about all the long weekends of the year and I remember them by heart. I will not take a day off just because I am feeling lazy," adds Makrand. 5. Akanksha Dureja, 30s, Software Engineer akankshadureja Akanksha feels that wanderlust is a way of life for her. She explains why she thinks leaving her job just for the sake of travelling is not always an option for everyone but there are alternative ways. Mark your leaves only travel Akanksha says, "Unless there is an emergency, I don't take any regular leaves. Festivals or a visit to the hometown are managed with weekends and just company holidays. Most of my leaves are taken for travel, sometimes planned and sometimes unplanned." Is travel writing an easy job to get? On this Akanksha says, "Travel writing seems glossy, but then it doesn't really pay your bills unless you're writing for the biggies. As much as I would love to be a nomad, the reality is that it's not all that great. Also, I have worked hard to be where I am today and don't want to give up one thing for the other as long as I can manage both!" 6. Shri Ayyangar, 31, Corporate communications expert shristhoughtspot Shri has a huge appetite for travel but he is also the only breadwinner in his family, which is why he decided to stay in his job and use it to his advantage to travel. Get a tag of a 'serious traveller' at your workplace. Shri suggests, "There's a lot of support at work. Usually, I don't leave any work pending and ensure that everything is attended to before I leave. Also in emergency situations, I am available on phone. Also, I usually contribute my travel experiences as a blog/write-up on travel portals, so my colleagues and boss get a sense that I am a serious traveller." Master the art of reserving extended holiday weekends for offbeat travel. Shri says, "I like to avoid the rush, so I keep the offbeat locations for the extended weekends. And so many Indian destinations are unexplored. I am surprised when I narrate my experiences of my stay in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, and many people don't even know where the location is on the map." 7. Himanshu Prajapati, 22, Assistant Engineer Himanshu at the feet of Shilla Peak, above Komik Village, Spiti, 5300-metre the__nowhereboy/Instagram Himanshu recalls that since childhood, he always wanted to explore new places but couldn't due to some reason or the other. So as soon as he becomes financially independent he started exploring places. He has been to many places, but it was the trip to Spiti (solo) that changed everything. He is an instant jumper and comp offs are the deal. Himanshu says, I do not plan my trips completely and generally go or to any place that sounds interesting on my way. My boss has always supported me when it comes to travel and that has been a very fortunate thing in my life. In the office, we have to coordinate among ourselves for holidays. Other people prefer taking leaves during the festive season but I prefer compromising by working in most of the festive seasons and then take comp offs. This article by Jared Keller originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. In the five years since the Air Force converted an MC-130J Combat Shadow II into a next-generation AC-130J Ghostrider ground-attack aircraft, Air Force Special Operations Command hasn't been able to stop bulking up the airframe's weapons systems. They added a 105mm cannon and are even considering the future installation of a frickin' laser beam to make the Ghostrider "the ultimate battle plane" for close air support; the Ghostrider's muscular arsenal has led AFSOC officials to call it "a bomb truck with guns on it." But a new Pentagon report reveals a serious problem with this truck's guns. Buried in a January 2018 after-action from the DoD's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (and flagged by our friends at The War Zone) is a relatively alarming assessment of the Ghostrider: The aircraft's fire control systems "performed inconsistently when accounting for changing ballistic conditions" like shifts in altitude and ambient wind; those factors frequently required in-flight recalibrations to ensure the gun and mount actually remained on target. Even worse, the report states that recoil from the 30mm GAU-23/A cannon's full rate of fire (a blistering 200 rounds a minute) causes the gun to shake so aggressively that the fire control system's automatic safeguards kick in, and the operator has to allow the gun and mount to recenter before opening fire again. Both of these problems, the report notes, are absent from the Ghostrider's predecessor, the AC-130W Stinger. AFSOC declared that the Ghostrider had reached initial operating capacity in September 2017, and the command remains confident that the aircraft "will support most elements of the Close Air Support and Air Interdiction missions," as the report states. But, the report warns, the overstuffed skunkwork project has the potential to be a real Frankensteins monster: "The complexity of system software, inadequate training and technical manuals, and the overall operating environment aboard the AC-130J diminishes usability." Obviously, the 30mm cannon isn't the only tool in the Ghostrider's arsenal. The aircraft boasts GPS- and laser-guided AGM-176A Griffin missiles and the deliciously destructive GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, not to mention the 105mm howitzer jutting from the airframe's side. Indeed, the service plans on adding even more deadly goodies to the Ghostrider, including upgraded SDBs and powerful AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, to say nothing of that frickin' laser beam. But the 30mm issues in particular spell big trouble for the AC-130's long-held status as a weapon of choice for "danger close" operations. "AC-130s have developed an excellent reputation for being precision tools ideal for 'danger close' missions where enemy forces are close to friendly troops, innocent bystanders, or both," as the War Zone notes. "A loss of calibration or severe vibrations could send shells flying wildly off the mark, potentially leading to friendly fire or civilian casualties." On the upside, the report states that the 105 mm howitzer is doing just fine, with its rounds demonstrating "expected lethality against personnel, trucks, and light armored vehicles." So there's that, I guess. This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter. More articles from Task & Purpose: The Tactical Case For The Flamethrower, According To A Vietnam War Vet The Turkish Offensive In Syria Proves Its Time To Recalibrate The War On Terror Machine Youll Have To Do Better Than Guzzling Snake Blood To Impress The US Military The new details not only shed light on what may have triggered the incident, but may also help to explain how five other... The second annual enlisted remotely piloted aircraft pilot selection board met last week to decide on the next enlisted airmen who will attend training and soon fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The Air Force Personnel Center will decide on 40 new airmen -- an increase from last year's pool -- out of 134 applicants by next month, officials said. "The board was held to select 40 Airmen total, including 30 primaries (same as last year) and 10 alternates (an increase of 5 from last year)," personnel center spokesman Mike Dickerson told Military.com on Friday "We increased the number of alternates to provide greater flexibility for covering any future contingencies," Dickerson said in a statement. Related content: Whether or not this leads to a gradual, annual expansion of airmen selected for RPA training isn't definite right now, Dickerson said. Last year the board picked two senior master sergeants, five master sergeants, nine technical sergeants, 14 staff sergeants and five alternates from about 200 active-duty applicants from various job assignments. "The Air Force plans for the number of enlisted RPA pilots to grow to 100 within four years," according to a service release at the time. There first 30 airmen and five alternates selected are currently scattered throughout the training pipeline, Capt. Beau Downey, spokesman for Air Education and Training Command, told Military.com on Thursday. "AETC currently has 15 RPA pilots in training. Eight are in RPA Instrument Qualification and seven are in RPA Fundamentals Course, both a part of the 558th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas," Downey said in an email. Meanwhile, there are 15 enlisted pilots who have attended or are in the process of completing the RQ-4 Formal Training Unit, or FTU, at Beale Air Force Base, California. Downey said the program at Beale, under Air Combat Command, is broken into two phases: The first is Basic Qualification Training (BQT) and the second is Mission Qualification Training (MQT). Both phases culminate in a Form 8, or how one performs in his or her check ride. "Students remaining at Beale for their operational assignment will complete both BQT and MQT at the Beale FTU," he said. There is also a segment at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. "Those students who will be assigned to Grand Forks [will] complete BQT at Beale and then move to the Grand Forks...for MQT," Downey said. ACC has graduated four enlisted pilots from the full program at the Beale unit. Another four completed Basic Qualification Training at the Beale FTU and have moved to the Grand Forks unit. There are three currently in MQT at the Beale training unit and four in BQT. Of those four, two will remain at Beale and two will move to Grand Forks. Another four enlisted airmen are scheduled to arrive at Beale at the beginning of February, Downey said. The Air Force has expanded its RPA reach since it began training enlisted airmen on the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The service announced in 2015 it would begin training enlisted airmen to operate the unarmed high-altitude reconnaissance drone. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Conflicts and wars benefit no one: Indonesian President ISLAMABAD: Indonesian President Joko Widodo told a joint session of the parliament in Islamabad on Friday that conflicts and wars benefit no one while democracy was the best way to serve interests of the people. The Indonesian president is currently on a two-day visit to Pakistan. He is the second Indonesian president who has addressed the parliament of Pakistan, with Dr Ahmed Sukarno the first president of Indonesia who addressed the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 26, 1963. The session was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and three services chiefs, besides the parliamentarians. In his address, Widodo said the economy of a country or region grows only if there is political stability and security. Conflicts and wars will benefit no one I repeat conflicts and wars will benefit no one, he stressed, adding, People, mainly women and children, always become the most impacted ones in conflicts and wars. He said that Indonesia and Pakistan were two countries with the biggest Muslim population and both were democratic states. We are equally grateful to be able to live in democratic manners, he said. Most people think that managing democracy is not an easy thing but I say we need commitment to tolerate and commitment to respect each other to let the democracy function well, he added. As president, I strongly believe that democracy is the best way of serving interests of our people. Democracy provides space for people in decision making process, he said, adding democracy maintained political stability in Indonesia which helped economic growth reach above 5% per year in the country. The president said Muslims were the largest victims of conflicts, wars and terrorism as 76 percent of terrorism attacks took place in Muslim countries, 60 percent of armed conflicts happened in Muslim countries and 67 percent of refugees belonged to the Muslim countries. He said that this alarming condition was partially caused by internal weakness, even though a lot of external factors also existed. Are we going to let these apprehending conditions keep on happening over and over again? he questioned. If you ask me, I will say no. We must not allow conflicts to continue existing in our countries. We must not allow conflicts to continue existing in the world, he declared. Calling for an end to conflicts in the countries as well as the world, the Indonesian president said respect for humanity should be our guide in our lives as nations. He said history had taught that weapons and military power would neither be able to resolve conflicts nor create and maintain worlds peace. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue, Widodo said conflict in Indonesian area of Aceh continued for more than 30 years which was resolved through negotiations. It is the habit of dialogue that makes ASEAN, the association of 10 countries in South East Asia, able to be the engine of stability and prosperity in South East Asia, he said. We must be a part of solution and not part of the problem. Let us work together for the creation of peaceful and prosperous world in the name of all mankind living in this world, he concluded. He said the friendship between Indonesia and Pakistan was not a newly forged bond as his country would always remember the support of the people of Pakistan towards Indonesias struggles for independence. He said that as a token of appreciation on August 17, 1995, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Indonesian Independence, Indonesia had conferred First Class Adipurna Star to Pakistans Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his contributions in supporting Indonesias independence. Unprovoked statements by Indian leadership against Pakistan posed serious threat to peace: Khawaja Asif ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday told Upper House of parliament that unprovoked hostile statements by Indian leadership against Pakistan posed a serious threat to peace and tranquility of the region. The Indian involvement in sabotage and terrorist activities in Pakistan was a well-established fact, he said, adding that the arrest and confessional statement of Commander Jhadav, a serving Indian naval officer apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, had vindicated Pakistans stance. However, the minister said, Pakistan strongly believed that continued, comprehensive and result-oriented engagement between two countries was important for peace and prosperity in the region and beyond. Kh Asif said that Pakistan was pursuing a policy of good relations with all the countries of the region, adding, We have consistently strived to maintain close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship with our neighboring countries. The minister also gave an overview of Pakistans relations with the countries of the region along with the steps taken by the present government to improve the bilateral relations with the regional countries. With India, he said, Pakistan wanted resolution of all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. This policy had been consistently reiterated during high-level engagements as well as other official interactions, he said. Unfortunately, Pakistans positive overtures had not been reciprocated by the Indian side, he added. Meanwhile, the government came under severe criticism for exempting a Chinese company from sales tax and federal excise duty through an SRO which the House declared contrary to the rules as well as violation of the Supreme Court judgment. Opposition senators Murtaza Wahab, Nauman Wazir, Kamil Ali Agha, Saleem Mandviwalla and Ilyas Bilour drew the attention of the House through a calling attention notice towards the undue favour. Wahab pointed out that concession was granted to the China State Construction Engineering Company (CSCEC) through an SRO on January 23, 2018, by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) without getting approval from the federal cabinet. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani referred the matter to the relevant committee of the House for holding probe and reporting back in the next session in February. He expressed annoyance after State Minister for Finance Rana Afzal accepted that the SRO was first of its kind which was issued after a summary moved by the Ministry of Communications was approved by the ECC. This promoted Rabbani to cite constitutional provisions that clearly state that the ECC decisions in such matters had no importance as it was the federal cabinet which could give a decision regarding tax exemption to a company. The chair questioned how a summary can be moved in violation of the law, adding there was clear-cut judgment of the Supreme Court barring any such concession through SROs. Senators Ilyas Bilour and Nauman Wazir termed the move far more dangerous than the East India Company, saying if such concessions to Chinese companies continued, the local industry would come to a standstill. However, Ahsan Iqbal defended the concessions, saying that it was sought for Multan-Sukkur motorway project under the CPEC. He further said that China was providing the cheapest loan at the rate of two percent and such attempts to compare it with the East India Company were nothing but a negative propaganda against a friendly country. The senators also expressed concerns over the arrest of more than 180 Baloch and Pashtun students from the Punjab University after a clash with Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT), a student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. The matter was raised by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) parliamentary leader Usman Kakar who termed IJT as a terrorist organisation and also sought action against the group. He said that the students of the IJT, who have established monopoly in the education institutions of Punjab, attacked Baloch and Pashtun students in Punjab University on January 22. Opposition leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan sought an action against the IJT, saying that PPP stands by Baloch and Pashtun students. He offered his partys all possible assistance in this regard and warned that the move can transform into a nationalist movement if the government of Punjab does not take steps immediately. Governor Jerry Brown View Photos Sacramento, CA While Governor Jerry Brown received a resounding standing ovation for his final state of the state address, some took aim at continuing challenges for California. Brown gave an optimistic view during his speech at the capitol today praising the states economy and bi-partisan achievements like the Rainy Day Fund, Cap-and-Trade Program and the water bond, as reported here. While Mother Lode Republican Senator Tom Berryhill acknowledged that there have been some positive steps forward, he noted citizens are still suffering and more work needs to be done. He states, We are many years away from having a sustainable water supply, and we face a runaway cost of living, a housing crisis, a budget on the brink of disaster, an educational system that fails both students and teachers and a changing criminal justice system that in recent years has indiscriminately reinserted many felons back into our communities, making our streets less safe for hardworking families. Assemblyman Frank Bigelow targets the unpopular gas tax, the wasteful high speed rail project and also tapped the states water problems, arguing, During his 2015 inaugural address, Governor Brown promised that the state would be investing in long overdue water projects by the end of the year. Three years later, no substantive water infrastructure projects are underway. Regarding the Governors praise of Californias economy, Board of Equalization Vice Chair George Runner countered, The Governor likes to take credit for Californias economy, but its really just part of a much larger national economic recovery. Our poverty rate is the worst in the nation, and homelessness is on the rise. When people are fleeing for the exits, it doesnt take an expert to figure out that something has gone very, very wrong. State Treasurer John Chiang, who has tossed his hat into the ring for Governor, defended Browns economic record, Nearly eight years of leadership under Governor Brown has given Californians their lowest joblessness rate since 1976, turned a $27 billion deficit into a multi-billion dollar surplus, and positioned the Golden State at the edge of becoming the worlds fifth largest economy. But he added, To convert our recent comeback into long-term prosperity, the next eight years must result in the construction of millions of new affordable homes, the establishment of universal healthcare as a basic human right, and the largest expansion of retirement security for seniors since the passage of Social Security. Other Democrats in the race for Governor include Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former State Superintendent of Schools Delaine Eastin. Republicans include Assemblyman Travis Allen and Businessman John Cox. Clement Sabourin /AFP /Getty Images WASHINGTON Delivering a big defeat to Boeing, a U.S. trade panel ruled Friday that the U.S. aircraft giant was not harmed by competition from Canadas Bombardier. The 4-0 decision by the independent International Trade Commission effectively blocks the Trump administration from slapping 292 percent tariffs on Bombardier. The Commerce Department ruled last year that the Canadian firm had unfairly received government subsidies and sold its C series planes at artificially low prices in the United States. The trade panel disagreed. The case threatened to raise tensions between Washington and U.S. allies Canada and Britain, which has a Bombardier plant in Northern Ireland. With oil prices surging in the spring of 2014, state Sen. Carlos Uresti sent a representative for a group of Mexican investors an email touting the opportunities to supply oil-and-gas exploration companies with frac sand via San Antonio startup FourWinds Logistics. The model that we have developed and perfected has proven to be successful and we are certain that that this success will continue for years to come, Uresti wrote to the groups accountant. It wasnt true, though, according to Shannon Smith, FourWinds former chief operating officer, the lone witness to testify Friday in the fifth day of Urestis criminal fraud trial in San Antonio federal court. Asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell during direct examination what was untrue about the email, Smith simply said, There was no perfection. And there wasnt anything particularly remarkable about the business model: FourWinds plans was to buy sand, resell it at about a 30-percent markup and then split the profits with investors who put up all of the money. Within about 15 months of Uresti sending that email, FourWinds was bankrupt and out of business. Urestis is on trial for his role in FourWinds, where he served as outside legal counsel, recruited investors and held a 1 percent ownership interest in the company. Uresti was indicted last year on 11 felony charges, including for securities fraud and money laundering. He faces years in prison and millions in penalties if convicted by a jury. Gary Cain, a company consultant charged with nine felonies, is being tried with Uresti. Both have denied the charges. FourWinds CEO Stan Bates, accused of living a lavish lifestyle on investors money, pleaded guilty to eight felonies on Jan. 8 rather than stand trial with Uresti and Cain. Smith testified as part of a plea agreement he entered into with prosecutors in 2016 in hopes of getting favorable consideration at his sentencing in April. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The email sent to the Mexican groups accountant was just one of the ways Uresti misled potential investors, Smith testified. Uresti also told Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman who he helped obtain a large legal settlement following the deaths of two of her children in 2010, that FourWinds was a great opportunity for her, Smith said. He said, Im part of this company, I wouldnt have brought you in if it wasnt a good company, Smith recalled Uresti telling Cantu. She invested $900,000 and lost all but about $100,000. Uresti, though, never put any of his own money in FourWinds. She has sued Uresti for fraud. Smith admitted he never shared with Cantu that the information given to her in a FourWinds sales pitch was false. However, Smith said he was unaware that Uresti sent Cantu an email with a bank statement showing FourWinds had more than $18.8 million in its account. Asked if FourWinds ever had that much cash in its account, Smith replied, Never. Tab Turner, one of Urestis lawyers, asked Smith about his past ties with Bates. Bates promoted a marketing deal for an auto dealership Smith introduced him to, but Smith said the promotion flopped and the dealership demanded its $20,000 back. Bates then went off the map, Smith said. A few years later, Smith heard from Bates about his new venture FourWinds. Despite considering Bates untrustworthy, Smith accepted Bates invitation to go work for FourWinds in 2014. He said it was guaranteed thing, Smith recalled. Smith admitted he never told FourWinds potential investors about his past experience with Bates. Hindsight is 20-20 (but) I wish I had done it, Smith said, conceding that at the time he was more focused on the opportunity to make a lot of money with FourWinds. He also knew that he was being paid from investor money even though the money was only supposed to be used to purchase sand. Bates told potential investors that FourWinds had multiple purchase orders and sand lined up to ship, but Smith said little of the spiel was true. We didnt have any sand, Smith said, adding how after joining FourWinds he spent a lot of his time Googling places trying find where it could buy sand. Smith detailed how Bates was raiding the corporate till, including spending $7,000 in one weekend on food, hotels and the rental of a Ferrari. Smith said he started noticing red flags with Bates over the way he was acting. I started seeing he was sniffling real bad or just looking hung over, Smith said, adding that he heard Bates was doing cocaine. I asked him and he said, Theyre just saying that. Im not doing that. During a breakfast meeting, Bates denied using cocaine. He told me he was fake snorting cocaine in front of people, Smith said. I never heard of fake snorting, drawing laughs from some jurors. On cross examination by Charles Chad Muller, one of Cains lawyers, questioned Smith about FourWinds retaining Cain on the recommendations of current Bexar County District Nico LaHood and Uresti. At the time, Cain recently had been acquitted by a Bexar County jury of swindling Rackspace Hosting Inc. in a 2007 land deal. LaHood had represented Cain during his criminal trial before becoming Bexar County District Attorney. Cain had a consulting business with LaHood called Trinity Global Funding & Consulting, which FourWinds contracted with for $30,000 a month to help bring in capital for the frac-sand companys operations. Smith said he considered the monthly fee a lot for anybody, but Bates was in favor of it. Muller noted how it was Smith and Cain who tried to stop Bates from spending investor money to buy up sand after oil prices had collapsed in late 2014. Bate anticipated oil and sand prices would rebound and FourWinds would reap enormous profits. In reality, it only accelerated FourWinds downward spiral. Smith acknowledged that he pleaded with Cain not to leave FourWinds in an effort to try to save the troubled company. The trial is expected to resume at 9 a.m. Monday. pdanner@express-news.net | gcontreras@express-news.net San Antonio stars already shine in new seasons of two network TV mega-hits, and more will be coming around the bend in new shows and seasons bowing in February, March and beyond. Central High grad Nicholas Gonzalez is knocking it out of the park in his surgeon role opposite Golden Globe nominee Freddie Highmore in "The Good Doctor," the year's top new drama on ABC. A 28-year-old former teacher at Westlake High School in Austin allegedly had sex with two different 17-year-old students after she met one on a missionary trip in Africa and another at a summer camp, according to arrest affidavits. The Travis County Sheriff's Office arrested 28-year-old Haeli Wey on two felony charges of improper relationship between an educator and student on Thursday, according to Roger Wade, senior public information officer for the sheriff's office. RELATED: Police: Central Texas teacher Tiffany Howard accused of sex with female student One of the victims told police he had sex with Wey about 10 times beginning in August after the two met at a ministry program in Africa that the student's family also participated in, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by mySA.com. When the two returned, the student told police he sneaked out of his home to Wey's house, where the two had sex, the document said. Another sexual encounter between the two began with pizza and a movie at her home, according to the affidavit. Other times they had sex in her car, the report said. She also sent him photos of herself in her underwear and nude, according an arrest affidavit. The illicit relationship came to an end after the victim discovered Wey "went on a hike" with another student, who later told authorities he met Wey at summer camp and had sexual contact with her during the two-hour hike, the affidavit said. RELATED: Texas agency has opened more than 40 probes into alleged teacher-student relations this school year Wey brought a hammock on the hike and did not wear a bra, the affidavit said. The student told authorities he did not know Wey was a teacher at Westlake when the pair met at the summer camp, but later realized when he saw her at school, the document said. According to the affidavit, rumors of the two having sex began swirling around Westlake High School. RELATED: Former Baylor player, high school coach accused of sending nude images to female students Wey allegedly told the second victim, also a 17-year-old, to delete messages she sent him on social media and via text message and "don't let anyone get a hold of ur phone," the affidavit said. Wey was booked into the Travis County Jail on $150,000 bond, according to the Statesman, and faces up to 20 years for each charge. A 23-year-old man who was caught sneaking into an 11-year-old girl's room told deputies he had a sexual relationship with her, authorities said. Ethan Castellano was charged with indecency with a child, providing alcohol to a minor and aggravated sexual assault of a child. On Tuesday night, police were called to a home in west Bexar County after the girl's family members allegedly caught Castellano in their home without permission, officials said. He and the girl met using a social app, according to an arrest affidavit. RELATED: Bexar County man faces more charges after allegedly beating ex-wife while trying to get case dropped Castellano told deputies he was there to have a "few beers" with the girl. Deputies found a 6-pack of Bud Light Platinum in her room. The girl told the deputies Castellano "touched her all over," and said Castellano had visited her three times, spanning back to Jan. 14. She then asked the deputies to take her to a hospital, according to the affidavit. While at the hospital, the girl said Castellano sexually assaulted her. Castellano was taken into custody and interviewed by detectives. He allegedly admitted to "being in a relationship" and having sex with the girl. A judge set his bail at $100,000, according to jail records. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com President Emmerson Mnangagwa is leaving Switzerland today (this afternoon) and heading to Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia to attend the 30th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government. In statement to ZBC News, the Acting Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Ivanhoe Gurira said this follows the Presidents successful engagements with other world and business leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum. Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga is the Acting President until the return of President Mnangagwa on the 30th of January 2018. ZBC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News By Axel Borsch-Supan, Director, Munich Center for the Economic of Aging, Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy; Irene Ferrari, Postdoctoral Senior Researcher, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging; Nicolas Goll, Researcher, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging; and Johannes Rausch, Senior Researcher, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging. Originally published at VoxEU Retirement ages in industrialised countries have been rising over the last three decades as more people work later into their lives. This column focuses on Germany, examining this trend and the contributing factors. Despite comparable trends in health, educational attainment, and spouses labour force participation, these three factors do not appear to explain the rise in retirement age. Instead, changes to public pension rules seem to be the key driver. Life expectancy has risen dramatically almost everywhere in the world. At the same time, the retirement age has fallen in industrialised countries, putting enormous pressure on their pension systems. More recently, however, working in later life has made a comeback. Employment rates of people aged between 55 and 64 have increased in most OECD countries since the late 1990s (OECD 2017), in a stunning reversal of the long declining trend that began in the early 1970s. The average employment rate for people of this age in OECD countries was 44% in 2000, and reached 58.4% in 2016.1 Will the current rising trend in labour force participation continue, reducing the negative consequences of ageing on fiscal sustainability, or will participation slow down again? Explaining the causes of this stunning reversal of labour force participation at older ages is the current aim of the International Social Security Project (ISSP).2 The project scrutinises the interactions between social security schemes and retirement behaviour, covering 12 western industrialised countries (nine EU countries, the US, Canada, and Japan). In this column we focus on Germany (Borsch-Supan et al. 2017), the country that has experienced the greatest increase in the employment rate among the 55-64 age group. Germany used to exhibit a relatively low level of old-age employment (38% in 2000 for the 55-64 age group). Fourteen years later, this rate has reached a stunning 69% (OECD 2017). Figure 1 shows this trend reversal among German men over 55. The picture is more complex for women, who experienced a rather constant increase among the 55-59 age group and a mild reversal among the 60-64 age group (Figure 2). Figure 1 Labour force participation by age group, men Source: OECD Figure 2 Labour force participation by age group, women Source: OECD Historical Trends of Labour Force Participation Determinants One set of causes for the trend reversal in old-age labour force participation could be historical trends. Younger cohorts are healthier and have been better educated, allowing for longer working lives. Also, the role of women in society has dramatically changed, affecting the labour force participation of both genders. How much of the trend reversal can be attributed to these secular developments? The answer is astonishingly little, at least for men. Figure 3 displays age-participation profiles by selected cohort groups. The labour force participation of men remains essentially constant for all birth cohorts considered up until the age of 55, and starts to diverge after this age. Labour force participation of women, on the other hand, is clearly higher the younger the cohort considered, at all ages. Figure 3 Labour force participation by cohort and gender Source: German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) Digging a bit deeper into the historical trends, we first look at health. Figure 4 shows cohort mortality rates at age 60 by gender since 1960. It depicts a clear downward trend during the last five decades, the mortality rate has halved for both men and women. We suppose that this declining mortality reflects health improvements also at earlier ages which, in turn, should generate a greater ability to work. Figure 4 Cohort mortality rates at age 60 Source: Human Mortality Database If we look at these trends in relation to labour force participation trends, we see that prior to the mid-1980s, when the relative longevity improvements for men were particularly strong for ages at risk of retirement, the labour force participation of this same age group followed a decreasing trajectory. When the trend reversed, it did so especially for the 60-64 age group, while remaining rather stable for those older than 65 even though longevity was rising in particular for this group. Regarding women, the biggest relative improvements have mainly affected women older than 65; however, this is the only age group among women where labour force participation has remained rather stable over time. Educational attainment is another important historical trend and a crucial determinant of labour force participation. Greater education can be expected to increase the ability, willingness, and opportunities to work at older ages.3 Figures 5 and 6 show the trends for an upper secondary (high-school) and post-secondary (college) education by gender and age group. For both genders and in all age groups, the proportion of individuals with a high-school or college education has been increasing. Figure 5 Percentage with high-school diploma by age group and gender, 1984-2013 Source: GSOEP Figure 6 Percentage with college degree by age group and gender, 1984-2013 Source: GSOEP Labour demand factors such as unemployment, gross wages, and occupational composition may be important drivers of older individuals labour force participation as well. Looking at unemployment of older workers, this seems to have been indirectly affecting the labour force participation of older workers through the effects of public pension and labour market regulations, rather than being a cause of early labour market exit in itself (Borsch-Supan and Schnabel 2010). Gross wages have clearly been increasing for both men and women, although growth seems to have slowed and even reversed, especially for men, during the 2000s. This trend characterises wages of all workers in Germany, however, as documented in Brenke (2009). The final factor we consider is spouses labour supply. If couples have a preference for shared leisure time, we can expect a joint retirement decision. Even if we cannot rule out that married men could have responded to the increase in their wives labour force participation by postponing their exit from the labour market, we note that the trends for single and married men look very similar. In order to more formally analyse the contribution of some of the most prominent historical trends education, health and spouses employment to the overall evolution of labour force participation, we perform a simple decomposition analysis, following the strategy used by Schirle (2008) (Borsch-Supan et al. 2017). Very broadly, this method consists of fixing a baseline year (in our case, 1984) and creating for any subsequent year counterfactuals of the participation rate, had each factor remained as at was at baseline. The counterfactual thus shows the evolution of labour force participation over this entire period had the historical trends of education, health and spouses employment had been absent. Figure 7 shows the counterfactual labour force participation of men in the 55-64 age group for the period 1984-2013. The figure shows that the effect of education, health and spouses labour force status seems to have increased up until the end of the 1990s, and to have stabilised after that date. What is striking is that these variables do not explain at all the rapid increase in labour force participation registered after 2000 the difference between actual and counterfactual labour force participation in 2013 is around 5 percentage points, as in 2000. The picture for women (Figure 8) appears even less supportive of the hypothesis that education, health, or spouses employment are the main drivers of their strongly increasing labour force participation. The effect of education in particular seems smaller than expected in light of the steep increase in womens educational attainment discussed above. Figure 7 Counterfactual labour force participation of men of age 55-64, 1984-2013 Source: GSOEP Figure 8 Counterfactual labour force participation of women of age 55-64, 1984-2013 Source: GSOEP The Role of Public Pension Rules If it wasnt health, education or womens emancipation, what else has happened during the time of the trend reversal? We argue that public pension rules have played a crucial role (Borsch-Supan et al. 2018a). However, summarising the many law changes affecting labour force participation at older ages in a way that is conducive to quantitative analysis is not straightforward. We have taken an inventory of all policy changes that occurred since 1980,4 and compute accordingly the life-time value of public pension benefits as a function of retirement age. We relate the difference between the life-time value at a given retirement age and the life-time value when retiring one year later to the earnings of this additional year of work, and refer to the resulting number as an implicit tax on working. Figures 9 and 10 show that this implicit tax on working was very high until about 2000 for both men and women (40% or higher). The implicit tax then sharply decreased, especially for early retirement ages. Most of these effects were due to actuarial adjustments to claiming early benefits, which were introduced in 1992 and came into effect at the end of the 1990s. This cohort-specific intervention led to accentuated implicit tax rates at specific age steps. The conversion to a pension system with deferred taxation in 2005 has reversed this and resulted in slightly higher implicit tax rates again. Figure 11 relates the change of the implicit tax rates over time to the prevailing employment rates of men for different age groups. The figure suggests a negative correlation between the employment rate and incentives to claim benefits early. In other words, as the implicit tax on working longer decreased, employment at older ages increased. Figure 9 Implicit tax, men, median educated Source: Authors own calculations. Figure 10 Implicit tax, women, median educated Source: Authors own calculations. Figure 11 Employment rate and Implicit tax, men, by age groups and year Source: Authors own calculations. Conclusions and Next Steps The evidence in Figure 11 suggests that much of the trend reversal of older mens labour force participation may be explained by changes in public pension rules. However, this bivariate correlation does not control for the many other potential explanatory factors and the heterogeneity in the population. The next step for the International Social Security Project will therefore be a causal analysis of the role of public pension policies in shaping labour force participation. We are doing this by constructing, for each individual and separately for each country, time series of the implicit tax. We will then use these incentive variables, the macro variables considered so far, and other determinants at the individual level as explanatory variables in an econometric analysis of retirement and labour force participation. See original post for references The maintenance of the open spaces, car parks, sewers and water mains in four housing estates in Clonmel, Kilsheelan and Clogheen is now the responsibility of Tipperary County Council, after it was announced that the estates had been taken in charge by the council. The estates are Upper Moangarriff, Clonmel; Ivowen, Kilsheelan; Maplelane, West Kilsheelan and The Paddocks, Ballyboy West, Clogheen. Speaking at a meeting of Clonmel Borough District, Cllr. Pat English said it was great to see the estates "coming across together", and he thanked the council staff. They had been working on this for a number of years and progress had been slow. Cllr. Siobhan Ambrose also commended everyone involved. Cllr. Michael Murphy said the taking in charge of the estates demonstrated real progress that could be attributed to the appointment of a dedicated engineer, James Murray, for this process. The situation in Ivowen in Kilsheelan was unique in that there were significant outstanding works to be completed such as the footpaths, public lights, amenity roads and works for which Irish Water had responsibility. They had a cash bond in place and he was delighted that the lighting would be sorted out immediately. They had been working on this for six years and they now had between 305,000-310,000 - and a further 37,000 committed by the council - to spend in Ivowen. Cllr. Murphy said further works would have to go to tender and there were also issues with landscaping. Cllr. Marie Murphy said that real progress had been made since James Murray came on board last April. District Mayor Catherine Carey also welcomed this good news story. District Engineer Eamon Lonergan said that a plan for the completion of the estates would be put in place. (Natural News) The only politicians on Capitol Hill who seem to be concerned about the potential weaponization of the FBI and Justice Department against a rival presidential campaign are Republicans. They are also the only ones who seem to want to make sure all Americans know about it. Democrats, on the other hand, couldnt care less. In fact, many of them are actively undermining efforts by GOP leaders and rank-and-file members to inform Americans about what will quite possibly be a scandal so bad nothing weve seen before comes close in comparison. Earlier this month Americans who watch something other than fake news networks like CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, and so forth learned that Republican leaders on the House Intelligence Committee, after months of investigation and review of findings, authored a four-page memo that allegedly documents the systematic abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court by Deep State operatives within DOJ and the FBI, on behalf of the Obama administration. The memo purports to show that operatives schemed to improperly obtain a FISA court surveillance warrant that was used to spy on President Donald J. Trumps campaign, then, perhaps, to undermine his transition and presidency in the months afterward. (Related: Judge Napolitano urges Republicans to release explosive, classified FISA memo on House floor: Public is entitled to know.) Were that not so, then human barometer Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, wouldnt be working so hard (along with other Democrats and their sycophant mouthpieces in the media and commentariat) to discredit its contents before Americans have even seen it. Rep. Adam Schiff has many talents, though few compare to his ability to function as a human barometer of Democratic panic. The greater the level of Schiff hot, pressured air, the more trouble the party knows its in, writes Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly A. Strassel. She noted further: Mr. Schiffs millibars have been popping ever since the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on which he is ranking Democrat, last week voted to make a classified GOP memo about FBI election year abuses available to every House member. Mr. Schiff has spit and spun and apoplectically accused his Republican colleagues of everything short of treason. The memo, he insists, is profoundly misleading, not to mention distorted and political, and an attack on the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He initially tried to block his colleagues from reading it. Having failed, hes now arguing Americans can know the full story only if they see the underlying classified documents. How convenient, she continued, since the Justice Department has already come out in opposition to releasing the memo which is hard to believe, given that Trump is the likely target of abuse. Last weekend during an interview with allied media (CNN), Schiff even when so far as to insinuate that American citizens are too stupid to understand the four-page memo; odd, given that while English may be a second language in the sanctuary state of California, its not in the rest of the country. Because the American people, unfortunately, dont have the underlying materials and therefore they cant see how distorted and misleading this document is. Right. It could be that whats really making Schiff and the Democrats nervous is that the contents of the memo, which is very well sourced, according to reports, are very likely a spot-on finding of illegal abuse of the FISA court. GOP lawmakers think so. Look, what I believe is what my colleagues have said, what Ive said is the American people need to see this. We want the journalists in this great country to see this. Mostly, we want the American people to understand what the FBI did, how wrong it was, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Fox News last week. I believe this will not end just with firings. I believe there are people who will go to jail. I was very persuaded by the evidence, noted Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in a separate Fox News interview. Watch: J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com NewsTarget.com (Natural News) Yoga is an ancient practice that continuous to prove its mettle today; and while there are different types of yoga, it does not need to be hot in order to provide beneficial effects. A study carried out by researchers from Texas State University and the University of Texas at Austin in the U.S. revealed that yoga done in normal temperatures has the same health benefits as hot yoga or Bikram yoga. In the study, the study authors assessed 52 sedentary but healthy adults who were 40 to 60 years old. The participants were randomly divided into three groups Bikram yoga practiced at 40.5C, Bikram yoga practiced at a normal temperature of 23C, and a group who did not do yoga. Each hot yoga practice was conducted for 90 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks. Moreover, the researchers analyzed the heart health of the participants, particularly focusing on the endothelium, which is a thin lining inside the heart and blood vessels. It dilates less as people age, and is associated with heart disease and function. Results showed that participants in the two yoga groups produced the same beneficial effects in protecting the heart and blood vessels. This indicates that the heated environment did not play a role in causing enhancements in the health of the heart and blood vessels. The study authors conclude that the postures or stretches and muscular contractions done in yoga, such as the half-moon pose and cobra, are the factors that produce beneficial effects and not the temperature in which they are conducted in. This is the first publication to date to show a beneficial effect of the practice in the absence of the heat, said Stacy Hunter, lead author of the study. These results indicate that the set sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises may be the key ingredient in producing favourable changes in endothelial function with yoga. The findings of the study were published in the journal Experimental Physiology. Yoga and its other health benefits Yoga provides other health benefits other than supporting heart health. Practicing yoga does not have to be overwhelming, but it is challenging. Listed below are the other health benefits of practicing yoga. Promotes positive body image Yoga is not about the physical appearance, but the bodys inner state. It directs your attention to your bodys capabilities in the present. It improves breath and strength of the mind and body. Furthermore, it helps promote positive body image and boost self-esteem. Encourages mindfulness Yoga practice increases mindfulness even in other areas of life and not just in a yoga class. Being mindful is being aware of the moment without judgment. Research also showed that people who practice yoga are more mindful eaters, and that practicing yoga increases their awareness of how their body feels. Helps lose weight Since those who practice yoga are mindful eaters, they are more aware of their eating habits and their bodies. Makes you more fit A study found that practicing yoga improves muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory fitness. Relieves stress Practicing yoga is also beneficial for the mind as it can also relieve stress, soothe tension, and prevent anxiety. (Related: Multiple studies find that yoga can reduce the symptoms of depression.) Read more stories on how to improve mind and body health at MindBodyScience.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Health.Harvard.edu Peaceful protesters gathered outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Francisco on Friday to stand for Fernando Carrillo, a father who was detained by immigration officials late last year. Carrillo was dropping off his 4-year-old daughter for daycare when he was pulled over by ICE. He remains detained and is in West County in Richmond. Its been a nightmare physically, emotionally [and] financially, Carrillos wife, Lourdes Barazza said. She, along with her family, stood outside of the ICE office in San Francisco calling for her husbands release. My children are suffering, my family is suffering and its not fair, Barazza said. You need to let [him] come home. You want them to be here legally, give them a chance to come home and fight it. The topic of immigration has brought much controversy. Harmeet Dhillon is a Republican National Committeewoman from California and she says that while these are tragic situations for families, she believes increased enforcement is related to Californias sanctuary state policy and says it underscores the need for reform. The democratic party wants all of their demands met without any compromise, Dhillon said. Thats not how politics works. I hope a compromise is reached, I hope people who are here without a fault of their own can be accommodated in some way, not necessarily citizenship. I hope we close our borders and monitor them so that our country is kept safe. Meanwhile, ICE says Carrillo was deported to Mexico three times and has convictions including a driving under the influence and possessing a fraudulent identification card. He remains in ICE custody while immigration court proceedings are ongoing. His family continues to fight for his release. You see all these people saying fix the papers do it the right way its easy its not as easy as that, Barazza said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has finalized a contract with a Bay Area-based company that gives the agency access to location-tracking information for license plates across the country. The data will come from Vigilant Solutions, a Livermore company that has collected 2 billion license plate photos through the years. The contract comes after years of internal ICE lobbying and includes some limits on surveillance like audit logs to trace abuse of the system. "Like most other law enforcement agencies, ICE uses information obtained from license plate readers as one tool in support of its investigations," spokesperson James Schwab said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. "ICE is not seeking to build a license plate reader database, and will not collect nor contribute any data to a national public or private database through this contract." Many Bay Area residents are angry that a Livermore company is assisting ICE to find undocumented immigrants, and demonstrators held a rally outside the San Francisco Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. If this is true, and theyre gone look at different peoples license plates to see if theyre documented, to see where they work and live, then this is another big brother-esque issue, said Bay Area resident Kendra Froshman. Vigilant Solutions said in a statement to NBC Bay Area that they are normally not at liberty to share any contractual details, but they were willing to comment on the general use of ALPR technology (Automated License Plate Recognition), explaining that the license plate tracker can tell the user where a driver is at a specific time but cannot by law give out any personal information. "The only way to link any anonymous ALPR data record to personally identifiable information, like a name or address, is to obtain access to a states Department of Motor Vehicle database, said a spokesperson from Vigilant Solutions. This is restricted by a strong federal law, the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), which carries stiff fines and federal prison penalties for any violation. The data from Vigilant Solutions has already been used by both local law enforcement agencies and CHP. The license plate tracking, while legal, is not likely to be imprecise; but it may be meant to specifically target sanctuary communities like Santa Clara County and San Francisco, said legal analyst Steven Clark. The other question is, is ICE doing this because states like California and cities like San Francisco refuse to cooperate with ICE, and this is the only avenue that ICE has to conduct its business, said Clark. Whether or not ICE is doing it in spite of sanctuary cities, ICE says it will use the plate database. A San Francisco Uber driver says a passenger sexually assaulted him and after reporting it to the rideshare company he feels hes getting the runaround. The driver, Jesus Corona, says he was groped while taking a passenger to his destination in San Francisco on New Years Eve day. He repeated it about nine, ten times and put his hand over my pants, said Corona. The driver reported the incident to Uber and claims the company told him they would take legal action against the passenger, which is why he didnt file a police report. Its been weeks since the incident happened and Corona has become frustrated with the rideshare company for not doing enough about it. If I would have done this to a passenger, to someone in my car, I would have been locked up, said Corona. In a statement, Uber explained that the passengers behavior was completely unacceptable and isnt tolerated on the Uber app, stating, We take reports like this seriously, and the rider has not had access to the Uber app since the incident was reported to us. A police chase ended with San Jose police arresting several teens in a stolen vehicle on Friday marking it as the third incident involving suspects under 16 in 24 hours. San Jose police and other South Bay leaders are frustrated with the spike in juvenile crimes and the San Jose police chief concedes that part of the problem is that juveniles face limited consequences for crimes like these. The latest of these crimes occurred on Friday morning, police caught four juveniles in East San Jose in a stolen truck and the night before, on Thursday, armed officers arrested a group of car thieves, all under the age of 16, in the Evergreen neighborhood. Officers state that dealing with juveniles is tricky as they struggle to balance the need to help children with the need to punish criminals. Today, at a gathering of social service agencies geared toward childrens needs, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, who has worked with the juvenile crime system, said hes concerned about the recent spike but ensured that harsher punishments will not work. I dont happen to believe that the way to deal with trauma among youth is to lock them up and throw away the key, Cortese said. We need to be thinking about where did these children start? Where were they when they were two, three years old? What were they exposed to? Rhoda Blankenship, the child adolescent director for the Public Health Department, agrees. She claims that the goal is to rebuild resilience in the community and the way to do that is to build resilience in families. One example would be our Peace Partnership on the east side of San Jose, Blankenship said. Cortese says he believes the upward trend involving youth is also because the city of San Jose does not have enough officers to respond to so many crimes. Nobody comes out, he said. I think even young perpetrators know that. Do a crime, nobody is going to show up. Nobody is going to follow up and theres no detectives to solve the crime. However, San Jose police ensure that there are more cops on the street now than ever and they vow to respond to calls like these immediately. Cortese says the county will be addressing the situation in upcoming meetings including possible residential programs for violent youth. Better late than never. At least, thats the case with a book returned to the Rockford Public Library more than a century after it was checked out. The library posted photos of the book in question on Facebook Friday, saying Isabella Heaton, of Chattenham, England, mailed it back to the library 124 years after her aunt checked it out. Ive been sorting through some books left to me by my long deceased Aunt, Heaton wrote. She was a wonderful book binder and collected a whole assortment of books, some out of interest, others to restore. In amongst them I came across the book enclosed. I feel compelled to return it to your library! she continued. The stamp inside the front cover showed that the book was checked out on May 15, 1893. The library posted a thank you to Heaton, adding, Well go ahead and forgive the fine! Some Catholic schools in Connecticut are struggling financially, and parents were disappointed to learn in one case, the problem was so big the school will have to close. There was not much explanation, Crystal Celentano said. Shocked and saddened mom Crystal Celentano is trying to hold on to hope and keep her daughters school Our Lady of Victory in West Haven open. When we got there they basically told us the school is closing, Celentano said. The school is slated to close at the end of the academic year. A lot of the parents feel that we could've done something but we weren't aware of the situation at all, Celentano said. A statement from the schools pastor says, sadly the schools financial reserves have been depleted over the years due to declining enrollment, escalating costs of operation, and diminishment of parish subsidies. Celentano says she and other parents learned about the schools closing at a meeting last night but wished they knew sooner so they could help. A few of the parents said that if we had to pay a little extra to meet a certain deficit we could have but no one even asked no one asked, Celentano said. Meanwhile, another meeting at St. Francis-St. Hedwig School in Naugatuck Thursday detailed that schools financial challenges. A financial review shows that the school is anticipating a major financial shortfall by the end of the school year," said Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Michael Griffin. We just got enrollment letter for kindergarten last week, Celentano said. Celentano hopes its not too late for her daughter to spend another year at a school she loves. A bus driver was injured when a school bus slammed into a house on Maple Avenue in Meriden Friday. The crash happened at a home on Maple Avenue near East Main Street. The bus hit with such force it smashed through a wall and caused damage to the roof. The bus driver was injured and taken to Hartford Hospital, but the extent of the injuries were not immediately clear. Its pretty unbelievable. You know its a surreal thing, said Meriden resident Maureen Caramanello. Caramanello and her granddaughter were among those checking out the incredible scene on Maple Avenue after hearing about the crash earlier in the day. I thought of the grandkids first of all. She does take the bus and so does our grandson, Caramanello said. Caramanellos grandchildren werent on the bus. The bus was transporting students from Mercy and Xavier high schools in Middletown. The 11 students that were on the bus at the time of the crash were unharmed reunited with their parents, officials said. There was no one in the home at the time, but there is severe damage to the building. The owner of the home told NBC Connecticut theyre still trying to determine how bad the damage is and when or if theyll be able to return home. The bus company, Durham School Services, said the crash is under investigation. Police are still investigating the cause. The economic boom in North Texas is pushing up apartment rents so high that poor people are having a hard time finding affordable homes even with government assistance, experts say. "There are so many people who are moving to North Texas who are competing with our voucher holders that many of the voucher holders just can't find a unit," said Selarstean Mitchell, vice president of assisted housing for Fort Worth Housing Solutions. "The rental market right now is so tight." She asked landlords to do more to help. "We appeal to the property owners, give us a chance, take one voucher holder and see how that person works," Mitchell said. "We're not telling you to have a whole bunch, but just one." Apartment communities are full, increasingly upscale, and rents are skyrocketing. The average apartment in Fort Worth now costs $1,000 per month and occupancy rates are above 90 percent. Fort Worth is racing to build its own complexes, including one off Campus Drive. But experts said the need still far exceeds the supply. "Poverty is increasing," said State Rep. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth. "This is everybody's problem." He blames the homeless problem partly on the lack of affordable housing and said the situation won't improve until the economy worsens. "Until we have the market slow down a little bit, then we'll see people build more affordable housing," Romero said. Perry Pillow, a spokesman for the Tarrant County Apartment Association, said the organization does not track how many owners accept vouchers. On the heels of a high-profile child murder case, a group of people is working to pass new legislation that could affect every parent. Friday, a judge revoked the parental rights of Wesley and Sini Mathews to their biological child permanently. Their adopted 3-year-old daughter, Sherin, was found dead back in October, weeks after she was reported missing. Wesley Mathews is charged with capital murder, while Sini Mathews is charged with child endangerment. Shanna Poteet and Reena Bana have been following the case since the beginning. With the help of attorney Bilal Khaleeq they're drafting a new law in Sherin's name. The law is based on what happened the night before Sherin reportedly disappeared. Wesley Mathews told investigators he and Sini went to dinner without 3-year-old Sherin. Khaleeq says leaving a child of any age home alone is not illegal in Texas. "In all my research that law is just missing in Texas," Khaleeq said, adding the are similar laws in place in other states. Right now, he says it's left to parents to decide what age their child can be left home alone. Sherin's Law would make it a crime if a child under the age of five is left home alone. "There's no law against that, and we both said, 'What, are you kidding me?' Like, there's no law against leaving a child alone at home by themselves," Poteet said. So far they've met with one state representative and will soon meet with more. Sherin's Law would also require parents to call police within an hour of the time they realize their child is missing. Wesley reportedly told police he did laundry before calling police, four hours after he initially reported Sherin missing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has finalized a contract with a Bay Area-based company that gives the agency access to location-tracking information for license plates across the country. The data will come from Vigilant Solutions, a Livermore company that has collected 2 billion license plate photos through the years. The contract comes after years of internal ICE lobbying and includes some limits on surveillance like audit logs to trace abuse of the system. "Like most other law enforcement agencies, ICE uses information obtained from license plate readers as one tool in support of its investigations," spokesperson James Schwab said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. "ICE is not seeking to build a license plate reader database, and will not collect nor contribute any data to a national public or private database through this contract." Many Bay Area residents are angry that a Livermore company is assisting ICE to find undocumented immigrants, and demonstrators held a rally outside the San Francisco Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office. If this is true, and theyre gone look at different peoples license plates to see if theyre documented, to see where they work and live, then this is another big brother-esque issue, said Bay Area resident Kendra Froshman. Vigilant Solutions said in a statement to NBC Bay Area that they are normally not at liberty to share any contractual details, but they were willing to comment on the general use of ALPR technology (Automated License Plate Recognition), explaining that the license plate tracker can tell the user where a driver is at a specific time but cannot by law give out any personal information. "The only way to link any anonymous ALPR data record to personally identifiable information, like a name or address, is to obtain access to a states Department of Motor Vehicle database, said a spokesperson from Vigilant Solutions. This is restricted by a strong federal law, the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), which carries stiff fines and federal prison penalties for any violation. The data from Vigilant Solutions has already been used by both local law enforcement agencies and CHP. The license plate tracking, while legal, is not likely to be imprecise; but it may be meant to specifically target sanctuary communities like Santa Clara County and San Francisco, said legal analyst Steven Clark. The other question is, is ICE doing this because states like California and cities like San Francisco refuse to cooperate with ICE, and this is the only avenue that ICE has to conduct its business, said Clark. An attorney at American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego said that this is an issue that "effects all residents and all citizens," not just undocumented immigrants. "There arent clear regulations about when they can use the license plate readers, or where, or what happens to the information thats already collected," staff attorney Zoe McKinney said. All lanes of Interstate 30 have been reopened in Dallas Saturday morning as police investigated a suspicious device on a rail track. According to police, a man was found deceased on the tracks in the 800 block of First Avenue at about 5 a.m. They said DART police officers saw a suspicious object with wires under the body. UPDATE: All lanes of I-30 have just reopened in both directions at Haskell. #NBCDFWNow https://t.co/4QEyUAhPAm Tim Ciesco (@TimCiescoNBC5) January 27, 2018 The Dallas Police Explosive Ordinance Unit was called in and shut down Interstate 30. Westbound I-30 traffic was diverted for hours at the 2nd Avenue exit. Eastbound traffic was diverted at Grand Avenue. Investigators determined the object was not a threat and the interstate was reopened at about 9 a.m. According to police, it appeared the man had jumped from the interstate onto the tracks. DART said the incident did not affect train service. An Oklahoma man charged in the shooting deaths of a woman and her 4-year-old daughter outside their Long Beach home was convicted Friday of murder. Brandon Ivan Colbert Jr., of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was also accused of trying to kill the child's father Aug. 6, 2016 outside the family's home ear Ninth Street and Locust Avenue in Long Beach. The jury deliberated just over an hour before finding Colbert Jr. guilty of first-degree murder for the killings of Carina Mancera, 26, and her daughter, Jennabel Anaya, and the attempted murder of Luis Anaya. Sentencing is schedule for next Friday. The gunman allegedly hid behind a sign and opened fire on the family with a shotgun -- a shooting that was partially captured by a security camera. Colbert was arrested later in August on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and later linked to the shotgun slayings. Possible motives were not addressed during the trial and there was no evidence of a connection between the victims and suspect. Colbert spent time in a state mental hospital after he was found mentally incompetent May 30 and criminal proceedings against him were suspended. Criminal proceedings were re-instated after he was deemed mentally competent to stand trial. Colbert conducted his own defense during the trial. He testified Thursday that the case is an elaborate hoax to frame him. On Thursday, he testified in front of a jury, repeatedly referring to "Hollywood-type happenings," according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Colbert took at bus from Oklahoma to Southern California, then ambushed Mancera and her daughter outside their apartment, prosecutors said. He also fired at, but missed, Luis Anaya -- Jennabel's father. He waited behind a restaurant in downtown Long Beach for more than an hour before taking a shotgun from his suitcase, prosecutors said. Videos shown at the trial captured a figure ducking behind a sign as Mancera and Jennabel approached, according to the Press-Telegram. Colbert was arrested Aug. 27 in a stolen sport utility vehicle. The DNA procured after his arrest matched DNA found on a shotgun shell at the shooting scene, prosecutors said. Connecticut's Department of Public Health is holding a State Flu Vaccination Day today. The agency is teaming up with local health departments across to offer free or low-cost flu shots at clinics across the state. It's an effort to protect the public's health and reduce the spread of the flu virus, according to the DPH website. Connecticut has been hit by widespread flu cases this season. More than 1,300 cases have been reported and there have been 32 flu-related deaths in the state so far this season. "For those Connecticut residents who haven't yet received a flu shot, we hope they will take advantage of these flu clinics, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said. "It's not too late to get protection from the flu this season." SEE THE LIST OF CLINICS HERE Vaccines for children 18 years of age and under will be available for free. Adult vaccines will be provided for free for anyone without insurance. Residents with insurance should bring their card and will be charged a small administrative fee, according to the Department of Public Health. A small plane carrying two people crashed in Connecticut on Saturday afternoon, officials said. The conditions of the two passengers aboard the Piper PA-28 aircraft wasn't immediately known. The plane crashed in Meriden around 4 p.m., according to Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Photos from the scene show the aircraft in a park near Hanover Pond off Hanover Road. The plane doesn't appear to be seriously damaged. Bergen said the FAA will release the aircraft registration after local authorities release the names and conditions of the two people on board. The FAA is investigating and the NTSB will determine the probable cause of the accident, Bergen said. An FBI agent fatally shot the victim of a kidnapping during a raid early Thursday at a Houston home, authorities said. FBI spokeswoman Christina Garza said the agent shot the man shortly before 4 a.m. during an "operation" at the home. The man, whose name wasn't immediately released, died later at a hospital. Police in Conroe, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) 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. Two men and one woman are charged with aggravated kidnapping, police said. The men also are charged with aggravated robbery. Police said the men broke into a home in Conroe and abducted the man. His 12-year-old son called police, who called the FBI for assistance. The FBI followed cellphone signals to a motel near Houston, where two suspects both of them men were found. The suspects directed FBI agents and police officers to a house where another suspect a woman was located along with the man who was being held captive. Other people, including children, also were at the home, according to authorities. It's unclear what led to the gunfire. Garza said the agent who fired the fatal shot is on administrative leave pending an investigation. In different circumstances, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg might be on a valedictory tour in her final months on the Supreme Court. But in the era of Donald Trump, the 84-year-old Ginsburg is packing her schedule and sending signals she intends to keep her seat on the bench for years. The eldest Supreme Court justice has produced two of the court's four signed opinions so far this term. Outside of court, she's the subject of a new documentary that includes video of her working out. And she's hired law clerks to take her through June 2020, just four months before the next presidential election. Soaking in her late-in-life emergence as a liberal icon, she's using the court's monthlong break to embark on a speaking tour that is taking her from the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to law schools and synagogues on the East Coast. One talk will have her in Rhode Island on Tuesday, meaning she won't attend the president's State of the Union speech that night in Washington. She has a standard response for interviewers who ask how long she intends to serve. She will stay as long as she can go "full steam," she says, and she sees as her model John Paul Stevens, who stepped down as a justice in 2010 at age 90. "I think that Justice Ginsburg has made clear that she has no intention of retiring. I am sure she wants to stay on the court until the end of the Trump presidency if she can," said Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, and a liberal who called on Ginsburg to retire in 2014, when Barack Obama was president and Democrats controlled the Senate. But Chemerinsky noted "no one can know whether she will be on the court on Jan. 20, 2021, if Trump serves one term, let alone Jan. 20, 2025, if he is re-elected." Ginsburg doesn't talk about Trump in public anymore, not since she criticized him in interviews with The Associated Press and other media outlets before the 2016 election. The comments prompted Trump to tweet that "Her mind is shot - resign!" She later apologized. Ginsburg, who declined to comment for this story, this year marks the 25th anniversary of her nomination by President Bill Clinton and her confirmation as the second woman on the court. As Ginsburg and most Americans anticipated Hillary Clinton's election in 2016, she didn't commit to retiring but suggested she would give the first female president the chance to replace "a flaming feminist litigator," as Ginsburg has wryly described herself. When her husband, Martin Ginsburg, died in 2010, Ginsburg said she did not think much about stepping down. If anything, since Stevens' retirement, she has become more outspoken and visible as the leader of the court's liberal wing. Two childhood friends from Brooklyn, New York, who retired two decades ago say "Kiki," the nickname they still use for Ginsburg, has kept the same busy schedule for years. "I don't think she's slowing down. That's for sure," said Ann Kittner, a friend since their days at James Madison High School. Harryette Helsel, who has known Ginsburg since kindergarten, said she's joked with Ginsburg: "We're retired. Why are you working so hard?" They both laughed. Helsel pointed to Ginsburg's workout routine, which has been in the spotlight in recent years. Ginsburg started working out with a trainer in 1999 after being treated for colorectal cancer. She does an hour twice a week. A book on the workout by her trainer, with a forward by Ginsburg, came out last year. "RBG," a documentary about the justice that premiered at Sundance, includes video of her doing pushups and throwing a weighted ball, among other exercises. While pulling on a resistance band, she tells her trainer: "This is light." That video may surprise visitors to the court, who can be struck by how slowly Ginsburg moves, her head often bowed, when the court session ends for the day and justices leave the bench in full view of the audience. Justices Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan have taken to waiting until Ginsburg exits because she otherwise would be left by herself as she makes her way to the justices' robing room. But she has walked at a deliberate pace for years. Once, after remaining seated well after the other justices had departed, she explained that she had accidentally kicked off a shoe during the arguments and couldn't locate it with her feet. Ginsburg usually grips a handrail to go down the few steps from the bench in the courtroom. But there was no railing for her to grab on a November day when she followed a director's instructions through several takes and climbed the steps in front of the courthouse for a scene in "On the Basis of Sex," a movie about Ginsburg's rise in the legal profession that is due out this year. Ginsburg's friend Ann Claire Williams, a newly retired federal appeals court judge, said sometimes people get the wrong idea from Ginsburg's small stature and think she is frail. "She is so spry," said Williams, adding that Ginsburg's mind is also sharp, and her recall on cases "extraordinary." Trump remarked during the campaign that he might get to name four justices while president. But conservatives hoping to lock in a majority on the court during Trump's presidency would be happy for now with just one more vacancy. They are focused not on Ginsburg, but on the prospect that Justice Anthony Kennedy might retire this year. Kennedy, too, has hired law clerks for next term, a possible hint he plans on staying. The Above the Law blog first reported on Ginsburg's and Kennedy's clerk hirings. Ginsburg's decision to stay on past Obama's time in the White House upset progressives because they feared and conservatives now hope a more conservative justice might replace her. "The assumption was she can't go 'til she's 87, but maybe she will," said Curt Levey, president of the conservative Committee for Justice. She has been counted out before, wrongly. When Ginsburg had a second cancer surgery, for pancreatic cancer in 2009, Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., inelegantly forecast that she would die within a year. He later apologized. In a speech just over a year later, Ginsburg said, "I am pleased to report that, contrary to Sen. Bunning's prediction, I am alive and in good health." Bunning died last year. What to Know Two men have been sentenced to years in prison after being arrested in New Jersey's largest fentanyl bust The two men were arrested while transferring the powerful drug in North Bergen last summer Police are still searching for a third man in connection with the bust Two men snared in the largest fentanyl bust in New Jersey history were sentenced to prison this week. Jesus Carrillo-Pineda, 31, and Daniel Vasquez, 28, were arrested last year as New Jersey State Police seized nearly 100 pounds of fentanyl, a potent opioid thats 50 times greater than heroin. Authorities said the amount of fentanyl seized could have killed 18 million people since doses as small as 2 to 3 milligrams can be fatal. Carrillo-Pineda, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on a charge of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and another seven years in prison on a charge of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Vasquez, of Arizona, was sentenced to six years in state prison on a charge of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. The 100 pounds of fentanyl trafficked into our state by these drug dealers could have generated enough lethal doses to kill the entire populations of New Jersey and New York City combined, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a press release announcing the sentences. Carrillo-Pineda and Vasquez were arrested late last June in North Bergen after New Jersey State Police busted the two transferring 40 kilograms of fentanyl in duffle bags from a tractor-trailer to a Mercedes Benz. A third man was also arrested in the Bergen bust, but charges against him were dismissed this week. Carrillo-Pineda and Vasquez were also charged in connection with another seizure the following day in Willingboro. Police seized five kilograms of fentanyl and 40 kilograms of heroin in that bust. A fourth man, 38-year-old Omar Zeus Rodriguez, is still on the loose after the bust in Willingboro. Police say detectives found him loading the heroin and fentanyl into a Range Rover. Authorities say three Pennsylvania teenagers face criminal charges after intentionally exposing a school classmate with a severe pineapple allergy to the fruit. Police in Butler Township allege that a 14-year-old high-fived the other 14-year-old girl to expose her to the fruit during lunch period Dec. 13 at Butler Intermediate High School. The victim was taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released. Chief John Hays said the girl's allergy was well-known and pineapple isn't served during that period but someone had brought it from home. The suspect was charged in juvenile court with felony aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses. Two other girls, age 13 and 14, face charges including criminal conspiracy. Attorney Mike Santicola calls the case a prank and suggests that the defendants were overcharged. A pathway to citizenship for the 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants in the United States is a possibility under President Trump's immigration reform plan that was introduced Thursday. This possible pathway to citizenship for those under the protection of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or "Dreamers," would mean Congress would need to agree to the president's request on border wall funding, plus cutting programs like the diversity visa lottery and family-based migration policies. President Trump's immigration framework will reportedly offer a 10 to 12 year path to citizenship for Dreamers. In exchange, it will seek $25 billion in funding for the border wall. However, San Diego immigration advocates report that more can be done to provide an inclusive path to citizenship. "The probelm is the conditions attached to this proposal," said immigration specialist Lilia Velasquez. "They're not looking at us as human life," said DACA recipient Ali Torabi. "We're being used, like if I promise the border wall then I can offer this really long and not friendly path to citizenship and I get my border back." Ali Torabi moved to the U.S. from Iran when he was 5-years-old. He is now a DACA recipient, but said he cannot agree with a deal that could end family-based migration because it would not allow him to sponsor the immigration of his parents or siblings to the U.S. "We will not put our families at risk for our own well-being," said Torabi. The president's plan also emphasizes border security and using border funding to hire various types of border patrol protection. "I believe that it will be very diffiuclt for both houses of Congress to come to an understanding, come to a solution, that yes, this is our compromsie, this is what we can live with," Velasquez said. Congress has until March 5th to come up with a deal, otherwise all DACA benefits will expire. One of the world's oldest and most beloved gorillas, Vila, died at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Thursday. Vila was not alone. The Safari Park said she was surrounded by members of her family, her gorilla troop. It's with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Vila, one of the worlds oldest gorillas. She was the matriarch of 5 generations. Vila passed away this afternoon surrounded by members of her family gorilla troop. If you have a favorite memory of Vila, we'd love to hear it. pic.twitter.com/zQNkm5f6v1 San Diego Zoo Safari Park (@sdzsafaripark) January 26, 2018 Villa was believed to be the second oldest gorilla in the world. She was the matriarch of five generations and recently celebrated her 60th birthday alongside her 1-year-old granddaughter Leslie. At her party in October, zookeepers explained how rare it was to see a gorilla reach six decades of life. This video shows Vila's 60th birthday celebration in October 2017. Sixty is a very big deal in the gorilla world because there are very few gorillas anywhere near that age, Peggy Sexton, lead animal keeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park said. Gorillas typically live to 35 or 40 years old. According to the Safari Park, Vila was believed to have been born in the Congo in October 1957. There were only two other known western lowland gorillas close in age to Vila, per the park: one at the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas and another at the Berlin Zoo in Germany, both of whom are estimated to have been born in 1957, too. After Vila arrived in the United States, she was hand-raised at the San Diego Zoo and later moved to the Safari Park. She lived a healthy life, serving as a surrogate mother for many western lowland gorillas over her lifetime. [[254979911,C]] Last year, Vila underwent a medical treatment for fluid retention that, if left untreated, could create life-threatening illnesses. Vila received a full diagnostic exam and recovered normally, the Safari Park said. Gorillas are listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Gorilla numbers have declined dramatically over the past 15 years and San Diego Zoo Global continues its conservation efforts in collaboration with organizations across Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. This 4.6-pound baby female gorilla was born through a rare emergency C-section at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on March 12, 2014. Vila's troop includes an adult male silverback, four adult females, two young males, one young female and little Leslie. They can be seen daily at the Safari Park, typically eating leaves, stems, fruits, seeds, vegetables and leaves. A landmark ruling by the nation's highest court gave Henry Montgomery his first chance at freedom after nearly a half-century behind bars. Two years later, the 71-year-old Louisiana man is still waiting for a parole hearing that could set him free. Thursday is the two-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Montgomery's favor. The decision enabled roughly 2,000 inmates to argue for release after receiving mandatory life-without-parole sentences as juveniles. Louisiana's parole board delayed a hearing on Montgomery's parole request from Dec. 14 to Feb. 19. The board is waiting for a legal opinion from Louisiana's attorney general on how many board members must hear Montgomery's case. Under Louisiana law, a three-member panel is required for juvenile parole hearings, while at least five members are required for a parole hearing when a violent crime was committed against a law enforcement officer. Montgomery was 17 when he killed Charles Hurt, an East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy, in 1963. He was initially was sentenced to death after a jury convicted him. After the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled he didn't get a fair trial and threw out his murder conviction in 1966, Montgomery was retried, found "guilty without capital punishment" and automatically sentenced to life without parole. The Supreme Court decided in 2012 that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional "cruel and unusual" punishment. The justices made their decision retroactive in Montgomery's case. Justice Anthony Kennedy said prisoners like Montgomery "must be given the opportunity to show their crime did not reflect irreparable corruption; and, if it did not, their hope for some years of life outside prison walls must be restored." The decision ushered in a wave of new sentences and the release of inmates from Michigan to Pennsylvania, Arkansas and beyond. But other former teen offenders are still waiting for a chance at resentencing in states and counties that have been slow to address the court ruling, an Associated Press investigation found. In Michigan, for example, prosecutors are seeking new no-parole sentences for nearly two-thirds of 363 juvenile lifers. A state judge who resentenced Montgomery to life with the possibility of parole said in June that he's a "model prisoner" who appears to be rehabilitated A former Washington, D.C., charter school teacher was sentenced to three years in prison for sexually abusing a student. Alan Coleman, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court in October, admitting to having sex with the girl multiple times over a five-year span beginning during the 2004-2005 school year, when the girl was 14 years old. As part of the plea, the D.C. sentence will run concurrently with the sentence to be imposed Feb. 9 in Montgomery County, Maryland, where most of the abuse occurred. He faces a sentence of four-to-seven years in prison there. Coleman was the students teacher at KIPP DC KEY Academy. The abuse occurred at locations in D.C. and Takoma Park, Maryland, where Coleman lived at the time. According to the prosecution, Coleman would pick the girl up at or near the school and drive her to Maryland, but several times the abuse occured in his car while parked at a location in D.C. The relatinship continued until the girl was 19, according to the U.S. attorney's office. An investigation by the News4 I-Team revealed KIPP DC KEY Academy opted not to renew Colemans teaching contract after the 2004 school year. A police affidavit in Colemans case said a KIPP DC Key Academy principal told police she suspected Coleman had an inappropriate relationship with a student in 2004 and asked him to stand down. The principal told police she did not renew Colemans contract because of the relationship. Coleman found work from 2005 to 2015 at the Capital City Public Charter School in northwest D.C. despite undergoing a background check, according to a letter sent by Capital City Public Charter School to parents in 2016. In their letter to parents after Colemans arrest, Capital City Public Charter School said, We contracted for and received a clean background check of Mr. Coleman at that time, which Capital City requires for all new hires. During his employment, we had no concerns about his work or interactions with our students, and no one ever raised such concerns to us. In February 2015 we learned from an individual not connected with Capital City of allegations that Mr. Coleman had an inappropriate relationship with a minor from 2004-2007. The minor was never a student at Capital City. In a written statement to the I-Team, a KIPP DC spokesperson said, KIPP DC can confirm that we did not extend Alan Coleman an offer letter for the 2005-2006 school year, after two years of him working at KEY Academy. At the time, had we been aware of any of the misconduct Mr. Coleman was later charged with, we would have immediately alerted the appropriate authorities. The written statement also said, After learning of the charges against Mr. Coleman, we enhanced our already comprehensive background check processes and employee conduct trainings. For example, we implemented a new system of auditing staff background checks, which includes periodically re-running FBI checks on staff, even if they already passed an initial FBI background check during their hiring process. In addition, we implemented additional mandatory annual trainings for principals on appropriate interactions between staff and students and our obligations as mandatory reporters. A body found Friday morning in a park in Fairfax County, Virginia, has been identified as that of Jholie Moussa, the 16-year-old girl who went missing from her home in the county two weeks ago, officials say. The teenager's death is being investigated as a homicide. Multiple police departments and the FBI searched for Moussa, who was last seen leaving home under mysterious circumstances. Moussa left home in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County on Friday, Jan. 12 after telling her twin sister she was going to a party in Norfolk, nearly 200 miles away, her sister told News4. Her family reported her missing the next day, and the FBI joined the investigation four days later, on Jan. 17. The day Moussa disappeared, she seemed distracted after classes at Mount Vernon High School, her twin, Zhane Moussa, said. "She was doing my hair and then she stopped, for a good minute, to text some more. Then, out of nowhere, she was like, 'I gotta go, I gotta go!'" she said. Moussa told her sister she needed to go out for a minute. After she left, Zhane Moussa sent her a concerned text and got an odd response. "She texted me that she was going to Norfolk," Zhane Moussa said. "And I'm, like, isn't that more than 3 hours away?" Later that night, the girls' mother, Syreeta Steward, missed a call from her daughter. Then, she heard nothing. It wasn't like her. "Normally, she would have responded back to me. If she calls me and I don't answer, she always follows it up with a text," Steward said. They never heard from her again. The body that police believe is Moussa's was found 14 days later in a wooded area of Woodlawn Park, less than a mile from where she was last seen in the 4200 block of Sonia Court. An officer found the body, almost entirely covered by leaves, about 11 a.m. Friday. The preliminary identification of Moussa's body was based on her appearance, including a tattoo, police said. On her right shoulder, she had a tattoo of an infinity loop with her name and her twin's name. Fairfax County police had entered Moussa into the National Crime Information Center database as a runaway juvenile. "Based on the facts of the case, there is nothing that indicates that Moussa is in any danger," county police previously said in a statement. An FBI representative previously said there was not a specific reason why the agency joined the investigation, but they had available resources to help. Police previously said detectives spoke to about 20 people who had recent contact with Moussa. Many of her friends were not fully cooperating with investigators, police said. Anyone with information on the case was asked to call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131, or the FBI at 202-278-2000. What to Know Relisha Rudd was last seen March 1, 2014, at a Northeast D.C. motel with a 51-year-old janitor. Rudd hadn't been at school since the month before her disappearance. Dive teams are searching the Anacostia River. A new search for Relisha Rudd began on the banks of the Anacostia River before sunrise Friday, after new information led police to an area near the homeless shelter where the child lived, multiple sources told News4. Relisha was 8 years old when she vanished nearly four years ago. Her disappearance was a stain on city agencies tasked with protecting children. Police boats, dive teams, cadaver dogs, cadets and numerous police officers gathered at 6 a.m. Friday at a portion of the river that's just a few hundred yards from D.C. General, the dilapidated shelter where Rudd lived with her family. Only News4's cameras were there. The search Friday was focused on a portion of the river near a sewer outlet and a CSX train bridge. At one point, a dog trained to sniff for cadavers appeared to hit on a spot under the train bridge. A sonar device then inspected the spot. Police also searched the woods along the banks of the river. Massive search along Anacostia river. Dive teams and cadaver dogs searching for Relisha Rudd pic.twitter.com/wwUVPGvfiw Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) January 26, 2018 Cadaver-sniffing dogs being used in the search can smell through water and hard ground. Relisha was last seen March 1, 2014, at a motel in Northeast D.C. with Kahlil Tatum, 51, a janitor at D.C. General. In the years since her disappearance, there has been no sign of Relisha, who would now be 12 years old. Her grandmother, Melissa Young, said the discovery of her body would be heartbreaking. "I would be highly upset because I would feel as though she was just thrown away like some garbage," she said. Relisha's disappearance revealed dangerous shortcomings in several city agencies and prompted the planned closure of D.C.'s largest homeless shelter. The 8-year-old's family had allowed her to spend time with Tatum before her disappearance. She appeared to have been missing for weeks before officials realized she was gone. Rudd, a second-grader, hadn't been seen at Payne Elementary School since the month before her disappearance. Police have said Rudd's mother, Shamika Young, knew her daughter was with Tatum and did not report her missing. But Young told News4 she did not leave her daughter with Tatum. "I wasn't under the impression she was missing. I thought she was at my sister's house," Young said. "I didn't want to lose my other three kids. That's why I didn't call the police." Investigators said on March 10, 2014, Tatum posed as a doctor, telling city officials who were concerned for the girl's safety that she was sick with a neurological disorder and was undergoing treatment. When they asked for documents, "Dr. Tatum" said he would leave them at the shelter. When officials went to the shelter on March 19, 2014, to pick up the paperwork, they couldn't find "Dr. Tatum" or Rudd. Shortly after, a missing persons report was filed with D.C. police. The next day, Tatum's wife, Andrea Denise Tatum, was found dead in a motel in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Then, on March 31, 2014, Tatum was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Kenilworth Park. Police have said Tatum purchased a shovel, lime and contractor-sized trash bags, and spent a significant amount of time at Kenilworth Park around the time Rudd was last seen. Investigators have looked into the possibility Tatum killed Rudd and buried her in the park, but her body was never found. In the years since she vanished, investigators and K-9 teams have searched multiple sites, including a construction site and the Anacostia River. It's not known whether they've searched the area that was the focus of Friday's search before. After Rudd's disappearance, D.C. officials examined how they handled her case. Their report found the District could not have prevented the child's disappearance, citing, in part, misleading information provided by Rudd's family. The report did suggest, however, more than two dozen policy changes, including matters related to how schools deal with unexcused absences, background checks for homeless shelter employees and fraternization between families and shelter staff. The U.S. Border Patrol said a road construction crew in West Texas discovered an abandoned makeshift tunnel just north of the border with Mexico. Border Patrol Agent Oscar Cervantes says the tunnel was discovered Thursday during construction of a roadway near downtown El Paso. Cervantes said Friday that there's no indication the tunnel goes into Mexico. A Border Patrol statement says agents working near a water treatment plant were notified by Texas Department of Transportation about a cave-in during construction of a roadway. Officials say the mishap led to the discovery of a tunnel originating north from the international border. Border Patrol confined-space resource teams are examining the area to determine the extent of the tunnel, apparently reinforced with wooden beams. Cervantes declined to release further details Friday amid the investigation. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is pushing forward to rebuild the Long Island Bridge hoping to make use of the island as a facility to treat drug addiction. But the mayor of Quincy and City Council are taking steps to make sure that doesn't happen. They say residents in the Squantum section of the city are dead set against it. "I pledge to you today that we are wil we will rebuild the bridge back to Long Island," Mayor Walsh said, making a promise he intends to fulfill. "You really don't want to know what I think," said Dick Stohlberg. Some in Quincy are ready to fight Mayor Walsh's promise. "I don't think it's a good idea," said Ralph Ames. Ames and Stohlberg have been Squantum residents for 72 years. They endured headaches when the bridge was standing and were relieved when they saw it come down for good in 2015. "We are going to have to put up with the speed traffic in and out of the island." Speeding cars on the narrow road, the only way in and out, is precisely the reason they aren't excited to welcome it back. "Whatever I say they are going to build it if they want it." Ames and Stohlberg felt helpless after Walsh's State of the City address, but there is someone fighting back on their behalf. William Harris, Ward 6 Councilor in Quincy, is calling for a feasibility study. He wants hard evidence the bridge is a good idea. "We are talking about a lot o fmoney being poured into a bridge when we have a lot of bridges throughout the Commonwealth and the city of Boston that need repaired." Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch says there's a better way, making a splash in water transportation around Boston. "I think a ferry terminal and service will be far cheaper over time than a bridge structure." But Ames and Stohlberg are sure it's only a matter of time and they are preparing themselves for the bridge to make its return. "Also the way I look at itwe use Boston roads, they use our roadswhat can we do about it?" Mayor Walsh's office is suggesting the cost of the bridge could be anywhere from $40 to $100 million. Local and federal law enforcement conducted a search Friday on the Stony Brook Reservation in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood for a marine recruit who went missing two months ago. Boston police say Joseph Brancato was last seen by an acquaintance near Mendelsohn Street in the city's Roslindale neighborhood on Nov. 18, 2017. The 21-year-old Winthrop native is described as being about 5'8", weighing approximately 200 pounds. His aunt, Dawn Buccieri, says he went to live with a marine recruiter in hopes of getting ready for the armed services, but after moving into the Mendelssohn Street home, Brancato disappeared in November. "Joey please come home. I dont care what happened, what went wrong. I will take you in a minute." Buccieri made an emotional plea Friday, hoping her nephew is still alive. She says her nephew's move into the recruiter's house didnt sit right with any of his family. "I guess the recruiter said, 'I can help you out. You can live in my basement.'" All of Brancato's younger friends from Winthrop would say theres something wrong. Something doesnt seem right. Brancato had always wanted to be a marine, but the family wasnt so sure of him living with the recruiter. His aunt told us the recruiter only spoke to them through text messages. She says they knew something was wrong when the recruiter would keep pushing back Brancato's training start date. Then, in November, they lost contact with Brancato. "Hes like that big teddy bear that pretends to be a hard guy but he needs to speak with his grandmother, Mom, and Dad." The Roslindale Marine Corps Recruiting Office is closed, with evidence tape covering the lock. State troopers canvassed Hyde Parks Turtle Pond in hopes of finding any clues. It's less than a mile away from where Brancato lived. Buccieri is praying for a positive end to this two-month nightmare. "I dont think any family should have to go through it. I dont know why somebody would hurt him. If he is hurt, like I said Im still hoping hes safe." Brancato's family is not giving up. They plan to pass out flyers in the Roslindale neighborhood on Sunday. Boston police were assisted on scene Friday by Massachusetts State Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. An NCIS spokesperson said Friday's search was "just one ongoing investigative step looking for clues." The state's two Democratic U.S. senators are hosting town hall meetings open to the public. On Sunday, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is planning her first town hall of the year at Malden High School, with doors opening at noon. Warren says she'll field questions from the audience and plans discuss what she called her work "standing up for working families of Massachusetts against powerful corporate interests." She held 17 town halls last year. Later Sunday, Sen. Edward Markey is hosting a public town hall at Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle School in Amherst. Markey says he's planning to discuss the latest efforts in the U.S. Senate on immigration, tax reform, the opioid crisis, health care, and climate change. Markey also plans to take questions from the audience. Doors open at 5 p.m. Allegations of fake news may lead to an ethics investigation in Maine. The Maine Democratic Party has filed an ethics complaint that accuses the Maine GOP of peddling fake news that could violate campaign finance laws. The Maine Republican Party Facebook page has been posting content from the Maine Examiner, an anonymous, right-wing site. While some articles on the Examiner have checked out, others have been discredited. In one post, the Examiner suggested State Senator Justin Chenette collected commission on political ads placed in a local newspaper. The publisher of the Journal Tribune put a note in the Jan. 17th edition of the paper clarifying that the Maine Examiners article was not true. These claims are categorically false, said Sen. Chenette. They are slanderous against me personally. The Examiner published multiple reports about Lewiston Mayoral Candidate Ben Chin in the days leading up to a run-off election. A report about Chins parking tickets has been discredited. Chin narrowly lost the election by around 140 votes. A spokesperson for the Maine GOP has denied knowing who is behind the website. But digital digging shows some evidence that points back to a party official. Metadata on several photographs on the website show the author as Jason Savage. That is the name of the Maine GOPs Executive Director. An error log on the Examiners website repeatedly displays the account name jasonsavage207. The Maine Democratic Party has included this evidence in an ethics complaint filed this week for the Maine Ethics Commission. Scott Ogden says campaign finance law requires this kind of political activity be disclosed. All they had to do was say who they were [in the Examiner content,] said Ogden. Staff for the Maine Ethics Commission confirms they are on a preliminary fact-finding mission, and will present a report to the full commission during a Feb. 22 meeting. Members of the commission will consider that memo and decide if they should launch an investigation into the Maine Examiners possible ties to the Maine GOP. Jason Savage did not respond to multiple requests for comment Friday. A post on his personal Facebook page stated that he has the flu. The GOP Party Chair, Dr. Demi Kouzounas, released a statement: This complaint is totally without merit. As far as the content we advertised, it is legitimate and not fabricated. The party takes its legal obligations seriously and has met them." New research project will study how changes and variations in climate affect a society's vulnerability and risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases, particularly dengue fever, in Southeast Asia. Dengue fever is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-transmitted viral disease in the world. It causes roughly 390 million infections and 22,000 deaths annually. There is currently no cure and a recently licensed vaccine does not give complete protection. The research project Effects of climate change and variability on community vulnerability and exposure to dengue in South East Asia was recently awarded NOK 10 million by the KLIMAFORSK program of The Research Council of Norway. It is also co-funded by Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The project will officially start at a partner meeting in Khon Kaen in northeastern Thailand on 29-30 January 2018. The project will take a multidisciplinary approach to mapping changes and variations in climate and how these affect a society's vulnerability and risk of dengue fever along the Mekong river in Laos and Thailand. Hans Overgaard of NMBU's Faculty of Science and Technology is the principal investigator of the project. He has long-term experience from the region and with vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. He is also leading another project on dengue in northeastern Thailand. "Climate change is currently one of the most important emerging global concerns. It affects health directly by exposure to climatic extremes and indirectly through impacts on water quality and quantity, temperature, social infrastructure or through direct effects on secondary organisms, such as disease vectors. Southeast Asia is considered one of the most vulnerable regions affected by climate change," says Overgaard. In the project, disease surveillance, mosquito infestation, meteorology, socioeconomics, knowledge, attitudes and practices, and land cover will be combined with future climatic scenarios and population growth trends to predict potential changes in dengue risk factors and community vulnerabilities in border areas of these two countries. "The project is complicated logistically, but I am very happy to be able to collaborate with a great team of international partners," says Overgaard. These are Khon Kaen University and Asian Institute of Technology, both in Thailand; University of Health Sciences in Laos; Pasteur Institute in Paris; Umea University in Sweden; and Baldwin Wallace University in the USA. "Assessing these factors is instrumental in developing adaptation strategies at local and regional levels, because assessing potential health impacts of climate change and climate variability requires understanding of the vulnerability of a population and its capacity to respond to new conditions. The study countries are vulnerable to both direct and indirect effects of climate change," says Overgaard. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are arboviruses transmitted by mosquito vectors. Higher temperatures affect mosquito and virus development, and rainfall may increase mosquito proliferation. So far, no comprehensive models measures climate-induced vulnerability, vector ecology, and socio-economic conditions, with disease dynamics and their impact on dengue incidence. Dengue is often mapped on a global scale, but its distribution is often driven by local patterns influenced by fine-scale, socio-economic, environmental, virological, and demographic factors. "Climate change is expected to have numerous negative environmental impacts in Laos and Thailand, such as increased temperatures, more warm days, higher rainfall variability, flooding and droughts, which may result in detrimental effects on public health, including dengue. Both countries have different adaptive capacities due to differences in landscape and land cover, as well as political, and socioeconomic development," says Overgaard, adding that project results obtained for dengue, may also be applicable to Zika and chikungunya. "I hope in the end of the project, we can provide results that will be helpful for governments to control dengue and opportunities for people to live healthy lives," concludes Overgaard. The Research Council of Norway received 89 proposals to the call for research projects on the impacts of climate change. The total amount applied for was NOK 797 million. The call sought grant proposals for research projects on the impacts of climate change on society of particular relevance to the public administration and important land-based industrial sectors and research projects on the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, including fresh water and the physical natural environment. When the end draws near, Dr. Roger Kligler, a retired physician with incurable, metastatic prostate cancer, wants the option to use a lethal prescription to die peacefully in his sleep. As he fights for the legal right to do that, an influential doctors group in Massachusetts has agreed to stop trying to block the way. Kligler, who lives in Falmouth, Mass., serves as one of the public faces for the national movement supporting medical aid in dying, which allows terminally ill people who are expected to die within six months to request a doctors prescription for medication to end their lives. Efforts to expand the practice, which is legal in six states and Washington, D.C., have met with powerful resistance from religious groups, disability advocates and the medical establishment. But in Massachusetts and other states, doctors groups are dropping their opposition a move that advocates and opponents agree helps pave the way to legalization of physician-assisted death. The American Medical Association, the dominant voice for doctors nationwide, opposes allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending medications at a patients request, calling it fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer. But in December, the Massachusetts Medical Society became the 10th chapter of the AMA to drop its opposition and take a neutral stance on medical aid in dying. Most of those changes occurred in the past two years. They proved a pivotal precursor to getting laws passed in California, Colorado and Washington, D.C., said Kim Callinan, chief program officer for Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group that supports legalization efforts around the country. (The practice is also legal in Washington, Oregon, Vermont and Montana.) The shifts come as doctors views evolve: Fifty-seven percent of U.S. doctors supported medical aid in dying in a 2016 Medscape survey, up from 46 percent in 2010. Because of the medical societys vote, Massachusetts is the state most likely to legalize medical aid in dying this year, predicted David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, a national group of 19,000 health professionals that has opposed such laws in every state. I think a neutral stance is probably what's going to push it over, he said. Doctors opinions are also playing a role in New York, where the New York State Academy of Family Physicians endorsed an aid-in-dying bill, and the state medical society is surveying its members on the subject. Efforts to legalize the practice have faced pushback nationally: Last year, lawmakers in 27 states introduced aid-in-dying bills, and none passed. And in Congress, Republican lawmakers have launched several attempts to block the District of Columbia from implementing its law. This year, Compassion & Choices Callinan identified New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts as its top three target states. Peg Sandeen, executive director of Death With Dignity National Center, an aid-in-dying advocacy group based in Oregon, cited Hawaii as another top target. Advocates there are trying to break the logjam in the legislature, where the state Senate passed a bill in March, she said. Hawaii came close to legalizing the practice in 2000. Massachusetts has been a fraught battleground for the right-to-die movement: In 2012, opponents narrowly defeated a referendum that would have legalized the practice. Home to a robust medical hub and Harvard Medical School, the state is a stronghold for academic medicine. Kligler, whos 66, has publicly described his interest in using lethal drugs to die on his own terms rather than endure what he expects to be several months of significant pain, fatigue and declining quality of life. Kligler said he wants other dying people to have the same option: When he used to serve as a hospice physician to cancer patients, he said, patients used to ask me to help them to die, but he had no legal way to do so. Kligler is also suing Massachusetts, arguing that terminally ill patients have a constitutional right to medical aid in dying. It's a question of justice, Kligler said. When the Massachusetts Medical Society surveyed members last year, 60 percent said they supported medical aid in dying, and 30 percent said they opposed it. Dr. Barbara Rockett, a surgeon and past president of the medical society, urged fellow doctors to uphold the group's long-standing opposition to the practice. Doctors should focus on helping dying patients through hospice and palliative medicine, she said. To intentionally help them commit suicide is wrong, Rockett said. Proponents, meanwhile, say the practice is not suicide because the patient is already being killed by a terminal disease. Rockett said she was disappointed that her fellow delegates in the society voted to adopt a neutral stance. Even with the doctors group stepping out of the way, the latest aid-in-dying bill, dubbed the Massachusetts End of Life Options Act, faces formidable opposition. Catholic groups, a significant force opposing aid in dying nationally, have a robust base in Massachusetts: Over a third of residents are Catholic, second only to Rhode Island. Catholic groups provided much of the $5.5 million that opponents spent to defeat Massachusetts' ballot referendum in 2012, outspending proponents by nearly 5-to-1. The Boston Archdiocese did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story. But at the time the referendum failed, a spokesman said the church could not afford to lose on this issue in a Catholic stronghold: If it passes in Massachusetts, the spokesman said, it's a gateway to the rest of the country. KHN's coverage of end-of-life and serious illness issues is supported in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. M3DICINE Inc, designers of intelligent medical devices, today announced the launch of Stethee, the worlds first AI-enabled stethoscope system. With a revolutionary new design that works as easily as a traditional stethoscope, the Stethee family of products allows users to listen to heart and lungs sounds with sophisticated amplification and filtering technology and to instantly capture and analyze heart and lung sounds and data via Bluetooth to the Stethee iOS or Android App providing a whole new level of diagnostics capabilities. The Stethee system includes three core products: The FDA Cleared Stethee Pro for medical and healthcare professionals, Stethee Vet for veterinarians and animal professionals, and Stethee Edu developed specifically as an education and research tool. The technology platform behind the Stethee AI engine, named Aida, can analyze heart and lung sounds to build a unique personal biometric signature. Aida also automatically tags geo-location and environmental data to each sample in real-time. This provides a completely new dimension of data analytics for public health planning allowing us to understand what effects environmental factors like humidity, temperature, pollen count or pollution have on our heart and lungs. Aida analyzes this encrypted and anonymized data in order learn and report back quantitative clinically actionable data to doctors, vets, and healthcare professionals. This most iconic and enduring symbol of healthcare is now reinvented, into an intelligent and sophisticated medical device-- a powerful diagnostic assistant that becomes more intelligent the more it is used, said Nayyar Hussain, M.D., founder and CEO of M3DICINE. The complementary Stethee Apps bring the power of machine learning and deep neural networks to health professionals worldwide who can use this data not only to monitor the progress and health of individual patients, but collectively to uncover new patterns and trends to help in the fight against heart and lung disease globally. The potential for Stethee to be used in remote and rural areas is enormous because its incredibly easy to use and the results can be shared and analyzed instantly by a medical specialist anywhere in the world, said Hussain. The ability to record, share and compare samples is invaluable to improving patient care, especially for remote and rural clinics where access to screening services or a cardiologist is extremely difficult. Stethee captures a wealth of rich clinical information in only 20 seconds. The sound and data from the device streams to any Bluetooth enabled device or wired headphones. Aida analyzes the signal to identify heart sounds and respiratory activity, as well as any patterns that might indicate a disease condition. The data is represented in real time in the Stethee App for easy understanding of vital signs, and can be easily shared with peers, caregivers or specialists anywhere in the world. Since 2015 M3DICINE has worked closely with: designers and engineers from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), clinical experts from the Mayo Clinic, Texas A&M University and cardiologists, nurses and allied health professionals from the UK, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. The entire development process of the Stethee System has adhered to the highest international design and safety standards and US FDA. The Stethee system has the potential to transform healthcare, said Professor John Sperling, M.D., Vice-Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery MAYO Clinic said: We are on the forefront of a new era in healthcare driven by artificial intelligence and its ability to significantly improve our ability to care for patients. This innovative technology can significantly help drive efficiency and productivity and empower healthcare providers worldwide by providing real time data and clinical interpretation. "Stethee Vet has enormous potential to assist our understanding of animal health," said Rosemary Booth, Wildlife Veterinarian and Director of Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. "Its geo-location functionality adds efficiency and detail for field researchers. Its small, sleek design doesn't alarm the animals, its sensitivity surpasses human senses and the AI 'learns' with increasing use." M3DICINE has signed exclusive agreements with Korea Telecom for the distribution of Stethee Pro for telemedicine projects into a number of developing countries and an exclusive distribution agreement with Cargill Korea for Stethee Vet to veterinarians in South Korea. Now available online for pre-order from stethee.com, units will begin shipping late February. Stethee Pro and Stethee Vet are available for $499. Stethee Edu for education and research will be available summer 2018. Advanced AI-driven analytics and insights are available through Stethee Central, a subscription based web portal. Stethee Pro and Stethee Vet App will be available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play store. M3DICINE Pty Ltd is backed by an initial financing round of $4.5 million from private investors including Pond Capital and, more recently, the Board has approved the raise of a $2.5 million convertible note managed by Pond Capital. Funds from the new note will support product development, sales and marketing, as well as building out service capabilities. M3DICINE has research agreements with Sinskey Labs at MIT, Queensland University of Technology, University of Malaysia and professors and researchers at Texas A&M, Australia Zoo Hospital, University of Sydney, and Texas Heart and Mayo Clinic. Introducing Stethee System World's First AI Enabled Stethoscope Play Source: https://www.stethee.com/ A new method may be useful for assessing dialysis facilities' performance concerning referrals to transplant centers. The method, which is described in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), may help improve patients' chances of receiving potentially life-saving kidney transplants. Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for most patients with kidney failure; however, only about 13% of US kidney failure patients are waitlisted for transplantation, and of those, less than 20% get transplanted each year. Many patients with kidney failure are on dialysis, and referral from a dialysis facility to a transplant center for evaluation is an important step towards kidney transplantation. Rachel Patzer, PhD, MPH, of the Emory University School of Medicine, and her colleagues have developed a new measure-; the Standardized Transplantation Referral Ratio (STReR)-;for assessing how well dialysis facilities refer patients for transplantation. The researchers applied the measure to transplant referral data from 8308 kidney failure patients within 249 dialysis facilities in the state of Georgia that were linked with United States Renal Data System data from 20082011, with follow-up through 2012. Facility STReRs in Georgia ranged from zero to 4.87. Most (77%) facilities had observed referrals as expected, while 11% and 12% had STReRs significantly greater and less than expected, respectively. Age, race, sex, and comorbid conditions were significantly associated with the likelihood of referral; however, most of the observed variation in dialysis facility referral performance was due to characteristics within a dialysis facility rather than patient factors. (On average, 33% of the variability in STReRs was attributed to between-facility variation and 67% to within-facility variation, respectively.) The study demonstrates a method for computing a standardized measure for transplant referral that could be used to monitor the transplant referral performance of dialysis facilities. "In the past several years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has focused on increasing referrals among dialysis facilities as part of the Statement of Work for the 18 End Stage Renal Disease Networks. However, these data are not routinely collected and are not available to the public to determine whether some dialysis facilities are appropriately referring patients for kidney transplantation," said Dr. Patzer. "Monitoring transplant referrals among dialysis facilities could help drive quality improvement and increase access to kidney transplantation." In an accompanying editorial, Kevin Fowler (The Voice of the Patient, Inc.), a kidney disease patient and a transplant recipient himself, stated that he was stunned that the data on kidney transplant referrals are not collected nationally. "I am recommending immediate action," he wrote. "I am requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandate that all dialysis facilities collect and record their kidney transplant referrals. This requirement is long overdue." Among men with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP), those who were obese had a higher risk of biochemical recurrence, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms Underlying Etiology and Outcomes, held Jan. 27-30. Biochemical recurrence was defined as two consecutive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements of 0.2 ng/mL after prostatectomy, which is indicative of recurrent prostate cancer. "Obesity and metabolic syndrome have become increasingly widespread in our society," said Arash Samiei, MD, basic scientist and clinical researcher at the Department of Urology at the Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and up to 30 percent of patients will develop recurrence after RP. We wanted to investigate the association between obesity and metabolic syndrome with the oncological outcome following prostate removal." Samiei explained that previous studies linking high body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome to increased risk of recurrence following RP have been controversial. To build upon previous research, Samiei and colleagues performed a large study with long-term follow-up to conduct a more comprehensive analysis. Samiei and colleagues conducted a retrospective study of all RPs (1,100 surgeries) performed by two surgeons at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh between 2003 and 2013. They analyzed Gleason score, pathologic stage, pre-operative PSA, biochemical recurrence time, surgical margin status, and metabolic factors, such as fasting glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol levels, including HDL, pre-operative BMI, and blood pressure. Patients were categorized as having low-, intermediate-, or high-risk prostate cancer based on pathological staging and grading of the disease. Metabolic syndrome positivity was determined using the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, where at least three out of the following five factors are simultaneously present in an individual - insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol or low HDL levels, high triglycerides, and hypertension. The average age of the patient at diagnosis was 60 years, and the average follow-up time was 48 months. Among the patients studied, 34 percent were obese, as defined by BMI, and 19 percent had metabolic syndrome. Samiei and colleagues found a higher percentage of obese patients in the high-risk group (41.2 percent of high-risk patients) compared to obese patients in the low/intermediate group (32 percent of low/intermediate risk patients). Additionally, biochemical recurrence was higher in patients with BMI 30 (32.4 percent) compared to patients with BMI <30 (16.9 percent). Finally, patients with metabolic syndrome had more than four-fold increased risk of biochemical recurrence compared to those without metabolic syndrome. "Our study indicates that prostate cancer patients who are obese or have metabolic syndrome undergoing RP may have a higher chance for recurrence of the disease, and these individuals should have more focused follow-up care," said Samiei. "By preventing metabolic syndrome, men with prostate cancer may have a higher chance of a favorable oncological outcome following surgery." Samiei noted that because this was an observational, retrospective study, future work should include the design of large, multi-center prospective studies. Metacognitive judgments on non-experienced events are processed in the frontopolar cortex of the brain, whereas metacognition on experienced events is associated with the dorsal prefrontal cortex, as reported in a study on non-human primates just published in Neuron. To establish that a non-experienced event was indeed not experienced before requires a more comprehensive and introspective memory search. Thus, involvement of highly intellectual cognitive processes is expected, of which neuronal substrate should be different from that of being confident about experienced events. To shed light on the area of the brain involved in the evaluation of experienced and non-experienced events, Yasushi Miyashita and colleagues at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine and the University of Tokyo School of Medicine combined whole-brain search of the neuronal substrate by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with causal behavioral tests by reversible silencing of the localized brain areas. Monkeys were presented with a metacognition task composed of a memory and a bet stage. After being exposed to a set of images, the monkeys had to indicate whether or not an image was part of the set, and successively make a confidence judgment about their decision by wagering. The researchers then calculated a correlation coefficient between the metacognitive performance and the fMRI activity recorded in each voxel, finding that only the fMRI activity in the bilateral frontopolar cortex (dorsal area 10) predicts metacognitive performance for non-experienced events, whereas the activity in the dorsal prefrontal cortex (area 9) is predictive of metacognitive performance for experienced events. Area 10 and area 9 show a strong intrinsic functional connectivity, thus they seem to work cooperatively to enable metacognitive judgments. In order to establish a direct causal link between the neuronal activity in area 10 and metacognitive performance, Miyashita and colleagues injected the area with muscimol that suppresses neuronal activities specifically within a few millimeter from the injected point. As a control, a saline solution was also injected. The result of the muscimol injection was an impairment in confidence judgment for non-experienced events, but not for experienced events. Notably, the ability to identify novel events by distinguishing from experienced events was not affected by inactivation of area 10. The authors believe that the observations provide a general framework to explain the function of the frontopolar cortex, an evolutionary novel brain area developed only in humans and monkeys. Area 10 possibly contributes to abstraction of novel concepts with respect to ones own goal, or metacognitive reasoning to deal with unfamiliar situations. Our findings demonstrating the causal impairment of metacognition for non-experienced items by inactivation of area 10 provide direct evidence with this idea comment Miyashita and colleagues. ctnewsjunkie file photo HARTFORD The governors of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey said Friday they plan to challenge the constitutionality of the state and local tax deduction cap that was part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by Republican President Donald Trump in late 2017. In a conference call with reporters, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it offends the concept of federalism and tramples states rights. HARTFORD More than a week after Connecticuts Supreme Court decided that Connecticuts education system was flawed, but not unconstitutional, one Wall Street firm is says its credit positive for the state, but not necessarily its three biggest cities. Connecticuts highest court decided on Jan. 17 to leave how the state funds its education system up to the legislative and executive branch with its 4-3 decision. Who knew trade wars were so complicated? A United States trade agency on Friday surprisingly rejected calls by Boeing and the Trump administration to impose duties on Bombardiers CSeries jet. It shifts the regional-airplane dogfight back to the marketplace, where it belongs, raising the pressure on Boeing to seal a tricky merger with Embraer. Chicago-based Boeings decision to file a trade complaint against Bombardier was unusual, as it doesnt make a direct competitor to the 100-to-150-seat aircraft. Delta Air Lines, whose order for 75 Bombardier planes triggered last years grievance, said Boeing didnt make a serious bid of its own but merely offered to sell it some secondhand Embraer jets. Yet as Bombardier and Embraer extend the size of their flagship regional airliners, they have closed the gap with Boeings 737 and Airbuss A320 models. The threat of potential Chinese competition has made both the American and European giants eager to buttress their flanks. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said $1.5 billion in Canadian government subsidies for Bombardier would damage United States industry. The 300 percent duties he tentatively approved would have effectively closed the American market to the company. That prompted Bombardier to sell a majority stake in its CSeries program to Airbus. Boeing countered that the deal wasnt sure to go through and that a promised CSeries assembly plant in Alabama was years away, at best. There are some risks that investors cant price. An allegation of sexual misconduct against a chief executive has now been added to that list. Wynn Resorts shares plunged more than 10 percent on Friday afternoon, wiping $2 billion off the companys value, after The Wall Street Journal reported that such accusations had been leveled at the companys founder, chief executive, chairman and biggest shareholder, Steve Wynn. Mr. Wynn promptly dismissed the allegations to Reuters as preposterous. The loss of value is a reminder to directors on all company boards that even an unproven suggestion of sexual harassment is now a financial risk. Casino companies face manifold pitfalls already. Wynn Resorts, which gets most of its earnings from operations in the Chinese enclave of Macau, is effectively a punt on the whims of politicians in Beijing, who mostly turn a blind eye to the 20 million citizens who flood over the border in a year to engage in activity forbidden back home. Wynn Resorts also faces a continuing lawsuit between Mr. Wynn and his former wife, Elaine, who is suing to regain control of a nearly 10 percent stake she currently cannot vote or sell. Mr. Wynn, in a statement, said it was the fight between him and his former wife that had started the allegations, underscoring the friction between the companys top two shareholders. Awareness has grown in the past six months as women from boardroom executives to Hollywood stars to assembly-line workers have started speaking out about workplace mistreatment. Executives havent gone unscathed. Travis Kalanick resigned as Ubers chief executive last year in the wake of harassment allegations, among other problems. Unlike Uber, which worked through its own scandal in private, Wynn Resorts is exposed to the public ire of shareholders. The question, though, is what specifically investors are now pricing in. One risk is that regulators make it difficult for Wynn Resorts to expand. The Massachusetts gaming watchdog said on Friday that it would review plans for a new casino in Boston. When New Jersey announced a $7 billion package of tax incentives to try to lure Amazons second headquarters to Newark, local officials saw a chance to jump-start a city that has long struggled with poverty and joblessness. Many economists, however, saw something else: a failed development strategy that they had hoped was falling out of favor. In their view, tax incentives are little more than corporate giveaways that divert money from education, infrastructure and other priorities that ultimately do more for a regions economy. In the last decade, those arguments seemed to be gaining traction, as state and local officials put limits on once-generous handouts. But that restraint may be crumbling. Several locations like Chicago and suburban Montgomery County in Maryland have offered Amazon their own nine- and 10-figure incentive packages. The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn last year persuaded Wisconsin to offer more than $4 billion in tax credits and other inducements to build a new plant. And the next big competition could be taking shape: Apple announced plans last week for a new campus somewhere in the United States, although it said it did not plan an Amazon-style public auction. LONG PHU, Vietnam The towering lattice of blue steel girders rising above banana and lemongrass crops near Vietnams southern coast stands as public testament to the countrys drive to burn coal. With help from a Kremlin-connected Russian bank, Vietnam is building a coal-fired power plant called Long Phu 1 that will produce an estimated 5.4 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, generating enough electricity to power millions of homes. But the project needs something else first: help from the United States government. The plants state-controlled owner has applied for assistance with the project from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. If the bank agrees, American taxpayers will shoulder the financial risk behind Vietnams purchase of millions of dollars worth of turbines and other equipment from General Electric. The bank has not yet decided whether it will back the project. If it did, it would show that the Trump administrations commitment to using more coal at home also extended overseas. Critics say it would also challenge a growing global consensus that developed nations and groups like the World Bank should stop funding high-polluting energy projects in developing countries. Britains equivalent of the Export-Import Bank has already declined to participate in the project. The two sides in a legal dispute over whether the song We Shall Overcome was subject to copyright protection reached a settlement on Friday that put the civil rights anthem in the public domain, lawyers involved in the case said. Two plaintiffs, the makers of a documentary on the songs history and producers of the 2013 film Lee Daniels The Butler, who wanted to use part of the song in the movie, challenged its copyright protection in federal court. The documentarians had been denied permission and the moviemakers were asked to pay as much as $100,000 to use it in several critical scenes, according to the law firm representing the plaintiffs. In September, a federal judge partly rejected the copyright claim, saying the songs adaptation from an older work including changing will to shall was not original enough to qualify for protection. His ornate casinos, which included the Bellagio, the Mirage, Treasure Island and Wynn, helped change the image of the Las Vegas Strip into one encapsulating glamour, fancy restaurants and exotic attractions like the lion-taming duo of Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage. The Bellagio, a huge hotel and casino on the strip, features an array of dancing water fountains that routinely fascinate tourists. Mr. Wynn eventually sold the Bellagio, along with the Mirage and Treasure Island. Mr. Wynn made more than $28 million in total compensation from Wynn Resorts for 2016. The thing about Steve Wynn is this: He is the biggest name in the history of Nevada business, said Jon Ralston, the editor of The Nevada Independent, who has reported on the states gaming industry for decades. People throw around the word visionary all the time, he said. This guy really was a visionary. The allegations against Mr. Wynn are notable because he is one of the most prominent executives of a large public company to be hit with multiple claims of sexual misconduct. The claims could tarnish his companys brand because his name is so closely identified with it. And given that casinos are a state-regulated industry, the allegations could have an impact on the companys management of the casino resorts it operates and other projects under construction. His planned casino near Boston came under scrutiny on Friday when the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said, The suitability and integrity of our gaming licensees is of the utmost importance, and ensuring that suitability is an active and ongoing process. Democrats sought to capitalize on the revelations. They pointed out that Mr. Wynn and the R.N.C.s chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, hosted a fund-raiser at Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., just last week to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his inauguration. Democrats noted that in the wake of The Timess expose on Mr. Weinsteins decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct, Republicans had blasted Democrats for accepting donations from the Hollywood producer. Representative Jacky Rosen of Nevada, a Democrat who is running for Senate, called on Dean Heller, a Republican senator from the state, to disavow support he had received from Mr. Wynn. She called the allegations horrifying and disturbing. When you make decisions in a bank you dont sit around, said Peter R. Fisher, a top official at the New York Fed at the time who worked closely with Mr. McDonough during the Long Term Capital rescue. He was a man of action. At the time of the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. McDonough was at a meeting for central bankers in Basel, Switzerland. Seeing the disarray around the banks headquarters in Lower Manhattan on television, he ordered that the buildings large garage doors be opened and that shelter and medical care be provided to those fleeing the disaster. Within 24 hours, he was behind his desk on the buildings 10th floor. He also guided the New York Fed through the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the institutions preparations for guarding against a so-called Y2K computer-driven market failure at the onset of the year 2000. He spent the last day, and night, of 1999 at Fed headquarters to ensure there were no glitches. William Joseph McDonough was born on April 21, 1934, on Chicagos West Side to first-generation immigrants from Ireland. His mother died when he was 10, and his father, who sold insurance, died within a year. He was sent to live with an aunt, but had to fend for himself financially by delivering newspapers. His three sisters chipped in to pay tuition for his first year at Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wis. He finished first in his class four straight years. The distinction earned him admission to the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Mass., where he graduated in 1956. He received a masters degree in economics from Georgetown University in 1962. Later, he served in the Navy, and then joined the State Department, where he became fluent in Spanish and French. In 1967, while serving as a diplomat in Uruguay, he met the chairman of the First National Bank of Chicago, who, impressed with Mr. McDonoughs mix of math skills and international polish, offered him a job. He rose to vice chairman before retiring in 1989 at 55. He arrived at the New York Fed after another serendipitous encounter: sitting next to E. Gerald Corrigan, the institutions president at the time, on a plane in 1992. Mr. Corrigan soon asked him to join the New York Fed as head of markets. A year later, he was named president. A major donor to Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded guilty to using campaign contributions as bribes to buy better treatment at City Hall and yet the mayor, who took the money and aided the donor, was not charged with a crime. Another donor pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud that included making political contributions in exchange of official action and again, no charges for the mayor. The outcome has led some, including the WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer, to an obvious question. How can someone be guilty of giving you a bribe and you not be guilty of taking it? Mr. Lehrer asked Mr. de Blasio on Friday. Its abundantly clear, the mayor said. But it wasnt. This man did a lot of bad things in a lot of places, Mr. de Blasio said of Harendra Singh, a restaurateur who pleaded guilty to bribing the mayor. Im someone who never did, never would be involved in such an effort. It was not the content of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos joint announcement with Govs. Philip D. Murphy and Dannel P. Malloy that was surprising so much as the fact that it was happening at all. In declaring on Friday that he would join with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Malloy, the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, to sue the federal government over the constitutionality of its new tax law, Mr. Cuomo was advancing a pledge he had been promoting for weeks. But the framing of the announcement as the work of a coalition of blue-state governors, sprinkled with declarations of friendship, neighborliness and mutual admiration was a departure for a governor who usually operates alone, positioning his state as an island unto itself. Political observers said there could be any number of reasons for Mr. Cuomos newfound collegiality. Some said the potentially devastating economic impact of the federal tax law had jolted him into action; others pointed out that Mr. Murphys election was the first time Mr. Cuomo had had a Democratic partner across the Hudson River. In nearly every crime-caper movie theres a shifty guy on the street corner who, seeing the cops in hot pursuit, flips over a fruit cart to slow them down and give the culprits a chance to get away. In Trump-era Washington, that role is being played with impressive conviction by Devin Nunes, the eight-term Republican representative from California and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Mr. Nunes, supported by a rotating coterie of conspiracists in Congress and the usual suspects on right-wing cable news, has labored to divert attention from the expanding Russia investigation by tossing out sinister-sounding allegations of wrongdoing by federal law enforcement officials. Mr. Nuness act has kept alive the prospect of impeding or ending the investigation even as President Trump has backed off his efforts to fire the man in charge, the special counsel, Robert Mueller. Last year he accused top Obama administration officials of improperly unmasking Trump associates in intelligence reports a charge that turned out to be baseless. No matter: The whole point of this game is to make the job of the actual investigators harder while confusing the public about where the true scandal lies. Still, Steinem noted, she was the one removed. You have to remove the harasser. Its not that they didnt do anything, concluded Gillian Thomas, senior staff attorney for the A.C.L.U. Womens Rights Project. But its always disappointing to hear that someone you admire for her stance on gender equality didnt take the strongest position possible. The national uproar over sexual harassment has the entire country debating how to deal with these issues particularly when it comes to more powerful men trying to take advantage of their underlings. Thats why stories like the one Haberman and Chozick reported are important. Theyre a way of helping us figure this all out. While we dont know all the details, it doesnt sound unreasonable that an employee with first-time charges of shoulder-rubbing and a forehead kiss should get a punishment less drastic than immediate dismissal. Except, as we keep needing to point out, there was that part about Strider being the values guy. And he was a campaign gun-for-hire who, if he had been kicked out, would probably have moved to another political job. As he did when the campaign ended and Strider went on to a pro-Hillary group called Correct the Record, where he was fired for what Haberman and Chozick reported as workplace issues, including allegations that he harassed a young female aide. Whoops. Heres where Im coming down: Hillary Clinton was the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket, and when she did it, she won the popular vote. Shes broken a trillion barriers. Shes also done enormous good work to improve the lives of women in this country. But shes never been at her strongest when it comes to men on the prowl. While her faith adviser wasnt anywhere near the level of a Harvey Weinstein, she did hang out with Weinstein, too, cherishing him as a beloved donor. And some women have never really gotten over the fact that she did not leave her husband when she discovered he was having an affair, in the White House, with a girl far too young and powerless to be a genuinely willing partner. Because sexual harassment is so much on our national mind right now, wed like her to be a heroine on that issue, too. But if theres anything weve learned in all of our years with Hillary Clinton, its that you can be both great and deeply imperfect. Its one of her gifts. Even if right now we really wish shed fired the faith adviser. Today, these collaborators groups and individuals responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Jews are being glorified and rehabilitated as part of the ultranationalism surging across Eastern Europe. Nationalists seek to rally around men who fought for independence against both Russia and Germany; unfortunately, the World War II-era figures being chosen had expressed their vision for independence by murdering Jews. In 1947, Josef Tiso, a Slovak priest and Nazi collaborator, was hanged for crimes against humanity because of his eager deportation of Slovakias Jews. Today, he is celebrated with parades and memorials across Slovakia. Marches commemorating local SS units wind through Baltic capitals. With festivals, marches and street names, Ukraine has been glorifying paramilitaries responsible for slaughtering thousands of Jews. Hungary and Croatia are both whitewashing their World War II-era Nazi collaborationist governments. Lithuania has gone so far as to bring criminal charges against Jewish partisans who fought Nazi collaborators. Todays Eastern European states are, in their way, following in the Kremlins footsteps by recasting Nazi collaborators as fellow victims and freedom fighters, while whitewashing their anti-Semitism and participation in the Holocaust. Particularly ominous are recent steps taken by some governments, which emulate the Soviets by enforcing the official state narrative using censorship and the threat of imprisonment. In 2015, Ukraine passed laws making it a criminal offense to deny the heroic nature of two World War II paramilitaries. Earlier this month, Kiev made headlines by banning Stalingrad, an award-winning book by Antony Beevor, an acclaimed British historian, on account of a single paragraph that mentions a Ukrainian unit killing Jewish children. Polands ruling far-right Law and Justice Party proposed legislation making it illegal to accuse Poles of participating in the Holocaust, and targeted authors and journalists for daring to say otherwise. Once again, the Jews of Eastern Europe may face persecution and censorship for honoring their slain. During the Cold War, with Eastern European Jews incapacitated by Communist dictatorships, the American Jewish community was at the vanguard of Holocaust remembrance. One of the most touching revelations I had in the United States was learning that in 1982, when Babi Yar still had no plaques mentioning the slain Jews, Americans had built a Babi Yar memorial in Denver. Today, however, the American Jewish community including Jewish lawmakers in Washington is largely silent about the widespread Holocaust distortion being carried out by Eastern European allies. Breaking that silence is imperative, especially given the current global rise of anti-Semitism and the disturbing correlation between Holocaust revisionism and violence against living Jews. American Jews are already waking up to Holocaust denial on social media and vandalism of Holocaust museums at home. They should not forget to cast their gaze to the Nazi killing fields of Eastern Europe, where old battles are still being waged, and the perpetually inconvenient dead can find no rest. In December 1966, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, or North Vietnam, and the Peoples Republic of China signed an agreement to establish schools for North Vietnamese children in China, with China providing the facilities, funds and equipment. Americas bombing campaign over North Vietnam was in high gear, and Hanoi wanted to move its students to a safe place. This was not the first time that China had hosted North Vietnamese schools. In the 1950s, during and after the war with France, Vietnamese schools had been set up in southern China, with Chinese permission and aid. What is truly remarkable about the cross-border educational effort in the 1960s was that it began in the midst of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which started in May 1966 and destroyed the Chinese educational system (and left the Chinese economy in shambles). But the Chinese were willing to carve out space for the North Vietnamese because doing so served a higher, geopolitical purpose: competing with the Soviet Union for leadership of the global communist movement. The Chinese program, known as Project 92, covered school construction and teaching equipment, as well as funds for daily expenses (the 92 refers to Sept. 2, 1945, the day Vietnam declared independence from France). One facility, the School of Sept. 2, was established specifically for children who had been relocated from South Vietnam. Another school, for military cadets, bore the name of Nguyen Van Troi, a young Saigonese who in May 1963 attempted to assassinate the American defense secretary, Robert McNamara, during his visit to South Vietnam, and who was executed by firing squad. Because the Chinese military was less affected by the Cultural Revolution than its civilian educational system, the military led the construction efforts. The schools were more than just basic educational facilities; their goal was to create, in a safe location, an advanced socialist school to train the next generation of Vietnamese. They were to instill revolutionary morality and the socialist spirit. And pupils were to become willing and enthusiastic fighters when their time came to join the army. Teachers had to teach the Five Precepts of Uncle Ho, and they had to inculcate the North Vietnamese agenda, to make sure the children understood that it was because of the American enemy that their country was divided into two, that their families were broken and that their homeland was being destroyed. In short, the objective was for the children to be eager for the government to call them up to fight the Americans. Trump is a symptom, not a cause. That is why he may be hard to dislodge. He intuited the extent of American anger better than anyone. He also intuited a kind of cultural despair that made millions of Americans impervious to his lewd vulgarity in fact, inclined to cheer him on in sticking it in the eye of the establishment. He knew he could turn politics into a reality show, and he was right. In depression, people seek distraction. Americas opioid crisis is not in the pills, its in the desperate, atomized circumstances that surround and spread them. Biglari pointed out that while the unemployment rate in the United States the percentage of the population over 16 not employed but looking for work is down to 4 percent, the employment rate the percentage of the population actually working tells a different story. It stood at around 67 percent in the 1990s, and has since declined to about 63 percent of the adult population. Many people are so discouraged, they have stopped looking for work, he told me. There are echoes of Trump all over the world. Nowhere are they more poignant than in Poland. There, Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement overturned Communist rule and set in motion the changes that would produce a united and democratic Europe. But, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported, Polands nationalist leaders now want Walesa scrubbed from official memory. He is seen as the traitorous agent of Polands dissolution within the European Union and NATO what Kaczynski has called self-annihilation. No matter that Poland is an economic success story. No matter that most Poles live unimaginably better, freer and more secure lives than they would have without Walesas courage. What matters is the nation resurgent against imagined immigrant hordes and multilateral bureaucrats. These currents run deep. Their irrationality is a galvanizing force. Trump is a lightning rod for every bully. In Davos, the president said: 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. Federal conscience protection laws for health care providers have developed over the past 45 years, generally focusing on the right to refuse to perform, accommodate or assist with certain services most typically abortion on religious or moral grounds. But the 1973 Church Amendment, the first of these conscience clauses, is broader. Rather than sheltering medical personnel from workplace discrimination only when they refuse to provide abortions and sterilizations, this law also protects those who are willing to do so. The Department of Health and Human Services seems to have forgotten these inclusive roots. In their zeal to underscore the need for strong conscience protections, none of the speakers unveiling the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division mentioned physicians like Willie Parker, an obstetrician/gynecologist who views providing abortion as religious ministry. But Dr. Parker and his colleagues face enormous obstacles to acting upon their moral convictions. Despite Church Amendment protections, abortion providers are often denied admitting privileges and threatened with adverse employment actions, and they face difficulty getting training. That these obstacles were not highlighted by the department is telling, suggesting that its new enforcement efforts are unlikely to safeguard these exercises of conscience. Health care workers seeking to provide services to the transgender community care that can be lifesaving can also face substantial roadblocks despite their belief in an ethical and professional obligation to act in their patients best interest. For example, when Lindsey Dawson set out to provide a hysterectomy to a transgender patient seeking to transition, her efforts were impeded by the Catholic hospital where she practiced. Being forced to refrain from care like being forced to provide it can conflict with a persons sense of moral duty. As Dr. Daphna Stroumsa, another physician serving transgender patients, explained to us, As a matter of conscience, I am called to do this work. If the new division is as serious about protecting conscience as it claims to be, it should commit to enforcing the Church Amendments existing protections for both refusers and providers of abortion and sterilization services, as Congress intended. More generally, it should recognize that conscientious providers encounter legal and institutional barriers to acting on their convictions. The department should encourage Congress to emulate the Church Amendments bidirectional protection in all federal conscience clauses and should use its own policymaking authority to protect providers seeking to promote patient access. None of this would have surprised Hofstadter, whose essay traces the history of American paranoia from the Bavarian Illuminati and the Masons to New Dealers and Communists in the State Department. I call it the paranoid style, Hofstadter wrote, simply because no other word adequately evokes the sense of heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy that I have in mind. What better way to describe a Republican Party that thinks America has more to fear from a third-tier F.B.I. agent in Washington who doesnt like the president than it does from a first-tier K.G.B. agent in Moscow who, for a time at least, liked the president all too well? Then again, Hofstadter might have been surprised to find that the party of conspiracy is also the party of government. The paranoid style, he noted, was typically a function of powerlessness. Having no access to political bargaining or the making of decisions, they find their original conception that the world of power is sinister and malicious fully confirmed. Today, Republicans control every branch of government, and nearly every aspect of the Russia investigation. Robert Mueller, a Republican, was appointed special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, another Republican, and a Trump appointee. Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, supposedly accuses the F.B.I. of anti-Trump perfidies in a secret four-page memo, but he wont share the memo with the director of the F.B.I. whos also a Trump appointee. Even paranoids, it turns out, have friends. Liberals observing the awful spectacle might be forgiven for taking quiet satisfaction in this G.O.P. bonfire of the sanities. They should take care it doesnt infect them as well. The principal lesson of paranoia is the ease with which politically aroused people can mistake errors for deceptions, coincidences for patterns, bumbling for dereliction, and secrecy for treachery. True conspiracies are rare but stupidity is nearly universal. The failure to know the difference, combined with the desire for a particular result, is what accounts for the paranoid style. Should the presidents critics really be quite so sure of their suspicions when it comes to Trumps dealings with Russia? Should they invest so much of their credibility on being proved right? And are they prepared for the political fallout if they turn out to be wrong? DAVOS, Switzerland President Trump didnt say how delighted he was to be in Sweden, he didnt call any countries s-holes, he didnt threaten to totally destroy another nation, and he didnt brag that his nuclear button was much bigger than anyone elses. In other words, Trumps speech here at the World Economic Forum was a resounding success. O.K., fact-checkers found at least two falsehoods, and the audience booed when Trump went off script and raged at how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be. Yet on the whole, he read an anodyne speech perfectly well off the teleprompter, making it a personal triumph for him albeit also probably the weakest speech delivered by any leader in Davos this year. The past week has underscored how much the world needs American leadership, and how badly Trump is falling short or, more precisely, when he provides leadership, its often in the wrong direction, setting us back. The upshot is that theres now a global vacuum of practical and moral leadership. There are challenges from North Korea to Yemen, from climate to refugees, plus atrocities in Myanmar that probably amount to genocide. South Sudan is collapsing, and in Syria, 16 bombings of hospitals or clinics have been reported just since Christmas and barely an eyebrow has been raised. One year ago on Saturday, President Trump issued an executive order to severely restrict the entry of refugees and other immigrant groups to the United States. This first version of the so-called travel ban set off protests at airports, lawsuits and global outcry while thrilling some of the presidents supporters who were pleased by his swift fulfillment of a campaign pledge. After court rulings and subsequent decrees from the Trump administration, refugees are now being resettled in the United States at a distressingly slow rate, with many applicants subject to delays and onerous reviews. The impact of the Trump policies has proved disastrous. In the first year of the Trump administration only 29,725 refugees were admitted to the United States, a big drop from the 99,183 allowed in the previous year. In 1980, by comparison, the United States welcomed more than 200,000 refugees. In October, Mr. Trump set the limit for refugee arrivals for the current fiscal year at a historical low of 45,000. And unless the pace of arrivals increases significantly, the United States will not reach even half that goal. This year, the United States is on track to resettle fewer refugees than Canada, which has a population roughly one-tenth that of the United States. NATIONAL An article on Friday about a campaign to remove Rebekah Mercer from the board of the American Museum of Natural History misstated the stance of the Becket Fund, a religious freedom group, on abortion. While the fund has litigated on behalf of groups that oppose abortion, it does not take a formal position on the practice. BUSINESS DAY An article on Dec. 28 in the special Addiction Inc. section about fraud schemes related to urine testing and rehabilitation for recovering prescription drug abusers misidentified the plaintiff in a lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare. It is Living Tree Laboratories, not A New Start, a rehab clinic. The two companies are separate but have common ownership. Dr. Michael Ligotti oversaw urine tests for John Baker, a client at A New Start, through an unrelated company. ARTS & LEISURE An article this weekend on page 14 about a coming horror movie gave an incorrect title for the film. It is Winchester, not Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built. OBITUARIES An obituary on Thursday about the Soviet dissident Valery N. Chalidze referred incorrectly to a Russian translation of the Kama Sutra. His company, Chalidze Publications, published it; it is not the case that it is not clear if it was ever published. WASHINGTON It was all but ignored last year when it was wrapped into a sanctions law punishing Russian aggressions. But in recent weeks, a requirement that the United States identify Russian oligarchs in a public list has set off a cavalcade of anxious lobbying across Washington by those who fear their links to the Kremlin will jeopardize their financial well-being. The Trump administration is set to release the list on Monday in a report that to the surprise of many serves as a new tool to punish wealthy backers of the worlds autocrats, simply by naming them. It is unclear how the administration will define who is considered an oligarch, and appearing on the list does not carry immediate penalties. But it will reveal the financial details of Russian elites and many of their family members. More worryingly, lobbyists and experts say, it could make them vulnerable to future sanctions through their associations with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. McGahn has spent most of his professional career in Washington, unusual in an administration that has largely kept out Beltway insiders. His wife, Shannon McGahn, is the staff director of the House Financial Services Committee. But over the years he developed an unusual image for a conservative, growing his hair long and playing guitar for a rock band that specialized in 1980s cover songs until he had to focus on working for Mr. Trump. That background dovetails with a policy record that is more libertarian than classically conservative. His specialty is election law, and at the Patton Boggs law firm, he worked under Benjamin Ginsberg, a veteran Republican campaign lawyer, defending clients against Federal Election Commission investigations into coordination between Republican campaign committees and outside groups. Later, President George W. Bush appointed Mr. McGahn to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission, where he developed a reputation for unabashedly trying to stop what he believed were its regulatory excesses. But others saw his actions as preventing any regulations on campaign spending. After leaving the agency, he and Mr. Ginsberg left Patton Boggs for another firm, Jones Day. His outlook has always been on the fecklessness of overregulation by big government, Mr. Ginsberg said, adding that the two would spend countless hours talking about what they saw as the foolishness of Federal Election Commission actions to regulate the unregulatable that is, political campaign speech. Since last summer, Mr. McGahn has played little role in dealing with the Russia investigation because the White House brought in outside lawyers first Marc E. Kasowitz, and now Ty Cobb to handle it. But in his more conventional work, which has been overshadowed by the attention given the legal sparring with Mr. Mueller, he has had a major effect on public policy through his support of efforts to dismantle regulations and his role in the administrations aggressive attempt to fill vacancies in the upper reaches of the federal judiciary with deeply conservative judges. Everyone thinks about him in terms of the presidents ethics and all of that, but quietly, he has really tried to move the needle on things that conservatives care about a lot, which is the courts and the administrative state, said Reginald Brown, a former associate White House counsel in the Bush administration. Thats not as sexy, but it is far more consequential. It would be difficult to undertake a similar effort today. Looking for a new kitchen range? The only Canadian-made offerings are premium-priced, antique or 1950s-style models from the Elmira Stove Works. The reporters notebooks Ive used all my career still have reproductions of clippings from Canadian newspapers circa 1975 on their covers. But a few years ago, their production was shifted to India and now they come from China. And this week, Campbell Soup said it would close its Canadian plant and move its work to the United States. In advance of the North American Free Trade Agreement talks in Montreal this coming week, I traveled to Peterborough, Ontario, one of many cities that once made what Canada bought. Since Canada entered into free trade with the United States in 1989, Peterborough has seen an exodus of major factories. This year, General Electric, which once employed 6,000 people, will go after 126 years. Now, buying Canadian is pretty difficult. TORONTO The mysterious double deaths of a billionaire generic drug magnate and his philanthropist wife grew stranger still on Friday. Six weeks after the bodies of Barry and Honey Sherman were found hanging in the basement of their mansion, the Toronto Police confirmed what the couples friends and family have maintained all along that they died in a murder, not a murder-suicide. The police found the couples bodies hanging from belts tied to a railing on the deck of their indoor pool on Dec. 15, two days after they had last been in contact with family and friends, the lead police investigator, Susan Gomes, told a packed news conference. But instead of holding to an earlier theory casting the deaths as a murder-suicide leaked by unnamed police sources to news media outlets the police now believe the deaths were a targeted, double homicide. It was another bizarre turn in a dizzying case that has captured the countrys attention. The couples four children, furious at the police for leaking the murder-suicide theory, hired their own team to conduct a private investigation into their parents deaths which experts expect will cost them hundreds of thousands of Canadian dollars. A few months ago, Reese Witherspoon realized everything had changed. HBOs glossy, seven-episode drama, Big Little Lies which Ms. Witherspoon starred in and helped produce won eight Emmy Awards, including the one for best limited series. From the Microsoft Theater stage in Los Angeles on Sept. 17, to swelling applause, Ms. Witherspoon spoke of how important it was to bring women to the front of their own stories and make them the heroes of their own stories. Not long after that night, she found herself in demand. It opened a lot of doors for me, Ms. Witherspoon said in an interview this past week. People wanted to be in business with me as a producer in the TV space. My mission was to create television for other women, for other female storytellers that are actresses, other directors and other writers. I think it just clicked in peoples minds. Since then, Ms. Witherspoon has transformed herself from an actress increasingly frustrated with the roles she was being offered into a producer with a slate of projects that puts her in the company of series creators like Dick Wolf, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy. Last month, HBO ordered a second season of Big Little Lies, with Ms. Witherspoons production company, Hello Sunshine, among the key companies behind the show. In addition, Apple has bought three Hello Sunshine projects as part of its push to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Hulu in streaming. That amounts to a third of Apples TV purchases to date. SP One of the biggest enemies of reason is tribalism. When people subscribe to an ideology, they suck up evidence that supports their preconceptions and filter out evidence that goes against them. Contrary to the belief of most scientists that denial of climate change is an effect of scientific illiteracy, it is not at all correlated with scientific literacy. People who believe in man-made climate change dont know any more about climate or science than those who deny it. Its almost perfectly correlated with left-wing versus right-wing orientation. And a move toward greater rationality would unbundle them and let evidence inform what the optimal policies ought to be. PG But breaking deadlock surely requires more than asking people to be rational. BG I dont think weve come to the point yet where democracy and science is going to stop working to improve lives. I was at a climate conference in Paris, and, honestly, there were as many nonscientific things said there in a good cause as I imagine were said at the non-climate convention that I didnt happen to attend. But Im optimistic. I do think awareness of how things have worked is important to recreate a conservative center that is, make us careful about what we change. PG And here I thought you were going to say: Innovation drives progress, not Washington. BG But the problem now is that innovation is not viewed as an unalloyed way to improve the human condition. And thats fair, because its not pure. Does social media split us into tribes in a way thats dangerous? Does it create, even in high school social circles, a channel for bullying, or a desire to look perfect in photos? Is A.I. going to proceed so quickly that work, which is something people worship, will suffer bad distributional effects, and people wont know what to do? This is an unfortunate time for saying, Take all your damn negative thoughts, and Ill innovate away from them. People are seeing difficulty with that argument. SP Theres also a dichotomy between the roles of innovation and policy. There are certain things that governments are always going to do better than private innovators. Basic research, for instance. Also, governments can do things that might be necessary to accelerate the development of innovations. And in terms of numbers, the Gates Foundation is smaller than government by a significant margin, right? About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile The world of social media has become a de facto public square. Much of our politics and business is conducted there, yet it remains in many ways a kind of Wild West. Todays report is one of the first to shed light on the machinations taking place in the shadows: a sketchy digital economy where fake accounts known as bots, some modeled on real users, are bought and sold the lifeblood of a booming trade in influence and deception. The investigation began last March, when Gabriel Dance, a deputy investigations editor at The Times, ran into an old friend, Mark Hansen, at a conference. Mr. Hansen, the director of the Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Columbia University, had been studying the use of bots on social media. He mentioned that Devumi, a company selling social media followers to users hoping to increase their influence (or manufacture its appearance), seemed to be using bots with information, pictures and biographies taken from real users. (Selling followers is ostensibly a violation of the rules of most social media platforms Twitter forbids buying followers, retweets or likes, for instance.) The Times investigative team was already exploring social media manipulation, partly because of the Russia investigation, and reporting into firms like Cambridge Analytica, said Nicholas Confessore, a reporter for the team, referring to a data company that worked for Donald J. Trump during the presidential campaign and is now under congressional scrutiny. We were looking for a way into describing the economy of false influence on social media. Devumi would be an exemplar of how that economy worked. To begin untangling Devumis bots from real Twitter users, the Times team purchased tens of thousands of bot followers, including from Devumi itself (25,000 at a cost of $225). The team could then analyze the overlaps in whom the bots were following a group so wildly disparate and geographically diverse that there was little chance so many humans were following them all and thus begin to track which users were probably paying for them. Combing through those users followers led to still more bots, who led the team to yet more users. The result, Mr. Confessore said, was a world of fake accounts that were interconnected. Millions of them. The Republican tax law has slashed the federal corporate tax rate to 21 percent, from 35 percent. The Trump administration has argued that this cut will translate into big raises for workers, but many economists say that most of those gains will actually flow to shareholders and top executives. Take Walmart. The company says it will spend $700 million on bonuses and higher wages for cashiers, drivers and other hourly workers. Thats a tidy sum, but the company is spending far more $4 billion to buy back its stock, which will benefit its investors by raising the share price. And it is worth keeping in mind that Walmart also raised wages when tax rates were higher under President Barack Obama. Apple says it is repatriating most of the $252 billion of cash it holds abroad by making a onetime tax payment of $38 billion to the federal government. The company also has promised to create 20,000 jobs and build a new campus. This sounds great. But thanks to the Republican tax law, Apple will pay at a fraction of the tax rate on its foreign profits that it would have paid at under previous tax law just 15.5 percent on profits held as cash and 8 percent on earnings held in nonliquid assets like real estate and equipment. It is hard to believe that lawmakers made the right call by giving Apple and other multinational companies this huge tax break. Research has shown that a 2004 law allowing companies to bring foreign profits home at a discounted tax rate did little to boost investment or create jobs and that most of the tax savings went to shareholders. In cutting the corporate tax rate, Republicans have argued that the 35 percent rate was holding American businesses back relative to foreign competitors. This is hard to square with the fact that companies based in the United States have prospered in recent decades. Apple, for example, has become one of the worlds most valuable companies and went from employing 5,000 people in the United States in 1998 to employing 84,000 this year. Theres nothing wrong with cutting taxes on corporations as part of a broader reform that closes loopholes, increases American competitiveness and helps create well-paying jobs. Unfortunately, none of those conditions apply in this case. As many experts have pointed out, corporate tax cuts passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s did not turbocharge wages or investment. Similarly, a series of corporate tax cuts in the last 10 years or so by Labour and Conservative governments in Britain to 19 percent, from 30 percent did not produce a boom in wages or investment. In fact, wages grew faster in the United States, according to an article on Vox by Kimberly Clausing, an economics professor, and Edward Kleinbard, a law professor. That may not seem like much money, but its more than three times the additional Medicaid funding, both state and federal, provided to more than 4,100 nursing home residents this year. Scarce resources for that care, and other programs, will inevitably be robbed if federal inaction persists. BRENDAN W. WILLIAMS PEMBROKE, N.H. The writer is president and chief executive of the New Hampshire Health Care Association. To the Editor: My son was addicted off and on for many years. He was in detox and rehab more than a dozen times and always relapsed. When he died two months ago, he had four drugs in his system, and we assumed that was the cause of death. The medical examiner ordered an autopsy and discovered that he had died from sepsis caused by a ruptured bowel. The years of abusing drugs in combination had ravaged his body, not just his liver and kidneys but also his entire G.I. tract. I am sharing his story to alert others so as to spur them to accept treatment and avoid the tragic end our son suffered. Even if he had gained sobriety, it was too late for him; the damage had been done. We are gratified to know that Patrick Griffin is in recovery, and we wish him and his family all the best. LOS ANGELES I am often told that Los Angeles is a third-world cesspool, a line of bigoted criticism that refers to my citys immigrant population. This attitude far predates the contemporary debate over the fate of Dreamers its fueled not just by political rhetoric but also by artistic portrayals that have long been misleading or lacking. The powerful culture industries of this city have done little to undermine the idea that the real Los Angeles the place where its swarthy masses live is a place of violence, fear and backwardness. Film and television, especially, have done an incredibly poor job of portraying the Los Angeles immigrant Everyman and communities such as Huntington Park, which is more than 97 percent Latino and as proudly Mexican as some parts of Boston are proud to be Irish. The average Jose or Juana we Angelenos know well is now a fixture in cities and towns across the United States a Mexican Willy Loman in the Bronx or a Salvadoran-American Norma Rae punching a time clock at a chicken-processing plant in Alabama. But the absence of people like them from mass culture allows many of our fellow Americans to cling to the idea that immigrants especially black and brown ones dont belong. To defend the place of millions of immigrants and their progeny in American society, we need not only protest of political changes but also more art. We need to bring the ambitions, the foibles and the soul of immigrant America into the collective American mind. And for that we need television shows and movies, and more novels, poems, paintings and songs. High art and low. Last weekend, on the anniversary of the inauguration, Melania Instagrammed a throwback picture of herself in her powder-blue Jackie suit, not with her husband but with a hunky Marine escort. She wore a delighted ear-to-ear smile, the kind she never seems to flash around the Donald. (It would have been even funnier, of course, if she had posted a photo of herself in front of some empty stands and a sparse crowd, but were talking more grounds for divorce there.) After the Stormy Daniels story broke about Trump cavorting and watching Shark Week with the porn star and telling her not to worry about Melania, at home with a new baby, and then having his lawyer allegedly pay Stormy $130,000 during the campaign to hush her up a wintry Melania canceled her plan to accompany her husband to Davos. Instead, while the kid from Queens was abroad trying to impress the soul-sucking global elites he got elected railing against, pathetically bragging that he had a crowd like theyve never had before in Davos, Melania made a solo visit to the Holocaust Museum here for Holocaust Remembrance Day. This looked like a subtle reproach to Trump for his unspeakable defense of the very fine people among the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Va., and an allusion to the presidents statement last year on remembrance day, which somehow neglected to remember Jews or anti-Semitism. What a Stephen Miller special that was. Afterward, the always elusive first lady became even more elusive, slipping out of Washington, much to the surprise of the press. Suddenly, as Stormy Daniels began her media tour on Inside Edition and booked an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Melania was making a stealthy landing in Florida on an Air Force plane. Trump could humiliate his wife by being a big, horny pig, but he is the one who comes off as the embarrassment. Hes an embarrassing husband and an embarrassing president and an embarrassing leader of the free world. Barack Obama was always calling to our better angels. Donald Trump is paying off porn stars and denigrating struggling countries that send minorities to the U.S. as shitholes. How did we drop so far and so fast from class to crass? PARIS Maybe the gods were jealous. A storm drenched the courtyard of the Hotel de Sully, a 17th-century mansion in the Marais district, just as Cindy Crawford; her 16-year-old daughter, Kaia Gerber; and 18-year-old son, Presley Gerber, took the stage at a Paris fashion week party in September. As the new brand ambassadors for Omega, the family was as perfectly sculpted as the allegorical figures of the four seasons, carved into the buildings facade. But there was some confusion when, after it was Ms. Gerbers turn to speak (Omega always takes such great care of our family, she said), the M.C. tried to wrap up the presentation prematurely. Theres a fourth member of the Gerber family, said Ms. Gerber, who had emerged as one of the worlds most in-demand celebrity models, ever since she made her runway debut in New York a few weeks earlier. Oh, right. Standing alongside, but almost lost amid their sheer wattage, was the familys 55-year-old patriarch, Rande Gerber. Tall, fair-complexioned and background-handsome (think Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard), he exuded the patience of a man who was used to being overlooked. WASHINGTON Stephen Wynn, the billionaire casino mogul and prominent political donor, has stepped down as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee. He left the post, for which he had been handpicked by President Trump, after being accused of a yearslong pattern of sexual misconduct with his casino employees. Mr. Wynn had faced growing calls to step aside in the wake of a detailed investigative report in The Wall Street Journal on Friday that said Mr. Wynn had frequently demanded naked massages from female employees, and had sometimes pressured them to engage in sexual intercourse or to perform sex acts on him. In a statement on Saturday, the committees chairwoman, Ronna Romney McDaniel, said, Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair. The committee had remained silent for more than a day until Ms. McDaniel spoke to Mr. Trump, who has a longstanding friendship with Mr. Wynn. Mr. Wynn said on Saturday evening that he was resigning to eliminate a distraction for the party. The unbelievable success we have achieved must continue, he said in a statement. The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this distraction. I thank the president for the opportunity to serve and wish him continued success. WASHINGTON President Trump has spent his first year in office breaking every rule of presidential communication, conducting policymaking and diplomacy by Twitter and eschewing the careful, subdued tones of most presidents in favor of no-holds-barred attacks on his adversaries and allies alike. But on Tuesday, Mr. Trump will embrace the most traditional of presidential venues appearing before a joint session of Congress for his first State of the Union address to deliver what aides describe as an optimistic speech that will seek to reach beyond the people who voted for him in 2016. If he sticks to the script, the president is expected to call on Congress to spend at least $1 trillion to rebuild bridges, freeways, sewers and airports. And he will use the speech to lobby millions of viewers on behalf of his plan to make a series of conservative changes to the nations immigration system while also granting citizenship to as many as 1.8 million young immigrants. But if his first year has proved anything, it is that there are no guarantees when Mr. Trump faces a television camera. Cabinet meetings have veered into presidential rants. Memorial speeches have turned into self-congratulatory moments. Short photo ops have become long news conferences. Islamic militants stormed an army camp in northern Mali on Saturday, killing at least 14 soldiers in the worst attack on security forces in the West African country in more than a year, an army spokesman said. The spokesman, Col. Diarran Kone, said that after the attack in the Timbuktu region, the bodies of 17 assailants were left at the scene and the base was once again under the control of the Malian military. Mali recently commemorated the fifth anniversary of a French military mission to oust Islamic extremists from power in the major towns to the countrys north. The operation, however, merely dispersed the jihadists into the surrounding desert. In the years since, they have staged frequent attacks on the military as well as on United Nations peacekeeping forces that are trying to stabilize the country. Last January, at least 54 people were killed in the eastern city of Gao after a camp, which housed hundreds of former fighters from armed groups, was bombed. The former fighters, who were signatories to Malis 2015 peace agreement, had agreed to join forces with the military to battle extremist groups. Despite the presence of a peacekeeping mission and troops operating under a regional French anti-militant mission, violence is again on the rise and attacks are spreading farther south toward the capital, Bamako. A land mine explosion blew up a civilian passenger vehicle near the central Mali village of Boni on Thursday, killing 26 people and injuring several others. In a separate incident on the same day in the nearby town of Youwarou, the Malian military said its forces had repelled an attack by fighters suspected of Islamist insurgents. Mali and its western neighbor of Senegal plan to deploy 1,000 troops soon in an operation to pacify central Mali and contain jihadists who had been confined to its Saharan expanses in the north. But analysts doubt they will be able to do so purely through military means. The Islamists exploit the grievances of local cattle herders from the Fulani tribe and their disputes with local farmers over access to grazing lands. The governments periodic crackdowns on jihadists have therefore tended to target the Fulani, driving some of them into the arms of the armed groups. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras Facing a polarized nation in the aftermath of a disputed election, Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in on Saturday for a second term as president of Honduras. The pomp-filled ceremony at the national stadium in the capital, Tegucigalpa, was marred by large clashes outside between security forces and protesters. Mr. Hernandez, 49, begins his new term confronted by questions over his governments violent crackdown on Hondurans who have protested the results of the November vote, and its commitment to fighting corruption. As the early-morning ceremony unfolded at the stadium, security forces fired tear gas on protesters marching toward the event. Among the demonstrators, who numbered in the thousands, was the opposition candidate, Salvador Nasralla, who has refused to accept the election results. HONG KONG Hong Kong has disqualified a 21-year-old democracy advocate from running for the local legislature, the latest in a series of young politicians to be barred from public office over their resistance to the Chinese governments authority over the city. The pro-democracy party Demosisto said on Saturday that election authorities had barred its candidate, Agnes Chow, from running in a March by-election, in which Hong Kong voters will decide on the members of the Legislative Council. Ms. Chow said the ruling was no less than a declaration to the city that our political rights are handicapped. In a statement Saturday, Hong Kongs government said that a legislator cannot possibly uphold the citys de facto constitution, the Basic Law which says that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China if he or she advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means. YANGON, Myanmar For Myanmars army, the campaign of atrocity it has waged to drive hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingya Muslims out of the country is no innovation. The force was born in blood 76 years ago and has been shedding it ever since. Its founders, known as the Thirty Comrades, established the army in 1941 with a ghoulish ceremony in Bangkok, where they drew each others blood with a single syringe, mixed it in a silver bowl and drank it to seal their vow of loyalty. The army that they formed led the nation to independence in 1948. But except for a brief, initial period of peace, it has spent the last seven decades warring with its own people. The army, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power from the civilian government in Burma, as the country is also known, in 1962. The military killed thousands of protesters to keep power in 1988 and suppressed another popular uprising, the Saffron Revolution, in 2007. MADRID Tabarnia is a territory along the coast of Catalonia, with bustling ports and architectural landmarks, including a Roman amphitheater in the city of Tarragona and the unfinished Sagrada Familia basilica of Barcelona. Tabarnia has also accomplished what Catalan separatists have yet to achieve: independence. This month, Tabarnias inhabitants even elected a veteran theater director as their president. If all this sounds a bit surreal, thats because it is. Tabarnia whose name is a mash-up of Tarragona and Barcelona is an entirely fictitious entity, created and promoted by some of the people opposed to Catalonias independence from Spain. The founders of Tabarnia intend for it to send a message to Catalonias separatist politicians: That not everyone in Spains restive northeastern region shares the same breakup hopes, and that one declaration of independence could set off a cascading series of separations, to the point of absurdity. PRAGUE After an election campaign centered on questions of civility in politics and the Czech Republics place in Europe, voters decided on Saturday to stick with President Milos Zeman and his often-caustic brand of populism that has stoked resentment toward Muslim immigrants and ruptured the countrys relationship with its allies to the west. His opponent, Jiri Drahos, a political novice whose views were not well known, sought to present himself as an antidote to what he characterized as Mr. Zemans bitter and divisive leadership. In recent years, Mr. Zeman, 73, has strengthened the countrys ties with Russia and has courted China. Mr. Drahos, 68, offered a firm commitment not just to the countrys membership in the European Union, but also to the blocs values. In rejecting his vision, the country was poised to continue in the same euroskeptic direction as its neighbors Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. With more than 99 percent of the votes counted, the state-owned Czech News Agency declared Mr. Zeman the winner with 51.4 percent of the votes (or 2.8 million), compared with Mr. Drahoss 48.6 percent (2.7 million). HELSINKI, Finland President Sauli Niinisto of Finland is widely seen as a discreet operator, quietly pushing for re-election on Sunday. He has made no major mistakes, said Teivo Teivainen, a political scientist at the University of Helsinki, describing the presidents first six years in office. He seems very careful. Mr. Niinistos pet, however, is a bit of a showboating scene-stealer, who has had a memorable first term. Finlands first dog, Lennu, a wrinkly-nosed Boston terrier with a lolling tongue, has become a bona fide celebrity in the country, and beyond. Mr. Niinistos posts on Twitter, done sparingly and cautiously a few times a month, typically garner a few dozen retweets. But a portrait of a grinning, naughty Lennu, being lovingly scolded by his master at a formal occasion, was reshared on Twitter more than 50,000 times and liked almost 150,000 times after it was posted by a reporter. Mr. Varadkar was the fresh face of leadership last year when, at 38, he became Irelands youngest prime minister. He is the first Irish prime minister to have a nonwhite parent, and he came out as gay in the run-up to the successful 2015 initiative to legalize same-sex marriage. Previously, while a junior member of Parliament, Mr. Varadkar had taken a number of socially conservative positions. In 2010, he spoke against legalizing abortion for victims of rape, saying it would lead to abortion on demand. In 2009, he opposed changing the law to allow gay couples to adopt children. But during his Saturday morning interview, Mr. Varadkar said that his beliefs had evolved since 2014, when he had described himself as pro-life. I think sometimes that term pro-life and pro-choice can be misunderstood. You know, I think even people who are in favor of abortion in certain circumstances are pro-life, he said. I still believe in life, but I understand that there are circumstances in which pregnancies cant continue. He added: Every single person I know who says they are pro-choice believes in some sort of restriction. These terms pro-life and pro-choice dont really comprehend the complexity of this issue, which is a very private and personal one and one I think contains a lot of gray areas. If repealed, the constitutional ban would be replaced by legislation regulating abortion, most likely permitting it under at least some circumstances. Mr. Varadkars government says it will disclose its proposed legislation before voters act on the constitutional provision, but it has yet to formally agree on what the measures might be. An all-party parliamentary committee voted in December in favor of permitting unrestricted abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and later in cases of rape, incest or fatal fetal abnormality. While the Kurds in Syria were partners with the United States in fighting the Islamic State, reclaiming villages and cities from the extremist group, they are facing a new twist in the latest complex chapter of the conflict. Turkey says the Kurds in control of the enclave of Afrin, in Idlib Province in northern Syria, are a terrorist threat, and the Turks have recently launched an offensive to dislodge them. Now, some of those fighting alongside the Kurds are vowing to fight against Turkey. For the Westerners, their personal support for the groups vision has largely fit with the interests of the American-led coalition for much of the war. The United States provides material support and training to the Syrian Defense Forces dominated by the Kurdish fighters in their campaign against the Islamic State. But Turkey considers the Y.P.G. a terrorist organization because many of its leaders have links to the Kurdistan Workers Party, also known as the P.K.K., putting the Western fighters directly at odds with a NATO ally. Heres what you need to know about the foreigners in the Y.P.G. and what they are doing in Syria. How are foreigners joining the militia? Throughout the Syrian war, Kurdish militias have made themselves accessible to Westerners looking to join the fight, welcoming them to Syria and giving them training. The militia members have an active social media presence geared toward international recruits, and they regularly post updates, often in English, focusing not just on warfare but also on their vision for an autonomous Kurdish society. They call their movement the Rojava revolution, the name the Kurds have given to the region in northeastern Syria that they now control. JERUSALEM Legislation in Poland that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust has prompted swift and furious condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Israeli lawmakers across the political spectrum. The measure, which passed in the lower house of the Polish Parliament on Friday, would make it illegal to suggest Poland bore responsibility for atrocities committed on its soil by Nazi Germany during the occupation in World War II. The law is baseless; I strongly oppose it, Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday. One cannot change history, and the Holocaust cannot be denied. Mr. Netanyahu said he had instructed the Israeli ambassador to Poland to meet with the Polish prime minister and express his disapproval. In the short run, it has worked, by generating some assets and consolidating his power, and it has been popular in a way that could offset some of the anger over austerity measures, said Steffen Hertog, a professor at the London School of Economics, describing Prince Mohammeds gambit. But in the mid- to long term, I think confidence in the private sector has taken a hit, and this could be difficult to rebuild. The entire process, from the initial arrests through the detentions, has been shrouded in such secrecy that it remains unclear exactly who was taken into custody, what they were accused of, and what sort of deals they had to strike to get out. But interviews with more than a dozen people, most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid provoking the prince, have pulled back the curtain on some details of the arrests and the detainees time in their five-star jail. It started with a storm of phone calls from the Royal Court. In early November, princes, businessmen and government ministers were invited to dinner with King Salman or to meetings with Prince Mohammed. Others were handcuffed in their homes and dragged off like criminals. All were detained, and most landed in what became the worlds most luxurious prison. The Riyadh Ritz-Carlton stands behind high walls and ornate gates, across a freeway from the diplomatic district. The hotel has long welcomed distinguished guests, and when President Trump and his family stayed there in May, American and Saudi flags were projected on its facade. The hotels new guests or inmates received a cooler welcome. Each got his own room, but had to leave the door open, with guards posted outside. The detainees could order room service and watch TV, but they had no phones or internet, to prevent appeals for help. The rooms were still lavish, but their curtain cords and glass shower doors had been removed to prevent suicide attempts. They were not allowed to summon lawyers, who might have been able to help, and many succumbed to being stripped of their substantial assets. Many of the detainees were overweight or had health problems, and some were in their 70s, so a doctor noted their medical needs. Since none had packed for an extended stay, a tailor came, took their measurements and soon brought them new outfits. Another man arrested in Assam for supporting Taliban on FB, count rises to 16 Assam: One dead, 33 missing as boat sinks after hitting ferry steamer in Brahmaputra river Assam boat accident: Minister made to sit on road in Majuli by protesters Deaths, protests: Assam boils over reports of inclusion of Dima Hasao district in Greater Nagalim India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Guwahati, Jan 27: Assam witnessed high-voltage drama after protests broke out over reports of inclusion of Dima Hasao district in Greater Nagalim. The hill district in the state saw protests after media reports stated that Dima Hasao has been made a part of Greater Nagalim in the draft of Naga peace deal signed between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) in 2015. In fact, media reports quoted a functionary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who revealed about the plans to include the hill district of Assam in Greater Nagalim. The residents of Dima Hasao district, where the tribal community Dimasa is in majority, protested over the reported deal between the Centre and the NSCN (IM). On Thursday, during a 48-hour bandh called by various organisations, protesters went violent which forced police to open fire in Maibong, leading to the death of two persons. While one died on Thursday, another succumbed to his injuries on Friday. Media reports stated that at least 10 people were also injured in the police firing. "Maibong(Assam): 2 dead and 10 injured allegedly in police firing during protest after a bandh called by various organisations against the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao district in Greater Nagalim," tweeted ANI. Maibong(Assam): 2 dead and 10 injured allegedly in police firing during protest after a bandh called by various organisations against the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao district in Greater Nagalim. ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 On Friday, the Republic Day function at the district headquarters town Haflong was cut short with just hoisting of the tricolour as there was hardly any public present. The day being a national holiday, all offices, educational institutions, banks, post offices, markets and other establishments remained closed. But shops and markets were closed and vehicles were off the roads due to the bandh call, officials said. On Thursday, protesters had blocked trains at Maibong station, broke windowpanes of a train, damaged properties at the station and removed tracks, a NF Railway spokesperson said. To disperse the mob, police initially lathicharged and then fired in the air. Officials claimed that police had to open fire as the mob was unrelenting and continued their violence by damaging vehicles of the deputy commissioner's cavalcade. The residents of the district are worried over losing their land to Nagaland, if reports of including the district in Greater Nagalim are true. They are also against the idea of an autonomous body, on the lines of the Bodoland territorial council, for Nagas living in Dima Hasao. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 12:38 [IST] Impeachment move against CJI Misra falling flat India oi-Vicky By Vicky The move to impeach, Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra appears to be falling flat. The CPI(M) which mooted the idea said it was in talks with various opposition leaders regarding the issue. The Congress however did not openly support the move and said that it would adopt a wait and watch policy. The Samajwadi Party has said that it is not in favour of moving an impeachment motion. The spokesperson of the party, Naresh Agarwal said that there was no ground to move such a motion He however added that the Parliament must be given the right picture as to why the top four judges of the Supreme Court came out and spoke to the press. How are judges impeached in India? The CPI(M) has not got the support of the DMK and the TMC. Both have not made their stand on the issue clear. The Telugu Desam Party also backed out of the move. It said that it would not be supporting any motion of this sort. This is an internal issue of the judiciary, TDP, MP C Ramesh said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 7:10 [IST] Chaos in Kabul and the lurking danger of Keralites who joined the ISIS trying to return Ex-president Ashraf Ghani says he fled Kabul to save 6 million people in the Afghan capital India condemns barbaric terrorist attack in Kabul, offers all possible assistance India oi-Deepika By Deepika India has condemned the dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul on Saturday that targeted innocent civilians and the wounded under treatment. "There can be no justification for such reprehensible attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," the Minitry of External Affairs said in a release. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Afghanistan at this difficult times of mindless violence and terror imposed on them. " We convey our heartfelt condolences to the next of kin of victims of these terror attacks and pray for speedy recovery to those injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance, including for treatment of those injured," the MEA added. At least 63 people have been killed and 151 others injured in an explosion outside the gate of the old Ministry of Interior building in Kabul on Saturday. According to Afghan media, a car bomb was exploded close to the gate of the building in the city. This is the third major explosion this month. Early this week, one suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of the Save the Children Organization's office in PD3 of Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province on Wednesday. At least 11 people were wounded in the attack. Prior to this, at least 18 civilians were killed, and 22 others were wounded, during a deadly siege on a major hotel in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 18:40 [IST] Is money power threatening fair, transparent election process in Meghalaya? India oi-Staff By Oneindia Staff Writer Shillong, Jan 27: As a group of young men and women huddled together in a popular cafe in Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, for their evening cup of tea along with some appetizers, their discussion automatically veers towards the upcoming Assembly elections in the state on Friday evening. After all, the elections are around the corner. The state is going to vote for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly on February 27. Along with Meghalaya, two other states in the Northeast India too are going for polls. While the Assembly elections in Tripura are scheduled on February 18, Nagaland is voting with Meghalaya on February 27. The counting of votes in all the three states will take place on March 3. The youngsters of the picturesque state, which of late has seen haphazard development, are a concerned lot. Meghalaya is riddled with problems, feel most of the youngsters. From lack of infrastructure in government schools to unmotorable roads, Meghalaya suffers from similar issues plaguing the rest of the country. But what worries these college-goers the most is the dominance of "money power" during the election times. Just a few days before the Election Commission (EC) announced the poll date for the state, report stated that several women in the state received a sum of Rs 5,000 in cheques as seed money to empower them through a financial inclusion scheme. Several opposition parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National People's Party (NPP) questioned the timing of the grant given to women by the ruling Congress. "This is highly improper. The Congress did nothing for Meghalaya in the past five years. Now, they are trying to woo voters with money. People are not fools," Meghalaya BJP chief Shibun Lyngdoh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. The Congress rubbished the allegations labelled against it. Officials stated that the cheques were distributed as a part of ongoing schemes for women's empowerment. In fact, the cash flow in the northeastern state has come under the radar of the EC. The Meghalaya Election office has asked all the banks in the State to monitor and submit reports on "unusual" and "suspicious" cash transactions exceeding Rs 1 lakh by candidates and their spouse to check cash flow in the February 27 poll. Direction in this regard was given after a meeting held by state Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor with banks operating in Meghalaya. Besides, the banks have also been instructed to open dedicated counters for election purpose to facilitate prompt service to the candidates in opening of bank accounts and will be allowed for withdrawals and deposits on priority. "There is also a standing provision if withdrawal is more than Rs 10 lakh, such information should be passed on to the nodal officer of the income tax department for taking necessary actions under the income tax laws," he said. Kharkongor further said district election officers (DEOs) have also activated 180 flying squads who will be acting on tip offs on the movement of cash and take necessary actions. He also said that the EC will also be deploying Expenditure Observers in all the 60 constituencies. "They will be deployed in expenditure sensitive areas," he added. Reacting to a query, the CEO said that money above Rs 50,000 will be seized and the person from whom it is found will be called for explanation. Residents of the state admit that political parties do distribute money and booze among voters before elections. "This is an open secret. Political parties give money, booze and gifts to people to buy their votes. "Both the political parties and voters are to be blamed for rampant distribution of money and gifts before elections. Money power is the biggest malice killing the whole democratic process of elections," said a youth from Shillong. He added that officials of the EC should take adequate measures to check distribution of money during the election times. "We hope the steps taken by the EC will help restrict rampant distribution of money, this time," said another youth from Shillong. Meghalaya Assembly Party 2013 Current Standing CONG 29 24 Election Date : Feb 27 2018 Counting : Mar 03 2018 IND 13 09 UDP 08 07 HSPDP 04 04 NPP 02 02 NCP 02 02 BJP 00 02 GNC 01 00 NESDP 01 01 OTHERS 00 00 Total 60 51 (9 Vacant) OneIndia News Is Siddaramaiah set to drop his ambitious poaching plan? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The ambitious plan by Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah to poach legislators from other parties is likely to be dropped. Siddaramaiah had chalked out a plan to rope in at least 25 legislators into the Congress in a bid to beat anti-incumbency. The plan was to select candidates sure of a victory. Siddaramaiah felt that this move would help cover the loss of 20 to 25 seats in the Karnataka assembly elections 2018 owing to the anti-incumbency factor. However there appears to be stiff resistance from within the Congress. Many are against the move since they feel that it would lead to resentment among the loyalists. Karnataka assembly elections: 49 per cent would chose Congress says survey Recently during his visit to Ballari, Karnataka Congress chief, Dr. G Parameshwar had to face some uneasy movements when this topic was raised. There was plenty of squabbling as many suspected that Siddaramaiah would drop them for candidates poached from other parties. The senior leadership would discuss this issue and take a call on the matter. Sources say that Siddaramaiah may not drop the plan entirely, but the number of candidates to be poached could be reduced considerably. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 OneIndia News Complaint against viral wink song: Why everything hurts our religious sentiments so easily Is there a political conspiracy behind Padmaavat protests? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia New Delhi, Jan 27: The protests over the controversial film, Padmaavat, had 'hijacked' the nation in the recent times. Finally, the film, earlier named as Padmavati, hit the theatres amid heightened security on Thursday. Those who are closely tracking the controversy over the Bollywood magnum opus by maverick director Sanjay Leela Bhansali have called it many things at the same time--a cultural war to register Rajput or Hindu supremacy or politics over Padmaavat to woo a particular community (the Rajput to be precise). Veteran film director Shyam Benegal in an interview to IANS stated that a "deep-rooted political conspiracy" is behind the violent protests against the film, mostly witnessed in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The national award-winning film director, Benegal, himself has worked in the same subject--"Allauddin Khilji's violent obsession for Rani Padmavati" several years ago. But back then Rajput and Hindu right-wing groups did not express any anger over his project, as witnessed against Bhansali's film since last year. Benegal told IANS: "You must understand this is not an issue of tolerance or intolerance. It is something else entirely. I've filmed the same saga way back in 1988 for my series Bharat Ek Khoj on Doordarshan. Om Puri had played Allauddin Khilji. "The protests have nothing to do with the content of the film. I see a deep-rooted political conspiracy in what is happening to Bhansali's film," Benegal added. "This is nothing but an attempt to appease the Rajput vote bank. Why are no arrests being made when even school children are being targeted?" Benegal asked. On Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the film was set to release in theatres across the country, members belonging to right-wing groups decided to attack a school bus with children in Gurgaon. Like Bhansali's film, Benegal's work was also based on the poem "Padmaavat" by Malik Mohammed Jayasi. Benegal informs that when he was working for the Doordarshan series, Bhansali had assisted him in the "Padmavati" episode. Now, the question is why Hindu right-wing groups were silent then, but protested vehemently recently? It is anybody's guess. The protest over Bhansali's film started during its making last year. The members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena had assaulted Bhansali and vandalised his film's set twice last year. The groups opposing the film say that Bhansali has depicted their revered queen Padmini in a "derogratory" manner and has hurt the Hindu and Rajput sentiments. All these allegations were labelled against the makers of the film without anyone watching it. The protests against Padmaavat started once again after the release of the trailer of the film in the later part of 2017. The film was earlier set to release on December 1 last year. The Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) stalled its release and finally gave it a go ahead after asking the makers to make several changes including change in the title of the film. In spite of that, protesters asked for a ban in the film across India. The Supreme Court intervened and asked for its release after makers of Padmaavat approached it. Still, several BJP-ruled states stated that they can't allow the film to get released as it poses law and order problem. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 10:51 [IST] UP seeks urgent listing of plea in SC against Karnataka HC order quashing notice to Twitter official Karnataka government employees set to get pay hike in February, additional day off India oi-Vicky By Vicky There is very good news for Karnataka state government employees. Come February and the employees are set to get a 24 to 30 per cent hike. This would benefit 6.2 lakh Karnataka government employees. In another move, the government has also decided to introduce holidays on alternate Saturdays in government offices. The announcement will be made in the state budget next month. The state government employees had hoped that the hike would be in a range of 30 to 35 per cent. However the government has decided that the hike would be given, but in the range of 24 to 40 per cent. This move would cost the state exchequer Rs 10,800 crore. The last time the government employees got a hike was when D V Sadananda Gowda was the chief minister. He had given a hike of 22 per cent. The decision to hike the salaries in according to a report by retired IAS officer M R Srinivasa Murthy. The report is being finalised and will be submitted to the CM on January 31. This report would be taken into consideration before the State government announces the pay hike for Karnataka government employees. OneIndia News Mangalam TV honey trap case: Former Kerala minister AK Saseendran acquitted India oi-Deepika By Deepika Former NCP Minister AK Saseendran has been acquitted by Thiruvananthapuram Court on Saturday in Mangalam TV honey trap case. The chief judicial magistrate court on Saturday annulled the case against him after the complainant, a woman journalist, said she wanted to withdraw the complaint. The woman journalist informed the court that she has no complaints. She said that Saseendran did not misbehave with her and it cant be ascertained that the person at the other end of the phone was the minister. AK Saseendran was the transport minister 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly and he resigned on 26 March 2017. He belongs to Nationalist Congress Party and represents Elathur constituency. AK Saseendran on 26, March 2017 resigned from his post after his name dragged into a honey trap designed by newly launched Mangalam channel. The acquittal assumes significance as it may pave way for Saseendran's return to the cabinet. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 17:50 [IST] Amidst Padmaavat row, Prasoon Joshi to skip Jaipur Literature Festival India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Prasoon Joshi, head of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), was disappointed over a violent protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat' movie, saying the issue was not resolve through genuine peaceful dialogue. Prasoon Joshi, said, "I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. Certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful of concerns of society and cinema.Sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue." In the wake of the controversy around 'Padmaavat' movie, Joshi is not attending the annual literary event Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF). He opined that his presence in the festival may cause discomfort either to the organizers and fellow writers "Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees," Joshi said. The CBFC, the board had a meeting of their examining committee on December 28 and decided to give the film a "UA certification along with some modifications and likely change of the film's title on the basis the attributed material/creative source". The period drama made with a budget of Rs 150 crore was released on January 25 amid violent protest by Karni Sena. OneIndia News Radicalised by the Islamic State: Time to prosecute, not counsel India oi-Vicky By Vicky The arrest, counselling and re-arrest of a Pune based girl believed to be part of the Islamic State is yet another horrific reminded that trying to bring them to the mainstream does not work always. Sadiya Anwar Shaikh has had her brush with the law thrice. She was arrested first in Delhi after it was found that she was radicalised by the ISIS. She was counselled and let off since she was a minor. She then went to Kashmir, but was sent back by the agencies. Once again last week she entered Kashmir, but this time allegedly as a suicide bomber. There was a high alert that was issued following this incident. However on Friday, she was arrested. After being counselled she continued to view ISIS related content. She had no handler and was self-radicalised. The thought of doing something in Kashmir interested her and hence she decided to blow herself up on Republic Day, investigations have revealed. Good at studied, educated in a convent and having scored 90 per cent in her 10th standard exams, Sadiya was fascinated by Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa. Her browsing history suggested the same. She apparently wanted to carry out a strike in their name, investigators tell OneIndia. Does it help: Post the attacks in Paris, the policy of letting returnees into the mainstream came under question. Security experts say that there is a lurking danger that people could pretend to be counselled in a bid to reduce the heat on themselves. Such persons wait for several years before coming back into the fold of terrorism. They will wait until the agencies take the eyes of them completely and then strike. This was what one got to witness in the Pune case as well. In states such as Maharashtra, Assam and also Jammu and Kashmir, the problem of the ISIS is lurking in a big way. Surveys conducted at the behest of the Ministry for Home Affairs would show that the above mentioned states are most prone to the ISIS. The problem in such an issue is that it is sufficient if a group of six to seven youth get together and decide to wreck mayhem. Hence the task ahead is extremely tough. Moreover, India will also need to be extremely careful of youth trying to surrender or return after joining the ISIS. Even if such persons are brought back to India, it would be extremely risky to let them go. Apart from watching them closely all the time, there is also a need to impose some amount of punishment on them as suggested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA). The Wahhabis: It is the master that is always more dangerous than the foot soldier. A foot soldier is the one who just obeys orders and lets himself be remote controlled by his master. India in the past few years has seen a huge number of Wahabi preachers come and go. The Wahabis have been attempting the take over of Mosques so that they can push their radical teachings. The Wahabis have the money and in many cases they have been able to buy over the administration in some Mosques. Such incidents have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Maharasthra and Kerala. The effect of these Wahabis was so strong that only recently a group of 800 Muslim preachers issued a fatwa against these persons and the ISIS. Intelligence Bureau officials say that letting the Wahabi preachers set foot in India is dangerous in today's scenario. This entire issue needs to be re-looked as these persons are such powerful speakers that they can end up influencing a lot of youth. In fact it is the Wahabi school of thought which the ISIS practises and given this context it becomes even more dangerous to let them into India. States such as Kerala have had a large influence of the Wahabis and the IB is not happy that successive state governments are not doing enough to stop this problem. Need of the hour: Former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, C D Sahay says that there is a need to interrogate and establish the crime before prosecuting such persons. One has to be extremely safe in such cases. We have taken the more decent way of doing things. The approach that we have been taking is once such persons come back, we try to convince them about the ill-effects of undertaking such an adventure. The parents, relatives and friends are brought before the police and advised. There is a need to put-forth the message within the community so that a greater role is played by them in ensuring that the youth do not get swayed, Sahay says. Generally the approach of counselling has worked. However it does not appear to have worked well in cases where the person is completely brainwashed. Such youth are either brainwashed completely or lured in with jobs and a better future, he says. Sahay adds that we must watch out for those who are completely brainwashed as they would attempt to do it once again. These are the persons who are first radicalized and then turn into mercenaries. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 7:34 [IST] Which is the most suitable city to live in during COVID-19 SIT formed to probe attack on school bus in Gurugram India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Gurugram police has formed a SIT under the supervision of DCP South Ashok Bakshi to probe the attack on school bus case during the protest against the release of Padmaavat movie. Also, Gurugram Karni Sena Chief Thakur Kushalpal has been detained by police in connection with incidents of violence in the city. Police on Thursday had arrested 18 persons in connection with the attack on belonging to GD Goenka World School bus in Gurugram. The men were part of the mob that attacked the bus with stones and sticks while protesting against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat. A day after the police clarified that no Muslim boys have been detained in relation to the recent acts of vandalism on a Haryana Roadways bus and the school bus. The attack took place on Sohna Road near Delhi at around 3 pm on Wednesday. During the attack, at least 30 children with teachers and a staff member were inside the bus as they were on their way back home. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 15:14 [IST] Tipu never fails to haunt: Controversy now playing at Delhi assembly India oi-Vicky By Vicky Tipu Sultan does not fail to haunt. After it has been made a major issue in Karnataka, the controversy has now reached the Delhi legislative assembly. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a portrait of Tipu Sultan in the Delhi assembly among 89 other personalities including freedom fighters on Republic Day. The portraits are to be put up in galleries of the Delhi assembly. The BJP was quick to oppose the move. The BJP's Om Prakash Sharma said that the Delhi assembly should not have a portrait of Tipu. The speaker of the assembly Ram Niwas Goel however played down the objection. The Constitution of India also carries a picture of Tipu Sultan on page 144. Either the the people who wrote the Constitution are traitors or are BJP the ones, he said. In Karnataka, there is an uproar ahead of Tipu Jayanti every year. While the Congress government says that they are celebrating a freedom fighter, the BJP has accused Tipu of being anti-Hindu and a traitor. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 7:39 [IST] Uttar Pradesh: 49 arrested as fresh violence erupts in Kasganj, internet suspended India pti-PTI At least three shops, two private buses and a car were torched on the second day of violence in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj city today, police said, after a young boy was killed in clashes following stone- pelting on a motorcycle rally taken out to celebrate the Republic Day. Internet services have also been suspended till 10 pm on January 28 in trouble-torn areas in western UP, where a curfew was imposed after clashes, to prevent spread of rumours on social media, they said. Elaborating about the extent of damage, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told PTI, "In all, three shops have been damaged, by pouring petrol below the shutter and setting it afire. Fire was also set on the seats of two private buses, but the engine of the buses are intact. One empty kiosk was also set ablaze by the anti- social elements. Kasganj: Three vehicles set ablaze in two separate incidents in Nadrai & Chungi; Aligarh Division Commissioner SC Sharma says,'we are patrolling the area & trying to avoid such incidents. This incident took place in outskirts & so we don't have much info about it' #KasganjClashes pic.twitter.com/3x8oRvKVYv ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2018 In the evening, the seats of an abandoned car were set ablaze." He claimed that no violence took place today, and "violence took place only yesterday". The ADG added, "Some anti-social elements had tried to break into the gate of a mosque, but were unable to do so, as police chased them away." Meanwhile, District Magistrate R P Singh said, "Internet services were also suspended in trouble-torn area till 10 pm on January 28." Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said, "Two cases were registered on Friday. As many as nine arrests in two cases, 40 more preventive arrests have been made. ADG Agra Zone/Commissioner Aligarh/IG Aligarh range have been camping there since yesterday, an IG-level officer, D K Thakur, has reached there from Lucknow and camping since yesterday night." He added, "Five companies of PAC and 1 RAF company had reached there along with additional civil police officers/policemen from the zone. one more Company of RAF has been provided today." The principal secretary (home) also informed, "After the peaceful cremation in the morning, some miscreants have tried to disturb peace which has been strictly dealt with. Only sporadic attempts of arson in the outskirts took place today. A government spokesperson said prohibitory orders still remained in effect, but did not say whether the curfew had been lifted. A strong posse of RAF and PAC personnel have intensified vigil in the district, whose borders have been sealed to stop elements detrimental to peace from sneaking into the city."In all, 50 accused persons have been arrested. Efforts are on to arrest the rest of the accused," the ADG said, adding that the figure was likely to go up. Elaborating on the genesis of the clashes, the police said in a statement that a few people were riding motorcycles carrying the tricolours and were chanting 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. As the procession reached minority community-dominated Baddunagar, "anti-social elements" pelted stones and opened fire. "In this (firing), Chandan was killed and Naushad was injured. Naushad was referred to Aligarh for treatment," it said. Another man, identified as Akram, received head injuries. The two were undergoing treatment at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh. Naushad was out of danger and Akram was being operated upon, the hospital authorities said. The motorcycle rally was taken out by VHP and ABVP volunteers as part of celebrations on the 69th Republic Day. Meanwhile, the police today stopped firebrand leader Sadhvi Prachi in Aligarh and prevented her from visiting Kasganj. She, however, said: "If the district administration really wanted, it would have not allowed the violence." Earlier today, Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said, "Anti-social elements today tried to set on fire a small shop on the city's outskirts... Some of them have been taken into custody, while others were chased away." "Our main job at this point is to ensure...that brotherhood among communities remain intact," Kumar told reporters. The police were trying to make people "understand communal bonhomie", he said, adding that the situation was under control now. "Sufficient police personnel have been deployed." Superintendent of Police, Kasganj, Sunil Kumar Singh, said: "Anti-social elements had set two shoe shops on fire in Ghantaghar market, and fire brigade was pressed into action. "Apart from this, one utensil shop was set afire and a bus was also damaged by anti-social elements, who set it on fire. Fire brigade was called in to douse the fires." Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the violence as unfortunate, and said the people behind it would not go unpunished. But Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh 'Sajan' demanded more than just assurance from the state government. "The UP government must act tough on the anti-social elements, so that this acts as a deterrent for others." UP Congress spokesperson Virendra Madan suggested the violence was connected to Lok Sabha polls, due next year. "The state government must show seriousness and control the situation at the earliest... Is there any possible link of this violence with 2019 Lok Sabha elections for polarisation?" Divisional commissioner of Aligarh, Subhash Chandra Sharma, said the violence erupted after the cremation of the boy, who died on Friday. KGF 2 teaser release date out, Yash looks dashing and intense in new poster, check out here Explained: Why Google showed Kannada as the ugliest language of India Love you Rachchu: 35-year-old Fight master of Kannada movie electrocuted during shoot in Bengaluru Yesteryear Kannada actor Chandrashekhar passes away in Canada India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Yesteryear Kannada actor Chandrasekhar passed away due to cardiac arrest in Canada on Saturday. He was working with the Indian High Commission as a visa officer. He is survived by his mother, wife and a daughter. He first appeared on screen in 'Namma Makkalu' in 1969. Chandrasekhar had acted in 'Edakllu Guddadamele' directed by Puttanna Kanagal in 1973. The movie brought him recognition in Kannada film industry. Also, he shared screen space with Shiva Rajkumar in 'Shaivalingu' and with Darshan Thoogudeepa in 'Chakravarthy'. In 20014, Chandrashekar directed a Kannada movie- 'Poorvapara' which captures the emotions of a helpless mother who tries her best to win back her son who leads a busy lifestyle in America. 'Poorvapara' became the first Kannada movie to be screened at Toronto Film Festival. Sandalwood mourned the death of Chandrashekhar. This is the second loss to Kannada film industry this year. Actor-director Kashinath passed away last week in Bengaluru. OneIndia News Chaos in Kabul and the lurking danger of Keralites who joined the ISIS trying to return Ex-president Ashraf Ghani says he fled Kabul to save 6 million people in the Afghan capital Massive blast near embassies kills 95, injures 163 in Kabul International oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar At least 95 people have been killed and 163 others injured in an explosion outside the gate of the old Ministry of Interior building in Kabul on Saturday. According to Afghan media, a car bomb was exploded close to the gate of the building in the city. Ministry of Public Health says the death toll has risen to 95 and 163 wounded in deadly ambulance bombing, reports Tolo News Nusrat Rahimi, a spokesman for Interior Ministry, told Afghan media that the explosives in today's explosion were loaded in an ambulance which blew up after crossing the first checkpoint in the area. According to reports, Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. In chaotic scenes at the Jamuriate hospital, which is the nearest medical facility to the blast, overwhelmed doctors and nurses rushed to treat dozens of wounded lying in the corridors. Outside civilians walked through debris-covered streets carrying wounded people on their backs as paramedics loaded several bodies at a time into ambulances to take them to medical facilities around the city, reports PTI. This is the third major explosion this month. Early this week, one suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of the Save the Children Organization's office in PD3 of Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province on Wednesday. At least 11 people were wounded in the attack. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. Prior to this, at least 18 civilians were killed, and 22 others were wounded, during a deadly siege on a major hotel in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. #Kabul - Video shows the aftermath of a heavy explosion close to the old Ministry of Interior building in Kabul's PD2. pic.twitter.com/T03iI0qicB TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) January 27, 2018 OneIndia News Vicious and sinister action: Delhi court grants bail to Deep Sidhu in Red Fort violence case Farmers' stir: Ahead of 'black day' protest, Delhi Police warns against gatherings during lockdown Deep Sidhu summoned on June 29 in connection with Republic Day violence Clashes outside Indian High Commission on Republic Day in London International oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Indian High Commission in London witness clashes during Republic Day celebration, Watch | Oneindia Clashes erupted outside Indian High Commission in London as British Lord Nazir called for Azad Kashmir on India's Republic Day. Lord Nazir Ahmed attempted to hold a "black day" protest, which was countered by many Indian and British groups. I am here today to tell Lord Nazir that they are asking for independence for my state of J&K but I want freedom from Pakistan sponsored terrorism, ceasefire violations and their proxy war: Indian activist and writer in London. Lord Nazir tweeted, "Highlights from Black Day protest outside Indian High Commission- peaceful demonstration was attacked by RAW hired thugs." Highlights from #BlackDay protest outside Indian High Commission- peaceful demonstration was attacked by RAW hired thugs pic.twitter.com/vyeiQaBUMH Lord Nazir Ahmed (@nazir_lord) January 26, 2018 Billboard vans with messages such as "India Leave Kashmir: Free Kashmir", "Khalistan Zindabad" and "70 Years of Indian Brutality" were seen in London during the demonstrations. #WATCH Clashes erupted outside Indian High Commission in London as British Lord Nazir called for Azad Kashmir on India's Republic Day pic.twitter.com/IJQb3XajIu ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018 OneIndia News Guggenheim museum offers Trump used 'golden toilet' instead of Van Gogh painting International oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Trump and first lady Melania were offered a 18-karat solid gold toilet by the Guggenheim Museum when the couple had asked to borrow a Van Gogh painting from the museum. The museum offered President Trumpthe gold toilet from its collection as a "long-term loan" for the White House. The Guggenheim responded that it could not accommodate the request and offered the toilet instead, according to The Washington Post. "We are sorry not to be able to accommodate your original request, but remain hopeful that this special offer may be of interest," curator Nancy Spector wrote in an email to the White House, according to the Post. Created by, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, the fully functioning golden toilet was used as a temporary interactive exhibit in one of the museum's bathrooms. The piece, titled "America," has been described as satire mocking excessive wealth. A note on the museum website describes the piece as, Its participatory nature, in which viewers are invited to make use of the fixture individually and privately, allows for an experience of unprecedented intimacy with a work of art. Cattelan's toilet offers a wink to the excesses of the art market but also evokes the American dream of opportunity for all-its utility ultimately reminding us of the inescapable physical realities of our shared humanity." OneIndia News Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Trump to deliver State of Union speech in presence of 2 dozen 'Dreamer' immigrants International pti-PTI Washington, Jan 27: President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress in presence of two dozen immigrants who came to the US illegally will be in attendance on Tuesday. The move comes as the White House prepares to unveil its new immigration framework Monday, one that offers a pathway to citizenship for up to 1.8 million undocumented "Dreamers" who were 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 today by a congressional aide. Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo of Florida, a state with a substantial immigrant community, said he too will bring a Dreamer to the speech. House Democrat Scott Peters of California said he was "honored" to have Karen Bahena, who was brought by her parents across the border from Mexico 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. "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." 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. The "Me Too" movement will also be well-represented. 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. 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. PTI Why it is important to maintain status quo at Doklam International oi-Vicky By Vicky Doklam is back in the news. Amidst talk of Chinese activity, it is important to note that it is in the best interest that status quo is maintained. The Doklam standoff has been blown out of proportion but it is important not to change the "status quo" at sensitive points on the India-China border, Indian ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said. In an interview to the state-run Global Times on Friday he said post-Doklam, 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 Doklam standoff damaged ties. Doklam belongs to us, learn lessons from past, China tells India "I believe that in the post-Doklam 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 daily of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) known for its strident anti-India write ups. Also in an apparent reference to reports that China may try to make yet another attempt to build the road in Doklam 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 Doklam+ where Chinese military attempted to build a road close to Chicken Neck corridor had sparked a new round of tensions at the border. It finally ended on August 28 after China agreed to stop the construction of road. 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 Doklam, 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 in 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. 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. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 6:55 [IST] NetEnt Reports Lower Preliminary Revenues for Q4 2017 Published January 27, 2018 by Brett C Online gaming developer, NetEnt reported weaker than forecast quarterly results in Q4 2017. However, the president and CFO stressed that these are simply preliminary results, with actual results expected in February 2018. NetEnt, one of the worlds leading providers of online casino games, reported lower than expected revenues for Q4 2017. The total revenues between October and December 2017 amounted to 419 million Swedish krona, significantly lower than analyst forecasts. However, NetEnt industry aficionados are not overly concerned about the actual performance of the company. They claim that the forecast figures and the preliminary totals often tend towards the lower side. Q4 Revenues Are Subject to Change During 2017, NetEnt stopped operating in several countries including Poland, Australia, and the Czech Republic. This of course dented the companys bottom line, and led to 3% less revenue growth for the Swedish gaming giant. For NetEnt, share prices declined 18% in 2017, while the all share index of the Stockholm OMXS rose by 10%. The president and chief financial officer of NetEnt stated that recently released figures are simply preliminary results for the company. The final report will be issued on Thursday, 15 February 2018. The 3-month session between October and December 2017 likely generated lower profits than estimates. The preliminary results stated that 419 million Swedish krona, the equivalent of $52.1 million was reported in Q4 2017, while operating profits of 150 million Swedish krona were generated. The companys cash flow remains solid however. World Leading Provider NetEnt is a world-class provider of leading online casino games such as Gonzos Quest, Planet of the Apes, Starburst, Twin Spin Deluxe, Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack Hammer 2, The Invisible Man, and Wild Wild West: the Great Train Heist. NetEnt has also been one of the forerunners in all that has to do with branded video slots, creating popular games based on popular cultural artifacts. For example Netent's "NetEnt Rocks" series which included three popular branded video slots about Guns'N'Roses, Jimmy Hendrix and Motorhead. Their 2014 "Aliens" slot has received critical acclaim, for offering players a traditional video slot experience mixed with innovative FPS elements. On the orders of Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC members and officials reviewed the langar and other services for farmers in Karnal. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (Image by Egberto Willies) Details DMCA When one watches Fox News, it is easy to see why their viewers are so misinformed. The network uses proven techniques to keep its viewers, pump them with propaganda & misinformation, and then distract them from reality. Recently many news agencies reported with corroborated sources that Donald Trump attempted to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. President Trump has been lying for months about not even considering firing the special counsel. The president when confronted with the revelation in Davos, referred to it as fake news. Sean Hannity attempted the bloviation with his viewers. Hannity immediately reported that the president's attorney dismissed the story. A few minutes later since Fox News was now saying that in fact, the story was right, he came with a dismissive semi-correction followed by bait & switch. He showed his viewers an exhilarating car crash. Now they have forgotten all about the deception. Americans have been progressively trained to be easily distracted, develop a short attention span, and jump to the next high. It serves the plutocracy well. This is very similar to how monarchies have maintained power over the masses for centuries. Move to Amend in Utah used a skit to demonstrate how all aspects of our plutocracy implement that Bread & Circus technique. Check it out as it is very well worth the watch. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Gush Shalom YEARS AGO, when I was a member of the Knesset, I decided to stage a demonstration in the plenum hall. I put on a T-shirt with the slogan "Peace is greater than Greater Israel." In the middle of the debate I took my jacket off, displaying the slogan. After a few minutes, an usher approached me and said politely: "The Speaker would like to see you in his office." The speaker was Yitzhak Shamir, a former commander of the Lehi terrorist underground. He received me with a broad smile, asked me to be seated and said: "Uri, you have made your point. Now I ask you to take the t-shirt off and return to your seat!" Of course I did so. I remembered this small incident this week, when something much more serious happened in the Knesset. THE AMERICAN vice president honored Israel with a visit and was received like a king. Why? Don't know. To my mind, the man is a good-looking and well-dressed fool. Wherever he stopped, he made speeches that should have made even ardent Zionists blush. He lauded Israel in terms of childish adulation, heaping shameless flattery upon fake history. Official Israel was ecstatic. No one reminded the public that the extreme Christian evangelism espoused by Pence has an unhappy end. It says that after all the Jews have gathered in the Holy Land, Christ will return to earth and all the Jews will convert to his religion. Those who don't will perish. The high point of the visit was Pence's speech in the Knesset plenum. This in itself was curious. Such honors are reserved for foreign heads of state. Pence, as a mere vice, had no such right. But the Israeli government was set to flatter the man, who might one day become president himself. (Actually, the only reason I can imagine for not throwing Donald Trump out is the frightening idea that Pence will become president.) As a former Knesset member I was invited to be seated in the Plenum hall on this occasion, but of course I declined the honor. What followed was shameful. When the vice president started to utter his chain of flatteries, the members jumped up and gave him a wild standing ovation. This was repeated again and again, up and down, up and down, and looked both ridiculous and disgusting. Contrary to the US congress, the Knesset does not allow applause. In all my 10 years as a member, during which I attended every single session, I don't remember a single hand-clap, not to mention multiple standing ovations. After the guest's speech, representatives of the parties had the right to respond. All the Jewish parties lauded the American politician wholeheartedly. No difference between coalition and opposition. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Consortium News The latest tragedy of misguided U.S. foreign policy in Central America is the tacit support for another stolen presidential election in Honduras. The new right-wing renegade government there is inflicting terrible violence upon people who refuse to accept the election results from Last November's election between extreme right-wing parliamentary dictator, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the current president, and progressive reformer, Salvador Nasralla. To get a clearer picture as to what is happening on the ground in Honduras -- which includes dozens of murders of street activists -- I spoke to Sandra Cuffe. Based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Cuffe has resided for many years in Central America and writes for several online publications. Cuffe also expressed deep concern for the safety of Edwin Espinal, a noted activist and ally to many movements in Honduras, including COPINH. COPINH is the group founded by the late Berta Caceres, who it is believed was assassinated by right-wing forces affiliated with the Honduran government. Espinal has now been arrested and is being held under difficult circumstances at a Honduran military base. "The current government has arrested, beaten Espinal many times," said one friend and co-worker of Espinal. "His body has been beaten and broken repeatedly. Now he is a political prisoner, held in leg chains, for having exercised his right to free speech and free assembly." I spoke to Cuffe on January 24 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Dennis Bernstein: Could you remind people what happened in terms of recent elections in Honduras, and give us a sense of the atmospheric pressure right now? Sandra Cuffe: Last November 26 there were general elections in Honduras. It was a fiercely contested election between Juan Orlando Hernandez, the current president, and Salvador Nasralla, who was the candidate for the oppositional alliance against the dictatorship. According to the Honduran constitution, re-election for the office of president is not allowed but the right wing has been concentrating power to the point where the executive branch controls basically all branches of government and a supreme court ruling allowed for the president's re-election. On the other side, the Libre Party grew out of resistance to the 2009 coup d'etat that was supported by the United States. For these elections, it formed an alliance with a smaller party, as well as with Salvador Nasralla. After more than half the votes had been counted, preliminary results had Nasralla in the lead by five points, which was considered irreversible. The computer system then mysteriously crashed and when it came back online that lead began to rapidly disappear. That was the earliest indication that fraud was involved. The official results took another few weeks to come out. The Organization of American States found serious irregularities in the voting and numerous indications of fraud. Meanwhile, there were massive protests and all kinds of actions going on across the country. At least 35 people have been killed, with the actual number being probably much higher. Most were killed when security forces opened fire on protests around the country. Hundreds have been wounded and well over a thousand have been detained. Many have been released but some are still being held as political prisoners. The inauguration is set for January 27 so we are now in the middle of a week of action leading up to that. DB: Please say a little more about what is at stake here and why people are willing to put their lives on the line. SC: What is at stake is democracy. Since the 2009 coup, people have organized, formed political parties and alliances. A lot of people who hadn't been politically active before are now starting to take action in an attempt to change what is going on. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Our Future Defense Secretary James Mattis announced a dramatic shift in military policy last week, and it threatens to plunge the world into new forms of conflict. The secretary, known as "Mad Dog" Mattis when he was a four-star Marine general, now commands the most powerful military force in human history. Mattis insists the nickname came from the press. That may be true, although generals are notoriously canny about their own publicity. Whatever the nickname's provenance, Mattis is not "mad." He is, in fact, a rational and articulate spokesperson for the national security ideology that has dominated American political life since the end of World War II. That's disturbing in a very different way. Mattis, a clear-eyed cold warrior, has just announced the start of a new cold war. Mattis made his announcement in a speech to the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins. Mattis began the speech by paying tribute to what his prepared remarks called the "character" of Paul Nitze, a noted Cold War hawk. Together with fellow cold warriors Richard Pipes and Paul Wolfowitz, Nitze created "Team B," a private Cold War think tank whose sole purpose was to overrule the CIA's more modest estimates of the Soviet military threat. Nitze's "background," according to Mattis' text, made the SAIS "a fitting place" to unveil the administration's new national defense strategy. That's true, although perhaps not for the reasons Mattis may think. Team B's estimates were "grossly inaccurate," as former Reagan defense official Lawrence Korb noted in a 2004 Los Angeles Times op-ed; even the CIA's more modest estimates of Soviet power turned out to be overstated. Nevertheless, its findings were "widely leaked to the press" shortly before Jimmy Carter became president. Team B's backers got the military spending they wanted, with a buildup that began under Carter and accelerated under Ronald Reagan. Wolfowitz and his fellow neoconservatives eventually used equally spurious data to drum up support for the invasion of Iraq, with catastrophic consequences. As president-elect, Donald Trump promised an end to "intervention and chaos" and insisted that "our focus must be on defeating terrorism and destroying ISIS." With this speech, Trump's administration has fallen even more in line with the bipartisan consensus of the last 80 years. Not long ago, the generals on Donald Trump's team were being lauded by pundits and politicians as the "adults in the room," or the "axis of adults," who would prevent him from doing anything reckless. The commentary on Trump's three former generals -- Mattis, John Kelly, and H.R. McMaster -- bordered on the hagiographic at times. "They are everything our commander-in-chief is not," Daniel Kurtz-Phelan gushed in New York Magazine of Mattis and the other ex-generals on Trump's team: "steady-handed, competent and decent professionals, truthful and generally cogent communicators." Kelly's true colors became more apparent while he was Homeland Secretary, when he acted with surprising brutality against immigrants and their families and made wild and unfounded claims about a "nation under attack" from Islamic terrorism. (The 94 people killed in the US by terrorists since 9/11 is essentially equal to the daily death toll from gun violence.) Later, as White House Chief of Staff, Kelly distorted American history in order to make sympathetic comments about pro-slavery forces in the Civil War. One historian said his comments reflected "profound ignorance." The other designated "adult," McMaster, is the National Security Advisor who once wrote a highly influential work on military ethics entitled "Dereliction of Duty." But McMaster, who is notoriously hawkish on North Korea, has reportedly been relegated by Trump to the children's table and is currently denying rumors of an imminent departure. That leaves Mattis. According to Kurtz-Phelan, Mattis was "known as both tough and cerebral, a 'warrior monk' who goes home to bachelor's quarters to read history, he retired in 2013 after overseeing military operations in the Middle East as head of Central Command." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (Image by Egberto Willies) Details DMCA There is a reckoning that will occur. And it may be closer than most think. And when it happens it won't be pretty. There are some crazy Trump supporters out there. And the 'sane' ones will not likely have the sway to mitigate the carnage. Evangelicals may never admit that they've made a mistake with Trump, but it should concern us when other Trump supporters like the white nationalists and militias finally see that Trump and the Right Wing Republicans screwed them. Some believe that day will never come. One must remember that McCarthyism came to an end. One should fear that the finalization of Trumpism could be violent. Trump built his base on hate, promises to the white underclass whom capitalism left out, and promises to Evangelicals. Fulfilling some of these promises are easy while others are just impossible under the tenets of our current economic system. The pledges to Evangelicals were not difficult to deliver. Put a Right Wing Conservative judge on the Supreme Court. Change healthcare rules to make women's choices that more difficult. Give wealthy church overlords more say in the political arena so that they can further theocratize the country. Most politicians Left and Right are afraid to tackle the evil within the church, so they pretty much get carte blanc. Trump's promise to build the wall while not impossible will not happen because not even the president cares. He would instead give the money necessary to construct a full-length fence, to his wealthy benefactors. Of course, he will still build portions so that his builder friends can further rip off the taxpayer. Remember a ladder or a tunnel in the most desolate area of any wall defeats its purpose. Jobs, jobs, jobs? There is no policy the president is proposing that has the potential to create jobs on a different slope from what President Obama left. In fact, the tax cut at the expense of a spending build, like an infrastructure bill ensures that reality. Deporting immigrants, most of whom work, is a double edge sword. Evangelicals will have to answer for their hypocrisy of breaking up families and the tenets of Christianity where they are responsible for these souls. But it is more profound; deportation will create higher prices and shortages, for produce. It means all those small restaurants and convenient stores will go bankrupt as they lose their reliable customers. The problem for the president is not only math but economics. The problem with his less poor-class and middle-class supporters is that most are likely not sufficiently versed in economics to realize Trump was selling them crap. The wealthy who voted for him knew what they were getting exactly, the further transfer of wealth from the masses to them. In other words, the pilfering of the masses. So what happens when Trump supporters realize they've been had? We discuss that in Politics Done Right on Facebook Live. Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. I was seventeen when the border patrol first pulled me out of line for questioning. I was crossing the bridge from Mexico to Texas by myself, like I'd done for years. An agent named Trejo looked at my passport and said, "step out of the line." When I asked why, he repeated the order. I asked again, and he didn't like that. Next thing I knew, I was escorted to a room by two other agents. They made me empty my backpack and pockets on to a table before they sat me down for interrogation. What made the whole thing so terrifying was that I was a minor, and my mom wasn't a legal US resident yet. One asked: "Why do you cross over to Mexico at all? There's nothing for you there." I wanted to answer: "That's my business." But things would've gone worse. They eventually let me go. I've heard things like "wetback" and "speak English, this is America" from other people with Spanish names living in areas that used to be Mexico. Give it a few generations, or just a higher social status, and our common roots don't matter to them anymore. This is why politicians can say anything about Mexicans with virtually no backlash. This is why there's no "Latino Lives Matter" or any other well-known groups advocating for our civil rights. The system itself has created a caste system of Mexicans who look down on other Mexicans. And, as with any caste system, someone needs to be seen as dirt. The bigger picture, among most Latinos is not much better. We might get along, but Mexicans will stay with Mexicans, Dominicans with Dominicans, etc. We also stereotype and think less of others. We could unite as one Latino people, but we don't. And I don't think we'll come together any time soon either, at least not until we've collected enough martyrs and aggressions. President Trump called Mexicans murderers and rapists in the presidential elections. The DNC referred to us as the "Taco Bowl Engagement" in emails. The police and border patrol harass and abuse us. And what do we do? We join them. The last presidential election GOP had a higher Latino turnout than in previous years, and the border patrol draws a lot of Mexican-American agents. But that's not as bad as the rest of us who do nothing. I'm just as guilty of this. I'm writing this in English, and living in the US. I don't do anything to help other Mexicans here. Because of my dad's Spanish ancestry, I don't even look that brown. My accent is what gives me away. I live between two countries with an Aztec calendar hanging around my neck. Living in the US has not made me forget who I am, it reminds me of where I'm from. I see this centuries-old problem, but I don't know what the solution is. Maybe we will keep selling each other out until things get so bad that we finally stand together as the same people and shout: " Latinos unidos!" But I know there will still be Latinos in the riot police that will come for us. I'm twenty-three now, living far from the border. The north, especially a liberal city like New York, provides a faint sense of comfort where at least any discrimination will come from someone who doesn't look like me. Yet, so many people don't know or refuse to hear about this Mexican discrimination against Mexicans on the border. Some people here in the north even act like I'm making it up. But it's real, it's common, and it's very disheartening. I still think about that first time that I was pulled out of the line. I filed my first complaint against the Customs Border Patrol later that night. I forgot the names of the two other men who questioned me in the room, but I'll never forget that it was agent Trejo who pulled me out. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. We Need An Elected Attorney General Who Has the Power to Appoint the Director of the FBI The President's firing of James Comey and his attempted firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller demonstrate that we need an independently elected attorney general to run the Justice Department. An independent Justice Department will not be subject to Presidential influence or control. As we elect attorneys general in nearly every state, we should elect the United States Attorney General. The office of Attorney General has been a political, not legal, position for far too long. I have done battle with the Department of Justice for over forty years in civil cases, from John Mitchell to Ed Meese, to Alberto Gonzales and Jeff Sessions. And I can report that the Justice Department does a horrendous job, representing government agencies no matter how illegal or outrageous the conduct that was committed in the name of the United States. I was the lead attorney on the Hungarian Gold train case for seven years. In that case the Justice Department (or as I have always called it, the Injustice Department) defended (at first under Clinton's Attorney General, then under George W. Bush's Attorneys General) the U.S. Army's failure to return property seized during World War II that belonged to Hungarian Jews. Although the property was original stolen by the Nazis, the United States Army wrongfully and illegally refused to return the property to its rightful owners. Finally, after pressure from Congress and the New York Times, the government settled the case and issued a rare formal apology. An elected attorney general would be independent of the White House--he or she could not be fired by the President. The elected attorney general would be responsible to the people who elected him or her. As the FBI is part of the Justice Department the elected attorney general would appoint the head of the Bureau. Of the 50 state attorneys general, 43 are elected. In five states, the attorney general is appointed by the governor (Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wyoming). In Maine, the attorney general is selected by secret ballot of the legislature, and in Tennessee, the state Supreme Court appoints the attorney general. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who claimed that he recused himself from the Russian inquiry, nonetheless assisted President Trump in his removal of James Comey as head of the FBI. Neither the Attorney General nor President Trump had the right to fire the FBI director. Eighty-two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Franklin Roosevelt's firing of an FTC Commissioner. Humphey's Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935). Director Comey, like Commissioner Humphrey, was appointed for a designated term and could only be fired for cause. The cause cited by the President was clearly subterfuge--the real reason was to stop Comey's investigation of the Trump campaign's connection with the Russians. James Comey could have filed suit to challenge his termination, but has apparently decided not to challenge President Trump's actions, and to quietly return to his home in Connecticut. Let the people decide who should enforce our laws. An independent Attorney General would tell federal agencies who are sued that the agency must compensate individuals or entities that they harmed when the agency violated the law. An independent elected Attorney General would no longer be the President's puppet, crony or brother. An independent Justice Department and an independent FBI would investigate alleged crimes committed by occupants of the White House without fear of being fired and would improve the public's level of confidence in the fairness of the legal system. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. A few days ago Oxfam reported on wealth inequality: The richest one percent wrapped their hands around 82 percent of the wealth created last year. Worse the 3.7 billion people comprising the poor half of humanity gained nothing. If anyone in the U.S. thinks those poor are remote, take a walk along with Leilani Farha, a Canadian lawyer and UN special rapporteur on adequate housing. Her job is to assess compliance with international human rights law. Yes, housing is a right according to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ms. Farha has visited slums and shanty towns in poorer countries like Mexico, Philippines and Indonesia. But now she is here in central San Francisco at the invitation of activists. It is a town where the median home value exceeds a million dollars but the reason for the invitation lies with the homeless under bridges, in alleyways and nooks, around 7,500 last year. "I couldn't help but be completely shocked", she remarks. She is headed to Los Angeles next, and is concerned because everyone has told her the situation there is much worse. The area west of the two main railroad stations in Chicago looked dilapidated thirty years ago but you would seldom see a homeless person or a panhandler. Now sleek new buildings fill the adjacent streets; there are new shops, businesses and food places but so are panhandlers lining the street. Yes, inequality in the U.S. gets worse by the year and is the worst among developed nations but it doesn't stop there -- world inequality is a problem. Every year before Davos, Oxfam issues a report and then brings the subject up at the forum. Each year the attendees listen, each year Oxfam is invited back, and each year the situation deteriorates. It was rare to find a beggar in Britain (as indeed in the U.S.) in the 1950s and 1960s; it is commonplace now. No one can be sure what tips the balance, but everyone knows extreme inequality is dangerous. It has and will lead to extreme events. . Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Alternet Dutch journalists give tantalizing details of a cyber-war between Russia and America. (Image by Photo Credit: YouTube.com / de Volkskrant) Details DMCA Dutch spies alerted their American counterparts as early as 2014 about Russian hacking into State Department and White House computers and subsequent Russian hacking of the Democratic Party in the 2016 election, according to a series of reports in Dutch media. The joint investigation by de Volkskrant newspaper and Nieuwsuur ("News Hour"), a current-affairs television program, describe how Dutch intelligence experts accessed the Russian hackers' computers and cameras in hallways at a university in Moscow. The Dutch spies watched a team of Russian hackers infiltrate the State Department, the White House and the Democratic Party to pilfer emails and electronic documents, including 2016 campaign emails later published by Wikileaks. The disclosures add new details to Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election, which, according to the Dutch reports, was part of a larger pattern of Russian meddling in Western elections. The reports also raise questions about why the Democratic Party did not sufficiently respond when alerted to the hacking, which shadowed the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign. "In the summer of 2015, Dutch intelligence services were the first to alert their American counterparts about the cyber-intrusion of the Democratic National Committee by Cozy Bear, a hacking group believed to be tied to the Russian government," Nieuwsuur's report began. "Intelligence hackers from Dutch AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) had penetrated the Cozy Bear computer servers as well as a security camera at the entrance of their working space, located in a university building adjacent to the Red Square in Moscow." "Over the course of a few months, they saw how the Russians penetrated several U.S. institutions, including the State Department, the White House, and the DNC. On all these occasions, the Dutch alerted the U.S. intelligence services, Dutch TV program Nieuwsuur and de Volkskrant, a prominent newspaper in the Netherlands, jointly report on Thursday," Nieuwsuur said. "This account is based on interviews with a dozen political, diplomatic and intelligence sources in the Netherlands and the U.S. with direct knowledge of the matter. None of them wanted to speak on the record, given the classified details of the matter." Dutch intelligence spied in real time on the hackers' computers and a hallway security camera in a nearby corridor, the journalists said. They said the Dutch soon realized they were observing a notorious Russian cyber-espionage unit. The Dutch agents "consider Cozy Bear an extension of the SVR, the Russian foreign intelligence service, which is firmly controlled by President Putin." "The information shared by the Netherlands about the hacks at the DNC ended up on the desk of Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor leading the FBI investigation into possible Russian interference in the American elections," Nieuwsuur said. "As early as December, the New York Times reported that information from, among others, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands had propelled the FBI investigation." The journalists also offered new details about what information and communication channels were accessed across the U.S. executive branch and Democratic Party. The report also describes battles fought in cyberspace between Russian hackers and western counter-espionage technologists, with attacks, countermoves and continued assaults. Political Espionage and Cyber Warfare The Dutch news reports said their country's intelligence service broke into the elite Russian operation four years ago, but initially did not know its significance. "It's the summer of 2014. A hacker from the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD has penetrated the computer network of a university building next to the Red Square in Moscow, oblivious to the implications," Volkskrant reported. "One year later, from the AIVD headquarters in Zoetermeer, he and his colleagues witness Russian hackers launching an attack on the Democratic Party in the United States. The AIVD hackers had not infiltrated just any building; they were in the computer network of the infamous Russian hacker group Cozy Bear. And unbeknownst to the Russians, they could see everything." Soon after, the Dutch spy agency observed a real-time and successful Russian hacking attack on State Department and White House computers, Nieuwsuur reported. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. See original here By Mark Sumner The best way to tell just how reluctant to talk the man who will fix everything really is, is to look at who is making this announcement. "A 'spooked' Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, won't agree to a staff interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Chuck Grassley said." What does Kushner have to be "spooked" about? There are the lies he told Congress about contacts between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks. The over 100 errors and omissions on his security form. The $285 million loan from Deutsche Bank that Kushner landed on the eve of the election. His role in funding an illegal Israeli settlement. The ongoing saga of his attempt to sell the 666 Fifth Avenue white elephant -- a brilliant purchase by Jared that is threatening to drag his family business into oblivion. His statement that he walked into the Trump Tower meeting with Russian operatives not knowing what it was about, despite getting advance emails. That time he forgot to let the Senate Intelligence Committee know that he was using a private email account to do White House business. His role in trying to sell Russian nuclear reactors across the Middle East. Or maybe just the multiple occasions where his family traded on his position in the government to sell green cards in China. After that, there's just concerns about money laundering. And money laundering. And money laundering. So no reason for Kushner to be nervous. "'I had hoped to speak with all the witnesses surrounding the Trump Tower meeting before releasing any interview transcripts, but with the unilateral release of the transcript for Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson, it seems to have spooked other potential witnesses,' Grassley said Thursday. 'As a result it looks like our chances of getting a voluntary interview with Mr. Kushner has been shot.'" Wait ... what was in Simpson's testimony that would set Kushner's knees wobbling? Grassley likely meant to imply that Kushner was nervous because things he said behind closed doors at the Senate might appear in public if the transcript was released. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the Fusion GPS transcripts -- but only after Glenn Simpson himself begged for their release so that the information in them could be used to fight back against false claims being made by Republicans. Feinstein was completely within Senate rules with her release. Nothing that was either classified or sealed was revealed to the public, and the person being interviewed wanted the material released. It's a miserable excuse for giving Kushner an out on testifying. As far as the contents of the transcripts go, Kushner actually gets only a single mention in the Senate transcript of the interview with Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson. That mention comes in a description of the Trump Tower meeting from a Republican staffer more interested in drawing dots between Fusion and Prevezon Holdings than finding out anything about the events at the meeting. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Palestine Chronicle Martin Luther King, Jr. (Image by philozopher) Details DMCA On January 15, millions of Americans commemorated Martin Luther King's Day. His famous speech, "I Have a Dream" was repeated numerous times in media outlets as a reminder of the evil of racism, which is being resurrected in a most pronounced way in American society. But that is only one version of Dr. King that is allowed to be broadcast, at least in polite company. The other, more revolutionary, radical and global King is to remain hidden from view. Exactly one year before he was assassinated, on April 4, 1968, Dr. King delivered a truly scathing speech that challenged not only the state apparatus by the liberal hierarchy which posed as if they were his allies. It was called: "Beyond Vietnam." "We must stop now," he said, his voice thundering. "I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of Vietnam. I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted." Then, he added these words, which sent much alarm among those who sought to isolate anti-war efforts from King's own struggle: "I speak of the -- for the -- poor of America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home, and death and corruption in Vietnam." Unlike the more famous speech "I Have a Dream" -- delivered in the 1963 "March on Washington" -- "Beyond Vietnam" pushed past the boundaries of what is acceptable by "liberal" America into whole new territories, where Dr. King's anti-war and global solidarity values were unapologetically linked to the fight against racism and poverty at home. On that day, the American civil rights struggle courageously broke free from the confines of American exceptionalism, to join a worldwide movement of struggles against racism, colonialism and war. Unsurprisingly, Dr. King's speech angered many members of White communities who were directly or indirectly affiliated with the Washington establishment. Merely three days after the speech, the New York Times countered in its editorial: "There are no simple answers to the war in Vietnam or to racial justice in this country. Linking these hard-complex problems will lead not to solutions but to deeper confusion." In fact, there was no "confusion," but total and complete clarity and coherence. To be truly meaningful, human rights values cannot be sectionalized and isolated from one another. Yet, what alarmed the so-called liberals is the intellectual growth and awareness of the civil rights movement at the time, which matured enough to the point of pushing for greater integration among all struggles. A more vibrant and empowered King, aged only 38 years at the time, seemed to have fully fathomed the link between the oppression of poor, Black Americans at home and the oppression of poor Vietnamese peasants abroad. They were all victims of what he dubbed the "giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism." Right there and then, King had achieved a revolutionary and terrifying idea that might have contributed to his assassination a year later, for many of his allies outside the Black communities began disowning him. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From The Nation Climate Change and the Failure of Market Mechanisms (Image by YouTube, Channel: TheRealNews) Details DMCA When the next phase of the US climate movement launches with a nationally streamed rally at the end of the month, the wound-licking will be over. Yes, the Trump administration has upset any hope of a smooth and orderly transition to a new energy world. Yes, it's pulled the United States out of the Paris climate agreement and opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Yes, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have made a mockery of hurricane victims and fire victims and flood victims, from San Juan to Montecito to Houston. But the fossil-fuel industry doesn't hold all the high cards. We'll start playing our own aces for a Fossil-Free United States on January 31, when Bernie Sanders and an all-star lineup brought together by 350.org that includes everyone from indigenous activist Dallas Goldtooth to NAACP organizer Jacqui Patterson to star youth climate organizer Varshini Prakash lay out a coordinated plan for the year ahead. The basic outlines are pretty simple. None of the strategies rely on Washington's doing anything useful. In fact, because DC has emerged as the fossil-fuel industry's impregnable fortress, our strategies look everywhere else for progress. In every case, real momentum has emerged, even in the last few weeks. Job 1: Push for a fast and just transition to renewable energy in cities and states. The Trump administration has done what it can to slow down sun and wind power, even recently raising tariffs on imported solar panels, but it has not been able to change the basic underlying math. With each passing month, the technology that powers renewable energy gets cheaper and cheaper. It's already generating massive quantities of electrons at prices cheaper than any other technology has ever managed in the past. A recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency reports that renewables will be consistently cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020. That's why mayors and governors have felt free to make ambitious pledges about the future. So far, 51 cities have joined a campaign led by the Sierra Club promising to convert to 100 percent renewable energy; five are already there. Of course, that leaves tens of thousands of cities and towns that can make a similar pledge -- and activists will be fanning out to their councils and selectboards and mayors in the months ahead. They'll do it knowing this is a movement with real breadth: It's not just the San Franciscos and Madisons that are on board, but the San Diegos, the Atlantas, the Fayettevilles. I mean, Salt Lake City is signed up. You know those blue dots on the election-night maps, the ones that contain most of the country's innovation? They're making the commitment, and those commitments will push the engineers to keep innovating. During Bush years, when Dick Cheney effectively ran energy policy, Washington was similarly closed to real progress. So state governments adopted Renewable Portfolio Standards, which went on to spur much of the spread of sun and wind power. The same thing is happening now, except at an even faster pace. Job 2: Stop new fossil-fuel projects. The welter of pipelines and fracking wells and coal terminals that the industry is attempting to build will, if completed, lock us into decades more of spewing of carbon and methane. But many of these are vulnerable to citizen action. Take, for instance, the Keystone Pipeline, where the infrastructure fights really began more than half a decade ago. Donald Trump doubtless believes that it's been built. In a treacly paean titled "This Thanksgiving, Thank Donald J. Trump" the right-wing National Review announced that "after languishing under Obama," Keystone XL was "under construction." In fact, great organizers in Nebraska and Dakota have the thing tied up in endless knots; they've even installed fields of solar panels in the proposed path. The Cornhusker State approved a route for Keystone XL in November, but it's not the path that pipeline developers TransCanada Corporation preferred. Now the surveyors -- and the lawyers -- have seasons of work ahead before a shovel will hit the ground. Even if TransCanada decides to push ahead, 20,000 people have pledged to travel to the upper Midwest to protest. The lessons of Standing Rock have not been forgotten. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest, the thin green line against massive fossil-fuel projects has continued to hold. Five years ago it seemed almost certain that a massive terminal for oil trains from North Dakota's Bakken Shale would be built along the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington. Six giant ports had also been proposed along the coast for shipping coal from the Powder River basin of Montana and Wyoming off to China. There was no way to stop the drilling or mining back in the interior, since the fossil-fuel industry holds sway in those states. But the carbon had to pass through Washington and Oregon, and savvy organizers there -- led in several cases by environmental-justice and indigenous groups, like the Lummi Indians near Bellingham -- have managed to beat every single plan. In Portland, these activists even passed a law banning any new fossil-fuel infrastructure, period, end of story. Many of these heroes also took to the water a couple of years ago -- they were the kayaktivists who did such harm to Shell's brand that the company backed away from drilling in the Arctic. A variant of that same strategy may help blunt Trump's ugly plan for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or off the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. Yes, this land is now open for leasing -- but any oil company that steps through that door is going to be the target of an endless onslaught. You really want to be known as the company that digs up wildlife refuges? Okay, go for it. Job 3: Cut off the flow of money to the fossil-fuel industry. Sometimes that means one bank customer at a time. One remarkable spinoff of the Standing Rock movement has been the Mazaska Talks campaign, led by indigenous organizers who have persuaded cities, towns, and individuals to pull their cash from banks that won't stop lending the money that fuels climate destruction. On a memorable October morning, activists protested outside dozens of Bank of America branches in Seattle, shutting down several. The city government had already sworn off Wells Fargo because the bank couldn't break its pipeline habit. Pressure keeps building on investors as well. The fossil-fuel-divestment movement, for instance, has become the biggest corporate campaign of its kind in history, with endowments and portfolios worth a combined $6 trillion having sworn off coal and gas and oil in part or in whole. In the fall, a pair of studies summed up its success. One demonstrated that the campaign had catalyzed the rest of the climate movement, driving the debate towards grappling with the harsh reality that we had far more carbon than we could ever burn. The other pinpointed the falls in share values that divestment had caused, helping dry up the capital needed for more exploration and drilling. But the divestment movement's greatest successes actually came a bit later, around the holidays. First, the managers of Norway's $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund -- the largest pool of investment capital on planet earth -- recommended divesting from oil and gas. Since Norway made its money in North Sea crude, the pledge was especially profound. Clearly, the country's economic leaders have decided that the future lies in renewables, and so they're getting out while the getting is good. Shortly after, the World Bank announced it would no longer fund oil and gas exploration -- that's another striking signal for the world's financial industry. But the biggest win of all came just after the new year, when New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced two things. First, the city would be divesting its massive pension funds -- nearly $200 billion dollars, one of the 20 largest pension funds on earth -- from fossil fuels. And second, the city would be suing ExxonMobil, Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP for the damages caused by climate change. Their legal theory, he said, was simple: "They tried very intently to cover up the information about climate change and to project a propaganda campaign suggesting that climate change wasn't real and go ahead and keep using your fossil fuels." In other words, ExxonMobil=Phillip Morris. Everyone remembers how that one ended. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. See original here We are broadcasting from the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which has been surging with energy from the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement. It was at Sundance two decades ago that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein allegedly assaulted actress Rose McGowan. McGowan told The New York Times in October that Weinstein offered her $1 million in a hush money payment if she signed a nondisclosure agreement to not come forward with her charges that he raped her in a hotel room during the 1997 festival. We speak with longtime women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, who represents one of the women who have accused President Trump of sexual assault, and feature an excerpt from a new documentary on her life and path-breaking legal career, called "Seeing Allred." This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form. AMY GOODMAN: We're broadcasting from the Sundance Film Festival here in Park City, Utah, which has been surging with energy from the #MeToo and #Times Up movement all week. The week began with hundreds of thousands of women taking to the streets across the United States Saturday to mark the first anniversary of last year's historic Women's March protesting President Trump's inauguration. Here in Park City, Utah, protesters braved freezing temperatures and a snowstorm to take part in the Respect Rally. It was here at Sundance two decades ago that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein allegedly assaulted actress Rose McGowan. McGowan told The New York Times in October Weinstein offered her $1 million in a hush money payment if she signed a nondisclosure agreement to not come forward with her charges that he raped her in a hotel room during the 1997 Sundance Festival. Just last year, Weinstein was at Sundance and attended the Women's March here. Weinstein was in town promoting Jay Z's docuseries Time: The Kalief Browder Story about New York City teenager Kalief Browder, who committed suicide in 2015 after being sent to Rikers jail at age 16 and held for three years, much of that time in solitary confinement. Last year, I was able to speak to Jay Z about Kalief, about Rikers, until Harvey Weinstein ended the interview. AMY GOODMAN: Do you think Rikers should be closed? JAY Z: Oh, man. Well, if anything like that is happening, if one kid -- if that happens to one kid, any place that that can happen to any kid should be closed. AMY GOODMAN: And your thoughts on Donald Trump and what it means for -- JAY Z: I'm not going to answer that. AMY GOODMAN: -- or, no, what it means for mass incarceration? HARVEY WEINSTEIN: All right, guys, that's enough. Let's go. You know what? This is a labor of love for Jay. And as a result, he's my friend. We're here to talk about that and nothing else. AMY GOODMAN: Then, can I ask about mass incarceration? Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Speech Recognition Software Consumption Market 2021 Forecasts Company Profile, Product Specifications & Capacity http://www.qyreports.com/request-sample/?report-id=15637 http://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount/?report-id=15637 http://www.qyreports.com/payment-form/?report-id=15637 www.qyreports.com Speech recognition software captures spoken words and converts them into a digital format, recognizing the articulated words of the speaker. Voice recognition can be used like a fingerprint and is aimed toward identifying the speaker, often for security purposes, using voice biometrics solutions.The report on Speech Recognition Software market is a source of expansive ideas, statistical data, and detailed information, which has the potency to ensure profit of an enterprises. It gives a basic overview of the industry which includes definition, applications, classifications, and industry chain structure. Extensive development plans and policies are discussed meticulously. There also exists a cost study and manufacturing structures with perfect explanation.Get Sample copy of this Report @:Companies Profiled in this report includes, Advanced Voice Recognition Systems, Inc. ,Amazon, Inc. ,Apple, Inc. ,AT&T, Inc. ,Baidu, Inc. ,Cisco Systems, Inc. ,Google, Inc. ,International Business Machines Corporation ,LumenVox LLC ,Microsoft Corporation ,Nuance Communications, Inc. ,Sensory, Inc.This report defines the specifications, applications, classifications of Speech Recognition Software market and explains the industrial chain structure in detail. Recent policies and developments are researched in depth to help enhance this report. A detailed cost structure is examined and prices are coated by labors, raw material supplier and others. An insight about demand supply chain is also mentioned in detail.Early Buyers will get 20% Discount on this Report @:Microeconomic and macroeconomic factors which affect the Speech Recognition Software market and its growth, both positive and negative, are also studied. The report features the impact of these factors on the ongoing market throughout the mentioned forecast period. The upcoming changing trends, factors driving as well as restricting the growth of the market are mentioned.Initially, the Speech Recognition Software producing an analysis of the most important trade players based on their company profiles, annual revenue, sales margin, growth aspects is additionally lined during this report, which is able to facilitate alternative Speech Recognition Software market players in driving business insights.Access Complete Report @:The report gives a SWOT analysis of the new projects in the international and Speech Recognition Software_ market, investment feasibility, development trends, and investment return analysis of these projects. Study of the Speech Recognition Software markets competitive landscape includes data facts and figures about leading countries and suppliers capacity, cost-structures, production values, profits, and gross margins of key businesses operating in the market over the reports review period. The report also provides details such as product picture and specification, and contact information of the companies profiled in the Speech Recognition Software markets manufacturer analysis segment.Table of ContentsGlobal Speech Recognition Software Market Research Report 2017Chapter 1 Speech Recognition Software Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Speech Recognition Software Market ForecastAbout QYReports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers include prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com Wireline Services Market Size, Opportunities, Trends, Demand and Growth With Major Competitors Analysis Forecast to 2023 https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wireline-services-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wireline-services-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=wireline-services-market www.psmarketresearch.com The wireline services market had grown due to continuous increase in exploration and production activities of oil & gas to find new areas of unconventional resources.Oil and gas industries require wireline services for its complete lifecycle to complete the activities such as stimulation, drilling, intervention, completion and exploration.Get a free sample of this research report:North America had the highest wireline services market owing to the reason that numerous top oil field service companies like Baker Hughes, Halliburton, SchlumIn simplest form, wireline consist a single filament of metal wire with diameter in the range of 0.105 and 0.130.The wireline services are used to recover both natural gas and oil, and they are essential for all the wells in order to complete it and put it in production.On the basis of type, the wireline services market can be categorized as well completion, well intervention and well logging. Wireline services market can also be categorized on the basis of technology used such as slick line and electric line. Natural gas is a transitional fuel owing to the reason that it acts as a chain between renewable energy and conventional resources, which in turn proves to be an advantage for the natural gas market and hence, to the wireline services market.Some of the major factors driving the growth of the wireline services market are increased expenditure from oil and gas companies, increase in offshore production and exploration activities, and shale gas reserves in North America.Explore report at:Synchronization with growing investment in energy and power sector, and possibility of shale gas production in Asia-Pacific and South America are some of the opportunities for the growth of the wireline services market. Fulfilling the rising energy demand in developing countries such as Brazil and India is expected to enhance the growth of the wireline services market.Make enquiry before buying the report:Some of the major competitors in the wireline services market are Expro International Group Holdings Ltd., Superior Energy Services, Inc., Weatherford International Inc., Baker Hughes, Nabors Industries Ltd., Schlumberger, Casedhole Solutions, Pioneer Energy Services, Oilserv, and Halliburton.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide market research reports, industry reports, business intelligence and research based consulting services across a range of industries.With the help of our professional corporate relations with various companies, our market research offers the most accurate market forecasting. Our analysts and consultants interact with leading companies of the concerned domain to substantiate every single data presented in our publication. Our research assists our client in identifying new and different windows of opportunity and frame informed and customized strategies for expansion in different regions.Contact:P&S Market Research347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Operations: Tracking the worlds major competitors in 2018 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1497545 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/super-league-in-depth-analysis-deutsche-bank-wealth-management-2017-tracking-the-worlds-major-competitors-in-wealth-management-report.html https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1497545 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Market Research Hub (MRH) titled Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Operations: Tracking the worlds major competitors in 2018 is a comprehensive analysis of Deutsche Banks wealth management operations. 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MRHs expansive collection of wealth management research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients and customers.Contact Us:90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Read Industry News at- 888poker XL Blizzard: "LucySagara70" Wins The $25,000 Knockout January 27, 2018 Eric Mertens On the ninth day of the XL Blizzard Series on 888poker, players could compete in three new tournaments with the XL Blizzard #25 - $25,000 Knockout as the highlight of the day. The $35 buy-in Mini edition and a $75 buy-in Late edition started as well. Let's take a look at the results. XL Blizzard #25 - $25,000 Knockout Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $150 Jan. 26 245 $35,045 At 20:00 GMT, the XL Blizzard #25 - $25,000 Knockout kicked off. After late registration closed, there were 245 registered players resulting in a total prize pool of $35,045 with $5,113 reserved for the winner. More than nine hours were played before they crowned a champion. Dutchman "LucySagara70" battled heads up against United Kingdom's "Patsharpe" Nine players made the final table, securing themselves of $475. "Marklewis18" (ninth, $475) "spasticmonk" (eighth, $625), Fabricio "DrMiKee" Gonzalez (seventh, $875), "kakospaixths" (sixth, $1,125), "toolaterun" (fifth, $1,450) were eliminated in quick succession. After that, "HotSauce86" (fourth, $2,125) and "Perrymejsen" (third, $2,825) missed out on the final heads-up. Dutchman "LucySagara70" battled heads up against United Kingdom's "Patsharpe" and in the end, the former took down the XL Blizzard title. The runner-up received $3,750 and an extra $349 in KO's while the winner won $5,113 and an extra KO worth $410. Place Player Country Prize KO Total Prize 1 LucySagara70 Netherlands $5,113 $410 $5,523 2 Patsharpe United Kingdom $3,750 $349 $4,099 3 Perrymejsen Sweden $2,825 $369 $3,194 4 HotSauce86 Romania $2,125 $369 $2,494 5 toolaterun Netherlands $1,450 $185 $1,635 6 kakospaixths Greece $1,125 $246 $1,371 7 Fabricio "DrMiKee" Gonzalez Uruguay $875 $492 $1,367 8 spasticmonk Canada $625 $164 $789 9 Marklewis18 United Kingdom $475 $123 $598 Another final table for Fabrizio Gonzalez XL Blizzard #26 - $10,000 Mini Knockout Buy-in Date Players Prize pool $35 Jan. 26 731 $23,758 For the players who didn't have the bankroll to play the $150 event, or wanted to multi table, there was also a Mini edition with a buy-in of just $35. 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HOPKINS From big picture worries about immigration and federal budget cuts to granular concerns about the intricacies of cotton pricing, South Carolina farmers bent the ear of the nation's top agriculture official Saturday, just as negotiations over the the next farm bill approach a critical period. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue held town hall-style meetings with a few dozen farmers and producers after touring City Roots urban farm in Columbia and Manchester Farms quail processing facility in Hopkins with South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers. The South Carolina trip came just days after Perdue unveiled the his top priorities for the next farm bill. The current $900 billion version of the sweeping legislation, which includes food stamps along with many farming subsidies and regulations, is set to expire in September. One consistent concern from farmers was President Donald Trump's threats to end the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico. Perdue sought to assuage those fears, telling the farmers he's increasingly optimistic. During Trump's campaign, Perdue said, the candidate got the impression NAFTA is universally reviled. When he got into office, Perdue said he showed the president a map highlighting all of the pro-Trump areas around the country that support the 24-year-old trade agreement. "As forceful and as determined and as directive as he can be sometimes, hes got the essence of a good leader: He listens, said Perdue, a former Georgia governor. Theres a little backdoor and, if you get in, you can change his mind about some things, and to his credit he acknowledges those sorts of things." Several farmers also raised concerns about the future of immigration policy, currently under the spotlight in Washington, telling Perdue about the vital role Latin American migrant workers played in the state's agricultural workforce. "Let them come in documented so we don't have to hide them out on the farms," one attendee suggested. Perdue responded that he hears about the labor issue all over the country and has made sure Trump and Stephen Miller, one of the president's top advisers on immigration, are cognizant of the impact on agriculture. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Though less critical for farmers, perhaps the most contentious issue in the farm bill negotiations will be food stamps, which make up by far the largest share of the five-year legislation. With a strong economy and Trump's desire to cut the federal budget, Perdue argued now is the time to make the food stamp program more efficient. "We want to be compassionate and generous to those people truly in need, people whove lost their jobs, people who by health emergency need a temporary hand-up and handout," Perdue said. "But for the able-bodied adults without dependents who can work, we think the best social program we can devise is a job." At Manchester Farms, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster joined Perdue and Weathers for lunch and told the farmers that South Carolina is primed for an agriculture surge. "If we use our heads and have some vision, I think that our industry, agribusinesss, is just in its infancy," McMaster said. Perdue's tour of the Midlands marked the second visit to South Carolina from a high-ranking Trump administration official in as many days. On Friday, Ivanka Trump touted the tax reform bill that passed through Congress in a Greenville event with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-North Charleston. Weathers said he invited Perdue to South Carolina to hear the same concerns he often receives from farmers as he travels around the state. "But they were nicer to him," Weathers quipped. The Appeal Court in Abuja on Tuesday criticised last Sundays announcement by the Minister of Mines & Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, of the signing of a renewed Share Purchase Agreement, SPA with UC RUSAL as a continued attempt to frustrate the enforcement of the Supreme Court order for the takeover of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot Abasi. The Ministers announcement through his spokesperson, Olayinka Oyebode, came barely 48 hours before a scheduled ruling of the court in an appeal filed by Dayson Holdings Limited. Dayson, the special purpose vehicle used by the Russians to bid for ALSCON in 2004, had filed the appeal to restrain BFI Group from demanding the enforcement of the September 30, 2014 Federal High Court, Abuja judgment on ALSCON. In the ruling, Justice Abdukadir Abdu-Kafarati (now Justice Abdu-Kafarati of the Supreme Court) had ordered BPE to fully enforce and give effect to the meaning and intendment of the Judgment of the Supreme Court dated 6th July 2012 by signing and executing forthwith the [February 13, 2013] mutually agreed Share Purchase Agreement. The court further asked BPE to forthwith take full control and possession of ALSCON from anybody, including UC RUSAL et al. and prepare same for handover/transfer to (BFI Group). After the notice of appeal on July 10, 2015, Dayson had abandoned the case until November 5, 2017 with a request to reactivate the appeal, barely three days before the ruling in another case by BFI Group seeking $2.8 billion compensation against UC RUSAL. BFI Group accused the Russians of tortuous interference in its contractual relations with BPE, as well as conspiracy to defraud, unfair competition and interference in prospective business advantage in the acquisition of ALSCON. In announcing the new deal with the Russians, the Ministers spokesperson said the agreement ends decade of legal tussle with BFI Group, the Nigerian-American consortium declared winner of the bid for ALSCON in 2004 by National Council on Privatization, NCP. PREMIUM TIMES had noted that the Ministers announcement appeared to be in defiance of the July 6, 2012 Supreme Court order of specific performance to the BPE on how to resolve the intractable ownership tussle for the plant. But, in the ruling by the Appeal Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, Justice A. D. Yahaya, said: The behavior exhibited so far (by the Minister and BPE) is tantamount to a calculated attempt to waste the time of the Court and to continue to frustrate a specific and clear Order of the Supreme Court to execute its judgment. We cannot allow that. The court equally removed all orders that restrained the Federal Government from enforcing the July 6, 2012 order of the Supreme Court in favour of BFI Group. Background Following BPEs unilateral cancellation of the National Council on Privatization, NCPs recognition of BFI Group on based on its offer of $410 million for ALSCON, the consortium on September 2004 filed a case in an Abuja High Court. In the suit No. FHC/ABJ/SC/406/04, BFI Group asked the court to restrain BPE from giving effect to its July 9, 2004 decision to disqualify it as the preferred bidder and core investor. The firm also asked the court to stop BPE from inviting any person(s), group or company to make a bid for the purchase of any share or any of the shares being held by the Federal government of Nigeria in the capital of ALSCON. Supreme Court ruling For over eight months, the case lingered till the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgement on July 6, 2012 in Case No. SC. 12/2008. In the ruling, the court issued an order of perpetual injunction . . . restraining (the BPE) from inviting any further bidding for the sale and acquisition of ALSCON in violation of the contract with BFIGroup. ADVERTISEMENT The court also barred BPE from negotiating to sell, selling, transferring or otherwise handing over ALSCON to any person or persons in violation of the contract between it and BFI Group. On October 8, 2012, ostensibly in pursuit of the Supreme Court order, the BPE sent BFI Group a proposed SPA for review and approval before execution. On October 24, 2012, BFI Group said it promptly returned to BPE a revised version of the SPA and requested for an immediate meeting to discuss the details. BPE did not respond. Offer for Aluminium Shelter shares In January 2013, BPE sent an offer letter to BFI Group to Purchase 77.5 per cent shares of the ALUMINIUM SHELTER COMPANY OF NIGERIA, ALSCON instead of ALUMINIUM SMELTER COMPANY OF NIGERIA, ALSCON. The letter was accompanied by a 16-page SPA, instead of the 58-page SPA reviewed and sent earlier on October 8, 2012 for BFI Groups review and approval. The execution of the SPA was stalemated, as BFIG rejected it on the ground that it was not interested in acquiring the shares of the ALUMINIUM SHELTER COMPANY OF NIGERIA. On February 13, 2013, BFI Group said it decided to sign the October 8, 2012 SPA sent by BPE. But, BPEs refusal to countersign, resulted in BFI Group filing an enforcement action at the Federal High Court of Abuja. On September 30, 2014, then Justice Abdu-Kafarati ordered BPE to fully enforce the Supreme Court judgment of July 6, 2012. Justice Abdu-Kafarati further asked BPE to forthwith take full control and possession of ALSCON from anybody, including UC RUSAL et al. and prepare same for handover/transfer to (BFI Group). On October 20, 2014, UC RUSAL proceeded to file a separate action at the Federal High Court, Uyo asking it to intervene and restrain the BPE from executing the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja orders. On November 10, 2016, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in her ruling dismissed UC RUSALs claim, describing its continued questioning of the Supreme Court decision as not only unimaginable, but made it nothing more than a busy body. From where I sit/stand, the above judgment of the Supreme Court is clear and unequivocal and leaves no room for speculation, Justice Ojukwu said in her ruling. Fayemi intervenes In April 2017, Mr. Fayemi visited ALSCON and was received by UC RUSALs managing director, Dimitriy Zaviyalov. During the visit, Mr. Fayemi assured the Russians of governments commitment to free the complex of any encumbrances, regardless of the pending Supreme Court rulings. Later in August 2017, the BFI Group Chief Executive, Mr. Rueben Jaja said he was invited to a meeting Mr. Fayemi presided. He said the Director General of BPE, Alex Okoh, and other officials were present. At the meeting, Mr. Jaja said Danba & Associates Limited, led by its Chairman/CEO, Saadina Dantata, who claimed to be UC RUSALs agent, presented a proposal to BFI Group to accept an offer to relinquish its legal rights to ALSCON on the strength of the Supreme Court ruling of July 6, 2012. Mr. Dantatas appointment as the Russians representative and leader of the delegation from Danba & Beltech Exim was conveyed in a letter sent to BPE by UC RUSAL to negotiate in the disputes over the ownership of ALSCON. During the meeting on August 21, 2017, Mr. Jaja said an initial offer of $30 million was made by Mr. Dantata on behalf of UC RUSAL payable to BFIG over 20 years if it agrees to sign off all settlement agreements to terminate all outstanding legal cases in court in relation to the deal to acquire ALSCON. Following BFI Groups rejection of the offer, Mr. Jaja said the meeting of the group on August 28 later resolved to send in absentia through BPE an adjusted final offer of $35 million, consisting $20 million initial payment, plus another $10 million spread over 20 years, on the same conditions in the spirit of an amicable settlement. Apart from BFI Groups rejection of the offer, Mr. Jaja said the consortium was ready to refund the entire amount paid so far by the Russians for ALSCON as a condition for BPE to produce the SPA for execution. Mr. Jaja said BFI Groups offer had angered Mr. Fayemi who threatened to invoke government powers to revoke the entire ALSCON sale transaction. The ministers response to PREMIUM TIMES enquires on BFI Groups alleged meetings was that they still part of his effort to find an amicable settlement of the crisis. On November 8, 2017, Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama said in his ruling that the enforcement of the Supreme Court order of July 6, 2012 remained the most viable option to resolve the lingering crisis over the sale of the ALSCON. The suit No. FCT/HC/CV/522/2011 was filed by BFI Group against UC RUSAL and its allies for interference, resulting BPEs refusal to uphold the Supreme Court order for its reinstatement as the winner of the bid for ALSCON. Justice Okeke had ordered BPE to provide the mutually agreed SPA, negotiated in 2004 for execution, to enable BFI Group pay the agreed 10 per cent of the accepted price of $410 million within 15 working days from the date of the execution of the SPA. Dayson activates abandoned appeal Rather than provide the SPA as ordered by the court, BFI Group said Dayson pre-empted Justice Okekes ruling by filing a legal process on November 5, 2017 to activate an abandoned appeal No. CA/A/637A/2014 opposing the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling. However, in the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Justice Yahaya said although Dayson was given seven days within which to file an expedited appeal in 2015, it went to sleep. Since filing the motion (on November 5, 2017) for extension of time to transmit record, Dayson Holdings Limited again went to sleep and has not bothered to move the application. It has also not filed any brief in respect of the appeal, Justice Yahaya said. The only reasonable conclusion that we can reach is that the said Dayson Holdings Limited, the appellant in CA/A/637A/2014 was really interested only in obtaining the Order of Injunction, and not the prosecution of the appeal it labored to obtain leave to file. An indolent appellant who has shown such laxity is not entitled to a favourable consideration by ths court, which is a court of equity. The behavior exhibited so far is tantamount to a calculated attempt waste time of the court and to continue to frustrate a specific and clear order of the Supreme Court to execute its judgment. We cannot allow that. In delivering the judgment, Justice Yahaya also quashed all injunctions that constituted a restraint to the enforcement of the Supreme Courts ruling on ALSCON. BFI Group reacts In his reaction, BFI Groups General Counsel, Jimmie Williams, said in a response sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that Mr. Fayemis announcement of the signing of a renewed SPA with the Russians on Sunday was act in bad faith, particularly as it came a day before the appellate court hearing. Mr. Williams warned that BFI Group has neither approved nor accepted any out of court settlement with the Nigerian government or BPE over ALSCON, as the Minister has not mediated any resolution. Any statement to the contrary is folly, and subjects its maker to legal process, he said. In his reaction, BFIGroups CEO, Reuben Jaja, said the legal status of BFI Group as the Preferred Bidder/Core Investor of ALSCON based on the extant and subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court cannot be wished away by the BPE or any other person, including the Minister. How can a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria supervise the signing or renewal of an SPA voided by the Supreme Court of Nigeria? This blatant disregard of the rule of law for whatever consideration by the Minister, and his foreign conspirators, must be investigated, Mr. Jaja said. He said Mr. Fayemi had in past accused BFI Group of refusing to sign the August 2017 SPA provided by BPE, but failed to acknowledge that the signing of the agreement required the dismissal of all appeals and injunctions obtained by UC RUSAL to prevent the handover of ALSCON. Mr. Jaja said until the Court of Appeals removal of the injunction on Tuesday, BFI Group was legally prevented from signing any SPA with BPE. Nigerians have applauded celebrated writer, Chimamanda Adichie, for her response during a recent interview in France when asked if there were any bookshops in Nigeria The Americanah authors answer, I think it reflects very poorly on French people that you have to ask me that question. I think surely I mean its 2018 , has been dubbed an epic clapback. The scenario played out at a global ideas event hosted by the French government called La Nuit Des Idees (A Night of Ideas) where Adichie, was the star guest. The video of the event was posted by French news channel, Loopsider. As the chat proceeded, the interviewer, Caroline Broue, a journalist, asked if her books are read in Nigeria. Youll be shocked to know that they are, yes They are read and studied, not just in Nigeria but across the continent of Africa, she said. Ms. Broue then followed up by asking if there were bookshops in the country. The audience was taken aback and the visibly embarrassed journalist tried to rephrase her question in the right perspective, explaining, I ask because French people dont know. They know only about Boko Haram. I would like to take advantage of your presence for us to talk about other things and things that we dont know about your country. Adichie would later defend the interviewer on her Facebook page describing her as Intelligent, thoughtful and well prepared, during their wide-ranging conversation at the Quai dOrsay in Paris. She added it appears that librairie was mistakenly translated as library when it actually means bookshop. Adichie, however, wrote, that she was taken aback because it (the question) was far below the intellectual register of her previous questions. Hers was a genuine, if flat, attempt at irony and I wish she would not be publicly pilloried, Adichie wrote. The novelist also wrote in the same post, To be asked to tell French people that you have bookshops in Nigeria because they dont know is to cater to a wilfully retrograde idea that Africa is so apart, so pathologically different, that a non-African cannot make reasonable assumptions about life there. Nigerians have praised the award-winning author, humanist and feminist for her response. Here are some of the unedited online conversations the episode has generated. Chinedu Njoku Your disposition and response towards her sickly question were the best. I would have preferred an anwser the aggravates her feigned ignorance. Yes, they know of Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen and probably, more about the septugenerian who steers the affairs of government in Abuja. They know nothing about you, John Ikechukwu Okafor, Psquare nor Chioma Ajunwa. Some persons actually need brain transplant to think positively in life. Ironically, she interviewed a Nigerian; to satisfy her ego, a would have been suicide bomber. One of THE DANGERS OF A SINGLE STORY about Africa. Donald Abonyi I love you -CNA. Thank you for everything you do for me, for us, for Nigeria, for Africa and for the whole world giving humanity a face by telling stories the way they should be told. Kevin Nwoko Love you CNA. Let that journalist come to Naija. She will see Naija men/women that speak better French and English than her. She still believes the fairy tales of her great grand parents. ADVERTISEMENT Olusegun Olufemi I must say that I love your quick thinking and response to that silly question. You made us all proud. Maybe it is time for a new media campaign about Africa. The ignorance about our continent is of exponential proportions. If anyone has any ideas about this new media campaign pls make suggestions. A former Nigerian senator, Iyabo Obasanjo, on Saturday lambasted her detractors who are currently recirculating her 2013 letter to her father. Some social media users had recirculated the former senators letter to her father in 2013 in which she criticised the former president. Ms. Obasanjos letter was redistributed over the weekend allegedly by some supporters of the current administration, barely a few days after her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo circulated a special statement about President Muhammadu Buhari, and his administration. Mr. Obasanjo accused the Buhari administration of incompetence, nepotism, corruption and advised Mr. Buhari not to seek reelection in 2019. The former president then proposed a new political movement that will herald economic and social development for the country. In a statement she personally sent to PREMIUM TIMES Saturday night, Ms. Obasanjo said the Buhari administration should focus on the content of her fathers letter and heed his counsel. Ms. Obasanjo described her father as one of the most brilliant leaders to ever emerge in modern Africa. She accused the government of sponsoring the recirculation of her scathing letter to her father, saying those who should benefit from the advise and admonishment of one of the most brilliant leaders to ever emerge in modern Africa have resorted to a cheap tactic that further reiterates the message that they found abhorrent enough to start looking for unconnected issues to put together to make their point. She urged the president to yield to calls on him to step aside in 2019. The wise should listen wherever help and advice comes from, she said. Those who re-published the old letter should have spent time to respond to the content of the said statement which called for President Buhari to retire in 2019, Ms. Obasanjo said, adding that Mr. Buharis failing health condition should dissuade him from running in 2019. Ms. Obasanjo, who served as senator for Ogun Central Senatorial District from 2007 to 2011, said Nigerians should be wary of any attempt to recirculate her 2013 letter and pass it off as recent and genuine. She said she had no connection with this administration or the last one under Goodluck Jonathan. I agree with the open letter and I hope Africa will emerge from its current dwindling fortunes and become a leading nation in the world, Ms. Obasanjo said. It is tiring to continue to be part of Nigerian conversation when theres no positive impact to it. I really do not want to be part of it, as Ive found over and over again that speech and words are wasted on people who have no understanding of responsibility on us as black people on this planet. ADVERTISEMENT Presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not immediately respond to PREMIUM TIMES requests seeking comments Saturday night. ADVERTISEMENT Troops of the Nigerian Army has neutralised seven remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest and Northern Borno on Friday in an operation supported by the Air Force. According to a statement by Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations of the Army late Friday, troops also destroyed 11 gun trucks and 12 Hilux vehicles during the operation. Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said other terrorists equipment destroyed were make-shift accommodation around Camp Zairo, Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs), booby traps and other delaying obstacles and devices. In addition, the gallant troops recovered one gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, one machine gun, a pistol, large quantity of anti-aircraft gun ammunition, a 120mm mortar base Plate and a dane gun, he said. Mr. Usman added that three canter trucks, two double barrel rifles, 30 bicycles, power generating sets, cylinders, printers, military kits and IED making workshop were also destroyed by troops. Unfortunately, two soldiers were wounded during the encounter. The wounded soldiers have since been evacuated by Nigerian Air Force and are responding to treatment, the army spokesman said. He said the GOC 7 Division and Commander, 26 Task Force Brigade, Maj.-Gen. I. M. Yusuf, and Maj.-Gen. I. M. Obot, have visited the troops and commended them on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for a job well done. Mr. Usman urged the people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to report any fleeing Boko Haram terrorist seen around their communities. He also urged them to look out for the wounded terrorists and report to the nearest military or Police location. (NAN) Irrespective of the politicking that followed the bombshell letter from the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian Senate in the outgoing week touched on issues of national importance. The committees continued work on the 2018 budget defence while the whole house made some crucial decisions on the fuel crisis, NNPC alleged corruption and others. Below are major activities at the senate this week: Monday: The Nigerian Senate commenced screening of the 10 members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, appointed by the then acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, despite a court order which tasked relevant authorities to put all screening on hold until a final verdict is given. Tuesday: Kogi West All Progressives Congress senator, Dino Melaye, accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC of operating a dubious account in the name of the Nigerian government. The Senate urged the Nigerian Army to pay N25.3 million as damages to a retired major, Ali Abdullahi, as ordered by the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court. Bridges currently being built by the Imo State government are without plan and input from professional engineers, the president of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Kashim Ali, told some senators during a courtesy visit. Wednesday: Delay in the passage of the Electoral Act prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from including the budget of 2019 elections in the 2018 appropriation, Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC told the senate committee on INEC. The Senate mandated its committees on public accounts and gas to investigate the activities of Brass LNG, alleged to be running an illegal account in the name of the federal government. The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari should heed the admonition of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, drop his re-election bid, and allow a new leader with fresh and progressive ideas to take charge. Those who equate Buhari to Mandela or those who believe and agree that Buhari is our Mandela, then he should be a Mandela. Shehu Sani said on Obasanjos letter. Thursday: The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, lamented that the National Assembly is grappling with funding constraints in carrying out its statutory functions. The Nigerian Senate gave a seven-day ultimatum to the NNPC to clear the lingering queues at the filling stations by ensuring enough supply of petrol nationwide. Friday: ADVERTISEMENT Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to accept in good faith the outcome of the upcoming 2019 election should he and his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, fail to win the presidential contest. ADVERTISEMENT The federal government has urged Nigerian universities to continue to collaborate with the industrial sector to enhance socio-economic and technological transformation of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari made the appeal on Sunday in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State, at the second and third combined convocation of the Federal University Dutsin-ma. Mr. Buhari was represented by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) Adamu Rasheed, a professor. I want to challenge all Nigerian universities to come out of their shell to build constructive linkages and collaboration with the industrial sector of the society. This remains the only way we can enhance the socio-economic and technological transformation of our country, he said. He said that universities were supposed to be strong drivers of societys development initiatives and provide leadership role in coordinating activities for sustainable development. The universities are equipped with manpower for continuous research and dissemination of ideas that will guide policies, programmes and action plans for the public and private sectors, he said. Mr. Buhari urged the graduating students to contribute their knowledge to the development of the economy. He urged the university to intensify efforts in research, to produce improved agricultural products needed to ensure food security. The university is also expected to be a forerunner in agricultural modernisation that will support the local farmers to enhance their productivity and economic viability, he said. He said that the university should, through researches, proffer solutions to overcome the challenges towards ensuring sustainable livestock sector development for the country. Mr. Buhari said that government would continue to give maximum support to universities education in spite of dwindling resources. The Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Armayau Bichi, a professor, said that over 700 students were awarded with degrees. He said that 42 graduated with first class degrees, and would be given automatic employment in the university. Mr. Bichi said that 17 of the first class degree students would receive their employment letters while the remaining 23 would be employed after their service. He said challenges confronting the university included inadequate water supply to the new site of the institution, road network, inadequate security arrangement in the new campus, insufficient staff quarters and students hotels. (NAN) Governor Seriake Dickson said on Friday that fundamental alterations can be incorporated into the Nigerian Constitution before 2019 elections even as he acknowledged outright restructuring of the country can be cumbersome and time-consuming. Nigeria must be restructured before 2019 elections, Mr. Dickson told reporters at the Bayelsa State Governors Lodge in Abuja Friday afternoon. Where theres a will theres a way. The Bayelsa governor said Nigerian politicians can no longer afford to punt the ball on restructuring for much longer, commending the ruling All Progressive Congress for finally acknowledging the need for Nigeria to undergo fundamental changes to its political and economic system. Even though we have a long way to go to fine-tune this, I commend and appreciate their commitment to building a stable, equitable and, therefore, prosperous Nigeria, Mr. Dickson said of APCs latest approach to restructuring, which is expected to be a major issue in the 2019 elections. His comments came a day after the APC restructuring committee submitted its report to the partys leadership in Abuja. Amongst the recommendations of the panel, led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, were the adoption of state police, independent candidacy in elections, resource control, amongst other key restructuring elements. The panel, however, declined to grant autonomy to local government areas, dealing a major blow to grassroot governance, with state governments micro-managing local authorities in violation of the Constitution. Mr. El-Rufais committee insisted that local government must be placed under the supervision of state, finding no reason for Nigeria to keep running a three-tier system. John Odigie-Oyegun, chairman of the APC, said while receiving the report that the party will ultimately forward it to President Muhammadu Buhari. The president backs autonomy for local government areas, advising local government administrators in a September 2016 meeting to free themselves from the stranglehold of state governments. It was not immediately clear if the president would sign a series of constitutional amendments that did not include local government autonomy. Yet, Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the APC, told PREMIUM TIMES the president was highly enthusiastic about the work of the partys restructuring panel. Critics accuse Mr. Buhari and the APC of a muddled sincerity of purpose in their recent embrace of restructuring. Top APC personalities have dismissed the restructuring as a ruse, with Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima stating in November 2017 that to hell with restructuring. President Buhari has not been as harsh against pro-restructuring campaigners, but he has repeatedly declined to see the issue as important much less a priority. When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure, the president told Nigerians in his New Years Day address. No human law or edifice is perfect. Both the president and Mr. Shettimas views mirror the position of a significant segment of northern Nigeria, where restructuring is seen more as a way of breaking up the country across tribal lines than as a critical step towards making Nigeria a more acceptable entity for all. Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and 2019 presidential hopeful, has remained arguably the biggest voice for a revamp of Nigerias democratic system in the north, which is the countrys largest region. ADVERTISEMENT Mr. Abubakar canvasses a weakened federal government for a stronger and genuinely autonomous states to pave way for a renewed economic growth and social development, a push that was at the centre of the 2014 national conference. Other pro-restructuring advocates demand a return to the defunct 1963 Constitution which was run on the basis or regional autonomy. The APC did not participate at the conference, rejecting it as a charade put together by former President Goodluck Jonathan to settle his political allies and bolster his campaign war chest ahead of the 2015 polls. The previous utterances and antics of its leaders notwithstanding, Mr. Dickson said he remained cheerfully optimistic that the latest moves by the APC indicate the partys resolve to be sincere in its approach to restructuring going forward. Mr. Dickson said a multi-party alliance needs to come onstream to set the restructuring process in motion with the aim of passing a sweeping reform before February 2019 when the next general elections are scheduled to hold. Its time to intensify consultations and meetings across all party lines, the governor added. When nations face challenges, leaders come together. This is not about party affiliation. The governor urged citizens and political players to step up pressure on the National Assembly to fast-track the restructuring process once the body receives a bill. An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority at the two chambers of the National Assembly. Lawmakers at the state level will also need to support such amendment by two-thirds majority in two-thirds of all the 36 states. On the surface, the governors demand may appear a little too ambitious to a portion of the populace, but its actually doable if theres a sincerity of purpose on the part of politicians, especially the APC which controls the centre and the parliament but which has been footdrag. The key resolutions on restructuring can be entered into the Constitution before the 2019 elections, Yinka Odumakin, a pro-democracy campaigner, told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Friday night. But the APC does not appear ready to see these things through. Mr. Odumakin, who participated at the 2014 national conference, said after the APC wasted crucial time forming a panel, it has decided to take its recommendations through the partys hierarchical structure before reaching a conclusion. First, the party did a merry-go-round on restructuring issue, only to do a copy and paste of our recommendations in 2014, Mr. Odumakin said. Now, they want to take all the recommendations through their partys national working committee, national executive committee, national convention before finally placing it before the president. By the time theyre done with these, campaign for 2019 would have arrived, he said. Mr. Odumakin said the APC plans to use the issue to rally Nigerians for another term in power. They will tell Nigerians that since theyve already commenced work on restructuring, they should be given another term to complete their work. But Mr. Abdullahi rejected this position, saying the party had already drafted a legislation for restructuring. The terms of reference for the committee included drafting a legislation that includes all the restructuring elements that were recommended, Mr. Abdullahi said. He also denied that the committee lifted its conclusions from the 2014 national conference report. Unlike the 2014 national conference in which people just sat under a roof and decided on what to do, the APC committee actually went across the countrys geopolitical zones to make its findings, Mr. Abdullahi said. If the said confab report reflects the aspirations of Nigerians and our committee report has emerged through the process of even wider consultation with Nigerians, then there should be no surprises if there are similarities, he added. Rather than fight over copyright, members of that 2014 confab should be excited that their recommendations have been backed up by our independent findings and our party has shown unprecedented commitment to the issue of restructuring, he said. Mr. Abdullahi also agreed with Mr. Dickson that a restructuring could come before 2019 election, adding that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo remains an ardent proponent of devolution of powers for a truly federal republic. A video has emerged appearing to show Stephanie Otobo, the alleged mistress of fiery cleric, Johnson Suleman, who accused him of impregnating and breaching a promise to marry her, saying she was paid to defame the pastor. Ms. Otobo made the u-turn when she reportedly addressed the Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide congregation (Mr. Sulemans church) on Saturday. According to her, some very strong and powerful politicians and pastors deceived her. The video of her confession was posted on the churchs official Facebook page on Saturday morning. She said, The only offense he committed was to have intervened in the numerous heinous crimes against the Church of Christ around the Nation and became a Voice for the Gospel. What followed was a well doctored drama to attack the reputation of this Golden Voice and seemingly reduce the volume of his voice even as more evils were planned against the Church. After all the evil efforts, the secret agendas, the heavily funded set up and the unrelenting pursuits to snare an innocent man, they were futile. The master planner has finally vindicated his church and his servant. This is not only a victory for Gods Servant; it is a victory for the Body of Christ & The Church in Nigeria, the post read. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach Ms.Otobo to confirm the latest development. Ms. Otobos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday he could not confirm or deny the video. We saw the video online on Saturday morning but we are yet to get any formal statement from Stephanie confirming or debunking the video. We are lawyers and we only act on our clients instructions. So, we dont have any comment on the matter, he said. Ms. Otobo who said she came to Nigeria from Canada with the intention to further her career, said she succumbed to the manipulation of the politicians and pastors because she was told it would help her career. They paid me a lot of money, she said, wiping tears from her eyes. Mr. Sulemans wife, Lizzy, in turn addressed the congregation, asking them to forgive Ms. Otobo, as she had confessed to her sins. Ms. Otobo had also accused Mr. Suleman, through her lawyer, of failing to keep a marriage promise made to her last year. She formally filed a petition asking the police to investigate multiple allegations against the preacher. In a letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner in February 2017, she accused Mr. Suleman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life, and attempted murder. Ms. Otobos petition came days after she told journalists at a press conference that her relationship with Mr. Suleman ended after the preacher began to insist he wanted a sexual activity that involved a threesome. Stephanie Otobo This development is coming on the heels of the defamation suit filed by a cleric, against Ms. Otobo in November 2017, at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. ADVERTISEMENT The hearing was stalled following the latters absence in court. The presiding judge, Adedayo Oyebanji, adjourned the matter until February 7. ADVERTISEMENT The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have rescued two South-Africans who were kidnapped at a mining site in Kaduna State. IRT commander, Abba Kyari, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday that some members of the kidnap gang were also arrested. Mr. Kyari said that Thomas Arnold and Hendrick Gideon were kidnapped at a mining site in Maidaro Village on Jan. 23 and taken to Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State. He said the victims were rescued on Saturday morning following intense pressure jointly mounted on the kidnappers by the IRT, Police Air Wing helicopter patrol and Kaduna State Command Police. The victims were moved from Kaduna to Abuja this morning and were handed over to the South African Embassy and their company representative for medicals and other immediate needs. Victims are in good health and have given useful information to the police that will help in further investigation. Some suspects were arrested and serious efforts are on to arrest other gang members, Mr. Kyari said. Last week, two Americans and two Canadians, kidnapped along Jere-Kagarko Road in Kaduna State, were rescued on Tuesday. Two policemen were killed by the gunmen during the kidnap while two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested. Those rescued were Nate Vangeest and Rachel Kelley (Canadians) as well as John Kirlin and Dean Slocum (U.S. citizens). The victims were handed over to the American Embassy in Abuja. (NAN) Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has pledged to make the state be the Holland of Nigeria in terms of dairy milk production and other livestock products for other states to patronise. Mr. Bello made the promise at the Kogi State Agriculture Summit, tagged: Moving Agriculture To The Next Level, on Friday in Lokoja, as part of activities to mark his two years in office. In Holland, everyone knows that Holland produce more than a quarter of dairy milk and meats for Europe and America. Kogi will be the Holland of Nigeria where every other state in Nigeria will come and buy milk and other dairy products. They will also buy meat, hides and skin, bones, horns and even cow faeces for manure, which will translate into cash for our people. We are looking for opportunities to make money for our people. If you have a parcel of land that you are not using, what will happen is that the pastoralists will come and you rent it to them for money. Our youths and women will learn how to breed and keep these cows as well. And what will happen is that we shall have hire cross breed cows that will produce more milk and high quality meats where other states can come and buy, Bello said. The governor added that the state government was looking for opportunities and how to utilise them. They said I am friend to Fulani herdsmen and hate farmers, but they are all falsehood on the pages of newspapers and television. We are telling the people that we are tolerant in Kogi, we love our neighbours and seizing and maximising the best of every opportunity. Very soon we will tell our Fulani brothers not to take their cows across border to sell again. We will ask them to drop their cows in Kogi, and we will rent your land to them to stay. A land where people can come and buy, pay tax to government and they will settle the land owners. That your land that is there and not generating anything will become a hot cake. These are the various benefits we will derive from our coexistence with Fulani herdsmen. This is the way we are going to go; in the next six months we shall begin to see the economy of Kogi transforming very rapidly. ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Government and international agencies are bringing money, grants to Kogi to support livestock production, including keeping these cows in form of ranches in one particular area with facilities called cattle colonies. The governor restated his determination to support President Muhammadu Buhari in implementing his manifestos as far as revolutionary in agriculture was concerned. We are empowering our youths to ensure that they have improved well being. The era of free money is gone. It is time for us to bend down and work to make ourselves rich by returning back to agriculture. We must return back to farm. Let us key into various programmes of this government, especially in agriculture. All that is required is your interest and the land. The government is supporting the people and adding value through cottage industries, so that farm produce can be sold with adequate gain. You own your land, we shall give you fund, farm implements and create the market for you, what else are you waiting for? Why cant we tolerate our Fulani bothers and sisters who have lived with us for a very long time? And you want them to leave now to go where? We have to be tolerant, we have to tolerate one another, it is out of tolerance that we gathered here today. We develop the culture of tolerance by accommodating one another. Hold on to your land, we will teach you how to use it judiciously to make huge money in the state; our land is our oil wells that can never dry, Bello said. Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Kehinde Oloruntoba, commended the governor for making the necessary funds available, which had brought about the huge success recorded in the sector under two years. According to him, the state government invested over N2.5 billion in agriculture last year. ` We now have functional equipment at a cheaper rate for farmers, and 50,000 tonnes capacity rice mills to be installed, said the commissioner. He said that the Federal Government had selected 135 farmers in the state to access N4.3 million loan each for poultry production. He added the state had 500 hectares of rice farm and clearing another 500 hectares with a total target of 2,500 hectares. The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other stakeholders also spoke at the summit. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The timely intervention of the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello saved two students of Army Day Secondary School, Minna, who were attacked by some hoodlums from bleeding to death on Friday. The two students were attacked by the hoodlums on their way home after school hours in front of the gate of the Niger State College of Education, Minna. Governor Sani-Bello who was on an official assignment to Tunga Malam, in Paikoro Local Government area ordered his convoy to stop at the sight of the the students soaked in blood from injuries sustained from the attack. He directed his personal physician, Ahmad Shehu, to stabilise the victims before the ambulance on his convoy rushed them to IBB Specialist Hospital Minna for further treatment. When the hoodlums, who were alleged to have come from the neighbouring Sango area of the state capital saw the convoy, they took to their heels to avoid being arrested by the security operatives of the governor. Governor Sani-Bello then directed the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Yakadi, to effect the arrest of the hoodlums and ensure their prosecution. This is unacceptable.We will not tolerate this impunity. How can some hoodlums attack students on their way home after school. I have directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those responsible for the attacks on these students are arrested and prosecuted. We will continue to ensure that our people continue to enjoy relative peace and arresting the hoodlums will serve as deterrent to others with same intentions. Parents and guardian should rise up to their responsibility. We have to keep watch on our children, ensure effective monitoring of our wards, the kind of company and peer group they associate themselves with. ADVERTISEMENT The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Plateau State said it recorded 88 deaths in 225 road crashes in 2017. Andrew Bala, the corps Public Education Officer told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos that 908 persons were severely injured from the crashes. We have recorded 88 deaths from 225 crashes that occurred on various highways within our command in 2017. Nine hundred and eight persons involved in the accidents recorded in the year under review suffered some level of injuries. Comparing the 2017 and 2016 records, I can confidently say that we recorded less number of crashes in 2017. This is because of various initiatives in stemming the tides of road crashes put in place by the commands management team, alongside the resilience of our officers and men toward the course, he said. He said the command had arrested 16, 766 road traffic offenders who committed a record of 17, 635 offences in the year under review. Mr. Bala said offences committed include use of phone while driving, seat belt violation, drivers license violation, overloading and underage drivers, among others. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The power outage in Bayelsa and parts of Rivers was the handiwork of youth who shut down a transmission station at Ahoada in Rivers state. John Onyi, Manager, Corporate Communications at Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) who confirmed the development, said the utility company was incapacitated by the restive youth who threw the public into darkness. Residents in Bayelsa and adjoining parts of Rivers served by the shut transmission station located in Ahoada community in Rivers have remained without power supply since January 23. Mr. Onyi said efforts of the utility firm to dialogue with the youth who allegedly attacked the station to protest irregular power supply were unsuccessful. He urged the Bayelsa government to wade into the issue. Therefore, the management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, is calling on the security agencies and indeed the government of Bayelsa State to wade into the matter. The forceful closure of Transmission Station located inside Ahoada by a group of Ahoada Youth has led to complete loss of power supply to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, he said. The forced outage has not only affected the state capital but the adjoining communities in the state and some parts of Rivers state namely Isiokpo, Emuoha, Elele, among others. The stick wielding youth came out en masse early Tuesday morning, chanting war songs, blocked and barricaded the Transmission Station with fetish items and in the process forced the operators on duty to switch off the entire station. This action of the youth led to the loss on 132kv lines supplying power to Yenagoa and ever since then, all effort made by the management of PHEDC, to get the matter resolved has been met with further threats from the youths, Mr. Onyi said. The PHEDC official lamented that protests in the Niger Delta region over load allocation from the National Grid which leads to realistic systemic load shedding by the DISCO is becoming too many. He noted that residents have always demanded for 24 hour power supply without corresponding payments and efforts made by the company to explain the electricity value chain appear not to be understood. Surprisingly, debt profile as at December 2017 in Ahoada stood at over N7.6 billion, yet the youth has not deemed it necessary to tell their people that the outstanding debt should be settled. Electricity has been misconstrued in some quarters to be free and not to be paid for, whereas it is not so, Mr. Onyi said. ADVERTISEMENT A large number of youth claiming to be former armed militants in the Niger Delta area of Ondo State on Friday protested in Akure, the state capital, over their non-inclusion in the extended amnesty program. The youth, numbering about 500, also threatened to return to the creeks to bear arms against the government if they were not properly captured and included in the program. The protesters stormed the office of the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), in Oba-Ile, Akure, set up bonfires and prevented free flow of traffic along the expressway. They also prevented employees of the commission from entering the office. According to the protesters, the government conducted a fake amnesty programme for them. Mobile policemen were deployed to disperse the protesters, using teargas. The protesters, who were led by their respective camp leaders, alleged that the amnesty window opened between November 9 and 21 last year was a sham. The respective camp leaders who addressed themselves as generals, include Deji Williams (United Sea-wolf Avengers), Seamaco(Awaja Camp), Ebiee(Niger Delta Militant Vanguard), Mayowa (Dragon Camp) and Bbanju (Lion Camp). They alleged that the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, was using the amnesty program to build his political structure rather than using it to achieve peace in the region. Speaking on their behalf, Mr. Williams said they regretted laying down their arms, as the Ondo State government deceived them into believing that programme was genuine. Right now, many of us are regretting the action of laying down our arms and ammunition because we could see a complete deceit and fraud in the Amnesty Program, he said. So, we are no longer interested in dealing with the Ondo state Amnesty Committee Program having lost confidence in them since the politicians in the state have hijacked all the slots. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, however, dismissed the allegations of the protesters, saying most of them were not recognised ex-militants. He described them as a group of jobless and disgruntled elements masquerading themselves as ex-militants. Mr. Olowolabi said the number of ex-militants captured during the biometric exercise were 4000, saying the number of forms from Abuja was only 1000. According to him, the leaders from the various camps were invited, and after deliberations, harmonised and distributed the forms among themselves. He said the amnesty program of the state government had received commendation from other Niger Delta states, insisting that majority of the protesters are not ex-militants. THAAD is a key element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), and is highly effective at protecting America's military, allied forces, citizen population centers and critical infrastructure from short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missile attacks. "The THAAD system's capability and reliability have been demonstrated with 15 out of 15 hit-to-kill intercepts dating back to 1999, and by exceeding readiness rates currently being experienced in the field with operationally deployed batteries," said Richard McDaniel, Lockheed Martin's vice president for the THAAD system. "THAAD interceptors defeat dangerous missile threats our troops and allies are facing today, and have capability against advancing future threats. Our focus on affordability, coupled with efficiencies of increased volume, is providing significant cost-savings opportunities to meet growing demand from the U.S. and allies around the globe," he said. THAAD employs Lockheed Martin's proven "hit-to-kill" technology. The system is rapidly deployable, mobile, and is interoperable with all other BMDS elements, including Patriot/PAC-3, Aegis, forward-based sensors and the Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications system. These unique capabilities make THAAD an important addition to integrated air and missile defense architectures around the world. The U.S. Army activated the seventh THAAD battery in December 2016. Lockheed Martin delivered the 200th THAAD interceptor in September of 2017. The United Arab Emirates was the first international partner to procure THAAD with a contract awarded in 2011. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links http://www.lmco.com ISTANBUL, January 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Merko Gda San ve Tic AS has signed a funding facility for TRY61.5 million under a Share Subscription Facility ("SSF") and Warrant agreement, (the "Agreement") with GEM Global Yield Fund, the private alternative investment group. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/634177/Merko_Logo.jpg ) This TRY61.5 million will be raised from a combination of instruments, TRY45 million in capital from the SSF and TRY16.5 million from the Company issuing 11 million warrants that can be exercised within three years by GEM Global Yield Fund, at the price which represents TRY1.5 Per Share. This new agreement will be used to provide strength to the working capital of the company. About Merko Merko is a processor of tomatoes into raw material for the food industry world-wide. One of largest processor-exporters in Turkey, Merko was established in 1982 and is proud to have served its customers and suppliers for 35 years. In 1994 Merko went public with an IPO and today the major shareholders are managing the company, with the balance of shares quoted on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Located in the Bursa region, Merko processes over 3,000 metric tons a day of tomatoes into tomato paste and diced tomatoes for industrial applications worldwide. With a large percentage of its customers based in export regions, Merko is a globally recognized supplier. The company is at the forefront of introducing HACCP and Total Quality to every product line, and in-house training programs are run on a regular basis in partnership with Universities. Units in the group have successfully completed audits from BRC from the UK and ISO accreditation are kept up to date. The company is also at the forefront of GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) initiatives, especially in partnership blue-chip companies. About GEM: Global Emerging Markets (http://www.gemny.com) was founded in 1991. GEM is a USD 3.4 billion investment group having completed 375 transactions in 68 countries. The firm is an alternative investment group that manages a diverse set of investment vehicles across the world. GEM's funds include: CITIC-GEM Fund, Kinderhook, GEM Global Yield Fund, GEM India and VC Bank/GEM Mena Fund*. (*GEM exited both its LP and GP stakes in Q1 2010.) For more information, please contact: Merko Gda San ve Tic AS http://www.merko.com.tr GEM : Aude Planche Partner 28 Cours Albert 1er, 75008 Paris Tel: +33-1-53-53-20-10 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Merko NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RealConnex is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Toby Morrison to serve as executive vice president of sales and business development. Within this role, Morrison will be responsible for continuing the company's growth in revenue across the entire real estate ecosystem, utilizing his nearly 20 years of professional experience in real estate technology for both the commercial and residential sectors. RealConnex Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development "I am thrilled to be joining RealConnex as the company is well-positioned to disrupt the real estate business in a meaningful way," said Morrison. "Our platform allows real estate professionals of all shapes and sizes to grow their business in ways never before possible and I intend to use my experience in the industry to help create a much more efficient market for the world's largest asset class." Joining the Growing RealConnex Team Morrison joins RealConnex to continue to build on the company's success in providing a wide range of business services, programs and opportunities to the top real estate professionals in the industry. RealConnex is the fastest-growing online community for the professional real estate market with over 700,000 opportunities for deals and transactions. RealConnex's membership base is on pace to surpass over one million in the United States and two million globally within the next three years. "Our new EVP will serve as a representative for the continued growth of RealConnex," said CEO Roy Abrams. "His reputation of excellence in leadership, his strong work ethic and professionalism and drive to encourage his team members will be a great asset to the RealConnex team. We are thrilled to have Toby on board and look forward to all that he will accomplish." Previous Leadership in Real Estate Tech Prior to joining RealConnex, Morrison was the regional vice president at Xceligent, where he directly met with existing or new client prospects, mentored sales employees and oversaw Xceligent's overall expansion into the New York metro area. Morrison developed marketing programs that utilized activity-based metrics to chart the development and growth of sales revenue, while simultaneously encouraging a strong momentum of continued success among the sales teams. Prior to Xceligent, Morrison was the national sales manager at Metrostudy, the leading provider of primary and secondary marketing information to the housing and residential construction industry in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Morrison forecasted management and new business developments, recruited, hired and trained new team members and represented the voice of Metrostudy to the manufacturing and distribution industries. Morrison is a frequent keynote speaker and expert for media outlets on the commercial, housing, remodeling and pool markets. In October of 2017, Morrison sat alongside Abrams during a panel discussion on emerging tech and trends in commercial real estate. Both panelists offered insight on the many topics that tie into the larger conversations shaping New York City's real estate technology industry. About RealConnex RealConnex is the world's first accelerator connecting real estate professionals to capital, investments, services and each other. It provides all the tools a professional needs to network and build profile, credibility and influence; tools to buy, sell and lease, prospect and connect to opportunities. It's professional real estate in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Sometimes referred to as LinkedIn meets match.com for professional real estate, the company was founded in 2013 by Roy Abrams, a 25-year veteran of the real estate and technology industries. To sign up and participate in the real estate industry's most comprehensive networking and business development platform, visit the following link. Media Contact: The Berman Group Sarah Berman 212-450-7300 SOURCE RealConnex Related Links https://www.realconnex.com ExoIS is a leader in building, running, monitoring, and maintaining Cloud solutions in Public, Private and Hybrid environments for companies in the most demanding industries, including banking and financial services, technology, retail, and fintech and payments. With deep expertise and well-defined solutions in IoT, Blockchain, Cyber Security, Mobility, DevOps, and Cloud, the company also has specialized offerings for clients in the fabless semi-conductor, IoT, and digital media spaces. Each of the solutions the company offers are designed to deliver better deep business insights and reduce risks in operations. SharedLabs CEO, Jason Cory, commented on the transaction saying, "The purchase of ExoIS has expanded the portfolio of clients served by SharedLabs, while enriching our portfolio of offerings with new tools and techniques to build, support, and run private clouds and securely leverage appropriate publicly available Cloud services in a cost-effective manner. The purchase has also opened the door for expansion in new geographic areas where these services will prove very valuable, while allowing us to expand our wallet share in existing clients and win new clients in the markets we serve." "We believe that SharedLabs and ExoIS have complementary offerings which enable us to better serve our clients, while expanding into the more than 400 SharedLabs clients. By combing the rich development and dev ops capabilities of SharedLabs, and the Hybrid cloud, IoT, and Security solutions of ExoIS , we will be well-positioned to grow the business, while exceeding client expectations," said ExoIS founder, Jonathan Clark. About ExoIS, Inc. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, ExoIS has been providing onsite and remote support for various clients ranging from mid-sized to large commercial enterprise, for over 10 years. ExoIS began as a PCI QSA, then building a SAAS offering for the Compliance Market. The SAAS platform was spun out to create DataDivider, Inc., and ExoIS continues to focus on support & services for fabless semi-conductor companies and IOT organizations. About SharedLabs, Inc. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, SharedLabs, Inc. is an technology services company which enables organizations to radically adapt as they harness our extensive experience with next-generation technologies in big data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Internet of Things and multi cloud hosting. Through strategy, consulting, design and implementation, we tailor our services to each client's needs to provide relevant solutions. A respected partner to many of the largest technology companies in the world, SharedLabs creates, supports, and manages the software, infrastructure, and ecommerce systems which drive today's digital world. CONTACT: Lenny Abbott, [email protected] SOURCE SharedLabs, Inc. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. During an all-hands planning meeting this past fall, the children's team at Bonnier Publishing USA realized they'd hit a critical point. Their titles were coalescing around five themes, which they dubbed their "five pillars": acceptance, anti-bullying, awareness, diversity, and empowerment. According to Sonali Fry, publisher of the children's book group, "while we had already been publishing books connected to some of these themes," such as Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie, which received a 2017 Caldecott Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor, "we wanted to refocus our lists so that we hit every one of them." Bonnier Publishing USA publishes children's books under three imprints: Little Bee Books (picture and board books, novelty, chapter, and nonfiction titles for kids up to 12 years old); Sizzle Press (licensed properties, media tie-ins, and pop-culture books from social media influencers); and the middle grade imprint Yellow Jacket, which will launch this summer with books for readers ages eight through 14. Bonnier Publishing USA's books for younger readers are designed to be entertaining as well as conversation starters, introducing kids to historic and timely topics such as discrimination and human rights. Books for older readers explore additional topics such as empowerment, mental health, grief, and loss. "We feel that now, more than ever, it's important to give kids stories that reflect the world they live in and encourage them to imagine how they could make it better," says Fry. While, she says, the kids' team doesn't limit its acquisitions to books focused on one of the pillars, "there's often a natural connection to at least one. These themes unite the types of books we're passionate about, which helps shape our lists and, in turn, define who we are as a publisher," she says. For instance, the picture book Trailblazer (Little Bee Books) by Leda Schubert, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, tells the story of the groundbreaking African-American ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson. It's an inspiring true story about overcoming adversity and discrimination. "When the story mentions Brown v. the Board of Education," says Fry, "it's an opening to introduce tough topics such as segregation." Prince & Knight (Little Bee Books, May 2018) by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Stevie Lewis is the publisher's first picture book to openly address LGBTQ themes. It promotes acceptance and awareness through an adventure story in which two male characters find love. For slightly older readers, the middle grade novel The Prophet Calls (Yellow Jacket, November 2018) by Melanie Sumrow deals with a 13-year-old girl's journey toward self-discovery and empowerment after being raised in a strict, extremely sheltered, and suddenly dangerous polygamist society. Between last November and this March, Sizzle Press will have published three new books by social media stars Jessie Paege and Jojo Siwa that are focused on empowering readers. Paege's Hey, It's Okay to Be You (November 2017) and Think Beyond Pink (March 2018) connect to multiple pillars. Both titles are guided journals for tweens and teens based on Paege's videos and social media presences. Paege examines issues relevant to teens, including breaking down stereotypes, managing fear, mental health, and sexuality, in a fun, accessible way. Siwa's Be You Activity Book, aimed at kids ages seven through 10, explores similar topics, including empowerment and bullying, with a much lighter tone. "These books challenge the reader to dig a little deeper and hopefully embrace, rather than shy away from, sometimes uncomfortable topics." says Fry. "No matter the format, we strive for stories and characters that encourage empathy, bravery, and honesty," says Fry. The publisher has big plans for its children's list. "We are still growing." says Fry. "We'll continue to evolve as a publisher, but our goal will always remain the same: to entertain, empower, and inspire kids everywhere." We asked childrens publishers to tell us things they learned about publishing earlier in their careers from industry veteransadvice that they still think about to this day. Liz Kossnar Editor Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers When I first began working in publishing as an editorial assistant, I couldnt have been more excited. I was hesitant about how welcoming the industry would beI was, for some reason, under the impression The Devil Wears Prada also applied to childrens publishingand had had a boss or two beforehand who werent great fits for me. And I was about to work for David Gale, an editor who had edited a few of my favorite books, who Id been warned can be demanding. I was ready for the challenge, but I feared working for a short-tempered Miranda Priestly. Sorry, David. Before I started, David had mailed me a package of books that I was to begin reading so I could jump right inbut they never came. I was nervous it would somehow be considered my fault. The email response I got from David read: Im so sorry that the package didnt come. I should have overnighted the books so they could be tracked. I was immediately at ease and felt the situation was understood. I admire David, and in no small part because the entire time that I worked under him, nearly every single email contained a please, thank you, or other nicety, understanding, or appreciation. And Ive taken this to heart. I learned that there is no reason not to be kind, and that were all people in the community, working hard to make the books we love to read. Donna Bray V-p and copublisher HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray When I was an assistant editor, I asked my boss at the time, Brenda Bowen, then editor-in-chief at Henry Holt, at what point in an editors career she would confidently know where her next books were coming from. Brenda replied, in essence, Never. This chilled me to the boneI figured at some point the scrambling had to end! But strangely, once I processed this unvarnished truth, it put me at peace. I learned to accept uncertainty as normal, and even enjoy the improvisational, creative nature of acquiring books and building a list. Francesco Sedita President and publisher Penguin Workshop About 15 years ago, I was creative director at Scholastic, and we were about to launch a new series by a high-profile author. We went back and forth on the cover art, and when we finally landed on somethingwhich turned out to not be the right choicewe were in a very long, stressful meeting about cover effects. Suddenly, the great, amazing, lovely, hysterical Craig Walkera true mentor for me, who oversaw the paperback division until he passed away in 2007shouted, No one on the other side of the Hudson River gives a f*** about Spot UV! It was the firstand onlytime Id heard him shout. And he was right. Allyn Johnston V-p and publisher Beach Lane Books I was halfway through a very preliminary draft of one of the more difficult rejection letters Id ever had to write in my career, to an author-illustrator I had published for years. The letter was filled with cryptic and/or brutal lines from my notes that Id included as placeholders to remind me what points I needed to makein a much softer way!in my final draft. You know where this is going. I have no idea how it happened, because I certainly hadnt pressed send consciously, but suddenly the email was sent, in all its raw and brutal and disorganized glory. The grand news is that the author-illustrator was ultimately a complete jewel about it, after a very long telephone conversation. And I was lucky enough to learn this lesson from my theneditorial assistant, Andrea Welch, who is now executive editor here with me at Beach Lane: Never put the address into a difficult email until youre done writing it! Leila Sales Associate publishing manager Viking Childrens Books I once heard Arthur Levine give a speech at the Childrens Book Council. He compared editing a book to being in a relationship, and said that the question you have to ask yourself before acquiring a project isnt just, Do I like this? but rather: Do I love this book so much that I will want it to be part of my life every day for two or three years or maybe even forever? Would I want to go to a party and introduce this book around to everybody there? This stuck with me because it was a funny analogy, and now its something I think about whenever Im considering acquiring a manuscript: do I want to be in a committed relationship with this book, or is this just a crush? Carol Burrell Senior editor Workman Childrens Group I met Donald A. Wollheim, pioneering science fiction editor and founder of DAW Books, when I was young and discouraged about the future, and about my aspirations to become an author or filmmaker or astronaut. He talked about how his experience on the editorial side had so far been the most satisfying part of his career. He inspired me to explore the craft of being an editor, to consider what it would be like to help authors and their stories become their best. He exhorted me to aim high in my own publishing career. His encouragement meant a lot to a random kid who, Im sure I thought at the time, didnt look at all like the typical editor in his circles. Beverly Horowitz Senior v-p and publisher Delacorte Press I had the month of January off when I was a college student. Through an illogical confluence of things, I got a position at Bantam Books as an intern/editorial assistant for 30 days. There was no childrens or YA department. I was interested in publishing and took any editorial job I could get. I was excited to go to work at 666 Fifth Avenue, to head up to my desk not far from the editors on the 24th floor. When I told my friends, some would make crazy comments about how that was the devils address. I had no idea what that even meant until someone explained it to me! It made it all the more fun. I was included in all types of meetings, such as editorial discussions at acquisition meetings, and I also was allowed to sit in on major planning meetings as the intern at the back of the room. This was during the years when Bantam was creating amazing, never-before-seen campaigns and selling huge numbers of paperback books, making bestsellers happenindeed, changing the industry. I listened as publicity/marketing and editorialno digital at that timebrainstormed the campaigns together, and generated more ideas than were needed or were even doable. Yet it was obvious that the innovation and exchanges were inspiring. Even the outlandish ideas were fascinating. These intense sessionssometimes shouting sessions!helped me understand that one must never simply accept the status quo. Old ideas are not set in stonedo something no one has ever done before if you possibly can. Take initiative, and if you fail, try again. I watched that team of people gather and do this again and again. Phenomenal interactions and brilliant thinking. I hope I am still thinking that way each dayat work and in life. Reka Simonsen Executive editor Atheneum Books for Young Readers People are often surprised to hear this, but I learned how to edit picture books from a creative director. Not only did the wonderful Martha Rago share her invaluable knowledge about how to help an artist tell a story visually in the best way possible but she showed me how important the collaboration between editorial and design is. Every time I work on a picture book, I use ideas and skills that I learned from her. Thank you, Martha! Ruta Rimas Senior editor Margaret K. McElderry Books Back in the day, I heard two pieces of wisdom as a junior editor that stick with me to this day. The first: Work will never love you back. This was from Kate Jackson, editor-in-chief at HarperCollins, during a brown-bag lunch that she regularly held with the assistants. When she said that, something clickedwe can work hard and be fulfilled by our profession but ultimately, our job is a job, and its our responsibility as human beings to ensure we continue to grow outside the walls of our publishing houses and that we mindfully attend to our family and friends. And that will make us better editors and better people. The second piece of wisdom that I often think about came from Brenda Bowen: Your title isnt your title. Your name is your title. Or something to that effect. Junior editors can often be laser focused on moving up, getting that next promotion, feeling more legitimate with a more senior title, so it can be hard to see the forest through the trees. Its more important to take care with your work, be thoughtful with your feedback to the editors you assist, be as great as you can be day to day, even if its something mundane like scanning pages or sending packages, than it is to fly as rapidly as possible up the title chart. People remember you and not your title, so conduct yourself professionally and politely, and take pride in your work. Kerry Martin Director of art and design Holiday House My first design job out of college was as an assistant at my former teacher Yolanda Cuomos studio in Chelsea. She is an amazing book designer who recently designed Pete Souzas Obama photo book. I learned loads about book design as her student and then more about being a professional while working at her studio. The senior designer was out sick, so I was tasked to go to a colleagues studio to print something on a big color printer; they were hard to come by in smaller studios in those daysthe early 2000s! The project was a thick photography book with hundreds of photo files, and Yolanda asked me if I knew what to do. Um, yeah... I think so, I stuttered, because I wasnt sure at all how to handle such a huge file and load it onto a zip disk. I dont like the way you said that, she said back to me. I didnt even know how to get to the other studio, which was in the East Village. Of course I messed it up and got lost on the way to the other studio. I think about that all the time now: I dont like how you said that. It taught me to speak with confidence, ask more questions if I dont understand something, and not be afraid to say that. It also made me appreciate my iPhone map, because I still get lost all the time! Zoe Maffitt Editorial assistant Workman Publishing When I was still an editorial intern, Nathalie Le Du, mentor extraordinaire, took the time to talk to me about my career. Our conversation was full of wonderful advice and insightful questions, but one thing in particular stood out to me. She told me to take risks. She told me to take on challenges that made me scared but excited, because Id inevitably rise to the occasion. Since then Ive found a job I adore, where I can pursue and develop ideas that Im passionate about. As I put her words into practice, Im learning that there are multiple ways of rising to the occasion, all of them leading to personal and professional growth. Mary Aarons Sales director, Amazon and ANZ, Canada, Asia, Latin America The Quarto Group My first job was at Random House. This was something that I learned from Lester Del Rey, cofounder of Del Rey Books: Its the last reprint thatll kill you. De la Cruz Sells Birthday to Dutton Bestselling author(Someone to Love) sold her first work of domestic suspense, The Birthday Girl, to Dutton.bought world rights to the book fromat 3 Arts. The publisher said Birthday Girl was pitched as Gone Girl meets Flowers in the Attic and follows a woman who decides to throw herself a lavish 40th birthday party in her Palm Springs vacation home. The novel, which is set for a summer 2019 release, is, Dutton went on, told through the hour-by-hour preparations for the party as well as flashbacks to an even more unforgettable and shocking 16th birthday party. Astrophysicist Explores End for S&S After an auction featuring at least eight bidders, Daniel Loedel at Scribner bought North American rights to Katie Macks The End of Everything. Mack is a 36-year-old theoretical astrophysicist who teaches at North Carolina State University and has a significant social media footprint, with more than 250,000 followers on Twitter. Her book, Loedel said, explores five different ways the universe could end and the wondrous physics, big questions, and mind-blowing lessons underlying them. Mack was represented by Creative Artists Agency, and the book is tentatively set for summer 2020. Ballantine Nabs Book on Cartier Family In a world English rights acquisition, Ballantines Pamela Cannon preempted Francesca Cartier Brickells House of Cartier. Brickell, a descendant of the clan that started the luxury goods company, delivers a narrative family history in the book. Grainne Fox at Fletcher & Company, who represented Brickell, said House of Cartier was inspired by a recently found collection of never-before-seen historic letters and photographs and traces the Cartiers rise from running a Parisian storefront to overseeing a global fashion brand. Fox added that the book weaves together family memoir and more than a century of cultural history. Delacorte Takes Debut Trilogy at Auction Krista Marino at Delacorte Press took North American rights for high six figures to debut author Amelie Wen Zhaos trilogy Blood Heir. The fantasy series was bought after a five-house auction; Delacorte said the series is about a fugitive princess with a dark secret and a charismatic con man who forge an unlikely alliance in order to save themselves, each other, and their kingdom. Peter Knapp at Park Literary and Media sold the series, which will launch with book one (also called Blood Heir) in summer 2019. Zhao, who works in finance, was born in Paris and raised in Beijing. Briefs For Amazons Little A imprint, Carmon Johnson took world rights to Vanessa McGradys currently untitled memoir. Cheryl Pientka at Jill Grinberg Literary Management, who represented McGrady, said the book, which is set for a 2019 release, explores the authors complicated family and what happens when she allows her daughters newly homeless biological parents to come live with them. At Audible Originals, Andrew Eisenman bought Bob Sullivan and Dan Maccarones The Barstool MBA. Sullivan is a bestselling author (Gotcha Capitalism), and Maccarone is an entrepreneur and bar owner who consulted on the launch of such companies as Hulu and Rent the Runway. The audio, said Daniel Lazar at Writers House, who represented the authors, will examine how working a bar is a great lesson for envisioning, launching, running, and even closing a startup company. The Barstool MBA is slated for a 2019 release. Correction: An earlier version of this article said listed Daniel Loedel works at Simon & Schuster; he's at Scribner. Additionally, Dan Maccarone did not help launch Gawker, as this article previously stated; he helped with a major redesign/relaunch of the website. Year Two Fire and Fury is the #1 book in the country for the third week in a row. As the U.S. passed the first anniversary of President Trumps inauguration, four books debuted on our hardcover nonfiction list, each taking a critical view of the current political moment. #2 Its Even Worse Than You Think by David Cay Johnston #3 Together We Rise by the Womens March Organizers and Conde Nast #7 Trumpocracy by David Frum #18 How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Sea Legs The story collection The Largess of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson, who died in 2017, debuts at #19 in hardcover fiction. Our starred review called the book a masterpiece of deep humanity and astonishing prose. Johnson won the National Book Award for 2007s Tree of Smoke, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for that book and for 2011s Train Dreams. Sea Maiden is Johnsons second story collection, after the seminal Jesus Son (1992). Movie Watch The film 12 Strong, an adaptation of Doug Stantons Horse Soldiers (2009), opened in theaters on January 19. It tells the true story of a U.S. Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistanon horsebackshortly after 9/11. The tie-ins pubbed in December and the trade paper edition debuts on our list at #17, with print units up 61% from the previous week. Mass market units are up 35%, lifting the title to #10. New & Notable Iron Gold Pierce Brown #2 Hardcover Fiction Brown delivers a fourth book in what was originally called the Red Rising trilogy; book five, Dark Age, is scheduled for September. The series to date has sold 367K copies in hardcover and trade paper. Indian Instant Pot Cookbook Urvashi Pitre #15 Trade Paper This South Asian spin on the Instant Pot craze pubbed in September and debuts on our list with its best weekly print sales to date. It did well around the holidays and has been getting plenty of attention in January; the New Yorker published an interview with Pitre and posted her butter chicken recipe. Zenith Lindsay Cummings and Sasha Alsberg #18 Childrens & YA Frontlist Fiction After a 62-page installment of this originally self-published space opera debuted at #1 on the New York Times YA e-books list, the authors and their agents decided it was time to shop it around; Harlequin Teen picked up this book and its forthcoming sequel. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Fire and Fury Michael Wolff Holt 324,188 2 Dog Man and Cat Kid (Dog Man #4) Dav Pilkey Graphix 28,475 3 A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine LEngle Square Fish 21,277 4 The Woman in the Window A.J. Finn Morrow 20,446 5 City of Endless Night Preston/Child Grand Central 20,233 6 No Middle Name Lee Child Dell 19,695 7 The Sun and Her Flowers Rupi Kaur Andrews McMeel 18,145 8 The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12) Jeff Kinney Amulet 17,033 9 Milk and Honey Rupi Kaur Andrews McMeel 16,567 10 Wonder R.J. Palacio Knopf 16,500 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. With Michael Wolffs Fire and Fury selling more than 324,000 copies in the week ended Jan. 21, 2018, total industry sales were 6% higher than in the comparable week in 2017 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Units in the adult nonfiction segment were 10% higher than in the week ended Jan. 22, 2017, led by the still-climbing sales of Fire; sales of the book jumped 69% from the prior week. Two other Trump-related books that debuted January 16 had respectable showings: Its Even Worse Than You Think by David Cay Johnston sold more than 10,000 copies, landing in seventh place on the adult nonfiction list, while David Frums Trumpocracy sold nearly 7,000 copies, putting it in 17th place on the category list. Unit sales in the juvenile nonfiction segment were up 6% from the comparable week in 2017. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison had a good week of sales, moving up to the #2 spot with slightly more than 6,000 copies sold. Brad Meltzers new I Am Harriet Tubman sold nearly 3,000 copies, putting it in 11th place on the juvenile nonfiction list in its first week. A boxed set of the Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeleine LEngle, first released more than a decade ago, sold almost 7,000 copies, while the paperback edition of A Wrinkle in Time sold more than 21,000 copies, helping to lift unit sales in the juvenile fiction segment 5% from the similar week in 2017. Both books benefitted from promotion for the movie adaptation, which is due to hit screens in early March. Print unit sales in the adult fiction segment were 2% lower. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn moved into first place on the adult bestseller list, selling more than 20,000 copies, beating out Douglas Prestons City of Endless Night. Unit Sales of Print Books by Channel (in thousands) Jan. 22, 2017 Jan. 21, 2018 Chge Week Chge YTD Total 11,968 12,644 6% 4% Retail & Club 10,639 11,414 7% 5% Mass Merch./Others 1,329 1,229 -8% -3% Unit Sales of Print Books by Category (in thousands) Jan. 22, 2017 Jan. 21, 2018 Chge Week Chge YTD Adult Nonfiction 5,697 6,273 10% 8% Adult Fiction 2,437 2,387 -2% -3% Juvenile Nonfiction 831 882 6% 5% Juvenile Fiction 2,522 2,641 5% 5% Unit Sales of Print Books by Format (in thousands) Despite the recent suspension of a directive that would have prevented individuals from sending books directly to New York State prisoners, as well as the reversal of a New Jersey ban on Michelle Alexander's bestselling The New Jim Crow, advocates for prison inmates remain concerned about restrictions on books available to prisoners. Earlier this month, citing public concerns, Gov. Andrew Cuomo suspended the implementation of New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision directive 4911A, which would have blocked inmates from receiving packages from anyone other than six commercial vendors designated by the state. The DOCCS says that the provision was designed to prevent contraband from being smuggled into prisons. Critics of the directive say it would have prohibited books, food, and clothing from being shipped directly to prisoners from family and other outside supporters. The 4911A directive was being tested at three prisons in New York, with an eye toward statewide implementation. According to the New York Times, a DOCCS spokesperson said the program was suspended because of concerns expressed by inmates families about the availability and pricing of items offered through the vendor program. Melissa Marturano, a professor at Hunter College and a member of NYC Books Through Bars, a volunteer group that donates free books to prison inmates around the country, said in a statement that NYC BTB cautiously welcomes the news that the governors office has ordered the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to suspend the pilot package ban under directive 4911A. The statement noted that the organization remains concerned that the state is regrouping and will be announcing a directive with a new and improved vendors program. According to the statement, NYC BTB condemns the use of any vendors and any restrictions on prisoners access to education, reading, food and more. It continued: The use of such vendors fundamentally misunderstands the material and impoverished conditions of prisoners and their communities and support networks outside prisons. Prisoners need access to more free and quality books, food, and clothing. NYC Books Through Bars (and prisoner literacy advocates such as PEN America) rallied support by issuing warnings about the DOCCS directive. In early January, the organization sent a letter registering strong objections to directive 4911A to Cuomo and Anthony J. Annucci, acting commissioner of the DOCCS. The letter stated that, under the now-suspended directive, groups like ours are no longer able to send free reading materials to those incarcerated in the affected facilities. Marturano said that the directive would have limited incarcerated people to a few dozen books and magazines, purchased at a premium. The inventories of the approved vendors, she added, were limited to romance novels, Bibles and religious texts, coloring and puzzle books, and assorted how-to titles. According to the NYC BTB statement, there were no books that help people learn to overcome addictions or learn how to improve as parents. No Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou, or other literature that helps people connect with what it means to be human. There are no books by African-American intellectuals or left thinkers like Howard Zinn. There is no Latino history. New York State countered that inmates can use prison libraries, but Marturano rejected that option, explaining that prison library facilities located in Upstate New Yorks typically conservative white communities dont reflect the needs and interests of African-American and Hispanic inmate communities. During the same period in January when the NYC BTB was challenging the implementation of the DOCCS directive, the New Jersey Department of Corrections reversed controversial bans at two New Jersey prisons on The New Jim Crow after receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Alexanders book examines institutionalized racial bias against African-Americans in the U.S. criminal justice system; the New Jersey ACLUs letter stated that it is an important work on the endemic racial bias of prison systems in the United States and described the ban on it as a violation of the First Amendment. Media attention and the subsequent public outcry against the ban has focused attention on the dearth of quality reading material available to inmates in the prison system. Marturano explained that NYC BTB supplies books directly to prisoners in corrections facilities, not to prison libraries, which she described as poorly stocked, understaffed, and overwhelmed by demand. The state has failed its prisoners, she said. NYC BTB ships more than 700 packages per month (most containing at least two books) to prisoners in 40 states, though primarily to inmates in New York, California, and Texas prisons. Books are donated to the group (some of them by publishers). According to Marturano, about 30 states have implemented vendor programs, though not all prohibit sending books. New York was liberal compared to a state like Texas, Marturano said. But now its following the other 30 states and becoming more restrictive. We dont want vendors profiting off the misery of prisoners. New Press publisher Ellen Adler, which published The New Jim Crow in 2010, said bans such as the one at the two New Jersey prisons and restrictive prison vendor programs are not unusual. The New Jim Crow, she said, has been subject to prison bans since it was first published, adding, Its been a game of whack-a-mole, working prison to prison to get the book to prisoners. Indeed, Adler said that some states, including Texas, have arbitrarily banned a vast number of titles in their prisons. In response, the New Press works in conjunction with prison advocates around the country to supply special editions of its books to prisoners. The New Press has teamed with one of its authors, Susan Burton, a former inmate, and received funding from a combination of foundations and private funders to produce an 11,000-copy special edition of Burtons 2017 memoir, Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women, which will be distributed exclusively to prisons around the country. Adler praised the work of organizations like NYC BTB and Chicago Books to Women in Prison, which is a national program despite its name, in providing a variety of books to prisoners in state and federal institutions. She called the suspended New York DOCCS directive painfully stupid and wrong, noting that not only is it unconstitutionalreferring to violations of the prisoners First Amendment protectionsbut it is also morally reprehensible to try to strip incarcerated people of their humanity and limit what they can read in an entirely arbitrary and capricious manner. She added, Books have the power to teach and inspire and help people rebuild their liveswho could possibly object to that? Corrections: in an earlier version of this story the name of the author of The New Jim Crow was incorrect and the sources of funding for the special edition of Becoming Ms. Burton were also incorrectly identified. Athens, GA (30605) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. Less humid. High 86F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Cooler. Low 59F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Myanmars Rakhine state government will convene an emergency meeting to form an inquiry committee consisting of nine members, including six state lawmakers, to investigate the killings that occurred during a police crackdown in the ancient town of Mrauk-U, a local legislator said Friday. On Jan. 16, police shot dead seven ethnic Rakhine protesters and wounded a dozen others after thousands of members of the minority group marking a nationalist Buddhist anniversary converged on a government office in the ancient town of Mrauk-U when authorities attempted to stop the event. We will hold an emergency meeting on Jan. 29 because MP [member of parliament] Kyaw Win of Mrauk-U constituency 2 has proposed of forming an inquiry committee to investigate the killings, said Rakhine state parliamentarian Tun Thar Sein, a member of the Arakan National Party (ANP), which represents the interests of ethnic Rakhine people in the state. A national government investigation team led by Zaw Than Tint, permanent secretary of the civilian government, traveled to Mrauk-U on Wednesday to investigate the killings. International rights groups, the United Nations in Myanmar, and a group of 70 civil society organizations in the country have issued calls for an independent investigation into the crackdown and the prosecution of police officers responsible for the killings. Volatile Rakhine state is still reeling from a military crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in its three northern townships that has driven an estimated 688,000 members of the minority group to neighboring Bangladesh since August 2017. Some Rohingya and rights groups have accused the military of committing indiscriminate killings, torture, rape, and arson in their villages in Maungdaw, Buithdaung, and Rathedaung townships in what the United Nations and United States have said amount to a campaign of ethnic cleansing a charge that Myanmar denies. ANP provides legal assistance In a related development, the ANP on Thursday formed a legal assistance committee with six attorneys to help those arrested during the Mrauk-U crackdown and during the nationalist Buddhist event in Rathedaung township. The six lawyers on the committee are Kyaw Than, Thar Win, Aye Nu Sein, Tin Nyo, Tun Aung Kyaw, and ANP member advocate Ba Shein, who also serves as the partys general secretary. The committee will provide legal assistance to eight ethnic Rakhine youths who were arrested by state government police on Tuesday and are being treated in a ward for prisoners at the Peoples Hospital in the state capital Sittwe for gunshot wounds they sustained during the Mrauk U crackdown. The lawyers will also help Rakhine nationalist politician Aye Maung, a former ANP leader who currently represents Rakhines Ann township constituency in the lower house of parliament, and writer and civil society leader Wai Hin Aung, both of whom were taken into custody after giving speeches at the memorial gathering. The annual event celebrates the anniversary of the fall of the Rakhine Dynasty following the invasion of Burmese forces in 1784. In their speeches, Aye Maung and Wai Hin Aung demanded greater sovereignty for the ethnic Rakhine community in the state and called for revolt against Myanmars ethnic majority Bamar-led government. Rathedaung township authorities have filed a charges against Aye Maungs under section 17(1) of Unlawful Associations Act and Sections 121 and 505 of the Penal Code, which relate to high treason and incitement, according to local media reports. They also filed public mischief charges against Wai Hin Aung under the Penal Code. The two, who are being detained in Sittwe prison, are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 31, the Myanmar news service Mizzima reported. We will help the detainees who cant afford to hire lawyers, Tun Aung Kyaw said. We will advise them about what they need to do. The government banned the annual celebration because the venue was a former palace that had been listed as a national heritage site, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported on Monday. A draft nomination to include Mrauk-U, Rakhine states ancient capital and an important archaeological site with hundreds of historic temples, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is slated to be submitted in September with the final submission due next January, the report said. Reported by Waiyan Moe Myint and Thiri Min Zin for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Afghan officials say the death toll in a massive suicide car bomb attack in a crowded area in central Kabul has risen to 95, with 158 others wounded. Baryalai Hilali, the director of the government media center, told reporters that the toll might rise further as some of the wounded brought to hospitals were in "critical condition." Kabul deputy police chief Haqnawaz Haqyar said that victims were still being brought in to hospitals across the city. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, claimed that the militant group was behind the attack, one of the biggest blasts to hit the war-torn city in recent years. According to the Interior Ministry the attacker used an ambulance to pass through checkpoints. He passed through the first checkpoint saying he was taking a patient to the [nearby] Jumhuryat hospital and at the second checkpoint he was recognized and blew his explosive-laden car," Interior Ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told the AFP news agency. The United States and the United Nations have condemned the attack. "Our thoughts are with the families of the victims who were injured and killed, and we mourn all those who lost their lives in this senseless attack," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "The United States stands with the people of Afghanistan, and we remain firmly committed to supporting the Afghan people's efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity for their country," Tillerson said. "The United States stands with the people of Afghanistan, and we remain firmly committed to supporting the Afghan people's efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity for their country," he said. "On behalf of the United Nations in Afghanistan, I unequivocally condemn today's attack in Kabul city in which scores of civilians were killed or injured," Tadamichi Yamamoto, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement. "Today's attack is nothing short of an atrocity, and those who have organized and enabled it must be brought to justice and held to account," Yamamoto said. Eyewitnesses say that buildings hundreds of meters away were shaken by the force of the explosion. The attack comes a week after an assault on the Intercontinental Hotel in the city that killed at least 25 people. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a suicide car bomber targeted security forces in the southern province of Helmand, wounding at least six people on January 27, local officials said. Provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak said that the suicide bomber tried to enter the Qari Posta security checkpoint in the Nad Ali district. The attacker was spotted by security forces who opened fire on him, but he still managed to detonate his explosives, Zwak said. The Taliban also claimed responsibility for that attack. Afghan government forces have struggled to fight the Taliban and other militant groups since U.S. and NATO troops formally ended their combat mission in 2014. U.S. President Donald Trump has committed to stepping up the U.S. military's engagement in Afghanistan, pledging thousands more U.S. troops without setting deadlines. Trump has said he wanted to shift from a time-based approach in Afghanistan to one based on conditions on the ground. With reporting by dpa AFP, Tolonews.com, Reuters, and AP Russia-friendly incumbent Milos Zeman has been reelected president of the Czech Republic for a second five-year term after winning a closely fought, often divisive, election. Final results showed Zeman won the run-off election round with 51.36 percent of the vote to 48.63 percent for his opponent, pro-European academic Jiri Drahos, who conceded defeat. "This is my last political victory," Zeman, 73, said on national television as he thanked his supporters while also noting that he had gained some 100,000 more votes than he had in the previous presidential election. "I would like to congratulate election winner Milos Zeman," Drahos told a crowd of supporters as he publicly acknowledged the result. However, he also said the "energy" that his campaign generated would not disappear. "I will not leave public life," he said. "I will remain." Around 8.4 million Czechs were eligible to vote in the runoff, which was mandated after no candidate won a majority in the January 12-13 first round. Turnout was high with more than 66 percent casting their ballots. Zeman has held the largely ceremonial post since 2013. He has courted controversy by voicing antimigrant views, denigrating Muslims, and warming up to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when many in Europe fear that Moscow is meddling in Western elections and affairs. He also seeks closer ties with China. Zeman's views on the conflict in eastern Ukraine diverge sharply from the European mainstream. He has called Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula irreversible. The Kremlin said late on January 27 that Putin in a congratulatory message told the Czech president that the election results had showcased [Zeman's] high authority as an experienced and responsible politician who put the Czech people's interests and aspirations into life." The message added that "Russia's president confirmed the readiness to continue constructive joint work on bilateral and global agenda. Pro-European liberal Drahos, 68, is the former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences and a political newcomer with no party affiliation. During the campaign he had expressed concern about the rise of extremism and populism. Polarized Society In their final TV debate on January 25, Drahos and Zeman both spoke in favor of deeper EU cooperation and against refugee quotas. During the debate, Drahos called Zeman "a representative of the past political era...a symbol of division." Czech political analyst Jiri Pehe told RFE/RL on January 27 that Zeman's tight victory shows indeed that Czech society is split right down the middle between two camps. "Mr. Zeman represents the camp that we could call the postcommunist part of society, older people from small towns, villages in regions such as northern Bohemia or northern Moravia, people who are not only rooted in the past but are also afraid of some of the new challenges that this world has for us, such as globalization and immigration," Pehe said. He added that Zeman's campaign was based on promising "to protect the nation from some of those challenges." Academic Drahos, who said he saw Russia as a security threat because Moscow sees NATO as its adversary, was attacked by Zeman as lacking political experience, an argument which analyst Pehe says was Drahos's main handicap. Meanwhile, Zeman, who is an experienced politician, "is smart enough to have noticed that his orientation towards Moscow and China is not shared by the majority of the Czech people," Pehe said. During the last days of the campaign, Zeman changed his tone, emphasizing his credentials as a Western politician who contributed to bringing the Czech Republic into the European Union and NATO, said Pehe. "I think he realizes that this is one issue where probably he doesn't have a majority behind him and that's why he has started talking in different ways," said Pehe, adding that Zeman now has a good opportunity to try and become the president of all Czechs. "But that would require on his part changing some of the rhetoric and becoming less combative, less provocative," Pehe concluded. Zeman appeared to indeed strike a more conciliatory note in his victory address -- but not without his trademark abrasiveness. "I would like to be a bit humbler, less self-confident and somewhat more accommodating toward people whose views are different from mine; to be less arrogant, although I'll continue to think they're no good." Zeman told supporters after the vote. With reporting by AFP, dpa, iDnes.cz, Novinky.cz, and AP Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he is ready to accept a "composite name" that includes the moniker "Macedonia" to settle a long-standing dispute over the name of its Balkan neighbor. Tsipras's televised comments on January 27 came after he held talks in Athens with key political leaders, including those of most opposition parties, in an effort to set a joint strategy for upcoming United Nations negotiations on the matter. Tsipras failed to receive backing from the opposition parties, with Conservative New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis leading the push back, saying, "We will not divide Greeks to unite Skopje." The Greek prime minister responded in a televised address by claiming that Mitsotakis was too influenced by "extremists" in his party. "We must not listen to nationalist outbursts or fanatical shouts," he added. Tsipras acknowledged that there remained a long way to go before a settlement is agreed, but said he was prepared to accept a "composite name...with a geographical or historical reference" that would include the name "Macedonia." That could mean a name such as Upper, or New, Macedonia, he said. Macedonia kept its communist-era name after declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. But the move angered Greece, which says it implies territorial claims to a Greek province of the same name as well as to Greece's history. Greece has since insisted that the country be referred to internationally as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and blocked its path to European Union and NATO membership until a solution to the dispute is found. Authorities from both Greece and Macedonia have said they want to settle the issue this year, and the two sides have agreed to intensify consultations. Matthew Nimetz, an envoy for the United Nations, is scheduled to meet with the Greek leaders on January 29 and then travel on to Macedonia two days later. During recent meetings, Nimetz handed both sides ideas for overcoming the dispute, but details were not released. At the same time Tsipras was meeting with Greek political leaders, his Macedonian counterpart, Zoran Zaev, and President George Ivanov were discussing the issue with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska Jankovska, and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani, as well as heads of the main political parties in Skopje. The "coordination meeting" went late into the night on January 27, but no statements have yet been issued. Greek nationalists have taken to the streets to protest concessions to Macedonia. Organizers of an antigovernment protest planned for February 4 in Athens said they hope to draw 1 million in a demonstration against allowing Macedonia to use any form of the moniker in the country's name. Protesters also converged outside the coordination meeting in Skopje, with demonstrators objecting to Zaev's plan to rename Macedonia's main highway and airport, both named for Alexander the Great. They demanded negotiations on the countrys name change be terminated. With reporting by RFE/RLs Balkan Service, dpa, BalkanInsight, and AP Elderly survivors have gathered at the former Auschwitz death camp as part of commemorations around the world to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Political leaders used the occasion on January 27 to emphasize that the Nazi genocide must continue to serve as a warning. Commemorations take place after dusk, after the end of the Jewish Sabbath, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, located in southern Poland. In the capital of Poland, Warsaw, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day by addressing the issue of rising anti-Semitism on her weekly Saturday podcast. She said that schools, which already teach about the country's Nazi past, need to work harder at that especially so immigrant students from Arab countries will not "exercise anti-Semitism." Meanwhile, Israel called on Poland on January 27 to amend a bill approved this week by Polish lawmakers that would make it illegal to use statements suggesting Poland bore any responsibility for crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany on its soil. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his ambassador to meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to express opposition to the bill, which would make using phrases like "Polish death camps" punishable by up to three years in prison. "The law is baseless, I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," Netanyahu said. Poles have fought for years against the use of phrases like "Polish death camps," which suggest Poland was at least partly responsible for the camps where millions of people, mostly Jews, were killed by Nazi Germany. The camps were built and operated by the Nazis after they invaded Poland in 1939. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Iraqi officials say a U.S. military aircraft has mistakenly fired at a gathering of tribal fighters and civilians in the western province of Anbar, killing at least seven people. At least 11 others, including a local official, were wounded in the strikes in Anbar's al-Baghdadi district on January 27, the officials said. Those killed included security personnel and civilians, the officials added. Two senior Iraqi Army officers said the U.S. forces had thought the victims were militants, the Associated Press reported. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. The Iraqi Army has ordered a probe into the incident. For more than three years, a U.S.-led coalition has supported Iraq in a massive campaign to expel Islamic State extremists from the country. Based on reporting by AP and dpa The United States and Poland on January 27 took a common stand against a planned gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany, saying it is politicizing energy and undermining attempts to make Europe less dependent on Russian resources. The pipeline, known as Nord Stream 2, would bypass Poland and leave Central Europe vulnerable to Russian pressure. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaking in Warsaw after talks with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said the pipeline was "not a healthy piece of infrastructure" for Europe's energy stability. "Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," Tillerson said at a news conference with Czaputowicz. "We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy security and stability and providing Russia yet another tool to politicize energy as a political tool." The pipeline would be the second to carry Russian gas directly to Germany and Western Europe via the Baltic Sea instead of through Poland and Ukraine. Poland is wary of Russian intentions with the pipeline and "we share the view that it is necessary to diversify energy supplies into Europe," Czaputowicz said. Poland began importing liquid natural gas from the United States last year. Tillerson encouraged further such sales and spoke in favor of a pipeline that would run from Poland to Norway. The two diplomats also pledged to boost military cooperation. Poland, Czaputowicz said, would like to see Washington enhance its military presence in the country. Some 5,000 U.S. troops were deployed to Poland last year as part of two separate American and NATO missions. The deployments were intended to reassure allies on NATO's eastern flank that the alliance was serious about protecting them from Russian aggression. A Moscow cinema that screened a satirical movie about Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in defiance of an official ban has announced that it will stop showing the film after a raid by police. "For reasons beyond our control, the Pioner cinema has to cancel screenings of the film 'The Death of Stalin' from January 27," the theater said on its website late on January 26. Anyone who has bought a ticket to a future screening will be reimbursed, it said and directed "any additional questions" to the Culture Ministry. The Russian Culture Ministry on January 23 rescinded the permit allowing Scottish writer-director Armando Iannucci's dark comedy to be shown in Russian theaters after prominent conservative figures criticized the movie as a mockery of Russian history. The Pioner (Pioneer) cinema ignored the decision and has been screening the film since January 25. Showing an unlicensed movie is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 rubles (about $1,800). A second violation could lead to a theater's closure. On January 26, six police officers accompanied by a group of men in civilian clothing went to the cinema following a matinee screening of the film, and at one point held an administrator and other cinema employees behind closed doors. The Death of Stalin focuses on the power struggle in the Soviet Union immediately after dictator Josef Stalin's death in March 1953.The film premiered in Britain in October. The Pioner Cinema is owned by oligarch Aleksandr Mamut and is popular among the Russian liberal elite. Based on reporting by AFP and TASS Yury Dmitriyev, a Russian historian and activist who is being tried on child pornography charges his supporters say are politically motivated, has been released from pretrial custody, Russian media reported. Novaya Gazeta quoted defense lawyer Viktor Anufriev as saying that Dmitriyev was released from the Petrozavodsk detention center in the morning on January 27 on condition that he wouldnt leave the city without permission. Dmitriyev was released a day earlier than expected. On December 27, a court in Petrozavodsk, the capital of the northwestern region of Karelia, issued an order that Dmitriyev would be freed on January 28. The court also ordered Dmitriyev to undergo a psychiatric examination and called for a new expert assessment of 49 nude photographs of his foster daughter -- the third such evaluation of the images at the center of the case. Dmitriyev, who heads the Karelia chapter of the human rights group Memorial, has worked for decades to expose crimes committed there by the Soviet state under dictator Josef Stalin. Investigators claim that Dmitriyev intended to use the photos, which were found in his personal computer, to create pornographic material to share online. He is charged with "preparing and distributing child pornography." Dmitriyev and his colleagues say the photos were taken because medical workers had asked him to monitor the health and development of the girl, who was malnourished and unhealthy when he and his wife took her in at age 3 with the intention of adopting her. She is now 11 or 12 years old. Dmitriyev was arrested in December 2016 and went on trial on June 1. With reporting by Novaya Gazeta U.S. President Donald Trump has returned to Washington, telling reporters that his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was a "very, very successful trip." Trump said on January 26 as he entered the White House that "many, many people from Davos" are investing in the United States. In a keynote address at the forum, Trump told the global business elite that his "America First" slogan does not mean he wants an isolationist United States. "As president of the United States, I will always put America first. Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first also," he said. "But America First does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world," Trump said. Trump was the first sitting president to attend the annual gathering in Davos since Bill Clinton did so in 2000. Among the issues facing the president upon his return are reports that he ordered White House lawyer Don McGahn to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller last June, but that he backed down after McGahn threatened to resign rather than follow through on the order. Trump dismissed the reports, calling them "fake news." U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of Trump and to hurt the chances of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Mueller and three congressional panels are separately investigating the alleged meddling and any potential ties between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Based on reporting by AP and The New York Times U.S. suggestions on deploying a UN mission in war-ravaged eastern Ukraine look quite feasible and Russia will study them carefully, Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov was quoted as saying by Russian media after meeting with his American counterpart, Kurt Volker. Surkov and Volker held talks in the Gulf city of Dubai on January 26. Volker has made no comment so far on the outcome of the meeting, but has a phone briefing with the media on January 29. Since April 2014, more than 10,300 people have been killed by fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists who control parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have failed to hold. Discussions about deploying a peacekeeping force have heated up since September, when Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed deploying UN peacekeepers along the line separating Ukrainian government forces and the Russia-backed separatists. The plan swiftly drew criticism from both Kyiv and the West, largely because of concerns that deployment along the front line rather than the Russian-Ukrainian border would cement Russian control over separatist-held territory and do nothing to stop Russia from sending fighters and weapons into Ukraine. Putin later said he was open to adjustments to his initial proposal, but no agreement has been reached. "The main thing [in the U.S. proposal] is a rather detailed plan for a phased deployment of the [UN] mission in coordination with the implementation of the political points of the Minsk agreements," Surkov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency and Komersant newspaper. "This is a balanced approach, on which we have insisted. We will study it carefully and promptly give an answer. Then we will invite Kurt and his colleagues to a new meeting," he said without offering further details. With reporting by Komersant and TASS Human trafficking ring of more than 100 bound for US arrested in Mexico Oyama, Tamaulipas Authorities in the town of Oyama arrested two men after they discovered a semi trilor with more than 100 illiegal immigrants bound for the US. The National Institute of Migration, in coordination with elements of the Mexican Army, rescued 109 migrants who were travelling in a trailer in overcrowded conditions without food and water in Oyama, Tamaulipas. At around 5:00 p.m. January 25, a semi trailer truck was discovered at the inspection point moving 109 migrants. Those inside the trailer showed signs of dehydration and suffocation after being locked up for a long period of time. The group of foreigners rescued consisted of 83 Guatemalans (40 men, 11 women and 32 minors, of whom 7 of them traveled alone), 17 Hondurans (10 men, 2 women and 5 minors, one of the girls traveling alone ), and 9 Salvadorans (5 men, 2 women and 2 unaccompanied minors) who sought to reach the United States. According to their statements, the group was transferred by traffickers from the state of Chiapas to Tamaulipas. Within the framework of the agreements that Mexico maintains with the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America, an immediate alert was made for their return. Unaccompanied minors were placed in the custody of the DIF, giving them specialized attention through Child Protection Officers (OPIS), who will deliver the minors to their relatives after the corresponding migratory procedure. The semi truck driver and his companion, Rubicel N and Orbelin N of Mexican nationality, were placed at the disposal of the authorities for the crime of human trafficking. With less than 300 in the world, Mexico zoo breeds first white lion cub Altiplano Zoo, Tlaxcala The first white lion ever born in captivity in Mexico has arrived. Officially three months old, the rare lion was hidden away until now to increase his chances of survival. The Altiplano Zoo in Tlaxcala has a pair of adult white lions that successfully reproduced. The female gave birth October 28, saying they did not disclose birth immediately, but waited until specialists were sure that the animal was not at risk. Two hours after being born the mother, Metztli (meaning Moon in Nahuatl), abandoned him, so zoo experts intervened to feed him and protect him. In addition to a special formula, the newborn was able to feed during its first two months, strengthening more and more, said the Government of Tlaxcala. Later he began to eat chicken, which helped him polish his teeth and complete the missing nutrients. Currently, the lion cub weighs 9 kilos and each day its weight increases between 90 and 100 grams. The lion still has no name, so the government has launched a contest where all children of the state can make a name suggestion for the new cub. The white lion, originally from southern Africa, is considered in danger of extinction. According to Whitelions.org, there are approximately 300 of these animals in the world. The adult lions at the Tlaxcala zoo, Metztli and Tonatiuh, arrived in 2015 when they were six years old. New proposal presented to stop banks using, selling client information Mexico City, Mexico Federal Deputy Edgar Romo Garcia, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), presented an initiative to prohibit financial institutions from using databases or user information for sale purposes. Romo Garcia said the new proposal Seeks to modify various articles of the laws of Protection and Defense to the User of Financial Services and Federal Consumer Protection. In the document sent to the United Commissions of Finance and Economy, the legislator proposes fines ranging to anyone who violates that provision. It would also prevent financial institutions from doing this with those who have expressed their willingness not to receive such information or not to be disturbed at their home, place of work, via email or telephone or any other means, he said. Romo Garcia explained that, It seeks to modify various articles of the laws of Protection and Defense to the User of Financial Services and Federal Consumer Protection. He added that the initiative arises from the need to strengthen the right to privacy, as well as strengthen the powers of the National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services and the Federal Attorneys Office. Time and again, multiple courts in India have stated that dealers charging handling charges is illegal. In spite of this, most dealers continue to charge handling charges. Now, apart from the court, RTO officers have also said the same thing. Sanjay Raut, Deputy Officer with Regional Transport Offic, Pune, said, Its illegal to take handling charges from customers as it is the responsibility of dealers to provide a registered vehicle to the buyer. We have already sent out a communication to all dealers to stop collecting money as handling charges as it is illegalOn Tuesday (22nd May), a meeting with automobile dealers was also held, where strict instructions were given to dealers. There have been multiple cases where dealers charge anything from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the car, in the name of handling charges. RTO officials came to know that many dealers are charging these fees from unsuspecting dealers by telling that this extra money is paid to the RTO for speedy clearance of the vehicle. To make the air clear, RTO has instructed all dealer to put a board in all showrooms, stating Handling Charges Are Illegal, reveals The Indian Express. These charges are illegal. Even when you argue, like a reader did recently, he was told on face that he can go away and buy the car from different dealer if he does not wish to pay handling charge. The dealer in question was a Tata dealer. The consumer went back home, and decided to take this up with Tata Motors. He wrote a mail to customer care, and marked the companys CEO, Mr Guenter Butschek. To his surprise, he got a reply from them the same day. Next day, the dealer called the customer, and told him that the handling charges have been waived off. This is what the reader told Rushlane Dealers still charging illegal handling or logistic charges. Booked a Nexon and found them to charge us handling charges and as far as my knowledge thats totally illegal to which i protested but they insisted me to pay if i have to buy the car. Wrote an email to customer care and the ceo of tata motors. And the very next day got a call from the dealer and are waived off the charges. So pls spread the news and create some awareness on this illegal way of making quick money by the dealers. This is not the only case. Recently, a Maruti customer won a court case against the dealer where the court not only waived off handling charges, but also fined the dealer and ordered him to pay Rs 1 lakh to the customer. Its a Wednesday night at Barvale, the new tapas restaurant on Divisadero, and most of the tables in the 72-seat dining room are occupied by groups of women. Wednesday has turned out to be womens night, our waiter told us. The crowd made me feel like I was in the Marina rather than in the North of the Panhandle neighborhood. Id always considered Nopa residents more bohemian. But perhaps Barvale is a sign that the neighborhood has now become a destination. The restaurant is one more sign of the change that has come to this neighborhood, starting with the opening 12 years ago of the successful Nopa. Barvale is directly across the street from Basa, the cannabis store, and 4505 Burgers and BBQ. This stretch of Divisadero has become a magnet to food-related places like Bi-Rite, the Mill, Bar Crudo, Ragazza, Souvla and Brendas Meat & Three. Barvale is Adriano Paganinis first venture into Spanish food, and hes aiming for a casual place that mimics the bars in Spain that only feature small plates to go with cocktails. In the last few years, hes risen to the top of the citys successful restaurateurs with places such as Beretta, Belga, Starbelly, Lolinda and Super Duper. In the last year hes also opened A Mano in Hayes Valley, one of my top new restaurants of 2017. Barvale debuted in December, in the space that used to house La Urbana, a Latin restaurant where the sleek, expensive industrial look of the interior outstripped the food. Paganini enhanced the basic bones of the place with a targeted refresh, painting a black-and-white silhouette of a tango dancer on the white wall behind the bar and installing louvered shutters at the storefront windows. He also plans next month to open a second room behind the main restaurant with a counter where all the cold tapas are made, surrounded by bar-height communal tables that will seat about as many as the dining room. As for the food, it seems better designed for drinks and fun rather than as a serious dining experience. Chef Patricio Pato Duffoo has worked at other Spanish restaurants in the city, but such classic items as the fried potatoes ($7) with salsa brava and aioli squirted over the top pale in comparison to other restaurants renditions, as does the saute of winter greens ($8) with pine nuts, garlic and raisins, which ended up tasting dull and one-dimensional. Paganini forgoes the larger plates found at other Spanish restaurants in the Bay Area. Instead of a paella that might take a half hour or more when ordered, the chef offers a single serving ($17); the rice is made continuously throughout the night and then portioned out and topped with shrimp, mussels and clams. Its good but lacks the socarrat, or rice crust, that enhances the best versions. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle The one-page menu consists of a dozen cold tapas ($6 each or 3 for $16) that include house-cured olives; boquerones, small cured white anchovies on a spicy pepper sauce; and squid and mussels with garbanzo beans, celery and pimienton ($2 extra). In most cases the selections could use a bolder hand in seasoning, especially if the goal for diners is to feel free to come in for a few bites and a few cocktails, such as the classic Spanish drink gin tonic. The garbanzo and pimienton puree served with grilled bread tastes only of cumin; the traditional tortilla de patata, the kind of layered potato dish found at every restaurant, needs work not only with its anemic flavor but its too-soft texture. The 15 hot tapas suffer a similar problem: The salt cod bunuelos ($9) have only a faint fish flavor, and the croquetas de jamon ($8) taste mostly of bechamel. Lamb meatballs ($15) had a pleasant flavor thanks to the pimiento sauce, but the texture of the meatballs was like deviled ham. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle When ranking the food at restaurants, I often imagine a bell curve with the best and most disappointing dishes on either side, and the average ones in the middle. In the case of Barvale, most dishes were in the middle with only a few rising above the pack. The octopus with fingerling potatoes ($14) and green olives was beautifully presented and the flavors blended seamlessly. So did the Tempranillo-braised oxtails with mashed potatoes ($17), which is exactly the kind of dish I crave on cool nights: Three chunks of bony beef glistened in a meaty sauce, next to smooth, creamy mashed potatoes. Dessert ($8) was also a highlight, particularly the almond cake with its moist, fine crumb, served with marmalade and a puff of whipped cream. The churros are extra crispy, stopping just short of being overdone; however, the accompanying chocolate sauce tasted wan. They are perfect with the soft-serve ice cream with almonds that was on the menu on one visit. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle Service is as uninspired as some of the tapas. It vacillated from being mediocre on one visit to excellent on others. It should be casual, but at times the waiters recite their lines by rote, asking if youve been there before and understand the menu. Even when you say you do, they might explain something thats pretty self-explanatory, such as that the cold tapas occupy the upper half of the menu (and are labeled) and the hot items are on the bottom half (and are labeled). Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. If Barvales goal is to be a fun place to gather for drinks and a few bites, it is already a success. But when it comes to food, it doesnt yet distinguish itself from the pack. Barvale Food: Service: Atmosphere: Price: $$ Noise: BOMB 661 Divisadero (at Grove), San Francisco; (415) 654-5211 or www.barvalesf.com. Dinner 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday, and until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Full bar. 4 % S.F. Surcharge. No reservations. Credit cards accepted. Difficult street parking. Michael Bauer is The San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic and editor at large. Email: mbauer@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaelbauer1 Instagram: @michaelbauer1 Caltrans is reportedly looking into the impact of potentially damaging microorganisms on welds on the underwater foundation of the new span of the Bay Bridge. A report by NBC Bay Area found that corrosion on the piles supporting the foundation which are made from steel 3 and 3/4 inches thick show evidence of accelerated corrosion due to these microorganisms, meaning that the projected 150-year life span may not be accurate. A company called Deepwater Corrosion Services Inc., based in Texas, sent divers to observe the bridge's submerged support and upon removing barnacles, discovered that some of the piles exhibited pits likely due to bacteria. RELATED: Ominous signs of problems with new Bay Bridge foundation According to NBC, Deepwater strongly suggested that further investigating be conducted on other Bay Area bridges in San Mateo and Richmond-San Rafael to see if there's a similar issue. "That's really something new, and when it's something new to us, we want to make sure we get on top of it as fast as we can," Caltrans Chief Engineer Brian Maroney told NBC Bay Area. "It's important not to drop the ball here. As years go on, we have to make sure we get out and inspect it." Engineers for the project say that there's no immediate cause for concern but that the steel supporting the foundation of the bridge may be compromised around 50 years earlier than expected. It's been widely reported that the new Bay Bridge has had a host of issues. In late 2015, tests found that the bay's salt water was seeping into the bridge's foundation, and later, an engineer found that rods used in the eastern span of the bridge might be prone to cracking. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan has been the launch site for Soviet and Russian space missions since the beginning of space exploration in 1957. The first satellite and the first human flew into space from there. Today, the site is heavily used for Soyuz astronaut launches to the International Space Station. The site has mostly been used to launch Soviet Union and Russian cosmonauts, but after the Cold War cooled, some American and European astronauts started to launch there as well. After the space shuttle program retired in 2011, NASA shifted to having all of its astronauts fly from Baikonur until the new Commercial Crew Program is ready to launch astronauts. Test flights for the program are currently expected in 2018 or 2019, so around the 2020s fewer American launches are expected from Baikonur. Russia has also built a new launch site, Vostochny, which is eventually expected to take over many of the launches of Baikonur. Baikonur, although it is located in Kazakhstan, is an enclave of Russian territory. The Kazakh and Russian governments work together on the maintenance and operations of Baikonur, with Russia paying at least $115 million annually to lease the land. While operations continue at Baikonur, the two countries have had some disputes over how to manage the space complex over the decades. Location and early history To this day, Baikonur remains somewhat remote. It is 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) from Moscow. The launch complex is on a desert steppe east of the Aral Sea. The region is known for its harsh climate, and was mainly chosen because of its advantage for radio communications as well as its remoteness, according to Russian journalist and space historian Anatoly Zak. While its average temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius), NASA says its temperatures can range from minus 40 F (minus 40 C) in winter to 113 F (45 C) in summer. "The name Baikonur is misleading," NASA wrote of the complex. "The former Soviet Union used the name and coordinates of a small mining town, Baikonur, to describe the location of its rocket complex. In fact, the launch complex is about 322 kilometers (200 miles) southwest of the mining town near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan. This misrepresentation was done intentionally to hide the actual location of the launch complex. Although the true location is now known, the launch complex is still referred to as Baikonur." Baikonur's origins came with the Soviet desire to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles; the extended range and tracking system required did not fit existing Soviet facilities at the time. A site search was conducted in high secrecy and has only been revealed in recent decades to people such as Zak, who pieced together the area's early history through reading documents and doing interviews. The reasons for choosing what is now known as Baikonur are complex, but one major factor (according to Zak) appears to be the existence of a rail spur connected with what was then called the Kazakhstanskaya Railroad. This allowed for building materials, and later the rockets themselves, to be transported to the site. Construction started in 1955 in high secrecy; by 1957, the United States was aware of an ICBM site in the area and had U-2 aircraft scanning the zone, Zak says. A Soyuz rocket and spacecraft are seen at the launchpad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 16, 2016, ahead of a planned March 18 launch that will send three spaceflyers toward the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani) Space-age pad The first successful space launch from Baikonur is also the first successful space launch of a satellite Sputnik-1, which left Earth on Oct. 4, 1957. The cosmodrome only officially received the name "Baikonur," however, after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin went into space on April 12, 1961 also a world first. Rather than reveal the location of the facility, the Soviet Union achieved its world record by telling the International Aviation Federation that it had launched from the town of Baikonur, Zak says. Prior to Gagarin's flight, Baikonur was host to the worst launch pad failure in history, known informally as the Nedelin Catastrophe after a high-ranking Soviet official who was killed in the disaster. It happened when an R-16 missile detonated on the pad due to various factors (including skipped safety checks and a rushed launch schedule) and killed an estimated 150 people on Oct. 24, 1960. The incident was kept secret for decades, even from the families of disaster victims. Baikonur was the site for all major Soviet launches, and remains so for most Russian launches today. Some of its notable early missions include the first spacecraft to go close to the moon (Luna 1, 1959); the first flight of a female in space (Valentina Tereshkova, 1963); the first flight to carry two people (Voskhod 1, 1964) and the first crewed launch to a space station (Soyuz 11, 1971). Baikonur also was the launch site for two fatal missions; Soyuz 11's three cosmonauts (Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev) died during re-entry, and the parachute failed to deploy during the first re-entry of the Soyuz spacecraft (Soyuz 1) in 1967, killing Vladimir Komarov, the single cosmonaut on board. On July 3, 1969, the Soviets made a test attempt to launch a heavy rocket capable of sending humans to the moon known as the N-1. At the time, NASA was only three weeks away from making the first moon landing. A rocket failure caused part of the N-1's fuel to detonate, heavily damaging the launch pad and surrounding area. No fatalities were reported in the incident, Zak says, which was kept secret for some time. The N-1 program underwent four test launches between 1969 and 1972, all of which ended in failure. The Soviets have launched missions to many space stations over the decades, starting with the fatal Soyuz 11 flight to Salyut 1 (the first space station) in 1967. Notably, the Soviet Union began opening its flights to other nations in 1978 under the Interkosmos program, which saw participating Soyuz astronauts from more than a dozen other nations through the late 1980s. The Soyuz program continues to this day, continuing to launch astronauts after more than four decades of operating different versions of the spacecraft. The Soviets created their own space shuttle, called Buran, which flew autonomously from Baikonur in 1988 on top of an Energia rocket. Buran only flew once, in part because the Soviet Union was running short on funds ahead of its collapse in 1991. The flown Buran prototype was stored in a hangar at Baikonur, where it remained until a roof collapse at the aging facility in 2002. The prototype was reportedly destroyed in the collapse. Americans launch from Baikonur After the Soviet Union fell in 1991, Kazakhstan and Russia underwent a negotiation process to determine what to do with Baikonur. (Some of the effects are outlined in the next section below.) The handover at Baikonur took some time to accomplish, and Russia was also unclear on the future of the Mir space station. This led to a delay for when Sergei Krikalev a cosmonaut on space station Mir during the Soviet collapse could come home, despite the health risks to having him in stay in microgravity for longer, according to Discover magazine. The Americans also stepped in with a financial agreement to help stabilize Russia's finances. NASA and Russia began joint missions to the Mir space station (including launching American astronauts from Baikonur) so that NASA could start learning from the Russians' long-duration stays in space on their various space stations. NASA docked at Mir using the space shuttle, a vehicle it used for spaceflight between 1981 and 2011. Shuttle-Mir (as the joint program was called) was a precursor to learning to work together for the International Space Station program, which began construction in 1998. Some observers say the Shuttle-Mir program also allowed the U.S. government to financially stabilize the Russian space program during a difficult time, ensuring the two sides would stay allies. The first American to fly into space on a Soyuz spacecraft was Norman Thagard, in 1995. The United States retired its aging space shuttle program in 2011, by which time several Americans had flown into space on Soyuz. To fill the gap until commercial flights began, the United States paid for seats on the Soyuz for all astronauts going to the International Space Station for the U.S. segment. The Commercial Crew Program is expected to run test flights in 2018 and 2019 and as it moves into operations, this will greatly reduce U.S. demand for Soyuz seats. The date for commercial crew operations has been pushed back several years; when the space shuttle first retired in 2011, NASA expected that SpaceX and Boeing could start launching astronauts from U.S. soil again in 2015. Now it likely won't be until 2019, at the earliest. NASA's Office of the Inspector General issued a 2016 report noting the additional costs the commercial crew delays incurred. Business Insider reported in an article about the OIG's work that Roscosmos used to charge NASA as little as $21.8 million per seat in 2008. In 2018, that price was expected to go up 372 percent to $81 million per astronaut. "Had the agency met its original goal of securing commercial crew transportation by calendar year 2015, NASA could have avoided paying Russia close to $1 billion for Soyuz seats in 2017 and 2018, even factoring in the purchase of some seats in 2016 to cover the expected transition period," the OIG report stated. Some of the major locations at Baikonur today, according to Zak, include: Site 1 (launches Soyuz, Soyuz-U and U2 boosters) Site 10 (the main residential area) Site 15 (Krainy airfield) Site 17 (the hotel and VIP cottage zone) Site 31 (the launch and processing complex for R-7 ICBM) Site 81 (where the Proton rocket launches) Site 112 (where a flight version of the Buran space shuttle was destroyed during a roof collapse in 2002) Site 254 (where Soyuz and Progress spacecraft are refurbished Tensions with local population Unrest at Baikonur in 1992 and 1993 in the wake of the Soviet Union collapse, including reports of problems in food, heating and social facilities, led a U.S. congressional delegation to visit the area in December 1993. However, the situation stabilized approximately a year later when Kazakhstan and Russian decided on a leasing deal, and the Russian government also made direct interventions, according to GlobalSecurity.org. The countries have had some disputes over Baikonur maintenance and operations in the decades since, according to Zak. In September 2007, a Proton rocket crashed in Kazakhstan, causing the country's government to ban all Proton rockets for two months as well as to ask Russia for $61 million in compensation. Since Baikonur has no large body of water nearby, rocket stages fall in the desert surrounding it in a designated drop zone. In 2011, Vladimir Popkovin (the head of the Russian space agency) told Russia's parliament that Kazakhstan had removed its ban on launching Russian ballistic missiles, Zak noted. A year later, however, Kazakhstan and Russia briefly butted heads over creating a new drop zone in the northwest of Kazakhstan, which is populated, to accommodate launches such as for the satellites Meteor-2 and Kanopus. In 2013, the New York Times reported that about 70 percent of Baikonur's residents were actually Kazakh citizens. But when the Soviet Union broke up, only about one-third of the population was Kazakh. The Times reported that Baikonur's city is behind on maintenance because the lease is seen as temporary, and there are ethnic tensions as well as issues with labor and drugs. In June 2017, a worker from Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia rocket and space company died while attempting to stop a brush fire in the desert. The fire started after a stage of a Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket fell nearby, according to Russian news agency TASS. In May 2018, Russia transferred to Kazakhstan 44.8 square miles of the Baikonur Cosmodrome's territory as well as two platforms for a rocket known as Zenit-M, the Eurasia Daily Monitor reported. But as the news outlet pointed out, Kazakhstan even though it owns these platforms will only be able to operate them through joint projects with Russia, since Russia has the actual rockets. Further, Kazakhstan will have to spend about $245 million to upgrade the infrastructure of the launch pads. The two countries are attempting to pursue partnerships in regard to the upcoming Soyuz 5 and Phoenix rockets, which are reportedly scheduled to start launches for 2022 and 2035, respectively. Russia and Kazakhstan have had other disputes concerning Baikonur over the years, the Monitor continued. This included disputes that eventually derailed a joint space launch complex for the Angara rocket, as well as issues surrounding taxes, health and the environment. Still, the Monitor said, Russia and Kazakhstan will likely work together at least until the lease is complete. "Russia's upcoming transfer of certain Baikonur launch facilities to Kazakhstan will make the two countries' space programs even more dependent on each other," it wrote. The Soyuz TMA-11M rocket is erected into position after being rolled out to the launch pad by train on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) Russia builds a new launch complex Russia has wanted to return rocket launches to its own soil for decades; the country previously considered a cosmodrome called Svobodny, but the project failed due to a lack of funds, according to Zak. Talk of building a new complex only resumed after soaring oil prices buoyed the Russian economy. In 2011, Russia began construction on a new launch complex in eastern Russia, called Vostochny. It is located in eastern Siberia near the Chinese border. Observers said that the Russians wanted a launch pad on its own soil for both financial and political reasons (because the Russians wanted to have more autonomy over launch decisions.) The complex was expected to cost $7.5 billion when construction started in 2011, according to NBC News. That's four times higher than the original projected cost of $1.9 billion. In 2013, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged Vostochny would host crewed launches within five years, but there have been difficulties with meeting that deadline. Construction workers on the site went on strike in 2015 after several weeks without salary, according to Radio Svododa. Putin pledged personal oversight of construction, which was taking place amid a decline in the Russian economy, CNN reported. In 2018, a high-ranking official overseeing Vostochny's construction was sentenced to 12 years in prison amid corruption allegations. The first launch at Vostochny took place in April 2016, when three satellites were launched aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. The second launch occurred in November 2017 and saw a $45 million weather satellite lost due to human error; the mission was accidentally programmed as though it was launching from Baikonur. In late 2017, an article in Ars Technica pointed out that Russia's dominating position in space is changing and companies may soon go elsewhere for launches. Commercial competitor SpaceX had 16 launches in 2017, including 11 for customers. Russia had more launches than SpaceX (17) but only one-third of them for customers outside of the Russian government. Russia is developing a Soyuz-5 booster that is expected to be ready in 2021. SpaceX, however, will also evolve in the coming years, providing stiff competition. W hen we think of Munich, the one word that comes to mind is beer. Lager, ale and stout enthusiasts make the annual pilgrimage to Munich each September and October to celebrate beer in all its glory at Oktoberfest. But there is so much more to Munich than beer. From stunning galleries and museums, to Christmas markets selling authentic German goods Munich is a rich blend of Bavarian culture, style, architecture, food and scenery that is scintillating to the senses. While in Munich, youll find no better base than Roomers Munich, an Autograph Collection Hotel an exquisite hotel with a dash of style and a interior lovers dream. Where is it? People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Located just a 10-minute tram ride away from Marienplatz and the city centre, Roomers is the perfect base for your Munich city break. For those who make the trek to Oktoberfest each year, Roomers could be the chic accommodation alternative as its just a 10-minute walk from the Oktoberfest grounds. Style Roomers as a brand describe themselves as Electric. Hedonistic. Sexy. Sensual. Luxurious. Glamorous, which is exactly what it is. This hotel is perfect for couples looking to add a dash of spice to their relationship. The rooms are filled with mirrors, a number of them contain a bath in the bedroom and the walls are covered with sensual art. But one of the aspects Roomers pride themselves in is there gorgeous architecture and design which is present throughout the hotel. Deluxe Room / Roomers Munich Facilities The 281 rooms contain everything a traveller could need, from an apple TV, to free Wifi and a Nespresso machine youll find us in the bath sipping on our coffee thank you very much. Outside of your room, youll enter a deep sense of relaxation at the Roomers Spa.With five treatment rooms, an infinity Jacuuzzi, a bar, a projection screen, and day beds to lounge to your hearts content you may never want to leave. Food & Drink Within the hotel you will find the IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar, a shred-dining concept that offers modern Japanese cuisine with South American influences. If youre after a nightcap, head next door to Roomers Bar but be sure to check out their Hidden Room directly adjacent to the bar. The Hidden Room will transport you back to the 60s and leave you sipping on cocktails while dancing to the in-house DJ all night long. The Hidden Room / Roomers Munich Which room? Roomers have rooms for every budget and all include a touch of luxury. From the superior room with a rain shower to the Roomers suite with its private bar, steam room and private terrace looking over the city, Roomers can cater to every type of guest. Our pick is the Deluxe Premium Room, with the bath tub in the bedroom, walk in rain shower and the king-sized bed. Luxury on another scale. Extra-curricular Roomers is close to the centre of Munich so the city is your playground. In the summer head to the Englischer Garten and have a few beers in the park. From Munich you can also do day trips to Dachau Concentration Camp or Neuschwanstein Castle also known as the fairy tale castle. When to go? Munich is beautiful year-round but the weeks leading up to Christmas is when the city truly comes alive. Youll find locals catching up over mulled wine and currywurst at the Marienplatz Christmas market, while the tourists wander around the stalls looking for trinkets to take home with them. The city is buzzing with festive cheer and the people are friendly as ever. Superior Room / Roomers Munich Best for Couple and solo travellers looking to indulge. Details Rooms from 170 per night. Landsberger Str.68, 80339 Munchen M ajor flooding in west London left some 70 people stranded by freezing water. Rescue boats were deployed after a bust water main sparked chaos in Hammersmith on Friday evening. Streams of water flowed down King Street near Ravenscourt Park as witnesses reported being trapped in restaurants during the flooding. Water levels rose to almost two feet in some places, with flooding stretching across an area of about 650 metres by 100 metres. The flooding had receded by Saturday morning. In one video from the scene, a man can be heard saying: "All I know is that we're trapped, literally can't move!" Burst pipe: Witnesses said some people became stuck in their cars and in restaurants (Rob Walker/Twitter) Nadia Goncalve, 28, manager at a Nandos restaurant on the street, said: "The water has spread across the whole road... we can see it from where we are, the water is as high as the pavement." Rescue operation: a boat helps people escape the floodwaters / PA Financial Times journalist Jonathan Margolis told the BBC the situation was chaotic, adding: The water is about two feet deep and rising. Pictures posted on social media showed murky water filling the street. One man wrote on Twitter: "@thameswater Please rescue us. We are stuck in a restaurant - pho district and can't step out. The water is freezing." Another wrote: "Burst water main causing chaos in King Street, Hammersmith..somewhat stuck as my car is there." Hammersmith: The flooding left people trapped in restaurants, witnesses say / Wayne Garvie/Twitter London Fire Brigade said it had sent 49 firefighters to the scene, and had evacuated seven people from their homes. About 70 people were led to safety and a further 34 escorted from the area. Paul Fitzgerald, from the LFB, said: "Fire crews used boats to assist people who needed to leave their homes, although the majority of residents were able to stay in their property. "Around 270 sandbags were provided to help stop water from entering buildings. Floodwaters in Hammersmith, west London / PA "Crews pumped water away and Thames Water was on the scene investigating. "People were advised to avoid the area as a number of road closures were in place and Ravenscourt Park Tube station was closed." A burst water main wreaked havoc on a busy west London street as major flooding reportedly left people trapped in cars and restaurants. Emergency services rushed to the scenes of chaos in King Street, Hammersmith, to deal with the problem that left part of the road under water on Friday evening. Dramatic footage from the scene showed cars struggling to drive through the flooding after the pipe spilt. Police advised motorists to avoid the area. Witnesses described the mayhem caused by the burst main, amid reports that people became trapped in their vehicles and in restaurants as water levels began to rise. In one video from the scene, a man can be heard saying: "All I know is that we're trapped, literally can't move!" Wayne Garvie posted on Twitter: "Trapped on King Street in Hammersmith, huge flood!". And Ellie Pitt wrote: "Kings Street, West London flooded. People stuck in restaurants. @LondonFire here. Reports of a burst pipe. Video from the junction of Rivercourt Road." Nadia Goncalve, 28, manager at a Nandos restaurant on the street, said that the water had spread across the whole road. She told the Standard: "The water has spread across the whole road... we can see it from where we are, the water is as high as the pavement." Hammersmith: The flooding left people trapped in restaurants, witnesses say / Wayne Garvie/Twitter Thames Water said it was aware of a "major burst" in the area, near Ravenscourt Park Tube station, and that engineers were on their way to contain the leak. Some homes in the local area may have experienced low pressure or no water due to the burst, Thames Water added. Burst pipe: Witnesses said some people became stuck in their cars and in restaurants (Rob Walker/Twitter) It said in statement: "Were aware of a major burst by Ravenscourt Park Station on King Street in Hammersmith. We have a team on their way to stop any flooding and investigate a repair. Customers in W8, W11, W4 and W6 may be experiencing low pressure or no water. "We are very sorry and were working as quickly as we can to fix the issue." M elania Trumps office has hit out at speculation about the first ladys marriage to the US president. Mrs Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, criticised "flat-out false reporting" about the first lady that has emerged in recent days. She tweeted: BREAKING. The laundry list of salacious & flat-out false reporting about Mrs. Trump by tabloid publications & TV shows has seeped into `main stream media' reporting." Grisham added that Mrs Trump is focused on her family and role as first lady, "not the unrealistic scenarios being peddled daily by the fake news." It came as it was announced that porn star Stormy Daniels whose real name is Stephanie Clifford will appear on TV chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, the night of President Donald Trumps state of the union speech. The Daily Mail has reported that Mrs Trump has spent a number of nights at a hotel in Washington DC in the wake of claims about an affair with Ms Daniels in 2006. Mr and Mrs Trump married in 2005. A White House official told the Guardian the reports are recycled and had been strongly denied prior to the election. President Donald Trump's first year in office - in pictures 1 /40 President Donald Trump's first year in office - in pictures U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington Reuters 20 January 2017 President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump are greeted by President Barack Obama and his wife first lady Michelle Obama, upon arriving at the White House in Washington, DC. before being sworn in as the nation's 45th president during an inaugural ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 20 January 2017 President Barack Obama greets President Elect Donald Trump on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 20 January 2017 Attendees line the Mall as they watch ceremonies to swear in Donald Trump on Inauguration Day in Washington, DC Getty Images 20 January 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump sings to the song "My Way" while dancing with first lady Melania Trump during the inaugural Liberty Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC Getty Images 21 January 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer makes a statement to members of the media at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC. This was Spicer's first press conference as Press Secretary where he spoke about the media's reporting on the inauguration's crowd size Getty Images 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump congratulates Senior Counselor to the President Stephen Bannon during the swearing-in of senior staff in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC AFP 22 January 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with James Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during an Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, DC Getty Images 27 January 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May with U.S. President Donald Trump walk along The Colonnade at The White House Getty Images 09 February 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House February 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. Prior to signing the three executive orders, Trump participated in the swearing in ceremony for new Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) along with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (L) and Sessions's wife Mary (2nd R) Getty Images 19 February 2017 Muslim women protest against US President Donald Trump on in Chicago, Illinois AFP/Getty Images 27 February 2017 Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway checks her phone after taking a photo as U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of historically black universities and colleges pose for a group photo in the Oval Office of the White House before a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ivanka Trump talk before a meeting with US President Donald Trump and business leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 23 March 2017 U.S. President Donald J. Trump gets in the driver's seat of an 18-wheeler while meeting with truck drivers and trucking CEOs on the South Portico prior to their meeting to discuss health care at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 March 2017. The House of Representatives has yet to vote on the Republican-crafted American Health Care Act, that would replace the Affordable Care Act, as it remained unclear whether Republicans had enough votes to overcome opposition from Democrats and those within their own party. EPA/JIM LO SCALZO EPA 17 April 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks from the Truman Balcony with first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump during the 139th Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 04 May 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump (C) speaks while flanked by House Republicans after they passed legislation aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC. The House bill would still need to pass the Senate before being signed into law Getty Images 22 May 2017 US President Donald Trump visits the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty Images 24 May 2017 Pope Francis walks along with US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump during a private audience at the Vatican AFP/Getty Images 26 May 2017 European Council President Donald Tusk, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pose for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily on May 26, 2017 in Taormina, Italy. Leaders of the G7 group of nations, which includes the Unted States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, as well as the European Union, are meeting at Taormina from May 26-27 Getty Images 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, AFP/Getty Images 25 July 2017 Incoming White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci talks with reporters during 'Regional Media Day' at the White House July 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. Conservative media outlets were invited to set up temporary studios on the north side of the West Wing so to interview White House officials and members of President Donald Trump's cabinet Getty Images 28 July 2017 Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) leaves the the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol after voting on the GOP 'Skinny Repeal' health care bill on July 28, 2017 in Washington, DC. Three Senate Republicans voted no to block a stripped-down, or 'Skinny Repeal,' version of Obamacare reform Getty Images 22 August 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump looks up toward the Solar Eclipse while joined by his wife first lady Melania Trump on the Truman Balcony at the White House on August 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Millions of people have flocked to areas of the U.S. that are in the "path of totality" in order to experience a total solar eclipse Getty Images 22 August 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. An earlier statement by the president that he was considering a pardon for Joe Arpaio,, the former sheriff of Maricopa County who was convicted of criminal contempt of court for defying a court order in a case involving racial profiling, has angered Latinos and immigrant rights advocates Getty Images 15 September 2017 11-year-old Frank "FX" Giaccio (L) gets a pat on the back from U.S. President Donald Trump (C) while mowing the grass in the Rose Garden of the White House September 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. Giaccio, from Falls Church, Virginia, who runs a business called FX Mowing, wrote a letter to Trump expressing admiration for Trump's business background and offered to mow the White House grass Getty Images 03 October 2017 President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the Muniz Air National Guard Base for a visit after Hurricane Maria hit the island in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The President has been criticized by some that say the governments response has been inadequate Getty Images 11 October 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose for photographs after Trudeau's arrival at the White House in Washington, DC. The United States, Canada and Mexico engaged in renegotiating the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement Getty Images 23 October 2017 Seven of U.S. President Donald Trump's eight border wall prototypes are shown near completion along U.S.- Mexico border near San Diego, California Reuters 30 October 2017 Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort gets into his car after leaving federal court, October 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. election Getty Images 06 November 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump pours fish food out as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks on while they were feeding carps before their working lunch at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan Reuters 09 November 2017 China's President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump review Chinese honour guards during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing AFP/Getty Images 21 November 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, their son Barron, National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg and his family and members of the Draper County, Minnesota, 4-H chapater pose for photographs after Trump pardoned, Drumstick, the National Thanksgiving Turkey in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC. Following the presidential pardon, the 40-pound White Holland breed which was raised by Wittenburg in Minnesota, will then reside at his new home, 'Gobbler's Rest,' at Virginia Tech Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 30 November 2017 President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump attend the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting held by the National Park Service at the White House Ellipse in Washington, D.C. The Beach Boys, Wynonna, The Texas Tenors, Craig Campbell were among the artists who provided the entertainment Getty Images 01 December 2017 Michael Flynn, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, leaves following his plea hearing at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, DC. Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged Flynn with one count of making a false statement to the FBI Getty Images 06 December 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump signs a proclaimation that the U.S. government will formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after signing the document in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House December 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. In keeping with a campaign promise, Trump said the United States will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem sometime in the next few years. No other country has its embassy in Jerusalem Getty Images 14 December 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump cuts a symbolic piece of red tape during an event at the White House promoting the administration's efforts to decrease federal regulations in Washington, DC. The administration has vowed to remove two regulations for every single regulation added in an effort to reduce the amount of bureaucratic "red tape" Getty Images 18 December 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump pauses during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. The president was expected to outline a new strategy for U.S. foreign policy through the release of the periodic National Security Strategy, a document that aims to outline major national security concerns and the administration's plans to deal with them Getty Images 20 December 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by Republican lawmakers, celebrates Congress passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the South Lawn of the White House on December 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. The tax bill is the first major legislative victory for the GOP-controlled Congress and Trump since he took office almost one year ago Getty Images 22 December 2017 A Palestinian protester throws a stone during clashes with Israeli forces near the Huwara checkpoint south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as protests continue in the region amid anger over US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as its capital AFP/Getty Images 12 January 2018 US President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Physician Rear Admiral Dr. Ronny Jackson, following his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland AFP/Getty Images Announcing Ms Daniels as a guest on his show, Kimmel tweeted: "I am pleased to announce that the very gifted @StormyDaniels will be on #Kimmel Tuesday 1/30 after the #StateOfTheUnion. I have MANY QUESTIONS! #MAGA. P aris is on high alert as the River Seine continued to surge even higher after non-stop rain in the French capital. The Seine is expected to hit a peak of six metres over the weekend with riverside households and businesses readying themselves should the river fully burst its banks. Videos posted online have shown giant rodents scampering through the streets and climbing into rubbish bins and one French photographer captured a group of rats scurrying around outside Notre Dame cathedral. Shocking drone footage, shared by Police in the city, shows the extent of the flooding in the French capital. Paris Flooding - In pictures 1 /18 Paris Flooding - In pictures A flooded street lamp is pictured next to the river Seine in Paris AP Water rushes past Alma bridge by the Zouave statue which is used as a measuring instrument during floods in Paris AP A resident cleans debris from a flooded street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Paris AFP/Getty Images A man photographs a lampost emerging from floodwaters on Ile Saint-Louis, on the banks of the Seine river in Paris EPA Paris police navigate on the Seine River that overflowed its banks as heavy rains throughout the country have caused flooding in the French capital Reuters The Zouave soldier statue under the Pont d'Alma as the Seine River overflows its banks as heavy rains throughout the country have caused flooding, in Paris Reuters An elderly woman is helped by fire brigade divers after she went back home to feed animals in a flooded residential area in Conde-Sainte-Libiaire, near Pari Reuters A man uses a dinghy as he leaves a housebout on the flooded river Seine in Paris AFP/Getty Images A police water patrol ride a boat on the flooded river Seine in Paris AFP/Getty Images A resident cleans debris from a flooded street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Paris AFP/Getty Images Members of the SyAGE (Syndicat mixte pour l'Assainissement et la Gestion des Eaux - Mixed Union for Water Sanitation and Management) inspect a flooded street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Paris. The Seine continued to rise, flooding streets and putting museums on an emergency footing as record rainfall pushed rivers over their banks across northeastern France. AFP/Getty Images A man walks on a closed road leading to the flooded banks of the Seine river in Paris AFP/Getty Images A picture shows the flooded bank of the river Seine with the Saint-Jacques tower in the backround in Paris AFP/Getty Images People look at a flooded section of a street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Pari AFP/Getty Images A picture shows a car in a flooded street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Paris AFP/Getty Images A resident cleans debris from a flooded street in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, south of Paris AFP/Getty Images A man looks at the flooded banks of the river Seine near the Beaugrenelle area and the Eiffel Tower in Paris AFP/Getty Images People walk along the flooded banks of the Seine river in Paris, France AP Some basements in the city have already sprung leaks and many roads in the region are already waterlogged after the rivers surged. The Seine is usually at a height of four metres. People walk along the flooded banks of the Seine river in Paris, France / AP Boat traffic, including the capitals famous tourist cruises, has been halted. Seven metro stations along the river have been shut down and will remain closed until the end of the month, while the flood has also affected the Louvre Museum. Frances most popular museum, which is home to the Mona Lisa, said it will close the lower level of the Department of Islamic Arts until at least January 28. It has removed works from the basement level. Roads and walking paths along the Seine have been closed. Tourists are urged to remain vigilant and stay away from the river. A statue representing a soldier from the Crimean War, is used by Parisians as a reference point to measure the Seine's level. By midday Friday, the Zouave had water up to its thighs. Paris police navigate on the Seine River that overflowed its banks as heavy rains throughout the country have caused flooding in the French capital (REUTERS) / Reuters "I'm here to take pictures and souvenirs," said Marc Bernard, a 59-year-old man who was born in Paris and witnessed several other floods. "I wouldn't say it's spectacular, but it's a special atmosphere. It's nice to watch the waters running faster." A few Paris residents have been forced to leave their homes on the Seine riverbanks. The manager of a building on the right bank in the west of the French capital said he had the ground-floor windows boarded up after residents lost most of their belonging in the 2016 floods. "The first residents left three days ago and yesterday or the day before. Everybody was gone here," Joao De Macedo said on Friday. "They put everything up on concrete blocks." De Macedo said he had noticed the water was also making its way into the building through the cellar's floor and was penetrating the walls. The situation is far more difficult outside Paris. Exceptionally heavy rains have caused power outages and forced about 400 evacuations from homes elsewhere on the Seine after it and other French rivers burst their banks. The floods caused significant damage in the suburbs. They will also have an economic impact on the businesses operating boats on the Seine, since all river traffic has been banned until further notice. Anthony Huard, who organizes floating parties on a boat moored in the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, said much of his activity has been halted. "Since the start of the year I have only been able to host just two events, instead of 10 normally," he said. US President Trump swung into the snow-capped Alpine resort of Davos with expectations of a cool reception from the assembled political and financial leaders. Into the lions den, said one news anchor, as Trump brought his America First agenda to the annual World Economic Forum which is associated with globalism and the supposed antithesis of Trumps nationalism. One got the impression, however, that sections of the American media which are anti-Trump were trying through wishful thinking to contrive a stand-off between the US president and the Davos cabal. A stand-off along the following line: Trump is the uncouth rightwing populist pushing economic protectionism and anti-immigration policies, while the Davos illuminati are somehow urbane, liberal, internationalist and progressive. Such contrived difference between Trump and the supposed enlightened elite on a Swiss mountaintop seems wildly overblown. The corporate and political oligarchs assembled at Davos have much more in common with Trump than what purportedly divides them. Any difference is more to do with rhetorical style, rather than substance. Trump is just more boorish in his manner, while the other elites are more adept at concealing their oligarchic affiliations with palatable rhetoric. Trumps $1.5 trillion tax giveaway at the end of last year, for example, will have suited the Davos corporate set very nicely indeed. No more evident of this contrived, false stand-off in Davos was the supposed divergence between European political leaders and Trump. The American media seem to have an overestimated view of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as champions of liberal internationalism, and thereby, putatively, countervailing political forces to Trumpism". Before Trump arrived at Davos the first US president to do so in nearly two decades Merkel and Macron had delivered speeches to the assembled hobnobs projecting Europe as a vital counterpoint to Trump. Macron reportedly made jokes implicitly contrasting Trumps denial of global climate change with the supposedly progressive policies of France. Merkel made a pitch for Europe to assume global leadership since, she said, America under Trump was retreating into isolationism and the poison of protectionism and rightwing populism. Such anti-Trump posing is sheer vanity. The global capitalist elite and their servile politicians are just trying to make themselves out somehow more caring and humane by using Trump as a supposed polar opposite from them. But the difference is illusory. For example, the European Union is implementing anti-immigration policies that far outstrip those of Trump. Germany and France, in particular, are implementing fast-tracked repatriation of African migrants, dumping them back to Libya and an unknown fate. In France, Macron is pushing through draconian labour laws that will cut protections for workers and give more power to capital to hire and fire. What is so progressive about these European leaders? As for the much-touted standing up to Trump notion, this week away from the rarefied atmosphere of the Swiss resort, the European governments were acceding to Washingtons demands for re-writing the Iran nuclear deal. Iran has warned that the 2015 international accord is not re-negotiable. Since Trump entered the White House last year, he has taken every opportunity to undermine the landmark nuclear agreement, threatening to walk away from if it is not fixed according to his pro-Israeli hawkish demands. Trump wants the accord to be amended with restrictions on Irans non-nuclear ballistic missile defenses, and giving even greater access for international inspectors to Iranian military sites. The president is warning that if he doesnt get his way, then Washington is going to withdraw. Such a move would kill the deal. While the Europeans have previously been urging Trump to uphold the accord which is ratified by the United Nations they now are changing their tune as a result of pressure from the White House. This week, it was reported that Britain, France and Germany are setting up a working group with the Americans to look at ways of amending the Iran nuclear deal. This is shameless pandering to Trumps worst instincts of bad-faith and arm-twisting. If the European leaders really had a backbone as the Davos media contrivance was claiming then they would tell Trump in no uncertain terms that a deal is a deal, and the Iran nuclear accord is not to be meddled with. Russia and China have already categorically warned that it is not subject to tampering. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in fact warned this week that collapsing of the nuclear deal will strike a grievous blow to international law and diplomacy over other vital issues, such as the Korean nuclear crisis. Here are a few other issues where the European leaders could actually demonstrate real independence from Trump and global leadership. Anti-Russian sanctions: Merkel, Macron and the rest could tell the Trump administration that continuing the policy of penalizing Russias economy with sanctions is futile and dangerous for geopolitical tensions. Given the severe economic losses to Europe due to the anti-Russian sanctions, the European leaders should be telling Washington to come to its senses and drop the whole unnecessary hostility towards Moscow. If there are disputes over Crimea or alleged Russian interference in elections, then they should be resolved through civilized diplomatic negotiations. US lethal weapons to Ukraine: The Europeans should be confronting Washington about its incendiary policy of supplying lethal arms to the Kiev regime. This issue should be a matter for an urgently convened international conference in which Merkel, Macron and all make it clear that the Minsk Peace Accord signed in 2015 has to implemented forthwith. Washingtons decision to arm the Kiev regime is a reckless escalation of war in Europe. Diplomacy for resolving Korea crisis: If the Europeans really had conviction about global leadership instead of mere vain pretensions, then EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini accompanied by Macron and Merkel and others should be telling Trump unequivocally that Washington needs to commit urgently to diplomatic engagement with North Korea. The Europeans need to uphold international law and the UN Charter to warn Washington that its provocative military behavior is totally unacceptable. There are more real-world practical issues where the Europeans could demonstrate actual, concrete opposition to the Trump administration. We could also mention standing up to Trump over the US backing of the Saudi war in Yemen (but the Europeans are also complicit in that too). We could also mention Europe setting up a meaningful forum to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after categorically rejecting Trumps reprehensible declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. More generally, the Europeans could be telling Washington to stop pursuing its aggressive militarist designs of unipolar dominance, whereby it is recklessly portraying Russia and China as global threats. This American Cold War thinking is so anachronistic and destructive. Why arent European leaders opposing this fatuous hostile mentality? All the media chatter this week about European leaders standing up to Trump as somehow them being the standard bearers of liberalism and progressive internationalism is such a load of hogwash. The rarefied debates about globalism versus Trump nationalism are nothing but idle indulgence of elite egos. The assembled elites at Davos are all central to a world dictated by capitalist super-exploitation and warmongering. If Europe did have any backbone, it should be confronting Trump on real-world issues outlined above. But it doesnt because the current European political leadership is complicit with Washington in destroying the world albeit with differing rhetorical inflections. The supposed stand-off in Davos this week between European liberals and nasty nationalistic Trump is as about as consequential as a snowball fight. A snowball fight, that is, with the fluffiest, softest, most powdery of snow. M.K. BHADRAKUMAR Indias economic diplomacy bounced back to center stage this week after a prolonged absence of more than three years, when it made a robust appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meet in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday and New Delhi hosted a special ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the flag carrier on both occasions, which signals seriousness of purpose and augurs a shift toward demilitarizing Indias foreign policy and giving ballast to economic diplomacy toward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which New Delhi regards as the fulcrum of its Act East policy. The salience of Modis keynote address at Davos was twofold one, the world must fight against the rising challenge of protectionism, and, two, mitigating the menace of climate change must be the collective responsibility of all nations. Modis remarks hinted at certain disenchantment with the Donald Trump administrations America First policies. The latest Gallup poll listed India alongside Germany and other countries in their waning faith in the United States leadership role. Modis remarks echoed portions of the speech made by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year at Davos. Interestingly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman in Beijing promptly took note of Modis speech and remarked that the Indian prime minister stated his opposition to protectionism which demonstrates that economic globalization is the trend of the times and serves the interests of all countries, especially the developing countries. China is ready to work with all parties to actively adapt to and steer economic globalization so that it will continue to be a positive force in promoting world economic growth and enhancing the well-being of all peoples, spokeswoman Hua Chunying continued. The main thrust of Modis speech was in showcasing that Indias economy has multiplied more than six times in the two decades since an Indian prime minister last attended the WEF at Davos. It aimed at promoting India as an attractive investment destination by highlighting that another phase of economic reform and market liberalization is afoot. Delhi Declaration Broadly, the same approach of putting economic diplomacy in the front seat is evident also in the Delhi Declaration issued after the summit meeting with the ASEAN leaders on Thursday. New Delhi has not proposed even a single political initiative in terms of galvanizing Indias Act East policy in a strategic direction with an eye on China. The Declaration not only avoids any mention of the idea of the Quad (quadrilateral alliance of the US, Japan, Australia and India) but altogether ignores the hyperbolic concept of the Indo-Pacific. It repeatedly mentions the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean as, well, two oceans, and not as conjoined at the hips. On the other hand, India reiterates its support for ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional security architecture. In this spirit, India and ASEAN have affirmed that they support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea and look forward to an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. ASEAN is pressing for a swift conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his closing speech at the summit, in his capacity as the ASEAN chairman: ASEAN and India should work together to ensure the conclusion of the negotiations in 2018 so that the benefits can be realized earlier. Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said: I believe India will not disappoint ASEAN. I believe India will stand with ASEAN to conclude the negotiation for the RCEP this year. ASEANs priority is to gain better access to the Indian market for trade and investment. Lee candidly noted, By 2025, Indias consumer market is expected to become the fifth-largest in the world. He stressed deeper economic integration between ASEAN and India. The final clincher would have been the stance of Vietnam. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pointedly noted in an interview with an Indian daily that there had been positive and commendable signs of an easing of tensions in ASEAN-China relations and he anticipated more confidence-building measures. His advice to the Indian leadership is that trade and investment should be targeted as the main engine and first priority for the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. Easing ASEAN-China tensions To be sure, New Delhi senses the shift in the direction of an overall easing of tensions between ASEAN and China. Speaking at Manila Airport while departing for Delhi, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte proposed that ASEAN should take Chinas help in maritime security to put an end to piracy and other problems in the Celebes and Sulu seas. I will tell you, if we cant do it, we just have to call China to come in and blow them off, just like [in] Somalia, that Aden Strait there, Duterte said. Were it not for the presence of the Chinese, the piracy there would not have been stopped. When the Philippines and Vietnam, the two frontline states in the South China Sea, are cautiously optimistic about Chinese policies, and when Singapore, Indias staunchest ASEAN ally, counsels a shift in priority toward focusing on economic integration (by enhancing trade, investment and connectivity), it is bound to prod new thinking in New Delhi and dispel the self-serving notion of India as a balancer vis-a-vis China in the Southeast Asian region. Ironically, ASEAN leaders pin much higher hopes on India intrinsically as a driver of growth for their economies at a juncture when the consensus on globalization and free trade is fraying and for sustaining the positive Asian story, deep economic integration with India is desirable and necessary. Of course, this narrative will take time to percolate down Indias idiosyncratic media and the strategic community with their warrior identity, but the bottom line is that Modi has put his imprimatur on the new thinking. It will be a remarkable achievement if the RCEP gets concluded this year. atimes.com Syrian government forces are making advances in Idlib province the last bastion held by the anti-government terrorist groups. The Syrian army had some tough resistance to overcome, but success was at hand once Syrias Russian-made TOS-1A Solntsepyok thermobaric heavy flamethrower systems were transported to the province and joined the fight. This formidable weapon had been used by Iraqi forces against the Islamic State militants in the battle of Mosul. It proved very effective supporting the infantry during the operation launched by Syrian government forces to free the city of Palmyra from Islamic State terrorists in 2017. TOS-1A systems also guard the Russian military base at Hmeimim, Syria. It is a very effective tool when conducting anti-ambush missions, which makes it a perfect weapon to use against terrorists. The Solntsepyok uses the BM-1 combat vehicle, which is fitted with a rotating launch system that can fire 24 rockets. It boasts a cutting-edge fire-control system, with a laser rangefinder and an enhanced, sophisticated ballistic computer. The required angle of elevation can be determined if the deviation does not exceed 10 m. All operations can be conducted from inside the vehicle in order to protect the crew from enemy fire. The flamethrower can be fired at night. If a target is detected within the range of visibility, it can be engaged in just 90 seconds. The flamethrower is protected by a 902G four-barreled smoke-grenade launcher. The launcher is fitted onto the chassis of a T-72A tank with an 840 HP diesel engine. The TOS-1A is used in conjunction with the TZM-T all-terrain reloading vehicle, which is equipped with a crane and carries a full set of 24 rockets for reloading. The Solntsepyok is designed to attack infantry, fortifications (including bunker busting and light armor dug-in positions in mountains), secured caves, rural strongholds, urban areas, and other enclosed spaces. The system is different from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in that it uses different types of munitions: 220mm rockets with thermobaric or fuel-air explosives. They are almost as devastating as tactical nukes. A gaseous cloud of chemicals is dispersed into the air. Then a vacuum explosive detonates it to release a high-pressure shock wave with great destructive force. The air is sucked out of confined areas, creating a partial vacuum. The cloud penetrates buildings, caves, and trenches, and the vacuum ruptures the lungs. A single explosion can destroy several city blocks. A round containing a mixture weighing about 3.2 kg can obliterate everything within an area of eighty cubic meters. A full salvo of one battery consisting of five TOS-1As can clear an area of 40,000 square meters if fired at maximum range. The weapon can be used effectively for mine-clearing missions. The American GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) known as the Mother of all Bombs the largest non-nuclear munition ever dropped on a battlefield produces the same effects on a smaller scale. Incendiary rounds can also be used. Russias arsenal includes the Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power (ATBIP), but it has never been used in combat. The flamethrowers maximum firing range is 6 km, which exceeds the ranges of most anti-tank missile systems. The minimum range is 400 m. It takes no more than 0.5 seconds to launch a single rocket or to ripple fire two in tandem. The entire payload of 24 ninety-kilogram rockets could be fired in either 12 or 6 seconds, respectively. This is a unique weapon that other armies lack. But, not content to rest on her laurels, Russia is also developing a new generation heavy flame-throwing system. The Tosochka heavy flamethrower (sometimes erroneously called the TOS-2) with the Russian Army in accordance with Russia's 2018-2025 state armaments program. It can be mounted on the tracked vehicle platform of the Armata main battle tank. The system will be installed on a wheeled chassis so that it can operate effectively in the desert. It will be an attractive option for potential buyers from the Middle East. Its also important to note that these weapons are not banned and thus their use is not a breach of international law. MOON OF ALABAMA The Trump administration has threatened to end the nuclear deal with Iran. In our last post we argued in detail that the attempt of the European 3, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, to soothe Trump by condemning Iran's ballistic missiles is itself a breach of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The University of Alabama endorsed Moon of Alabama's legal reasoning :-). Professor Daniel Joyner, author of several books on international law, non-proliferation and the nuclear deal with Iran, responded to the piece: Dan Joyner @DanJoyner1 6:43 PM 24 Jan 2018 Replying to @MoonofA Hi, I enjoyed your post and agree with its analysis. I examined 2231 in a chapter you can download here: Iran's Nuclear Program and International Law: From Confrontation to Accord, Chapter 7 I addressed the missile issue at pg. 240, and reached the same conclusion you do. Ellie Geranmayeh, a member of the European Council of Foreign Relations (a U.S. aligned institution), is also defending the nuclear deal and warns against endorsing its breach. She argues in Foreign Policy that the Europeans should not soothe Trump but take a strong stand against any U.S. attempt to put Iran back into the bad corner: Some European officials state in private that the best option is for Europe to muddle through in the hope that Trump will eventually shift his position. But muddling through just wont do. Trump is likely to continue increasing his maximalist demands unless Europe flexes its political muscle. In order to protect its economic and security interests, Europe must not only reject Trumps ultimatum which would be a kiss of death for the nuclear deal but also push back. Europe should put in place a viable contingency plan if the United States continues backtracking on the deal and let Washington know its ready to use it. The author puts forward a four point plan which would indemnify European companies which are dealing with Iran but threatened by secondary U.S. sanctions: Put simply, EU officials must tell Trump: If you fine our companies assets in the United States, we will reclaim those costs by penalizing U.S. assets in Europe. This would cause a major trade conflict that the Europeans want to avoid by all means. But the option and the precedent exist. Pressing Iran on the ballistic missile issue leads to a dead end, and possibly a new conflict that is not in European interest. Europe should therefore address that issues on a wider, regional base: [I]n recent months France and Germany have reportedly both pressed for the EU to introduce new sanctions targeting Irans missile program. This approach is unlikely to persuade Tehran to negotiate over its missile program. Nor are such steps likely to gain support from China and Russia as the nuclear-related sanctions did. This is especially true now due to rising U.S.-Iranian tensions and increasing Western arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. A more pragmatic approach would be for the EU to facilitate a dialogue with all regional powers with the goal of limiting the range of ballistic missiles and their transfer under existing international arms control regimes. Possibly later this week a U.S. delegation will meet with European diplomats to talk about the way forward. Britain, pressed with a Brexit scenario, is probably the most inclined to follow the U.S. line: Id say there was a pretty wide measure of agreement on the European side about the need to look at what Iran is doing on the ballistic missile front and to work out what we can do collectively to constrain that activity and to make a big difference there, [British Foreign Secretary Boris] Johnson said at a meeting with [U.S. Secretary of State Rex] Tillerson on Monday. And we think we can do that; we think we can do that together. But as Rex says, its important we do that in parallel and dont vitiate the fundamentals of the Iran nuclear deal, and were sure we can do that. Johnson and others are wrong with this. There is no reasonable case at all to (solely) address Iranian ballistic missiles when Saudi Arabia, Israel and the U.S. (also Pakistan) all have ballistic missiles pointed at Iran. Tehran will rightfully reject any such talks. Addressing Iran's ballistic missiles in the framework of JCPOA and UNSCR 2231 is a breach of the resolution which had lifted all limits on Iran's missile activities. The only chance to talk about ballistic missiles at all is within a much wider framework. The EU-3 should follow the advice given by Ellie Geranmayeh and prepare for an economic confrontation with the U.S. over the nuclear deal. It is clearly the U.S. which is in breach of the deal and which rejects the UNSC resolution it had earlier supported. If the Europeans do not hold up the case, Trump will notice that the EU folds even under mild pressure. He will use that experience to push other cases and will attempt to blackmail the EU over and over again. The involved politicians should also recognize that opposing Trump is a domestic winner in Europe where his approval rates are at a record low. There will be no lack of backing for harder line policies. moonofalabama.org The Russian intervention in Syria, which began in mid-2015, was never meant to be a large effort in terms of manpower and intended, from the beginning, to help rebuild and revive the Syrian military forces that were already there. Over a third of the Russian troops and contractors were technical experts to assist the Syrians in refurbishing elderly (or just overworked) weapons and military equipment. Russia supplied the spare (or improved) parts and any special tools needed for get this done. New weapons and gear also arrived and the Syrian troops had to be quickly taught how to use all this stuff. By January 2016 the impact of this effort was visible to people on the ground. Western photo satellites and aerial surveillance showed the Syrian troops using new Russian artillery as well as more of their own refurbished stuff because the Russians had shipped in lots of ammo along with the new parts. Russian UAVs were providing target information and the Syrian infantry seemed more precise and confident as they called in supporting artillery and air support before advancing. All this made it much harder for the rebels to defeat the Assad government and much easier to accept a peace deal that keeps the Assads in power, which was always a Russian goal. Another advantage the Russian intervention brings to the Syrian government is more medical assistance. The Russians brought in lots of badly needed medical supplies and equipment as well as medical personnel. This was a big morale booster for government forces because all these offensive operations meant more casualties. The knowledge that there was better medical care available made government forces more willing to take chances. This meant more local militias, even ones that are neutral or anti-government, were willing to work with government forces to defeat ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). There were a growing number of communities that initially sided with the rebels but in 2016were willing to work with whoever could protect them. The government has always been willing to work with neutral civilians and make deals. The most useful neutrals are the non-Sunni Moslems (Shia, Christian, Druze and so on) that ISIL persecutes enthusiastically and that have long sided with the Assads who themselves come from the local Shia minority. Russia has also made a major effort to help rebuild what is left of the Syrian Air Force, which has suffered enormous (over 70 percent) losses since 2011. The Russians also brought in UAVs and electronic monitoring equipment and because of that provided a much better picture of where the best targets were. This caused a lot of damage to the rebels who found their supply facilities and other support operations being located and bombed. These airstrikes were delivered mainly by Russian jets and helicopters at first but soon the refurbished Syrian warplanes were carrying out a lot more airstrikes. Russia had always provided tech and material (spare parts) support for this largely Russian fleet of warplanes and helicopters but not enough for the Syrians to keep more than 30 percent of the 370 aircraft and helicopters operational. The surge of Russian support meant the Syrian Air Force could be rebuilt and become a major factor once more. Russia brought in several thousand of their Spetsnaz (special operations) troops both as active duty Russian army operators and former Spetsnaz serving as contractors. Unlike the popular image of special operations troops these Spetsnaz were rarely used for raids. Like their Western counterparts Spetsnaz are also trained to do reconnaissance (often deep into enemy territory), provide security for very valuable people or equipment and carry out direct action (raids) as needed. Spetsnaz did a lot of direct action in Afghanistan in the 1980s and in the Caucasus since the late 1990s but not in Syria. Thats because Russia wanted to avoid casualties in Syria as any troop losses here were very unpopular in Russia. Spectacular victories, on the other hand, are still popular. Russian Spetsnaz commandos had been in Syria officially since October 2015 and unofficially up to a year earlier. Russia did not say much about what Spetsnaz was doing in Syria, which is standard for special operations forces. Initially Spetsnaz were there to train their Syrian counterparts and help hunt down and kill key ISIL leaders. Any successes there were not publicized, which is, again, pretty standard for secretive commando operations. It was more difficult to hide the role Spetsnaz (especially the contractors) played in helping improve the security around senior government officials in Damascus. That operation was also a success. Russia also sent expert snipers, many of them Spetsnaz, who mainly served as instructors for Syrian Army snipers and to set up a program to select troops who could be good snipers and train them. New Russian sniping rifles were seen in Syria after 2015. To make their Syria intervention work Russia had to quietly resort to employing Russian private security companies. By the end of 2017 there were about 1,200 military contractors from the Wagner Group. About half these private security troops were believed to have been organized combat units that were reliable enough to be used in place of scarce army special operations troops. By monitoring Russian language social media activity (which anyone can do) it was noted how many recent military veterans were working for several of these private security companies. These fellows would often post pictures from Syria and Ukraine. Casualties were suffered in both places although the duties of the contractors were different. In Syria the security contractors mainly guarded Russian bases but were also used in combat when they provided security for Russian artillery units supporting Syrian Army troops. In a few cases the contractors were sent in to assist Syrian troops who got themselves in trouble. Russia described these men as special operations troops, because outside Russia the security contractors often wear Russian military uniforms. But social media revealed that many of these dead Russians in Syria were actually contractors. In Ukraine at least one private security company was used as enforcers to punish troublesome pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels. Often this just meant arranging an accidental death for a disobedient rebel leader but in a few cases a larger number of rebels had to disappear. The Russian supported rebels came to call these contractors cleaners and were justifiably terrorized and impressed. Cuban troops were also reported in Syria, brought in to help train and assist Syrian troops. Some of the Cubans are believed to be special operations (commando) forces. Cuba, Russia and Syria deny the presence of Cuban troops in Syria. Among the many Russian civilians in Syria were engineers and other specialists from Russian defense firms that were developing and manufacturing the most modern Russian weapons. This included smart bombs, warplanes, electronic warfare equipment and air defense systems. The defense industry experts were not only there to collect information on how the latest Russian military tech was doing but to also supply the sales and marketing people back in Russia with specific information they could use to improve export sales for new Russian weapons. This angle was widely publicized in Russian state controlled mass media. One thing these defense firm personnel did not want to comment on was the small number of smart bombs, shells and rockets the Russian armed forces had. Some 90 percent of the bombs dropped in Syria by modern Russian aircraft were unguided (dumb) weapons because the tiny Russian stockpiles of smart bombs were quickly exhausted. By late 2015 Russia is also learning the hard way how difficult it is to maintain modern warplanes in the sand and dust of the Middle East. Russia knew about this problem because for decades it had been selling military aircraft to countries (including Syria) in the region. But it turned out that there were a lot of (often minor) modifications Syrian maintainers made to their Russian aircraft to keep them operational in this environment. Russian maintainers were soon working overtime to adapt to all this. Despite that Russia were getting several sorties a day out of many of the fifty or so warplanes it had (most of the time) in Syria. On some days there are nearly a hundred air strikes. The 50 or so Russian aircraft in Syria initially consisted of Su-34 and Su-30 fighter-bombers, Su-24M bombers and Su-25 ground attack aircraft as well as about a dozen armed helicopters. There are also many transport helicopters. Russian air strikes in Syria were very effective and about 70 percent of the dead were Syrian rebels. Russia officially said it was there to fight ISIL but most of the targets were non-ISIL rebels who have been taking a lot of territory from the Assad government. The Russian air strikes went after al Qaeda leader and the FSA (the largest secular rebel group). Both FSA and al Qaeda are hostile to ISIL but for Russia these two groups are a major threat to the Syrian government, which has long been a Russian ally. Russian warplanes are carrying out 50-60 air strikes a day. That was far more than the U.S. led air coalition. By 2016 it was obvious that Russia was concentrating most of its considerable firepower on rebel groups that were hurting the Syrian Assad government forces the most. By American count only about ten percent of Russian air strikes were against ISIL and those targets were usually hit to protect Assad forces. Russia justified (to the UN and the world in general) its military presence in Syria because it is part of the effort to destroy the ISIL threat. While Russia does not hide its support for the Assad government (which the UN and most of the world accuse of war crimes and want gone) it insists that its presence in Syria is not primarily to keep the Assads in power. Yet thousands of Russian troops were working with the Assad forces, the Russian troops were all based in Assad controlled territory and the majority of rebels, who are not ISIL or the local al Qaeda franchise al Nusra, are the main targets of Russian firepower. By early 2018 Russian casualties in Syria continued to be remarkably low with nearly all the fatalities were suffered by highly trained troops advising the Syrians or special operations personnel carrying out recon or other intel gathering missions. The few Russian artillery units rarely got close enough to the fighting to be shot at and were their mainly to test new or updated Russian guided rockets or artillery shells. As of the end of 2017 Russia admitted to 45 Russians killed in Syria since mid-2015. The actual number is believed to be 30-80 percent higher because of the growing use of Russian military contractors, who are not, for record keeping purposes, members of the Russian military. The Syrian war effort, despite the low number of Russian casualties, is not popular with most Russians who see Assad and most other Middle Eastern governments (especially former Soviet allies) as losers. Ibec Concerned With Piecemeal Brexit by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London 26 January 2018 The CEO of Irish business association Ibec has said that it is a fallacy to think that the UK leaving the EU customs union "will deliver massive new trade opportunities." Danny McCoy told the UK House of Common's Brexit committee that if the UK leaves the customs union, it will "create major new administrative costs, disrupt trade flows, and put jobs at risk." However, McCoy also warned that, even if the UK were to remain in a customs union with the EU, there would be "significant problems for business" if the UK did not also commit to participating in the Single Market. According to McCoy, the future relationship between the EU and the UK "needs to be based on the established, existing shared rules, which already support millions of jobs and communities across Europe." McCoy also stressed that there should be no hard border on the island of Ireland, and that this is an important issue for exporters and importers, and for companies investing across both the Republic and Northern Ireland. McCoy said that there should be "regulatory alignment across all key sectors of the all-island economy and close cooperation into the future," and that early agreement on how this can be achieved is crucial. Partisan Schism In Support For US Tax Cuts And Jobs Act by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington 26 January 2018 US taxpayers are equally divided on whether the recent US tax bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, will benefit or negatively impact them, with a marked partisan divide, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. The center released a report on January 24 based on a survey of 1,503 adults during January. 29 percent of respondents said the reforms would have a positive impact on their personal circumstances, while 27 percent thought the TCJA would negatively impact them. Others said it would have a negligible impact on them. The results were strongly partisan. Republicans were significantly more likely to consider the bill positive, with 52 percent expressing such, compared with just 13 percent of Democrats. The differences in opinion between Republican and Democrat supporters was more stark when asked about the TCJA's impact on the United States as a country. 35 percent say the law will have a mostly positive effect on the country, 40 percent a mostly negative effect, and 15 percent say it will have little effect. However, 71 percent of Republican Party supporters said the bill would positively impact the US, compared with 11 percent of Democrats. Overall, just 37 percent of Americans approve of the law, while 46 percent disapprove, with the remainder not expressing an opinion. Singapore, Sri Lanka Sign Free Trade Pact by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong 26 January 2018 Sri Lanka signed its first ever comprehensive free trade agreement on January 23, with Singapore. The signing of the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) took place during a visit by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Sri Lanka, concluding talks which began in June 2016. In a speech delivered to the Sri LankaSingapore Business Forum on January 24 following the signature of the FTA, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran explained that: "When the SLSFTA is in force, Sri Lankan importers will be able to benefit as custom duties are reduced in phases over the next few years for goods imported from Singapore. This would also benefit Sri Lankan consumers, increasing the variety and affordability of high-quality products." He added that "the Trade in Services chapter creates more opportunities for our professionals in sectors such as Professional Services, Environmental Services, Construction, and Tourism to offer their respective services in each other's markets. The Government Procurement Chapter offers companies the assurance that international tenders for Government projects will be conducted fairly and transparently, while the Investment Chapter will help attract more investments by providing investors with assurances that their investments will be protected." UK, Italy Taken To Task For EU Tax Law Infringements by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels 26 January 2018 The European Commission has asked Italy and the UK to bring their tax legislation into line with EU rules, as part of the latest infringement package. The Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Italy regarding the exclusion of EU citizens of non-Italian nationality who do not intend to settle in Italy from a reduced rate regime on their first purchase of non-luxury housing in Italy. The Commission said that this limitation violates EU rules on the free movement of capital. Italy has two months to respond to the request. It could be referred to the European Court of Justice for otherwise failing to do so. The Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to the UK for what it said was the UK's failure to collect and transmit to other EU member states the bank account details for each taxable person registered for the EU-wide VAT Mini One-Stop-Shop. The Commission said this violates EU rules on administrative cooperation and that, at present, member states who wish to refund taxable persons in the UK have to collect additional information on a case-by-case basis, which delays the processing of refunds. If the UK does not act within the next two months, the Commission may send a reasoned opinion to the UK authorities. The Cambridge Union was treated to an engaging talk from a warm and often funny James Blunt on Wednesday evening. Being what one might call a Blunt-Agnostic (not that Im unsure if he really exists, I just dont have enough knowledge of his work to take a stand on whether hes the best or worst thing to happen to music), I was interested to pick up on the palpable buzz of excitement as a full-to-the brim Union Chamber awaited his arrival, demonstrating that he clearly has many committed fans among Cambridge students. While I was wandering around the Union beforehand looking for the press area, I happened to walk past Blunt who I think must have been on the way to his soundcheck. I was oblivious to this but was alerted to his presence afterwards by the sharp intakes of breath of two women walking behind me. Oh my god, was that him? one asked the other. Nearly 14 years after he burst onto the scene with his debut album Back to Bedlam, the consistency of Blunts appeal in an era when fame is transient for many pop musicians is certainly impressive. The talk itself proved that Blunt is an eloquent speaker, perhaps at least in part thanks to his Public-School education, which he appeared to remember fondly. Blunts unconventional pre-music career as a Captain in the British Army was almost as much a feature of the talk as his music. As a man uniquely able to provide an insight into the two very different worlds of military service and celebrity, it struck me that there was a degree to which Blunt missed the former part of his life. He spoke of the pitfalls of being world-famous, of the loss of anonymity and having his phone and emails hacked. He was clearly very proud of his military service; even if he did somewhat downplay his role in averting World War Three by refusing to engage with a unit of Russian soldiers while under NATO command in Kosovo, he was eager to retell a story he must have recounted many times. However, Blunt also clearly appreciated, and was even slightly awed, by the impact his music had on people around the world. When asked by the Unions interviewer if he was tired of playing Youre Beautiful every night, he retorted that he was tired of being asked that question. Blunts attitude is refreshing; all too often musicians can be loath to play their big hits, the songs that made them famous, but Blunt is less self-centred than this. He cheerfully admits that his mega-hits such as Youre Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover have made him tons of money, and that they mean a lot to many people around the world, and it was no surprise that when, in a first in many years for the Union, he performed at the end of his talk, it was those two songs that he played. After the talk, myself and several other Cambridge student journalists got the chance to sit round the table with Blunt. He was keen to talk about his musical influences, citing 70s artists such as Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. Bowie may well have been more than a musical influence in fact, as when a journalist put it to him that he could still sesh quite hard, he quickly replied yeah, totally and indicated his unwillingness to slow down anytime soon, living as he does in Ibiza. Another big theme of the talk had been Blunts Twitter, where he is well-known for his self-deprecating humour and occasionally juvenile put-downs of trolls. When it came to me, I asked Blunt, as a man whose career has spanned the massive popularity surge of social media, what differences hes noticed in the interactions hes had with his fans since the days of written fan mail. He suggested that the ability to give feedback so quickly had resulted in a lot more abuse being directed towards celebrities such as himself, and that usually when people had bothered to go the effort of writing a letter it had been a lot more supportive. Also, given his dedicated following around the world (Kazakhstan and Italy were just two of the countries he mentioned during his talk), I asked Blunt what his favourite country to tour in was. He gave the somewhat left-field answer of Lebanon, saying that Beirut was the most amazing city in the world, but also said that for amazing audiences you should head to Latin America, particularly Buenos Aires. It was at this point that I reflected on the surreal thought that this was a musician who can pack out big stadiums in probably every continent on the planet. Whatever you may think of his music (and I think Bonfire Heart at least is a true banger), this is no mean feat and surely must be respected. The National Union of Students (NUS) is once again marred by scandal after leader Shakira Martin was vilified for comparing criticism to an abusive relationship, provoking allegations against Martin for bullying other NUS officers. The tweet by Mark Crawford, the UCL Student Unions postgraduate officer, called Martin a scab for her apparent failure to oppose gentrification and told her to get over herself. The tweet, which has since been deleted, was then screenshotted by Martin and posted to Facebook, along with her response: This is the name calling and abuse i have to put up with. Im a scab now yehthese people are as abusive as my ex was too me, emotionally trying to break me down at every level every single day. I feel like im back in a domestic abuses realationship and if i am honest this shit is really triggering things for me. I dont have to nor will i continue to put up with this shit. Hareem Ghani, the NUS Womens Officer, announced she would be filing a complaint to the NUS based on her distasteful comparison and deeply dangerous behaviour, such as threatening and bullying officers over the course of the last 6 months. She later added: I will no longer be going into NUS HQ until the complaint is concluded, ending if only you all knew half the shit weve dealt with in the last 2 months especially. Amelia Horgan, the Postgraduate Officer for the NUS, tweeted that this comparison is not only very messed up but also silences people with serious political problems with the NUS president. Martin has also come under fire for contradicting NUS policy regarding the University College Union academic staff strike. The opinions of NUS Presidents were also criticised last year, when then-President Malia Bouattia was accused of anti-semitism for calling her former university, Birmingham, a Zionist outpost, leading to numerous Students Unions disaffiliation from the NUS. Bouattia lost to Martin in April 2017, winning 56% of the vote in an election campaign marred by controversy. Former CUSU President, Amatey Doku, was also elected to the post of Vice-President for higher education in April of last year. TCS has contacted the NUS for comment. "Cryptojacking" is nothing new but it has begun to pick up more steam in recent months. For the unaware, cryptojacking typically involves unscrupulous website owners or advertisers using JavaScript code to take advantage of a website visitor's CPU power to mine cryptocurrency in the background, without their knowledge or consent. The Pirate Bay was one of the first websites of note to contain this sort of code but its use has only become more common over time. Indeed, the problem has become so pervasive in certain parts of the internet that web browsers such as Opera have received new features specifically designed to mitigate or eliminate these issues -- usually in the form of ad blocking filters. While simply avoiding sketchy sites to begin with might seem like the obvious solution, the issue becomes more complicated when this code starts to appear on bigger, more well-known sites like Showtime or even YouTube. This past week YouTuber viewers' antivirus programs began to alert them to the presence of cryptocurrency mining code throughout the website this week, specifically within YouTube's advertising code. Naturally, this led to some users hopping on Twitter to voice their concerns. Great now my browser everytime I watch youtube... my anti virus always blocking coinhive because malware . Idk much about it but this is getting annoying and I need a solution please T n T Arung (@ArungLaksmana) January 23, 2018 Researchers from antivirus company Trend Micro said these ads resulted in "more than a three-fold spike" in web miner detection stats. The company also said the individuals behind the ads seemed to be targeting YouTube visitors in specific countries, such as France, Taiwan, Italy, Spain and Japan. "YouTube was likely targeted because users are typically on the site for an extended period of time," security researcher Troy Mursch said in a statement. "This is a prime target for cryptojacking malware, because the longer the users are mining for cryptocurrency the more money is made." This may not seem like a significant issue but background miners can hog quite a bit of a given system's computing power if left unchecked, as much as 80 percent according to Trend Micro. Google issued the following statement on the matter: Mining cryptocurrency through ads is a relatively new form of abuse that violates our policies and one that weve been monitoring actively. We enforce our policies through a multi-layered detection system across our platforms which we update as new threats emerge. In this case, the ads were blocked in less than two hours and the malicious actors were quickly removed from our platforms. As Ars noted, evidence supplied by Trend Micro seems to contradict Google's statement. The antivirus company has shown several examples of these ads being in place for the better part of a week, which is certainly longer than the two hours Google claims it took to shut the scheme down. Cuba became the first country in the world to immunize over-two-year-old children against coronavirus. | Read More Lisa Vanderpump. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images for Daily Mail Earlier this week, Oprah shut down running for president in 2020, telling In Style I dont have the DNA for it. It was a sad day for everyone, especially Donald Trump and the guy who trademarked NOprah. But on Friday the New York Times teased the possibility of another reality TV star running for office: Lisa Vanderpump for Governor of California. Via the Times: With the gap between reality TV and politics forever closed, Ms. Vanderpump even teased a run for office, possibly as governor of California. Could you imagine me? Id love it, she said, laughing. However, she did have one concern. Would I be a governess? Because Im British, and thats like an old nanny. Vanderpumps experience includes starting drama with other Beverly Hills socialites on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and producing Vanderpump Rules, the reality show about the extremely fit, angry, and inebriated staff at her restaurant SUR, which stands for Sexy Unique Restaurant positions that require lots of careful diplomacy and political maneuvering. Despite this extensive experience, Vanderpump doesnt seem that serious about her gubernatorial run. Thats fine she always seemed like more of a monarch anyway. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) listens to SAP CEO Bill McDermott during a working dinner with European business leaders during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, eastern Switzerland, on Jan. 25, 2018. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images) At Table With Trump, 15 European Business Giants Praise Tax Reform and Pledge Billions in New Investments Leaders of 15 major European corporations praised President Donald Trumps tax reforms and pledged billions in new investments into the United States during a dinner with the president on Thursday local time at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Executives from companies including Siemens, Volvo, and Bayer announced upcoming investments into their U.S. markets, all spurred by Trumps economic reforms and deregulation. Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens, said that his company will develop their next generation of gas turbines in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a direct result of Trumps tax cuts. Congratulations on your tax reform, said Kaeser, whose company employs 56,000 people in the United States. You said thats what youre going to do. You built it and well come. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to cut taxes and delivered on the promise in his first year in office. The corporate tax rate was reduced to 21 percent from 35 percent in the Republican-passed bill. No Democrats voted for the measure. Patrick Pouyanne, the CEO of the worlds fourth-largest oil and gas company, Total SA, told Trump that his company will invest $3 billion in petrochemicals in Texas, creating 1,500 new jobs. Total is also investing $2 billion into renewable energy. We will do more with your tax reform, Pouyanne said. The CEOs of Nestle, Nokia, and Statoil also thanked Trump for what he has done in the United States. Were excited about whats going in the U.S., said Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestle, which hires 50,000 people in the U.S. The CEOs of Volvo, Bayer, and Anheuser-Busch all announced multi-billion investments as well. I would like to congratulate you on tax reform, Eldar Saetre, CEO of Statoil, said. That is really good news for all of us here. Trumps tax reforms resulted in a windfall for companies operating in the U.S. More than 3 million Americans have received or are set to receive bonuses of up to $3,000 from companies including Apple, Visa, Walmart, Home Depot, and IAT Insurance, according to Americans for Tax Reform. Vas Narasimhan, the CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical maker, Novartis, thanked Trump, particularly for appointing great leadership to head the Food and Drug Administration. Were pleased with the tax reform but also very pleased with the great progress being made at FDA, Narasimhan said. We believe you have a great leadership team there and theyre doing all the right things to accelerate innovation. Bill McDermott, the CEO of German software giant SAP, wrapped up the round of announcements by pointing out that most of the people at the table were his clients. Its kind of amazing to have all of your customers talk about adding jobs and growing their business, McDermott said. Its just a real tribute to the momentum that youve created in the global economy, so I thank you very much. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Year One: Thank You, Mr. President Iowa Mother Sentenced to Life for Starving Daughter to Death An adoptive mother of a teenage girl who was abused and starved to death has been sentenced to three life terms in prison for her murder. Nicole Finn, 43, was sentenced in court in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 26, for murdering her adoptive daughter Natalie, and on three counts of kidnapping, WHOTV reported. The 16-year-old girl was found emaciated and half-dead on a linoleum floor of the Des Moines home that became her prison, wearing an adult diaper. She died in a hospital several days after her October 2016 rescue, from a heart attack brought on by starvation. State attorney Bret Lucas reminded Polk County Judge Karen Romano of the horrors Natalie endured. Finally, when she was too weak to move, too weak to sit up, and too weak to swallow, she left her on the floor of a barren room, filthy, covered in urine and feces, and left her there to die, Lucas, according to WHOTV. Judge Romano ordered Finn to serve the life terms consecutively and without parole. The woman is also forbidden to have any contact with her surviving adopted children, the Des Moines Register reported. An investigation found Finn had abused three of the four children she had adopted, taking them out of public school, locking them away and slowly starving them. The court cannot imagine what kind of mental trauma these children have suffered, Romano said, according to the Register. According to a court testimony given during Finns trial in December, 2017, Natalie and her siblings had been confined to a room with no furniture, the Daily Mail reported. Her siblings were malnourished and suffered from bedsores, while Natalie had been lying in her own waste for some time when she was discovered by the authorities. Finn had boarded up windows in the house to stop the children going out to look for food after they were caught begging neighbors for something to eat. The womans defense team argued the woman had become overwhelmed by the demands of looking after four adoptive children who suffered from behavioral disorders. During her December trial, her lawyers claimed she had become detached from reality, according to the Daily Mail. But the jury that considered the evidence, including testimony that one of the children had to drink from a toilet because she was so thirsty, and returned a guilty verdict. The court heard that child welfare representatives had visited the Finn home two months before Natalies death following reports about her condition. But they allowed her and the other children to continue living there. At the time of Natalies death, Senator Matt McCoy commented on the tragedy, the Daily Mail reported. What happened to not only Natalie but her siblings was preventable. Its a horrific situation and I feel heartbroken for Natalie and her siblings who were, in essence, sealed in that room and left to die, McCoy said. Nicole Finn told the court she intends to appeal the sentencing decision, but offered no statement or apology for her crimes. Joseph Finn, who was not living at the house at the time of Natalies death, stands accused of helping Nicole Finn confine the children. He faces several felony charges, including kidnapping and child endangerment. His case is scheduled to go to trial in April, 2018. Recommended Video: Neighbors React to Parents Arrest After Their 13 Children Found Shackled, Malnourished in Home Man Found Dead Inside Gym Tanning Bed: Report Police say a 27-year-old man was found dead inside a tanning bed in New Jersey, according to reports. Nicholas Ricigliani, 27, of Hamilton Township, Mercer County was identified as the man who died, according to Patch.com. His body was discovered at Crunch Fitness at 2465 South Broad St. in Hamilton, officials said. Hamilton police said the incident took place Monday, Jan. 22, but reports of his death didnt emerge until later in the week. Gym employees reportedly located his body. A young man was mysteriously found dead on a tanning bed at a #NewJersey gym earlier this week, police say https://t.co/jbcs2AXUjp NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 26, 2018 Investigators believe there was no foul play in Riciglianis death, and he was transported to the Middlesex County Medical Examiners Office to determine the cause. Ricigliani, who was born in Trenton, lived in Long Branch for two years, and he worked at Ocean Place Resort and Spa, and later, he worked at the Acme Supermarket in Bordentown, the Patch.com report stated. Hamilton police said that anyone with information should contact Detective Frank Burger at (609) 581-4010 or the Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008. According to an obituary posted on the New Jersey Advance Media website, his passions were music, cooking and working out at the gym, and he was an avid Green Bay Packers and NY Yankees fan, but most of all, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Police did not release any more information about his death. Its not clear if the tanning bed contributed to his death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that indoor tanning is not safe. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays while indoor tanning can cause skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. UV exposure also can cause cataracts and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma). UV exposure from the sun and from indoor tanning is classified as a human carcinogen (causes cancer in humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and other agencies, the CDC says. Tanning, meanwhile, causes premature skin aging, like wrinkles and age spots, the agency adds. It also changes ones skin texture, and it increases the risk of potentially blinding eye diseases, if eye protection is not used. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Conrad Pritchard has been sentenced to 32 months in prison by a British court. (Greater Manchester Police) Man Jailed for Assault on 4-Year-Old Claiming She Was 18-Year-Old Babysitter A British man who sexually assaulted a 4-year-old girl as she slept and then claimed in court he thought the victim was the 18-year-old babysitter has been sentenced to serve 32 months in prison. Conrad Pritchard, 22, faced a judge at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, Jan. 25, who handed down the sentence after finding him guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13, according to the Manchester Evening News. Police hailed the courts decision and described Pritchards excuse as absurd. Detective Constable Paul Davies of GMPs Salford borough said that Pritchards attempt to justify what happened by claiming that he thought a 4-year-old girl was actually 18 is absurd and he is now where he deserves to be, the news service reported. On Sunday, June 25, 2017, Pritchard was out drinking with three companions in a pub in Salford, UK, before heading to the home of one of the group, the Blackpool Gazette reported. The four continued to drink at the house. At one point Pritchard crept upstairs and carried out the assault on the girl. Her cries woke the mother, who confronted Pritchard and chased him out of the house. He was later arrested. Pritchard initially claimed a state of such intoxication that he was unaware anyone was in the bed. He changed his story later, claiming that he thought the little girl was actually the 18-year-old babysitter. This was dismissed by the judge, who found his explanation inconceivable. Detective Constable Davies said, Pritchard targeted a young girl as she slept in her own home so that he could satisfy his own appalling urges. He deliberately targeted his victim and since the incident has continued to show very little remorse for his actions. What he did that night left his victim understandably distraught and we are continuing to provide her with support from specially trained officers, Davies said. Pritchard pleaded guilty to the offense at an earlier hearing at the Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court. At sentencing he was handed down an additional 8 weeks for an earlier crime of shoplifting, to serve in addition to the 32 months. Recommended Video: Brazen Pickpockets Steal 1,000 From London Pensioner Massachusetts Police Send Warning of Motion Picture Use Only $100 Bills Police in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, are warning people to be on the lookout for fake $100 bills. Officials shared a picture on Facebook, showing the bill, which says MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY on the front and back. They said, There are counterfeit hundred dollar bills that are being circulated through the Fitchburg area right now. Please take note of the upper right hand corner of the bill & as well as the back of the bill (states For Motion Picture Use Only). People have been trying to make purchases with these bills and pass them off as real money at stores, the department also said on Facebook in response to a comment. As soon as you present them as real currency, it then becomes a criminal offense. In El Paso, Texas, a similar warning was recently sent out to locals by police. The bills, in $20 and $50 denominations, look like the real thing with serial numbers and banknote identifiers, except that they have FOR MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY written at the top, police say. They have put out fliers with an example of a $100 bill. Another way to identify the movie set money is to hold the bill up to the light. If there is no Franklin watermark and no embedded security thread on it, its a fake. The style of the money has been around for a few years, but we havent seen a whole lot of it here in El Paso, Darrel Petry, public information officer for the El Paso police told KFOX14. As of lately, weve had several cases where this type of money has turned up. NTD reporter Holly Kellum contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Middle Schooler Faces Criminal Charges After Attacking Fellow Student With Chair A Georgia middle school student is facing criminal charges after allegedly striking another student with a chair. The attack that was captured on video and posted on social media. The footage shows a Creekland Middle School seventh-grade student using a chair, and later her hand, to hit a fellow student on Monday, Jan. 22, 11Alive reported. Mom Shot and Killed in Front of 10-Year-Old Son Who Opened Door for Killer Kansas City police are searching for a man who shot and killed a Missouri mother inside her home after her 10-year-old son opened the front door to a stranger. The unannounced visitor asked the boy to fetch his mom at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. His mama came around the corner, and the next thing you know, he said he seen him just pull out and pow, pow. I dont understand. I really dont, said Mynesha Myers, the victims sister, according to Daily Mail. Police said LaShonda Myers, 31, was killed by the gunman. Her son ran upstairs, hid in the bathroom and called 911. I had the door locked. I dont know if he could get there with the door locked, the boy told the Kansas City Star. I am on the phone with the police, looking up under the door to make sure nobody is coming upstairs. Im sitting there scared from when I heard the gunfire. I was in there shaking. Police arrived on the scene within minutes of the shooting. The terrified boy saw the officers inside with guns and flashlights but was afraid to move in case the shooter was still after him. If he was looking for me and he went upstairs to my mommas room looking for me, I could have been an easy target because theres not that many hiding places, the boy said. I cracked open the door and I didnt see the policemans face. I was sitting there moving back behind the door. He said its OK, the child remembered the policeman saying. One of the police took me in my mommas room and I couldnt breathe because the gunfire had scared me. According to the boys aunt, his mom died at the scene. 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 dont understand, said Mynesha Myers. She really didnt do anything. She was what they call a square. You know, she is not out there partying, she added. She goes to work, takes care of her kids. The responding officers conducted a thorough search of the house to make sure no one else was inside. According to the boy, the killer asked, Is there somebody in there I can talk to? The boys mom called out to him to see if the person at the door was someone they knew. The boy told her to come and see. As she approached, the man shot the boys mom within several feet of her son. The 10-year-old still has a hearing problem caused by the gunfire. No child should have to deal with that, Myerss aunt, Rachel Johnson, said. The victim had just ended an abusive relationship, the Star reported. Myers worked as a nurse at the nearby Nursing and Convalescent Center in Kansas City. Police had no suspect details on Wednesday and had no information about a motive. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Brazen Pickpockets Steal 1,000 From London Pensioner Pope Francis Appeases Chinese Regime, Depriving Persecuted Underground Catholics of Their Bishops By recognizing bishops chosen by the Chinese Communist Party, pope turns back on church tradition and teachings In a move that breaks with centuries of Catholic tradition, the Vatican under Pope Francis has reportedly forced two duly appointed Chinese bishops to make way for those unilaterally imposed by the Chinese regime. The move is the latest in a series of concessions Pope Francis has made in recent years to seek resumption of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Chinese regime, which has always rejected the Popes authority to appoint Catholic bishops in mainland China. According to Asia News, a Vatican delegation to China was sent in December of last year to force Bishop Peter Zhuang Jianjian of Shantou to retire or be demoted so that the Chinese regime could install its own bishops who come from regime-sanctioned churches. The Vatican and the Peoples Republic of China have had no diplomatic relations since 1951, as the Chinese Communist Party has insisted from the very beginning of its rule that all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in mainland China should be appointed by itself so that the regime may maintain control of the church. A regime-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) was created to supposedly represent Catholics in China. The Vatican under all previous popes has rejected such an arrangement and refused to recognize bishops unilaterally appointed by the CPCA. The power to appoint bishops, known as Investiture, has been considered to be at the core of the Catholic Churchs teachings. Outside of CPCA control, a defiant network of underground Catholic house churches still exist in China, whose followers were represented by Chinese bishops legitimately ordained by the Vatican, such as Zhuang and Guo. The 88-year-old Bishop Zhuang reportedly burst into tears on hearing the order from Vatican, he also rejected the offer to accept a demotion into a priest to serve under his replacement, CPCA Bishop Huang Bingzhang, since Huang could simply remove him at any later time. In addition to being a CPCA Bishop, Huang is also a member of the National Peoples Congress, the Chinese regimes rubber stamp parliament. Pope Francis Vatican previously demanded Zhuangs retirement in a letter dated Oct. 26, of which Zhuang replied that he would rather carry his cross for disobeying the Vaticans order, according to Asia News. The Vatican delegation also traveled to Fujian Province where they asked Bishop Joseph Guo Xijin of Mindong, who belongs to the underground Catholic church, to accept a demotion so that CPCA-backed Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu can take his place. Previously, Guo had gone missing for some time last year after the Chinese regime forced him to visit a religious affairs bureau in the city of Fuan. Its a shame for the Vatican politicians to put their political interests above the churchs by kowtowing to Communist Beijing, said Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, a Christian NGO based in Midland, Texas. This action constitutes a true betrayal both of Christian principle and of the ongoing persecuted faithful in China. I hope the Pope Francis can intervene and correct course before the damage is too huge to remedy. Appeases Chinese Regime at Any Cost The Epoch Times repeated phone calls to the Vaticans Press Office to request for comment have not been answered. The news of the forced exile of two bishops by the Vatican however has been confirmed by Cardinal Joseph Zen, the respected former bishop of Hong Kong who retired in 2009 and who in recent years has become a vocal voice in questioning Pope Francis various overtures to the Chinese regime. Just this week, the 86-year-old Joseph Zen reportedly visited the Vatican on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and lined up with other petitioners in the cold in Saint Peters Square to personally deliver a letter to Pope Francis. He was not given the privilege of an express access to the Pope that is traditionally offered to retired cardinals at his level. The letter contains an appeal for Pope Francis to pay attention to the desperate plight of the underground Catholic churches in China. The Vatican under Pope Francis however has clearly set its course for a rapprochement with the Chinese regime at any cost. Numerous overtures to the Chinese regime have been made ever since Pope Francis was elected in 2013, such as a Papal flight over China in 2014, and an announcement in February 2017 that an agreement over the issue of bishop appointment had been reached with Beijing, among other events. The Epoch Times also reported last October that a senior archbishop known for his strong opposition to the Chinese regime has been removed from a key post in the Vatican by Pope Francis. Pope Franciss approach to the Chinese regime also marks a sharp contrast with many of his predecessors. For instance, John Paul II is known as the pope who inspired the fall of communism in his native Poland. While various Popes before Francis have attempted to restart the Vaticans relations with China, none has crossed the line of accepting the Chinese regime depriving the Vatican of its power of Investiture. The issue of the appointment of bishops is not the only thing that stands between the Vatican and the Peoples Republic of China. The fate of the network of underground Catholic churches in China, which have an estimated 5-10 million members, has yet to be resolved, even though their bishops have now been abandoned by the Vatican. Underground Catholics complain of the Chinese regime having arrested hundreds of priests and bishops and having destroyed their churches. A Vatican deal with China also has to settle the issue of Taiwan, which it still has formal diplomatic relations with. Partially due to the Chinese regimes non-recognition of the Vaticans authority in China, Taiwan was able to maintain the sovereign state of the Holy See as one of its few remaining diplomatic allies that formally recognize the island nationat least until now. Observers often speculated that the Vatican would abandon its relations with Taiwan to secure a deal with the Chinese regime on the other side of the strait, an act that would be seen not just as a betrayal of Taiwan but also the 240,000-strong Taiwanese Catholics, who unlike their Chinese counterparts have been allowed to practice their religion freely there and follow the Vaticans authority. Search for Missing Child Turning From Rescue to Recovery Mission The search for a missing North Carolina 4-year-old might be transitioning from a search-and-rescue to a search-and-recovery mission after four days with no results. Raul Gonzalez Johnson, barefoot and wearing pajamas, wandered away from his home in Laurinburg, North Carolina, on the South Carolina border. Johnson was in the care of his grandfather, who left the boy unattended long enough to walk to the mailbox and back, according to WRAL. After 20 minutes of frantic searching, the grandfather called 911. An Amber Alert was issued, and more than 300 law enforcement officers, EMTs, fire departments, and volunteers from two states converged on the tiny town, trying to find some trace of the missing child. Three canine teams independently tracked the boys scent to a nearby pond. Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey sent in five teams and ultimately ordered the pond drained, but so far nothing has turned up. Hes a small child, weighs about 35 pounds, If I dont drain it, or if we dont drain it, then that doubt will always be there, Kearsey said at a press conference Thursday. More than 40 agencies, including the FBI, are still searching through the wooded region. Help @FBICharlotte & Scotland County Sheriff's Office find 4-year-old Raul Gonzalez Johnson, #missing from Laurinburg, NC since 1/24/18. Call the FBI at (704) 672-6100 or the Sheriff's Office at (910) 405-9940 with any info or tips. https://t.co/7jtabHU2GL pic.twitter.com/hJkxOBHo4u FBI (@FBI) January 26, 2018 Rauls mother fears her son might have been kidnapped. I dont know its taking so long and Im not hearing nothing. so Im starting to think somebody took him, Johnson told WRAL. Despite her fears law enforcement officials have said repeatedly they do not suspect foul play. Still, they are not ruling out the possibility. Rauls father has been arrested twice for sexually abusing a child in the family home, in 2007 and 2015. He is currently in prison. From NTD.tv Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks in Norfolk, Va., on national security, immigration, and holding the Justice Department accountable, on Jan. 26, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Sessions on DOJ: Sunlight Is the Best Disinfectant NORFOLK, Va.At the end of a speech about national security and enforcing immigration laws, Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed recent criticisms of the Department of Justice (DOJ). We dont see criticism from Congress as a bad thing. We welcome Congress as a partner in this effort. When they learn of a problem and start asking questions, that is a good thing, Sessions said on Jan. 26. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, truly. Truth produces confidence. The DOJ has come under fire recently after it was revealed that a senior official, Bruce Ohr, had secretly met with Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson and former British spy Christopher Steele during the 2016 presidential elections. Fusion GPS is the company behind the so-called Trump dossier, which had been funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS hired Steele to work on the report. Sessions said departments employees need to eliminate political bias or favoritism in their investigations and prosecutions. The report was used, in part, by the FBIdespite having been described by former FBI Director James Comey as both salacious and unverifiedto obtain a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump campaign. Nellie Ohr, the wife of Bruce Ohr, had also been hired by Fusion GPS to work on the Trump dossier. She had previously worked as a researcher on the CIAs Open Source Works project. Text messages obtained by the Justice Departments Inspector General revealed that Peter Strzok, the lead agent on the FBIs investigation into alleged collusion between Trump and Russia, had a strong anti-Trump, and pro-Hillary Clinton bias. In one text message sent between Strzok and Lisa Page, a high ranking FBI lawyer with whom he was having an affair, Strzok describes a meeting the two of them had in the office of Andy, discussing an insurance policy in case Trump is elected president. Andy is believed to refer to Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, and the insurance policy likely refers to its investigation of Trump. Strzok was also the lead investigator on the agencys investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state. Strzok was responsible for changing key language in the exoneration statement that FBI Director James Comey delivered in July 2016. In the highly unusual statement, Comey said that the FBI had found that Clinton used the private email server to send classified content, but that he recommended no chargesa judgment normally reserves for the DOJ. In one of the draft statements Strzok changed the wording grossly negligent, which is a legal term that would warrant prosecution, to extremely careless, which is not a legal term. A reference to former President Barack Obama was also removed from the draft by a different FBI agent. Comey had started writing the draft of his exoneration statement weeks before the FBIs investigation was concluded, and before key witnesses, including Clinton herself, were interviewed. In a message to Strzok, Page suggests to not be too hard on Clinton in the interview, because she would likely be the next president. One more thing: she might be our next president. The last thing you need us going in there loaded for bear. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more doj than fbi? Page wrote, in transcripts of the text messages obtained by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.). Agreed. I called Bill and relayed what we discussed. He agrees. I will email you and [redacted] same, Strzok responded. Comey testified before Congress on June 8, 2017, that Attorney General Loretta Lynch had asked him to refer to the criminal investigation as a matter publicly. That concerned me because that language tracked the way the [Clinton] campaign was talking about the FBIs work and thats concerning, Comey said. On Jan. 26, Sessions did not directly mention any of the issues currently beleaguering the DOJ, but said he was addressing the problems head-on, not sweeping them under the rug. Much of what we are doing is behind the scenes, but some of it is squarely in the public view. Thats ok. Its part of the process, he said. It can never be that this department conceals errors when they occur. The DOJ under Sessions has had an unusual increase in activity. Since late October over 9,000 sealed indictments have been filed. Sealed indictments are typically used in prosecuting individuals or criminal networks in cases where revealing names could lead individuals to flee or destroy evidence. The number of indictments filed in less than three months is in stark contrast to previous years. According to a 2009 report from the Federal Judicial Center, in all of 2006, there were only 1,077 sealed indictments, and these were about 0.96 percent of all criminal cases that year. According to Marc Ruskin, a former FBI undercover agent and author of The Pretender: My Life Undercover for the FBI, its unclear whether the currently sealed indictments are connected, but the high number is something he never saw in his 27 years as an agent. Ruskin said the large number of sealed indictments may explain the relatively low profile maintained by Sessions. If hes been occupied with an initiative that is sort of under wraps and being conducted covertly, it would explain why he hasnt had a prominent position in the media as of latebecause these are things he cant talk about, Ruskin said. Sessions said he is trying to get the DOJ back to its fundamental mission of enforcing the law and protecting Americans. This mission means returning to the constitutional role of enforcing the law as it is written, not as some particular group thinks it should have been written, Sessions said. The Constitution says that Congress writes the laws and we enforce them, not the other way around. He said department employees need to eliminate political bias or favoritism in their investigations and prosecutions. Sessions said he demands integrity, ethics, and professionalism from all employees in the department. If anyone falls short of these high standards, we will not hesitate to take appropriate actionand we will do so in accordance with the rules and procedures of the department, he said, adding that he will also defend investigators and prosecutors from unfair criticism. Suspect in Kentucky High School Shooting Identified as Son of Newspaper Editor The suspect in a high school shooting in Kentucky was identified as Gabe Parker, the son of a newspaper editor. Mary Garrison Minyard, his mother, rushed to the scene when she heard that a shooting took place at the school. When she got there, she learned the suspect was her son, the Courier Journal reported. Minyard works for the Marshall County Daily Online. Her colleague, Ann Beckett, confirmed to the Courier Journal that she took over the story after Minyard realized it was her son. Minyard declined to comment on the case when she was approached at her home, the paper reported. Other members of the boys family also declined to comment. Officials have not named the 15-year-old, who is in custody, and authorities are planning to charge him as an adult in the attack, which left two dead and more than a dozen people injured at Marshall County High School in Benton on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Friends and other people who know Parker, who played in the school band, said that he was shy and a grandmas boy, who would go fishing with his grandparents. Anything Grandma needed, he would get, said Allyn Hornick, his neighbor. His grandma was his best friend. Ashley Collie, 15, a sophomore, said that she was stunned to see Parker being escorted out of the school as a suspect. He seemed like a really good kid, she said, adding that he was quiet and kept to himself. Collie said that he was definitely shooting to kill as several victims were shot in the head, the paper reported. On social media, some people claimed that Parker had been bullied. Collie, however, said she didnt know if that allegation was true. Collie added that some of his friends said that he was snappy when he got back from Christmas break, and they also said that he had been talking about violence and wanting to join the Mafia. Earlier today, I spoke with @GovMattBevin of Kentucky regarding yesterdays shooting at Marshall County High School. My thoughts and prayers are with Bailey Holt, Preston Cope, their families, and all of the wounded victims who are in recovery. We are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2018 The New York Daily News reported that the suspect went to the schools common area at 8 a.m. and opened fire, killing Preston Cope and Bailey Holt, who were both 15. Officials said that another 14 victims were shot and four were injured as they tried to escape. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Trump to Call for National Unity in State of the Union Address Speech will highlight roaring economy and the improvements in Americans' well being WASHINGTONThe American economy has come roaring back, and President Donald Trump is showing how he cares about the well being of all Americansthese will be the major takeaways from Trumps first State of the Union address, according to a senior administration official. Mandated by the Constitution, the annual address is typically a presidents most important speech of the year before his largest audience. It gives the president the opportunity to make his case for the direction he wishes to give the nation. While some addresses have more or less been laundry lists of new initiatives, presidents also often seek to use the address to articulate overarching themes. This year, according to the senior administration official, Trump will speak about his administrations efforts to build a safe, strong, and proud America. The president is expected to speak from the heart, and make the case for national unity based on patriotism and the increased opportunities afforded by a growing economy. Issues Trump will concentrate on five topics: jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade, and national security. These topics have been the themes of his administration so far, and have been addressed in presidential remarks, legislation, and proposals. In his speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos on Jan. 26, Trump may have given a preview of what he will say in the State of the Union: 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, weve 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 weve 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. At a meeting with around 100 of the nations mayors on Jan. 24, Trump announced a price tag for his new infrastructure plan: $1.7 trillion. A draft version of the plan leaked on Jan. 22. The draft plan, which the White House has chosen not to comment on, will seek to use federal funds to leverage private and local investment in infrastructure projects, and will also make a priority of investment in rural areas. In the State of the Union, Trump will call for the passage of his plan and for the infrastructure improvements to come in on time, and under budget. The plan itself is expected to be officially released soon, but almost certainly not before the State of the Union, in order not to distract from the speech. The address will give Trump the opportunity to advance the ongoing debate about immigration. The White House released an immigration plan on Jan. 25 that called for a path to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million illegal immigrants estimated to be eligible for DACA statusthe legal status given to those brought into the United States as children in an executive order issued by President Obama. In return for this amnesty, Trump has asked for $25 billion for a wall and border security measures on the southern border, restrictions on chain migration, and an end to the diversity visa lottery. Trumps plan was immediately rejected by leading Democrats and also by immigration hawks in his own party. In an address that the senior administration official says will have a bipartisan tone, Trump can make the case to rally lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to his compromise proposal on immigration. Trumps remarks on trade are expected to follow the outline he set forth in his remarks to APEC on Nov. 10, 2017, in which he called for robust trade relationships rooted in the principles of fairness and reciprocity. In those remarks, Trump criticized other nations unfair trade practices, announced the determination to not let the United States be taken advantage of anymore, and offered bilateral trade agreements to any nation that would abide by the principles of fair and reciprocal trade. On national security, Trump is expected to speak to the need to rebuild the nations military. He will articulate a policy of seeking peace through strength and the need to have clarity about who are our friends and who are our adversaries. He will also address his administrations efforts to defeat terrorism around the world. Theater and Politics State of the Union addresses have come to have a certain amount of theater associated with them. The president will seat exemplary individuals in the box seats overlooking the Congress and acknowledge them in the address, using their experiences to make the case for the presidents policies. This year will be no different, and Trump is expected to speak about individuals who have benefitted from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act he signed into law on Dec. 24. He will also acknowledge individuals who have led the fight against the ongoing opioid crisis. The Democrats will not leave the opportunity for theatrical gesture to Trump uncontested. Democratic lawmakers have said they will fill the gallery with DACA-eligible illegal aliens, in order to call attention to the immigration issue. This years address comes at a time of stark political divisions. The Democrats recently shut down the government for a weekend by refusing to approve a continuing resolution for temporary funding. The Democrats wanted to tie approval of the budget to amnesty for the Dreamersall of the illegal aliens brought into the country as children. The swift cave in by Democratic leadership on the shutdown suggests that they will now separate negotiations about immigration from those about the budget. Nonetheless, they have staked out a position on the budget at odds with the president. Trump wishes to increase military spending; the Democrats want parity for domestic spending, raising it along with defense spending. The two sides have until Feb. 8 to work out a deal. The Democrats have chosen Congressman Joseph Kennedy III of Massachusetts, to deliver the partys State of the Union response. The big stage will give Kennedy the chance to confirm his status as a rising Democratic star. Throughout his presidency, Trump has called for patriotism and national unity. In his Inaugural Address he spoke of how a new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions. In his address to a joint session of Congress in February 2017, Trump spoke of a renewal of the American spirit: We are one people, with one destiny. We all bleed the same blood. We all salute the same great American flag. And we all are made by the same God. In the State of the Union, Trump will likely link the success of his economic policies to his efforts to improve the lots of all Americans. A national government that improves conditions for everyone can be the basis for a new national unity. If Trump succeeds in reaching his national audience with this message, some of the difficult partisan divisions he faces may prove more manageable. Trump will deliver the address at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30 before a joint session of Congress. It will be televised on the major networks. This photo taken on Nov. 29, 2017 and released on Nov. 30, 2017 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows the launch of the Hwasong-15 interballistic missile. (AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS) USSR and China Aided North Korea in Developing its Nuclear Weapons Program With no oil reserves and limited coal reserves, North Korea is generally deficient in energy resources. However, it is rich in uranium and is ranked among the worlds top countries with graphite reserves. In 1953, shortly after the Korean War ended, Kim Il-sung told his senior officials that it is imperative that they acquire nuclear weapons, marking the starting point of North Koreas nuclear weapons program. But North Korea would not have succeeded without the backing of its powerful Communist allies, the Soviet Union and China. Looking at historical evidence, their assistance can be seen. Former USSR Specialists In 1962, upon invitation, a group of USSR nuclear scientists led by Vladislav Kotlav, traveled to the mountainous area in the northern region of North Korea to build facilities, what would become known as the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. The Research Center had over 100 nuclear technicians and researchers, most of whom were young Soviet specialists who had studied nuclear physics in the USSR. Kotlav and his team of Soviet scientists supervised the construction of a light water reactor, the IRT-2000 Nuclear Research Reactor, for North Korea, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a U.S.-based research organization. The nuclear reactor was completed in 1965. North Koreas light water reactor was constructed in preparation for making nuclear weapons. But it is difficult to extract plutoniuma raw material key to making nuclear weaponswith such a reactor. The light water reactor was just the beginning for North Koreas ambitious nuclear program. Completion of the light water reactor in Yongbyon caught the United States attention. Since the 1960s, the United States has kept close watch on the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. In the same year as the reactors completion, a U.S. reconnaissance satellite took photographs of the reactor. Later in 1967, 1970, and 1975, Yongbyon expanded its nuclear facilities. In spite of intelligence on North Koreas nuclear development, the U.S was not concerned about the countrys ambition for a nuclear weapons program until the mid-1980s, according to declassified reports from U.S. intelligence. But with the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, the event brought North Korea a welcome opportunity. Scores of Soviet scientists who had specialized in nuclear weapons research were now out of a joband North Korea was keen to hire them. In December 1992, during a speech given at the Russian parliament, Viktor Barannikov, then-director of Russias state counterintelligence service, FSK, revealed that his agents stopped 64 Russian missile specialists from going to a country to build missile complexes that could deliver nuclear weapons. He did not reveal the country, but journalists located the specialists and learned that they were headed for North Korea, as detailed in The North Korean Nuclear Program, a collection of academic research published in 2000. Also in 1992, Russian authorities raided and stopped a flight about to take off from Moscow, which carried 36 Russian missile design specialists headed to North Korea to be recruited for designing missiles. These scientists came from a nuclear research and development center located in the Ural Mountains, according to a report by United Press International. They were promised monthly wages of $1,500 to $4,500. Today it is still unclear how many nuclear weapon specialists who previously worked for the USSR have been hired away by North Korea. But those scientists and technicians would have been prime targets for North Korean overtures. To North Korea Via Pakistan Via China North Korea also established ties with the father of Pakistans nuclear bomb and nuclear physicist Abdul Kadeer Khan (A.Q. Khan). After his arrest, Khan admitted that he had sold North Korea more than 20 P1 and P2 centrifuges for uranium enrichment in 1990. Khan had visited North Koreas nuclear facilities, while North Korean nuclear researchers secretly paid visits to Pakistan. According to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts, the plutonium extraction technology used at the nuclear reactor in Yongbyon has the stamp of Pakistan on them. In his memoir published in 2006, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf admitted that North Korea engaged in secret transactions with an international underground nuclear trafficking network run by Khan. Khan holds a PhD in metallurgical engineering, and once worked for a uranium enrichment company in Europe. In 1975, Khan secretly returned to Pakistan with the blueprints for making centrifuges, and began directing Pakistans nuclear weapons research. President Musharraf admitted that under Khans leadership, Pakistans main source of materials and technologies for making nuclear weapons had been through an underground network that operated mainly in developed European countries. Shortly after, Khan established his own underground trafficking network, and North Korea was one of his biggest clients. According to Musharrafs memoir, Khan sold nearly two dozen P1 and P2 centrifuges to North Korea, in addition to providing them with measuring equipment and fuel for operating centrifuges. Khan also passed on centrifuge technologies to North Korean specialists and took them to see his top-secret centrifuge workshop. The IAEA, which was in charge of Khans investigation, was shocked to discover just how far-reaching his network was. Its investigation revealed that about 30 businesses from 30 countries have been involved in this black market. But where exactly did Pakistan get its nuclear technologies from? Huang Ciping, a former researcher at China Institute of Atomic Energy, a state research institute, during the 1980s, said in a February interview with the Chinese broadcaster New Tang Dynasty Television: Part of our job was to pass on our nuclear technologies to Pakistan and other countries. They sent experts here to learn from us, and China also sent our experts especially to Pakistan to provide them with technical assistance. China also passed on nuclear raw materials. A 2009 Washington Post article published excerpts of A.Q. Khans written accounts that the newspaper obtained. Khan wrote that in 1982, China provided 50 kilograms of weapon-grade enriched uranium to Pakistan, enough to make two nuclear bombs. Current and former U.S. officials say Khans accounts confirm the U.S. intelligence communitys long-held conclusion that China provided such assistance, the Washington Post reported. In September 2001, United States imposed sanctions on the state-run firm, China Metallurgical Equipment Corporation (MECC), for selling missile parts to Pakistan. Huang Ciping explained the rationale for China assisting Pakistan: Because China does not get along with India, so China has been helping Pakistan [in its nuclear weapons development] to counter India. Having witnessed such irresponsible acts, I started to seriously doubt whether these advanced technologies would eventually bring benefits or disasters to mankind. Over a decade later, Chinese companies continued to aid North Korea. On February 11, 2013, the U.S. State Department issuedas per the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Acta list of businesses and individuals that it had imposed sanctions on for being involved with those nations in weapons proliferation. A number of Chinese businesses were implicated, such as BST Technology and Trade Company, China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation, Dalian Sunny Industries, and Poly Technologies Incorporated. These entities contributed materially (or posed a risk of contributing materially) to the proliferation of WMD or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), the State Department said. China also had another ulterior motive, according to Chen Pokong, an analyst and author on Chinese politics. Chen, citing Wikileaks documents that no longer appear to be available, says that vice premier Qian Qichen, in a bid to save his son from corruption charges, told U.S. intelligence agencies that North Koreas nuclear capabilities were fostered by Beijing for the purpose of countering the U.S.s influence over Taiwan. Through six-party talks that would stall indefinitely, the two countries ultimate goal was to make the United States choose between abandoning Taiwan or facing war with North Korea. Translated from Chinese and edited by Annie Wu Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Woman Attacked Three People With a Hammer When They Knocked on Her Door to Talk About the Bible A British woman has been found guilty of beating three Jehovahs Witnesses with a hammer when they knocked on her door to talk about the bible. During the attack, 44-year-old Kerry Mitchell allegedly struck one victim in the face with the implement, and another on the shoulder, after they knocked on the door of her home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK, according to a KentLive report. Mitchell appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Prosecutor James Nichols described what Mitchell allegedly did to two of her victims. One was hit in the face and another caught on the shoulder, he said. According to KentLive, Mitchell, of Lott Close in Southborough, UK, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and racially or religiously aggravated harassment. The woman was also charged with using threatening or abusive words and behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, though this allegation was dismissed when Mitchell admitted to the racially or religiously aggravated harassment charge. Due to the severity of the crime, both the womans defense team and the prosecution were in agreement her sentencing should take place at a crown court. Chairman Hissey said, The bench considers this to be unsuitable for magistrates and therefore we are sending it to crown court. Mitchell was subsequently released on unconditional bail. The woman must now appear at a crown court at an as yet undetermined date for sentencing. Recommended Video: Sleepy Truck Driver Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash An elderly earthquake survivor is helped by his grandson as they walk through the rubble of collapsed houses at Longtoushan, in Ludian County, Yunnan Province in southwestern China, on Aug. 7, 2014. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) Yunnan Earthquake Victims Clash With Police to Seek Relief Years after local officials failed to properly provide relief to villagers in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, those villagers have become fed up and recently clashed with police. In August 2014, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake rocked the area of Ludian County, Yunnan, in the southwestern reaches of China. Official sources said 617 people died, with thousands more injured. Ms. Li, a resident of Ange Village located in Ludian County, told The Epoch Times that on Jan. 24, an elderly villager died during a scuffle with a community official. The elderly woman and her daughter-in-law demanded compensation funds that they said local officials pocketed themselves. During the argument, they began to get physical, and the community official pushed the woman to the ground, she said. Afterwards, about 2 to 300 fellow villagers gathered on the streets in solidarity. Between 20 and 30 riot police arrived on the scene. When police tried to take the official away in a police car, villagers blockaded the street. Videos from the scene show villagers throwing rocks at police and destroying police cars. Ms. Li said the two sides were in a deadlock for a long time. The conflict began during the day and lasted until 1 a.m. On Weibo, Chinas equivalent to Twitter, the Ludian County authorities official account posted its version of the story: the elderly woman had died from shock after hearing that her daughter-in-law was in a fight with officials. Family of elderly woman then blocked off the street, drawing many spectators. When an Epoch Times reporter inquired about the clash by phoning the county authorities publicity department, they referred to the Weibo statement and told the reporter to contact local police for specifics about any casualties. Phone calls to the local police department went unanswered. Ms. Li said local officials have stalled on building projects meant to restore or replace their destroyed homes. Some have offered compensation fees for building a new home after demolition, but the fees are not nearly enough, she said. Only 600 yuan (about $95) per square meter for a simple house, cement and steel about 910 yuan (about $144) per square meterthat is not enough to cover the costs. Of course, villagers would not want to move out. She also said villagers have not been given welfare payments, while the officials all do. Some villagers land has already been forcibly taken, with authorities paying villagers 101 yuan (about $16) per square meter, far below the market rate. Mr. Luo, a villager from Tangfang Village in the same county, said conflicts between authorities and villagers have occurred frequently since the earthquake. Yesterdays was the most serious. In 2015, villagers forced the village Party committee out. Because they were forced out, no one started fighting or got hurt. Back then, it was because village officials gobbled up the earthquake compensation fees, he said. Those fees included 3,000 yuan (about $474) per household meant to recoup costs for taking care of sheep, but villagers only got 2,000 yuan (about $316) in their hands. Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report. A Chinese Hospitals Fraudulent Scheme to Acquire Money A recent expose has revealed the ways in which hospitals scam the insurance system to get insurance payments, akin to running a business operation to profit off patients. An article published in the state mouthpiece news agency, Xinhua, on Jan. 18 detailed how staff at the Anhui University of Chinese Medicine No. 3 Affiliated Hospital colluded to give false diagnoses to patients, in order to acquire insurance funds. A Xinhua reporter went undercover to pose as a relative of a patient, identified as Mr. Li (a pseudonym). When Li visited the hospital, the doctor asked simple questions about his symptoms, but did not conduct a physical exam or inquire about his medical historyand proceeded to fill out forms for him to be hospitalized. When Li expressed that he did not wish to be hospitalized, the staff still made him fill out a note for leave of absence, telling him to leave the dates blank so that if the insurance center staff checks the records, the hospital can fill in the date themselves. It turns out that the hospital can get more insurance payments from patients hospital stays. The reporter accompanied a female patient to the dermatology department, where the doctor explained that if the patient used only outpatient services, the ointment for her treatment would cost 8,000 to 9,000 yuanwhereas if she stayed at the hospital, the government-funded insurance would reimburse 90 percent of the cost. The female patient revealed that she previously stayed at the hospital twice, but did not receive any treatment. But that way, the hospital would get the insurance payment. She ended up paying under 1,000 yuan for her stay and received medicines worth 1,700 yuan and a voucher for a massage service worth 3,000 yuan. The hospital also took advantage of a provision in Chinas medical system that allows patients diagnosed with special illnesses to be reimbursed for the money they spend on medicine. Doctors gave certain regular patients fake diagnoses in order for them to benefit from this. These arrangements allowed the hospital to get revenue for treatment and attract more customers, while the patients themselves receive compensation and other health benefitswhile the countrys insurance funds are depleted. An anonymous insider source told Xinhua that the staff engaged in this fraud because each medical department is assigned quota targets, so the staff feel pressured to bring in more patients. The source also revealed that the hospital would accept any person who carried a social welfare card without checking to see if the person matched the name on the card. Thus, a patient could pass the card on to their relatives for them to get medicine, treatment services, and hospital stays at a discounted price. Some doctors even have kept the patients insurance cards with them, so the hospital could make all sorts of insurance claims on behalf of the patients, the source said. Meanwhile, patients would get some of the cash back. Xinhua learned that one patient who kept his insurance card at the hospital later found out that his hospital record showed him using outpatient services every month. Another patient found out that his insurance card was used more than 800 times within 11 years. This type of fraud is not uncommon. In December 2017, China Business News Daily and the state-run The Paper reported on hospitals in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province and Xiangtan City, Hunan Province that engaged in similar fraud in order to attract patients. The Paper noted that after the report was published, the hospital punished nurse staff, but hospital management and supervisors of the insurance system were not held responsible. Li Tianyu contributed to this report. The Anbang building is seen in Beijing on Aug. 4, 2017. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) After Upsetting Chinese Regime, Insurer Anbang Now Under Regulators Control One of Chinas biggest private firms has now come under the Chinese authorities control. On Jan. 20, Chinese investigative journalist Luo Changping announced on his Weibo accounta platform similar to Twitterthat an inside source told him personnel from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission have placed Anbang Insurance Group, a financial services conglomerate, under its control. The companys chairman, Wu Xiaohui, who was arrested in June 2017, has gained limited freedom but has already lost his controlling rights to the firm, according to Luo. A look at Anbangs past deeds may provide clues as to why the Chinese regime took such swift action. Financial Missteps Abroad, Anbang was most known for buying up the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City for almost $2 billion, among other real estate properties in North America and Europe. The company was founded in 2004 as a small insurer, with just 500 million yuan ($73 million) of capital. Its assets have since grown to 800 billion yuan, according to the companys website. Anbangs aggressive bidding on overseas assets and unknown sources of capital got it in the Chinese regimes crosshairsas Beijing has been especially wary of capital outflow. In 2014, the companys capital base suddenly increased significantly. Research by Chinese business publication Caixin found that some of Anbangs mysterious investors that year were obscure outfits such as auto dealerships, real estate firms, and mine operators that sometimes used shared mailing addresses, many of which were connected to Wu. The company continued to bid on a variety of foreign companies until April 2017, when Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily reported that authorities instructed Anbang to stop the acquisition of Fidelity & Guaranty Life, a U.S. insurance company, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, a subsidiary of Marriott, among others. Anbang also invested heavily in Chinese banks, which also set off warning bells for the Chinese regime. The company invested 5.6 billion yuan in Chengdu Nongshang Bank, or 35 percent of shares, giving it a controlling stake. It also owns 15.54 percent of China Minsheng Bank and a 13 percent interest in China Merchants Bank, according to Reuters. Chinese business media Cailian Press reported in November 2017 that the regimes supervisory bodies ordered Anbang to transfer out its shares in China Minsheng and China Merchants Bank, limiting shares to a maximum of five percent. The insurance industry as a whole has been investigated by the regime; in September 2017, then-chair of the Insurance Regulatory Commission Xiang Junbo was purged from his position and his Party membership. During his tenure, insurance companies were allowed to move away from traditional activities and pour money into asset purchases, contributing to stock market volatility. Political Missteps But perhaps Anbangs biggest mistake was its chairmans political connections. Sources close to the central authorities told The Epoch Times back in June 2017 that Wu had ties to the family of Zeng Qinghong, the former Chinese vice premier and right-hand man to former Party leader Jiang Zemin. Jiang and his associates belong to an opposition faction at odds with the current leader Xi Jinping and his allies. The source said Wu had helped the Zeng family and other members of the Jiang faction to launder money overseas. The current Insurance Regulatory Commission chair Guo Shuqing alluded to Anbang and other offenders in a recent interview with the state mouthpiece newspaper, Peoples Daily. He did not mention names but said a select few law offenders have, through complicated frameworks, made fake investments, injected funds over and over, and violated rules to build a massive financial corporation. Gao Yi contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Afghan security personnel take position at the rooftop of the Intercontinental Hotel during a fight between gunmen and Afghan security forces in Kabul on Jan. 21, 2018. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images) Americans Killed in Terrorist Attack Included Spokesman for Former Trump Adviser One of the four Americans killed in a terrorist attack on a hotel in Afghanistan over the weekend was identified as a spokesman for a former Donald Trump adviser. Twenty-two people in total died in the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. Others were injured, including two Americans. The former spokesman, Glenn Selig, was president and CEO of Selig Multimedia, based in Tampa, Florida. Glenn was a tireless professional, loyal friend and pillar of the community, but most importantly he was a loving husband and wonderful father, the agency said in a statement obtained by NBC. 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 served as a spokesman for Rick Gates, who worked on Trumps presidential campaign. Prayers tonight for the family of our former colleague, Glenn Selig. He was killed this weekend in Afghanistan during that terrorist attack. He worked with us at Fox Tampa for 10 years. A wonderful reporter and Co-worker. Heavy hearts tonight. pic.twitter.com/xNur9GJjwf KellyRingFox13 (@KellyRingFox13) January 24, 2018 Jack Burkman, a lobbyist for whom Selig also served as spokesman for, told Politico that he was shaken by his friends death. The tragically ironic part is Glenns last words to me were, Be careful, Burkman said. Its just a tragedy terrible. Selig was there on business and had in the past represented groups trying to bring peace to the country, Burkman added. Before becoming president of Selig Multimedia, Selig was a TV news anchor and investigative reporter. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing. The United States strongly condemns the attack on January 20 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told Politico. 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. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Snowboarder Survives Avalanche in Canada Elderly people perform square dance in front of an Apple store in Shanghai on Nov. 3, 2017. Apple is relinquishing control over its iCloud servers for Chinese users to a Chinese state-owned company in China, citing compliance with Chinese laws. (VCG via Getty Images) Apple Surrenders Chinese User Data to Company Linked to Peoples Liberation Army US tech giant complies with Chinese regimes cybersecurity law, giving away hosting of iCloud to state-owned company Users of Apple devices in China may have once had the expectation that they could store their data with the cloud storage offered by this Western company outside of the Chinese regimes surveillance. In fact, their private data will soon be hosted by a company owned by the Chinese state, with intimate links to the Peoples Liberation Armyuncomfortable facts the U.S. company has not told the millions of Chinese users of its devices. On Jan. 10, Apple announced that the hand over to Guizhou Cloud Big Data (GCBD) of remote iCloud storage for Chinese users of its devices will occur on Feb. 28. Approximately 131 million iPhone users and millions of iPad and Mac users in China will be affected, as they either have to agree to new terms of service or have their iCloud accounts terminated. Apples controversial decision to give away the access to its iCloud in China was announced in July 2017, as the tech giant claimed that it had no choice but to comply with the Chinese regimes new cybersecurity law, which had gone into effect on June 1. The new law requires foreign companies to store all of the data originated from China on servers within China. GCBD is based in southwestern Chinas Guizhou Province. According to a number of Chinese business information websites, the 3-year-old company GCBD is registered as being fully owned by the Guizhou Economic and Information Technology Committee, which is a part of the Guizhou Provincial Peoples Government. Nominally, the committee is subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the State Council at the national level. The committee, however, also goes by another official namethe National Defense Industry Working Committee of Guizhou Provincial Party Committee [of the Chinese Communist Party]. The practice of having two official names for one physical office is common across all levels of Chinas civilian governments and Party apparatus, as the Chinese Communist Party asserts its power and control through such a mechanism. In this arrangement, the Party organization always calls the shots. Screenshot of Chinese business information website shows Guizhou-Cloud Big Data (GCBD), a company that will soon control Apples iCloud servers for Chinese users in China, is fully owned by National Defense Industry Working Committee of Guizhou Provincial Party Committee, (highlighted in red) which is connected to the Peoples Liberation Army. (Screenshot via China Digital Times) The exact functions of the National Defense Industry Working Committee are anyones guess; experts say that in one way or another it links back to Chinas military. Officially, the committee and similar organs across various provinces of China are responsible for supervising the Chinese regimes massive military-industrial complex used to equip and maintain the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The Chinese regime and the PLA are not just after the private data of Chinese Apple users, Lin said, but they could also be seeking technology behind Apples iCloud. Ying-Yu Lin, a professor at the Institute of Strategy and International Affairs at Taiwans National Chung Cheng University, said that there is a definitive link between such a committee and the PLA. GCBD will more than likely give the PLA every access it desires within Apples iCloud servers in China, Ying-Yu said. In a December 2016 interview with a state-run media outlet, Guizhou Economic and Information Technology Committees deputy director Wang Jian, who also serves as a ranking member of the Guizhou National Defense Industry Working Committee, openly admitted that one of the Committees strategic tasks is to integrate big data from civilian sources into the military, a process that he even referred to as Operation Big Data. The words civil-military integration were mentioned a total of 83 times in Wang Jians interview, which he described as part of the broader Chinese regime policy to facilitate the flow of resources, data, and technologies from Chinas civilian sphere into the military. Ying-Yu Lin said that such statements from Chinese regime officials further confirm the connection between the PLA and GCBD, the company that is now getting control of all the private iCloud data stored by Chinese users of Apple devices. The Chinese regime and the PLA are not just after the private data of Chinese Apple users, Lin said, but they could also be seeking technology behind Apples iCloud, which they could then use to empower PLAs own battlefield management platforms, especially in areas related to cloud computing. While Apple has not responded to The Epoch Times request for comment, its announcement to iCloud users in China and the new terms of service give no hint that GCBD is a state-owned company, let alone the fact that it could be freely accessed by the Peoples Liberation Army. Apples capitulation to the Chinese regime adds to the list of American companies that have been subjected to the forced transfer of technology and data, something that has become a hotly contested issue in U.S.China trade relations, as the Trump administration has repeatedly pressed China to end such practices. A woman feeds a baby with a bottle in a residential area in Beijing on August 8, 2013. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images) Chinese Baby Formula Brands Fail Domestic Food Safety Inspections China has repeatedly been rocked by scandals involving domestic baby formula brands tainted with unsafe materials. The most serious occurred in 2008 when scores of infants fell sick or died from baby formula tainted with melamine, a toxic compound. Nearly a decade later, there are still food safety concerns at many major brands. For several days, the China Food and Drug Administration published notices about baby formula companies that did not pass inspection, which were widely reported in Chinese media on Jan. 21 and 22. Eight companies were ordered to reform their operations and conform with standards. Most had issues with contamination risks. For example, at Mengniu Dairys Inner Mongolia branch, the factory area for packaging and storage of goods was found to have lacked regular checks on surface bacteria. In the northeastern city of Qiqihar, Wissun Dairy employees reused equipment that were used to test aflatoxin (a type of toxic mold) levels, risking contamination. Ingredients that did not meet standards were deemed to have met them, while the workshop area was found to have been infested with bugs, the inspection found. At YeePer Dairy, lab items were found to be improperly stored, either at temperatures higher than national standards, or were exposed to sunlight. For some brands, like Guangming Songhe in Heilongjiang Province, the Administration deemed the food safety supervision system inadequate, but did not elaborate. Back in 2008, Mengniu and Guangming were among the brands that sold milk formula tainted with melamine, a poisonous industrial chemical. More than 300,000 infants were affected, many of whom developed kidney stones. Two years later, infant girls who were fed with the Synutra International brand of baby formula were found to have premature sexual development. In 2013, a milk distributor in Suzhou City was suspected of mixing expired formula with an imported Swiss formula, worrying parents about their potential effects on children. Chinese parents confidence in domestic baby formula brands is so low that many travel abroad to purchase foreign brands, causing shortages in Hong Kong and Australia, among many other locales. Yang Yifan contributed to this report. Chinese Energy Officials Downfall Hints at Corruption in Energy Sector The latest official to be taken down by the Chinese regimes anti-corruption campaign sheds light on the widespread graft within Chinas energy sector. On Jan. 23, the Chinese Communist Partys corruption-fighting agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), announced that Wang Xiaolin, the deputy chief of the National Energy Administration (NEA), was being investigated for violating discipline. The NEA was established in 2008 to oversee the countrys energy industries, including coal, electricity, petroleum, and natural gas. The CCDI did not provide details on what Wang was in trouble for, but a look at Wangs career offers some hints. Wang previously worked at Shenhua Group, a state-owned mining and energy company and the largest coal producer in the country. The company has also been known for corruption. Wang started out as an assistant manager in 1995, eventually rising to vice president. In 2015, he took on the NEA position. In recent years, the CCDI conducted two inspections of Shenhua, with a total of 271 employees getting disciplined. In February 2015, the CCDI reported findings of Shenhua leaders using their power to gain profit, such as through their power to fast-track major projects. The agency also found that some leaders formed alliances with each other in order to reap personal gain. Many party cadres at the company have been investigated in recent years. Most prominent among them is Zhang Xiwu, former chairman of Shenhua, who was later appointed deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, an organ within the Partys central government. Zhang was arrested in July 2017. His close relationship with Zeng Qinghong, a crony of the Partys opposition faction, was believed to be the true reason for his arrest. Zeng, a former vice-chair of the Party, owed his loyalties to former Party leader Jiang Zemin, and enabled Jiang to stay in power long after he formally stepped down from the leadership position. Zeng and his family also amassed many assets from big state-owned energy companies. The most prominent documented example involves Zengs son, who acquired former state-owned energy company Shandong Luneng for a small feefar below its book valueafter it was privatized in 2006, according to the Financial Times. Zengs web of influence in the energy sector may be the reason why the current leadership has cracked down on it with its anti-corruption agencyas current leader Xi Jinping considers Jiang faction officials his political enemies and has purged scores of them since coming to power. A look at Wangs career at Shenhua indicates that Wang has some potentially sticky ties. Wang was the general managers assistant in 2004. And the general manager at the time was Zhang Xiwu. The NEA is also no stranger to the CCDIs investigations. Its previous deputy chief Xu Yongsheng was on trial for bribery charges in June 2016. In December 2014, the NEAs former chief Liu Tienan was sentenced to life imprisonment on bribery charges. Zhuang Zhengming contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers A mother in China's Yunnan Province allegedly tied her son up by the hands and dragged him behind her scooter as a punishment. (/Youku) Chinese Mother Allegedly Drags Son By Hands Behind Scooter as Punishment In a video uploaded to Chinese social media, a woman appears to be dragging her son behind her on a scooter, which she says is punishment for bad behavior. In footage captured of the cruel treatment, the mother sits on the scooter while her son, whose hands are bound in front of him, is dragged behind her on the ground, attached to the scooter by a rope tied to his hands. The woman, who claims to be the boys mother, says in the video that her son had been naughty and she was teaching him a lesson. A female voice in the video comments that not even a stepmother would do something so cruel to a child, let alone a real mother. The woman said the mother had been doing this for several days already. A narrator in the video says that the boy cried as the mother dragged him over the pavement, and that a bystander tried to stop the vehicle but got told off by the mother. The narrator says the video was shot in Zhaotang, in Chinas Yunnan Province. Ludian Police released a statement saying that on Jan. 16, someone reported 2,000 yuan ($311 USD) missing from their residence, according to a report in the Beijing News. Police said a 10-year-old boy confessed to taking the money. According to the police report, the mother said she had tried to get the boy to understand what he did wrong, but when he didnt learn from his mistake, she escalated the punishment. On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the mother used ropes to tie the boy hands to motorcycle and drag him behind it, the Beijing News reported. After an investigation, the Ludian Police said the mother realized she should not educate her child that way. They also reported the boy was unharmed. This isnt the first time something like this has happened in Zhaotong. Last July, a father tied a boy who he said was his son to the back of his motorcycle then dragged him naked through the streets of the city, the South China Morning Post reports. The boys crime? Reportedly stealing 100 yuan ($15 USD), spending the previous night playing outside, and failing to go to school. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: Neighbors React to Parents Arrest After Their 13 Children Found Shackled, Malnourished in Home An excavator digging in the debris of partially demolished houses at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sertar County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 29, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images) Chinese Officials Engaged in Takeover of Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Says Human Rights Watch BEIJINGChinese officials are engaging in a takeover of one of the worlds largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, with a plan to put Chinese Communist Party officials in charge of its administration, the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Jan. 24. Larung Gar, a sprawling Buddhist center of learning and prayer in the mountains of southwestern Sichuan Province, has already been reduced in size through an eight-month program of demolition and expulsion that ended in April 2017, HRW said. Chinese authorities are now splitting the center into two sections, an academy and a monastery, divided by a wall, according to an English-language translation of a document shared by HRW, which they said was received in August 2017. The takeover measures include quotas for recruitment, a management system of real-name registration and tags for monks and nuns, as well as placing 97 Party cadres, who are required to be atheist, in top finance, security, and admission roles. Monastic sources told HRW that a similar system would be set up in the monastery and that a large building had been constructed to house the cadres. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the document or the claims from HRW sources. The administrative takeover of Larung Gar by party officials shows that the governments aim was not merely to reduce numbers at the settlement, said Sophie Richardson, the U.S.-based China director for HRW. Chinese authorities are also imposing pervasive control and surveillance over every level of activity within religious communities, she said. Chinas religious affairs bureau did not respond immediately to a request for comment. China has denied carrying out demolitions at Larung Gar, saying the work is to tackle fire and safety hazards, as well as to reconstruct old buildings. Tibetan-populated areas of western China, including in Sichuan, had been at the epicenter of protests against Chinese rule, which included acts of self-immolation, although reported cases have declined in the past two years. HRWs Richardson said the micromanagement of Larung Gar encroaches on religious freedom and is likely to fuel resentment against Beijing. Chinese law promises freedom of religion but in reality, authorities keep a close eye on religious believers and institutions. New regulations due to take effect at the end of this month are set to expand state oversight of religious institutions. By Christian Shepherd Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers The first Type 055 destroyer (classified by Western sources as a cruiser) for Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy, in Shanghais Jiangnan Shipyard on June 28, 2017. China is reportedly building at least five and possibly up to eight Type 055s. (Peoples Liberation Army Navy) Chinese Regime Races for Naval Supremacy, Building 8 Cruisers While US Builds None The sudden surge in the regimes naval power may invite war, say experts The Chinese regime has been challenging U.S. military supremacy for years with an all-out military buildup. The construction of multiple large, high-tech naval cruisers may signal an altering of the balance of power in Asian waters and is a harbinger of increased global competition between the two naval powers. The mass production of the advanced warship designwhich was only a topic of speculation among observers until the year 2017is being rolled out at a lightning speed. As many as eight brand-new hulls are being built at the same time that the U.S. Navy has no viable plan to replace any of its 22 existing cruisers, which are decades old. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) officially refers to its advanced Type 055 warship only as a destroyer. However, the Department of Defense and a recent report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) classified the 13,000-ton warship as a cruiser, likely because of its large size and extensive weapon arsenals. The first Type 055 ship began construction in Shanghais Jiangnan Shipyard and was launched (meaning that the ship has been put into water for the final stage of construction) on June 28, 2017. As of January 2018, at least another four new Type 055 hulls, two at the Jiangnan Shipyard and another two at the Dalian Shipyard in Liaoning Province are confirmed to be under construction, as they are visible on satellite images. One of them is almost ready to be launched. China has laid the basis for a competition that will be measured in decades. From a report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments The rapid speed with which China has committed to mass-producing new Type 055 warships turned out to be one of the surprises for international military observers in the year 2017, as it was initially thought that the design was still experimental and would take more time to mature. However, as early as February 2017, Chinese media reports quoting unnamed sources had projected that China will rapidly roll out at least eight Type 055s in the first batch of production from 2017 to 2018, a prediction that has turned out to be largely accurate and consistent with the latest confirmed reports. Being the premium surface combat warships of the PLAN fleet, the Type 055s are expected to form an integral part of Chinas future aircraft carrier battle groups alongside the smaller Type 052D destroyers and 054A frigates. The latter two classes of warships have also been mass-produced in large numbers in recent years. There are also reports that China is not only planning to build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers following its first two or three carriers, which are conventionally-powered, but it is also planning to build nuclear-powered versions of large warships such as the Type 055 cruiser. Doing so would give the PLAN fleet a global reach that is much less dependent on foreign bases, said Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. China 8, United States 0 The Type 055 cruiser is equipped with the latest and the most capable sensors and weapons that Chinas military industry can produce. The 13,000-ton warship has an advanced active phased array radar system that can detect air targets from afar, and is armed with at least 112 tubes of vertical launching system (VLS) cells that contain an assortment of anti-air, anti-ship, and land-attack cruise missiles. By comparison, the U.S. Navys Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (commonly referred to as U.S. Navys Aegis warships) each displace about 10,100 tons and 9,300 tons and carry 122 and 96 VLS cells, respectively. While China is simultaneously building at least five and possibly up to eight Type 055 cruisers, the U.S. Navy has no plan to replace any of its 22 aging Ticonderoga-class cruisers. They were built more than two decades ago from the 1980s to 1990s and are still the core surface warships that protect the U.S. Navys carrier battle groups today. The Ticonderoga-classs replacement, the Next Generation Cruiser or CG(X) program, was canceled in 2010 by the Obama administration, which blamed budget cuts along with other reasons. The lack of new cruisers means that the U.S. Navy could soon be forced to rely on the smaller and slightly lesser armed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to protect its critical aircraft carriers and fleets when the Ticonderoga-class cruisers are retired. Although the U.S. Navy has restarted the production of a new batch of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, a new CRS report says that U.S. naval shipbuilding is already lagging behind that of China, and that gap has been growing rapidly in recent years. Budgets constraints and instability have not only hindered new warships from being built, they have also created hiccups in the training and maintenance of the fleet. Those shortfalls have already been blamed for causing two separate deadly incidents in 2017 in which U.S. Navy Aegis destroyers collided with commercial vessels. On the other hand, the PLANs burgeoning surface fleet is predicted to alter the naval balance in maritime Asia, said a 2017 report co-authored by James R. Holmes of the U.S. Naval War College and Toshi Yoshihara, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. The report said that Chinas rapid production of advanced warships in recent years, such as the Type 055 cruisers, is not a coincidence and was almost certainly designed, developed, and procured many years in advance. The lag in the U.S. buildup in response to China, the report said, could open a danger zone in which Beijing is tempted to strike before its newfound advantage evanesces. This is because the Chinese regime might make a now-or-never calculation in anticipation of an eventual U.S. rearmament, similar to the decision Imperial Japan made against the rival Russian Empire in 1904, or against the United States in 1941 in the run-up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. China has laid the basis for a competition that will be measured in decades, write Holmes and Yoshihara. The United States and its allies must accept reality: they face a long-term rivalry at sea against a tough, determined, imaginative competitor. A photo taken on Nov. 21, 2017 shows a Russian worker walking before cranes at the RasonConTrans coal port at Rajin harbour in the Rason Special Economic Zone. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images) Despite Sanctions, North Korea Exported Coal to South and Japan via Russia, Say Intelligence Sources PARIS/LONDON/MOSCOWNorth 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 To 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 tons 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 berthNo. 4on Aug. 16, loaded 20,500 tons 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 tons of coal, while the Ul Ji Bong 6 unloaded a total of 10,068 tons of coal on two separate port callson 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 U.N. 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. 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. 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. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers The logo for IBM is seen at the SIBOS banking and financial conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Oct. 19, 2017. (Chris Helgren/Reuters) Ex-IBM Employee From China Gets 5 Years Prison for Stealing Code NEW YORKA former software engineer for IBM in China was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing proprietary source code from the company, prosecutors announced on Friday. Jiaqiang Xu, 32, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas in White Plains, New York, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman. Xu pleaded guilty in May 2017 to economic espionage and theft of a trade secret. Leanne Marek, Xus attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Xu worked as a systems software developer for International Business Machines Corp. from 2010 to 2014, according to a public LinkedIn profile. The company was not identified by name in court documents and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Xu was arrested in December 2015 after meeting with an undercover officer at a White Plains hotel, where authorities said he was recorded saying he used proprietary IBM code to make software to sell to customers, according to prosecutors. He was originally charged with theft of a trade secret. The economic espionage charges were added in a superseding indictment filed last June. Prosecutors said the proprietary computer code Xu stole was related to a so-called clustered file system, which facilitates faster computer performance. Xu, who began working at IBM in China in 2010, had full access to the source code before voluntarily resigning in May 2014, prosecutors said. According to the criminal complaint filed in 2015, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2014 received a report that someone in China was claiming to have access to the code and using it for business ventures, prompting the investigation that led to the arrest. By Brendan Pierson Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers CCTV footage of an baby being left in a dumpter by her father, followed by a elderly Good Samaritan retrieving her. (Xuanwei Police Station/Weibo) Father Throws Newborn in the Dumpster Because She Was Incurable A Chinese man was arrested after he allegedly abandoned a newborn baby girl in a dumpstertwo hours after she was born. Police from Xuanwei, a city in Yunnan province, released screenshots of CCTV footage on Jan. 17, showing a man wearing a red shirt walking toward a dumpster with a white bag in hand. Another image shows an elderly Good Samaritan retrieving the baby from the public bin with other concerned onlookers surrounding her. According to a police statement, the man, with the surname Li, and his girlfriend, with the surname Lai, thought the child was not going to survive after she turned purple. They chose to get rid of her instead of taking her to the hospital. Police said Lis girlfriend, who was eight months pregnant, suddenly went into labor on Jan. 15. As they were preparing to go to the hospital, she felt the baby coming and they delivered their newborn in the couples living room. Two hours later, the couple noticed that the baby had turned purple. Thinking that the baby wouldnt survive, Li wrapped the baby in a towel and placed her in a takeaway bag before throwing her in a dumpster. After being taken out of the dumpster by the Good Samaritan, the baby girl was taken to the hospital for a checkup and was confirmed to be healthy. She was then transferred to the Xuanwei Children Welfare Office. Police said the couple have been living together for two years and are not married. Lai had not done any check-ups during her pregnancy. Many social media users have expressed outrage towards the man for abandoning the child. Infant abandonment, especially in baby girls, is an ongoing problem in China. When the one-child policy was put in place by the ruling Communist party, many parents decided either to abandon their babies or have an abortion upon discovering that their child was a girl. Li was arrested and remains in police custody while his girlfriend, Lai, was released on bail. From NTD.tv Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers A jar of Nutella chocolate-hazelnut paste is seen in this picture illustration taken Oct. 22, 2017. (Reuters/Stefano Rellandini) French Shoppers Riot for Nutella After Supermarket Slashes Price by 70 Percent Police had to step in after a 70 percent discount on Nutella drove French shoppers to aggression. Supermarket Intermarche cut the price of the chocolate hazelnut spread from 4.50 euros ($5.60) to 1.40 euros ($1.74), sparking scenes in some stores that were likened to riots. Video footage from inside several stores showed shoppers rushing to grab as much of the tasty spread as they could. Police were called to a supermarket in northern France when customers resorted to fisticuffs, reported the Local. In one video that was posted on Twitter, a woman can be heard exclaiming, ce nest pas normal as she watches bargain hunters barge to the Nutella stand. People just rushed in, shoving everyone, breaking things. It was like an orgy, an employee from the northeastern town of Forbach told AFP. We were on the verge of calling the police. In another shop, an employee got a black eye when they tried to separate the choc-hazelnut-crazed customers, reported the Guardian. 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 store in the Loire region told Le Progres. At one store in southern France, customers threw themselves onto an employee who was carrying a box of Nutella pots, according to Mashable. Stores in other regions introduced a limit of three pots per customer. Supermarket Intermarche apologized, saying it had been surprised by the demand, reported Metro. However, it is well-known that the French love Nutella, buying 26 percent of the worlds supply, according to The Local. Ferrero, which makes Nutella, said it regretted the violence but added that the promotion was entirely the responsibility of Intermarche, reported Le Progres. Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong prepares to enter the High Court to hear his sentence on a protest related charge in Hong Kong on Jan. 17, 2018. (ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/Getty Images) Hong Kong Democracy Leader Joshua Wong Jailed a Second Time for 2014 Protest HONG KONGHong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, 21, was sentenced to a second jail term of three months on Wednesday for what a judge described as his leading role during some of the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement street demonstrations. Wong and 19 other demonstrators were found guilty of criminal contempt of court because they refused to obey a court injunction order to leave a protest zone in late November 2014. The protest was part of the biggest populist uprising for decades in Hong Kong and posed a spirited challenge to Beijings Communist Party leaders in demanding full democracy. For more than two months, tens of thousands of mostly student and young demonstrators camped out in tents on major highways, defying government, police and Chinese demands to leave. Umbrellas became a symbol of defiance after protesters used them as shields against police pepper spray and batons. High Court Judge Andrew Chan said that even though Wong only stayed in the protest area for 90 minutes on the day in question, his involvement in obstructing the clearance operation was deep and extensive. He played a leading role on that day. In view of his overall involvement, I am of the view that the only appropriate punishment will be one of immediate imprisonment, said Chan. Another activist, Raphael Wong, was also jailed, while the remaining protesters, including former student leader Lester Shum, received suspended sentences. Thank you your honor for your ruling. Our determination to fight for genuine universal suffrage will not waver, stated Raphael Wong in the courtroom before being taken away. Lawyers for both the Wongs said they would appeal, but they were denied an immediate request for bail. Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997 amid promises that the Asian financial hub would enjoy a high degree of autonomy under a so-called one country, two systems arrangement. A perceived tightening of control by Beijings Communist Party leaders in recent years, however, has fueled a groundswell of pro-democracy activism aimed at defending the citys constitutionally enshrined freedoms. While a spirited young generation has given Hong Kongs flagging push for democracy fresh impetus, some 100 key activists have, or could be, jailed in upcoming trials, in what critics say is an attempt to counter the movements momentum. Upon learning about the sentence from his lawyers shortly before the court hearing started, Joshua Wong looked up from behind the dock, squeezed his eyes shut and sighed. Wong chose not to fight the charge in the spirit of civil disobedience. Wong had begun serving a six-months imprisonment sentence last August for a separate unlawful assembly charge, but he was granted bail by Hong Kongs highest court, which heard the appeal against the sentence on Tuesday. It would decide upon the case on a later date. By Venus Wu Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers Mom Took 13 Hours to Tell Police Her 3-Year-Old Was Missing A British mother could face charges after allegedly taking 13 hours to go to the police when her 3-year-old son went missing in a Spanish holiday resort. When the 34-year-old woman went looking for her child, the Mirror reported, a fast-food worker told her that police officers had rescued her son about an hour earlier. He had been spotted walking along a seafront in Costa Blanca, Spainalone, barefoot, and wearing only pajamas. But it is reported that another 12 hours lapsed before the boys mother contacted the police in the holiday resort of Torrevieja. Further, after police requested that she urgently come down to the station to get her child, or face the prospect that he might be taken to an emergency care home, the mother allegedly took another 2 hours. British mother faces prosecution after son went missing https://t.co/bRMKKXTH5F pic.twitter.com/foQxJl3OHv Best My Twitte (@bestmytwitte) January 26, 2018 This astonishing chain of events has led to the British mothers being reported for the alleged crime of child abandonment, the Daily Mail stated, citing a local paper Diario de Informacion. The incident began on Wednesday, Jan. 24, when a fast-food worker called the police around 8.30 p.m. after spotting a young boy wandering alone along the promenade in only his pajamas. Police were unable to ascertain who the boy was or find his parents, and after they confirmed that no missing person alert had been issued, took him to a hospital to make sure he was not suffering from any injuries or medical conditions. At about 9.30 p.m. the same worker noticed a woman who appeared to be looking for something. After confirming that she was the mother of the boy who had earlier been the subject of the police intervention, he reportedly told her that the boy had been taken in by the police. It is reported that the police did not hear from the mother until around 8.30 a.m. the following day. Then, after the police allegedly urged her to come pick up her son immediately as he might get remanded to a temporary care facility, the mother took another 2 hours to show up. According to the Daily Mail, citing Diario de Informacion, the mother apparently told officers that she did not arrive earlier because she felt the child was safe in the hands of the police after she lost sight of him while she was out with a group of companions. The woman was reported to court officials and an investigation launched into possible child abandonment. The Torrevieja promenade is near the spot where an off-duty police officer prevented the abduction of a 2-year-old girl last September. At the time it was reported that a man had snatched the little girl and ran off with her in his arms, as family members screamed. He reportedly dumped the child as he was intercepted by holidaymakers, alerted by the screams of the girls panic-stricken relatives. Recommended Video: Timelapse Video Captures Ocean of Clouds Over Vancouver, British Columbia Paris Zoo Shut Down Due to 50 Baboons Escaping: Reports A zoo in Paris was evacuated after about 50 baboons escaped their enclosure, according to reports on Friday. The baboons were housed at the Vincennes Zoo on the southeastern outskirts of Paris, the Telegraph reported. The animals escaped early in the afternoon, local time, but they were never in contact with the public and gathered around a rock in the zoos center, according to the newspaper, citing local reports. Baboons go on the run after jumping Paris zoo enclosure PARIS (Reuters) Several baboons escaped from their enclosure at a zoo in Paris on Friday, prompting evacuation of the premises while police hunted for the missing monkeys. https://t.co/DA93nkTHre Mark Hamilton (@mhamilton_) January 26, 2018 Our colleagues have them surrounded, one police officer was quoted as saying.They can be dangerous. They mustnt get out of the park, said the police officer. A security perimeter was established around the zoo, the report said. Panic at #Paris zoo as FIFTY-TWO baboons escape their enclosures The Sun https://t.co/QtMImZ7rLv pic.twitter.com/y7FpiEVSJk Paris Newz (@Paris_Newz) January 26, 2018 Four of the 52 escaped baboons from the Paris zoo are still roaming about, and I can't help but picturing something between "Mon Oncle" and "Planet of the Apes" https://t.co/enRDp6FKSl Jess McHugh (@MchughJess) January 26, 2018 Most of the baboons were captured, but according to officials, four large and potentially very aggressive baboons are on the loose, reported The Sun. Members of the public were evacuated as a precaution as baboons can be unpredictable especially when stressed, officials said. Theyre stronger than us, they noted. A source at the zoo was quoted by The Sun as saying, Its not known how they got out, but everything is being done to try and get them under control. The whole area has been shut down, with only trained professionals involved in the security operation, the source said. 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. The source added, They are almost certainly all in the park woods, but anybody in the area needs to keep a look out. The alarm was raised when an employee bumped into one of the baboons in a corridor, the zoo said in a statement, Reuters reported. Zookeepers backed up by police went hunting for four baboons on the run in a zone near their enclosure but none of the monkeys had roamed into public areas, which were in any case evacuated, the statement said. A recapture procedure was immediately launched, it said. 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 animal was shot dead. Reuters contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Kathmandu, Nepal: The search operations launched by the Nepal Police to arrest the newly elected representative duo Navaraj Silwal and Rajiv Gurung aka Deepak Manange- member of the federal parliament and provincial assembly respectively is claim to have intensified, no results is made yet leaving space to suspect over the motive and strength of the Nepal Police. Though Nepal Police has claimed to have mobilized special task forces to arrest Silwal and Manange but the Police have remained clueless even to find out the whereabouts. The delay in arrest is questioned over the effectiveness as well as motive of the Nepal police. It is suspected that Silwal and Manange have managed to stay off the police radar so far due to political patronage. Manange is the elected representative of the provincial assembly seat from Manang Province Kha constituency as an independent candidate while Silwal, former DIG of the Nepal Police, is the elected member of the federal parliament from Lalitpur Constituency 1 from CPN UMLs seat. Though Manange was also the UMLs candidate in the beginning, he was shifted into independent category to escape controversy mounted in and outside of the UML for distributing tickets to the goons. As UML had not fielded its candidate in the constituency, he had won the elections from the UMLs vote. The Supreme Court (SC) had ordered the concerned authorities to jail Manange on an attempted murder conviction. Overturning the ruling of the Kathmandu District Court and upholding the Patan Appellate Courts decision to convict Manange, the SC had on January 16 ordered to jai him convicting in the attempted murder case of his rival gang leader Milan Gurung aka Chakre Milan. As the SC had made the order, he was a no-show at the oath taking ceremony of Provincial Assembly members of Province 4, which took place in Pokhara, Kaski, on Sunday. Police have also apparently failed to arrest Silwal, who has been charged of forging his performance evaluation document in a bid to become the chief of Nepal Police. The Nepal Police have claimed to have issued even a diffusion notice against Silwal suspecting that he would have snaked in other countries. With the notice, law enforcement authorities of an INTERPOL member country have to give notice to another country even arresting. A ship sails up the Huangpu River as heavy smog engulfs the city of Shanghai on Dec. 25, 2013. (VCG via Getty Images) Protecting the Environment Is Chinas Latest Excuse to Bully Taiwanese Businesses Taiwanese businesses that operate and invest in China face many risksgetting scammed, bullied, and beaten by local mafia, and getting ensnared in local political infightingall this without any form of legal redress. The latest hurdle comes in the form of restrictive environmental protection regulations that have suffocated businesses, forcing them to close down. Since China enacted laws to open up trade and business with Taiwan in the 1990s, many companies from the island across the strait have capitalized on the opportunity in Chinas sizeable market. However, for some, the investments havent paid off. Late last year, a leaked online document revealed that Kunshan City in Jiangsu Provincea hub for Taiwan businesseshad requested 270 factories to stop production from Dec. 25 to Jan. 10 because the local freshwater quality was not up to standard. About a half of the affected companies were Taiwanese, according to the BBC. The directive was issued by a local government office dedicated to implementing the provincial authorities 263 project to improve air and water quality, which included measures to reach specific numerical benchmarks by the year 2020. Chinese authorities are known to zealously execute policies in the name of achieving targets and scoring political pointsfrom curbing air pollution through forcing citizens to use natural gas instead of coal, causing those in areas without the appropriate infrastructure to live without heat during the height of winter, to exaggerating local revenue numbers to appear more economically productive. The 263 project also includes goals to minimize coal-burning in the region. Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province also announced in late December that due to anticipated weather conditions and the likelihood of air pollution, the provincial department of environmental protection requested 75 businessesfour of which were Taiwaneseto limit production from Dec. 26 to Dec. 29, according to United Daily News, a Taiwanese newspaper. On Jan. 4, Taiwanese media reported that a factory belonging to Taiwanese furniture maker Lacquer Craft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province issued a notice announcing its closure. The company said severe environment regulations had caused major financial losses, leading to the decision to stop production beginning on Feb. 1. About 2,000 factory employees were laid off with severance pay, according to Taiwanese broadcaster Sanlih Television. The factory started operating in 2005. According to Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times, a local real estate developer wanted to drive out the factory because the nearby area was becoming a residential neighborhood. He thus repeatedly reported Lacquer Craft to the Dongguan environment protection office, claiming that the factory was producing waste with a strange smell. However, the office did not find any issue upon inspection. The office said that according to their records, the factory had registered with them in October 2014 and passed an inspection in January 2016, the Liberty Times reported. Taiwanese media Central News Agency reported that despite passing inspection, local authorities had listed the company as one of the top 10 environmental pollution corporations in Dongguan in 2015 and 2016. Taiwanese companies are no stranger to government malfeasance leading to business losses. Kao Wei-Pang, founder of the Taiwanese Victims of Investment in China Association, told his own story of a Chinese venture he once invested in. The vice general manager not only drove him out of the venture but colluded with local bank officials to set up a rival company. Kaos organization publicizes cases of Taiwanese businesspeople who have been cheated, wrongly imprisoned, and even killed while conducting business in China. There are over 60,000 cases of victims registered in China, with total investment losses estimated to reach $30 billion, according to the association. Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers Mari Van Gerwen has been ordered to serve a prison term for 17 years for smuggling cocaine. (NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY) Top Showjumpers Dad Jailed for Smuggling Cocaine in Horsebox to Fund Her Career A top horse showjumpers father has been found guilty of smuggling 4 million ($5.7 million) of cocaine into Britain inside a horsebox to fund his daughters career, according to Kent Online, citing court proceedings. International horse showjumping contestant Jody Van Gerwen, 27, reportedly wept in court as her 52-year-old father Mari Van Gerwen was ordered to serve a prison term of 17 years. The accused, a horse dealer and former showjumper from the Netherlands, brought the Class A drug into the UK allegedly in order to help his daughter in her career, the court heard. The mans defense team claimed he had been forced by drug dealers to smuggle the cocaine into the country. But Judge Rupert Lowe of the Canterbury Crown Court believed Van Gerwen was in it for the money. I accept you run a legitimate horse trading business and you spend a good deal of your time running a riding school and assisting your daughters career, Lowe told the court. You were convicted by a jury in a very short space of time of importing 50 kilos of cocaine, he said. I am confident that you were not the boss of this enterprise but a courier and you got involved in order to make money. In July last year, Van Gerwen tried to bring into the UK two horses in a horsebox. He told border officials that the horses were for a recipient inside the UK and he was discovered to have 5,000 euros in cash on his person. Suspicious, the officials searched the horse trailer, only to discover in a special compartment 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of cocaine. The reported street value is 3.96 million ($5.64 million). Van Gerwen was found guilty on Wednesday, Jan. 24, of importing class A drugs and jailed for 17 years. The judge said that he believed Van Gerwen was motivated by a wish to help his daughter in her showjumping career. This trial took place against a background of the very successful career of your daughter Jody as an international showjumper, Judge Lowe told the court. That is an extremely expensive occupation, notwithstanding the sponsorship and prize money and the returns of the rising school and horse-trading business. I am confident that at least part of your motivation of you becoming involved was to further the cause of her very expensive career at the highest level, said the judge. Present in court was Jody Van Gerwen, who testified on behalf of the defense. She heard the judge say that he believed she was unaware of her fathers drug dealing. I dont imagine for a moment that he let her know what he was doing. She has been an innocent victim and she will suffer for this, Lower said. After the hearing a representative of the National Crime Agency said, The organised criminals involved in the distribution of cocaine are often also linked to violence and exploitation, the Daily Mail reported, citing senior investigating officer Darren Herbert. They rely heavily on smugglers like Van Gerwen, so his was a key role in a longer, damaging chain. We work closely with partners overseas and our Border Force colleagues to target those who seek to undermine the security of the UK border, and bring them to justice, he said. Recommended Video: Sleepy Truck Driver Causes Multi-Vehicle Crash A Chinese woman walks pass a billboard boasting China's World Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The U.S. is nurturing a $73 billion trade deficit in technology products with China. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty Images) Trump Administration Says US Mistakenly Backed China WTO Accession in 2001 WASHINGTONThe United States mistakenly supported Chinas membership of the World Trade Organization in 2001 during Bill Clintons presidency on terms that have failed to force Beijing to open its economy, the Trump administration said on Friday as it prepares to clamp down on Chinese trade. It seems clear that the United States erred in supporting Chinas entry into the WTO on terms that have proven to be ineffective in securing Chinas embrace of an open, market-orientated trade regime, the administration said in an annual report to Congress on Chinas compliance with WTO commitments. It is now clear that the WTO rules are not sufficient to constrain Chinas market-distorting behavior, the report said. While the annual report from the U.S. Trade Representatives office has long taken China to task for unfair trade practices, the first such review under U.S. President Donald Trump takes a stronger tone against Beijing. It comes amid worsening trade tensions between the worlds two largest economies and as the administration prepares actions to curb Chinas alleged theft of intellectual property. A decision in the so-called Section 301 investigation is expected in the coming weeks. The report also points at Russias behavior, saying Moscow had no intention of complying with its WTO obligations, a trend the administration said was very troubling. A White House official said despite consultations with China, it had failed to follow through on promises of moving more toward a market-orientated economy and playing by international trading rules. The president and his principal advisor are united in the belief that this is a problem that has gone on for too long and needs to be addressed, the official said. In the past, conversations have focused more on discreet opening for discreet products, and what were saying is systematically were not going to tolerate broad-based policy that attempts to promote state-led enterprises, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Trump told Reuters in an interview this week he was considering a big fine against China for forcing U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there. While the administration is also looking at whether foreign imports of steel, aluminum, washing machines, and solar panels are harming U.S. businesses, Chinas theft of intellectual property is a particular concern to Trump because it affects a large swath of American firms, the official said. Trump did not specify what he meant by a fine against China, but the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into Chinas theft of U.S. intellectual property allows him to impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions until China changes its policies. In Beijing, many experts believe Washington is unwilling to pay the heavy economic price needed to upset prevailing trade dynamics between the two countries. In the report released on Friday, Trumps trade envoy, Robert Lighthizer, said the global economy was threatened by major economies who undermined the global trading system. The global trading system is threatened by major economies who do not intend to open their markets to trade and participate fairly, Lighthizer said. This practice is incompatible with the market-based approach expressly envisioned by WTO members and contrary to the fundamental principles of the WTO. The Trump administration has already pledged to transform 164-member trade body and has blocked WTO judicial appointments in a move to win WTO reforms. What we want to do is see countries behave responsibly within the international trading system, the White House official said. How is State Capitalism in China hurting both the Chinese people and Chinas trade partners? WATCH: Death by ChinaHow America lost its Manufacturing Base By Professor Peter Navarro Navarro currently serves as assistant to the President, Director of Trade and Industrial Policy, Director of the White House National Trade Council Trump Considers a Big Fine for Chinas Intellectual Property Theft WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States was considering a big fine as part of a probe into Chinas alleged theft of intellectual property, the clearest indication yet that his administration will take retaliatory trade action against China. In an interview with Reuters, Trump and his economic adviser Gary Cohn said China had forced U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there. The United States has started a trade investigation into the issue, and Cohn said the United States Trade Representative would be making recommendations about it soon. We have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon,Trump said in the interview. While Trump did not specify what he meant by a fine against China, the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into Chinas alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property allows him to impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions until China changes its policies. Trump said the damages could be high, without elaborating on how the numbers were reached or how the costs would be imposed. Were talking about big damages. Were talking about numbers that you havent even thought about, Trump said. U.S. businesses say they lose hundreds of billions of dollars in technology and millions of jobs to Chinese firms which have stolen ideas and software or forced them to turn over intellectual property as part of the price of doing business in China. The president said he wanted the United States to have a good relationship with China, but Beijing needed to treat the United States fairly. Trump said he would be announcing some kind of action against China over trade and said he would discuss the issue during his State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress on Jan. 30. Asked about the potential for a trade war depending on U.S. action over steel, aluminum and solar panels, Trump said he hoped a trade war would not ensue. I dont think so, I hope not. But if there is, there is, he said. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said there were no laws in China to force foreign investors to transfer technology, but acknowledged such things may happen as part of market behavior between companies working with each other. Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the penalties under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorized the investigation into Chinas intellectual property practices, would probably include a package of both tariffs and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States. I suspect the U.S. measures will involve restrictions in areas where we dont have WTO (World Trade Organization) obligations, Schott said. Trump likes to talk about tariffs so that may be part of the package too. The Chinese would have the legal right to retaliate against tariff increases. Throughout his 2016 election campaign, Trump routinely threatened to impose a 45 percent across-the-board tariff on Chinese goods as a way to level the playing field for American workers. At the time, he was also accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain an export advantage, a claim that his administration has since dropped. Trump said on Wednesday that China stopped meeting the criteria for currency manipulation after his election, and he said making that designation while trying to work with Beijing to rein in North Korea would be tricky. How do you say, hey, by the way, help me with North Korea and Im going to call you a currency manipulator? It really doesnt work, Trump said. The president also said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had not discussed Chinas plans with regard to purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Chinese officials reviewing the countrys foreign exchange holdings had recommended slowing or halting purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Trump said he was not concerned such a move would hurt the U.S. economy. We never talked about it. They have to do what they do, he said. By Jeff Mason. Additional reporting by James Oliphant, Ayesha Rascoe, Lesley Wroughton, David Lawder, and Ben Blanchard in Beijing. Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers Pigeons fly past the company logo of Sinovel Wind Co., Ltd. outside its head office in Beijing, on Jan. 6, 2011. (Soo Hoo Zheyang/REUTERS) US Court Convicts Chinese Wind Turbine Maker, Sinovel, of Stealing Trade Secrets From American Tech Firm Chinese wind turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co. was convicted on Jan. 24 of U.S. charges that it stole trade secrets from AMSC, an American energy technologies company, that resulted in losses of over $800 million. A federal jury in Madison, Wisconsin, found Sinovel, once AMSCs largest customer, guilty on all charges it faced, including conspiracy, trade-secret theft, and wire fraud, the U.S. Justice Department said. The conviction exposes Beijing-based Sinovel to hundreds of millions of dollars in potential fines, according to the Justice Department. It is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. Sinovel saw its shares slide 4 percent at morning trade on Jan. 25. The stock has lost 46 percent since the charges were brought in June 2013, giving it a market value of about $1.4 billion. The charges were announced amid heightened concern about Chinese theft of U.S. trade secrets and a legal battle in Chinese courts pitting the Massachusetts-based AMSC against Sinovel, one of the worlds largest turbine makers. The conviction also comes as the United States studies possible intellectual property action against China. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Jan. 24 Chinas tech ambitions represent a direct threat that is being implemented by disrespect for intellectual property rights, by commercial espionage. The case centered on technology that AMSC, formerly known as American Superconductor Inc., developed to regulate the flow of electricity from wind turbines to electrical grids, which Sinovel had purchased for its products. Prosecutors said that as of March 2011, Sinovel owed AMSC $100 million for products that had been delivered and had contracts to buy more than $700 million in future products. But Sinovel conspired, beginning in 2011, to obtain AMSCs copyrighted information and trade secrets so that it could make wind turbines and retrofit existing ones in order to avoid having to pay AMSC, according to prosecutors. An indictment said Sinovel recruited Dejan Karabasevic, an employee of an AMSC subsidiary, to join the Chinese company and to secretly copy information from AMSCs computer system, including the source code for the PM3000, part of its wind turbine control system. Sinovel then commissioned several wind turbines in Massachusetts and incorporated software that it had compiled from the stolen PM3000 source code, prosecutors said. The Justice Department said AMSC subsequently lost more than $1 billion in shareholder equity and almost 700 jobs. Sinovel nearly destroyed an American company by stealing its intellectual property, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Cronan said in a statement. Charges are pending against Karabasevic, who lives in Serbia, and two individuals who live in China and worked for Sinovel at the time: Su Liying, the deputy director of its research and development department, and Zhao Haichun, a technology manager, according to court records. The Lighthouse Winmore, a Hong Kong-flagged vessel suspected of transferring oil to North Korea in defiance of international sanctions, is seen in the sea off Yeosu, South Korea on Dec. 29, 2017. (Yonhap via Reuters) Who Is Behind the Illicit Transfer of Oil to North Korea? The case of illicit tankers shipping oil to North Korea gets curiouser and curiouser. South Korea seized a Hong Kong-flagged ship, the Lighthouse Winmore, in late November, after suspecting it of transferring oil to North Korea. The ships registered manager, Lighthouse Ship Management, is located in the southern Chinese port city of Guangzhou. South Korean customs officials concluded that the ship had loaded about 14,000 tons of refined oil in South Korea on Oct. 11. It then transferred as much as 600 tons to the North Korea-flagged Sam Jong 2 on Oct. 19 in international waters between China and the Korean peninsula, on the order of its charterer, Billions Bunker Group Corp., according to a Reuters report published in December. South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo cited South Korea government sources that said U.S. spy satellites had detected Chinese ships transferring oil to North Korean vessels about 30 times from October to December. A day before South Korea announced the news, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to reprimand China for smuggling oil into North Korea. Caught RED HANDED very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017 The case has highlighted the difficulties in tracking ship ownership and determining the culprit behind smuggling operations. Billions Bunker, it turns out, is a company registered in Marshalls Island by a Taiwanese businessman named Chen Shih-hsien. In early January, Chen was summoned to court in Taiwan, and released after he paid a bail of 1.5 million Taiwan dollars (about $511,000). Prosecutors allege that he had leased Lighthouse Winmore to provide oil to North Korea, in violation of international sanctions. In addition, another ship that the United States accuses of smuggling, Billions 18, is owned by Bunkers Taiwan Group Corp. That company is registered in the British Virgin Islands, and Chen is the sole shareholder, according to prosecutors in the Kaohsiung district, Taiwan. Taiwans Ministry of Justice has since frozen Chens and his Bunker companies accounts. After North Korea tested an array of intercontinental ballistic missiles this year, the United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions to limit North Koreas access to oil. But the United States said it has detected a number of vessels, including ones linked to China, that engaged in illicit trade with North Korea. China is the rogue regimes largest trading partner and supplier of energy resources. The news of a Taiwanese businessmans involvement has rocked local media. Who is this man and what is the connection, if any, to China? Chen comes from a long lineage in the fishing industry. He had engaged in ocean oil shipments for some time, according to Taiwanese newspaper The Liberty Times, citing the prosecutors investigation. His two oil tankers, Billions 18 and Billions 88, are registered in Panama and have a 5,000 ton capacity. During the prosecutors questioning, Chen said he did not know the ship Lighthouse Winmore was transferring to belonged to North Korea. He claimed that through a middleman, a Chinese businessman nicknamed Zhang Zong had inquired with him about purchasing oil. The Chinese side offered to buy oil for 15 to 20 dollars more per ton, so Chen agreed to the deal and had the ship meet in international waters. But it is unclear whether these Chinese businessmen were operating on their own or in collusion with the Chinese regime. The Chinese authorities have denied any knowledge of the case. On Jan. 19, Chen attempted suicide by swallowing sleeping pills, but survived. Upon exiting the hospital, he told the group of media that had convened outside: I was framed by China, according to Apple Daily, a Hong Kong-based newspaper with operations in Taiwan. He also said, why would I do business with North Korea? claiming his innocence. Ship tracking data in Thomson Reuters financial data terminal revealed that the Lighthouse Winmore had mainly been doing supply runs between China and Taiwan since August. Before that, it was active between India and the United Arab Emirates. In October, when it allegedly transferred oil to the North Korean ship, Lighthouse Winmore had its tracking transponder turned off. Reuters contributed to this report. Li Yihuang, former chairman of Jiangxi Copper and deputy governor of Jiangxi Province, in Hong Kong, on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. (Jerome Favre/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Xi Jinpings Anti-Corruption Campaign Takes Down Business-Executive-Turned-Official with Ties to Opposition Faction The latest high-level official to get taken down in China may be in trouble because of his political ties. On Jan. 17, the Chinese Communist Partys anti-corruption agency announced that the deputy governor of Jiangxi Province, Li Yihuang, was being investigated for seriously violating discipline. The agency did not provide further details. The 55-year-old official started his career in the metal industry, eventually landing at Jiangxi Copper, a company that mines and refines copper products. It made the 2017 global Fortune 500 list. Within a decade, Li rose from assistant manager to becoming the chairman in 2010. Soon after, he entered the Party bureaucracy, becoming part of the Yingtan City Standing Committee in 2011. In 2013, he rose to the provincial deputy governor position. Lis quick jump from corporate executive to top official is rather unusual. Li is the fifth deputy governor to be taken down since the 19th National Congress, a major Party conclave held in October 2017 that saw Party leader Xi Jinping further consolidate his power. Since Xi became Party leader at the previous Party Congress in 2012, he has utilized an anti-corruption campaign to weed out political enemies, namely a faction of officials who owe their loyalty to former leader Jiang Zemin. After the new year, the campaigns momentum shows no sign slowing. Lis connections to members of the Jiang faction may have played a major role in his downfall. Zhou Xiaohui, China political commentator at The Epoch Times, noted that the copper industry is a mainstay of the Jiangxi region. For Li to succeed at Jiangxi Copper, he had to curry favor with local officials, Zhou said. One of them was Meng Jianzhu, who served as the provincial party secretary from 2001 to 2007. Meng, who eventually climbed to the position of Chinas top security chief, is a known member of the Jiang faction, a group of officials who owe their political careers to Jiang Zemins patronage. Meng would often visit the copper company on his rounds to survey and observe local businesses, and Li was the one who accompanied him. After Meng, Su Rong succeeded him. Su is a trusted crony of Zeng Qinghong, former vice premier who ensured Jiang ruled from behind the scenes years after stepping down as Party leader. Su was party secretary at the same time that Li stepped up to the deputy governor position. A political news account on WeChat, Chinas popular instant messaging and social media platform, cited an insider at Jiangxi Copper, who said Li bribed Su with gold in order to score his post. Su himself was taken down for investigation by the anti-corruption agency in June 2014. His investigation implicated a dozen or so other Jiangxi officials. Aside from Lis politically inconvenient connections, Li was once criticized by the central authorities for bad leadership. In September 2017, the State Council sent out a notice about Lis inability to handle a construction accident that occurred in Yichun City on Nov. 24, 2016. The building site for a cooling tower at an electric power plant collapsed, resulting in 74 worker deaths and two injuries. It was considered one of the most serious work-related accidents in recent memory. Gu Qinger contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How doctors in China turn into murderers NORWALK When Nora Niedzielski-Eichner had to leave her newborn daughter for the first time, she was emotionally torn. As she sat in her law school classroom, in the back of her mind, she wondered if everything was all right, thinking of how tiny, how hungry the little girl was. I decided it would be best to try to have my daughter during law school if I could because its more flexible than a job is going to be, Niedzielski-Eichner said. Yale Law School was very accommodating to her schedule she was able to take her classes one day out of every week so she counted herself lucky by American standards. But that made the magnitude of the problem of paid leave in the U.S. seem even more daunting. I knew, physically, she wasnt really ready. I wasnt really ready. And when Stacy Stableford of Trumbulls father became ill, she began shuttling back and forth to New York for five days at a time to help take care of him. It was nearly four months before she could return to work. And if it hadnt been for the fact that my husband was still working at the time things were tight, she said. The whole time I was thinking: How do people do this? Connecticuts legislative session begins Feb. 7, and paid leave which would allow new parents and families with serious illnesses financial stability for up to 12 weeks is on the table. Federal law allows employees at large companies up to 12 weeks unpaid leave, but paid leave is at the companys discretion. New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, California and Washington all have statewide paid leave policies, and nearly two dozen other states, including Connecticut, have bills pending. For us, the question is who are we and what kind of state do we want to become? State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said Thursday night, with a copy of the bill in hand, at Fairfield Countys Community Foundation. The group was hosting a discussion of the topic. The bill, which was tabled this summer, would gradually phase in up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for new parents and people who have or are caring for family members who have serious medical conditions. The paid leave would not require state funding because it would be covered by a weekly contribution from employees. Those contributions would be held in a so-called lockbox fund to prevent their being raided as the Social Security Fund was in the past, explained Madeline Granato, policy manager at CT Womens Education and Legal Fund, which helped host the event on paid leave. While the bill has not yet made it to a vote, Duff promised to change that this legislative session and recommended people voice their opinions with their representatives. Senator (Martin) Looney and I are committed to have a vote on paid medical leave. The only industrialized countries in the world without mandated paid medical leave are the U.S. and New Guinea. Some believe the diverging policies between the U.S. and the rest of the world go back to World War II. In Europe, staggering casualties and infrastructural damage meant women were needed in the workplace during the Baby Boom years, leading to family-friendly policies. In contrast, the demand for women in the workplace went down after the war, and fears of socialism prevented American politicians from passing paid medical leave. Even unpaid medical leave (The Family and Medical Leave Act) did not become federally mandated until the 90s. The lack of leave makes it difficult for new mothers to meet recommended childcare practices. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, which can be difficult if mothers have to return to work after days or weeks. And when Christopher Ruhm of the National Bureau of Economic Research studied how many weeks of paid leave results in the least amount of infant deaths, his conclusion was startling compared to American standards: 40 weeks. Its a systematic issue, Niedzielski-Eichner said. We dont give families the systems they need to take care of their kids, and then we say its their fault. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz 6 hours ago Multiple Signs Point to New Highs Ahead for Kirklands Stock If you happened to hold Kirklands (NASDAQ: KIRK) stock throughout all of last year, you enjoyed a mind-blowing 1,342% return. The home decor retailer was among the top 10 U.S. stock performers in 2020 thanks to pandemic-driven shopping habits and Kirklands strengthened competitive positioning. Those that missed out on this mega retail winner need not fret. Read Article Kathmandu, Nepal: With the ending of the swearing-in of the provincial assembly members with the concussion of other procedures related to the National Assembly (NA) elections, race for the Chief Minister has begun in all the seven provinces triggering internal feud in almost all major parties particularly in the CPN UML and the CPN Maoist Center. As the leftist alliance is poised in six provinces except province number 2, inter and intra party race has begun in the two parties. As numbers of aspirants for post of Chief Ministers are high in both the parties, not only the internal differences are mounted but also the leaders have felt difficulties to manage the differences among the leftist alliances. Though the UML and Maoist have divided 4 and 2 seats of Chief Ministers respectively, inter and intra party rivalry is intensified in both the parties to be the official candidate from the respective party, particularly in the UML. The leftist alliance is poised to form governments in all provinces except Province 2. The alliance of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal has a majority to form the government in the province number 2. The probable candidates for the post of Chief Ministers have lobbying by reaching on their power centers in the mean time when the top leaders of both the parties have found hard to manage the share of the post and portfolios in to be formed government and to be united party. As the CPN-UML and the CPN Maoist Centre have not reach on the understanding yet over the issue of candidates of the Chief Ministers deputy chief ministers, speakers, deputy speakers and other prominent posts including provincial ministers, it is likely that the issue of sharing the post of Chief Minister would not be settled easily sans management in other posts among the high aspirants of both the parties. It is said that the Maoist leaders have been insisting to lead the governments in provinces 6 and 7. But the some of the UML leaders have been exerting pressure to the leadership with the demand that the post of chief minister should go to the UML because it has a majority in the Province. Yamlal Kadel, one of the probable candidates of Chief Minister in Province number 6 from the UML, had issued even a press statement demanding the post of chief minister should go to the party hinting about his interest in the post. It is likely that there would not be huge differences in province 5 though Kul Prasad KC of the CPN Maoist Center has also been claiming himself as the probable candidate for the post. The UML has picked Shankar Pokhrel as the chief minister candidate in the province. In Province 4, UML leaders Kiran Gurung and Prithivi Subba Gurung are in forefront with the claim of the post of Chief Minister. Likewise, in province number 1, Sherdhan Rai and Bhim Acharya of the UML are claiming the post. It seem that the probable candidates are emerged reflecting to the factionalism of the party. Though the Sanghiya, Samajbadi Forum- Nepal ((SSF-N) and the Rastriya Janata Party- Nepal (RJP-N) shares about equal share in province number 2, Lalbabu Raut and Bijay Yadav of SSF-N are in forefront with the claim of the post. Similarly, about half a dozen RJPN leaders have also been claiming the post of Chief Minister in the Province number 2 though Manish Suman seems in forefront in the list from the RJP-N. The following is the fact-finding report on Rashtra Seva Dals inquiry into the Bhima-Koregaon riots conducted by the Rashtra Seva Dal. The inquriy team was headed by Dr Suresh Khairnar, the President of the Rashtra Seva Dal. Located at the eastern side of Pune and situated on the banks of River Bhima, Koregaon-Bhima can be traced along the Pune-Ahmadnagar highway and approximately 25 km from the Pune City; its population is around 7000-8000. January 1, 2018 was the occasion of celebrating the completion of 200 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle. It is considered to be a valour day for the Mahar Regiment and this was initiated by Dr B.R. Ambedkar nearly 90 years ago in 1927. From 1927 to 2018 the number of people belonging to and consisting of depressed classes from all over Maharashtra increased magnificently from a few thousands to nearly around 1.5 million this year. Prior to this years conglomeration a substantial number of conferences were held all over Maharashtra in which hundreds of anti-caste groups under the banner of Elgaar had participated and they included the Rashtra Seva Dal also. These conferences facilitated the record turnout at Bhima-Koregaon this year. The State administration was well-informed about all these developments. In the year 1990-91, on the special occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and the birth centenary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a decision was taken to celebrate certain historical events like the establishment of the first womens school at Bhidewada, Pune and the locations having historical significance like the birthplace of Savitribai Phule at Naygaon, Pune. Along with that, it was also decided to commemorate those events which have hitherto remained marginalised like the installation of the first statue of Gautam Buddha by Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the Dehu road near Pune. Celebration of the victory memorial of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, as it was initiated by Dr B.R. Ambedkar on January 1, 1927, was also a part and parcel of this broader objective. The Bhima-Koregaon war was fought between the British forces on the one hand and the Peshwas forces on the other. In that the Peshwas had near-about 20,000 soldiers while the British regiment, known as the Bombay Native Infantry, 2nd battalion consisted of merely around 1000 soldiers. However, the latter were armed with better quality of arms and ammunition. This particular regiment consisted of the Mahar community soldiers in a majority. Ultimately, the battle won by the British resulted in the downfall of the Peshwa regime. It was during this regime that atrocities related to the caste system were at its peak and the then untouchables along with women were at the receiving end. They were the most severe victims of caste-oppression and humiliation. The then untouchables were required to carry a pot hung from their chest to belly so that whenever they spit the matter should not fall on the ground as it was considered to be impure. Further, a broom was also used to be tied at the back of their waist so that while walking on the ground the impure traces of their footprints automatically get cleaned and cleared. This humiliation was the most prominent reason behind the Mahar communitys participation in the brave fight from the British side. Thats the reason behind Dr Ambedkars commemoration of the event as a Victory Day. Another version of this episode was that the end of the Peshwa regime did not automatically result in putting a full stop to the caste oppression. Instead, in the aftermath of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny (which is also being upheld as the First War of Independence within the ranks of nationalist historiography), the British regime assured both the Brahmins and the Muslims that they will not interfere in the religious affairs of the indigenous communities. They discontinued with the recruitment in the separate Mahar Regiment in accordance with this assurance. Thus, as per the proponents of this version of history, the British strategy should be looked upon with suspicion and thereby we should refrain ourselves from celebrating this battle as a Victory Day which, according to them, amounts to being anti-national. The descendents of the Peshwas along with the Hindutva forces hold on to this view and had also approached the court to demand a ban on the celebration of this day as a Victory Day. However, their petition was rejected by the court. Interestingly, the War Memorial has been standing at that place since the last 200 years with the martyrs names inscribed on it. These consist not only the names of the soldiers from the Mahar community; but a few Maratha and Other Backward Caste soldiers names are also visible alongside those names. A few kilometres away from this memorial, a mausoleum of Chhatrapati Sambhaji is also situated at a village called Wadoo (Budruk). Renowned historian V.C. Bendre had discovered this mausoleum in the year 1939; this can be located in the Dalit locality of the village. Sambhaji, the then scholar of Sanskrit language, became an eyesore to the Brahmins as gaining the knowledge of Sanskrit was prohibited for the non-Brahmins on the basis of the Manu-smriti dictum. These Brahmins advised Aurangzeb to punish Sambhaji in accordance with the Manusmriti code which included brutalities like to take out ones eyes for the crime of reading Sanskrit Vedas, to cut off the head for memorising those along with the body being cut into pieces. A fatwa was issued prohibiting the cremation of his body parts. However, there was one Govind Mahar who took up the responsibility of performing late Sambhajis last rites and duly cremated his body after sewing up those parts and pieces. Renowned historians, apart from V.C. Bendre, like Kamal Gokhle and Sharad Patil, had also corroborated this version. However, there is another version coming from Hindutvavaadi forces that the body parts were not sewn by a Mahar but by a Maratha. Hence the Marathas of the village are claiming that it is the ancestor of a Maratha family, named Sevale, who had performed the last rites of Sambhaji. The Hindutvavaadi forces are giving this twist to the story of punishment to Sambhaji for the last 25 years in western Maharashtra which added fuel to fire in the riots on January 1. On December 28, 2017, the existing family members of the Govind Mahar had put up a board indicating the direction towards Sambhajis mausoleum. However, certain miscreants from the same village removed the hoarding. They also removed and threw away the shed over the mausoleum of Govind Mahar. The latters family members lodged a police complaint and accordingly 49 people were arrested from the village. On January 1, 2018, a rumour spread like wildfire that some suspicious activity was taking place at Sambhaji Maharajs mausoleum. An organisation called Hindu Aaghadi had been active for quite some time in this area. They had been holding public meetings for the last three weeks and issuing warnings to the people that those who would assemble on January 1 would be considered as anti-national. One amongst them held a press conference on December 28, 2017 at Pune and publicly said that probably India was the only country in the entire world where some anti-national elements could celebrate the victory of a foreign power over the nationalist forces (that is, the Peshwas) and the incumbent government, instead of interrogating them, provides all facilities to hold such public gatherings. On December 29, 30 and 31, 2017, law and order prevailed over Bhima-Koregaon, Wadoo (Budruk) along with Sanaswadi. However, some strangers were found loitering around these villages. The Bhima-Koregaon village council had passed a resolution to observe a shutdown on January 1, 2018 and had also submitted a copy of the resolution to the nearest Police Station at Shikrapur. But the police ignored it and grossly underestimated the situation. On January 1, 2018 people from all over Maharashtra were approaching to gather at Bhima-Koregaon. On the other hand, thousands of people with saffron flags had assembled at Vadhu (Budruk) around 10 am. The open space around Bhima-Koregaon was filled with vehicles parked by those who came to celebrate the memorial and Victory Day. After parking their vehicles, people came walking for three-to-four kilometres towards the memorial and they included women, children and the elderly. Around 11 am, an attack was launched upon them by the bearers of the saffron flag. Hundreds of vehicles were burnt down. The riots escalated further towards the Sanaswadi and Chakan-Shikrapur road. The attackers were duly equipped with stones and sharp-edged weapons. A shop belonging to one Salim Inamdar was set ablaze. Petrol was freely used to burn the vehicles. A warehouse belonging to one Salim Khan was put on fire. A tyre-shop belonging to one Asgar Ali Ansari was burnt. His younger brother, who had taken shelter inside the shop, fled when the shop was put on fire. A cylinder in the adjacent hotel burst and gutted the shop Sarvesh Autolines belonging to one Bhausaheb Khetre. Two trucks (truck nos. MH-12-786 and MH-12- 2757) in front of one Razzak Bhais garage was set on fire. A shop belonging to one Shivraj Prajapati displaying the nameplate aRanabhai Marble was looted. A warehouse of firewood belonging to one Haribhau Darekar was burnt. One Dalit, by the name of Sudam Shankar Pawar, is a project-affected person who had been rehabilitated in the Sanaswadi and who had received two acres of land out of which one-and-a-half acre is used for sugarcane cultivation while in the rest of his land a Buddha Vihar has been built along with a meeting hall and an open space. He had also built 29 one-room row houses (chawls). On January 1, 2018, around 6 pm a crowd marching from the side of a steel factory entered his field and broke the vehicles parked in his open space and put on fire his sugarcane field from all sides and also broke the glass-panes of the Buddha Vihar. Interestingly, the houses and fields belonging to Darekar and Hargude remained intact; those were just in front of his home. Thus, it becomes apparent that the rioters had targeted only Sudam Pawers house and field because he was a Dalit. Similarly, the attackers also pelted stones towards the houses of Ravi Kamble and Athwale. The studio of a famous painter and sculptor, Elvin Fernandes, was also burnt. The property of Mutha Jain was put on fire. On the Pune-Ahmednagar Road, the fire brigade vehicle was also set on fire. A total of 5000 vehicles were destroyed. Fifty cars and luxury buses were burnt. The following questions can be raised with regard to the whole incidents: 1. Who took the decision for the shutdown on January 1, 2018? How come a village, which claims to provide hospitality to outsiders every year, gave a call for shutdown on that very day this year? As a result of which the visitors did not even get a glass of water to drink. 2. We noticed tremendous fear among the common people in Bhima-Koregaon; they requested us repeatedly not to write their names in our report. Due to this same fear, the existing family members of Govind Mahar of Vadoo-Budruk, who had filed a case earlier, have retracted now. All 49 people who were arrested in the case of destruction of Govind Mahars mausoleum have now been released. What is the cause of this fear psyche? 3. The Hindutva forces, that are clearly involved in this entire episode, are roaming freely, giving interviews and putting up distorted video clippings on social media putting the entire blame on the Dalits for whatever happened. What is the State administration doing? 4. This whole episode clearly indicates an attempt directed at dividing the Dalits and the Marathas along caste lines thereby disrupting the social fabric of Maharashtra. Why are the law and order agencies not paying any attention to the polarisation effect taking place due to this incident? Our demands are as follows: 1. Arrest immediately the main culprits involved in the riots of Bhima-Koregaon. 2. A judicial inquiry must be immediately instituted and it should duly publish its report. 3. The role of the police and the administration should be investigated and the guilty persons should be punished accordingly. 4. The role of the media in this entire episode should be scrutinised. The team members of the Rashtra Seva Dal who conducted this fact-finding were: 1. Dr Suresh Khairnar (President) 2. Allauddin Sheikh 3. Vinay Sawant 4. Feroz Mithiborewala 5. Puja Badekar 6. Shivraj Suryavanshi in association with 7. Bharat Patankar and 8. Kishor Dhamale TOKYO Ive always resisted the idea of taking a guided tour on my annual visits to Japan. My interests are pretty niche and I know Tokyo well enough that friends there have trouble suggesting new things to see. This year I decided to try two guides offering personalized tours. One, Lee Chapman, is a photographer who specializes in older neighbourhoods. The other, Mark Hobold, writes a history blog called Japan This! that is sometimes too geeky even for me. Chapman says he takes guests to an interesting, slightly grittier side of Tokyo that you never see in the media or guidebooks. This is clear from the start: Meeting in the touristy Asakusa neighbourhood, we quickly leave the well-trodden areas for a block with street seating for a bar and eateries where people are already drinking and watching horse racing at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Chapman, an Englishman, has lived in Tokyo since 1998. Many of his photos show buildings in fascinating, beautiful states of decay a fairly common sight despite Tokyos image of futuristic newness. Ive realized from Instagram that a lot of people find that really interesting, he says. But you wont see that in the Japanese media because they think its a bad image. He specializes in street shots of ordinary people, and ordinary life is what we see walking through these old residential neighbourhoods. Its where people live their lives. Especially in these areas, a lot of them have lived there their whole lives, he says. Theres a sense of community, with people talking with the shop owners and running into people on the street and chatting. In fact, they stopped to chat with Chapman, whos fluent in Japanese, more than once, like when we were contemplating a caged chicken outside a bar. A local explained it was there for good luck. I could have learned a lot about photography from Chapman, but I was too distracted by his stories. Although when he took me to photograph an old restaurant that Id particularly loved on his blog, that was a lesson about skilled professionals versus the rest of us. His photo was magical. Mine, despite repeated attempts, was a snapshot of an old building. My tour with Hobold started at Nezu Shrine, a place Ive visited dozens of times, but where I immediately learned new things. One was that a nondescript pile of stones was a monument for the burial of the afterbirth of the sixth shogun Tokugawa Ienobu, whose residence had been next to the shrine. All the shoguns have these monuments, he said. Noted. Hobold, an American whos lived in Japan since 2005, knows more Japanese history than even most Japanese care about. Once, for a meetup with his Japanese history nerd friends, his Japanese wife tagged along. She left after 20 minutes bored to tears, he says. So he knows that, as he says, I have to grade my geekiness to the appropriate category. Customers find him via his blog, so they realize what theyre getting into, but they have different backgrounds. Some have a decent grasp of Japanese history. They have a context. Others have zero context, he says. For the latter, he says, he gives fewer names and dates and more stories, and makes familiar connections, like explaining to an American that something happened around the time of the (U.S.) Civil War. Why do people tour with him if they arent that obsessed with samurai history? Some are interested in history in general, he says. If they go to another country they want to come away with an idea of the history. And theyre genuinely curious people. Photographers also book him: They want Japanese-looking stuff that other people dont have. Despite their differences, the tours had some similarities, like a focus on places that are gone: an old shoemakers shop that Chapman once photographed, since torn down, or a long-vanished castle, now a park full of gnarled trees. Both tours also concentrated on areas that were not conventionally scenic. Both guides also had a real depth of knowledge. Not tied to a canned, memorized spiel, we could spontaneously go off course if something caught my interest. At one point Hobold and I, drawn by the smell of a stand selling grilled octopus, headed to a temple that wasnt on the plan. After claiming he had nothing to say about it, he talked at some length about the legend of the resident goddess. He and a girlfriend had scoffed at the superstition that visiting the goddess temples causes couples to split, but they broke up shortly after going to one. Because theyre so specialized, Chapman and Hobold also charge more than the more generic tours advertised on sites such as Vayable and Airbnbs Experiences. Both guides taught me ways of seeing the city that stuck with me. Hobold mentioned that a shrine in certain districts suggests there was once a samurai residence there. I remembered this later when I saw a small old shrine in upscale Omotesando that seemed out of place amid fashionable modern shops. From Chapmans photography Ive learned to peer, discreetly, past the showrooms of old-style stores to see the tatami-matted living areas behind, relics of a quickly vanishing city where life was once very different. IF YOU GO LEE CHAPMAN: leechapman.photos/tokyo-photowalk-tours. Tours $181-$316 (U.S.) for up to four people. MARK HOBOLD: japanthis.com/japan-this-tours. Tours start at $450 for up to six people. Hilly, forested and wet Tasmania is regarded by many Australians as their most picturesque state, a kind of Vermont of the Southern Hemisphere. It is also the most economically depressed, which is one of the reasons the Tasmanian government has upended a great walking tradition that natural beauty owned by the state should be open to all, at minimal cost, in the spirit of democracy. Less than two years ago, the states Parks and Wildlife Service finished construction of the Three Capes, a 47-kilometre track that starts at one of Australias most important historical sites and takes in some stunning coastline. The project includes custom-designed accommodations, a spectacular boat ride and kilometres of boardwalks smooth enough to skateboard on. Visitors can borrow books, binoculars and even yoga mats. Such luxuries arent cheap. There is an entrance fee of nearly $500 to access a track which used to cost only blisters, sunburn and time. The venture has been a huge success. Almost 10,000 people paid to take the walk in its first year, funds that the state badly needs. Open for less than two years, the track is already developing a reputation among Australians for fostering a kind of exclusive camaraderie. Tasmanian authorities havent started marketing it overseas, and only 2 per cent of walkers are foreigners, a park ranger told us. As a consequence of the hefty charge, the walk is full of professionals and young families in fashionable hiking apparel, toting the latest in sleeping-bag technology. There are few, if any, hardcore hikers to be seen. The trail begins at Port Arthur, a village on the Tasman Peninsula, which juts out into the Southern Ocean from Tasmania proper. A tragic site in both history and modernity for Australians, Port Arthur was a brutal penal colony from 1833 to 1877. The open-air prison, which now is an immaculately maintained national heritage site, is one of Tasmanias top tourist destinations. In 1996, a young, mentally disturbed man from the city of Hobart committed Australias worst modern mass shooting at the site, triggering a period of national introspection. The tragic backdrop provides a moody start to the Three Capes Track, which begins on water, rather than land. Only 48 people are allowed in each day, and all get started with a one-hour speedboat trip around the ocean inlet that used to be the penal settlements main route to civilization. The ride was interesting and exhilarating. The crew provided facts about the geology, geography and sea life of the spectacular cliffs that dominate the area, then spun the boat so hard that seawater sprayed over us. We were deposited on a small, sheltered beach, where we began our walk through rainforests, woods, grassland, heaths and along sea cliffs which we were told were some of the highest south of the equator that plunged 305 metres into the ocean. Even though there are 457-metre changes in elevation over several days, the Three Capes walk is easy enough for preteens and reasonably fit people in their 60s. The path is mostly composed of packed dirt and gravel or wooden boardwalks. Wooden benches overlook interesting views, including a rock ledge popular with seals at Cape Pillar. Animals that make appearances along the walk include eagles, seals, dolphins, whales and deadly snakes, although no one has died of a Tasmanian snake bite in decades. Tim Farrell, a 25-year-old Australian public servant I met on the trail, reasoned that the entrance charge has made the area more accessible by generating the funding needed to turn a sometimes-strenuous rocky trek into an easy-to-moderate walk. No roads extend into the area, which means that the materials for the track and huts had to be delivered by helicopter and assembled by workers living in temporary camps. Its a necessary evil to allow so many people to explore the area, Farrell told me one night in a heated, pristine dining hut while families sat around us playing Scrabble. I like not being totally spent by the end of the day. Tim and seven friends had even ordered T-shirts for the walk with their own slogan: Chafing the Dream. Each night, we stayed in a different cabin. Made from Tasmanian ash, they were in immaculate condition. Each room has bunk beds. There are separate kitchen and dining areas, all with tap water, sinks, pots and pans, kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies. One site boasts a hot shower. There are mobile-phone chargers, too. Yoga mats and lounge chairs can be used on the decks surrounding the cabins. Each site has a small library of Australian fiction and reference books, including two by Man Booker Prize-winning Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan. The collection is identical at each hut, to allow walkers to leave a book behind and pick it up again at the next location. Every walker is assigned a hut from the start, which means there is no need to rush ahead to get the best room. (One night, on a bathroom run, I became disoriented and entered the wrong hut. I reached out to what I thought was my empty sleeping bag, which suddenly moved. I got out quickly.) Each night, a resident ranger briefed us on the next days weather, local history and wildlife, and answered questions. They explained that one of their jobs was picking up excrement left behind by hikers who ignored requests to go well into the bush for bathroom stops. The walk includes two capes with spectacular views: Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy. At Cape Pillar, it is possible to walk up a steep stone staircase and stand on a rock platform about the size of a childs bed. Cliffs plunge on three sides to the sea below. Although not particularly afraid of heights, I was almost hyperventilating from the walk up and view down. Even though it was spring, the mountains in the distance were covered with snow. One night, I asked a ranger, Daniel, where the missing cape was on the Three Capes track. The question was, admittedly, a little cheeky. We get asked that question a lot, the ranger said, sounding a little sheepish. The third cape is part of the national park. Cape Raoul is located on the other side of Port Arthur and is too far away to be incorporated into the walk. Presumably, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service felt that Two Capes didnt sound impressive enough. A private company is building its own cabins and plans to start operating a rival walk in September. For about $2,400, it will provide two guides, beds with linens and three-course dinners. The cheaper state-run walk doesnt include food although, it does provide toilet paper. The Tasmanian government encourages the competition, which it hopes will eventually attract many of the foreign tourists who flock to the mainlands sunnier beaches. The consequence could be a more glamorous crowd exploring the area. IF YOU GO: Three Capes track: threecapestrack.com.au. Access to the Three Capes Track is controlled by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, which only accepts bookings online and charges about $490 for adults and about $390 for children. The four-day walk starts at the Port Arthur historical penal settlement, which is a one-hour ride by car or bus from Hobart, the state capital, and a popular tourist attraction in its own right. Walkers are required to stay in the provided huts, which have toilets, showers, cooking facilities and utensils. Food must be carried in. Each visitor is issued a detailed booklet containing walking notes and information on the areas history, flora and fauna. OTTAWAA mission by Canadian military explosives experts in Iraq has been extended to help the country clean up the dangerous remnants of the battle against Daesh. Ottawa is weighing other military commitments as the Daesh fight enters a new stage but its already decided that the combat engineers who have been training Iraqi personnel in the safe disposal of explosives should remain in the country for several more months. The Canadian soldiers from the 2 Combat Engineering Regiment based in Petawawa have been working since last fall as trainers at the Iraq Armys bomb disposal school. That mission has now been extended to this fall, Brig.-Gen. Andrew Jayne, commander of Joint Task Force Iraq told the Star. Every time the hostilities are over, the explosive remnants of war not just mines but unexploded ordnance are always a threat to the people, the soldiers, Jayne said in a telephone interview from his headquarters in Kuwait. American military officials say that this month alone, Iraqi security forces have destroyed more than 100 improvised explosive devices and other types of explosives. There is quite a focus on helping the Iraqis deal with this threat. Thats why we think this is an important contribution, Jayne said. Canadas military contribution to the fight against Daesh known as Operation Impact has some 650 personnel deployed in Kuwait and Iraq. It includes a medical facility in Erbil, up to four Griffon helicopters, two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a CC-150 Polaris air-to-air refueller, and up to 200 special operations forces soldiers who advise and assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces. While Daesh has been defeated on the battlefield, commanders caution that extremist fighters, hiding in the civilian population, will likely now turn to terror tactics. There are still remnants of ISIS who reside in a cellular structure who seek to bring instability to local areas, in particular population centers, said Brig.-Gen. James Glynn, the U.S. officer who serves as deputy commanding general of the special operations joint task force for Operation Inherent Resolve. And that remains as it has for some time the focus of the Iraqi security forces and their counterterrorism forces specifically, he told a briefing earlier this month. That was echoed by Jayne who said that while the defeat of Daesh came earlier than expected security challenges remain. Thats why the coalition continues to evolve, he said. Daesh no longer hold ground in Iraq but we do need to continue to support and train their people to deal with the aftermath. Dealing with those explosive threats . . . is part of that. But theres also training for other groups, he said. Senior commanders are preparing recommendations to put before Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, in the near future and a political decision on the make-up of Canadas military commitments to Iraq are expected soon after that. The mission is due to end in March 2019. There remains a lot of work to do to ensure a stable and secure Iraq. Weve been considering . . . as part of the process, how the Canadian Armed Forces is going to move forward within that context, Jayne said. Canada suspended the training mission by special forces operations last October after rising tensions and clashes between Iraqi and Kurdish forces. While the counter-insurgency has changed, Jayne said Canadas current contributions, such as the medical facility in Erbil, are still needed. For example, he noted that the pace of operations by the Polaris air-to-air refueller to support patrols by coalition fighter jets has not slowed. Planes still fly and cover forces on the ground and our numbers of fuel delivered keep continuing to grow, Jayne said. I havent seen that rate drop off. He said its the same for the two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Its nonstop. The aircraft go in, they pick up cargo, move it to the next location, pick up people, Jayne said. Im confident that the resources that we have here today are providing a valuable contribution, he said. Meanwhile, Canada is helping Iraq on the governance front too. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, says he came away from a visit to Iraq optimistic about democratic reforms underway. Yes, security is still a threat but theres a sense of optimism, a sense of promise, a sense of excitement, the MP for Mississauga Centre told the Star. Alghabra made a one-day visit to Baghdad where he was a keynote speaker at a conference on governance focused on a decentralized federal system of government in Iraq. In his talks with local officials, Alghabra said he underscored the need for a governance system that lasts. Parliaments and politicians come and go but you need a system that works and you also need the population to have confidence in the system, he said. The confidence really needs to be in the system as much as it is in the politicians, he said Friday in a telephone interview from Istanbul. He said he was encouraged by the steps taken so far as the government prepares a budget and sticks to a schedule for a parliamentary election in May. Dont get me wrong, there are still a lot of challenges. I dont think anyone is underestimating those challenges, he said. But not only did I see willingness but I saw a roadmap and a desire to implement that roadmap, he said. Read more about: Police set up a large green tent on Friday in the backyard of a Toronto home linked to accused killer Bruce McArthur. The Leaside house, owned by Karen Fraser and Ron Smith, was used by McArthur to store his landscaping equipment in exchange for mowing the owners lawn when they were away. McArthur is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen, two men who disappeared from Torontos Gay Village earlier this year. Police suspect there are more victims. They have not found the bodies of Kinsman and Esen. On Jan. 18, police arrived with a search warrant for the property on Mallory Crescent, near Bayview and Moore Aves. Fraser and Smith had 20 minutes to get out. Detectives began to ask questions, at which point the pair had no idea what was going on. Eventually, they were told that McArthur was under arrest. Their property had been under police control since that time. Fraser and Smith told the Star they want to help the police in any way that they can. Police investigated several properties, including some in Toronto and one in Madoc, Ont., after McArthurs arrest. Three will be released back to their to owners by Tuesday. Connie Uetrecht, who lives across from the Leaside house with her husband Jack, said police put up incident tape around the house Sunday or Monday, and that forensics team cars were parked outside. On Friday morning, the forensics cars had disappeared. I was thinking maybe theyd let the people in the house come back, she said. Then a semi with a flatbed arrived at the house. Uetrecht noticed two large metal containers being hauled to the backyard, where she later saw that a large tent had been set up. The truck was gone by noon, and both a police investigative unit and public safety unit appeared outside the house in the afternoon. Jack Uetrecht didnt see the truck arrive at the house Friday, but said earlier in the week two people in suits arrived at the house in unmarked cars, and went into the backyard with four policemen. They were there for about 30 minutes, he said. Its kind of spooky, Connie told the Star. Around 9:15 Friday evening, two officers returned to the backyard and came back with what appeared to be fuel containers, which they loaded into a truck that then left. The two officers returned to their patrol cars outside the house. The family of shooting victim Yosif Al-Hasnawi is suing Hamilton police, paramedics and St. Josephs Heathcare Hamilton for $10 million, alleging the 19-year-old Good Samaritan would not have died were it not for the negligence of the organizations. Al-Hasnawis father, Majed, and teenage brothers, Mahdi and Ahmed, said they have suffered emotionally and financially following Yosifs death and seeing him on the ground writhing in pain that early December night. Al-Hasnawis untimely and tragic death has deprived his father and brothers of his care, companionship, and guidance and also prevented him contributing to and elevating their standard of living, alleges a statement of claim filed in a Hamilton court earlier this month. The allegations have not been proven in court and statements of defence have not yet been filed. Read more: Hamilton police say criminal probe launched into emergency medical response in Good Samaritans death Hamilton community holds public memorial for 19-year-old Good Samaritan killed last weekend Good Samaritan shot dead trying to stop altercation in Hamilton identified as Brock University student Al-Hasnawi was shot dead after trying to stop two men from harassing an older man on the street outside his mosque, the Al-Moustafa Islamic Centre on Main Street East, where he had been attending a religious celebration. Multiple witnesses and family have accused first responders of seemingly not believing the Good Samaritan had been shot and claimed paramedics said Al-Hasnawi was faking it. The single gunshot wound to the stomach was small and not bleeding heavily, leading some to speculate it was a pellet gun but police have said it was actually a small-calibre handgun. A span of 38 minutes passed between the arrival of paramedics on scene and Al-Hasnawis admittance to hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after being shot. The statement of claim alleges neither police nor paramedics administered first aid or emergency treatment and did not quickly transport him to the nearest hospital, which was the Hamilton General. It goes on to allege negligent treatment by St. Josephs when Al-Hasnawi arrived there. Niagara Regional Police launched a criminal investigation into the paramedics response in late December at the request of Hamilton police. That investigation takes precedence over another probe by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care under the Ambulance Act. Al-Hasnawi, a first-year Brock University student and the oldest of five children, aspired to become a doctor a career he planned to use to continue helping his family attain a comfortable standard of living as he had already been doing through his part-time job, the statement of claim reads. After he became a doctor, he planned to keep living with his family, help his brothers with their education and assist his father, who is disabled, according to the statement of claim. Since he was 10, Al-Hasnawi repaired items, including electronics, for money income he shared with the family to help pay for rent, food, utilities and other expenses, the lawsuit reads. Through the untimely death of Yosif, all of these intentions and plans have been destroyed, leaving the plaintiffs in turmoil and distress with no hope of support from the deceased. The tight-knit family originally from Iraq continues to suffer from extreme mental and emotional distress, according to the statement, including recurrent dreams related to Yosif, intense and prolonged physical distress when reminded of him, and feelings of detachment and estrangement from others. The mental distress experienced by Al-Hasnawis 13- and 15-year-old brothers will likely result in a loss of educational opportunity, which will substantially reduce their earning . . . capacity in the long run, the statement of claim reads. On Friday, the city confirmed it had received notice of the lawsuit and is preparing a statement of defence. Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family of Yosif Al-Hasnawi during this difficult time, city spokesperson Allison Jones said in an email. Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said the service doesnt comment on matters that may be before the courts. St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton spokesperson Maria Hayes said in an email it had received the statement of claim Friday and will be reviewing it. Two men arrested by Hamilton police in connection with the homicide are also named in the lawsuit. Dale Burningsky King, 19, is charged with second-degree murder. James Matheson, 20, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder. The statement of claim, filed through Toronto lawyer Susan von Achten, also names two unnamed crew members and two unnamed constables. When reached Friday, von Achten declined to comment. KABULA suicide bomber driving an ambulance coasted through a security checkpoint in Afghanistans capital on Saturday by telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital and then detonated his explosives at a second checkpoint, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 more in an attack claimed by the Taliban, authorities said. The powerful explosion, which came a week after Taliban militants killed 22 people at an international hotel in the capital, Kabul, was felt throughout the city and covered the blast area in smoke and dust. Dozens of vehicles were damaged or destroyed, and several shops, including some selling antiques and photography equipment, were decimated. Windows at the nearby Jamhuriat government hospital were shattered, and its walls were damaged. People ran out to help, and ambulances arrived to transport dozens of wounded people to hospitals. The Interior Ministry said four suspects in the deadly bombing, which occurred near the European Union and Indian consulates, had been arrested and were being questioned, but it didnt elaborate. The majority of the dead in the attack are civilians, but of course we have military casualties as well, ministry spokesperson Nasrat Rahimi said. A Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the bombing, which sent thick, black smoke into the sky from a site near the governments former Interior Ministry building. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a statement condemning the despicable car bombing attack. He said all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Talibans use of an ambulance as a weapon to target civilians in a bombing in Afghanistans capital represents inhumane disregard for the people of Afghanistan. Tillerson said the ambulance attack is a violation of the most basic international norms. It has been a month of relentless attacks across Afghanistan, with the Taliban and Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, affiliate making alternate claims of responsibility. The brutality and frequency of the attacks, including one in December at a Shiite cultural centre, has shattered Afghanistans usually quiet winter, when fighting normally slows down. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres quickly condemned Saturdays attack, saying through a spokesperson that Indiscriminate attacks against civilians . . . can never be justified. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass called the attack senseless and cowardly. Read more: Taliban attack on Afghan luxury hotel kills 18, including 14 foreigners Daesh claims attack on Shiite centre in Kabul that killed at least 41 Four killed after gunmen storm British Save the Children charity in Afghanistan And the International Committee of the Red Cross seethed that the ambulance attack was unacceptable and unjustifiable, saying in a tweet: The use of an ambulance in todays attack in #Kabul is harrowing. It was the second successful Taliban attack in a week on high security targets in the city. Last weekend, six Taliban militants attacked the Intercontinental Hotel, leaving 22 people dead, including 14 foreigners. Some 150 guests fled the gun battle and fire sparked by the assault by shimmying down bedsheets from the upper floors. The U.S. State Department said multiple American citizens were killed and injured in the attack. The hotel attack prompted the United States to repeat its demand that Pakistan expel Taliban who have found sanctuaries on its soil, with particular reference to the Haqqani network. On Wednesday a U.S. drone slammed into Pakistani tribal territory that borders Afghanistan killing two Haqqani commanders, according to Pakistani officials, who deny providing organized camps for their safety. Pakistan says the Taliban cross the porous border that separates the two countries along with the estimated 1.5 million Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan. The recent attacks have infuriated Afghans, frustrated by the worsening security after 16 years of war. The Afghans have expressed their anger with neighbour Pakistan for harbouring insurgents and with the U.S.-led coalition for its inability to suppress the insurgency. They also have blamed the deteriorating security situation on a deeply divided government embroiled in political feuding that has paralyzed Parliament. After Saturdays attacks, Pakistan issued a statement condemning the bombing. No cause or ends justify acts of terrorism against innocent people, the statement said. Afghan security forces have struggled to fight the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014. U.S. President Trump has pursued a plan that involves sending thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and envisions shifting away from a time-based approach to one that more explicitly links U.S. assistance to concrete results from the Afghan government. Trumps UN envoy, Nikki Haley, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that Trumps policy was working and that peace talks between the government and the Taliban are closer than ever before. Read more about: TIRANA, ALBANIAThousands supporting Albanias opposition took to the streets for an anti-government protest Saturday, accusing the Cabinet of links to organized crime and calling for its resignation. Backers of the centre-right Democratic Party, its ally, the left-wing Socialist Movement for Integration, and other smaller parties gathered at Tiranas main Boulevard Martyrs of the Nation to protest against the government. Holding national flags together with those of the United States and the European Union, opposition supporters shouted anti-government slogans such as Rama go referring to Prime Minister Edi Rama. Police security was tight near the main government offices where the rally is held. Hundreds of riot police and two water cannon trucks were standing by near Ramas office building. The protest is considered a test of support for the main opposition Democrats, who suffered a landslide loss in last years vote, securing only 43 seats in the 140-seat parliament. Local journalists estimated the turnout to be about 10,000, opposition leaders said there were 200,000 to 300,000 people. Police declined to comment. On your behalf, on behalf of all Albanians and the opposition we ask that Edi Rama and his illegal government leaves, said Democrat leader Lulzim Basha. He called for an anti-Mafia government that will fight organized crime, take the justice reform ahead in line with the Constitution and prepare the holding of free and fair elections. The rally closed peacefully after speeches from opposition political parties leaders. Albania, a NATO member since 2009, was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to launch negotiations this year. WARSAW, POLANDElderly Holocaust survivors wearing striped scarves that recalled their uniforms as prisoners of Nazi Germany made a yearly pilgrimage to Auschwitz on Saturday, exactly 73 years after the Soviet army liberated the death camp in occupied Poland. On the date now commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, political leaders and Jewish officials warned that the Nazi genocide must never cease serving as a reminder of the evil of which humans are capable. In Warsaw, Poland, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson paid his respects in a solemn ceremony at a memorial to the Jews who died revolting against German forces in the doomed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Tillerson trailed two uniformed Polish military officers and readjusted a wreath underneath the monument, a hulking structure located in what was once the Warsaw Ghetto. Read more: Prosecutors say a terror suspect was brainwashed by far-right voices online. Can you blame the people he read? Muslims and Jews find common ground in faith, hope and security UN condemns Trumps remark on Haiti, African countries as racist The head of Warsaws Jewish community read a prayer and Tillerson made brief remarks about the importance of not forgetting the horrors of the Holocaust. On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil, Tillerson said. The western alliance which emerged from World War II has committed itself to the assuring the security of all, that this would never happen again, he said. As we mark this day in solemn remembrance, let us repeat the words of our own commitment: Never again. Never again. His words came amid signs in Europe and beyond that ultra-nationalism and extreme right-wing groups are on the rise. In Germany and Austria, the nations that perpetrated the killing of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II, far-right parties with their roots in the Nazi era are gaining strength. The anti-migrant, anti-Muslim AfD party won seats in the German parliament for the first time last year, while in Austria the nationalist, anti-migrant Freedom Party is in the government. Both parties have had issues with members making anti-Semitic remarks. Ultranationalists who espouse anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim views seem emboldened elsewhere as well. Neo-Nazis and white supremacy groups are among the main purveyors of extreme hatred, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. And too often, vile views are moving from the margins to the mainstream of societies and politics. We must stand together against the normalization of hate. In Europe, that support is partially a backlash to the large influx of mostly Muslim migrants to Europe that peaked in 2015. Some of those migrants, especially from Arab countries, have brought their own brand of anti-Semitism with them. In Germany, many Jews have reported feeling threatened by anti-Semitism both from native far-right groups and from Arabs and Jewish institutions across the country have increased security. Meanwhile, Muslim immigrants have been the target of German far-right attacks or threats. Hanni Levy, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor from Berlin, criticized anti-migrant hatred during a speech at a Greens party convention in Hannover. In the past, the Jews were found guilty of everything. Today its the refugees, said Levy, who survived thanks to the Germans who hid her. One should never forget how difficult it is to leave behind everything just to survive. German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the day by addressing the rising anti-Semitism in her weekly Saturday podcast. She said that schools, which already teach about the countrys Nazi past, need to work harder at that especially so immigrant students from Arab countries will not exercise anti-Semitism. She called it incomprehensible and a disgrace that no Jewish institution can exist without police security whether it is a school, a kindergarten or a synagogue. Commemorations are set to take place on Saturday after dusk, after the end of the Jewish Sabbath, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, located in southern Poland. The United Nations recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. Read more about: U.K. prosecutors on Tuesday said a London terror suspect was brainwashed by right-wing personalities and online material including from a Canadian outlet in the weeks before he allegedly drove a van into Muslim worshippers, killing one. Earlier this month, a man threatened to shoot CNN employees to fight the network his president mercilessly targets Fake news. Im coming to gun you all down, a male voice said in a telephone call, according to documents unsealed this week. And in Canada, a country will on Monday mark the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque that killed six an attack in which the suspect was reportedly a fan of French Front National leader Marine Le Pens xenophobic views. These three criminal cases again raise the debate about how the spread of hateful or radical views can lead to violence, and whether those who espouse such rhetoric should be held responsible for actions taken by those who consume it. If that debate over how people become radicalized online or by public figures sounds familiar, its because it is. In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, a multimillion-dollar industry of counterterrorism research uncovered an army of dangerous propagandists, but this work focused almost exclusively on violent Islamic extremism that fuelled groups such as Al Qaeda or Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL. Attention is now increasingly shifting to examine the impact of far-right preaching, from fringe but popular websites to the Twitter account of the sitting U.S. president. There is growing recognition of the role that the indirect and direct narrative impacts of these sorts of speakers can have, said Barbara Perry, a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, in an interview this week. Despite the fact that Ottawa has warned about the rise in hate-related incidents reported to police and the potential for extreme right-wing motivated violence to occur, Perry is one of Canadas few academics who specializes in violent right-wing extremism. Weve contributed to the ease in which the far right has flown under the radar with the security narrative that we subscribe to Islam is the enemy, Islam is the enemy, Islam is the enemy, she said. CNN host Don Lemon condemned President Trumps vilification of the press on Tuesday after the arrest of Brandon Griesemer, the Michigan man charged with calling in repeated threats to the stations Atlanta headquarters. In one call, he allegedly said: I have more guns than you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours. Theres nothing random about this. Nothing, Lemon said on air. This is what happens when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, repeatedly attacks members of the press for simply reporting facts he does not like. Addressing Trump directly, he said: People take that message seriously. And if one of us is hurt it wont be a fake injury or, sadly, a fake death. The same day, London prosecutors told a terrorism trial that accused Darren Osborne, 48, who is charged with killing 51-year-old Markham Ali and attempting to kill others as they left a Finsbury Park mosque in north London last June, had been brainwashed by online material. According to British press reports, Osbornes partner testified that he had become a ticking time bomb before the attack, fuelled by the words of Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of the far-right Britain First party; mass emails sent by Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the anti-immigrant English Defence League and current host for conservative Canadian website Rebel Media; and conspiracy theory-peddling sites such as Infowars. Two weeks before the attack, the court heard that Osborne had received a direct Twitter message from Fransen, although the content of the message was not revealed. Trump ignited an international firestorm in November after he retweeted three of Fransens anti-Muslim videos. Robinson this week protested being linked to the ongoing London trial, writing on Twitter: You have put my life in danger today with your fake news & misrepresentation. Every newspaper in the uk has pushed these lies. Im being directly linked & blamed for a terrorist attack that has absolutely nothing to do with me. Prosecutors allege Osborne kept screenshots of some of Robinsons emails, including one promoting a march against the Manchester terrorist attack that killed 22 and injured more than 100 last May. What Salman Abedi did is not the beginning, and it wont be the end, read the email. There is a nation within a nation forming just beneath the surface of the UK. It is a nation built on hatred, on violence and on Islam. In an email to the Star, Rebel Media founder Ezra Levant dismissed any link between Robinsons group emails and the London attack. The e-mails referred to are generic e-mails we send to thousands of our viewers who sign up to our website. They are not personal e-mails, Levant. For example, we have 44 people with e-mail addresses at The Toronto Star who receive our e-mails, as well as many British journalists. To equate that peaceful, multi-racial protest to the violent, terror attacks themselves is not only fake news, it trivializes terrorism. It falsely equates the suffering of actual victims of violence with mere political disagreement. Rebel Media lost several high-profile hosts and columnists in the wake of a contributors sympathetic coverage of white supremacist groups following deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va., last August. Conservative leader Andrew Scheer later distanced himself from the website, writing in a statement: I believe there is fine line between reporting the facts and giving those groups a platform Until the editorial directions of the Rebel Media changes, I will not grant interviews to the outlet. Its hard to believe a teacher can lick a students breast and not automatically lose his teaching licence. But thats still the case in Ontario, where the Protecting Students Act mandates a teacher lose his licence only for the most heinous and explicit sexual acts. Those include intercourse, masturbation, child pornography or contact such as genital-to-genital and genital-to-oral. Otherwise the law does not require that the Ontario College of Teachers revoke the offenders licence. As a result, teachers have gotten away with repeatedly groping, grabbing and kissing students, as reported by the Stars Victoria Gibson and Vjosa Isai in December. In those cases the teachers college too often has given offenders what amounts to a slap on the wrist, such as a suspension or a boundaries course. They then go back to teaching where they can, and often do, reoffend. That, however, is about to get a lot more difficult. Last week a spokesperson for Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris said the province plans to amend its definition of sexual abuse by teachers as soon as possible to make licence revocation mandatory for more offences. That news is good, if overdue. But the government must be careful to amend the law to ban all sexual harassment or assaults period. Simply adding more specific sexual acts to the law only implies that others are OK. They are not. Disturbingly, that does not appear to be the ministers plan. Her spokesperson said the changes to the Protecting Students Act would be in alignment with our governments recent changes to the Regulated Health Professions Act. Those changes only broadened the ban on what sexual acts would cause a doctor to lose his or her licence by making it mandatory to revoke a doctors licence if he sexually touches a patients genitals, anus, breasts or buttocks, in addition to earlier banned acts such as penetration, oral sex and masturbation. That was despite the fact that a task force on the issue recommended that doctors should lose their licence if any sexual contact with a patient is proven. In the midst of a social revolution on what constitutes sexual harassment and assault, it isnt good enough to list specific sexual acts that are banned. We know well that harassment and assault can take many forms. All must be cause for a teacher or doctor to lose their licence. An unfortunate truth about public life is that where there are dogs there are dog owners. And not all dog owners are created equal. For example, this month in Lincolnshire, England, a 79-year-old woman was pounced upon and pushed to the ground by (in the words of a local news outlet) a Labrador-sized mongrel. The woman fractured her pelvis, but the owner of the dog responsible allegedly offered no help and walked away as though nothing had happened. Last month in Helena, Mont., an off-leash dog bit a jogger in a park, drawing blood. The owner of the dog gave his phone number to the injured jogger but when she tried to call him later to inquire about the dogs vaccination status, she realized he had given her phoney information. As a result, she had to get several vaccinations and pay thousands of dollars in medical bills out of her own pocket. But bad pet owners are not confined to the ground. They shirk their responsibilities in the skies too. This month, Delta Air Lines updated its rules about bringing pets on board airplanes after the airline experienced, according to the Verge, an 84-per-cent increase in reported animal incidents since 2016. In one such incident, a 70-pound emotional support dog bit a passenger in the face. However, dogs arent the only creatures wreaking havoc and relieving themselves in the clouds. Apparently some passengers have been abusing the label of emotional support animal for years, attempting to fly with, no joke, support turkeys, snakes and possums. Delta has had enough so too, Im sure, has anyone asked to sit beside a support snake. Come March, passengers who wish to bring helping animals on board a plane will have to provide the airline with extensive documentation at least 48 hours prior to flying, including vet and training records, indicating that the animal in question is healthy and well behaved enough to fly. Read more: Opinion | Emma Teitel: Dog owners who flout off-leash rules are dangerous Fur and fury in the skies as more people bring emotional-support animals on planes Toronto dog owners will have to post warnings, muzzle dogs that bite But Delta should really add another requirement to its revised rules: a test to determine whether a creatures owner is well behaved enough to fly. Because so often what these animal incidents demonstrate, whether they occur in flight or on solid ground, is that there are scores of pet owners walking among us who have extremely bad judgment people who ignore or deny the fact that the animals in their care are ill mannered and/or dangerous, people who love their pets at the expense of the safety and sanity of the human beings around them. And finally, pet owners who abuse the animal support system at the expense of people with disabilities whose service dogs are legitimate and properly trained. This isnt a hit piece on pet owners. I have a dog. I love animals of all stripes even those that pee on me. But not everybody does. And this is a fact some pet owners do not or cannot accept, and so they move through the world like overindulgent parents, turning a blind eye to their animals bad behaviour, letting them lick, jump up on, and invariably bite, whoever they please. Ive seen more of these incidents than I can count at parks around Toronto and the owners responsible always appear flabbergasted. Hes never done this before, they say, about a dog who has done that probably a hundred times before. Molly, be gentle! they insist of an animal too busy mauling somebodys leg to interpret a new command. Another thing Ive observed among some of my fellow pet owners in Toronto is a real antipathy for children. Last week at a popular city park, a seething woman said to me about a kid who dared toboggan down a hill not far from where her bulldog was playing, If my dog bites that kid, its his own fault. News flash: if your dog cant be trusted to occupy the same outdoor space as a kid without turning into Cujo, dont bring your dog to a public park. Move to a remote piece of childless land and let him run free. Dont endanger a kids life or for that matter the life of your dog (who will no doubt be put down or confined to a shelter if he attacks a child) just to prove a point. It seems pet owners who complain constantly that society doesnt give their animal companions the respect and compassion they deserve rarely want to reciprocate that respect and compassion where human beings are concerned. Perhaps rather than prevent irresponsible people from boarding airplanes with their ill-mannered dogs (and turkeys and snakes and possums), Delta should exploit the situation for the greater good and establish a fleet of planes reserved especially for all the inconsiderate pet owners in the world. It would serve as a reverse Noahs Ark of sorts, where the badly behaved among man and beast fly off into the sunset seeking new pastures to soil leaving the rest of us, finally, at peace. Emma Teitel is a national affairs columnist. Dell's blockbuster $67 billion purchase of EMC ballooned the company's balance sheet. The company has sold off businesses to reduce its debt. Selling some shares to the public could be the next step. An IPO of Dell Technologies Inc. could speed up the company's efforts to pay down a mountain of debt it has built up with the $67 billion acquisition of EMC announced more than two years ago. Even though the Round Rock, Texas, PC, server, networking and storage company has used cash from asset sales and other sources to pay down $9.7 billion in debt since the deal closed, Dell's total debt, including obligations of its subsidiaries such as VMWare Inc. (VMW) - Get VMware, Inc. Class A Report , stood at $52.5 billion at the close of the third quarter. Determining how much of the company Michael Dell and backer Silver Lake Partners might sell in an IPO, which the Wall Street Journal reports is an option, is difficult. Dell declined to comment. The company could raise a substantial sum, however. As a reference point, payments company First Data Corp. (FDC) - Get First Data Corporation Class A Report , a KKR & Co. (KKR) - Get KKR & Co. Inc. Class A Report portfolio company with a high debt load, raised $2.5 billion in proceeds from its 2015 IPO, which was the largest of the year. The Action Alerts Plus holding spent $2.1 billion to pay down notes. First Data's $12 billion or so top line is a fraction of Dell's $78.6 billion in projected fiscal-year 2018 revenues. First Data is profitable, however, while Dell posts losses. Dell's debt jumped to $57.4 billion when the company completed its purchase of EMC in September 2016. To prepare for the debt increase, Dell put assets up for sale even before the transaction closed. The first was the $3.05 billion sale of Dell Services business to Japanese telecom NTT Data Inc. in March 2016. The transaction closed in November of that year. In June 2016 the company said it would sell its Dell Software unit to private equity firm Francisco Partners Management LLC and activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. for $2.4 billion. On September 12, 2016, less than a week after Dell completed the purchase of EMC, the company announced the $1.62 billion sale of its Enterprise Content Division, which include products to store and manage content for organizations, to OpenText Corp. (OTEX) - Get Open Text Corporation Report . The transaction closed in January 2017. Dell used $5.3 billion of sale proceeds to reduce debt, according to Standard & Poor's. The company further reduced debt by $1.2 billion in the third fiscal quarter of 2018 with cash it received from VMWare's repayment of inter-company notes. The rest of the $9.7 billion came from cash Dell's business generated. Despite Dell's efforts, S&P says the debt reduction is going slower than expected. The credit ratings group estimates that Dell's leverage will stand at 4 times Ebitda or higher at the end of fiscal year 2018, which ends Jan. 31, 2018. Just in September, S&P expected Dell to reduce its leverage to a level in the the mid-to-high 3 times Ebitda range. Dell listed $18 billion in cash at the close of the third quarter, but most of that was on the books of VMWare. Dell itself had $6.3 billion in cash, with 55% to 65% of it offshore. While Dell would benefit from the tax break on repatriated cash in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company could take a hit from a provision that limits tax deductions to 30% of Ebitda. Dell declined to comment for this story. During the company's Dec. 7 earnings call, however, CFO Thomas Sweet acknowledged that the interest deduction cap is a "headwind for us" and that the company is "talking with our representatives about how ... they should think through some of the impacts given that it's effectively an anti-growth strategy, as you think about how debt has funded job growth and capital growth." Investors get their next progress report on Dell's debt reduction effort during a fourth-quarter earnings report on March 8, 2018. Editor's note: This article was originally published by The Deal, a sister publication of TheStreet that offers sophisticated insight and analysis on all types of deals, from inception to integration. Click here for a free trial. Take a look back at Dell's 2015 acquisition of EMC below. More of What's Trending on TheStreet: WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. is a pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device research and development (R&D) services company, with operations in China and the United States. The Company provides a portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services throughout the drug and medical device R&D process to its customers. It conducts its operations in two segments: Laboratory services and Manufacturing services. The Company offers Laboratory services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies. It offers Manufacturing services, which include the development of manufacturing processes and the production of advanced intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for use by pharmaceutical companies in preclinical and clinical trials of small-molecule products and in commercial products, as well as the production of biologic products. Read More Dr. 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. Wall Street analysts have given Compagnie de Saint-Gobain a "Buy" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Compagnie de Saint-Gobain wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Oshkosh Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and market of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. It operates through the following segments: Access Equipment, Defense, Fire & Emergency, and Commercial. The Access Equipment segment consists of JerrDan and JLG, which manufactures aerial work platforms; and telehandlers that are used in construction, industrial, institutional, and general maintenance applications to position workers and materials at elevated heights. The Defense segment produces tactical wheeled vehicles; and supply parts and services for the United States military and other militaries around the world. The Fire and Emergency segment sells commercial and custom fire vehicles; simulators and emergency vehicles primarily for fire departments, airports and other governmental units; and broadcast vehicles for broadcasters and television stations. The Commercial segment includes McNeilus, CON-E-CO, London, Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc (IMT), and Oshkosh Commercial. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Oshkosh, WI. Read More iStar, Inc. is a real estate investment trust company, which engages in financing, investing, and development of real estate and related projects. It operates through the following business segments: Real Estate Finance, Net Lease, Operating Properties, Land and Development, and Corporate and Other. The Real Estate Finance segment includes all of the activities of the company related to senior and mezzanine real estate loans and real estate related securities. The Net Lease segment comprises activities of the company and operations related to the ownership of properties generally leased to single corporate tenants. The Operating Properties segment focuses in the activities and operations related to its commercial and residential properties. The Land and Development segment refers to the developable land portfolio of the company. The Corporate and Other segment represents all the corporate level and unallocated items, joint venture, and strategic investments, which are not included in the other reportable segments. The company was founded by Jay Sugarman in 1993 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Letters to the Editor: Helping those who need help; Working to be American; Thank you Marian hospital Fears that automation in the auto manufacturing sector will make the human worker redundant are widespread. However, according to a recent report from Bloomberg , the current state of technology still requires a human touch to do the job right. The Full Story As Bloomberg points out, a recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that auto manufacturing jobs in the U.S. are actually on the rise since the late-2000's financial crises. Back in the late 1700s, the Industrial Revolution ushered in a glut of technological progress as a means of replacing traditional hand production practices, completely upending a variety of manufacturing sectors and forever changing society. These days, the idea of supplanting humans with robotic replacements is still a hot topic, especially in the auto industry, with many workers worried their jobs will soon become a thing of the past. However, Toyota and Honda are adamant that humans are still a vital part of the auto assembly process, as reported by a recent article published by Bloomberg. Honda, for example, considers the human worker to be irreplaceable, as evidenced by the ratio of humans to robots at its plant in Marysville, Ohio, where it builds the popular Accord four-door. We cant find anything to take the place of the human touch and of human senses like sight, hearing and smell, said the chief operating officer at Hondas Ohio manufacturing unit, Tom Shoupe, in an interview with Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Toyota, which produces the popular Camry at its facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, has no further plans of adding any further automation. The same holds true for Mercedes-Benz, which, according to production chief Markus Schaefer, is actually de-automating, relying instead on human hands to install all the optional equipment offered on its various models. In fact, as Bloomberg points out, a recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that auto manufacturing jobs in the U.S. are actually on the rise since the late-2000s financial crises. Not that the robots aren't helpful. For example, to build the Accord, Honda uses a machine to lift up the rear suspension and place it into the body. However, human workers are still needed to install the brackets and bolts. Not that the robots arent helpful. For example, to build the Accord, Honda uses a machine to lift up the rear suspension and place it into the body. However, human workers are still needed to install the brackets and bolts required to keep it attached, as well as inspect the work afterwards, a job that, so far, no robot can accomplish. Or at least no robot that makes sense to integrate into the production process, that is. You have to have timing. I dont think robots can take over. They dont have the manual dexterity or judgment that we have, said James Erwin, a 15-year veteran at Hondas Marysville plant, to Bloomberg. At the other side of the equation is Tesla, which is pushing for full automation wherever possible in the hopes of speeding up the assembly process and meeting its goal of producing 5,000 Model 3 sedans a week. So far, the electric car maker is lagging, dropping its goal to 2,500 units for the first quarter of 2018. At the other side of the equation is Tesla, which is pushing for full automation wherever possible in the hopes of speeding up the Model 3 production process. Autonomous cars are also intrinsically tied to these automation fears, with the idea that taxi drivers, freight drivers, and delivery drivers will soon get the boot in lieu of self-driving vehicles. However, the rate of technology development means that while thats certainly a possibility for the future, the next few decades looks to be pretty safe for job security in these areas. We still have a long way to go before driverless cars move from the lab and onto the highways in any meaningful way. All told, the fears that robots will eventually take over human jobs are not completely unfounded. However, the timeline for their integration is looking to be far longer than some may claim. References Read our full review on the 2018 Honda Accord. Read our full review on the 2018 Toyota Camry. Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3. Source: Bloomberg A single shadowy image and some safety tech details preview the fourth-gen The fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is well on its way, and Hyundai is building anticipation with the release of a new teaser image showing the SUVs profile obscured in shadow. From what we can gather, the look includes a tight window line and reshaped designs for the headlights and taillights, both of which appear to be slimmer this time around. We also see a prominent lower character crease, roof rails up top, larger fender flares in the corners, a trailing edge roof spoiler, and shiny window trim. The South Korean brand also revealed that the Santa Fe would come with the latest in safety stuff from its Smart Sense suite of technology, including features like rear cross-traffic alert, automatic braking, and for the first time, Rear Occupant Alert, which monitors the rear seats to detect passengers and alerts the driver when leaving the car, presumably to keep from leaving little ones behind on a hot day. The Santa Fe was Hyundais very-first SUV model, and considering the popularity of the body style these days, its imperative the automaker keeps it feeling as fresh as possible. Customers will be offered a three-row interior, but were also expecting the lineup to include a two-row Santa Fe Sport. Look for an in-depth look at the model in March at the Geneva Motor Show, plus a debut in February in its native South Korea. QANTAS - quite a nasty trip across the sea and there's a rude version which I can't tell you on here. I also wouldn't pay as much as 950 to fly with any airline to Australia so would opt for Qantas. Do you know where you would stop in transit? How long would you have? Check this carefully, as some of the (cheap) deals means spending as much as 13 hours or more in transit (Dubai with Emirates, not sure with Qantas). Equally you don't want too short a time in transit, although normally the airline wouldn't put the legs together without enough time to change planes. I assume you're booking directly with the airline? It is much safer and better to do so, in case of any issues, as agents are often appalling. Make sure it's all on one ticket. Don't forget a visitor's visa - free from the site - so don't pay anything for one and get it before you book! Enjoy! Wollongong would be shear madness to be honest, it would be a very rushed trip if you were to go all the way to NSW and back. The most you can do would be to push to the Eastern edge of the Victorian Alps, but even then that's pushing it for 17 days. A more balanced trip would be to included some outback in your trip. But it's a comfortable option only after April, once the summer heat has passed, dunno when you'll be doing this. The idea is to head East from Adelaide, and visit what's called the Mallee country. Camping in parks like Murray Sunset (at the Pink Lakes, the rest is 4WD only), at Hattah Kulkyne and Wyperfeld is great. The flora and fauna are amazing, the light and the night sky are great too. If you love gum trees, birds, kangaroos and emus, you'll be at home. From the Mallee (also called the Victorian deserts), you could follow the Murray River to Swan Hill and Echuca (or do the Grampians and Ballarat), then head South towards Wilsons Promontory, which deserves 2 full days. From Adelaide to the Prom' via the Mallee, count around 7-8 days I think. Then follow the coast all the way to Adelaide, visiting the Mornington Peninsula, doing the Great Ocean Road (dunno if you can take the Sorrento-Quenscliff ferry with your camper), Cape Nelson, Cape Bridgewater, Discovery Bay, Mount Gambier, the Currong etc... 10 days will cover it. I hope this helps. Edited: 3 years ago Re: America the Beautiful pass in Valley of Fire? 1. Re: America the Beautiful pass in Valley of Fire? Valley of Fire has an entrance fee. Its not federal property, its a state park. Lake Mead Conservation Area, or whatever the name is, is a federal property with an admission fee. Im sure Valley of Fire has a website with admission fees listed. Id check it out for the official word on things. I loved the people of Costa Rica and the hills of the central valley. I loved San Jose with its counterpoint of worn down buildings and college town brightness. I found out I loved gallo pinto. But I have plans to never visit Costa Rica again. We stood on the immigration line for 3 hours. True, we arrived on a Saturday, true it was high season (2nd week in January). But we asked the driver who picked us up why we waited so long. He did not know but thought it was due to a computer shut down. No, it did not seem like a computer shut down. Our last driver, who took us back to the airport, when asked the same question, gave a more believable reply: "we are trying to work on it". This makes me believe that this was not an isolated event. At immigration, there were 24 positions grouped in twos in each of 12 islands. On this day, only one desk was staffed in each island for a total of 12 officers. Six officers were for the re-entry line for Costa Ricans and six officers were for foreign passports. The Costa Rican line was at most, occasionally, about 1/20th the length of the foreign line, usually shorter than that, and moved quickly. Despite being tortured for three hours of standing, no extra staff appeared to help, no reallocation of stations was made. Ticos are very hospitable; their authorities seem to care less. I have a jaw-dropping photo of the line, but no place to post it here. So...this is not a question, but, obviously a comment. It is placed here to spark discussion. Have other travelers had close to this type of problem? Does it get worse? We plan (2 of us) to fly from Brussels via Tokyo directly to Fukuoka. From there, we want to visit Kyushu. After exploring Kyushu, we want to make our way back to Tokyo and stay for about 4 of 5 days for the last part of our holiday. We have been to Japan before, starting in Tokyo, going to Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama, Matsumoto and back to Tokyo. We love Tokyo, so that is why we really want to end there with a couple of days. However, the rest of the trip is a bit of unknown to us. We have been reading a lot, so we have a lot of info available, however it is really difficult to refine an itinerary. We have some questions: - How many days would you advise to spend traveling Kyushu (taking into account we have 21 full days in Japan of which we want to reserve 4 or 5 days for Tokyo)? - How could we make our way back to Tokyo via an interesting route, avoiding sites we have already been to (Kobe, Osaka, ...)? Hi Jason, unfortunately TA have removed the ability for anyone to edit Traveller Articles which have been the basis for many of our top questions. The only way to create a new top question now is to link a forum thread into the TQ's. This becomes very messy as the only way to update is to add to the thread. We're looking in to some work arounds that other DE's have come up with in other forums but that also is quite messy requiring someone to create a Google Doc and link it to the TQ's. Maybe as a property owner/manager you could petition TA to include no. of bedrooms in the accommodation search engine? The only one I have come across that used to do this was WOTIF before it got bought our by Expedia. Sadly they don't have that option for hotels any more as it was a very useful tool. They have kept the no. of bedroom filter for apartments & holiday homes..... The issue for the OP here, is that while we in North American can have subsidiary credit cards for our under age children (which makes life for us and for them, when they travel/or have to do errands on our behalf) it seems that is not possible in the UK. A "million years ago" before internet was invented, (neither did credit cards) I went on my first trip without my parents. In those days we had such things as Traveller's Checks and Letters of Credit. These no longer exist. I'd give the daughter the equivalent of some $500 in cash. Can she bank that, and maybe an emergency "account" with their group leader or chaperone? - National Super Aliance leader Raila Odinga has maintained he will be sworn-in as the People's president on Tuesday, January 30 - Raila said that he is not afraid of international sanctions that the international communities have threatened to issue him - United States had indicated that US will unleash unspecified sanctions should NASA go ahead with the controversial swearing-in ceremony National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has retaliated that he will be sworn-in as the People's President on Tuesday, January 30 The Opposition leader noted that he is not afraid of International sanctions as threatened by International communities. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Raila atashtakiwa, atahukumiwa na kunyongwa kisha kuzikwa Langata Moses Kuria Raila maintains hes ready for swearing-in on January 30.Photo: NASA Coalition/Facebook READ ALSO: Raila-Kalonzo can only be sworn in by a corrupt and illegitimate judge - Lawyer Ahmednasir Raila was addressing the People of Homa Bay after attending the Luo Nyanza People's Assembly Meeting in the county. NASA's Chief Executive Officer, Norman Magaya had announced on Thursday, January 25 that Raila Odinga will be sworn in by a qualified judge at 10am. The opposition party intends to push through with the controversial swearing in at the Uhuru Park grounds despite a notice of closure of the historic grounds for renovations. READ ALSO: Raila to be sworn in by qualified judge at 10 am -NASA CEO TUKO.co.ke had earlier reported that President Donald Trump's administration has allegedly threatened NASA leaders with unspecified sanctions should they go ahead with the swearing-in ceremony. In a meeting held on Tuesday, December 5, at US Ambassador Robert Godecs residence, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US governments Bureau of African Affairs, Donald Yamamoto, pointed out that NASA's planned inauguration will polarize the country even further. Tuko.co.ke has learned that the meeting was attended by Odinga, his co-principals Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi and Kolonzo Musyoka's representative from the Wiper party. READ ALSO: Raila-Kalonzo can only be sworn in by a corrupt and illegitimate judge - Lawyer Ahmednasir NASA intends to swear in Raila using results from their parallel tallying center in which they claimed Raila beat President Uhuru Kenyatta but had his victory stolen. In another statement, Magaya also said they were expecting one million people to the highly anticipated event. Railas swearing-in has been marred with a myriad of controversies with Jubilee Party members and officials calling it a bluff. ALSO WATCH: Raila won August 8th presidential election-NASA Source: Kenya Breaking News Today An Opposition MP is calling on the Government to provide an indemnity for land owners with r Russian-backed militants violated ceasefire one time outside Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk) over the past day. One soldier was wounded. This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center. The enemy violated ceasefire one time over the past day. One serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was wounded, the report reads. In Donetsk direction, ATO troops came under the small arm fire outside Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk). As a result of this shelling, one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded. He was immediately taken to a military hospital and provided with necessary medical assistance, the ATO Headquarters reported. In other areas of defense, there were no violations of the ceasefire regime. ish One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as a result of the enemy shelling outside Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk) in eastern Ukraine over the past day. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson Maksym Prauta said this at a press briefing on Saturday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "One soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was wounded yesterday as a result of the enemy shelling near Avdiivka. He was immediately taken to a military hospital and provided with necessary medical assistance, he said. ish A mission of the International Monetary Fund can arrive in Ukraine in mid-February. Chairman of the Council of the National Bank of Ukraine Bohdan Danylyshyn said this on the air of Channel 5. "The main result of the World Economic Forum in Davos is that the world starts to perceive Ukraine as an active negotiator. And I think that even the meeting of the President of Ukraine with Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and their half-hour conversation demonstrated it, as well as the press conference of the President of Ukraine, and Lagarde herself," he said. "We expect the arrival of the IMF mission in the middle of February," Danylyshyn added. ish A trade turnover between Ukraine and India amounted to $2.5 billion for 11 months of 2017, which was by 24% more compared to the same period in 2016. First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv wrote this on his Facebook page. "India is a strategic partner for Ukraine and a promising market according to the Export Strategy. The trade turnover between Ukraine and India amounted to $2.5 billion, and it increased more than 24% for 11 months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. A top product exported from Ukraine to India is vegetable oil it was exported for almost $1.5 billion during the period from January to November of 2017 that was 45% more than last year's figure. We will not stop and will continue to expand the areas of cooperation, including aircraft construction, engineering, cooperation in the field of space, IT solutions and digitalization," Kubiv wrote. He notes that the sixth meeting of Ukraine-India Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation will be held in February. ish Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia Juri Ratas, during which they discussed practical measures to deepen cooperation in the trade, economic and financial fields. This was reported by the Governmental portal. "The Heads of Governments having commended the high level of bilateral cooperation had in-depth conversation regarding the practical measures to deepen cooperation in the trade, economic and financial fields," the report reads. Groysman briefed his counterpart about the content of the resolution adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at the end of December 2017 No. 1045, which approved the list of countries (territories) whose residents make business transactions subject to transfer pricing control. He stressed the decision was aimed to prevent tax evasion and tax-base erosion, in particular, as foreseen by such profile international organizations as the OECD. The PM notes that the action of the said list applies only to residents of Ukraine who submit a report on controlled transactions to the tax authorities of Ukraine, hence the State Fiscal Service, in accordance with the submitted reports, will determine risky operations subject to additional control by the system of detection of risks, as it is operates all over the world. The above list is not a list of offshore zones. Estonia was included in the list as a country in which the retained earnings rate makes up 0%, which can be used by residents of Ukraine for tax base erosion and profit tax avoidance in Ukraine. The Estonian side was also informed that the NBU had not made any decisions to include Estonia in the list of offshore territories. In order to avoid possible misunderstanding in conducting account management by business entities, on January 24, 2018, the NBU sent a directive letter to Ukrainian banking institutions explaining the lack of legal grounds for applying an in-depth analysis of Estonian companies. On the results of the conversation, the Prime Ministers agreed to commission finance ministries of their countries, together with the tax authorities, to engage in cooperation and, if necessary, to hold consultations, in which to resolve possible misunderstandings. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agreed to resume the work of the Strategic Partnership Commission between Ukraine and the United States. The President said this on the results of his visit to Davos, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "We have agreed to resume the work of the Strategic Partnership Commission. In March, it will be 10 years since it has been founded. It hasnt held any meetings for a long time. In March, the meeting will take place. Several groups will be formed to discuss future reforms," Poroshenko said. He added that Ukraine could invite American experts to provide assistance. "We are very pleased with this cooperation," he said. ish Saakashvili shall not leave Kyiv without the prosecutor's permission. Kyiv's appeals court has partly satisfied an appeal filed by prosecutors against a first-instance judgement on leader of the New Forces Movement in Ukraine and ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and placed him under house arrest every night from 22:00 to 07:00. The court ruling was announced by chief judge Oleh Prysiazhniuk, an UNIAN correspondent said. Read alsoUkrainian authorities have no grounds to extradite Saakashvili lawyer"[The appeal] should be partly satisfied. A preventive measure in the form of house arrest during a certain period of the day, namely from 22:00 to 07:00 shall be applicable to Mikheil Saakashvili," he said. The court also obliged Saakashvili to perform additional procedural duties, namely, to arrive at the request of the prosecutor, the investigator or be present in court when needed. What is more, he shall not leave Kyiv without the prosecutor's permission. At the same time, it is still unknown what other procedural obligations were imposed by the court. It is also not known for how long the decision of the appeals court will be in effect and whether Saakashvili should wear an ankle monitor. As UNIAN reported earlier, Kyiv's Pechersky district court on December 11 turned down the prosecutor's motion to place Saakashvili, who is accused by the Ukrainian authorities of trying to stage a coup sponsored by Russia, under around-the-clock house arrest for two months. The appeals court rescheduled hearings on the prosecutor's appeal against the December 11 judgement in the Saakashvili case four times: on December 22, 2017, January 3, January 11 and January 19, 2018. The ministry points to the incorrect use of the name of part of modern Ukraine's territory in the official document of the Republic of Poland. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry is concerned that Poland's Sejm has outlawed Ukrainian nationalist ideology. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is deeply concerned over the adoption on January 26, 2018, by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of a bill on amendments to the Law on the Institute of National Remembrance the Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation and some other laws," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website. "It's a pity that the Ukrainian theme has once again been used in Poland's domestic policy, and the tragic pages of the common historical past continue to be politicized." Read alsoOver 6,500 people take part in events across Ukraine to honor Bandera (Photos)"We categorically reject the new attempt to introduce a one-sided interpretation of historic events, including the incorrect use of the name of part of modern Ukraine's territory in the official document of the Republic of Poland," the Foreign Ministry noted. "We would like to remind the authors of the draft law that the Ukrainians, like the Poles, enormously suffered from totalitarian regimes during the Second World War, and also selflessly fought for the freedom of their country. In this context, attempts to portray the Ukrainians exclusively as 'criminal nationalists' and 'collaborators of the Third Reich' give serious cause for concern," the Foreign Ministry said. Yet, the ministry expects that the Senate of Poland (the upper house of parliament), which should soon consider this bill, "will show the political wisdom regarding the issues that could affect the development of bilateral relations." "Being aware that issues of historical memory in the life of Ukrainian and Polish peoples are sensitive, we call on the Polish side to be open and constructive in the further development of Ukrainian-Polish relations," the ministry said. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Polish Sejm on Friday, January 26, voted for the bill submitted by the Kukiz'15 party, which outlaws the so-called "Bandera ideology," with its historic roots stemming from Ukraine. The bill defines "the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists and Ukrainian units who collaborated with the Third Reich," introducing a possibility of initiating criminal proceedings against those who deny such crimes. UNIAN memo. Stepan Bandera is a controversial figure in Ukraine. Despite leading anti-Soviet resistance fighters, Bandera was arrested and jailed by the Nazis during World War II. He was assassinated by a Soviet KGB agent in Munich, Germany, in 1959. Poroshenko also announced agreement with Tillerson on joint coordination in security issues. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday, January 26, discussed further steps in the swap of Ukrainian detainees in Donbas and the release of Ukrainian political prisoners from Russian prisons. Read alsoPoroshenko: Ukraine, U.S. agree on resumption of strategic partnership commission's work"I've informed the Secretary of State about the processes that took place during the [recent round of the] release of Ukrainian hostages, thanked for the assistance provided to us in that process. We've agreed that the process will continue for the time being," he said. In addition, the president said he had agreed with the U.S. Secretary of State on joint coordination of security activities. He also mentioned a meeting between United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker and Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, which was taking place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the same day. "We undoubtedly insist that talks on the release of the remaining hostages [in Donbas] and [Ukrainian] political prisoners in Russia continue," Poroshenko added. Deputy Minister for Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons George Tuka earlier announced a new round of the exchange of detainees to be held in February-March 2018. The main part there is a rather detailed plan of a step-by-step deployment of a mission along with the implementation of the Minsk agreements' political items, Surkov said. Assistant to the Russian President Vladislav Surkov says the U.S. new proposal for deploying a UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas is more constructive and doable than the previous one. Read alsoKremlin on Volker-Surkov meeting: "Synchronizing watches" on "hung-up" conflict in Donbas"The talks' key topic was once again a discussion of the Russian initiative to deploy in Ukraine's southeast a UN mission. This time, the U.S. has brought more constructive suggestions. The U.S. 'Dubai Package,' unlike the 'Belgrade' suggestions, seems quite doable, at least at first glance," he said following the meeting with United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker held in Dubai on January 26, according to the Russian news agency TASS. In his words, the main part there is a rather detailed plan of a step-by-step deployment of a mission along with the implementation of the Minsk agreements' political items. "It is a balanced approach, on which we have insisted. We shall study it closely and will give a response in due course. After that, we shall invite Kurt and his colleagues to a new meeting," he added. Volker and Surkov also discussed humanitarian issues related to Donbas, such as exchange of hostages, the opening of additional checkpoints, mobile communications, etc. The Kremlin says the views of both sides on the issues coincide. Moscow earlier claimed it was hardly possible to expect any results from the meeting. In the Donetsk sector, the militants fired small arms on ATO positions near the town of Avdiyivka. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas one time in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA). Read alsoRussia's occupation forces shell Dokuchayevsk, using heavy weapons, civilian casualties reportedThe second half of the last day, starting at 13:00 Kyiv time, saw no ceasefire violations, while Russian occupation troops breached Minsk accords early afternoon, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters. In the Donetsk sector, the militants fired small arms on ATO positions near the town of Avdiyivka. As a result of the shooting one of Ukraine's defenders was wounded. He was rushed to a military hospital and provided with the necessary medical assistance. Military doctors describe his condition as satisfactory. No ceasefire violations have been recorded in other sectors of the Ukrainian defense lines. Donbas war update: One attack on Ukraine troops, 1 KIA on Jan 27 An enemy sniper killed one Ukrainian soldier near the village of Verkhniotoretske in the Donetsk sector. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas one time on January 27, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action. Read alsoDonbas escalation: 3 KIA's, 5 WIA's amid seven attacks on Ukraine in last day"In the Donetsk sector, an enemy sniper opened fire on ATO strongpoints in the vicinity of Verkhniotoretske. Unfortunately, one Ukrainian serviceman was fatally wounded, as a result of the attack," the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters wrote on Facebook. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The radar will improve RAF and NATO understanding of the airspace north of Britain and further out across the Norwegian Sea, improving the UK's sovereign capability at a time of heightened Russian military activity. Great Britain is building a new radar system in the Shetland Islands to protect its skies from Russian aggression. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the Air Staff, says the radar system at Saxa Vord is an important part of ensuring that the RAF can fully protect both the UK's airspace and that of its NATO allies, in the face of increasing pressure from Russia, according to the Royal Air Force website. Read alsoBritish Army chief to call for investment to keep up with Russia - BBCHe visited the site of the new 10m Remote Radar Head facility, at Saxa Vord, Unst, Shetland, to inspect its progress. The radar will improve RAF and NATO understanding of the airspace north of Britain and further out across the Norwegian Sea, improving the UK's sovereign capability at a time of heightened Russian military activity. The Saxa Vord Radar head will provide key information on aircraft movements to the north of the UK and feed the nationwide Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) operation, which is responsible for policing international and UK airspace from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, as well as supporting civil air traffic control. "We will always protect our skies from Russian aggression. This radar is a vital part of the UK's defences as we react to intensifying global threats and reinforce our ability to tackle them. Russia's actions are not limited to Europe's eastern borders," says British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. He earlier said that Russia could cause "thousands and thousands and thousands" of deaths in Britain with an attack that would cripple the UK's infrastructure and energy supply. (@rukhshanmir) Punjab Finance Minister, Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha has said that it is essential to bring change in our priorities in view of prospects of time for the survival of national economy and invest on research and development in reverse of dummy planning. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018) : Punjab Finance Minister, Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha has said that it is essential to bring change in our priorities in view of prospects of time for the survival of national economy and invest on research and development in reverse of dummy planning. The Provincial Minister said that predilection of scientific research should be preferred in universities as well as in other institutes and to generate such minds which may ensure production according to local needs. For this purpose, private sector will have to do more work in equivalent to government sector, so that more persons may attain the plausibility for eradication of unemployment from country, she and added that in this connection, Punjab Group of Colleges is serving the best. Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha expressed these views while addressing the annual convocation 2018 of University of Central Punjab at local hotel here on Saturday. The Rector Amir Mahmood, Prorector Dr. Zafar Ullah and Director Colleges Agha Tahir of Punjab Group of Colleges were also present on the occasion. She said that Punjab is economically a secure, industrial and friendly province where every citizen has the provision of better resources to spend life with his/her own will. While congratulating all degree holder students, she said that our young generation may materialize the true picture of the real dreams of the Quaid and Iqbal which will enlighten Pakistan in the whole world. The Provincial Minister advised the students not to accord with dreams if they really want to rise in life. She further said, Do not take any hurdle as your dispersal. Move confidently to gain your aim. Earlier, Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha and Amir Mahmood distributed gold medals and certificates among position holders of convocation 2013 and 2014 and expressed good wishes for their glaring future. The University staff and Rector Punjab Group of Colleges expressed gratitude to Minister Finance for her visit and for motivating the students. Jordan on Saturday increased the price of bread by up to 100 percent after lifting subsidies on the staple in a bid to redress its debt-riddled economy Amman, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Jordan on Saturday increased the price of bread by up to 100 percent after lifting subsidies on the staple in a bid to redress its debt-riddled economy. The move is expected to affect low income Jordanians, for whom flat pitta-like bread is an essential part of meals. Past price hikes have sparked riots in the cash-strapped country which has few natural resources. The price of a kilo of white bread was raised by 100 percent from 16 piastres to 32 piasters ($0.45), while the price of smaller flat bread rose by more than 67 percent. Flat bread known as "taboon", a staple on the dinner tables of low-income Jordanians, rose 90 percent. The price of other breads remained unchanged. The official Petra news agency, quoting the trade and industry ministry, said the new prices will remain in effect until December 31. "This decision will undoubtedly affect Jordanians," said shopper Ahmad Ramadan as he queued at an Amman bakery. "Someone paid 300 dinars ($423) a month who spends a Dinar a day on bread will end up having to allocate 30 dinars a month for bread alone," he said. "Everything will increase, even the price of sandwiches. God help everyone," he said. Abdullah al-Hamawi, head of the union that represents around 1,700 bakeries across the country, said Jordanians consume some "eight million loaves of bread a day and 16 million in winter". Jordan has a population of 9.5 million, 6.6 million of whom are Jordanians. The others include refugees from the wars in Syria and Iraq and Palestinians. The country has a public debt of some $35 billion, equivalent to 90 percent of its gross domestic product. The government decided earlier this month to raise the prices of bread and fuel and increase value added tax on goods including cigarettes, fizzy drinks and jewellery. It hopes to increase tax revenues by $761 million, and has pledged a "financial aid" package to struggling families affected by the price hikes. On Tuesday, the finance ministry began compensating low-income families, allocating each member 27 dinars ($38) for the year. Last year, price rises affecting an array of goods and services sparked protests during which there were calls for the cabinet to resign. 'GSP Plus has proved an affirmative success since coming into force in January 2014. Pakistan's exports to the EU have risen 39% while EU's exports to Pakistan have also risen 39%. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :'GSP Plus has proved an affirmative success since coming into force in January 2014. Pakistan's exports to the EU have risen 39% while EU's exports to Pakistan have also risen 39%. It is a mutually beneficial partnership,' Minister for Defence and Convener of EU Parliament Friendship Group Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Saturday. The minister stated made these keynote remarks during a meeting of the South Asia Delegation in the European Parliament, Brussels, said a message received here. The minister along with a delegation of parliamentarians was on a four-day visit to Brussels. The delegation of Parliamentarians included former Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Chairman National Assembly Commerce Committee Siraj Khan and Chairman Senate Commerce Committee, Shibli Faraz. He emphasized that Pak-EU cooperation was based on shared values of democracy and protecting rights of citizens. 'Leveraging GSP Plus as an incentive, Pakistan has made tremendous strides in passing legislation and creating institutions that protect rights of vulnerable sectors of society such as women, minorities, and children,' he said. General Mikhail Kostarakos, the Permanent Chairman of EU Military Committee, called on Minister for Defence to discuss creating a permanent Pak-EU dialogue on military and strategic issues. Kostarakos is also due to visit Pakistan in the first half of next month. Dastgir also held intensive interaction with Brussels-based Belgian, international, and Pakistani media. Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs will lead the Pakistani delegation and co-chair the session along with Ivan Scalfarotto, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Italy, for the third Session of Pak-Italy Joint Economic Commission scheduled to be held in Rome, Italy on 29-30 January, 2018 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs will lead the Pakistani delegation and co-chair the session along with Ivan Scalfarotto, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Italy, for the third Session of Pak-Italy Joint Economic Commission scheduled to be held in Rome, Italy on 29-30 January, 2018. On January 29, 2018, both sides would have discussions/negotiations on various agenda items and would sign the Protocol/agreed minutes of the JEC on 30th January, said press release here on Saturday. Both the sides will review the recent economic outlook and the economic development goals of their respective countries in the coming years. They will exchange views on the prospects of the bilateral commercial and investment relationship between the two countries. They will sign three Letters of Intent on cooperation in the areas of textile, footwear and gemstones industry. An MoU between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and ICE-Italian Trade Agency is also expected to be signed. Again, a Memorandum of Intent between Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) and its Italian counterpart Confidustria Mardomacchine will also be inked on this occasion. The JEC will especially focus on joint projects to expand technology transfers, multi-sector training, services and technical support, by engaging public and private actors, sharing the common objective to support the growth and competitiveness of SMEs. It is worth mentioning that Italy has been supporting Pakistan through humanitarian as well as technical assistance in rehabilitation projects carried out through the provincial governments and civil society organizations, as well as by a contribution worth 40 million to poverty reduction through Rural Development in Balochistan, KPK and bordering areas of Afghanistan. Italy has also approved soft loans amounting to 22.50 million for Gilgit-Baltistan Economic Transformation Initiatives and 20 million for Professional Capacity Building and Extension in Agriculture (TVET). Italy has canceled debt amounting to Rs.6.4 billion ( 64 million), roughly 77% of the total amount of debt amounting to Rs.8.2 billion ( 72 million) owed by Government of Pakistan. Pak Italian Debt Swap Agreement (PIDSA) will be completed by end of 2018, and the remaining debt will also be canceled by the Italian government. (@rukhshanmir) Spokesperson of Foreign Office Dr Muhammad Faisal Saturday said Pakistan was enjoying deep relations with Indonesia since 1965 and the recent visit of its president would give positive impact to these relations ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Spokesperson of Foreign Office Dr Muhammad Faisal Saturday said Pakistan was enjoying deep relations with Indonesia since 1965 and the recent visit of its president would give positive impact to these relations. Talking to ptv, he said Pakistan wanted to increase economic trade linkages with Indonesia. He said Pakistan was the founding member of Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank and one pilot project Kroat Hydro Power was underway in the country. Besides it a road project and water sanitation projects were also underway with the cooperation of Asian Development Bank (ADB). Dr. Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan had a population of 20 million people and had good business opportunities for international investors so Japan was taking keen interest in investing in the country, adding Japanese foreign minister had visited Pakistan in recent past and held positive meetings with dignitaries regarding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. To a question, he said Telenor was a leading brand with almost 130,000 Pakistanis working in it and its CEO had met with the prime minister of Pakistan showing intent of more investment in the country. He said the government's main motive was to reduce unemployment and create more jobs in the country. The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Saturday warned dealer and traders of 'chhalia' (betalnut) to close their business till April 31, 2018, otherwise a strict action would be taken against them LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :The Punjab food Authority (PFA) on Saturday warned dealer and traders of 'chhalia' (betalnut) to close their business till April 31, 2018, otherwise a strict action would be taken against them. The PFA has decided to ban betalnut on the recommendations of its Scientific Panel. The Panel, in its recommendation, warned people not to use 'chhalia' which was the main reason of mouth, throat and stomach cancer. Chhalia is a basic ingredient of a variety of widely used chewing products. Thin slices of the nut, either natural or processed, may be mixed with a variety of substances including slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and spices such as cardamom, coconut and saffron. Most significantly, they may be mixed with tobacco products or wrapped in the leaf of the piper betel plant (paan). It is used by an estimated 200-400 million people, mainly Indo-Asians and Chinese. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The government of Sindh has formed a Sindh Investment Climate Improvement Cell (SICIC), a dedicated unit for execution of the reform agenda. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018) : The government of Sindh has formed a Sindh Investment Climate Improvement Cell (SICIC), a dedicated unit for execution of the reform agenda. Chairperson of the Sindh board of Investment (SBI), Naheed Memon is the focal person for Doing Business reforms in Sindh. This reform is a part of the larger plan developed with the help of the World Bank to implement Doing Business reform at the Federal and provincial level. The government of Sindh is moving aggressively to transform the regulatory environment of the province, with the aim of making Sindh an easy and more cooperative place to do business. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan, Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday and discussed with him different matters of mutual interest including promotion of bilateral relations the two countries and further expanding mutual cooperation in different sectors. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2018 ) : Ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan, Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday and discussed with him different matters of mutual interest including promotion of bilateral relations the two countries and further expanding mutual cooperation in different sectors. Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Ambassador over his posting in Pakistan. He spoke in Arabic language with the UAE Ambassador who appreciated the wonderful command of Chief Minister over the Arabic language. He said that bilateral relations exist between Pakistan and UAE and a large number of expatriate Pakistanis are living there. UAE has always extended full support to Pakistan and its cooperation in the development of the country is praiseworthy. Shehbaz Sharif said, We appreciate the cooperation extended by UAE for improving health, education and other sectors and there is a need to further promote trade and economic relations between the two countries. UAE Ambassador Mr. Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi said that Pakistan is his second home and he is happy to be here. He said that cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors will be further extended. Provincial Planning & Development Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran, Chairman P&D, LCCI President, Secretary Industries, CEO PBIT and others were present on the occasion. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Turkish state institute will start to teach Turkish in three universities in Ethiopia, the institute said on Saturday ANKARA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Turkish state institute will start to teach Turkish in three universities in Ethiopia, the institute said on Saturday. Turkish will be taught at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University, Mekelle University, and Wollo University, as part of a Turcology project launched by Turkey's Yunus Emre Institute (YEE). The YEE will teach Turkish at the universities under a cultural and academic cooperation pact signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome Wirtu during his visit to the capital Ankara last February. Students who do well in the courses will be eligible to attend a Turkish summer school organized by the institute. The institute provides services abroad to improve friendship between Turkey and other countries and increase cultural exchanges. Since its establishment in 2009, the institute has taught Turkish to nearly 100,000 people in 43 countries. Named after the 13th century poet Yunus Emre, it now has nearly 54 cultural centers around the world offering artistic, social and scientific programs. Joe Accurso, a 47-year-old chiropractor, refused to vaccinate his daughter against polio, measles or whooping cough because he believes that getting sick wouldn't be dangerous and might even be good for her Miami, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2018 ) :Joe Accurso, a 47-year-old chiropractor, refused to vaccinate his daughter against polio, measles or whooping cough because he believes that getting sick wouldn't be dangerous and might even be good for her. "I am actually disappointed that she doesn't have the opportunity to get the chicken pox, to get diseases that make her body stronger in the future. That is our big reason," he told AFP. Don't call them "anti-vaxxers." Joe and his wife Cathy, a physical therapist, see themselves as part of a vocal minority that believes in "vaccine choice." These parents -- many of whom are white, educated and upper middle class -- choose not to immunize their children against diseases which collectively used to kill millions children per year around the world. They say these illnesses aren't so bad, compared to vaccines, the risks of which they believe are being withheld from the public in the name of pharmaceutical profits -- a belief now shared by millions of people across the developed world, from the United States to Europe and Australia. They are also swayed by purported medical whistleblowers who claim that vaccine effectiveness data has been skewed, that vaccine injuries are on the rise, and that dubious ingredients have been concealed. Fueled by distrust of the medical establishment, more than seven million people follow various US-based Facebook pages that question vaccines, wrote Richard Stein, a New York University cardiologist, last month in the journal Germs. "Conspiracy theories on social media are alive and thriving, rejoicing their golden age," Stein said. - Resurgence of measles - Endemic measles was eradicated from the United States in 2000, and nationwide only about two percent of kindergarteners have gone unvaccinated in recent years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the danger comes when large pockets of people do not vaccinate and an area loses "herd immunity." In Minnesota, for example, child vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) in the Somali-American community plummeted to 42 percent in 2014, down from 92 percent in 2004. The result: 65 cases of measles in 2017, most of them unvaccinated Somali children -- the largest single outbreak in a year that saw 120 cases nationwide, the CDC said. Fears about autism spread after British anti-vaccine activist Andrew Wakefield -- whose 1998 research alleging that vaccines trigger autism was found to be fraudulent -- spoke to local Somali community groups in 2010 and 2011. "One of the pseudoscience phony central tenets of the anti-vax movement is to claim that measles is a benign illness or even good for you," Peter Hotez, director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told AFP. Such ideas are "deliberately misleading and false," and have real-world consequences, he added. Measles can cause hearing loss, blindness, brain swelling and pneumonia. The CDC says that for every 1,000 children infected, one or two will die. In the United States, recent measles outbreaks include one in Ohio's Amish community in 2014 (383 cases), and a nationwide 2015 outbreak that infected 188 and is believed to have started with a visitor to California's Disneyland amusement park. A vaccinated elderly woman was the sole measles fatality that year. - Influence of social media - Social media may be perpetuating the anti-vaccine movement, said Naomi Smith, an Australian researcher. Smith just completed a three-year study on how Facebook appears to have created a "filter bubble" around the fraught issue -- so vaccine skeptics see their ideas reinforced on pages they follow. When it comes to convincing hesitant parents to vaccinate their kids, Smith said both sides are at "a total impasse." People who hold strong anti-vaccination beliefs tend to believe personal testimonies, and "use a different standard of evidence than what the medical community uses," she told AFP. To bridge the divide, some doctors, like Arizona pediatrician Tim Jacks, occasionally share their own personal stories with vaccine-hesitant parents. In 2015, Jacks' daughter Maggie was battling leukemia, had recently finished a round of chemotherapy, and was exposed to measles while getting blood drawn at a Phoenix clinic. Also exposed was his younger son, Eli, just 10 months old then and too young for the MMR shot. The experience was scary, and required the family to spend two weeks in quarantine. Fortunately neither child fell ill, and Maggie, now six, is in remission from her cancer. "We don't live in bubbles. So even going to the store and getting groceries, going to church, going to the park, you are interacting with other people and you are potentially exposing other people," Jacks said. "Who is really at risk? It is the family that has a newborn that has no protection. It is the grandmas." For Hotez, solutions include more engagement from scientists and laws that eliminate the personal choice to vaccinate, as now exist in 18 states. After the Disneyland outbreak, California changed its laws to allow only medical exemptions for children who attend school, and vaccinations climbed. "It is no longer simply a small cult," said Hotez. "This is a well-organized movement that needs to be taken on directly." Poland's state budget deficit in 2020 may amount to about 100 billion zlotys ($26 billion), despite no deficit being expected at the beginning of the year, Finance Minister Tadeusz Koscinski said on Wednesday at a press conference The economic recovery of the European Union after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could be significantly hampered by a second wave of the coronavirus and a return of lockdown measures hit Europe, Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, said on Wednesday Records 13576 To 13600 (Total 65081 Records) Business news Business news is important part of the news. World business news, Pakistan business news, and top business news are available on this site. Urdu Point provides you finance news, economic news, stock market news, gold rates, silver rates etc. For all types of business news visit Urdu Point. Business news matters a lot as they directly link the economy. CPEC news, PSX news and BTC news are also found on Urdu Point. 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Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on Saturday launched a country wide Child Protection Campaign in 40 districts to sensitize general public through training on issues of child protection, children's rights and ways to ensure security of children ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on Saturday launched a country wide Child Protection Campaign in 40 districts to sensitize general public through training on issues of child protection, children's rights and ways to ensure security of children. BISP officials and parliamentarians would advance the campaign in their respective Constituencies to protect our future generation, said chairperson BISP Marvi Memon while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the campaign held here at BISP headquarter. She further stated that in the next step these trainings would be imparted to 60,000 BISP Beneficiary Committees across the country which would create mass level awareness on the subject, said a news release. She added that BISP would provide legal assistance to its beneficiaries in case of any child abuse incident. BISP had also set up a hotline 0800-26477 as part of this campaign for receiving complaints of abuse against children and direct them to relevant agencies for actions, she maintained. She informed that Interior Minister, Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal, Ch. Muhammad Ashraf in Sahiwal, Tahira Aurangzeb in Rawalpindi, Nighat Parveen in Jhelum, Asyia Naz Tanoli in Wah Cantt., Ms. Farhana, Qamar and Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi in Islamabad, Dr. Shezra Mansib Ali Khan in Nankana Sahib, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon in Multan, Ch. Mahmood Bashir Virk in Gujranwala, Mr. Rasheed Ahmed Khan in Kasur, Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan in Mardan, Begum Tahira Bukhari in Peshawar, Mr. Babar Nawaz in Haripur and Ms. Sorath Thebo in Dadu had volunteered their servie to carry forward this noble cause in their areas. Secretary BISP Mr. Omar Hamid Khan, Renowned artists Faisal Qureshi, Hassan Soomro and Sabahat Riaz also spoke on the event. BISP beneficiary mothers, children, Members of Parliament, Academia, Civil Society, Media, various INGOs and NGOs working on child protection including Sahil, UNICEF, UN Women, Oxfam International and others would also be the partners of the campaign. During the event, BISP beneficiary women and children were sensitized through training on issues of child protection, children's rights and ways to ensure security of children through video documentaries, IEC (Information, education & Communication) material and animated and illustrative messaging. Different aspects of child protection, role of parents, teachers, leaders, government, responsible members of society, legal procedures regarding child protection were discussed. The campaign also highlighted different methods to inform children on the issue. Children were also trained to undertake the strategy of shout, run and inform the parents in the situation of any kind of abuse. In his opening remarks, the secretary BISP stated that besides various initiatives for the welfare of beneficiaries, BISP had launched this campaign to sensitize parents and children on the issue child protection as children were future of any nation. He explained in detail the precautions parents should take for the safety of their children. Famous artist Faisal Qureshi said saving children from any abuse was the prime responsibility of parents. He suggested that besides seeking assistance from government and law enforcement agencies, mothers in every community can make committees and take up matters of child abuse with the elders of the community to overcome this problem. Mr. Hassan Soomro said that awareness of children about the body parts was very necessary and in schools there must be a compulsory subject on this issue. He informed that in Sindh, this subject would be made compulsory from April 2018 and same should be done in the rest of country. Ms. Sabahat Riaz said that laws relating to child protection are present in the country but there was a need to create awareness about these laws and procedures. She explained the legal procedures which should be adopted by parents to get help in case of any child abuse. In her concluding remarks, the chairperson BISP said that BISP on behalf of the Federal government had initiated this campaign for the safety of our children. The policy analysts at a roundtable held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) rejected the idea of forceful repatriation of millions of Afghan refugees from Pakistan calling it unwise and harmful for the national interest. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018) : The policy analysts at a roundtable held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) rejected the idea of forceful repatriation of millions of Afghan refugees from Pakistan calling it unwise and harmful for the national interest. It may be mentioned that as a consequence of deteriorating relations with the Kabul regime and a reaction to the pressurizing tactics of Washington, the Pakistani policymakers have decided not to extend the POR cards of Afghan refugees beyond 31 January 2018 and send them back to their country. Director General of IPS, Khalid Rahman was of the opinion that it is simply not possible to send back 2.4 million registered and an unknown number of unregistered refugees currently residing in the length and breadth of the country without a comprehensive plan and research-backed policy. He said that there were two views about the presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan: one considering them an asset and the other a liability. However, the issue must not be seen in black and white as there were many grey areas in it with several shades. Decisions should not be based on perceptions and reactions; a lot of research and policy dialogues were needed to address this issue of critical national and regional importance, he emphasized. Former ISI chief, General (retd) Asad Durrani said that it was not in the interest of Pakistan to repatriate millions of Afghans forcefully and ruin the investment of four decades. Two generations of them have been born here and majority of their youth have hardly seen their native areas, he added. There may be fifth columnists among them but it is better that they stay here and are tracked instead of being sent back to do whatever they want against Pakistan with impunity, Durrani suggested. Jumma Khan Sufi, author of bestseller Fareb-e-Na-tamam and a former Pashtun nationalist leader who has witnessed and documented the role of Afghan government in fomenting terror in Pakistan in 1970s, rejected the approach of viewing Afghan refugees as asset or liability. The former ISI chief said that most of the anti-Pakistan government officials of Afghanistan have lived here as refugees and they can never respect the sovereignty and reality of Pakistan due to the superiority complex embedded in the historic national narrative of Afghans. He viewed the Afghan refugees issue as a humanitarian one that should be addressed on the same grounds. Terming forceful repatriation of all Afghan refugees an illusion, Brig (Retd) Ishaq Ahmed, Director, Intelligence and International Security Studies at South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) University, called for categorization of Afghan refugees and offering of Pakistani nationality or business, work and student visas to the eligible among them against certain criteria. Ambassador (retd) Tajammul Altaf, Ambassador (retd) Ibrar Hussain, Professor Dr Adnan Sarwar, Dr Shehryar Khan, Ambassador (retd) Ayaz Wazir, Brigadier (retd) Said Nazeer Mohmand, Sarwat Sultana, Waqar-un-Nisa, and an Afghan refugee PhD scholar Zakir Hussain also viewed similar views among majority of other participants on the occasion. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Saturday was accorded a very warm welcome upon his arrival, as Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi received him at the PM House ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Saturday was accorded a very warm welcome upon his arrival, as Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi received him at the PM House. National anthems of both countries were played. The President of Indonesia was presented a guard of honour by the smartly turned out contingent of the three services. Joko Widodo reviewed the guard of honour. Later, a three-ship formation of JF-17 Thunder led by Wing Commander Kashif Kamal flying at an altitude of 500 feet presented salute to the visiting dignitary with marvelous display of flypast, emitting bomburst. The Indonesian President was also introduced to Federal ministers present during the ceremony. National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) would organize launching ceremony of its two newly written books 'Aangai' and 'Chitral Ke Lok Geet' on January 29 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) would organize launching ceremony of its two newly written books 'Aangai' and 'Chitral Ke Lok Geet' on January 29, followed by special performance by musicians from Chitral. Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed told APP that this would be a literary event dedicated to the actual stories that those books tell and the struggles in putting together such extensive pieces of research. She said that, "Chitral Ke Lok Geet" was written by Mohammad Irfan and published by Lok Virsa. She said the book describing the culture of music and musicians, their lifestyles and various forms of instrument playing and it's historic evolution. Book Aangai was a compilation of poetry about the brides of Kakar tribes in Balochistan province. The book is written by Ali Kamil Qazlabash and published by Lok Virsa, she said. Dr Fouzia said the launch of those two books by Lok Virsa had been a much awaited event by the literary community. She said Lok Virsa had so far published over 200 books on various facets of Pakistani folklore and cultural heritage. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo Saturday held in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and a wide range of international and regional issues of shared interest ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo Saturday held in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and a wide range of international and regional issues of shared interest. After a tete-a-tete, the two leaders reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan and Indonesia shared deep political, cultural, religious ties and respect for democratic values. Being the largest countries in the Islamic world, the two stood together for their progress, prosperity, stability, security and territorial integrity. Besides, agreeing to strengthen their defense and security cooperation, the two leaders also agreed to intensify counter-terrorism cooperation. Prime Minister Abbasi briefed President Widodo on Pakistan's counter terrorism efforts, PM office media wing said in a press release.The two leaders agreed that there was a need to improve the trade imbalance. The two sides acknowledged that there was considerable untapped potential to expand trade, taking advantage of the PTA. The two side agreed to further increase tariff lines under the existing mechanism of Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries. There was also unanimity of views to work together for gradually taking PTA to the level of Free Trade Agreement. The two leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation at the multilateral forums.Indonesia reiterated its support for Pakistan's bid for full dialogue partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Indonesia also assured Pakistan to support its bid for Indian-Ocean Rim Association. Prime Minister Abbasi briefed President Widodo on Pakistan's efforts to enhance regional connectivity and development including through China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He underscored that Indonesian businessmen could benefit from the vast investment opportunities, offered by the CPEC. About regional situation, Prime Minister Abbasi briefed President Widodo about Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. He also appreciated Indonesia's desire to assist Afghanistan in peace and reconciliation which was vital for regional security. He briefed President Widodo on the steps taken by Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues with India including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the grave human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). After their talks, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo attended a signing ceremony of MoUs/Agreement between the two countries. The MoUs/Agreement signed include MoU on Import of LNG and POL products from Indonesia, Additional Protocol to Preferential Trade Agreement for 20 new tariff lines, MoU on Trade facilitation and MoU between Foreign Service academy and Centre of Training and education Indonesia. Pakistan strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack in Kabul on Saturday in which many precious human lives were lost and a number of innocent were injured ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Pakistan strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack in Kabul on Saturday in which many precious human lives were lost and a number of innocent were injured. We express deep grief and sorrow at the loss of precious lives in this dreadful terrorist attack and convey our deepest condolence and sympathies with the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones and also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government and the people of Pakistan conveyed solidarity and support with the government and people of Afghanistan at this brutal terrorist attack, said a message received here from FO. Pakistan reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. No cause or ends justify acts of terrorism against innocent people. We emphasize the need for concerted efforts and effective cooperation among the states to eradicate the scourge of terrorism, the message said. Pakistan has made a fervent call on the UN Security Council to face up to its responsibilities and implement its resolutions on Palestine and other longstanding disputes, including Kashmir, to usher in peace and security in the conflict-ridden world UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2018 ) :Pakistan has made a fervent call on the UN Security Council to face up to its responsibilities and implement its resolutions on Palestine and other longstanding disputes, including Kashmir, to usher in peace and security in the conflict-ridden world. Otherwise, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, warned that people around the world would completely lose their faith in the world body. Speaking in a Security Council debate on the situation in the middle East on Thursday, the Pakistani envoy took issue with the Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon who had attempted to shift the attention from Israel's illegal and repressive actions in Palestine to the activities of Iran which he claimed were destabilizing the region. The Tel Aviv ambassador also claimed that there were 82,000 fighters under the direct Iranian authority in Syria, including 3,000 members of its Revolutionary Guard, 9,000 from Hizbullah and 10,000 Shia militants from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Lodhi deplored the Israeli envoy's attempt to deflect attention from the tragedy of the Palestinian people, saying, "We know why; Occupiers have no case to make other than to create alternate facts." She also said the decision by the U.S. and some other countries to relocate their embassies to occupied Jerusalem had further inflamed the situation in the Middle east. Their justification of the move as an expression of their sovereign right was "a false determination." The legal status of Jerusalem was unambiguous, Ambassador Lodhi said. Several Security Council and General Assembly resolutions affirmed that all legislative and administrative measures taken by the occupying power to alter the character and status of Jerusalem a "null and void". Any action to the contrary was also a blatant attempt to legitimize Israel's illegal occupation of East Jerusalem, she said. "When principles are trumped by self-serving interests, rationality and reason are invariably supplanted by threat and intimidation," the Pakistani envoy said. "We have witnessed this unfortunate spectacle with disturbing frequency in recent days, including at the UN." Despite these provocations, she said, the international community had stood firm in their support for the Palestinian cause. "Pakistan will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, as indeed, people living under foreign occupation in Kashmir and elsewhere," Ambassador Lodhi told the 15-member Council. "The Middle East can only seek the dividend of peace if it is built on the foundation of justice - an imperative that entails a viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of the Palestinian State. " The Pakistani envoy also voiced deep concern over the aggravation in the financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) following the recent U.S. decision to withhold more than half its funding to the organization, saying the international community must not fail the Palestinian refugees. "We must act now to ensure sufficient and sustainable financing for UNRWA," she said, adding, "Its activities are a lifeline for Palestinian refugees." Elsewhere in the Middle East, Ambassador Lodhi called for a surge in diplomacy to kick-start an inclusive political process, with the prompt replacement of the outgoing Special Representative, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. "This must be complemented by a massive humanitarian surge to address the suffering of the Yemini people, especially women and children." In Syria, she said, continued engagement by all sides in genuine, representative and direct intra-Syrian negotiations was the only way forward towards finding a political settlement of the conflict. "We hope the latest round of talks in Vienna will produce concrete results." Opening the debate, the UN envoy on the Middle East peace process said that the Security Council and the wider international community have fallen into a pattern of 'managing, rather than resolving' the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and called for ending this paralysis, showing political leadership and pushing for policies on the ground that rebuild trust. "Twenty-five years after the Oslo Accords, we are at a critical point in the peace process," Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said, referring to a set of agreements, the first of which was signed in 1993, establishing a timetable for achieving peace between the two sides. The uncertainty and volatility of the current environment, he continued, is hardening positions and sharpening the rhetoric on all sides, "situation that plays directly into the hands of extremists and increases the risk of another conflict." He said that absent a credible proposal that can become the basis of final status negotiations, the international community must continue to build the conditions necessary for a resumption of talks. "We must also reaffirm the international consensus that the two-State solution remains the only viable option for a just and sustainable end to the conflict. We must be unwavering in this position," he said. The two-State solution means having Israel and Palestine as two separate States living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition. Two people died and another injured in separate road mishaps in different areas of Burewala on Saturday. BUREWALA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018) : Two people died and another injured in separate road mishaps in different areas of Burewala on Saturday. Police said that due to visibility caused by dense fog, driver of a car lost control of vehicle near Sheikh Fazal area of Burewala. Headmaster of Government BTM High school identified as Chauhdry Muhammad Aslam died on the spot while son renowned medical specialists Dr. Imran Aslam was critically injured. Another person Bilal Jahangir Solangi died in a road accident at College Road. Bodies and injured of both accidents were shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities. Rescue operation for two foreign mountaineers stranded on Nanga Parbat is underway as two helicopters of Pakistan Army, carrying four rescuers are undertaking the mission, according to a statement issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Rescue operation for two foreign mountaineers stranded on Nanga Parbat is underway as two helicopters of Pakistan Army, carrying four rescuers are undertaking the mission, according to a statement issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. The rescue operation for foreign mountaineers - one male and one female, who are stuck in bad weather at Nanga Parbat has been launched on the request made to Pakistan army. The request was made to Pakistan army by the concerned embassies, the ISPR statement added. Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday said the murder case of the minor girl is a test case for the government and at all requirements of justice will be fulfilled during its investigation LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday said the murder case of the minor girl is a test case for the government and at all requirements of justice will be fulfilled during its investigation. He was presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, held here to review progress on the investigation into the Zainab murder case. Addressing the meeting, the CM said that no one would be allowed to influence the transparent investigation or distort facts, as the murder of the innocent girl was tantamount to damaging the interests of the country. He said that the repute of the country had been damaged by creating doubts regarding the case. He said the creation of doubts through baseless documents and wrong statements was against the national interest. He said that the Punjab government had never done anything against the national interests and would not allow anybody to do it. He said ambitions of those who want to create doubts have been exposed and such regrettable attitude towards the murder of the innocent child was regrettable. He said he was personally monitoring progress on the investigation and would take every possible step to ensure justice. The additional chief secretary home and the head of the Joint Investigation Team RPO Multan briefed the meeting on the case. Spokesman for the Punjab government, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Advisor Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary Home, the IGP, secretaries and senior officers of the concerning departments also attend the meeting. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Dense fog engulfed various parts of Punjab as well other parts of country on Saturday morning ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Dense fog engulfed various parts of Punjab as well other parts of country on Saturday morning. Radio Pakistan reported that according to spokesperson of Motorway Police, Motorway has been closed for traffic from Gojra to Faisalabad and Khanewal to Multan due to fog. Dense fog was covered Pattoki, Okara, Sahiwal, Multan, Lodharan, Bahawalnagar,Chichawatni, Faisalabad, affected the road traffic badly and visibility dropped to zero. The drivers have been directed to take precautionary measures while travelling and use fog lights. On the other hand, mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. Very cold weather conditions are likely to prevail in northern areas, Malakand and Quetta divisions. Dense fog is likely to persist over plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh during night and morning hours. Thick fog enveloped various areas of Punjab on night between Friday and Saturday,as the weather turned frosty disrupting the lives of citizens. The Motorway police have appealed the drivers to use GT Road for travel. The Motorway police have also urged the drivers to drive slowly and switch on fog lights. They also requested people to stay home and avoid unnecessary traveling. Fourteen Malian soldiers were killed and 18 wounded on Saturday in an attack on their camp in Mali's restive north, the army said, while military sources told AFP jihadists were responsible Bamako, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Fourteen Malian soldiers were killed and 18 wounded on Saturday in an attack on their camp in Mali's restive north, the army said, while military sources told AFP jihadists were responsible. Mali's deteriorating security situation is of growing concern as Al-Qaeda-linked groups mount increasingly deadly attacks on domestic and foreign forces, and the country's president on Saturday cancelled his visit to an African summit. "The Malian armed forces were attacked early this morning, around 4am, in Soumpi (Timbuktu region). We have recorded 14 dead, 18 wounded and material damage," a statement from the military posted on social media said. A military source based in Bamako had told AFP the men were killed "during a cowardly terrorist attack on the Soumpi camp". The local official confirmed the death toll, and said five wounded men were transferred to the town of Niafunke for medical treatment. The Soumpi incident comes two days after 26 civilians including mothers and babies were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, according to a UN death toll. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had cancelled planned travel to the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit Boni on Saturday, he said in a tweet. The UN Security Council said it "condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack", referring to Thursday's incident. - Armed groups under scrutiny - Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out in a French-led military operation launched in January 2013. In June 2015, Mali's government signed a peace agreement with coalitions of non-jihadist armed groups. But Islamist insurgents remain active, and large tracts of the country are lawless. The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a French-drafted statement giving parties to the 2015 peace deal until the end of March to show progress or face sanctions. The council said there was a "pressing need to deliver tangible and visible peace dividends to the population in the North and other parts of Mali" ahead of elections scheduled for this year. Mali is one of a string of poor, fragile nations in the Sahel region that have been battered by terror attacks. The country has joined the so-called "G5 Sahel force" with Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, pooling military efforts to fight the jihadists. (@FahadShabbir) At least 30 refugees and migrants drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Aden, Yemen, the United Nations reported on Friday, saying the overcrowded vessel was believed to have been operated by unscrupulous smugglers who were trying to extort money from the passengers UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :At least 30 refugees and migrants drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Aden, Yemen, the United Nations reported on Friday, saying the overcrowded vessel was believed to have been operated by unscrupulous smugglers who were trying to extort money from the passengers. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed outrage and sadness over the incident, which occurred Tuesday. "As we have been saying for almost five years now, the preservation of human life is our utmost priority everywhere, IOM Director William Lacy Swing said Friday in Davos, Switzerland, where he has been part of the UN agency delegation attending the 2018 World Economic Forum. "Yemen is no exception," he added . Survivors of the incident have reported to the UN and partners that an overcrowded boat, packed with 101 Ethiopians and 51 Somalis, departed 23 January from the Al- Buraiqa coast in Aden, headed across the Gulf of Aden towards Djibouti. At least 30 people have died in this tragic incident. There have also been reports that gunfire was used against passengers. "We are deeply troubled by reports of this latest incident," Swing stressed. IOM and partners are working with the Yemeni Coast Guard to further understand the incident and provide emergency assistance to survivors, including medicine, food, water and psycho-social support services. IOM and the Un refugee agency have long been warning that prolonged conflict and insecurity in Yemen exposes vulnerable refugees and migrants to a heightened risk of human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrest, detention, trafficking and deportation. Yemen is a traditional transitory and migratory hub in the region. Despite prevailing conflict and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions more than 87,000 migrants and refugees risked their lives on the high seas in 2017 " seeking to reach Yemen from the Horn of Africa by boat, according to UN data. To raise awareness about the horrendous risks and dangers in Yemen, UNHCR said launched a Dangerous Crossings regional awareness campaign last year to inform those contemplating the journey. IOM, UNHCR and their partners are members of the Mixed Migration Working Group in Yemen, which has been responding to the needs of migrants and refugees there. The Group is appealing for more urgent support to respond to the needs of those most vulnerable in Yemen and to actively pursue solutions for refugees and migrants. A drone strike early Saturday killed seven suspected Al-Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, a security official said. The US military is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen Aden, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :A drone strike early Saturday killed seven suspected Al-Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, a security official said. The US military is the only force known to operate armed drones over Yemen. The official said the strike happened after midnight and targeted a car in Shabwa province. "All seven passengers, who were Al-Qaeda members, were killed," said the security source. The United States considers the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to be the radical group's most dangerous branch. A long-running drone war against AQAP has intensified since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2017. AQAP has flourished in the chaos of the country's civil war, which pits the Saudi-backed government against Shiite Huthi rebels. Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has said he will not agree to any extradition order for former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, who has been living in exile in the central African country after being forced to quit power last year Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2018 ) :Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has said he will not agree to any extradition order for former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, who has been living in exile in the central African country after being forced to quit power last year. Jammeh, who seized control of The Gambia in a 1994 military coup, lost a democratic election and refused to step aside until threatened with military intervention. The Gambian strongman is accused by the current government and rights groups of ordering the torture and murder of political opponents during his brutal 22-year rule, while pocketing $50 million (40 million Euros) from the state coffers. "I believe that the stance of protecting former heads of state is a correct one," Obiang said late Friday after meeting with African Union leader Alpha Conde, who is also Guinea's president. "I hail Alpha Conde who told me he will not accept any demand for Yahya Jammeh's extradition. Even I will not accept it. "We are in full agreement that Yahya Jammeh must be protected. He must be respected as a former African leader. Because this is a guarantee for other African leaders that they will not be harassed after they leave power," said Obiang, who has ruled his own country with an iron fist since 1979. The comments caused anger in Banjul, where Gambian victims are slowly building a case against the former president that analysts believe has the quiet backing of the new government. Amadou Scattred Janneh, a former information minister imprisoned by the ex-leader's regime turned leading member of the "Jammeh to Justice" campaign, said the case "will not depend solely on Obiang." "We have a duty to intensify the pressure on President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea to ensure that Jammeh and his accomplices are ultimately brought to trial," he told AFP. However, he added, "It is not up to dictators to determine whether or not their colleagues should face justice." Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is a pragmatic pro-EU conservative whose skill at balancing relations with Moscow and Washington, amid heightened tensions is likely to get him re-elected for another six-year term on Sunday Helsinki, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is a pragmatic pro-EU conservative whose skill at balancing relations with Moscow and Washington, amid heightened tensions is likely to get him re-elected for another six-year term on Sunday. Niinisto, 69, is running as an independent, placing himself above party politics to concentrate on his top priority: getting Finland under the protection of the US missile shield without upsetting its powerful Russian neighbour with whom it shares a 1,340-kilometre (833-mile) border. Finns "want stability and don't want change right now," Juhana Aunesluoma, research director at the University of Helsinki Network for European Studies, told AFP. The latest opinion polls credit Niinisto with between 58 and 63 percent of votes, losing ground but still far ahead of the seven other candidates. His main rival, Pekka Haavisto of the Green party, is seen garnering around 13-14 percent support. Should Niinisto be elected with more than 50 percent of votes in Sunday's first round, it would be a first since the Nordic country introduced a two-round presidential election by popular vote in 1994. If necessary, a second round of voting will be held on February 11. Pakistan will continue to provide the United States with air and ground logistics for its troops in Afghanistan in spite of the aid cut, as Islamabad believes it helps the war against terrorism, Prime Minister Shahid Kaqan Abbasi said in an interview to the Washington Post WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Pakistan will continue to provide the United States with air and ground logistics for its troops in Afghanistan in spite of the aid cut, as Islamabad believes it helps the war against terrorism, Prime Minister Shahid Kaqan Abbasi said in an interview to the Washington Post. According to the excerpts of the interview conducted on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and made available to APP, the Prime Minister told the WP that Pakistan had extended support to the US in the fight against terrorism and that it would not be affected by President Trump's statement and the aid-cut. No. That will continue. Because we believe that helps in the war against terror, he said referring to the assistance that Pakistani provides to the US to supply logistics to its forces in Afghanistan. He was replying to a question if that assistance would be affected by President Trump's statements.It (assistance) helps brings stability to Pakistan, so we support that effort. Prime Minister Abbasi, to a question said, relations between Pakistan and the United kept changing with the presidents and the Congress. This has been a relationship that has not been one of trust or stability, he said. But, while Pakistan provided unconditional support to the US after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the American quid pro is poor, the PM said, adding that even after the US aid cut, Pakistan continues to provide the US with air and ground logistics for Afghanistan without any contract or payment. There has been over 1.1 million US overflights within Pakistani airspace used to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and millions of tons of equipment and cargo is transported to American troops using Pakistani land routes. When asked how he would respond to President Trump's tweet, in which he accused Pakistan for not being fully cooperative, the Prime Minister said the ground realities did not support his assertion. We are committed to fighting the war against terror. There are no two ways about it. We have assisted the U.S. forces and will continue to assist them, the Prime Minister said, adding that Pakistan has always acted upon actual US intelligence against terrorists. We have destroyed the sanctuaries. There has not been a single instance where if actual intelligence has been provided, it has not been acted upon, he added. To the contrary, the Prime Minister pointed out that in the last year alone, 29 suicide bombers crossed over from Afghanistan into Pakistan and attacked government installations and people, including an attack on the convoy of the deputy chair of the Senate that killed 22 people. Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan and the US have had very strong relationship, but it had gone downhill in the past 15 years. He said that Pakistan had received minimal US aid in the last 15 years or so. But, he calcified that there was no economic aid and the security assistance that US provided to Pakistan was a coalition support fund which it reimbursed Pakistan for the expenses that were made in support of US forces in Afghanistan. Security assistance was minimal. There were some military sales we bought some F-16 fighters, which we did not receive. All that has done is degrade our ability to fight the terrorists, said the Prime Minister alluding to the cut in security assistance. Emphasizing Pakistan's firm commitment to root out menace of terrorism and extremism from its soil, Prime Minister Abbasi said that the country was fighting the largest war on terror in the world.We have 200,000 troops fighting a war against terror today on the western border. We have lost 6,500 troops. We have defeated the same enemy the rest of the world failed to defeat in Afghanistan, on the same terrain, with our own resources. Prime Minister Abbasi said that there were no sanctuaries in Pakistan and that the country was ready to take action if someone provided a location. About the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that most of the areas along the border with Pakistan are controlled by the Taliban and the Afghan government had a minimal control there. He said that Pakistan shares 2,000+plus kilometer border with Afghanistan and of that, there is not a single Afghan soldier or a post on the stretch of 700 kilometers. Drug trafficking is at the highest level we have seen in 50 years, he said, adding that Pakistan has now started fencing the border on its side and spending billions of Dollar on that. We are trying to keep the drugs out, the terrorists out. It is a fluid order: 60,000 to 70,000 undocumented people cross the border every day, he said. When his attention was drawn to the US announcement about re-engaging in Afghanistan and sending troops there, the Prime Minister stated that war was not a solution in Afghanistan and the Afghans would have to sit down and resolve their problems. Speaking on the Pakistan-China relations, the Prime Minister said that the two countries have enjoyed relationship for 70 years and it was a growing relationship. The two countries have military and economic cooperation and now China is making multi-billion Dollars of investment into Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said that investment was not a gift but a package of financial assistance to build projects while cooperation with American companies continues on a secondary level. Towards the end of the interview when asked what would be his message to President Trump, the Prime Minister replied: My message would be to look at Pakistan's viewpoint. The reality of Pakistan very different from the perception he has. Pakistan is a US ally. It is a partner against the same enemy, which is terror. Turkey on Wednesday condemned the double car bombing, which claimed at least 34 lives and injured dozens others in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2018 ) :Turkey on Wednesday condemned the double car bombing, which claimed at least 34 lives and injured dozens others in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi. In a statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry conveyed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the attacks and wished recovery to the injured people. "We attach importance to Libya's stability, unity and welfare, and support Libya's struggle against terror elements, which want to drag the country into turmoil," it added. A car-bomb exploded outside a mosque in Benghazi's central Al Salmani district on Tuesday evening. A second bombing struck as people gathered to help the victims of the first blast. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to send his envoy Staffan de Mistura to a peace conference in Russia next week, a UN spokesman said Saturday, despite an opposition boycott United Nations, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to send his envoy Staffan de Mistura to a peace conference in Russia next week, a UN spokesman said Saturday, despite an opposition boycott. Guterres "is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution" to reviving the peace talks held under UN auspices in Geneva, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Ahead of one of the largest gathering of young people at the United Nations, the "Secretary-General" Envoy on Youth Friday called on the international community and governments to strengthen their efforts to support, empower and engage young people, at time of uncertainty and turmoil around the world UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :Ahead of one of the largest gathering of young people at the United Nations, the "Secretary-General" Envoy on Youth Friday called on the international community and governments to strengthen their efforts to support, empower and engage young people, at time of uncertainty and turmoil around the world. "It is really the best of the times to be a young person but also the worst of the times," Jayathma Wickramanayake told a press conference in New York ahead of the UN Economic and Social Council Youth Forum (30 to 31 January 2018). The Forum connects more than 500 youth advocates with government and civil society representatives to discuss critical issues affecting young people, ranging from poverty, unemployment, inequalities to climate change, clean energy and safe cities. "We are the most connected generation ever " we have access to technology and have every opportunity to be innovative and creative, yet some 600 million young people live in conflict-affected and fragile states, and some 71 million of them are unemployed." Today, there are an estimated 1.2 billion (15 to 24 years-old) young people in the world, the largest generation of youth the world has ever seen. Many of them are living in developing countries, and more than half of them are in Asia and the Pacific alone. With young people across the world facing a future full of uncertainties due to conflicts, economic variability, climate change, and rising inequalities, she stressed the importance of seeing them as agents of change and placing them at the centre of the global development process, including leading the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 'the world's plan of action for a more sustainable future. This is a time in history that we can really make a change because, ultimately, it is the youth who will lead the implementation of 2030 Agenda, said Wickramanayake who at 26 became the UN youngest senior official when Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed her in June 2017 to bring the UN closer to young people and bring young people closer to the UN. After participating in her first Youth Forum in her current capacity later this month, Wickramanayake will travel to several countries in Africa, a continent with the world's fastest growing youth population. While in Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, from 1 to 16 February, she will meet young people from a diversity of communities and learn about the issues that they are facing in efforts to ensure youth voices are heard and valued at all levels of government and at the UN. The 7th ECOSOC Youth Forum will take place under the theme the role of youth in building sustainable and resilient urban and rural communities, to address the challenges that today's generation of young people is facing. The Forum, the largest official annual gathering on youth issues at the UN, offers an opportunity for young people to engage with Member States to discuss policy frameworks as well as promote innovative approaches and initiatives for advancing youth development. (@ChaudhryMAli88) 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 Addis Ababa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :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. The US military has opened an investigation after images surfaced online this week that appear to have been taken from the helmet camera of one of the US soldiers killed in an ambush in Niger Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2018 ) :The US military has opened an investigation after images surfaced online this week that appear to have been taken from the helmet camera of one of the US soldiers killed in an ambush in Niger. Grainy photographs posted and circulated on Twitter purportedly show a soldier in US uniform lying on the dry-earthen ground, a US flag patch on his chest. The image looks like it was recorded from another soldier's helmet camera. The exact provenance of the photos is murky, but the original Twitter account to post the pictures said they had been collected by an Islamic State affiliate. "I'm aware of the report, and we have not confirmed the authenticity of that," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday. One tweet, now deleted, claimed there was an associated video. The US military's Africa command said it was aware of the Twitter postings purporting to show the October 4 ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger. "We are reviewing the post and determining the veracity of the tweet and the assertions that there is an associated video," AFRICOM said in a statement. The ambush occurred as a unit of 12 American special forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops returned from the village near the border with Mali. They were attacked by a group of some 50 fighters affiliated with IS and equipped with small arms, grenades and trucks mounted with guns. Four American soldiers were killed along with at least five Nigerien troops. The body of one US soldier, Sergeant La David Johnson, was not recovered until the following day. Questions remain about what intelligence failures may have occurred that allowed such a large attack, but the Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the ambush as well as the nature of the mission while it conducts a probe. US troops frequently wear cameras while out on missions, sometimes even using their own GoPro-style devices. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Alaskas all-Republican congressional delegation three weeks ago praised Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke after he announced nearly all federal waters off the states coast could be offered for petroleum lease sales. But after hearing from critics who do not want drilling in their home waters, U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young are backtracking. In a letter Friday to Zinke, the delegation requested that most Alaska waters from the states Panhandle to the Bering Strait be removed from the proposed five-year drilling plan. FILE - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with I FILE - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alaska's pro-development congressional delegation is asking the Trump administration to back off from offering nearly all lands off its coast for oil drilling. FILE - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alaska's pro-development congressional delegation is asking the Trump administration to back off from offering nearly all lands off its coast for oil drilling. Instead, they urged lease sales in only three areas: Cook Inlet, where petroleum platforms have extracted oil and natural gas for decades, and the Arctic waters of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. We believe the strongest near-term offshore program in Alaska is one that focuses on the Chukchi, Beaufort and Cook Inlet, they wrote. Such a program will maximize agency resources and reflect the areas with the broadest support for development among Alaskans. Zinke announced the proposed lease sale plan Jan. 4. He said revisions could be made after public comment. Immediate opposition The proposal excluded only one area of Alaska: the North Aleutian Basin, home to Bristol Bay and the worlds largest run of sockeye salmon. The proposal drew immediate opposition from governors in East and West Coast states. After Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, met with Zinke, the secretary announced that drilling would be off the table for waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean off Florida. Subsistence resources In Alaska, proposed lease sales in the Bering Sea drew strong condemnation from the Bering Sea Elders Group, an association of Alaska Native elders appointed from 39 tribes, and Kawerak Inc., a regional nonprofit organization, which said oil and gas activities pose a serious threat to marine life. These basins are where tribes from our region have harvested subsistence resources for millennia and where local people from our region fish and crab commercially, Kawerak said in an announcement. Drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, home to polar bears, walrus and ice seals that support the subsistence economies of coastal villages, is strongly opposed by environmental groups. They say the harsh climate makes spills inevitable and that cleanup of a major spill would be impossible in waters choked by or covered in sea ice. Oil estimates However, federal regulators say the Beaufort Sea, off Alaskas north coast, holds an estimated 8.9 billion barrels of oil and the Chukchi, off Alaskas northwest coast, holds an estimated 15.4 billion barrels. Royal Dutch Shell spent $2.1 billion on Chukchi Sea leases in 2008, invested another $5 billion overall in U.S. Arctic waters, and pulled out after drilling a dry hole in 2015. Murkowski, Sullivan and Young contend drilling in Arctic waters can be done safely. They said they strongly support the inclusion of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas for lease sales between 2019 and 2024, while at the same time urging meaningful consultation with communities. ISLAMABAD / WARSAW - Efforts to rescue a Polish man and a French woman stuck on a treacherous peak in northern Pakistan known to mountaineers as "Killer Mountain" are set to begin on Saturday, officials said. Tomasz Mackiewicz from Poland and Elisabeth Revol of France were attempting to ascend the 8,126-meter (26,660-foot) Nanga Parbat in Pakistan's Himalaya mountain range. Four members from a team of Polish climbers attempting the first winter ascent of nearby K2, the world's second-highest mountain, will assist in the rescue operation after a Pakistan army helicopter picks them up from their base camp and flies them to Nanga Parbat. "They will be brought from K2 to Nanga Parbat and then the operation will begin," Asghar Porik of Jasmine Tours told Reuters on Friday. Separately, a Pakistani tourism official, Iqbal Hussain, said the operation would begin Saturday. Mackiewicz and Revol got stuck at the 7,400-meter mark, from where they used a satellite phone to call for help, a spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Karrar Haidri, told Reuters. Masha Gordon, who has coordinated a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the rescue operation, said Revol managed to bring Mackiewicz down to 7,280 meters and set him up in a tent to spend the night. 'She has no tent' "Eli is in the process of descending down and has last communicated from 6,671 meters," Gordon said. "Though she has no tent, she is clearly lucid and is making progress on a descent to help get the rescue effort under way." Janusz Majer, who helped prepare the Polish expedition team currently scaling K2, said that messages sent by Revol said Mackiewicz was suffering from snow blindness and frostbite. "He hid himself in a crevasse to seek protection from wind. Tomasz in the past has spent a couple of nights above 7,000 meters, but with all the needed equipment," Majer said. The crowdfunding campaign had raised about 62,500 euros ($75,000) by Friday evening, exceeding its target of 60,000 euros within several hours. The Polish government said it would provide financial guarantees and support for the rescue operation. Mackiewicz has made six previous attempts to scale Nanga Parbat in winter, where perceived temperatures can reach minus 60 degrees Celsius. The first successful winter ascent of the mountain was made as recently as February 2016. Pakistan rivals Nepal for the number of peaks over 7,000 meters (23,000 feet). In June, a Spanish man and an Argentinian perished in an avalanche while trying to scale Nanga Parbat. Police in Canada said Friday that they thought billionaire businessman Barry Sherman and his wife were the victims of a targeted killing. Police said they were treating the case as a double homicide after a six-week investigation, but they declined to discuss possible suspects or motives. The deaths last month of Sherman, 75, who founded the Canadian pharmaceutical company Apotex, and his wife, Honey, 70, shocked the country's business and philanthropic communities. Police said the couple were found hanging by belts from a railing next to a swimming pool at their Toronto mansion December 15. Toronto homicide Detective Sergeant Susan Gomes said during a news conference Friday that police had an "an extensive list of people we're looking forward to speaking to." Last month, multiple news organizations quoted anonymous police sources as saying investigators were operating on the theory that the deaths were a murder-suicide. Gomes disputed those reports, saying police were always considering three possibilities: double suicide, murder-suicide and double homicide. The Sherman family hired a private investigator and pathologist and conducted an independent autopsy of the bodies after complaining that police had mishandled the case at the beginning of the investigation. The private investigators told reporters this week that the Shermans most likely had been killed by multiple people. The family said in a statement Friday that the police's double homicide conclusion was "expressed by the family from the outset and is consistent with the findings of the independent autopsy and investigation." No signs of forced entry Gomes said there were no signs of forced entry at the Shermans' home. She said the couple were last heard from December 13, two days before their bodies were discovered. Police have searched the couple's mansion, taken 125 witness statements and analyzed surveillance video from the couple's North York neighborhood, one of Toronto's most exclusive communities. Barry Sherman founded Apotex, which sells generic drugs, in 1974, revolutionizing the drug industry in Canada. He was known for his propensity to sue rivals as he built his company into a pharmaceutical giant. Sherman stepped down as chief executive in 2012. He and his wife were known for their philanthropy, giving generous donations to hospitals, universities and Jewish organizations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the funeral of the couple, along with other top officials from the political and business world. Forbes had estimated Sherman's net worth at $3.2 billion, making him the 12th-richest Canadian. Billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn is denying allegations of sexual harassment after a report in the Wall Street Journal detailed allegations of misconduct and caused shares of his casino company to drop 10 percent Friday. Wynn said in a statement Friday The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous and accused his ex-wife of being behind the accusations. 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. Several incidents The Journal article detailed several incidents in which Wynn allegedly pressured staff to perform sex acts. The allegations include those from a manicurist who claims she was forced to have sex with Wynn in 2005, shortly after he opened his flagship Wynn Las Vegas. The paper said she was later paid a $7.5 million settlement. The Journal said it contacted more than 150 people who work or had worked for Wynn while investigating the story. We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, Wynn said, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multiyear lawsuits. Wynn, 75, is a towering figure in the gambling world; his company helped to revitalize Las Vegas in the 1990s. Wynn Resorts built the Golden Nugget, The Bellagio and Mirage Resorts. Republican National Committee post In addition to being a business mogul, Wynn is the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee and has been a large contributor to the Republican Party. Stocks for Wynn Resorts plummeted 10.1 percent Friday after the Journal report was published. The Wynn Resorts board of directors formed a committee Friday to investigate the allegations, Reuters reported. There has been a wave of sexual misconduct claims against celebrities, politicians and media personalities since reports surfaced last year detailing alleged harassment by movie producer Harvey Weinstein. However, this is the first time that the sexual harassment claims have centered on the CEO and founder of a major, publicly held company. Wynn Resorts said in a statement that there has never been a complaint made about Wynn to the companys independent hotline for reporting harassment. The company requires all employees to receive annual anti-harassment training and offers an independent hotline that any employee can use anonymously, without fear of retaliation, it said. A defiant Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Friday that hes prepared to risk confrontation with the United States over Turkeys military incursion into northern Syria, vowing to next target a Kurdish-held town where U.S. Special Forces are stationed. Speaking to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara, a belligerent Erdogan shrugged off U.S. calls for Turkey to limit the incursion launched a week ago, saying the next town to be targeted after the Kurdish enclave of Afrin, where Turkish tanks have been grinding through winter mud, will be Manbij, raising the possibility of American troops being drawn inadvertently into the bruising fight between Turks and Syrian Kurds. The Reuters news agency reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday the United States needs to withdraw from northern Syria's Manbij region immediately, suggesting that an attack might be imminent. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concerns in a phone call with Erdogan about the Turkish offensive aimed at ousting Kurdish militiamen the U.S. sees as allies in the battle against the Islamic State terror group. Trump urged him to limit the incursion and to avoid civilian casualties. The U.S. president, though, acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns, according to Turkish officials, who say that Trump asked Erdogan not to criticize the U.S. Dramatic escalation But speaking to AKP members, Erdogan outlined a far more expansive operation than hes committed to before, indicating his readiness to order Turkish forces, along with thousands of allied Syrian rebels, remnants of the Free Syrian Army that led the fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to drive right across northern Syria all the way to Iraq. U.S. forces take up positions on the outskirts of FILE - U.S. forces take up positions on the outskirts of the Syrian town of Manbij, March 7, 2017. FILE - U.S. forces take up positions on the outskirts of the Syrian town of Manbij, March 7, 2017. That would mean attacking east of the Euphrates River the Kurdish stronghold of Rojava, which Syrian Kurds hope one day will become their own independent state. It would mark a dramatic escalation of Turkeys offensive - as well as adding a massive complication in the already complex Syrian conflict. We will rid Manbij of terrorists, as was promised before. Our battles will continue until no terrorist is left right up to our border with Iraq, Erdogan said. Turkish officials refer to Kurdish militiamen with the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) as a terrorists. They say the YPG is an affiliate of the Turkeys own outlawed Kurdish separatist group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency against Ankara. The Turkish offensive, oddly named Operation Olive Branch, will continue until it reaches its goals, Erdogan pledged. He made no reference to the fact that as many as 2,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Manbij or nearby. We will walk on our road until the end, Erdogan added. Turkey shares a 911-kilometer-long border with Syria, around two-thirds of which is under YPG control. Manbij is some 100 km east of the mountainous pocket of Afrin, which has been the focus of the Turkish offensive so far. U.S. troops have been located in Manbij since 2016, when Islamic State militants were driven from the city by the YPG with American assistance. Kurdish officials say they are ready to deploy militiamen from Rojava to reinforce about 10,000 YPG fighters in the crowded city of Afrin, which would mean weapons, including anti-tank missiles, supplied by Washington for use against jihadist militants being turned instead on the Turks and their Syrian rebel allies. Turkish tanks are parked near the Syrian border at FILE - Turkish tanks are parked near the Syrian border at Hassa, in Hatay province, Jan. 24, 2018, as part of the "Operation Olive Branch." FILE - Turkish tanks are parked near the Syrian border at Hassa, in Hatay province, Jan. 24, 2018, as part of the "Operation Olive Branch." 'Confusion and conflict' On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington would continue to pursue talks with Turkey and hoped to find a way to create a security zone that would meet Turkeys legitimate security interests. Senior Pentagon officials visited Ankara this week and sought to try establish a clear line between Afrin and other Kurdish-held territory and between different YPG units. Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that the armed Kurdish groups in Afrin are not part of the U.S.-backed coalition against Islamic State. But some analysts say that distinction is false, and former U.S. envoy to Turkey James Jeffrey says there is confusion and conflict in Washington about what steps to take. Gonul Tol, an analyst with the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based policy research organization, says that persuading Erdogan not to move on Manbij will likely prove extremely difficult. He argues one of the driving factors behind the offensive is Erdogans goal of galvanizing [Turkish] nationalists ahead of critical 2019 elections. Syrian Kurds have accused both the U.S. and Russia of stepping aside when it comes to Afrin, which has an estimated population of more than 300,000 after having been swelled by refuges from other parts of war-torn Syria. Russian advisers were based in Afrin but were withdrawn by Moscow just days before Operation Olive Branch was launched. Erdogan claimed last week that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have an agreement over the Turkish incursion. A Kurdish official told al-Sharq al-Awsat, a Saudi-owned pan-Arab newspaper, that the Kremlin brokered a meeting between the YPG and the Syrian government 48 hours before the Turkish offensive. He said the Kurds were told to hand over Afrin to President Assad as a way to avoid a Turkish attack and it was when they refused that the Russian military advisers were removed from Afrin. FILE - Kurdish fighters from the People's Protecti FILE - Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) chat with members of U.S. forces in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border, Syria, April 29, 2017. FILE - Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) chat with members of U.S. forces in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border, Syria, April 29, 2017. Russia has been wooing the Kurds but appears now to have chosen the Turks in the conflict with the Kurds. Russian analysts say Turkey is more important in Moscows plans for ending the Syria conflict in a way that benefits its ally Assad. Afrins defenders have a poor hand to play, according to Aron Lund, an analyst at the Century Foundation, a New York-based think tank. He says that while the Turks risk getting bogged down during the offensive and the YPG could drag out an insurgency, the Syrian Kurds face a powerful foe in Turkey whose goal is not to win concessions but to destroy it. Kurdish leaders may have no option but to negotiate with Moscow and Damascus, self-interested actors whose assistance will come at a steep price, if at all, he says. Operation Olive Branch is enjoying widespread public support in Turkey. Three of the countrys four main parties support the incursion amid a media frenzy backing the offensive. Ankara has moved against critics, and dozens who oppose the offensive, including at least five journalists, have been detained. Erdogan has pledged to crush anyone who opposes our nationalist struggle. Hong Kong has barred a young activist from an upcoming election. Agnes Chow, who is 21, is a member of the pro-democracy Demosisto political party. She had hoped to become a candidate for the city's Legislative Council in the March election. The government, however, took issue with Demosistos platform, which includes self-determination or independence for Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government said in a statement: Self-determination or changing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) system by referendum which includes the choice of independence is inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of HKSAR. Chow said her disqualification was political screening. She added that the decision to disqualify my candidacy means that the political rights are being handicapped. The governments motivation is to eliminate the hopes of an entire generation of young people, Demosisto said in a statement. Demosisto was co-founded by Joshua Wong, one of the leaders of the Umbrella Movement that began when students stormed a courtyard on the grounds of the governments headquarters in September 2014, demanding fully free elections in the semi-autonomous city. As a Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong enjoys numerous freedoms under the 1997 deal that handed the city back to China from British rule, many of those freedoms are not enjoyed on mainland China. Beijing has been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in recent years. TAIPEI, TAIWAN - An increase in Sino-foreign joint maritime research, particularly in the disputed South China Sea, is helping China improve its regional reputation by contributing to the health and utility of international waterways, analysts say. China helped Malaysia with atmospheric studies on the high seas last year, among other marine science projects, the Southeast Asian countrys chief news service Bernama reported in December. This month and next, China will work with the Philippines on exploring an underwater plateau, and Beijings official Xinhua News Agency said a vessel of Chinese scientists had reached port in Myanmar on Jan. 17 for joint oceanographic research. Analysts say these cases, and others, let China and its partners find valuable marine resources while casting Beijing as a trustworthy steward of shared oceans in Asia. FILE - Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Ro FILE - Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario points to an ancient map that officials said show that China's territorial claims over the South China Sea did not include the Scarborough Shoal. FILE - Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario points to an ancient map that officials said show that China's territorial claims over the South China Sea did not include the Scarborough Shoal. ?Political will, funding This clearly shows theres a political will of China, which means also it will influence, or it will strengthen its influence, in the region, said Liu Nengye, senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide in Australia. China is willing to pay for certain activities like joint marine scientific research. So as long as you pay, you somehow strengthen your influence in the region for sure. Beijing claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, which covers 3.5 million square kilometers from Taiwan to Singapore. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all contest Chinas claims. They resent passage of Beijings coast guard vessels and its land-filling of small islets for military installations. Science and marine protection Since a world arbitration court ruled against the scope of Chinas claim in mid-2016, Beijing has improved economic ties with other claimants to put the legal dispute behind them. Those ties dovetail with Chinas $900 billion Belt-and-Road initiative to build infrastructure in as many as 65 Eurasian countries to smooth trade. Joint maritime projects are likely to focus on low-sensitivity issues popular with the Chinese partner nations, Liu said. All coastal states want to improve marine research on environmental protection, earthquake predictions, contamination from floating plastics and ocean acidification levels, he said. Pollution persists because the South China Sea supports one-third of the worlds marine shipping traffic. Land reclamation as well as acidification also hurt coral. The harvests of an estimated 333,000 to 1.6 million fishing vessels have depleted stocks. FILE: Divers swim above a bed of corals off Malays FILE: Divers swim above a bed of corals off Malaysia's Tioman island in the South China Sea, May 4, 2008. FILE: Divers swim above a bed of corals off Malaysia's Tioman island in the South China Sea, May 4, 2008. As a hint that China sees joint research as diplomacy, a year ago this month Xinhua said China and Vietnam would pursue research of joint development as a transitional solution to their sovereignty dispute. In the past, China would do its own research, in some cases drawing protest, such as one from Brunei in 1992. Two years ago Beijings State Oceanic Administration issued a marine international cooperation framework plan to run through 2020 covering the South China Sea as well as other Asian waters, state-run Chinese media say. The joint projects fall under this plan, Liu believes. China is expected to bring better technology to research as scientists onshore develop a seaplane, drones for maritime use and an underwater observation network. A code of conduct being negotiated between China and a 10 member group of Southeast Asian countries would add to Beijings image offshore. A stronger reputation for China would let the militarily and economically powerful country mute any protests as it keeps expanding at sea through land reclamation or military buildup. China cites historical documents as proof of its claims. The deals as announced often lack specifics, such as who pays and what happens to any findings of value. The South China Sea is rich in fisheries, oil and natural gas. Research in the Indian Ocean off Myanmar will include comprehensive ocean observation to promote prevention and reduction of natural disasters, Xinhua said without giving details. Leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum wave as Leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum wave as they pose for a group photo at the Yanqi Lake venue on the outskirt of Beijing, China, May 15, 2017. Leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum wave as they pose for a group photo at the Yanqi Lake venue on the outskirt of Beijing, China, May 15, 2017. ?Receptive but on guard Chinas partners are eager as long as they get a share of findings without compromising maritime sovereignty claims, analysts say. The Philippines says it will have access to any discoveries, such as natural gas, on the plateau along its continental shelf. Sino-Malaysian research last year took place mainly in the internal waters of Malaysia, the Bernama report said. The Chinese researchers must follow Malaysian laws and regulations, it said. The ocean research paired with Chinese investment on land, such as in a $12.8 billion east-west railway line, are making China evermore familiar to Malaysians, said Ibrahim Suffian, program director with the Kuala Lumpur-based polling group Merdeka Center. Bernama calls Chinas maritime research with Malaysia a case of soft diplomacy. China is pretty much in the public radar now, Suffian said. I think for many people, particularly those in commerce and in the public sector, they are pretty much aware about the role of China. But China is likely to want something in return, some analysts say. The country often dominates most projects and is not consultative enough with needs of local partners overseas, said Alan Chong, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Expect Beijing to want favors in return, such as more infrastructure contracts, from Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, he said. China will lean on him, depending on how bold they want to be, either softly or not so softly to give them something in return for their financial backing, Chong said. Staggering through the endless debris of destroyed buildings with difficulty, Faris Abbas and other workers of Mosul municipality are on a duty to pull out corpses from under the rubble of the Old City in Mosul. The team first heads to a house where residents have reported a little girl was found. "Pull gently, brothers, gently," Abbas shouts to rescue workers as they desperately try to remove the charred ruins covering a small body, mostly decomposed and covered with dust. "Here is her stuffed toy," Abbas shouts. After several minutes of rigorous yet cautious efforts, the mummified body of a little child, grime covering her hair, is pulled from the rubble. Lying next to her is a dusty white stuffed bunny with blue spectacles and a red sweater. The workers and residents say the victim is a girl, less than 10 years old, killed during the battle for the Old City of Mosul, which ended last July. WATCH: The search for bodies continues "Residents of this area informed us about her," Abbas tells VOA as other rescue workers put the child's body in a white plastic body bag. "God bless them." Nobody knows who she is or whether her parents are still alive. Rescue workers hope the toy will help any family, if they are still alive, identify the body. Hudaifa Abdulqadir, a Mosul resident, said he informed officials after he spotted the body in the wreckage. "I have seen the body of this little girl buried here for about one or two months. Even her toy was next to her," Abdulqadir said. "The team of municipality, may God reward their good deeds a thousand times, came and took her." An Iraqi rescue worker holding a stuffed animal be An Iraqi rescue worker holding a stuffed animal belonging to an unidentified child found dead under the rubble of the Old City in Mosul. January 2018. (K Omar/VOA) An Iraqi rescue worker holding a stuffed animal belonging to an unidentified child found dead under the rubble of the Old City in Mosul. January 2018. (K Omar/VOA) ?Islamic State parents He said he believes the girl most likely belongs to IS parents since no one has listed her as missing. "But it is also possible that her family were civilians killed due to the battle," he added. Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and home to more than 1 million people, came under IS control in mid-2014. Months of IS occupation and the Iraqi battle to oust the terror group left thousands dead and reduced much of the city's western side to rubble. An Associated Press investigation last month claimed that between 9,000 and 11,000 people were killed in the nine-month battle for the city. Of that number, 3,200 civilian deaths were believed caused by airstrikes and artillery fire from Iraqi government forces and the U.S.-led coalition, according to the report. However, the Iraqi government and the coalition do not confirm this death toll. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said 1,260 civilians were killed in fighting. The U.S.-led coalition, which has not released a death toll, claimed responsibility for 326 of the civilian deaths in the Mosul fighting. Mosul resident Ahmad Saeed collecting the smashed Mosul resident Ahmad Saeed collects the smashed art pieces of his grandfather Abdulla Husain who was killed during the battle for Mosul July last year, January 2018. (K Omar/VOA) Mosul resident Ahmad Saeed collects the smashed art pieces of his grandfather Abdulla Husain who was killed during the battle for Mosul July last year, January 2018. (K Omar/VOA) ?10 to 15 bodies a day Mosul officials say they have been excavating 10 to 15 corpses a day from under the mounds of rubble since July 2017. Abbas, head of the Mosul municipality rescue team, said workers have recovered more than 2,500 bodies so far, and he said many more bodies remain buried. "I never imagined myself becoming a gravedigger," Abbas said from behind the mask he was wearing to protect himself from the stench of the decaying bodies. Abbas said his team gives priority to finding those sought by their families. Residents have submitted reports of about 3,000 missing family members. "Many people can't wait for the government and do the digging themselves," he said. As soon as the body of the unidentified girl is secured in a white plastic bag and placed on the back of a truck with several other recovered bodies, Abbas and the rest of the team take their shovels and head to the next destination. They have been asked by a family to help find their grandfather, Abdulla Husain. Husain was an 80-year-old sculptor living by himself in an old house made of mud and rocks. His family left Mosul for Iraqi Kurdistan in mid-2014 when IS controlled the city. But Husain refused to leave his home and art pieces behind. For months through the IS rule, the neighboring family of Mahmoud Yasin provided Husain with food and informed his family about his situation. But Yasin's family, too, fled in June 2017, when the Iraqi forces and the U.S. warplanes increased their attacks against IS in the Old City. The Old City used to be a densely populated district and Mosul's trade center before the IS occupation. The ancient city was built during the Ottoman Empire and included the eight-century-old al-Nouri mosque, where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared IS's caliphate in 2014. An assessment last year by the U.N. Human Settlements Program estimated 5,390 of the 8,400 housing sites destroyed or severely damaged in Mosul were located in the Old City. FILE - Children play on debris in a neighborhood r FILE - Children play on debris in a neighborhood retaken by Iraqi security forces during fighting against Islamic State militants in West Mosul, Iraq, June 25, 2017. FILE - Children play on debris in a neighborhood retaken by Iraqi security forces during fighting against Islamic State militants in West Mosul, Iraq, June 25, 2017. ?Civilians as human shields The U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi forces said IS trapped thousands of civilians in the complex maze of the district to use them as human shields. "We fled because of airstrikes and rocket fire," Yasin said while recalling the day when he had to flee with his family and leave Husain behind. "This man was unable to flee because he was old." Yasin told VOA he returned to the city only to help find Husain's body in the rubble. "There was no way for us to know that he has been killed. He lived most of his life alone in this house," Yasin added. YANGON, MYANMAR - The new advisory board created to counsel Myanmar in the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis is backing the governments plan to receive returning Rohingya refugees. They were given a brief tour of the repatriation sites following the abrupt resignation of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson. Richardson, speaking to VOA over the phone from the United States, said he supported statements from the United Nations that refugee returns are premature without access for aid agencies and independent observers, who could assess local conditions and allow refugees in Bangladesh to make genuinely informed choices about returning. WATCH: VOA Interview: Former Envoy Richardson on Rohingya Crisis The former governor of New Mexico and longtime supporter of Myanmars pro-democracy movement on Wednesday resigned from a panel set up by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to help implement recommendations from an earlier commission, led by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, for long-term solutions to the Rakhine crisis. Shortly after those recommendations were released in August, Rohingya militant attacks prompted a scorched-earth military campaign that the U.N. and Western governments have called ethnic cleansing. More than 680,000 Rohingya have since fled to Bangladesh, joining more than 85,000 displaced in a crackdown the previous year. Time for Rohingya to return? Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees spokesperson Adrian Edwards said on Tuesday the necessary safeguards for potential returnees are absent, noting restrictions on aid and media access and the continued arrival of refugees in Bangladesh. The risk of dangerous and rushed returns into a situation where violence might reignite is too great to be ignored, Edwards said. Richardson agreed that before refugees return, there have to be more assurances for their safety. They also must be given information about their future potential for citizenship, and guarantees of housing, education for their children, protection, and some kind of a future. I dont think conditions are there yet, he said, calling for the government to lift its blanket restrictions on U.N. agencies, who are key in ensuring safe passage. This is why the government of Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation, because these refugees arent ensured of their safety, he added Friday. Theyre probably thinking theyre gonna end up in mass graves. They have no guarantees about their citizenship. They should be given a path to citizenship. Theres no guarantee that theyre gonna be able to go back to their homes safely. Richardson quit the 10-member advisory panel, made up of local and international experts and chaired by former Thai deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai, after angry exchanges with Aung San Suu Kyi on the boards opening trip to Myanmar. In a statement, he said it was likely to become a cheerleading squad for government policy. Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minis Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minister and chairman of the international advisory board on the crisis in Rakhine state, visits one of the camps set up by Myanmar's Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister for the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas, outside Maungdaw in the state of Rakhine, Myanmar, Jan. 24, 2018 Surakiart Sathirathai, a former Thai foreign minister and chairman of the international advisory board on the crisis in Rakhine state, visits one of the camps set up by Myanmar's Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister for the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas, outside Maungdaw in the state of Rakhine, Myanmar, Jan. 24, 2018 ?He said he has been a good friend and supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi, the former opposition leader and the current de facto leader of Myanmar, for decades. But he said she disparaged international humanitarian aid efforts in Myanmar and exploded when he asked her about the fate of two Reuters journalists, who have been jailed in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma. That showed me that she wasnt interested in frank advice, and this is after 30 years of a very strong friendship, where we had worked together for democracy. That has obviously been shattered by my resignation, he told VOA on Friday. Myanmar's State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aun FILE - Myanmar's State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyitaw, Jan. 12, 2018. FILE - Myanmar's State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi speaks to the media during a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyitaw, Jan. 12, 2018. ?Disputes account A statement released by the office of Aung San Suu Kyi disputed Richardsons account of his departure, saying the government asked him to quit because his continued participation was not in the best interests of all concerned. [Bill Richardson] criticized the advisory board before they even started their job to visit Rakhine State. ... I think his criticism is based on emotions, presidential spokesman Zaw Htay told VOA. Myanmar, which has dismissed voluminous accounts of murder, arson and rape from Rohingya refugees, has agreed with Bangladesh to repatriate 1,500 refugees per week over two years via two processing sites near the border and a temporary camp. In a Thursday interview published on a government Facebook page, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye said returning refugees would stay at the camp until permanent houses were built for them. This would take a few months. Repatriation was slated to begin earlier this week. Bangladesh said it needed more time to identify refugees willing to return, against a list provided by Myanmar. Win Myat Aye says Myanmar is ready, though many facilities are still under construction. No new date has been set. ?Advisory panel visits Rakhine According to an itinerary seen by VOA, the advisory board members, minus Richardson, were taken on a brisk tour of the repatriation facilities in northern Rakhine on Wednesday morning, before returning to the state capital Sittwe for lunch. Their trip also took in flagship economic projects in Rakhine, which the government hopes will revive the deeply impoverished state. That morning, the board members visited Kanyin Chaung, a proposed economic zone in northern Rakhine that, controversially, has been expedited in the wake of the violence. In the afternoon, the delegation flew to Kyaukphyu, the site of a Chinese-backed Special Economic Zone under development and major oil and gas terminals supplying China, before flying on to a beach resort in Ngapali, close to Thandwe in southern Rakhine. Roelf Meyer, a member of the Rakhine advisory boar Roelf Meyer, a member of the Rakhine advisory board member, speaks at an advisory board press conference, Jan. 25, 2018. Meyer is a South African politician who took part in negotiations to end apartheid. Roelf Meyer, a member of the Rakhine advisory board member, speaks at an advisory board press conference, Jan. 25, 2018. Meyer is a South African politician who took part in negotiations to end apartheid. In a press briefing Thursday in Yangon delivered on behalf of the board by Roelf Meyer, a South African politician who took part in negotiations to end racial apartheid in his country, the Myanmar governments preparations were broadly endorsed. From what we have seen theres an honest attempt in creating circumstances that would make it possible for people to come back, Meyer said. Meyer acknowledged there was a lot of work to be done still but added, We believe its important to encourage people to come back. He said that given the international spotlight on the returns process, I dont think that people should be scared. Richardson, who refused to take the journey to Rakhine State, called it a promotional tour to reinforce the governments view that everything was going well. He criticized it for omitting meetings with local Buddhist or Muslim communities, or with people internally displaced by conflict in the state. Richardson maintained that many of his colleagues on the board are trying to do an honest job but said the government is showing them only what they want them to see. State Department correspondent Cindy Saine in Washington contributed to this article. ISLAMABAD - Pakistans military says an operation is underway to rescue two foreign mountaineers trapped on a treacherous northern Himalayan peak known as Killer Mountain. The pair, Tomasz Mackiewicz from Poland, and Elisabeth Revol of France, were attempting to scale the 8,126-meter Nanga Parbat. But they got stuck at the 7,400-meter mark and used a satellite phone to call for help, said organizers of the expedition. Two Pakistan army helicopters carrying four rescuers are undertaking the rescue mission, the militarys media wing announced Saturday. It said the mission was undertaken at the request of embassies of the countries to which the stranded mountaineers belonged. Mackiewicz reportedly is suffering from snow blindness and altitude sickness. The climbers are stuck at a height where the temperature is minus 60 degree Celsius. The Polish government pledged to provide financial guarantees and support for the rescue operation. Mackiewicz has made six previous attempts to scale Nanga Parbat in winter. The first successful winter ascent of the mountain was made in February 2016. A team of two foreign mountaineers from Spain and Argentina disappeared last June while they were trying to ascend Nanga Parbat. They were later declared dead. WHITE HOUSE - During his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Donald Trump will discuss a return "to clarity about our friends and adversaries" and his efforts "to defeat terrorists around the world," a senior administration official said Saturday. The White House is keeping mum on specifics, but officials confirmed that North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland was expected to be addressed. The annual address by U.S. presidents to a joint session of Congress usually is heavily skewed toward domestic issues. Trump's speech will be no exception. It will also be of interest to international audiences, however, as he will discuss national security, trade and immigration. Trump also will be "emphasizing the fair and reciprocal nature of trade," according to the official, who briefed reporters on the condition he not be further identified. Recent actions taken by the administration against China's trade practices are likely to be mentioned. Push on immigration In the days leading up to the speech, expected to last one hour, the White House is outlining Trump's proposals on immigration reform, and officials say the president, in the State of the Union address, will call for Congress to approve them despite an initial poor reception among many lawmakers. The speech, expected to be Trump's most important of the year, and the one reaching the largest audience, will primarily deal with jobs and the economy, tax reform, deregulation and infrastructure. Trump will make an appeal to lawmakers of his Republican Party and the opposition Democrats to advance his trillion-dollar infrastructure improvement plan. "He's going to talk about the need to replace depleted infrastructure," according to the official, who declined to provide additional details. FILE - President Donald Trump displays a president FILE - President Donald Trump displays a presidential memorandum he signed, declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 26, 2017, in Washington. FILE - President Donald Trump displays a presidential memorandum he signed, declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 26, 2017, in Washington. Some of the White House guests invited into the chamber of the House of Representatives for the speech will personify the battle against drug addiction and the opioid crisis in America, another priority for the Trump administration. "You can expect the president will be speaking from the heart," said the official, who noted the address will be titled "Building a Safe, Strong and Proud America." Analysts have diverse expectations for the important speech. Saying that in the first year of this presidency "the world has borne the brunt of Trump's impulsive and inconsistent policies," former U.S. diplomat Brett Bruen offered that the president "would be well-advised to try to reassure foreign leaders the United States will continue to be a reliable ally and honor its long-standing commitments." What has he learned? Bruen, who heads the Global Situation Room consulting firm and was director of global engagement in the Obama White House, told VOA that around the world, people "want to see signs he's learned from his mistakes, even if he won't admit it. His message should be: 'Year one, I wanted to break china so we could have a fresh start. Now let's talk about what our future looks like and how we get there together.' " President Donald Trump delivers a speech to the Wo FILE - President Donald Trump delivers a speech to the World Economic Forum, Jan. 26, 2018, in Davos, Switzerland. FILE - President Donald Trump delivers a speech to the World Economic Forum, Jan. 26, 2018, in Davos, Switzerland. The tone on global issues in the State of the Union will echo Trump's most recent speech on the international stage, according to administration officials. Addressing the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Friday, the U.S. president contended that defending national interests does not conflict with the global order, saying he "will always put America first just like the leaders of other countries should put their country first. But America first does not mean America alone." Trump in Davos reiterated his support for free and reciprocal trade, but he bluntly warned that the "United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair trade practices." Tuesday's speech also will be a chance for the president to build public support at home, according to Republican Party activist and strategist Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute, a suburban Washington organization that provides training in campaigns, fundraising, organizing and communications for conservatives. "I'm confident things are going to turn around in terms of the polls with respect to Republicans versus Democrats, and I think the president's popularity is going to go up," said Blackwell. Low approval rating Recent national polls show Trump's approval rating at just below 40 percent, the lowest level for any modern president at this point in a first term. People protest outside the Phoenix Convention Cent FILE - People protest outside the Phoenix Convention Center, Aug. 22, 2017, in Phoenix. Protests were held against President Donald Trump as he hosted a rally inside the convention center. FILE - People protest outside the Phoenix Convention Center, Aug. 22, 2017, in Phoenix. Protests were held against President Donald Trump as he hosted a rally inside the convention center. A Democrat with a centrist public policy research organization, Jim Kessler, noted "these speeches give you a bit of time to get to reintroduce yourself to voters. A lot of voters have made up their mind about him, though." Kessler, senior vice president for policy at Third Way, added that Trump "is capable of giving a decent speech," terming as excellent his address in November to South Korea's National Assembly. "The question is, how long does it last? What is the shelf life or the half life on that speech? Does it help him for seven days or does it help him for seven months?" asked Kessler. VOA's Jim Malone contributed to this report. CAIRO - Arab media, quoting family members, is reporting that top Saudi financier Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal was released by the government Saturday, after being held for several months. Terms of any eventual financial settlement between the prince and the Saudi government were not immediately known. Alwaleed, whose Kingdom Holdings owns shares in a number of large U.S. corporations, including Twitter and Citigroup, was held along with others in Riyadh's luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel. Arab media reported that close to 90 other top Saudi businessmen and royal family members were also released, following financial settlements with the government. The men had been detained since early November after the government launched a probe into alleged financial improprieties or corruption. Unconfirmed reports in Arab media suggest that the Saudi treasury may have raised up to several hundred million dollars from financial settlements with the prominent figures it had detained. Alwaleed, the most prominent of those detained, told Reuters in an interview shortly before he was released that he was innocent of any financial improprieties and that discussions with the government were taking place amicably. "There are no charges. There are just some discussions with the government. But, rest assured, that this is a clean operation that we have and we are just in discussion with the government on various matters and that I cannot divulge right now because we are in discussion with them, but rest assured that we're at the end of the story," Alwaleed said. A view of part of the suite where Saudi Arabian bi A view of part of the suite where Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal during his detention, at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 27, 2018. A view of part of the suite where Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal during his detention, at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 27, 2018. A top Saudi official, however, told Reuters that while he would "not negate or confirm" what the prince says, "for sure there is no settlement unless there are violations and they are not concluded without the accused admitting it in writing and promising not to repeat it...." The official added that he had no doubt that Alwaleed would continue to head his Kingdom Holding Co. Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, tells VOA that he doesn't think the main motive behind the arrest of Alwaleed and other businessmen or figures from the royal family was financial. Khashan argues that many of the people detained did "not endorse" Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman when he ascended to his position last June, and the latter wanted to impress on them that he will soon be in charge of the Saudi kingdom. "The more important dimension is political and the aim of Mohammed Bin Salman is to consolidate his powers ahead of replacing his father, which might happen any time soon. Remember, his father is in very frail health," he said. Khashan added that he does not think that the money raised from the corruption probe "will solve any of the Kingdom's deep-seated financial problems," and argued that one of the major drains on Riyadh's finances is the ongoing war in Yemen. Crown Prince Mohammed has taken a number of initiatives to restructure the Saudi economy, including the privatization of Aramco, the country's iconic national oil corporation. He has also cut off various financial subsidies to members of the royal family, provoking the ire of some of them, while at the same time receiving kudos from members of the public. U.S. President Donald Trump commended the president of the National Border Patrol Council Saturday for expressing his support in a televised interview for the latest White House immigration reform proposal. "Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for his strong statement on @foxandfriends that we very badly NEED THE WALL. Must also end loophole of catch & release and clean up the legal and other procedures at the border NOW for Safety & Security reasons," Trump said in a posting on Twitter. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for his strong statement on @foxandfriends that we very badly NEED THE WALL. Must also end loophole of catch & release and clean up the legal and other procedures at the border NOW for Safety & Security reasons. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2018 As president of the council, Judd represents about 18,000 unionized Border Patrol agents and support staff. Judd explained during the interview why he supports Trump's plan to fund a border wall along the Mexican border. "All you have to do is look at history," Judd said. "Where we built physical barriers, it's dropped the number of illegal entries exponentially." Proposal includes The plan would establish a $25 billion trust fund for a wall, providing funding for the president's core campaign promise. That money would also be for other ports of entry and exit and enhancements to the northern border with Canada. "We have to have the physical barriers, which is going to be expensive. We know that," Judd said. FILE - Three of U.S. President Donald Trump's eigh Three of President Donald Trump's eight border wall prototypes are shown near completion along U.S.- Mexico border in San Diego, California, Oct. 23, 2017. Three of President Donald Trump's eight border wall prototypes are shown near completion along U.S.- Mexico border in San Diego, California, Oct. 23, 2017. ?In addition to funding for a wall, the plan would eliminate a system where immigrants can sponsor family members who can later sponsor other family members to join them in the United States. The proposal also calls for ending the visa lottery system for certain countries. Late Saturday Trump tweeted about his immigration plan, saying I have offered DACA a wonderful deal, including a doubling in the number of recipients & a twelve year pathway to citizenship, for two reasons: (1) Because the Republicans want to fix a long time terrible problem. (2) To show that Democrats do not want to solve DACA, only use it! The White House on Thursday released the details of its Framework on Immigration Reform and Border Security, four days earlier than had been scheduled. It characterized the plan as a framework for compromise. For the 1.8 million young immigrants living in the United States known as "Dreamers" -- who were brought to the country by their families when they were still minors there would be a long path to citizenship and with conditions. For those recipients who have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as well as other who met the same criteria, there would be a 10- to 12-year path to citizenship with requirements for work, education and good moral character. Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outside the Capitol, in Washington, Jan 21, 2018. Demonstrators rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outside the Capitol, in Washington, Jan 21, 2018. ?Opposition But on Friday, as the day before, opponents of the plan spoke out. At a speech in support of the plan by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Norfolk, Virginia, dozens of protesters gathered outside the library hosting the closed-door speech. Many held signs indicating their opposition to the plan: "Immigrants and refugees welcome" and "Deport racists, not dreamers." The group chanted: "Lies, hate and fear. One stinking year," presumably referring to the one year that Trump has been in office. A statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Friday read, "The Administration's anti-immigrant framework is an act of staggering cowardice which attempts to hold the Dreamers hostage to a hateful anti-immigrant scheme." The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, has been closely involved with the immigration talks. His statement said, "The White House claims to be compromising because the President now agrees with the overwhelming majority of Americans that Dreamers should have a pathway to citizenship. But his plan would put the Administration's entire hardline immigration agenda -- including massive cuts to legal immigration -- on the backs of these young people." FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration r FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 6, 2017. FILE - Demonstrators march during an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 6, 2017. Republican reaction Trump's plan drew praise from some Republican lawmakers, although no promises to follow it to the letter. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement Thursday evening saying, "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." Some Republican hard-liners were displeased that the plan offered a concession to young immigrants. Republican Senator Ted Cruz said, "I do not believe we should be granting a path to citizenship to anybody here illegally. ... Doing so is inconsistent with the promises we made to the men and women who elected us." David Milliband, the president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee said that already, based on current trends, the U.S. is "on track to cut by three quarters the number of refugees allowed into the country for resettlement," in Fiscal year 2018, what he called "an unprecedented assault on U.S. global leadership in this area." WATCH: Trump Immigration Proposals Face Uphill Battle "It is no exaggeration that the future of America as a home for refugees is now on the line," Milliband said. "The administration's determination to squeeze the life out of the refugee resettlement program will harm the lives, and life chances, of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, and it sets a terrible moral example to the rest of the world." The IRC resettlement assessment also found that only 13 percent of refugee arrivals in FY 2018 identify as Muslim, compared to 48 percent in FY 2017. Pushing for vote The White House is hoping the Senate will be able to vote on the plan early next month, before the February 8 deadline for lawmakers to approve a spending bill to keep the U.S. government operating. Many opposition Democratic Party lawmakers, as well as some from the presidents Republican party, are opposed to voting for a long-term budget bill without a deal on immigration. If theres no legislation to deal with the DACA recipients by March 5, administration officials warned on Thursday that they will be considered illegal immigrants and those who come into contact with immigration officers will be processed for deportation. Steve Herman at the White House contributed to this story. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused Russia of using energy as a "political tool" in Europe as he held talks with his counterpart Saturday in Warsaw, Poland. At a news conference with Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz following the discussions, Tillerson said the U.S. is opposed to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, a proposed project that would connect Russia and Germany. Some Eastern European countries are also against the pipeline, which would give Russia a larger share of the natural gas market. "Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," Tillerson said. "We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy security and stability and it provides Russia yet another tool to politicize energy as a political tool." Tillersons visit to Poland comes at a time when the U.S. is boosting exports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to central Europe and taking on Russias stronghold on energy supplies. Senior U.S. officials have said Washington will help European nations diversify their energy supply so they will not be solely dependent on Russia. On June 7, 2017, the first U.S. LNG shipment to Central Europe arrived in Poland. The State Department said at that time Washington has worked closely with European partners to diversify European energy supplies through new sources of natural gas. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreat U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 27, 2018. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 27, 2018. Talks between Tillerson and Czaputowicz were held before Tillerson placed a wreath and made remarks at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Monument to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Tillerson said the genocide that occurred at German concentration camps in Poland must never be repeated. "On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil. The Western alliance which emerged from World War Two has committed itself to ensuring the security of all, that this would never happen again." Tillerson's trip to Poland is aimed at strengthening Washingtons strategic partnership with Warsaw in meetings with Polish leaders, with security ties and energy cooperation high on the agenda. Tillerson also met Saturday with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Law and Justice Party Leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, before wrapping up his European trip and returning to Washington. STATE DEPARTMENT - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is focusing on strengthening Washingtons strategic partnership with Warsaw in meetings with Polish leaders, with security ties and energy cooperation high on the agenda. Tillerson and Polish President Andrzej Duda met on Friday to discuss a range of issues, including global challenges, regional security and economic prosperity, according to the State Department. In Warsaw, Tillerson will also lay a wreath and make remarks at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Monument to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The purpose of the secretarys trip is really to underscore the importance and the deep alliance and friendship that we share with Poland and the Polish people, especially as one of our closest NATO allies, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters Thursday. Tillersons visit to Poland comes at a time when the United States is boosting exports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to central Europe and taking on Russias stronghold on energy supplies. Senior U.S. officials have said Washington will help European nations diversify their energy supply so they will not be solely dependent on Russia. On June 7, 2017, the first U.S. LNG shipment to Central Europe arrived in Poland. The State Department said at that time Washington has worked closely with European partners to diversify European energy supplies through new sources of natural gas. Tillerson is scheduled to meet with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz on Saturday, before wrapping up his European trip and returning to Washington. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko attends the W Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko attends the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland Jan. 26, 2018. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko attends the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland Jan. 26, 2018. ?On Friday, Tillerson met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The United States has been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine since 2013, when a series of street protests over closer integration with Europe evolved into a major confrontation with President Viktor Yanukovych, culminating in his ouster in February 2014 and leading to a pro-Western government under Poroshenko. The United States and the European Union have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia over its March 2014 seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its role in the war in eastern Ukraine. MONTREAL / WASHINGTON - A U.S. trade commission on Friday handed an unexpected victory to Bombardier Inc. against Boeing Co., in a ruling that allows the Canadian company to sell its newest jets to U.S. airlines without heavy duties, sending Bombardier's shares up 15 percent. The U.S. International Trade Commission's unanimous decision was the latest twist in U.S.-Canadian trade relations that have been complicated by disputes over tariffs on Canadian lumber and U.S. milk and President Donald Trump's desire to renegotiate or even abandon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trump, who did not weigh in on the dispute personally, took his "America First" message to the world's elite on Friday, telling a summit that the United States would "no longer turn a blind eye" to what he described as unfair trade practices. The ITC commissioners voted 4-0 that Bombardier's prices did not harm Boeing and discarded a U.S. Commerce Department recommendation to slap a near 300 percent duty on sales of the company's 110- to 130-seat CSeries jets for five years. It did not give a reason immediately. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement that the commission's finding "shows how robust our system of checks and balances is." Boeing's shares closed flat. "It's reassuring to see that facts and evidence matter," said Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. "This part of the trade policy process works unimpeded despite President Trump's protectionist rhetoric." Removing 'uncertainty' The decision will also help Bombardier sell the CSeries in the United States by removing "a huge amount of uncertainty," at a time when its Brazilian rival Embraer is bringing its new E190-E2 jet to market, a source familiar with the Canadian plane and train maker's thinking said. The ITC had been expected to side with Chicago-based Boeing. The company alleged it was forced to discount its 737 narrow-bodies to compete with Bombardier, which it said used government subsidies to dump the CSeries during the 2016 sale of 75 jets at "absurdly low" prices to Delta Air Lines. Bombardier called the trade case self-serving after Boeing revealed on December 21 that it was discussing a "potential combination" with Embraer. Boeing denied the trade case was motivated by those talks. Boeing to look at options The dispute may not be over. "This can still be appealed by Boeing," Andrew Leslie, parliamentary secretary to Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, told reporters in Montreal. Boeing said it would not consider such options before seeing the ITC's reasoning in February. But Boeing said it was disappointed the commission 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." Bombardier, Delta and the U.S. consumer advocacy group Travelers United all called the ITC decision a victory for consumers and airlines. The decision may end up helping Trump's goal of boosting U.S. jobs as the CSeries jets for U.S. airlines will be built in the United States rather than Canada. Through a venture with European planemaker Airbus SE, which has agreed to take a majority stake in the CSeries this year, Bombardier plans to assemble CSeries jets in Alabama to be sold to U.S. carriers starting in 2019. Sweet surprise Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders promised to push ahead "full throttle" with the Alabama plans. "Nothing is sweeter than a surprise, a surprise victory," he said. The case had sparked trade tensions between the United States and its allies Canada and the United Kingdom. Ottawa last year scrapped plans to buy 18 Super Hornet fighter jets from Boeing. The well-paid jobs associated with the CSeries are important both to Ottawa and the British government. Bombardier employs about 4,000 workers in Northern Ireland. The British prime minister's office said it welcomed the decision, "which is good news" for the British industry, while Canada's innovation minister said the ITC came to the "right decision" on Bombardier. Former ITC Chairman Dan Pearson praised the decision. "Not a single commissioner was willing to buy Boeing's arguments," he said. "I think 'America First' is a policy of the White House and the Commerce Department. But it's not the policy of an independent agency [like the ITC]." Turkey said Saturday that Washington has pledged to stop giving arms to YPG Kurdish forces in Syria, as Turkey's offensive against the U.S.-backed group there enters its eight day. Turkey's presidency said in a statement that U. S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster spoke Friday with Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. McMaster confirmed in the phone conversation that the U.S. would not give weapons to the YPG militia, the statement said. There has been no U.S. confirmation. Relations between the two NATO allies have been strained by Turkey's offensive and Washington's arms support to the YPG. On Friday, Erdogan repeated his intention to expand Ankara's military operation against Kurds in Syria, targeting fighters he says are linked to a Kurdish terror group that operates in Turkey. Speaking in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkish forces will push eastward into the Syrian city of Afrin, just beyond the border with Turkey. He said he intends to push the operation to the city of Manbij and then as far east as the Iraqi border "until no terrorist is left." The move could pit Turkish forces against some of the 2,000 U.S. troops that are in Syria as part of an international coalition to eliminate the Islamic State militant movement in Syria. "We will clear Manbij of terrorists," Erdogan said in a speech Friday. "No one should be disturbed by this because the real owners of Manbij are not these terrorists, they are our Arab brothers." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his ruling party members in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 26, 2018. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his ruling party members in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 26, 2018. Erdogan made his remarks on the seventh day of the Turkish operation in Afrin. He also criticized the United States for its support of the Kurdish forces in Manbij, saying, "Our greatest sadness is to see these terrorist organizations run wild holding U.S. flags in this region." The Pentagon has described the Turkish operation in Afrin as unhelpful and possibly damaging to the effort to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria. Turkey's Health Minister said Friday that the country's troops had sustained 14 deaths since the Afrin operation began. He said three Turkish troops and 11 Syrian opposition fighters allied with them were killed in the fighting, while 130 others were wounded. Syrian Democratic Forces said Turkey's incursion has killed about 59 civilians and 43 fighters in the past week, including eight female fighters. Turkey released a far different count, saying its forces have killed at least 343 "terrorists" on the Syrian side. Turkey considers the YPG to be terrorists because it believes them to be linked to Kurdish separatists in Turkey. The Kurds make up a major part of the Syrian Democratic Forces in Afrin. U.S.-Turkish relations suffered a separate blow this week, with Ankara and Washington disputing each others version of a telephone call Wednesday between the U.S. and Turkish presidents. The phone call was aimed at defusing tensions over Turkish-led forces' intervention in Syria. Washington says U.S. President Donald Trump took a "firm" and "tough" stance during his phone call with Erdogan Wednesday. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that the State Department stands by Trump's assertion that he cautioned Turkey about escalating tensions in Afrin. But Ankara denies Trump's claim, disputing there was any request that Turkey de-escalate the military operation in Afrin. The dispute over the contents of the telephone call exacerbated a lack of trust between the NATO allies. GENEVA - The United Nations says it will participate in the Russian-sponsored Syrian peace meeting at the Black Sea resort of Sochi next week now that some of its concerns have been allayed. The U.N. has just wrapped up two days of U.N.-mediated peace talks with Syrian government and opposition delegations in Vienna. The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres has decided to send his special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to the Sochi meeting, which opens Monday. De Mistura said a Russian statement persuaded the secretary-general that the U.N. should participate in the so-called Black Sea Peace Congress. I took note of the statement by the Russian Federation that the outcome of the congress would be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the U.N. Gutteres said he was confident the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution to a revived intra-Syrian talks process mediated by the U.N. in Geneva. Critics of the Sochi Congress, which is backed by Turkey and Iran, accuse Russia of trying to hijack the Syrian peace process from the United Nations and come up with a result that favors the government of Bashar al-Assad. Syrias opposition group agrees and says it will boycott the Sochi meeting. De Mistura says the only sustainable solution to the Syrian crisis is through an inclusive Syria-led political process. The ultimate goal of a constitutional process is to enable the Syrian people to freely and independently determine their own future in U.N.-supervised parliamentary and presidential elections meeting the requirements laid out in resolution 2254, de Mistura said. Security Council resolution 2254 sets out the U.N.s road map for peace in Syria. Under the mandate, de Mistura notes a new constitution will be drawn up in Geneva under the auspices of the so-called Geneva process. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned countries of the regional bloc of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) against taking sides in the internal affairs of South Sudan. In a speech Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at a consultative meeting on South Sudan, with representatives from the United Nations, IGAD and the African Union, Guterres said there were contradictions and conflicts of interest among IGAD countries. "It is in my opinion absolutely essential ... to make sure that any contradictions that might exist among the neighbors of South Sudan are not translated into an influence in the internal situation of South Sudan,'' the secretary-general said. He added that the implementation of the cease-fire agreement reached between South Sudanese parties in December 2017 would require strong action from U.N. member states. "I don't think those tougher measures can be originated outside in the context of the United Nations or the Security Council. I think they need to be originated in the region, and I think that the leadership of IGAD is absolutely essential, together with the African Union,'' said Guterres. Call for leadership He called on the South Sudanese leaders to show leadership by ending the violence in their country. "First of all, it is clear to me, and I'm sorry to say so, but I've never seen a political elite with so little interest in the well-being of its own people," said Guterres. The U.N.'s top diplomat said the lack of commitment from South Sudanese leaders was "creating the need for a continued pressure of all of us in order to make sure that they [South Sudanese leaders] assume their responsibilities as leaders of their own people, instead of prolonging the conflict to the detriment of the enormously suffering South Sudanese people." Guterres promised to support any decisions reached by the group to hold accountable those who violate cease-fires or international humanitarian law. "You can fully count on my commitment to support your initiative,'' he said. "We will do our best with the difficulties we have to make UNMISS [U.N. Mission in South Sudan] as effective as possible in support of the stability of the country. We are fully engaged with the regional protective force. "I would like to congratulate the IGAD Council of Ministers and the Special Envoy for, first of all, the High Level Revitalization Forum [the forum created last year to revive the 2015 peace accord] and, second, the immediate results that were obtained with the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, protection of civilians and humanitarian access,'' Guterres said. He also thanked the international community for succeeding in averting hunger from spreading across South Sudan. WASHINGTON - Yasmin Radjy finished graduate studies at one of the country's top schools, Harvard University, and began mobilizing local efforts in Virginia to elect Democratic, progressive candidates. Radjy said she soon learned that bookwork often doesn't equate to real life. "They [Harvard professors] taught me a lot of things that didn't work in [the election of] 2016," she said. She said a simple strategy would win the midterm elections for the opposition Democratic Party in 2018: talking to voters and listening to their concerns. That type of grass-roots campaigning is taking place across the country, and Democratic organizers say recent local elections have shown that it works. A transgender woman, Danica Roem, will serve in the Virginia House of Delegates after defeating a Republican incumbent. Another woman, Jennifer Carroll Foy, gave birth to premature twins during her campaign and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates with both babies still in the hospital. Radjy said that grass-roots volunteers need to be trained to customize their pitches for non-typical candidates. "You can't take them off the shelf and expect them to act the right way," she said. WATCH: Yasmin Radjy on Returning to Campaign Basics Republican activism President Donald Trump's Republican Party also understands the importance of grass-roots activism, owing its current grip on power in part to the enthusiasm of tea party supporters who have advocated vigorously for conservative causes since 2009. The movement took root as a reaction to measures introduced by then-President Barack Obama to help homeowners wiped out by the 2008 recession, and it gained strength in opposition to Democratic-sponsored legislation that gave government a larger role in the health care industry. Tea party activists helped carry the Republicans to their unexpected success in the 2016 elections, when Trump's earthy, populist rhetoric helped the party win not only the White House but also both chambers of Congress. But that same rhetoric infuriated many left-leaning voters, especially women who vented their anger the day after Trump's inauguration by staging the Women's March of 2017, one of the largest protests in the history of the nation. Now the energy seems to be more with the Democrats and especially women, who are running for office in unprecedented numbers. Almost 400 female candidates are running in the 2018 congressional elections. Organizers say much of that anger has been channeled to the local level, where large numbers of liberals and especially women are running for mayoral offices, city councils and state legislatures. The winner of any contest is "determined by the number of activists on the respective side," acknowledged Republican Morton Blackwell, who is in his eighth four-year term as a Republican National Committee member from Virginia. Blackwell admitted that the Republicans have fallen behind Democrats of late and need more and better on-the-ground volunteers. Women listen to a panel discussion sponsored by th Women listen to a panel discussion sponsored by the DC Grassroots Coordinating Committee at the Womans National Democratic Club. (C. Presutti/VOA) Women listen to a panel discussion sponsored by the DC Grassroots Coordinating Committee at the Womans National Democratic Club. (C. Presutti/VOA) On the Democratic side, local groups like the DC Grassroots Coordinating Committee, supported by the Woman's National Democratic Club, are holding regular meetings to teach organizers how to train grass-roots volunteers leading up to the November elections. The test for organizers is maintaining that vigor over the next 10 months. Democratic momentum Jean Gearon founded the Maryland-based Women's Alliance for Democracy & Justice, a group that strives to empower women politically. Gearon said volunteers need to feel they are being effective, so her group keeps things simple. When training her volunteers, she drafts simple scripts and gives them phone numbers, explaining everything. "Here's what you want to say about fracking," she gives as an example. "Here's where you sign your name." Democrats still face tough odds in trying to break the Republican hold on power. After Congress passed a sweeping tax plan and Trump reached the first anniversary of his presidency, Republicans gave him an 87 percent approval rating in a Gallup Poll. For 25 years, Guy Short, who lives in Erie, Colorado, and is vice president of fundraising with Campaign Solutions, has advised and managed Republican political campaigns and groups at all levels of government. He predicted that 2018 would be an election won with those staunch Republicans. "We need to motivate and turn out the base," he said. "This year, significant amounts of money are needed in order to compete in what's a very big playing field." Short said Republicans were significantly ahead of Democrats in fundraising, but Blackwell said he thought Republicans would need more than money to win the midterm elections. If money were the key factor, he said, "Jeb Bush would have been the Republican nominee for president in 2016 and Hillary Clinton would have crushed Donald Trump for president." Longtime Republican Morton Blackwell walks by a Ca Longtime Republican Morton Blackwell walks by a Carrara marble bust of President Ronald Reagan. Blackwell had it commissioned for his Leadership Institute. Blackwell says he thinks Republicans will need more than money to fare well in the 2018 midterm elections. (C. Presutti/VOA) Longtime Republican Morton Blackwell walks by a Carrara marble bust of President Ronald Reagan. Blackwell had it commissioned for his Leadership Institute. Blackwell says he thinks Republicans will need more than money to fare well in the 2018 midterm elections. (C. Presutti/VOA) ?Economy's impact Blackwell said the economy, which he predicted will improve throughout the year, would give his party a boost. "In just a few days, the paychecks of employees across the country are going to show a significant benefit [from the federal tax cut]. Ninety percent of the people are going to get more income, so that is going to have an impact." WATCH: Morton Blackwell on the Political Effects of the US Economy In a January CBS News Nation Tracker survey, 67 percent said the U.S. economy was the same or doing well. Yet, 54 percent did not credit Trump with the improvement, while 46 percent said he had contributed to the economy doing well. In the Gallup Poll, only 5 percent of Democratic voters approved of Trump's performance. "Democrats are motivated by one thing and one thing only," Short said, "and that is they hate Trump. That's not enough." But Democrats said that's exactly what has catapulted new candidates, new volunteers, and new voters into the spotlight. CARACAS - Venezuelan opposition leaders on Friday condemned the sidelining of their coalition from upcoming presidential elections, saying it was trickery by President Nicolas Maduro's administration to rig the vote in its favor. The pro-Maduro Supreme Court's move late on Thursday to exclude the coalition from registering in the vote placed yet another obstacle ahead of the already disparate opposition. Two of Venezuelas biggest opposition parties, Justice First and Democratic Action, announced on Friday they would put their names forward for registration over the weekend. However, Leopoldo Lopezs party, Popular Will, was banned this week from registering. Lopez himself and Henrique Capriles, the opposition's most popular leaders, are already banned from standing. The vote is due by April 30. Critics say Maduro is depriving Venezuelans of a free and fair election during an unprecedented economic implosion. This demonstrates the fear felt by Maduro of the people, opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez said on Thursday. International pressure is piling on the government. The United States said this week that the vote will deepen, not help resolve, national tensions, and Vice President Mike Pence called Maduro a dictator. Thursday's ruling said the coalition violated the principle of avoiding double affiliation in politics and therefore could not be validated. WASHINGTON - VOAs Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine interviewed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson via Skype about his abrupt resignation from an international board that advises Myanmar on the Rohingya crisis. Question: Do you prefer Ambassador Richardson or Governor Richardson? Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson: I think governor is better. Q: Governor Richardson. First just to clarify, did you resign from the advisory board, or were you asked to leave, and more importantly, why did you leave? Richardson: Well I resigned. Theyre claiming I was fired but they were begging me to stay till the very last minute by the national security advisor. I resigned for two reasons one, because I felt the advisory board was just whitewashing operation meant to validate the policies of the government of Myanmar. The second reason is an explosive reaction Aung San Suu Kyi had as I was trying to give her frank advice to deal fairly with the two Reuters journalist that had been imprisoned. That showed me she wasnt interested in frank advice, and this is after thirty years of very strong friendship where we worked together for democracy. That has obviously been shattered by my resignation. Q: Right, right. And its well documented youve have been a very good friend of Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for many, many years and she asked you to join the council. Was she herself I know that there were two Reuters Journalist were an issue. Was she herself also disparaging the United Nations, journalists and relief workers trying to get the facts and alleviate suffering in the area? Richardson: Yes, certainly her chairman was. But she also in various conversations has disparaged the U.N., felt the U.N. was unfair to her the human rights investigation especially. Disparaging the international media, disparaging human rights group saying that they are all against it. These are the people that worked with her and in that transition to democracy, that were her supporters, were in essence given her the Nobel Prize. She now feels an us against one situation, an us against them situation, and has a siege mentality right now. Shes changed. Q: Right I was going to ask if you were sort of blind sighted and really surprised by this and do you think shes changed now that she is in a position of power? Or does she have a blind spot when it comes to the Rohingyas? Richardson: No, I think shes changed as shes assumed power. She wants to get re-elected, shes afraid to confront the military that basically handles national security issues like treatment of refugees, like I think theyve been responsible for the atrocities. They have participated in the mass graves issue. Finding ways instead of helping the refugees move back to Myanmar, making it more difficult. Not guaranteeing safety. And I think shes been afraid to confront them. There is a separation of power between the military and civilian government that she has. But shes failed to exercise more leadership to push and tell the military that they cant keep doing this. She doesnt have control over them. But the fact that she not only doesnt speak out but defends them is what has made her change. And I think these caused a lot of these problems that Myanmar has with the international community. Q: What would you say to critics who say that Aung San Suu Kyi has to walk a fine line in her power-sharing position with Myanmars military rulers and the public criticism of her is counter-productive? Richardson: Well Im a politician. I know you have to balance the existing power centers you cant just attack anybody. But I think shes overdone her consent in what the military has done. In stop defending them, exercise more leadership by saying look military, we cant continue torturing the Rohingya. Lets find a way to deal with these very serious problems. Instead of constantly blaming the West, the international community, and the U.N., and the United States, and Canada, and the European Union. Instead of owning up to the problem she shifts blames to everybody else fails to deal with the issue by not confronting the military. Letting them basically run amok. Q: Right. We just got word that the advisory board is now backing the governments plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees. What is your feeling about that? Richardson: Well I think thats part of the whitewash. Look the government of Bangladesh, the United Nations human rights group say that this repatriation is not ready. And this is why the government of Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation because these refugees arent ensured of their safety. They're probably thinking they're gonna end up in mass graves. They have no guarantees about their citizenship. They should be given a path to citizenship. Theres no guarantee that they're gonna be able to go back to their homes safely. Their homes have been destroyed and they're down so I think this is another incidence where this is a whitewash. And just to conclude on this issue the advisory board met with Aung San Suu Kyi secretly without me. They didnt want me there because they didnt want hear my candid advice. That is what broke the camel the stroke that broke the camels back. They dont want my advice I leave. Thats why I left. Q: Right, right. Do you think the Trump administration is doing enough to help the Rohingyas? Richardson: Yeah, I got to say the Trump administration has spoken out for internal investigations to treat the Rohingyas properly. They came out early to release the journalist. I was briefed by the American ambassador. About a month ago, Secretary (of State Rex) Tillerson called me and told me what they were doing. Yeah I think the Trump administration the State Department is doing well on this issue. I think as long as they keep it away from the president, theyre doing OK. Q: What do you think it be done to get those two journalists released? Richardson: Well there has to be more international pressure. I think Aung San Suu Kyi and the military have to say look this is not helping us internationally. There is a way this can happen. The attorney general has pardon power. I think they should exercise this immediately. This is a nightmare for the image of the Myanmar government. Plus its unfair to the journalist they were set up. They violated no official secrets laws. They didnt disclose anything. They discovered mass graves and it was done by Rohingya and non-Rohingya people, i.e. the military. So get it over with. But I think more international pressure, but mainly the two main actors the commander of the military and Aung San Suu Kyi to have a public or secret meeting and get this off the table. This is hurting the country enormously. Q: Right, Right. One more if I may on North Korea. What do you think of the Trump administrations position on that? And if you asked, youve done it before, youve been there before. Would you be willing to try and go and negotiate with the North Korean president? Richardson: I would and I told the Trump administration Im ready to do it but I think the way to do it is Im not going to get mixed up in their nuclearization talks. That should be done through official channels. But I think there is soft power. Ive offered on humanitarian grounds, find ways to exchange the recovery of American serviceman in the Korean War, Korean American family reunification issues. I think what the North and South have done on this Olympic issue makes a lot of sense, bringing athletes together. Maybe thatll create a path for a negotiation. So I think the Trump administration Ill give them credit for working with China, have China put stronger sanctions. I dont think thats going to do the trick I give them credit for that. I dont give the president credit for tweeting and making policy on the go calling on Kim Jong Un the rocket man and Ive got a bigger nuclear button. I dont like Kim Jong Un also insulting the American president. They should step aside and let their diplomats and negotiator negotiate no preconditions, just to start talks. Q: Right. Thank you so much, ambassador. Anything else youd like to say we didnt cover? Richardson: No you got it all. Saine: Okay. Real pleasure talking to you sir. Q: Yes. So we talked what the State Department is doing on Myanmar. Do you think the United States should reimpose sanctions on Myanmar? Richardson: No I dont think so. I sanctions, economic sanctions particularly hurt poor people. Im very fond of the Myanmar people. I dont think they're responsible for this travesty. Maybe targeted sanctions on some of the military at some point. But I dont think the international community should turn its back on Aung San Suu Kyi at this time. Now if this continues, something has to happen. I think the answer is engagement. The West the international institutions should reach out to Aung San Suu Kyi and she should do the same. Reach some kind of accommodation. Ease tensions and find ways to feel honorably and humanely with these refugees that are being devastated right now. Q: Right and I hope this is not too personal but do you feel like you could still have the relationship with Aung San Suu Kyi to reach back to her? Richardson: Well Id be prepared to be helpful but right now no. Shes probably furious at me. Its probably going to last a long time. I dont think I would try to get a Visa there anyway. Yeah but I love the country. Ive been so involved with the country and her and Ive invest a lot of my foundation activity. My activity as a diplomat. Yeah but right now no. I think there has to be a big cooling off. It may be permanent but I realize that. What I did was a small (inaudible)that even her friends are turning on it. That she has to get a frank advice from a friend. If shes not prepared to do that, thats going to be bad for her and Myanmar. Saine: Right thank you. If your ever in D.C., we would love to have you again for a sit down interview. The world marks Holocaust Remembrance Day Saturday, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in 1945. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington hosted officials from around the world to remember the genocide. European Union Ambassador David OSullivan said that museums remembering the Holocaust are essential for future generations to learn about the past atrocities. WATCH: EU Ambassador: New Generation Needs to Keep Memory Alive The new generation also needs people, stories and places to keep the memory alive. To make sure we keep the promise made at the end of the Holocaust Never Again, OSullivan said. Museum officials also read a letter from Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League based in Saudi Arabia, who wrote, Who in their right mind would accept, sympathize or even diminish the extent of this brutal crime? WATCH: Letter From Secretary General of Muslim World League First lady Melania Trump was among those who toured the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Friday and tweeted that she experienced a powerful and moving tour. She posted a photograph of her lighting a candle at the Prayer Wall. Thank you @HolocaustMuseum for a powerful & moving tour that honors the millions of innocent lives lost, and educates us on the tragedies and effects of the holocaust. #WeRemember #AskWhy pic.twitter.com/za8MN6pKRZ Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 25, 2018 On Saturday in the Polish capital of Warsaw, U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson paid tribute to Holocaust victims by placing a wreath and making remarks at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Monument. "On this occasion it reminds us that we can never, we can never, be indifferent to the face of evil. The Western alliance which emerged from World War Two has committed itself to ensuring the security of all, that this would never happen again." U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreat U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 27, 2018. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson lays a wreath during a ceremony at the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 memorial marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 27, 2018. The U.N. Security Council announced Friday that its members will visit the U.S. Holocaust Museum on Monday as part of a trip to Washington, where they will also have lunch with President Donald Trump. The White House on Friday recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a message that said, We acknowledge this dark stain on human history and vow to never let it happen again. The statement specifically mentioned the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis, following criticism last year that it made no mention of Jews in its statement. Tomorrow [Saturday] marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi death and concentration camp in Poland, the statement said. We take this opportunity to recall the Nazis systematic persecution and brutal murder of 6 million Jewish people. In their death camps and under their inhuman rule, the Nazis also enslaved and killed millions of Slavs, Roma, gays, people with disabilities, priests and religious leaders, and others who courageously opposed their brutal regime, the statement said. WATCH: Saved by Ukrainian Family, Jewish Boy Lived to Become Nobel Laureate Last year, the White House defended its omission of Jews from the statement with Hope Hicks, now the White House communications director, saying that despite what the media reports, we are an incredibly inclusive group, and we took into account all of those who suffered. At the United Nations, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Friday that decades since the Second World War, we see the persistence of anti-Semitism and an increase in other forms of prejudice. He said the world remembers the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust and said, All of us have a responsibility to quickly, clearly and decisively resist racism and violence. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - Pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman was re-elected Czech president on Saturday, narrowly outpacing his pro-European liberal rival Jiri Drahos in a knife-edge runoff that underscored deep divisions in the European Union and NATO state. The Kremlin was quick to offer its congratulations in a statement, saying that "Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia's appreciation for Mr. Zeman's stance favoring friendly Russian-Czech relations." The populist ex-communist Zeman took 51.36 percent of the vote against 48.63 percent for Drahos, Czech Television reported, quoting full official results. Czech TV pegged turnout for round two at 66.6 percent, the highest figure since parliamentary elections in 1998. Political analyst Jiri Pehe told AFP the outcome reflected the "very deep polarization" of Czech society, which is "split down the middle" along rural-urban and populist-liberal lines, echoing divisions elsewhere in Europe and in the U.S. A former leftist prime minister, Zeman, 73, represents poorer and rural voters with a lower level of education, while academic and political novice Drahos, 68, appeals to wealthier, well-educated urbanites. Zeman's victory came amid a political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis dubbed the "Czech Trump" is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Speaking to a jubilant crowd at his Prague campaign headquarters, a jovial Zeman vowed to give political ally Babis plenty of time to cobble together a government. He also struck an overtly populist tone by insisting that the "intelligence of journalists ... [and] some politicians is significantly lower than that of normal citizens." Congratulating Zeman on his narrow win, Drahos told backers in Prague that "we haven't won, but we haven't lost either," pledging he would not retreat from public life. In the wake of the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe, the anti-Muslim Zeman staunchly opposed EU quotas designed to distribute asylum seekers across the bloc. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has received only 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Presidential candidate Jiri Drahos, accompanied by FILE - Presidential candidate Jiri Drahos, accompanied by his wife, Eva, arrives to address reporters after the announcement of preliminary results of the presidential elections in Prague, Czech Republic, Jan. 13, 2018. FILE - Presidential candidate Jiri Drahos, accompanied by his wife, Eva, arrives to address reporters after the announcement of preliminary results of the presidential elections in Prague, Czech Republic, Jan. 13, 2018. Zeman's stance on the European Union echoes those of other populist politicians in Poland and Hungary who are at odds with Brussels over the refugee quotas and various rules that they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organized invasion" of Europe, claiming Muslims were "impossible to integrate." 'This is our country' Billboards across the Czech Republic sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: "Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!" According to Pehe, his position cast Zeman as "the defender of Czech national interests in the eyes of his supporters." The pro-European Drahos had also opposed the EU quota system but had insisted the Czech Republic was strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. Drahos underscored his concerns about possible Russian meddling in the campaign, saying that "for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's regime, NATO is the biggest enemy and we are part of NATO." Petr Vasicek, a Prague artist, told AFP that he chose the "educated and intelligent" Drahos over Zeman, who is "pro-Russian and pro-Chinese, which I don't like at all." Zeman has repeatedly called on the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Voter Daniel Hajek said he had chosen Zeman "because he's opening the door to economic cooperation with countries like Russia and China. "It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe but we can't go in just one direction," he said in Prague. Europe's fifth-biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4 percent this year. Running under the slogan "Decency is a strength," Drahos, a mild-mannered 68-year-old professor of chemical engineering who cuts a trim figure, could not have been more different from Zeman, who is diabetic, walks with a cane and has become known as a heavy drinker and smoker. Drahos fought off allegations of pedophilia and having been a communist police agent, suggesting the accusations were a smear campaign by Russian intelligence with links to Zeman. The president appoints the prime minister, central bank board members and judges and signs bills passed by parliament into law. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Across the United States, the #MeToo movement and Womens marches are changing the nation's political debate and inspiring record numbers of women to run for political office in this years crucial mid-term elections. VOAs House Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports ... If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: The new eruption of the volcano continues, but has been a bit less vigorous during the past days. This morning, the observatory reported that "quiet lava effusion from the new summit lava dome and lava collapse events" (small to moderate rock avalanches, sometimes turning into pyroclastic flows) characterized the activity during the past 24 hours. ... One of the world's most active volcanoes, Sakurajima on Japan's Kyushu Island is famous for its frequent vulcanian explosions, often accompanied by eruption lightning. Browse through feedback about our tours from customers, read what they have said about us! The Azores are famous for their very pleasant climate, breathtaking green and unspoiled landscapes and nature. Guided by a photographer and volcanologist, discover five islands: Sao Miguel, Faial, Terceira, Pico and Flores - each with its distinct character. Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. 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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. Back in 2013, two Winnipeggers had an idea that sounded preposterous, even to the hardiest locals: an outdoor fine-dining pop-up on a frozen river, in the middle of January. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Back in 2013, two Winnipeggers had an idea that sounded preposterous, even to the hardiest locals: an outdoor fine-dining pop-up on a frozen river, in the middle of January. But chef Mandel Hitzer of deer + almond and architect Joe Kalturnyk were onto something. Now in its sixth year, RAW:almond is a full-fledged destination culinary experience, one that has garnered international attention. Sure, theres some novelty baked into it where else but Winnipeg could you brave Mars-cold temperatures to eat word-class dishes in your parka and Sorels where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet? But its the calibre of execution, and the dedication of the minds behind it, that elevates RAW:almond from gimmick to quality experience. Ed Lam of Yujiro puts the finishing touches on his dish at the table. Hitzer and Kalturnyk are clearly not risk-adverse, and their willingness to try new things has resulted in RAW:almonds growth. In October, the pair took the concept to Japan for RAW:Tokyo. And this winter has seen a couple more firsts: the inaugural RAW:Gimli popped up on frozen Lake Winnipeg at the end of December, and, for those whose adventurous spirit extends beyond their palate, RAW:Churchill will take place March 2-10 in partnership with Frontiers North Adventures and Parks Canada. RAW:almond runs until Feb. 13, and is sold out. A record 34 chefs hailing from across Canada and further afield will prepare multi-course meals for curious foodies willing to shell out $130 (plus tax and service) for the experience. Chef Ed Lams RAW:Almond dish of lamb pave features bamboo rice, sous-vide egg, Napa cabbage, ikura, brood and truffle. Bury the Lede podcast co-host Erin Lebar and I scored seats at the 9:30 p.m. seating on Wednesday night. Neither of us had ever partaken in RAW:almond before; our seatmates were also new to it. Weather-wise, it was a gift of a night: -11 C and overcast. From the outside, this years structure looks like a cosy igloo emitting an inviting glow; inside, it was surprisingly warm. People immediately doffed their parkas and hats and settled around a candlelit communal table (you will make fast friends at RAW:almond). It was easy to forget you were outside that is, unless, you ventured off the skating mats and onto the ice floor. The featured chefs that night were Christie Peters, of Saskatoons The Hollows and Primal Pasta, and Edward Lam, of Winnipegs Yujiro. We were seated in Peters section, so we got to indulge in a charming five-course menu inspired by her home province. First up was an amuse-bouche of winter rose hip, served with sauerkraut brine in a bowl of snow. Thin slices of melt-in-your-mouth steelhead trout topped with allium, horseradish and delicate potato chips cut into hearts was both delicious and photogenic. A briny sea buckthorn borscht taught me what a sea buckthorn is, and was dolloped with a dill sour cream I would eat by the bowlful. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mandel Hitzer, one of the co-founders, plates food with Christie Peters and Kyle Michael. Rich bird-liver pate layered with a honey-mustard butter and Concord grape jelly made for the evenings most surprising (in a good way) flavour combination, and was followed by one of the best cabbage rolls Ive ever eaten. Its Peters aunts recipe, "but I used wild rice instead of Uncle Bens," she told us. Peters, clad in a RAW:almond jumpsuit, came out of the kitchen to describe each course. The final course featured fresh cheese Peters made that morning, topped with saskatoon berries (naturally) and pine needles. A cube of rich, dark manjari chocolate topped with wild sage completed our culinary tour of Saskatchewan. RAW:almond is part of a larger winter renaissance in this city. Instead of hibernating in sweats with pizza and Netflix, Winnipeggers are getting out and embracing our designation as a winter city. To wit, at 9:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night in January, The Forks was absolutely bustling. Skaters were zipping down the Red River Mutual Trail, itself a site for artistic expression via the much-Instagrammed warming huts. Teenagers in tuques were taking selfies under an archway made of lights. Indoors, the Common was alive with groups of friends bonding over post-skate beers. When we trudged back from RAW:almond at midnight, three skaters were lying on the ice under the canopy. As if on cue, the Weakerthans Sun in an Empty Room came on over the speakers. It was a little bit of Winnipeg magic. It takes a specific type of city to sustain an outdoor restaurant on a frozen river in January. Few can pull off what we manage to pull off here. With only-in-Winnipeg events such as RAW:almond, our city doesnt just capture the attention of outsiders. It captures their admiration. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti People gathering outside the restaurant waiting for their seating time. Batty eyelashes, pouty lips and perfectly placed humps not all camels are blessed with such good looks. Enter cosmetic enhancements. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Batty eyelashes, pouty lips and perfectly placed humps not all camels are blessed with such good looks. Enter cosmetic enhancements. A dozen camels were banned from a beauty contest during the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia after they were given Botox injections, according to the National, a newspaper based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A dozen camels were banned from a beauty contest during the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia. (Associated Press file photo). Some 30,000 camels were brought to the annual event in Al Dhana, near Riyadh, for racing, an obedience competition and a beauty pageant. The National reported that prize money totals US$57 million, with US$31.8 million reserved for "pageantry." But some people apparently tried to cheat the system enhancing the animals natural beauty. "They use Botox for the lips, the nose, the upper lips, the lower lips and even the jaw," Ali Al Mazrouei, the son of a top Emirati breeder, told the newspaper. "It makes the head more inflated, so when the camel comes its like, Oh, look at how big that head is. It has big lips, a big nose." The King Abdulaziz Camel Festivals website has a section explaining the "standards of camel beauty." Leading up to the festival, which runs through January, Saudi media reported that a veterinarian was caught performing cosmetic surgery on camels giving them Botox and making their ears smaller, according to the National. Ali Obaid, a pageant guide, told the National that cheaters may even "pull the lips of the camel." "They pull it by hand like this every day to make it longer," he told the newspaper. "Secondly, they use hormones to make it more muscular and Botox makes the head bigger and bigger. Everyone wants to be a winner." Others may lather camels with oil to make their coats appear darker, according to the National. The National reported that judges at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival do take steps to guard against cheating: Doug Speirs | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "The age of a camel is measured by its teeth, camels must be microchipped to compete and some competitions require blood testing. At Al Dhafra, competing camels are obliged to overnight at judging pens on the eve of competitions. Owners still douse humps with hairspray and give camels a fine combing to give that fluff on the hump extra volume, but after a night at the pens, the pampering makes little difference. Misty mornings in the desert wreak havoc on hair and by the time of the judging, prospective champions will only have their God-given beauty. "If all else fails, there is a time-honoured safeguard. Before winners are announced, owners must swear on the Quran about a camels age and ownership. Whatever tactics employed to con judges, owners are reminded that while breeders may be judging the camels, God is judging them. This, in the end, does the trick." And according to the festivals website, "In case of fraud to change the natural form of participating camels, the participant shall be excluded immediately, with the offender being deprived of participation in this session and at least (the) next five sessions of the Festival, based on the report of the Special Committee. "He will be referred to the concerned authorities to take the legal penalties against him according to the GCC Animal Welfare Act approved by the Royal Decree No. 44 of 26/7/1434 AH." "The people who are just in the camel competition to make it more valuable," Al Mazourei told the newspaper. "They are cheating everyone." Washington Post Billionaire philanthropist and leading donor to liberal causes George Soros predicted Thursday that regulation and taxation will soon dethrone Facebook and Google, describing the tech industrys major players as powerful monopolies that harm individuals, market innovation and democracy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Billionaire philanthropist and leading donor to liberal causes George Soros predicted Thursday that regulation and taxation will soon dethrone Facebook and Google, describing the tech industrys major players as powerful monopolies that harm individuals, market innovation and democracy. In a wide-ranging, scathing speech delivered at a dinner event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Soros applauded the European Unions heightened enforcement aimed at web giants. He also called for greater regulation of the tech companies, seizing on a growing backlash against Silicon Valley. "Facebook and Google have grown into evermore powerful monopolies, they have become obstacles to innovation and they have caused a variety of problems, of which we are only now beginning to become aware," he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Soros made the remarks as officials in Washington and industry critics continued to ramp up their scrutiny of the tech sector. That pressure has been directed at a broad array of issues, perhaps most prominently online advertising and the spread of disinformation on popular social media platforms. In response, Facebook and Google have said they are open to greater government oversight in their ad operations. But Facebook has gone even further in recent weeks, publicly grappling with its role in global society. Last week Facebook even admitted in a blog post that social media can sometimes harm democracy. Soros suggested that American officials draw from their European counterparts, particularly EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Vestager, a former Danish economy minister, and other EU officials have recently advanced a host of enforcement actions against prominent U.S. tech companies. EU officials have sued Google over alleged antitrust violations tied to its search engine, its mobile operating system and its ad platform. In 2016, competition authorities ordered Apple to pay Ireland more than US$15 billion in uncollected taxes, and Facebook has been penalized by several privacy watchdogs for breaking data-protection rules. "It is only a matter of time before the global dominance of the U.S. IT monopolies is broken," Soros said. "Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered." Washington Post The veil of secrecy regarding sexual harassment may have been lifted with the recent intense media coverage of bad behaviour by high-profile men, but gender disparity in the workplace remains entrenched. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The veil of secrecy regarding sexual harassment may have been lifted with the recent intense media coverage of bad behaviour by high-profile men, but gender disparity in the workplace remains entrenched. If you asked the 1,500 (mostly) women who attended Fridays SHEday event at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, sexual harassment is just one of the array of injustices responsible for the sexual bias that exists in our society. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quoted from a recent McKinsey report that estimates narrowing the gender gap in Canada could add $150 billion to the economy by 2026. There are countless studies showing gender parity is good business. Still, research by the World Economic Forum found that it will take 217 years to close the global economic gender gap. So its not surprising that there are still countless stories of the idiotic way the patriarchal structure of society especially in the world of business continues to conspire to keep women down. The organizers of SHEday were specifically focused on holding an event that would inspire and provide support to encourage leadership among women in business, and to not dwell on sexual harassment. Marina James, CEO of the Winnipeg Realtors Association, who along with Mary Jane Loustel came up with the concept for SHEday five years ago, said, "We recognized that women needed to build confidence and come together to support each other, and we wanted to focus on broadening womens inclusion in the economy." Along with Sandra Altner, the longtime CEO of the Womens Enterprise Centre, which organizes the event, they attracted more than 80 corporate sponsors including RBC, Pinnacle, CN and Bell MTS. That allowed them to keep ticket prices at $65 to maintain another key element of their mandate that it be as inclusive as possible. "We want this to be an event that even women who dont have big pots of cash for professional development will be able to attend," James said. Loustel, a longtime senior executive with IBM, said, "Since we started talking about this event five years ago, the whole conversation around inclusion women, Indigenous women, women of colour has become a global conversation. It is really quite exciting for us." The event has quintupled in size since the first one in 2014 "We couldnt be more delighted," Altner said and while there was some talk a couple of years ago about building a franchise and holding events in other cities, organizers figured they would keep it at home and make it accessible to even more women in Manitoba. The theme of the day-long conference was to get local and national business leaders, some more senior and successful than others, to share their knowledge and stories to help others navigate the challenging waters. Catherine Metrycki, the 28-year-old owner of the online flower store startup, Callia, was there to be around other strong women business leaders, "to hear their stories and reflect on them." It would be hard to imagine a more promising startup, led by a more competent and passionate entrepreneur than Metrycki. Her online company delivers bouquets-in-a-box and is operating in Winnipeg and in cities across the West. Shes been operating not quite two years, so maybe its too early to say whether its destined for long-term success, but its market traction is very promising. Metrycki started her career in marketing at a large packaged goods company in Toronto, where she said gender was never an issue. Shes been pleased at how open and welcoming the Winnipeg community is to women entrepreneurs. She raised an initial round of equity capital from angel investors this past summer that was well received. But regardless of how excellent her business prospects were, her status as a soon-to-be married, young, female business owner was enough to turn off at least one man from investing. "Ninety-five per cent of our angel investors are male, and I had one man who was not interested unless I had got a co-founder because, he said, Its likely that in the next year or two, you are going to get married and have a family, and I am not interested in supporting a mom-preneur," she said. "That was a bit of a wake-up call for me. The community is so great, but there are still stories that events like this need to help overcome." Rochelle Squires, the provinces minister responsible for the status of women, along with a few other portfolios, was at SHEday with department colleagues, not to bring the standard "greetings on behalf of the Premier," but as an act of solidarity. Squires, a former journalist, has seen her share of sexism in the workplace. "There was an incident where I had annoyed an advertiser (because of something shed written) and the advertiser was adamant that bimbo ought to be fired," she said. "I have faced all kinds of challenges based on gender in my career. It takes fortitude, camaraderie. Thats why events like this are so important so that women can say to one another we are not alone." Senior executives from RBC and CN spoke about how they climbed the corporate ladder to heights that are now not so uncommon for women, even though they still make up only 20 per cent of Canadian corporate boards. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. But the numbers are growing. Bonnie Procyshyn, a 30-something senior manager at Ernst & Young in Winnipeg, said the partners and team she works with are mostly women. "Having a strong female presence (in the workplace) is really important for me," she said. She acknowledged that her generation has fewer hassles than women whove come before her, "but we still have challenges, regardless of where you are." Theres no denying it any more, thats just bad for business. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca With it being a civic election year, many women might mull putting their name on the ballot. Taking the leap, however, can be an intimidating challenge. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. With it being a civic election year, many women might mull putting their name on the ballot. Taking the leap, however, can be an intimidating challenge. Equal Voice Canada is an organization dedicated to getting more women elected. This weekend, their Manitoba chapter is putting on a sold-out municipal politics boot camp at the Manitoba Legislative Building. We asked some of the event's guest speakers to spread the gospel for those not able to attend. They're familiar faces and part of a distinct minority in Canadian politics -- only 26 per cent of councillors and 16 per cent of mayors were female, according to 2014 statistics assembled by Equal Voice. Winnipeg's four female city councillors were asked to weigh in on this question: What is the most important piece of advice you would give women considering entering municipal politics? Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Jenny Gerbasi "I would advise people to get involved in your community as a volunteer and get to know your community and who the leaders are," said Gerbasi. She is serving her 20th year as a councillor, having worked as a community health nurse beforehand. "For myself, I got involved organizing a coalition of community organizations and people with disabilities to advocate for our home care system. That led me to learn a lot and to make the connections that ultimately led to me running for office." Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Cindy Gilroy "The most important thing I would say is to have a strong support base. If its your family, friends or your colleagues, nobody is able to accomplish anything without support from people that believe in you," said Gilroy, a first-term councillor, who served as a Winnipeg School Division trustee beforehand. Gilroy previously sat on the board of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg as well, speaking to many issues like housing, poverty and transit she continues to advocate for. "My advice would be to surround yourself with good people from different backgrounds and a multitude of skills that can be used to provide what you need leading up to an election campaign." Coun. Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert) WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Janice Lukes "There is no one thing!!!" Lukes replied jokingly to the query via email. She worked as a self-professed "agent of change," presenting to many city hall committees and to council for over a decade before being elected to council last election. Lukes said women considering running for office should be fearless, seek advice, keep a wide-open mind and "stay in touch with your grass roots." "If you dont play chess, learn how," she added. "Prepare yourself and family for personal sacrifice as you serve (and) find time to escape and maintain a mind-over-matter balance." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Speaker and Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Devi Sharma "There are many ways to get involved to learn the lay of the land of municipal politics seek out a job in a political office, volunteer on a campaign, reach out to your local councillor on an issue that you are passionate about and advocate for it," Sharma said. "All of these things build confidence and build knowledge to prepare you for your goals." Sharma was the first female speaker for Winnipeg council and the first Indo-Canadian councillor. She worked as an executive assistant in the Old Kildonan office before being elected in 2010. "Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with good people, run for the right reasons, network like crazy and always remember your family," she said. jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu OTTAWA Indigenous leaders from Manitoba say theyre waiting to see whether the enthusiasm around this weeks child-welfare summit will let First Nations and Metis governments craft their own rules around Child and Family Services. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Indigenous leaders from Manitoba say theyre waiting to see whether the enthusiasm around this weeks child-welfare summit will let First Nations and Metis governments craft their own rules around Child and Family Services. "We need to talk about law creation in our communities, and have that all line up provincially and federally," said Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, who represents First Nations in southern Manitoba. Friday marked the closing of a national "emergency meeting" in Ottawa aimed at curbing the jarring number of Indigenous kids apprehended by CFS agents. Manitoba had a large showing among the roughly 300 delegates, reflecting the provinces disproportionately high number of children in foster care. The summit heard from advocates calling for an end to funding gaps for First Nations children the difference between what First Nations leaders say they need, and what they actually get, is estimated to be $104 million a year in Manitoba alone. But other advocates suggested a system focused on keeping families together could be less expensive, and end what the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has called "an industry" that props up CFS workers. Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott revealed six federal promises Thursday, such as better data collection and possible legislation to give more autonomy to Indigenous governments. The summit ended Friday without a joint statement. Provincial ministers delayed signing a draft communique, with some like Manitoba Families Minister Scott Fielding saying there needed to be better consultation with First Nations and Metis officials. But the meeting did bolster longstanding calls by Manitoba chiefs and leaders to let First Nations and Metis laws control how children at risk are apprehended, housed and returned to their families. On Friday, Carolyn Bennett, the minister for treaty relations, linked multiple sections of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to autonomous child-rearing, and suggested current CFS systems likely violate UNDRIPs cultural rights. The summit also heard from First Nations reserves that were granted more autonomy over child welfare, which led to fewer children entering foster care and more relatives involved in supporting families in crisis. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Files Jerry Daniels, Grand Chief of the Southern Chiefs Organization. David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, said any autonomy has to come with a clear funding formula. He declined to have Metis be part of the provinces flexible funding pilot project, over fears Ottawa or the province would use it as an excuse to not boost funding for CFS authorities. "You can't have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this issue." Grand Chief Sheila North, who represents First Nations in northern Manitoba, said the idea of First Nations implementing their own laws around child welfare has been talked about for so long that some band councils have already drafted ideas of what that would look like. "We don't want to prop up the federal and provincial systems any more; we have to take back the jurisdiction," said North, saying it could be a gradual process. Pimicikamak Chief Cathy Merrick from Cross Lake said such laws could recognize the traditional maternal family structure, which could help build up women in the community. "Those are fundamental things as a nation: to give back women that responsibility, that they be able to raise their children in a good way." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. She gave the example of a doula program, where locals are learning how to help with births. The on-reserve population of 6,500 has roughly 170 births a year, almost all of which require a three-hour drive to Thompson for a two-week stay, often while the father stays home to look after siblings. She said CFS in Manitoba still leads to bureaucratic confusion and children being raised outside their familys culture, despite the system being arguably the most devolved in Canada. "It's fragmented between the federal government and the province, at present," she said. "It's colonization and it's cultural genocide; we're still doing all that today. Because we're taking the culture, the language. We're taking away where our people live." Daniels said hes optimistic, after the federal and provincial ministers hinted at further autonomy. "We're all wanting the same thing," he said. But North said she wants the provinces to sign some sort agreement that lays out support for more Indigenous control. "We're always giving the benefit of the doubt as First Nations, and I think we're getting tired of that. We need to see real action and real change." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca A city program that served as a backstop for hundreds of private refugee sponsorships is being taken over by Manitoba Refugee Sponsors community group and administered by the Winnipeg Foundation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A city program that served as a backstop for hundreds of private refugee sponsorships is being taken over by Manitoba Refugee Sponsors community group and administered by the Winnipeg Foundation. Private sponsors are responsible for financially supporting refugees during their first year in Canada. If something happens and the sponsor is unable to meet their obligation, the Winnipeg Private Refugee Sponsorship Assurance Program was there to cover it. The program was set up in 2002 as an insurance plan to transfer some of the risk from Winnipeg sponsors to the city, said Tom Denton, who helped establish it. The program began with $250,000 as insurance to cover refugee sponsorship cases that were all started before 2012, Denton said, executive director of Hospital House Refugee Ministry, which belongs to Manitoba Refugee Sponsors. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It enabled more people to privately sponsor refugees, and the city assumed little risk, with less than one per cent of family-linked sponsors running into financial trouble, said Jim Mair, co-chairman of Manitoba Refugee Sponsors. The city-sponsored program officially expired in 2016 with a balance of nearly $185,000 remaining and many of the refugees sponsored before 2012 still waiting to come to Canada, Mair said. The Manitoba Refugee Sponsors have been working with the city, the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council and the Winnipeg Foundation since 2016 to come up with a new way to administer program funds until all the sponsored refugees arrive. On Jan. 17, the executive policy committee recommended ending the program and transferring the balance to Manitoba Refugee Sponsors to be used as an endowment fund overseen by the Winnipeg Foundation, and city council agreed. It means that the church and community groups who sponsored the loved ones of a resettled refugee before 2012 are covered if someone integral to the sponsorship dies or gets sick and cant support the sponsee during their first year in Canada, Mair said. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Red River College has chopped 10 of 67 managers after unnamed provincial officials told the school last spring that the provincial order to cut 15 per cent of managers from the public sector applied to the post-secondary system. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Red River College has chopped 10 of 67 managers after unnamed provincial officials told the school last spring that the provincial order to cut 15 per cent of managers from the public sector applied to the post-secondary system. But four universities said Friday that Premier Brian Pallister never issued his threatened directive to them, though theyve been reducing costs without being ordered to do so. Nevertheless, Education Minister Ian Wishart issued a news release late Friday afternoon stating the province has made its wishes clear and expects the post-secondary system to make the management cuts. "Recognizing it will take a collective effort to fix the finances of the province, the premier and members of our cabinet have conveyed clearly and repeatedly that we expect all publicly funded entities including post-secondary institutions to follow this lead and participate in their own 15 per cent reduction of senior management," Wishart said. "We are very pleased and commend Red River College for joining in this important effort. We are confident that Red River College and all of Manitobas post-secondary institutions are able to maintain quality programs for their students, while also taking the necessary steps to ensure that their operations are sustainably managed." The education minister would not say whether the Tory government has issued written orders to colleges and universities. Conor Lloyd, acting director of public affairs at RRC, said the college contacted the province after reading a Free Press story last spring about the proposed job cuts to colleges and universities. In that May 16, 2017, interview, Pallister said the Tories were preparing to extend the cuts order, but had not done so. He told the Free Press extending the order was: "In process I dont think that ones underway. Theres a lot of moving parts on this. I dont think post-secondary educations been communicated with." Subsequently, each time he or Wishart was asked, Pallister has said the directive has not yet been sent, nor has a similar plan to extend the order to the kindergarten to Grade 12 public school system. "The latest news is what youve reported," John Danakas, executive director of public affairs at the University of Manitoba, said in an interview Friday. "Thats the information we have." "We havent received any directive in that regard," said Dominique Philibert, communications co-ordinator for the Universite de Saint-Boniface. Danakas said that U of M has already been working to reduce administrative costs. "Were in a continuous process," he said. Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press Files Red River College Princess St. campus. The University of Winnipeg said Friday its received no orders from Pallister, but has already cut more than 15 per cent of senior managers in previous years to get its budget under control. "The decision to reduce senior management by more than 15 per cent at the University of Winnipeg was taken for budgetary reasons in 2016-17," Chris Minaker, senior adviser to president Annette Trimbee, said Friday. "We did not ask for, or receive, further direction from government, but were aware of what was happening in the broader public sector, as reported in the media," Minaker said. Brandon University said its aware Pallister was considering ordering post-secondary cuts, but a spokesperson said, "We have heard nothing specific about this from the government." Assiniboine Community College and University College of the North could not be reached. Pallister had ordered early in his mandate that the provincial government, the health-care system and Crown corporations such as Manitoba Hydro chop 15 per cent of their management staff. "We implemented it in a similar fashion as other public sector agencies," Lloyd said Friday. "Following the reports last May, we reached out to the provincial government and were instructed that the directive did apply to PSEs, and that we were instructed to reduce our management structure by 15 per cent. "Since that initial conversation with the province, weve had multiple conversations with the government in recent weeks and months to help us guide the preparation for our upcoming budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which starts April 1, 2018," said Lloyd, who has not responded to requests to name those provincial officials, or to say if RRC has anything in writing. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "I cant comment on the conversations or directives other post-secondary institutions may have had with the province." NDP education critic Matt Wiebe said "its putting Red River College in a difficult position. They had their budget actually cut last year, whereas other institutions had their budgets frozen." Wiebe said some of the cuts, such as the discrimination and harassment officer and the dean of Indigenous education positions, will have a direct impact on student life. Other cuts will affect staff professional development, he said. Wiebe called the governments 15 per cent management reduction target an "arbitrary directive." He said the U of M and U of W have been cognizant of the governments wish to hold the line on spending and have done "extraordinary work to keep their administrative costs down." nick.martin@freepress.mb.calarry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion As false alarms go, this one was a real humdinger. Unless youve been in a coma for the past two weeks, youll know that on Jan. 13, Hawaii was plunged into panic when an official alert warned residents a ballistic missile was about to hit the islands. Residents and tourists ran for cover when they spotted the following message from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on their cellphones: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." When the warning was issued at 8:07 a.m., panic spread quickly as people scrambled for safety, huddling in hotel basements, crawling under tables and racing from beaches to seek shelter in military hangars. Fear turned to fury when it was discovered it was nothing more than a false alarm, blamed on a lone employee who "pushed the wrong button" during an end-of-shift procedure. It didnt help earlier this week when Hawaii Gov. David Ige conceded that he knew within two minutes it was a false alarm but he couldnt hop on Twitter and tell everybody because he couldnt remember his password. "I have to confess that I dont know my Twitter account login and passwords," Ige told reporters on Monday after his state of the state address. "I will be putting that on my phone." Still, Hawaiians can take cold comfort knowing they are not alone, as we can see from todays heart-stopping list of Five of the Most Famous False Alarms in History: 5) The alarming incident: Crying fire in a crowded theatre Sounding the (false) alarm: Tragically, false alarms dont always end with a sense of a relief. The panic and fear caused by a bogus alarm can have deadly consequences. Thats what happened on the night of Feb. 17, 1849, at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street, in the Scottish city of Glasgow when someone shouted "FIRE" at the conclusion of the first act of the drama The Surrender of Calais. The price of admission for the theatres spacious upper gallery had been reduced to threepence that night, meaning the section was packed with about 500 people, mostly younger men. "About 8 oclock the alarm of fire was given from the upper gallery, and it turned out in reality that a lighted paper (believed to have been thrown down by a person after igniting his pipe) had come in contact with an escape of gas, and produced a small flame, but it was so insignificant that it was extinguished by the persons in the vicinity," according to a report in the Glasgow Times. "Several persons from the stage and other parts of the house came forward and shouted, at the top of their voices, Keep your seats there is no danger but in the midst of this a frantic panic arose, and there was a general and wild rush from the upper gallery towards the stairs which lead to the street." As the terrified audience tried to navigate the stairs, many fell, creating a crush of humanity on the first landing. "The weaker were trampled down by others, who were only to be trampled down in turn by the fresh and furious in the rear," the Times reported. In the end, 65 patrons, mostly apprentice boys, were trampled to death. Theatre owner John Henry Alexander tried to stop the madness. According to the Glasgow Citizen: "He roared himself hoarse in efforts to subdue the panic. A multitude of lives were saved by his vast personal exertions. But the appalling extent of the catastrophe, when revealed, struck heavily at his heart." 4) The alarming incident: The 46-cent chip malfunction Sounding the (false) alarm: False alarms are especially frightening when they possess the possibility of sparking retaliatory missile strikes. On June 3, 1980, for instance, U.S. command posts received a dire warning their computers reported the Soviet Union had launched a nuclear missile strike. Naturally, U.S. officials sprang into action crews for Minuteman missiles were given preliminary launch warnings, and bomber crews manned their aircraft. "This time, however, the displays did not present a recognizable or even a consistent attack pattern," according to a 2001 article written by MITs Dr. Geoffrey Forden for the PBS.org website. "Instead, the displays would show that two missiles had been launched, then zero missiles, and then 200 missiles. Furthermore, the numbers of attacking missiles displayed in the different command posts did not always agree." No interceptors from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) were launched, but military commanders convened a threat-assessment conference, reviewed the raw data from the early-warning systems and decided no missiles had, in fact, been launched. The Pentagon later revealed a faulty 46-cent micro-electronic integrated circuit (a computer chip) and a "faulty message design" had caused random numbers of attacking missiles to be displayed. According to the National Security Archive of George Washington University: "A computer at Norad made what amounted to typographical errors in the routine messages it sent to SAC (Strategic Air Command) and the National Military Command Centre about missile launches." Experts say what is especially frightening about such false alarms is the speed at which the president of the U.S. has to make a decision about whether an attack is real 10 minutes, or marginally more. There are a lot of things worth fighting for, but a 46-cent computer chip isnt one of them. 3) The alarming incident: Training tape terror Sounding the (false) alarm: On Nov. 9, 1979, the world came closer to nuclear war than most people realize. It began when computers at Norads Cheyenne Mountain site, the Pentagons National Military Command Center and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Pennsylvania all showed a worst-case scenario a massive Soviet nuclear strike aimed at destroying the U.S. command system and nuclear forces. "Launch control centres for Minuteman missiles, buried deep below the prairie grass in the American West, received a preliminary warning that the United States was under a massive nuclear attack," MITs Geoffrey Forden wrote in the 2001 article on PBS.org. "The alert did not stop with the U.S. ICBM force. The entire continental air defence interceptor force was put on alert, and at least 10 fighters took off. Furthermore, the National Emergency Command Post, the presidents doomsday plane, was also launched, but without the president on board." Thats when Zbigniew Brzezinski, U.S. President Jimmy Carters national security adviser, received an infamous 3 a.m. phone call that could have led to a nuclear strike. In an interview in 2013, Brzezinski said a subordinate informed him the Soviets had launched 220 missiles. "When I picked up the phone, I could hear him say: Sorry, sir. We are under nuclear attack. That kind of wakes you up." Brzezinski wanted confirmation before calling Carter. "According to the rules, I had two more minutes to verify this information and then an additional four minutes to wake up the president and then initiate the response." The second call was worse 2,200 missiles were incoming. "This time, I was totally calm," he recalled. "Somehow or another, I knew everybody would be dead in 28 minutes my wife, my kids, everybody else. If that was the case, I was going to make sure we had lots of company." At the last moment, a third check revealed there was no attack. It turned out that a realistic training tape had been inadvertently inserted into the computer running the countrys early-warning programs. It doesnt get much closer than that. 2) The alarming incident: The Eve of Destruction Sounding the (false) alarm: On Sept. 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov, a lieutenant-colonel in the Soviet Air Defence Forces, may have saved the world by doing nothing. Petrov was in command at Serpukhov-15, a secret bunker outside Moscow, where his job was to monitor the Soviet Unions new early-warning system for nuclear attack. His orders were to pass on alerts to his superiors. Just after midnight, the alarm bells began sounding and a red screen flashed the word "LAUNCH." What happened was one of the systems satellites had detected the U.S. had launched five ballistic missiles at the USSR. It was a tense time, not long after the Soviets had shot down a South Korean airliner that had strayed into Soviet airspace. But, as TheAtlantic.com and Wired magazine have reported, Petrov had a "funny feeling" in his gut. The alarm indicated only five missiles were heading his way, and Petrovs gut said that didnt make a lot of sense. As he later noted, "When people start a war, they dont start it with only five missiles. You can do little damage with just five missiles." According to TheAtlantic.com, Petrov reported the satellites detection to his superiors, but insisted it was a false alarm, and then "he hoped to hell he was right." Notes History.com: "With only minutes to make a decision, Petrov chose to ignore the blaring warning alarms and reported the launch as a false alarm a move that may have averted a nuclear holocaust." The warning from the newly inaugurated Soviet early-warning system, which Petrov knew was mistake-prone, was a terrible error one of the satellites had misinterpreted the glint of sunlight off clouds near Montana as a missile launch, wrongly suggesting the U.S. had started a nuclear war. Petrov later received several humanitarian awards for his actions, and was also honoured by the United Nations. As TheAtlantic.com noted in 2013, we may all still be around because Petrov trusted himself over a malfunctioning machine. "That was my job," Petrov was later quoted as saying. "But they were lucky it was me on shift that night." 1) The alarming incident: The War of the Worlds Sounding the (false) alarm: Sitting in the No. 1 spot on todays list is arguably the most famous false alarm in history. It didnt involve incoming missiles, but rather a fictional threat posed by Martian invaders armed with heat rays. It seems hard to believe for modern readers, but almost 80 years ago, this bogus warning scared the pants off a large number of radio listeners. Doug Speirs | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It began the night of Oct. 30, 1938, when famed actor/director Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air performed a now-legendary radio adaptation of H.G. Wellss The War of the Worlds, converting the sci-fi classic into fake news bulletins describing a Martian invasion of New Jersey. The hair-raising, hour-long broadcast simulated a series of news bulletins, with the first describing a series of odd explosions on Mars, followed by reports of an unusual object falling on a farm in Grovers Mill, N.J. A breathless radio announcer at the "crash site" described a Martian emerging from a large metallic cylinder. "Good heavens," he told listeners. "Somethings wriggling out of the shadow like a grey snake. Now heres another and another one and another one. They look like tentacles to me I can see the things body now. Its large, large as a bear. It glistens like wet leather. But that face, it it ladies and gentlemen, its indescribable The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is kind of V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate." It was pure fiction, but hearing about Martians mounting walking war machines and firing "heat-ray" weapons at puny humans got some gullible listeners pretty worked up. There were, indeed, newspaper reports of mass panic and people fleeing their homes and suicides, but most historians believe those reports were greatly exaggerated. Were some folks fooled? Yes. But its now largely seen as overblown media coverage based on flimsy anecdotal evidence. "The panic and mass hysteria so readily associated with The War of the Worlds did not occur on anything approaching a nationwide dimension," U.S. historian W. Joseph Campbell said in 2003. The point is, if youre going to become alarmed, you should first make sure theres something to become alarmed about. And please, never cry wolf, because theres always someone dumb enough to believe you. doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca A Public Health Study Tour from Griffith University, Australia visited the United Nations (U.N.) at the One-UN House at Tuanaimato on Monday. Supported through a scholarship programme called The New Colombo Plan, the Study Tour is made up of undergraduate and post-graduate health students visiting Samoa to gain international first-hand experience of population health in Samoa. Students met with representatives from U.N.I.C.E.F, U.N.F.P.A. and the U.N.D.P. Global Fund and held informative discussions on both the resepective and joint efforts of U.N. agencies in strengthening and supporting the health sector and services in Samoa. Dr. Neil Harris, an Associate Professor of Griffith University welcomed the opportunity for students to meet the representatives of UN agenices in Samoa. The Tour is the first step towards initiating and building relationships between Griffith University and the Samoa Ministry of Health, and relevant organisations, said Dr. Harris. We want our young people to get to know our neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region and to build relations and raise awareness and understanding of public health in other countries, as well as health care culture in Samoa. Welcoming the Study Tour and initiative to build relations and awareness, Latoya Lee of U.N.F.P.A. acknowledged the efforts of the Griffith University in this regard. These study tours and visits are important in raising awareness and understanding of the Pacific health context, as well as expand on student learning, particularly with regard regional health challenges and developments outside of ones home country. We welcome and look forward to more of these visits to the UN in Samoa, said Ms. Lee. The Study Tour will depart Samoa at the end of the week. This week the premier of Manitoba finds himself in the enviable position of making good on his goal of being the most improved province for regulatory accountability by 2020. He is two years ahead of schedule meeting his ambitious goal. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion This week the premier of Manitoba finds himself in the enviable position of making good on his goal of "being the most improved province for regulatory accountability by 2020." He is two years ahead of schedule meeting his ambitious goal. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) started grading regulatory accountability in 2011 as part of its annual Red Tape Awareness Week. Prior to this weeks A grade, Manitoba had racked up a string of Ds and Fs. The only other province competing for such low grades has been Alberta, a province that now stands alone in getting an F. Regulatory accountability sounds so boring that one might be tempted to ask whether a poor grade on CFIBs regulatory accountability report card is the government equivalent of a poor grade in a high-school Latin class disappointing, maybe, but not problematic in the grand scheme of life. In other words, is Manitobas turnaround from worst to first important enough to celebrate? To answer that question, lets compare regulatory accountability to another government subject that most consider very important taxes. Taxes are the government equivalent of high-school math we might not like it, but we accept its importance. Taxes and regulation have a lot in common. Both are powerful government tools used to affect change. Each can have a positive impact. Tax revenue can be used to do positive things, such as funding health care and building bridges. Regulation can keep us safe and protect the environment. Taxes and regulation are good when properly applied, but without restraint both can be damaging to the economy and the relationship between a government and its citizens. New research is showing regulation costs Canadian businesses $36 billion a year ($1.2 billion for Manitoba businesses), and many of those costs get passed on in the form of higher prices and lower wages. To carry on with the school analogy, regulatory accountability has more in common with math than Latin. But until recently, most governments have treated regulatory accountability like a Latin class that doesnt even get graded! This is the opposite of how we deal with taxes, where information is readily and regularly available in annual budgets and fiscal updates that we can evaluate. Whether we think government should tax and spend more or less, we can all agree the transparency and accountability in budget debates is a very good thing. To draw the parallel, regulation is a tax, albeit a hidden one. Until recently, governments have been very reluctant to produce reporting on regulation that comes anywhere close to what we get for taxes and spending. There is one notable exception here: the province of British Columbia has been an A student for seven years because it has been tracking and reporting its regulatory requirements since 2001. So Manitobas A on regulatory accountability is a big deal. No longer asleep at the back of the class, the province is now the one to watch. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Last year the government gave royal assent to two pieces of legislation to improve accountability and reduce red tape. The most important is The Regulatory Accountability Act, which establishes measurement, tracking, reporting and reduction of red tape across government. Premier Brian Pallister and Finance Minister Cameron Friesen also won CFIBs 2018 Golden Scissors Award this week in recognition of this important accomplishment. The premiers direction to improve accountability is bold and comprehensive. He is also blessed by a talented group of civil servants who are now using the most comprehensive measurement anywhere in North America. Measuring the regulatory burden is a tricky business, so many governments settle for measuring part of it. To use another fiscal analogy, this would be like reporting on spending in some areas and not others. At best, this would give you a partial picture of what is going on. At worst, it would be misleading. Manitobas government didnt settle, opting to count everything it could find in legislation, regulation, guidelines, guidance documents and forms. Manitobas civil service identified 906,824 requirements in 12,393 documents; going forward, these numbers can be tracked by ministries over time. Whether you think regulation levels should be increased or decreased, its hard to argue with knowing how many rules currently exist and how that changes over time. Thats accountability. Skeptics argue regulatory counts are not perfect. This is true, but the same can be said for aggregate numbers such as GDP and unemployment rates. Perfection in any such indicator is impossible. Useful measures, such as regulatory counts that can be tracked over time to provide more transparency and accountability, are possible. Until now, Manitoba has had no such indicators in a critical area where government has power. Manitobans have a lot to celebrate as this years Red Tape Awareness Week draws to a close. Its not every day you go from getting Ds to As. The province is not just committed to regulatory accountability, but actively wanting to be best in class. Now, the trick is to stay there. Laura Jones is executive vice-president and chief strategic officer of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Follow her on Twitter @CFIBideas. It was a natural progression from labour and delivery nurse to birth photographer, but it was a journey that took years to unfold for Elliana Gilbert. This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It was a natural progression from labour and delivery nurse to birth photographer, but it was a journey that took years to unfold for Elliana Gilbert. Over that time, she realized one was a job, while the other was a passion. One was clinical; the other was an expression of art. But both callings were bound together by one of lifes most treasured moments. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Self-portrait of Elliana Gilbert "The poetry of birth, what a woman or a birthing person has to go through, what it does to a family and how you see that family transform in the space of a few hours, its unlike anything in the world," she says. Gilbert swapped out nursing scrubs for a camera several years ago. Since her first post back in December 2015, Gilberts Instagram account, @ellianagilbertphotography, has acquired more than 17,000 followers. Not only does the account showcase her striking images, it offers followers a glimpse into the journeys she shares with her clients as they get ready to embrace the arrival of a new life into the world. Birth photography is a relatively new niche in the Winnipeg, she says. For Gilbert, sacred art and sacred music inform and inspire her work. "Im looking for that sort of otherworldly, divine, higher meaning that connects us all," she says. "Im not a religious person but Im a spiritual person. Im not literally looking for the divine, but in every one of my images I try to find this sort of higher connection that inspires the heart in the person in the image or inspires the hearts of people interacting in the images. "Any time we have birth or life leaving this world, thats when were closest to that higher power, whatever that is. Im fascinated by those huge life transitions and what they mean in a bigger way." COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Her work has attracted the attention of the international online photography community. Most recently, she was selected as one of the Artists of the Year 2017 by lookslikefilm.com when two of her images were voted into the annual collection. The site is an online community of professional photographers from around the world. The daughter of musically inclined parents (her father played wind instruments and her mother was a piano teacher, but she learned to play the cello instead), Gilbert was given a digital camera for her 30th birthday and fell in love with photography. That led to the decision to leave her career as a labour and delivery nurse in 2014 and commit herself to developing her photography business. In 2016, she started working in birth photography. "Interestingly, when I went into nursing, I wasnt really following my heart because my heart is an artists heart," says Gilbert. "But I went a different way because of things that were pushing me in that direction. But it all came full circle because my time as a nurse led me (to) birth photography and birth work." COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT This year promises to be a busy one for Gilbert. Aside from her birth photography work, she plans to put together a fine art photo book. The book will be a compilation of her photography, her own writings and personal stories her clients and online followers have shared with her. She hopes to have the book published before the end of this year. As well, she and Alison Ritchie, a local nutritional therapist and doula, are partnering up to create Of Oaks and Owls, a service that combines Gilberts photography and Ritchies expertise in postpartum care and care of women throughout lifes transitions, specifically related to nutritional, herbal, spiritual and emotional well-being. "We will also be launching a publication by the same name, as well as hosting local events to network women together for the purpose of community building and education," Gilbert adds. There is no definitive start date but the plan is to have the business up and running this year." The following interview, conducted in person and via email, has been condensed and edited for length. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: You consider yourself first and foremost a birth photographer. A: Birth (photography) is kind of a new-ish niche, especially in Winnipeg and in this region. Its definitely more evolved in bigger cities and other parts of the world. Birthing is so intimate, and birth culture is changing. But I think we still feel this protectiveness and this privacy around birth this sense of it needs to be in a hospital room and it needs to be between me and my partner. Its not something that needs to be talked about or discussed. We dont even think about it. We dont even know about it. Its sort of ingrained from society. I really love birth. Its just the most real-life youre ever gonna get. Its just so real and so profound. The poetry of birth, what a woman or a birthing person has to go through, what it does to a family and how you see that family transform in the space of a few hours. Its unlike anything in the world. Being responsible for a life is so profound and that depth of meaning really speaks to me. Its the kind of depth I want to create in my work. Thats why I feel like really good buddies with that subject matter. Because I feel I have the capacity for that depth. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: Are your clients are fine with you sharing your images of them on social media? A: Some clients are and some clients want it to be private. (The sharing of images of their likeness) is always discussed ahead of time, even before they arrive or before I go into their homes and when we look over the contract before the agreement is made. And even if they permit me on paper at the beginning, they can change their mind, I will always honour that. Q: Considering you were once a labour and delivery nurse, you understand the biology of birthing and everything that goes into it and understanding what a woman goes through. A: Yeah, I do and I can appreciate what the care team needs to do to help and I can appreciate what midwives do. When I work with midwives, and not just understanding and appreciating and respecting (what they do), but I also tend to fill in the cracks, tend to roll up my sleeves and help. Im not just that photographer in the corner. I am a doula and it makes sense to be a delivery and labour nurse. I get tactile. Im not just into the tactile style. I literally am tactile. So, Im not going to be afraid (to help in the delivery). COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: Thinking about your nursing background and your birth photography, the chicken or the egg question comes up and Im wondering which came first for you. A: What came first was the art. I was born in Israel. My family immigrated to Canada. I was almost five when I arrived. My first language here was art. That was how I started learning English. I didnt speak English when I came here. I spoke Hebrew. But drawing pictures was how (I) picked up language and talked to (my) classmates. I just drew and painted from age three, basically. Q: When I see your photographs (the colour images, in particular), they seem very tactile I also think Renaissance, I think Baroque. There is a painterly quality in terms of the look. A: Im very excited to hear you say that (laughs) because thats what it is. When you think about those painters, they didnt have television, they didnt have radio, they didnt have the Internet. They had pigments, powders that they would mix up with oils, liquids and tinctures and they would prepare them and it would be painstaking and they didnt have photos to work off of. They had people sitting for hours, theyd go away and come back. Everything was slow and dedicated and light would change constantly and they would have to work around that somehow. I think about that and my brain explodes. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: If someone were to ask you what is your style, what would you say? A: I have been doing a lot of work on that because (of the) online art course (I created) with (Colorado-based photographer Keziah Kelsey). And the whole meat and potatoes of this art course that we (launched) in September is about finding your voice. Figuring out what that voice is, how to tap into it, how to go back into yourself and tap into that genuine authentic inner voice that inevitably will make your work different from everyone elses. Teaching has always been something I really love to do. I can help a person reach certain levels of processing the world around them. Im more about life, the experiences, the senses. My background in art and music both centre around sacred paintings and sacred music. When I was creating this course with Keziah, I realized that that is the running theme through my work. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: The reason you gravitate towards photography is because it lets you access that more readily than drawing or painting, correct? A: I would say so. I went through a massive block and then I left art in my 20s and thats what made me do this 180-degree turn. I needed to do nursing, I needed to find something more down-to-earth, more grounded and more useful for society. I was just lost. I didnt know how to be creative. I had learned all these mediums and I had learned all the styles, I had been exposed to all these other peoples work that inspired me. I was an artistic technician and I loved it. But then, I realized I was just an artistic technician and I didnt have a vision, an artistic statement. Q: What was the spark? What brought you back to art? A: I realized while I was working as a nurse I was really miserable and that misery was getting worse and worse, in conjunction with having babies. (When I) had my first (child), I was so happy to be on maternity leave because I was able to just be me. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT I realized putting on the nurses uniform was actually putting on a uniform. A lot of nurses feel like their uniform is their skin. They are nurses by blood. You could see that. But that was not me. My uniform was just a uniform. (During) my first maternity leave, I learned to crochet, I started painting, I started going to concerts again. (I was) reconnecting to the artistic part of me. It was like a creative renaissance in my brain and my hands started doing things again. Not putting in IVs but actually creating artistic things. Then I had to get back to work, it was hard. It was becoming clearer and clearer even though it was scary to come to terms with this that a nursing career was not for me. Q: How did your family feel about that? A: My husband was one of the people who encouraged me to do it. That was really awesome. Im very thankful to him. Life got complicated after that. (Laughs) Its not easy having a business and I am not a business person. Its been a process. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: You recently photographed a couple who were going to be your first birth story for 2018. However, your first story became the first stillbirth with another couple. Was this also the first stillbirth you documented since becoming a birth photographer? A: Yes thats correct, I had a birth client with a January 9 due date, but on January 6, I responded to a last minute call to come out to the hospital to do photos for a family who had just given birth to their daughter, who had passed away in utero a couple of days prior. I was not there for the actual birth. They had their time together, when she was born, and I arrived in the morning, after the babys mother had had a shower and some time to freshen up, and after their extended family had had a chance to collect themselves and also be there for the photos. This was my first time documenting a stillbirth as photographer. It was really important for me to tell the mother of this sweet baby, that her 80+ hour induction, labour and birth were completely valid and important and deserved documentation and attention and remembrance and honouring, and I hugged her, and told her she was the bravest, strongest woman I had ever met. The look in her eyes confirmed my suspicion that she badly needed to hear these words. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Q: What was your thought process during this life event? Your background as a nurse must have helped in this situation for you and the parents. A: Years ago, when I worked as a labour and delivery nurse, I did have exposure to these kinds of tragedies on the unit, but it felt very different. As much as it was acceptable to show compassion and feeling, in those moments, it was still a clinical environment and workplace, and I was still responsible for many tasks involving caring for the mother, and also handling the paperwork aspects of a stillbirth. Those tasks made it hard for me to really "be in the moment" with families, and really allow their story, and their pain, to wash over me. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT This time, I walked in, and the tears were flowing. I cried with the family. I hugged the family. I gazed upon this sweet baby girl, I unwrapped her swaddle and took loving photos of her hands, feet, ears, face, even her sweet little baby bum. I thought about how much her mother wanted these photos, to remember her child, after she was no longer here to gaze upon. I knew this was important to the parents and I held back the tears while I worked to snap these photos that would mean the world to them. It was definitely the hardest subject matter Ive ever had to photograph. But knowing how grateful this entire family was for my being there with them in that room, meant the world to me, and filled my heart in an indescribable way. I left that building feeling, at once, depleted and weak from heartbreak, and super charged with the power of philanthropy coursing through my veins. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Q: Within the birth photography community, there must be some discussion regarding photographing stillbirths. A: Yes, absolutely. I am a member of a few Facebook-based birth photographer (and doula) groups and there is always a safe space reserved for those of us who have come across these kinds of tragedies. Everyone is extremely supportive and compassionate when these topics come up, and one of the most common recommendations among peers at the end of the discussion, is to take some space for oneself afterwards, and go easy on the daily tasks of life for a while... to be OK with taking time to grieve and process, because it is important and healthy to do. While most of these groups are online-based, and most of my birth photographer friends are people I communicate with via distance, I feel incredibly lucky to consider so many of these wonderful women good friends of mine; women I could message at all hours of the day, and ask any question and always know that someone is out there ready to listen/read/process things with me. We are a tight-knit community and that sense of community is vital to doing this emotionally heavy work we do. COURTESY OF ELLIANA GILBERT One of the largest K-12 cyber charter schools in the US, Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT), suddenly shut down last Friday, January 19, leaving up to 12,000 Ohio students stranded in the middle of the school year. Of these young people, 2,100 are reportedly seniors set to graduate, but who must now find a school which accepts their credits. ECOT was a wildly profitable online-only school. It was operated by William Lager, a software developer best known for his tight connections with state power brokers and lavish political contributions. He is a crony of Ohios Republican Governor John Kasich and a darling of US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and school privatization advocate Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida and brother of George W. Bush. The abrupt closure left thousands of young people and their parents scrambling for a new school just days before the January 22 deadline for the new semester. Students and their parents learned about the closure, not from ECOT staff members, but from television and newspapers. The majority of ECOT students, about 72 percent, are lower income and include a large number with disabilities. If this is really about the kids, they will not close the school in the middle of the school year, Anna Aquino angrily said to the Columbus Dispatch. Aquinos two children have disabilities and are ECOT students. Many former students signed a petition demanding legal action against the shutdown, explaining they attended ECOT due to problems like autism, bullying, extreme allergies and other disabilities. The immediate trigger was the loss of the charter schools oversight sponsor, the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West, which said that ECOT was running out of money. Last summer the state ordered the school to begin paying back almost $4 million per month in school funds, which ECOT claimed it was unable to do. The repayment schedule arose from a series of state audits which demonstrated that ECOT had falsely reported thousands of students as full time who did not meet the minimum participation requirement. A student had to miss 30 days of logging in (five hours a day is necessary to meet the yearly requirement), in order to be marked truant by ECOT, according to testimony by ECOT chief truancy officer Patrick Tinger. As a result of these fictional attendance numbers, the e-school received overpayments, according to state officials, amounting to a whopping $80 million for the last two years alone. The state audit for 2015-16, for example, showed the school had billed for 15,322 full-time students, but only 41 percent of those were documented. This was not a clerical error: as early as the period between 2001 and 2005, state audits showed overbilling every year. The 2001 audit found that the school had no policy for processing enrollment or withdrawal and had received $1.9 million for students with no documented hours of instruction. Ninety-nine students were enrolled despite being younger than 5. Nevertheless, with ample protection from state politicians, ECOT and Lager continued to reap millions of dollars of profit from ECOT and its associated businesses. ECOT lobbyist Neil Clark deflected all criticism by, as is often typical, blaming parents. He told the Columbus Dispatch that Ohio law does not require ECOTs students to log in a certain number of days. He said ECOT is required only to make 920 hours of learning opportunities available to students, with no requirement that students must participate. In a new world, when youre talking about e-schools, you cant look at it where everybody has to be in their chair, Clark said, according to the newspaper account. Its up to parents to ensure that students participate, he concluded. The barebones quality of an ECOT diploma was underscored by an analysis of state data performed by Education Week. It showed that the average ECOT student logged into the educational software for 227 hours for the entire year. ECOT has sued to throw out the audits. More than $1 billion of state taxpayer money was funneled into this operation over 18 years. Lager kept the wheels greased by donating more than $1.2 million to Ohio legislators (just since 2000) according to the campaign contribution watchdog followthemoney.org. Recipients of Lagers generosity included State Auditor Dave Yost, Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted, speakers of the House, presidents of the Senate and heads of powerful legislative committees. The campaign contribution website shows nearly 60 individuals receiving more than $10,000 from Lager. According to an in-depth report in Mother Jones, Figures in the administration of Gov. John Kasich also helped to direct millions of dollars in government contracts to another Lager company, which had donated $153,649 to the Republican Governors Association to help Kasich get elected, according to ProgressOhio, a watchdog group. That company, IQ Innovations, was tapped to build an e-learning platform, accessible to K-12 schools across the state, but ultimately it was unable to deliver. Kasich spoke at ECOTs 2011 commencement. You will have had no other speaker more committed to the ECOT idea than Governor Kasich, Lager told the crowd that day. With his help, we see nothing but clear sailing. As ECOT met with state officials in early 2017 explaining its lack of money, it was pouring more than $122,000 into Republican campaign coffers, including a generous sum to Andrew Brenner, chairman of the Ohio House Education Committee. At the same time, the school was purchasing political commercials attacking the Ohio Department of Education in a strategic communications campaign against negative portrayals of the school. For his part, Lager purchased a $3.7 million home in Key West, Florida, a lakeside retreat, and a $1 million property in Upper Arlington, Ohio, an elite suburb of Columbus. The profit-taking by ECOT and similar charter schools not only harms the children whose education is neglected, it is a significant drain on the public resources that would otherwise flow to local public schools. When students enroll in an e-school or other charter, their per-student funding is deducted from the local public schools income. The combination of the growth of the charter industry and years of federal and state and local budget cuts has made severe inroads into Ohios public education system, especially for costly special education. As a school of last resort, ECOT has both contributed to and profited from the resulting inadequate services for children with disabilities, teenage parents and other challenged children at local public schools. Perhaps the most severe indictment of ECOT is its graduation ratejust 40 percent, together with the fact that it produced more dropouts than any other school in the nation. In fact, one out of every six dropouts in Ohio is an ECOT student, according to a report by the National Education Association. In keeping with a common policy in the edu-business world, William Lager organized a series of companies that supplied services to ECOT, the largest of which were IQ Innovations and Altair. These entities ended up with about 20 percent of the government funding that went to ECOT, according to an investigation by the New York Times. In the 2014 fiscal year, the school paid the companies associated with Mr. Lager nearly $23 million, or about one-fifth of the nearly $115 million in government funds it took in, reported the Times. Lagers operation was not unique. Ohio has 23 full-time online charter schools, most of which have similar lax policies and dire outcomesand, no doubt, lucrative business models. A study in February 2017 by New York University and the RAND Corporation showed: Students in Ohio e-schools are losing anywhere between 75 days and a full school year of learning compared to their peers in traditional public schools and brick-and-mortar charter schools. Last year, the Ohio Education Department completed attendance audits of 13 e-schools in the state, nine of which over-reported their enrollment. In 2014, an unprecedented 17 charter schools in Columbus were shut down in the wake of the exposure of deplorable and unsafe buildings, lack of nutrition for schoolchildren, and overall poor educational standards. Since its inception in 1997, the charter industry in Ohio has operated with little state oversight and vast profits. It is notoriously referred to as the wild, wild West of charter organization. The pioneer in this model for looting public education was David Brennan, who established White Hat Management, presently the largest charter chain in the state. White Hat lobbyists played a significant role in the drafting of the states charter laws, and Brennanlike Lagerhas a long record of significant contributions to Governor Kasich and the state legislature. The wild West of Ohio charters essentially became federal policy under Barack Obamas school reform. In 2008, in his campaign swing through Ohio, then-Senator Barack Obama spoke in Dayton promising to double funding for charter schools. His "Race to the Top" program used the promise of federal dollars to demand more charter schools, more cyber learning and additional standardized testing throughout the US. At the same time, federal Title I funds for impoverished schools were cut, as well as special education grants. According to an Education Week study in 2016, virtual charter schools now collectively receive more than $1 billion in taxpayer money each year. These lucrative entities systematically work at buying legislative influence and protection. One of the two national e-school behemoths, Connections Education, spent $1.3 million of its public education dollars on lobbying in 27 states during 2016, according to the report. The concerted drive to privatize education, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, has created an increasingly class-divided system. Ohio Supreme Court rulings have repeatedly described Ohios school funding system as unconstitutional because of gross inequities between districts. Since the 2008 crash, the inequality has worsened along with expanding business tax cuts, pushing the burden of school funding onto homeowners, whose share of schoold funding rose from 46 percent of the total in 1991 to 70 percent by 2014. Trumps tax legislation, capping state and local tax deductions for individuals, will inevitably produce a far greater class divide. Municipalities will be further drained of financial resources while wealthy parents are handed additional tools to opt out of public education altogether. The author also recommends: Seventeen charter schools closed in Columbus, Ohio [21 January 2014] Ohio charter schools seek to strip public education of constitutional protection [28 August 2014] The New York Times share price jumped 9 percent on Friday, January 19, following Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbergs announcement that the social media network will prioritise news from trusted sources. The newspapers stock has continued to rise by a further 2.1 percent in the week since. Using Orwellian language to describe censorship, Zuckerberg, who has a net worth of $76 billion, said that Facebook will promote trustworthy sources to combat political polarization and help build a sense of common ground. He claimed that the level of trustworthiness of individual outlets will be determined by a survey of Facebook users, asking them if they are familiar with a news source, and, if so, how much they trust it. The response to the announcement on Wall Street underscores that Facebooks latest change will mean the promotion of establishment outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the major cable TV broadcasters, along with the censorship of alternative and politically oppositional news sources. The Times and the Post have been at the forefront of the drive to censor the Internet. The Times continued its campaign in an op-ed by Nina Jankowicz, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centers Kennan Institute, published online yesterday. The column, Russian trolls are only part of the problem, openly admits that the effort to censor the Internet is not primarily about Russia. Jankowicz writes that while it is refreshing that Facebook and Twitter finally realized their culpability in the spread of online disinformation, their solutions have concentrated too heavily on removing Russian content while ignoring the problematic articles and posts created and shared by American outlets and users. She concludes: If these tech giants want to contribute to democracy instead of help to tear it down, they need to recognize that homegrown threats to civil discourse exist among the very users to whom they are bequeathing more responsibility. The Times has become increasingly fearful in recent years that the growth of the Internet and smartphone technology has allowed millions to circumvent its control over what the population reads, shares and sees. Two-thirds of the American population now access some news on social media, according to a September 2017 poll by the Pew Research Center. The mainstream media outlets have seen their readership drop precipitously over the last two decades, as their functioning as state propaganda outlets has led growing numbers of people to turn to alternative sources of information. According to an annual Gallup poll, the proportion of Americans who trust the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly fell to 32 percent in 2016, the lowest level since Gallup began asking the question annually in 1997. This compares to 76 percent who answered in the affirmative in 1976. There is a confluence between the political efforts of the Times, in collaboration with the Democratic Party and the intelligence agencies, to censor the Internet and the direct financial interests of the newspaper and its corporate shareholders, including Carlos Slim, the largest public shareholder and the worlds seventh richest man. The Times' average weekday circulation fell from over 1.1 million in 2002 to 575,500 in 2016, reflecting a broader decline in readership of print media. The circulation of the Postwhich is privately owned (now by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos) and does not publicly report these figures annuallyfell by 37 percent between 2009 and 2015, two years for which figures are available. Despite the Times turn toward digital subscriptions, total advertisement revenue has fallen from approximately $1.3 billion in 2009 to $580 million in 2016. Last year, the Times announced a major restructuring, including the sacking of over 100 copy editor positions. More than ever before, the mainstream media outlets, through a continual process over several decades of buyouts and corporate takeovers, have become concentrated in the hands of giant corporate monopolies, speaking directly on behalf of a tiny number of billionaires. According to a 2011 Business Insider report, the number of media corporations that together control 90 percent of print, video and radio outlets fell from 50 in 1983 to six in 2011. They include Comcast (2017 revenue of $84.5 billion), the owner of NBC; and Disney (2017 revenue of $55.14 billion), which purchased the American Broadcasting Corporation in 1995 for $19 billion. These organizations view the democratic potential of the Internet as a dangerous threat to billions of dollars in profits. Notwithstanding the propaganda barrage over fake news, the fact remains that the greatest purveyors of fake news are the worlds governments and corporate media. First among these is the Times itself, whose columnist Judith Miller was a leading promoter of the lies about weapons of mass destruction used to drag the American population into war in Iraq. The Times sees its role not as a means of informing the population, but of serving the interests of the state and the ruling class it represents. It is an outlet that declared, in the words of its then-Executive Editor Bill Keller in 2010, that transparency is not an absolute good, and that freedom of the press includes freedom not to publish, and that is a freedom we exercise with some regularity. For the Times, censorship of the Internet and its online competitors is a business opportunity and a means for overcoming its longstanding decline in readership, profitability and influence. Keller had earlier warned that the growth of the Internet brought with it the danger of information anarchy. The changes to Facebooks news feed algorithms are the latest fronts in a McCarthyite campaign, spearheaded by the Democratic Party and giant technology corporations, to present the growth of social and political tensions in the US as the outcome of Russian influence. The political and media establishment is seeking to censor alternative sources of information, including socialist and oppositional websites such as the World Socialist Web Site, under conditions of mounting social discontent and the return of great power conflict. The WSWS, which is taking up a fight against the drive to dictatorship, urges our readers to watch our webinar, Organizing Resistance to Internet Censorship, read the open letter from the WSWS International Editorial Board, For an international coalition to fight Internet censorship, and contact us to join this fight. This author also recommends: Bill Keller defends role of New York Times in concealing government crimes [1 November 2013] The New York Times Bill Keller on WikiLeaks: A collapse of democratic sensibility [3 February 2011] Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has ratcheted up Britains threats against Russia. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, published as its main front-page story Friday, Williamson said that Russia was spying on Britains critical national infrastructure and claimed, The plan for the Russians wont be for landing craft to appear in the South Bay in Scarborough, and off Brighton Beach. What they [Russia] 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 newspaper wrote, Gavin Williamson told The Daily Telegraph that Moscow had been researching the UKs critical infrastructure and how it connected to Continental power supplies with a view to creating panic and chaos. Williamson added that Russia was willing to take actions that any other nation would see as completely unacceptable. Without citing any evidence, he posed the question, 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. The newspaper noted this was a reference to energy lines that link the UK to continental supplies and allow Britain to trade and share electricity and gas with neighbours. The UK, it said, has four undersea interconnectors for electricity and three for gas, which provide energy to three million homesa figure which will rise to eight million when further connections are built. Williamsons comments come just days after General Sir Nick Carter, the chief of the general staff of the armed forces, declared that Britain must actively prepare for war with Russia and other geo-political rivals. Williamsons interview was aired the day after British Prime Minister Theresa May met US President Donald Trump at the Davos summit for talks, after which they held a joint news conference. After stating that the media were circulating false rumours about their relationship, Trump said he and May like each other a lot. Trump emphasised above all that the US and Britain were at one on military issues: We are working on transactions in terms of economic developments, trade and maybe most important, the military. We are very much joined at the hip when it comes to the military. We have the same ideas, the same ideals. Looking directly at May, he continued, Theres nothing that would happen to you that we wont be there to fight for you. You know that. May, who had been signalling general agreement with Trumps views, by that point resembled a nodding dog as Trump spoke in favour of the US/UK military alliance. She responded, We continue to have that really special relationship between the UK and the United States. We stand shoulder to shoulder because we face the same challenges around the world. And as you say we are working together to defeat those challenges. On Tuesday, General Carter declared that virtually any activity carried out by another state in defence of its political, economic and military interests could now be deemed an act of war. No longer were there two clear and distinct states of peace and war, said Carter. [A]ll of these states have become masters at exploiting the seams between peace and war What constitutes a weapon in this grey area no longer has to go bang. Energy, cashas bribescorrupt business practices, cyber-attacks, assassination, fake news, propaganda and indeed military intimidation are all examples of the weapons used to gain advantage in this era of constant competition. Williamsons Telegraph interview came after his lobbying secured, this week, a delay in defence spending cuts due to be discussed in the Cabinet as part of the National Security Capability Review. Instead, a five-month review into military spending was announced by the governmentwhich will be led by the Ministry of Defence itself. Williamsons push for increased military spending was backed by senior serving generals, including Carter and the chief of the general staff, Sir Stuart Peach, who is the senior military adviser to the government. In November, Peach claimed, without citing any evidence, that Russian naval forces were developing a capacity to sever undersea fibre optic cables. Williamson was also backed by his predecessor as defence minister, Sir Michael Fallon. In a major intervention, Fallon used his first public speech since his resignation two months ago, amid allegations of sexual misconduct, to demand a substantial military spending increase. Speaking Monday to the Defence and Security Forum think tank, Fallon demanded that the defence budget be allocated an extra 1 billion immediately and proposed that the UK move to spending 2.5 percent of its GDP on defence, as opposed to its current 2 percentthe minimum recommended by NATO. Failure to do so would mean a retreat from our vision of a confident, outward looking Global Britain standing up for our people, our values, our allies; then we will drift downwards to being a bit-part world player, a part-time champion of democracy and freedom. It would mean walking away from our international obligations, letting down our allies, and in the end leaving us less safe. Fallon upped the ante in a Daily Telegraph opinion piece on Thursday, the day before Williamsons interview with the same newspaper. He wrote that he warned May a year ago that depreciation of sterling and cost escalation in nuclear were putting severe pressure on the budgets for 2017-18 and 2018-19. If we wanted to play a leading role in NATO, with our troops and Typhoons defending its eastern flank; to counter the Russian submarine threat to our deterrent and our cables in the North Atlantic; to go on bearing the second biggest load of air strikes and army training in Iraq... then we had to put the defence budget onto a more sustainable footing. He added, The new review must recognise that the threats to our country have significantly increased. Before the invasion of Crimea, Russia seemed innocuous. Now we see its threat to western democracies. And Russia is spending not 2 percent but 5 percent of GDP on modernising its conventional and nuclear forces, on hybrid and electronic warfare. The Labour Party is playing a critical role in escalating tensions against Russia. In response to Williamsons comments, Lord West, a former chief of the naval staff and Labour government security minister, said he was absolutely certain Russia was looking at how to get into our critical national infrastructure. On January 11, Parliament debated a motion, introduced by Labour backbencher Vernon Coaker, demanding that the size, equipment and training of Britains armed forces be maintained at least at current levels and that no further cuts to defence spending and capabilities be imposed. In another debate just four days laterin response to Conservative chair of Parliaments Defence Committee, Julian Lewis, raising concerns about possible cuts under the National Security Capability ReviewLabour Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith insisted on defence spending increases. Labour MP Luke Pollard reminded everyone where the main threat to the UK was coming from: With Russia on the rise, our allies under threat and our northern flank vulnerable from Russian naval power, the threat from the Russian great bear is clear. Does the Defence Secretary understand that there is no support from any part of this House for any further cuts to our Royal Navy and our Royal Marines or for mergers that reduce the capabilities of our armed forces? Winter series action rolled on Friday evening (January 26) at Woodbine Racetrack with the second leg of the Snowshoe Series. After four divisions in round one, a trio of $17,000 divisions were contested Friday in the second week of the three-week event. The opening division of the evening saw three of last weeks division winners (Burn Out Hanover, JK Pridenjoy, Tremendous Play) meeting up in a field of seven. JK Pridenjoy was able to capitalize off a two-hole trip to score a career-best victory in 1:52.4 for trainer Nick Surick. Driven by Doug McNair, JK Pridenjoy was able to follow Burn Out Hanover, who was searching for a fifth consecutive victory. The three-year-old with the big win streak posted panels :27, :56.4 and 1:25.2 to lead into the lane, but couldnt go all the way. JK Pridenjoy grabbed the lead and held off Gerardo to win by a neck. Tremendous Play finished third, while Burn Out Hanover was beat two lengths, finishing fifth behind In Spades. Owned by JL Benson Stables Inc. and Bert Hochsprung, JK Pridenjoy is now three-for-four in 2018 with $22,600 in earnings. Fridays victory was the fifth overall for the four-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven. JK Pridenjoy paid $8.90 to win. Artofficial Flavor took the second division in 1:53.1 for the team of driver Bob McClure and trainer Dean Nixon. The four-year-old Art Official gelding circled from second to first in the second quarter and went on to post fractions of :57.3 and 1:25.4 before kicking home in :27.2 to win by nearly two lengths. Casimir Quasimodo finished second, while St Lads Captain was third. Owned by Dean Nixon, Jeralene Roland, Michael Gillis and Justin Nixon, Artofficial Flavor is now one-for-two this season after winning one-third of his 21 starts last season, and has now banked $56,500 lifetime. Artofficial Flavor paid $10.20 to win. Murray Brethour trainee Gillys Boy was victorious in the third division, taking a new lifetime mark of 1:53 flat. The four-year-old Cams Card Shark gelding and driver Sylvain Filion got away fourth and were on the move in the second quarter to eventually get around a pair of rivals and grab the lead before five-eighths. Gillys Boy led by three lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.4 and proceeded to pace home in :28.1 to win by a length and a half over Star Clipper. Montys Play was third, while Topville Chrome was fourth. Owned by Brethour, Harley Harkness and Matthew Harrison, Gillys Boy earned his first win of the year from three races to go with a three-year-old record of two wins in 14 starts. He increased his career earnings to $38,100 with Fridays score. Gillys Boy paid $7.30 to win. Three and four-year-old pacers, who were non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2017, were eligible for nomination. The $41,400 series final will take place next Friday, Feb. 2. A total of six preliminary leg winners could potentially line up in next weeks final. Live racing continues Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack. Post time is 7:10 p.m. To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack. (With files from Woodbine) Multiple women have described years' worth of sexual harassment, including one accusation of sexual assault, by Las Vegas casino mogul and Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, the Wall Street Journal reports. The gravest allegation concerns a woman who worked as aWynn resort manicurist, who said that in 2005, Wynn pressured her into sex By Anna Gaca Multiple women have described years worth of sexual harassment, including one accusation of sexual assault, by Las Vegas casino mogul and Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn, the Wall Street Journal reports. The gravest allegation concerns a woman who worked as aWynn resort manicurist, who said that in 2005, Wynn pressured her into sex after she gave him a manicure in his office. The manicurist was later paid a settlement reportedly worth $7.5 million. Wynns lawyers acknowledged the existence of the personal payment in a lawsuit over stock restrictions by Wynns ex-wife and former Wynn Resorts board member Elaine Wynn. Another accusation comes from a former Wynn Las Vegas massage therapist, who said Wynn insisted that she masturbate him during appointments. Later, she said, he asked her for oral sex, which she refused. A second resort massage therapist described Wynns requests to go higher as she massaged his thighs, and a third former employee recalled Wynn asking her, So when are you going to come into my office and fuck me? Multiple former employees said they felt intimidated by Wynns power and dependent on him for jobs: The contrast between Mr. Wynns position and that of the salon and spa employees is stark. Former employees said their awareness of Mr. Wynns power in Las Vegas, combined with the knowledge that the jobs they held were among the best-paying available there, added up to a feeling of dependence and intimidation when Mr. Wynn made requests of them. Some said that feeling was heightened at times by the presence in a confined office space of one or more of his German shepherds, trained to respond to commands in German. A powerful figure in Las Vegas for decades, Wynn has built many of the citys splashiest casinos, including the Bellagio, the Mirage, and Treasure Island, though his company currently controls the Encore, the Wynn Las Vegas, and two casinos in Macau, China. Forbes places Wynns wealth at an estimated $3.6 billion. He is also the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, hosting a $100,000-per-couple campaign fundraiser for President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. The Washington Post reports that Wynn has no immediate plans to step down from his RNC position. Story continues The Journals story goes on to describe Wynn, who turns 76 Saturday, as a frequent presence at his own resorts, often requesting spa services in his private office and walking around in short shorts without underwear that sometimes exposed his genitals. In a deposition from a separate lawsuit from the 1990s, a former executive of a Wynn-controlled casino said he routinely received complaints from various department heads regarding Wynns chronic sexual harassment of female employees. Wynn denied accusations in a statement to the Journal, writing, 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 multiyear lawsuits. In a separate statement, Wynn Resorts accused Elaine Wynn of trying to tarnish the reputation of Mr. Wynn in an attempt to pressure a revised divorce settlement. This post Casino Mogul and RNC Finance Chairman Steve Wynn Accused of Sexual Assault and Harassment first appeared on SPIN. I am 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, President Donald Trump said Friday in a speech delivered at his first appearance before the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. America is open for business and we are competitive again, Trump said in a more traditional, and quietly delivered, victory-lap speech than American viewers are accustomed to hearing from their POTUS. 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 countries first. But America First does not mean America Alone, Trump said, in what was touted during walk-up punditry as his first major economic speech on the world stage. Trump delivered his speech hours after New York Times reported he had ordered his White House counsel to fire Robert Mueller last June, as Muellers probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election was gaining steam. On his way to make his speech, reporters shouted questions about the report. Fake News, folks, Trump said, putting his hand up to one side of his mouth as if stage-whispering in some melodrama production. Typical New York Times fake stories. Thank you, he said as he walked down the hallway. Onstage, Trump bragged he had just enacted the most significant tax cuts and reform in American history, and noted the stock market is breaking one record after another and adding more than $7 trillion in new wealth since my election. He also claimed 2.4 million jobs have been created since he took office, and touted the countrys low unemployment rates that began trending downward during the Obama administration. 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, said Trump a statement that may have rankled some at home who warn hes trying to enact overhauls that would deprive tens of millions of people of health care. Story continues Trump insisted his agenda is about lifting up forgotten communities and helping every American find their path to the American dream of a great job, safe home and better life for their children. In Davos, Trump preached it is not enough to invest in the 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. Moving on to military matters, Trump again called on our friends and allies to invest in their own defense, and to meet their financial obligations, adding, our common security requires everyone to contribute their fair share. He specifically called on other governments to help de-nuke the Korean peninsula, and to confront Irans support of terrorists and block that countrys path to a nuclear weapon. The real-estate developer-turned-reality-TV star buttered up the crowd of industry titans, giants and many of the brightest minds in many fields, telling them, with this power comes an obligation and a duty of loyalty to the workers and customers who have made you who you are. 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, raise their hope and empower their dreams. Thats what were doing in America, he said a statement argued by political pundits on cable news networks immediately after and the results are totally unmistakable. Related stories Nikki Haley Calls Trump Affair Rumors "Disgusting" And "Highly Offensive" Bill Maher: Donald Trump "Loves To Pick Fights With Black People" New CNN Promo Warns "It's Only A Matter Of Time Until Someone Gets Hurt" In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls the time when printed race results were an important piece of information to everyone involved in harness racing. He recaps a day of racing in mid-winter 1986 that includes a lot of familiar names. How many people remember when we relied almost solely on the regular harness racing journals to supply us with race results? Apart from racing action that was reported in your local paper, everyone carefully pored over the results published in The Standardbred, The Canadian Sportsman, Harness Horse or The Horseman And Fair World. At times the results were pretty "stale" but you were still finding things out for the first time! I have done a little research to come up with some one-day statistics for what might be considered racing in the "Dead of Winter" in fairly recent times. The figures show the day's recorded attendance and total mutuel handle as well as a highlight or two from the on track activity at each location. The dates chosen (completely arbitrary) were the weekend beginning Friday, February 28, 1986 through Sunday, March 1, 1986, as not every track raced on all days. Listed below in alphabetical order are the 15 tracks that were staging racing on those dates. These facts and figures show that racing fans back then enjoyed their trip to the Track even in the "Dead of Winter". My thanks to facts gleaned from The Standardbred News, a popular publication of the day. Assiniboia Downs - Winnipeg, Man. Attendance - 1,246 Mutuel Handle - $155,637 Highlights of the Program - The program kicked off with a win by Major Bret in rein to Sandy Best in 2:06.2. The feature for a purse of $3,000 went to Burst Away piloted by Bobby Clark in a time of 2:02.3, giving him three wins on the program. Brothers Keith and Allan Cullen each scored single victories. Other drivers having a good meeting over the 13/16 mile track include Porter Hill, Chuck Fraleigh, Robert Coulter, Ron Cullen, Joe Ratchford, Mike Noble and Doug Shaw. Barrie Raceway Attendance - 1,272 Mutuel Handle - $113,155 Highlights of the Program - Eleven races went postward, the fastest in 2:05.2 when Arise won the second race for driver Ray Cunningham and owners Kourier Stable and C.E. Beales. The featured eighth race for $1,300 was won by Real Rich, driven by Murray Brethour for owner G.W. Peacock of Oro Station stopping the timer in 2:07 flat. Steve Byron was a two-race winner with Roman Pegasus and Deal Me Three. Scott Rowe teamed Moras Duke, the seven-year-old Betty's Duke gelding home first in the opening Trot for a $900 purse. Blue Bonnets Raceway - Montreal Attendance - 5,594 Mutuel Handle - $913,344 Highlights of the Program - Cordial Vet, a four-year-old Glencoe Skipper stud won the featured sixth race for a purse of $3,600 in 2:03 and was handled by Gil Lacharite for the Lacharite family of St. Bruno, Que. Benoit Cote was a double race winner with the pacer Keystone Mount and trotter Audience. The winners of all 11 races were owned by Quebec-based stables or individuals listing their homes in the Belle Province. The winningest driver during the past week has been Yves Filion tallying four wins on one card, with Yvon Poirier close behind. Cloverdale Raceway - Surrey, B.C. Attendance - 3,518 Mutuel Handle - $543,391 Highlights of the Program - Driver Keith Quinlan won the opener and the nightcap, first with Anchor Bay and closing with Senga Chettsal. The proceeds from these wins were welcomed as on Feb. 14 Mr. Quinlan had been assessed a $25 fine for failing to keep his feet in the stirrups! Joe Hudon bettered his output as he was a three-time winner on the same card. His most impressive win came behind Minnekhada Jove in the $4,400 co-feature as he bested a field of eight in 2:02.3 for winning owner Tru Alta Stable of Calgary. The top event of the night went to Relhom Diane an eight-year-old Adios Pick mare in rein to Edward Stewart for the Tywin Stables. Connaught Park - Aylmer, Que. Attendance - 1,920 Mutuel Handle - $244,614 Highlights of the Program - On a track rated as "good" Confort Bay won the highlighted $2,000 Pace with Richard "The Cat" Simard aboard for the Leung Stables. Other winning drivers included Perry Forgie, Howard Portelance, Marcel Lariviere, Andre St. Amour, Chris Storms, Jacques Morneau, Gaston Pregent and Robert O'Dwyer. In recent days, wins have been recorded by Ricky, Douglas and Perry Forgie. A horse with the rather interesting name of Shake Baby Shake was a recent winner for Howard Portelance who scored on this program with Rideau Jet, a horse he co-owned with N.A. Lacroix. In the day's lone trotting event Donald Jobin was victorious behind his own horse 13-year-old Day By Day in 2:14.2. Flamboro Downs - Dundas, Ont. Karen Fekete is alone at the wire a winner behind G I Count at Flamboro Downs Karen Fekete is alone at the wire a winner behind G I Count at Flamboro Downs Attendance - 3,309 Mutuel Handle - $377,416 Highlights of the Program - On a fast track Dream Account won the featured ninth for driver Dave Boughton in 2:02 taking the lion's share of the $4,500 purse for owners Boughton and Duke. Other notable driving feats saw both Karen Fekete and John Holmes each win two races. Ross Battin won the secondary feature with No Guff in 2:02.2 for London owners Parcreek Developments. Carman Hie had a nice win with Dream Of Troy trotting home in front in 2:06.4 for a purse of $4,250. A recent two-time winner has been Brand Name, driven by co-owner Marc Lepage. One driver who has shown a fairly hot hand of late has been Tim Twaddle scoring with Jollys Bit, Highland Wave and Shannon Speed. Greenwood Raceway - Toronto, Ont. Attendance - 10,179 Mutuel Handle - $1,931,591 Highlights of the Program - Eleven races highlighted the day with Cadillac winning the $15,000 FFA for owner Donald Seiling of Waterloo driven by Tom Strauss in 1:59.1 with Armbro Cruiser second and Reanna third. Two companion races each for an $11,000 purse, were won by Hammers Hammer driven by Paul Macdonell and Morning Joy in rein to Steve Condren. The only double dash winning driver was Doug Brown, home first with Elvis Seelster and Enlightening. Other winning pilots were Jim Billyard, David Smith, Dave Wall, Jerry Duford, and Ben Wallace driving Quackerson. Willow Bowl, a seven-year-old Albatross horse turned in a mile in 1:59.1 to equal the day's fastest and was handled by Dave Wall. In addition to the nice pacer Paul MacDonell piloted to victory on this day, he also had a win behind the FFA trotter Robins Wonder in a $15,000 event on the previous program for owners R.J. Williams and Doug Gamsby. Paul MacDonell and Robins Wonder winning at Greewood Paul MacDonell and Robins Wonder winning at Greewood Kawartha Downs - Peterborough, Ont. Attendance - 1,118 Mutuel Handle - $95,716 Highlights of the Program - Driver Brian Collins won the first two races. Two events each for $1,000 went to Gems Bing and driver Guy Larush followed by Busty in rein to Allan Nicholls in 2:07.4. It was a day for double winners with Jerry Robinson joining Allan Nicholls and Collins. Reg Gassien had a nice win with the three-year- old Jazz Gass which he owns as Reg Gassien Farms of nearby Lindsay, Ont. Dan Riley of Roseneath has had a winner on the last two race days. Other winning drivers in recent action were Murray Brethour, Guy Larush, Peter Johnson, Murray Samons and Peter Gunter driving Rau D Rosie. Kingston Park Raceway Attendance - 677 Mutuel Handle - $68,369 Highlights of the Program - With the track rating as "Slow" the mile times ranged from 2:21.1 to the fastest at 2:15.2 when Smokey Lopez won for Ted Huntbach and owner the Mcadoo Stable of Kingston. Two maiden races were carded and were open to both gaits. The five-year-old Dry Spot won one for Hugh Wemp in 2:20.2 with the other going to the Tim Gillespie owned and driven Admiral Skipper in 2:21.1, a three-year-old by Hail Skipper. Daniel Murphy was the only two race winning driver on this program, tallying with Shadow Firstmate and Alabode Artie. Earl Lake recently piloted Base Station a four-year-old by Strike Out to a win in 2:13.2. Orangeville Raceway Attendance - 2,028 Mutuel Handle - $283,334 Highlights of the Program - Twelve races, all pacing events but one, were presented on this Sunday. Driver Dave Boughton took the $1,600 feature with Dark Velvet in 2:06 flat for the fastest clocking of the day. George and Wayne Henry each had winning drives as did Scott Rowe, Jim McClure, Larry MacTavish, Brian Dunbar, Robin Clark, Jim Ritchie and Bryan Richardson. The lone Trot went to Iron Crown owned by E.D. Moffat and driven by Brian Dunbar in 2:09. Lloyd Spinks, a local favourite, was held winless but has made quite a few trips to the charmed circle of late with the likes of Kiss Off, Armada Special, Stoneriggs Bullet and MB Dorado. Pre Vert Raceway - Jonquiere, Que. Attendance - 541 Mutuel Handle - $48,383 Highlights of the Program - Nine races made up the card with the top purse event of $900 going to Mi Roi in 2:11.1 for driver Jacques Marchand of Jonquiere who was also the owner. He had two winning drives also scoring with his own Shantala. Gaby Comeau won two races with other winners being Max Bradette, Real Juneau, Yvon Belanger and Marc Cote. Driver Come Tremblay won the opener with Te Bidule. Quebec City Raceway Attendance - 1,304 Mutuel Handle - $168,061 Highlights of the Program - A Stake Trot for a hefty purse of $8,500 drew eight entrants with the win going to Glenco Presto nosing out Tawny Peach. The winner was handled by Phil Brochu in 2:08.3 over a track rated as good. The secondary feature, also a Trot for $1,600 was annexed by Noiraud driven by Yvon Duclos of St. Bernard, Que. who also owns the now 10-year-old. Other popular winning drivers here of late include Leo Dube, Guy Jutras, Pierre Giguere and Gabriel Boily. Stampede Park - Calgary, Alta. Baron Storm and Scruffy Hanover dead heat for win at Stampede Park in the Prairie Pacing Series Baron Storm and Scruffy Hanover dead heat for win at Stampede Park in the Prairie Pacing Series Attendance - 3,720 Mutuel Handle - $562,966 Highlights of the Program - On the 10-race program there was a lot of great action and no driving doubles. In the featured $12,500 opening leg of the Prairie Pacing Series a dead heat occurred when Baron Storm (Don Monkman Jr.) and Scruffy Hanover (Sten Ericsson) could not be separated at the wire blazing to a 1:57.2 mile. This series provided a lot of exciting racing as Ontario invader Armbro Cruiser flew in the next week and won with trainer Garth Gordon in the sulky for Milton, Ont. owners Randy, Brian and Leonard Coulson apparently showing no signs of jet lag. Other drivers holding hot hands despite the cold temperatures were Pat Barr, Clark Beelby, John Baxter, Keith Clark, Edward Tracey, Richard Turcotte and Rod Hennessy to list a few. Western Fair Raceway - London, Ont. Attendance - 2,073 Mutuel Handle - $178,029 Highlights of the Program - The program might well have been called "Ross Battin Day" as the Monkton based teamster won a total of five races, including four of the final five contests. He also owned the fastest mile of the program scoring in 2:04 even with Handy Slipper owned by Dr. P. A. Rutherford of Listowel. Other winner's circle appearances were courtesy of Maggies Moneymaker, Rockey Bea, Warwick Al and Porkys Pride in the nightcap. Wayne Hussey did manage a driving double and Ken Quirie took the featured Pace with Country Topper owned by Fred Sadler of Parkhill. The following day Don McElroy won three races including one with Bold Zip still winning at the age of 11. Windsor Raceway Attendance - 2,889 Mutuel Handle - $428,813 Highlights of the Program - Danny Johnson of the Greg Wright Stable won the opener with Star Palm and repeated in the 7th with Grandeur Hanover, both trotters. Bill Gale, perennial dash leader at the border oval, won three on the day including a maiden win for Goldust Lobell owned by Arlene Traub, a win with Energy Fuel and a victory with 14-year-old Ashton now in his final year of racing. Other winners included Trefoil Dana (Bryce Fenn), Cagey Tilley (Ken Hardy), Son Of A Star (Gord Waples), Amrock Tara (Ron Henderson) and Canneberge (Doug McIntosh). A horse who has shown some early season promise is the now four-year-old Gladiator, a son of Laryngitis. In a span of four days he has picked up two wins for local owners Al and Bob McIntosh and Scott Campbell of London. Wm. Gale has been in the bike for both tallies, the fastest in 2:01.4 adding $3,900 to a growing bankroll. Bob McIntosh does the training. Leaders in the driver's race currently include Kevin Wallis, Randy Kerr and Richard Carroll in addition to those mentioned above. Closing note: Can you imagine waiting 1-2 weeks to find out where your horse finished? Many years ago Jack Campbell (certainly one of my all time favourite people) told me about the time his father sent two horses to California to race for the winter in the stable of B.N. "Frog" Redden. Whenever they raced, back in Ailsa Craig they did not know how they fared until the next edition of the Harness Horse magazine arrived; sometimes up to two weeks. Can't wait 'til next week's results! Where Is It and Who Is It? Can you identify this location? The correct answer will be given during the coming week. Can you identify this gentleman? The correct answer will be given during the coming week. This little guy is certainly down one of his nine lives. A cat in New Hampshire is lucky to be alive after getting himself stuck on a pond. Firefighters rescued the long-haired cat from Country Pond in Newton on Thursday, and shared the paws-itively heartwarming details of the rescue on Facebook along with the photo of the chilly but alive cat. It did not fall through the ice but was frozen to the surface of the ice, the Newton Police Department wrote. The Animal Control Officer and Newton Fire Dept. brought out some warm water which we poured around the cat to melt the ice and set its paws, belly and tail free. Authorities suspect it laid down in the sun Wednesday and wound up frozen into a layer of ice on the pond. The brown and gray cat was brought to the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Stratham. Other residents have called and said that theyve seen the cat in the neighborhood and believe it is feral. It is non-neutered male and its fur appeared matted and un-kept, the police department wrote. Were looking for the owners simply because we wont keep the cat forever. It will be adopted out eventually. Newton firefighter-EMT Sean Kane also recalled finding the cat with The Boston Globe. The cats two back paws and tail were frozen into the ice. It had a big piece of ice chunk on its back. But it was alive, Kane said. Two attorneys who formerly represented Suge Knight have been arrested on accessory charges. Matthew Fletcher and Thaddeus Culpepper were arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly acting as "accessories after the fact to a felony," Billboard reported Friday morning. Fletcher was taken in at the Long Beach courthouse around 2 p.m. Thursday and held in lieu of a $1 million bail. According to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesperson, Culpepper was arrested at home around 5 p.m. The spokesperson did not offer additional details on either person's accessory charges, including whether the lawyers' accusations were connected with Knight's cases. 5983cb378d4c3650fe76b967 Both Fletcher and Culpepper previously represented Knight in his ongoing murder case. The Los Angeles Times, who first reported the story of their arrests late Thursday night, noted that prosecutors last year accused both attorneys of witness tampering and discussing bribes. The accusations, which also involved Knight, were later denied by Fletcher and Culpepper. Prosecutors last year claimed to have a "series of recorded phone calls" in which Knight, Fletcher, and others were heard talking about paying off witnesses to support their self-defense argument. Culpepper is alleged to have agreed to pay an informant to say that he was present at the time Knight drove his truck into two men, one of whom died, and "witnessed evidence favorable to the defense." The incident is alleged to have occurred outside a Compton-area burger stand in 2015. In a separate case, Knight is accused of threatening director Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray. Related links: More from Complex Three more women are accusing actor Jeremy Piven of sexual misconduct, bringing the total to eight accusers, according to a report by Buzzfeed News today. Piven denied the accusations, and his lawyers have threatened legal action against the website, BuzzFeed writes. In a written statement to the website, Piven says, These allegations, which in one case goes back more than 30 years and the two others more than 20 years ago, are false. As evidenced by the lie detector test I took and passed, I have never forced myself on anyone, nor have I ever exposed myself or restrained anyone against their will. To the contrary, if any woman ever said no, I stopped. The latest accusations date from 1985, 1994 and 1996. The earliest account comes from Susan McCain Olson, who was in high school when she landed a job as an extra on the set of Lucas, the movie that would be the 17-year-old Pivens first film role. Lucas also starred Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder and Corey Haim. McCain Olson tells BuzzFeed that Piven once followed her into a trailer, pinned her down on the sofa, climbed on top of her, and started to kiss her. Reports BuzzFeed, She said he then tried to reach down her shorts and feel up her shirt. At one point I kind of was like, This is it, this is where Im going to get raped, McCain Olson, now 51, says. I kept trying to push him away. I was like, No, get off me. After she pushed Piven off, McCain Olson says, she left the trailer. I saw him around after because we were on the same set but he never spoke to me, she says. Does it suck that it happened? Yes. Did it ruin my life? No. But he did it. The 1994 incident, described to BuzzFeed by a woman who asked not to be identified, allegedly occurred in Montreal, apparently while Piven was filming Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde there. Story continues Now 46, the woman says she met Piven at a hair salon and agreed to show the actor around town. When she arrived at the hotels front desk, she was instructed to go to Pivens room, where, she says, he pinned her against the wall by grabbing her shoulders and arms while he tried to kiss her. She was able to push him off her and demanded to know what he was doing. She said he asked her what she came up to his room for, BuzzFeed writes. She opened the door and left. I didnt want to stick around to find out what else was going to happen, the woman said. The third incident allegedly occurred in 1996, when Diane Gonzalez was an extra on the set of the Ellen, the Ellen DeGeneres sitcom on which Piven was a co-star. Gonzalez describes a consensual romantic encounter that quickly turned physically aggressive and left her feeling threatened. As Gonzalez describes to BuzzFeed, Piven grabbed her and started to kiss her again, before picking her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and taking her into his bedroom. When they got to his bedroom, Gonzalez said he tossed her on his bed, straddled himself on top of her, pinned her arms behind her head, and kissed her. I think the threat was just how aggressive and how strong he became as he was holding me down. I just didnt want it to get any worse, Gonzalez says in the article. I just kept telling myself, Well, youre alone, nobody knows where Im at. Its not like I told anybody Im going to follow him home, so I kept telling myself, Okay, you gotta play this smart now. I think the threat was just how aggressive and how strong he became as he was holding me down. I just didnt want it to get any worse. Gonzalez says she wriggled away from Piven, and the actor started to belittle her and told her to leave. In a written statement to BuzzFeed, Piven says Gonzalezs assertions are not even physically possible. As one example, there is a claim that I grabbed the woman, started to kiss her, picked her up, and wrapped her legs around my waist. It is hard to understand how someone could hold a woman and at the same time wrap both of her legs around his waist without the consent of the woman. Pivens lawyers told BuzzFeed that the womens claims are works of fiction and the article was conjured up in an opportunistic effort to capitalize on the current media storm in order to obtain attention and/or money. They threatened legal action against the website and noted, when BuzzFeed published a story last November about other accusations against the actor, Piven provided the results of a polygraph test he had passed in which Piven said hed never grabbed a womans genitals without her consent or used force to take sexual advantage of a woman. Related Video: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. After the earlier allegations, CBS announced that it had canceled Pivens series Wisdom of the Crowd. Related stories Casino Mogul Steve Wynn Resigns As RNC Finance Chairman After Sexual Misconduct Claims Harvey Weinstein Felt "Anger And Acceptance" Days Before His Downfall Dylan Farrow On Woody Allen: "Why Shouldn't I Want To Bring Him Down?" The eldest Kardashian sister is sharing more photos from her getaway. Kourtney Kardashian may be back stateside, but that didn't stop her from dropping a very bootylicious bikini pic from her recent trip to Mexico. The 38-year-old reality star had been vacationing south of the border with her 24-year-old model boyfriend, Younes Bendjima, and even though she's not in Punda De Mita any longer, she's clearly trying to keep the relaxed vibes going. She posted her second photo of the week that showed off her very toned beach bod. Kardashian can be seen laying out on an oversized white chair, enjoying snacks as she lounges in a black two-piece bathing suit. You can't see her face, but she did put her backside on display. "Guac is extra," she captioned the sexy snap. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The day before, she shared another bikini pic from the gorgeous locale, a poolside shot of herself in a white bathing suit and matching sunglasses as the Pacific Ocean glistened behind her. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The mom of three isn't the only Kardashian who showed off her assets on the beach this week. On Monday, her sister, Kim Kardashian, was spotted rocking a sheer dress over nude lingerie during a photoshoot in Malibu, California. And just last week, all five of the KarJenner sisters stripped down to their underwear for a recently revealed Calvin Klein shoot. To see what Kardashian's ex, Scott Disick, thinks of her new boyfriend, watch below. RELATED CONTENT: Kim Kardashian Rocks See-Through Dress for Very Revealing Malibu Beach Photoshoot -- Pics! Kim and Khloe Kardashian Splash Cold Water on Kourtney's Latest 'Passion in Life' on 'KUWTK' Kourtney Kardashian Says Scott Disick Was Shocked to Hear Younes Bendjima Was Her 'Boyfriend' Uber isnt the only ride-sharing app doing sketchy things. Lyft employees have been using company tools to track romantic partners and customers including celebrities like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg without their consent, according to a new report from The Information. Lyft confirmed to TheWrap that an internal investigation is looking into the matter, but declined to share how many workers are under the microscope. The specific allegations in this post would be a violation of Lyfts policies and a cause for termination, and have not been raised with our legal or executive teams, a Lyft spokesperson told TheWrap. Also Read: Lyft Raises $1 Billion from Alphabet Investment Fund The claims first came to light on Blind, an anonymous messaging app, after a user said employees had been spying on significant others and stalking attractive people. The user added that another employee bragged about collecting the info of Hollywood actresses and porn stars. The San Francisco-based company told TheWrap that workers are barred from undocumented data requests. Employees are required to sign confidentiality and responsible use agreements that bar them from accessing, using, or disclosing customer data outside the confines of their job responsibilities, Lyft said. But that hasnt stopped workers from exploiting their access, a former Lyft employee told TechCrunch. I definitely looked at my friends rider history and looked at what drivers said about them, said the ex-employee. I never got in trouble. Also Read: Uber Board Member Makes Sexist Joke During Culture Change Presentation Lyfts biggest rival, Uber, has confessted to similar information breaches. The company agreed to 20 years of audits from the FTC last August, after its employees had abused its God View tool to monitor trips. Related stories from TheWrap: Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Sells Stake in Company for $1.4 Billion Uber Covered Up Hack of 57 Million Users For More Than a Year 5 Things to Know From Eric Holder's Explosive Uber Report Two of Suge Knight's lawyers were arrested on allegations of being "accessories after the fact," a felony stemming from the mogul's murder trial. Two of Suge Knight's former lawyers were arrested Thursday on allegations that they were "accessories after the fact," a felony charge that stems from the Death Row Records mogul's murder trial. Matthew Fletcher and Thaddeus Culpepper, who both served as Knight's attorneys on his still-pending murder trial, were taken into custody Friday, five months after prosecutors first accused the pair of bribing witnesses in order to help secure Knight a non-guilty verdict in his trial for the murder of Terry Carter. Both Fletcher and Culpepper denied the charges, the Los Angeles Times reports. In August, prosecutors presented a 22-page filing detailing how Knight, Fletcher, Knight's fiancee Toi-Lin Kelly and business partner Mark Blankenship "had an understanding that they were going to assist the defendant in procuring witnesses for his defense, which included payments for fabricated testimony." In a recorded prison conversation, Fletcher allegedly discussed paying people to act as "witnesses" during Knight's trial; the crux of Knight's defense is that the mogul saw someone brandish a gun outside the Straight Outta Compton promotional shoot in January 2015, potentially rendering Knight's hit-and-run murder of Carter into an act of self-defense. "I'll pay anything ... if we can get the two or three versions from the bikers on tape," Fletcher said in the prison conversation. "It's going home time. Right? That's a fair motherfucking investment, you know, 20, 25 thousand dollars to pay to these motherfuckers to get home." Prosecutors allege Fletcher was discussing witness tampering, while the lawyer previously stated he was talking about purchasing video from bikers that had corroborating evidence to the gun theory. Prosecutors also accused Fletcher of leaking sealed surveillance video of Knight's truck running over two men Carter and Cle "Bone" Sloan," allegedly Knight's initial target to TMZ. While Fletcher denied the accusations the video appeared on TMZ one day after he took on Knight as a client both Kelly and Blankenship faced charges for selling the video to TMZ for $55,000. Story continues Prosecutors claimed in the August filing that Culpepper approached a sheriff's department informant offering to pay for testimony that the informant witnessed the Carter murder and would further Knight's alibi, the Associated Press reports. Knight's murder trial was scheduled to begin on January 8th but has been pushed to a tentative date later this year, the New York Daily News adds. The Death Row Records CEO has cycled though at least five lawyers for the case, including Fletcher, Culpepper, former prosecutor Stephen L. Schwartz and Michael Jackson lawyer and Bill Cosby's current attorney Thomas Mesereau. Related Content: President Donald Trump, speaking to the very global elite he often skewered during his presidential campaign, used an address before the World Economic Forum to balance his America First rhetoric with a pitch to the international business community to invest in the United States. There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest, and to grow in the United States, Trump said to the crowd of international leaders from business and government in Davos, Switzerland. American is open for business and we are competitive once again. The speech took place amid drama back in Washington: the New York Times, followed by other news outlets, reported that Trump ordered the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller in June, but that White House Special Counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign rather than carry it out. Trump called the reports fake news when asked by journalists in Davos on Friday. During a Q&A after his speech, Trump got boos when he told the crowd, It wasnt until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be. Trumps speech focused heavily on his administrations accomplishments, including tax cuts and slashing regulations, and cited ever-encouraging economic news. He also tempered some of his campaign rhetoric, which often cast the international community as exploiting the U.S. in trade and other pacts. 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, he said. One of Trumps first actions in office was to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade agreement among a dozen countries that included provisions, among other things, designed to bring equity between countries in copyright laws. More recently, though, Trump has expressed openness to rejoining the pact, albeit he told CNBC that the provisions would have to be more favorable to the U.S. Story continues In his speech, he signaled that his administration would be open to bilateral and multilateral Pacific Rim countries if it is in the interests of all. We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others, he said. He pointed to massive intellectual property theft and state subsidies as examples of unfair practices. Trump also talked about changing the U.S. immigration system to a merit-based system, one that judges prospective immigrants based on their talent and job skills. A Trump administration proposal, outlined to Congress on Thursday, would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers, those undocumented immigrants that come to the United States when they are children. But it was immediately rejected by immigration activists and even hard-liners. Pro-immigration groups noted that the White House proposal would drastically scale back legal immigration, while those advocating more restrictive policies object to the idea that undocumented immigrants will get amnesty and a way to become citizens. The presidents speech only touched on the issue, and he instead tried to frame his America first slogan in the context of working with the international community. As president of the United States, I will always put America first, just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first, he said. But America first does not mean America alone. Related stories Donald Trump Says He 'Would Certainly Apologize' to Britain Over Controversial Videos - at Piers Morgan's Urging 'Another Period' Star Riki Lindhome on Getting Political, Strong Female Leads Women's Movement Rolls Into Awards Season as Sundance Hails Female Filmmakers and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! The Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association will be hosting an online stallion auction from February 12, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. until February 14, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Interested parties can access the auction from the SBOA website, or check it out at sboaonlinestallionauction.com/stallion-auction. Sixteen of Ontarios top stallions have been donated to the auction. These stallions are: Artspeak, Archangel, Angus Hall, Betterthancheddar, Big Jim, Control The Moment, Daylon Magician, Holiday Road, Justice Hall, Prestidigitator, Royalty For Life, Sportswriter, State Treasurer, Sunshine Beach, Thinking Out Loud, and Wheeling N Dealin. At the conclusion of the auction, the successful bidder, is responsible for filling out a breeding contract and making a $250.00 deposit to the SBOA. The final bid price on the service fee plus HST, minus the $250.00 deposit, is due in 2019 when the successful bidders mare has a foal. The SBOA would like to thank all those that donated service fees and also thank the bidders for their support. (with files from SBOA) Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts is delivering the response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday night. The 37-year-old, who is serving his third term in the House, has been fairly unknown until recently but, of course, he comes from a storied line of politicians. His father was in Congress, and he's the grandson of Bobby Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother and Attorney General. Congressman Kennedy is a relentless fighter for working Americans, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a press release. 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. Top party leaders have often put rising stars in the opposition role at SOTU, so we're sure to see more of him in the coming years. The choice of Kennedy belies the values the Democratic Party wants to project at this crucial moment when it is hoping to make major gains in the quickly upcoming midterm elections. In its statement, the party's leadership said, "Democrats are laser-focused on enacting policies to benefit middle-class Americans, not special interests or the wealthiest." Kennedy has spoken out forcefully against repealing the Affordable Care Act, and in favor of immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQ rights. His voting record is solidly pro-choice and he supports gun restrictions. He called the Republican healthcare-repeal bill an "act of malice " in a noteworthy speech, which got over 10 million views on Facebook. In his passionate rebuttal to House Speaker Paul Ryan's statement that the bill was an "act of mercy," Kennedy said: "With all due respect to our speaker, he and I must have read different scripture. The one that I read calls on us to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless, and to comfort the sick. It reminds us that we are judged not by how we treat the powerful, but by how we care for the least among us." If he uses this type of rhetoric in his SOTU response, it's sure to garner praise. Story continues Kennedy has, however, worried legalization advocates with his views on recreational pot. "I dont think marijuana should be legalized," he told Boston magazine in 2016. "If were going to say marijuana is a medicine, it needs to be treated like a medicine and regulated like a medicine. But when we look at full-on legalization, the potential danger that marijuana poses particularly to adolescents Im not convinced." Before graduating from Harvard Law School (where Elizabeth Warren was his professor, nbd), Kennedy joined the Peace Corps and worked in the Dominican Republic, where he said he created a union to help tour guides earn higher wages. He also worked for a pro-bono law firm in Boston that helped families avoid foreclosure and created a program for at-risk youth. In an interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in August, shortly after Trump had tweeted that he wants to ban transgender people from serving in the military (which a federal judge later declared unconstitutional), Kennedy was candid about his feelings. "Our men and women in uniform...they are willing to risk life and limb for us. They don't discriminate and say, 'I will lay down my life for you but not you,'" he told Noah. "[The GOP's] cries [for freedom] ring hollow if you can't deliver the basic fundamental freedom, which is the freedom to be you." While the response to Kennedy delivering the post-SOTU speech has generally been a business-as-usual shrug, many see it as a missed opportunity to position a woman or person of color in opposition to Trump especially given the overwhelming support of women and people of color (not so much white men) for the Democratic Party. Photo credit: Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved From Country Living "I love a great love story," Meghan Markle told Vanity Fairlast 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. Story continues 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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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 Fairinterview, 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." 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. "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. More on the Royal Family: You Might Also Like Meghan Markle Priyanka Chopra Fans of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may want to consider a few things before showering the couple with gifts to commemorate their upcoming wedding in May. Markles close girlfriend Priyanka Chopra spoke out in a new interview about the couple, specifically the brides personality and mannerisms. I mean Ive spoken to him and Meg a couple times, but I havent been around in London like at all, Chopra told E! News in an interview this week. Theyre so happy and so in love. Its so normal and sweet and yet not normal at all, so Im super happy for her, I really am. Though the Quantico star has yet to receive an invitation to the royal event of the year, shes currently considering wedding gifts. It helps that Chopra, who first met Markle at a Hollywood party, knows what her friend appreciates in a gift. Shes like if you give her a book, shell be happy. Like, as long as its thoughtful, Chopra continued. So I dont think itll be really hard because shes never been the kind of girl whos like Oh, I want the newest bag, or I want Shes just a very girls girl. Shes very down to earth, so I dont think itll be really hard. She continued, [Shes] just super down to earth and really chill. She always has been that, and shes still like thatthat is what I love about her, and thats whyshell be really an icon for young girls around the world. Harry and Markle got engaged in early November while cooking dinner in their cottage at Kensington Palace. Related Articles 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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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. Story continues 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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Authorities investigate the scene of school shooting in rural Kentucky on Jan. 23. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee) The editor of the Marshall County Daily in Benton, Ky., rushed to the local high school on Tuesday where the aftermath of a school shooting was just beginning to unfurl. And it wasnt just to cover what would become a national news story her son was a student at Marshall County High. When she got there, however, she made a gruesome discovery: Her son was the alleged shooter. According to law enforcement, 15-year-old Gabe Parker walked into the school earlier that morning and opened fire with a handgun on students in a common area, killing two and wounding 14 more before being apprehended by first responders. Five of those shot are in critical condition. Three other students were injured as they rushed to escape the school, some running as far as a mile down an adjacent highway to get to safety. Parkers mother, Mary Garrison Minyard, has not made any public statements and has apparently deleted her Facebook account in the wake of the shooting. The Marshall High incident was the first mass shooting of 2018. Parkers motives are still unknown, but a local prosecutor, Mark Blankenship, told Reuters in an email that the gunman apparently chose his targets at random. The video clearly shows what happened, Blankenship wrote, referring to security camera footage from the school. We have no information to indicate that he had any particular target in mind. The governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin, said in a press conference that Parker will be charged with both murder and attempted murder. This is a wound that is going to take a long time to heal, and some will never fully heal, said Bevin. Authorities believe Parker acted alone. There doesnt appear to be anyone else involved, said Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rick Sanders at a press conference. Bevin, a Republican and social conservative, has said he will not push for tougher gun legislation in the aftermath of the incident, calling school shootings a cultural problem at an event on Friday. Story continues We have become desensitized to death, we have become desensitized to killing, we have become desensitized to empathy for our fellow man, and its coming at an extraordinary price, and we have got to look at the root cause of this, Bevin told the audience. His colleague Steve West, a Republican state senator, introduced legislation this week that would allow schools to hire armed marshals to protect students. The proposal has some bipartisan support: Democratic state Sen. Ray Jones said, We need armed officers in every school in Kentucky. That is a small price to pay if it saves one childs life. Others are skeptical of the plan. Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott from Louisville said she is definitely an advocate for gun safety, and to me more guns is not the answer to gun violence. Scott has introduced her own proposals that would ban those convicted of hate crimes from owning guns and impose stricter rules on gun sellers. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. 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. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. 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. Bamako (AFP) - Fourteen soldiers were killed and 18 wounded on Saturday in an attack on their camp in Mali's restive north, the army said, while military sources told AFP jihadists were responsible. Mali's deteriorating security situation is of growing concern as Al-Qaeda-linked groups mount increasingly deadly attacks on domestic and foreign forces, and the country's president on Saturday cancelled his visit to an African summit. "The Malian armed forces were attacked early this morning, around 4 am, in Soumpi (Timbuktu region). We have recorded 14 dead, 18 wounded and material damage," a statement from the military posted on social media said. The army retook the camp by the afternoon, a Malian military source reached there told AFP. "The Malian army is back in control of the camp. Two terrorists have been killed," the source said, adding other attackers were being "pursued". A military source based in Bamako had told AFP the soldiers were killed "during a cowardly terrorist attack on the Soumpi camp". The Soumpi incident comes two days after 26 civilians including mothers and babies were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, according to a UN death toll. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had cancelled planned travel to the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to visit Boni on Saturday, he said in a tweet. The UN Security Council said it "condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack", referring to Thursday's incident. - Armed groups under scrutiny - Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out in a French-led military operation launched in January 2013. In June 2015, Mali's government signed a peace agreement with coalitions of non-jihadist armed groups. But Islamist insurgents remain active, and large tracts of the country are lawless. Story continues The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a French-drafted statement giving parties to the 2015 peace deal until the end of March to show progress or face sanctions. The council said there was a "pressing need to deliver tangible and visible peace dividends to the population in the north and other parts of Mali" ahead of elections scheduled for this year. Mali is one of a string of poor, fragile nations in the Sahel region that have been battered by terror attacks. The country has joined the so-called "G5 Sahel force" with Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, pooling military efforts to fight the jihadists. Students in California's four-year public universities could have access to abortion medication on-campus, thanks to a bill currently being considered at the State Legislature. The College Student Right to Access Act, also known as SB 320, was introduced by state Sen. Connie Leyva in February 2017 and will be up for a vote in the Senate at the end of this month. Then, it would be up for consideration at the State Assembly. The bill directs the schools within the University of California and California State University systems to stock up their health centers with medical abortion pills and start providing the service by 2022. In an interview with Refinery29, Leyva said the bill protects women's constitutional right to choose and would make access to the procedure easier. "The reason medicative abortion is important on campuses it's because you can only take [the medication] up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. You usually don't find out you're pregnant until you're four or five weeks along," she said. "They have to travel off-campus, it's going to be very costly and it's going to be inconvenient. If they can go to their health center, where they feel safe and comfortable, it's the perfect environment for a woman who finds herself in that situation." Medical abortion commonly known as the "abortion pill" is not to be confused with emergency contraception. The process is a safe option to terminate an early pregnancy and involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol, one which is taken at the doctor's office and the other which is taken at home 24-48 hours later. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the final cost can range from $300 to $800 depending on factors such as health insurance, region of the country, and the type of testing needed. The bill came to be thanks to a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2016, Adiba Khan drafted a resolution asking UC Berkeley's health center to include medication abortion among the services offered to students. Khan, the co-founder of Students United for Reproductive Justice (SURJ), told Refinery 29 she had noticed that while the school's Tang Center offered all 18 forms of contraception, and the students' health insurance offered abortion coverage, medical abortion wasn't available. Story continues "I was able to meet peers who attempted to get an abortion through our health center and faced many bureaucratic hurdles," she said. "After our initial meetings with Tang health administration, we realized that abortion wasn't offered due to the controversial nature of the service instead of the lack of capacity to offer it as a service." Though Khan and other students met up with the Berkeley administration, and were able to raise $240,000 to implement the program, the effort didn't work out. So they linked up with the Women's Foundation of California to create a statewide campaign, and the Sen. Leyva came forward in support of the effort. The Women's Foundation of California Women's Policy Institute helped draft the bill, with input from Khan and SURJ co-directors Marandah Field-Elliot and Phoebe Abramowitz. "College students should not have to face financial, logistical, and bureaucratic burdens for a health service that is so simple and can be easily provided at a student health center," Khan told Refinery29. "Reproductive health includes abortion and since one of the most important services a student health center is concerned about is reproductive and sexual health, abortion is part of that. In addition, this movement intends to destigmatize and normalize abortion as not a 'necessary evil,' but as a positive and typical service that helps people make decisions about their lives. " No taxpayer money will be used to fund the effort, Leyva said. (The Hyde Amendment bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortion procedures.) Two foundations, the Women's Foundation of California and the Tara Health Foundation, will pay for training and equipment at the health centers and billing of the procedures. For Leyva, the legislation it's even more meaningful given the Trump administration's constant attacks on reproductive rights. Just in the first year since President Trump took office, we've seen efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, the partial rollback of the Affordable Care Act birth control mandate, and religious liberty guidelines that would allow health workers to refuse to provide contraception or abortion-care. "This bill has always been important, but now with what we're seeing it's happening at the federal level trying to limit a woman's right to choose, I think it's critical this legislation passes in California," Leyva said. "Then I hope we can be a model across the country, for every state." Meanwhile, Khan believes the campaign and subsequent legislation exists because students at Berkeley organized and demanded that their conditions changed. She said, "Student activism can be powerful and impactful and this entire campaign is evidence of just that." Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? What You Should Know About Joe Kennedy Before The State Of The Union Hillary Clinton Failed To Fire An Adviser Accused Of Sexual Harassment Cecile Richards Announces She's Leaving Planned Parenthood US President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 12 January, 2018, for a weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago: AFP Air Force One, the military-spec jet liner that ferries President Donald Trump around the globe, is to receive a $24m (17m) refrigerator upgrade. Boeing was handed the contract to design and install two gigantic chillers on the aircraft that will store enough food to keep crew members, travelling journalists, Mr Trump and his advisers going for weeks at a time. The current units have been running for more than a quarter of a century, according to the US Air Force (USAF), and have become unreliable. Air Force One is the name of whichever of two VC-25 planes which are modified 747s the President is flying in. Work is expected to be completed in October 2019, a Department of Defence contract notice said. The current rear lower lobe cold chiller units being replaced are the original commercial equipment delivered with the aircraft in 1990. The units were based on the technology at the time and designed for short-term food storage, a USAF spokesperson told CNN. She added: Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units and associated aircrafts structural modifications are being specially designed to provide nearly 70 cubic ft of temperature-controlled (refrigeration/freezer) storage to support onboard personnel for an extended period of time, without having to restock while abroad. Eric Schultz, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, joked on Twitter that we would have been impeached for incurring similar costs. Air Force One is not merely a transport plane but a three-deck, 4,000-sq-ft mobile command centre, hardened against electromagnetic attack and with secure communication facilities and a medical bay. The pair of radically customised Boeing 747s can also refuel in-flight and their galleys can feed 100 people at a time. Running one for just an hour is thought to cost some $200,000 (141,000). The USAF is planning to buy two replacement planes to serve as the new Air Force One a pair of Boeing 747-8s. Story continues The defence giant claims the new, larger version can fly further and faster than the old 747-200, while pumping out 16 tons less carbon dioxide per trip. But in December 2016, before he took office, Mr Trump tweeted that the cost of the programme was out of control and urged its cancellation. The order appears still to be on track, with the aircraft due to enter service in 2024. Lyndon B Johnson is sworn in as President on Air Force One, 22 November, 1963 (Getty) Before the current 1990s-vintage VC-25s, US Presidents flew aboard Boeing VC-137Cs. The modified 707 airliners, first tail number SAM 26000 and later SAM 27000, served chief executives from John F Kennedy to George H W Bush. Famously, following Mr Kennedys assassination in November 1963, Lyndon B Johnson was sworn into office aboard Air Force One SAM 26000 while standing beside the killed Presidents widow, Jacqueline Kennedy. The first President to fly while in office was Franklin D Roosevelt, who boarded a Boeing Model 314 Clipper seaplane to meet with Winston Churchill in Casablanca in 1943. Theodore Roosevelt, however, was the first President ever to take to the air accompanying pilot Arch Hoxsey in his Wright Co Type AB on a flight in Kinloch, Missouri, in 1910, a decade after he had left office. The three Alcatraz escapes remain on the US Marshals Service most wanted list to this day, along with photos of what they may look like now: EPA 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. 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. Story continues 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. 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. Research on the genes of ancient humans is speedily growing in scope, revealing insights into what it means to be a living human thousands of years after Homo sapiens became the only living hominids. We may have outlived our hominid relatives, like the Neanderthals and Denisovans, but thats not to say our evolution became vastly simplified once they were out of the picture. As our ancestors spread throughout the planet and grew more isolated from each other, different populations came to have distinct sets of genes, leading to the differences we see in people around the globe today. But the story is far from straightforward. A new analysis of different ancient DNA studies published Thursday in Trends in Genetics reveals that the genes of ancient humans who lived in Eurasia between 45,000 to 7,500 years ago are more complicated than previously realized. Not only does the analysis, carried out by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, show that Europeans and Asians were far from distinct; it also shows that there were at least two periods of time where there was major inbreeding between Neanderthals and humans: one event 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, and another more than 37,000 years ago. With large present-day genomic datasets and increased international collaboration to handle the many newly sequenced ancient datasets, there is huge potential to understand the biology of human prehistory in a way that has never been accessible before, co-author and geneticist Qiaomei Fu, Ph.D., explained in a statement released Thursday. Schematic mapping of ancient population dynamics in Eurasia. Fu and co-author Melinda Yang, Ph.D., reached their conclusions by summarizing previous research on 20 ancient humans belonging to the Eurasian family tree. Comparing the DNA sequences of these individuals revealed that, between 15,000 to 34,000 years ago, the humans living in Eurasia had genetic profiles similar to either Europeans or Asians that is, they had become distinct. This hinted to Fu and Yang that a genetic separation between Asians and Europeans likely happened well before that, around 40,000 years ago. Story continues But in younger Eurasian fossils, those from around 7,500 to 14,000 years ago, the genetic gap appeared to have shrunk again, showing humans with genetic similarities to both Asians and Europeans. This suggests that, during this time, the once-distinct Asian and European populations had interacted once again, thereby complicating the genetic history of these groups. Further adding to the genetic confusion were the Neanderthals, who ancient humans insisted on hooking up with. While today approximately two percent of modern humans from non-African populations still have Neanderthal DNA in their genomes, the researchers found that Neanderthal ancestry as a whole began to decline in Europe only around 14,000 to 37,000 years ago. That decline is reflected in populations today. Now, East Asians show more Neanderthal ancestry than Europeans do, with approximately 2.3 to 2.6 percent of the population containing Neanderthal DNA, compared to the 1.8 to 2.4 percent of Europeans who have the same. Some European populations have also been found to have genomes belonging to another ancestral group that split away from non-African populations early on, known as the Basal Europeans. One ancient human, in particular, illustrates how dynamic populations were Eurasian thousands of years ago, and adds some light to how the split into current genetic groups happened. The Ust-Ishim man is the name given to the 45,000-year-old remains found of a being who once lived in western Siberia. He lived when Neanderthals were still roaming around Eurasia, and like modern humans, he was a human who shared Neanderthal DNA. But his amount of Neanderthal genetics was much larger: His Neanderthal genome is 1.8 to 4.2 times longer than those found in present populations. The femur of the Ust'Ishim man Wang and Fu write that they next hope to extend their analysis to other ancient human populations, including people who lived in Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. These regions have been neglected in studying human prehistory, despite the fact that the ancient DNA found here will help resolve questions about human migration and evolution as well. Ancient DNA, they write, will help unravel history, and there are more correlations between biology and culture to be explored. Photos via Melinda Yang, Qiaomei Fu, Bence Viola, Wikimedia Commons Photos via Melinda Yang, Qiaomei Fu, Bence Viola, Wikimedia Commons Written by Sarah Sloat More articles by Sarah Twitter tweetshare More From Inverse Kris Osborn Security, A new 'big gun is coming. The Army's New Self-Propelled Howitzer Is Aimed at China and Russia In a modern threat environment, wherein near-peer and smaller-level rivals increasingly possess precision-guided land weapons, longer-range C4ISR technology and drone weapons, increasing range is a ubiquitous emphasis across the Army and other services. Russias violations of the INF treaty, new S-500 air defenses, new Armata tanks and fast growing attack drone fleet - all point to a growing need for the US to outrange and outgun potential adversaries. The Army is starting formal production of a new Self-Propelled Howitzer variant engineered for faster movement, better structural protection, improved drive-train ability, new suspension and advanced networking tech, service and industry developers said. The new vehicle is built with a more capable, larger chassis, designed as an initial step toward building a next-generation cannon able to outgun existing Russian weapons.. As part of a longer-term plan to leverage the new larger chassis built into the Armys new M109A7 variant, the Armys Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is beginning work on a new cannon able to hit enemies out to 70 kilometers, senior Army developers said. Right now we have the 39 calibre cannon we have had since the 80s. We are range limited and the Russians can outgun us and shoot farther, Maj. Gen. David Bassett, former Program Executive Officer, Ground Combat Systems, said last Fall at the services AUSA annual symposium. If you had not replaced the chassis first, you would never be able to put that larger cannon on there. Recommended: 1,700 Planes Ready for War: Everything You Need To Know About China's Air Force Recommended: Stealth vs. North Koreas Air Defenses: Who Wins? Recommended: Americas Battleships Went to War Against North Korea A 70-kilometer target range is, by any estimation, a substantial leap forward for artillery; when GPS guided precision 155mm artillery rounds, such as Excalibur, burst into land combat about ten years ago - its strike range was reported at roughly 30 kilometers. A self-propelled Howitzer able to hit 70-kilometers puts the weapon on par with some of the Armys advanced land-based rockets - such as its precision-enabled Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System which also reaches 70-kilometers. Story continues In a modern threat environment, wherein near-peer and smaller-level rivals increasingly possess precision-guided land weapons, longer-range C4ISR technology and drone weapons, increasing range is a ubiquitous emphasis across the Army and other services. Russias violations of the INF treaty, new S-500 air defenses, new Armata tanks and fast growing attack drone fleet - all point to a growing need for the US to outrange and outgun potential adversaries. Furthermore, given the Pentagons emphasis upon cross-domain warfare, land weapons are increasingly being developed to attack things like enemy ships, aircraft and ground-based air defenses; naturally, the idea is to pinpoint and destroy enemy targets while remaining at a safer, more protected distance. Deputy Program Executive Officer for Missiles & Space, Brig. Gen. Robert Rasch told Warrior the service is making a decided push to upgrade and develop longer-range weapons as a way to address current threats - and re-adjust following more than 15 years of counterinsurgency. For example, senior Pentagon leaders have told Warrior Maven that there is some ongoing deliberation about placing mobile land-based artillery - such as a Paladin - in areas of the South China Sea as a credible deterrent against Chinese ships and aircraft. This first appeared in Warrior Maven here. Read full article A sign posted at a Manhattan dive bar says it will ban customers who say the word literally, a word frequently used by the Kardashians. (Photo: Getty Images) In a world where its nearly impossible not to keep up with the Kardashians, a New York City bar is trying to become a sanctuary where patrons can enjoy a drink without hearing any Kardashian talk. It will literally kick you out if you use the word literally. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Continental bar in Manhattan put a notice on its window banning the word literally. The signs final sentence urges patrons to Stop Kardashianism now. Sorry but if you say the word literally inside Continental you have 5 minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave, the sign reads. If you actually start a sentence with I literally you must leave immediately!!! This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This is the most overused, annoying word in the English language and we will not tolerate it. Stop Kardashianism now! it reads. The East Village dive bar is causing a controversy on social media, where many support the sign and others condemn it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The Continentals owner since 1991, Trigger Smith, is not unfamiliar with negative publicity. He has a strict dress-code policy that some have called racist for allegedly targeting minorities, a claim Smith refutes. In a lengthy statement on the bars website in response to these accusations, Smith wrote: Anyone that knows me, my character and values knows that racism is anathema to everything that I stand for. I have fought racism, sexism and any other social injustices and ignorant, malicious behavior my entire life. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In a recent interview with Grub Street, Smith admits the policy banning the word literally is tongue-in-cheek, but says he really does hate that word. Its not just millennials. Now you hear newscasters using literally every three minutes on the Sunday news shows, Smith tells Grub Street. Whats annoying is people arent even aware theyre saying it. How could you be so unaware of your words that its coming out every couple minutes? Addressing some of the accusations calling him sexist and misogynist for posting the sign, he said, Anybody who knows me knows Im a feminist who supports womens rights and is 100 percent behind this whole Me Too thing. I guess people will find an issue in anything. Story continues The bar is set to close this summer, amid two bankruptcies. The building space was sold to developers for new office space. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Reports that President Donald Trump attempted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last June have led to renewed calls for long-stalled legislation protecting the investigation. After multiple news outlets reported that Trump ordered White House lawyer Don McGahn to fire Mueller, then just a month into his position, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward on two bills that would make it harder to fire the special counsel. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Still, none of the four bills introduced to protect Muellers investigation have gotten very far or look likely to move forward soon. Two bills have been introduced in the Senate, both bipartisan. Sponsored by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, the Special Counsel Integrity Act would only permit the firing of a special counsel in the event of misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, or conflict of interest. Sponsored by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act that would require an extensive judicial process to do so. Both have been in a holding pattern in the Senate Judiciary Committee for several months and have only a couple co-sponsors, indicators that they are not moving ahead any time soon. I dont feel an urgent need to pass that law until you show me a reason that Mr. Muellers in jeopardy, Graham told reporters in late October. I dont think anyone in their right mind at the White House would think about replacing Mr. Mueller. There are parallel bills in the House of Representatives, which have a little more support. One, introduced by Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, has 31 cosponsors, all Democrats. However, none of the bills have the support to pass in either chamber, both of which are controlled by Republicans. Meantime, GOP lawmakers in recent weeks have revved up attacks on the Mueller probe, decrying it as politically motivated. Honey and Barry Sherman, chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc, in 2010: Reuters 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. 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 U.S. coalition denied on Friday the deaths of two Special Forces members after social media and mainstream news reports carrying an image purporting to show a dead U.S. soldier were spread by two of the Pentagon's allies currently battling one another in Syria. The reports were initially carried by accounts that appeared supportive of both the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and those supportive of the Turkish military fighting them in the northwestern district of Afrin in Aleppo, Syria. In both versions, the subject of the photograph was described as a Special Forces member named Eddie Bragdon who went by the nom de guerre "Zana Rizgar" and was killed fighting alongside the U.S.-backed Kurds. Related: U.S. says Turkey is helping ISIS by bombing Kurds in Syria Trending: Russian Twitter Users Ridicule State Decision to Ban British Satire on Stalin The problem? Social media users and analysts quickly pointed out that the man in the picture was actually U.S. actor Bradley Cooper appearing as he did in his role as late Navy SEAL veteran Chris Kyle in the 2014 film American Sniper. But not before mainstream Turkish outlets such as CNN Turk ran with the story. birdpersonBradleyCooperoriginal Social Media "It's a strange incident," Nate Schenkkan, director of the Nations in Transit project at U.S.-funded think tank Freedom House, told Newsweek. Schenkkan, who specialized in analyzing Turkish media, put together what he believed to be a timeline of events explaining how the misinformation spread. First, a pro-YPG account with the username "Bird Person" posted the image Thursday along with the erroneous claim. The post was then widely shared by both pro-YPG users and pro-Turkey, the latter of whom claimed it was evidence of U.S. backing for YPG efforts to defend the Kurd-controlled enclave that Turkish forces and Syrian rebels have been assaulting for the past few days. Story continues Early Friday, Pentagon spokesperson Army Colonel Ryan Dillon tweeted "Reports of two US-Coalition members killed in Afrin are FALSE. Completely UNTRUE," adding that the U.S.-led coalition remained supportive of Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) elsewhere in Syria. It was unclear where reports of the second casualty came from and the U.S.-led coalition could not immediately be reached for comment. Don't miss: We Protested Mike Pence's Speech, And Israel Could Not Tolerate It Despite this denial, which did not mention Bragdon by name, Turkish media began picking up the story. Many of these pieces have since been taken offline, but a Google search still revealed a result of a CNN Turk article describing the alleged death of the U.S. serviceman. Clicking on the link led to a 404 error. CNNTurkBradleyCooper Google This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The "Bird Person" account has since mocked the Turkish reaction to a post he has told other users was intended to be satirical from the beginning. Some pro-Turkey accounts have deleted their tweets carrying the claim, while others have acknowledged that the picture was fake, but argued that the claim of a U.S. Special Forces death was still true. "This is what it's like," Schenkkan, who was critical of the Turkish media for picking up the unverified claims so quickly. "It started from the beginning. It started within the first hour of the Afrin operation." Most popular: Kabul: Taliban Attacker Kills Scores of People With Ambulance Bomb in Afghan Capital "It goes to show how this kind of thing can spiral out of control so quickly," he added. The YPG has formed the dominant faction of the Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, the U.S.'s main partner in battling ISIS. The Kurdish militia, however, was also considered a terrorist organization by Turkey for its alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a militant group that has waged a nationalist insurgency against Turkey for decades. Turkey has been a member of U.S.-led Western military alliance NATO for more than half a century and was also considered to a key U.S. ally. rtx4jawa-3rd-try Institute for the Study of War/Maps4News President Donald Trump called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to "de-escalate the situation" in Afrin and "exercise caution" on Wednesday. Erdogan has pressed on, however, even as the Pentagon asserted Thursday that "Afrin operations are impeding the task to eliminate ISIS." That same day, Kurdish forces called on the Syrian military "to carry out its sovereign duties towards Afrin and to protect its borders with Turkey from attack." The Syrian military, loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has retaken most of the country with the help of Russia and Iran, countering an insurgency by jihadis and rebels such as the formerly CIA-backed Free Syrian Army that has joined Turkey attacking Afrin. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency cited Friday an official source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemning the Turkish invasion and calling on the international community to halt it. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making a modest initial investment in support of Conor Lamb, the Democratic candidate running in the special election for Pennsylvanias 18th Congressional district. The DCCC, which helps elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives, purchased $224,000 of television ads boosting Lamb, HuffPost confirmed with a Democratic source familiar with the ad buy. The ads will air for two weeks beginning on Jan. 30. Election Day is March 13. Although the contribution is relatively small, it could kick off larger contributions from big donors and outside groups. The National Republican Congressional Committee, which elects House Republicans, responded on Friday with a $300,000 ad buy of its own. The GOP group blocked out broadcast space from Monday through Election Day to air the campaign spots. Democrat Conor Lamb drew a crowd of about 85 people at an American Legion post in Houston, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 13, 2018. (Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) Lamb, a 33-year-old former assistant U.S. attorney and veteran of the Marines, has thus far mounted his underdog bid against Republican Rick Saccone, a 59-year-old conservative state representative, without any meaningful backing from the national party. Lamb has nonetheless attracted the endorsement of the federal PAC End Citizens United and Daily Kos, a liberal site through which he has raised nearly $49,000. The two candidates are vying to fill a seat vacated by Tim Murphy, an anti-abortion Republican congressman who resigned in October following revelations that he asked a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair to have an abortion. At first glance, Saccone should be a shoo-in in the district. President Donald Trump won the southwestern Pennsylvania district, which the state GOP gerrymandered to favor Republicans, by nearly 20 percentage points. But Lamb, a polished speaker with deep roots in the suburbs south of Pittsburgh, is the first formidable candidate the Democratic Party has fielded in the district in several election cycles. In a year of higher-than-normal Democratic enthusiasm, Lamb has drawn significant crowds at campaign events often in historically Democratic industrial towns that have increasingly trended conservative in national elections. Story continues Lamb also has the backing of the steel- and coal-heavy districts influential labor unions. Murphy, who ran uncontested the last two cycles, aligned himself enough with organized labor to secure the endorsement of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO in 2016. Saccone, by contrast, is a supporter of right-to-work laws and other anti-labor measures. Related... Trump Is Scrambling To Avoid A Special Election Defeat In This Rust Belt District Lambs candidacy has spooked top Republicans, including Trump, who held a thinly-veiled pro-Saccone event in the district last week that was supposedly to promote the presidents tax cut law. Republican super PACs have also dumped millions of dollars of dark money in the race. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC associated with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), announced this week that it was adding another $1.5 million in TV ads to its effort to take down Lamb. Republicans have sought to characterize Lamb as a liberal stooge for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Lamb has insisted he would not vote for Pelosi as leader and emphasized his traditional values and commitment to bipartisanship. In Lambs second campaign ad, he fields a question from a military veteran in the district who is angry about partisan gridlock. In the military, as you know, when you dont get the job done, you get relieved, Lamb tells the man. We need more of that in Washington. This story has been updated to reflect new information about the size of the DCCC ad buy, as well as the NRCCs investment in response. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Conor Lamb Nomination Conor Lamb reacts to winning the Democratic nomination for the 18th District seat inside Washington High School gymnasium, where the nomination convention was being held in Washington, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 19. Saccone Greets Trump Rick Saccone, the Republican candidate in the special election for Pennsylvania's 18th District, greets President Donald Trump upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport on Jan. 18. Trump held a rally in support of the GOP tax cut legislation that doubled as a campaign event for Saccone. Tim Murphy The special election was prompted by the sudden resignation of Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.). Murphy, who opposes abortion rights, was caught telling a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair to get an abortion. Pennsylvania's 18th District is geographically diverse. It includes affluent suburbs south of Pittsburgh like Mt. Lebanon, pictured here, as well as rural areas and old mill towns. Pennsylvania's 18th District also includes rural areas like this stretch of road between Houston and Burgettstown. Ted Skowvron, a 93-year-old World War II veteran and retired union crane operator, is angry about President Donald Trump. At an event for Democrat Conor Lamb at the American Legion post in Houston, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 13, Skowvron braved the snow and below-freezing temperatures to encourage Lamb to take on the president. "I just wanted to let you know: Get in there and get him out. Cuss if you don't do it. I'm coming down myself," Skowvron said. "The way Trump talks to people, the way he's treating the world ... He's ruining the country," Skowvron added. Alex Nakoneczny, 67, a retired coal miner, and Greg McIlheny, 67, owner of Shelley's Pike Inn Diner, are staunch Democrats who planned to vote for Conor Lamb in the special election without knowing much about him. They both supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary and believe he would have defeated Trump in the general election, though they were happy to vote for Hillary Clinton. Trump performed well in the area because young people supported him, according to Nakoneczny. "They're tired of all these promises," he said. "Everybody's promising 'em, nobody's ever doing nothing." Nakoneczny continued: "As much as Trump sucks, he's telling you, 'I'm putting yinz first. I'm doing what you wanna do.' But he's not doing it the right way, ya know what I mean?" Tina Dhanse, 48, a supervisor at the local Salvation Army, was not sure how she planned to vote in the special election. Her partner, Don Snedeker, 49, a truck driver, leans conservative, but never votes because he believes it could lead the government to sign him up for jury duty, which would cause him to miss work. Dhanse voted for Donald Trump in November 2016 because he was new to politics. "I'm like, 'You know what: Let somebody in who's been in business that seems to know what he's doing because he's not broke," she recalled. But Dhanse has heard that the GOP tax legislation is "not gonna really do much for the middle class." "The people that make a million dollars, they should be able to give a little more to make businesses give raises. People can't live on $7.25 an hour," Dhanse added. "And the minimum wage hasn't changed for how long? Thirteen years or something like that." Wes Donahoe, 29, is a medical equipment repair specialist in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. He voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson in the 2016 election and didn't know enough about the special election candidates to decide how he would vote. But he is pretty satisfied with President Donald Trump, including the tax cut bill, which he believes will help him and most people in the middle class. At the same time, Donahoe said the corporate tax cuts will probably not prompt companies to create new jobs. "Just because a company is getting more tax breaks doesn't mean that there's more demand for [their] production or service or anything," he said. Robert Lintz (left) wishes he could retire, but the 74-year-old does not have a pension or a 401k, so he puts up billboards when the weather is warm enough. He lives on a $1,500 Social Security benefit and another $300 to $400 from the billboard work in warmer months. "I'd just like to be able to afford stuff," he said. Lintz, a lifelong Democrat, voted for Barack Obama but left the top of the ballot blank in 2016. He said he would have rather voted for Mickey Mouse than either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. "I don't think there is a party for working people any more," he said. "They're all the same. Call it Republicats and it would be right now." Hearing Lintz opine at the McDonald's in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, Don Dowler, 72, walked over. Dowler, a retired union member, voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and is inclined to vote Republican in the special election. But if Dowler heard the Republican candidate is anti-labor, he said, "That might affect me, yeah. It depends which way he goes." This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Legazpi (Philippines) (AFP) - Millions of tonnes of ash and rocks from an erupting Philippine volcano could bury nearby communities due to heavy rain, authorities said Saturday, as tens of thousands flee over fears of a deadly explosion. The official Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued the warning as heavy rains lashed the area surrounding the Mayon volcano, which has been emitting flaming lava and giant clouds of superheated ash for about a week. Rainwater could combine with the volcanic ash and rock to form deadly, fast-moving mudflows -- called "lahars" -- that could sweep away entire settlements, authorities said. "If there is ash fall and heavy rain, it can be converted into (a) lahar," Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum told AFP. "The important thing is to move out in case of heavy rains... this is a precautionary measure." The institute earlier said in an advisory that 25 million cubic metres (about 883 million cubic feet) of ash and other volcanic material had recently been emitted by Mayon, settling on its slopes and the surrounding area. It warned that this could result in lahars flowing into waterways and called on officials to move residents near rivers to higher ground. An explosion of the 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) Mayon in August 2006 did not directly kill anyone but four months later, a typhoon unleashed an avalanche of volcanic mud from its slopes that claimed 1,000 lives. Phivolcs said Mayon had emitted fountains of lava on Friday but bad weather was preventing observation of the volcano's activity on Saturday. - Cement swept away - Residents living by a river in Daraga town in Albay province expressed fear of a repeat of the 2006 incident. "We are worried that lahar will flow again. We cannot sleep soundly at night. We sleep like chickens, waking up at the slightest rumble of the volcano," Virginia Tuscano, 47, told AFP as rain poured outside her home. Story continues "Back in 2006 the lahar flow was so powerful it was like waves sweeping away even homes made of cement." The mother-of-three said she had packed her bags and was ready to leave her home. Observers saw a shroud of steam covering the entire mountain as heavy rain met the hot lava and volcanic material on Mayon's slopes. Steam could also be seen rising from the volcano's crater as rainwater entered its interior. Volcanic mudflows have been a perennial problem during and after volcanic eruptions in the Philippines, which sits on the "Ring of Fire" -- islands in the Pacific that were formed by volcanic activity. The government has already evacuated more than 84,000 people from a "danger zone" stretching as far as nine kilometres (six miles) around Mayon over fears of a possible deadly eruption. Mayon, located about 330 kilometres (205 miles) southeast of the capital Manila, is the most active of the country's 22 volcanoes -- and one of the deadliest. Four foreign tourists and their local tour guide were killed when it last erupted in May 2013. In 1814, more than 1,200 people were killed when lava flows buried the nearby town of Cagsawa. Many expect Trump will also use his speech to criticise the Russia investigation: Getty When President Donald Trump delivered his first address to US Congress it was technically not termed a State of the Union speech because he had only been on the job for five weeks. He largely stuck to the script, claimed his election victory had been a rebellion of the people and outraged many by announcing the establishment of a body to help alleged victims of immigrant crime the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement. We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests, he said. Eleven long months later, Mr Trump has been President for a year, believes he has delivered on many of his electoral promises, and considers himself to be a victim of fake media coverage and Special Prosecutor Robert Muellers witch hunt into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. A senior administration official told reporters that when Mr Trump speaks at 9pm EST on Tuesday night, laying out future plans and reflecting on his first year in office, he will be speaking from the heart. That official, who declined to be named, said the President will discuss jobs and the economy, infrastructure, immigration, trade and national security. Experts say that with a booming stock market and low unemployment rate that he inherited from his predecessor - and following a recent corporate tax cut that has resulted in a number of firms announcing new hirings, new projects and bonuses - Mr Trump will start by claiming victory for the resilience of the US economy. Its the economy, stupid. Hes got a story to tell, said Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, referring to the now legendary advice strategist James Carville offered Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992 as he challenged President George HW Bush. Most people have no idea how much a president influences the economy, but Trump will take 100 per cent of the credit for the good news of that we can be sure. Its all due to business confidence in him, and his tax-cutting, and his regulation-busting. Story continues He added: Yes, those are a part of the story, but the economy was in great shape during Obamas final year. Trump will never admit that. Hell create a reality that his base will swallow hook, line, and sinker. Trump is making America great again. When Mr Trump spoke a year ago, many of his opponents and Hillary Clinton supporters, still licking their wounds from her surprise defeat, may have doubted he would make it this far. While Mr Trump had not yet fired FBI Director James Comey - a decision that would ultimately lead to the appointment of Mr Mueller he had got rid of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after learning he had lied about contact with Russian officials. Furthermore, questions were already being asked about his campaign advisers possible links to Russia, about his refusal to speak out against Vladimir Putin, and the unpresidential nature of much of his discourse and actions. In short, many believed it would only be a short time before Republicans turned against him and the House of Representatives started impeachment proceedings. Yet a year after he took office, Mr Trump appears to be in a much stronger position. While his approval ratings remain at a historic low, his support among his base and Republicans more generally remains solid. Following his success in getting conservative judge Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the Supreme Court, cracking down on immigration and signing into law the biggest tax-cut for three decades, many Republicans believe he has delivered on a lot of their wishes. According to his supporters hes had several major accomplishments," said Jeanne Zaino, a political scientist at New Yorks Iona College. The Supreme Court nomination, the tax reform bill, booming economy/Wall St and jobs numbers, and the little discussed but critical roll back of Obama era regulations to an extent that no one expected. Officials said that during his speech which will be shown on major television and cable networks, as well as the White Houses own website Mr Trump will refer to what he sees as the benefits of reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent. Mr Trump will also reiterate his commitment to fair and reciprocal trade deals. Just this past week, the President for the first time reopened the door to the possibility of the US rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership almost exactly a year after he withdrew the country from the landmark 12-nation trade pact. The administration is also currently negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), which Mr Trump has made clear that he can still rip up if the US does not reach what he considers to be a better deal with Canada and Mexico. The speech, which will get a formal Democratic response from congressman Joe Kennedy, will come a day after the White House is due to deliver its legislative framework for an immigration bill to Congress. It is reported that the plan proposes a path to citizenship for up to 1.8m immigrants who were brought to the US illegally as children so-called Dreamers while also calling for restrictions on immigration and $25bn (18bn) for border security. The proposal is likely to face a large amount of opposition from Democrats, some of whom are expected to boycott Mr Trumps address. If Mr Trump sticks to the teleprompter, or the speech his aides have hammered out for him, the nation may get few headlines on Tuesday night. But after a year in which racism, immigration, sexual abuse of women and gender inequality have made up much of the public conversation, will Mr Trump dare dive into any of these areas? Two weeks ago, Mr Trump triggered global outcry when it emerged he had referred to Haiti and African nations as s***hole countries. If I could have one wish, it would be for him to say he will open the path for immigration, without the need for a wall and without using the Dreamers as political pawns, said Veronica Arreola, an Illinois-based academic and gender expert. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Professor Terri Givens, an academic focusing on politics and immigration at Californias Menlo College, said she was certain Mr Trump would tout the economy and claim success for it. She said she doubted he would dive into cultural issues. Yet she said she hoped the President, fresh from his speech in Davos, would say something reassuring to Americas traditional allies, many of which have been left uncertain and anxious by his past remarks his attacks on Nato, his strident America First position and his decision to unilaterally withdraw the US from the Paris accord on climate change. Another issue many will be watching for is whether Mr Trump will refer to the ongoing probe into his campaigns possible collusion with Russia. This week it was reported the President last summer had sought to fire Mr Mueller, only to be talked out of it by a White House lawyer. Mr Trump has dismissed the report as fake news. And there remains the possibility that he could use Tuesday nights speech to take a dig at either the investigation or the media, or both. In 1974, President Richard Nixon was almost at the end of his State of the Union address when he asked to offer a personal word about the so-called Watergate affair. I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end, the Republican said, referring to House and Senate investigations into his conduct. One year of Watergate is enough. He declared that he had no intention whatever of ever walking away from the job that the people elected me to do. Mr Nixon resigned seven months later. NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, heavily criticized 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 criticized," Duterte said in his speech. Human rights groups have also strongly criticized 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-defense after armed suspects resisted arrest. Critics dispute that and say executions are taking place with zero accountability, allegations the police reject. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Karen Lema; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Nick Macfie) Baghdad (AFP) - Eight Iraqis were killed on Saturday, most of them security personnel, in a US air strike that apparently targeted them by mistake, a provincial official said. "Eight people -- a senior intelligence official, five policemen and a woman -- were killed by a US strike on the centre of Al-Baghdadi," a town in western Iraq, the official said, asking not to be identified. "It seems the strike was a mistake," the official said of the incident in the Euphrates Valley town, adjacent to the Ain al-Asad airbase 250 kilometres (160 miles) west of the capital. The dead were travelling in a convoy which had been deployed to support an operation against suspected Islamic State group militants in the area. The strike destroyed most of the vehicles in the convoy and also wounded 20 people, including the town's police chief, who was in a serious condition, the provincial official said. Iraq's Joint Operations Command, which coordinates the campaign against IS, said it had ordered a special forces raid in the town after receiving intelligence of a "meeting to be attended by terrorist commander Karim al-Samarmad". It said it had requested "air support from the international coalition". "Once the terrorist was arrested and while troops were carrying out searches, a grenade was thrown from an adjacent building." As the special forces troops returned to base, they ran into a convoy of police and paramilitaries of the Hashed al-Shaabi auxiliary force that had been sent to support them. The convoy was composed of pick-up trucks and the returning forces mistook them for jihadists and called in a coalition air strike, the JOC said. "An inquiry has been opened." The entire USA Gymnastics board has agreed to resign in the wake of a pervasive sexual abuse scandal involving disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar. The decision is one of six demands the U.S. Olympic Committee laid out in a letter to the organization Thursday, seeking to reform the organization and prevent similar conduct from happening in the future. Had USA Gymnastics not conceded to the requirements, the USOC would have terminated its status as a national governing body. USA Gymnastics completely embraces the requirements outlined in the Jan. 25, 2017 letter from the United States Olympic Committee and appreciates the opportunity to work with the USOC to accomplish change for the betterment of our organization, our athletes and our clubs, the organization said in a statement Friday. 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, the statement continued. Our commitment is uncompromising, and we hope everything we do makes this very clear. Three board members already resigned earlier this week, a move John Manly, an attorney who represents more than 100 Nassar victims, dismissed in a statement to HuffPost as a public relations ploy to save a sinking ship of an organization. As a part of the USOC demands, USA Gymnastics must also seat a new board within 12 months, cooperate with an independent investigation into why it failed to escalate athletes reports of abuse by Nassar, and complete various organization-wide trainings. That investigation is in addition to a separate independent inquiry, concluded last June, which resulted in 70 recommended organizational changes, including a prohibition on adult members being alone with minor gymnasts; a prohibition on unrelated adults sharing or being alone in a sleeping room with gymnasts; and prohibiting adult members from having out-of-program contact with gymnasts via email, text and social media. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Special counsel Robert Mueller and congressional investigators have interviewed roughly 50 people who work at the White House or were involved in Donald Trumps campaign. Based on a compilation of CBS of known interviews, that number includes at least 20 White House employees and one Cabinet official: Attorney General Jeff Sessions. So far, it has not included Trump himself, though the president has said hed love to talk to Mueller. There may be more. The special counsel investigation is shrouded in secrecy, and many reports of interviews already conducted have been from anonymous sources, so its unclear exactly how many people Muellers team has talked to. Here are 23 of the most important people we know who have been interviewed in the investigation, according to various reports. Jeff Sessions First reported by the New York Times and subsequently confirmed to TIME by the Justice Department, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed by Muellers team in January. Sessions was a top surrogate for Trump during the campaign. He recused himself from campaign and Russia-related issues once he became Attorney General following revelations that he had misled Congress during his confirmation hearing about the fact that he had met twice with the Russian ambassador during the campaign This marks the first known time that Muellers team has interviewed a member of Trumps Cabinet. James Comey The New York Times recently reported that former FBI Director Comey met with Muellers team in 2017. According to the Times, Comey was brought in to answer questions about memos he wrote detailing interactions with the president that had unnerved him. Comeys firing by Trump last May could prove to be a key focus of Muellers investigation for a possible obstruction of justice case against the president. Michael Flynn Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI and is now cooperating with the investigation. Flynns short tenure in the White House and his ouster after it appeared he had misled the Vice President about his contacts with Russia are reportedly of interest to Muellers team in their questioning of other witnesses. Story continues Jared Kushner Trumps son-in-law and adviser met with investigators in November, the New York Times reports. Kushner was reportedly asked about a meeting he held with a Russian ambassador during the presidential transition and contacts between Flynn and the Russian government. Reince Priebus Former White House chief of staff Priebus was interviewed by Muellers team in October. He was happy to answer all of their questions, his lawyer said, Politico reports. Sean Spicer Former White House press secretary Spicers interview lasted almost a full day in October, Politico reports, during which he was grilled about the firing of former FBI director James Comey and his statements regarding the firing, as well as about Trumps meetings with Russians officials including one with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office. Stephen Miller Senior policy adviser Miller was interviewed about his role in Comeys firing, among other topics, as part of the probe into obstruction of justice, CNN reports. Hope Hicks White House communications director Hicks was interviewed by Muellers team in December, ABC reports. Hicks has been a constant member of Trumps inner circle since the earliest days of his presidential campaign in 2015. George Papadopoulos Former foreign policy adviser Papadopoulos pleaded guilty last year to making false statements to the FBI and is cooperating with the government. Paul Manafort Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was indicted on multiple counts in 2017, including charges of lying to the FBI. In 2018, Manafort sued the Justice Department, arguing that Muellers investigation went beyond its scope in charging him with tax fraud and money laundering charges from before he was associated with Trumps campaign. Sally Yates Former Acting Attorney General Yates, who was fired by Trump in early 2017, has cooperated with Mueller, according to NBC. She reportedly informed the White House about Flynns FBI interview after it happened (the same interview during which Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying). Mike Pompeo CIA Director Mike Pompeo has also been interviewed, NBC reports, as a witness to events surrounding Trumps firing of Comey. And others Manafort associate Rick Gates, National Security Council chief of staff Keith Kellogg, White House Counsel Don McGahn, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, NSA Director Mike Rogers, former campaign aide Sam Clovis, former foreign policy adviser Carter Page, Bannon associate George Nader, Russian lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin and former Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has reportedly agreed to be interviewed. By Guy Faulconbridge, Jonathan Saul and 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 missile programmes. 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. "Russia's 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. Asked to respond to the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia abided by international law. "Russia is a responsible member of the international community," he told reporters on a conference call. Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified official at Russia's embassy to North Korea on Friday as saying Russia did not buy coal from North Korea and was "not a transit point for coal deliveries to third countries." Russia's mission to the United Nations told the Security Council sanctions committee on Nov. 3 that Moscow was complying with the sanctions. Two lawyers who specialise 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. Story continues 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 council's 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. The United States has led efforts to toughen U.N. sanctions to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting America. Asked about the shipments, a U.S. State Department spokesman said: "It's 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." Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused Russia of not implementing all the U.N sanctions and said Moscow "may be frustrating" some of the steps. Tillerson said the Russian failure to comply with the U.N. measures "primarily" concerned fuel "but some other areas potentially as well." A State Department official said it was time for Russia to act. "There is no more time for excuses," the official said. "The world is watching Russias 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." The independent panel of experts that reports to the Security Council on violations of sanctions was not 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 ship's 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. 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. 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. We're 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 Korea's neighbour 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, Ben Blanchard and Josephine Mason in Beijing, Aaron Sheldrick and Linda Sieg in Tokyo, and David Brunnstrom, Mark Hosenball and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Clarence Fernandez, Sonya Hepinstall and Lisa Shumaker) Athens (AFP) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday said he would "intensify" efforts to solve a 27-year name row with neighbouring Macedonia, after a "positive" meeting with Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev. "We will intensify (our) efforts," Tsipras told the Greek head of state, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. "There are issues burdening our foreign policy. It will not be easy, but if we do not seek to solve them we may find them posing greater problems for us in the future" Tsipras said. Tsipras met Zaev in Davos, Switzerland this week during the annual World Economic Forum. After the two leaders met, Zaev said his country would rename Skopje's Alexander the Great airport to show its "strong commitment" to ending the row. Zaev, who came to power last year determined to settle the issue, also said the north-south Alexander the Great motorway ending at the Greek border will be renamed "Friendship Highway". One of history's greatest conquerors, Alexander the Great is one of Greece's foremost military heroes. The core of his 4th century BCE empire, which stretched to Egypt and India, is in the present-day Greek province of Macedonia. Centuries later, the Romans established a Macedonia province including parts of modern-day Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. The former Yugoslav province has used the name Macedonia since the 1940s. The dispute came to a head after it kept the name upon becoming an independent state in 1991. In the past, Athens has also pointed at controversial maps and schoolbooks in Macedonia as proof that Skopje has territorial claims on its northern region. Greece's objections have hampered the tiny nation's bid to join the European Union and NATO. Tsipras on Friday said territorial issues "must take priority" in the talks, and that "nobody should usurp another peoples' history." "Our neighbours must understand that it's an EU issue, it's completely contrary to EU (rules)," Pavlopoulos said. Story continues UN mediator Matthew Nimetz will hold talks in Athens and Skopje next week. Tsipras will brief opposition leaders on Saturday. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki against any deal allowing the tiny Balkan state to keep using the name Macedonia. Another protest will be held in Athens on February 4. Islamabad (AFP) - Afghanistan on Saturday blamed a devastating suicide bomb attack in Kabul that killed at least 95 people and wounded 158 others on the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, former CIA assets now considered one of the most dangerous factions fighting US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who doubles as the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader, the extremist group has been blamed for spectacular attacks across Afghanistan since after the US invasion. Long suspected of links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment, the network was described by US Admiral Mike Mullen in 2011 as a "veritable arm" of Pakistani intelligence. "When you hear US officials, including in private settings, talking about what worries them the most, they always talk about the Haqqanis," said analyst Michael Kugelman, of the Wilson Center in Washington. - Who are they? - The group was founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, an Afghan mujahideen commander fighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s with the help of the US and Pakistan. Jalaluddin gained notoriety for his organisation and bravery, garnering attention from the CIA and a personal visit from US congressman Charlie Wilson. A fluent Arabic speaker, Jalaluddin also fostered close ties with Arab jihadists including Osama Bin Laden who flocked to the region during the war. Later, Jalaluddin became a minister in the Taliban regime. Now designated a terrorist group by the US, the Haqqanis are known for their heavy use of suicide bombers. They were blamed for the truck bomb in the heart of Kabul in May that killed around 150 people -- though Sirajuddin later denied the accusation in a rare audio message. The network has also been accused of assassinating top Afghan officials and holding kidnapped Westerners for ransom. That includes recently released Canadian Joshua Boyle, his American wife Caitlan Coleman, and their three children -- all born in captivity -- as well as US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was released in 2014. Story continues - Where are they now? - Following the US invasion of Afghanistan, Taliban fighters flooded across the border into Pakistan, where they regrouped before launching an insurgency against the Americans. That included the Haqqanis, who coordinated attacks on NATO from across the border in their stronghold of Miran Shah, the biggest town in North Waziristan, one of Pakistan's semi-autonomous border tribal areas. The US has launched repeated drone attacks targeting the group while Pakistan's military has conducted successive clearing operations, though sceptical Afghan officials have noted they always seemed to miss the Haqqanis. Pakistan intensified a military operation in the area in 2014, however, and some militant sources say the pressure has forced many of the Haqqanis underground or over the border into their Afghan strongholds, claims that AFP could not confirm. - Why are they linked to Pakistan? - Pakistan sees its arch-nemesis to the east, India, as an existential threat, and has long sought influence over Kabul as a bulwark against Delhi. The Haqqanis have frequently been accused of targeting Indian installations in Afghanistan, spurring speculation they were overseen by Pakistani intelligence agencies. "For Pakistan the calculus comes down to India," said Kugelman. "It views the Haqqanis and also more broadly the Afghan Taliban as a useful asset to help push back against the presence of India in Afghanistan." Politicians and retired military officials in Islamabad acknowledge privately that having open channels with the Haqqanis is vital. Some stressed the nature of the connection. "There's a difference between contact and supporting them or being part of them," Mehmood Shah, a retired brigadier who worked in Pakistan's tribal areas, told AFP. - What does the US want Pakistan to do? - Washington has long pressured Pakistan to crack down on militant groups, with the Haqqanis a top priority. US President Donald Trump turned up the heat last summer when he accused Pakistan of playing a double game in Afghanistan and upbraided Islamabad for sheltering "agents of chaos". Islamabad has repeatedly denied the claims and accused Washington of ignoring the thousands of Pakistani lives lost in its struggle with militancy. The recovery of Boyle, Coleman, and their children came weeks later, with Pakistan using its role in securing their freedom to urge the US to trust it is doing its best. But -- Pakistan's desire for strategic depth aside -- a crackdown on the Haqqanis might not be easy in a tribal society where social relations matter, warned Pakistani political analyst Imtiaz Gul. "You can't simply pluck out somebody because they've gone politically incorrect," he said. HONOLULU The state employee who accidentally broadcast a false missile alert across Hawaii wont cooperate with federal or local investigations, according to the Federal Communications Commission and a state emergency official. The employees refusal to cooperate with federal officials is the latest drama to unfold in the aftermath of the false alarm. During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Lisa Fowlkes of the FCC told lawmakers that the Hawaii employee at the center of the missile alert controversy has refused to cooperate with an ongoing FCC investigation. The employee is also not cooperating with the states investigation, Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, a spokesman for Hawaiis Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA), told HuffPost. On Jan. 13, an employee of HI-EMA pushed the wrong button during a routine drill and triggered a statewide missile alert, causing panic and confusion across the state. Fowlkes, who is chief of the FCCs public safety and homeland security bureau, said that while the FCC is pleased with the level of cooperation from HI-EMAs leadership, they are disappointed with the employee who made the massive mistake. We are disappointed ... that one key employee, the person who transmitted the false alert, is refusing to cooperate with our investigation, Fowlkes said. We hope that person will reconsider. Anthony told HuffPost that the employee initially provided local investigators with a statement about the mistake he made during the drill, but refused to respond to any follow-up questions or provide any further information to officials. He just said that he had nothing further to add to the statement he already gave. He is not willing to answer questions beyond that, Anthony said. The employee is still employed by the state emergency agency but Anthony described his status as undetermined leave. We have tried to contact him and he has not always been willing to follow up, Anthony said of the employee. We hope that he would cooperate with all of the investigations. Story continues During the FCC hearing, Fowlkes reiterated Hawaii Gov. David Iges explanation that the false missile alert was triggered by simple human error, but added that the state was also at fault for failing to have safeguards in place to prevent such a mistake. While state officials alerted the public of the false alarm on social media and by reaching out to news stations, it took HI-EMA nearly 40 minutes to broadcast a statewide correction alert. It was later revealed that the governor knew of the false alarm two minutes after it was triggered, but it took him 15 minutes to correct the mistake on Twitter because he didnt know his own Twitter password. I have to confess that I dont know my Twitter account log-ons and the passwords, so certainly thats one of the changes that Ive made, Ige admitted on Tuesday. Ive been putting that on my phone so that we can access the social media directly. HI-EMA also sparked a round of confusion when officials distributed to media organizations different versions of an illustration that officials said depicted the agencys alert system. Emergency officials later told HuffPost that both versions were created by two different employees without the others knowledge. Fowlkes on Thursday called Hawaiis missile alert mistake absolutely unacceptable and said the extended time it took to send a follow-up alert compounded the problem. Looking beyond the immediate consequences of the mistake, which are serious in and of themselves, this cry of wolf damaged the credibility of emergency alert messaging, which can be dangerous when a real emergency occurs, said Fowlkes. Both the FCC and Hawaii are conducting separate investigations into the mistake, while HI-EMA has temporarily stopped all testing of its emergency alert system. Ige assigned National Guard Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara to conduct a full review of the accident. Hara is tasked with providing the state with a plan to improve its emergency preparedness and nuclear missile response. It is unclear if the state employee will face consequences for refusing to cooperate with the FCC. However, Anthony said it could lead to some form of action. If he refused to cooperate with an investigation, it can be a contributing factor to adverse actions, Anthony told HuffPost. The FCC did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment. This story was updated with comments from Lt. Col. Charles Anthony. CORRECTION: After the story was published, Anthony clarified his remarks to HuffPost and said that the employee did not provide FCC with a statement regarding the accident, as he previously suggested. Also on HuffPost Wailua Falls Mt Haleakala on Maui Kauai Surfboards, Maui Kalaeloa Harbor, Molokai Yoga stretch Reef Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, Hawaii The Na Pali Coast, Kauai Kauai Hawaii sunset Makena Beach, Maui A bowl of ahi (tuna) poke with limu (seaweed), green onion, chili pepper and shoyu (soy sauce). Waialae Country Club, Oahu Manini fish in Hanauma Bay The Na Pali Coastline, Kauai Ahi Poke Banzai Pipeline, Oahu Hawaiian picnic Ft. DeRussy Beach, Waikiki Kailua sun rise A food truck in Waimanalo, Oahu Ahi tuna Reef Triggerfish, Hanauma Bay, Oahu Wok seared ahi at Merriman's Restaurant, Waimea Kauai Kilauea Coast Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki Kauai Cracked coconuts Wild Spinner Dolphins, Maui Manini fish, Hanauma Bay Coral Reef Green sea turtle, Maui Surfer in Maui Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Andrew Luccock pays about $1,700 per month for health insurance for his family of 5and still expects to pay more than $25,000 out-of-pocket this year for medical care. That will total around $45,000 for premiums and uncovered expenses in 2018on top of a similar outlay last year. Im angry. I feel trapped, the 58-year-old insurance broker form Portland, Ore., tells Yahoo Finance. I have enough cash flow coming in, but I keeping thinking, how does a normal person pay for this? Congress fought some epic battles over health care during the last yearand in the end did precisely nothing to help a slice of Americans struggling with soaring health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. The Trump administration, meanwhile, killed a subsidy associated with the Affordable Care Act, raising costs even more for those already facing the sharpest increases. The most crushing price hikes are hitting people who dont get insurance from an employer or government program, and purchase it individually on the so-called non-group market. These over-the-barrel consumers tend to be small-business owners or independent contractors, and the steepest premiums hit those between 50 and 64. For people getting insurance through an employer, premiums rose just 3% in 2017 on average, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But premiums for individual policies rose a whopping 20%, and premium increases in 2018 may very well surpass last years. Thats happening for a couple of reasons. First, many insurers participating in the marketplaces set up under the Affordable Care Act set premiums too low when the law first went into effect in 2014. Theyve since adjusted upward, with sharp hikes in premiums for some customers. There are rules limiting premium increases under Obamacare itself, and big employers have negotiating leverage that helps keep a lid on the premiums their workers pay. But purchasers in the non-group market have hardly any leverage, so insurers have shifted the biggest price hikes there. Story continues President Trumps decision last October to end cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers probably pushed premiums up even more, since insurers had to find additional ways to offset rising costs. Again, raising premiums on individual policy purchasers is the path of least resistance. Complete data for 2018 isnt available yet, but Kaiser found likely premium increases ranging from 17% for a low-cost plan offering modest coverage to 32% for a medium-priced plan that covers more. Obamacare, as the ACA is known, provides subsidies for lower-income people buying insurance through an exchange, so they dont feel the full sting of higher premiums. But people who earn too much to qualify for subsidies have no such protection, and end up bearing the full brunt of all the price hikes insurers are loading onto individual purchasers. There are about 10 million Americans covered by plans purchased on the individual market without ACA subsidies. Yahoo Finance surveyed more than 1,400 readers on their insurance costs from Jan. 12 15, and found more pain among people purchasing individual policies than those covered by any other source. More than 58% of people buying individual coverage said the cost was unaffordable or a major hardship, compared with just 43% overall. And 91% of those purchasing an individual policy said premiums went up this year, compared with just 78% of all respondents. Source: Yahoo Finance poll conducted on SurveyMonkey Source: Yahoo Finance poll conducted on SurveyMonkey Luccock, who buys insurance on the individual market, started seeing substantial price hikes in 2017, after his prior insurer pulled out of Oregon, unable to turn a sufficient profit. Monthly premiums rose from $1,050 per month to $1,350 under the new insurer, and then to $1,700 for 2018. Luccocks 23-year-old son injured his back in 2016, requiring two medical procedures last year. But insurance would only pay for one, forcing Luccock to pay more than $40,000 out of pocket for the other. He paid half upfront last year, with the rest due this year. Andrew Luccock of Portland, Ore., with his family. Photo courtesy of Andrew Luccock Since Luccock is an insurance broker who understands how the market works, hes contemplating alternatives to traditional insurance. Im thinking I could put $4,000 or $5,000 a month into an investment account and eventually be able to cover most medical expenses myself, Luccock says. In the worst case, if something terrible happened, Id just go bankrupt. How crazy is it for somebody like me to even contemplate self-insuring? Going without Others are giving up on insurance altogether. Mark Viator, a retired statistician living in Crofton, Md., had been buying insurance on the individual market since he left a government job in 2005. But with his premiums due to rise 40% from 2016 to 2017, he decided to go without. Thats just an astonishing rate of growth, he says. That stunned me. For me, its the costs being out of control. Viator, 61, has a condition that will require some orthopedic work on his hand, but he figures hell negotiate a cash price with doctorsand otherwise simply wait it out until he qualifies for Medicare in 4 years. Brian, a 60-year-old business owner who lives near Ft. Lauderdale, is also looking ahead to the moment he qualifies for Medicarebut with a lot more trepidation. His wife suffers from multiple sclerosis and requires costly medication, so going without insurance isnt an option. Monthly premiums for the two of them have risen from about $1,800 per month in 2014 to $3,140 per month this yeara 74% increase during that time, or 19% per year. Including deductibles, the cost of insurance is about $31,000 per year. Thats a crazy amount of money, says Brian, who asked that we not use his last name. Paying that much for insurance leaves less to put into retirement funds or invest back in his business, and fellow business owners he knows face the same crunch. We dont have any buying power as a group, Brian says. We feel like were underheard and underrepresented. Nobody talks about it any more. Focus on killing Obamacare The big fight in Congress last year wasnt about solving the problem of runaway costs that millions of Americans face. That battle was strictly about killing Obamacare, which would have checked a Republican wish-list item but also would have axed insurance for millions, while doing little to rein in costs. Three Republican-led efforts to kill Obamcare failed. Obamacare is, in fact, partly to blame for the predicament individual insurance buyers face. By establishing minimum coverage levels and phasing out subsidies at certain income levels, the 2010 law left an island of consumers in the individual market uniquely vulnerable to rising costs. But the law also did a lot of good, and repealing it outright would leave 20 million people or so without insurance. The Trump administration made two changes last year that will probably affect insurance and medical costs in the futurebut not favorably. The tax cuts President Trump signed in December included a repeal of the individual mandate requiring all Americans who can afford health insurance to purchase it. That will save money for people who choose not to buy insurance, provided they dont get sick or hurt. But it will probably push premiums even higher for individual insurance purchasers, because there will be fewer healthy people in the insurance pool and a larger portion of sick people requiring costly care. Inevitably, those hikes in premiums and out-of-pocket costs will flow to the individual market. Trump also plans to allow the sale of association health plans, which tend to offer stripped-down benefits at a lower cost than typical plans. That could lower costs for some, but these plans are controversial because theyve been associated with fraud in the past. They could also siphon off healthy consumers from broader insurance pools, which, again, would push rates higher for those who remain. There are better ways to address spiraling costs. The U.S. system is riddled with middlemen and incentives that reward the amount of care provided, rather than the effectiveness of care. There are many sound ideas for how to better control costs, if Congress were interested in real solutions. The government could even provide last-resort catastrophic care to those who cant afford a traditional policy but want minimal coverage in case of disasteran idea once backed by conservative icon Milton Friedman, but rejected now by conservatives seemingly opposed to any government role in anything. For the time being, meanwhile, health reform in the United States is more likely to go backward than forward. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn (Photo: Brian Snyder / Reuters) A top adviser for Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential campaign was allowed to keep his job after Clinton learned he had been accused of sexual harassment, The New York Times reports. A 30-year-old staffer made a complaint at the time against Clintons faith adviser, Burns Strider. She said Strider had displayed inappropriate behavior: kissing her on the forehead, rubbing her shoulders and sending suggestive emails. Clintons campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, suggested to the candidate that Strider be removed from his position, sources told the Times. But he stayed, according to the report. He was docked pay for several weeks and ordered to attend counseling. The woman who made the complaint was moved to a different role. Strider later went on to work for Correct the Record, an independent group that supported Clintons 2016 presidential run. He was fired months after he started that job amid accusations that he harassed a female aide, according to the Times. Read The New York Times full report here. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Poland on Saturday of denying history with a bill outlawing any reference to the Nazi death camps in the country as being Polish. "The law is baseless. I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," the premier said in a statement. As a diplomatic row brewed on the day the world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Poland's charge d'affaires to Israel has been summoned to the foreign ministry on Sunday, the ministry said. A foreign ministry official told AFP the Polish bill was "an attempt to rewrite and falsify history, something that the Jewish people and Israel will never accept". Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responded via Twitter late Saturday saying: " Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase" in reference to the words posted on the Nazi camp's infamous wrought-iron gate that mean "Work makes you free" in German. "Auschwitz is the most bitter lesson on how evil ideologies can lead to hell on earth. Jews, Poles, and all victims should be guardians of the memory of all who were murdered by German Nazis." Earlier on Saturday he marked the 73 anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on site at the former Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, southern Poland. Poland's rightwing-dominated parliament on Friday adopted legislation that sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as being Polish. - Six million citizens - The measure is intended to apply to both Polish citizens and foreigners. It is expected to easily pass in the Senate before being signed by the president. Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II, losing six million of its citizens, including three million Jews in the Holocaust. Polish officials routinely request corrections when global media or politicians describe as "Polish" the former death camps such as Auschwitz set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland. Story continues The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem said it "opposes the new legislation passed by the Polish parliament, which is liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust". But it added: "There is no doubt that the term 'Polish death camps' is a historical misrepresentation." On a sterner tone, Israel's Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett instructed schools to dedicate two hours this week to study about the involvement of European nations in the Holocaust. "This is a shameful disregard of the truth. It is a historic fact that many Poles aided in the murder of Jews, handed them in, abused them, and even killed Jews during and after the Holocaust," he said. "It is also a historic fact that the Germans initiated, planned and built the work and death camps in Poland. That is the truth, and no law will rewrite it. These facts must be taught to the next generation." Vanity Fair digitally removed James Franco from its Hollywood issue cover photo, which debuted Thursday, after editors learned of the actor's sexual harassment allegations. The magazine confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the 39-year-old star of The Disaster Artist sat for the photoshoot, done by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, and conducted an interview for the piece titled "12 Extraordinary Stars, One Momentous Year." He was removed from the cover photo after five women accused him of sexual misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report published January 11. "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 said. Trending: Supermassive Black Hole Jets Could Spawn Three Kinds of Turbo-Charged Space Particles This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Before the magazine confirmed the edit, readers noticed digital manipulation errors on the photos of the 12 actors who made a splash in 2017. In one image Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies) appeared to have three legs, while Oprah Winfrey seemed to have a third hand in another published photo from the shoot. (The magazine insists Witherspoon's supposed third leg is actually the lining of her dress but acknowledges Winfrey's extra hand as a mistake.) Don't miss: Trump Says He 'Saved Coal,' But Miner Deaths Nearly Doubled In His First Year This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. It was only weeks ago that Franco was still a front-runner for an Oscar nomination. His portrayal of the eccentric director Tommy Wiseau earned him a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice award and a Screen Actors Guild nomination. Hours after his acceptance speech at the Globes, in January, he was accused of sexual misconduct on Twitter. Franco addressed the rumors three days later, on Late Night With Seth Meyers, stating that he felt the accusations were "not accurate." That evening, the Los Angeles Times presented on-the-record accusations from five women who claimed Franco abused his power as an acting teacher to sexually exploit aspiring actresses. Story continues Two weeks later, when the academy announced its 2018 Oscar nominations, Franco's name was nowhere to be found. Most popular: North Korea Isn't the South's Only Worry as the Olympics Approach the-disaster-artist-TDA-02424_rgb A24 Others in Hollywood denounced him, including Scarlett Johansson, who questioned Franco's participation in the Time's Up movement. How could a person publicly stand by an organization that helps to provide support for victims of sexual assault, while privately preying on people who have no power? she said in a speech at the Women's March on Saturday. Franco's lawyer denied the allegations. But since the report, the actor has laid low. He did not attend the Critics' Choice Awards, though he ended up winning. Last week, however, he did attend the SAG Awards. Franco has yet to lose any jobs over the allegationsas was the case with Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others in Hollywood. Still, erasure from a magazine cover certainly isn't a good sign for any actor's career. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek It was no surprise that the most memorable figures in the dramatic sentencing of former Olympic Doctor Larry Nassar were Nassar himself and the nearly 160 young women who delivered victim impact statements. More surprising were the headlines made by the judge, Rosemarie Aquilina, who after her blistering sentencing statement was variously described as a media master, an avenging angel and a social media sensation. She may be all those things, but her job description is Judge, and a case can be made that, with that same sentencing statement, she hurt the cause of justice. I am an attorney appointed to represent indigent defendants appealing their criminal convictions and sentences. When I come to court, it is usually to address allegations of horrific crimes. One of my clients was alleged to have beaten his cocaine dealer to death, another to have violently robbed a blind man of his wallet and a third to have shot a man in the back as the man retreated from an argument. I come to court to insist that the judiciary respect the constitutional rights that protect us all, and in doing so, I have to be able to trust that judges will fairly and impartially apply the law. At Wednesdays sentencing hearing, Judge Aquilina betrayed that trust, or at least appeared to do so. In handing down Nassars punishment, she said, Our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did, I have to say, I might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls these young women in their childhood I would allow someone or many people to do to him what he did to others. Since this was impossible, she settled for announcing that it was her honor and privilege to sentence him to a term of forty to 175 years in prison, to be served after completion of his already-imposed 60-year term. As she accurately put it, she had just signed [Nassars] death warrant. Observers of the victims powerful sentencing testimony here can be forgiven for having the most uncharitable of thoughts about Nassar, who was clearly a serial predator. But the judiciary is meant to be a civilized substitute for mob violence not the embodiment of it. A sentencing decision tasks a judge with making specific legal determinations, such as whether a proposed sentence is proportionate to those imposed in similar cases or whether the sentence adequately accounts for mitigating and aggravating circumstances at play. None of this is an honor and privilege. It is a solemn responsibility. A judge who reframes the sentence she selects as a personal expression of disgust with the actions of the defendant and the defendant himself has changed the task she was assigned. Story continues As Justice Robert D. Sack of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has written, it is dangerous to condone sentencing proceedings based on a judges visceral revulsion to a defendants conduct; he writes that when [judges] go beyond what is necessary to resolve this sort of case [a sentencing appeal], we risk the appearance of explicitly or implicitly voicing our moral indignation rather than exercising our legal judgment, which is of course our only charge. (A 2016 blog post by Marquette Law School Professor Michael OHear led me to Justice Sacks discussion.) It is hard to put into words exactly why substituting indignation for legal judgment is a bad thing. But I think it is because all of us who depend on the criminal justice systems being fair and in the end, that really is all of us need to be able to rely on the judiciarys administering justice consistently and predictably, based on laws rather than on judges emotional reactions to particular sets of facts. What if the girls and women here had not been the archetype of the innocent, admirable victim, but instead, say, drug addicts or prostitutes? Would a lighter sentence have been just, if the identity of the victims might have made their violation feel at least to some judges less shocking? And what if the judge assigned to the case had been someone with less capacity for empathetic revulsion than this judge, who identified with and want[ed] to be the voice for these survivors? A judge who views her decision as a reflection on herself on her values, her moral fiber leaves little room for consideration of mitigation or nuance. Finally, there was Aquilinas daydream about the possibility of Nassars being punished by multiple sexual assaults of the sort he committed. She framed that punishment as impossible because of our Constitutions prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments, but of course, there is a very reasonable chance that in the decades that Nassar will likely spend in prison before his death, he will be sexually assaulted. This is the prison system that our country has chosen to tolerate. The judge is surely aware of that fact and so her reference to prison rape can best be understood as a winking acknowledgement of the actual punishment that Nassar will likely face. This is more than just unseemly: it also represents a warning to future defendants that the judiciary and vigilante justice are not as separate as one might have believed. I hope that Judge Aquilinas brand of sentencing will remain an outlier. By Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III, a politician with a very well-known name but relatively little prominence outside of his home state of Massachusetts, will deliver next week's Democratic rebuttal to President Donald Trump's state of the union address. The speech will be the highest profile appearance of the 37-year-old Kennedy's political career, following his 2016 talk at the Democratic National Convention, where he introduced U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2013. "The national audience will get their first opportunity to really get to know him in a way that the people of Massachusetts have come to know him," said Peter Ubertaccio, a professor of political science at Stonehill College, outside Boston. The major party in opposition traditionally broadcasts a rebuttal speech following the U.S. president's annual state of the union address, which is delivered to a joint session of Congress and sums up achievements and goals. Trump had just taken office last year, so his address next Tuesday evening will be the Republican president's first state of the union speech. "Congressman Kennedy profoundly understands the challenges facing hard-working men and women across the country," U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement naming Kennedy as the rebuttal speaker. "His leadership has been vital in educating a next-generation workforce, in creating good-paying manufacturing jobs and in expanding opportunities for the middle class." Kennedy is the grandson of slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy and grand-nephew of the slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy and the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who for 50 years was one of the dominant voices of Democratic politics. "From healthcare to economic justice to civil rights, the Democratic agenda stands in powerful contrast to President Trump's broken promises to American families," Kennedy told the Boston Globe. The Democratic Party has been criticized for relying too heavily on its oldest leaders since former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's stunning loss to businessman-turned-politician Trump in the 2016 presidential election. In picking Kennedy to give the rebuttal speech, the party is bridging that gap with a new face attached to one of the most famous names in American politics. Before his first 2012 run for Congress, Kennedy worked as a Massachusetts prosecutor, served in the Peace Corps - founded by his great-uncle President Kennedy - and worked on the final election campaign of his great-uncle Senator Kennedy, who died in 2009. "He's well aware that his name brings with it privileges, but I don't get the sense talking to other Congressmen and staffers that he's resting on that," Ubertaccio said. (Additional reporting by Rich McKay; Editing by Nick Macfie and Frances Kerry) This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. By Suzannah Gonzales (Reuters) - The teenaged boy who opened fire in a Kentucky high school this week, killing two students and wounding many others, appeared not to have targeted his victims and shot at random, a local prosecutor said on Friday. Three security cameras captured the Tuesday morning incident in Marshall County High School's common area, Commonwealth's Attorney Mark Blankenship told Reuters in an email on Friday. "The video clearly shows what happened," Blankenship said. "We have no information to indicate that he had any particular target in mind." Authorities have not yet released the name of the 15-year-old suspect in the attack in Benton, Kentucky, about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Nashville, Tennessee. Officials also declined to say where the boy is being held or when he is next due in court. "This community is so devastated over this," Blankenship said in a separate phone interview with Reuters on Thursday evening. "There might be someone who would hurt him if they could get to him." The incident was the latest outbreak of gun violence in a nation where school shootings have become not uncommon. The parents of the suspect as well as the parents of the two victims who were fatally shot attended a closed detention hearing on Wednesday, said Blankenship, who observed the proceeding. "They seemed to be suffering as bad as the parents of the victims," Blankenship said. The judge ordered participants not to discuss details of the hearing, Blankenship added. The wounded comprised five female and 13 male students, all 14 to 18 years old, authorities have said. Blankenship said he will prosecute the case and seek the stiffest penalty possible if the boy is charged as an adult, though another prosecutor will handle the case if the suspect is charged as a juvenile. "This is just as bad as it gets," Blankenship said. "I don't know how we couldn't treat that with the most serious consequences." The boy faces two counts of murder and at least 12 counts of first-degree assault, Blankenship said. Each murder count carries a punishment of 20 years to life in prison, he said. Each count of assault in the first degree carries 10 to 20 years. (Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis) The New York Times and other outlets recently reported that President Trump wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller over the summer. But the man truly at the center of the story is White House counsel Don McGahn. McGahn reportedly threatened to quit rather than direct officials in the Justice Department to fire Mueller, as Trump had ordered. This led Trump to back off, and staved off what could have been a crisis for the presidency. Heres what to know about McGahn. What is his job? McGahn is currently White House counsel, the top lawyer in the White House. That has put him at the center of the major successes of Trumps first year, like nominating and confirming federal judges, as well as the center of controversies, like the firing of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. What is his background? Before this, he was general counsel for Trumps presidential campaign. He also used to be a partner specializing in campaign finance at Jones Day, was in-house counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and worked as commissioner for the Federal Election Commission from 2008-2013, CNN reports. McGahn is from Atlantic City, New Jersey and earned his law degree at Widener University. How long as he worked with Trump? McGahn first met with Trump in 2014 when the then-real estate tycoon was thinking about running for president, the Wall Street Journal reports. Cologne (Germany) (AFP) - German police shut down a tense demonstration in Cologne on Saturday, after around 15,000 Kurds took to the streets to protest Turkey's offensive in northern Syria. Police said they dispersed the march due to the presence of banners in the crowd displaying symbols of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which are prohibited in Germany. The protest was organised by NAV-DEM, a Kurdish association deemed close to the outlawed PKK, which is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies as a terror group. "A number of protesters held banned placards bearing the image of (jailed PKK leader) Abdullah Ocalan," a local police spokesman told AFP. Other marchers refused to reveal their concealed faces, he added. Two people were arrested at the demonstration, which came a week after Turkish special forces and allied Syrian rebels launched an assault targeting Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria. The atmosphere was already strained when the protest began mid-morning in the western German city, with more than 2,000 police officers mobilised. "Freedom for Kurdistan" and "Shame on you, Europe!" read some of the protesters' placards. Police stopped the march near its halfway point over the PKK symbols and escorted the procession back to where it began. No incidents were immediately reported, but "the situation remains very tense," said a police spokesman, who added he was concerned about clashes between protesters and police -- or Turkish nationalists -- at dusk. Germany is home to some one million Kurds and three million people of Turkish origin, and authorities have warned against tensions between two communities. Scuffles have erupted between members of the two groups since Turkey launched its "Olive Branch" campaign, with several Turkish mosques in Germany hit by acts of vandalism. "Turkey has launched a war of aggression that breaches international law," Kurdish community co-leader Mehmet Tanriverdi told regional newspaper Heilbronner Stimme Saturday. Often described as the world's largest people without a state, Kurds have been a key ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, but after the latest Turkish offensive many looking for payback have been left bitterly disappointed. There were also smaller pro-Kurdish demonstrations in France on Saturday, with several hundred marching in Paris and around 500 in Marseille. But peripheral countries are being affected, too. According to one recent report, not confirmed by independent sources, Egypt has deployed troops in Eritrea near the latters border with Sudan. This followed a bout of bad blood in which Egypts government accused Sudans of boosting the Brotherhood, which ruled Egypt for a year from 2012 until overthrown by General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, now Egypts president. On January 15th Eritreas long-serving president, Issaias Afwerki, furiously denied the report, saying that "outright lies had been "repeated ad nauseam by an assortment of Eritreas detractors led by Qatar and its influential broadcaster, Al Jazeera.The civil war just across the Red Sea in Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are fighting a Gulf coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is further increasing regional tension. The countries of the Horn of Africa have been called on to take sides; many officially espouse neutrality, yet offer naval and military facilities.A merry-go-round of island-swapping and port-lending is taking place. Even before the Yemen conflict erupted, Djibouti had earned billions of dollars by providing France (its former colonial master), America and China with military bases. Until a recent row it also hosted the UAE, which now uses a base in the Eritrean port of Assab, close to Djibouti, as a key spot from which to attack Houthi positions in Yemen. Sudan, which has deployed troops as part of the Gulf coalition against the Houthis, has been making friendly noises to Qatar, and has recently enraged Egypt by letting Turkey develop an old Ottoman port at Suakin, on the Red Sea. Egypt, for its part, last year delighted Saudi Arabia by ratifying an agreement that two small uninhabited islands near the Gulf of Aqaba belonged to the kingdom.Somalia has been particularly friendly to Turkey and leans towards the Islamist camp. But Somaliland, the internationally unrecognised breakaway statelet on the Red Sea coast, which functions far better than the supposed mother country, has done a big deal with the UAE. The Emirates are building another base there and paying for a new road to connect Somalilands port of Berbera with landlocked Ethiopia. To confuse matters more, some of Somalias federal states, displaying their own quasi-independence, have made deals that seem to flout the foreign policy of the federal capital, Mogadishu. For instance, Somalias north-eastern statelet of Puntland last year signed a deal with the UAE to develop its port, Bosaso, to the annoyance of the government in Mogadishu. A hashtag called #HandsOffSomalia has become popular among Somalis prickly about what they see as infringements of their sovereignty.Ethiopia tries to keep out of the regional spat, though it is still at loggerheads with Egypt over the nearly completed Great Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, which Egypt says will drastically curb the flow of the Nile river. The Ethiopians are cosy with Turkey, a big investor, but have also put out friendly feelers to the UAE. Recently, by way of balance, they let Al Jazeera open an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital.In any event, Ethiopia is likely to oppose anything Eritrea supports: the two countries armies still glower at each other across a disputed border, though full-scale fighting ceased in 2000. Meanwhile Eritrea has seized the chance to boost its depleted coffers. Not only has it let the UAE build its base at Assab, by the mouth of the Red Sea. Eritrea is also said to let Israel, which has quietly provided intelligence to Saudi Arabia on Yemen, have discreet use of facilities in the Dahlak archipelago, along with a listening station on an Eritrean mountain. The Houthis in Yemen accuse the Saudis of cosying up to the Israelisa most heinous crime in some Islamist circles. Nikki Haley speaks at UN - REUTERS Nikki Haley has said rumours that she is having an affair with Donald Trump are "highly offensive" and "disgusting". Ms Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said the reports were symptomatic of the attacks powerful women frequently encounter. Rumours of a tryst between Ms Haley and the US president circulated after comments made by Michael Wolff, the author of an explosive book on life within the White House. Wolff told an American TV network that he was absolutely sure Mr Trump is having an extramarital affair, but said he omitted the claim from his book, Fire and Fury, because he was not able to substantiate it. Michael Wolff's book 'Fire And Fury' Credit: Reuters The comments led to speculation that he was referring to Ms Haley, who, he writes, spends a notable amount of private time" with Mr Trump on Air Force One. He added that the president was "seen to be grooming her for a national political future. Ms Haley has angrily responded to the claims, saying they are "absolutely not true". Ms Haley is considered a rising star of the Republican party and has garnered a reputation for her combative style during her role as UN ambassador. Haley has called the rumours "disgusting" Credit: AP I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there, she told Politico's Women Rule podcast. Ive never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him. Ms Haley added: "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 said that she had encountered similar claims throughout her political career, including during her campaign to become governor of South Carolina. After spending 2017 under the radar, former President Barack Obama has an ambitious 2018 ahead, planning to traverse the country in support of Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. But don't call it a comeback, because Obama knows it's no longer his turn. He's passing the baton. "President Obama wants to help Democrats win," Eric Schultz, senior adviser to Obama and former White House principal deputy press secretary, told Newsweek. "But he also knows the best way to rebuild the Democratic Party is to help support the next generation of leaders." Related: Obama is returning to politics in 2018, and Trump should be worried Trending: Trumps Amnesty Bill for Dreamers is Dead on Arrival So how does the president choose where to go and which candidates to campaign for? By request only. "The president's approach has always been ... he goes to places where he is invited," Schultz said, adding that "it's not for [Obama] to handpick" who the next party leaders should be. In a year where Democrats are in a difficult position, defending 10 Senate seats in states that President Donald Trump won in the 2016 election, Obama is aware his presence may not be as helpful in some red states. "There's a lot of live wires in 2018, so he's gonna be helpful where he can be," Schultz said when asked where the president may campaign in the year ahead. GettyImages-863220964 JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images Don't miss: Michael Moore Jokes He'll Televise Trump Impeachment Trial, Call It 'Live From the Apocalypse' But Democratic strategist Andy Barr scoffs at that theory, saying that any Democrat in any corner of the country should seek an appearance from Obama in a year where pundits expect and historical precedent indicates there will be significant Democratic gains in the House of Representatives. Story continues "I would tell people that if you want to find a convoluted way to lose in a wave year you should reject Barack Obama," Barr told Newsweek. "He's Michael Jordan for us ... and turning him down would just be dumb." With Democrats across the country struggling to settle on the new face of the party and the public speculating on no fewer than 20 potential candidates to face Trump in 2020, Obama is still the de facto leader in the eyes of many. "Barack Obama is still sort of the leader of our party," Barr said. "Every candidate running who's a Democrat, no matter what district you're in, you know it says Democrat next to your name on the ballot" and an appearance by the former president can only help mobilize the party's voting base. And recent polling backs Barr up. A CNN poll released last week found that 66 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Obama, with just 32 percent holding an unfavorable opinion of the former president. The favorability rating is Obama's highest in this poll since an April 2009 survey found his favorability rating at 69 percent in the second year of his presidency. Most popular: Panic in Paris: 52 Baboons on the Loose Lead to Zoo Evacuation The former president has mostly stayed out of the political fray since departing the White House a year ago, though not entirely. Obama made a couple of campaign appearances for gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey and recorded a robocall for then-Alabama senatorial candidate Doug Jones. He also waded into a few political fights during the year, making an impassioned Facebook plea when Republicans were on the verge of repealing Obamacare, his signature piece of legislation. Obama is expected to wait until the fall to hold public campaign rallies, a person familiar with his thinking confirmed to Newsweek, but that hasn't kept candidates from reaching out on an almost daily basis. "We hear from everyone, people are not shy about asking for the president's support," the person said. And why shouldn't they? "He is the most popular political figure in the country," the person said. "And I think the most respected figure in the world." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Syed Raza Hassan KARACHI (Reuters) - Nationwide protests at the police killing of a young ethnic Pashtun man in Pakistan's largest city have shone a spotlight on allegations of persecution by the authorities against refugees from the country's conflict-ridden northwest. The country's Supreme Court launched an inquiry on Jan. 19 into the death of 27-year-old aspiring fashion model Naqibullah Mehsud. He was one of four men killed six days earlier in what police initially said was a shoot-out with suspected Islamist militants. The Supreme Court plans to begin hearings on the case on Saturday. The police team that killed Mehsud was under the command of senior superintendent Anwar Ahmed Khan, who has been suspended since Jan. 20 on the recommendation of a police inquiry committee. The committee was set up after Mehsud's father, Muhammad Khan Mehsud, who denies his son had any militant links, filed a kidnapping and killing complaint against him. Anwar told Reuters he had done nothing wrong and said the investigation into his officers' actions could allow the Taliban to regain a foothold in ethnic Pashtun parts of the city. "I had no knowledge of Naqibullah Mehsud. My staff told me that he is a militant with a criminal history," he said. Police data from 2011 reviewed by Reuters shows that in the seven years Anwar has been in charge of Karachi's Malir district, which has a large Pashtun population, at least 450 people have been killed in 200 clashes with police that involved weapons. The data does not give details of the circumstances of the shootings. A senior police official, who asked not to be identified, said that the majority of those killed were ethnic Pashtuns. Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun borderlands have been a hotbed of Islamist militancy in recent decades. MILITANT POLICY Pakistani police refer to any armed clash with suspects as an "encounter". Some human rights activists and families of victims have for years alleged that such incidents are often staged to cover up extrajudicial killings. Anwar told Reuters that armed operations to kill suspects were official police policy in Sindh Province, of which Karachi is the capital, to combat the threat from militants. "There was an on-going official policy ... for carrying out encounters to take out criminals and I have broken no law," he said. The provincial police chief denied there was such a policy. "I don't need to respond to irresponsible allegations," Inspector General of Sindh police Allah Dino Khawaja said in a brief text message in reply to Reuters' questions. "He has to appear before the investigation to defend and prove his claims." Sindh police said in a statement on Jan. 20 it had launched an inquiry "to ascertain the facts regarding the police encounter in which Naqibullah Mehsud was killed". Some campaigners among the sprawling city's Pashtun community say the story is not unusual. But it is the first to receive nationwide attention - in part because Mehsud, known as Naqib, does not fit the image of the militant from Pakistan's lawless northern heartlands. "He had a passion for wearing good clothes ... even in the picture of his body circulating on social media, he is seen wearing good clothes," his cousin Noor Rehman told Reuters, while holding back tears. Another senior police officer said no evidence linking Naqib to militancy had been found. "His particulars were checked in all the criminal databases of police and nothing came up," the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Pakistan's chief justice on Tuesday summoned Anwar to appear for questioning at its first hearing this weekend. Earlier that day, he was not allowed to board a flight leaving Pakistan for Dubai, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency said. Anwar told Reuters he does not plan to appear before the court. He said his children are studying in Dubai and he frequently visits. TARGET GROUP Pashtuns are Pakistan's second largest ethnic group, and many have moved to the country's big cities to escape violence along the Afghan border. But since the emergence of the Pakistani Taliban, whose leadership also comes from the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan, Pashtuns who spoke to Reuters in Karachi say they are all now seen as potential militants. "This is not just about the fact that police are killing people, it is about racial profiling," Jibran Nasir, a human rights lawyer who said he was filing a petition with the Senate's human rights committee, told Reuters. "Naqib had a very public profile. Looking at pictures of Naqib modeling ... no one is willing to believe he had anything to do with Taliban. The problem here is not every Pashtun killed and profiled here is a model." Figures posted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on its website show 1,226 people were killed in 784 police encounters nationwide in the past two years. In the days after Mehsud was killed, thousands of activists and Pashtun students staged protests in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta. In Sohrab Goth, the majority Pashtun suburb of Karachi where Naqib's family live, three families told Reuters they had lost relatives in such incidents. Reuters was shown death certificates and newspaper clippings, but was not able to independently confirm the circumstances of their deaths. Sohail Anwer Sial, home minister in the Sindh provincial government whose department is responsible for the police, said the authorities were taking action over the Mehsud case, but that one or two incidents did not mean the entire police force was corrupt. "The same police force ... eradicated violence from the city during Karachi operation', which began in 2013 against militants," he said. "One person's actions cannot be allowed to malign the system." (Additional reporting and writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Alex Richardson and Bill Tarrant) Paris (AFP) - Paris was on alert Saturday as the swollen Seine crept higher, with forecasters expecting the flooding to peak before the weekend is out. The river reached 5.7 metres (19 feet) at 9:00 am (0800 GMT) on Saturday, more than four metres above its normal height, causing headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks. Tourists suffered too with the capital's famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and emergency services alone authorised to navigate the Seine. Forecasters believe it will continue to rise, peaking at 5.9 metres on Sunday night or Monday, but not quite reaching the 2016 high of 6.1 metres, when the Louvre museum was forced to close its doors for four days. But the world's most visited museum was on high alert on Saturday, along with the Musee d'Orsay and Orangerie galleries, with the lower level of the Louvre's Islamic arts wing closed to visitors. Leaks had started to appear in some basements on Friday, while some residents on the city's outskirts were forced to travel by boat through waterlogged streets. A health centre in Paris's northwestern suburbs, where 86 patients were receiving care, was also evacuated on Friday. In total more than 650 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Paris region, according to police, while around 1,400 were without electricity. The Vigicrues flooding agency scaled back its peak predictions for the river in the capital, saying it will top out at 5.9 to 6 metres (19 to 19.7 feet) on Sunday evening at the earliest, compared with 6.2 metres previously. "Due to the spread of flooding to different tributaries, the level of the Seine in Paris will continue rising again on the weekend," said Vigicrues, adding that highest level would last for about 10 hours before slowly going down. The extent of the rising water levels was evident from the Seine lapping half way up the Zouave statue of a Crimean soldier on the Pont de l'Alma bridge, which locals and tourists alike snapped with cameras and phones as they went past. Story continues - 'Ducks instead of cars' - It's enough to worry Joao de Macedo, janitor at a residential building in Paris's upscale 16th Arrondissement. "There are six studios in the basement, and we've had to set up blocks outside to keep the windows from breaking and covering everything in water," he said. Inside the studios, tables and dressers have been lifted off the floor as water seeps through the walls. Outside, where the river was nearly lapping the tyres of parked vehicles, a young woman said it was "great to see ducks instead of cars". The December-January period is now the third-wettest on record since data collection began in 1900, according to France's meteorological service. However, fears of flooding like that of 1910, which saw the Seine rise to 8.62 metres, shutting down much of Paris's basic infrastructure, looks unlikely. - Better weather expected - More favourable weather is expected for the week ahead, and Vigicrues has lowered its warning level from orange to yellow in several areas upstream of the capital. But even once the water levels start to recede, forecasters say it will be a slow process, since much of the ground in northern France is already waterlogged. A main commuter line, the RER C, has halted service at Paris stops through Wednesday, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed. In Paris the Seine flows through a deep channel, limiting the potential flooding damage to riverside structures. But several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, such as the southern suburb of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where some residents were getting around by boat and dozens have been evacuated from their homes. In the south of France, heavy rains caused a breach in the water supply pipe of a holding tank on an oil platform in La Mede, near Marseille, on Saturday, French giant Total said. Contaminated water, not concentrated crude oil, had leaked, Total said in a statement. Uniontown Area Senior High School in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in an image from Google street view, 2013 Just days after high school shootings in Texas and Kentucky, an alleged school shooting plot in Pennsylvania has been thwarted. Police found multiple guns and machetes in a 14-year-old high school students bedroom after receiving a tip from one of the suspects classmates. According to officials, the classmate allegedly overheard the suspect threatening to shoot four students at Uniontown Area Senior High School, located about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The student who overheard the conversation recorded it, said Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower, according to CBS News. The person then told their parents, who contacted police. When authorities went to the suspect's home, they found an arsenal of weapons in his bedroom including a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, two machetes, throwing knives, two lever-action rifle, a revolver, a crossbow with arrows, and bulk ammunition for all of the weapons. It is unclear how the suspect obtained the weapons. Quite frankly the parent and the child who reported this are the heroes, Mr Bower said at a news conference. Had they not reported this, there could have been a major catastrophe at Uniontown High School. Asked about why the suspect allegedly wanted to target the four students, Mr Bower responded: He didn't like them. That's what he said, he didn't like them. What a reason to do something. The teen suspect was arrested and is being charged with making terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a minor, and criminal attempt to commit catastrophe, according to CBS. He is being held in a juvenile detention centre and his parents are cooperating with police. Uniontown Area High School released a statement to the station saying that security has increased throughout a number of our schools today. The district would like to thank the Pennsylvania State Police, the Uniontown City Police, as well as our students, parents and staff members for their assistance and efforts to ensure a safe and productive day of education, it said. Bridgestone Arena is, err, not in New Jersey. (Twitter/@sydneysanders_) Nashville, New Jersey same thing. A Twitter user by the handle @sydneysanders_ bought game tickets and a flight to Nashville for the Predators-Devils game Thursday, but made a slight error in her booking she went to the wrong city. The contest, which the Preds won 3-0, was actually in New Jersey, not in Nashville where the befuddled fan ended up with an expectation of seeing her squad in person. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Some string-pullers in the Predators organization are good people, though, and tracked her down to deliver some swag to ease the FOMO, at least a little bit. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. A happy ending to a near-tragic hockey tale. PYEONGCHANG 2018 ON YAHOO SPORTS President Donald Trumps immigration plan has been denounced by both hardline conservatives and pro-immigration activists. Introduced in the wake of the government shutdown, the proposal would offer a 12-year path to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children. Thats more than double the number protected under the Obama-era executive program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which the Trump Administration is winding down. The plan also allocates $25 billion for a wall along the countrys southern border and additional security protections in the region. It would also curtail what Republicans have called chain migration, prohibiting green cards for the siblings and parents of immigrants. Trumps so-called base the hardline right-wingers who vehemently oppose what they call amnesty in immigration policy have rallied against the plans accommodations to Dreamers. Breitbart News, the outlet previously helmed by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, has jeered at Dons Amnesty Bonanza, reprinting claims that the deal is the beginning of the end of the G.O.P. majority in the House. On the other end of the spectrum, however, the plan faces widespread condemnation for what many say amounts to a drastic crackdown on immigration rights. They say the DACA solution is a red herring that obfuscates the plans anti-immigrant wish list, as Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said on Twitter. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The American Civil Liberties Union described the plan as a hateful proposal that would slash legal immigration to levels not seen since the racial quotas of the 1920s. The only community that benefits from this supposed generosity are white supremacists, the organization said. Lets call this proposal for what it is: a white supremacist ransom note, Greisa Martinez Rosas, advocacy director for the immigration action group United We Dream, said in a statement. Trump and (White House adviser) Stephen Miller killed DACA and created the crisis that immigrant youth are facing. The plans future in Congress remains uncertain. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the proposal on Friday, saying it flies in the face of what most Americans believe. Prague (AFP) - Czechs went to the polls Friday at the start of a two-day presidential run-off pitting pro-Russian populist incumbent Milos Zeman against liberal pro-European rival Jiri Drahos, in a tight race that promises to go down to the wire. A pre-vote poll by the Kantar TNS and Median agencies showed the two candidates neck-and-neck, with the divisive 73-year-old ex-communist Zeman credited with 45.5 percent of the vote against 45 percent for the academic Drahos. About 10 percent of voters in the EU and NATO member state remained undecided, with polls indicating that they too are split down the middle. Bookmakers, however, give veteran politician Zeman the edge. "This is a showdown between two completely different candidates representing two parts of a rather split society," political analyst Tomas Lebeda told AFP, pointing to deep division on immigration and Czech foreign policy. The polling stations are due to reopen at 0700 GMT on Saturday before closing definitively at 1300 GMT. Turnout at the first day of voting was put at 50 percent by the election commission. Voting in Prague, Zeman slammed political novice Drahos, dubbing him a rival "who hasn't dealt with politics yet", while Drahos vowed the energy generated during the campaign "won't be wasted, whatever the outcome." Known for his pro-Chinese and anti-Muslim stance, the populist Zeman, who is also a fan of US President Donald Trump, took pole position in a field of nine candidates in the January 12-13 first round vote, garnering 38.56 percent of the vote. Drahos got 26.60 percent. While Zeman represents poorer and rural voters with lower education, Drahos appeals to wealthier, well-educated urbanites. - East vs West - Prague voter Lubos Horcic told AFP he was backing Drahos because "he will work to reconcile society and not divide it like Comrade Zeman", adding that Drahos was "moving towards Europe and the West and not towards the East." Story continues But fellow voter Daniel Hajek said he would choose the "experienced Milos Zeman because he's opening the door to economic cooperation with countries like Russia and China. "It's important for us, for jobs; our country is at the heart of Europe -- we can't go in just one direction," he told AFP in Prague. Europe's fifth biggest carmaker is dependent on auto exports, mainly to the eurozone, and its economy is expected to expand by 3.4 percent this year. The run-off vote comes amid a wider political crisis as billionaire populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis is fighting police charges of EU subsidy fraud that are hampering his ability to form a government. Even though the country of 10.6 million people has only received 12 migrants under the EU quota system, migration was a key campaign issue. Zeman's stance on the European Union echoes other populist-minded EU politicians -- like Poles and Hungarians -- at odds with Brussels over mandatory refugee quotas and various rules which they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. - Smear campaign? - Zeman once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organised invasion" of Europe, claiming Muslims were "impossible to integrate". Billboards across the country sought to appeal to voters with anti-migrant messages: "Stop immigrants and Drahos. This is our country. Vote Zeman!" He also wants the EU to lift its sanctions on Russia over its 2014 takeover of Crimea from Ukraine. Running under the slogan "Decency is a strength," Drahos, a 68-year-old former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences and a trained chemist, could not be more different. A mild-mannered centrist whom critics have branded "wishy-washy", Drahos wants Prague to "play a more active role in the EU" and backs joining the eurozone. He is also a critic of the refugee quota system, but insists the Czech Republic is strong enough to accept its allotted 2,600 refugees. This earned him scorn in pro-Zeman media and on social networks. Drahos has denied allegations of paedophilia and having been a communist police agent, suggesting the accusations were a smear-campaign by Russian intelligence with links to Zeman. The constitution allows the president to name the prime minister and government, central bankers, judges and university professors, and to sign bills passed by parliament into laws. Dana Rohrabacher Politics, Middle East U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in Zurich Just as the dissidents behind the Iron Curtain knew Ronald Reagan was a true ally, so in Iran today the Iranian people sense that President Trump is on their side. A Reagan Doctrine for Iran? After nearly forty years of repression, corruption, and tyranny, tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets in protest of the vicious mullah regime. As with its predecessor, the Green Movementor Persian Springin 2009, frustration with economic stagnation, high unemployment and corruption have generated the current revolt against the gangster clerics in Tehran. However, unlike 2009, when Americas new president ignored the cries of the Iranian people, President Donald Trump and his team are strongly supporting the right of the Iranian people to express themselves, to assemble peaceably, and to control their own destiny by a vote of the peoplenot a vote of the mullah council. The mullahs portray support for the protesters from abroad as undermining the legitimacy of the protests. That is self-serving nonsense. What we are witnessing is a spontaneous outpouring of grassroots dissatisfaction with a corrupt Iranian regime. When I wrote speeches for President Ronald Reagan about anti-Soviet dissidents, we knew the risks taken by those who stood up to tyranny behind the Iron Curtain. But they needed to understand they were not alone, and that the outside world knew of their bravery in the face of possible imprisonment and even death. As the protests erupted, President Trump tweeted, Iranian govt should respect their peoples rights, including the right to express themselves. The World is watching. The Trump administration has been forthright in calling the worlds attention to the crimes of the mullah regime: Last month, the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, denounced Irans arming of Houthi rebels in Yemen. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently declared that the Trump administration supports the aspirations of the protestors, including calls for a transition of government. Story continues Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sanctioned key Iranian entities involved in Irans ballistic missile program. The NSC senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon has issued multiple positive public statementsa welcome difference from the weakness and appeasement of the Obama administration. Despite concerns about personnel and programming matters, the Voice of Americas Persian News Network and Radio Farda operate as key tools in making sure the Iranian people know about Americas support for them at the highest levels of our government. Key technologies like FireChat, a smartphone application that enables peer-to-peer communication, can play an important role, especially since the regime has shut off Internet access for more secure technologies like Telegram Messenger. The United States should do what it can to provide satellite Internet access to the Iranian people. The Iranian people know the full disgrace of the billions of dollars President Barack Obama gave to the mullahs in conjunction with the 2015 nuclear deal. Now, supposedly, Irans nuclear program is entirely peaceful. Instead, this money was used to fund regional violence and terror rather than to improve Iranian life. Just as the dissidents behind the Iron Curtain knew Ronald Reagan was a true ally and sincere believer in human rights, so in Iran today the Iranian people sense that President Trump is on their side and that President Obama was on the side of the mullahs. The Iranian people are also aware that President Trump has strengthened ties with India while downgrading Americas relations with Pakistan. It just might be that people now sense a real leader, transparent and reliable, occupies the Oval Officea revival of Ronald Reagans firm Cold War presence. The Reagan administration faced its own set of challenges from Iran: the Iranian-backed attack the U.S. embassy in Beirut in April, 1983; the march 1984 kidnapping and murder of Beirut embassy Political Officer William Buckley; the October 1983 attack against the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983, killing 241 Americans; the June 1985 hijacking of TWA 847 and the subsequent murder of U.S. sailor Robert Stethem; the capture, torture, and murder of Lt. Col. William R. Higgins in 1988; and the infamous Iran-Contra scandals. These tragic and frustrating episodes have resulted in a reluctance to deal with Iran head-on. That appears to be changing. We need a Reagan Doctrine for Irannotably supporting the Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, Arabs, and anti-regime Persians to form new systems based on self-determination or a more decentralized federal political structure. The future of Iran remains in the hands of the Iranian people, but the example of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and the inclusive Syrian Democratic Councils, none of them bound by ethnicity or religion, may be worth considering. As we come closer to the deadline for President Trump to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Iranian oilwhich will effectively pull the United States out of the pactthe protests in Iran may be having a profound effect on basic U.S. policy. When President Trump decided not to certify the nuclear deal in October, many of our friends and allies were pressuring us to stay the course. Now the situation is reversed: We call on them to support the Iranian people and to dissuade the mullahs from using more violence against their own citizens. The Iranian regime could well succeed in strangling this uprising, but they will never be able to choke the desire of the Iranian people for a more just and free society. This time, thank God, the United States stands with the brave protesters in Iran. We have President Trump personally making that crystal clear. Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, represents Californias forty-eighth congressional district. Image: Reuters Recommended: Why North Korea's Air Force is Total Junk Why Doesn't America Kill Kim Jong Un? The F-22 Is Getting a New Job: Sniper Read full article Attorney General Jeff Sessions stands during a news conference, in Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2017. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters) WASHINGTON With his Justice Department and FBI facing broad attacks from some of his former colleagues on Capitol Hill, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Friday that hell stand up to any unfair attacks on the men and women of the Justice Department he now oversees. Sessions, in a speech in Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday, mentioned the sharp criticisms of DOJ coming from Congress. He said the Justice Department demands the highest level of integrity, ethics, and professionalism from every person in it, and that all employees are expected to advance the mission of the Department honorably in the service of the American people. If anyone falls short of these high standards, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action, and we will do so in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Department, Sessions said. And, while we are open to fair criticism, we will of course defend our investigators and prosecutors from criticism that is unfair. Such criticism has recently been coming from within Sessions own party. As theyve sought to protect President Donald Trump from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, some Republicans on Capitol Hill have made broad attacks on the FBIs integrity. Theyve suggested theres a deep state operation against Trump, and that there was a secret society working within the FBI to stop him from ever taking office. After reading a secret memo authored by Republican staffers, members of Congress claimed to know about absolutely shocking, sickening and jaw-dropping information that was worse than Watergate and comparable to the actions of the KGB. The comments from members of his party and from his own boss have put Sessions in a tricky spot. He has a delicate relationship with the president, who blames him for the existence of the probe threatening his administration and members of his family. He has his own detractor, and that detractor is the president of the United States, Ron Hosko, a former FBI official, told HuffPost before Sessions speech. He probably senses that hes at risk, because of the recusal [from the Russia probe] and because of the deference to [Deputy Attorney General] Rod Rosenstein and the subsequent appointment of Bob Mueller. Thats stuck in Donald Trumps craw, period. Story continues Hosko, now part of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, praised Sessions work on law enforcement issues. But he said he wished the attorney general would step out in the bureaus defense. Related... House GOPers Say A Secret Memo Could End The Trump-Russia Probe. Their Staff Wrote It. FBI Texts Reveal Major Flaw In GOP Theory Of 'Deep State' Plot To Defeat Trump Secret Society FBI Text Actually Began With A Beefcake Putin Calendar Sessions is at risk. How quickly does he step up to back the men and women of the FBI while this scandal which is what it is kind of plays itself out? Hosko said, prior to Sessions remarks on Friday. I would certainly love it if the attorney general steps up and says, Hey, look, lets keep in mind there are 30-some thousand FBI employees who are out there defending our freedom and protecting Americans every day. Weve got to keep that in mind as we work our way through this. In his speech, Sessions said he loves the Justice Department and the great people who work there. The vast majority are dedicated, hardworking, patriotic Americans. Its an honor to serve with them, he said. A Justice Department official told HuffPost that Sessions comments on the criticism DOJ has been facing were added to his speech in recent days. Sessions said his goal was absolutely eliminating political bias or favoritism in either direction from our investigations and prosecutions, saying that is the antithesis of what the Department stands for, and I wont tolerate it. Sessions said the best way to respond to criticism is for DOJ to hear the concerns, and act on them professionally, fairly and completely, in order to maintain the publics trust in their government. He also said the department should work on identifying mistakes of the past, and correcting them for the future, and should address problems head on instead of sweeping them under the rug. Criticism from Congress, Sessions said, isnt a bad thing. We welcome Congress as a partner in this effort, he said. When they learn of a problem and start asking questions, that is a good thing. Sunlight truly is the best disinfectant. Truth produces confidence. Sessions has not confirmed that he offered his resignation to Trump. His Justice Department has refused to confirm or deny the existence of his reported resignation letter, claiming that disclosing the existence of such a letter would violate Sessions personal privacy. Ryan Reilly is HuffPosts senior justice reporter, covering criminal justice, federal law enforcement and legal affairs. Have a tip? Reach him at ryan.reilly@huffpost.com or on Signal at 202-527-9261. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Three members of the Revolutionary Guards and three Islamic State militants were killed in clashes in the west of Iran on Saturday, a top Guards' commander said, according to Tasnim news agency. A team of 21 Islamic State fighters were tracked after they crossed Iran's western border before being attacked by the Guards, the most powerful military force in the Islamic Republic, according to Sepah News, the Guards' official news site. General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Guards' ground forces, said 16 militants were arrested and two fled but were now surrounded, Tasnim agency reported. In June, Islamic State militants attacked the parliament in Tehran and mausoleum of the Islamic Republics founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, killing at least 18 and wounding dozens. The attackers in the June assault were all Iranian Kurds from the Kurdish region of western Iran near the Iraqi border. The Guards fired several missiles at Islamic State bases in Syria on June 18 in response to that attack. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Potter and Edmund Blair) Saudi Arabia freed Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and several of the kingdom's most prominent businessmen from detention this weekend, clearing out the Ritz-Carlton hotel that served as a jail for the country's elite during a controversial crackdown on corruption. Prince Alwaleed, the billionaire chairman of Riyadh's Kingdom Holding Co. who owns stakes in Inc. and Twitter Inc., returned home on Saturday after reaching a settlement with authorities, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity. He will remain at the helm of his company, the official said, declining to provide the other terms of the deal. Waleed al-Ibrahim, head of a major media firm, and retail billionaire Fawaz Al Hokair were also freed after agreeing to deals, another government official said. The prince's release came just hours after Alwaleed told Reuters in an interview that he expected to go home soon and retain control of his company, calling his detention a misunderstanding and expressing support for the kingdom's rulers. With the suspects' names and evidence against them never officially announced, the detentions had raised concerns about transparency among foreign investors vital to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Kingdom Holding didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Saudi Windfall The departures from the hotel mark the end of the first phase of Prince Mohammed's anti-corruption campaign, which shook the kingdom when it was launched in November. Hundreds of suspects were arrested, including some of the country's richest men and its top economic policymaker. Officials say the government expects to reap more than $100 billion from settlements with detainees in exchange for their freedom. Others have been transferred to prison to face trial, the Wall Street Journal reported. Also released this weekend after agreeing to settlements were Khalid al-Tuwaijri, head of the royal court under the late King Abdullah, and Prince Turki bin Nasser, who was involved in a massive arms sale that led to corruption probes in the U.K. and the U.S., one of the government officials said. Story continues Several of those released from detention earlier appear to be returning to their lives as usual. Among them is former finance minister and minister of state, Ibrahim al-Assaf, who recently led Saudi Arabia's delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "If they can just go back to their old jobs, it would appear that the campaign was just a warning signal, and an effort to raise money," said Gregory Gause, a professor of international affairs and Saudi specialist at Texas A&M University. "If that is all that it was, I wonder if anything will change." For more on Saudi Arabia's crackdown, click here Lack of Transparency The identities of the detainees and some of the allegations against them were leaked to media, but few details have been provided on their cases or on the settlements many have reached since then. Critics say Prince Mohammed initiated the drive to intimidate potential opponents and consolidate his grip on the country. Government officials have denied that accusation. The end of the current phase of the corruption campaign during Davos is signaling a shift in Saudi strategy for welcoming investors who have been deeply disturbed by this episode, said Theodore Karasik, a senior adviser at Gulf State Analytics in Washington. Settlement Terms The allegations against Prince Alwaleed were never formally made public, though a senior official told Bloomberg at the time of his detention that he was accused of money laundering, bribery and extortion. The billionaire maintained his innocence in his interview with Reuters, saying all his dealings had been appropriate and that it was very important to come out of this clean and pure. The senior official said he couldn't confirm or deny if the prince had been found innocent. "Settlements don't happen unless the accused acknowledges violations and documents that in writing and pledges that he won't repeat them, the official said. This is the general principle of all who were detained in corruption cases recently and not only Alwaleed bin Talal. During his detention, the Middle East Broadcasting Center's chairman, al-Ibrahim, was pressured by the government to give up a controlling stake in his Dubai-based company, according to two people familiar with the matter. The terms of his release aren't clear. Al-Ibrahim will return to running the media company as usual, one of the people said, and Reuters reported that his ownership hasn't changed, citing an official. The purge has pleased some Saudis by showing that Prince Mohammed's economic shakeup is affecting the wealthy as well as the poor, said Tom Coghlan, director for the Middle East and North Africa at K2 Intelligence in London. But observers should not underestimate the anger among the Saudi elite, Coghlan said. There is a significant flight-of-capital risk. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was released on Saturday after nearly three months in detention following a "settlement" with authorities, as a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting the kingdom's elite winds down. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was the most high-profile detainee among 350 suspects rounded up since November 4, including business tycoons and ministers, who were held in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel. The prince was released following an undisclosed financial agreement with the government, similar to deals that authorities struck with most other detainees in exchange for their freedom. "The attorney general this morning approved the settlement with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal," paving the way for his release, a government source told AFP without disclosing figures. When asked whether the prince was still the head of his publicly listed Kingdom Holding Company, the source who asserted he was guilty of corruption replied: "For sure." A business associate also confirmed to AFP that the tycoon had been released. Neither the prince nor the Saudi information ministry was available for comment. The prolonged detention of Prince Al-Waleed, ranked among the richest men in the world, had sent shock waves across a host of companies that count him as a major investor. Kingdom Holding -- in which the prince has a 95 percent stake -- owns The Savoy in London, the Fairmont Plaza and the famed George V hotel in Paris. The prince, who Forbes estimates is worth $18.7 billion, has also invested in Lyft and Twitter. - $100 billion in settlements - Prince Al-Waleed is the latest in a series of high-profile detainees to be freed from the hotel, as the campaign against elite corruption launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman draws to a close. Authorities on Friday released media mogul Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of influential Arab satellite network MBC. Story continues Ibrahim held a family gathering at his residence after his release, three MBC employees told AFP on condition of anonymity. The staff also received an official email congratulating them on his freedom. The Financial Times reported earlier Friday that authorities had ordered Ibrahim to hand over his controlling stake in MBC to secure his release. Authorities have so far not commented on his case. Another high-profile detainee, former National Guard chief Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was released recently following his "settlement" with authorities which reportedly exceeded $1 billion. The government said most of those detained agreed monetary settlements in exchange for their freedom, which could earn state coffers about $100 billion. - 'Top-level corruption' - Most detainees agreed on financial settlements in "cash, real estate and other assets", Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported last week. The windfall will help the government finance a package announced by King Salman this month to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living, Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told Al Arabiya in Davos on Wednesday. Crown Prince Mohammed, the 32-year-old son of the king, has spearheaded the unprecedented crackdown on corruption among members of the government and royal family, as he consolidates his grip on power. Some critics have labelled the campaign a shakedown and a power grab, but authorities insist the purge targeted endemic corruption as the kingdom -- in the midst of historic social and economic change -- prepares for a post-oil era. "Whether politically motivated or not, the Ritz Carlton arrests show a hopeful commitment to reducing top-level corruption," said Mohammed Alyahya, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. "But the level of follow through will make or break Saudi Arabia's transformation," he wrote in a blog this week titled "After the Ritz-Carlton crackdown, what's next?" The Ritz-Carlton is set to reopen for business next month, sources at the hotel have said. Its website lists rooms as available from February 14. By Sarah Dadouch and Katie Paul RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the kingdom's top international businessmen, was released from detention on Saturday, more than two months after he was taken into custody in a sweeping crackdown on corruption. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an interview at Riyadh's opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be freed within days. A senior Saudi official said Prince Alwaleed was freed after he reached a financial settlement with the attorney general. "The attorney general has approved this morning the settlement that was reached with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and the prince returned home at 1100 a.m. (0800 GMT)," the official told Reuters, without giving details of the terms. The decision to free him, and the release of several other well-known tycoons on Friday, suggested the main part of the corruption probe was winding down after it sent shockwaves through Saudi Arabia's business and political establishment. In his first interview since being detained, conducted hours before his release, Prince Alwaleed told Reuters he maintained his innocence of any corruption in talks with the authorities. He said he expected to keep full control of his global investment firm Kingdom Holding Co <4280.SE> without being required to hand assets to the state. He said he had been able to communicate with executives at his business while detained. Prince Alwaleed, who is in his early 60s, described his confinement as a "misunderstanding" and said he supported reform efforts by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government," he said. Prince Alwaleed had been confined at the Ritz-Carlton since early November, along with dozens of other senior officials and businessmen, part of the crown prince's plan to reform oil superpower Saudi Arabia and consolidate his position. FOREIGN INVESTOR CONCERNS When asked if the attorney general was convinced of Prince Alwaleed's innocence, the senior Saudi official said: "I will not negate or confirm what he says. Generally this falls back to those who concluded the settlement, and for sure there is no settlement unless there are violations, and they are not concluded without the accused admitting it in writing and promising not to repeat it." The source declined to give further details, but confirmed that Prince Alwaleed would remain head of Kingdom Holding. A Gulf banker who deals with Saudi Arabia said the authorities appeared keen to conclude the probe partly because foreign investors were concerned their assets or local business partners could be targeted in the wide-ranging crackdown. Prince Alwaleed's detention was particularly worrying for foreigners because of his international prominence as an investor in top Western companies such as Twitter and Citigroup , and in top hotels including the George V in Paris and the Plaza in New York, the banker said. "The government is signaling that it wants to move to a new phase now, away from the crackdown and into other economic reforms," the banker said. Outside Prince Alwaleed's Riyadh palace, dozens of cars lined the entrances as a huge Saudi flag flapped above. Guards cracked jokes and drank coffee. His office said the prince was out visiting family, but declined to give any details. The attorney general said earlier this week that 90 detainees had been released after their were charges dropped, while others traded cash, real estate and other assets for their freedom. The authorities were still holding 95 people, he said. Some are expected to be put on trial. "NOTHING TO HIDE" An official Saudi source said on Friday that several prominent businessmen had reached financial settlements with the authorities, including Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of regional television network MBC, who was released. Terms of his settlement were not revealed. Saudi authorities have said they expect to raise some $100 billion for the government through such settlements - a huge windfall for the state, which has seen its finances squeezed by low oil prices. Some private analysts think that target will be hard to hit, given how many suspects have seen charges dropped. Allegations against Prince Alwaleed included money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters in November. The prince's net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion. While declaring his innocence in the Reuters interview, the prince appeared greyer and thinner than in his last public appearance, a television interview in October, and had grown a beard while in detention. "I have nothing to hide at all. I'm so comfortable, I'm so relaxed. I shave here, like at home. My barber comes here. I'm like at home, frankly speaking," he said, adding he had been able to communicate with family members while in detention. He granted the 30-minute interview to Reuters, including a tour of his suite, partly to disprove rumors about mistreatment and that he had been moved from the hotel to a prison. Prince Alwaleed showed off the comforts of his gold-accented private office, dining room and kitchen, which was fully stocked with his preferred vegetarian meals. In the corner of his office sat tennis shoes, which he said he used regularly for exercise. A television played business news programs, and a mug with an image of his own face on it was perched on the desk. After being released, Prince Alwaleed said, he would stay in Saudi Arabia and would return to the challenge of juggling his global business interests. "I will not leave Saudi Arabia, for sure. This is my country." (Additional reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Rania El Gamal,; Writing by Sami Aboudi and Andrew Torchia; Editing by Stephen Powell and Edmund Blair) Protesters from the group Revolting Lesbians hold placards and chant slogans outside New York City's American Museum of Natural History on Jan. 21, 2018. (Photo: SOPA Images via Getty Images) More than 200 scientists and researchers on Thursday released a public letter urging the American Museum of Natural History to cut ties with Rebekah Mercer a right-wing philanthropist and mega-donor to President Donald Trump who has poured millions into think tanks and websites that vilify researchers and deny human-caused climate change. The letter calls Mercer, whose family foundation has donated $4.1 million to the museum over the past four years and whos sat on its board since 2013, an anti-science propagandist. Rebekah Mercer and the Mercer Family Foundation, political kingmakers and the financiers behind Breitbart News, have given tens of millions to organizations who broadcast climate science denial and block policy and technological solutions to the climate crisis, the letter reads. The statement launches a new campaign by activists and scientists who last formed a coalition in 2015 to call for the ouster of David Koch, the fossil fuel billionaire who helped bankroll the movement to discredit and attack climate researchers. The coalition hailed victory when the 77-year-old tycoon stepped down from the museums board of trustees in January 2016. Last Sunday, a progressive group called Revolting Lesbians staged a protest on the museums marble steps facing Manhattans Central Park West to demand Mercers removal. Calling Mercer the first lady of the alt-right, a representative from the group, Anne Maguire, told HuffPost they sent letters to every board member ahead of the rally. In a statement on Thursday, the museum said it believes human-induced climate change is well-supported by scientific evidence and is one of the most serious issues currently facing our planet. As a scientific and educational institution, the Museum deeply respects the work and views of scientists both those who work as colleagues at the Museum and those from the broader scientific community, Roberto Lebron, a spokesman for the museum, said in the statement emailed to HuffPost. The Museum itself, however, does not make appointment decisions concerning staff or Trustees based on political views. Story continues The Thursday evening announcement comes amid new scrutiny of donor influence over how one of the nations top science museums presents the evidence of human-caused climate change. Museums -- particularly natural history museums -- are among the most trusted public institutions in the country, according to an ongoing survey. (Photo: IMPACTS) Nearly three weeks ago, Jonah Busch, an environmental economist at the nonpartisan Center for Global Development, accused the museum of promoting misinformation on climate change in its David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing. In a widely-shared Twitter thread, Busch posted photos of a museum plaque that minimized human influence on global warming. While the exhibit said greenhouse gas pollution may also have an effect on the Earths climatic cycles, it said there is no reason to think another ice age wont come. Ninety-seven percent of peer-reviewed research has found that burning fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial farming are enshrouding the Earth in heat-trapping gases, while a research review published in 2015 found significant flaws in the methodologies, assumptions or analyses used by the 3 percent of studies that concluded otherwise. The influx of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions will postpone the next glacial inception by at least 100,000 years, according to a 2016 study published in Nature, which Busch cited. When youve got people like Mercer on the board, it just makes it that much harder to give the benefit of doubt when they are putting up inaccurate information about climate change, Busch, who is not involved in the campaign to oust Mercer from the board, told HuffPost by phone on Wednesday. Something you could give a pass to as an innocuous mistake starts to have the appearance of something more sinister. At a time when surveys regularly show eroding public trust in newspapers, government agencies and science academies, museums buck the trend. Over 78 percent of Americans agreed that natural history museums were highly credible sources of information, second only to history museums, according to an ongoing national survey conducted by the research firm Impacts with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. By contrast, 67 percent said the same of daily newspapers, and just 51.4 percent of federal agencies. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The decline in public trust comes as the Republican-controlled Congress and White House target scientists conducting research that could hurt donors profits with probes and investigations they frequently compare to witch hunts. In October, Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt an unabashed climate change contrarian with deep ties to gas and chemical companies he now regulates put new rules in place to give more power to industry-funded researchers on the EPAs science advisory boards. Since taking over as chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology nearly six years ago, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) transformed the committee from a sleepy bastion of bipartisan agreement to a political cudgel and blunt instrument for industry groups. Science has never been more important to the country, yet its under more attack than weve seen in decades, Jon Foley, executive director of the California Academy of Sciences, told HuffPost by phone Thursday. Its a bit worrisome to see prominent not just donors but trustees of major museums on the one hand supporting science, but on the other undermining it by funding groups that are deliberately trying to sabotage science on things like climate change. Billionaire Rebekah Mercer attends the 12th International Conference on Climate Change hosted by The Heartland Institute on March 23, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images) In 2015, Foleys museum announced plans to completely divest from fossil fuels and bar contributions from oil, gas and coal companies. Foley said the decision alienated at least one longtime donor whose wealth came from fossil fuels a few generations back. But he said the move was necessary to preserve the integrity of the California Academy of Sciences reputation. We decided thats simply incompatible to our mission, said Foley, who is not involved with the American Museum of Natural History campaign. When we talk about trustee candidates, its not about their politics its do people support science wholeheartedly, regardless of their opinion of how it affects their business or political ideology. Sometimes that means not working with certain people and certain organizations, but thats OK, he added. At the end of the day, its better for science and better for a public-serving institution to be OK with this kind of thing. Mercer and her father, Robert, made their fortune at the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. The secretive family rose to prominence in 2016 after funding and organizing Trumps presidential campaign. The Mercers invested at least $10 million into Breitbart News, the right-wing website, and have spent $36.6 million on Republican races and and super PACs since 2010. The Mercer Family Foundation has donated heavily to climate misinformation groups over the years, contributing nearly $5.9 million to the Heartland Institute, a leading proponent of climate science denial, between 2008 and 2016, according to previously unreleased tax filings reviewed by HuffPost. The foundation ramped up spending on climate denial in recent years, giving money to think tanks and groups that spread climate misinformation, including $200,000 to the Oregon Institute of Science and medicine, $150,000 to the CO2 Coalition and $125,000 to the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change. Their funding is as egregious as the Kochs, Beka Economopoulos, whose New York-based nonprofit The Natural History Museum organized the letter, told HuffPost. Theyre a lightning rod for controversy. The spotlight of public scrutiny is starting to shine on the Mercers. This article was updated with additional details from Revolting Lesbians and to reflect the most recent tally of scientists signatures. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Related Coverage Don't Be Fooled By The Gentler Tone Of Charles Koch's Climate-Change Denial Here's A List Of Climate-Change Deniers The EPA May Be Considering For Its Red Team Debate Climate Denial Group Protected Former Executive Charged With Stalking Colleague, Ex-Staffers Say Also on HuffPost Our carbon footprint says it all. This graph shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as measured at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, from 1958 to today. In September, scientists at Mauna Loa announced that C02 levels had likely surpassed the threshold of 400 parts per million permanently. Year over year, the trend becomes more obvious. This graphic by climate scientist Ed Hawkins shows 167 maps of temperature change from 1850 to 2016. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Paul Day MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's government on Friday decided to ask the Constitutional Court to block former leader Carles Puigdemont's bid to lead Catalonia again, the deputy prime minister said. Puigdemont fled to Belgium shortly after declaring Catalonia independent from Spain in October, a move considered illegal under Spanish law. He faces charges including rebellion and sedition if he returns to Spain but he is the separatists' candidate to lead the region. The row over Puigdemont's candidacy will come to a head on Tuesday when the Catalan parliament plans to vote on it. "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 said on Twitter. The newly elected speaker of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent, nominated Puigdemont on Monday as the sole candidate for regional leader, against warnings by Madrid that he couldn't take the position. 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 government's decision to appeal directly to the constitutional court comes after the Council of State - the supreme consultative council of the Spanish government which advises on serious issues - advised against it on Thursday. (Additonal reporting by Inmaculada Sanz; Writing by Paul Day and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Jesus Aguado and Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Billionaire Steve Wynn resigned his post as finance chair for the Republican National Committee on Saturday, one day after The Wall Street Journal reported numerous allegations of him sexually harassing employees at his Las Vegas casinos over several decades. RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel issued a brief statement to HuffPost on Wynns resignation. Today I accepted Steve Wynns resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair, she said. Picked by President Donald Trump, Wynn served in his position for just one year. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. On Friday, The Wall Street Journal published sexual harassment accusations against Wynn stemming from interviews with dozens of current and former employees who said they had experienced or witnessed abuse by the billionaire. His actions allegedly ranged from unwanted touching to soliciting sex acts from women who worked in service jobs at his establishments. In one case, Wynn reached a $7.5 million settlement with a woman who gave him a manicure in 2005. She filed a report saying he tried to pressure her into sex. Wynn vehemently denied the accusations and issued a statement that, in part, blamed his ex-wife for spreading the story. She is currently suing Wynn over stock shares. The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, Wynn, 76, said in the statement. 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. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation. The casino owner threw his support behind Trump in the 2016 election, donating around $833,000 to Republican funds, according to Forbes. The RNC has not said whether it will return Wynns money. The organization previously called on the Democratic National Committee to return the donations it had received from alleged sexual abuser Harvey Weinstein. As CEO of Wynn Resorts, Wynn operates the Wynn and Encore resorts in Las Vegas, two establishments in Macau and one in Boston that is still under construction. Story continues Wynn Resorts stock fell 10 percent after the Journal published its report on Friday. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Marion 'Suge' Knight appears in court with his Lawyer Matthew P Fletcher for his bail hearing on 20 March 2015 in Los Angeles: Robyn Beck-Pool/Getty Images 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. 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. 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. AMMAN (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition delegation at peace talks in Vienna received a pledge on Friday from Russia that it would press the Syrian army to enforce a ceasefire in the besieged enclave of eastern Ghouta, an opposition spokesman said on Friday. Syrian army and Russian jets have for the last two months been escalating their bombardment of the besieged rebel enclave near Damascus, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds, rebels and aid workers say. "There was a Russian pledge to the negotiating team ... It will begin at 12, after midnight today," Ayman al Asemi, a member of the Free Syrian Army's military council told Reuters. However, the spokesman for the opposition's negotiation committee at the Vienna talks, Yahya al-Aridi, did not confirm the Russian pledge, saying only: "There are negotiations about this." International concern has been rising over the fate of eastern Ghouta, where the United Nations says acute shortages of food and medicine have contributed to the worst malnutrition seen in the Syrian civil war. The enclave is home to almost 400,000 people and is in an agreed "de-escalation zone" under Russian-led ceasefire deals for rebel-held territory, but the fighting there has continued. On Wednesday Russia denied accusations that it and the Syrian army were behind a chemical attack in eastern Ghouta on Jan. 22. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman and Francois Murphy in Vienna; Additional writing by Angus McDowall in Beirut; Editing by Gareth Jones) Robert Leibowitz received a kidney from Richie Sully, whom he met after a photo of his T-shirt went viral. (Photo: Courtesy of Richie Sully) The story of how Robert Leibowitz met his kidney donor, Richie Sully, through a T-shirt has been going viral for months, but it bears repeating. Not just because it shows the power of social media. Not just because of Sullys selfless act. But because the two men hope they can make live kidney donation seem so commonplace that one day no one will care about a story like theirs. Chronic kidney disease had made Leibowitz, a New Jersey father of five, one of the 100,000 people on the waitlist for a kidney in the U.S. His O-positive blood made it much less likely hed be one of the lucky 19,000 who actually receives a kidney each year that wait is usually seven to 10 years. Two of his sons have potential kidney issues as well, so a donation from a family member (the most common solution) was eventually ruled out. After four years on the list, he decided to put his background in ad sales to use on a trip to Disney World last September. Out of desperation, I said, Shoot, Im going to be at my favorite place on the planet; Im going to be reaching hundreds of thousands of people in five different parks every single day; Ill never get more exposure than this in my entire life, Leibowitz told Yahoo Lifestyle. He had his 15-year-old daughter, Shannon, design a T-shirt for him that said, In Need Of Kidney O Positive Call, with his cellphone number emblazoned on both sides. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The only deal I had with my kids, they begged me: Just make sure you wash it every day, Leibowitz said. Sure enough, fellow Disney-goers Rocio and Juan Sandoval spotted the shirt and asked to post a photo of it on Facebook. Within a day, it went viral with 33,000 shares and hit 90,000 in the first week. He isnt the first person to try such an unorthodox method, but only about 3 percent of kidney recipients in 2014 had donations from a living stranger. Theres been some evidence that that may be on the rise a little, Kelli Collins, the vice president of patient engagement at the National Kidney Foundation, told Yahoo Lifestyle. That may largely be due to social media. Its easy to go viral if you have the right story out there. Story continues One of the people who saw the post was Jessica Rutledge, a nurse who was trapped in her Houston home at the time because of Hurricane Harvey. She sent the link to her friend Richie Sully back in Indiana, because she knew he was O-positive. When she sent me the link, I thought, The least I can do is call and tell her and make her feel better,' Sully told Yahoo Lifestyle. I was like, Hey, my name is Richie. I saw your shirt. Im O-positive. I have an extra kidney. Youre more than welcome to it. Im not crazy Im sure you have a few of those calls but I am from Indiana. Sullys was one of 300 messages and texts Leibowitz received. He called every single one of them back to tell them his story, explain the process of kidney donation, and eliminate the flakes, as he called them. He gave 50 to 60 people an application, the first step of many to find the right match. Transplant centers want to know everything about a potential donors physical and mental health and medical history. Next, they undergo initial blood testing to make sure theyre a match, because being the same blood type doesnt make that a given. Then from there its the most extensive physical that a person could ever have, Collins explained. They really test inside and out, not just physically but also emotionally, psychologically, to make sure that people are really prepared and willing to donate and do this very grand gesture for somebody else. To make sure their kidney health is good, but also that they dont have any other diseases or ailments that could be affecting either their lifespan or their risk for potential kidney disease themselves in the future. As volunteers were whittled down in this process, Leibowitz said one bright spot was that some people, in their rejection, discovered underlying medical issues they didnt know they had. Finally, four candidates made their way to New York, one by one, for an even bigger round of evaluation by his transplant team. The first three were denied. Then it was Sullys turn. After his testing, he met Leibowitz for the first time, and the two spent the day touring the city. I took him around the city Central Park, the Dakota, Radio City, and Grand Central. Times Square, Leibowitz recalled. We figured out that if we had gone to school together or worked together, we probably would have been best buddies. We had so much in common, no awkwardness. We had the same common love of sports, love of family, love of music. It was such a great day. Photo: Courtesy of Richie Sully In his interviews, Sully doesnt make a big deal about anything hes done through all of this. For that first trip, he rode a Greyhound bus for 20 hours from Fort Wayne, Ind., to a hostel in Queens. He took Amtrak for a second testing trip. He set up a fundraiser on YouCaring.com to raise $7,000 to cover his costs. Meanwhile, heeding the advice of his friend Rutledge, he decided to improve his own health by taking up running and losing 35 pounds. His co-workers at the Home Depot where he works did their part too. Even before I was matched, I had some of the moms and grandmas at work follow me around with hand sanitizer, Sully said. Anytime someone sneezed, they would stare daggers at them. While Sullys dad initially said he was crazy for donating a kidney, and his daughters had a lot of questions, he eventually earned his familys support. So, on Jan. 18, the men went into surgery at New York-Presbyterian hospital. Within two days, Sully was discharged, and within four, so was Leibowitz. I was up and walking 12 hours after I got off the table, Sully said, still shrugging off his sacrifice. Thats what I hope this story brings out. You will live a normal life with only one kidney, and its not a big deal to donate yours, but it is a big deal to the life that you save and the family around them. Otherwise, people will think that this is the greatest thing ever, and they will never be a good enough person to do that, and then people will never donate kidneys. The National Kidney Foundation is doing its part to make it even less of a big deal for people like Sully, who has to miss about five weeks of work to recover. The organization is supporting the Living Donor Protection Act, a bipartisan bill thats been introduced in both the House and the Senate to ensure that donors will be included in the Family Medical Leave Act and not be penalized by life and health insurance companies for having undergone this procedure. Its unfortunate that somebody who would do something, give away their kidney, give this huge gift to a stranger or a loved one, then be negatively impacted by anyone, Sully said. Leibowitz is still a bit stunned by how well this all turned out. An amazing stranger took an organ out of his body and put it in my body to help me survive, Leibowitz marvels. Its insane. Ill be thanking Richie for the rest of my life. To learn more about live kidney donation, visit kidney.org. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Officials sign deal with Boeing to replace two food chilling systems Planes fridges must be equipped to handle 3,000 meals Trump on his way to Mar-a-Lago in April. The term Air Force One refers not to any particular aircraft but to any plane carrying the president. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters What hums, flies above 30,000ft, and costs about as much as Donald Trumps upstate New York manor? Trumps new airplane refrigerators. The Trump administration has signed a $24m contract with Boeing to replace two food chilling systems aboard Air Force One, the presidents plane, according to reports. The systems are two of five such chillers aboard Air Force One, which must be equipped with a refrigeration capacity to handle 3,000 meals, according to military specifications. Thats enough to feed the president and 50 of his closest friends three meals a day for three weeks. And thats assuming the president never indulged in his favorite plane fare: fast food. The $24m price tag, upon which Boeing declined to comment, amounts to enough taxpayer money to fund an estimated eight weekends for the president at Mar-a-Lago, which Trump visited 11 times in his first year as president. Or the cash could be used to provide security at Trump Tower in New York City, where the president no longer lives, for about two months. As president-elect, Trump trashed Boeings stock by attacking on Twitter the high-priced Air Force One program. Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion, Trump tweeted. Cancel order! Its not clear where Trump got the $4bn figure; at the time Boeing had a $170m contract to begin work on the next Air Force One. The term Air Force One refers not to any particular aircraft but to any plane carrying the president. The list price for the 747 airplanes outfitted as Air Force One is about $350m, but customizing the planes costs much more. A consultant told Defense One that the plane was expensive not because Boeing was gouging the government but because military requirements for the craft are expensive to fulfill. Its not a contractor issue, it is a requirements issue, said Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of analysis at the Teal Group consulting firm. Its not getting people rich. Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Thursday 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. 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 during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland. "That money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace." The Trump administration is pressing sceptical Palestinians to enter a US-sponsored peace process that has so far appeared to offer much to their arch-foes Israel. Palestinians were especially enraged by Trump's recent decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital -- which for decades both sides agreed would be the subject of negotiation. Amid deadly riots and fierce political pressure at home, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas responded by cancelling a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Egypt, Israel and Jordan. Trump insisted that he could still be an honest broker. "We have a proposal for peace. It is a great proposal for the Palestinians," Trump claimed, adding that Israel would also be forced to make concessions. But the US president also doubled down, saying he would move the American embassy to Jerusalem as soon as next year, despite no suitably sized building existing. "We anticipate having a small version of it open sometime next year," Trump said. Netanyahu warmly welcomed Trump's "historic decision", saying it "recognises history, recognizes a certain reality, built on the basis of truth." Netanyahu later said he was willing to enter talks, despite earlier dismissing the idea of the creation of a Palestinian state. Story continues "Yes I am ready for peace, I explained that to president Trump," Netanyahu said. "I reaffirmed my willingness and Israel's willingness to engage in an effort to achieve peace with the Palestinians, an effort that is being enhanced by this very able team." While Trump was speaking in Davos, his ambassador at the UN Nikki Haley was also turning up the heat on the 82-year-old Palestinian leader, Abbas. 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 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." Earlier this month Abbas accused Trump of trying to make the Palestinians a scapegoat, by painting them as rejecting talks that did not exist. "Shame on you," he said. Trump said he had not seen those remarks. "I think I'm probably better off not seeing them," Trump said. "You know what, it's many years of killing people. It's many years of killing each other. They have to be tired and disgusted of it," he added. President Donald Trump called for "decisive action" against the Taliban on Saturday after a bomb attack killed at least 95 people in one of the biggest blasts to rock war-torn Kabul in years. "I condemn the despicable car bombing attack in Kabul today that has left scores of innocent civilians dead and hundreds injured. This murderous attack renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners," Trump said in a statement. "Now, all countries should take decisive action against the Taliban and the terrorist infrastructure that supports them." Afghanistan has been plunged into war since the October 2001 US invasion -- the opening shots in Washington's "war on terrorism." "The Taliban's cruelty will not prevail," Trump added. "The United States is committed to a secure Afghanistan that is free from terrorists who would target Americans, our allies and anyone who does not share their wicked ideology." US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson condemned the "senseless" attack, insisting there can be "no tolerance for those who support or offer sanctuary to terrorist groups." An explosives-packed ambulance was used for the bombing in a crowded part of the Afghan capital. Terrified survivors fled the area which was scattered with body parts, blood and debris, and hospitals were overwhelmed by the large number of wounded, who numbered at least 158. "The Taliban's use of an ambulance as a weapon to target civilians represents inhumane disregard for the people of Afghanistan and all those working to bring peace to the country," Tillerson said, adding that the attack breached "the most basic international norms." "All countries who support peace in Afghanistan have an obligation to take decisive action to stop the Taliban's campaign of violence." Although Tillerson did not name any specific countries, Washington has repeatedly accused Pakistan of neglect in cracking down on militant groups such as the Taliban or their Haqqani allies. Trump lashed out at Pakistan in early January, denouncing Islamabad's "lies" and "deceit" in the fight against terrorism -- with the US suspending hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance. Following Defense Secretary Jim Mattiss recent warnings about China and Russia, President Donald Trump is expected to ask for $716 billion in defense spending in 2019, two U.S. officials said on Friday. The budget, which will be unveiled next month, represents a seven percent increase over the 2018 budget and shuns rising deficit concerns. Mark Cancian, defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Washington Post that the expected increase is a huge deal. Trending: Anti-Zionism Is Just Anti-Semitism by Another Name Its a big jump in defense and means that the Trump administration is putting resources against an extremely aggressive defense strategy, he said. Trump_Putin_Xi_Jinping Getty The $716 billion would cover the Pentagons annual budget as well as spending on ongoing wars and the maintenance of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Don't miss: 'Saturday Night Live Season 43 with Will Ferrell: Everything You Need to Know Before Show Airs One of the officials said that the request would closely follow the priorities unveiled by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday in the National Defense Strategy, where he placed building up the military for the possibility of conflict with China and Russia at the center of the new document. The Pentagons unclassified, 11-page summary of the National Defense Strategy did not provide details on how the shift towards countering China and Russia would be carried out, but defense spending requests were expected to reflect that aim. Story continues Last week, Mattis said the U.S. militarys competitive edge has eroded in every domain of warfare, partly due to inconsistent funding. Most popular: Russia Accidentally Recognizes Gay Marriage For First Time, Couple Says As hard as the last 16 years have been, no enemy in the field has done more to harm the readiness of the U.S. military than the combined impact of the Budget Control Act, defense spending cuts and operating in nine of the last 10 years under continuing resolutions, Mattis said. According to the Washington Post, Pentagon officials claim that the 2019 budget will prioritize preparing for conflict with major world powers and modernize the militarys aging weapons systems. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Jerusalem (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital led to a spike in Palestinian support for "armed struggle", a poll suggested Thursday. 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 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. 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. Given four options for their preference for the next step for Palestinian-Israeli relations, 38.4 percent of Palestinians favoured waging an armed struggle, the most popular single answer and compared with only 26.2 percent who called for reaching a peace agreement. The same poll in June found 21 percent support for armed struggle, while 45 percent backed a peace agreement. Khalil Shikaki, from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and one of the report's authors, said there had also been significant declines in Palestinian support for a peace process and compromise as well as in the popularity of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. "There is absolutely no doubt that the Trump statement was the fundamental cause." Dahlia Scheindlin from the Tami Steinmetz Center at Tel Aviv University, another report author, said that she expected the support for militancy could fall in the coming months if tension subsides. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ignored President Donald Trumps call for Turkey to limit its military actions in Syria, vowing to continue his fight against Kurdish rebels in the north of the country. The White House said on Wednesday that Trump had told Erdogan to de-escalate the situation in northern Syria, limit its military actions and exercise caution, according to his administration. But Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara: We will continue our fight until there is no terrorist on our border leading to Iraq. Trending: Alien Quicksand Could Sink NASA Landers on Jupiter's Moon Europa He said the Turkish military would clean up the city of Manbij, the northern Syrian enclave that the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) once held but that is now in the hands of the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish group it has designated as an extremist organization. The group has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish government for several decades. The Turkish military launched the mission dubbed Operation Olive Branch against the Syrian Kurdish force on Saturday, giving assistance to Syrian rebels with airstrikes and supporting a ground operation. 01_26_Erdogan_Trump Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Don't miss: Has Putin Set Up a Military Clash Between the US and Turkey? As the operation continues, thousands of Kurdish civilians have fled Afrin, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a U.K.-based monitoring group, said more than two dozen civilians had been killed by the Turkish military. Story continues The Syrian Kurds have called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to intervene and protect them from the Turkish military offensive, specifically to prevent Turkish planes flying in Syrian airspace. 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 toward Afrin and to protect its borders with Turkey from attack, the autonomous authority governing Afrin said in a statement on Thursday. Turkey is angry at Washingtons assistance to the Kurds, and tensions are high between the NATO allies. Ankara refuted Washingtons assertion that Trump had warned Erdogan to limit the military offensive in northern Syria. Most popular: Fox News Star Tucker Carlson Faces Accusations of White Nationalism From Left Official Turkish sources told Agence France-Presse news agency that the release by the White House does not accurately reflect the content of the phone call. The two leaders discussion...was limited to an exchange of views, a Turkish official said. The official added that Trump had not shared any concerns about escalating violence, in contradiction to the White House statement. Erdogan took a shot at U.S. foreign policy, appearing to call the country hypocritical for telling Turkey to keep its operation short. How long has Afghanistan lasted? Nearly 20 years. How long has it lasted in Iraq? Nearly 18 years! he said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Ece Toksabay and Lisa Barrington ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - 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 U.S. forces allied to the Kurds. The Turkish offensive in northwest Syria's 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 U.S.-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 confrontation with U.S. 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. A senior official in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias of which the YPG is the strongest, said any wider Turkish assault would face "the appropriate response". Redur Xelil also said in an interview that he was sure the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, which has backed the SDF in its battle against the jihadists, was trying to put pressure on Turkey to limit its offensive. Any drive by Turkish forces toward Manbij, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin, could threaten U.S. efforts to stabilize northern Syria. The United States has about 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of the international coalition against Islamic State. U.S. forces were deployed in and around Manbij to deter Turkish and U.S.-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 Turkey's 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 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, Turkey's 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 SDF 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 at least 66 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. U.S. POLICY RETHINK? Erdogan's chief diplomatic adviser said Turkey's military action in Syria should prompt Washington to rethink its policy. "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 U.S. will put forward some truly satisfying alternative solutions to ease Turkey's security concerns," she said. While Aybet did not elaborate on what such measures could include, she said they would follow on from a recent U.S. proposal to establish a "safe zone" in northern Syria. Turkey has said the United States has offered to work on a 30 km (19 mile) safe zone, but it says trust between the allies must first be restored. Aybet said Turkey was aware that a confrontation on the ground in Manbij risked pushing ties to breaking point: "Everyone is aware of that risk. We hope that the Americans are aware, too." The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that runs Afrin urged the Syrian government on Thursday to defend its border with Turkey 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. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Tuvan Gumrukcu and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Gareth Jones) Azaz (Syria) (AFP) - Only a few olive groves separate Turkish special forces and allied Syrian rebels from Kurdish militia fighters as the crash of mortar fire echoes on the frontline of Ankara's offensive inside Syria. "We are on alert 24 hours a day," one Turkish special forces officer, who asked not to be named, told AFP in the Syrian town of Azaz, which is controlled by Turkish-backed opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Turkey on Saturday sent troops and tanks into northern Syria for its "Olive Branch" campaign against the People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia, which Ankara considers to be a terror group. Some went directly towards the YPG enclave of Afrin from the north, but others made their way from the east via Azaz. Turkey's operation comes on the heels of the Euphrates Shield offensive, begun in August 2016, which targeted the extremist Islamic State group and the YPG in an area east of Afrin. It finished in March 2017, with Ankara declaring the mission completed. Azaz, estimated to have a population of 300,000, was liberated from IS early in the Euphrates Shield offensive. "I believe it will not be as easy as Euphrates Shield," the special forces officer said. "The opponents have been preparing for months and are more aggressive than Daesh," he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "I guess it will take more time." - 'We live in state of war' - The Turkish special forces are backed by Syrian rebels, who express optimism about the operation despite the danger. "We are on the frontline, the PKK is only one kilometre away," said Syrian rebel Hamzeh al-Dikk said, referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody war against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkey says the YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK. "We live in a state of war here. I hope that we will get stability back, so that we can return to our villages," said the 18-year-old, who was armed and wearing a military uniform and green cap. Story continues Another armed Syrian fighter, Ali Yassin, who has been in the rebel force known by Turkey as the Free Syrian Army for seven years, said they were coordinating well with the Turkish army. "Our goal is to cleanse this region of terrorists. We do not want terrorists in our country," he stressed. - 'It will take some time'- Syrian rebels control the roads in Azaz's city centre. Children on the streets shout "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) after the sound of the Turkish artillery fire. Some wear only slippers in the freezing winter as they play in the mud. One open barber is cutting the hair of a small child. Ahmad, a 25-year-old carpenter, predicted the operation would not end soon. "It will take some time," he said. "(Afrin) cannot be taken swiftly because innocent civilians also live there." But Ahmad is not afraid of the sound of mortar fire. "Nobody here is scared of the shelling because people have become used to it." Hassan Lahmouni, who is in his 60s, expressed relief at the Turkish operation. "Without Turkey's intervention we would have died." While there has been no dramatic breakthrough on the ground, a second Turkish special forces officer said it was a calculated operation. "It is very well thought through. We are aiming for minimum casualties," he said. AMUDA, Syria (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Turkey would face "the appropriate response" if it follows through on a threat to widen its assault against a Syrian Kurdish militia all the way to the border with Iraq. Senior SDF official Redur Xelil was responding to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's threat to sweep militants from the length of Turkey's Syrian frontier. "When he tries to widen his battle, he will be met by the appropriate response," Xelil told Reuters in an interview in the town of Amuda in northern Syria. Turkey launched an offensive six days ago against the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria's northwestern Afrin region. It regards the YPG, the strongest militia in the SDF, as a terrorist group. Xelil said he was sure the U.S.-led coalition that has backed the SDF's battle against Islamic State militants in Syria was trying to put pressure on Turkey to limit its assault. While U.S.-led coalition forces are present in other areas the SDF holds in Syria along the border with Turkey east of Afrin, they are not present in Afrin itself. More than 66 civilians have been killed in Turkish air and artillery bombardments of Afrin, Xelil said, accusing it of committing war crimes. Turkey considers the YPG to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. Washington regards the YPG as an effective partner in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. (Reporting by Rodi Said; writing by Tom Perry; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States has told Turkey it will not provide any more weapons to the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, the Turkish presidency said on Saturday, as Turkey's offensive against the U.S.-backed YPG in Syria entered its eighth day. The Turkish incursion in northwest Syria's Afrin region against the YPG has opened a new front in the multi-sided Syrian civil war, but has also further strained ties with NATO ally Washington. 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 Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast for three decades. The Turkish presidency said in a statement on Saturday that Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan, and U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster held a phone call on Friday in which McMaster confirmed the United States would no longer provide weapons to the YPG. On Thursday, the Pentagon said it carefully tracked weapons provided to the YPG and would continue discussions with Turkey, after Ankara urged Washington to end its support for the YPG or risk confronting Turkish forces on the ground in Syria. On Friday, 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 U.S. forces allied to the Kurds. 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, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin, where U.S. troops were deployed to deter Turkish and U.S.-backed rebels from clashing. Any Turkish advance towards Manbij could threaten U.S. efforts to stabilize northern Syria, where the United States has about 2,000 troops, officially as part of the international coalition against Islamic State. In a sign of growing bilateral tensions, Ankara and Washington disagreed over the main message of a phone call between Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump held on Wednesday. The White House said Trump had urged Erdogan to curtail the military operation in Syria, while Turkey said Erdogan had told Trump that U.S. troops should withdraw from Manbij. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said she had seen media reports about the phone call, but was not aware of any change in U.S. posture. The Turkish presidency said Kalin and McMaster had agreed for Turkey and the United States to remain in close coordination to "avoid misunderstandings". (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Mark Potter) 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.[nL8N1PC38U] 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. 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) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 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. United Airlines removed Carrol Amrich, on her way to see her dying mother in the hospital, from a flight after a mishap with an online travel agency. (Photo: Getty Images) Carrol Amrich boarded a United Airlines flight in Pueblo, Colo., hoping she wasnt too late. Miles away in a Minnesota hospital, her mother lay dying. She was buckled into her seat and ready to go when a flight attendant approached her and told her she had to get off the plane. Because of a technical mishap, her reservation had been canceled, and she was escorted off the flight. Amrich pleaded with ticket agents, but the plane left without her. She immediately got in her car and started driving to Minnesota. She went on all night without stopping but got a call midway that the worst had happened: Her mother had died. I cried the whole way from Pueblo, Amrich told the New York Times in a phone interview two days after her mothers death. Ive been awake for two days. I havent had anything to eat in two days. A series of unfortunate events unfolded that led Amrich to this moment. When she first heard her mother had fallen ill, she made arrangements to travel to Minnesota. Without money for a plane ticket, she got help from her landlord, who bought the ticket for her through Traveler Help Desk. When Amrich got word her mother was experiencing heart failure and likely wouldnt live through the night, her landlord called United directly and changed her ticket to an earlier flight. It was this change that caused Amrichs ticket to be canceled. Although United reportedly said her landlord could make the change through the airline instead of Traveler Help Desk, Amrichs ticket was still voided. Carolyn Gallant, customer service supervisor at Traveler Help Desk, told the Times that Amrichs ticket was voided after the change to help guard against fraud and that it reached out to her numerous times after the change appeared in its system. Amrich says she pleaded with a ticket agent to let her stay on the flight but was told that her ticket had already been refunded and that nobody flies for free. I am just so sorry for Ms. Amrichs loss, wrote Gallant in an email to the Times. It is tragic. I understand it was unfortunate the ticket ended up voided. Had she contacted us directly to make the change, this all would have been avoided. Story continues According to Amrichs landlord, a United representative reached out ask where it could send flowers. What are the flowers going to do? said the landlord. You took away from her that she might have been able to see her mother alive. If Id have been at that gate, I would have done everything in my power to get her back on that plane. United Airlines in a statement referred all questions to Traveler Help Desk and offered its condolences to Amrich. This latest incident is another in a series of public relations blunders for the airline. In December the company came under fire after a passenger lost her first-class seat to a Texas congresswoman. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Every normative Jewish family living in France questions its future in the country, according to the leader of an umbrella organization for French immigrants in Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Some 500,000 Jews are at a crossroads. There are better days, there are worse days, but they face concerns about the future on a daily basis, says Qualita CEO Ariel Kandel, who is very familiar with the French Jewrys dilemmas. On the one hand, things seem to have slightly calmed down since Emmanuel Macron was elected president. As a result, only 3,500 French immigrated to Israel in 2017a considerable drop from previous years. On the other hand, Frances Jewish community is in distress and is constantly thinking about the next generation, about its childrens future. Only 3,500 French immigrated to Israel in 2017a considerable drop from previous years (Photo: Motti Kimchi) According to a comprehensive study conducted by the French government, 60,000 to 100,000 French Jews want to come to Israel, says Kandel. In other words, we have a huge opportunity here to bring a strong, high-quality immigration, rather than lose it in favor of the United States or Canada. I believe that in the event of cuts in the social benefits that are granted in France today, well immediately see a considerable immigration. Many are staying simply because theyre afraid of losing their social rights. A symposium held by the Institute for Immigration and Social Integration at the Ruppin Academic Center, however, led to the troubling conclusion that the State of Israel is about to miss out on a huge wave of Jewish immigration from France. According to some of the speakers at the conference, nearly a decade after the start of French aliyah, the State of Israel is insufficiently prepared to take in the immigrants and has yet to define a strategic plan that would make it possible to absorb tens of thousands of immigrants in the most optimal manner. What is the main obstacle facing potential immigrants? First and foremost, employment . People often talk about mental differences and language issues, but these things can be solved and can be overcome with the advantages offered by Israel as a Jewish and advanced state. The employment issue is more significant. One of the solutions is to live in Israel and keep working in France. There are many people who fly to Paris every Monday morning and return to Israel on Thursday evening. It helps doctors, lawyers and other professionals hold on to their clientele in France but live in Israel. On the other hand, it takes a heavy toll on family life and makes it difficult to undergo a real immigrant absorption. Others succeed in managing their businesses from afar and flying to France only once a month or two. Qualita activists. Frances Jewish community is in a state of distress and is constantly thinking about the next generation (Photo: Qualita) Another solution found by other immigrants, especially those with a business background, is to start new businesses in Israel. Entrepreneur Alexander Margi, for example, started a chain of French-style pharmacies and drugstores. According to Kandel, other big investors (like Laurent Levy, who created Music Square in central Jerusalem) are looking for business opportunities in Israel. The successful entry of French sporting goods chain Decathlon may prompt other French businesses to expand to Israel. What happened to my euro? One of the problems the immigrants are dealing with has nothing to do with Israel, but rather with fiscal changes. The sharp drop in euro exchange rates has somewhat affected new immigrants purchasing power. Up until a few years ago, some of the new immigrants could afford to buy an apartment in Raanana or Herzliya. Now, some of them are moving to other cities like Hadera in the north or Ashdod in the south. Kandel says some even choose peripheral cities like Netivot or Ashkelon. The drop in the euro exchange rates has another impact, which is hardly consideredthe pensioner population. Their entire pension comes from France, and after receiving X euros a month in previous years, they are now forced to settle for much less after converting the pension to shekels, Kandel explains. One of the problems in Israel, and immigrants feel it very well because they have something to compare it to, is the cost of living. Yes, thats quite a difficult problem. People have gotten used to cheap prices in France for food and vacations and other things, and then they come here and have to pay much more for the same stuff. Its true that things are somewhat easier for kashrut observers, because kosher meat in France is expensive, but in general they pay much more here. The answer to that, apart from proper financial planning and finding a way to earn a living, is that the current generation must realize it is sacrificing itself for its children. It must change its perception and understand that all the investment, efforts and sacrifice are primarily for the young generation. If you truly understand that your children have no future in France, you must provide them with other opportunitiesand that can be found in Israel. How much is it costing us? One of the main debates concerning aliyah focuses on the states need to invest in it. In other words, what do we gain from it? For example, shouldnt the absorption basket grant and the other benefits received by new immigrants be given to needy people in Israel instead? Apart from the basic answerthe State of Israel was founded to serve as a home for every interested Jewthere is an economic answer too. A study conducted at Bar-Ilan University reveals that the Israeli economy is expected to gain about NIS 65 billion (roughly $19 billion) in the years 2014-2026 from the absorption of French immigrants. The studys assumption is that some 100,000 immigrants will have arrived from France by 2026. According to the study, While the average budgetary cost for encouraging the immigration and absorption of an immigrant is about NIS 43,000, the average benefit per immigrant in terms of an addition to the GDP is estimated at NIS 644,000, and the additional income from taxes as a result is NIS 161,000. The nurse and pharmacist barrier For years, medical professionals were forced to take certification tests upon arriving in Israel. There are thousands of doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists in Israel who were unable to keep working in their professions because they didnt pass the local certificate tests. On the one hand, the state insisted that people who were not certified in Israel could not be given a license to work in medical professions. On the other hand, new immigrants with certificates and decades of experience were banned from practicing their profession in Israel. Qualita event. Sometimes I feel it may have not been worth coming, but if you look at the full picture and at the childrens absorption and futurethe balance is positive after all (Photo: Qualita) After years of struggles, most of the problems have been solved, but some professions have yet to be recognized by the Israeli authorities. One of them is nursing. According to Kandel, some 100 Jewish French nurses are still waiting to be recognized by the Health Ministry. Only following long battles, the ministry decided that the nurses would have to pass a practical test, after which they would be trained to work in Israel. Pascal Cohen, who has been in Israel for three years, faced difficult bureaucratic barriers too. Im a family medicine specialist with decades of experience, she says. I knew there would be a number of stages before I could work in Israel, but I never thought it would be so difficult. I studied for a year at Tel Aviv University and did another internship year, but the Scientific Council still refuses to recognize the family physician title. They agree to recognize the certificates of people who received their degree after 2007, but not earlier, and theyre demanding that we take another test. Cohen, who works today as a de-facto family physician, is offended by the fact that she hasnt earned the status and salary that should be attached to her professional position and years of experience. On the one hand, Im practicing my profession, but on the other hand, the discrimination in recognizing the degrees is unbearable, and so is the fact that after everything Ive been through they still want me to take another test. Im 50 years old, I have a job and a family. I cant afford to study for a test like a young student. We may have to seek the High Courts help in the end to solve this problem. Have you had second thoughts about your decision to make aliyah? Sometimes I feel it may have not been worth coming, but if you look at the full picture and at the childrens absorption and futurethe balance is positive after all. Its without a doubt more difficult than I expected, but there are big advantages here, and its easier and nicer to be a religious Jew in Israel today than in Paris. Honey trap: Live here, work there The Qualita organization is trying to solve the employment barrier by creating a new center with hundreds of job offers. Its members connect the immigrants to different workplaces and try to make successful matches. Another solution, which is mainly available in cities with a large French population like Netanya and Ashdod, is to live here and work for companies there. These cities have dozens of call centers that provide services to French companies. The centers employ thousands of new immigrants in sales and customer service jobs for businesses in France. For example, selling insurance or a newspaper subscription to customers in France from Ashdod. Almost a decade after French aliyah began, the State of Israel isnt sufficiently prepared to take in the immigrants (Photo: Motti Kimchi) In a recent symposium, Dr. Karin Amit of the Institute for Immigration and Social Integration at the Ruppin Academic Center presented a study on immigrants who keep working in their native language. This is a relatively new phenomenon, which we havent seen before, she says. In the 1990s, immigrants from the Soviet Union worked in low-paying jobs, and advanced in the employment world only after learning Hebrew. Now, some French immigrants keep working in French and skip entering the Israeli labor market. On the one hand, globalization has made it possible to work from far away and maybe even earn a nice living, but on the other hand, its a sort of honey trap. You dont bother making an effort to really integrate into the Israeli market, and it has its implications. Another problem is that there are immigrants from high-skilled professions who find themselves in these call centers, either because they didnt have the energy to go through the whole process of translating their degrees for the Israeli market, or because of how easy and convenient it is to find a job and make a living in these places. Why is it a problem that immigrants find quick employment solutions? Making a living is important, but there are other aspects too. These are unstable places, where the managers can ask employees to do things that are not as acceptable in organized and stable workplaces. Furthermore, the fact that the parent generation doesnt learn Hebrew affects the children too and the quality of their absorption into the Israeli society. The immigrants arent really disconnecting from their native country. Theyre both here and theremoving between the two worlds. But if they dont learn Hebrew, its their own responsibility. I agree that every immigrant is responsible for his own fate. They made a decision to come to Israel and there are things they can do to ease and help their absorption. Clearly, absorption failures cannot be blamed on the state alone, but because people come here with different backgrounds and different abilities, its clear that not everyone will take advantage of the resources offered by the state. Some of them, due to lack of ability or knowledge, will face difficulties. An animal shelter in Kibbutz Yakum suffered serious damage during the weekend winter storm , with more than 50 dogs left exposed to the elements and cold weather. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Strong winds blew away the tarps over the dogs' cages, while the flooded country roads in the area made it difficult for volunteers from the Haver and Let The Animals Live organizations to get to the shelter and extract the dogs from there. Dogs at the Yakum shelter (: ) X On Friday morning, eight puppies were rescued after they sank into mud and taken for medical treatment. The Netanya municipality worked to find the dogs somewhere to stay during the weekend, with Veterinary Services personnel sent to Kibbutz Yakum to assist. (Photo: Rachel Salit) "We must find foster homes for the 50 dogs in Yakum," said Eti Altman, the founder of Let The Animals Live. "As a result of the weather, there is no dry shelter for the dogs. They've been running around for hours drenched in water and shivering from the cold." Altman called on the public to help find a place for the dogs to stay, warning, "The smaller dogs won't survive the night in this cold." Puppies rescued from the mud (Photo: Rachel Salit) Rachel Salit, the head of the Haver organization, also asked for help. "Please reach out and help the dogs to prove man is also dog's best friend. Dozens of dogs remain in the shelter, and it'll take us time to reconstruct the covered areas," she said. "We're making every effort to rescue the dogs, and I hope on Saturday it will already be possible to come and take the dogs and adopt them or provide them with a foster home." WARSAW The lower house of the Polish parliament approved a bill Friday that prescribes prison time for defaming the Polish nation by using phrases such as "Polish death camps" to refer to the killing sites Nazi Germany operated in occupied Poland during World War II. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The bill passed Friday is a response to cases in recent years of foreign media using "Polish death camps" to describe Auschwitz and other Nazi-run camps. Many major news organizations are sensitive to the issue and ban the language, but it nonetheless crops up in foreign media and statements by public officials. Former US President Barack Obama used it in 2012, prompting outrage in Poland. Auschwitz extermination camp in occupied Poland (Photo: AP) Many Poles fear such phrasing makes some people, especially younger generations, incorrectly conclude that Poles had a role in running the camps. The legislation calls for prison sentences of up to three years. It still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. Critics say enforcing such a law would be impossible outside Poland and that within the country it would have a chilling effect on debating history, harming freedom of expression. While the law contains a provision excluding scholarly or academic works, opponents still see a danger. They especially worry it could be used to stifle research and debate on topics that are anathema to Poland's nationalistic authorities, particularly the painful issue of Poles who blackmailed Jews or denounced them to the Nazis during the war. Dorota Glowacka, a legal adviser with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Warsaw, said the broad scope of the bill opens up the potential for abuse. Members of the African Hebrew Israelites of Dimona are threatening not to send their children to the IDF after the 2015 death of a soldier from the community at an air force guard post was ruled to be self-inflicted. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Cpl. Toveet Radcliffe, 19, was found dead at the Palmachim Airbase in February 2015 with a gunshot wound to the head. She was the first combat soldier from the Black Hebrews community, and served in a Patriot battery in the Yahalom air defense battalion. "It's important to us that you understand we're angry and disappointed by the treatment we've received over the years," said Prince Emmanuel, one of the leaders of the Black Hebrews. Toveet Radcliffe "We can't help but feeling that things would've seemed different if Toveet hadn't been a black girl from the Black Hebrews community in Dimona," he charged. "Regardless of the result, we understood that in this case, accepted protocols were not followed, otherwise we wouldn't be feeling this way," Emmanuel added. Black Hebrews leadership holds press conference about case (Barel Efraim) The investigation by the IDF's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) determined Radcliffe took her own life, but her parents refused to accept that and launched an independent investigation, which found numerous failures in the CID's conduct. The Radcliffe family took the case to the military court, demanding to have an in-depth and thorough investigation into their daughter's death. Forensic work not done, lines of inquiry ignored A military judge, Lt. Col. Meir Vigiser, was appointed to investigate the case. He raised many questions concerning the investigation conducted by the CID, which was found to have ignored testimonies and caused important evidence to disappear. The most serious oversight, according to Lt. Col. Vigiser, was the fact the CID did not call a mobile forensics lab to the scene. The judge noted that since there was no indication of suicidal tendencies, and there were no witnesses to the incident, there was cause to call the forensics lab to the scene. "There was cause to check the possibility of another person's fingerprints on the weapon," Vigiser determined. Another oversight discovered during the investigation was the fact the CID investigators failed to identify a bullet hole in the door of the guard post, while the bullet shells at the scene weren't collected. In addition, the CID didn't test for the presence of gunpowder on Radcliffe's hands. "I believe if it were found that the deceased did not touch the weapon, there would've been a stronger possibility the shooting was done by someone else," the judge said. Furthermore, Vigiser wondered why "the deceased's mother's claims that one of the soldiers in her unit threatened her, and that she was being harassed, weren't investigated." The mother, Vigiser noted, begged the CID to investigate the claims. "The fact these lines on inquiry were left unchecked is unacceptable. The investigative authorities and the Military Advocate General's Office were in a rush to close the case," the judge said. "In the course of our own investigation, we tried to examine those allegations of threats and harassment, but the time that has passed was to our detriment," as witnesses had a hard time remembering what had happened. Members of the Black Hebrews community protest: 'Are we invisible?' (Photo: Haya Osher) Vigiser further noted the unexplained loss of Radcliffe' weapon sling and the fact the CID failed to seize security footage and the logs of those who entered and left the base that day. Despite finding these serious shortcomings in the investigation, the judge accepted both the family's and the army's claims. He noted that in the absence of suicidal tendencies, it was also possible negligent operation of the weapon by the deceased caused her death. He ruled out the possibility the death was caused as a result of a criminal offense, noting "it can be determined with a high degree of certainty that the deceased's death was self-inflicted." Vigiser asserted the investigation's shortcomings that cannot be remedied make it difficult to reach a conclusion with a complete degree of certainty, and determined the investigation should be closed after all avenues have been explored. 'What do we tell the soldiers who see this injustice?' Black Hebrews leader Emmanuel claimed that "no one examined Toveet in an effective manner, and no one is paying for that," adding that "there was no gunfire residue next to her because it was cleaned up; no one examined the weapon and no one heard the gunshot, either. There's a problematic picture here, and despite that the judge determined she shot herself. This cannot be ignored." Emmanuel also brought up another incident, in which one of the members of the community - Hasedia Bat Israel - was bombarded by racial slurs. "One of our sons asked me yesterday: 'Are we not model citizens? We follow the Torah and serve the state, what's the problem?' I thought about it and realized something bad is happening, and it is time to fix it. Someone needs to pay for this negligence," he said. Elimelech Ben Israel, also part of the Black Hebrews' leadership, explained that "Our goal is to get to the truth. This bad quality investigation has only increased our frustration and suspicions. The investigating judge agreed with these conclusions and said the findings were inconclusive." He said this fact "leaves an opening for an additional investigation, which would not benefit the army. They want this case to disappear." "Our second goal is to ensure all of our teens serve in the army, but it is unacceptable that they will protect everyone while they are unsafe," Ben Israel continued. Toveet Radcliffe's family (Photo: Barel Efraim) She'ifa Bat Israel, who represents the women in the community, turned to parents all across Israel who send their children to the IDF, saying, "The obvious question is, what do we say to the new recruits? 'Defend the country, but also yourself?' The soldiers see injustice in this case." Attorney Yaffit Weinsbuch, who represents Toveet's parents, said the family rejects the investigating judge's assessment that the soldier accidentally shot herself. "Whoever shot Toveet hasn't been found, and he has been walking free for close to three years without having answered for his actions," she said. Weinsbuch added the parents plan to appeal the case to the High Court of Justice and ask the attorney general to order the Israel Police to launch an independent and separate investigation. The IDF said in response, "An investigating judge appointed by the military court to examine the circumstances behind the death of the late Cpl. Toveet Radcliffe determined with a high degree of certainty that her death was self-inflicted, without the involvement of another person. In addition, the judge determined there is no way to determine with any degree of certainty whether the gunshot was intentional or caused by the weapon malfunctioning. "The investigating judge's conclusions are in line with the legal opinion formulated in the Military Advocate General's Office concerning this case, based on the findings of the CID investigation conducted following Toveet's death." WARSAW - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday the United States believed it was Russia's responsibility to curb Syria's use of chemical weapons. "The chemical weapons ... are being used to hit the civilian population, the most vulnerable - children inside of Syria," he said on a visit to Poland "We are holding Russia (responsible) for addressing this. They are (Syria's) ally." SEOUL - North Korea on Saturday condemned the latest US sanctions announced this week aimed at curbing the isolated nation's development nuclear weapons. The US sanctions are "a manifestation of heinous intention to throw a wet blanket over the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation and to aggravate the situation," an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a report by the Korean Central News Agency. It also said the United States should stop such "anachronistic" policy towards North Korea. BAGHDAD - Two senior Iraqi army officers say a US military plane has mistakenly fired at a gathering of tribal fighters and civilians west of Anbar, killing seven and wounding 11 others. The officers said Saturday the US forces had thought the victims in the al-Baghdadi area were militants. An investigation is underway. DUBAI - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been released from detention, family sources said on Saturday, more than two months after he was taken into custody. One family source said he has arrived home. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an exclusive interview at the opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be released from custody within days. BERLIN - Thousands of Kurdish immigrants are protesting in Germany against a Turkish military operation in a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria. Police say some 7,000 protesters are demonstrating in the western German city of Cologne, home to a large Kurdish community in Germany. The German news agency dpa reported that around 20,000 people were expected to gather in the city by Saturday afternoon. Police have beefed up security fearing possible conflicts between Kurds and Turkish immigrants who are supporting the military operation ordered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The 55th Artillery Battalion, which recently finished four months of operational duty on the Lebanon border patrolling only several kilometers away from Hezbollah strongholds, is no regular battalion - it includes both male and female combat soldiers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The IDF has been trying to keep the co-ed battalion's unusual deployment to the Avivim area on the border quiet, with a senior artillery officer telling Ynet that "normally, combat engineering battalions are the ones deployed in that sector." The battalion, however, was heaped with much praise for its operations from sector commanders Brig. Gen. Rafi Milo and Col. Eliad Maor (Moati). Division 215 holds training exercise (: ") X "What was special about this is that the battalion quickly took over the sector professionally, and the division and brigade commanders, who believed in the soldiers, gave them tasks considered groundbreaking for an artillery battalion," the senior officer said. (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) Unlike other co-ed battalions like Caracal or battalions in the Home Front Command, the ratio of female to male combat soldiers in the 55th Battalion is different, with 6 to 10 female fighters serving in the front Fire Direction Center in an artillery battery, but not in roles inside the canon itself, which are considered more physical in nature. Normally, the battalion does regular operational duty and is not deployed to the northern border, with all of the soldiers - both men and women - performing the same tasks. (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) Soldiers in Division 215, the home of the 55th Battalion, have already gotten used to seeing women on the front lines. The most senior female officer in the division is Lt. Shir, the operations officer for the 402nd Battalion, who served as a deputy battery commander and is now up for promotion. In addition, over the past six months, other batteries from the division have been deployed to sectors like Bethlehem and Qalqilya, where there is also complete equality between men and women. (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) "Someone asked me if I weren't afraid our female fighters are integrated like this," the senior artillery officer said. "I told him that a week earlier I was accompanying a force from the battalion on an arrest of a Palestinian suspect - Sivan and Moran were with me, and I felt fine. Sometimes I feel even safer with them." One female fighter serving in the division told Ynet she regrets the fact that "the rabbis who condemn women's service have not come to see our operations, not even once. When there are female fighters and officers who are not afraid of any enemy in any sector - the quality of operations is only going up and no one gets hurt. The most important thing for us is to carry out the mission in the best manner possible." MOSCOW - Newly-imposed US sanctions against two Russian energy ministry officials are "unlawful" and Moscow will seek explanations from Washington, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday, according to local news agencies. The United States added Russian officials and energy firms to a sanctions blacklist on Friday, days before details of further possible penalties against Moscow are due to be released. One person added to the list was Russian Deputy Energy Minister Andrey Cherezov, who was put under sanctions by the European Union over his role in the delivery of turbines to Crimea last year. VIENNA - Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen on Saturday called on Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Udo Landbauer to step down from elections in the province of Lower Austria after it emerged a group he was a member of had distributed song books with Nazi content. The anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPO), junior coalition government partner to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's conservatives, was founded by former Nazis and has repeatedly excluded members in Nazi scandals. It says it has left its Nazi past behind. "It's not just a case of whitewashing ... but a ridicule of mass murder during the Holocaust, especially the ridicule of the gassing of millions of Jews in Auschwitz," Van der Bellen said on the TV program Mittagsjournal on Austrian broadcaster Oe1. Czech President Milos Zeman defeated pro-EU academic Jiri Drahos in the Czech presidential election on Saturday, a tacit endorsement Zeman's tough stance against immigration and his courtship of Russia and China. With 99.35 percent of districts reporting, Zeman won 51.55 percent of the vote to 48.44 percent for Drahos, who conceded the vote before all ballots were counted. Zeman, 73, is the last prominent figure among active politicians from the country's post-communist transitional period in the 1990s. He has pleased some but alienated others by publicly belittling opponents ranging from the last prime minister to intellectual elites and the press. The vote reflected the divisions between liberals and conservatives seen elsewhere in Europe and in the United States. Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen on Saturday called on Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Udo Landbauer to step down from elections in the province of Lower Austria after it emerged a group he was a member of had distributed song books with Nazi content. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPO), junior coalition government partner to Chancellor Sebastian Kurzs conservatives, was founded by former Nazis and has repeatedly excluded members in Nazi scandals. It says it has left its Nazi past behind. Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen (Photo: Reuters) Its not just a case of whitewashing ... but a ridicule of mass murder during the Holocaust, especially the ridicule of the gassing of millions of Jews in Auschwitz, Van der Bellen said on the TV program Mittagsjournal on Austrian broadcaster Oe1. I mean, where are we? To just accept that without any commentary, and saying the courts must decide over the matter, thats not my position. Landbauer, the FPOs top candidate in Lower Austria, which holds a provincial election this weekend, was deputy leader of a fraternity which came under close attention this week when it emerged that it produced a songbook in 1997 that included references to killing Jews. Landbauer suspended his membership of the fraternity after the scandal erupted and denied any knowledge of such songs. He said the judiciary had to deal with the case, but added that the book in question had been produced when he was 11 years old, meaning he could not be held responsible for it. Prosecutors have opened an investigation against persons unknown. Peaceful protest On Friday, thousands of Austrians marched peacefully in protest against an annual Viennese ball held by the Freedom Party, continuing a wave of demonstrations since its return to government last month. The Academics Ball in the former imperial palace in central Vienna draws protests every year. But while previous years demonstrations have mainly comprised members of anti-fascist and left-wing groups, Fridays protest drew a larger and more varied crowd. Police put the number of people taking part in the march at 8,000 while organizers said the turnout was 10,000. Several FPO ministers had said they would not attend the ball, which included many members of far-right fraternities to which several senior party figures also belong. However, the head of the FPO, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, did attend, with his wife. Some of those fraternities espouse ideas that echo Nazi ideology, such as the idea of a larger Germany including Austria. Several thousand people have rallied in Paris to support Turkey's Kurds and protest a Turkish military incursion into a Kurdish-controlled enclave in Syria. Left-wing activists joined Kurdish opposition groups in Saturday's demonstration at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris. Some waved banners denouncing Turkey's government and backing the US-supported Kurdish militia, the YPG. The demonstrators urged French and other Western authorities to take a tougher stand against the Turkish campaign. France's government has urged restraint but the protesters say that's not enough. Violence has escalated in northern Syria in recent days as Turkish forces have targeted the city of Afrin and threatened to push further east toward the border with Iraq. Turkey says it is fighting extremists threatening regional stability. Israel's government spoke out Saturday against a bill that was approved by the Polish parliament the day before which seeks to distance Poland from the construction and operations of the Nazi regime's concentration camps. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The bill, approved on the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, prescribes prison time for defaming the Polish nation by using phrases such as "Polish death camps" to refer to the killing sites Nazi Germany operated in occupied Poland during World War II. Israel vehemently disapproved of the bill, asking the Polish government to amend the proposal before continuing to advance the legislation. "No law can change a historical truth," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Majdanek concentration camp, Poland (Photo: AP) Several minutes later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his strong opposition to the bill, which he called "baseless." "History cannot be changed, and the Holocaust must not be denied," Netanyahu tweeted, adding that he "instructed the Israeli Ambassador to Poland to meet with the Polish Prime Minister" Saturday evening to express his "strong position against the law." President Reuven Rivlin responded to the passing of the bill by quoting former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski's May 2000 address to the Knesset. "One must not falsify history! One must not conceal the truth! Every crime and every roguery should be named and castigated, and circumstances examined and revealed," Rivlin quoted. Several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle also made sure to express their strong indignation, calling on the Polish government to either revise the proposed legislation or nix it altogether. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked echoed the assertions of the president and prime minister, calling the bill "an attempt to rewrite history and remove responsibility from the Polish nation," noting that "many Poles, like other nations (Hungarians, Ukrainians, and others), helped Nazi Germany murder Jews," and speaking against their move to eschew responsibility. Opposition leader MK Isaac Herzog demanded Netanyahu to "call the Israeli ambassador in Warsaw for consultations on a bill that is fundamentally unacceptable." Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland (Photo: AP) Meanwhile, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid got into a twitter feud with the embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tel Aviv after he posted his strong condemnation of the bill, which he claimed "tries to deny Polish complicity in the Holocaust." "It was conceived in Germany but hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German soldier. There were Polish death camps and no law can ever change that," Lapid wrote, to which the embassy replied that the intention of the bill "is not to whitewash the past, but to protect the truth against such slander." "Your unsupportable claims show how badly Holocaust education is needed, even here in Israel," the embassy slammed Lapid. The intent of the Polish draft legislation is not to whitewash the past, but to protect the truth against such slander (@PLinIsrael) January 27, 2018 Refusing to let the lashing go unanswered, Lapid noted that he is the son of a Holocaust survivor and that he lost family in Poland to both Germans and Poles, adding he "doesn't need to be educated about the Holocaust" by the Polish embassy and demanding they apologize immediately. In response, they embassy noted that the death camps aforementioned were Nazi and staffed with German troops, calling Lapid's remarks "shameless." How does that relate to the fact that WW2 death camps were German Nazi, not Polish (our thread)? Shameless. (@PLinIsrael) January 27, 2018 Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon commented on the argument, calling the Polish embassy's decision to "preach morality to us about Holocaust remembrance" both "amazing and saddening." Yad Vashem stated that, although "there is no doubt that the term "Polish death camps" is a historical misrepresentation," as the camps were built and staffed by Nazi occupiers, passing the bill as it stands "is liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust" and could be used to restrict " statements by scholars and others regarding the Polish people's direct or indirect complicity with the crimes committed on their land during the Holocaust." Dorota Glowacka, a legal adviser with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Warsaw, said the broad scope of the bill opens up the potential for abuse. Anti-slander efforts and national pride Many major news organizations are sensitive to the issue and ban the language, but it nonetheless crops up in foreign media and statements by public officials. Former US President Barack Obama used it in 2012, prompting outrage in Poland. Many Poles fear such phrasing makes some people, especially younger generations, incorrectly conclude that Poles had a role in running the camps. The legislation calls for prison sentences of up to three years. It still needs approval from Poland's Senate and president. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Poland's ruling party (Photo: AP) Critics say enforcing such a law would be impossible outside Poland and that within the country it would have a chilling effect on debating history, harming freedom of expression. While the law contains a provision excluding scholarly or academic works, opponents still see a danger. They especially worry it could be used to stifle research and debate on topics that are anathema to Poland's nationalistic authorities, particularly the painful issue of Poles who blackmailed Jews or denounced them to the Nazis during the war. Poland's ruling party, the Law and Justice Party, has been trying to raise awareness of the hardships suffered by Poles under Nazi rule, including the death penalty imposed on Poles who aided the Jews. This legislation is their most recent step in bringing the better part of their past to the limelight. Kerry predicts Trump admn `won`t last another year` The Independent : 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 Trump's] 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." Journalist and lawyer Moshe Negbi passed away at the age of 68 after battling a serious illness. Negbi, winner of the Sokolov Prize, presented the program "Debate" in Reshet Bet since 1981 and specialized in human rights, freedom of the press and integrity among public figures. The entrance to the refugee unit of the Population and Immigration Authority in Tel Aviv was vandalized on Saturday, with mud and red paint splattered on the ground, door and walls and several severed doll heads strewn across the floor. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This came in the wake of a series of demonstrations and petitions against the planned deportation of asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea to Rwanda. Notes scattered at the entrance to the building read: "Their blood is on your hands," and "It will not pass in quietly, it's only the beginning." (Photo: Itay Blumenthal) The vandalism occurred when the offices were closed. The police opened an investigation into the incident. "We view with great severity damage to government ministries and symbols of government, and preference will be given to this investigation," the police said in a statement. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The Population and Immigration Authority called the incident "a despicable act against government employees doing their work, which has nothing to do with a legitimate struggle or an accepted protest," adding they will not let this "act of insanity" go unanswered. "Today a red line was crossed, and here is where this ends. A complaint was filed with the police and the cowards will be caught," the authority concluded. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said this act of intimidation will not stand, and called on the authority's employees to continue doing their job with "the full backing" of Israel's government. (Photo: Itay Blumenthal) Earlier this month, Israel notified thousands of Africans who entered the country illegally that they have three months to leave or face incarceration. Following the announcement, 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. The ultimatum is part of a large-scale campaign to remove 42,000 illegal African migrants from Israel, which has come under fire in recent weeks by left-wing officials, right groups and even Holocaust survivors for being antithetical to Judaism and the history of the Jewish people. The continuous attempts to kill Yasser Arafat are an affair that deserve a book of its own and stems from a double Israeli perception: First of all, that Israel must do everything, absolutely everything, to avoid long wars; to delay the next war and go to war only when the sword is upon the neck, as late Mossad Director Meir Dagan said. Instead of wars, there is a need for focused, covert operations deep within enemy territory. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Second, because the course of history can be changed by assassinating leaders. Meir Dagan told me so explicitly: I thought that liquidating him would have changed the course of history. Arafat was not only a Palestinian leader, but a kind of founding father of the Palestinian nation. Killing him would unleash a large part of the internal conflicts inside the PLO and significantly hinder its capability to make any strategic decisions from then on. Arafat, 1987 (Photo: AP) But beyond killing Arafat, there was the issue of hurting innocent people around him. And that is, in my opinion, the most important point in this entire story. When Yehoshua Sagi, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, heard in early 1982 that Israel was going to kill Arafat and all his assistants in a huge explosion, which might affect innocent people, he went to Deputy Defense Minister Mordechai Tzipori, Ariel Sharons rival, and convinced him to go to Prime Minister Menachem Begin, his former boss from the Irgun underground organization, and persuade him to call off the operation. During the war, Lieutenant-Colonel Uzi Dayan took command of the Salt Fish task force, which went to besieged Beirut to trace Arafat and provide the Air Force with his locations for the purpose of a bombing. Uzi Dayan was just as hesitant: Arafat was saved by two thingsHis interminable good luck and me. I thought Arafat was a legitimate target but not one which justifies every mean. If I saw it involved the killing of many civilians, even if we knew Arafat was there, I didnt agree to let them go ahead with the bombing. Raful (Rafael Eitan, the chief of staff) used to blow up with anger. Hed call me up and say: I understand you have information on such and such a place. Why arent the planes in the air?! I replied that it was impossible because there were a lot of people around. Raful said: Forget about it. Ill take responsibility for it. I wasnt prepared to allow it. Raful would not teach me the ethics of war. At a later stage, the chief of staff reminded me that I didnt have the authority to decide whether or not to drop a bomb. All I had to do was to report when the target was ripe from an intelligence point of view. So from that point on, each time we knew that bombing would lead to massive civilian casualties, we reported that the target wasnt ripe from an intelligence angle. Sharon, weeks before suffering a stroke After the war, when Sharon, who was so eager to kill Arafat the dog, instructed the Air Force to shoot down planes carrying the Palestinian leader, a group of IAF officers decided it simply wouldnt happen. I went to see Eitan, says Aviem Sella. I told him: Chief of staff, we do not intend to carry this out. It simply will not happen. I understand that the minister of defense is dominant here. No one dares to stand up to him, and therefore we will make it technically impossible. Raful looked at me and never said anything. I took his silence as consent. Each time a plane carrying Arafat was detected, Sella initiated a series of actions that made the operation impossible. At the same time, Sharon got into trouble with the commission of inquiry appointed to investigate the Christian massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra neighborhood and Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon, and he got distracted from the operation, which faded away until it was completely called off. The bottom line is that this is a story of ethics of combat and maintaining battle morals. Raful and Sharons (and Begins too, according to Sharons military secretary, Oded Shamir) strong desireand thats an understatementto kill Arafat at all costs was countered by junior and senior officers who stood up andeither through words or through actionprevented operations that had the potential of putting innocent lives at risk. David Ivry, Uzi Dayan, Aviem Sella, Amos Gilboa and others are the heroes of this affair. US trade commission blocks 300pc tariffs on Bombardier CSeries planes AFP, Washington : 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. Youth hacked to death in Gopalganj UNB, Gopalganj : A youth was hacked to death by rivals over previous enmity at Paschim Bahara village of Muksudpur upazila of the district on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Mahbub Mollah, 30, son of Seken Mollah of the village. Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Muksudpur Police Station, said some miscreants swooped on Mahbub over previous enmity in the area around 8:30pm and hacked him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured. Later, locals rescued him and rushed to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead around 9:15pm, the OC added. Porn ring busted UNB, Chittgaong : Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a drive arrested 18 people on Thursday afternoon, on allegations of running a pornography ring from the Singapore-Bangkok Market located in the city's Agrabad on Thursday afternoon. The arrestees have been supplying vulgar songs, pirated versions of the newest releases, video songs, and pornographic videos to the youths in exchange for money, violating existing copyright laws, said Senior Assistant Director of Rab-7 Mimtanur Rahman. Youth killed in 'cop firing': A young man was killed and two people suffered injuries allegedly in police firing at Telipara in Sitakunda on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Saiful Islam, 22. Chairman of Bhatiari union parishad Nazim Uddin said a team of plain-clothes police arrested three people without any warrant. As the villagers wanted to know the reason behind the arrest, police opened fire on them around 9:30pm, he said, adding that three people suffered bullet wounds in the firing. The injured were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared Saiful dead, said in-charge of the CMCH police camp Jahirul Islam. Biodiversity and food security Mariela Jara : Potatoes were first taken out of Peru, where they originated, 458 years ago to feed the world. Half a millennium later, potatoes have spread throughout the planet but there are challenges to preserve the crop's biodiversity as a source of food security, as well as the rights of the peasants who sustain this legacy for humanity. The hosting of the 10th World Potato Congress between May 27 and 31, in the ancient city of Cuzco, the centre of what was the Inca empire in the south of the Peruvian Andes, is a recognition of Peru as the main supplier of the potatoes, since it has the largest amount of germplasm in the world, and great commercial potential. "Peru has 3,500 potato varieties of the 5,000 existing in the world. Culturally potatoes are a way of life, a feeling, a mystique. From the point of view of commercial production, hosting the congress is an opportunity to show the world new products such as flours, flakes, liqueurs and fresh potatoes," engineer Jesus Caldas, director of management of the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA), which leads the Organising Committee of the world congress, told IPS. Held for the first time in 1993, this technical-scientific congress is held every three years, and for the first time will be hosted by a Latin American country. Under the theme "Returning to the origin for a better future" and promoted by the World Potato Congress (WPC), the tenth edition will reflect onbiodiversity, food security and business. "The designation of Peru as host of the congress is important; the scientific community involved in the global innovation of potato production will return to the source of its origin and diversity, which is key for food security," Gonzalo Tejada, national coordinator of Projects of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a member of the Organising Committee of the congress, told IPS. The potato was domesticated about 8,000 years ago in the Peruvian highlands, in the region of El Puno, shared with Bolivia. After the arrival of the Spanish to this part of the continent at the end of the 16th century, they introduced the plant to their country, and from there it spread throughout Europe, becoming a staple food product. The non-governmental Lima-based International Potato Centre (CIP) indicates that the tuber, which has significant nutritional properties, is today the third most important crop on the planet after rice and wheat, and that more than one billion people who eat potatoes on a regular basis consume an estimated annual production of 374 million tons. The CIP reports that the total cultivated area of potatoes exceeds 19 million hectares in 156 countries. "The biggest consumption is by industries that use potatoes for frying, in starch or in liqueurs like vodka, which involves production by large transnational companies," said FAO's Tejada. In most countries, he explained, production is concentrated in extensive agriculture carried out by large companies. This is not the case of Peru and its Andean neighbors Bolivia and Ecuador, where ancestral practices have been kept alive, making it possible to conserve the native species that constitute the basis of the crop's biodiversity. But these crops face the impacts of climate change, lack of technology and narrow profit margins, among other problems. Josefina Baca, a 42-year-old farmer, plants potatoes more than 3,100 meters above sea level in Huaro, a town 43 km from the city of Cuzco. She says the heat is more intense than in the past, and is worried by how variable the rainy season is now. "I am always coming to my farm and I work with devotion, but the climate changes are spoiling the crops: if the frost falls prematurely it ruins everything. Or sometimes there is no rain and we lose the crops. I farm organically, without chemicals, but we need support to protect our seeds, our biodiversity," she told IPS. Moises Quispe, executive director of the National Association of Agroecological Producers (ANPE), which represents 12,000 native potato growers, especially in the centre and south of the Andes range, told IPS that climate change is a serious threat to rural people. Quispe, who is a farmer and guardian of seeds in his area, explained that they are at a disadvantage in the neoliberal market because due to the lack of political will there is no promotion of small-scale agricultural development that produces the native potato in all its wide variety. "From one hectare, you can obtain 60 tons of conventional potatoes, but only 15 at the most of native potatoes, because they are grown with no tillage, just manual labour, without machines, because the wild terrain where these potatoes grow do not allow it," he explained. He added that the production system entails crop rotation, natural soil fertilisation, clean water irrigation, permanent pest and disease control and seed selection. "This demands more labour, it raises the costs of small-scale production by potato growers, but we do not get a fair price," he said. Native potatoes, which draw three times the price of the most commercial and conventional varieties, are species of diverse textures, shapes and colours that are produced in high areas and adapted since time immemorial to climatic adversity. They have been conserved based on the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peasant families and without using chemical elements. ANPE's Quispe stresses that Peru as a country of conservation of plant genetic resources which has helped to prevent hunger in different parts of the world, but regrets the lack of recognition of the rights of the small farmers who make it possible to conserve the native potatoes year after year, for generations. He demanded a differentiated public policy that promotes in situ conservation based on the integration of local knowledge. "The law says that all seeds must be certified but we do not agree, the peasants have the potato as their father, brother, great-grandfather have inherited it, they cannot try to monopolise the seeds because they are a common good," he argued. Currently the country leads the production of potatoes in Latin America with 4.6 million tons per year, while per capita consumption is 85 kg a year. But greater volume is required to take on the commercial challenges. INIA's Caldas recognises the need to adopt public policies to increase potato productivity, and calls for greater resources for research, promotion of agriculture and seed certification. In his view, the fact that of the 320,000 hectares of potatoes grown in the country, only 0.4 percent of the seeds used are certified is a disadvantage that contributes to low crop yields. He also cited factors such as the lack of irrigation infrastructure, dependence on rainfall and limited knowledge about fertilisation. "There is ancestral knowledge but there is a lack of technical support," the official said. Miguel Ordinola, representative of the CIP in the Organising Committee of the Congress, said the meeting will offer opportunities to present global advances in research that will benefit small farmers. "Studies have been carried out by the CIP together with American and European universities on how we are adapting to the conditions brought on by climate change. One of the hypotheses to be proved is that native varieties are being planted at higher altitudes, that with the increase in temperatures farmers are seeking higher altitudes," where temperatures are lower, he told IPS. During the 10th Congress, the progress made in scientific research will be seen in the field, in the Potato Park and in the visit to the Andenes Station, the only one in the world that researches Inca and pre-Inca "andenes" or platforms - step-like terraces dug into the slope of a hillside for agricultural purposes. Ordinola said Peru and its Andean neighbours have great commercial potential to develop, to which this world congress will contribute. "Peru got to be host because it is a centre of biodiversity for the world, which means many of the problems facing potato crops can find a solution through research in the Peruvian and regional context," he said. The world meeting will gather some 1,000 people from the scientific, academic, business and peasant farming communities. Of the participants, 60 percent will come from Latin American countries. Courtesy: IPS Development at the cost of environment not acceptable ENVIRONMENTAL Performance Index 2018 posited Bangladesh at the penultimate last ranking in the world in terms of handling environmental issues. This year Bangladesh has ranked 179, the worst in Asia, out of 180 countries, down from 173 two years ago. The wheel of development put forward by the government is running over the environment and the best example is the Sundarbans. While the government sought global aid to rehabilitate and develop adaptability of climate change victims, negligence to environmental issues is totally unacceptable as the environmental change impacts are already visible. The cruelty to the environment -- by polluting rivers, water bodies or water flowing zones; by cutting trees, destroying forests or polluting rivers, air and sound are perhaps linked to those in power. The wilful negligence to aid those in power is a crime against the nation. The EPI ranking was published on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Five countries at the bottom of the list are Nepal (31.44), India (30.57), the Democratic Republic of Congo (30.41), Bangladesh (29.56), and Burundi (27.43). Low scores on the EPI are indicative of the need for national sustainability efforts on a number of fronts, especially cleaning up air quality, protecting biodiversity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 180 countries were scored on 24 performance indicators across 10 categories, including air quality, water and sanitation, heavy metals, biodiversity and habitat, forests, fisheries, climate and energy, air pollution, water resources, and agriculture. Though the overall global environmental quality is improving, our performance is heart-wrenching. The pace of progress, however, may not be fast enough to achieve the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals and other international objectives. The poor governance in the country is a prime cause of the environmental degradation. The absence of coherent government policies, absence of strict environmental laws, greedy public officials, and uncontrolled party men -- all in a combined way are injuring the environment. During the decade of the ruling regime, we observed rampant river grabbing, the destruction of hillocks in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the cutting down of roadside trees, and the plying of water vessels through the Sundarbans by politically blessed people. Environment issue has become a major concern in the last few decades. Of course, it is the byproduct of the development of civilization and a price for the progress. In the case of Bangladesh, we see the government often taking a contradictory policy regarding the issue in the name of development. Though the environmentalists are vocal against the setting up of power plants near the Sundarbans, the government is mindlessly adamant to implement the project. Sheer negligence to the environment is nothing but a wilful disregard for our future. Don't work for any pol party during poll UNB, Satkhira : Ganoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Saturday urged police not to work for any specific political party during the next general election. "Bangladesh police have water lily (Shapla), the national emblem, in its monogram. Millions of people sacrificed their lives for achieving it," he said while addressing his party's district representatives' conference at the Shilpakala Academy in the town. "So, I urge all the policemen not to be sold even for millions of Taka. You have to keep the honour of this national emblem," continued Dr Kamal, one of the key authors of the country's Constitution. He also said, the Election Commission should remain neutral to conduct a free and fair election. Recalling Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Kamal said Ganoforum is working to establish Bangladesh as a country free from discrimination, corruption and communalism. Chaired by district Ganoforum president Mamunur Rashid, the meeting was addressed, among others, party's general secretary Mostafa Mohasin Mantu, executive president Subrata Chowdhury, vice-president Abdul Aziz and organising secretary Mostafa Ahmed. BCL allies want probe into clashes on campus DU Correspondent : Nine organisations, allied with Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) under the banner "Chattra Sangram Parisad'' on Saturday announced three days programme placing their five-point demands over the incident of January 23. In a statement they called on the administration to release a probe report into campus clashes within 24 hours. The written statement was read out by JSD-backed Chhatra League President Shamsul Islam Sumon. He called for the release of the report within 24 hours, discussions with the student organizations and punish the perpetrators. They also called for swift solutions to issues tied to the students from Dhaka University's seven affiliate colleges. The three-day programme including rally on anti-terrorism on Jan 31, anti-terrorism human chain on Feb 6 and submission of a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor of DU on Feb 7. The nine student organizations are Bangladesh Chhatra League(Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal), Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree, Bangladesh Chhatra League (Ambia), Bangladesh Chhatra Andolan, Bangladesh Chhatra Samiti, Bangladesh Chhatra League (Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal). Jatiya Chhatra Oikkya's central presidents and general secretaries, university unit leaders were present during the media briefing. BCL President Sifur Rahman Sohag said, "The 'attackers' were introducing themselves as general students but they were not. They wanted to destroy the university wealth." Meanwhile, Dhaka University (DU) Students under the banner 'Sachatan Sikkhartibrindo' on Saturday organized a press conference at Madhur Canteen at 11:00 am demanding punishment of the 'assailants' who assaulted DU vice chancellor, destroyed university wealth and assaulted students. They also sought legal action against those who want to disrupt the peaceful environment of the campus. Chief convenor of the forum Abdullah Al Noman also the general secretary of DU Debating Society read out a written statement while presided over the session. He said, "We want exemplary punishment of the assailants. If BCL found guilty in the investigation we want their punishment too." Acute gas crisis hits more areas in city Anisul Islam Noor : The ongoing gas crisis in Dhaka has prolonged and affected fresh areas in this month, said Titas Gas Distribution Company's officials blaming cold wave. The residents of the city and its adjoining areas have been suffering from shortage of gas in cooking which continues for around 10 to 12 hours a day. The low pressure of gas is acute especially in the first half of the day. For this, the city residents cannot prepare breakfast and lunch, to the utter inconvenience. Complaints of low pressure began to come from the second week of January from old Dhakka, Malibag, Rampura, NewEskaton, Razabazar, Kathalbagan, Baksybazar, Farmgate, Indira Road, Jatrabari and Gendaria and parts of Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Kalabagan, Kanthalbagan, Jatrabari, Khilgaon, Bashabo, Banasree, Badda, Gulshan and Uttara. The new areas are Banasreee, Baridhara, Bashundhara, Uttara, Tongi, Savar and Nobabganj of Dhaka. Kuhely Begum, a resident from old parts, said that she had to prepare breakfast for her family by 6:30am and wait until 3:30pm for preparing lunch as the burners received virtually no gas supplies during the period. Elderly people and children were suffering the most as the warm water they needed could not be provided for lack of gas, she said. She also expressed her dismay at the government's latest move to raise the price of natural gas when it failed to ensure uninterrupted supply. Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Managing Director Mir Mashiur Rahman on Saturday told The New Nation that the country's largest gas distribution utility supplied 1,600 mmcf per day to 1,650 mmcf against a demand for 2,000 mmcf per day. Recent cold wave worsened the situation due to rise of demand for natural gas for heating water and due to 'condensate problem' in the gas transmission and distribution lines, he said. Director Operation Engineer Ali Ashraf told the reporter that gas consumption has increased by about 20 percent due to cold weather and in some areas users increase out of gas supply line's capacity, are reasons of short supply of gas. Residents of Gazipur Narayanganj, Tangail, Comilla and Chittagong are also reported that they were experiencing severe short supply of gas. Now approximately three million domestic users consume around 300 mmcfd gas in the country, sources said. Officials of the gas distribution utilities attributed the shortage to increased demand and rapid fall in temperature. Business bodies, however, claimed that they were getting better gas supplies at factories and CNG filling stations than previous years as the government suspended gas supplies to the fertiliser factories before winter to increase the supplies to the industrial units and CNG stations. Out of six fertiliser factories, the government suspended gas supplies to four, which increased gas supplies by more than 100 mmcfd. Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversation Workshop Owners' Association General Secretary Farhan Noor said that they were still experiencing shortage of gas supplies, but the magnitude of sufferings was lesser than previous years. The country's demand for natural gas was more than 3,700 million cubic feet per day while Petrobangla, the state-run Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation, could supply less than 2,700 mmcfd. Leader of right groups and experts said, authorities of Titas gas are taking full charge from the consumer end of the month though they cannot supply enough gas in the lines. Talking with The New Nation Energy experts Professor Shamsul Alam, who is also energy adviser of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) asked to Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to take necessary action for ensuring consumers right. It totally unethical and violation of consumers' rights that Titas gas is taking full bills of gas at the end of month, without supplying gas in the cooking hours, he said. Community health care providers now begin sit-in for nationalisation Staff Reporter : The community health care providers on Saturday began sit-in programme in front of National Press Club after observing three-day work abstention across the country. They observed work abstention from Wednesday to Thursday and staged in front of all civil surgeons' offices to realise their demand for nationalisation of their jobs. They have been observing their movement under the banner of Bangladesh Community Health Care Providers Association (BCHCPA). Several hundred community health care providers from all over the country started their sit-in along the roads in front of the Jatiya Press Club from Saturday morning. They hold banners, placards and festoons alongside loudspeakers to press home their demand. BCHCPA Convener Shahidul Islam said that they had given enough time to the authorities concerned to nationalise their jobs. 'We would not go home unless our demand is not met,' he said. Shahidul said that they were working on a muster roll with a salary equivalent to grade 14 of the national pay scale though they work in the key health sectors like maternal, neonatal and adolescent health. He said that they wanted nationalisation of jobs, because they did not get other service benefits like the ones enjoyed by nationalised employees. Shahidul lamented that the health ministry assured them time and again of nationalising their jobs but it remained stalled. According to Shahidul, the High Court responded to a 2016 writ petition by ordering to nationalise their jobs. He said, 'We would go for non-stop sit-in in front of National Press Club until January 31 and if our demand is not met by this time, we would go for hunger strike from February 1. The BCHCPA leaders said that community health care providers are taking primary health services to the doorsteps of rural people through about 13,500 community clinics across the country. Abul Hashem Khan, the Line Director of Community Based Health Care under Health Services said, they were now using other health workers to run the services at community clinics. Abul Hashem Khan, said the nationalisation of community health care providers' jobs required a policy decision. 'I have informed the high-authority and they would consider their demand for nationalisation,' he said. Teachers` strike before SSC exams unacceptable Now hundreds of community health care providers under the banner of BCHCPA begin 3-day sit-in program in front of Jatiya Press Club from Saturday, demanding also for nationalisation of their jobs, causing sufferings to commuters and creating huge traffic M M Jasim : A section of secondary level teachers from Monthly Pay Order (MPO) listed schools and madrasas think that the teachers' hunger strike and works abstention just ahead of the SSC and its equivalent examinations are not acceptable. They feel that the teachers' demand for natioanlisation of their MPO listed institutions is the demand of the time. They consider that the striking teachers' organisations could start the programme again after the SSC exams end. There is no alternative to make the country's education world standard without nationalisation of the secondary level institutions. It is also similarly important not to do anything that hampers the total education system, they said. Shamsul Islam, a school teacher of Narsingdi, told The New Nation on Saturday evening that many students and guardians came to his house to know about the teachers' movement. They were also seen nervous. They actually wanted to know about the decision of the teachers. Will SSC examinations be held in time or not? "As a teacher, I support the demand of the agitating teachers. I am also following the direction of the teachers' organisations in this regard. But I think that the organisations should pause their movement and start it after the SSC examinations. It will be good for the students as well as education sector," Shamsul Islam said. Nasir Uddin, another teacher of a school in Netrokona, said, "The students are in frustration about the SSC examinations due to the teachers' movement for nationalisation. The frustration may impact on students' memories. So, it will be wise if the teachers' leaders interval their movement in the interest of the SSC examinees." "We are working to build a good nation. Our activities should be systematic and students friendly. We can give pressure on the government. But we can't do anything that will be harmful for the students," Nasir said. Meanwhile, the many guardians said that they are with the teachers. But the teachers shouldn't do anything victimizing the students. They said that it would be difficult to achieve the goal without support of the whole nation in teachers' movement for nationalisation of their institutions. So they must consider the students' interest. Otherwise, the result of the movement can be different, they said. Razzak Hawlader, a guardian, said, "My daughter has already lost her concentration from study. Some teachers told her that the SSC examinations are uncertain. She is now upset. As a father, I cannot support the teachers' movement before the examinations." "I request the teachers to come back to the schools and boost the students' confidence. Please don't continue your movement keeping the students front line and harming their life," he said. On the other hand, the teachers' leaders said that it was high time to meet their demand. Nazrul Islam Rony, Adviser of Besarkari Shikhkha Jatiyakaran Liaison Forum, and President of Bangladesh Shikkhok Somittee, told The New Nation on Saturday that they would wait for the response of the government till January 28. "I believe that the government will give us specific direction for the nationalisation of the MPO listed institutions. If it fails to provide any message by January 28, we have no option but boycott the SSC examinations," he said. Hundreds of teachers have been observing their hunger strike in front of the Jatiya Press Club for nationalisation under the banner of "Besarkari Shikhkha Jatiyakaran Liaison Forum", a platform of six organisations of teachers and employees since January 15. A total of 177 teachers fell sick and 30 of them were given intravenous saline drips. There are some five lakh teachers and employees of 37,000 MPO listed academic institutions in the country. About 25 lakh students are likely to take part in this year's SSC and it equivalent examinations. 13 tigers killed in 15 years bdnews24.com : A total of 13 tigers have been killed by people in one and a half decades in Bangladesh During the period, around 265 people were killed in tiger attacks in different areas close to the Sundarbans mangrove region, according to government statistics. The number of Royal Bengal Tigers that died since 2001 totals 35. The tiger population in Bangladesh, according to a 2015 census, stands at 106. The government initiated a project nine years ago to save tigers which proved to be ineffective as more and more tigers were falling prey to the humans. One reason the forest officials cited for the killings is that due to the change in their habitat and climate, more tigers were coming to localities and getting killed by the villagers to save themselves. On Tuesday, the villagers at Gulishakhali in Morelganj Upazila in Bagherhat killed a two and a half years old tiger cub after it had entered the locality and attacked people. The forestry officials in the Sundarbans said their records showed 20 tigers died in the east zone and 15 in the west. Sundarbans East Zone Forest Officer Mahmudul Hasan told bdnews24.com at least five of the 20 tigers that have died in the zone since 2001 were beaten to death or shot dead after they had entered human habitats. Four tigers died naturally while the others were killed in flash floods or by poachers, he said. He also said 26 people died in tiger attacks in this zone since 2001. West Zone Forest Officer Bashirul Al Mamun said eight of the 15 tigers that died in this period in the zone were beaten to death by people. The number of deaths of people in tiger attacks is much higher in this zone - 234 - than the other. Bashirul said most of the victims were people whose livelihood depended on the Sundarbans. Sundarbans Wild Life Management and Conservation Department official Md Modinul Ahsan, however, claimed fewer tigers were being killed by people now than before. He said, only nine tigers were killed by people in past 10 years after the government formed 89 response teams to save tigers under the Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan in 2009. He said they had six tranquilliser guns and were ready to save tigers from being killed once the big cats enter localities. "But we couldn't save the cub on Tuesday as the angry villagers had killed it before we arrived," he said. He also said the Baleshwar and Pasur rivers were dying due to sediment deposition, leading the tigers to enter localities. "The government is taking up a project for river dredging. Tigers will stop entering the localities once it is done," he said. According to Modinul, an adult tiger weighs up to 220 kilograms and a tigress 160kg. A tiger's lifespan in nature is between 10 and 14 years. A tigress gives birth to two to three cubs every two years. The cubs live with their mother for two years during which time she avoids the company of the tiger as it is known to eat the cubs. Businessman recovers Tk 42 lakh from muggers in city Staff Reporter : People chased a mugger down the road after watching him snatch a trader's bag. Businessman Mamun was going to Paltan from Islampur in city by rickshaw with Tk 42 lakh inside a school bag on Saturday evening. When Mamun, a clothe trader, reached near Gulistan intersection around 4:15pm, three muggers, riding two motorbikes from opposite direction, stopped his rickshaw, said Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.One of them, sitting on a motorbike, stanched the bag and tried to flee. However, Mamun got down from the rickshaw quickly and kicked backside of the bike, the police official said. Then, the bike fell down on the ground, but the muggers got desperate to flee the spot with the bag. But people managed to catch Faruk, who was carrying the bag. Later, police arrested the mugger named Faruk while other muggers managed to flee. The mugging incident took place in the city barely a day after criminals with a car attempted to snatch handbag of one, Helena Begum, in Dhanmondi area, eventually crushing her under the wheels of the car. Besides, a six-month-old baby fell off his mother's lap and died when some muggers tried to snatch her purse off a moving rickshaw in Dhaka's Doyaganj area on December 18 last year. One Rajib, 20, a drug addict, was arrested in connection with the incident. Earlier, a physician at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Farhad Alam died falling from a rickshaw after muggers on a motorcycle pulled his bag on November 29 last year. 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. Looking for the vulture assist with Neolithic burials 1 year ago A fisherman found Jubal Alexanders headless body May 3, 2016, his right leg propped up against the steering wheel of his black Chevrolet pickup, which was parked near a county boat ramp at Austin Bayou about 10 miles from the INEOS plant where he worked. Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Residents, elected officials gathered at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center on Thursday to hear more about House Bill 957 and how it would affect the community and school district. After its passage on last week, HB957, according to Rep. Jeramey Anderson, D-Moss Point, will have a significant impact on communities that are not "property wealthy" -- Moss Point being one of those communities. Anderson held a town hall meeting on Thursday evening to speak with his constituents about the bill and the impact it will have on the school district specifically. While he said he liked some of the contents within the bill, Anderson, who voted no on the bill, said the bill does not alleviate or solve the problems presented. "You still have property wealthy districts like Clinton and Madison that are getting millions extra in funding from the state but districts like Moss Point and schools in the Mississippi Delta who are losing millions of dollars," Anderson said. "I don't agree with government subsidizing wealthy districts on the backs of low-income districts," he said. According to Dr. Shannon Vincent, the formula for the Moss Point School District will kick in during the 2020-2021 school year. Both she and Anderson say the district will lose a total of $1.8 million. MPSD will lose funds because of the state attributes their funding formula based off census numbers, tax base, and the loss of students. According to Anderson, census numbers are skewed in low-income areas such as Moss Point, while more affluent communities he says are more "accessible" when it comes to cooperating with census workers. "One of the things community members can do is to be more accessible during census counts," Anderson said. "The poverty addition in the formula is geared towards the census. In minority communities that is what is really going to hurt us because we don't participate. We need to improve this." Anderson said the goal of Thursday's town hall was to prepare for cuts and to provide the community with further insight into the bill. The goal now is for the community to find ways in which it helps the district in any way possible, he said. "I am continuing the conversation with my colleagues in the house so that they understand the importance of the funding and public education and what those cuts would mean to districts like Moss Point," Anderson said. "I am also working with Dr. Vincent so that we can be prepared for those cuts to minimize impact as much as we can so that our students aren't missing out as much with the major reductions set to come." Citizens in attendance inquired about ways they could help to cut some of the extra spending by the district. Volunteering to work school-related activities the district pays its teachers extra for was one way members of the community said they could help. "Some of the services the school district is having to pay for, we have well qualified people who will perform those services for free," Anderson said. "This way, we save money and are able to place that money back into the classroom. If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs. MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Moss Point Police Chief Calvin Hutchins resigned on Friday in a press conference with Mayor Mario King, Ward 1 alderman Sherwood Bradford and Ward 3 aldermen Robert Byrd in attendance. "Today is a sad day for our city and community," King said. "We would like to congratulate our chief, Calvin Hutchins for his service and commitment to public. We thank him for everything he has done for us and his leadership in our community." "I want to take this opportunity to thank our mayor and aldermen for allowing me to serve as Chief of Police in Moss Point," Hutchins said. "I decided to deliver my letter of resignation effective Feb. 9 for other employment. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to work in Moss Point and I am not done. I will continue to serve." Hutchins was sworn in as chief in April of 2017 by former Mayor Billy Broomfield and his administration. After Feb. 9, it is unclear at this moment who will take leadership of the police department. Hutchins said he did not want to release what department he would become the next chief of, but said that once everything is finalized, he will make that information known to the public. King was asked if Deputy Chief Brandon Ashley would be promoted to chief in similar fashion when former chief Art McClung was ousted, but King said at this time, that decision has not been made. Conversation swirled around one of the aldermen's Facebook groups asking for support for Hutchins and the type of job he was doing because of rumors centered around his relationship with King. King says the rumors are unfortunate, but said had no role in Hutchins leaving for another opportunity. "Unfortunately, people will always speculate, but I wish Chief the best of luck," King said. "A grown man can't make another grown man do anything that he doesn't want to do. Chief is his own man and he is doing what he feels is the best option for he and his family and he has my full support with his decision." Despite what people are saying, King says he looks to Hutchins as a mentor. "Calvin is a really good person and it is a tough loss for the community, but he is a mentor to me and I will continue my personal relationship with him," King said. Hutchins is Moss Point's third police chief since 2014 and its seventh since 2000. As per my earlier blog post, I had arranged with Lise Liu to wear a qi pao/cheongsam to take on the role of an imaginary woman looking ... Abu Dhabi Airports said it has received the 'Two 'Pearl' rating from Estidama, for the construction of two of its latest facilities - the district cooling plant of the Midfield Terminal (MTB) and the fire station at Sir Bani Yas Island Airport. The objective of the Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS) from Estidama, an initiative from the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, is to promote the development of sustainable buildings and improve quality of life. Achievement of a sustainable building requires the integration of the four pillars of Estidama together with a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to building development known as the Integrated Development Process, said a statement from Abu Dhabi Airports. The PBRS encourages water, energy, and waste minimisation, local material use and aims to improve supply chains for sustainable and recycled materials and products, it stated. Estidama previously gave Abu Dhabi Airports MTB a three-pearl rating for its design, the highest rated building of that size in the region, and the first airport building to receive such a rating. Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, the acting chief executive, said: "Every aspect of our buildings design, development and operations captures our commitment to sustainability and enhances the communitys understanding of our broader impacts as an organisation." "It is a priority for us to uphold the leaderships vision to achieve an environmentally-conscious emirate and a green way of life, so we will focus on embedding the Estidama principles into the core of our culture. We are proud that this commitment has been recognised, leading to the MTB district cooling plant and fire station at Sir Bani Yas Airport receiving the Two Pearl rating," he remarked. Completed earlier last year, MTBs district cooling plant is armed with a total capacity of 55,000 tons of refrigerant that will provide air-conditioning for the MTB through 18 chillers and two thermal energy storage tanks. It operates through a network of pipes that circulates chilled water responsible for the cooling effect. On the Sir Bani Yas fire station, the company said it is manned 24/7 and equipped with two fire engines and high-capacity supporting water tender, in line with the type of operations at the island. The fire station was one of the primary elements for Sir Bani Yas Airport certification as an aerodrome, as per the General Civil Aviation Authority's (GCAA) requirements, stated Al Khoori. "The efforts of our design and construction team continue to raise the bar on innovative, resource-efficient facilities that are essential to achieving our climate action goals," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG), a multi-diversified international conglomerate, unveiled the first edition of Women for Business, a multicultural CSR program designed by the company in partnership with Union National Bank and La Rochelle Education Group, France to promote Emirati women entrepreneurs. The program commemorates the Year of Zayed initiative honouring the UAE founding father's vision, achievements as well as his inspiring values and principles. A ceremony to mark the launch of the program was held at the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Ludovic Pouille, the French Ambassador to the UAE and representatives from Union National Bank and AAHG CSR Division. Addressing the guests, the French ambassador extended words of support and motivation to the Emirati participants and emphasized on strengthening the relationship between France and UAE. As part of the Women for Business program, 14 Emirati women entrepreneurs have been shortlisted to attend an insightful week of training at La Rochelle Education Group, France from January 28 to February 2 where they will discuss socially responsible business practices with womens empowerment at its core. The program aims to support the participants in designing socially relevant business ventures that help other women and give them the opportunity to learn from French best practices and case studies. These women will also be joining their French counterparts to benefit from 20 prestigious speakers who will help them develop their skills and broaden their horizons. Al Ahli Holding Group CEO Mohammed Khammas said the priority was to help youth develop entrepreneurial skills, social enterprises and build skills to widen their horizons and exposure. Empowering youth to be active in their societies and economies has been a key focus of Al Ahli Holding Groups social responsibility strategy since the CSR division came into existence in 2008. We are very pleased to launch the Women for Business initiative in partnership with La Rochelle Education Group and Union National Bank, remarked Lina Hourani, the corporate social responsibility director at Al Ahli Holding Group. Through this initiative, we want to support talented and aspirational Emirati women by helping them access relevant knowledge and ideas to support their entrepreneurial mindset in order to create viable ventures that can make a tangible impact on society, he added. Ali Khaled Alhashmi, SVP and head of human rsources and Centre of Excellence Group at Union National Bank said: "We are very happy to be working with Al Ahli Holding Group which has contributed significantly to raising the visibility and understanding of CSR not only regionally but at a global level." "We firmly believe the Women for Business initiative will have a lasting impact on the participants by providing them the business know-how to become successful entrepreneurs while serving as positive role models for the wider UAE community," stated Alhashmi. The Women for Business program will enable participants to understand the concept of social entrepreneurship, and best practices from French and European social responsibility systems while they develop their social entrepreneurship ideas. The participants are given the opportunity to explore and develop intercultural teamwork skills through projects, and understand the important aspect of the diversity of business practices in emerging economies to make a positive contribution to society. The week-long training program includes case studies, discussions about the role of women in the society, brainstorming sessions on social entrepreneurship, social responsibility and its impact on organizations, creativity, collaborative intelligence, team building, management and marketing strategy, the art of a successful pitch, and an introduction to French and European entrepreneurial projects.-TradeArabia News Service The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) has signed a co-operation agreement with Wayne State University (WSU) of Detroit, establishing the US-based university into its latest international partner. The agreement, which was initiated by AURAKs School of Engineering and the School of Engineering, is centered on a Transfer Student Program in which students can earn college degrees from AURAK and WSU simultaneously. The Transfer Student program is divided into two phases. In the first phase AURAK students must complete three years of a four-year, pre-approved engineering program with a 3.0 grade point average and/or be in the top quartile during their first three years of studies as well as meet the language proficiency level required by WSU. These students will be allowed to transfer to WSU for phase two to fulfill two years of a pre-approved curriculum, said the statement from AURAK. During the first year at WSU, the students will complete sixteen hours of coursework and an undergraduate senior research project. During the second year the students will either complete sixteen hours of coursework or eight hours of course work and eight hours of Masters Thesis Research project. Upon completion of the program, each student will receive both a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from AURAK and a Masters Degree in Engineering from WSU. Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President of AURAK, and Prof. Stephen Wilhite, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs of AURAK, travelled to Wayne State University and entered into an agreement with Prof. Keith Whitfield, the Provost of Wayne State University along with Prof. Farshad Fotouhi, the Dean of College of Engineering, and Prof. Ambika Mathur, the Dean of Graduate School of WSU. Both institutions look forward to future years of cooperative program development, continued collaboration, and student success. Prof. Hassan said: "In Wayne State University we have a distinguished collegiate associate which will cater to our students with multiple prospects to progress. At present AURAK has a range of international partners across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, opening a wide spectrum of possibilities to students including exchange and study abroad programs for up to one year, as well as shorter summer sessions, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Korff Milano, a leading Italian company known for its upmarket beauty solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, has announced its foray into the UAE market in partnership with BinSina Pharmacies. The premier European make-up brand marked its UAE debut with an exclusive gala dinner at Address Hotel, Dubai Mall, which witnessed the presence of a large group of dignitaries, high-profile beauty influencers and other senior officials. As per the deal, the producst of the Italian fashion brand will be available exclusively at BinSina Pharmacies across the UAE. Combining make-up with pleasure and scientific technology with glamour, Korff Milano aims to be the first choice for women with high standards for skin health and well-being, said a top official. We are excited to launch in the UAE, a place known for its up-market beauty trends and high quality products. Our innovative revolutionary formulas are ahead of time, which offer the perfect make-up solutions, making it an unmissable addition to the growing beauty market in the region, remarked Dr Mohammad Al Rammal, the general manager of Korff Milano in the GCC. Foreign beauty product firms are increasing their presence in this country as the sector offers an expanding market that is also giving local firms a platform for growth. According to Euromonitor International, consumers in the UAE spent US$247 per capita on cosmetics and personal care, more than any other country in the Middle East, and ninth worldwide. This is forecast to grow to $294 in 2020. Dermatological know-how applied to make-up, trusted active ingredients and extremely close attention to purity of raw materials form the basis of every single product we make. We are optimistic that the brand will be an instant hit with women looking for beauty combined with safety and efficacy, said Laura May, the commercial drector of Korff Milano. According to May, the initial product offerings from Korff Milano will include, make-up which will come in high-tech, highly concentrated formulas. The premium brand is hoping to use its experience and expertise in dermatological innovation and cosmetic pleasure to provide targeted solutions to women in the UAE, he added. Dr Saleema Shurrab, the general manager of BinSina Pharmacy Group, said: "We are very excited to introduce the Korff Milano collection across our stores in the UAE. It is an internationally recognised brand and the on-going scientific research, new technology and safety and efficiency that the brand offers is in line with our core values." "With its holistic approach to strengthen, empower and regenerate skin, the brand is certain to make a statement in the UAE," she stated. Featuring evoking ingredients, gentle textures and research oriented products, Korff Milano offers rare and active ingredients that not only delight the senses, but turn a beauty routine in a moment of pure pampering. Korff Milano has grown to become one of the biggest brands for make up in retail pharmacy channels, and is distributed in more than 15 countries globally.-TradeArabia News Service Albwardy Damen, a joint venture between Dubai-based Albwardy Investments and Damen Shipyards Group, a leading repair yard headquartered in the Netherlands, recently hosted a naming ceremony for the worlds biggest Rotortug, the ART 100-46 RT Raven, in Sharjah, UAE. The vessel will be operated by Perth-based KT Maritime Services Australia, a joint venture partnership between Kotug International BV and Teekay Shipping Australia. The ceremony was attended by the pioneer of the Rotortug design, Ton Kooren along with Kotug CEO Ard-Jan Kooren. Representing Damen was CCO Arnout Damen and MD of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld Jos van Woerkum. The naming ceremony of the RT Raven, hdedl last week was combined with the christening of the tug by long standing ConocoPhillips Australia employee Chantelle Birtwistle; currently the JV Manager for the Bayu Undan Project. The Infield Support Vessel (ISV) RT Raven is built to a Robert Allen design. She is a customised 46-m-long, DP2, 100-ton bollard-pull Rotortug for offshore support. She is designed and outfitted for operations in the Timor Sea, 500km north-west of Darwin and 250km south of East Timor. RT Raven has been specifically designed to meet the fields unique marine service requirements which include tanker berthing and operations support, including emergency response. Ard-Jan Kooren, said: This is a very significant contract for KT Maritime as we work towards further establishing ourselves as a reputable service provider to the oil and gas segment. Lars Seistrup, the managing director of Albwardy Damen, said: "This is a special vessel in many ways. It is the biggest Rotortug ever built, it is also one of the most powerful tugs ever built in the UAE. We are very pleased with the end result which is the consequence of close cooperation and teamwork with the client." Jos van Woerkum, the managing director of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld commented: "The RT Raven is the sixth Robert Allan Rotortug design which is sold, managed, engineered and purchased by our yard in Hardinxveld." "The vessels are built at the Damen yards in Gdansk, Poland and Sharjah. For Kotug it is the third Rotortug delivered by Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, after the ART 80-32 RT Evolution and the RT Emotion, and we are very proud of this achievement," he added. Damen Shipyards Group operates 33 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 180 vessels annually to customers worldwide. It offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.-TradeArabia News Service Turismo de Portugal I.P (Portugal), Ecotourism Trust (India), Tryponyu (Indonesia) and Seggitur (Spain) are the winners of the 14th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Tourism. Fourteen projects among 128 applicants from 55 countries were selected as finalists of the 14th UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Tourism. The winning projects, divided into four categories - Public Policy and Governance, Research and Technology, Enterprises, and Non-governmental Organizations , were announced at the UNWTO Awards Ceremony held in Madrid at the International Tourism Trade Fair in Spain (Fitur). We honour the vision and commitment of individuals, administrations, companies and organisations that every day build a better future by harnessing the potential of tourism. The work of all the finalists of the 14 UNWTO Awards on Innovation is an inspiration to all of us, underlined UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, in his opening remarks. Attended by nearly 500 participants from different countries, the UNWTO Awards Ceremony, co-organized by Ifema|Fitur, emphasised how the tourism community has embraced sustainable and innovative approaches. The UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism are held annually to highlight and promote the work of organizations and individuals around the world that have impacted the tourism sector. Their achievements have served as an inspiration for competitive and sustainable tourism development and the promotion of the values of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals. The 14th edition of the UNWTO Awards was organized in collaboration with the International Tourism Trade Fair in Spain (Ifema|Fitur) and supported by: - The Macao Government Tourism Office - The National Secretariat of Tourism of Paraguay-Itaipu Binacional - The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Argentina - The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism in Colombia - The Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador - Wonderful Indonesia - The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; and - National Geographic. - TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi Airports and GAL Air Navigation Services have jointly certified Mariam Al Remaithi as the first Emirati female ATCO (Air Traffic Controller) at the Abu Dhabi Airports. She will be joining the team at Al Ain International Airport. GAL Air Navigation Services and Abu Dhabi Airports, while lauding Al Remaithi's achievements, said this initiative comes as a part of the companies support for the role of women and their desire to succeed in all fields, and in line with the UAE's efforts to enhance the role of Emirati women in all fields of work. Abdul Majid Al Khouri, the acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "We are proud that today we have women capabilities that compete with that of leading nations around the world. The UAE woman has succeeded in confirming her critical role in the development of the nations economy and various industries, by taking part and excelling in all sectors with no exceptions." "At a time when we are gearing up for the next phase in the expansion of our operations, local talent development in all areas within the airport sector is one of Abu Dhabi Airports key goals to ensure sustainable growth and success of our industry for decades to come," he noted. "ATC is one of the most valued professions in the Aviation Industry and is highly sensitive, requiring a high concentration, as well as many other requirements that must be met," he pointed out. GAL ANS ATC Training Centre is an essential element in the development of air traffic control personnel. The ATC Training Center has received several international approvals from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the General Civil Aviation Authority. GAL Air Navigation Services' chief executive Khalid Al Breiki said: "GAL ANS is proud today of the presence of Emirati women who have been trained and qualified in the ATC Training Academy in Al Ain (Al Ain Training Centre)." "Mariam proved to everyone that there are no challenges that may stand or hinder Emirati women who seek excellence and success and who aspire to give more and more to our country," he added.-TradeArabia News Service PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A 48-year-old Vancleave man will spend the next 18 years in prison for a May 2016 domestic assault which left his then-girlfriend with a traumatic brain injury. The assault occurred in the Vancleave home which the two shared at the time. The 58-year-old victim is now confined to a nursing home. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Dale Harkey sentenced Reagan Grant Thompson to 20 years, with 18 to serve, in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Thompson was also sentenced to two years of post-release supervision and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, court costs and $500 to the Victims Compensation Fund. Thompson pleaded guilty in December to aggravated domestic assault, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. "Too often we see incidents of domestic violence rise to a violent level and people carry with them the scars of that violence for the rest of their lives," said Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence. "I hope this 18-year sentence sends a message that acts of domestic violence will not be tolerated." "I am proud of the work of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department," said assistant district attorney Bill Barrett, "which worked in conjunction with our office to resolve this case without putting the victim through a trial. The victim and her family were pleased with the 18-year sentence handed down today." Woody Harrelson met Laura Louie back in 1987 on the set while filming Cheers. Harrelson married Laura Louie on Sunday December 28. The couple has three daughters, Makani Ravello, 2, Zoe Giordano, 12 and Denni Montana, 15. After the birth of Makani, Woody referred to the three as his Goddess Trilogy. They married at their Maui home in an afternoon ceremony. Guests included Owen Wilson, Willie Nelson and Sean Penn. Alanis Morissette sang at the ceremony. According to Wikipedia, Laura Louie was Harrelsons assistant for two years and is co-founder of Yoganics, an organic food delivery service. Harrelson and Louie have lived in a sustainable community of about 200 people on Maui. Its a really beautiful place, says Harrelson has said . Everybody cares about this Earth and theyre all biodynamic farmers and just really cool people. Its really a loving community and Im blessed to be a part of it. Woody and Laura started Voice Yourself , a site to encourage citizens to protest pollution of the air, soil, and water. Both keep blogs on the site. Read Laura Louies commentary . Rarely photographed, here are some Laura Louie pictures from a beach visit with Woody. National archives: Margaret Thatcher wanted to crush power of trade unions Downing Street archives reveal Thatcher thought Norman Tebbit's stance on union reform too timid "We had to fight the enemy without in the Falklands. We always have to be aware of the enemy within, which is much more difficult to fight and more dangerous to liberty," Margaret Thatcher speech to the backbench 1922 committee, July 1984. The Cabinet papers published under the 30-year rule lay bare the scale of Margaret Thatcher's long-held ambitions to crush the power of Britain's trade unions even before she had won her historic 144-seat majority landslide victory. The Downing Street papers from 1983 show she told Ferdinand Mount, then head of her policy unit, that she agreed that Norman Tebbit's gradualist approach to trade union reform was too timid and that they should "neglect no opportunity to erode trade union membership". Thatcher told Mount to put the policy work in hand but to keep his trade union reform paper, in which he referred to the unions as "a politicised mafia", wholly confidential. "We must neglect no opportunity to erode trade union membership wherever this corresponds to the wishes of the workforce. We must see to it our new legal structure discourages trade union membership of the new industries," wrote Mount. He said that by the end of the century they also hoped to see "a trade union movement whose exclusive relationship with the Labour party is reduced out of all recognition. Again, it is absurd and unjust that millions of Conservatives, Liberals and Social Democrats should be supporting the Labour party directly or indirectly. This relationship fossilises the Labour party and stultifies the whole political dialogue." Although the prime minister responded by saying she agreed with Mount, his demand to ensure that trade union members had to opt in, rather than opt out of the political levy as now being contemplated by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband was regarded as a step too far at that time by Thatcher and Tebbit because it revived the argument about the financing of political parties. The Tories feared it could also lead to a quid pro quo ban on company donations. They were not alone in their determination to take on the unions. As early as January 1983, Nigel Lawson who had already spent two years as energy secretary building up coal stocks in preparation for the expected showdown with the miners was telling Thatcher: "If Scargill succeeds in bringing about such a strike, we must do everything in our power to defeat him, including ensuring that the strike results in widespread closures." In March, Thatcher's press secretary, Bernard Ingham, also urged her to take on the miners, telling her: "Events have not, however, challenged the post-war impression of their invincibility, for we have yet to beat a national stoppage In my view the last thing we should do today is lend credibility to Scargill." The cabinet papers released by the National Archives on Thursday show that the preparations including a debate among Whitehall officials over whether troops should be used during the miners' strike were well under way. Lawson also argued for a rapid acceleration in the pace of the pit closures secretly scheduled for 1983/84, demanding that 34 pits, including a dozen in Yorkshire and the Midlands, should be listed, rather than the 20 that eventually sparked the start of the strike in March 1984. The papers show that detailed discussions on withstanding a coal strike went on in a secret committee of Whitehall officials known as Misc 57 throughout 1983. A good deal of work had already been done in 1982, when it was decided that it was not practicable to use servicemen to move coal by rail. By that October, in a "secret and personal" note to Thatcher, Peter Gregson, the Cabinet Office deputy secretary, was telling her that using the army to move coal by road would be a formidable undertaking: "4-5,000 lorry movements a day for 20 weeks the law and order problems of coping with pickets would be enormous a major risk would be the power station workers would refuse to handle coal brought in by servicemen this way". Misc 57 had thought there might be a limited role for the troops in delivering ancillary materials, such as lighting-up oil, under close supervision. But Thatcher was careful not to close the door on the use of the army to move coal from the working pits to the power stations, and ordered further work to be done. In the following May, the issue was reopened when the Cabinet Office derided such uses of the army as "spectacular gestures which are likely in practice to worsen the situation". Brigadier Tony Budd, secretary of the civil contingencies unit in the Cabinet Office, took exception, pointing out that this had not been the case when the army was used for "firefighting, providing an emergency ambulance service, refuse collection and even providing emergency car parking in London", despite some union "huffing and puffing". In the event it was the paramilitary use of the police in pitched battles with mass pickets, rather than the army, that was to lead to some of the bitterest scenes in the miners' strike. But the ultimately successful strategy was spelled out by Lawson to his cabinet colleagues in late 1982: to do everything to undermine the miners' will to continue a lengthy strike by demonstrating that its effects were limited. The preparations particularly focused on ensuring that electricity supplies were not interrupted for a considerable period of time. Since youre here we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we havent put up a paywall we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardians independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters because it might well be your perspective, too. m This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. it is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way. By TCN News Hyderabad: The first medical camp of the ninth annual India Health Initiative (IHI), a program created by US-based India Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC) to provide medical services to economically disadvantaged members of society in India, started on January 27 in Hyderabad, Telangana. A total of 709 patients were treated for different ailments on the first day of four-day health camp at the Indo-US public school in Baba Nagar. Support TwoCircles IMRC has been organising annual India Health Initiative for poor and needy this year for the past nine years. The patients in the camps are provided with free medicines after free check-up of vital health signs. On Sunday, January 28, the free health camp will be organised at the Indo-US Public School Shaheen Nagar, in Mustafa Nagar on January 29 and in Kishan Bagh on January 30th. The ninth annual initiative sees 15 doctors from the USA: Dr. Jawad Ahmed (General Physician), Dr. Irfan Moin (Geriatrics), Dr. Jerome Stefenko (General Surgeon), Dr. John Rosenberg (ER Physician), Dr. Farida Ghogawala (Gynaecologist), Dr. Mohammad Gafoor (Family practice), Dr. Sabiha Gafoor (Pediatrician), Dr. Moustafa Abouelkheir (Surgeon), Dr. Jowairia Qadri (Gynaecologist), Dr. MK Ahmed (Paediatrician), Dr MY Ahmed (Surgeon), Dr Sana Ahmed (Paediatrician), Dr. Mir Mumtaz Ali (Internal and Pulmonary medicine), Dr Mohammad Haq (Internal Medicine), Dr. Reshma Mohiuddin (General Physician), Dr Noureen M Haroon (Ophthalmologist) and Shaheda B Ahmed (Pathologist) who will render their services at four camps in Hyderabad followed by camps in Assam and Manipur. The India Health Initiative was started by IMRC in 2010. Since its inception, IMRC has successfully conducted eight India Health Initiatives comprising of medical camps across different rural areas, poor localities and slums in India. This annual program is unique because it provides basic education in healthcare with an emphasis on preventive health care to the community, and provides technical training to the local doctors and medical students. IMRC has always been concerned about the health of people belonging to poor rural areas and those living in slums under abject poverty. This annual programme since last eight years has been targeting such population, who cant afford health care. Every year we organize this camp and treat thousands. Last year we were able to treat 4,380 patients in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.In 2016 we treated 5,775 patients in Kerala, Telangana, and UP, said Manzoor Ghori, Executive Director of Indian Muslim Relief and Charities (IMRC). This all becomes possible due to the US-based doctors who volunteer themselves for this noble cause, he added. By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter In a glowing show of communal harmony, a temple in Bengaluru turned venue for the Republic Day celebration of Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF). The Ganapati temple at Sudhamma Nagar hosted Manushya Jaalika, a human chain by SKSSF activists and allocated its flag post to hoist the national flag. On January 25, SKSSF functionaries were in search of a place where the national flag could be hoisted ahead of forming a human chain. Manushya Jaalika, a decade-old programme of SKSSF, is aimed at strengthening communal harmony and celebrating togetherness. Incidentally, federation functionaries came to notice the flag post of the temple on a street. Support TwoCircles Following a request extended by Malabar Muslim Association (MMA) functionary P P Siraj, temple authorities welcomed their Muslim brothers to hold the programme. Besides, temple functionaries and priest Pandit Narayana Swami came forward to attend the programme and join hands for national integration. Narayan Swami said the secular fabric of the country could be kept intact only if its secular tradition is revived. Previous years, the programme was held at premises of Malabar Muslim Association (MMA) mosque. This year, we decided to shift the location, said SKSSF Bengaluru district president Aslam Faizy. The incident, according to Faizy, will help strengthen the relations between the Muslims and Hindus here. MMA president Dr A A Mohammed hoisted the national flag. This kind of programmes insists that majority of the common men are not in favour of the social and political deterioration in the country, he said. Started in 2007, Manushya Jalika is the venue for political and religious leaders apart from activists of various organisation to join hands for national integrity. Apart from Muslim clerics and cultural activists, the programme is attended by Hindu and Christian priests across Kerala, other states and the Gulf nations. This year, the programme was held in 14 districts of Kerala apart from five places in Karnataka and three in Tamil Nadu. Students in West Bengal, Assam and Andhra Pradesh off campuses of Malappuram based Darul Huda Islamic University also took an oath for unity and national integration by taking part in Manushya Jaalika. The programme was also held in 40 centres across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. SKSSF state general secretary Sathar Panthaloor said the programme was successful in terms of public participation and could convey the message of togetherness to people from all walks of life. By Badre Alam Khan and Sanjay Kumar for TwoCircles.net The current debate within the CPI (M) has generated intensive discourse on the dilemmas to formulate viable political strategies for defeating the BJP-RSS combined communal forces in the upcoming state elections as well as the Lok Sabha election of 2019. The CPM leadership is divided on the issue of forging an alliance with Congress. This came open in the recently held partys Central Committee meeting in Kolkata with Kerala faction led by Parkash Karat (former General Secretary, CPM) opposing the idea and Bengal faction led by Sitaram Yechury in favour of it. The differences are largely driven by their use of words in describing the current dispensation. Earlier Karat has argued that nature of current dispensation could be characterized as a Communal Authoritarianism, while Yechurys Bengal faction considers the present government as fascist in nature. During internal debates, the majority of the member of the Central Committee (55) of the party has supported Karats political lines, that advocated the broader Left-unity and strengthening the extra-parliamentary politics. However, Keeping current political scenario in mind, Yechury and Bengal faction of CPM have argued that it is high time to support and forge alliances with secular and democratic forces like Congress to replace the BJP at Centre. While toeing the political lines of Yechury, 31 members of the Central Committee (mainly Bengal faction) have supported him during the internal debates regarding the tie-up with Congress. Finally, he said, the final decision will be taken at the party Congress to be held in Hyderabad in April and electoral tactics will be decided depending on the concrete situation in the states (See The Hindu, Jan 25, 2018). Note that both factions have agreed that our primary focus must be to fight against the Hindutva forces in the upcoming 2019 general and state elections too. For Karat, it is not suitable option to forge electoral alliances with Congress to confront the current challenges in the Indian politics. In this respect, the CPI (ML) General Secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya (Liberation) has put forth the view that the false binary drawn between Karat and Yechury is not the only viable option before the Left political parties. Dipankar in his recent article (See The Wire, 23 Jan, 2018) has said that keeping the current political scenario in mind, we have to move beyond the Karat and Yechurys false debates, and stressed on creating powerful and independent assertion of the left, to counter the growing fascist danger. Support TwoCircles To illustrate arguments further, Dipankar said: This [Left]assertion perfectly consistent, must be combined, with a readiness to explore suitable electoral tactics in keeping with objective political conditions in different parts of the country and the Central objective of defeating the BJP and straightening the Left. To be brief, Dipankar argument is worthwhile to consider because the CPM and CPI alliances with secular forces, mainly with Congress had not actually benefited both the parties in terms of electoral politics at the Centre as well as in state assembly elections. For instance, in the 2016 assembly election in West Bengal, the CPM and the Congress had fought together but seats were further reduced. It is to be noted that the Congress secured 44 seats and Left Front got merely 32 seats out of 294 seats. Compared with the previous assembly election in West Bengal in 2011, Congress won only 2 seats and Left Front lost 30 seats. Therefore, one could argue that Yechurys lines are not so persuaded simply because the alliance with a secular force like the Congress is a politically viable strategy to fight against fascist forces. However, we have to note that broader Left-Unity is important but in the case of last Bihar assembly election 2015, its (Left-party) electoral performance were not so successful. It is here argued that even Dipankar and Karat political lines have also not able to curved out political space in the arena of electoral politics. Conundrum of Left parties We have to accept the fact that debates around political tactics and ideological lines within the Left parties like CPM, CPI and CPI (ML) are worthwhile to explore in the context of growing challenges of the Hindutva forces. However, it is more important to politically articulate the emerging issues of toiling masses such as Dalits, women, tribals and religious minorities rather than only debating and defending party lines on the rigid ideological grounds. After the rise of communal forces at the Centre since 2014, it must be underlined that Indian society has confronted several issues, which have not been properly articulated by the progressive Left parties. For instance, range of issues such as right to freedom of expression, attack on constitutional values, cow vigilantism, beef ban, attack on the educational institutions, love-jihad, issues of farmer suicides, violence against women and Dalits, communal attacks on minorities, mob lynching, speedy process of privatization, cuts of government sector jobs, labour issues, demonetization, GST, the controversy around releasing the film Padmaavat and lastly Bhima Koregaon etc. which have created great communal and social divide among the people of India. Yet, it is sad to note that on these above burning issues, mainstream Left parties have not successfully articulated and made them national issues. However, Ambedkarites group like Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, headed by Jignesh Mewani now MLA from Vadgam constituency of Gujarat and other youth leaders, such as Alpesh Thakur (newly elected MLA), Hardik Patel etc. have had launched movement and articulated said problems nationwide, which have also benefited electorally in the Gujarat Election of 2017. In short, we suggest that given the political context of the country, it is in our view, Left-unity or alliances with the so-called secular Congress is not the only viable political option to counter the rabid communal forces. Now it is high time to forge larger political solidarity with radical Ambedkarites forces led by Mewani and others. Search for Radical politics In this concluding section, we would like to say that we are not against the broader unity of the Left parties but, however, our concern is that unity must be based on the substantiate issues and problems confronted by the large section of oppressed masses, rather than endorsing rigid ideological framework. To be very precise, from Rohit Vemula to Bhima Koregaon, Dalits and Ambedkarites forces have articulated substantive problems such as caste atrocities, violence against women, communal attacks and mob lynchings of religious minorities especially Indian Muslims, issues of land distribution, the communal onslaught on the universities etc. in the public domain. It is interesting to note that most of these issues have been raised by students bodies of JNU, HCU, JMI and Ambedkarites forces led by Jignesh Mewani, Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakur etc. And that is why in the Gujarat state assembly election (2017), due to their protest and agitation, they have not only won assembly seats but posed severe challenges to the communal forces as mentioned above. So, therefore, taking Gujarat election experience into mind, left and progressive forces must not confine to the only Left-Unity but also forge larger political solidarity with Ambedkarites forces on the basis of the agenda, which is confronted by the toiling masses to defeat the Hindutva brigades in the upcoming state elections as well as the general election of 2019. Badre Alam is a Doctoral Student at Delhi University, and Dr. Sanjay Kumar is a Post- Doctoral Fellow at JNU, New Delhi. By M Ghazali Khan for TwoCircles.net Instead of hosting and participating in festivities, the UK-based Indian Diaspora marked the Republic Day by organising a protest against Hindutva attacks on minorities and Dalits in India. Several activists gathered outside the India House and shouted anti-Hindutva slogans in the chilly wind and freezing cold weather. Activists carried large portraits of the victims of Hindutva-led violence including Gauri Lankesh, Akhkaq, Pehlu Khan, Junaid, Rohith Vemula and others along with their names, date, and place of their lynchings. The caption on Justice Loya portrait, however, simply read: Who killed Justice Loya? Support TwoCircles The protest was organised by rights organisation South Asia Solidarity Group (SASG). In her speech Amrit Wilson, SASGs spokesperson, writer, and activist, said, We were here last Saturday in the pouring rain. There were about a thousand of us. We had a letter for the Indian Prime Minister and for the President of India. We were told by the Indian High Commission that they would not take our letter in. They had instructions from the Indian government to refuse this letter. They dont have to take our letter but we are telling the world and the world is watching whats happening in India, she added. Rutuja Deshmukh from SOAS India Society said, From the lynchings of Muslims in the name of the cow to the attack on a school bus over a film, and Justice Loya s mysterious death, there are more than enough reasons to conclude that the Indian state is turning into a fascist regime sooner than anyone imagined. It is our duty as responsible citizens to resist this advent of fascism. Satpal Muman, a member of Ambedkar Memorial Committee of Great Britain which also supported the vigil, said, We are deeply concerned about the horrific attacks on Dalits that have escalated vastly under the Modi regime, about the hatred and violence against minorities and on all those who simply tell the truth. We cannot stand by while the democratic fabric of India is being threatened by the rise of Hindu supremacy. On behalf of South Asia Solidarity Group, Nirmala Rajasingham, said, We stand with the many Indians who are rising in grief and rage against the horrific violence choreographed by the Hindu supremacist Modi regime and its openly fascist parent organisation the RSS. Here in the UK too these Hindu organisations are spreading their casteist venom and virulent Islamophobia. We will continue to confront them as we pledge to resist Indias descent into the Republic of Fear. Ujjain, a student studying law at Nottingham University recalled the despicable atmosphere and reactions, sentiments of and comments made by Modi supporters on the day when Akhlaq was lynched a few miles away from her residence in Noida. But she said she was at the protest to speak about a man called G M Saibaba, former Professor of Delhi University. He is highly disabled and was one of us who spoke up against the atrocities against indigenous people who are asking for their identity and dignity. He is suffering in the prison without any support despite being 90 percent disabled. His bail application is pending and the court, without any evidence which can be accepted under Indian evidence act, has convicted him for life saying that he had been committing crimes against the national security. A statement issued by SASG read, As the Indian state gets ready to celebrate Republic Day with a show of military hardware and xenophobic nationalist rhetoric, we stand with those many, many Indians who today are rising in grief and rage against the violence and hate choreographed by the far-right Hindu supremacist Modi regime against its own people. It adds, This year has seen a continuation of the epidemic of mob lynching in which Muslims have been the main target. Whether the pretext has been claims of eating beef, cattle trading, the so-called love jihad or simply travelling while being a Muslim, these attacks have been instigated and organized by the network of vigilante groups and paramilitaries linked to the ruling BJP government and the openly fascist organisation which inspires and directs them, the RSS. Those who have been brutally murdered range from 15-year-old Junaid beaten to death in a train in UP to Pehlu Khan lynched by cow vigilantes on a Rajasthan road. Putting the responsibility squarely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers for all of it, the statement continues: Their deaths have been met by resounding silence from the Prime Minister, justifications from his ministers, and waves of celebration from the army of hideously abusive online right-wing trolls, many of whom are followed by Narendra Modi, the man who himself oversaw the 2002 genocide of Muslims in Gujarat when he was the Chief Minister. On December 6, millions of people witnessed the horror of Afrazul Khan, a migrant worker from Bengal, being hacked to death and burnt alive in Rajasthan, with the carnage being sickeningly videoed and circulated online by the perpetrator and his 14-year-old nephew. That the perpetrator Shambhulal far from being a mentally disturbed lone wolf was confirmed by the celebrations of his crime and the protests against his arrest organized by the Hindu right-wing organizations linked to the government, culminating in the replacing of the Indian flag by the saffron flag (representing Hindu supremacist power) atop the High Court building in Udaipur. The statement gives details of atrocities against Muslims, Christians, and Dalits and human rights violations in Kashmir and adds, Meanwhile the Modi government is ruthlessly seeking to silence all those who dissent from its agenda of creeping fascism. The cold-blooded assassination on 5 September 2017 of the courageous journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bangalore, who had fearlessly criticized and exposed the BJP and its associated groups, brought thousands onto the streets in mourning and protest. As India descends rapidly into open fascism, we cannot afford to remain silent. We must stand by those whose very existence is under threat. We must show our solidarity with the thousands taking to the streets in India in protest against mob lynching, atrocities on Dalits, assassinations of dissidents and the Islamophobic, caste supremacist far-right regime of Narendra Modi, read the statement. Just last week, Republicans in Congress came together to pass their Tax Bill which was then sent to Donald Trump for his signature. While most in conservative media have praised the president for the new tax reform, one host on Fox took a different approach. Fox on Trump During the 2016 presidential election, all 16 candidates running in the Republican primary had similar talking points when it came to the economy. Each candidate vowed to cut taxes and reduce regulations, continuing a theme that has been used by the political right for decades. Winning that argument was Donald Trump, who ended up steam rolling through the primary before pulling off the upset win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. With a Repubican majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it was only a matter of time before tax reform was made a reality. Despite facing initial roadblocks and in-fighting with his fellow Republicans, Trump was able to get on the same page with enough conservatives in Congress and signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law. Just over a week later and one host on Fox decided to double down on her criticism, as seen during the December 28 broadcast of "The Intelligence Report" on Fox Business. Joining host Trish Reagan on Thursday night was Fox News and Fox Business contributor and part-time host Ben Stein, with both breaking from the network's stance to attack the tax bill in question, in particular the carried interest loophole that allows private equities the ability to have their profits taxed at half the rate. "This is what Americans rebelled against," Regan said, in regards to Donald Trump's failed promise to eliminate the rule. Lawyers and accountants are eyeing provisions in the new tax bill that investors and companies could potentially exploit https://t.co/Xs4lurXhrt The New York Times (@nytimes) December 28, 2017 "Ive gotta tell you, I was shocked," Trish Regan told Ben Stein. In agreement, Stein went on the attack to smear the wealthy for paying off politicians to keep their taxes low. "If they take a little tiny bit of that and pay it to the people in Washington so they can then lower their taxes, it's an incredible bargain," Stein said, before adding, "There is no greater leverage in the world than giving money to political candidates." Trish Regan And Ben Stein Take a Wrecking Ball to the GOP Tax Bill: Disgraceful https://t.co/HA8raDoio2 (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/Lk6qrPMM2S Mediaite (@Mediaite) December 28, 2017 Double down Trish Regan went back on the attack against Donald Trump for not keeping his campaign promise, which resulted in Ben Stein once again finding himself in agreement. "That whole private equity thing is very much of a scam," Stein said, before later commenting on how tax reform has been handled as "disgraceful." Air Force One is set to receive an upgrade of two of its refrigerators, that will cost the taxpayer a whopping $24 million. According to CNN reports, Air Force One has a total of five refrigerators, but only two will be upgraded at that cost. The refrigerator upgrading contract was awarded to Boeing in December last year by the US Air Force at a cost of $23.6 million which covers only two units, to be replaced with newer, modern and more efficient coolers. According to Airforce spokesperson Anne Stefanek, the cooler units currently in place, are the original refrigerators that came with the Presidential jet when it was purchased in 1990. Stefanek told CNN the refrigerators were built according to the technology available in the 90s, which makes them outdated. Frequent breakdowns Although the units receive regular service and maintenance, they continue to suffer constant breakdowns and can only sustain food storage for a short period of time, unable to preserve food for longer missions, Stefanek observed. Stefanek added the two refrigeration units especially encounter problems during hot or humid weather, hence necessitating their complete replacement. The upgrade cost was announced by Defense One earlier in the week. The huge price tag the upgrade will cost the taxpayer according to the Air Force Spokesperson arises from the fact that the Presidential jet is a unique plane, and the cost will also cover the numerous unique tests that will be undertaken by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the DOD contract, the cost includes; prototype design, manufacture, and installation, engineering support services, structural modifications that will see the refrigerated area increased to around 70 cubic feet, environmental testing and obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration certificate. Cost reactions In a tweet on Friday, former Senior Advisor to President Obama mocked the high cost of the upgrade, saying if it was done during Obama's time, the entire administration would have risked impeachment. Obama's administration was forced, owing to a public outcry, to shelve a planned purchase of Presidential helicopters after it emerged the buy would cost the taxpayer $11 billion. During his presidential campaigns, Trump was highly critical of the high costs involved in the Air Force One upgrade program terming them as unrealistic and 'out of control.' Trump went further to suggest that on assuming office, he would swap the Presidential jet for his private jet during his travels. Since taking office, however, Trump has continued to travel using Air Force One. Kentucky school shooter: - The identity of the boy who it is suspected killed two students and wounded 12 others, has been revealed. According to a report by the Daily Mail, UK, who cited the Courier Journal, he was described by fellow students as a 'real grandma's boy.' The shooting took place at Marshall County High School Tuesday 23, 2018. The incident resulted in Bailey Holt dying on the scene and Preston Ryan Cope was declared dead at a hospital in Nashville. The boy allegedly opened fire on students who were aged from 14 to 18-years-old. My God. Our nation values guns more than it values children. What happened here should never happen. In fact, it doesn't happen in 99% of the world. Most nations have not had a school shooting EVER. We're working on 20 for JANUARY. https://t.co/uYqYewiorQ Shaun King (@ShaunKing) January 25, 2018 Kentucky suspect shooter name was not revealed by Police Department Police did not initially release his name, but Daily Mail revealed, "sources close to the family confirmed his identity to the paper, and explained that he is the son of the editor of the Marshall County Online, Mary Garrison Minyard." Gabe Parker is just 15-years-old. He was a member of the school marching band, according to witnesses, and he was quite well liked. Other students explained that he was a quiet kid who seldom got into any sort of trouble. One parent, Jayson Roberts, told the newspaper that his son who went to classes with Gabe, said he had no known anti-social issues. Witness says he was 'really good kid' One of the most reliable sources of information about the school shooter came from fellow student Ashley Collie. Her parents gave her permission to speak to the paper, and she described him as "really good kid." It seems she shared a math class with Gabe Parker. The incident was terrifying for students and teachers. The shooting lasted for about forty-five minutes. Ashley and some other students hid away in a teachers office until police arrived and gave the all-clear. Ashley said that he was'definitely shooting to kill,' but did not seem to be hunting down any particular students. The school shooter is allegedly the son of a journalist editor and Daily Mail reports she rushed to the school. It must have been terribly shocking for her. While most witnesses and sources have said that he was a quiet boy with no known issues, others mentioned that he did seem to have some problems. Shooter charged as a juvenile initially but this might change One source told the Courier Journal that since he came back to school after the holiday period, Gabe Parker, a shooter at just 15, was 'snappy' and talked about wanting to go and join the Mafia. Other students and family members described him as a 'grandma's boy' and said he was dedicated to her and would almost anything for her. Suspect shooter Gabe Parker was taken into custody and has been charged with two counts of murder and 12 other assault counts, as a juvenile, but apparently, the courts will try and have him charged as an adult. ATF Louisville Division's George Huffman said that the handgun was recovered but failed to confirm the type of weapon or who it belonged to. The UK Daily Mail, apparently as a science experiment, screened some old James Bond films for Millennials for the first time. The young people were shocked and appalled. The movies, even the later ones, are sexist and even racist. Indeed, Sean Connerys Bond is basically a rapist. The problem is that Bonds problematic relationships with women have been well known and commented on for decades. Just like every generation since human beings first descended from the trees, the 18 to 30-year-old crowd thinks that they have discovered the truth for the first time. James Bond was a male fantasy cartoon character Bond was a strange kind of spy. He was supposed to work for a clandestine service, yet everyone in the world, especially the bad guys, knew that he preferred his vodka martinis shaken, not stirred, that his number was 007, that he carried a Walther PPK, and that he had a license to kill. Bond was essentially a Cartoon Character who could have any woman he wanted, kill anyone he wanted (so long as it was for Queen and Country) and look stylish doing it. The modern idea of consent being conveyed with a detailed sex contract filled out in triplicate and notarized would have raised an eyebrow and perhaps, Surely youre joking? Besides, Bond lived a lifestyle that would have killed an ordinary man as early as his 50s. He drank his vodka martinis like a fish and chain smoked. He was in a profession that the law of averages suggested that he would stop a bullet or get killed by an elaborate death machine devised by a Bond villain sooner or later. The myth of the Bond girl The idea that most people have of the typical Bond girl is of the simpering little thing who murmured, Oh, James! while the British spy went to work seducing her. Even during the Connery era a lot of the Bond girls were competent. Pussy Galore, for example, knew judo and ran her own flying business. Both Kissy Suzuki and Aki from You Only Live Twice were Japanese secret operatives. Holly Goodhead from Moonraker was a NASA scientist and astronaut. Melina Havelock was lethal with a crossbow and actually saved Bond in For Your Eyes Only. Octopussy ran her own all-female crime syndicate. The list goes on and on, but the standard fate of all of these capable women is that they must wind up in bed with Bond, not because he forces himself on them, but because he is Bond. James Bond, thank you very much. About that racism Apparently, the young folk have been primarily triggered by the fat, balding, and rather stupid character of J.W. Pepper, the Louisiana sheriffs deputy who appears in Live and Let Die and again in The Man with the Golden Gun. Ole J.W. was a racist. He was deliberately drawn so because it was something that millennials may not know about, that being comedy relief. Audiences in the seventies dealt with that sort of thing by laughing at it. The young folks may want to try that sometime. Laughter is far less stressful than running in terror to the safe spaces. A Suicide bomber, using an ambulance to conceal the explosives, killed at least 95 people and injured 163 others. The bomb was detonated in the Afghan capital of Kabul Saturday (Jan. 27) near the government's former Interior Ministry building, foreign embassies belonging to the European Union and Indian consulates. A report by the New York Times presented most of the information used in this article. The area, a shopping zone also known as Chicken Street, was crowded with pedestrians, shortly after noon local time. Witnesses more than half-a-mile away saw the flames and heard the explosion. Buildings hundreds of feet away were shaken by its force. Detonated at 2nd Checkpoint Nasrat Rahimi, the Interior Ministries Deputy Spokesperson, confirmed that the attacker had made it through a security checkpoint by telling police he was taking a patient to a nearby hospital. It was the second checkpoint at which he detonated the device. Breaking News: "It's a massacre." A bomb in an ambulance killed at least 63 people in Kabul, days after another major Taliban attack in the Afghan capital.https://t.co/XcElU1WWbH The New York Times (@nytimes) January 27, 2018 Responsibility for the terrorist attack has been claimed by the Taliban, which follows close on the heels of their Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul attack which killed 20 others. A spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility. The Afghanistan government, however, is claiming that the Haqqani Network is behind the suicide attack today in Kabul. The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement condemning the terror attacks on innocent civilians. In the statement, they said There can be no justification for it. The perpetrators and their supporters should be brought to justice. He also went on to condemn an early attack he labeled cowardly, on civilians and children in Jalalabad on January 24. The Jalalabad attack, perpetrated by gunmen who stormed a Save The Children office, resulted in one dead and at least 14 wounded. Fight against the forces of terror and evil With the condemnation of the attacks, they also stated their support for the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Condolences were also expressed in a tweet today from Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people and government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil, he said. Shocked at news of the terrorist attack in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people and government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil #PresidentKovind President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 27, 2018 A public health ministry spokesman said that 17 dead and 110 wounded were brought to local hospitals so far and more were still coming in. Coordinator of the Italian aid group Emergency, Dejan Panic, said that their nearby trauma hospital had received more than 50 wounded. After the explosion, bystanders were seen assisting the wounded while emergency services tried to get through the clogged traffic in the city center. Formal coalition talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU); their sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU); and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) started on Friday. As Deutsche Welle writes in an article "Germany: Angela Merkel's conservatives and SPD open grand coalition talks", the talks are aimed at forming what is commonly referred to as a grand coalition, which would bring together Germany's two largest parties to form a government. Germany's general election last year witnessed the CDU garner the most votes, but fall short of a governing majority. The SPD said it would not form a government with the CDU/CSU after the elections, forcing Merkel to attempt a so-called Jamaica coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats. Exploratory coalition talks with the Greens and FDP fell through in November, forcing Merkel's conservatives to pivot to their former coalition partners, the SPD. On Sunday, the SPD narrowly voted to go ahead with formal coalition talks despite a major push from the center-left party's youth wing to back out of a possible grand coalition. Merkel was optimistic about the talks, saying: "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." 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." Grand coalition is a governing coalition between a parliament's two largest parties. In Germany's case, it means a coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD. 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. If the CDU/CSU and SPD form a government, what parties will form the opposition? Last year's elections witnessed the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) become the third-largest party in parliament. They would become the largest opposition party if a "grand coalition" government is formed. The Left Party, parliament's fifth-largest party, would also play a key opposition role to a Merkel-led government. The talks are largely viewed as Merkel's last chance to form a stable government. If talks fail to produce a governing coalition, the CDU could try for a minority government, although fresh elections would be the most likely outcome. However, if she manages to pull together a grand coalition, then it's on to governing Europe's largest economy. There are many places in Russia that are full of terrible secrets: Devil's den in Volgograd region, Mysnoy Bor in Novgorod region, Mountain of the Dead in Sverdlovsk region, known as the Dyatlov Pass. There are also places like that in Krasnoyarsk Territory, in Yakutia, in Kamchatka, as well as in the Caucasus. One of them is the Dargavs settlement, hidden in the middle of the Caucasus Mountains. After surging of the infamous Kolka Glacier, which resulted in deaths of more than a hundred people, including Sergey Bodrov and his crew, and destroyed the road leading to Dargavs, leaving it practically disconnected from the outside world. There are only few people left in the village. Reaching it now is very hard and dangerous, but it's worth it. For several centuries there's a necropolis with crypts and tombs next to North Ossetia's Dargavs. There were rumors that no one returns alive from there. Soviet scientists didn't care about these rumorts. In the late 1960s, they traveled to the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia for excavation work in hope of unraveling secrets of this sacred place. Just in case, they worked, examined soil samples with gloves. In the end they didn't find anything unusual. They tried to find plague pathogens, which significantly reduced the population of the region and turned Dargavs into city of the dead in the 16th century. Plague was considered to be the most dangerous disease in the history of mankind. Fleas and ticks were carriers of pathogenic microorganisms responsible for the plague. And parasites retain pathological effect for seven weeks. It's said that when plague came to Dargavs, an unimaginable number of people died. \ But in fact, there are no burials in Dargavs itself. Around hundred stone crypts are located in about a kilometer from the village, which is surrounded by majestic fortresses and towers of notable Ossetian resident. Crypts are kingdom of the deceased. Some are above the ground - their roofs look like a pyramid, built from slate tiles; others look different. Nnecropolis resemblesEgyptian pyramids or Hindu temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, dedicated to Vishnu, keeper of the universe, who fights against evil and creates link between people and the universe. Khmer temples usually weren't a place for meeting of believers. It was a place where gods dwelled. Central buildings could be accessed only by representatives of religious and political elite. However, Angkor Wat is different because it was a place where kings were buried. In Ossetia, you can understand how rich a family is by how its burial site looks. Apparently, crypts with pyramidal roofs were built for representatives of noble families. Since villagers buried their loved ones with clothes and personal belongings, scientists managed to gather a rich collection of household items - jewelry, weapons, ceramics. The only remaining mystery - boats, in which some remains have been found. Perhaps these boats wouldn't be called boats, if a paddle wasnt' found near one of them. Presence of a boat and a paddle in the mountains remains a mystery. There's a speculation about the ancient cult of personification of primitive terror and darkness of Greek mythology, which had an enormous influence on the development of world culture and created countless religious ideas about a man, heroes and gods. Perhaps residents of Dargava believed that deceased need boats to reach the river in the realm of the dead. Eight people were killed mistakenly and 10 wounded Saturday when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force clashed with local police and paramilitary tribal fighters in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said, Xinhua reports. The incident took place after midnight when a U.S. and Iraqi joint force raided a house of a terrorist suspect in the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Captain Mohammed al-Dulaimi from the provincial police told Xinhua. The local police and paramilitary tribal fighters were surprised by the raid and came to the site to identify the troops, but a clash erupted between the two sides and U.S. helicopter gunships pounded the local police and the tribal fighters, Dulaimi said. A U.S. helicopter also bombarded a convoy of Colonel Salam al-Obeidi, head of the town's police, while his convoy approached the battlefield. Some policemen, including Obeidi himself, were killed in the clash, Dulaimi added. A 33-year-old Yerevan resident, whose name is not specified, was found dead this morning in one of the capital's hotels near Hrazdan Gorge. As Novosti Armenia reports, the hotel workers found a corpse, called an ambulance, and the doctors called the police. A body examination showed that his death was not violent. The investigation has been initiated into the case, the results of the forensic medical examination are expected. One of the most famous names of Azerbaijani carpets known as Ardebil and Sheikh Safi, is currently being exhibited in the Museum of Arts in Los Angeles, AzerNews reported. Carpet Sheikh Safi is considered to be the oldest dated carpet in the world. As one of the largest (35 million knots) and historically important carpets of the world, it was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London with its pair. This pair of carpets was woven in 1539-1940 in the city of Tabriz and was kept in the temple in Ardebil until the 19th century, when they were brought to London, according to the information of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles. One of the carpets was secretly sold to American industrialist J. Paulo Getty, who subsequently donated his art to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1953. The carpet, which is located in the Museum of Art of the District of Los Angeles, is considered to be more beautiful. Because of its large size (23 feet long, 13 feet wide), the carpet is exhibited usually every six to ten years at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Since its debut in the museum in 1965, it has been shown only six times. The exhibition this year will last until February 11. According to the Ukrainian media, at a meeting of the board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the head of the State Migration Service of the country, Maxim Sokolyuk, announced the beginning of a total check of all Ukrainian citizens who received citizenship after the declaration of the country's independence. Sokolyuk explained that the State Migration Service is concerned about the illegal acquisition of the Ukrainian citizenship, in particular, for fake information about living in the Ukrainian territories during the Soviet times. Posted 1/27/18 Until recently, people who were adopted in Missouri were unable to access their original birth certificates, making information about birth parents and family medical history difficult, if not Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich met with Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan within the framework of the 48th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. "We have discussed matters related to Russian business and capitals active involvement at the [Meghri] free economic zone that opened on the Armenian-Iranian border, and the EEU activities," Karapetyan wrote on his Facebook page. "We reflected also on the prospects for cooperation in agriculture, especially in the livestock breeding sector," News.am cited him as saying. As a result of the attack of PYD/YPG terrorists on the Turkish province of Hatay, one child was injured, Trend news agency reports. A missile launched by terrorists from Afrin to Reyhanli district of the province of Hatay fell into a three-story building. Fortunately, the building was empty. The wounded child was taken to the hospital. On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. US Ambassador to Moscow Jon Huntsman is convinced that, not only can we improve the US-Russia relationship, but we must, RT reports. Writing in an op-ed for the Moscow Times on Friday, Huntsman said, We are making progress, and there is much more we can achieve finding a constructive way forward. The envoy noted that the relationship between the two states is at the lowest point in years, but people in the US have made it clear that they expect and demand it to be improved. We have to begin to find solutions to the common problems that confront us around the globe, the ambassador said, adding that it all comes down to two things: trust and results. U.S. Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster said that the U.S. will no longer give weapons to Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in a phone call with the Turkish presidential aide Ibrahim Kaln on Jan. 26 evening, Hurriyet Daily News reported citing Anadolu Agency. The phone conversation Kaln and H.R. McMaster stressed consideration for Turkey's legitimate security concerns, according to a statement released by the Turkish presidency on Jan. 27. The countries agreed to close coordination to prevent misunderstandings on issues concerning Syria, the statement added. Also, the significance of Turkey and the U.S., as allies in NATO, developing relations at all levels based on mutual interests and respect was emphasized. HA NOI --- The Viet Nam Steel Association has predicted a year-on-year increase of 20-22 per cent in steel production this year. Nguyen Van Sua, the associations deputy chairman, said at a meeting on Thursday a number of steel projects would become operational this year, including a plant of Hoa Phat Group in central Quang Ngai Province, with an annual capacity of two million tonnes, a three-million tonne capacity plant of Formosa in Ha Tinh Province, a 350,000 tonne-capacity production line of Hoa Sen in Binh inh and three plants of Pomina, Viet-Y and Tung Ho, with a total capacity of 1.8 million tonnes per year. The new plants would boost steel output significantly, the association said. Specifically, cast iron is predicted to increase by 75 per cent to reach 7,500 tonnes, steel ingot by 14 per cent to 14,000 tonnes and finished steel products by 19 per cent to 26,230 tonnes. Sua said the association would proactively participate in developing national standards for steel products and technical barriers as well as promote the application of trade defense instruments to protect domestic industry amidst rapid international integration. In addition to these, the association would keep a close watch on the import of products that local producers can manufacture and propose measures to promote domestic production. According to Nghiem Xuan a, chairman of Viet Nam Steel Corporation, the steel industry has seen rapid increases in capacity, output and demand during the past five years. In 2018, Viet Nam would continue to be a fast-growing market for steel, he said. He also said the government should increase policies to promote investment and international co-operation and stimulate steel consumption demand by developing industries such as construction, ship building and mechanics. The associations statistics revealed that steel output reached more than 22 million tonnes in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 23.5 per cent, with a sale volume of nearly 19 million tonnes, up by 20.7 per cent. The industry recorded an export revenue of more than US$3.64 billion, up by 45.4 per cent over 2016. Viet Nam imported nearly 20 million tonnes of steel in 2017, worth $10.5 billion, a drop by 14.2 per cent in volume but a rise of 13.2 per cent in value. --- VNS More than 35,000 smartphones in Viet Nam have been affected by the GhostTeam virus, according to the BKAV Technology Group. Photo ictnews.vn HCM City More than 35,000 smartphones in Viet Nam have been affected by the GhostTeam virus, according to the BKAV Technology Group. The virus takes advantage of popular Vietnamese applications in Google Play to spread and steal Facebook passwords. Hackers provide applications like flashlights and calendars, which, after installing, automatically download the virus. The applications sound a security warning and offers suggestions on what to do, tricking users to click on a harmful link. BKAV experts warn that smart phone users should scan their phones and change their Facebook password immediately if they discover the virus. Vu Ngoc Son, BKAV Technology Groups deputy chairman in charge of anti-malware, said: It is very hard for users to be vigilant against viruses infiltrating through Google Play. In this case, users should use anti-virus software to get automatic protection. Google Play has already deleted harmful Vietnamese applications, but smart phones in which they are already installed face a very high possibility of infection. VNS HCM CITY The countrys exports of forestry product are expected to top US$9 billion this year, with wood and wooden products accounting for $8.5-8.7 billion, according to the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (Hawa). Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Hawa chairman, said exports of wooden and other forestry products rose by 10.2 per cent last year to a record $8 billion, a figure targeted only in 2020. Exports of wood and wooden products increased by 12.3 per cent a year for the past seven years, and are forecast to rise even faster in the next three years, he told a celebration in HCM City yesterday, on the occasion of the forestry products exported value reaching the $8 billion mark in 2017. He listed the opportunities for the sector until 2020, saying the future is bright. China, the worlds largest supplier of wooden products, has imposed export taxes on wooden products. It faces a lawsuit in the US for dumping furniture, reducing the competiveness of its products. Other main furniture producers like Germany and Italy have cut production due to higher costs, while Malaysia and some other ASEAN members have development strategies but lack the workforce required. Global demand for furniture remains high, and though Viet Nam is strong in that area its exports are insignificant, which means there is considerable scope for Vietnamese firms to increase their market share. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong hailed the sectors achievements, saying: Reaching $8 billion in exports is a very important landmark for the forestry sector. It would have opportunities to expand its market share in the global market since there is an increase in demand, he said. "But consumers have increasingly higher demands and furniture producers need to improve quality, designs and features to add value to their products," he said. Viet Nams 100 million population makes it a promising market too. To achieve the export target this year, firms need to invest more in technology and business management to raise productivity and sustain quality, he said. They should diversify timber sources to avoid the risk of high prices while saying no to illegal sources, he said. The US has cut corporate income tax to support local furniture producers, and Vietnamese firms should avoid export of products that US firms are producing, he said. Nguyen Lien, general director of Lam Viet Joint Stock Company, said the market for wooden products is good now with many international buyers shifting from China to Viet Nam. I think the export target of $9-10 billion is easy to achieve. His company had earned $21 million from furniture exports last year, and it is expected to increase by 20-25 per cent to $25-27 million this year, he said. Businesses have prepared well to capitalise on market opportunities, he added. Wood and wooden products rank sixth in the list of the countrys largest export items. Viet Nam is the largest exporter of those products among ASEAN member nations, second largest in Asia and fifth in the world. Fourteen outstanding wood processing and forestry products export firms were honoured for their business achievements at the celebration. VNS HA NOI One way to resolve environmental disputes, especially between citizens and polluting businesses as witnessed in recent times, is through litigation. Legal procedures and verdicts to settle clashes between two parties could be used as case law to resolve future disputes of a sensitive nature such as environmental ones, to protect those harmed by businesses environmental violations. The remarks were made by a representative from the Central Commission of Internal Affairs during a discussion on recently conducted research on environmental disputes and distributive justice by the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) and the National Economics University (NEU) on Thursday in Ha Noi. Class action environmental disputes could be conducted like trade disputes, where court fees are waived for people suing the violating company, and burden of proof is placed on the company to prove their innocence. The UNDP environmental disputes research team, on the other hand, recommended mediation as a good practice from international experience, emphasising that mediators must be well-trained and neutral, which could include environmental NGOs or university-based environmental institutes. Further, complicated legal procedures and a lack of protection mechanisms for accusers make ligitation inaccessible to many, said policy co-ordinator Nguyen Hoang Phuong from the Vietnamese environment non-profit organisation PanNature. Increasing environmental concerns Environmental pollution causes yearly losses of 5 per cent to Viet Nams GDP, nearly five times over the economic loss caused by natural disaster, according to the NEU. Echoing the message of economic growth not at the expense of the environment that the Vietnamese Government, including Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, has reiterated multiple times, 77 per cent of respondents to the Viet Nam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI 2016) said the Government should prioritise environmental protection over reckless economic development. The PAPI 2016 survey also points out that environment emerged as the second greatest concern (12.53 per cent) citizens expected the State to address, just after poverty and hunger. Professor Tran Tho at, NEU President, said currently in Viet Nam, most policy and research activities have focused on levels of pollution or environmental protection, while environmental injustice the unequal distribution of benefits and harm caused by enterprises, the escalating factor of disputes remains largely under-studied or inadequately addressed. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Thang, Director of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Management and head of the researchs team, referred to the case of Tan ong Hiep quarry mine in Di An Town of the southern province Binh Duong. According to the mineral exploitation plan of the province, the quarries in the area were supposed to close by the end of 2015. However, for years, citizens had fiercely protested the mines activities, complaining over the unbearable noise, dirt and quakes caused by the mines operations. The management board of Tan ong Hiep had to compensate locals (VN300,000-800,000 per household). By the end of 2017, two years after it was meant to close, the mine was still running and the operator had asked to continue operations for another two years, hurting local peoples quality of life. Local residents agreed that the mine was important to the local economys development, but why do we have to suffer? the research quoted them as asking. There is also the case of Thuy Hai Food Company in the northern province of Thai Binh where an unpleasant odour was the cause of conflict. In 2011 - 2012, hundreds of local residents built concrete walls to block entry to the company. Inspectors from the provincial environment department said they did not detect any significant violations. The company then dismantled the concrete walls and the people protested, with the opposition escalating to the point where local authorities had to deploy forces to prevent violence. Finally, the bottleneck was released in 2014 where the company decided to relocate, an expensive endeavour, but both sides were reportedly happy. Another case is Sonadezi Long Thanh company in Long Thanh Industrial Park, ong Nai Province. In 2005, local residents submitted some 300 complaints over alleged environmental degradation caused by the companys pollution. A third-party research institute in HCM City was called to evaluate the extent of damages, concluding that the company would need to pay VN16 billion ($708,000). In both cases, local people who were directly affected by the pollution were not satisfied with the settlement or the settlement process, and they have lingering suspicions that local authorities were colluding with or taking the side of the business. When there is a distrust and unresolved dispute in spite of State-based channels, people often resort to legally risky protest tactics to draw attention to their predicament, Thang concluded, adding that the spreading of this practice would disrupt social order. The research team commented that in most pollution cases, the case could stall for a long time as environmental police emphasise the need to catch businesses red-handed, otherwise there would be no evidence to hold them accountable. This problematic state of affairs is due to insufficient environmental monitoring and inspections, the research team said. Better regulations UNDP Country Director in Viet Nam, Caitlin Wiesen, highlighted the need to better understand the dynamics of environmental disputes in Viet Nam, the socio-economic and political implications to safeguard environmental rights and access to justice. The case studies analysed in the research and experience from other countries show that three factors are important in order to ensure environmental rights: consulting with communities before governments take actions that will affect the environment; ensuring individuals have access to information and to participating in decision-making in environmental matters that affect them; and providing access to courts or any mediation mechanisms to settle environmental disputes, she said. Nguyen Quang Hong, a researcher on environment law from NEU, cited one notable improvement in recent times since the new environment law was enacted in 2014, as now a community meeting report must be included in the environmental impact assessment (EIA), which adds citizens voice when authorities decide if a business can set up in a certain location. However, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has placed importance on EIAs, monitoring compliance of such commitments is lacking. Experts recommended that round-the-clock environmental monitoring measures be implemented during the entire life cycle of any project. After the fallout of the infamous Formosa marine incident, we have learned that the view considering EIA as a skeleton key in environment protection is a flawed view, whats important is forcing businesses to comply with the EIAs terms, Nguyen The Chinh, head of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, said. EIAs are just the basis on which a project is approved or not, once the project starts, businesses cannot fall back on the EIA to defend their wrongdoings, but environmental law will now take the central role. Chinh said the environment ministry is studying amendments to the environment law, especially two-step EIA and further involvement of non-State actors. Participants also called for better business ethics that could be enforced by measures such as commercial banks only accepting loans from businesses with green policies. VNS HA NOI There is a huge difference between the milling crowds in HCM Citys Book Street and the lack of people in the Ha Noi equivalent in a short street simply called December 19. HCM City has just commemorated the second anniversary of its Book Street in Nguyen Van Binh Street by selling a total of 1.2 million books for a total of VN67 million in two years. More than four million people flocked to the locale in that period. Statistics from publishers with stores in the street say that in 2016 about 500,000 books were sold for the whole year. Last year that jumped to 746,000 books. Quach Thu Nguyet, director of MTV Street Book Company, said she loved the location. Nguyen Van Binh is a short street with few vehicles and is well away from residential areas. It is right in the centre of the city and next to architecture heritage, she said. The location is a crucial factor in the success of the street. Suong Thanh Hoai, from Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company, said the southern citys Book Street was a successful model. The space for books is well-organised and there are abundant activities and exhibitions, he said, In terms of business, although the income of companies varies throughout the year, the final tally is encouraging." HCM City has many writers and artists, which makes it ideal for book launches. In 2016, 100 talks were held in the street and in 2017, this rose to 167 - an event every two days. I think the reason for the success of Book Street in HCM City and the deserted situation in its Ha Noi equivalent is people, said Nguyen Minh Nhut, director of Tre (Youth) Publishing House. The HCM City development is a result of organisers who have spent much time and energy promoting the street. In the beginning, there were only 20 booths in Nguyen Van Binh Street and about 20 publishers, but then many quit. Each booth needed VN500 million, he said. If the initiators were not well-known publishers like Le Hoang and Quach Thu Nguyet, we would not have participated in the venture. My publishing house is mostly wholesale and therefore it is a sensible place to do business. People living in HCM City have a habit of buying things and using services more than any other cities. For example, BHD Company has its main office in Ha Noi, yet it runs six of its eight cinemas in HCM City. It screens many films throughout the country, but the proceeds from HCM city account for 70 per cent. Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company, based in Ha Noi, sells more books in HCM City Book Street, which is in a convenient location, has friendly guards and an open design, which gives it an advantage. Tourists, locals, children, and newlyweds often go there to relax and take photos. Locals always stay up late. At 9.30 at weekends, there are still many people in Book Street. The street is also included in city tours for tourists. Book Street should be run by private companies, not the State because they can do it better, said Le Hoang, deputy chairman of Viet Nam Publishing Association. HCM Citys Book Street is managed on a non-profit enterprise model, under the guidance of a leading team with proper management capabilities and enthusiasm for the development of publishing. The biggest effect of HCM Citys venture has been to inspire other localities to open their book streets. It has triggered openings in Ha Noi, Vung Tau, Hue, a Nang, Hoi An, Quy Nhon and Can Tho. Cultural: Book Street has become a cultural centre in HCM City. This year, the City plans to open another Book Street in Nguyen ong Chi Street, Tan Phu Ward, District 7. The Street will gather 20 stalls and cafes. Ha Noi opened its Book Street on December 19 last year. a Nang City has not completed its Book Street, planned for the corner of Bach ang, Thanh ien Hai and Tran Phu Streets. Hoi An City plans to open its book street at 31 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street by mid-year. The street will also exchange old books for foreigners. The Book Street in the southern city of Vung Tau will open on Vietnamese Book Day, April 21, 2018. The street will cover 1,900sq.m near Quang Trung Park, Ba Cu Street, District 1, Vung Tau City. Ha Noi deserted Meanwhile, Book Street in Ha Noi is not doing well. Nguyen Canh Binh, chairman of Alpha Books Company, said income in the first two to three months was VN200-300 million a month, but this had dropped to VN70 million a month. Many people have blamed the problem on the isolated location. Ha Noi is famous for its old book area in the centre of the city - inh Le Street. It offers both retail and wholesale books at reasonable prices, researcher Pham Xuan Nguyen said. The street is located near a weekend pedestrian zone, which is convenient for people to relax and buy. However, the authorities ignored a popular place to set up a totally new book street. Besides, the new Book Street is not well organised, said researcher Lai Nguyen An. People going there should stand in common open space, where they can look and choose at books and relax at the same time. But booths at Ha Nois Book Street are closed like bars. People from outside cannot see bookshelves inside, which is quite different from HCM Citys Book Street, he said. Writer o Phan complained that the prices in Ha Nois Book Street were too high. My daughter once bought a book, which cost much more than it would have in inh Le Street, he said. Since then, she has never returned." VNS United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. TAVARIS LAVON ROLLE, a.k.a. Taz, a.k.a. T, Defendant-Appellant. No. 16-16125 Decided: January 25, 2018 Before WILLIAM PRYOR, ROSENBAUM, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. Tavaris Rolle appeals the 120-month, within-guideline sentence of imprisonment he received after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). Rolle raises several challenges to the calculation of his guideline range, including whether he possessed at least four firearms, see U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(b)(1)(A), whether he possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense, see id. 2K2.1(b)(6)(B), and whether the government proved that he had a prior state felony conviction for sale of cocaine in 2003. After careful review, we affirm. I. By August 2012, Rolle was being investigated by law enforcement for selling controlled substances from a residence in Abel, Georgia. After an informant purchased cocaine from Rolle at the residence on August 3, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant the following week. During that search, officers found, among other things, drugs, over $10,000 in currency, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, and ammunition. One week later, after learning that Rolle possibly hosted dog fights at the residence, officers searched the surrounding area and came across a red cooler, which held a backpack containing 366 grams of marijuana and four additional firearms loaded with ammunition. After the initial search, state authorities arrested Rolle on state charges and a state probation violation. His probation was revoked and he remained in state custody until September 2014, when he was released on parole. In November 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Rolle on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), and he was arrested soon after. The indictment specifically charged him with possession of the four firearms that were found in the red cooler outside of the residence in 2012. In April 2016, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Rolle with additional offenses, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), possession of the same four firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime (possession with intent to distribute marijuana), in violation of 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A), and use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime (possession with intent to distribute cocaine), in violation of 924(c)(1)(A). Shortly after he was arraigned on the superseding indictment, Rolle agreed to plead guilty to the 922(g)(1) offense contained in the original indictment, without the benefit of a written agreement. During the plea colloquy, Rolle admitted that he possessed the four firearms charged in the indictment. The government represented at the plea hearing that it would move to dismiss the superseding indictment at sentencing. It did not do so, however. Before sentencing, a U.S. Probation officer prepared Rolle's presentence investigation report (PSR) and ultimately recommended a guideline range of 120 months of imprisonment (reduced from 121 to 151 months due to the statutory maximum) based on a total offense level of 29 and a criminal history category of IV. The offense level included three enhancements relevant to this appeal: first, an enhanced base offense level of 24 based on two prior state convictions for a felony controlled-substance offense (sale of cocaine), U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(2); second, a 2-level increase for possession of between three and seven firearms, id. 2K2.1(b)(1)(A); and third, a 4-level increase for possession of a firearm in connection with another felony offense, id. 2K2.1(b)(6). Rolle filed objections to the base-offense-level calculation and to the in-connection-with enhancement. As for the base offense level, Rolle maintained that the government failed to prove that he pled guilty to and was convicted of one of the two sale-of-cocaine offenses (the 2003 conviction). As for the 2K2.1(b)(6) enhancement, he argued that there was no evidence to support it, since the firearms were found outside of the residence while he was in custody. At sentencing, the district court heard testimony from a law-enforcement agent involved in the search of the residence and considered state-court documents submitted by the government both before and during the sentencing hearing. Based on these records and the agent's testimony, the district court overruled Rolle's objections, adopted the PSR's recommendations, and then sentenced Rolle to the statutory maximum of 120 months of imprisonment. Rolle now brings this appeal. II. Before addressing the merits of the appeal, we pause to consider the significance of the superseding indictment. We asked the parties to address this issue due to its potential effect on our jurisdiction. The government submits that the superseding indictment remains pending but that we have jurisdiction because Rolle's appeal is from a final judgment on the original indictment. Rolle responds that the superseding indictment is no longer pending, but he agrees with the government that, even if it is, we have jurisdiction over this appeal. Our review indicates that the superseding indictment against Rolle remains pending before the district court. A superceding indictment may be returned at any time before a trial on the merits[,] and two indictments may be outstanding at the same time for the same offense if jeopardy has not attached to the first indictment. United States v. Stricklin, 591 F.2d 1112, 1115 n.1 (5th Cir. 1979) ; see United States v. Del Vecchio, 707 F.2d 1214, 1216 (11th Cir. 1983) (same). Under Rule 48, Fed. R. Crim. P., 48(a), the government must obtain leave of court before dismissing an indictment. Because the government did not move to dismiss the superseding indictment against Rolle, it remains pending below. Although the superseding indictment remains pending, we agree with both parties that we have jurisdiction over this appeal. Rolle has been convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment on the original indictment. See United States v. Muzio, 757 F.3d 1243, 1248 (11th Cir. 2014) (holding, where the issue of restitution remained unresolved, that the criminal judgment was final for purposes of appeal because it sentenced [the defendant] to a term of imprisonment); id. at 1249 (The Court has plainly held that the sentence is the judgment for purposes of permitting appeal.). The judgment sentencing Rolle to a term of imprisonment is sufficiently final to support our exercise of jurisdiction. Furthermore, the government represents that, as reflected in its comments during the plea hearing, it does not intend to prosecute Rolle on the charges set forth in the superseding indictment. And it advises that, if we find that we lack jurisdiction in this appeal, it will move in the district court for dismissal of the five counts of the superseding indictment as to Rolle. We find that dismissal of the superseding indictment is not necessary before we may resolve this appeal, but we expect that the government will so move after the resolution of this appeal. Accordingly, we turn to the merits of Rolle's appeal. III. When considering the district court's resolution of guideline issues, we review legal issues de novo, factual findings for clear error, and the court's application of the sentencing guidelines to the facts with due deference. 18 U.S.C. 3742(e); United States v. Rothenberg, 610 F.3d 621, 624 (11th Cir. 2010); United States v. Williams, 340 F.3d 1231, 123839 (11th Cir. 2003) (holding that the deference that is due depends on the nature of the question presented). A district court's choice between two reasonable constructions of the evidence cannot be clearly erroneous. United States v. Almedina, 686 F.3d 1312, 1315 (11th Cir. 2012). We will not disturb a district court's factual findings unless we are firmly convinced that a mistake has been made. Id. We review for clear error the district court's determination that Rolle possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense because it involves application of a legal standard to a specific fact pattern. See United States v. Carillo-Ayala, 713 F.3d 82, 88 (11th Cir. 2013) ([W]e generally review a district court's application of the [in-connection-with] standard to a detailed fact pattern for clear error.); United States v. Whitfield, 50 F.3d 947, 949 & n.8 (11th Cir. 1995) ([T]he district court's factual determination that the weapon was used or possessed in connection with the burglaries was not clearly erroneous. (emphasis omitted)). The district court may base its sentencing determinations on the defendant's admissions during his guilty plea, undisputed statements in the PSR, or evidence presented at the sentencing hearing. United States v. Wilson, 884 F.2d 1355, 1356 (11th Cir. 1989). The government bears the burden of establishing the facts necessary to support a sentencing enhancement by a preponderance of the evidence. Almedina, 686 F.3d at 1315. The district court must ensure that the Government carries its burden by presenting reliable and specific evidence. Id. IV. Rolle argues that the district court erred in calculating his guideline range in three ways. We address each in turn. A. Rolle first argues that the government failed to prove the existence of the 2003 conviction for felony sale of cocaine. That conviction both added criminal-history points and was used to enhance his base offense level under U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(2), which provides for an enhanced base offense level of 24 if the defendant has at least two [prior] felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense. In determining the existence of a prior conviction, a sentencing court may use any sufficiently reliable information to support its finding, regardless of its admissibility at trial. United States v. Wilson, 183 F.3d 1291, 1301 (11th Cir. 1999). The Federal Rules of Evidence do not apply to sentencing proceedings. Fed. R. Evid. 1101(d)(3). Here, the government produced substantial and sufficiently reliable evidence indicating that Rolle had two prior Georgia convictions, including the 2003 conviction, for sale of cocaine, which is a felony. The documents submitted by the governmentincluding arrest reports, charging and plea documents, a judgment of conviction, and related ordersestablish with reasonable certainty that Rolle was arrested on two different occasions for distinct acts of selling cocaine and that he pled guilty to both offenses. The fact that the district court did not formally admit these documents into evidence is irrelevant because the sentencing proceeding is not a trial and it is not governed by the Federal Rules of Evidence. Accordingly, the district court did not clearly err in determining that Rolle had two prior convictions for sale of cocaine. As a result, the court properly included both convictions, included the 2003 conviction, when calculating his guideline range. B. Rolle next contends that the evidence failed to show that he possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense. He maintains that he was in state custody at the time the weapons were found and that there was no evidence linking Mr. Rolle to the firearms. Section 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) provides for a four-level enhancement where the defendant used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense. U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). Application Note 14 elaborates that subsection (b)(6)(B) applies if the firearm or ammunition facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating, another felony offense. Id. 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(A). The Guidelines specify that in the case of a drug trafficking offense in which a firearm is found in close proximity to drugs, the application of subsection (b)(6)(B) is warranted because the presence of the firearm has the potential of facilitating another felony offense. Id. 2K2.1 cmt. n.14(B). As we explained in Carillo-Ayala, our case law is consistent with Application Note 14 in the commentary to 2K2.1 because we have consistently recognized that a firearm which facilitates or has the potential to facilitate an offense is possessed in connection with that offense. Carillo-Ayala, 713 F.3d at 93 (applying a different guideline, U.S.S.G. 5C1.2(a)(2), but broadly reviewing our cases interpreting guidelines that require a connection ). We have stated that [a] firearm found in close proximity to drugs or drug-related items simply has'without any requirement for additional evidencethe potential to facilitate the drug offense. Id. at 92. That is because [a] firearm in proximity to drugs has the potential to be used as a weapon. Id. at 9596. Here, the district court did not clearly err in finding that Rolle possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense for purposes of the four-level enhancement under 2K2.1(b)(6)(B). Agent Jason Seacrist testified at the sentencing hearing that law-enforcement officers found four loaded firearms and 366 grams of marijuana together in a red cooler outside of the residence where Rolle was arrested for selling controlled substances. Seacrist also testified that drugs, money, and another firearm were found inside the residence. Rolle claims that there was no evidence that [he] possessed the firearms in the cooler. But he admitted to that exact fact during his guilty plea. The court was permitted to rely on that admitted conduct at sentencing. See Wilson, 884 F.2d at 1356. Combined with the other evidence before the district court, Rolle's constructive possession of loaded firearms that were found in close proximity to a large amount of marijuana was sufficient for the court to reasonably conclude that Rolle possessed the firearms in connection with a felony drug-trafficking offense. See Carillo-Ayala, 713 F.3d at 9596; U.S.S.G. 2K2.1 n.14(A). C. Finally, Rolle argues for the first time on appeal that the district court erred in applying a two-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(b)(1)(A) based on a finding that the offense involved between three and seven firearms. Because Rolle admitted during his guilty plea that he unlawfully possessed four firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), he cannot show that the court erred, plainly or otherwise, in relying on that admission to apply the enhancement under 2K2.1(b)(1)(A). The fact that the court did not specifically reference Rolle's admission is largely irrelevant, because the record clearly reflects the basis for the enhancement and supports it. United States v. Taylor, 88 F.3d 938, 944 (11th Cir. 1996) (holding that, even where the court is required to make individuaized findings to support an enhancement, a remand is not necessary where the record clearly reflects the basis for the enhancement and supports it). V. For the reasons stated, the district court did not err in calculating Rolle's guideline range. Because Rolle does not otherwise challenge the reasonableness of his 120-month sentence, we affirm. AFFIRMED. FOOTNOTES . Rolle also argued below that his prior convictions should not have counted because adjudication of guilt was withheld under the Georgia First Offender Act, but he has abandoned that issue on appeal by failing to raise it in his briefing to this Court. See United States v. Jernigan, 341 F.3d 1273, 1283 n.8 (11th Cir. 2003) (issues not briefed on appeal are deemed abandoned). . This Court adopted as binding precedent all Fifth Circuit decisions prior to October 1, 1981. Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc). PER CURIAM: HA NOI Cultural activities featuring traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) activities and a special organic produce market will be held at a Spring Festival in downtown Ha Noi from February 2-8. The Viet Nam Exhibition Centre of Culture and Art will present food and art to prepare for Tet celebration, such as banh chung (square glutinous cake), tea, lanterns, calligraphy, flowers and mam ngu qua (a set of five kinds of fruits). Duong Van Quynh, director of the centre, said artisans from traditional craft villages nationwide would display their skills. They wouldl introduce paper flowers from Thanh Tien Village (Hue), silverwork from Chau Khe Village (Hai Duong), bamboo dragonflies from Thach That District (Ha Noi) and conical hats from Chuong Village, Thanh Oai District (Ha Noi). An exhibition of 100 photos will introduce cultural heritage, nature and the traditional celebrations of Vietnamese people. A space will also feature how Vietnamese celebrated Lunar New Year in the past. Flying high: Artists perform in a rehearsal of performance for Spring Festival to be organised at the Viet Nam Exhibition, Culture and Art Centre. VNS Photo Minh Thu This is the Year of the Dog, an animal in the Asian zodiac that is compatible with Tiger and the Horse, so the exhibition will recall historical events that happened in Dog years and famous people born in past Dog years. Visitors will be able to buy organic produce organised by the exporting ANA Viet Nam Company, and precious stones from members of the Viet Nam Gemstones Association. Visitors will be able to enjoy New Year cuisine area with specialties cooked in small huts with leaf roofs. Artists will also perform at the event. They will be from the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre, the Viet Nam Music, Dance and Songs Theatre, the Viet Nam Circus Federation, the Viet Nam Cheo (Traditional Operetta) Theatre and the Viet Nam Central Puppetry Theatre. The festival will be held from 9am to 9pm at the Viet Nam Exhibition, Culture and Art Centre, 2 Hoa Lu Street, Ha Noi. VNS HA NOI Amateur and professional photographers have been invited to submit photos for a heritage contest launched yesterday in Ha Noi. With the title of Heritage Itinerary, the contest aims to feature the richness and diversity of Viet Nams cultural heritage and people. Participants can send their entries from March 1 to August 31. Heritage Magazine is hosting the contest for the sixth time. It is seeking photos featuring the beauty of Viet Nams nature, culture and people, according to Le Truong Giang, editor-in-chief of the magazine. As entrants taking part in two categories, Photo Album and Cover Photo, the best photos will be published in the magazine. As the magazine is run by Vietnam Airlines, this year photographers can also submit photos taken in countries the airline visits. Winner: A photo Wave of Rice, Wave of Life taken by Pham uc Minh was the winner of the previous contest. The jury board includes Vu Quoc Khanh, chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA); Vi Kien Thanh, head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition; Nguyen Thai Thien, vice chairman of the Authority of Press (Ministry of Information and Communications); inh Thi Cam Ly, editor of the Vietnam Heritage Magazine; and Nguyen Viet Thanh, Viet Nam News photojournalist. We encourage young photographers to discover new angles, Thanh said. We also welcome participants in the Photo Album category (10-15 photos) because we believe it requires much creativity, effort and intelligence. Photo tours will be organised to the north-eastern region, the southern border region bounded by Laos and the south-western region with support from Ford Viet Nam and Leica Boutique. Leica Boutique will co-operate with the organising board to organise photo workshops during the contest. VNS Last year, Customs made significant changes in administrative procedures, creating favourable conditions for import-export businesses as per the Governments resolution. Deputy Head of Viet Nam Customs Vu Ngoc Anh talks with Hai Quan (Customs) Newspaper about measures to enhance that work this year. Could you brief us on the progress of administrative procedure reforms last year? To realise the Governments resolution on administrative procedure reform, business environment improvement and national competitiveness enhancement, the customs implemented 11 tasks and 29 measures aiming at simplifying procedures, creating favourable conditions for import-export businesses and reducing the time of goods clearance at the border gates. Viet Nam Customs drew out and submitted to the Government seven legal documents and a revised decree on implementing the Law on Customs. We also submitted to the Finance Ministry a draft circular on customs procedures, customs monitoring process and import-export taxes. The Customs has been setting up the national and ASEAN one-door mechanisms. In October, an automatic customs management system was officially put into operation in Noi Bai International Airport . The system helped cut costs and save time for businesses doing customs procedures. In December, the same systems were used in some sea ports. And as planned, all sea ports will have one system by June this year. The Customs in co-operation with the Industry and Commerce Ministry, and Information and Communication Ministry have prepared infrastructure for officially carrying out the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) one-door mechanism. At present, the Customs has signed contracts with 36 commercial banks for e-tax collection which helped reduce time of tax collecting to 15 minutes from two days. This year, the reform of administrative procedure would be further promoted. What should Customs do to realise the main targets of reforming administrative procedures? The main points of administrative procedure reform were to create favourable conditions for import-export businesses and tightly control import-export goods. The Customs has always reviewed legal documents and import-export tax regulations. Notably, the administrative procedure reform must ensure the requirements of State management. The Customs has gradually applied modern methods of custom management including risk management, conformity management, after-clearance checking and barcode checking. In the coming time, the Customs will enhance inspection and anti-smuggling activities so as to ensure a fair business environment for import-export enterprises. What measures will the Customs implement to enhance the reform of administrative procedures this year? Reform of administrative procedures has still had shortcomings. Adjusting customs regulations happened at a slow space. Goods checking was not simplified enough which caused time and money waste for businesses. Dissemination of customs law and regulations to businesses was not effective. To overcome the shortcomings as well as satisfy the business community, this year, the Customs will focus on main measures such as further promoting administrative procedure reform by fulfilling customs legal documents and law; supporting businesses to access the administrative procedure reform; monitoring customs law implementation by customs officers; and further application of advanced technology in the customs procedure process. Besides, the Customs continues to streamline its apparatus and heighten customs officers qualifications to ensure effective operation. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (r) meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo in New Delhi, India yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat NEW DELHI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in New Delhi, India. They spoke on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marking the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. In talks with Hun Sen, both sides said they were delighted at the 30 per cent growth in two-way trade reaching nearly US$4 billion in 2017. They also praised celebrations for Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017, The two leaders agreed to direct ministries and sectors to implement agreements reached during the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle Summit in Siem Reap in November, 2016. These include deals on the economy, tourism, environmental protection, sustainable management and exploitation of natural resources, attracting investment for development, and combating cross-border crimes. The two said they would work together to prepare for the 10th CLV Summit in Ha Noi in March 2018. Satisfied with measures to ensure border security, the two sides agreed to ask agencies to exchange experience in border demarcation and in placing border markers. Phuc asked Hun Sen to direct Cambodian authorised agencies to flexibly deal with issues related to legal documents and the property of Vietnamese people in Cambodia, helping them lead a stable life and contribute to the host countrys growth. The two PMs said they would co-ordinate closely at ASEAN meetings for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region. Phuc invited PM Hun Sen to attend the sixth Great Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS-6) and the GMS Business Forum in Ha Noi in March. In his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Phuc showed satisfaction at the growing ties between the two countries, especially after a visit to Indonesia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, last August. The two leaders will direct authorities of both sides to activate agreements reached during the visit, while seeking to increase two-way trade to $10 billion. The two countries will work closely on defence co-operation in the 2017-22 period, and form a new mechanism on policy consultation, information sharing, education co-operation, and search and rescue activities. The two sides also agreed to focus on completing the delimitation of economic exclusive zones at sea. Phuc thanked the Indonesian government for collaboration in returning Vietnamese fishermen held by Indonesian forces. He said he hoped Indonesia would continue dealing with the issue in the spirit of friendship and asked that it reconsider its policy of destroying fishing vessels. The Vietnamese leader recognised Indonesian concerns about Viet Nams new policy on imported cars, saying that he was directing the Ministry of Transport to give specific guidelines. The two PMs also pledged to work closely at upcoming ASEAN meetings to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and the groups central role in the region. Earlier, Phuc met the new ASEAN Secretary-General, Lim Jock Ho, inviting him to attend the GMS-6. Lim agreed. Phuc later joined ASEAN leaders at a parade marking the 69th Republic Day of India. VNS Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (r) receives new Cuban Ambassador to Viet Nam, Lianys Torres Rivera, in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Van iep HA NOI Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has suggested that 2018 could be a good occasion to educate people of Viet Nam and Cuba on the special ties shared between their countries as this year marks 45 years since Cubas revolutionary leader Fidel Castro first visited Viet Nam. Receiving the new Cuban Ambassador to Viet Nam, Lianys Torres Rivera, in Ha Noi yesterday, Trong congratulated the Cuban diplomat on her new post in Viet Nam, saying he believed she would make significant contributions to the traditional relations and comprehensive co-operation between Viet Nam and Cuba. He took the occasion to send his greetings to First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Raul Castro and other Cuban Party and State leaders. Rivera thanked Viet Nam for its solidarity with and support for Cuba and pledged to do her best to effectively contribute to strengthening the special relations between Vietnamese and Cuban parties, governments and people. VNS THUA THIEN- HUE Residents living near cement plants in central Thua Thien- Hue and Quang Binh provinces have complained about air and noise pollution that continually affects their lives. Dust from the mining fills the air and threatens the health of their children. In Thua Thien- Hue, residents in Huong Van Ward in Huong Tra District blamed blasts from a quarry for damaging walls in their homes. The quarry supplies material for production of Luks Cement Vietnam located in the district. Tran Thi Thuong, a resident, told a newspaper that cracks appeared on all walls of her house. The turbulence from mining blasts even blew down the doors of my house, she said. o Hoa, another resident, said the blasts shook his house, created much dust and filled the air with a bad ordour from explosives. Thuong, Hoa and other residents living within 200m of the quarry site, said the blasts had affected their lives with noise and air pollution since 2009. Despite sending petitions to the cement company, no change have been made. Nguyen Xuan Chinh, the wards deputy chairman, confirmed the situation, saying the blasts seemed to be much louder than permitted. We have worked with the company to ensure there are no blast within 300m of the nearest homes, but it is hard to monitor violations, he said. Chinh also revealed a plan to evacuate affected residents from the site. In Quang Binh, residents in Van Ninh Commune in the provinces Quang Ninh District, said dust from a cement plant owned by VICEM Hai Van Company affected their lives, vegetables and aquaculture. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident, said the dust layer in the air was thick as mist, making it hard to breathe. Other residents near the plant said dust created respiratory problems for their children. Meanwhile, their plants and fish did not grow well because of the pollution. Local authorities have relocated several families from the area. But another 100 families still lived within a radius of 500m from the plant. Phan Xuan Hao, director of local Department of Environment Protection, said recent inspections showed that the plant had violated regulations by releasing dust waste into the air. However, he claimed that criteria on environmental protection was ensured around the area. VNS HA NOI A lack of funding is a major problem in implementing the master plan on simplifying administrative procedures, citizenship papers and the population management database for 2013-2020, according to officials. The master plan, known as Programme 896, was approved by former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2015 as part of the development of e-government in Viet Nam. The plan aims to increase the use of IT in administrative procedures, reduce paperwork and streamline processes related to population management. Under the plan, basic information on every citizen will be included in a national database on population using personal identification numbers by the end of 2020. At a meeting yesterday, the Programme Steering Committee reported that until now, 1,146 out of 1,934 administrative procedures related to population management have been simplified. Also, the Public Security Ministry granted personal identification numbers to more than eight million citizens in 16 cities and provinces. More than 900,000 newborns had their birth certificates registered and were issued citizen identification numbers since the Public Security Ministry and Justice Ministry launched the work early 2016. Ministries and agencies launched a pilot programme collecting citizens data in the northern cities of Hoa Binh and Phu Ly and a piloted residence management software programme in the central province of Thua Thien Hue. Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong said at the meeting that the programme on population management database was behind schedule because of a funding shortage. This also prevented data sharing between the national population database and databases at ministries/agencies, he said. Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc said that it would be difficult to complete the national population database in the next two years because of the huge workload. Advancements in population management could not be made without a complete national database, Ngoc said. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung said that a digital population management database was the most important IT application in Viet Nams administrative reform. We are talking a lot about developing e-Government, administrative reform and smart cities but the development of an important foundation a digital national population database is behind schedule, which could slow down other work, Hung said. Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, also Head of the Programme Steering Committee, urged ministries and agencies to speed up Programme 896. Ministries or agencies should closely co-operate with Public Security Ministry when developing their own database to avoid overlapping and waste, he said. Binh also urged relevant parties to expand the issuance of personal identification numbers so that the issuance would cover all 63 cities and provinces nationwide by 2019. The deputy PM asked ministries of Public Security, Finance, Planning and Investment to complete proposal to the National Assembly Standing Committee to add the programme into list of projects under middle term public investment during 2016-2020. VNS The HCM City Fire and Rescue Police Department and the Sai Gon Water Supply Corporation will install 11,000 more fire hydrants by 2025 after being instructed to do so by the Peoples Committee. Photo sggp.org.vn HCM CITY The HCM City Fire and Rescue Police Department and the Sai Gon Water Supply Corporation will install 11,000 more fire hydrants by 2025 after being instructed to do so by the Peoples Committee at a conference on fire hydrant management on Thursday. There are currently 9,699 of them, though 668 are damaged. The reasons for the damage include inadequate funding for maintenance, being hit by vehicles and affected by nearby construction work. There are also reports of parts being stolen from hydrants and people using the water in some of them for other purposes. According to Bui Thanh Giang, deputy director of SAWACO, the company will monitor roadworks to ensure nearby hydrants are not affected and improve water pipes to aid in firefighting. He said authorities need to work together to raise awareness of safeguarding fire hydrants. The HCM City Fire and Rescue Police Department is seeking funding from the Peoples Committee to replace some of the damaged hydrants. VNS United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. WEST VIRGINIA CWP FUND, as carrier for Mountaineer Coal Development, Petitioner, v. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; Lonnie A. Smith, Respondents. No. 16-2453 Decided: January 26, 2018 Before KEENAN, DIAZ, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges. ARGUED: Jeffrey Robert Soukup, JACKSON KELLY PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, for Petitioner. Leonard J. Stayton, Inez, Kentucky, for Respondents. ON BRIEF: William S. Mattingly, JACKSON KELLY PLLC, Lexington, Kentucky, for Petitioner. Petitioner West Virginia Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Fund seeks review of a decision awarding black-lung benefits to former coal miner Lonnie A. Smith. An administrative law judge (ALJ) found that Smith was entitled to benefits under the fifteen-year presumption of the Black Lung Benefits Act: Because Smith had developed a totally disabling respiratory impairment after working in underground coal mines for over fifteen years, it could be presumed that he suffers from pneumoconiosis arising from his coal-mine employment; and because Smith's employer could not rebut that presumption, Smith was eligible for benefits. The Fund argues that Smith is not entitled to compensation under the Act because no doctor has affirmatively diagnosed him with pneumoconiosis. But that is not how presumptions work. The fifteen-year presumption is expressly intended to relieve certain miners of the often insurmountable burden of proving the existence of pneumoconiosis, shifting to the employer the burden of showing that a long-term miner with a disabling respiratory impairment does not in fact suffer from pneumoconiosis. Hobet Mining, LLC v. Epling, 783 F.3d 498, 50102 (4th Cir. 2015). Because the ALJ's determination that Smith's employer could not make that showing is supported by substantial evidence and consistent with law, we deny the petition for review. I. A. The Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 90144, provides benefits to coal miners who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease. 30 U.S.C. 901(a). In the medical community, pneumoconiosis describes conditions in which the lungs develop a fibrotic reaction to coal dust lodged permanently within them. See 20 C.F.R. 718.201(a)(1). The statutory definition of pneumoconiosis is broader, reaching not only so-called clinical pneumoconiosis but also legal pneumoconiosis, or any chronic lung disease or impairment arising out of coal mine employment. Id. 718.201(a)(2); see 30 U.S.C. 902(b). Generally, a miner must prove entitlement to benefits under the Act with medical evidence showing both that he has pneumoconiosis arising from coal mine employment and that this disease is a substantially contributing cause of [a] totally disabling respiratory or pulmonary impairment. Epling, 783 F.3d at 501. But for certain miners, Congress has made it easier to establish eligibility for benefits. Id. A claimant who has spent at least fifteen years working in underground coal mines and suffers from a totally disabling respiratory or pulmonary impairment, 30 U.S.C. 921(c)(4), may rely on the Act's fifteen-year presumption, under which we presume both prongs of the showing required for benefits eligibility: that the claimant has pneumoconiosis arising from coal mine employment, and that this disease is a substantially contributing cause of his disability. Epling, 783 F.3d at 502. Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to the employer to demonstrate that the miner is not in fact eligible for benefits. As relevant here, the employer may rebut the fifteen-year presumption by establishing that the claimant does not have pneumoconiosis arising out of coal mine employment. 20 C.F.R. 718.305(d)(1)(i); see Epling, 783 F.3d at 502. Under the governing regulations, a lung disease or impairment aris[es] out of coal mine employment if it is significantly related to, or substantially aggravated by coal dust exposure. 20 C.F.R. 718.201(b). Thus, to satisfy this standard for rebuttalknown as pneumoconiosis rebuttalan employer must prove the obverse: that the miner's impairment is not significantly related to, or substantially aggravated by, the fifteen years or more he has spent in coal mines. If an employer cannot make this showing (or otherwise rebut the fifteen-year presumption), then benefits must be granted. B. Lonnie Smith was a coal miner for at least thirty-one years. In 2003, he retired because shortness of breath and other ailments were impairing his ability to complete the heavy manual labor demanded by his job in the mine warehouse. At that time, Smith was working for Mountaineer Coal Development, doing business as Marrowbone Development. Smith filed his claim for black lung benefits in November 2010. After the district director issued a proposed decision denying his claim, Smith requested a formal hearing in front of an ALJ. Smith provided the sole testimony at the hearing, although three different doctors had evaluated him in relation to his claim. The Department of Labor proffered a medical report by its chosen examiner, Dr. Rasmussen. Medical reports by the employer's experts, Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo, also were admitted into evidence, along with the transcript of Dr. Spagnolo's deposition. Because severe weather prevented the parties from deposing Drs. Rasmussen and Rosenberg prior to the hearing, the ALJ agreed to hold the record open for later submission of their deposition transcripts. The employer's experts, Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo, concluded that Smith did not have either clinical or legal pneumoconiosis. In his 2011 written report, Dr. Rasmussen agreed that x-rays of Smith's lungs did not reveal the impairments required for a clinical pneumoconiosis diagnosis. He did, however, diagnose legal pneumoconiosis. Unlike the other doctors, Dr. Rasmussen tested Smith not only at rest, but also while undergoing an incremental treadmill exercise study. Because Smith could achieve only 60% of his predicted maximum oxygen intake during this test, Dr. Rasmussen determined that Smith was suffering from impaired lung function with regard to oxygen transfer during light exercise. And because coal dust exposure was a significant contributing factor to that impairment, Dr. Rasmussen made a finding of legal pneumoconiosis. When Dr. Rasmussen finally was deposed, he unexpectedly revealed that he had examined Smith two years earlier, in 2009, in connection with a claim for benefits later withdrawn. At that time, it turned out, the results of a similar treadmill exercise study had been entirely normal, with no indication of the gas-transfer impairment Rasmussen identified in his 2011 report. The doctor admitted that this quick progression of symptoms was a little fast for what one would expect if coal dust exposure were a cause. J.A. 206, 210. As a result, in light of the 2009 examination, he was no longer prepared to state affirmatively that [Smith's] coal mine dust [exposure] was really a significant co-contributor to his impairment. J.A. 216. At the same time, however, Dr. Rasmussen could not rule [coal dust] out as a significant contributor. J.A. 206, 216. The Fund asked Dr. Rasmussen to provide his 2009 report to be attached as an exhibit to his deposition, drawing an objection from Smith. Because the deposition took place after the hearing, the ALJ did not rule on the admissibility of Dr. Rasmussen's previously undisclosed 2009 report until he rendered his final decision and order. In that decision, the ALJ excluded from evidence both the report and Dr. Rasmussen's testimony regarding the report, on the grounds that the employer had already submitted the two affirmative medical reports permitted by regulation. See 20 C.F.R. 725.414(a)(3)(i). The ALJ went on to award Smith benefits under the Act. The first and critical step in this analysis was the determination that Smith could invoke the Act's fifteen-year presumption. The ALJ concluded (and the Fund no longer disputes) that Smith had more than the necessary fifteen years of qualifying coal mine employment. And Smith's gas-transfer impairment, the ALJ found, constitutes a total pulmonary or respiratory disability that prevents Smith from performing his usual coal mine work or its equivalent. See 20 C.F.R. 718.204(b)(1)(i). In making this disability finding, the ALJ gave particular weight to Dr. Rasmussen's opinion, because in addition to being well-documented and well-reasoned, it was informed by an exercise-based study that better reflected the exertional requirements of Smith's latest employment in the mine warehouse than did the analyses of Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo. Because the ALJ found that Smith was entitled to the benefit of the fifteen-year presumption, the only remaining question was whether the employer had satisfied its burden of rebutting that presumption. After thoroughly reviewing the record evidence, the ALJ concluded that the employer could not meet the standard for pneumoconiosis rebuttal, which would require it to show that Smith's respiratory impairment was not significantly related to, or substantially aggravated by his years of coal dust exposure in the mines. See 20 C.F.R. 718.201(b). Again, for reasons he explained at length, the ALJ found Dr. Rasmussen's report and testimony to be the most convincing. The ALJ recognized that after the 2009 report was called to his attention, Dr. Rasmussen stepped back from his initial affirmative diagnosis of legal pneumoconiosis, stating that he would not necessarily believe that he could say that the [c]laimant's coal dust exposure was really a significant contributor, though he also couldn't rule it out. J.A. 74 (quoting J.A. 216). But because the 2009 report and associated testimony had been excluded from the record, the ALJ explained, that statement was likewise inadmissible. And in any event, the ALJ determined that even if it were considered, Dr. Rasmussen's response to the 2009 report was insufficient to rebut the presumption of legal pneumoconiosis: [A]lthough [Dr. Rasmussen] did not feel that he had sufficient data to posit coal dust as a significant contributor to [Smith's] impairment, he also did not feel that he had sufficient data to posit the opposite view, that it was not a significant contributing factor. J.A. 74 (emphasis added). In light of his finding that the employer had not rebutted the fifteen-year presumption, the ALJ awarded benefits to Smith. The Benefits Review Board affirmed, holding that both of the ALJ's critical determinationsthat Smith was entitled to invoke the fifteen-year presumption, and that Smith's employer had failed to rebut the presumptionwere supported by substantial record evidence and consistent with law. This timely petition for review followed. II. In black lung cases, our review is highly deferential. We ask only whether substantial evidence supports the factual findings of the ALJ and whether the legal conclusions of the [Board] and ALJ are rational and consistent with applicable law. Lewis Coal Co. v. Dir., Office of Workers' Comp. Programs, 373 F.3d 570, 575 (4th Cir. 2004). In so doing, we must be careful not to substitute our judgment for that of the ALJ. Harman Mining Co. v. Dir., Office of Workers' Comp. Programs, 678 F.3d 305, 310 (4th Cir. 2012). [I]t is for the ALJ, as the trier of fact, to make factual and credibility determinations, and we therefore defer to the ALJ's evaluation of the proper weight to accord conflicting medical opinions. Epling, 783 F.3d at 504 (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). A. Though not a main focus of its appeal, the Fund does challenge the premise of the ALJ's decision: that the fifteen-year presumption applies in this case. Specifically, the Fund disputes the ALJ's determination that Smith is totally disabled by a respiratory or pulmonary impairment. Like the Board, we perceive no error in that finding. The Fund is correct that the employer's doctors, Spagnolo and Rosenberg, did not diagnose Smith with a total disability. The ALJ instead chose to credit Dr. Rasmussen's assessment that Smith was totally disabled due to his oxygen-transfer impairment. The ALJ thoroughly explained why he gave controlling weight to Dr. Rasmussen's reportthe only one that analyzed the results of an exercise-based studyover those of the other doctors, neither of whom directly addressed how Smith's demonstrated drop in oxygen consumption upon exertion would affect his ability to perform his job. It is the role of the ALJnot the appellate courtto resolve a battle of the experts. Westmoreland Coal Co. v. Cochran, 718 F.3d 319, 324 (4th Cir. 2013). For our purposes, it is enough that the ALJ considered all relevant evidence and explained his rationale in resolving any conflict in the testimony. See Sterling Smokeless Coal Co. v. Akers, 131 F.3d 438, 439 (4th Cir. 1997). Indeed, the ALJ's relative weighting of the medical testimony appears to have been left unchallenged before the Benefits Review Board. See J.A. 86 n.8 (We affirm, as unchallenged on appeal, the [ALJ's] decision to give less weight to the opinions of Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo on the issue of total disability.) To the extent the Fund has a more specific complaint, it appears to be that Dr. Rasmussen's disability diagnosis should not have been credited because Rasmussen failed to explain how he determined that Smith's impairmentexertional shortness of breathwas caused by a primary lung disease and not another, independent condition. But as the Board explained, causation, or disease etiology, is not relevant at this stage of the inquiry. In determining whether the fifteen-year presumption applies, what matters is simply whether the claimant has a respiratory or pulmonary impairment that would preclude the performance of [the] claimant's usual coal mine work. J.A. 87. Questions about the cause of that impairment go to the next step of the analysis, and to whether the employer can rebut the presumption that the claimant's impairment is significantly related to coal dust exposure. Id. The ALJ's determination of total disability is supported by substantial record evidence and consistent with applicable law. Accordingly, the ALJ properly concluded that Smith is entitled to the benefit of the fifteen-year presumption. B. Under the fifteen-year presumption, Smith is presumed to be suffering from pneumoconiosis arising from his coal-mine employment. The only remaining question is whether the ALJ and Board erred in determining that the employer could not rebut that presumption, by showing that in fact Smith's impairment is not significantly related to, or substantially aggravated by, his many years of coal-dust exposure. See 20 C.F.R. 718.201(b). We perceive no such error. In finding that the employer could not prove that Smith's disabling impairment has no significant relationship to coal dust exposure, the ALJ relied on the assessment of Dr. Rasmussen that it was impossible to rule out coal dust as a contributor to the [c]laimant's blood-gas impairment. J.A. 72. As the ALJ explained, although Dr. Rasmussen, in connection with his 2009 report, was reluctant to state affirmatively that coal dust was a significant contributor to Smith's impairment, he also could not posit the opposite view, that it was not a significant contributing factor. J.A. 74 (emphasis added). As a result, the ALJ concluded, Dr. Rasmussen's testimonyincluding his testimony regarding the 2009 reportcould not satisfy the employer's burden of proving that Smith's condition is not significantly related to coal dust exposure. The Fund does not challenge the ALJ's decision to credit the report and testimony of Dr. Rasmussen over the contrary assessments of Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo, who attributed Smith's impairment entirely to causes unrelated to coal dust exposure. (Indeed, the ALJ thoroughly justified that decision, noting, among other factors, Dr. Spagnolo's failure to explain how he could definitively exclude coal dust exposure as a significant contributing factor. J.A. 73.) Instead, the Fund's only allegation of error, before our court as before the Board, is that the ALJ failed to recognize that once the 2009 report was called to his attention, Dr. Rasmussen could not make an affirmative diagnosis of legal pneumoconiosis. Specifically, the Fund points to Dr. Rasmussen's unwillingness to state, in the language of the statute, that Smith has a disease, including any chronic respiratory or pulmonary impairment, significantly related to or substantially aggravated by his dust exposure from coal mine work. J.A. 217. Without an affirmative diagnosis of legal pneumoconiosis from Dr. Rasmussen (or the other two doctors), the Fund argues, legal pneumoconiosis is proven absent, satisfying the Fund's rebuttal burden. But that has the fifteen-year presumption exactly backwards. Once the presumption is invoked, there is no need for the claimant to prove the existence of pneumoconiosis; instead, pneumoconiosis arising from coal mine employment is presumed, subject only to rebuttal by the employer. Indeed, relieving certain claimants of the obligation to come forward with affirmative diagnoses of pneumoconiosis is precisely the point of the Black Lung Benefits Act's fifteen-year presumption: Congress adopted that provision to shift the costs of uncertainty about disease causation away from sick miners seeking benefits and onto their employers, in cases where a miner's length of service makes it reasonable to assume a health impact from coal dust exposure. See W. Va. CWP Fund v. Bender, 782 F.3d 129, 141 (4th Cir. 2015). The only question at this stage of the analysis, in other words, is whether the employer has come forward with affirmative proof that the claimant does not have legal pneumoconiosis, because his impairment is not in fact significantly related to his years of coal mine employment. We have no reason to second-guess the ALJ's determination that the employer failed to meet that rebuttal burden. The Board affirmed as unchallenged on appeal the ALJ's finding that the opinions of Drs. Rosenberg and Spagnolo are insufficient to disprove that [Smith] has legal pneumoconiosis. J.A. 88. That leaves Dr. Rasmussen, and as described above, the ALJ concluded that even when considering the 2009 report showing a normal treadmill exercise study, Rasmussen could not opine that coal dust exposure was not a significant contributing factor to Smith's impairment. J.A. 74. That characterization of Rasmussen's testimony is fully supported by the record. See J.A. 206 (Can you rule out coal mine dust exposure as a cause of his pulmonary impairment? No, you can't rule it out.); id. at 216 (I would not necessarily believe I could say that his coal mine dust was really a significant co-contributor, I couldn't rule it out.). And as the ALJ explained, it means that Dr. Rasmussen's testimonyeven taking into account his testimony in connection with the 2009 reportalso is insufficient to prove that Smith's impairment is not significantly related to his coal mine employment. C. The Fund devotes much of its briefing to the ALJ's preliminary evidentiary ruling, which excluded from the record Dr. Rasmussen's 2009 report and associated testimony on the ground that the employer already had submitted the two medical reports allowed by regulation. See 20 C.F.R. 725.414(a)(3)(i). According to the Fund, the ALJ impermissibly departed from Board precedent by failing to announce its ruling before issuing a final decision, thereby depriving the employer of the opportunity to argue for a good-cause exception to the two-report limit. The Board rejected that argument. It agreed that it is preferable for an [ALJ] to rule on evidentiary objections before issuance of a final decision. J.A. 85. But the Board found no prejudice in this case, given that the employer was on notice of Smith's objection to inclusion of the 2009 report and nevertheless failed to argue for a good-cause exception in its closing argument letter to the ALJ. We need not resolve this evidentiary issue. The premise of the Fund's argument is that Dr. Rasmussen's testimony regarding the 2009 report and normal treadmill exercise test, if properly admitted, would have been sufficient to rebut the presumption of legal pneumoconiosis. But as explained above, the ALJ determined otherwise. Even if the testimony taken in connection with the 2009 report were considered, the ALJ found, Dr. Rasmussen's ultimate conclusioncolloquially, that he could neither rule in nor rule out coal dust as a significant contributing cause of Smith's impairmentwas insufficient to prove that Smith's impairment was not significantly related to his years of coal mine employment. Because that alternative finding is supported by substantial record evidence and consistent with the burden-shifting regime established by the fifteen-year presumption, resolution of the evidentiary issue raised by the Fund would have no bearing on the outcome of this case. III. For the foregoing reasons, we deny the Fund's petition for review. PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED FOOTNOTES . An employer also may attempt to rebut the second prong of the showing required for benefits eligibility: that a claimant's pneumoconiosis is a substantially contributing cause of his total disability. Here, an employer must establish that no part of the miner's respiratory or pulmonary total disability was caused by pneumoconiosis. 20 C.F.R. 718.305(d)(1)(ii) (emphasis added). This rule-out standard imposes a heavy burden on the employer, who must rule out any connection between a miner's pneumoconiosis and his disability. See W. Va. CWP Fund v. Bender, 782 F.3d 129, 135 (4th Cir. 2015) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted). The ALJ in this case found that Smith's employer could not meet this demanding standard, and the employer has not challenged that determination either before the Benefits Review Board or on appeal to this court. . As Smith's last coal mine employer, Mountaineer Coal Development does not contest the fact that it is liable for any benefits owed to him. See generally 20 C.F.R. (Continued) 725.490, 725.495. The Fund has assumed that liability as Mountaineer Coal's insurance carrier. PAMELA HARRIS, Circuit Judge: Petition for review denied by published opinion. Judge Harris wrote the opinion, in which Judge Keenan and Judge Diaz joined. HA NOI ang Hung Son, Sub-lieutenant of Border gate Vocational School No 24 in Vinh Yen City in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, spends eight hours a day befriending, caring for and training his four-paw student. Son is one of the schools instructors of canines that are used as a special force to seek and rescue people if any incident, accident or natural disaster occurs. Sons pupil is a police dog named Tosy. Son and Tosy often spend about four hours on training daily together even in the hottest summer days or the coldest winter days. Sometimes, the lesson is finding the target. Son plays a victim that has gotten stuck in a dark tunnel. Or he wears a mask with an oxygen tube and hides under the heavy mud and Tosy is assigned to find Son. Sometimes, Son teaches Tosy how to recognise special smells so that Tosy could find heroin or gunpowder. Son says apart from giving his student lessons daily, he also takes Tosy for walks, grooms Tosy and communicates with Tosy. Sharing this time together will help me and my student become closer every passing day, he tells Thanh nien (Young People) newspaper. Its very helpful for the training, he adds, explaining that he is able to determine Tosys special characteristics. . oan Van Hoan, Sub-lieutenant, is tasked with training another police dog named Pocka. Pocka and me do not have a relationship like that between an instructor and a police dog, we are friends, Hoan says. Once when Pocka had a fever, Hoan took him to a veterinarian for treatment. When Hoan was going to back to his school and Pocka had to stay at the clinic, Pocka showed signs of wanting his teacher to stay. So, I stayed at the clinic with him that day, feeding him porridge and milk. Tosy and Pocka are the two best police dogs at the school, selected from dozens of potential candidates after two years of tough training courses. The two police dogs helped the rescue team discover the body of Aiden Shaw Webb, a British tourist, on June 9, 2016. Webb went missing while climbing the Fansipan Mountain . The two dogs were sent to seek him in the local forest and successfully found out the last place that Webb had been. Thus, the police could find his body one day later. Careful selection Nguyen Xuan Phuong, vice principal of the school, says the dogs parents are often imported from Britain , Germany and Belgium . Their parents also must have lived in Viet Nam long enough to adapt to the climate and other conditions in the country. When the puppies are just over three months old, instructors select the puppies with the best sense of smell to attend the first training course. Typically, only 20 per cent of the hundreds of puppies are chosen for the course. The first course is designed to provide the dogs skills to obey orders from the instructors, including standing, lying, sitting, barking, holding an object and coming back when an instructor calls. When the first training course finishes, the top candidates are picked to participate in the intensive training courses. Dogs with good nervous systems will be trained to fight crime and protect the targets. Dogs with good sense of smell will receive training to discover heroin and gunpowder as well as to rescue victims during incidents, accidents or natural disasters. Each police dog often serves about 10 years. ao Duy Ha, head of the police dog management team, says the course of training police dogs was launched in 2006. One year later, the first couple of police dogs named Altop and Poma found 11 victims who were buried in a stone quarry collapse in the central province of Nghe An in 2007. Ha said at that time, after all the most modern metal detectors failed to seek cranes with the hope of discovering the victims, who might drive or work near the cranes, the two police dogs were dispatched to the scene. They did their job very well, he said. They found 11 places with human smells. Then, their human owners could dig, remove the stones from the right places and remove the bodies of the victims, with the cost of VN2 billion (US$88,600) for using supporting machines, he says. If the police dogs did not discover the victims, they would have had to use cranes to remove all soil and stones to find the victims. It would cost about VN30 billion ($1.3 million) to operate supporting devices and machines to remove the soil and stone over dozens of days, Ha says. VNS As we mentioned in a previous article HERE, the Royal Air Force Museum will be holding a series of special Open Cockpit events during 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RAF. Eight events will take place, split evenly between their Cosford and Hendon campuses, and the first of these will take place at Cosford on February 9th. RAF Museum Cosford has just announced which of their museum aircraft will be open for a closer look for this first event, and it promises to be an extraordinary opportunity to get a glimpse inside some of the museums rarest and most unusual airframes. The press release is as follows The first of four dates at Cosford will be held on Friday 9 February, themed around the unique Test Flight collection and a collection of Second World War, British, German and Japanese aircraft. Aircraft available for close viewing on 9 February 2018 include: British Aircraft Corporation TSR 2 (close view only) SEPECAT Jaguar ACT Demonstrator Fairey FD2 Saunders-Roe SR53 Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel FGA Supermarine Spitfire I (close view only) Messerschmitt BF109G (close view only) Lister Works Truck Avro Lincoln B2 (limited access) Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka Kawasaki Ki-1001b Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet The Test Flight group of aircraft were built to test a new theory or line of research and many were produced in secrecy, often utilising components borrowed from other types. These were the machines that helped Britain open new frontiers of flight. Aircraft on the night include the British Aircraft Corporation TSR 2 (close view only). Although never developed beyond the prototype stage, the TSR2 (Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance Mach 2) was one of the most exciting and controversial British combat aircraft designs of the 1960s. Initial reports indicated that the TSR2 was an outstanding technical success, however political opposition to the project led to it being cancelled, a subject of great debate to this day. Other unique airframes open on the night include the SEPECAT Jaguar ACT Demonstrator, Fairey FD2, Saunders-Roe SR53, and the Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel FGA. The event theme also extends to include a selection of the Museums unique collection of fighters and bombers, including those of Allies and our enemies. Soon after the invention of the aeroplane as a controlled and powered machine its application by the Military became evident. From 1911, when it was first used in conflict, through the Great War and to the present day, the Royal Air Force and its predecessors have operated flying machines in defence of our country and freedom. The War in the Air collection at Cosford is home to the worlds oldest Supermarine Spitfire 1 K9942, one of several aircraft open on the night for enthusiasts to enjoy a closer view. In addition, the Messerschmitt BF109G, the backbone of the German Air Forces day fighter force will be open for a close view, along with the Lister Works Truck, used throughout Royal Air Force maintenance depots. Aviation fans will also have the rare opportunity to step inside the Avro Lincoln B2, Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka, Kawasaki Ki-1001b and the Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet during the February event. RAF Museum Cosford Public Events Manager, Abi Betteridge said: This is the first of a programme of events this year to celebrate the Royal Air Force Centenary. How better to celebrate 100 years of the RAF than giving visitors access to 100 aircraft and vehicles spanning the services entire career? Across our two public sites we have over 200 aircraft, tanks and vehicles on display and weve selected 100 that we believe visitors will be keen to get a closer look inside. To make sure visitors get the most out of the event, there will be a large team of Volunteers manning each aircraft and available to answer any questions. We have also produced a special Log Book which can be purchased in advance, allowing ticket holders to keep a record of the aircraft and vehicles they have accessed during the event! As WarbirdsNews discussed in the previous article The aircraft available at all eight events will vary, totaling 100 over the course of the year across the two RAF Museum sites. Just 300 tickets are available for each event and are now available to purchase through the Museums website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford and cost 13.50 per person which includes parking (minimum height restrictions apply). Details on the RAF Museum London events are also available online. Want to tick off all 100 cockpits? Why not purchase our special centenary 100 ticket, giving you access to eight evening and 4 daytime events across the two sites, plus, additional time to enjoy all the events and a free copy of the Log Book with a saving of 62.50! Attending the exclusive Open Cockpits and Cabs events is an opportunity to raise vital funds for the RAF100 Appeal, which is a joint venture between the Royal Air Force and the four major RAF charities the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, the Royal Air Forces Association, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and the Royal Air Force Museum. The aim of the Appeal is to raise money for the RAF family and to create a lasting legacy as we celebrate 100 years of the Royal Air Force. The Museum will close at 4.00pm, however the Visitor Centre and Refuel Restaurant will remain open for ticket holders and will be serving a special event menu, before doors to the aircraft and vehicles open at 6.00pm. 100 Cockpits and Cabs events will take place at Cosford and London on the follows dates in 2018: COSFORD LONDON Friday 9 February Saturday 19 May Saturday 15 September Friday 7 December 6pm-9pm 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm 6pm-9pm Saturday 24 February Friday 27 April Friday 21 September Saturday 8 December 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm 6pm-9pm 6pm-9pm 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm The aircraft and vehicles open at each event will vary, totalling 100 across the two RAF Museum sites throughout 2018. United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MICHAEL JEROME HENRY, Defendant-Appellant. Case No. 16-2745 Decided: January 25, 2018 BEFORE: CLAY and SUTTON, Circuit Judges, and WATSON, District Judge. * A jury convicted Michael Jerome Henry of robbing several banks and using a firearm in the process. In his first appeal, we reversed two of the firearm convictions because the district court did not instruct the jury properlyin truth because a Supreme Court decision after the trial required a different instruction. See Rosemond v. United States, 134 S. Ct. 1240 (2014). On remand, the jury convicted him again on the relevant counts. Because the prosecution submitted evidence sufficient to support the convictions and because the statute defining crime of violence is not unconstitutionally vague, we affirm both convictions. But in light of yet another intervening Supreme Court decision, see Dean v. United States, 137 S. Ct. 1170 (2017), we must remand for the limited purpose of resentencing him in light of Dean. I. At about 10:30 AM on September 22, 2009, Henry and a cohort entered a Chase Bank branch in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Each wore a mask, hood, gloves, and several layers of clothing. The unknown compatriot, armed with a handgun, stood watch while Henry, equipped with a BB gun, leapt on the counter to collect the cash. About a minute later, they left with $4,382, shedding clothes and gear during their escape. At about 9:30 AM on November 5, 2009, Henry and an unknown partner did the same thing at a Bank of America in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Both covered their faces and wore gloves. The partner again stood watch with the pistol in hand while Henry leapt on the counter to grab the money. They left with $23,179. And they again left a trail of clothes and gear as they fled. At 10:12 AM on October 21, 2010, Henry and an unknown partner targeted the same Ann Arbor Bank of America. They arrived with masks, gloves, and layers of clothes. One stood watch with a rifle, which he fired several times. The other leapt the counter and took $11,966. They took off after 41 seconds, again shedding clothes and gear along the way. Police arrested Henry, who confessed to the first two robberies but denied any involvement in the third. A grand jury indicted him for three counts of bank robbery. See 18 U.S.C. 2113. Each robbery charge came with a federal firearms charge. See id. 924(c)(1). Henry pleaded not guilty, but a jury convicted him on all six counts. Henry appealed the firearms conviction arising from the second robbery and the robbery and firearms convictions arising from the third robbery. We affirmed his bank robbery conviction. United States v. Henry, 797 F.3d 371, 37477 (6th Cir. 2015). But we reversed the firearm convictions predicated on his second and third robberies because the district court did not instruct the jury that Henry had to have advance knowledge that a real firearm would be used in connection with each robbery. Rosemond, 134 S. Ct. at 1243. On remand, a properly instructed jury convicted Henry on both 924(c) charges. The presentence report recommended a Guidelines range of 70 to 87 months for the three federal bank robbery charges. It noted that his first conviction under 924(c) came with a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 months, while his second and third convictions came with mandatory minimum sentences of 300 months apiece. The report noted that the statute required Henry to serve all three firearms sentences consecutively. 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (C)(i), (D)(ii). All told, the report recommended a Guidelines range of 730 to 747 months. After adopting the recommended Guidelines range and reviewing the relevant sentencing factors, the district court sentenced Henry to 738 months in prison. Henry challenges his convictions and sentence on several grounds. II. Sufficiency of the Evidence. Henry first argues that the evidence did not support his firearms convictions for the second and third robberies, claiming he did not know that his partner would use a real weapon during the robberies. We disagree. A person violates 924(c) if he possesses a firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence or in furtherance of any such crime. 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A). To convict Henry of aiding and abetting that crime, the jury had to find that he had advance knowledge that his accomplice would bring a firearm. Rosemond, 134 S. Ct. at 1252. In challenging the evidence of advance knowledge, Henry faces a tough road. We must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, and he must show that no rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). Ample evidence showed that Henry knew in advance that his cohort would use a firearm during each robbery. Henry never acted surprised or dismayed when his partner brandished a gun. Still-frames taken from Bank of America's surveillance cameras during the second robbery show Henry walk past his firearm-brandishing accomplice, vault the bank counter, and seize the cash. Witness testimony confirms that Henry carried out the third robbery much the same way. There is no indication that Henry balked after his partner drew a firearm. And there is little reason for doubt that Henry knew the firearm used during each robbery was real. He confessed that he recognized the gun used in the second robbery was the same one used in the first, which he knew was real. Meanwhile, the robber carrying the rifle during the third robbery proved its authenticity by periodically firing it. The jury could permissibly infer from [Henry's] failure to object or withdraw after his accomplice brandished the firearm that Henry knew about the gun beforehand. Rosemond, 134 S. Ct. at 1250 n.9. In addition, all three of the robberies followed the same pattern, suggesting that each part of the plan, including his partner's use of a real gun, was preconceived. Each participant wore gloves, masks, and layers of clothing. Each played a specific role: guard or cash collector. While the former controlled the crowd, the latter leapt on top of the counter to collect the money. And each robbery lasted less than a minute. A jury reasonably could infer that the participants executed each robbery so efficiently because they knew the plans inside and out, including the role of the gun brandished by Henry's accomplice. See United States v. Akiti, 701 F.3d 883, 887 (8th Cir. 2012). At some point, a jury is permitted to infer that what happened was not a random event or a coincidence but an intended pattern. Because all three robberies followed the same blueprint, the jury could infer that Henry and his partner had a standard method for each heist. Henry admitted that he knew that his accomplice brought an actual firearm to the first robbery. And the jury was free to infer that he expected his accomplice to use a firearm during the next two robberies when everything else about the robberies followed the same mode of operation. Henry counters that several cases undermine this conclusion. He is right about one thing: The cases reverse convictions on sufficiency grounds. But after that, the comparisons break down. For example, in Brown v. Palmer, 441 F.3d 347 (6th Cir. 2006), we reversed an aiding-and-abetting conviction because the evidence showed little more than the defendant's presence at the scene. Id. at 35053. But here, the evidence shows that Henry prepared for and participated in the execution of the predicate robberies. He was not a bystander or a bit player caught up in a sudden expansion of the scope of a crime. In Newman v. Metrish, 543 F.3d 793 (6th Cir. 2008), we decided that the circumstantial evidence drawn from the weeks before and days after a crime did not prove that the defendant committed the murder. Id. at 79697. But there is no doubt that Henry committed three robberies. The only question is whether he knew that his accomplice would bring a gun, an inference that the record supports. Newman has nothing to teach on that score. Henry adds that the robberies were sufficiently distinct to refute the inference that Henry and his partner followed a standard operating procedure. Each robbery, he points out, involved a different type of firearm. But not every precise feature of the robberies had to be the same. What mattered was that in the main they revealed a standard procedure for robbing banks that involved using a firearm. The jury was free to infer that Henry knew that procedure by the time he participated in the second and third robberies and thus knew a real gun would be used. Void for Vagueness. Henry argues that the firearm statute's residual clause is unconstitutionally vague, invoking Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015). The statute defines a predicate crime of violence as a felony that either has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(3)(A) (the elements clause), or that by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense, id. 924(c)(3)(B) (the residual clause). Henry argues that, if 924(e)(2)(B) is unconstitutional under Johnson, then 924(c)(3)(B) must be invalid too. We rejected the same argument in United States v. Taylor. There too, the defendant challenged the statute as void for vagueness after Johnson. But there too, we reasoned that 924(c)(3)(B) is considerably narrower than the statute invalidated by the Court in Johnson and upheld the statute. 814 F.3d 340, 375 (6th Cir. 2016). Unlike 924(e)(2)(B), the statute at issue in Johnson, 924(c)(3)(B) requires (i) that the risk involve physical force rather than physical injury, (ii) that the risk of force arise in the course of the crime, and (iii) that the felony by its nature involve the risk that the offender will use physical force. Id. at 37677. Section 924(c)(3)(B) remains constitutional under circuit law. Even if that were not the case, even if this residual clause were unconstitutional, we would not have to rely on it to find that Henry's predicate crimes count as crimes of violence. All three of the firearm convictions grew out of federal bank robbery convictions under 18 U.S.C. 2113(a). A necessary element of bank robbery is the use of force and violence or intimidation. 18 U.S.C. 2113(a). And intimidation is all it takes to satisfy 924(c)(3)(A)'s elements clause, which defines crimes involving the threatened use of physical force as crimes of violence. See United States v. McBride, 826 F.3d 293, 296 (6th Cir. 2016) (construing identical language in U.S.S.G. 4B1.2(a)(1)). Sentence. While Henry's second appeal was pending, the Supreme Court decided Dean v. United States, 137 S. Ct. 1170 (2017). The Court held that a district court was permitted to consider, but not required to consider, the mandatory minimum sentences imposed by 924(c) when deciding whether to depart from the Guidelines sentence for the predicate crimes. Id. at 117778. Dean abrogated United States v. Franklin, 499 F.3d 578, 586 (6th Cir. 2007), which had required district courts to ignore 924(c) when sentencing the offender for the predicate crimes. Id. We recently sent back a similar case for resentencing, see United States v. Person, No. 16-4031, 2017 WL 5191864, at *45 (6th Cir. Nov. 9, 2017), and see no reason not to do the same thing here. We thus must remand the case for the limited purpose of resentencing him and allowing the district court to consider the mandatory minimum sentences applicable to him. That said, we take the time to reject Henry's three remaining sentencing arguments. First, he cites United States v. Payton, 754 F.3d 375 (6th Cir. 2014), for the proposition that the district court should have considered the advanced age at which he would be released before sentencing him. We see two problems. To start, the Payton district court imposed a sentence that exceeded the Guidelines range by over twenty years and had a special responsibility to explain why. Id. at 37779. Not so in Henry's case, where his sentence fell comfortably within the range. To finish, we can infer from the record that the district court knew about and considered his age when deciding the risk he posed to public safety. Before the sentencing, defense counsel drew attention to the fact that Henry would be in excess of 85 years old before he's eligible for release. R. 132 at 6. And the court noted his current age and discussed how he would likely backslide into crime if released relatively early. R. 132 at 1011. No error lurks here. Next, Henry challenges the district court's interpretation of the firearms statute. Pointing to its legislative history, he argues that a second or subsequent conviction triggering 924(c)'s consecutive 25-year mandatory minimums cannot arise from the same indictment as the first conviction. But (as he points out) the Supreme Court has held otherwise. Deal v. United States, 508 U.S. 129 (1993). Finally, he argues that the Sixth Amendment requires the prosecution to prove to a jury the existence of prior convictions triggering 924(c)'s mandatory minimums. Again, binding precedent forecloses the argument. In Apprendi v. New Jersey, the Court specifically carved out an exception to the rule for prior convictions. 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000). The Supreme Court's more recent decisions have not held otherwise. See United States v. Mack, 729 F.3d 594, 609 (6th Cir. 2013) (citing Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151, 2160 n.1 (2013)). The district court committed no error. For these reasons, we affirm Henry's convictions but remand for the limited purpose of resentencing Henry in light of Dean. SUTTON, Circuit Judge. So choice devours itself when women are forced into abortions in China and the left is in denial. Choice devours itself when Planned Parenthood covers up statutory rape of a 12-year-old to promote abortion for minors. Choice devours itself when a facilitator of assisted suicide holds down the hands of a person who wants to breathe again after having set up suicide by asphyxiation. And choice devours itself when the mentally disabled are given the "choice" of assisted suicide, which has now been proposed in Delaware and is already a reality in Europe. Recall that choice devours itself when something worshiped by ideologues--usually death or unmarried sex--is first promoted in the name of "choice" and "consent" but then pressed upon those who do not or cannot properly consent, and the ideologues look the other way or are enthusiastically in favor. Rep. Paul Baumbach is at the moment the only sponsor of an assisted suicide bill in Delaware, and hopefully it will stay that way. The bill didn't pass in 2017 but carries over to the 2018 session. Wesley J. Smith notes that the sponsor has deliberately amended the bill to make sure that it contains a provision for those who are significantly mentally handicapped to receive the great blessing of a lethal injection. First, note the definition of intellectual disability, standard in the field. From Amendment 2 to House Bill 160: Intellectual disability means a disability, that originated before the age of 18, characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills. This means disabled people with significant intellectual impairments. Why think that they are consenting at all? Oh, because a social worker affirms that they "understand" that they are going to be killed: (b) If the patient has a documented intellectual disability, the attending physical shall refer the patient to a licensed clinical social worker who shall ensure that the patient fully understands the information provided pursuant to 2504B (3). No medication to end a patients life in a humane and dignified manner may be prescribed unless the licensed clinical social worker has confirmed in writing to the attending physician that the patient understands the information provided pursuant to 2504B(3). But this is absurd. As Smith points out, people who meet this definition cannot legally vote in Delaware, make their own medical decisions, or enter into contracts. How can they possibly be capable of consenting in any meaningful sense to death? To put it no higher, this proposal would make Delaware law quite incoherent. Such a person would not have the right to consent to a healing treatment but would be able to "consent" to a lethal injection! But since when have ideologues cared about legal coherence? Some British politicians bear no responsibility for their words. pic.twitter.com/MdzsFBKBr4 Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) January 26, 2018 It Must Be True.. The Kremlin is assessing how attacks on British infrastructure can cause chaos and kills millions, according to Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Source: Russia is ready to kill thousands and thousands of British people Run Chicken Little Run WtR The party said sanctions by the U.S. and now by the EU were behind the degradation of the economic and social situation in Venezuela. The European United LeftNordic Green Left party, a left-wing political group in the European Parliament, slammed Friday the decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials saying that such aggressive actions hinder efforts of normalization and stabilization in the country. GUE/NGL rejects this decision, as it does not serve the path towards a much-needed normalization and stabilization of the country, especially when dialogue between the Government and the opposition is taking place in the Dominican Republic, the party said in a statement posted on its website. The party, which is comprised of European socialist and communist groups, added that the sanctions were in fact in violation of international law and only add to the already severe economic hardship in the country resulting from the U.S. harsh sanctions. These sanctions have clearly contributed to the degradation of the economic and social situation in the country, with the depletion of food and medical supplies. GUE/NGL stressed that the South American country had three elections last year while presidential elections are scheduled to take place in April, adding that the opposition has been allowed to participate in all of them. The party further rejected the continuous attempts to undermine and overthrow the Venezuelan Bolivarian Government, which was democratically elected under the country's constitutional order, and whose political forces scored major victories in last years elections. Instead of imposing illegal sanctions and feeding into the conflict, the leftist European party called on the EU to support the ongoing dialogue between the government and the opposition. The statement comes as the United Nations also expressed support Friday for the talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition factions in the Dominican Republic. The next round of talks is set to take place on Saturday and Sunday. United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. MIRATBEK ZHAKYPBAEV, Petitioner, v. JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General of the United States, Respondent. No. 17-1459 Decided: January 26, 2018 Before WOOD, Chief Judge, and EASTERBROOK and ROVNER, Circuit Judges. The petitioner Miratbek Zhakypbaev was a native and citizen of Kyrgyzstan, who was admitted to the United States in September 2012 as a nonimmigrant student to attend the Computer Systems Institute. His wife and three daughters were admitted in December 2012 based on his status. The petitioner did not attend the Computer Systems Institute after February 4, 2013, and in April 2013, filed applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). The petitioner's claims were premised on the events surrounding the ouster of Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiev in Kyrgyzstan in April 2010. The petitioner claimed that based on his connections with the Bakiev family and with the political party associated with Bakiev, he was persecuted during that time. He argued that he was eligible for asylum and withholding of removal because he was a victim of past persecution and had a wellfounded fear of future persecution in Kyrgyzstan on account of his political opinion and his membership in a particular social groupthat of persons associated with the Bakiev family. In addition, he claimed that he was entitled to protection under CAT. The Immigration Judge (the IJ) denied relief, holding that the petitioner had failed to demonstrate that his persecution was connected to his political opinion or social group, and that he had failed to establish a threat of torture. The Board of Immigration Appeals (the Board) adopted and affirmed that denial, while also writing separately. The petitioner now appeals those determinations to this court. Because the Board adopted and affirmed the IJ's conclusion with respect to the asylum and withholding of removal claims, as well as providing its own analysis, we review both decisions. Bathula v. Holder, 723 F.3d 889, 897 (7th Cir. 2013). We review the decisions denying asylum and withholding of removal for substantial evidence, applying de novo review to legal questions but reversing factual findings only if the record lacks substantial evidence to support them. Id. at 89798. Under the substantial evidence standard, we uphold the agency determination if it is supported by reasonable, substantial, and probative evidence on the record considered as a whole. Id. at 898. Reversal is appropriate only where, reviewing the record as a whole, a reasonable factfinder would have to reach a contrary conclusion. Id., quoting INS v. EliasZacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 (1992). The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may grant asylum to aliens who qualify as refugees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)(A). Cojocari v. Sessions, 863 F.3d 616, 620 (7th Cir. 2017); 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(A). A person seeking asylum must meet the stringent statutory requirements for all asylum seekers which require that the applicant prove (1) that she has suffered or has a wellfounded fear of suffering harm that rises to the level of persecution, (2) on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, and (3) is unable or unwilling to return to her country because of the persecution or a wellfounded fear of persecution. Cece v. Holder, 733 F.3d 662, 675 (7th Cir. 2013) (en banc); 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)(A), 1158(b)(1). Pursuant to the REAL ID Act of 2005, the applicant must show that one of those five protected grounds was at least one central reason for her persecution. Cece, 733 F.3d at 672 n.6; 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i). Once an applicant proves past persecution, she is presumed to have a wellfounded fear of future persecution, which the Attorney General may rebut by demonstrating that there is a change in country conditions in the applicant's home country. Cece, 733 F.3d at 668; 8 C.F.R. 1208.13(b)(1). We turn first to the petitioner's claim that the Board and IJ erred in determining that he was not entitled to asylum or withholding of removal. In the proceedings below, the petitioner argued that his political opinion, and his membership in a particular social group, was a central reason for the harm and threats he suffered. The petitioner at oral argument emphasized that his appeal centered on the social group portion of the asylum and withholding of removal decision, but we will address the political opinion component as well because it is argued in the briefs. The petitioner does not challenge the discussion of facts as set forth in the IJ's decision and adopted by the Board, and therefore we rely on that recitation here. During the petitioner's childhood, he grew up in the JalalAbad district, which is the area from which Bakiev originated. He was a neighbor of Bakiev's nephews, Kushtar and Sanzhar Bakiev, but did not remain in close contact with them beyond his childhood. In addition, while employed at a hotel restaurant in 1997, he met members of the Temirbaev family, which was a politicallypowerful family under the Bakiev regime. Bakiev was president from 2005 until he was ousted in a coup on April 7, 2010. The petitioner believes that Bakiev was ousted with the help of Russia because he would not agree to close the American military base at Manas International Airport. At the time of the coup, the petitioner was employed at Megacom, a telecommunications company which was owned by one of Bakiev's sons, Maksim. On April 8, 2010, the petitioner was contacted by Kushtar Bakiev who told the petitioner that one of his properties had been confiscated by the interim government, and asked the petitioner to look after another property, a night club, that he owned. The petitioner went to the night club and witnessed what he described as an attack on the club by individuals connected to the interim government, culminating in the club owner being forced to transfer title of the property. Some of the people involved in the forced transfer of title later became parliamentary deputies for the ruling party, including Turatbek Madylbekov and Raikan Tologonov. Madylbekov also became the head of the Internal Affairs Department for the city of Bishkek. On May 25, 2010, the petitioner was told to report to the prosecutor's office in Bishkek for an investigation. He was informed that his testimony was sought regarding criminal charges against Bakiev, members of Bakiev's staff, and the managers of Megacom. He was questioned by a man named Aibek, who informed him that they knew of his employment at Megacom and his movements on April 7 and 8. Aibek also alleged that the petitioner had helped Bakiev flee the country. According to the petitioner, Aibek wanted him to provide false testimony against Bakiev and the people connected to Bakiev's regime and Megacom, and proposed dictating a statement for the petitioner. After the petitioner refused to testify or write such a statement, three men were summoned to the room and attacked him by forcing a plastic bag over his head for approximately one minute, grabbing him by the neck and slamming his head into the desk, and kicking him when he fell to the ground, eventually causing him to lose consciousness. When the petitioner regained consciousness, a nurse was in the prosecutor's office with him, and he was taken to the hospital where he received stitches and remained for three days. The petitioner testified to the IJ that he was beaten at the prosecutor's office because he witnessed the illegal seizure of the private property belonging to the Bakiev family by Madylbekov and Tologonov during the coup. Madylbekov's son Eldar was working as an investigator at the same prosecutor's office where the petitioner was beaten. The prosecutors wanted him to remain silent about those unlawful takings, and wanted him to testify against the Bakiev family and the Megacom management in order to provide a justification for the company's seizure and nationalization. On June 6, the petitioner again was notified to report to the prosecutor's office. He went to the office and was again pressured to cooperate with the prosecution, but he was not subjected to further physical abuse. He returned to the prosecutor's office some days later and attempted to file a complaint regarding the mistreatment he had experienced but was unsuccessful in that effort. A financial police unit filed a complaint in 2011 against Andrei Silich, the director of Megacom, alleging financial wrongdoing. Silich subsequently fled the country. In addition to being summoned to the prosecutor's office twice, the petitioner was interrogated by the financial police five times at his place of employment and two other times at the offices of the financial police. Following the 2010 coup, the interim government obtained 49% of the shares of Megacom, and in 2014 the government obtained the remaining shares of the company. Although Bakiev was ousted, his political party, AtaZhurt, won the most seats in parliament following the 2010 coup, which forced the ruling interim government to cooperate with the party despite the party's support for Bakiev. In July 2012, Eldar Madylbekov and Musa Tologonov were arrested in connection with their fathers' crimes during the 2010 coup. According to the petitioner, the sons were arrested because their fathers, as deputies in the parliament, were immune from prosecution. In August 2012, the petitioner received a summons to appear at the Office of Internal Affairs in Bishkek, which he believed was in relation to the arrests of Eldar and Musa. He did not appear as requested because Eldar's father, Turatbek Madylbekov, was the head of the office of Internal Affairs at the time, and he believed that he would be threatened and told to remain silent regarding the case against Eldar and Musa, and forced to testify against people related to Bakiev and the AtaZhurt party if he appeared. In September 2012, the general director of the petitioner's company was replaced and the new director told him to resign. He did so and left for the United States. The police continued to send him summonses to his former residence and his mother's house throughout 2013. In 2014, his brotherinlaw was contacted by the prosecutor's office and informed that there was now a criminal case against the petitioner and that he was suspected of concealing information. The petitioner fears that he will be harmed by Eldar and Musa if he returns to Kyrgyzstan because he witnessed their fathers' unlawful actions in forcing the transfer of the title to the property. Although the petitioner testified that Eldar was convicted at trial and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, he also contradicted that by stating that Eldar and Musa were cleared of charges and released from prison, and again by stating that the cases remained open on the same charges and that his testimony as a witness was still being sought. The IJ found that the petitioner was generally credible in his testimony. The IJ noted, however, that in some instances the petitioner's testimony was inconsistent with his prior statements in his asylum application, and those inconsistencies related to his connections with the Bakiev and Temirbaev families that formed the bases of his alleged social group. According to the IJ, in his application, the petitioner emphasized his longtime relationships with members of the Bakiev and Temirbaev families and also stated that he was promoted rapidly within Megacom due to [his] old connections and the friendship with the nephews of President Bakiev, Kushtar and Sanzhar, as well as with Arstan Temirbaev. However, in his testimony, he admitted that he did not remain in contact with Kushtar and Sanzhar after childhood; they merely grew up nearby each other. He also asserted that he obtained his position with Megacom through his experience and education, and he denied that he was ever promoted because of his connections. IJ Op. at 7. The IJ concluded that the petitioner had exaggerated the extent of his connections with the Bakiev and Temirbaev families, but that apart from that aspect, the petitioner's testimony was credible overall. We review that credibility determination deferentially, upholding it as long as it is supported by substantial evidence. Cojocari, 863 F.3d at 621. As was stated, the petitioner in the proceedings below sought to demonstrate that he was unable or unwilling to return to his country because of persecution or a wellfounded fear of persecution on account of his membership in a particular social group or political opinion. On appeal, he argues that the court erred in denying his claim related to his political opinion and to his membership in the social group. With respect to those claims, the IJ held that the beating that the petitioner suffered might be sufficient by itself to rise to the level of persecution, but that the petitioner had failed to demonstrate that the persecution was on account of his political opinion or his membership in the social group. The IJ noted that a social group, in order to be cognizable, must share an immutable characteristic, and have sufficient homogeneity and cohesiveness. The claimed social group here was defined as persons associated with the Bakiev family. The IJ was concerned that the group could lack homogeneity in that it was not clear how tenuous one's connections to Bakiev could be while still falling within the group, but the IJ determined that the group was cognizable if limited to those persons whose connections with Bakiev are strong enough to have proBakiev political views imputed to them. The IJ held, however, that the evidence indicated that he was sought out because of his potential usefulness as a witness, and that there was no evidence that he was interrogated or beaten because of his membership in that social group, or that he had a wellfounded fear of such persecution on that basis. The Board in reviewing the IJ's decision noted that a persecutor's motivation is a matter of fact to be determined by the IJ, and is reviewed only for clear error. The Board concluded that the IJ did not clearly err in finding that the petitioner was interrogated and beaten because the prosecutor thought that he had information that would be useful in prosecuting individuals for financial crimes rather than because of his connection to the Bakiev family. The critical issue in this appeal is whether the IJ and the Board erred in concluding that the petitioner had failed to demonstrate that the interrogation and beating were on account of his association with the Bakiev family. We defer to the factual conclusions, reversing only if the evidence compels a different result. N.L.A. v. Holder, 744 F.3d 425, 430 (7th Cir. 2014). In order to demonstrate eligibility for asylum on the basis asserted here, it is not enough to establish that he is part of the claimed social group. Even if we assume that the petitioner is part of a cognizable social group consisting of persons associated with Bakiev, and that the petitioner was persecuted, the petitioner must also establish a particular link between his mistreatment and his membership in the social group. Cece, 733 F.3d at 674. For instance, as we explained in Cece, an ethnic Rom (gypsy) who has been mistreated by the town mayor because of a longstanding business dispute would not be eligible for asylum even if the mayor has undoubtedly and unfairly mistreated him, and even if he belongs to an ethnic group that was frequently the target of persecution in his country. The persecution must still be on account of the protected category. Id. The petitioner must demonstrate a nexus between the persecution and the membership in the social group. OrellanaArias v. Sessions, 865 F.3d 476, 484 (7th Cir. 2017). Petitioner's own testimony as to the prosecutor's motivation supports the IJ's determination that the persecution was not related to his social group. The petitioner testified to the IJ that he was beaten at the prosecutor's office because he witnessed the illegal seizure of the private property belonging to the Bakiev family by Madylbekov and Tologonov during the coup. Madylbekov's son, Eldar, was working as an investigator at the same prosecutor's office where the petitioner was beaten. The petitioner further testified that the prosecutors wanted him to remain silent about those unlawful takings, and wanted him to testify against the Bakiev family and the Megacom management in order to provide a justification for the company's seizure and nationalization. That testimony supports the findings of the IJ and the Board that he was targeted because he witnessed the illegal taking and his testimony could harm Madylbekov and Tologonov or could provide a justification for the taking. The petitioner's arguments on appeal also support the IJ and Board findings. On appeal, the petitioner repeats the assertions above as to the motivation for the persecution. In addition, he argues that he fears he will be harmed if returned to Kyrgyzstan because he witnessed Madylbekov's and Tologonov's misdeeds; he does not argue that he will be harmed because of his association with the Bakiev family. Finally, on appeal the petitioner argues that he is caught in the middle of two factionsthose supporting the Bakiev government and those supporting the new government. He asserts that because he knew what was occurring from the inside, his testimony would be important to each side in the fight. That supports the findings by the IJ and the Board that he was targeted because of the value of his testimony as a witness, not because he was perceived as being associated with the Bakiev family. As he recognizes, he was a person whose testimony could help or hinder the case against either of the two factions. That is different from being targeted based on his affiliation with one faction. Our opinion in OrellanaArias, 865 F.3d 476, is illustrative of that distinction. In that case, OrellanaArias argued that he was targeted for extortion because he was a member of a social group consisting of persons who are perceived by gangs and corrupt officials to have money because they are returning from the United States. Id. at 485. We recognized that the gang mentioned his return from the United States when it first approached him asking for money, and perceived him to be wealthy based on that association. Id. Nevertheless, we held that the nexus was not established because he presented no evidence that he was more of a target because he was deported from the United States, as opposed to any other country perceived to be wealthy, or if he had been identified as wealthy due to other factors such as through his job or lottery winnings. Id. We held that it was his perceived wealth alone that made him a target for the gang. Id. Similarly, the evidence in this case indicates that petitioner was targeted for his perceived usefulness as a witness. He appears to have been identified as a potential witness because of his presence at the scene of the forcible taking of property on April 8, 2010, and because of his employment at Megacom and the perception that he had connections with Bakiev associates. But it was his usefulness in the criminal investigation, and his potential damage to the individuals involved in the forced taking, that made him a target here. Even if his usefulness as a witnessand the potential threat he posedwas more apparent based on his perceived association with the Bakiev family, just as OrellanaArias' perceived wealth stemmed from his association with the United States, the IJ and Board did not err in concluding that the petitioner was not targeted based on that association. See also Bathula, 723 F.3d at 901 (rejecting claim based on a social group of those willing to participate in the legal process, despite great personal risk, where there was no suggestion in the record that the land mafia sought to destroy the legal process generally, or to attack those who supported it, and the filings clearly demonstrated that the petitioner was a victim of intimidation for his specific testimony in a specific case against the land mafia); Jun Ying Wang v. Gonzales, 445 F.3d 993, 999 (7th Cir. 2006) (rejecting claim where the persecutors seeking to harm Wang did not do so based on her membership in a particular group or for any political opinion, but rather for her decision to cooperate with the government to reduce her own sentence). Based on the evidence here, the IJ and the Board properly could conclude that a person not associated with Bakiev but who possessed the petitioner's employment position and witnessed that forced transfer would also have been interrogated and beaten to seek his testimony, or at least that the association was not a central reason for the persecution. The IJ and Board determination that the nexus was not established must be upheld unless the evidence compels a contrary conclusion. BuesoAvila v. Holder, 663 F.3d 934, 938 (7th Cir. 2011). For instance, in BuesoAvila, the petitioner presented evidence that he was persecuted by the gangs on account of his evangelical Christianity and that the government was unable to stop it. Id. at 93536. BuesoAvila testified that he was only threatened and injured by the gang after he joined his church youth group, and that he proselytized on behalf of that church and encouraged others not to join the gangs. Id. at 935. On two occasions, he was attacked by gang members following church youth group meetings, but suffered the most serious attack when returning home from work. Id. at 93536. The gang members did not mention his religious affiliation or give any other indication that it was a factor, but BuesoAvila testified that they were motivated to stop the encroachment on their territory by the church youth group. Id. at 935. We affirmed the Board's determination that the persecution was based on the gang's desire to recruit him and that his religious affiliation was not a central reason for the persecution. We recognized that the evidence supported a legitimate inference that the gang members persecuted BuesoAvila on account of his religious and church membership, but held that the evidence was not so compelling that no reasonable factfinder could fail to find that the gang was motivated to persecute him based on his religious affiliation. Id. at 938. Because the evidence does not compel the conclusion that the petitioner's persecution was connected to his membership in that social group, we must uphold the decision of the IJ and the Board. At best, the petitioner produced permissible evidence that could support an inference of the unlawful motive, but we cannot reverse unless the evidence is so strong as to require the factfinder to accept it. Bathula, 723 F.3d at 902; BuesoAvila, 663 F.3d at 937, quoting EliasZacarias, 502 U.S. at 48384 (for reversal, the evidence must be so compelling that no reasonable factfinder could fail to find the requisite fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion). We turn, then, to his argument that he was persecuted on account of his political opinion. The relevant focus for this claim is the petitioner's political opinion, not that of the persecutor. EliasZacarias, 502 U.S. at 482 (The ordinary meaning of the phrase persecution on account of political opinion in 101(a)(42) is persecution on account of the victim's political opinion, not the persecutor's.) The petitioner contends that he participated in political activities, including collecting signatures and spreading leaflets for the AtaZhurt party, and attended political rallies for that party, although he did not actually join the party because his employer at that time prohibited it. That involvement, however, occurred in August 2010, months after he was interrogated and beaten in the prosecutor's office. Therefore, that support for the political party could not have been the basis for the past persecution. As the IJ noted, the petitioner's account of the initial interrogation and the demands of the prosecutor contained no reference to the petitioner's political views, but of course that would not be dispositive. It is a rare case in which a persecutor will openly declare the motivation for the abuse. It is certainly possible, of course, that the persecutors attributed a political opinion to the petitioner based on his affiliation with Megacom and his relationships with the Bakiev family. But that is just a recharacterization of the social group argument just rejected, in that both are premised on the notion that his affiliation with Bakiev and his party was a central reason for the persecution, and it fails for the same reason. The evidence in this case does not compel a determination that the petitioner's political opinion was a central reason for the persecution. EliasZacarias, 502 U.S. at 481 n.1 (to reverse the IJ and Board finding, the evidence must compel the conclusion that the persecution was on account of his membership in a protected group.) The petitioner has also failed to demonstrate that he had a wellfounded fear of future persecution. A fear of persecution is wellfounded if it is subjectively genuine and objectively reasonable. Musollari v. Mukasey, 545 F.3d 505, 508 (7th Cir. 2008). The evidence indicates that he returned to the prosecutor's office for questioning on a number of occasions after the date of the beating, and was not subjected to further abuse. In addition, he was questioned on more than five occasions by the financial police but again not subject to other mistreatment. There is insufficient evidence in the record to compel the conclusion that the questioning was for a motive other than the desire to pursue valid criminal cases. In fact, although he maintains that the interrogators wanted him to file a false statement, he concedes that he does not actually know the content that they sought from him because it never got to that point. Finally, the evidence indicated that the political party which the petitioner claims to support, AtaZhurt, won the majority of the votes in the October 2010 election. Given all of those facts, the IJ and the Board did not err in determining that the petitioner failed to demonstrate a wellfounded fear of future persecution. Finally, the IJ and Board did not err in determining that the petitioner was not entitled to withholding of removal or to protection under the CAT. Where, as here, a petitioner cannot demonstrate entitlement to asylum, he necessarily cannot satisfy the more stringent requirement for withholding of removal under 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3). BuesoAvila, 663 F.3d at 937, quoting Ahmed v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 611, 615 (7th Cir. 2003). Regarding the CAT claim, the petitioner presents on appeal only the bare assertion that the Board erred in finding there was no substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of torture, but has failed to provide any argument as to why that determination was erroneous. The record on its face supports the determination of the IJ and Board. The petition for review is therefore DENIED. ROVNER, Circuit Judge. United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. UNITED STATES of America, PlaintiffAppellee v. William Ike LIBBY, Jr., DefendantAppellant No. 17-1023 Decided: January 26, 2018 Before WOLLMAN and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges, and GOLDBERG,1 Judge. Craig Raymond Baune, Nathan Paul Petterson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, District of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Saint Paul, MN, for PlaintiffAppellee. Frederick J. Goetz, GOETZ & ECKLAND, Minneapolis, MN, for DefendantAppellant. William Ike Libby, Jr., Pro Se. Defendant William Ike Libby, Jr. pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), 924(e). Previously, Libby had been convicted of three separate offenses: first degree aggravated robbery and second degree assault in October 1997, and second degree drug sale in January 2010. The district court considered each of Libby's three previous convictions to be violent felonies or serious drug offenses and therefore found Libby subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. 924(e). As a result, the district court sentenced Libby to the fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence provided in 18 U.S.C 924(e)(1). On appeal, Libby does not contest that two of his prior convictions constitute predicate offenses for the purposes of the ACCA. Rather, his appeal is limited to challenging the imposition of a fifteen year sentence based on the characterization of his October 1997 conviction for first degree aggravated robbery, Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1, as a violent felony. Because we hold that the lesser included offense of simple robbery in Minnesota is indeed a violent felony, we affirm the ruling of the district court and uphold its sentence under the ACCA. DISCUSSION A. Standard of Review We review de novo whether a prior conviction is a predicate offense felony for the purposes of the ACCA, 18 U.S.C. 924(e). United States v. Shockley, 816 F.3d 1058, 1062 (8th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). B. The ACCA Framework The ACCA dictates that if a defendant has three previous convictions for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, that individual shall be sentenced to no less than fifteen years in prison. 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(1). The statute defines violent felony as any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year that [ ] has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(2)(B)(i). Physical force means violent forcethat is, force capable of causing physical pain or injury to another person. United States v. Schaffer, 818 F.3d 796, 798 (8th Cir. 2016) (quoting Johnson v. United States, 559 U.S. 133, 140, 130 S.Ct. 1265, 176 L.Ed.2d 1 (2010) ). Thus, in order to uphold the district court's classification of Libby's conviction as a predicate felony, we must find that Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 contains as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of force capable of causing pain or injury to another. When assessing whether a state statute qualifies as a violent felony for the purposes of the ACCA, we employ the categorical approach, looking only to the elements of the statute in question. See Jones v. United States, 870 F.3d 750, 752753 (8th Cir. 2017) (citations omitted). A defendant's real world conduct is of no relevance to our review and is not to be considered. See id. (citing Mathis v. United States, U.S. , 136 S.Ct. 2243, 2251, 195 L.Ed.2d 604 (2016) (How a given defendant actually perpetrated the crimewhat we have referred to as the underlying brute facts or means' of commissionmakes no difference ) (citation omitted) ). Where a statute is indivisiblethat is, it sets out a single set of elements to define a single crimewe need not look beyond the statute of conviction. Mathis, 136 S.Ct. at 2248. If the elements of Libby's statute of conviction, Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1, criminalize conduct that does not require the use of violent force, then it cannot be considered a predicate offense for the purposes of the ACCA. See Jones, 870 F.3d at 753. However, statutes deemed divisible are treated differently. When a statute list[s] elements in the alternative, and thereby define[s] multiple crimes, it is divisible. Mathis, 136 S.Ct. at 2249. When we are faced with a divisible statute, we are permitted a constrained inspection of a limited class of documents to determine what crime, with what elements, a defendant was convicted of. Id. (citing Shepard v. United States, 544 U.S. 13, 26, 125 S.Ct. 1254, 161 L.Ed.2d 205 (2005) ). This approach, called the modified categorical approach, is limited in its application and is not required here, as discussed below. C. Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 Libby challenges the district court's conclusion that his conviction for first degree aggravated robbery was a violent felony under the ACCA. Minnesota's first degree aggravated robbery statute criminalizes a defendant's commission of simple robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a dangerous weapon, or inflicts bodily harm upon another Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1. Simple robbery is defined as: Whoever, having knowledge of not being entitled thereto, takes personal property from the person or in the presence of another and uses or threatens the imminent use of force against any person to overcome the person's resistance or powers of resistance to, or to compel acquiescence in, the taking or carrying away of the property Minn. Stat. 609.24. A conviction under Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 carries a punishment of not more than twenty years in prison. In considering a conviction under Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 for the purposes of the ACCA, we are required to examine whether the elements of simple robbery or the aggravating factors under first degree aggravated robbery necessarily require proof of violent force in order to convict. See Johnson, 559 U.S. at 140, 130 S.Ct. 1265. 1. Divisibility Our assessment here requires that we first determine if Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 lays out elements in the alternative or merely lists separate factual means by which the crime may be accomplished. See United States v. Boman, 873 F.3d 1035, 1040 (8th Cir. 2017). Neither party disputes that the elements, as defined in both Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 and Minn. Stat. 609.24, present an indivisible offense. Together, the statutes list separate factual means by which a defendant may accomplish four distinct elements: 1) a taking, 2) with knowledge, 3) by use of force or threat of imminent force, 4) while armed. Minn. Stat. 609.24; Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1. If our examination of these elements reveals that Minnesota law necessarily requires proof of violent force, we too must hold that a conviction under Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 constitutes a violent felony. 2. Violent Force In the absence of a demonstration by Libby that there is a realistic probability, not a theoretical possibility, that the State would apply its statute to conduct that falls outside the definition of a violent felony, see Moncrieffe v. Holder, 569 U.S. 184, 206, 133 S.Ct. 1678, 185 L.Ed.2d 727 (2013) (citation omitted), we conduct a plain language reading of Minn. Stat. 609.24 to determine if it has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(2)(B)(i). Because we hold that simple robbery, Minn. Stat. 609.24, a constituent part of the crime defined under Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1, implicates violent force, Johnson, 559 U.S. at 140, 130 S.Ct. 1265, we affirm the district court's ruling. Minn. Stat. 609.24 minimally requires that a defendant threaten[ ] the imminent use of force in order to either compel acquiescence or to overcome the person's resistance or powers of resistance While a threat on its own may not present the requisite degree of force, see, e.g., United States v. McFee, 842 F.3d 572, 57576 (8th Cir. 2016), a statute that contains as an element a threat of violent force will. See Johnson, 559 U.S. at 140, 130 S.Ct. 1265. Minnesota's express requirement that a defendant communicate a threat to overcome resistance or to compel acquiescence necessarily implicates such violent force. Confirming our reading, Minnesota's pattern jury instructions require proof of the intentional creation in [the victim's] mind of an understanding that if the person resisted or refused to cooperate, force would immediately be used against the person. 10 Minn. Prac., Jury Instr. GuidesCriminal CRIMJIG 14.02 (6th ed. 2017). Important here is not the mental state of the victim, Schaffer, 818 F.3d at 798, but the defendant's intentional creation of a threat intended to overpower or dissuade a victim's resistance. Such a threat communicate[s] intent to inflict harm, id. (quoting Threat, Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014) ), for fear that were the victim to resist, violent force may befall them. As such, simple robbery in Minnesotaand as a result, first degree aggravated robberyqualifies as a predicate offense under the ACCA. In an attempt to show that simple robbery can also encompass less than violent force, Libby points to only one case that squarely considers force under Minn. Stat. 609.24: State v. Nelson, 297 N.W.2d 285 (Minn. 1980). Yet, that case does not stand for the proposition Libby asserts. With a short recitation of the facts, the Nelson court upheld a simple robbery conviction where the defendants, two young adults, forcefully grabbed and jostled a thirteen-year-old victim before he was able to escape. Id. at 286. Counter to Libby's proposed reading, simply because the boy avoided actual violent force by fleeing, that does not mean that violent force was not threatened. Rather, it is clear that the Nelson defendants did at least threatenif not intend to employviolent force. Thus, we do not take Nelson to hold that non-violent force can support a conviction under Minn. Stat. 609.24. Libby also argues that we are required to follow our decision in United States v. Eason, 829 F.3d 633, 64042 (8th Cir. 2016), which he claims would compel a holding that Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 is categorically not a violent felony. We disagree. While the state statute analyzed there contemplated the threat of any quantum of force, Ark. Code Ann. 5-12-102, Libby's statute of conviction requires a threat of considerably more force. Specifically, whereas the Arkansas statute at issue in Eason criminalized a [t]hreat of any bodily impact, restraint, or confinement, Ark. Code Ann. 5-12-101 (emphasis added), Minn. Stat. 609.24 requires proof of a threat of the imminent use of force to overcome the person's resistance Thus, the statutes are distinguishable and we are not bound by Eason's holding. By its terms, Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 minimally requires that a defendant communicate a threat of violent force. As such, the elements of Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 categorically present a violent felony under the ACCA. CONCLUSION The district court did not err in holding that Libby's conviction under Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 qualifies as a violent felony for the purposes of the ACCA and we, therefore, uphold its sentence. FOOTNOTES . The Honorable Donovan W. Frank, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. . Libby's conviction for first degree aggravated robbery occurred in October 1997, under the 1994 version of the statute. Minn. Stat. 609.245, subd. 1 (1994). Our analysis here focuses on the law as codified at the time of conviction, see McNeill v. United States, 563 U.S. 816, 82123, 131 S.Ct. 2218, 180 L.Ed.2d 35 (2011), which happens to be the same as that which exists today. . Two other Minnesota Supreme Court cases referenced by Libby, State v. Slaughter, 691 N.W.2d 70 (Minn. 2005) and Duluth St. Ry. Co. v. Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Md., 136 Minn. 299, 161 N.W. 595 (1917), do not inform our analysis. One, Duluth St. Ry. Co., 161 N.W. at 59596, is entirely inapposite as it interpreted the language of an insurance policy, not that of the law in question here. The other, Slaughter, 691 N.W.2d at 7678, considered a conviction for theft from the person under a different statute than that which defines simple robbery. . Nor are we compelled to follow, as Libby urges, United States v. Bell, 840 F.3d 963 (8th Cir. 2016), a non-ACCA case. That case considered whether Missouri's second-degree robbery statute constituted a crime of violence under a similarly worded federal sentencing statute, U.S.S.G. 4B1.2(a). Id. at 96465. While both Bell and the case at hand call for a similar application of the categorical approach, see id. at 965 n.3 (explaining that both seek to resolve the inquiry as to the use of violent force), for Bell to apply here, Libby would have to show a realistic probability that Minnesota prosecutes conduct involving less than violent force under Minn. Stat. 609.24. Id. at 966 (Although the theoretical possibility that a state may apply its statute to conduct falling short of violent force is not enough to disqualify a conviction, a realistic probability will suffice. (citation omitted) ). As discussed above, Libby has failed to do just that. GOLDBERG, Judge. Nick Bilton in Vanity Fair: Years ago, long before Mark Zuckerberg became Mark Zuckerberg, the young founder reached out to a friend of mine who had also started a company, albeit a considerably smaller one, in the social-media space, and suggested they get together. As Facebook has grown into a global colossus that connects about a third of the globe, Zuckerberg has subsequently assumed a reputation as an aloof megalomaniac deeply out of touch with the people who use his product. But back then, when he only had 100 million users on his platform, he wasnt perceived that way. When he reached out to my friend, Zuckerberg was solicitous. He made overtures that suggested a possible acquisitionand once rebuffed, returned with the notion that perhaps Facebook could at least partner with my friends company. The chief of the little start-up was excited by the seemingly harmless, even humble, proposition from the growing hegemon. Zuckerberg suggested that the two guys take a walk. Taking a walk, it should be noted, was Zuckerbergs thing. He regularly took potential recruits and acquisition targets on long walks in the nearby woods to try to convince them to join his company. After the walk with my friend, Zuckerberg appeared to take the relationship to the next level. He initiated a series of conference calls with his underlings in Facebooks product group. My friends small start-up shared their product road map with Facebooks business-development team. It all seemed very collegial, and really exciting. And then, after some weeks passed, the C.E.O. of the little start-up saw the news break that Facebook had just launched a new product that competed with his own. Stories about Facebooks ruthlessness are legend in Silicon Valley, New York, and Hollywood. The company has behaved as bullies often do when they are vying for global dominanceslurping the lifeblood out of its competitors (as it did most recently with Snap, after C.E.O. Evan Spiegel also rebuffed Zuckerbergs acquisition attempt), blatantly copying key features (as it did with Snapchats Stories), taking ideas (remember those Winklevoss twins?), and poaching senior executives (Facebook is crawling with former Twitter, Google, and Apple personnel). Zuckerberg may look aloof, but there are stories of him giving rousing Braveheart-esque speeches to employees, sometimes in Latin. More here. [Thanks to Ali Minai.] Blake Morrison at The Guardian: Should a murderer be allowed to serve as a minister of the church? Is such a person suitable to conduct marriages, open coffee mornings and suffer little children to come to them? Such were the questions facing the Church of Scotland in 1984, when a licence was sought by James Nelson, who after his release from prison on parole, having served a 10-year sentence, had studied divinity at St Andrews and taken up preaching. With the tabloids closely following the story (Nelson, not averse to publicity, had given an interview to the Glasgow Herald the year before), the Kirks General Assembly knew it would be criticised, whatever its decision. But after a three-hour debate, by 622 votes to 425, with a courage its hard to imagine today, they gave their approval to Nelson, thus making him, it seems, the first convicted killer to be ordained into the Christian church. The Nelson case is the core of Stuart Kellys fascinating book. But it ranges widely, digressively, Shandyesequely even, to encompass so much more: theology, philosophy, literary criticism, the nature of evil and Kellys own intellectual development and struggle with faith: Nelson for me is the keyhole through which I can see issues and ideas that have troubled and intrigued me for decades. As I stood with my sign last year, a middle-aged white woman stopped marching, turned around, and approached me. She called out, smiling, You know, what Sojourner Truth ACTUALLY said was Aint I a Woman? She was referring to an alternate version of the speech I had quoted, published by Frances Gage in the New York paper The Independent and the National Anti-Slavery Standard over a decade later, in 1863. Ive taught this version, as well. While there were many things I might have said to this stranger, I instead smiled and directed her to the correct citation. This white woman clearly thought that she knew more about Sojourner Truth than a black woman holding a sign quoting her did, and this fact was not lost on me. Whatever I might have to say, she was more interested in explaining than listening. After this years march a picture has been shared repeatedly on Facebook and Twitter showing a statue of Harriet Tubman wearing a bright pink pussy hat. The statue is Alison Saars Harriet Tubman Memorial in Harlem, Swing Low, located at the intersection of Frederick Douglass Boulevard, West 122nd Street, and St. Nicholas Avenue, called the Harriet Tubman Triangle. As various people shared the image, the response from Black Twitter was a predictably hilarious clapback. While the most resounding message here was simply No (repeated in meme form) some people offered nuanced explanations of their complaints. Put simply, this merger of Tubmans image with the (highlycritiqued) marker of a problematically exclusive movement reeks of appropriation rather than actual engagement. Not unlike the moment when I was whitesplained about Sojourner Truth. More here. John Domini at The Quarterly Conversation: No longer than the lead piece in the latest literary quarterly, yet unearthing a teleology for some of humanitys oldest stories, The Tongue of Adam sets a reader thinking of noble forebears. W.G. Sebald comes to mind, though theres no meandering involved, and Anne Carson, though theres no anachronism or toying with form. Jorge Luis Borges, especially, casts his shadow, given the erudite cool with which this text handles Adam and Eve, Eden and Babel, effortlessly switching between Quranic (as spelled by Kilito) sources and Judeo-Christian. Similar material, in the hands of the great Argentine, resulted in amazing aesthetic objects, and to say the latest from Abdelfattah Kilito doesnt shrivel in comparisonwell, thats high praise. Even more noteworthy, however, may be what the book accomplishes, at this hour of the world, for Arab civilization in general. The Tongue of Adam began as a series of lectures at a French university, as one of the authors colleagues explains in the introduction (sensitive, if at times gushing). Then following seven short chaptersessays, meditationsKilito himself provides the afterward, revealing that he taught in French, and often French literature, for forty years. Nonetheless this epilog, like his text, makes an argument for his culture of origin. more here. The Scranton School Board voted Thursday night to furlough 51 educators in an effort to reduce the shortfall in its tentative budget for the next school year. Even with these layoffs, the district is still facing a $4.5 million deficit in its $161 million spending plan. Despite the board reducing the number of layoffs from 89 teachers to 51, teachers, parents, and students left the meeting in disgust. In an attempt to get the district out of its financial distress, 28 tenured teachers and 23 non-tenured teachers will be let go effective August 31 before the start of the 2018 school year. Before the vote was taken, members of the audience pleaded with the board to reconsider. "What bothers me is that I feel like it was the first option chosen, and it should be the last option chosen," said teacher Suzanne Furey. "The mission of the Scranton School District is to quote: educate, inspire, and empower students, end quote. If you are willing to cut teachers before taking a hard look at other areas, then that is not your mission," said teacher Adam McCormick. The board initially proposed laying off 89 teachers in programs such as art and music. Now, those programs will remain as some of those positions are being kept. All librarians are being let go, but the superintendent says students will still have access to libraries. "They will be able to work in the library with their teachers," said Scranton School District Superintendent Alexis Kirijan. The teachers union president says that's not allowed by the state Department of Education. "They're saying that the teachers will teach library science to the students. Well, that's against the PDE code, so I don't know how we're going to be doing that," said Rosemary Boland, Scranton Federation of Teachers. In addition to the teacher layoffs, 40 maintenance and clerical workers will be let go in July. The district says it must vote on an official 2018 budget by March 28. The Scranton School District released the following statement following Thursday's vote: This evening the Scranton School Board voted to accept the administration's proposed reductions of staff. After many weeks of hard work, the number of positions affected was reduced to 51, approximately 43 percent fewer than the original 89. Prioritizing the diversity of our student's interests and recognizing that the multifarious tools utilized in a strong public education are of the utmost importance, valuable programs have been preserved in this proposal. Art, Music and Health/PE will continue to be offered as related arts subjects at the elementary level. Intermediate students will receive one related arts period per day in those subjects as well as Family and Consumer Science, Industrial Arts and Spanish. The high school curriculum will also retain those subjects and, due to course selections, Latin and German will continue to be offered as well. Although library programs are affected, each school will still maintain a full library of books and materials accessible to our students. All secondary schools are equipped with a computer lab for students to complete any type of research for his/her studies. The proposed furloughs are being made under the PA School Code, which establishes the manner in which necessary reductions of staff shall be accomplished. Additionally, an equal percentage of administrative staff and professional employees may be suspended. The Board has given primary consideration to the staffing needs of the district, its financial stability and most importantly to the effect upon the educational programs provided to our students. The administration has confirmed that state academic standards and teacher certification requirements are met under the proposal. The Board appreciates the concessions that many staff members and vendors have already made. Work will continue to identify additional measures to reduce the district's deficit in an effort to mitigate costly borrowing in order to pass a final, balanced budget by the extended deadline of April 1, 2018. The Board looks forward to continuing to work with Superintendent Alexis Kirijan, the District administration, the Scranton Federation of Teachers, our PFM consultants and the Pennsylvania Department of Education in earnest. This evening's decision is made with great solemnity, however the Board is confident that this action is crucial to our effort to effect positive, transformational change in our district, our community and in the future we must build for our children. At least five Colombian police officers were killed and 42 others injured Saturday morning after a bomb was hurled at a station house in the northern coastal city of Barranquilla, police said. The attacker, riding on a motorcycle, threw an explosive device at the station in the San Jose neighborhood as officers were preparing to start the workday, according to Colombian police. The attorney general's office identified the attacker as Cristian Camilo Bellon Galindo, 31. Authorities said he was charged with five counts of aggravated homicide, and 42 counts of attempted homicide. Charges related to and terrorism and use of explosives will be filed, authorities said. Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char and metropolitan police Brig. Gen. Mariano de la Cruz Botero told reporters the attack appeared to be in retaliation for recent operations against local criminal organizations, according to the police department's official Twitter account. Police recovered a radio and notebook linked to the attack. The metropolitan police posted photos on Twitter of four slain officers, who were identified as Anderson Cano, Fredy de Jesus Lopez, Yosimar Marquez and Freddys de Jesus Echeverria. The name of the fifth slain officer was not immediately available. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos condemned the "cowardly attack" via Twitter. He offered his condolences to the families of the dead officers. Santos traveled to the coastal city of Barranquilla late Saturday to visit the injured officers. During the visit, he announced 1,500 additional officers will be deployed to the city to support local police. "Be assured that those responsible will face justice," Santos told reporters at a news conference. "Terrorism, like in this case, will not make anyone bow down. To the contrary, acts like these, so cowardly, give us more strength to fight more forcefully against these type of criminals, this type of terrorism." 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. Hamilton County Board of Education District 2 Rep.Kathy Lennon wants to encourage active engagement and open dialogue within the District 2 communities. To increase collaboration, Ms. Lennon is forming a District 2 Advisory Committee. This committee will be dedicated to improving and promoting communication among schools, families, and communities. The group will help to increase awareness, participate in conversations focused on solutions, facilitate family resources and support, and coordinate activities that improve student achievement and growth. The public is invited to attend one or more of the meetings and fill out an application to join the committee. The forums will provide opportunities to discuss the committees purpose, framework, and the application process. Ms. Lennon will also seek input from attendees as to what the community would like the District 2 Advisory Committee to address and accomplish. Applications will be available at each scheduled meeting and must be returned to Ms. Lennon by Friday, Feb. 16, or emailed by that date to lennon_k@hcde.org. Applicants must attend at least one of the informational meetings and live, teach or have a child attending school in District 2 in order to be considered for the committee. Here are the District 2 Advisory Committee Information Meeting Dates: Jan. 29: Thrasher Elementary 6 p.m. Jan. 31: Nolan Elementary - 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31 SMMHS - meeting in the Theatre 7 p.m. Feb. 1: Alpine Crest 6 p.m. Feb. 5: Rivermont Elementary - 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6: Red Bank Elementary - 5:30 p.m. Feb. 8: Red Bank Middle & Red Bank High School in the RBM Library - 5:30 p.m. The Anderson Police Department said they will be following up on neighborhood complaints on a monthly basis, thanks to their "Problem-Oriented Policing Unit." Anderson police said they began the enforcement on Friday night to deal with complaints from residents living in Anderson such as: - Illegal campers - Code enforcement issues - Narcotics activity complaints According to APD, often times the "POP" unit has a set of assigned targets geared to those nuisance complaints and so far the operation has made six arrests from about 20 contacts such as: - Pedestrian checks - Traffic stops - Probation and parole searches Chico Mayor Sean Morgan has unveiled a new plan to address rampant crime throughout the city. Morgan described the plan Friday night at the annual business summit "State of the City," hosted by the Chico Chamber of Commerce. City leaders are touting the new "Community Court," system, right now in it's infancy stages. Morgan is calling it a game-changer. He says, "What Community Court does is it gives people a second chance, but at the same time, holds them accountable for what their action was." Morgan says the plan will be modeled after community court systems in New York and Spokane, Washington. Those who commit misdemeanor offenses like theft under $950, graffiti and vandalism, and illegal camping will have the option of participating in community court, instead of possible jail time and infractions added to their permanant record. Chico's Community Court is not expected to be a burden to the city's budget, as it will mostly be run by volunteers. WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/cecilejuliette/videos/1633168576763499/ UPDATE - Steve Wynn has agreed to step down as R.N.C finance chair, according to CNN. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Wall Street Journal details a pattern of behavior in which Steve Wynn pressured female employees to engage in sexual behavior with him. The article tells of one instance, in which a manicurist at Wynn hotel had sex Wynn after he made repeated demands of her. Wynn then allegedly settled with the woman for $7.5 million. The report is based on the accounts of dozens of people who have worked at Wynn's resorts. After the article's publication, Wynn released a statement. Writing "the idea that i ever assaulted any woman is preposterous.... we find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits." But the reaction from the allegations has been swift. Shares of Wynn resorts plunged 10 percent on the news. And the Massachusetts gaming commission is launching a review of Wynn Resorts' State Gaming license. The company is in the midst of building a $2.5 billion casino and hotel in a Boston suburb. The fallout is also impacting the political world. Wynn took over as the Republican National Committee's finance chair at the request of then President-Elect Donald Trump. The two men have been rivals since the 80s when they ran competing casinos in Atlantic City. Wynn told "CBS This Morning" last year, they have put that rivalry aside. Wynn has also donated more than $2 million to GOP candidates and organizations since 2013. The R.N.C has not commented on whether Wynn will remain in his post. And that's put democrats on the attack. A Democratic National Committee statement used the words of R.N.C chairwomanRonnaa McDaniel "if you stand for treating women well and you stand for the respect of women, you shouldn't take money from somebody who treated women with the absolute highest level of disrespect." OROVILLE-CA The Butte County Academic Decathlon will take place at the Butte County Office of Education on February 3, 2018 from (7:30am 4:00pm). The annual theme this year is Africa. A total of four high schools are scheduled to compete: Oroville Union High School, Las Plumas High School, Paradise High School, and Inspire School of Arts & Sciences. These teams are competing for an opportunity to advance to the California State competition March 22-24 in Sacramento and represent Butte County. The Butte County Academic Decathlon, held the first Saturday in February of each year, is an academic competition open to high school students from all school districts in Butte County. This year we have 53 high school students, 30+ judges and proctors, and many volunteers who work behind the scenes. The Academic Decathlon is a team competition in academics for high school students in grades nine through twelve. Academic Decathletes compete in teams of six to nine students and involves students of all levels of academic achievement, to ensure that the program is inclusive of students of varying ability levels. Students will take a series of tests in the subjects of language & literature, math, art, music, science, social science, essay, speech, interview and economics. The competition ends with an oral Super Quiz, a fast-paced question and answer relay. We hope you will be able to join us throughout the day to support the students in their academic endeavors. Attached is a draft schedule for competition day (subject to changes). For more information on Academic Decathlon or how to get your school involved next year, contact the Butte County Office of Education - Mary Ellen Garrahy, Student Events Manager, 530-532-5647 Wednesday Night Comedy Improv returns to Chattanooga State with second year students of the Professional Actor Training Program, joined by faculty and staff. The scenes are improvised from audience suggestions. For all ages and family friendly with the proviso that the show is improvised and based on audience suggestions. Wednesday Night Comedy Improv will be held at the Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14 and 21. Admission is free. An infant suffered life-threatening smoke inhalation in an apartment fire that also sent a Birmingham police officer and two others to the hospital this morning. The fire was reported just before 9 a.m. on the 900 block of 46th Place North, Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Capt. Harold Watson said. The fire was contained to one apartment, and investigators are working to determine the cause, the captain said. A police officer suffered smoke inhalation while trying to rescue people from the apartment. Watson said the mother of an injured infant and a bystander also were taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. Those adults suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, the captain said. It was not immediately clear whether the bystander had been inside the apartment, or if he may have been trying to help the officer save the infant. Watson said the child's life was in danger as a result of smoke inhalation. Methamphetamine, mushrooms and marijuana were seized in a northeast Alabama drug bust that led to the arrest of more than a dozen people, authorities said. Jackson County sheriff's deputies said they were investigating a complaint about drug activity on County Road 266 in the Bryant community when they made the arrests Thursday night. Sheriff Chuck Phillips said deputies saw drug paraphernalia when they were investigating at the house and called narcotics investigators to the scene. Investigators got a warrant and searched the house, the sheriff said. That's when they found the meth, mushrooms and marijuana, he said. Godsby, Price and Standifer (Jackson County Jail photos) Of the 13 people arrested, only three were charged with felonies. Those suspects are: Shayna Godsby, 23-year-old from South Pittsburg, Tennessee, charged with possession of controlled substance-meth and possession of drug paraphernalia Timothy Price, 35-year-old from Bryant, charged with possession of controlled substances-mushrooms and possession of drug paraphernalia Carl Standifer, 43-year-old from South Pittsburg, Tennessee, charged with possession of controlled substance-meth and possession of drug paraphernalia The other 10 suspects are from Alabama and Georgia. They were arrested on misdemeanor charges including loitering in a drug house, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Rain is falling on Alabama on Saturday, and while it is needed in much of the state, some areas may run the risk of getting a little too much. Parts of south Alabama have an elevated flood risk that will last into Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters at the weather service in Mobile said heavy rain will be possible later tonight through early Sunday morning across extreme southwest Alabama, and isolated flash flooding may be possible. Other areas further inland may experience what the weather service called "nuisance" type flooding of poor drainage areas. Rain is expected to increase through the day and especially tonight statewide as a cold front moves closer to the area. That, combined with with the possible development of an area of low pressure off the coast, could bring an inch to possibly 2 inches of rain to areas near the coast, the weather service said. Rainfall totals are expected to be lower as you head north in Alabama. The weather service in Birmingham said central Alabama should expect the most widespread rain on Sunday morning, with up to an inch possible south of Interstate 85 and less than an inch elsewhere. The weather service in Huntsville said total rainfall for north Alabama will likely range from 0.5-0.8 inches through Sunday. Any rain will certainly help in Alabama, which is becoming increasingly mired in drought. This week's U.S. Drought Monitor report shows that 100 percent of the state is considered abnormally dry and other areas are already in extreme drought. The driest spots in the state, according to the report, are in central and southeast Alabama. Matt Hart, Mike Hubbard, Lance Bell Deputy Attorney Gen. Matt Hart opens the case against Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard in court on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Opelika, Ala. This week Hart's division sent subpoenas to lawmakers, asking to see proof of their campaign spending. (Todd J. Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News via AP, Pool) (Todd J. Van Emst) Certainly at one point both men believed they could spend their campaign funds as they wanted without fear of being caught. Or so they thought. When state Rep. Oliver Robinson pleaded guilty last year to federal corruption charges, he copped to more than taking bribes from lobbyists. Among the crimes he admitted was using campaign funds to pay personal expenses, including $2,024 he spent at Saks Fifth Avenue and $400 at Victoria's Secret. Likewise, when state Rep. Micky Hammon pleaded guilty to mail fraud last year, he too admitted to transferring campaign funds to his personal bank account -- money he later used to fund a failed private business venture in Hoover. Federal prosecutors have said that Hammon converted more than $50,000 of campaign funds for his personal use. But if you looked at either of these men's campaign accounts there was never any evidence there of suspicious transactions. Not a clue. While state law requires Alabama politicians to disclose campaign expenditures and itemize any greater than $100, the state has no mechanism to ensure what lawmakers report is accurate. That is, maybe, until now. The Alabama Attorney General's office has been investigating lawmaker campaign spending since at least the fall of 2017 and this week current and former Alabama lawmakers received a flood of subpoenas. Those subpoenas ask the officials to produce supporting documentation showing their campaign finance reports are accurate. The Attorney General's office has a standing policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations, and the grand jury secrecy act prohibits witnesses and other officials from disclosing what goes on behind grand jury door. However, on Thursday, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill confirmed that his office has been assisting a state investigation of lawmakers' campaign accounts. "They have contacted us over a period of months for information to help them in an investigation of expenditures they wanted more information on," Merrill said. According to Merrill, his office did not initiate the investigation, although it has reported other candidates and elected officials in the past for filing late or incomplete campaign finance reports. "We did not initiate any of this," he said. "It's not part of our normal review process." Likewise, the Alabama Ethics Commission has not referred any officials to the Attorney General's office for prosecution. Merrill said that much of the information investigators from the special prosecutions division, led by Deputy Attorney General Matt Hart, requested was available through his office's online database. "It appears that they are interested in expenditures that are not delineated," he said. According to Merrill investigators asked for information related to current and former officials. Under Alabama law, candidates must report all expenditures, and they must itemize expenditures greater than $100. However, a review of the state's campaign finance database shows that many officials don't itemize all expenses greater than $100, while others report payments to their credit card bills without disclosing what those credit cards were used to pay for. The credit card dodge has been a longstanding problem, Merrill said. After I wrote about this gap in campaign disclosures in 2016, he said, his office changed the state's reporting system and put candidates on notice that they must itemize those payments. "We saw that as a glaring weakness in the system," he said. Under Alabama law, officials may use excess campaign funds for expenses related to their duties, donations to charitable organizations, or transfers to the Alabama General Fund. In 2016, the Alabama Ethics Commission gave further guidance to public officials, outlining what sorts of costs might be reasonably related to their duties and which are not. Using campaign funds to pay personal expenses unrelated to an office is a Class B felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. The statute of limitations is four years. Hammon wasn't afraid of being caught, nor was Robinson, until the feds came knocking on his door. Neither thought anyone was looking, and for a time, they were right. But now someone is looking, and in Montgomery this week, that false confidence suddenly is gone. And in its place is fear. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. You can follow his work on Facebook at Reckon by AL.com. A measles outbreak and malnutrition is killing scores of children in the Indonesias remote region. Papua, Indonesia In their little bodies with bones nearly piercing through their skin, the eyes of these Papuan toddlers tell their story. We travelled for nearly 24 hours to get to the story of these children who are dying from malnutrition and a measles outbreak. It was my first visit back to Papua after foreign media had been restricted for years. We hoped authorities would allow us to tell this story. Thousands of children suffering from hunger and disease was important enough for us to take the risk. We reported to police headquarters in Jakarta and obtained a travel permit. Hundreds of children are estimated to have died from the malnutrition and measles outbreak [Step Vaessen/Al Jazeera] Papua, in the countrys far east, has been a sensitive region since it became part of Indonesia in the 1960s following what was seen as a flawed referendum. After a selected group of Papuans chose to become part of the republic, many started fighting for independence. The movement is still active today despite the governments move to give Papua wide-ranging autonomy in 2001. {articleGUID} But this story wasnt about the independence movement. This story was about a neglected part of the country that many in government barely realise is part of Indonesia. Ignored or sent away The estimated hundreds of children who have died from malnutrition and measles outbreak are painful evidence of this neglect. Ignored by health workers and government officials, many of the children were never immunised or given basic healthcare. And this is happening near the worlds largest gold mine operated by the American company Freeport, Indonesias largest taxpayer. The Asmat tribe was hardest hit. The tribes settlements in the south of Papua are far away from the nearest town and many Asmat people were forced to bury their children without seeing a doctor. Those who had canoes rowed to the nearest health post, but were sent away by health workers who seemed to lack commitment and the skills to help. Ignored by health workers and government officials, many of the children were never immunised or given basic healthcare [Step Vaessen/Al Jazeera] We travelled to Asatat, a settlement around three hours by speedboat from the nearest town Agats. Over the last four months, at least 29 children have died there. Aloysius Beorme lost his one-year-old son because he had no money to rent a boat. When he finally managed to row a canoe for hours to a clinic, his son died soon after arrival. We want doctors to come here and we want the government in Jakarta to send them because the provincial government has never visited us, Beorme told us. Losing traditions Since Papua has been given wide-ranging autonomy, the area has been flooded with money, but much of it has allegedly disappeared into the pockets of local leaders and government officials. Efforts to bring economic progress to the region mainly benefited newcomers from other parts of Indonesia who started their small businesses, selling instant food that is now killing Papuan children. The Asmat traditionally live from sago palms. Before instant food had entered their villages the seminomadic tribe would spend months in the forest to make sago and find enough food to live. But instant noodles and energy drinks have become a much less time-consuming alternative for the Asmat who do not know much about nutrition. In Asatat, we saw children eating uncooked noodles and a baby drinking instant coffee. The Asmat tribe is facing a serious identity crisis that it is so far left to solve on its own. A proposal by Indonesia President Joko Widodo to relocate the 100,000 Asmat people living in the area to a town near medical services was immediately rejected. Al Jazeera reporters saw children eating uncooked instant noodles in the neglected region [Step Vaessen/Al Jazeera] Many believe this could be the end of the Asmat, who wont be able to survive living away from the forest and facing competition from newcomers. What the Asmat do need is to be able to strengthen their traditions that have benefited them for centuries and get real government care to prevent this tragedy from happening again. It is a good opportunity for Widodos government to prove to the Papuans that they belong to Indonesia. Tehran, Iran A delegation of Iranian members of Parliament are expected to visit suspected anti-government protesters locked up in Tehrans Evin prison on Sunday. Their visit comes with the promise of investigating reports of detainees killed in police custody, an allegation government prosecutors have denied. At least 25 Iranians were killed during anti-government demonstrations that began on December 28. According to one MP, an estimated 3,700 people were arrested across the country. Most of those arrested were interrogated and released within a few weeks, according to official statements from government prosecutors. An estimated 20 people remain in custody in Tehran and less than 100 people in other parts of the country. Earlier this month, dozens of MPs, including reformist legislators and opposition politicians, wrote a letter to President Hassan Rouhani, demanding access to Evin prison. The presidents office, as well parliamentary legislators have repeatedly said they want to avoid the witch-hunts that followed unrest in 2009 when millions protested the outcome of the presidential election that saw Mahmoud Ahmedinejad return to power. And even though calm returned to the streets relatively quickly during the latest protests, many Iranians are still angry about their economic conditions and are losing faith in their elected leaders. Hassan Norozi, a member of Parliament from Robat Karim in Tehran province and the spokesman for the Judicial Commission of Irans parliament, said the government acknowledges that demonstrations were started by people who had legitimate economic concerns and that no one in charge is taking pleasure in punishing their own people. I myself am a judge of the Islamic [legal] system of Iran, Norozi said. For many years, Ive been judging and issuing verdicts, he added. But it doesnt mean that I as a judge get happy when I jail someone or sentence someone to be lashed or executed. Those who hold rallies and protests, they are our children. Norozi said that those who are proven to have participated in vandalism or whose actions led to the deaths of two police officers would have to pay for their crimes. But he said his office had advised prosecutors to be lenient with most people, especially those charged with minor offenses or those who were only protesting. The heads of our judicial system are religious scholars who care about halal and haram [right and wrong] and if they want to jail someone, really, they do it with a heavy heart, Norozi said. Our prison guards are not like those of the [Shah of Irans] regime to be merciless people. Righteous and religious people have been selected and the parliament itself is working more openly than the government and judiciary. There are several [competing] political parties in parliament and we cannot keep anything hidden at all. Norozi said painting a brutal picture of Irans leaders was unfair and that by virtue of being an Islamic government, Irans leaders were obliged to be merciful towards their own people. Climate of fear In the weeks that followed the anti-government protests, Irans security forces and police arrested thousands of suspected demonstrators. Most were interrogated and release, but some were made to sign a pledge, promising to never again participate in unrest or damage public property. By coincidence or by design, government actions in the weeks following opposition rallies created an atmosphere of fear among activists in the country. Nearly all those Al Jazeera tried to contact even those who had marched in favour of the government in counterprotests declined to speak. Many said they were not sure what the redlines were for the government or police and were worried they might say the wrong thing and land themselves in a prison cell. In this climate of uncertainty, speaking publicly is seen as an act of courage. {articleGUID} Mohammad Motamedinejad, secretary of the student movement Justice Seekers, said that naturally we see the protests as something positive, the legitimate protests of people to come [to the streets] to raise their demands. The group advocates for public housing and better economic conditions. They submit proposals to legislators in parliament but also took part in protests last month. But they pulled their people back when protests became violent. As long as problems exist, it will happen and it happens in all countries as well, Motamedinejad said. He added that the government should embrace demonstrators and their message as a form of constructive criticism. Some think that if people protest about a problem it equals animosity towards [Iran], Motamedinejad said. In our opinion, that is not true we want to confront this mindset and deal with sensitive issues and break the taboo to have a better atmosphere for criticism so we could advise the government to do good things and avoid doing bad things. But the government maintains that the protests were overtaken by foreign enemies and instead of framing the rallies as a display of civil rights, officials have framed them as an external threat to Irans national security. Motamedinejad said he supports the Islamic establishment of the country but that blaming outside forces with no evidence does not address the economic grievances that sparked demonstrations in the first place. This is not the way to [talk about these issues], he said. It is not the desirable way of informing people, just saying there are some issues without presenting documents or evidence naturally this doesnt [help] with the public trust of people or public opinions either inside or outside the country. Tough neighbourhood Irans leaders say they live in a tough neighbourhood and maintaining internal stability must come first. We have some enemies that never hide their animosity, Norozi said. America and [the] CIA and global imperialism and international zionists have never hidden their animosity towards us, he added. [In this climate], any protest could [compromise] our security. While an organised and peaceful protest in the streets can give us realisations, it shouldnt be in a way that our enemies could misuse. Norozi added that any Iranian is welcome to seek out people like him and demand their rights. But they would have to play by the governments rules. Ive been in parliament for two years, he said. Most days we see thousands of people in front of parliament for protests. They come to hold banners, chant slogans, sometimes they are silent. We see theyre written banners, he added. We speak to them. They agree, we agree, we legislate some laws for them. I dont think there is a country that has [the kind of] freedom that we already have in Iran. While President Hassan Rouhani continues to publicly defend the rights of protesters, earlier this week, the Tehran provincial governors office denied a request by the city council to designate a part of the capital specifically for peaceful protests. Critics say its an example of government doublespeak. Protests and political culture In 1979, still in exile in Paris, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini famously ordered every Iranian onto the streets to help overthrow the Shah of Iran. Demonstrations were successful due in no small part to the business community in Tehrans Grand Bazar. Many of the traders have been running their shops since before the Islamic Revolution. Protests have happened before and will happen again, one shopkeeper said. Demanding their rights on the streets is just something Iranians do. Whether the current government likes it or not, protests have become a part of Irans political culture. Closing 2017 with their commitment to community service, the Chickamauga Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the oldest DAR chapter in the area, donated 320 childrens books to the statewide Read to Independence project. Committee chairmen delivered books to 12 area preschool, elementary and after school programs with a total enrollment of 3,231 children. Librarians and teachers thankfully accepted books for use in libraries, classrooms, and tutoring programs. Bookmarks with the American Flag and Pledge of Allegiance were also donated along with small U.S. flags to promote patriotism. Each year, DAR members accumulate numerous hours of volunteer service in the promotion of literacy among children. Research has shown that students who do not read proficiently by age 10 are four times more likely to drop out of high school than competent readers. At some point in a students education, reading is no longer just a skill to master but a means to obtain new knowledge, said officials. Russia-backed deal brings relief to opposition area near Damascus, where many of the 400,000 residents are malnourished. A Russian-negotiated ceasefire has gone into effect in Syrias Eastern Ghouta, the last remaining rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus. The truce, which started Saturday, is expected to bring temporary relief to an estimated 400,000 people in the area suffering from acute food and medicine shortages. Eastern Ghouta has been under a government siege since 2013. Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting near the Turkish-Syrian border, said Eastern Ghoutas proximity to Damascus underlines the importance of the area to the government of Bashar al-Assad. It is reported that the region has the worst cases of malnutrition in the entirety of the Syrian war, our correspondent said. {articleGUID} The ceasefire was negotiated in Vienna. Not all opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta signed up to the deal, and it remains to be seen how long it will hold, our correspondent said. The proof is to see the developments on the ground. I think we have to wait and see how it turns out, she said. Over the past two months, Russian jets and the Syrian army have intensified their bombardment of the rebel enclave. Sochi talks News of the deal comes as the Syrian opposition announced it plans to boycott Russia-hosted peace talks in Sochi next week, saying it is an attempt to undercut the United Nations effort to broker a deal. Saturdays announcement was made in in Vienna, where the latest round of UN talks between Syrias government and the opposition wrapped without major breakthroughs. We listened to many guarantees concerning commitment, but none of them were delivered somehow, said Yahya al-Aridi, Syrian opposition spokesman, following the announcement. We are tired of that, we need real involvement, we need real commitment, he told Al Jazeera. Aridi said it was up to Russia to put more pressure on the Syrian government to make concrete steps to resolve the crisis, which is now in its seventh year. We believe that the ball is in the Russian court, he said. They say that they have the upper hand in Syria and they were responsible for saving this regime for a long time, and they can bring it to commit itself to international legality resolutions and if they want, they can. In a separate press conference on Saturday morning, Nasr al-Hariri, leader of the Syrian opposition delegation, also called on the Assad regime to commit to tangible goals set by the UN. So far, nine rounds of UN talks between the warring sides have made little progress towards ending the civil war. Staffan de Mistura said the UN has yet to make a decision whether to join talk in Sochi [AFP] No to foreign interference Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, said he has not decided whether he will attend the talks in Russia. Mistura said he shared the frustration of millions of Syrians at the lack of a political settlement to date. Ultimately, what is required is political will, he said. It is high time that diplomacy, dialogue and negotiations prevail for the interest of all Syrians. Earlier, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, US, Britain and France submitted a document to Mistura recommending a practical approach to achieve peace, including reforming the Syrian constitution and the conduct of free and fair elections. Bashar al-Jaafari, Syrias chief negotiator and representative to the UN, said the document was unacceptable. Our people have not and will never accept a solution that is parachuted onto them or that is carried on tanks, he said in a statement to reporters. The goal of the conference in Sochi is to engage in a national intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference. The conference will be attended by about 1,600 participants who will reflect the various components of Syrian society, he added. With the retreat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in Syria, Assads forces have regained several territories, while putting the opposition on the defensive. Elsewhere, in Syrias northern Kurdish enclave of Afrin, Turkish forces and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) continue their march into the city as they continue their operation against the US-backed Kurdish armed group YPG. The fighting has complicated relations between Turkey and the US, which are both opposed to the Syrian regime, but have found itself in the opposite sides against the Kurds. As of Saturday morning, there have been at least 394 YPG fighters killed since the beginning of the operation, the Turkish military said. We are fighting the YPG because they betrayed us, and especially because they took over my city, Tal Rifaat, Mohammed Abu Ahmed, an FSA fighter battling alongside the Turkish troops, told Al Jazeera. I have been displaced along with many of my neighbours for two years living in the camps, he said. There are such bad conditions especially now in the winter. In Afrins neighbouring Syrian city of Azaz, which is controlled by the FSA after the group retook the area from ISIL in 2014, life remains difficult in the predominantly Sunni area. Nazha Hilal, a shopkeeper and Azaz resident, told Al Jazeera that she is all alone in providing food for 13 members of her family. People like us are used to the shelling and the explosions, Hilal told Al Jazeera. The young children are still scared, but weve been facing this for a few years now. Were not afraid any more. Syrias conflict, which started with peaceful anti-government demonstrations in March 2011, escalated into a full-blown war that has claimed more than 400,000 lives and driven about half of the countrys prewar population of 22 million from their homes. While many voters appear disengaged, analysts say result is critical for peace process on the divided island. Nicosia, Cyprus For Panos Charalampous, this Sunday is shaping up to be like any other. Maybe, he says, he will meet friends in one of the many cafes in downtown Nicosia. Where the 32-year-old knows he will not be is at the polling station casting his vote, even though it is only a two-minute drive from his home. Over the past decade, if politicians promised 10 things, they only delivered two of them, says the civil engineer based in the capital of the Republic of Cyprus. So for me, as a young person, who can I trust? Charalampous is one of tens of thousands of Greek Cypriots expected to abstain from Sundays presidential elections up to one in four voters, according to some estimates. The poll is held against a backdrop of mistrust and frustration over what is widely seen as a line-up of uninspiring presidential choices. Persistent financial insecurity, social exclusion and concerns about corruption have fuelled broad disaffection. Crucially, 75 percent of first-time Greek Cypriot voters didnt register to be able to cast their ballot. There is disappointment, indifference and a sense that things could have been better, says Andreas Theophanous, professor of political economy at the University of Nicosia. People want better options. But while many appear disengaged, the result of this election is seen as critical for Greek Cypriots emerging from a punishing financial crisis, all the while contemplating how, or whether, to move forward in a deadlocked peace process with the islands Turkish Cypriot community. Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkish troops seized its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired Greek Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the eastern Mediterranean island with Greece. Anastasiades arrives at a pre-election rally in Nicosia on Thursday [Dimitris Sideridis/Al Jazeera] The contenders Sundays voters can choose from an all-male roster of nine presidential hopefuls seeking a five-year presidency. A candidate must win more than 50 percent of votes to secure an outright victory. If, as expected, that threshold is not crossed, a runoff will be held between the top two contenders a week later. Incumbent President Nicos Anastasiades, 71, of the right-wing Democratic Rally party, is tipped to the win the first round, in which 550,876 people have the right to vote. In the second round, Anastasiades is expected to face off against either Stavros Malas, the 50-year-old independent candidate backed by the communist party AKEL, whom he beat in a 2013 runoff; or Nicolas Papadopoulos, the 44-year-old chairman of the Democratic Party and son of late President Tassos Papadopoulos, who in 2004 rejected a UN Cyprus reunification blueprint. Two other party-backed candidates, Giorgos Lillikas, who is supported by the Citizens Alliance party, and Christos Christou, of far-right party ELAM, are not expected to reach the February 4 runoff. 2013 economic shock not over The last time Greek Cypriots headed to the polls to elect a president, in 2013, their country which joined the European Union in 2004 and the eurozone four years later was on the brink of a financial meltdown. International rating agencies had already downgraded its economy to junk status, while the then-government of Demetris Christofias, of AKEL, had lost access to financial markets. A final, crushing, blow came when Cypruss overblown banking sector heavily exposed to debt-laden Greece suffered major losses from the 2012 restructuring of the Greek sovereign debt. As the economy worsened, Anastasiades defeated the AKEL-backed Malas in the second round of the February 2013 elections. One month later, his newly formed government clinched a deal with international lenders for a 10 billion euro ($12.4bn) bailout to stave off bankruptcy. Stavros Malas is an independent candidate backed by AKEL, the communist party [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters] Under the terms of its contentious rescue programme, Nicosia agreed to shut down the islands second-largest lender, Laiki, while Bank of Cyprus depositors were forced to forfeit nearly 50 percent of their savings over 100,000 euros ($124,000). The deposits seizure marked the first time in the history of the eurozone crisis that depositors were made to shoulder the financial burden of recapitalising a lender. This has left many Cypriots still believing that the creditors used their country as a testing ground. The EU used Cyprus as an experiment, a guinea pig, says Theophanous, who is also the president of the Center for European and International Affairs. They wanted to see how to do the bail-in in a small country like Cyprus, and whether they could repeat this in bigger countries, he says. Sure, Cypruss economy had problems, and there was a need for certain re-adjustments, but the punishment was much bigger than the sin. In 2013, Cyprus agreed to a last-minute bailout to avoid bankruptcy [File: Yorgos Karahalis/Reuters] Anastasiadess government also had to impose tough austerity measures, including tax increases and salary and benefit cuts. But by 2015, the countrys fiscal indicators had started improving. In the second half of that year, Cyprus officially emerged from the recession. A year later, it successfully concluded its bailout programme ahead of schedule, leading international lenders to hail Cyprus as a success story. Anastasiades, whose campaign slogan is Steady Steps Ahead, has been eager to emphasise the stabilisation of the economy and its return to growth in the run-up to Sundays vote but others have been quick to note that Cyprus is not out of the woods yet. Cyprus is a success story, but only compared with Greece, says Theophanous. The reality is that theres still a long way to go, he adds, pointing to the persistent problems of nonperforming loans, structural unemployment and inequality. Things have improved, but the shock from 2013 is not over. The energy factor In recent years, just as the republic was struggling to recover from near bankruptcy, the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves off the island raised public expectations of major economic benefits. Such brightening prospects were further boosted by a number of what have been described by some as exaggerated, if not ignorant, statements from across the political spectrum. Just like in 2013, the issue of hydrocarbons has been a key feature of the current election cycle, even though analysts are urging restraint due to a number of challenges from the delineation of an exclusive economic zone amid Turkish objections, through the discovery and eventual exploitation of reserves, to the development of all the relevant services. The problem is also that energy prices, internationally, are low, says political analyst Christophoros Christophorou. And for the time being, the findings have not been very encouraging and their exploitation may be difficult or impossible. Papadopoulos waves to the supporters during a pre-election rally in Nicosia [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters] Impact on Cyprus issue While the issue of the economy is topping voters concerns, the islands decades-long division has as usual also been casting a long shadow over the election campaign. This time, the renewed focus comes on the back of last summers collapse of the latest UN-mediated effort to reunify Cyprus on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) between the islands two main communities. Held at the Swiss resort of Crans Montana under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and Britain, the negotiations were billed as the best chance in decades to reach a settlement to the long-running conflict. After some initial hopes for a potential breakthrough, the talks broke down spectacularly in July as the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the status of an estimated 35,000 Turkish troops on the island, as well as Ankaras demand for security guarantees for Turkish Cypriots, as promised under Cyprus 1960 independence treaty. During the election campaign, Anastasiades promised to pick up the pace of negotiations from the point at which they stopped. His opponents, however, criticised his handling of the negotiations, with some accusing him of making too many concessions and others alleging he shifted his positions and made strategic mistakes. In a TV debate earlier this week, Papadopoulos, who has adopted an inflexible stance on reunification and allied with forces rejecting BBF, said Anastasiades was leading Greek Cypriots to a bad solution they wont accept. In the same televised event, Malas accused the president of missing an historic opportunity to reach a deal based on the principles of BBF. While reunification prospects seem distant, Christophorou says the progress in the latest talks was without precedent. Finding ways to resume the negotiations should be the first and most urgent task facing the winner of the upcoming elections, according to Christophorou. A solution could be a catalyst for the future of the island, he says. But if no solution is reached in the coming couple of years, then the consolidation of the present situation might be not reversible. For Charalampous, the civil engineer, it is the lack of a strategic vision for the country whether it concerns the Cyprus problem or the economy which keeps people like him away from the polls. We need new leaders who will bring fresh ideas and have a desire to change things not for the next few years, but in the long term. President makes unsavoury joke in New Delhi as he secures $1.25bn investment pledge after meeting business leaders. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told a group of Indian and Filipino business leaders in New Delhi that he would like to attract visitors to his country by offering 42 virgins. In a speech on Friday aimed at luring investors to the Philippines, Duterte also said Indian businessmen should avoid Mindanao because theres still martial law there, referring to the southern Philippine island, where armed Muslim rebels and fighters continue to battle government forces. Duterte was on a three-day trip to the Indian capital to attend a regional summit between India and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and participate in the countrys Republic Day celebration. In a statement on Saturday, a womens activist group called Duterte an international embarassment, Rappler reported. We deserve a president who can represent Filipinos: men, women and LGBT alike abroad. We deserve a president who has a regard for womens rights and dignity, the Akbayan Womens rights group said. He has no respect for Filipino women. While talking about the armed conflict in Mindanao, Duterte criticised the totally bankrupt ideology of the armed Muslim fighters, who laid siege to the southern city of Marawi for five months in 2017, for nothing. The come-on is that if you die a martyr, you go to heaven with 42 virgins waiting for you, Duterte said in a rambling speech. Well, if I could just make it a come-on also for those whod like to go to my country, he said to faint laughter from the audience. Declaring that he is half-Muslim, he said armed Muslim fighters in Mindanao do not have the monopoly of discourse in this field. And I said, one of the most is promising virgins when you go to heaven. Id like to have the virgins here, not in heaven. God may not allow it, he said. In his speech, Duterte also assured investors that he is fighting corruption and drug abuse in the country. The presidents office later announced that Duterte secured $1.25bn in investment pledges from Indian businessmen. Rape jokes The comments do not mark the first time Duterte has made off-colour remarks deemed offensive to women. In July 2017, Duterte said he would congratulate someone who raped an international pageant winner. What I dont like are kids (being raped.) You can mess with, maybe Miss Universe. Maybe I will even congratulate you for having the balls to rape somebody when you know you are going to die, he said, referring to the death penalty. In May 2017, Duterte told soldiers fighting in Mindanao that they could rape up to three women without getting punished. Ill imprison you myself, he said, referring to soldiers who commit violations. Then he said: If you had raped three, I will admit it, thats on me. In the lead-up to his presidential election win last year, critics were outraged when he recalled a 1989 prison riot in which an Australian missionary was killed, and inmates had lined up to rape her. Duterte said the victim was beautiful and as mayor of Davao City, where the riot took place, he should have been first in line. He later apologised and said he did not intend to disrespect women or rape victims. Duterte is known for his informal style and his speeches are often loaded with profanity, threats and jokes about taboo subjects, which offend some, but are taken lightly by many Filipinos. Egypt extends Al Jazeera journalists detention for another 45 days, and he has still not been formally charged. Egypt has extended the detention of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein for an 11th time, 403 days after he was first arrested on bogus charges. Hussein, an Egyptian national based in Qatar, was stopped, questioned and arrested by authorities on December 20, 2016, after travelling to Cairo for a holiday. Five days after his initial arrest, Egypts interior ministry accused him of disseminating false news and receiving monetary funds from foreign authorities in order to defame the states reputation. Since then, he has been held for a total of 403 days, enduring months in solitary confinement, being denied his legal rights, all the while yet to be formally charged. On Saturday, Egyptian authorities decided to extend his detention for a period of 45 days. Al Jazeera has condemned the repeated renewals of his detention, denies all the allegations against him and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Human rights and press freedom organisations have also condemned Husseins detention, with his family saying the 51-year-old is suffering from poor health after not receiving proper medical attention since breaking his arm. Media crackdown Over the past few years, Egyptian authorities have arrested several Al Jazeera employees, raising grave concerns over media freedoms in the country. In May 2016, a Cairo court sentenced a former editor-in-chief of Al Jazeera Arabic, Ibrahim Helal, to death, charging him in absentia with endangering national security. Al Jazeeras Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fahmy and Peter Greste along with seven colleagues outside the country were accused of spreading false news during their coverage in the aftermath of the military overthrow of then-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the year they were taken into custody. Mohamed and Fahmy spent 437 days in jail before being released, while Greste spent more than a year in prison. The judge who sentenced the journalists said they were brought together by the devil to destabilise the country. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Egypt ranks third worldwide among nations jailing media workers having locked up 20 in 2017. Detainees were accused of violence during the 2015 and 2016 protests in Oromia region, which left 900 dead. The government of Ethiopia has announced the release of 2,345 prisoners, who were sent to jail following the 2015 and 2016 protests in the countrys Oromia region. Addisu Arega Kitessa, a government spokesman on Oromia affairs, said prisoners have been pardoned and would be released within a few days, in a statement posted to social media on Friday. News of the pardon came a week after the government released Oromo opposition leader Merera Gudina, and 22 others, which rights groups say were political prisoners. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn had announced that political prisoners would be released to build a national consensus and to widen the democratic space. Gudina was arrested in 2016, after he criticised the governments human rights records and the countrys political situation. Security forces have arrested tens of thousands of people and killed more than 900 protesters since the protests by the countrys Oromo people began. Anger over allegations of land grabs widened into protests over political restrictions and rights abuses, and spread to the northern Amhara region, prompting the government to impose a state of emergency that was only lifted in April 2017. Ethiopia denies that any of the detainees are political prisoners. While activists and rights groups have welcomed the recent announcements, it also called for the release of all remaining prisoners of conscience. In response to Kitessas similar announcement on Twitter, one commenter identified as Asnaketch Woldetensa wrote; You need to release all political prisoners with no delay, even all who are in torture cells all over Oromia. Earlier Amnesty International said all detainees must be released immediately and unconditional[ly]. To continue holding them is to perpetuate the gross injustice that they already bravely endured for too long, Amnesty said. As Ethiopia announced the released of Oromia detainees, it was also accused of suppressing the rights of other minority protesters in the Amhara Region. On Thursday, Ethiopia Observer reported that seven people, including a 10-year old child, were killed in the northern town of Kobo, after security forces reportedly fired at a crowd of protesters. The demonstrators were reportedly gathered to protest a violent crackdown in another town, which reportedly also left seven people dead. Member of opposition campaign against Egypts president was seriously injured after men blocked his car. Egypts former top auditor and a leading member of an opposition campaign against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was seriously injured during a suspected kidnapping attempt, lawyers said. Ali Taha and Tareq el-Awady, lawyers of Hesham Genena, told the Associated Press that three men with knives jumped out of two cars that blocked the path of Genenas car outside his suburban Cairo home on Saturday. The men attempted to force Genena into their car, but were stopped by passers-by and a fight ensued, in which Genena suffered injuries to his face and leg. Photos circulating on social media showed an injured Genena. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the images. According to the Associated Press, Genenas lawyers said his injuries were serious, but not life-threatening. The suspected attackers and Genena were questioned by police, Reuters reported, citing security sources. A security official told al-Shorouk newspaper, however, that Genena was injured after a fight followed a vehicle accident. Genena had been tapped earlier this month to be a deputy to Sami Anan, the former head of Egypts armed forces, who initially said he would run in Marchs presidential election, but later suspended his campaign after being arrested on accusations he committed violations that warrant official investigation. Anan was also accused of incitement against the military. Earlier this month, Egyptian authorities stormed the homes of Anans presidential campaigners and arrested a number of them. Anans campaign announced the suspension of work on their Facebook page out of fear for their employees safety. On Saturday, one of Anans lawyer told Al Jazeera that he met Anan at a military prison. According to Reuters news agency, Anans family said earlier on Saturday that they did not know his whereabouts at the time. Sisi sacked Genena as head of Egypts Central Auditing Organisation (CAO) in 2016 after he reported that tens of billions of dollars had been lost to government corruption. Genena was appointed head of CAO in 2012 by former President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi was overthrown by Sisi in July 2013. Juan Orlando Hernandez takes oath of office for a second term amid protests against a bitterly disputed election. Tegucigalpa Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in for a second term amid protests over what the opposition calls electoral fraud. Hernandezs inauguration on Saturday comes under the shadow of more than 30 deaths related to the political upheaval in the country since the end of November. Hernandez, accused of stealing the presidential election to consolidate what critics dub a dictatorship, had promised an austere and brief inauguration on Saturday. Speaking to supporters gathered in the heavily guarded national stadium in Tegucigalpa, the National Party president vowed to work to create jobs, tackle violent crime, and fight corruption. Up against a line of military police and national police blocks away, opposition supporters carrying red and white flags of the Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship and left-wing Libre party shouted, Out with JOH. The chant has been the rallying cry of demonstrations against alleged fraud in the November 26 vote that plunged the country into its worst political crisis since a military coup in 2009. Luis Gustavo, who had a white bandana on his face, marched with opposition supporters. We youth need jobs, education, a better life. This government has us up against the wall, the 24-year-old told Al Jazeera. This government is a dictatorship. Opposition supporters marched in Tegucigalpa chanting, Out with JOH [Eduardo Verdugo/AP] Gustavo rejected the government slogan that claims, Honduras is changing. But supporters attending the inauguration embraced it. We know these four more years will be another push forward for our country, Famo Antonio Diaz, a National Party supporter from the interior department of La Paz, told Al Jazeera outside the stadium before the inauguration. The economy has picked up, crime has reduced, and there have been many achievements with the Vida Mejor programme. Unstable ground The European Union election observation mission questioned the lack of distinction between government resources, including social programmes, and National Party coffers in the election campaign. The contested vote count saw the incumbent president leap over what had appeared to be an insurmountable five percent lead for his challenger, sportscaster-turned-politician Salvador Nasralla of the Opposition Alliance. The statistically unlikely turn came after a series of irregularities, including computer malfunctions and lengthy blackouts in the release of results. In a report, commissioned by the Organization of American States, Georgetown Universitys Irfan Nooruddin argued that a sharp change in vote patterns between early and late-reporting precincts was consistent with claims that the votes counted last were tampered with. The electoral commission, led by a National Party member, declared Hernandez the winner by 50,000 votes three weeks after election day. The announcement only further spurred protests, which paralysed major roads, particularly in the northern part of the country where Hernandez faces the greatest opposition. Supporters of President Hernandez carried banners that read United for Peace [AFP] Political analyst Victor Meza told Al Jazeera that high disapproval for Hernandez and distrust in the election outcome put the executive on unstable ground. As the new government is a product of electoral fraud and also the product of an illegal re-election, the origin of new government is tainted with two serious problems that affect its credibility and legitimacy, said Meza, director of the Center for Honduran Documentation. If its legitimacy and credibility are so weak, then the conclusion is that its governability will be very precarious and weak, he added. Back at Saturdays anti-government march, opposition supporter Amanda Cruz, dressed in red of the opposition Libre party with a Honduran flag draped over her shoulders, agreed. This isnt an inauguration, its an imposition of an illegal president elected through fraud, she told Al Jazeera. They waste money on tear gas when this country doesnt even have medicine in our hospitals, she added, referring to the corruption scandal implicating the National Party in a multimillion embezzlement scandal in the crumbling public health system. The fraud scheme allegedly benefited Hernandez 2013 election campaign. Security forces deployed tear gas against opposition protesters before the march and once it reached the stadium as Hernandez was wrapping up his address. Some demonstrators threw rocks at the windows of buses that transported National Party supporters to the event. Security forces deployed tear gas at the opposition march [Edgard Garrido/Reuters] Saturdays march followed a week of rallies that gained only a fraction of last months strength and took place under heavy presence of state forces. National and international human rights organisations have raised alarm over the police and militarys excessive and lethal use of force against demonstrators, including firing tear gas, water cannon, and live ammunition. The human rights organisation the Committee of the Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) reported at least 30 people were killed in the political crisis by the end of December. Analyst Meza predicted that both protests and the state crackdown will continue, albeit in more dispersed forms throughout the country. A government as weak as this doesnt have any other option but repression to be able keep itself in power, he said. It doesnt have any public credibility, it doesnt have a real social base. Dialogue? Hernandez has promoted a national dialogue as a way out of the crisis, but failed to engage the opposition in talks. The president sent a letter to the UN this week asking for technical support to facilitate a dialogue. The opposition has criticised the gesture for government-led dialogue as disingenuous and demanded binding international mediation. Im not going to sit down to dialogue if the mediator doesnt have the power to impose what they decide, Nasralla told Al Jazeera at the opposition rally in Tegucigalpa on Saturday. Nasralla, who lowered his profile and distanced himself from the Opposition Alliance following Washingtons endorsement of the election results last month, has continued to claim the election was rigged. The Organization of American States secretary-general called for new elections, but then expressed its firm intention to work with the new government. The US, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and other countries have recognised Hernandez win. {articleGUID} Hernandez is the first Honduran president to serve a second term in office, as the Constitution prohibits presidential re-election. A controversial 2015 ruling from the countrys top court, stacked with judges friendly to Hernandez conservative National Party, threw out the ban on re-election on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Hernandez has pledged to reign in violent crime and boost the economy by attracting foreign investment. His Honduras 20/20 plan promises to create 600,000 jobs in five years with a focus on the tourism, textiles, manufacturing and business support services sectors. According to World Bank data, Honduras is the most unequal country in Latin America. Home to nine million people, it also one of the poorest and most violent countries in the region. Honduras: protests against President Hernandez continue Theres tight security presence in Honduras as protests continue ahead of the inauguration of re-elected President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Iran government promises to investigate the police A number of Iranian MPs are promising to investigate reports of people who have been tortured and killed in police custody. Cleveland State Community College will be hosting Reconnect Information Sessions on Thursday, Feb. 8 in the Enrollment Services Center, Suite 117 of the George L. Mathis Student Center from 4-6 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 3 in the CSCC Library from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. There will also be a session at the CSCC Athens Center on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 5-7 p.m. Starting in the fall of 2018, Tennessee Reconnect is a scholarship for adults to earn an associate degree or technical certificate, tuition-free. To be eligible for the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship, you must: ? Not already have an associate or bachelors degree ? Have been a Tennessee resident for at least one year ? Be determined as an independent student on the FAFSA During these sessions, attendees can learn more about the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship that covers eligible adults tuition to all programs at CSCC and other affordable educational opportunities, such as Pell grants and the colleges institutional scholarships. "But the effort is more than just promoting the new scholarship program, said Natalia Williams, coordinator of Adult Student Services. It includes addressing questions adult learners may have, from receiving credit for work experience to the uncertainty of returning to a school environment. According to Ms. Williams, other efforts will include applying for admissions, sharing services available to military veterans, and CSCCs transcript analyst will be on hand to answer students questions about transfer credit if they have coursework from another college/university, or how to go about requesting their high school transcripts. If weather permits, students will also be able to tour the campus. Participants are encouraged to park in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium and follow the signs to the George L. Mathis Student Center. For more information on the Reconnect Information Sessions coming up, contact Ms. Williams at 423-478-6217, or email her at nwilliams@clevelandstatecc.edu. For more information on Tennessee Reconnect, visit www.tnreconnect.gov. At least 14 soldiers killed and 18 others wounded in an attack on a military camp in Timbuktu regions Soumpi. At least 14 Malian soldiers have been killed and 18 others wounded in an al-Qaeda attack during which fighters briefly took control of a military camp in the African countrys north, the army has said. The Malian armed forces were attacked early this morning, around 4 am, in Soumpi (Timbuktu region). We have recorded 14 dead, 18 wounded and material damage, a statement from the military posted on social media said on Saturday. The deadly attack forced Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to cancel a visit to the African Union summit to be held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In the early hours of the fighting the army had lost control of the base to the fighters, but retook it by the afternoon, a Malian military source reached there has told AFP news agency. The Malian army is back in control of the camp. Two terrorists have been killed, the source said. The Soumpi incident comes two days after 26 civilians including mothers and babies were killed when their vehicle ran over a landmine in Boni, central Mali, according to a UN death toll. Malian government is increasingly losing its grip in the rural areas amid increased al-Qaeda attacks on government and foreign troops. Armed groups under scrutiny Al-Qaeda fighters in coalition with the Azawad movement took control of the vast desert in northern Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out in a French-led military operation launched in January 2013. In June 2015, Malis government signed a peace agreement with coalitions of rebels that are not affiliated to al-Qaeda. But fighters remain active, and large tracts of the country are out of government control. The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a French-drafted statement giving parties to the 2015 peace deal until the end of March to show progress or face sanctions. The council said there was a pressing need to deliver tangible and visible peace dividends to the population in the north and other parts of Mali in advance of elections scheduled for this year. Mali is one of a string of poor, fragile nations in Africas Sahel region that has been battered by an ongoing war that predates the rise of al-Qaeda. The country has joined the so-called G5 Sahel force with Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso, pooling military efforts to fight. Mali has been facing an ongoing low-intensity civil war for years. While it is the third-largest producer of gold in the African continent, around half of its population lives on less than $1 a day, which is below the international poverty line. The businessman who was held during Saudi purge says he will maintain full control of his global investment firm. Prominent Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has been released after more than two months of detention on allegations of corruption, according to a family source. Prince Alwaleed, who was arrested among dozens of other royal family members, ministers, and top businessmen, arrived to his residence in Riyadh on Saturday, the Reuters news agency reported. Hours earlier in an exclusive interview with Reuters, he said he expected to be cleared of charges and released from custody within days. There are no charges. There are just some discussions between me and the government, the 62-year-old said in a televised interview. I believe we are on the verge of finishing everything within days. He and his counterparts were arrested in early November during the kingdoms anti-corruption purge, and were held collectively in the countrys Ritz Carton hotel. In his interview, Prince Alwaleed said he was continuing to maintain his innocence of any corruption in talks with authorities. He also said he expected to remain in full control of his global investment firm, without being required to give up assets to the government. During a previous interview, a Saudi official said charges against the billionaire prince included money laundering, bribery and extorting of officials. Also speaking to officials in the kingdom, Reuters said Saudi authorities were asking detainees to hand over assets and cash in return for their freedom. The deals involve separating cash from assets, such as property and shares, and looking at bank accounts to assess cash values, one source told Reuters. Prince Alwaleed had appeared frail in comparison to his last public appearance in a televised interview last October, but confirmed that he had been treated well, dismissing rumours that said otherwise. Showing off his private office, dining room and kitchen in his hotel suite, Prince Alwaleed said he had agreed to the interview mainly to prove that such rumours were false. The release of Prince Alwaleed, whose net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17bn, may reassure investors in his business empire. Directly or indirectly through his firm, Kingdom Holding, he holds stakes in companies such as Twitter, Inc and Citigroup, Inc. He has also invested in top hotels around the world, including the George V in Paris and the Plaza in New York City. Saudi authorities said they aimed to reach financial settlements with most suspects and believed they could raise some $100bn for the government this way. In recent days, there have been signs the purge is winding down; several other prominent businessmen, including Waleed al-Ibrahim, owner of regional television network MBC, have reached financial settlements with authorities, an official source told Reuters on Friday, though terms were not revealed. Prince Alwaleed said his own case was taking longer to conclude because he was determined to clear his name completely, but he believed the case was now 95 percent complete. He has said he plans to live in the kingdom after his release. Dismissed employees of the Saudi Arabian construction company, Oger are demanding their salaries. By Activists accuse Assad regime of firing rockets on the besieged rebel enclave hours after the deal came into force. Syrian activists have accused Bashar al-Assads regime of violating a fragile ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta, the last remaining rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said at least five rocket and artillery shells targeted the besieged enclave in the early hours of Saturday, shortly after a Russian-negotiated ceasefire had come into effect. Mohammed Alloush, a senior member of Jaish al-Islam, a powerful Syrian rebel faction, wrote on Twitter: Russia failed in practically applying the truce declared last night in East Ghouta. Elephant missiles still pounding East Ghouta. [They] couldnt stop shooting for even ten minutes. Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from an area near the Turkish-Syrian border, said Eastern Ghoutas proximity to Damascus underlined its importance to the Assad regime. The ceasefire is currently holding but its fate will depend on how things develop on the ground, she said. {articleGUID} Not all opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta had signed up to the deal, and it remains to be seen how long it will hold, our correspondent added. Eastern Ghouta has been under a government siege since 2013, and the truce is expected to bring temporary relief to an estimated 400,000 people in the area suffering from acute food and medicine shortages. Over the last two months, Russian jets and the Syrian army have intensified their bombardment of the rebel enclave. Sochi talks News of the deal comes as the Syrian opposition announced it plans to boycott Russia-hosted peace talks in Sochi next week, saying it is an attempt to undercut the United Nations effort to broker a deal. Saturdays announcement was made in Vienna, where the latest round of UN talks between Syrias government and the opposition wrapped without major breakthroughs. We listened to many guarantees concerning commitment, but none of them were delivered somehow, said Yahya al-Aridi, Syrian opposition spokesman, following the announcement. We are tired of that, we need real involvement, we need real commitment, he told Al Jazeera. Aridi said it was up to Russia to put more pressure on the Syrian government to make concrete steps to resolve the crisis, which is now in its seventh year. We believe that the ball is in the Russian court, he said. They say that they have the upper hand in Syria and they were responsible for saving this regime for a long time, and they can bring it to commit itself to international legality resolutions and if they want, they can. When asked how many times the opposition was willing to attend talks destined to fail from the start, al-Aridi singled out the regime for blame. You have to remember the person trying to undermine the political process. The regime selected a military solution as its strategy to silence the Syrian people, however the world thought of a political solution, and it issued UNSC resolutions. However [Assad] is working against these political resolutions and finding means to obstruct the UN from doing its job. In a separate press conference on Saturday morning, Nasr al-Hariri, leader of the Syrian opposition delegation, also called on the Assad regime to commit to tangible goals set by the UN. So far, nine rounds of UN talks between the warring sides have made little progress towards ending the civil war. Staffan de Mistura said the UN has yet to make a decision whether to join talk in Sochi [AFP] No to foreign interference Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, said he has not decided whether he will attend the talks in Russia. Mistura said he shared the frustration of millions of Syrians at the lack of a political settlement to date. Ultimately, what is required is political will, he said. It is high time that diplomacy, dialogue and negotiations prevail for the interest of all Syrians. Earlier, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, US, Britain and France submitted a document to Mistura recommending a practical approach to achieve peace, including reforming the Syrian constitution and the conduct of free and fair elections. Bashar al-Jaafari, Syrias chief negotiator and representative to the UN, said the document was unacceptable. Our people have not and will never accept a solution that is parachuted onto them or that is carried on tanks, he said in a statement to reporters. The goal of the conference in Sochi is to engage in a national intra-Syrian dialogue without foreign interference. The conference will be attended by about 1,600 participants who will reflect the various components of Syrian society, he added. Syrias conflict, which started with peaceful anti-government demonstrations in March 2011, escalated into a full-blown war that has claimed more than 400,000 lives and driven about half of the countrys prewar population of 22 million from their homes. A UF professor is being nationally honored for creating a sharkskin-based technology that will help stop bacteria from growing on ships and breathing tubes among other things. Anthony B. Brennan, a UF materials science and engineering professor, will be inducted as a 2017 Fellow in the National Academy of Inventors in Washington, D.C., on April 5. His inventions led him to found his company, Sharklet Technologies, which is funded by the U.S. Navys Office of Naval Research, according to Brennan. I just feel honored and extremely surprised, Brennan said. Never wouldve guessed it. Brennan said he used sharkskin-inspired patterns to create a microscopic technology that is put on a surface such as silicon or copper. The pattern creates a barrier that makes bacteria growth difficult. He first thought of the idea in 2002 when he saw a submarine he thought looked like a whale, Brennan said. He then started looking at marine animals until he came across nursery sharks. He found that while petting a shark, from nose to tail, the skin is smooth, but going backward, its rough because of the skin pattern. The 66-year-old professor said he tried to compare the layered diamond-shaped sharkskin to a mathematical model and thought about how it could be applied to a ship. When he was able to develop the technology, it was the first time green algae didnt grow on a surface without toxins, he said. Zahara Jaffer, 46, an assistant director at the UF Office of Technology and Licensing, nominated Brennan for the fellowship, Brennan said. Jaffer said many people make significant discoveries, but Brennan was able to form his discovery into a tangible thing that can help society. Hes just one of those people that doesnt stop, she said. Anthony B. Brennan Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Students who are interested in running for Senates Spring elections can begin interviewing with SG parties Sunday. Interviews will be held in the Level 3 Student Government office at the Reitz Union from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Positions are based on academic college. Interviews will continue Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If students are interested in running with a party or as an independent candidate, they should bring their Gator 1 Card and expect to fill out qualifying paperwork, Erica Baker, the UF supervisor of elections, wrote in an email. Baker said if students are interested in running with a party, they should be prepared to conduct an interview, whereas independent candidates dont have to interview. She said to bring a resume and dress professionally. Students interested in slating should do their research on the parties who are participating and choose the party that would best fit them, she said. Anyone who is interested in getting involved with Student Government, representing their peers, and improving the campus should come out. The election codes mandate certain qualifications to be a candidate. A candidate must be registered as a full-time student. Undergraduate students must have a minimum 2.5 overall GPA, while graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Students must also be free of conduct probation and financial obligations to UF, be enrolled in the college they want to represent and not have been impeached from a SG position. Party registration closes Saturday, but five parties have already successfully registered: the Challenge Party, Impact Party, Orange and Blue Party, Inspire Party and Vision Party, Baker said. The final confirmation on the parties participating will be given Sunday. Impact Party President Omarley Spence said theyre looking for individuals who are qualified and have a dedication to UF. (Were) looking for that passion and drive to serve our students and be able to impact our university, he said. Challenge Party President Anthony Rojas said the party is looking for any student who is interested in running. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now We want anyone whos ever had an interest in Student Government to come slate with us, Rojas said. We know that there are a bunch of great Gators out there who will change UF for the better. Inspire Party is looking for a diverse array of candidates, Inspire Party President and Senator Ben Lima said. Were looking for individuals who provide a unique vision and that have different experiences on campus and in their lives who have ideas to help provide that positive change that were looking for on campus, he said. Contact Christina Morales at cmorales@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @Christina_M18. Investigate Obamas and Kerrys Unlawful Deals with Iran Two years ago, as then-secretary of State John Kerry was boasting in Davos about Obamas deal with Iran, he acknowledged that some of the $150 billion given to the mullahs in Tehran will end up in the hands of the IRGC or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists. Im not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented. He was right. We dont know how much money went to fund Irans global terrorist activities. And we know even less about the billions in untraceable cash that was supposedly delivered to the mullahs or the recipients of that cash. How about investigating that? There should be ample evidence to prove Kerry and his boss President Obama have willfully engaged in terrorist financing and money laundering. That is unless the pertinent emails and documents related to the payments to Iran had been lost or destroyed. After the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was implemented on January 16, 2016, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wished to lift all sanctions on Iran, kept complaining that On paper the United States allows foreign banks to deal with Iran, but in practice they create Iranophobia so no one does business with Iran. As much as the Obama administration wanted to comply, it needed congressional support to do that. Thus, the Obama administration decided to circumvent U.S. anti-money laundering laws to help Irans economy. Between March, 2012 and January, 2016, when the U.S. lifted the sanctions, Iranian banks had no access to the Belgium-based SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system. During that time, according to a European oil trader, Nobody could pay the Iranians via normal lines, not even in euros. Yet, Iran has received billions of dollars in sanctions relief as incentives to attend negotiations with the United States and others in Geneva. In August, 2012, following a major earthquake in Iran, the Obama administration issued a 45-day general license allowing registered NGOs to send up to $300,000 to for humanitarian relief and reconstruction activities. And what assurances were there to ensure the money got to the right hands? At that time, Treasurys spokesman John Sullivan declared, The license specifically forbids any dealings with entities on the OFAC SDN list such as the IRGC. There is also a mandated report to the Treasury and State Departments, so we can make sure the money does not end up in the wrong hands, he said. However, he was not asked, and he did not give any information on how the cash was transferred to Iran. In early 2013, the Obama administration began transferring goods to and from Afghanistan through the Iranian Persian Gulf port of Bandar Abbas, instead of shipping the goods through Pakistan. The administration decided to ignore the sanctions and chose the Iranian port. U.S. payments enabled the Iranians to open another port on the Gulf of Oman at Chabahar to further facilitate transshipment through Iran. How were payments made? In cash? In what currencies? If not, how did Iran access the U.S. payments? Were those payments sent in secrecy bundled cash of non-U.S. currencies on chartered flights, under cover of darkness as the administration did on January 17, 2016, with the $400 million in ransom it paid the mullahs to release American hostages? At the same time that the Obama administration was denying the cash ransom delivery to Iran, it also claimed: The reason that we had to give the cash is precisely because we were so strict in maintaining sanctions, and we do not have a banking relationship with Iran that we couldnt send them a check and we could not wire the money, due to the effectiveness of U.S. and international sanctions. The U.S. has strict federal Anti-Money Laundering laws, requiring banks and certain other financial institutions, which tend to have extra-territorial effect, through requirements for U.S. banks to control their relationships with correspondent and shell banks to prevent money laundering. Therefore, the Obama administration instructed Treasury to find the mechanism through which untraceable cash could be delivered to the Iranian terrorist regime. They have willfully circumvented the U.S. and international sanctions, as well as the anti-money laundering laws, to deliver, at least, an additional $1.3 billion settlement to Iran through offshore clearinghouses. Was this a new arrangement or the first the public heard about such an arrangement? What we already know is enough to cause major concerns. But will we ever find out how much money was given to the mullahs? Probably not. Can it be believed that as key players in the Obama administration like Strzok and Page, as well as FBI Director James Comey , Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , number 4 at Justice Bruce Ohr, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and many others were linked in a vast criminal conspiracy to keep Hillary Clinton out of prison and Donald Trump out of the White House, that Barack Obama was blissfully unaware of all this? Rather, it can be plausibly argued that he was orchestrating it. In any criminal investigation where the suspect is not immediately known, the first question usually asked is who would have the most to gain? As we follow the bread crumbs of the text messages of Peter Strzok and Lisa Page and await release of the House Intelligence Committees memo regarding the collusion between the DNC, the Hillary Clinton campaign, the DOJ, and FBI to interfere with the 2016, ensure the election of Hillary, and the defeat or impeachment of Donald Trump, the answer to that question is clear -- one Barack Hussein Obama. Perhaps not directly or by explicit orders, but rather by discussing the threat to his legacy Trump represented with his progressive minions and then simply saying, as crime bosses throughout history have done, You know what needs to be done. Do it. This scandal did not occur in a vacuum any more than did the weaponizing of the IRS to target the Tea Party and other conservative groups before Obamas 2012 reelection campaign occured in a vacuum. The agencies under Obamas control have been politicized before and used to intimidate and destroy his political opponents Last September, I argued that Comey had the fix in for Hillary and we now know that he began writing his exoneration memo significantly before interviewing Hillary and other key witnesses. The exoneration memo underwent key edits in which Strzok, who interviewed Hillary and those witnesses, some of whom were granted immunity, was involved. But now, as the layers of this rotting onion are peeled away, it has become clearer that Comey did not act on his own initiative. This fish is also rotting from the head. Back in April, 2016, President Obama gave an interview in which he seemed to have foreknowledge that Hillary Clinton would be exonerated for her carelessness and did not intentionally mishandle classified emails, words that Comey would use just a few months later: President Obama said Sunday that Hillary Clinton showed carelessness by using a private email server, but he also strongly defended his former secretary of state, saying she did not endanger national security, while also vowing that an ongoing FBI investigation into the matter will not be tainted by politics. In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Mr. Obama seemed to prejudge the outcome of the ongoing inquiry into Mrs. Clintons email scandal, and he disputed the notion that any of the emails contained classified information of true importance. She would never intentionally put America in any kind of jeopardy, he said. What I also know is that theres classified and then theres classified. Theres stuff that is really top secret top secret, and then theres stuff that is being presented to the president, the secretary of state, you may not want going out over the wire. I continue to believe she has not jeopardized Americas national security, the president said. Theres a carelessness in terms of managing emails that she has owned and she recognizes. But I also think it is important to keep this in perspective. Carelessness and lack of intent were key parts of Comeys shape-shifting memo. And we now see how Obamas pledge that politics would not taint the investigation was a bald-faced lie. This confidence in her exoneration was shared by Mrs. Clinton, who also seemed to have foreknowledge that the fix was in: The FBI is investigating the matter, and while Mrs. Clinton has virtually promised she will not be indicted, the scandal still hangs over her presidential ambitions and fuels the notion -- widespread, according to opinion polls -- that shes not trustworthy. She maintains that no emails in the account were classified at the time they were sent or received -- though she was initially much more emphatic, flatly saying she had never handled classified information. She reiterated last week that, in her view, the federal investigation ultimately will clear her. That is not going to happen, she told NBC News when asked if she would be indicted. There is not even the remotest chance that its going to happen. National Review Contributing Editor Andrew McCarthy has long argued that Obama was the ringleader in obstructing justice in the Hillary email investigation: From the first, these columns have argued that the whitewash of the Hillary Clinton-emails caper was President Barack Obamas call -- not the FBIs, and not the Justice Departments The decision was inevitable. Obama, using a pseudonymous email account, had repeatedly communicated with Secretary Clinton over her private, non-secure email account. Why would Obama use a fake email account to communicate with Hillary Clinton? Granted, classified communications between a President and a Secretary of State are normal, but not via a fake email account. Were they discussing the fix that was in during her email investigation? McCarthy suggests just such a reason: If Clinton had been charged, Obamas culpable involvement would have been patent. In any prosecution of Clinton, the Clinton -- Obama emails would have been in the spotlight. For the prosecution, they would be more proof of willful (or, if you prefer, grossly negligent) mishandling of intelligence. More significantly, for Clintons defense, they would show that Obama was complicit in Clintons conduct yet faced no criminal charges. McCarthy notes that among the edits to the draft of Comeys memo was one omitting a reference to President Obama: This past weekend, in a letter to the FBI, regarding the missing texts, Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) addressed some of these revisions. According to Senator Johnson, a draft dated June 30, 2016 (i.e., five days before Comey delivered the final version), contained a passage expressly referring to a troublesome email exchange between Clinton and Obama. (I note that the FBIs report of its eventual interview of Clinton contains a cryptic reference to a July 1, 2012, email that Clinton sent from Russia to Obamas email address. See report, page 2.) The passage in the June 30 draft stated: We also assess that Secretary Clintons use of a personal email domain was both known by a large number of people and readily apparent. She also used her personal email extensively while outside the United States, including from the territory of sophisticated adversaries. That use included an email exchange with the President while Secretary Clinton was on the territory of such an adversary. [Emphasis added.] Given that combination of factors, we assess it is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clintons personal email account. On the same day, according to a StrzokPage text, a revised draft of Comeys remarks was circulated by his chief of staff, Jim Rybicki. It replaced the President with another senior government official. So not only were edits made to Comeys draft memo to hide Hillarys guilt but also Obamas involvement. It is worth noting that Attorney General Loretta Lynch also used a fake email account under the name Elizabeth Carlisle to conduct official business: Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch went by the alias 'Elizabeth Carlisle' in email she used to conduct government business. Lynch's pseudonym was confirmed in a report by the Daily Caller, which shows Lynch sometimes preferred to use another name while doing work, just as her predecessor Eric Holder did. The finding came after several batches of emails were released last week from conservative watchdog groups who had requested documents from the Justice Department using the Freedom of Information Act. Judicial Watch and the American Center for Law and Justice sought documents related to former President Bill Clinton's meeting with then-Attorney General Lynch in an airplane on the runway tarmac in Phoenix. The meeting was scarcely noticed at first, but eventually created a controversy over possible conflicts of interest about the ongoing investigation by the FBI into Hillary Clinton's email server. Fake emails and surreptitious edits to incriminating documents. From the Strzok-Page text messages we know that Loretta Lynch knew Hillary would not be prosecuted. That meeting on the tarmac was to tell Bill Clinton the fix was in, a fix whose impetus came from the White House and an occupant concerned with both his legacy being erased by a President Trump but also by his involvement in covering up Hillarys crimes. As some have suggested, this is Watergate on steroids. Not only do we have one party colluding with government agencies to keep its candidate from being prosecuted for her crimes and preventing the election of the other partys candidate, but we also have a sitting and corrupt President using the powers of his office to subvert an election and hand-pick his successor. Lock her up. Lock him up too. Lock them all up. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Metropolitan Ministries (MetMin) announces the appointment of Rebecca Ruggieri, MSW, as program impact manager. Ms. Ruggieri earned the master of social work from the University of Georgia. Rebecca Whelchel, MetMin executive director says, That impact examination is critical to mitigating the challenges that those whose lives are characterized by poverty face. Rebeccas expertise in research design, management and evaluation are essential to the development of MetMins most effective social service response strategy." Ms. Ruggieri will monitor the effectiveness and impact of MetMins programs in order to better assess and modify client service practices. Working both internally and collaboratively to examine the social service response to households in crisis, a common, evidence-based measurement tool for program effectiveness will be identified and shared with agency colleagues, stakeholders and funders. "Helping with the cost of rent or utilities seems so simple, but it is truly an investment in our guests lives and in the stability of our community, says Ms. Ruggieri. Im honored to join the team at MetMin as we better measure the impact of this investment and identify opportunities to serve the most vulnerable members of our community even better." Girls who have been thus weakly educated, are often cruelly left by their parents without any provision; and, of course, are dependent on, not only the reason, but the bounty of their brothers [.] But, when the brother marries, . . . [his sister] is viewed with averted looks as an intruder, an unnecessary burden on the benevolence of the master of the house, and his new partner. It would be folly to maintain that change is not sorely needed to improve the lives of many women around the world. Clearly the West has long been in the forefront of fundamental change. In 1792 Mary Wollstonecraft penned A Vindication of the Rights of Woman arguing that "middle-class women's oppression was largely due to their deficient education." Thus, Yet, in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, a young woman named Nadia who was not permitted to drive had to rely on her brother to take her to work. Often he refused to take her, thus making her late and at risk of losing her position. Nineteenth century Victorian England long treated women as subordinate and disempowered. In 1869 when John Stuart Mill published his book The Subjection of Women, he shed light on Victorian culture and argued that women should be granted more political, legal, social and economic opportunities. Nonetheless, in modern-day Pakistan "even though [women] are legally equal to men, it is common for decisions to be taken by male heads of households or male tribal chiefs [.] Traditionally, women have fewer, if any, rights of inheritance . . . resulting in difficulties accessing land or finances." In America "under the leadership of Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a convention for the rights of women was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848." The participants wrote the Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, patterned after the Declaration of Independence. It "specifically asked for voting rights and for reforms in laws governing marital status." Finally in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote. According "to the 2015 World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, Yemen, has the biggest average gender gap of the 145 countries surveyed. It has the largest disparities in economic participation and opportunities for men and women, and one of the greatest differences in literacy rates between genders with 55% of women considered literate as compared to 85% of men." Moreover, "Yemeni women . . . cannot marry or receive health care without the permission of their male guardian (usually their father) and do not have equal rights to divorce or child custody. And the legal system has few provisions for the protection of women who experience domestic and sexual violence leaving some women vulnerable to becoming the victims of honor killings. Around 52% of girls in Yemen are married before the age of 18 [.]" South of the border finds Honduras as the "femicide capital of the world" where "[o]n average, one woman is murdered every 18 hours in Honduras [.] With a femicide impunity rate of 90%, most of these womens murderers are getting away with it. The lack of accountability and prosecution of perpetrators of violence against women mean that women cant live safe, successful lives and reach their full potential." In contrast to the global situation of women, American women would have appeared to have reached untold success. But the silence is deafening from Western feminists as they ignore the ongoing gender apartheid that their sisters struggle with in the Muslim world. It would appear that these feminists have "lost touch with the reality of women's lives and have become part of the problem, not the solution" as Phyllis Chesler notes in The Death of Feminism. In fact, "[t]he multicultural feminist canon has not led to independent, tolerant diverse, or objectives ways of thinking. On the contrary; It has led to conformity, totalitarian thinking, and political passivity." "Politically correct passivity" reigns supreme as feminist academics and journalists are now so left-wing in orientation that they are blind to the debilitating effects of face veils, child marriages, forced marriage, polygamy and female genital mutilation on women across the world. In The Feminist Lie, Bob Lewis discusses intersectional feminism, first coined in 1989 as a means to "incorporate feminism into the civil rights movement by creating a type of hierarchy of oppression. Thus a black male feminist may be considered more oppressed than a rich white female feminist, especially if that black male feminist is disabled." Such identity politics cubbyholes women as perpetual victims. Bruce Thornton notes that despite the fact that in America we are "faced with the spectacle of the richest, freest, healthiest, best educated, most independent, longest living women in world history" feminists are predicating their identity based on "petty slights and wounded self-esteem." Consequently today's feminists have "embraced childish demands" as well as meting out punishment to anyone who is "insensitive to their pain." Katy Grimes and Megan Barth maintain that ". . . radical feminism focuses on destroying traditional relationships." Linda Gordon, a radical feminist, has stated that "the nuclear family must be destroyed [.]" It appears that "radical feminists have all but destroyed the family structure in America in their quest to marginalize men and boys." They assert that "man-hating is an honourable and viable political act" and "the nuclear family must be destroyed." Furthermore, "men who are unjustly accused of rape can sometimes gain from the experience." Christina Hoff Sommers, in Who Stole Feminism? How Women Have Betrayed Women, asserts that "the large majority of women, including the majority of college women, are distancing themselves from this anger and resentfulness [of the radical feminist]." Set against the backdrop of the "mean-spirited, male-bashing falsehoods" versus the extraordinary and laudable efforts to break through the glass ceiling, Hoff Summers has exposed a glaring challenge -- the cradle has been left to fend for itself. The effect on children when both parents are expected to work outside the home is an aspect which has been virtually ignored. Often after a short three month FMLA period, women return to work and (a) put their infants in daycare and/or (b) grandparents are now asked to stand in as parents for their grandchildren. Noel Black writes that "it has been a mystery [to him] why so many mothers now choose to work rather than to be at home with their children, as they were when [he] was young before World War II." Mr. Black reviews Brian Robertson' s book Forced Labor and highlights how Robertson "makes clear that most mothers don't choose to work." He cites a 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) survey which showed a "direct correlation between the number of hours children spend away from their mothers and increased levels of aggressiveness [.]" Consequently, "the more time children spend in nonmaternal care, the more likely their behavior is to be aggressive both at 54 months and kindergarten age." Black explains that "greater involvement in the paid workforce is of very recent vintage" because "it entirely ignores the fact that for most of our history as a nation, the 'advancement of women' was identified with protecting them from the necessity of involvement in the paid workforce precisely with the aim of freeing them to devote their full time and energy to what was traditionally regarded as the superior calling of home and family." Over the years, the combination of government intervention and politically active women's organizations resulted in "a reaction against the old exaltation of motherhood ... which has endured to this day." More often that not, "the anti-maternal agenda of the new feminists" coupled with the belief that "work outside the home is the best opportunity our culture offers for self-fulfillment and self-expression" has markedly changed the issue for the latest generation of married women who find themselves wanting to begin a family or for those whose juggling of work and family has become a Herculean task. Sue Ellen Browder recounts how in 1969, she was fired from her newspaper job for being pregnant. In addition, she reminds the reader that medical and law schools were often closed to women at that time and in some states, women were not even allowed to serve on a jury. Thus, it was with hope that she attended the November 18, 1967 National Organization for Women's (NOW) second national conference. Many in attendance at the NOW convention were looking to fight for a married woman's right to get credit in her own name and to end pregnancy discrimination. But the meeting was overshadowed by those who wanted to ram through the idea that abortion was a "woman's right." As a result, one-third of the feminists resigned from NOW over the abortion vote. In essence, Browder asserts that "the fierce abortion debate [presently] dividing our nation represents not a war against women but a war between women." She believes that inserting the abortion right into the feminist movement has injured it. She resents the attitude of those who refuse to see March for Life as a legitimate branch of feminism. And, although once a fervent pro-abortion activist, Browder has made a 180 degree change in her beliefs. She even cites Betty Friedan who wrote in 2001 that "[i]deologically, I was never for abortion. Motherhood is a value to me, and even today abortion is not. I believed passionately in 1967. . . that women should have the right of chosen motherhood. For me, the matter of choice has never been primarily the choice of abortion, but that you can choose to be a mother [.]" In fact, the social pressure to work outside one's home has many post-Millenial women dreaming of a world "in which men work and women make a home for the family." Bookworm Room highlights the different waves of feminism and maintains that the present day feminism on college campuses is "the feminism that speaks of 'toxic masculinity.' This is the feminism that proclaims that every man is a rapist and every woman an avatar of honesty." And it is an alleged liberation that speaks of "sex, endless, endless 'consequence-free' (i.e., baby free sex, powered by drugs and alcohol [.]" Thus, it would appear that the most recent Women's March on Washington still has "everyone trying to figure out what their actual grievances were." It turns out that it was ". . . an anti-Trump protest in pink clothing." And so we come full circle; there are genuine issues for American women i.e., the integrity of the home and recognition of mothering as a real vocation and how to do it without being punished financially. Then there is oppression of women worldwide, i.e., honor violence, sexual slavery, female genital mutilation, human trafficking, domestic violence, and exploitation. But women using sexual curses and ranting about bodily functions or a desire to blow up the White House do a real disservice to women who could use their collective voices. In essence, it "epitomizes the failure of the latest feminist movement." Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com President Trumps latest proposal is to set up a $25B trust fund to finance the wall funded by the taxpayers. Heres a better idea. Lets take this whole project out of the hands of the government, and put it in the hands of the people. We can create a Build the Wall crowdfunding campaign, and make sure it actually gets built. Heres how: The math is pretty simple. About 63M people voted for Trump. $25B/63M voters = $396 per Trump voter. We set up a non-profit Build the Wall Foundation that will serve as the escrow for the funds coming from the campaign. We set up a non-profit Build the Wall Foundation that will serve as the escrow for the funds coming from the campaign. We set up a Build the Wall campaign website and ask everyone to contribute what they can, with a suggested amount of $396. We provide a few perks for the contributors, like I Built the Wall hats or t-shirts. Once we have raised a minimum amount, for example 20% ($5B) construction can start. If the minimum is not reached in some timeframe, say 90 days, the money will be refunded to contributors out of escrow. Otherwise that money and all subsequent contributions go toward funding the private contractors that will build the wall. If we crowdfund the wall, all the government needs to do is hire private contractors and get the wall built. If the Congress wanted to be nice, they would make contributions to the Build the Wall Foundation tax deductible. I think the American people who support the wall will gladly make this small financial sacrifice to fund it in order to provide safety and security for their families. At issue is the $10,000 limit on deductions for state and local taxes. The states claim the measure will cost them billions in lost revenue. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a coalition of east coast states will sue the federal government over the recently passed GOP tax bill. Cuomo says that tax reform is an "economic missile" aimed at blue states. Fox News: "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." What is the legal theory behind this suit? The bill does not single out blue states. There are taxpayers in every state who will be affected by the limit. Whose fault is it that some blue states' taxes are so high that they have more taxpayers affected than others? The Democrats are trying to make this into a class warfare issue. But that's difficult to do when almost all those individual taxpayers affected by the limit make more than $100,000 a year. Besides, even with the limit on deductions for state taxes, the increase will be offset by much lower rates. Cuomo and his fellow governors are going to have a hard time convincing a judge that Republicans have "targeted" blue states with this legislation. That sort of conspiracy mongering usually doesn't hold water in federal court and even a friendly liberal judge would have a hard time justifying throwing the law out. Well, it turns out that what makes male journalists the happiest is a pay cut , at least at the BBC. What is it that makes liberal journalists happy? Sexually harassing their coworkers? Creating fake news stories about Donald Trump? Pushing the liberal agenda day after day? The BBC said on Friday that it was reducing the salaries of several of its most prominent male journalists following Carrie Gracies decision this month to leave her position as the British broadcasters China editor to protest unequal pay between men and women at the organization. Among those receiving pay cuts are the presenters Jeremy Vine, Huw Edwards and John Humphrys. Mr. Vine described his decision to take a wage cut as a no-brainer. He has no brain, heh heh. No wonder he wants his own pay cut. According to the BBCs annual report, Mr. Vine earned up to 750,000 pounds, or $1.1 million, last year. I hope they reduced his salary so much that he's paid in ounces. More : Humphrys, who received between 600,000 and 649,999 last year for presenting BBC Radio 4s Today programme and Mastermind, said it was his decision to take a pay cut. He decided he wanted his pay cut, heh heh. He should have spoken out much sooner. Campbell, BBC 5 Lives Breakfast host, who earned between 400,000 and 449,999 last year, confirmed on air that he was taking a reduction. Its all very civilised and collegiate, he said. His pay cut was civilized. They all sound so happy about it. I'm sure there are some male employees at the BBC who make more money than women employees who do the same job. But that does not mean there is discrimination. Seldom is the question asked, do they do the same job equally well? Are all employees in the same job equally valued? Do they all work equally long hours? I find it hard to believe in this day and age that wage discrimination against women is widespread. Let's say that employer A paid women $10,000 a year less than they were worth. Then employers B, C, D, and others would have no trouble stealing away these qualified women at higher wages. Employer A wouldn't be able to hold onto employees who it didn't compensate based on their worth. Take Katie Couric or Megyn Kelly as an example. Can you imagine either of them accepting a salary far below their peers of say, $50,000 or $75,000 a year? Absolutely not. That's because they are perceived (rightly or wrongly) to have greater value to viewer audiences and can easily get higher paying jobs elsewhere. It's impossible to underpay them because of competition for qualified employees. By the way, Katie and Megyn make far more than most male television broadcasters. But no one calls for Katie and Megyn to take a pay cut. In a world with multiple employers and a merit based free market system, some discrimination will always exist. But by and large, claims of sex discrimination are simply a game, to extort more money from employers. If employees are so talented, why don't they get higher paying jobs somewhere else? It's comical to see that the BBC's solution to this PC conundrum is to lower the salaries of the men. I like it and think that the men should have even lower salaries than the women, as a form of reparation for past injustices. I'm sorry she even had to address it. But sure enough, admitted liar Michael Wolff, who's trying to sell a book of fiction, has spewed out that U.S.ambassador the the United Nations, Nikki Haley, slept her way to the top by having an affair with Donald Trump. He didn't put it in his book, which is already known to be riddled with lies and errors, he said, because it didn't even meet those standards. But the little creep wanted it out there and so he broadcast it out on TV. Not just because Haley has absolutely, always, shown herself to be a woman of character. (For one thing, there are no underwear pictures of her out there.) Not just because Haley has always epitomized utter professionalism. It's disgusting because it doesn't even follow the most obvious logic of the narrative, and for two reasons: One, Haley was the sitting governor of South Carolina, a key swing state, right there. Taking the United Nations ambassadorship at the request of President Trump was a step down, not a claw upward. Nobody has an affair to get a lower-ranking job over what one already has. In her previous post as governor, Haley had a much higher and more demanding, as well as more presidential-material job, if she were ambitious. That she has been talked into the job and since been a stellar U.N. ambassador since then, the best one since the great Jeanne Kirkpatrick, was purely on her own merits. She had to have worked well with Team Trump professionally in her one meeting with Trump which had witnesses, but the star-power and the effectiveness she achieved was all her own work. Second, Haley was never sweet on Trump. She started out in the never-Trump camp and was downright fiery in her opposition to some of Trump's more outrageous statements and positions during campaign 2016. She said she was "not a fan" of Donald Trump. She actually had to be coaxed into the position Trump offered her. Nobody has "an affair" with someone she speaks out against publicly. She has still been pretty frank on things she disagrees with Trump about, and Trump, to his credit, simply allows for dissenting opinions. Wolff's affair smear of course is nothing more than the ugly thinking of certain kinds of leftists, those of the Harvey Weinstein stripe, the kind who believe that it's impossible for an attractive, talented woman to make it to the top all on her own merit. There always has to be a man somewhere in the picture or she goes nowhere. Haley is good looking, and maybe that contributes to her presence on television which can't be a bad thing in a job with the task is communicating, as the U.N. ambassador's job requires. But that's a long, long, long, way from the, yes, disgusting, allegation that there had to be an affair with Trump somewhere in there as a result. No, she didn't. It's not the first time Nikki Haley has been accused of Hollywood morals and it probably won't be the last. It rather resembles the common canard dating from the Victorian era and extending to the current day, that a single woman who has achieved anything has to be a lesbian. They did it to Louisa May Alcott and they did it to Condoleezza Rice. To guys like Wolff, a woman can't be anything. And the feminists who claim to champion women in this milieu are curiously silent, because Haley doesn't share their politics. It's disgusting all right and it's good that Nikki Haley kicked the press's proverbial keisters for asking. National Weather Service meteorologists from Morristown, Tn. will present SKYWARN, a free Severe Weather Spotter course, at Erlanger Health System Baroness Hospital Probasco Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 3 beginning at 6 p.m. "The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NWS, established SKYWARN with partner organizations. SKYWARN is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the NWS. "Although SKYWARN spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms and provide verification to the NWS of what is actually taking place at the ground level. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States," officials said. Sponsored by the Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club, the SKYWARN program is free and open to the public. NWS meteorologists will teach attendees the basics of thunderstorm development and the fundamentals of storm structure, train spotters on how to identify potential severe weather features and provide information on what information to report and how to report it. NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such as a HAM radio, to join the SKYWARN program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter. "Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, and has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods," officials said. Pre-registration is not required for the course. Walk-ins are welcome. This week was Media Appreciation day at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place. "Invitations were extended to our media representatives so we could express our appreciation to them for helping us communicate our events and activities across the community. We were honored to host Tom Griscom as our featured speaker," officials said. Mr. Griscom served as director of White House Communications under President Ronald Reagan, was a top aide and adviser to U.S. Senator Howard Baker and was the executive editor and publisher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "Tom's core message focused on the media and how the way the public receives information continues to change. However, change is not always welcomed or for the best. The challenge is to figure out truth from fiction and how speedy access to information is not always the best way to be informed," officials said. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will hold the inaugural Young Sportsman Squirrel Hunt at Buffalo Ridge Refuge in Humphreys County on Saturday, Feb. 17. There is no cost to participate in the hunt for youth ages 6-16. Buffalo Ridge Refuge has been the site of youth deer, Becoming An Outdoors-Woman, and Wounded Soldier events, but this will be the first youth squirrel hunt. The hunt will be limited to 30 participants. Breakfast and lunch will also be furnished. The day will begin with breakfast and mandatory safety talk at 6 a.m. The hunt starts at 7 a.m. and lunch will be available at noon. Registration forms are available on the TWRA website. Interested hunters may complete an application and mail it to the following address: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Attn: Donald Hosse, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or by FAX: (615) 781-6543. For more information or to receive an application, contact Donald Hosse, TWRA Wildlife Education Program Coordinator at (615) 781-6541 or by email, don.hosse@tn.gov. The professional musicians of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Wind Quintet will be at the Eastgate Senior Activity Center for a free performance as they kick off a 10-county musical caravan to promote lifelong learning. This project, in partnership with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, is one of 19 funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission through its Creative Aging TN grant program. Studies show that musical performances in live settings lead to increased cognitive stimulation and enrichment, and these performances will include selections from musicals, operas, popular music, and the classical repertoire. From Mozarts Queen of the Night aria to Queens Bohemian Rhapsody, nothing is off limits. This is a free performance, and anyone is welcome (including families and children). Door-prizes include tickets to see the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera perform at the Tivoli Theatre. The performance schedule for other locations is listed on the Area Agency on Aging Website at www.setaaad.org. For more information on the CSO musicians and other community events visit: http://chattanoogasymphony.org/education-community/community/. The current CBFC chief post Pahlaj Nihalani's exit, was to attend Jaipur Literature Festival. Mumbai: Confirming rumuours, in wake of Karni Senas threat, CBFC chairman Prasoon Joshi has cancelled his scheduled trip to Jaipur on Sunday. Joshi was to attend Jaipur Literature Festival. A regular face at the JLF, he was scheduled to take part in the session Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself on January 28, the penultimate day of the five-day event. However, JLF organizer released a statement on Saturday morning by Joshi in which he informed about his decision not to attend the literature festival to spare organisers, fellow writers and participants any discomfort. Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy, said Prasoon. Joshi regretted violent protests saying, Its sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. Its important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues dont reach this far. On CBFC clearance to 'Padmaavat', he said, Speaking of which, the issue around the film 'Padmaavat' - I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema. Karni Sena had declared that Prasoon Joshi would not be allowed to enter the city and if he did he would be given the same treatment as Sanjay Leela Bhansali got. Speaking to media a day before the official release of 'Padmaavat', Kalvi said, "It would be better for Prasoon not to enter Jaipur. He has been a failure as CBFC chairperson. If he dares to enter Pink City, he will get the worst treatments ever." The BJD suspended Baijayant Panda, who is their MP from Kendrapara, for alleged anti-party activities on January 24. The party has also accused Panda of submitting a false affidavit before the Election Commission during the 2014 general elections, a charge denied by the leader. (Photo: ANI) Bhubaneswar: Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal on Friday asked its suspended Member of Parliament Baijayant Panda to resign from the Lok Sabha on moral and ethical grounds. The BJD suspended Baijayant Panda, who is their MP from Kendrapara, for alleged anti-party activities on January 24. The party has also accused Panda of submitting a false affidavit before the Election Commission during the 2014 general elections, a charge denied by the leader. "Panda has concealed that he is working as an employee of IMFA and drawing crores of rupees as salary. What made him conceal this fact?," BJD vice-president and party MLA Bedprakash Agarwal asked at a press conference in Bhubaneswar. He also concealed this in the affidavit dated March 21, 2014 filed as part of his nomination papers for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Agarwal added. Panda had misled the party and the people of his constituency and "lost moral authority to continue as Member of Parliament from Kendrapara," he said. Baijayant Panda, however, claimed that the party is well aware of his family background and association with the organisation. "The allegations against me are totally false and baseless. I always consult top lawyers of the country while submitting affidavit before the EC," Panda told reporters. Baijayant Panda said he has been an MP for 18 years and the allegations levelled against him are of "low-level". Panda was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and 2014 and had been a Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2009. Eight student teams participated in the Systems Analysis and Design class (CITC-2335) taught by Savitha Pinnepalli, Computer Information Technology department head and assistant professor, as they presented IT entrepreneurship projects to judges from the business and industry sector to complete the fall 2017 semester. The project specifications challenged students to develop an IT company from scratch. This project provided students with the opportunity for hands-on learning in their future careers. Former Prime Ministers H.D. Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh were seen seated in the front row. Congress President Rahul Gandhi with party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and other dignitaries during the 69th Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Congress leaders are up in arms over the seating arrangements of party chief Rahul Gandhi during the Republic Day Parade. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the Republic Day Parade and was seated in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from the Congress which accused the BJP-led Central government of indulging in cheap politics and setting aside well-established traditions. Along with Mr Gandhi, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad was also seated in the sixth row. While government sources said that according to warrant of precedence the Leader of the Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row. Congress communications chief Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, The Modi governments 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. Former Prime Ministers H.D. Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh were seen seated in the front row, followed by Union ministers Smriti Irani and Thawarchand Gehlot. Interestingly, the Congress chief fared better in the evening at the At Home hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was placed in the second row. He was also seen greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi The MEA said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo has invited Mr Modi to visit his country, an invitation which was accepted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the heads of state/governments of Asean countries at the Republic Day parade at the Rajpath in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: India will organise a global conference with Asean nations on the issue of countering radicalisation and offer 1,000 Ph.D. fellowships in its Indian Institutes of Techonolgy (IITs) to scholars from the 10 countries as part of New Delhis strategy to play a bigger role in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China. The proposal to engage Asean nations in the fight against radicalisation was shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a day when India in an unprecedented strategic outreach hosted leaders from the 10 Asean nations as chief guests at the 69th Republic Day celebrations on Friday. MEAs secretary (east) Preeti Saran told reporters that India will host a global conference against terror. Terrorism knows no borders... Terrorism does not have a religion, Ms. Saran said. The fellowships are aimed at engaging the youth in the Asean region, she said. Mr Modi also continued to press for greater engagement with the Asean region with an op-ed written by him on Indo-Asean ties appearing in 27 newspapers in 10 languages in the 10 Asean countries. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, 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! The 10 participating Asean dignitaries Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmars State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei Sultan (ruler) Hassanal Bolkiah, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Indonesian President Joko Widodo who attended the Asean -India Summit on Thursday attended Indias Republic Day Parade at Rajpath on Friday. MEA sources said the issue of efforts to counter radicalisation and extremism figured during separate bilateral meetings that Mr Modi had with Indonesian President Joko Widodo late on Thursday evening and with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday. However, the MEA clarified that the issue regarding Indian radical preacher Zakir Naik, who is believed to be in Malaysia, did not figure in the bilateral meeting between Mr Modi and Malaysian PM Razak. Mr Kumar tweeted, 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. The MEA said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo has invited Mr Modi to visit his country, an invitation which was accepted. Mr Modi also had another bilateral meeting with Laos Prime Minister. Among other issues, the MEA said that there was discussion on the ongoing defence cooperation with Laos, including capacity-building. Earlier, the MEA made painstaking efforts to synchronise the arrival of the 10 Asean heads of state/government at the R-Day parade to ensure there was no delay in the parade. The MEA had conveyed to the Asean delegations subtly that there would be about 600 million Indians, in all, watching the parade and that the R-Day parade had never been delayed. The hotel suite keys of all the 10 Asean leaders had the images of their respective national flags emblazoned on them. This gesture touched the leaders who expressed their appreciation, said sources. The two tableaux at the R-Day parade showcasing Indo-Asean ties were on binding ancient historical factors such as Buddhism and trade links. The Indian government also conferred 10 Padma Shri awards on 10 scholars, one from each Asean country. These included diplomats, scholars, conservationists, religious figures, classical dancers, sculptors, entrepreneurs, social activists and parliamentarians. The mishap occurred at around 11:45 pm on Friday on Shivaji bridge when the driver lost control over the vehicle. At least 13 people were killed after a mini-bus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: At least 13 persons were killed as a minibus carrying 17 passengers fell into Panchganga river at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, police said on Saturday. The incident took place at around 11:45 pm on Friday when the vehicle carrying three families was returning from Ganpatipule, a picnic destination of coastal Konkan, an official said. The deceased include three men, three women and seven children, including a nine month baby, he said. The speeding minibus was on the Shivaji Bridge of Panchganga river when its driver lost control of the vehicle. The bus later fell into the river, the official said. Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot as an onlooker alerted the Kolhapur police about the incident. Rescue and search operations were launched immediately, he said. The rescue teams managed to trace 16 passengers of the ill-fated bus, wherein 13 had died. Three persons are admitted to a hospital for treatment, the official said. All the passengers hailed from Balewadi in Pune, police said, adding the rescue operation is underway. The comment was made in an Oped article written by PM Modi for a Singapore-based newspaper. New Delhi/Singapore: In what seems to be another veiled dig at China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Friday that India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (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. The comment was made in an Oped article written by PM Modi for a Singapore-based newspaper. Its no secret that China has maritime disputes with several of the Asean nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, with Beijing seen to be bullying the smaller Asean nations. Observers feel that to give India an edge in the south-east Asian region, PM Modi has tried to contrast the peaceful Indo-Asean ties with the often-turbulent relations between China and Asean countries which have points of tension due to various maritime disputes. 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, PM Modi was quoted by news agency reports from Singapore, as saying in the article. 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, he wrote. The RSS maintained that since Vyasa Vidyapeeth is a CBSE affiliated school, the state government circular does not apply to 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. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: Defying Kerala governments circular on guidelines for hoisting the national flag in government and educational institutions on the Republic Day, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Friday hoisted the tricolour at a higher secondary school in Palakkad. Mr Bhagwat is in the southern state for a three-day camp of Sangh Parivar workers, where the participants will deliberate on issues including expanding the support base. Kerala has been witnessing brutal clashes between the Sangh Parivar and the Left cadres ever since the CPI(M) led government came to power. The government had issued the circular last week, directing that only school heads can hoist the national flag at educational institutions. Mr Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at Vyasa Vidhya Peetam higher secondary school, an institution run by Vidya Bharti and in his Republic Day address the RSS supremo asked people to follow in letter and spirit the guidelines in Indias Constitution. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, state RSS and BJP leaders along with many Sangh Parivar workers were present at the function. The RSS maintained that since Vyasa Vidyapeeth is a CBSE affiliated school, the state government circular does not apply to it. Suraj Pal was detained on Thursday for questioning and placed under arrest on Friday morning on charges of breaching peace in Gurgaon. New Delhi: The Gurgaon police on Friday arrested the national secretary of the Shree Karni Sena Suraj Pal Amu for anti-Padmaavat violence. He was detained on Thursday for questioning and placed under arrest on Friday morning on charges of breaching peace in the city. He has been sent to four-day judicial custody, said Ravinder Kumar, public relation officer of the Gurgaon police. 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 films release. The protests were led by the Karni Sena, which has alleged that history had been distorted in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali- directed period drama. However, the police has not named the Karni Sena in the FIR registered in connection with the attack on the school bus and the torching of a Haryana Roadways bus on Sohna road. Suraj Pal Amu was detained on charges of apprehension of breach of peace and tranquillity of an area. He had also tried to meet his supporters at MG Road. He was detained from his residence at DLF area in view of the law and order situation, Mr Kumar said. The situation in Gurgaon is peaceful and under control. The administration has appealed to residents not to pay heed or spread rumours and follow the prohibitory orders, the officer said. Earlier, 31 protesters were arrested for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144. Of them, 18 were charged with torching the Haryana Roadways bus and pelting the school bus with stones, Mr Kumar said. Meanwhile, to put an end to the rumours, Gurgaon police issued an statement in which it said, None of the accused belonged to Muslim community and this rumour was denied by Gurugram police in the afternoon. Kunwar Surajpal Singh Ammu, the BJPs former chief media coordinator and the general secretary of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena has also been sent for judicial custody on Friday. Corporal Nirala laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipora district in November. President Ram Nath Kovind hands over Ashok Chakra posthumously to the wife of Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, a Garud commando of the IAF during the 69th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday appeared emotional after he awarded the Ashok Chakra, Indias highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Air Force Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala. Corporal Nirala laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipora district in November. After presenting the award to Corporal Niralas wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath, Mr Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief. 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. On November 18 last year, an offensive was launched in Chanderger village of Bandipora based on specific intelligence. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush. 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. He later succumbed to the fatal gunshot wounds. 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, said 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. Nine people were arrested in connection with the clashes and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to arrest rest of the accused. After the youth's cremation on Saturday, a group of people went on a rampage and vandalised shops and also torched two buses in Kasganj. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Lucknow: Fresh violence erupted in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday after a group of people went on to protest the death of a youth on Friday at a motorcycle rally by VHP and ABVP volunteers. After the youth's cremation on Saturday, a group of people went on a rampage and vandalised shops and also torched two buses in Kasganj. 49 people were arrested in connection with the clashes and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to arrest rest of the accused. 49 people have been arrested in connection with Kasganj clash. Section 144 is still imposed. Borders have been sealed, ANI quoted District Magistrate RP Singh as saying. A youth identified as Chandan was killed and at least two persons were injured in clashes that erupted on Friday following reported stone pelting at a motorcycle rally by VHP and ABVP volunteers on Mathura-Bareilly highway on the occasion of Republic Day, police said. #Kasganj clashes: Shops and property vandalized. Police at the spot pic.twitter.com/0QyR1GEAuj ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2018 Two buses torched during #Kasganj clashes, efforts to douse fire underway. pic.twitter.com/QKbN8EGb51 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 27, 2018 The district administration has imposed curfew in the trouble-hit area. The police said some unidentified miscreants hurled stones at the motorcycle rally taken out by the right-wing groups to celebrate the Republic Day. Meanwhile, Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar had earlier said, "It seems the (stone pelting) incident was not pre-planned, but a spontaneous one. The district magistrate, superintendent of police, and Rapid Action Force and PAC personnel have been sent to the spot". "The trouble makers 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. Additional forces from adjoining districts have been sought, said IG Aligarh (range) Sanjeev Gupta. It was for the first time that leaders from all Asean countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests. BSFs all-women team Seema Bhawani performs on motorcycles during the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: A grand display of Indian military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from the 10 Asean nations marked the 69th Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath on Friday. It was for the first time that leaders from all Asean countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests. The overwhelming presence of the Asean leaders is seen as a reflection of Indias growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been trying to expand its footprint. A march-past by Army personnel carrying the Asean flag also featured in the parade. Army personnel also carried the flags of the 10 Asean nations. Over a 100 women of the Border Security Force, riding as many as 26 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles, enthralled the heads of Asean nations and spectators, many of whom clapped throughout the display. The flypast by IAF planes entertained the guests and 23 tableaux, with Gandhi and Buddhism as the dominant themes, showcased the culture and achievements of states, ministries and All India Radio (AIR), among others, during the 90-minute parade. Myanmars 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 Bruneis Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade. In a virtual repeat of last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sporting a saffron, red and green safa, took a long walk on the Rajpath after the parade and departure of guests and waved enthusiastically amid chants of Modi, Modi. In a series of tweets, Mr Modi talked about Indias partnership with Asean and Thursdays India-Asean Commemorative Summit. Their presence with us is an unprecedented gesture of goodwill from Asean nations, he said. Thousands of people on both sides of the majestic Rajpath, Indias 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. 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. The roaring flypast by Indian Air Force planes drew a huge applause from the people, even though the visibility remained low due to fog. All eyes rolled skyward as the pulsating hum of the approaching Rudra formation, including three weapon system integrated choppers, reached the ears of the spectators. The Rudra choppers made their maiden appearance at the Republic Day Parade this year. The Hercules formation, comprising three C-130J Super Hercules, roared past the Rudra helicopters, with people yelling and cheering the mighty aircraft. The Globe formation comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs was also impressive. 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 and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and environment minister Harsh Vardhan. Congress president Rahul Gandhi was also present and seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia also joined the celebrations. While BJP president Amit Shah unfurled national flag at the party headquarters on Ashoka Road, party veteran L.K. Advani unfurled it at his Prithviraj Road residence. Union ministers, including Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, also unfurled the tricolour at their official residences The Congress seems to have already charted out its campaign strategy. New Delhi: The Congress, hoping to retain Meghalaya while trying to oust the Left from Tripura, released its list of candidates for Assembly elections in the two states on Saturday. The party is fielding 56 candidates in Tripura, and 57 in Meghalaya. The strength of the two Assemblies is 60 members each. According to the list, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma will be contesting from two seats Songsak and Ampathi in the Garo Hills region. The Congress, fighting anti-incumbency in Meghalaya after being in power for almost 15 years, suffered a major setback earlier this month when five of its MLAs resigned from the Assembly and joined the National Peoples Party (NPP) headed by Conrad K. Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma. The NPP is an ally of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre. Two other Congress legislators moved to the BJP and the newly formed Peoples Democratic Front as well. The Congress suffered another blow earlier this week when 42 party leaders including presidents, secretaries and district, block leaders in Resubelpara constituency in North Garo Hills district resigned and are likely to support an Independent candidate. The constituency is currently represented by former chief minister S.C. Marak. Tripura goes to poll on February 18, while Meghalaya will vote on February 27. Counting of votes for both states take place on March 3. The BJP, which has been steadily making inroads in the Northeast, is expected to launch an aggressive campaign in these states. It has already formed a North Eastern Democratic Alliance to ensure its presence in all the North Eastern states. Top leaders of the BJP are expected to campaign in these states. The Congress, on the other hand, will be relying on its party president and local cadres to ensure it retains Meghalaya. The Congress seems to have already charted out its campaign strategy. Party president Rahul Gandhi will be in Meghalaya for a two-day visit on January 30 and will participate in a musical program in Shillong. All the big musical bands of Meghalaya have been invited to perform at the concert, Meghalaya: Celebrate Peace and Way of Life. Americana artist Jake La Botz will accompany Lucero in Chattanooga on Feb. 24 at The Signal. Doors open at 7 and the show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $22-$25. Review for Jake La Botz: On the heels of his new album "Sunnyside," master storyteller Jake La Botz will perform at The Signal in Chattanooga on Feb. 24 His first album in four years, "Sunnyside" finds the new Nashville transplant recounting his past and present atop an irresistible, driving groove. Jimmy Sutton recorded La Botz in his original hometown of Chicago at an all-analog studio, teasing dynamite performances out of the heavily tattooed artist. A teenage punk, a juvenile delinquent, an actor (including a part in the classic Ghost World), a drifter, an apprentice to blues elders growing up in Chicago, self-educated reader, an addict in Los Angeles, a musician in a gospel church, a Buddhist, a meditation teacher, a songwriter touring a circuit of tattoo parlors nationwide. Now, hes taken all those experiences and synthesized them with producer Jimmy Sutton (Pokey LaFarge, JD McPherson) for Sunnyside, now available on Hi-Style Records. A master storyteller from time spent at the feet of his grandfather and other elders, La Botz infuses his songs with gritty, deeply imagined characters. The album runs along an axis of spirituality on one side and materialism on the other, with La Botz spinning metaphors and subtle dual meanings throughout. Stories include the absurdity of filling one's life with "positivity" (the title track), a portrait of a decrepit hotel with addicts seeking fixes (The Hotel [Fix Me Now]), a prisoner searching for a way out (The Trees in Cali), a mystical hobos description of freedom (Hobo on a Passenger Train), a street musician trading art for spare change in the subway (For Nickels & Dimes), and the carefree feeling that comes with the arrival of summer (Feel No Pain). La Botz has opened for greats like Ray Charles, Dr. John, Mavis Staples, JD McPherson, Etta James, The Blasters, and Tony Joe White. The Congress leaders are expected to interact with several stakeholders in the state and assimilate issues being raised from various quarters. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has asked party men from poll-bound Karnataka to prepare a peoples manifesto on the lines of the manifesto made by the Congress in Gujarat. The Congress leaders are expected to interact with several stakeholders in the state and assimilate issues being raised from various quarters. The state is expected to go to polls in May. The exercise has already been undertaken by a team headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily and it is expected to come out with an all-encompassing manifesto much ahead of polling in the state, a senior party leader said. Mr Gandhi has specifically asked the leaders of Karnataka to make its development programmes the flagship of the Congress campaign and not get into the Hindutva issue that is being raised by the BJP. State unit chief G Parme-shwara said, I do not know whether there is anything called soft or hard Hindutva. What the Congress practises is inclusive Hindutva, or taking all sections of the people together. The essence of the Hindutva we practise is not to differentiate from one another. The Congress government in Karnataka has already started Indira canteens that serve food at economical rates. Others schemes that the party will be focusing on are Ksheer Bhagya, Anna Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Indira Vastra Bhagya and several others. In the recently concluded Gujarat assembly elections, technocrat Sam Pitroda was used by the Congress to assimilate issues that needed to be included in the partys manifesto. It focused on education, health, small and medium enterprises, employment generation and environment protection. The AICC secretary incharge of Karnataka Mr Madhu Yashkhi Goud said, The party president has asked leaders to come out with a manifesto that truly reflects the expectations of the people of Karnataka. The Congress will seek feedback from all stakeholders. The Congress has also announced the formation of the Campaign Committee for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. It is being headed by senior leader D.K. Shivakumar. Other members include Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the state unit chief, Dr G Parmeshwara. Mountain lions or pumas, historically roamed every state east of Mississippi River but mostly vanished by 1900 due to systematic hunting. Eastern cougars, preying mostly on white-tailed deer in forests and coastal marshes, were declared endangered in 1973. (Photo: Pixabay) Eastern cougars that once prowled North America from Michigan to South Carolina were officially declared extinct and removed from the U.S. endangered species list on Monday, eight decades after the last confirmed sighting of the wild feline predator. The large cats, also known as mountain lions, pumas or panthers, historically roamed every state east of the Mississippi River but by 1900 had all but vanished due to systematic hunting and trapping, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency opened an extensive review in 2011 into the status of the eastern cougar, a genetic cousin of the mountain lions that still inhabit much of the Western United States and of a small, imperiled population of Florida panthers found only in the Everglades. In 2015, federal wildlife biologists concluded that pumas elsewhere in the Eastern United States were beyond recovery, and thus no longer warranted protection under the Endangered Species Act. The plan to de-list them became final on Monday. Eastern cougars, preying mostly on white-tailed deer in forests and coastal marshes, were declared endangered in 1973, even though no sightings had been documented for three decades. The last of their kind on record was killed by a hunter in Maine in 1938. Sightings since then turned out to be wayward visitors from the West. For example, a lone male mountain lion was killed on a Connecticut highway in 2011 after traveling thousands of miles (kilometers) from South Dakota through Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. Cougars, which measure up to 8 feet (2.44 meters) long from head to tail and can weigh as much as 140 pounds (63.5 kg), were once the most widely distributed land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, before extermination campaigns and habitat destruction saw them eliminated from roughly two-thirds of their original range. Conservation groups said removal of the Eastern puma from the endangered species list clears the way for states like New York -- where the Adirondack Mountains contain prime cougar habitat -- to re-establish a mountain lion presence with animals imported from burgeoning populations in the West. We need large carnivores like cougars, which would curb deer overpopulation and tick-borne diseases that threaten human health, so we hope Eastern and Midwestern states will reintroduce them, Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. Like previous years, the focus of the budget will be on health, education and transport. The Aam Aadmi Party government has also asked all heads of departments to furnish the achievements of the third quarter of the current budget, a move aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in expenditure. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Delhi government has kicked off the budget-making exercise for this year by calling a three-day discussion from next month. The Aam Aadmi Party government has also asked all heads of departments to furnish the achievements of the third quarter of the current budget, a move aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in expenditure. The three-day department-wise discussion on preparation of the annual budget will start from February 7, an official said. Like previous years, the focus of the budget will be on health, education and transport, he said. "The focus of discussion will be rationalisation of existing output and outcome indicators and introduction of new programmes in Outcome Budget 2018-19. As per the schedule, discussion on the proposal and expenditure of departments of women and child welfare, SC/ST, social welfare, education, art, culture and languages, labour and Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board will be held on February 7," the official said. On February 8, the focus will be on health, home, tourism, development and environment departments, while on February 9, discussion will be held on Public Works Department, Delhi Jal Board, Urban Development, revenue among others. In 2017, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had presented the budget focused on "outcomes" and said the Delhi government was the first in the country to adopt such a practice. According to the city government, the budget, besides ensuring transparency and accountability of expenditure, will help in assessing performance of officials which is included in their annual confidential report. The court, however, jailed him while observing that the courts have to take a balanced view in determining the sentence. Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam handed down the jail term to 37-year-old Raman for the offence under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. (Photo: Representational | File) New Delhi: A Delhi court has sentenced a man to five years in jail for pushing into a drain a 66-year-old person, who later died during medical treatment, saying the attacker did not have the intention but had the knowledge that his act may cause the victim's death. Additional Sessions Judge Satinder Kumar Gautam handed down the jail term to 37-year-old Raman for the offence under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him. "It can be safely held that in the case in hand, the accused has done the act with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death but without any intention to cause death and caused such bodily injury as is likely to cause death and as such, court is of the view that act committed by accused falls under part II of the Section 304 IPC," the judge said. The court, while holding him guilty of the offence, noted that on March 9, 2017 the victim was standing with his son outside a government school in east Delhi when the accused came to snatch a Rs 500 note from him. After an altercation, the accused hit the man with a brick and pushed him into a drain. The injuries suffered by the old man, who was already suffering from various ailments, were sufficient to cause his death, the court said while noting that he died in hospital during his treatment. "In the instant case, the convict caused injuries to deceased on account of which he died during medical treatment. The incident took place on the petty issue of Rs 500...The victim died on March 22, 2017 after succumbing to his injuries as a result of falling in the nallah," the judge said. During the trial, the accused denied the allegations claiming he was falsely implicated. The court, however, jailed him while observing that the courts have to take a balanced view in determining the sentence. "Proportion between crime and punishment is a goal respected in principle and in spite of errant notions, it remains a strong influence in the determination of sentences. After giving due consideration to the facts and circumstances of each case, for deciding just and appropriate sentence to be awarded for an offence, the aggravating and mitigating factors and circumstances in which a crime has been committed are to be delicately balanced on the basis of really relevant circumstances in a dispassionate manner by the court," the judge observed in his order. Play stopped after South Africa opener Elgar gets hit on helmet. Johannesburg: Play was called off because of a dangerous pitch at Wanderers Stadium on Friday after South African batsman Dean Elgar was hit on the grille of his helmet by a short ball. Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had consulted earlier because of unusual bounce and deviation on a pitch which former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar described as dangerous. After Elgar was struck late in the afternoon by a sharply lifting delivery from Indias Jasprit Bumrah, match referee Andy Pycroft joined the umpires on the field and the third day of the third and final Test was halted. South Africa, set 241 to win, were 17 /1. Only two Test matches have previously been abandoned because of dangerous conditions. In January 1998, England were 17/3 against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica when the umpires stopped play because of a hazardous pitch. And a match between the same two teams in Antigua in February 2009 was called off after 10 balls because a soft outfield was regarded as dangerous for bowlers and fielders. India seize control India captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had set an attacking example as India took control of the match, scoring 247 in their second innings. Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould called off play after match referee Andy Pycroft joined them on the field. The captains and match officials met after the stoppage and the only official word was that play had been called off for the day. There had been suggestions during the day that play might be halted because of a dangerous pitch but with India having completed their innings any decision to abandon the match was always likely to be controversial. It became clear that demons remained in the pitch when Mohammed Shami had Aiden Markram caught behind in the second over and Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit Elgar with a painful blow on the right hand in the next over. The delivery, which dismissed Markram lifted and seamed away, while the ball which struck Elgar lifted sharply off a good length. The pitch was the subject of intense discussions by the umpires and a meeting in match referee Pycrofts office, attended by groundsman Bethuel Buthelezi and local officials, during the lunch break, when India were 100/4. There were areas on a good length on both ends of the pitch where the bounce was unpredictable. Kohli and Rahane added 34 in quick time after lunch before a good spell by Kagiso Rabada, who bowled Kohli for 41 and then caught Hardik Pandya off his own bowling, reduced India to 148/6. But with the ball going softer, Rahane and Kumar, followed by Shami, attacked some wayward bowling. Indias last four wickets added 99 runs crucial in a low-scoring match. The innings was marked by good running between the wickets, while the lower order batsmen went for their shots. Rahane made his runs off 68 balls and hit six fours in a courageous stand given the conditions. After his partnership with Kohli set the tone for the afternoon, he and Kumar added 55 for the seventh wicket, with Kumar going on to score 33 to complete a series where he made useful contributions in each of his four innings. Scorecard India (1st innings) 187. South Africa (1st innings) 194. India (2nd innings, o/n 49/1): Vijay b Rabada 25, Patel c Markram b Philander 16, Rahul c du Plessis b Philander 16, Pujara c du Plessis b Morkel 1, Kohli b Rabada 41, Rahane c de Kock b Morkel 48, Pandya c&b Rabada 4, Bhuvaneshwar c de Kock b Morkel 33, Shami c de Villiers b Ngidi 27, Ishant (not out) 7, Bumrah c Rabada b Philander 0. Extras: (b5, lb12, w12) 29. Total: (in 80.1 overs) 247. FoW: 1-17, 2-51, 3-57, 4-100, 5-134, 6-148, 7-203, 8-238, 9-240. Bowling: Philander 21.1-5-61-3, Rabada 23-5-69-3 (5w), Morkel 21-6-47-3 (2w), Ngidi 12-2-38-1, Phehlukwayo 3-0-15-0 (5w). South Africa (2nd innings): Markram c Patel b Shami 4, Elgar (batting) 11, Amla (batting) 2. Extras: 0. Total: (for 1 wkt, in 8.3 overs) 17. FoW: 1-5. Bowling: Bhuvneshwar 4-0-8-0, Shami 4-1-7-1, Bumrah 0.3-0-2-0. Among the ministries were external Affairs, tribal affairs, youth affairs and sports. All-India Radio tableau on display at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: As the leaders of all 10 Asean countries joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Delhi, the highlight was the dominant theme being Gandhi and Buddhism among the 23 colourful tableaux which rolled down the Rajpath. Out of 23, two portrayed historical, civilisational, and religious links as the binding force between India and southeast nations. One of the tableaux depicted the 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. States registering their presence this year were Hi-machal Pradesh, Uttarakh-and, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kar-nataka, Gujarat, Chhatisg-arh, Kerala, Punjab and Manipur. Among the ministries were external Affairs, tribal affairs, youth affairs and sports. The income-tax department showcased its anti-black money drive launched post demonetisation. While Himachal Pradeshs tableau showed status of Buddha in meditation along with some stupas and the monks resting, Madhya Pradeshs tableau also had an underlying theme of Buddhism, showcasing Buddha sitting in meditation under the Boddhi Tree with four of his disciples. The Gujarat tableau depicted Gandhi weaving on his wooden spinning wheel and ashram inmates busy in daily activities. It also showed Gandhis three monkeys and various other things or places that were an integral part of Gandhis life. Similarly, 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. Meanwhile, the Indian Navys tableau showcased the theme Indian Navy Combat Ready Force for National Security. The force also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the DRDO exhibited the Nirbhay missile and the Ashwini radar system. The Indian Air Force tableau, led by three women officers, was themed Indi-an Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation, which displayed models of the Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system. The protesters marched from the statue of B.R. Ambedkar, near the Mumbai University campus, to the Gateway of India. Mumbai: A large contingent of senior Opposition party leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D. Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarats Patidar leader) and Omar Abdullah (National Conference), marched in silence in Mumbai to save the Constitution, which, they said, was under assault. The march, which brought several Opposition parties barring the Congress on a common platform in a show of unity, forced the ruling BJP to hold its own parallel Tiranga Yatra in the city that was addressed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Samvidhaan Bachao (Save the Constitution) march, coinciding with Republic Day, which marks the coming into force of the Constitution, is being seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP forces ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Ahead of the march, Mr Pawar, Mr Yechury, Mr Yadav, Mr Raja, Mr Patel, Mr Abdullah, Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamul Congress) and Sushilkumar Shinde met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Later, Mr Pawar said 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 protesters marched from the statue of B.R. Ambedkar, near the Mumbai University campus, to the Gateway of India. NCP leaders Praful Patel and D.P. Tripathi and former MP Ram Jethmalani were also present. Independent MP from Maharashtra Raju Shetti, the convener of the Save the Constitution march, who was also present at the meeting, said, This will be a silent morcha (march). After reaching the Gateway (of India), they will stage a sit-in for some time. There will be no speeches. The BJPs 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 over their event. He mocked the Opposition parties and questioned the legislative strength of some of them. People are wise and they know their (Oppositions) hypocrisy. Eighteen parties, some of them not having a single MLA or MLC, could not manage to assemble even 1,800 people, he said. Thirteen persons drowned after the minibus in which they were travelling plunged into the Panchganga river in Kolhapur late on Friday night. Mumbai: Thirteen persons drowned after the minibus in which they were travelling plunged into the Panc-hganga river in Kolhapur late on Friday night. The driver had lost control of the vehicle, which was ferrying 16 passengers to Pune. Three women, Manda Kedari (54), Prajakta Kedari (18) and Manisha Varkhade (38), are seriously injured and have been admitted to Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Civil Hospital. The Varkhade, Kedari and Nangare families, who hailed from Balewadi and Hinjewadi in Pune, were on their way back home from Ganpatipule in the Konkan, where they had gone to make offerings to Lord Ganesha after their prayers for a child were answered. The families were to take a pit stop at Kolhapur, and head to the Jotiba temple on Saturday. However, the minibus swerved and rammed into the safety barrier of the Shivaji bridge before plunging into the river. A policeman said the bodies have been recovered, and the bus retrieved. The rescue operation ended early on Saturday, wherein the police and the Fire Brigade were deployed after an onlooker had reported the accident. The deceased are San-tosh Varkhade (45); his daughters, Gauri (16) and Jnyaneshwari (14); Sachin Kedari (34); his wife Neelam (28) and their daughters, Sanskruti (8) and 9-month-old Sanid-hya; their relatives Sahil Kedari (14), Bhavna Kedari (35) and Shravani Kedari (11); Chhaya Nangare (41); her son Prateek Nangare (14); and the driver (28), who has yet to be identified. Santosh Varkhades father, Gangaram, said, The family was supposed to reach home on Satu-rday. But early that day I got a call from the police informing me about the accident. I am shattered. The Shiv Sena had recently declared that it would contest all elections on its own in the future. Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has clarified that his next political decision would be taken at the right time and it would be taken in the interest of the Marathi-speaking and Hindu communities. Mr Thackeray, who was speaking at a newspaper distributors programme on Saturday, was asked whether the Sena would withdraw its support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state in the wake of his announcement that it would contest all elections independently henceforth. In his speech, Mr Thackeray spoke about recent political developments. There is some thought behind the decision, he said. The leader also implored those gathered to continue placing its confidence in the party. The Shiv Sena had recently declared that it would contest all elections on its own in the future. Sena leader Sanjay Raut had proposed this resolution during the partys national executive meeting, and party leaders unanimously passed it. Mr Raut had also said that withdrawing support to BJP-led governments in the Centre and state would be done at the right time. The Shiv Sena, BJP and three smaller parties had allied for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but the was a split in the saffron alliance ahead of the Assembly elections later that year. The BJP had won 123 seats on its own while Shiv Sena won 62 in the Assembly polls. The standards of public health and education need urgent attention. Winston Churchill once famously said that to say that India is a nation is to say the Equator is one! For people like him, who projected the deliberately misguided hubris that the British created India, and that but for their continued presence, India would not survive, the completion of 69 years of the republic is a fitting riposte. Our young republic has not only survived but has proved long ago that its survival is beyond doubt. We may be a young republic, but we are an ancient culture. When nationhood is underpinned by a strong and verifiable civilisational unity, the result is usually invincible. Nation building is a long and arduous process. That is why, milestones of success, should be followed by a stretch of introspection. There is much that we have achieved, but much more also needs to be done. As a vigilant nation, we should, even in such moments of legitimate celebration, draw up balance sheets that audit successes against failure, hits versus misses, achievement versus inadequacy. The list of our successes is impressive. Unlike most countries that gained independence in the last century, we began as a democracy, and have managed to remain the largest democracy in the world. Given the incorrigibly hierarchical and unequal social system we inherited and still grapple with this is no mean achievement, and has provided a new sense of empowerment to the hitherto marginalised. We have also reinforced the territorial unity and integrity of the state. It may surprise many that since 1947, although there have been many insurgencies against the republic, not a single one has succeeded. Our scientists, doctors and engineers have done us proud. Our armed forces have enabled us to hold our head high. And, in many sectors of the economy, we have made real breakthroughs, such as the green and white revolutions, and the major expansion of the IT sector. As against these achievements and many more can be listed there still remain very major areas of concern. The first is rampant inequality. India may be the worlds largest democracy, but we still have the largest number of the abjectly poor in the world. We also still have the largest number of those who cannot read or write, and even worse, more malnutritioned children than sub-Saharan Africa. It is true that over the last several decades large numbers have been redeemed from below the poverty line, but those condemned to unspeakable poverty are still far too many to sustain the claim that India is a rising economic superpower. The pervasive persistence of poverty has institutional reasons. Agriculture still employs over 60 per cent of our people. But, after the initial Green Revolution, the agricultural sector has largely languished. This is reflected in the lopsided nature of our GDP basket, where the service sector employing the least number of people contributes the most, with manufacturing a distant second, and agriculture at the very bottom. If agricultural productivity and incomes do not rise, the vast majority of our people will remain locked in a cycle of poverty, especially since labour-intensive manufacturing industries that can provide jobs outside agriculture have also grown far below expectation. The standards of public health and education need urgent attention. Government deliverables in these two areas are abysmal. The public school system is in shambles, leading to a mushrooming of sub-standard private schools, and an overall structure where apart from some miniscule pockets of excellence, the young are being educated with far below average levels of skills and training. Jobs are woefully scarce, and those that are there are faced with an army of the educated young who, given their skill levels, are essentially unemployable. Our democracy is vibrant but in need of urgent reform. The biggest malaise is the continued nexus between unaccounted money and politics. Indeed, this is the beej, the very seed of corruption in the country. For decades now the Election Commission has proposed a series of reforms and more powers to proceed against offenders but the political class has sat on these proposals and done nothing. The recent attempt to allow anonymous donors to contribute to political parties through bonds is hardly the answer to the need for foundational reform in this vital area, where every rupee collected by a party must be accounted for. New dangers have also emerged. The first is the emergence of ultra-right forces of exclusion that are threatening the plural and composite fabric of our nation. There is every reason to be proud of being a Hindu, but there is no reason to assert that India is exclusively a Hindu nation. Such an assertion deliberately ignores the fact that many faiths have always lived and prospered in India, and while appeasement of any one is wrong, each of the great religions that exist in our country need to be given respect. Allied to this religious aggression, is a virulent form of ultra-nationalism that looks upon all dissent as anti-national and is willing to resort to violence to enforce such a brittle point of view. In fact, the impunity with which certain groups, like the Karni Sena, have taken the law in their own hands even stoning a bus full of school children in Gurgaon cannot happen without the complicity at some level of the state authorities. The resultant social instability that such forces are creating militates directly against our economic ambitions, because internal peace and harmony are essential, not only for India to be an attractive global investment destination, but for the development agenda that we hope to implement. This balance sheet between the plusses and minuses can be much longer. But, as we celebrate the completion of 69 years as a republic, there is enough reason to celebrate, just as there is enough cause to introspect. Nations that endure and prosper cannot become victims of only euphoria. They must be also willing to see what is wrong, even as they pay tribute to so much in our history as a young nation that is right. China's Xiamen Airlines on Friday received its first aircraft bearing the UN (United Nations) message of sustainable development, hoping to promote the message worldwide. The Boeing aircraft was painted with a UN-sanctioned livery featuring the symbol of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and inscriptions in both Chinese and English. The Boeing aircraft is painted with a UN-sanctioned livery featuring the symbol of the 17-point Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and inscriptions in both Chinese and English on January 27, 2018. [Photo: carnoc.com] Zhao Dong, president of Xiamen Airlines, told the delivery ceremony that his company is committed to sustainable development, especially after becoming a partner of the UN to promote the agenda in early 2017. Zhao said the newly delivered aircraft will become "the global image ambassador for sustainable development goals", and will soon carry out intercontinental flights in Asia, Europe, as well as countries of Australia and the United States. Alison Smale, under-secretary general for global communications at the UN Department of Public Information, said the UN was pleased with the support from Xiamen Airlines to push forward the agenda, and is looking forward to explore new ways to enhance cooperation with the airline. "I think it is an excellent way to illustrate that we can live a modern 21st Century life, which includes long distance air travel, but try to think about it in the most sustainable way possible," Smale said, referring to the painted plane. The Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which boasts of 20 percent less fuel consumption and emission than its predecessors, is an ideal fit to support Xiamen Airlines and the UN SDGs, said John Bruns, president of Boeing China. Xiamen Airlines was the first airline in the world to cooperate with the UN on promoting sustainable development. In February 2017, it signed a cooperation agreement with the UN to support SDGs implementation. The UN General Assembly adopted in 2015 the 17-point SDGs, which called for ending poverty, hunger and ensuring prosperity worldwide by 2030. Xiamen Airlines, founded in the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen, has a fleet of 188 aircraft and 10 intercontinental flights. Coolpad claims that Xiaomi has stolen their patents for certain parts of their software. In what comes as a surprising news, popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has been sued by Coolpad for infringing on their patents. Coolpad has demanded to halt the production for all those Xiaomi products that are developed using Coolpads patents. According to a report form ITHome, Xiaomi has developed products and sold them in the market illegally infringing on Coolpads various patents. The patent infringement relates to app icon management, notifications and system UI on Xiaomi products that Coolpad had originally developed. The company has also demanded Xiaomi to pay for all the losses that Coolpad has faced because of this infringement. The case hasnt been heard yet but Coolpad says that they are actively looking to recover losses from the patent infringements that Xiaomi did; they have also demanded to compensate for the legal fees and all other related financial loses. Clearly, the patent infringement relates to Xiaomis MIUI OS that is used on a majority of their smartphones and tablets. MIUI is based on Googles latest version of Android and a new version of their proprietary OS is rolled out every year. The company had not long ago unveiled MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat with improvements in performance and slight UI overhaul. (source) Karla Garrufe died on Thursday after being gunned down by a man whose car she had bumped into from behind. Uber said Karla Garrufe (21) was disconnected from the app when the shooting occurred. (Photo: AFP) Mexico City: A young woman who drove for US ride-hailing application Uber Technologies Inc was shot dead in the northern Mexican border city of Tijuana following a dispute with another motorist, prosecutors said on Friday. According to witness reports, Karla Garrufe (21) died on Thursday morning after being gunned down by a man whose car she had bumped into from behind, said Miguel Angel Guerrero, a spokesman for prosecutors in Tijuana. A witness said that after the two began arguing, the man pulled out a gun, shot her and drove off, he added. The suspect has not been caught, prosecutors said. In a statement, Uber expressed its condolences over what it called the terrible incident and said it was working with authorities to clear up the case. Uber said Garrufe was disconnected from the app when the shooting occurred. Tijuana, which lies on the border with California, has been one of the areas worst hit by a spike in violence in Mexico that pushed murders to a record high in 2017. UN had ruled out any mediation effort on Kashmir and encouraged India and Pakistan to address all their outstanding issues through dialogue. India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences. (Photo: Representational | File) United Nations: Days after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres ruled out any mediation effort between India and Pakistan, Islamabad's top envoy to the world body raised the Kashmir issue during a UN Security Council debate on the Middle East. As usual there were no takers for Maleeha Lodhi, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, during the debate on the current volatile situation in the Middle East. "Pakistan will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, as indeed, people living under foreign occupation elsewhere as for example in Kashmir," Lodhi said while participating in the Security Council discussion on Thursday. "This esteemed body must live up to its responsibilities and ensure the implementation of its own resolutions on Palestine and other longstanding disputes such as Kashmir so that people of the world do not lose entire faith in the United Nations," she said. Earlier this week, the UN had ruled out any mediation effort on Kashmir and encouraged India and Pakistan to address all their outstanding issues through dialogue. Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained recently following a series of attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups and incidents of ceasefire violations, causing casualties on both sides. India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences. The occupants had just two bathrooms to share between them and the fire exits were all blocked, causing a safety hazard. The house, described as a slum, was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week. (Photo: AFP | Representational) London: An Indian-origin family who colluded with a property agent to let out their four-bedroom house in north London to more than 40 immigrants have been found guilty of overcrowding by a court in London. Harsha Shah, 53, her daughter Chandni, 27, and her brother-in-law Sanjay, 54, worked with agent Jaydipkumar Valand, 42, to illegally undertake multiple tenancies at the 1920s property which they also let fall into a state of disrepair, a UK court was told this week. The house, described as a slum, was divided into seven bedrooms on the ground floor, two on the first floor and crammed with as many as five people per room for rents between 40 and 75 pounds per week, the Harrow Crown Court was told. The occupants had just two bathrooms to share between them and the fire exits were all blocked, causing a safety hazard. While the Shah family and Valand were convicted in May 2017, they are now fighting against having to hand over nearly 360,000 pounds obtained as rent during the course of the tenancy at a confiscation hearing at the Court. Edmund Robb, appearing on behalf of the local Brent Borough Council, told Judge Stephen Rubin that besides claiming back any housing benefits paid out by the authority, the rent paid can also be seized under the UKs proceeds of crime act. Receiving rent was in breach of a selective licence. If they had complied with the regulations the money would not have come into their hands. There was a minimum of 25 people living in the house and there could at any one time be up to 40 people living in the house, he said. However, the defence argued that taking the rent from the migrants was not an offence, and therefore, a confiscation order was not enforceable. We say that receiving the rent is not a criminal offence and neither is continuing the tenancy. They are clearly in breach of the law, but the receiving of rent was not illegal, said lawyer Cameron Scott. Judge Rubin will reserve his judgment on whether a proceeds of crime order can be enforced. Meanwhile, following a trial at Willesden Magistrates Court in 2017, the Shah family were found guilty of failing to have the proper licence and will be sentenced at a later date. Exposure may spell more trouble for Sharifs in graft cases. Islamabad: Pakistans National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team has found more than 10 offshore companies owned by the Sharif family, officials said on Friday. The NAB team had been designated to investigate Sharif familys assets in London. The head of the team met the head of British National Crimes Agency before returning to Pakistan, while the other two members of the team were still in London. NAB officials said the Sharif family owned eight companies apart from Mayfair Flats. British Company House has confirmed that Flagship Investment Ltd, Herstone Properties Ltd, Holding Ltd, Quint Eaton Place Two Ltd., Quint Ltd, Flagship Securities Ltd, Flagship Development Ltd and Hilton International Ltd also belong to Sharifs. Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family are facing NAB references for alleged corruption since he was disqualified in July last year. In all, the NAB has in total filed three references against the Sharif family and another against former finance minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court, in light of the Supreme Courts orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28. The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex courts order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings. The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties, and over dozen offshore companies allegedly owned by the family. Mr Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz and Mohammed Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court had approved Maryam Nawaz and Mohammed Safdars bail in the Avenfield properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs 5 million each. Mr Safdar was also directed to take the courts permission before leaving the country. The judge also provided a copy of the reference spread over 53 volumes to Maryam Nawaz and Mohammed Safdar. NABs Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family. NABs Lahore branch had prepared a reference on the Sharif familys Avenfield apartments in London and another against finance minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income. If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets. Meanwhile on Friday, an accountability court has conducted hearing of asset beyond income reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. During the hearing headed by Justice Mohammad Bashir, two prosecution witnesses Mohammad Naeem, who works in Excise and Taxation department in Lahore, and banking expert Zafar Iqbal recorded their statements. The Chinese Supreme People's Court will set up international courts in Beijing, Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and Shenzhen. Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the BRI focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries, primarily with China. (Photo: File | Representational) Beijing: China has decided to set up three international courts to deal with disputes related to its multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which it is making massive investments, according to official media in Beijing on Friday. The Chinese Supreme People's Court will set up international courts in Beijing, Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and Shenzhen, state run Global Times reported. The Xi'an court in Northwest China will handle cases related to the Silk Road and the Shenzhen court in South China with those related to 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 report quoted another official Beijing Business News as saying. The plan to establish a mechanism to legally resolve trade and investment disputes arising from issues related to the BRI was approved during the second meeting of the Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform in the Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). China says over 60 countries have signed up for BRI investments. The BRI includes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), over which India has protested as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the BRI focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries, primarily with China. It is not yet clear how the three courts will deal with cases from different countries which have diverse legal systems. 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 CPC meeting, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Members of the group had called for equal protection of the rights of both Chinese and foreign parties to create a stable, fair and transparent law-based business environment, the report said. 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 organisations to form a new non-governmental international organisation that addresses disputes, said an official with the council's legal department was quoted as saying in the report. China will also send more arbitrators and mediators to work at international organisations, empowering Chinese legal personnel to gain more experience in international negotiations, the report said. "I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date," said UNs Staffan De Mistura. United States and Saudi Arabia boycott meeting. Vienna (AsiaNews/Agencies) The opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission, which includes many groups opposed to President Bashar Assad, will boycott peace talks set for Sochi (Russia) on 29 and 30 January. The meeting is backed by Russia, Turkey and Iran. The decision was announced last night, at the end of two days of UN-sponsored peace talks in Vienna that led to nothing concrete. UN special envoy Staffan De Mistura spoke to reporters this morning acknowledging the hitherto disheartening lack of progress in finding a solution for a war that has killed more than 340,000 people and generated millions of refugees within and outside the country. "I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date," De Mistura said. As in seven other UN-sponsored meetings, no direct talks were held between the government and the opposition and no plan for a post-war constitution was worked out. Whilst noting that a peace solution must emerge from the UN talks, De Misturas view about the talks in Russia is positive. 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 said. However, the United States and Saudi Arabia have boycotted the peace initiative in Sochi. Both want to limit Russian influence in the Middle East and refuse to guarantee Bashar al-Assads future in Syria. For his part, Syrian government chief negotiator in Vienna Bashar al-Jaafari said that the United States created ISIS (Islamic State), and Saudi Arabia is anything but a beacon of freedom in the East. A series of conferences held from 23 to 26 January brought together researchers, teachers, students and politicians from Russia and around the world. For Metropolitan Mercurius, it is rare to find those who are willing to have Christian justice as the foundation of their professional activity. Moscow (AsiaNews) The 26th edition of Christmas Readings, a Church-centred social forum, was held in Moscow from 23 to 26 January. The event has grown in importance after a slow start in the 1990s with few experts in theology and religious culture following the long winter of Soviet atheism. This year, more than 15,000 people took part in the Readings from all the regions of the Russian Federation, with many guests from other countries like Ukraine, Belarus, the United States, Great Britain, Georgia, Greece. Following the post-Soviet tradition, the Patriarch of Moscow presided over the Christmas Readings. The Synodal Department for religious education and catechesis led by the metropolitan of Rostov Mercurius (Ivanov) organised the event. Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) opened the proceedings at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses (picture 1). The next day he made a report about it to the Federation Council, the Russian Senate, which was involved in this important Church event. As Metropolitan Mercurius (picture 3) told journalists, about 190 sessions were held at the various Readings venues. Discussions centred on Church life today, public education, youth, voluntary work and charity, restoration and construction of churches, science and culture. All of Moscow's high schools were involved this year with 300 sending different professors and students to the meetings. Various representatives came from high schools in many Russian regions. The meetings were also held in particularly prestigious and important venues like the State Duma (lower house of parliament), the Chamber of Commerce, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and Lomonosov State University in Moscow. The director of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations, Vladimir Legoyda, noted that it is no coincidence that the main theme of this year's Christmas Readings was "Moral values and the future of humanity". We often pronounce the word 'morality' today, devoid of its meaning, Legoyda said. What does the Church want to talk about? About the fact that morality is about the emotions we experienced recently following the school tragedies in Perm and Buryatia, for example. The theme that we present is directly connected to the need to educate ourselves first, so that certain things do not happen anymore." According to the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, true morality "are the bureaucrats who do not steal, the children to whom no one brings violence and abuse, families that do not break up, socially responsible commerce, and the ability of each of us to throw trash out of the house without calling the press." According to Zinaida Dragunkina, chairwoman of the Federation Council Committee for Science, Education and Culture, "the theme of this year's Readings was about children, teenagers and the issues of moral values to be passed on to the youngest. We cannot limit ourselves to declarations in principle. We must prepare young people for the practical realisation of these values." During the Readings, two competitions were held to encourage student participation, one for children, on "the Beauty of the Divine World", and one for young people up to 20 years on the moral commitment of the teacher "(picture 2). Patriarch Kirill along with the Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko handed out the awards on Thursday in the presence of the authorities and many lawmakers, in the main hall of the Kremlin. Metropolitan Mercurius handed out an award, a medal "In memory of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate", to Chairperson Dragunkina. Speaking at the final Readings Round Table on the "Role of ethical and moral values in the formation of the person through the education system", Mercurius stressed the importance of collaboration in the field of education at the highest levels of Church representatives and state institutions. "We have a simpler and more effective recipe for the rebirth and grounding of morals in our homeland, compared to the uncertain road of seeking a consensus, namely we propose respect for evangelical precepts. One cannot but agree no one can question the greatness of the evangelical doctrine. At the same time, it is rare to find those who are willing to accept Christian justice as the foundation of their professional activity, without adjusting it to the circumstances of time and the difficulties of social development. Still, In the history of the Church and our homeland we find many examples of sacrifice of earthly goods for the realisation of the ideals of the Gospel." According to the metropolitan, notwithstanding the proper education to civil duties, it is necessary to inculcate the true end of social life through the education of young people, to prepare them to enter into the heavenly homeland, in accordance with the words of the Gospel. "Only this way can the Church understand the meaning, not only of school, training and education, but also of politics and the entire construction of society . . . Every year, by organising Christmas Readings, we hope that the vision of the Church will become a decisive element in state politics, so that we can look with real hope to our future. A steady flow of capital has led to a boom in Sihanoukville with new hotels, casinos and housing. Although the authorities have tried to allay fears and concerns, Cambodia is ranked ninth out of 146 in terms of risk on the money-laundering index. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) China's growing presence and investments in the fast-developing Cambodian port and province of Sihanoukville have pushed up the crime rate and brought instability, the local governor, Yun Min, said in a letter to the government. The two Asian nations have close political, economic and military ties. It is thus rare to hear someone in Cambodia voice criticism of China's heavy involvement and important investments in the countrys thriving economy. Beijing's support has boosted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen following criticism at the banning of the countrys main opposition party ahead of upcoming elections. Preah Sihanoukville province in the south-west has seen a construction boom in recent years supported by a steady stream of Chinese money into building hotels, casinos and thousands of housing units. In his three-page letter to the Interior minister, Governor Yun Min warned that the Chinese influx had "created opportunities for Chinese mafia to come in and commit various crimes and kidnap Chinese investors, causing insecurity in the province". Whilst acknowledging that Chinese investment had created jobs and pushed up real estate prices in the province, Yun Min also complained about drunk Chinese getting into fights in restaurants and about rising hotel prices as a result of Chinese interest in Sihanoukville. Interior Ministry spokesperson Khieu Sopheak said he had not yet seen the letter but noted that Cambodia would not be controlled by the Chinese. "We still keep our sovereignty; the Chinese can't control us. If they come as proper investors and respect our laws, it's fine," he explained. For its part, the Cambodian government has tried to allay fears and downplay concerns raised by international media about Chinese investors laundering money from criminal activities through the Cambodian real estate market. A spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry recently called reports to that effect "baseless". Yet, some analysts warn that rampant corruption, the lack of government transparency, and loose banking regulations make money laundering easier. In fact, Cambodia is among the most vulnerable countries in the world in terms of money laundering, this according to the Basel-based Anti-Money Laundering (AML) index, which aggregates data from 17 different sources including the World Bank, World Economic Forum and the Financial Action Task Force to assess risk. Out of 146 countries, Cambodia ranks 9th for risk of becoming a hotspot for money laundering, after Uganda and before Tanzania. the countrys weather agency has reported the coldest temperatures in 48 years. On Wednesday, 2,826 emergency calls were made, the highest ever. Health Ministry reported 2.83 flu cases in a week. Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) Temperatures in Tokyo dropped to their lowest in 48 years. The city is in the grip of ice, snow and a major flu epidemic with the fire department, which runs the ambulance service, experiencing its busiest days in 80 years. On Thursday, the temperature dropped to minus four degrees C. for the first time since 1970. Fuchu, in the outskirts of Tokyo, reported a record low temperature of minus 8.4 C. Heavy snow on Monday disrupted train and flight services as well as road transportation. Japans weather agency recorded as much as 23 centimetres in some parts of the capital, stranding travellers and injuring people. As a result of the heavy snow and icy road conditions, the Tokyo fire department responded to 2,826 emergency calls on Wednesday, the highest since the service began in 1936. A total of 592 people, aged 2 to 99, have been taken to hospitals from Monday through Wednesday night. The cold snap should continue until Saturday. As the cold weather grips the country, a flu epidemic rages on, reaching a record high of 2.83 million cases in a single week, the Health Ministry said Friday. The illness has hit young people particularly hard, causing the temporary closure of 108 schools and 5,737 classes across the nation. An estimated 590,000 flu patients are aged 5 to 9, followed by 400,000 cases among those aged 10 to 19, 290,000 for people in their 40s, and 270,000 for children under 5. The Vatican issued the decree of martyrdom for the slain monks, Oran Bishop Mgr Pierre Claverie, and other 11 men and women religious killed between 1994 and 1996 during the Algerian civil war. Doubts about responsibility in the murders persist. Vatican City (AsiaNews) The seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine (Algeria), killed in 1996, will soon be beatified. The Vatican Press Office announced today that Pope Francis has authorised the promulgation of the decree concerning their martyrdom. The martyrdom of Mgr Pierre Claverie, Dominican bishop of Oran, and other 11 men and women religious "killed in hatred of the faith in Algeria from 1994 to 1996" was also recognised. The story of the monks of Tibhirine goes back to the civil war that raged Algeria in the 1990s, pitting the Algerian government against several Islamic groups that claimed an electoral victory that was denied in a military coup. The war, which lasted for almost a decade, killed hundreds of thousands of people, often slaughtered in a bloody and cruel way. The seven monks belonged to the community of Tibhirine, founded in 1938 near the town of Medea, 90 km south of Algiers. They maintained good relations with the local population, almost all Muslims, despite tensions with some more fundamentalist elements. On the night of 26-27 March 1996, they were kidnapped by a group of terrorists. On 21 May, the GIA (Groupe arme islamique, Armed Islamic Group) announced their death. On 30 May their heads were discovered. Their bodies were neve found. Various studies and research into their murder have raised doubts about the official Algerian version of events, which blamed their death on Islamist extremists. The story of the seven martyred monks was brought to the silver screen in Of Gods and Men. Mgr Pierre Claverie (1938-1996) was born in Algeria to French (Pied-Noir) parents. He studied in metropolitan France, and returned to the North African country as a Dominican. Here he engaged in ecumenical outreach towards Muslim culture and religion. He was ordained bishop of Oran on 9 October 1981 at Algiers cathedral in the presence of many Muslim friends. On 1 August 1996 he was killed by a bomb, along with his Muslim driver and friend, Mohamed Bouchikhi, as they entered the Bishopric building. At his funeral, his Muslim friends described him "the bishop of the Muslims". Hi Maddie, It worked out ok in the end. I actually had all the application form fully completed on the day i went in (even though it was 2 days late). This wasnt accepted at the time and was told my only option was to try to get work rights on the bridging visa C. After i completed all the forms and scrambled to collect more evidence for the bridging visa application & posted that in, i was later asked for more evidence to prove that i would be in financial difficulty if i cant work etc) and then eventually when all that was sent in I got a call to say they were no longer looking at the bridging visa and were just going to look at processing the original application. Unbelievably at the time, this eventuated and i was granted the partner visa and am back working now. I just have to wait another two years for them to contact me to check (when im asked to submit more proof for the second part of the Visa) that im still with my husband and if thats approved hopefully the next step is residency. It was such an unbelievably stressful and worrying time over those few months so i know how you are probably feeling. I hope it goes well for you too. The International Car Rental Show regularly draws more than 700 attendees from some 30 countries. What will your company look like in 10 years? Its easy to dismiss the thought, because the outlook on the future keeps changing at a historic pace. But do you have a plan for five years, or even two? The 2018 International Car Rental Show announces its closing keynote seminar, titled Game Plan 2020 and Beyond: Preparing for Success in Disruptive Times. This panel seminar will discuss the forces shaping the car rental operations of the near future, with specific guidance for independent and smaller operators. Its easy to believe that the giant tech companies and the auto manufacturers themselves will dominate the transportation market, says Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News. But there will be a place for the savvy entrepreneur, and this seminar will expand on the possibilities. The closing keynote panel consists of Arun Kumar, a director at consulting firm AlixPartners with a specialization in transportation and mobility; Gaurav Kohli, founder of JustShareIt carsharing technology; Richard Lowden, founder and CEO at Green Motion International; and Andrew Rodriguez, vice president of Frontline Performance Group. The diverse viewpoints from these panelists will prove there are no right answers but the plethora of information youll receive will help to better guide your decisions, Brown says. The 2018 International Car Rental Show convenes April 15-17 at Ballys Las Vegas. An LGBT friendly church in North Carolina has been vandalized for the 7th. time with gay slurs and the word pedophile were spray painted across the churchs front entrance. Pastor Chris Ayers of Wedgewood Church first posted the news on Facebook earlier this week. Members have since painted a gay pride flag over the grotesque graffiti. Ayers says police have told him without security cameras, it will be nearly impossible to catch the culprit. No amount of spray paint will stop us, Deacon Kimberlee Walker said. The church will continue preaching love and acceptance, as they have since the beginning. Faith leaders from other congregations will join Wedgewood Church on Monday for a unity vigil, meant to show solidarity with the church. Email Emily Bazar at AskEmily@kff.org. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Healthcare Foundation. GET OUR NEW APP Our new Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. An official date has been set for the launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket. SpaceX targets Feb. 6 for Falcon Heavy Launch will take place at Kennedy Space Center Payload will include Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster SpaceX is targeting Feb. 6 for the first flight of the rocket from launchpad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. A possible backup date is set for Feb. 7. CEO Elon Musk shared the news on Twitter on Saturday. Aiming for first flight of Falcon Heavy on Feb. 6 from Apollo launchpad 39A at Cape Kennedy, Musk wrote. Easy viewing from the public causeway. The company completed a static fire test for the Falcon Heavy on Wednesday. After the test, Musk said that a launch would happen in a week or so. The Falcon Heavy will be carrying among its payload Musks Tesla Roadster. SpaceX also has a Falcon 9 launch set for Jan. 30 at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.